The Missionary Review of the World — February 1904
ESKIMO ENCAMP~IENT IN
ESKIMO WOMEN OF LABRADUR IN SUNDAY CLOTHES Missionary Review of the World Old Series } FEBRUARY { New Series VOL. XXVII. No.2 XVII. No.2 VOL.
THE NEEDLESS SACRIFICE OF HUMAN LIFE IN MISSION WORK BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF There is not a little fanaticism and folly that goes by the name of piety and consecration. The appalling sacrifice of life and health, on the part of foreign missionaries, strikes us as possibly due in part to imprudence and, in some cases, to wilful disregard of danger-signals, and, therefore, as demanding careful investigation and consideration.
It has been truly said, for example, that Africa is the" burial. ground of missionaries." Probably not less than eight hundred or nine hundred of these valuable workers have been buried in the soil of the Dark Oontinent, and there has been a similar, tho smaller, sacrifice of life in India and Ohina, and in some other missionary lands. Without doubt God may call His servants to labor in countries where the influence of climate and surroundings is hostile to health, but this only creates a demand for greater precaution. There may be a needless sacrifice of life, either from ignorance or wilful violation of the laws of health, which God has impressed upon the human body, a,nd which He has laid down in His Holy Word.
The recent paper of Dr. Jessup in the pages of this REVIEW (November, 1903) has revived and strengthe'1ed.in our minds impressions, long since made, that much of the ill·health and the short career of missionary workers is avoidable, and we h been led to careful study, not only of the human body but of tl- Word of God, to see what light the Scriptures throw upon this whole question.
There are several laws which have to do with health and long life which are laid down plainly in the Scriptures.* In almost all such passages of Scripture the dominant thought is the necessity of a surrendered wm-obedience to authority-whether the authority of God, or the authority deputed by God to parents in the sphere of the family, or to magistrates or rulers in the sphere of the State, or to the anthorjties which He has instituted ana constituted for oversight in the Ohurch. A venerable physician of New York State, who has for *Compare Exodus xv: 20; Proverbs iii: 1-2; Ephesians vi: 1-3: Hebrews xiii: 17; I. Peter jj : 13-14, etc.
many years been in control of a sanitarium, has left it as his testimony that he has never known a case of disease which could not be traced to disobedience of the laws of Almighty God, of children toward parents, or of wives toward husbands, or of citizens toward constituted rulers. This may be regarded as extreme, but it serves at least to show that there is a connection between an obedient heart and a submissive will and the health of the body. Wilfulness begets unrest, and unrest is fatal to any healthy action of the human organism. A disturbed condition of the inner life betrays itself in the respiration, circulation, digestion, and in all nervous functions. Excitement quickens the breathing and the pulse, and causes nervous agitation, all of which are hindrances to assimilation of food, rest at night and calmness by day, and adds an element of unnecessary exhaustion to work which otherwise might be comparatively easy and restful. Hence insanity, which by its very term implies an unhealthy menta.l condition, is almost invariably accompanied by an abnormal wilfulness. Insane people are determined to have their own way, their insanity largely consisting in such determination, amenable to no argument from reason and no persuasion from affection. Hence the question arises whether, if the will be thoroughly surrendered to God, and broken as something laid on the altar of sacrifice to Him, it will ever be so obstinately and abnormally self-assertive in its attitude toward human beings. We can hardly imagine a child whose will has been absolutely given up to God, and has learned to merge itself completely in His good pleasure, ever resisting stubbornly and violently the reasonable commands of parents; nor can we imagine a wife as insanely determined to oppose the will of a reasonable and loving husband if she has ever, to her Oelestial Bridegroom, yielded absolutely her whole being. If there be any forms of insanity that are free from this abnormal wilfulness and unreasonable obstinacy, they must be very few; and the question has therefore arisen more than once whether obedience to God, absolute and implicit, is not, in the majority of cases, a preventive of ill health, and especially of insanity.
A second law of bodily well-being is the Law of Faith, by which is meant trust, both in the power and wisdom of God, and confidence in His fatherly love.* The depth of meaning in the nin~ty-first Psalm probably no reader has yet penetrated; there seems to be some inner chamber of close communion and fellowship with God where the darts of the adversary do not reach, and into which the most of us do not enter-where a thousand fall at our side and ten thousand at our right hand, but calamity does no~ come nigh us. If there be such an inner chamber, it is that whose door is unlocked by implicit, unhesitating faith. "My times are in. Thy hand." Weare accus- • Compare Psalm xxxi: 14-15: Psalm xci: 15-16.
NEEDLESS SACRIFICE OF HUMAN LIFE IN MISSION WORK
tomed to say that men go forth, taking their lives in their own hands, but this is not true of any humble, trusting worker of God. Our times are in God's hands, and when it is so, as John Wesley said, "I am immortal till my work is done."
Nothing can be more reposeful to a true disciple than the conviction that God is taking care of everything that pertains to his life. And, while a rational and intelligent care of health is a positive and imperative duty, we must remember that, with all such care on our own part, our ultimate dependence is both upon His provision and His protection. This conviction, when it lays hold of our deepest nature, both promotes and insures health and long life, so far as it is possible.
Freedom from Anxiety Thi;dly, the Law of Freedom from Anxious Oare is closely allied to the others, already mentioned. * There are few things that so burden and shorten human life as the carrying of care, whatever be the source or cause of anxiety. It is not work but worry that kills. And, if a true epitaph were written for many a Ohristian worker who has died prematurely, it would bear witness that the life was ended by anxiety, not by activity. Oare, anxiety, distress of mind, unsettles the whole man. It prevents, as has been said of disobedience, all normal activity both of bodily organs and mental faculties. It has been found that many of the tumors and cancers which afflict the race may be traceable to inward unrest, domestic discord or business perplexities. It seems as tho even the blood will not properly circulate when care burdens the mind. Oertainly food becomes incapable of digestion, and the stomach, of its assimilating office, under such conditions. Hence, all hurry and flurry-which are connected with "worry" by rhyme of thought as well as of words-tend to shorten as well as burden our human life. God is never in haste; His servants g~nerally are. He kept Mnses waiting forty years, after he thought the time had come, before He permitted him to undertake his great work of leadership, and he kept Paul three years in Arabia before he entered upon his great tours of evangelization. Even Jesus Ohrist Himself was in retiracy thirty years, before He undertook the tliree years of His public ministry. These are all lessons to us on the risk of undue haste. We are not, like Moses, to hurry into even our ordained work for God. Quantity is of no consequence in comparison with quality. Hence, God often keeps us many years in His preparatory school of education and discipline before He permits us to enter upon His work. We, on the other hand, are 'prone to hurry precipitately into activity, as if with an insane impression that God's work can not get along without us; and oftentimes we find that we have come to the work without the fitness for it, and become dis- .. Oompare Isaiah xxvi: 3-4; Philippians iv: 6-7; I. Peter v: 7.
couraged and disheartened. A missionary who recently died in India has written a letter in which she said: "Do not go to any foreign field until you know beyond a doubt that God is Himself sending you to that particular field at that particular time." , A fourth law is the Law of Common Sense-the avoidance of fanat- icism and folly, and the temptation to run to extremes. "Be not righteous over much; neither make thyself over wise; why shouldst thou destroy thyself? Be not over much wicked, neither be thou foolish: why shouldst thou die before thy time?" (Ecclesiastes vii: 16, 17).
This is a striking passage of Scripture. Whatever else it means, it meallS that there may be excesses not only in wickedness but in righteousness, and that both kinds of excess are folly. Of excess of wickedness, we need say nothing-it is manifestly suicidal; but that there is danger of being righteous over m'uch few people really think.
'rhey talk about the needs of the" Lord's work," and that familiar phrase degenerates oftentimes into mere cant and rant. Men and women apologize for unreasonable and excessive exertion, and care- lessly sacrifice life and health, as tho they were not intelligent and reasoning beings, for the sake of so-called « service to humanity."
Mr. H. M. Stanley has testified that from half to two-thirds of the lives sacrificed in the Dark Oontlnent are needlessly brought to a close.
He says, for instance, that 'People go to Africa from England, and in a tropical and equatorial climate eat bacon and such like substances which they could use with impunity only in such climates as that of Great Britain; or they risk prostration by a torrid sun by long walks in midday, or make their dwellings or pitch their tents in deadly, malarious districts, and expose themselves before sunrise and after nightfall to these fatal climatic influences, and then their friends wonder that they so soon fall a prey to disease and death. The Liv- ingstone College in London was established by Dr. Harford, with the little magazine that he publishes, called Climate, mainly for the sake of acquainting outgoing missionaries with climatic peculiarities and the laws of health in tropical regions. We believe that a large por- tion of the lives that have been sacrificed might, humanly speaking, have been prolonged, had it not been for gross ignorance of the laws of health or wilful transgression of those laws that were known.
We insist that whenever there is physical weakness that is consti- tutional it should go far to determine the field to which missionaries should go, or whether they should go at all. l'hose who are weak in the pulmonary system should not go where pulmonary diseases are especially prevalent. And so on with regard to other peculiarities: they may become largely signs of the will of God, making other tokens unnecessary. God does not call dumb people to speak, nor deaf peo- ple to hear, nor palsied people to walk. Part of His leading lies in the
physical and mental aptitudes required ~or a particular field of work; and, if any of His servants are engaged in work for which they seem permanently or temporarily disabled, that is all-sufficient reason for cessation from such work-at least, for a time. To prosecute activities which are exhausting and killing is madness, and can not be pleasing to God. It is not needful to be a fool because one is pious, but there is an immense amount of pious fanaticism and foolishness. We have known scores of men and women who have undertaken work for which they had been pronounced absolutely unfit, or to continue in work at a time when they were incapacitated, and we believe that such a course is indirect and virtual suicide, and is, in ordinary cases, without ade- quate apology. Sometimes it even seems to us that such Ohristian workers are guilty of a sort of practical atheism; they seem to think that God will put them iu circumstances where it is ·necessary to do that which is contrary both to common sense and to intelligent con- viction, aU of which is assuming that somehow God has either had no control over circumstances or has in some way lost such control. We- would not have any child of God care for life or health for its own sake; he should count not even his life dear unto himself; but we believe that a true piety demands that every care should be put about hU!llan life and health for the sake of-the Master and of the work in which we are engaged.
We have in mind a dear friend, greatly used of God, who has been multiplying his activities beyond the limit of human strength, and has grown rapidly aged during the ten years past. When once we took occa- sion to remonstrate with him upon his undertaking more work than _ was consistent with his stewardship of his own body, his answer was that he would rather "wear out than rust out," which drew forth a rejoinder that it is never necessary to tear out, which it seemed to us he was doing.
Men and women who have been for years growing in grace, and in knowledge and -experience, have become so enriched, and equipped in such measure for service to God, that one year is often more fruitful in real power than ten years at some previous time of life. Im- pulses become sobered, impetuosity gives place to deliberation, and unwisdom is corrected by further communion with God and with men. God means ordinarily that a life shall so accumulate power as it advances, and become a reservoir filled with knowledge and experience; and it is a pity, to say the least, to make impossible such larger, fuller, wiser, nobler service in maturer life by premature sacrifice of self, not on the divine altar of service to God, but on the human altar of excessive, fanatical, and imprudent exposure. There is need of devout prayer for a new era of greater carefulness and circumspectness even on the 4iart of disciples, that they shall value the opportunities of usefulness 1ll tbis world too highly to run needless risks, and shall consider it a
part of piety to look well after all condition.ll which secure health, prolong life, and fit one to be so strong as to bear the burdens of the weak.
We commend to special study a valuable health primer in the Long Life Series, on Brain-work and Overwork, by George Black, M.B., of Edinburgh. He brings out with unusual clearness and practical power the primary principles of construction and action which govern brain-work, and strongly emphasizes a fact of vital importance-namely, that, when the brain gives way, the fountain of vitality to the whole body runs correspondingly low. It is of the utmost consequence that brain-work shall not be so incessant as to prevent this organ from replacing the process of waste during the night's sleep and the weekly rest of the Lord's day (or of some other day kept as a day of rest when the Lord's day is one or labor), so that construction shall keep pace with destruction. If the outgo is greater than the income, even slight losses ultimately tell in serious results. The brain ueeds but to lack day by day a thousandth part of its normal recuperation to drift toward ultimate bankruptcy. The brain, merely tired, may re-form a million of atoms in a night, but, excessively exhausted, may build only fifty in the required time, and poor in quality as well as deficient in quantity.
Morever, if the brain be normal, it supplies even the diseased organs of the body with recuperative energy. But, if the fountain of energy run dry or low, every other function of the body suffers as well as the brain itself, and because the drain upon this central source of supply is so incessant for vital force to liver and heart and lungs and stomach, the brain itself is slowest to recover from all abnormal conditions.* THE FORCES WHICH ARE MOLDING THE FUTURE OF CHINA BY REV. TIMOTHY RICHARD, D.D., LL.D., SHANGHAI, CHINA For the first time in the history of the world we see the combined forces of Eastern and Western civilization meeting each other in full force, and when we are asked to say what are the forces which are going to mold the future of China we naturally conclude, on mathematical grounds, that it will be the resultant of the present forces in operation. Then what are the chief forces operating on China to-day? The most conspicuous Ohinese ones at present seem to be: I. Multiplication of the species faster than the means of supporting them; in consequence of which four millions die of starvation annually!
i. II. Refusal of all light except reflected light from the distant sages of antiquity; consequently their direct light from moon and stars , See Dr. Black's primer, pp. 51)-52.
FORCES WHlCll ARE MOLDING THE }j'UTURE OF CHINA
very dim, having no rays direct from the great sun of universal modern knowledge; so the people wander in the dark among perilous pits.
III. Arbitrary power of the authorities overriding law or any enlightened principle. 'l'he emperor is looked upon as the only infallible vice-gerent of God on earth, and the magistrates are his vicegerents, whose voice is the voice of God.
IV. Ohinese custom is the standard of morality without any progressive principle to help them, and all the world must follow Ohina or perish. They fought like uncivilized savages. 'rhus the yellow race, Ohina and Japan, has formed an alliance to resist the rising power of the white race, with the purpose of crushing it under foot.
H is true that the Ohinese have high ideals of universal peace to be attained by following the good customs laid down by the sages thousands of years ago. But they forget to make these customs keep pace with the progressive nee Is of man; consequently they have become dead fossils, while the new needs of men are left unprovided for.
Forces from the West To the Ohinese in this pitiable plight comes Western civilivation, and some of their chief factors are the following: I. Unbounded means to preserve people from abject poverty and starvation, if just distribution can be secured. God, when He created this world for man, created the world with infinite treasures and forces which are superhuman, yet to be under the control of His children. With steam and electricity, with modern mining and new industries, with railways and modern conveniences, there open up endless resources for the support of man. In the absence of anything to compete with these, we shall find in a few years the whole land tlooded with these material advantages which will be like a new creation to China. Will present Ohristendom show the way to a just distribution of this property?
II. Light from all quarters of the earth, ancient and modern, with books on the sciences, on government, on education and religion, and laboratories of which the Ohinaman ha-s never dreamed, is pouring in like a flood over China. An intelligent Ohinaman has only to walk through the classrooms and lecture-halls and laboratories cf our universities, and he at once feels that their knowledge is only the groping of children. There can not be any weighing in the balance as to the comparative merits of the two systems of education, for he at once feels that one is like electric light while the other is only a dim tallow-candle light. Hitherto mission boards have been satisfied with starting elementary schools. II they had founded only one grand university instead of the hundreds and hundreds of petty primary schools, Ohina might have been almost won to
Christ by now. Even the translation of Ij, few books, and the starting of a few daily papers with news of the rest of the world, have pro- duced wonders in creating a desire for r8form among millions of the most intelligent. We want more light for the leaders of Christ to save them from the perils of half truths.
III. 'l'he study of sociology is a new world to a Chinaman. In all lands the Western statesman comes with the experience of all lands and of all time to deal with the new problems confronting him. lIe knows the numberless social gatherings which are working out some good for their fellow men. He knows the incalculable benefit derived from the liberty of the press, from getting the views of good and enlightened people made known, from a survey of the growth and improvement of international law. But all these things are danger. ous experiments to the Chinese statesmen who will not tolerate the for- mation of societies, the publishing of any newspaper without the . sanction of the government, who regards mandarin authority like the emperor's authority, and the emperor's authority Divine-not the Pope of Rome, but the Emperor of China as the only representatiue of God on earth! Here is a field where the Chinaman will contest Western civilization at every point, and only after a fierce struggle will he ever yield. China, like Rome, dreads new light. It shatters the theory of finality.
IV. Intercourse with God becomes a new force in the formation of character. While the yellow race alliance is formed with hatred as its chief motive with organizations throughout non-Christian Asia to instil this poison of hatred for the destruction of a race that has some- thing else to guide them than mere blind following of past custom, there are those who have love and good will as the mainspring of their life, and they are organizing themselves into little societies all over China. Besides following the custom of a country which is good so far as it preserves the well-being of the country, ~hey have a Divine model to go by-monotheism versus polytheism-our Father in Heaven, Who is perfect rather than any sages, however good. The highest character must be grafted on the Divine to bring forth immortal fruit. The immanent in China as well as in Asia generally is also divine. – When we use the modern method for the development of material resources of China, when we bring the strong brain of the Chinese to look at things from a universal point of view and with a view to uni- versal good in th'~ individual, in the nation, and in the world as a whole, then shall China be redeemed by the power of an endless life brought to them by the followers of Jesus Christ.
The foreign governments are pressing for political concessions. The foreign merchants are pushing railway, mining, and other con- cessions. The Roman Catholics are urgent in persuading the Chinese that medieval Christianity had reached perfection and finality. Many
OUR OPPORTUNITY IN OHINA
Protestants are equally urgent about the perfection and finality of a Sacred Book more than the mind which was in Ohrist Jesus.
These are the main forces. And the resultant win not be the annihilation of any of these and the supremacy of any single force. Out of all the contrast between East and West and out of the excellencies of each of the forces there will arise a Kingdom of Heaven which the Ohinese sages and the Hebrew prophets outlined, and which Jesus Ohrist came to fulfil. When enlightened Ohristian leaders fully understand the magnitude of the task committed to their care, the gathering up of all truth, Eastern and Western, ancient and modern, and when they are prepared to free themselves from medieval and Reformotion narrowness as well as from Asiatic exclusiveness, and from everything that is temporary or local, it will not be something less than the kingdoms of this world but far greater-worthy of the homage of all rulers, the glory of the whole earth, that will stand out revealed before men as the great resultant-viz., the great work of redemption wrought by God's providence over all mankind.
If we want Ohina delivered from itself and from injuring the world the mission boards should have a few advanced statesmen also on each board; then even the present forces at our disposal could be made to be tenfold more effective! teJzfold more ~tJective!! TENFOLD MORE EFFECTIYE ! I !
OUR OPPORTUNITY IN CHINA BY REV..JAMES SIMESTER, FOOCHOW, CHINA Methodist Episcopal Mission, 1896- Ohina is the center of the world's thought to-day. Oapitalists, merchants, statesmen, and warriors are all looking to that land as being of vital importance to their various interests. Railroads and mining, buying and selling, diplomacy and war-ships seem to· have the right of way just now.
What interest has the Ohristian Ohurch in Ohina, and what should be our attitude at this crucial moment? In addition to the command to go into all the world, the Ohurch has obligations in this land which must be met. True progress results only when Ohrist leads. Ohina may be covered with railroads, honeycombed with mines, the greatest commercial country in the world, with a government as good as any, yet without Ohrist these blessings would prove a CUTse. Twentiethcentury civilization is the result of Ohristianity. To give the results without the cause would be unnatural and, therefore, unprofitable. In advance of Western learning, improvements and inventions, must go the Gospel.
The achievements of Ohristian missions in the past make the obligation still more binding. Experience has shown that the Ohinese
can be saved. One hundred and twenty.five thousand baptized Prot· estant Christians, with as many more probationers or inquirers, attest the success of past efforts. The loyalty of the native Christians dur- ing the Boxer uprising of 1900 attests the thoroughness of the work done. Schools of every grade have been established, and have every- where surpassed the expectations of the most optimistic. Printing- presses are paying their own way, and hospitals are everywhere a wel- comed blessing in a land where disease is common and the art of heal- ing practically unknown.
But every converted Chinese means half a dozen awakened,and every church built means several new fields opened. The schools have awakened a more general and more intense desire for learning, and the presses have created a desire for literature impossible to estimate.
Some Speci~l Opportunities 1. Four hundred and six millions of people open to the Gospel. Ten years ago there were nine hundred walled cities of China the missionary was forbidden to enter, and in five whole provinces missionary work was practically unknown. Now the missionaries have entered every province, and the gates of every walled city swing wide open to the messengers of God.
This vast population is practically a unit. There is no North and South in China, no race problem or intermingling of different nationalities. The Ohinese, whether found in Pekin or Canton, in Kiangsu or Sz-chuan, are fundamentally homogenous. Intellectually and morally the Chinese are the best people in the heathen world. The mis· sionary of the Cross may go anywhere among this people, great in numbers, in attainments, and in possibilities, and deliver his message unopposed.
2. Two hundred and fifty thousand people who might be reached within a year if we had the men to reach them; that is, in every land where missions have be_en established there are those who have given up their faith in heathenism and are open to conviction, but are not yet sufficiently enlightened to accept Christianity. A conservative estimate of this class of men in China is two hundred and fifty thousand.
3. Schools. The desire for Western education is becoming wellnigh universal. The government wants Confucius schools, but the people evidently want Christian schools, for the government schools are poorly attenlled, even tho the students are paid for coming, while the Ohristian schools are crowded to their utmost_ capacity, even tho students have to pay all or part of their expenses. During the past five years more students have been turned away from the Christian colleges in China than have been admitted, and this because of the lack of buildings and teachers. Intermediate schools are many and crowded, but the demand for more is far greater than the possibility
1904J BABISM: A FAILURE
of supply with our present force of workers. Ten thousand day- schools could be opened within a month if we had enough teachers and the money to support them. The Church of Chrjst bas the oppor- tunity of educating the next generation of Chinese. If neglected now the opportunity may never occur again, and the evangelization of China will be incomparably harder.
4. Medical work. China's millions, covered with diseases loath-"
some to the eye and painful to the sense, have begun to realize the efficacy of foreign medicine, and welcome the medical missionary to shop and home.
5. Literature. The desire for literature has grown to such an extent that every Christian press has more work than it can well do, and twice the num ber is needed, or the present plants should be strength- ened and enlarged. • 6. Work among women. While all that precedes refers as well to the work among women as among r,nen) the degraded position of woman in Eastern lands makes the opportunity for her elevation all the more important. Fathers are sending their girls to our Christian schools in large numbers, and the women who go into the homes with the Gospel for women were never so welcome as now.
The greatest field in the world is white to the harvest. "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborer's into his harvest," Perhaps he will send you, or will ask you to help him send.
BABISM: A FAILURE-I BY REV. S. G. WILSON, TABRIZ, PERSIA Author of ., Persian Life and Customs"
Babism, or Bahaism, proclaims itself a new revelation, and has been heralded by some as a great reform. What has it revealed either of truth or of law? What has it proposed or accomplishea in the way of reform? An examination of Babism will show that neither as a revelation nor as a reform does it deserve a high place among the world's religions.
Theologically Babism is a chaos of Divine manifestation. It has developed and set forth certain doctrines of Shiahism-as, for example, that of the Imams-as manifestations of the Divine attributes and of the Mehti, and certain tenets of the Ismielis and Sufis as to the incarnation of the Divine Will or Reason. In the course of sixty years !!everal claimants to the rank of manifestations or incarnations of God have risen among them. The original founder, Sayid Ali Mohammed (1844), was for three years only the Bab (or Door) of communication with the absent Imam. He then became the Imam Mehti or the Imam Hussain, then the N1~kta or Point of Divine Unity, the center of the circle of existence. After his martyrdom in Tabriz, his
TilE MISSIONABY REVIEW OF '1'lIE WOBLl>
appointed successor was 8ubh-i-Azal or Hazreti Azal (the Dawn of Eternity, or the Lord, the Eternal). In his day there was a "chaos of Divine manifestations," viz., Hazreti Zahib and Janab-i-Azim and a number of others. Later (1864) Mirza Hussain Ali was" manifested" under the title of Baha-Ullah, the" Splendor of God," and supplanted his half-brother Azal, who has lately died in Cyprus. The rank assigned to Baha is evident from a remark made by one of his friends to me: "He is very God of very God, the everlasting Father." An enemy has said: "Baha is not content with being God, he must needs be a creator of Gods." Since he "ascended"-that is, left his mortal body (1892)–his son Abbas Effendi, not content with being" the Son of God" * and with posing as the Master, Jesus, to Christians, and as the Imam Hussain to Shiah Moslems, is forcing a new schism by int.rodncing a new revelation and announcing" I am the manifestation of God. My paps are full of the milk of Godhead; whoever will, let him come aild suck freely." In these quickly succeeding dispensations, salvation-said to be-is by faith in the manifestation.
We are also asked to believe that the holy angels and prophets have come to earth. One of my acquaintances is the angel Gabriel, another is Abbas. Baha says: "Four pmphets come with me," namely, his sons, of whom Abbas Effendi is Jesus, Mirza Mohammed Ali is Mohammed, and the other two are Abraham and Moses. Alas! that these prophets hate and curse each other. Alas! that" Gabriel" should be cursed tmd persecuted because he refuses to accept the latest emendations to the revelation.
A Kaleidoscope of Revelations Of this new revelation i.t may be said, as Jacob said of his wages, "You have changed them seven times." Not only has the Bab altered his declaration regarding himself, but Subh-i-Azal made further changes. "In the hands of Baha," says Professor Browne, of Cambridge, t "Babism has undergone important modifications, and, indeed, has become almost a new religion." Abbas gives the kaleidoscope another whirl and puts ,many of the books of his father out of sight. For example, take their relation to Shiahism. The Bab in the Beyan declares "the substance of truth 'Was confined'to the 8hiahs." Baha declared that ·the Shiahs were always heretics, but Abbas says the Shiahs were true till they gave the decree for the execution of the Bab; after that they became infidels.
The books of revelation succeed each other so rapidly as to be bewildering. The Beyan and many volumes of the Bab have long since been laid aside. Manuscript copies of it can be procured • See" Sacred Mysteries," p. 74. Chicago, 1902. t Author of "The Episode of the Nab" aud "The New History," and a special authority on Babism. The quotatious of this article aud citatiouB of historical facts are mostly from Professor Browne's translations.
BABISM: A FAILURE ·
only at a high price and in ex- purgated recensions. Baha wrote many books, and a number of them were printed in Bombay.
Now all, except the "Ketab-i- Akdas," are let alone, and their readiug is not specially recom- mended. It is rumored that Abbas is now preparing a new revelation for his followers. This will prob- ably be adapted for exportation into the United States!
The Bahais profess to recei ve the previous Scriptures, the Old and New Testaments, and the Koran. They are very familiar with them but use a system of ABBAS EFFENDI , • (Gusn-i-Azam) or Abdul-Baha_ By Persian Bablsts allegorical interpretatIOn whereby he is looked upon as an Incarnation of HUBslan, they can be made to mean any- ::~:~hAmerlcan followers as Christ returned thing. Thus, the day of resur- rection is interpreted as the day in which a founder of a new dispen- sation was manifested. The resurrection of Jesus is called the time when the mission of Mohammed began. The prophecy that Christ will "come in the clouds" is in- terpreted to refer to His human- ity, which conceals His divinity as in a cloud.
What the Bahais believe about the futnre life is a puzzle. I have asked several men who have known the Bahai manifestations. and who have read their revelations, and one said: "In the last analysis they reject the future life." An- other said: "They believe in the transmigration of souls." A fer- vent Bahais of the old school said: " We believe in a future state so unthinkably ecstatic that if its joys were now revealed to men MIRZA MOHAMMED ALI they would commit suicide to (Gusn-I-Akbar), a younger son of Baha U llah, wbo hasten their entrance into it." maintains bla fsther's supremacy The subject remains obscure to European investigators. After twenty years of questioning them, I believe they have no definite teachings on the subject. Some believe
in a future paradise, Qthers in" rijat," Qr return, to. earth as men. Oertain it is, hQwever, that they reject the dQctrine Qf the resurrectiQn Qf the bQdy and Qf the day Qf judgment.
Babism nQt Qnly dQes nQt claim fQr its fQunders the PQwer to. wQrk miracles, but they reject thQse Qf Ohrist and Qf the prQphets. One Qf their preachers strenuQusly argued with me that Ohrist did not give sight to. physical eyes, but simply Qpened the eyes Qf their understanding. He did not raise the dead, but simply" awakened the dormant spiritualities Qf mankind." A sectiQn Qf the Tarikh-i-Jadid is devQted to the denial and refutatiQn of miracles. A blind man in Teheran sent to. Baha, praying that his eyes might be opened. He received answer that it was fQr the glQry Qf GQd that he remain blind. The Bab, at his examinatiQn in Tabriz, was asked to. restore the sick MQhammed Shah to health. He replied: "It is nQt in my PQwer, but I can write two. thQusand verses a day. Who. else can do. that?" Thus he appealed not simply to the quality Qf his PQetry, as did MQhammed, but also to its quantity as a prQof Qf his manifestation. He is said to. have cQmpQsed a million verses, but critics find them faulty in style and grammar, and painfully obscure. In like manner manes, in Qld times, painted pictures in his book, and appealed to. them as a prQQf Qf his inspiratiQn.
Nineteen the Sacred Number This new dispensatiQn makes much Qf the symbQlism Qf numbers, especially Qf the number 19, which is the sum of the numerical value of the letters Qf the Arabic wQrd vahid (unity), and is also. the number Qf letters in " Bism ullah 'ir rahman ir rahim" (In the name Qf God, the cQmpassionate, the merciful). Had the fQunder been content with making a new alphabet of 19 letters, and a new script which nQbody uses, and with chQQsing 19 chief disciples, whom he named by the 19 letters, and with dividing the new revelatiQn into. 19 bOQks Qf 19 chapters each, we shQuld have regarded it all as a harmless fancy; but when he builds the calendar Qn this number, it makes us certain that the GQd Qf Babism is not the GQd Qf Nature. A month Qf 19 days cQrresponds to nQthing in heaven abQve or Qn the earth beneath, and 19 such mQnths still leave fQur Qr five intercalary days to. make up the solar year. Nineteen new names are revealed fQr these days, each being an attribute Qf GQd, the same serving for the months. A sacred cycle is 19 years, after which periQd the furniture Qf every house shQuld be renewed. According to. this rule, I saw a strict Bahai dispose of a carpet softened with age and buy a new Qne with glaring colQrs. The year is made to. begin with the vernal equinQx, in accQrdance witllthe sensible habit of the fire-worshipers, and frQm this date the Bab and Baha bQth fix their manifestations. Lately the number 9 (the sum Qf the letters of Baha) is being treated as mQre sacred than the number 19.
BABISH: A FAILURE 95'
Such are some of the doctrines and peculiar ideas of the Bahais. Where is their superiority over Christianity or Islam? In what are they even original, and where is their utility? The number 19 was already regarded as the number of the Divine Unity by the Persian mystics, and especially by Sheiph Muhiyyu-i-Din, a Sufi teacher of the twelfth century. The Zoroastrians had named the months for the angels. 'rhe titles, "Bab" (Door) and "Baha" (Light)-have been frequently used. Not to speak of Him who said "I am the door" and" I am the light of the world," there are four celebrated Babs of the Imam Mehti in Shiah history, and a pseudo Bab was put to death in the tenth century. The symbolism and incarnations, or manifestations, are nothing new in Persia. They are found among the Ismielis, Assassins, Ali-Allahis, and others. The veiled prophet Mukanna and Bubak and numerous pretenders have declared themselves God. Persia never lacks for an incarnation or two.
One of these, of the Ali-Allahi sect, arrived in Tabriz some years ago, and made an appointment to visit me at three o'clock in the afternoon. My samovar was set to boiling, and I awaited his arrival. But he failed to keep his engagement because the governor-general, the Amir-i-Nizam, heard of his presence in the city, and this God fled, forgetting to send word that he could not fulfil his engagement. The Mutazilites rejected miracles, and some of them taught, as do the Ali- Allahis, the transmigration of souls. In the denial of the resurrection the Bahais have many predecessors. The Persian Mani, the founder of Manicheism, announced his mission at the age of twenty-four, as the Bab did, and on the Festival of Noruzako he invented a new script and named his books after the letters of the alphabet; he also objected to miracles. Thus, Babi ideas have no more a claim to originality than to truth.
Babism's Ritualistic Spirit If we tUrn from doctrines to rites and ceremonies, we do not see any adequate reform of Moslem ceremonial law. The outward forms, such as prayer, fastinf:. pilgrimage, circumcision, etc., were explained allegorically by the Bab, but Baha has laid down a ritual on the same old lines. In most ceremonies there is only a slight modification, bui no essential difference, from Islam. Like other Oriental religions, it prescribes rules and minute regulations, instead of stating principles of worship like Christianity and leaving their application to the believing conscience.
Babism appoints three times a day for prayer with 9 Rakas (sections) instead of the five times a day of Islam with 17 Rakas. There are no public prayers, and no prayers at funerals. In Islam devotion is a strong point, formalism is its weakness. Babism lessens the amount of devotion, without getting rid of the formalism. '1'he Bahais wash the hands only before prayers, not the arms and
feet, as Moslems do. The Moslem rosary has 100 beads, the Bahai only 95 (19 X 5). On rising the Bahai should say "Allaho Abha" (God of lights, the title of Baha) 95 times, hoping to be heard for his vain repetitions. The same words are prescribed to be said on beginning a meal or any business, or as a greeting, just as the Moslem says" Bism 'ullah" (In the name of God), or "Salaam alakum" (Peace be to you). A prayer is also prescribed to be said at the time of washing the hands and face.
As a fast, Babism substitutes the last month of their year, named Ala, of 19 days, for the 30 days of Rainazan. As Christians have carnival week before :tent, following by Easter rejoicings, and Moslems have the Oruj Bayram, so the Bahais have five days of feasting before the fast, and Noruz following. Noruz is consecrated, and its ceremonies prescribed with religious sanctions. The ordinance of fasting says: "Thus ordaineth the Lord of men: abstain from eating and drinking from dawn to sundown." This abstinence includes smoking, as among Moslems. The same exceptions are made as in the Koran-that the traveler, the sick, and pregnant 01' nursing women are excused. The question naturally arises: if obligatory fasting is good, why reduce the time from 30 days to 19; if reform is the watchword, why not have the liberty of the Gospel?
Pilgrimage is retained in this so-called new revelation, and its devotees are encouraged to seek a local sanctuary. Accho (Acre), in Syria, by an undesigned ordering of the Sultan of 'Turkey, becomes the shrine. Here Baha was in exile, and is buried, and his tomb, I understand, is in the custody of Mirza Mohammed Ali, a younger brother and rival of Abbas Effendi. Hence the latter, not to be behind in this, has transferred to Accho, under his own charge, the body of the Bab, which was thrown to the dogs in Tabriz, and afterward carried to Teheran and buried there for more than half a century. Besides Accho and the various mashads or martyr-places, the Bab's house in Shiraz and Baha's in Bagdad, as the places of their manifestations, are held sacred.
Babism and Woman Let us pass to the test question of how Bahaism treats women. It is not gr"eat praise to say that in this there is an advance on Mohammedanism, tho it is far behind Christianity. I have seen no evidence that Babi doctrine teaches communism of wives. Incidents leading to this conclusion may doubtless be credited to the sinners among the Babis. Babism forbids temporary marriage and concubinage and polygamy, which are allowed by Shiahs. It allows bigamy, however.
Baha had two wives at one time, by each of which he had children. When Abbas' mother died, he again joined a "partner" to his remaining wife, thus being a bigamist twice over. The" branches" (broth. ers) who are now quarreling are from. different mothers. Marrhtge
A NEW SECT IN INDIA
among Bahais is on a low Oriental plane. Divorce is allowed at the option of the husband, even for frivolous cames, such as a quarrel. . The parties are recommended not to marry inside of a year, that, if possible, their hearts may be reconciled. The dowry d the divorced wife is a mere pittance of 19 miscals of gold (about $50) in the city, and 19 miscals of silver ($2.00) in villages. If the husband leaves home and neglects to send word or means of support to his wife for one year, she is free to marry another man. Early marriages are discountenanced.
Women are secluded in the harems and from the society of men, as among ordinary Moslems. The historic case of Kurrat-ul-Ayn, of Kasrin, is a solitary exception. She has had no successors. Even she ordinarily delivered her lectures from behind a screen, and only occa- sionally let her veil fall aside in the presence of men when carried away by her enthusiasm. Bahais do not seem to approve of her con- duct. Several Bahai families with whom I am acquainted are allow- ing their daughters to grow up without learning to read, tho the fathers are 'teachers and are educating their sons.
Bahaism, from this view of its doctrines and rites, appears to be simply a Mohammedan sect, with no special superiority to other Mohammedan sects of past ages.
(To be concluded) A NEW SECT IN INDIA BY J. MURRAY MITCHELL, LL.D. Author of "Hinduism, Past and Present"
"Vides t1~mult1tm indies t1tmnltuosius tumultuentem." So said Luther in quaint but vigorous Latinity, when his hot battle with Rome was threatening to become still hotter. Even so may we now say regarding evangelistic work in the mission field of the East.
There is at present a great and growing restlessness among the followers of the chief Oriental religions. Even Buddhism, which seemed until of late quite asleep, is, in Oeylon at least, arming in self-defense. Still more distinctly is Hinduism awaking. We have the Brahmo- Somaj in its various branches and offshoots, and the newer and' more active Arya-Somaj. We have also a new departure in the case of those, not few in number, who seek a purified religion, but who for the most part hold that they·can sit at the feet of Ohrist, drinking in His pre· cious teaching, and yet remain in the Hindu religion. " Oome out, and be ye separate." This is, to a Hindu, perhaps, the most startling of all the Divine commands. Mohammedanism is not less agitated than Hinduism. The Babi sect in Persia is by no means extinct, altho for a time it seemed as if the creed had been quenched in blood.
In Northern India there has sprung up, of late years, a remarkable movement which has gone on steadily extending-at least, in the extreme northwest. In this paper we restrict Qurselves to a. notice of this sect.
The leader is Ghulam Ahmad, chief of the village of Qadian, in the Punjab. He is a man of considerable education, and generally receives the designation of "Mirza." He is about sixty-five years old, but is still full of activity, both bodily and mentally. His family has been noted for its attachment to the British government, and during the mutiny of 1867 his father and elder brother did valuable service in its suppression. The Mirza has been known as a religious teacher for at least twenty years, but of late he has pushed himself forward more energetically than ever.
His surname is Ahmad. This word has the same meaning as Mohammed, and the coincidence has probably had an influence on the Mirza. He calls the sect which he has founded the Ahmadiyyahafter his own name.
Altho Ghulam Ahmad never mentions the name of Mohammed without invoking the blessing of God upon him, yet on very important points he abandons the doctrine oaf the Koran, and in the eyes of a true Moslem is no mo.re than a pestilent heretic. He has had many disputations with mollas and manlavis, and in any Mohammedan state would speedily lose his head. In regard to Christ, he flatly contradicts the Korau in many points. The Koran itself unhappily denies that Christ was crucified, maintaining that he was taken up into heaven without dying; but its language regarding Him is always in the highest degree respectful. Very, very different, in many instances, is that of the Mirza. He denies Christ's power, His wisdom, and even His moral perfection. -His divinity the Mirza passionately rejects. He admits that He was crucified, but maintains that He did not die, but after the crucifixion was restored to life by the use of a wonderful medicine. He says that Christ then traveled to the East, and finally died in Kashmir, where His grave can still be seen! To a Mohammedan, even as to a Christian, all this is gross heresy.
Mohammed said that before the end of the world a truly remarkable prophet called the "Mahdi" would appear, and that finally the Messiah would descend from heaven and come to the help of the Mahdi, overwhelming all opposition. The expectation of the Mahdi's coming is deeply implanted in the Moslem mind, and the great political movements of the world have only increased the hope. We have had already several self-styled Mahdis-the one who perished at Omdurman perhaps the most remarkable, and others are doubtless still to follow. The Mirza maintains that he, and he alane, is the true ¥ahdi; but he adds that he is also the expected Messiah. He does not mean that he is in propria persona the literal Christ, but he affirms that he
is Messiah in the sense that John the Baptist was Elijah-that is, he comes in the spirit and power of Elijah.
But, it will be asked, what proof can the man give in support of his amazing pretensions? He sometimes quotes the Christian Scrip- tures in their support. We shall give no examples. We have no heart to repeat his shocking misrenderings and misunderstandings of sacred texts. But he professes to have various proofs. One of these is his pro- phetic gift. He foretells; he foretells sometimes good and sometimes evil. In many cases he has predicted the early death of individuals obnoxious to him, but as his anticipations have sometimes proved false his ingenuity has been sorely taxed to show how he had mis-· taken the Divine will. He has also predicted blessings as about to descend on the heads of his favorites. In particular, he has foretold the birth of sons; but when daughters came instead, and the disap- pointed father's disgust was great, the Mirza, clever as he is, was per- plexed, and we may suppose that he has now become more chary in his vaticinations.
The Mirza vehemently assails the monogamy which Ohristianity enjoins. He does not seem to be aware that some other systems of belief-Zoroastrianism, for example-restrict a man to one wife. He asserts that the practiso of monogamy is the occasion of many fearful evils, and he points triumphantly to polygamy as practised by Hebrew saints of old. He also dwells with terrible earnestness on the fearful evils which he sees both in the Ohristian and the Moslem communi· ties. In this he would have much sympathy from all true Ohristians, if the condemnation were not made in such tremendously sweeping terms. Thus he dwells on the drunkenness, the gambling, and the uncleanness which exist; and we h:ilve U great thoughts of heart" as we read his burning words. But, with characteristic rashness, he goes on to reason thus: Christ can not be alive, or He would never allow His religion to sink so low. The argUl'll.:mt is naught; but alas! that this man should have been able to employ it!
The Ohrist.ians in the Punjab are discussing the question: Is the Mirza a conscious imposter, or does he really believe in himself? Or is he insane? So far as we can see, he does believe in himself; but no man could speak and act as he does unless he were .partially insane.
Meanwhile, his efforts to propagate his creed are earnest and incessant, He has a press at Qadian, and he publishes in Arabic or English a vast number of books and tracts. Here on our table, ~or example, are a good many numbers of a monthly magazine in English, extending to full forty pages Bvo, which is called the Rem'ew of Religions. ,Hois thirst for notoriety seems insatiable. He is anxious that his claims should be acknowledged in America; and it is said he has challenged, or is about to challenge, Dr. Dowie, of Ohicago, to a discussion. A singular form it would be of the immemorial struggle between East
J,tnd West. Dares would beat Entullus black and blue, and so would Entellus, Dares. 'fhey would demolish each other. So far well; but, on th8 whole, the spectacle would not be edifying; and as Dr. Dowie seems the less mad of the two, he will probably refuse the challenge.
What is to be the final issue of the movement? It has done harm; how long wi1l it continue to do so? Dr. Griswold, of the Forman Oollege, Labore-whose very useful tract lies on our tabie-believes that in all India the followers of the new sect may amount to about ten thousand, illc}uding men, women, and children. The leader him- self would rate tuem at a much higher figure.
The Mirza is about sixty-five years of age. He may live for ten years-perhaplil more, Wben he dies, what then? His claims are at once exploded, his name becomes a byword, and the movement col- lapses. What will becom3 of his followers? Probably some will return to Islam. Dr. Griswold, however, informs us that, among those who were at one time under the Mirza's influence, several have found their way into Ohristianity. That transition will be far more easily made when this extraordinary man is finally dead and gone.
Only one word more. In these perilous times, when false prophets . are so eager in spreading abroad destractive error, what is the duty of the Ohurch of Ohrist? Surely a new departure is needed-fresh energy and effort in proclaiming Ohrist. When, when will the Ohurch lay to heart the great words: "Preach the Gospel to every creature" ?
~ CHURCHWITII A MISSION TO THE NEGLECTED BY J. TAYLOR HAMILTON, D.D., HERRNHUT, GERMANY Member of the Moravian MiSsi,m Board, and author of " A History of Moravian Missions"
When the University t)f 'Prague ranked after Paris, Oxford, and Bologna, then Bohemia and Moravia were lands of larger significance, than now. It was in that era, in 1457, that certain followers of John Hus, weary of the appeal to anns, sought opportunity to live out the principles of their national reformer in the quiet of obscurity, content to ignore the political issues for which their compatriots had been contending. Tho their pious aims involved a practical break with Rome, King Podiebrad was at fiJ;st disposed to toleration, for the land needed rest, and toleration at first suited the crafty primate-elect Rokycana. Thus the Unity of the Brethren was enabled to perfect its organization. In 1467 Stephen, a bishop of the Austrian Waldenses, imp~rted episcopal consecration to certain ministers of the Brethren at the request of their synod, and they steadily gained in numbers through the attractive power of unfeigned piety, simplicity of Scriptural doctrine, and fidelity of discipline.
Prior to this the king and the archbishop had already changed front. Gregory, a nephew of the latter and a leader of the Brethren,
A CHUROH WITH A MISSION TO TIlE NEGLECTED
had been stretched on the rack in Prague. Now arrests became frequent, and conventicles were inhibited. With the closing of their churches, the Brethren betook themselves to the forests-even in the depth of winter, the last man in parties that sought the rendezvous dragging after him a branch to obliterate their footprints in the snow. " Under following sovereigns persecutions were repeatedly inaugurated. The periods of respite were brief. Yet the Brethren persisted-nay, they throve. Men and women of rank became identified with them. Gindely, a Roman Oatholic historian, with reference to this period writes: "The B;ethren hung together like an unbroken chain, from the royal palace to the humblest cottage." Moreover, after the promulgation of the Edict of St. James, in 1508, which aimed at their utter extinction, God interposed so markedly, bringing their foremost persecutors to an untimely and violent end, that the saying arose: "Is anyone weary of life? Let him lay his hand upon- the Picards "-i.e., the Bohemian-Moravian Brethren.
Growth of the Moravian Church Thus originated in what are now Austrian lands an evangelical Ohurch of German and Slavonian stock, whose history was to be broadly comparable to that of the Lollards, the Huguenots, the Wal- / denses, and the Salzburger, tho possessing distinctive features of its own. By the year 1517 it numbered more than four hundred par- ishes, with a membership of from one hundre-d and fifty thousand to two hundred thousand souls. Noble families like those of Kostka, Pernstein, Krajek, Waldstein (Wallenstein), Sternberg, Zerotin~ Bosko- wic, and Kaunitz, took pleasure in placing financial resources at its disposal. The product of its presses testified to the diligence and scholarly ability of its clergy. Of the sixty works of importance pub- lished in &hemia during the years 1500 to 1510, at least fifty were published by the Brethren.
Meanwhile they sought to fraternize with evangelicals everywhere. Waldenses from &andenburg entered into correspondence with their Executive Council, and, subsequently migrating to Moravia, joined them to the number of several hundred. Two of their leaders as dep- uties visited- the Waldenses of Italy and France, at Florence becoming sorrowful witnesses of the martyrdom of Savonarola. An intimate correspondence was afterward maintained with confessors in Italy and , France.
Naturally they followed with keen interest the movement in Wit- tenberg, and welcomed with gladness the light kindled there, and in Strasburg, and in Geneva. Frequent deputations were sent from Bohemia to Luther and Bucer and Calvin lnd their coadjutors. Friendly relations were established. Luther consented to write a Preface for the German translation of their Confession of Faith of 1532,
printed in Wittenberg in 1533, and similarly prepared the Preface for their Confession and Apology, which appeared at Wittenberg in 1538. The Strasburg reformers, Calvin then sojourning in that city, displayed special friendliness to the deputy who visited them in 1540, and on his return to the special sphere of his labors the Genevan embodied in his discipline features which he had admired in that of the Bohemian-Moravian Brethren.
But dark days supervened for this Church, devoid as it was of legal status in the lands of its origin, owing its safety, indeed, largely to the independent jurisdiction enjoyed by its nobles in virtue of tbeir feudal prerogatives. The disastroUliI issue of the Smalcaldic War furnished King Ferdinand I., their bitter enemy, with the pretext he desired. During the war a league had been formed, having in view religious liberty, the rights of the aristocracy, and a diminution of the royal power. The disaster at Miihlberg left these confederates at the mercy of their king. Some were condemned to death, others were stripped of their estates. Leitomischl, the chief seat of the Brethren, and Turnau, Reichenberg, and Brandeis on the Elbe, other important centers of their work, were transferred from the dominion of nobles favorably disposed, and bec.ame property of the crown-to suffer accordingly. A royal edict interdicted the worship of the Brethren. Confiscations, fines, and ill treatment drove Plany into exile, Prussia and Poland in particular being sought by the refugees. By a dastardly treacherous scheme the person of Bishop John Augusta, who stood at the head of the Executive Council of the Brethren, was seized. For sixteen years he languished in prison under particularly cruel treatment, being several times subjected to exquisite torture.
Persecution spread the Church instead of suppressing it. Where the exiles gathered, especially in Poland, new centers of influence arose. Polish magnates, after conversion, extended to them powerful protection. Thus a thirrl province of the Brethren's Church came into existence, and the Brethren became a factor in the religious de· velopment of the Polish kingdom. Here they sought to foster unity among Protestants, and an approach to federation was achieved at the Synod of Sendomir in 1570. With the Reformed they stood jp close fellowship.
Meantime the accession of Maximilian II., in 1564, aroused new hopes in the Bohemian and Moravian branches of the Unitas Fratrum. But his was a vacillating course, and their hopes failed of realization. Yet the Brethren remained steadfast in the fulfilment of their oolling, steadily gaining in numbers a.nd in influence, and in 1593 giving to their country the literary work which constitutes their most enduring memorial-the Kralitz Bible, translated from the original tongues of Holy Writ, and still the standard Bible for Bohemia. Not until the Bohemian Charter was wrested from Rudolph II., in 1609, did their
A CHURCH WITH A MISSION TO THE NEGLECTED
Ohurch obtain a legal status. Bohemia was now overwhelmingly evangelical, not more than one-tenth of the population adhering to the faith and practise of Rome. But the counter-reformation had been set on foot. Jesuit influence was already fermenting. Rudolph's successor, Matthias, was encouraged to ignore the rights of the Evangelicals. He foisted upon the Diet as King of Bohemia his cou.sin, Ferdinand of Styria, who when but twenty years of age had vowed in the Chapel of the Virgin, at Loretto, to extirpate Protestantism throughout his hereditary dominions, and had kept that vow. Repeated violations of the charter followed. Inevitable revolution came to a head with the hurling of Ferdinand's viceroys from the windows of the council-room of the Hradschin at Prague. Then followed the ill-advised election of Frederick of the Palatinat~, Bohemia's" winter king." The awful catastrophe of the Thirty Years' War was precipitated upon the German Empire.
After the defeat of the Evangelicals on the White Mountain, three miles west of Prague, in November, 1620, Bohemia lay at the mercy of :Ferdinand 11., and his mercy was implacable severity itself. A systematic uprooting of Protestantism in Bohemia and Moravia, which has its parallel only in the story of the Huguenots, together with the miseries of the war, reduced the population of Bohemia from about three millionI) to about eight hundred thousand. Moravia suffered similarly. Industry and enterprise were blighted for centuries. The nationallife suffered degeneration. By the operation of the dragonade, confiscation, and banishment, Protestantism seemed to have been -suppressed. When the Treaty of Westphalia made provision for the Evangelicals of the empire in general, Bohemia and Moravia were left unconditionally in the hands of Ferdinand IlL, a man after his father's own heart.
This outcome was a terrible blow to the exiles, who had hoped against hope that some day their fatherland might accord them .a welcome. It almost broke the heart of Amos Oomenius, now their leading bishop. Their chief seat at this time was the town of Lissa, in Poland. Nor was this the end of sorrows. In 1656 Lissa, which had been occupied by the Swedes, was taken and burned by the Polish confederates. After the loss of their ecclesiastical center, the Brethren, even more than other Protestants, were made to feel the heavy hand of General Ozarniecki. Their ministers were subjected to cruel tortures. 'fhousands of their members fled-to Silesia, Saxony, Brandenburg, and Holland. Tho Lissa rose from its ashes, and altho their episcopate was maintained in hope against hope, their Polish and Prussian congregations for the most part gradually lost denominational identity, being merged with those of the Reformed. Only a few survived to the eighteenth century-chiefly in Posen.
However, the counter-reformation had not absolutely eradicated
this church of reformers before the reformation in Bohemia and Moravia. A" hidden seed" survived, consisting of such who cherished the writings of Hus and of Oomenius, and who secretly perpetuated the memory of their fathers by holding conventicles and i-mplanting in their children loyalty to the Bohemian Bible. Their number, like that of the faithful in Israel who refused to bow the knee to Baal, in fact exceeded the common estimate. For when, in 1783, Joseph II. issued his Edict of Toleration, granting religious liberty nnder certain restrictions, one hundred and fifty thousand Bohemians and Moravians came forward, desirous to be known as members of the Unitas Fratrum. These, however, were by special decree excluded from the benefits of ,the edict. Not until 1880 were spiritual sons of Luke, of Prague, and Augusta and Blahoslav and Oomenius granted liberty of worship in Austrian lands.
Meanwhile, in the providence of God, a wonderful provision had been made whereby a remnant of this persecuted Church might fulfil its special calling in a manner serviceable to Ohristendom.
Christian David and Count Zinzendorf During the latter part of the second and early in the third decade of the eighteenth century a powerful revival of religion was experienced by the families of descendants of the Brethren in a group of villages of Moravia known as The Kuhlandel. It was precisely for the "hidden seed" of this portion of Moravia that Oomenius had prepared a catechism, which formed one of his last literary works, in the hope of thereby promoting the fulfilment of his own fervent prayers for the resuscitation of his Ohurch. 'rhe chief human agent in this revival was Ohristian David, a converted Roman Oatholic carpenter, who had found a home in Silesia, but who repeatedly risked imprisonment and worse, in order to minister to his own countrymen in Moravia. Priestly tyranny applied the argument of the dungeon and of fines, but in vain. Yet altho the renewed life was not to be suppressed, it longed for free expression.
At this juncture Christian David met the pious young Oount Zinzendorf, whO', on attaining his majority, with the acquisition of a landed estate in Saxony, desired to effect a work in Upper Lusatia patterned after that of Francke and his associates in Halle. Tnese plans of the young nobleman were, however, providentially diverted. In response to the pleas of the evangelist, he promised a temporary asylum to religious refugees from Moravia. Of this offer the family the Neissers, a party of ten in all, first availed themselves at Whitsuntide, 1722. Fleeing on foot, under yover of night, to elude the vigilance of their oppressors, they reached Saxony in safety. Their new home was reared beside the highway from Lobau to Zittau, when it passed through what was then an unimproved wilderness forming
A CHU.KCH WITH A MISSION TO THE NEGLECTED
part of Zinzendorf's· estate. During the ensuing years several hun- dred of their awakened compatriots joined them, abandoning the comforts of a modest competence and remunerative occupations for conscience'sake. Their incipient town received the name of Herrnhut (The Lord's Watch). Hither many p,arnest men and women were also attracted from various parts of Germany, adherents of various creeds, but alike seekers after righteousness. Meanwhile the pious aims of their patron were thwarted. On the other hand, the responsibility he recognized in relation to his new vassals, and the pain he felt at the disagreements which arose in regard to faith and discipline, by reason of tha diverse elements which met in the population of Herrnhut, led him to resign his office at the court in Dresden that he might devote himself wholly to the spiritual welfare of this people. Removing to Herrnhut during the first half of the year 1727, he devoted his time and energies wholly to this task. By laboring personally with individuals, he induced agreement to rules and regulations for the ordering of religious and municipal life. Much study was given to the Scriptures, especially the First Epistle of St. John. A spirit of fervent intercession characterized the early summer. Honest recognition of spiritual pride and of mutual lack of charity was followed by unfeigned self-humiliation and a drawing together of hearts. These experiences culminated in a gracious revival, whose climax was reached in a celebration of the Lord's Supper at Berthelsdorf on the 13th of August. Thenceforth the people of Hernnhut were a changed people. Descendants of the old Brethren's Church and representatives of other confessions were fused together in one spirit. Personal assurance of acceptance with God, throngh the atoning merits of the Redeemer, wrought a profound conviction in these men and women that their lives should be placed unreservedly at the Lord's disposal to work out His will. Zinzendorf came to realize that his life-work must be identified with them, that essentially the spirit of purposes cherished by him from childhood was meant of God to receive realization through the abandonment of his own plans for activity in conjunction with these people. His recognition of God's leading cost him exile, and involved the subordination of family life and of the private interests of his family, as well as the placing of his property, in addition to his time and talents, at the disposal of the Church.
Reaching Out Into Regions Beyond It was impossible that a city set on a hill, as was Herrnhut, where all phases of life were dominated by a joyous religion.-for cheerful, not ascetic, industry characterized the place-should remain hidden. Affiliations were established with those who longed after a betterment of religious life in various European lands, especially where Pietistic institutions had prepared.the way. Student organizations in personal
touch with Herrnhut, especially at the University of Jena, deepened the significance of the movement set on foot by the flight of the exiles from Moravia. Moravian evangelists were welcomed in various lands, the more so because they aimed at promoting spiritual life without detaching any .from membership in state churches. The work thus inaugurated yet remains an agency for incalculable good. Many more persons are to-day ministered to by the Diaspora missionaries of the Moravion Church on the Continent of Europe than are carried in the lists of its communicant members. Moreover, the reflex influence of this contact with and labor for other divisions of evangelical Christendom has caused the modern development of the Brethren's Unity to differ in various respects from the Unity as it existed before, altho its essential spirit remains very much the same.
With the Danish court, Count Zinzendorf stood in relations of personal intimacy. In the month after the culmination of the revi val at Herrnhut he sent two Brethren to confer with pious members of that court, and on returning they brought with them a manuscript account of Egede's labors in Greenland. Even in his scho~ days Zinzendorf had contemplated the inauguration of missions to the heathen. In February, 1728, a memorable day of prayer was characterized by intercessions for Turkey, Africa, Greenland, and Lapland. Twenty-six unmarried men thereupon made it an object of study how they should prepare for service among the heathen when the Lord's call came. The indication of His will was given in connection with Zinzendorf's visit to Copenhagen in 1731, to be present at the coronation of King Christian VI. Returning with the story of Hans Egede's comparative failure, and presenting the needs of the negro slaves in the West Indies, he powerfully moved the hearts of many in Herrnhut on July 23d. Next day two young men volunteered to go to the negroes, and their example was followed by that of two who volunteered for Greenland. In the event Leonard Dober and David Nitschmann set ont for the West Indies on August 21, 1732, and Matthew and Christian Stach and Christian David left for Greenland on April 10, 1733.
Some Notable Features of Moravian Work Within ten years from the sailing of the pioneers, Moravian missions had been attempted also in Dutch Guiana, Lapland, at the Cape of Good Hope, among the Christian slaves in Algeria, among the Samoyedes of Arctic Russia, and in Ceylon. And in 1735 pioneers were sent to the Indians of North America (Georgia). Not all these missions attained permanent success, but even in these years of experiment several features are exceedingly suggestive.
First, a revival of vitaJ evangelical religion gave birth to the enterprise. The vitally evangelical is evangelistic in virtue of inner neces-
A CHURCH WITH A MISSION TO THE NEGLECTED
sity. With the restoration of the joy of salvation came an irresistible impulse to teach transgressors God's way. Herrnhut numbered about six hundred souls. Many of the people were very poor. The means of communication were meager. Nevertheless, obstacles were surmounteu in God's name, in recognition of the obligation of the Savior's last commandment.
Second, the message they brought was a simple but comprehensive one-redemption through the atoning life and death of Jesus. Philosophizing was avoided. Details of confessional creed were not imposed. The love of God in Ohrist Jesus was magnified, with the MORAVIAN MISSIONARY R . SCHNABEL AND SOME TIBETAN CHRISTIANS A'I' POO IN BASHARK, INDIA completeness of salvation and the obligation of manifesting grateful love to Him through obedience.
Where failure followed, in the third place, it was due rather to the opposition of nominal Christians and obstacles they placed in the way than to the heathen's lack of receptiveness or to the essential impracticability of missions.
Fourth, this was an uprising of ardent young men to meet their recognized obligation. Zinzendorf himself was only 32 years of age when he sent the pioneers; Dober was 26, Nitschmann, 35; Frederick Martin, Dober's successor in St. Thomas, 31; Matthew Stach, the first volunteer for Greenland, was only 20, and his companion, Frederick Bohnisch, 21. Ohristian Henry Rauch, who began the mission among the Mohicans of New York in 1740, was 22. Spangenberg was 34 when he led the colony to Georgia. George Schmidt, the first to carry
the Gospel to the Hottentots, was only 27, tho he had spent six years in an Austrian dungeon for conscience' sake.
Fifth, the majority of the pioneers were luoravians by birth. It was the" witness spirit," brought from lands of martyrdom and persecution, that gave impetus and persistence to the movement. It is .impossible to resist the conviction that God had wonderfully preserved and brought forth a remnant of the old evangelical Ohurch of Reformers before the Reformation, and had then endowed them with renewed life from on high, for the express purpose of recalling Ohristendom to It sense of its obligation to carry out the last command of the Lord Jesus Ohrist. The Moravian Ohurch must be a missionary church. It has no option here, and finds no merit in recognizing the law of its existence.
Indeed, to its missions it owes its perpetuation as a distinct denomination in respect to its outwarq as well as its inner life. The success of its missionaries in the West Indies confronted it with the problem of securing a ministry whose status others would recognize as conferring upon them the right to administer the sacraments to converts and perform other ministerial functions. Herrnhut itself had not yet been wholly separated from the Berthelsdorf parish of the State Ohurch of Saxony, tho its lay elders preached and exhorted and administered discipline. In 1735 the difficulty was obviated by the voluntary transfer of the episcopate of the old Ohurch of the Bohemian Moravian Brethren, which survived in the persons of Daniel Ernest Jablonski, court preacher at Berlin, and Ohristian Sitkovius, of Thorn, Superintendent of the United Reformed and Brethren's congregations in Poland. Jablonski had beeu watching the rise of ·Herrnhut with interest, and for a'number of years had been in personal touch with the Moravians there. Satisfied that they were representatives of what had been best in the old Ohurch, with the consent of Sitkovius he consecrated David Nitschmann, Dober's companion, to be bishop-primarily for the missions. Two years later Zinzendorf-who had already been admitted to Lutheran orders, after advising with the King of Prussia, whose theological examiners closely scrutinized the count's theology, and expressed their approval, and after conferring with Archbishop Potter, of Canterbury, who cordially advised the step-was himself consecrated a second bishop by Jablonski and Nitschmann, with the approval of Sitkovius.
During the fourth and fifth decades of the eighteenth century the Moravian Ohurch, as it came to be popuhirly known and was denominated in the Act of Parliament of 1749, which recognized it as an ancient Protestant and Episcopalian Church, fully established itself in England, Ireland, Wales, and the American colonies, Bethlehem in Pennsylvania becoming the headquarters for the latter. Scotland became a field of operations at a slightly later date. In the colonies
A CHURCH WITH A MISSION TO THE NEGLECTED
prior to 1756 Moravian evangelists effected affiliations with earnest men and women in Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, Pennsyl- vania, Maryland, North Oarolina, and Georgia. Indeed, scarcely a colony was overlooked in their itinerations. Yet the establishment of the denomination as such was avoided rather than sought. As on the Oontinent of Europe, so among English- speaking peoples, min- istrations were freely rendered for the pro- motion of spiritual life among existing de- nominations, not for the. spread of a new sect, and in America the conversion of the heathen Indians af- forded peculiar scope for the expenditure of energies. Successfully A MORAVIAN MISSION HOUSE AT RUNGWE, EAST AFRICA inaugurated at ·Sheko- meko, on the confines of New York and Oonnecticut, near the Stissik hills, in 1740, the Indian mission, tho repeatedly thwarted by the oppo- sition of whites, nominally Christians, and tho sadly hampered by the wars of the late colonial period and by the great struggle for Inde- pendence, prospered in Pennsylvania and in Ohio, and demonstrated the capacity of Delawares, Mohicans, and kindred tribes for Ohristian civilization, until in the closing operations of the war the d;portation of the converts from their villages along the Tuscarawas by the British, and the massacre in cold blood of a remnant of the peaceable people of Gnadenhutten by American rangers, in 1782, gave a fatal blow to the undertaking. It survived, indeed, but never regained its former pro- portions, however persistently efforts were renewed at various points.
Meanwhile, Zinzendorf's decree of banishment was revoked in 1747.
In 1755 he returned to Saxony, to make his permanent home at Ber- thelsdorf.Even in the darkest days, when the purposes actuating himself and his brethren had been most completely misunderstood, and in consequence had drawn down upon him and them obloquy and derision and something akin to persecution, he had unfalteringly per- sisted in what he knew to be his calling-the heralding of his Lord's free grace and the efficacy of His all-availing atonement. Repeated failures of plans here and there could not dampen his. zeal, nor that of his Moravian coadjutors-men of indomitable persistence.
He and they suffered providential developments to shape their policy. While a lad at school, in founding his "Order of the Grain
of Mustard Seed," Zinzendorf had covenanted with like-minded comrades in after life to labor for the conversion of the heathen, and espernally in behalf of those for whom no one else cared. Nevertheless, when shaping the missionary policy of his Moravian Brethren, he did not remain blind to the strategic value of gaining a foothold for missions among the more advanced races of heathenism. His acute perception early recognized the desirability of winning China and India and Persia for Christ, and accordingly he made efforts to establish missions in those great realms. Egypt and Turkey attracted him, and more than one negotiation was set on foot in Constantinople, and missionaries went to Egypt. But the fulness of time had not come for those lands. On the contrary, as a rule success attended the inauguration of efforts in behalf of the most degraded and neglected. So it came to pass that when Zinzendorf died, in 1760, successful missions were in operation in Greenland, among the Indians of North America, among the negro slaves of the Danish and English West Indian Islands, along the Rio de Berbice in Guiana, South America, and in various parts of the Dutch colony of Surinam. Schmidt's mission to the Hottentots had been fruitful, but had been prematurely brought to a close by white opposition.
Since Zinzendorf's death the experience of the Moravian Church has intensified this conviction of her specific calling as a missionary Church, to minister to those whom others would otherwise neglect or pass by. Meanwhile it is fully realized that this is not the part of worldly wisdom, and that in various respects, especially in connection with the development of the native church and its achievement of self-support in men and means, this apprehension of a providentially assigned duty involves peculiar difficulties. It imposes a financial burden which would be entirely beyond the strength of the Moravian Church did it stand alone, or did it receive assistance only from those associated with it in the Diaspora circles of the state churches in Europe. It compels members of the Moravian Church to recognize that their missions must remain in the highest sense a work of faith. 'rhat faith God has never put to shame.
Repeatedly heavy deficits have marked the annual closing of accounts, but after a while supplies came in. During the Napoleonic wars the home congregations were sorely impoverished. Then friends in England of every Christian name came forward and voluntarily organized" The London Association in Aid of Moravian Missions," which still maintains its marvelously liberal activity, contributing $475,000 during the ten years preceding 1899. Repeatedly unexpected legacies have been received from friends identified with other households of faith, coupled with conditions like the. following: no contraction, no retrogression, for new work, for the erection of outposts into permanent stations. The very large bequest of the late Mr. J. 'r.
A CHURCH WITH A MISSION TO THE NEGLECTED
Morton, of London, for example, which is now becoming available in annual instalments, was designed for the last named of these purposes.
Up to the year 1900 the Moravian Church· had sent out 2,604 missionaries, male and female, exclusive of a number of men dispatched in connection with the management of trades and industries undertaken for the support of the work. Since the commencement of operations, in 1732, attempts have proven unsuccessful, or after partial success have been suspended in the following fields: Lapland, among the Samoyedes, among the Calmucks, China, Persia, the East Indies, Egypt, Abyssinia, Algiers, and the Guinea coast of Africaalmost all of these suspensions dating back to the eighteenth century. During the summer of 1900, by exceedingly amicable negotiations, the transfer of the Moravian missions in Greenland to the Danish Lutheran Ohurch was effected, in order that thus a homogeneous native Ohristian church might develop the fullest measure of self-support. By a similar process the Moravian Ohqrch had a few years before taken over from the London Missionary Society its enterprise in the German colony of East Oentral Africa.
The Moravian Mission Fields At present the operations of the Moravians are carried on in Labrador, Alaska, among the Indians of North America and the negroes of the West Indies, in Nicaragua (the Moskito Ooast), Demerara, Surinam, Cape Colony, Kaffraria, German East Equatorial Africa, Australia (Victoria and Queensland), and among the TibetaDspeaking peoples of the Western Himalayas. Besides, a Horne for Lepers is maintained near Jerusalem, its management, however, being administered by a Board distinct from that which directs the affairs of the missions. The latest published statistics give the number of missionaries in the field-exclusive of members of the Board, secretaries, financial agents, etc., and those engaged in the Home for Lepers-as 397, with 47 ordained native ministers and assistant ministers. Oommunicant members of the first grade, and not under discipline, number 32,028, the total membership, reckoning in the children of communicants, the adult catechumens, and those temporarily under discipline, is reported as 96,877-and it may be added that the methods of keeping church registers are exact. Attention is everywhere paid to education, 234 day-schools being maintained, with 23,998 scholars in charge of 524 teachers. Sunday-schools are conducted as a matter of course. Normal schools exist in four mission provinces, and theological seminaries are maintained in Antigua and KafIraria.
It is recognized that while the immediate aim of all Gospel preaching is to reach the individual, the ultimate object of the evangeliza-
tion'of the heathen is to so affect the national life that it may come under the sway of Christian faith. Hence the formation of inde- pendent, self-supporting congregations is sought, administering dis- cipline for themselve;, and served by men of the native race. As a step toward this goal, the members are at an early stage urged to assist in the management of the spiritual and temporal affairs of the con- gregations by electing officers from their own number, and are taught to act as elders, teachers, and voluntary evangelists, assistants to the the missionary. In the erectiou of its missions into self-dependent churches, the Moravian Church has to face peculiar difficulties inher- ent in the racial peculiarities of her converts. In some fields she is ministering beside the death-bed of a race slowly tending to extinction. Everywhere the native pastor must prove superior to his moral and mental environment, but must, nevertheless, so identify himself with those to whom he ministers as to remain in the truest sense a man of the people. Even where the requisite moral and mental endowments can be found, it is not surprising if heredity has failed to endow him with precision and system of method so essential for the administra- tive functions of the pastorate and for successful leadership. In the West Indies a measure of success has been attained in this respect. Certain of the native t:"aits of the Kaffirs also hold out prospects of a happy solution of the problem in their land. Yet everywhere patience is demanded on the part of the home Church.
Moravian missionaries are drawn from any of the four provinces of the Moravian Church on the Continent of Europe, in Britain, or in the United States, special training being afforded in the Mission Insti- tute at Niesky in Germany, and in the British and American theolog- ical seminaries of the Church. The call to service in any case comes. from the Mission Board, and the great majority of the men and women in the field are Germans. According to the, stage of development attain'ed, each mission province enjoys greater or less autonomy within the limits of the annual budget. In some instances conferential man- agement, largely representative in character, exists, while elsewhere a superintendent possesses complete executive powers. In every instance, however, the Mission Board reserves the right of the initial call to service, the dismissal from service, the grantiug of furloughs, or of permission to retire on a pension, decision with regard to founding or .abandoning stations, and the prerogatives of a court of appeal.
The Government and Cost of Moravian Missions In its personnel the Mission Board, elected by the General Synod, meeting decennially, and constituted of delegates cho!Jen by each province of the Ohurch, represents the entire Unitas Fratrum, fOI' at least one German, one Englishman, and one American must be nominated by the respective national divisions. The remaining
A CHURCH WITH A MISSION TO THE NEGLECTED
members may be ex-missionaries of any nationality. The General Synod, which carefully reviews the missionary operations of the entire previous decade, receiving a detailed report from the Board, besides formulating general principles and giving specific directions for future guidance, elects an advisory committee of business men to assist the Mission Board in finan- cial administration,· and makes provision for annual audits of accounts. Extraordinary audits and, examination of cash balances and securities also take place from time to time. Furthermore, the Mission Board confers with the executive boards of the four home provinces of the Ohurch, and ob- tains their decision for its guid- ance in affairs of importance.
Thus the administ.ration of the missionsis brought into close touch with the life of the Ohurch as such.
To meet the cost of its under- takings – for salaries, traveling expenses, erection and mainten- ance of buildings, educational BISHOP CHARLES BUCHNER activity, pensions, education of the children of missionaries, the PreSident of the Moravian Mission Board, training of candidates, and ad- BertheJsdorf ministrative expenses, annually amounting to a total of about $422,- lOO-the Board depends on several classes of resources. All mem- bers of the Moravian Ohurch are expected to statedly contribute in proportion to ability; a pledge so to do is embodied in "The Brotherly Agreement," which forms a bond of union linking all the congregations, and assent to which constitutes a condition of reception into fellowship. Many friends beyond the limits of Mora· vian communicant membership annually employ this Ohurch as a channel through which to do their part toward the evangelization of the heathen. Without this aid, rendered liberally and appreciatively, especially in Britain and on the Oontinent of Europe, and measurably also in America, the task undertaken in obedient faith would exceed the powers of this little brigade of the army of the Oross. The inter.
est of certain funded legacies has been designated by benefactors for definite phases ot the work; in other instances the income of funds thus created is wholly at the discretionary disposal of the Board. The annual grants of auxiliary associations constitute a very important proportion of the sources of revenue, associations within; and others
beyond, the pale of the Moravian Church. The denominational auxil- – iary in Britain is especially identified with the support of the mission in Labrador; that in Holland interests itself in the work carried on in Surinam; that in the United States is specially charged with the sup- port of the Eskimo mission in Alaska, and with the missions among the Indians. Reference has already been made to the noble benefi- cence of the London association, constituted of Christians of almost every name. The Australian mission presents the features of a pleas- ing partnership, being Moravian in respect to the workers and Pres- byterian in respect to the defrayal of current expenses. Finally, a considerahle part of the income is derived from the mission fields themselves, and in a threefold manner. As early as possible the con- verts on principle are taught the obligation of systematic support of the Gospel and the privilege of free·will offerings. Hence, on the one hand, church dues are required, and, on the other hand, gifts for the evangelization of "the regions beyond" are encouraged. But, in addition, in certain fields trades and traffic are maintained for the benefit of the missions, and to assist converts by promoting habits of steady industry and by inculcating the dignity of labor. The indus- trial branch of the work is in charge of men who hold no position involving spiritual activity in the primary sense, but who are, never- theless, appointed by the Mission Board, and are understood to have consecrated their business ability to the Lord for the furtherance of His kingdom.
Moravian Missionary Ideal.
We may add in closing: Moravians do not regard their own as the ideal missionary activity. They are not wholly blind to its defects. Some of these defects they seek to rapidly remedy; perhaps certain other defects they are more cautiously trying to remove, believing that – the processes of a constructive reformation necessarily require the element of time. When others laud their missionary zeal a sense of shame can not fail to be induced, for they know how much of the praise is unmerited. Nevertheless, they would be untrue to the Lord Himself if they failed to give Him glory for so marvelously preserv- ing them among the families of God, when they appeared to be near- ing extinction, or if they were blind to that manifestation of His providence which has so unquestionably marked out for them their missionary calling. They have no option but to joyfully heed their Savior's last command, and it must continue to be both their cross and their crown to labor especially in behalf of the neglected. If they ceased to do this, not only wonld they lose their self-respect in accepting aid from others for the discharge of their own special trusts, they would deserve, and must expect, to have their candlestick removed.
SIMILARITY AND CONTRAST-CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA
SIMILARITY AND CONTRAST-CHINA, JAPAN, KOREA BY REV. GEORGE HEBER JONES, SEOUL KOREA Methodist Episcopal Mission, 1887- East Asia present~ to th!) Ohristian Ohurch a mission field second in importance to no other. Ohina, with four hundred and six millions, Japan, with fifty millions, and Korea, with ten millions of people, gt-re us agrand total embracing about one-third of the human race. '1'0 put this fact in another way: every third babe that opens its eyes in this world looks up into the face of a yellow mother and toddles about in a heathen home. Every third grave on earth is dug in yellow soil, while yellow men gather about it to grieve and lament over a soul that has gone out into a future unlit with a single ray of Ohristian light and hope.
This vast field, continental in extent, possesses some things in common. The people are one in race, o.rigin, history, civilization, and religion. In. a large sense the principles underlying the varied conditions confronting Ohristian missions are the same; that is, we find certain prevailing race characteristics, in spite of very pronounced dissimilarity in many things. It is impossible to write accurately the history of anyone of these three empires without frequent reference to the other two. They cherish in common the principle of filial piety as the corner-stone of their civilization. Oonfucins, Gautama, and the nameless myriad priests and priestesses of Shamanite spiritism have been their religious instructors. Throughout this great area the position of woman, reduced to its final analysis, is much the same. The spirit which animates law and custom speaks in the same tone, and the philosophy of life which controls individual conduct is the same. The hopes, fears, Itlld aspirations of the people are projected out in the same general direction morally. The great yellow race is ill with one malady, and it will find recovery through only one remedy -the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, while this is true as a general proposition, at the same time the individuality of the three empires is so pronounced and developed that they stand as distinctly aloof from each other as England, France, and Russia do in Europe. Note the contrast in the respective governments. In Ohina it is patriarchal in form, with the family as the model, and the action of the sovereign in the empire can not be controlled by written laws any more than it would be possible to regulate the authority of a father over his family by a written constitution in that family. Among the people the idea of equality, based on brotherhood and modified by the elements of education and native talent, is held so that the humblest Ohinese boy–:-born, it may be, in a coolie's mud hut, or cradled in a house-boat on the Yang-tse or the Min-may
rise, in spite of these, to be a Minister of State or a Viceroy. This is not true in Korea. While the Ohinese model dominates, the Koreans have added the idea of caste to their governmental system, so that the ruling class and their families enjoy privileges and powers not held by the correspondiug class in Ohina, and which are submissive of the common people's right to life and property. Japan stands to-day in -sharp contrast to the political organization of her neighbors. Her government is a copy of constitutional monarchy as it prevails among white nations, and her people enjoy that peace and security which comes from law equitably administered in the empire.
Another contrast is found in the general spirit of the people. The Ohinese from the dawn of history have been commercial and industrial in their character. They have been manufacturers, to supply the needs of the vast continental hordes under or adjacent to the dynastic rule. .They have been inventors of curious implements and laborsaving devices. They have been traders, carrying out of Ohina its products and returning with the wealth of other peoples. '1.'he cast of mind is commercial. They are a nation of merchants. On the other hand, Japan has ever adored the sword. It is the soul of the Samurai. Their history is a record of battle. The greatest national heroes are Yoritomo, a Japanese Oharlemagne, and Hideyoshi, a Japanese Napoleon, albeit both pansed short or the imperial yellow. The national sports are martial. Modern Japan, in the midst of its abounding and increasing development, preserves the graces, the spirit, and the impulses of Japanese knighthood. They are a nation of warriors. Korea is neither the merchant nor the warrior. Secure in her hills and valleys, just bending her energies sufficiently to produce enough to eat and wear, she has remained a 80rt of recluse. Study and meditation, the poetic frame of mind-these specially charm her. The national ideal is the scholar. The civil or literary nobility take precedence over the military nobles, and both are far above the merchant class. The Koreans are a nation of students. Doubtless when these peoples shall have become welded into one, it will be for Ohina to produce and conserve the vast wealth of the East, ffapan to protect and defend Oriental prestige, and Korea to preserve its literature and literary traditions.
It is to be expected that this diversity will show itself in the history of missionary propaganda in these empires. In Ohina the Ohurch has had to meet the conditions growing out of patriarchal customs complicated with intense materialism. In Japan one of the controlling factors in the situation is that esprit de corps inseparable from militarism. In Korea the prevailing characteristic proves an element of strength in the native Church. Two hundred and :fifty thousand Ohinese converts, under the banner of evangelical Ohristianity, presage the :final conversion of the empire; and if I might assume
THE BIBLE A.ND THE MISSIONA.RY
the role of a prophet, it would be to say that Ohina redeemed will yet lay on the altars of Ohrist the largest offering of material wealth, the most magnificent gift that history will ever know. In Korea the progress of evangelical Ohristianity has been rapid. In fifteen years the Ohurch has grown from a handful of about one hundred souls to a host of thirty thousand converts. Several things have contributed to this more rapid growth in Korea than in the neighboring empires. The successes of Ohrist in Ohina and Japan were not without their effect in establishing the prestige of our religion in the eyes of the Koreans. The Korean Empire is smaller in bulk than either of her neighbors, and has, therefore, gotten in motion Ohristward earlier. There has been an absence of all competition in the way of taking on the outward garb of Western civilization to the exclusion of imbibing its spirit, so that the only thing to challenge attention in Korea has been Ohrist and His Gospel. Ohristianity is the only living thing in sight. In the midst of hopeless despair there has burst into view the star of hope. To the Korean, lost in the cold, dark, arctic night of heathenism, it has come as the dawning day; therefore, he has thronged the doorways of the Ohurch, first single individuals, then in groups, and soon in throngs.
The work already done in Japan is of a lasting character. It possesses length, breadth, and depth, and is at once a presage and a preparation for the final victory. In estimating the movement of Ohristian forces in Japan, the solidarity of the Japanese nation should be reckoned with. The Japanese in great crucial tests like to mo'e as a nation. There is a wonderful power of unanimity among them which puts them into contrast with the Koreans. One of these days Japan, as a nation, will deliberately take the final step Ohristward and accept His truth as her religious faith. Ohina awaits a Ohinese Oonstantine, and when God's purposes shall have ripened He will appear and fill Ohina's laws, institutions, and customs with the spirit of evangelical Ohristianity.
. THE BIBLE AND THE MISSIONARY BY J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Bible is in a strict sense the only universal book in the world; the only ecumenical one of all human history; the only one with a world motif. This statement is formulated on two definitions of the Standard Dictionary-" Ecumenical: of or pertaining to the habitable world; universal." "Motif." subject, theme, dominant idea, or sentiment"; possibly this is included in the secondary definition of motive- " having power to move, tending to move, causing motion." Thus it is a sort of dynamic force operating on all men, in aU the world, con-
taining within itself the power of propulsion over all peoples of all time.
The sublime solitariness of this position may possibly be challenged in favor of the Koran. It would carry us beyond present limits to dispute this here; so with a recognition of it, it must be passed at the present writing. But the genius of the two in the matter of their dissemination to all the inhabitants of the world differs totally in favor of the Bible. At its earliest inception, whether by a miracle of tongues or a miracle of ears, the fundamental conception of the day of Pentecost was that in some way the Gospel was to reach men by translation into their vernacular, and everyone "hear in their own tongue the wonderful works of God." It is the motif of the Bible that within the past century has expanded the translations of the Bible from fifty to four hundred, till all the great languages of the world have the whole Bible, defining "a great language," as Canon Edmonds does, as one spoken by not less than ten millions of people.
In distinction from this, the practical eXI-osition of the Koran for a thousand years has shown that the men who ,have drunk deepest of its spirit hold that its text is untranslatable, and any attempt to put it into writing in any other vernacular is a folly and a crime; its very motif is prohibitive of translations. The primary evidence of its inspiration is that it is written in Arabic of such perfection that no mortal can produce the like. The miracle of the text is the evidence of its divinity-evidence necessarily of no avail to the bulk of man- kind. It also carries with it the assumption that the Koran is the least translatable book in the world, which is the fact, while the Bible is the most translatable book in the wQrld.
The modern movement in India which antagonizes this centuries- old Moslem orthodoxy now demands translations of the Koran as essential to competition with ecumenical Christianity. It is discerned that the Christian concept, that all men must have the most hallowed things out of heaven in ~'the tongue .i.n which they were born," has in it the essential elements of final triumph over all competitors. It is worth emphasizing that the movement toward world translations of the Bible, is an evolution of the book itself.' • It is remarkable that this dynamic force should create literatures in which these translations should find a channel. Considerably more than one-half of the languages into which the Bible has been translated within a century were reduced to writing for the purpose of the translation of this Book into them. Canon Edmonds formu- lated the underlying base and inspiration, the motif, if one may once more style it so, when he wrote: "To give men the message of God on lips touched with a live coal from the altar of God is the first true greeting of the ideal missionary as he lays the foundation of a living Church!' This, he asserts, was the policy of Christianity il'om the
THE BIBLE AND THE MISSIONARY
start. But that is not all of it. "To hand to his people God's written revelation, plain, permanent, perfect, as far as anything partly human can attain to be perfect, is when his work is over, his ideal farewell." That is his way of stating that the foundation of the future Church in every land is the Bible in the vernacular of that land, and the vernacular has been defined to be a language" understood by the women and the children, the old and the ignorant, as well as the young, enterprising men of business."
The indebtedness of science, of philology, of commerce, of governments to the impulse that precipitated these translations is a quite too extended theme, however fascinating, to touch on in this connection. It is far from our heart not to emphasize the work of the great universities and lear;ned societies in tbis linguistic expansion of literature, but for most of what we know of the two thousand or more forms of human speech we are plainly indebted to the missionary impulse. This does not ignore the initial literatures produced by commercial agencies, such as the East India companies; but even there the inspiration of the men who did the stoutest service was evangelistic. Marshman and Morrison were dominated by the missionary idea.
The Bible translations were, with rare exceptions, made by missionaries. It was with them, in most cases, original work. They endured conditions which required the spirit which martyrs exhibit to effect this result. It was not to win money, nor distinction, nor place. At risk of too great length this quotation from Mr. Cust must be suffered: Who were the translators? No university, no State Department, no learned society could have supplied men willing to conduct such operations or capable of doing so. It was not abstract knowled&,e heaped up in the study that was required, bub the gift of conversing wIth and understanding the people; it was not a city of Europe or North America in which such work could be done, but the mission stations in the midst of half-coverted natives; it was not earthly honor or high remunertion that would tempt capable men to dwell in noxious climates, often far from the civilized comforts of the age, but the wondrous desire to save souls, the entire consecration of talents, health, and life to the spiritual welfare of their fellow creatures. • • . The work when done" might be rugged, be unpolished, but it must be intelligible and real."
In many cases they proved their work on the spot; the natives who were to use it stood at the compositor's desk and operated the hand-press to produce it, and native pastors or a native Christian flock put it to practical test on the spot. Some of the best translations are entirely indigenous productions.
There has been scant courtesy shown to popes or parliaments in much of this work. It was simply done, and there was no power that could undo it. A Madagascar king fulminates against it, but it is hidden in caves and survives the king and all his edicts. In Tahiti, in Mexico, in Peru, priests have tried to banish, have burned, and anathematized it, but hid in the hearts of the people they preserved the letter of it at the peril of their lives, till, as Mr. Cust says: "It is
beyond the power of a Coosar or a pope to arrest the magnificent progress of the Bible over the world; they might as well try to stop the sun in midheaven. This unequaled book will roll on in its majesty until earthly tongues cease and language has had its day."
Throughout the thousand-tongued Babel of the earth at this hour, to seven out of every ten persons, the Scriptures in whole or in portions is available in speech which they can articulate and comprehend. The American Bible Society alone, which dates its beginning more than a decade later than the British and Foreign Bible Society, has kept tally on its circulation till it enumerates within a fraction of seventy-one millions of its issues. Half of the intelligent readers of its report would be puzzled to tell the meaning of all of the very language-titles given without delving into those of Oceania and Africa. How many, for instance, are familiar with the terms: "Lettish," "Lithuanian," "Reval Esthonian," " Biscol," or " Arrawak ? "
A remarkable feature of this work of Bible translation is its democracy. It literally expunges race and sex, as well as literary distinction; black or yellow or white, living in hut or palace, with a coat of heraldry or unable to name his grandfather, bond or free, male or female, the one standard to which the person is amenable is the efficiencyof the work done in bringing others into touch with this Book. Mr. Cust renders tribute to the women who have contributed to this great world-work. He says: It is also a subject of fervent rejoicing that women have not been behindhand in this work of love. . . . It has come under my knowledge, and it gladdens my heart to record it, that the Bible societies have instances of the sweet yoke-fellowship of the son and the widowed mother, the father ani the daughter, the husband and the wife, in this most precious consecration of intellectual capacity united with spiritual devotion. Single ladies and widow ladies have not been slack in seeking a blessing by being zealous in this service, and at their death they leave behind something more precious than the garments which Dorcas left behind to her weeping friends, inasmuch as they have helped to clothe the Word of Life in a new vesture of words and sentences which will never wax old, nor require change, nor perish, but will be fresh and profitable to generations still unborn.
Of the uplifting force of these many-tongued Scriptures none but a master may write. They purify the very language which they preserve. They constitute the strongest earthly bond of a brotherhood, the existence of which they irresistably furnish the proof. Stronger than any political or commercial forces to establish a universal fraternity is the giving of this one Book to the whole human race. "So deep a Book, and yet so simple; so human, and yet so Divine; so localized, and yet so world-embracing." It proves, as Dr. Charles Cuthbert Hall says, that there is no such diversity of races as prevents a heart- to-heart talk among all peoples and tongues. Its very divinity is proven by the fact that Hindu or Hottentot, Eskimo or Fijian finds here a revelation each of himself to himself, a prophecy written ages
ago of what he would be and think and long for-" tI.e law of his present life, the hope of his future life."
There have been those who questioned the self-interpretive power of the Bible to the human heart. But instances can be multiplied to fill scores of volumes in which the Book, without the aid of any expositor, has proven to be a key fitted to all the wards of the human heart. '{'he late Bishop E.W. Parker, of India,was wont to illustrate this by an instance of a young Mohammedan teacher in a government school of India, who, feeling" out of sorts," said to a fellow Mohammedan teacher: "I wish I had something to door something to read." His Moslem companion said: "Read this; this is the Ohristian's Bible; perhaps this will do you good." That young Mohammedan teacher took the Book and began to read it. He got over his dull feeling, and read all night. The result, Bishop Parker'said, was that" he stands among the leading preachers of the Methodist Ohurch of North India," Numerous cases are recorded where a stray volume found its way into remote regions, or communities, where it was read, and years later a missionary found in the place a quite considerable community who had met regularly to hear it read, and studiously endeavored to govern their lives by its precepts as best they understood them. These cases are not confined to any class or clime.
It was accidentally that Joseph Neesima, in Japan, read in a Chinese Bible: "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth," which led him to say: "This is the God I must know."
It was an English New Testament, accidentally found floating in the Bay of Nagasaki, that led Wasaka to search for its Ohinese counterpart, and led him to Ohrist and to baptism by Verbeck. This Book has won its way to influence, to recognition, and to power, where prejudice awakened abhorrence to the missionary and the organized forms of the Ohristian Ohurch.
The very literary currents of the world have been reversed in its interest, and largely through the forces which itself created. A hundred years ago the flow of literature was from Ispahan to Oalcutta, now it is from Bombay to Ba.gdad, and the Bible moves along channels itself has dug.
What the Bible is to the missionary and what the missionary has been to the Bible would furnish a theme for a masterful symposium, with contribuj;.ors from pole to pole.
The Protestant Ohristian world will observe with gratitude the one hundredth anniversary of the British and Foreign Bible Society. The American and the Scotch younger sisters will clap their hands, but all will recognize what the venerable Dr. Gilman wrote for the Ecumenical Oonference in New York: "THE BIBLE WORK OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY IS BUT A BEGIN- NING. AND IT WOULD BE DISASTROUS TO SUSPEND IT AT THE POINT NOW REACHED. LET THE TWENTIETH CENTURY CARRY IT ON TO PER- FECTION."
THE MISSION STUDY CLASS BY BELLE M. BRAIN, SPRINGFIELD, OHIO There are three ways of diffusing missionary iuformation iu use at the present time-the missionary meeting, the reading circle, and the study class; and the greatest of these is the study class.
The missionary meeting is, and ever will be, the best agency for reaching large numbers and sowing broadcast the seeds of missiouary enthusiasm. But the information presented is, almost of necessity, fragmentary and iucomplete, and so little iu the way of individual effort is called forth that the knowledge gained is likely to be the acquisition of the few who take part rather than of the society as a whole. The reading circle is, in some respects, better than the missionary meeting, but it is defective in that it requires but little exercise of the mental faculties, and fails to stimulate individual research. The knowledge gained is rarely a permanent acquisition; like all desultory reading, it seldom makes a lasting impression on the mind. _The study class stands preeminent in that it requires systematic study on the part of every member of the class. Its great value lies in the fact that it possesses the rare quality of producing missionary leaders. Some one has called it the" best of all manufacturies of missionary workers," and such, indeed, it has proved wherever it has been tried under -favorable circumstances. '1'he quantity of seed sown is not so great as in the missionary meeting, but a larger proportion bears fruit. If a church lacks missionary leaders-and where is the church that does not ?-the best remedy is to organize a study class, not to take the place of the missionary meeting, but to supplement it, very much as classes for Bible study supplement the devotional meeting and the public preaching of the Word.
The Origin of the Mission Study Class The mission study class, in its present form, is of comparatively recent origin. In reaEty, however, it dates back to the students of Andover College, nearly a century ago, who, stimulated by the Haystack Heroes, made the study of missions a prominent feature of their meetings. Their example was followed, to a limited extent, by students in other colleges throughout the century. After the organization of the Intercollegiate Young Men's Christian Association the idea became more prominent, and in the year 1891 an impetus was given to it by the publication of a series of ou tline mission studies in the organ of the association.
The honor of establishing organized work in systematic mission study belongs, however, to the Student Volunteer Movement.. In February, 1893, when the Student Volunteer, the organ of the movement, was first Issued, a series of foreign mission studies was begun, and the formation of classes in every college urged. A year later, the THE MISSION STUDY CLASS outline system having proved unsatisfactory, the use of text-books was adopted, and the office of educational secretary created. Since 1895 this office has been filled with rare ability by the Rev. Harlan P. Beach, formerly a missionary to China. The growth of the work in ten years has been phenomenal. Twenty-six courses of study have been prepared, and missionary libraries, costing tens of thousands of dollars, have been introduced into the colleges. An average of five thousand students a year have been enrolled in study classes, and textbooks have been called for at the rate of ten thousand copies a year. 'rhe result has been not only the volunteering of a considerable number of young men and women, but an increased intelligence in missions on the part of candidates offering themselves to the various Boards.
The great success achieved among the students led to the adoption of systematic mission study by several denominations, the text-books being those of the Student Volunteer Movement, with special denominational features added. Next the women took it up, and at a conference of all the Women's Boards of the United States and Canada, the course for women's societies, known as the" United Study df Missions," was decided upon. The sale of more than fifty thousand copies of the first two text-books of tue series speaks eloquently of the favor with which they have been received. Early in 1902 the Young People's Missionary Movement fell into line, and announced a series of text-books for young people, to be known as the" Forward Mission Study Courses." Stimulated by the Silver Bay Conferences of 1902 and 1903, and pushed by the denominational hoards, the work is growing with great rapidity. During the first year ten thousand young people were enrolled in classes, and within two months of its publication Mr. Beach's biographical text-book on China reached a sale of nearly twenty thousand copies. Such a vast army of students, young people, and women, concentrating time and thought on mission study, certainly argues well for the future. Gratifying reports of increased interest and enlarged giving are already coming in, and should the work continue it will undoubtedly usher in one of the greatest revivals of missionary enthusiasm in the history of the Church.
Steps Preliminary to Organization In organizing a mission study class, especially where such work is attempted for the first time, there are many points which should be thoroughly discussed by the committee in charge before the matter is publicly announced.
Time. Experience proves that it is unwise to combine the study class with any other meeting. Wherever possible, a separate session of from sixty to ninety minutes should be devoted to it, the day and hour to be determined by local conditions. The result will be smaller • THE MISSlOl:lARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD classes, but more efficient work. The sessions should be held weekly until the completion of the course, rather than fortnightly or monthly, as this brings the meetings close enough together to sustain the interest, yet far enough apart to admit of thorough preparation. It will be found easier to secure members for a class that meets once a week for a brief period rather than once a month during a large part of a year.
The separate session, held weekly, tho eminently desirable, is not absolutely essential to success, and no society should give up the idea of organizing a class because ideal conditions can not be secured. The Advance Club of Rockford, Ill., an undenominational association of Christian women, organized for missionary study, has achieved magnificent success with meetings held once a fortnight, and many a woman's society has done good work by devoting six of the regular monthly meetings of the year to the United Study of Missions lessons. Witness also the notable work accomplished by the Baptist Young People's Union through the use of the Conquest Missionary Courses, which provide twelve lessons a year, to be used once a month at the regular meeting of the young people's society. Good work has also been done in a few instances by devoting the church prayer-meeting or the young people's meeting to the work for a period of six or eight consecutive or alternate weeks.
Place. The place of meeting can best be determined by the size and character of the class. For small classes a private house, centrally located, is undou btedly best. For large classes the church is better, especially if a well-lighted, well-ventilated room is available If possible, the class should be seated around tables to facilitate the taking of notes.
Membersltip. If the class is too large, actual study is next to impossible. Experts declare that the enrolment should never exceed ten or twelve, and that if more apply, it is better to start another class. Some of the most successful classes have had from three to five members only. It is well to remember that quality is better than quantity, ana. ~dmit only those who are thoroughly in earnest. It is a fatal mistake to urge anyone to join on the plea that little or no work will be required. In order that the nature of the class and the requirements of membership may be fully understood, some pledge, such as the following, may be used: 1. I will be present at every meeting of the class, unless prevented by unforseen circumstances.
2. I will secure a copy of the text-book to be used. 3. I will endeavor to devote not less than – – minutes to the study of each lesson. 4. I will prepare the special work assigned me to the best of my ability. 5. I will pray daily for the spread of Christ's Kingdom in the earth.
The Leader. One thing essential to successful study-class work is
THE MISSION STUDY CLASS
a competent leader. The necessary qualifications for this all-important office are three: 1. A deep and abiding interest in missions. "Let him who would move and convince other"," says Carlyle," be first moved and convinced himself."
2. Ability to teach, rather than to lecture. The class will profit by the work in direct proportion to their own intellectual effort.
3. Willingness to devote time to the necessary study. An extended knowledge of missionary history and a wide acquaintance with missionary literature are not essential, but a good leader must have a thorough knowledge of the text-book chosen. To give opportunity for thorough preparation, both text-book and leader should be chosen long in advance of the organization of the class.
The question of leadership is often a perplexing one. A common error is that of asking the pastor or some prominent church official who is not specially qualified for the work to undertake it. No matter how broad his previous knowledge of missions, unles the leader has teaching ability and time to master the text-book, the result will be a lamentable failure.
Course of Study. For beginners in systematic mission study a text-book should invariably be used. The lists of questions, references to other literature, and outlines of study which they furnish simplify the work both for teacher and class. With experienced leaders and mature classes, especially those having access to large libraries, a syllabus may be used instead of a text-book. Excellent text-books have been prepared by the Student Volunteers, the Women's United Study Committee, and the Young Ptlople's Forward Mission Study Committee. These treat of great mission fields; great missionaries, periods of missionary history, medical missions, and other phases of missionary work at home and abroad.* With such a wealth of text-books available, many classes will be perplexed to know how to make a wise selection. For those who have never before attempted systematic mission study, a short biographical course, such as Beach's" Knights of the Labarum," or Taylor's" Price of Africa," is by far the best. These are less difficult and take less time than the study of a mission field or a period of missionary history, and require no previous knowledge to make them interesting. Biography is the most fruitful of all missionary literature, and is calculated to develop interest and arouse enthusiasm more quickly than any other form of study.
Organizing the Class Having fully discussed the foregoing points, the next step is to secure members for the class. Perhaps the best way to do this is by * For further information, inquire of the Student Volunteers, 3 West Twenty-ninth Street, New York; Mrs. N. M. Waterberry, Tremont Temple, Boston; and Mr. S. Earle Taylor, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York.
personal invitation to those who give promise of future usefulness.
Another good plan is to devote one session of the young people's society to a mission study rally, the program for which should include: 1. An address on the value of systematic mission study, with special emphl!>sis laid in the fact that such study not only raises those who pursue it to a higher spiritual plane, but also develops them intellectually, and brings them into touch with those lands where the most important political changes of the present day are taking place.
2. A review of the proposed text-book, preferably by the one who is to lead the class.
3. A detailed statement, by the chairman of the committee having the matter in charge, of the plan of study, the time involved, and the work expected of the class.
4. The enrolment of those who are ready to join the class.
The organization of the class should follow at once, and the work be taken up as promptly as possible. In addition to the leader, a secretary will be needed to keep the records of the class, announce the meetings, look up absentees, secure prompt and regular attendance, and increase the efficiency of the class in every way possible.
A class artist to draw maps and prepare charts and diagrams is most useful. Maps are the best of all mediums for fixing missionary information, and are a necessity. Each class should have, not only a large missionary map of the world, such as most of the mission boards have on sale, but also a series of smaller maps of the fields or parts of fields under consideration. Many of the latter can be easily made at home. A blackboard is necessary for diagrams, illustrations, outlines, references, spelling of difficult words a!ld pronunciation of unfamiliar names, and should be freely used both by the leader and the class artist. Large sheets of paper and crayons are better than a blackboard for some purposes. Bound together, they have a permanent value and are useful for reviews.
A class librarian is well-nigh indispensable. The best work can only be accomplished where the members have access to other literature in addition to the text-book. The duties of the librarian should be to secure reference books bearing on the general topic of the textbook, and to keep a' watch out for articles pertinent to the subject in current issues of magazines and papers, both secular and religious. The members should be asked to be on the lookout for photographs, curios, or other objects that would illustrate the lessons and add interest to them.
Order of Exercises The program for the lesson hour will depend largely on the length of the sessions, the experience of the leader, and the ability of the class. The following plan, prepated by Dr. '1.'. H. P. Sailor, Educational Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, and
an acknowledged expert in study-class work, is probably the best yet devised: 1. Scriptut'e Reading.-Select a brief passage that brings out some one thought connected with the lesson.
2. P'raye'r.-Let the member, who should be notified in advance, seek to be brief but definite.
3. Assignment of the Ne,ct Lesson.-Let the leader state clearly the subject of the next lesson, and the pages of the text-book to be studied. Let him indicate the subjects of most importance, telling upon what to concentrate, and, what to skim or omit. Let him give out questions requiring independent thought. Assignments to individuals (see Nos. 4 and 7) should be made as largely as possible in writing, and given out either before or after the meeting.
4. Review.-Let a member, previously appointed, give in not over three minutes (a) a brief review of the last lesson, mentioning only the points of the greatest importance, together with a conclusion to be drawn from each; or (b) a still more condensed review of the course from the beginning, giving one or two thoughts, rather than facts, connected with the lesson.
5. Personal Imp'ressions.-Let each member mention in a sentence what was personally most impressive in the last lesson.
6. Questions on the Advance Lesson by the Leade'r.-Upon the skill with which this is done success in teaching depends. The assignment at the previous lesson should be closely followed.
7. Pape'rs.-Have two or three (never more) papers or talks by members previously appointed, introduced where most appropriate.
8. Debate.-If it can be ascertained by a show of hands that members have differed in opinion on any point in the lesson, an impromptu debate might be arranged.
9. Closing Imp'ressions.-Let the leader sum up and try to leave a seUse of individual responsibility.
10. Closing Prayer.-A number of sentence prayers may be called for.
A Notable Mission Study Campaign During the winter of 1902-3 the missionary committee of the New York City Christian Endeavor Union carried on a mission study campaign which produced great results, arid is worthy of imitation.
In his annual report of June, 1903, Mr. W. L. Amerman, the efficient chairman of the missionary committee, tells of the work as follows: Last year's successful effort for the "unanimous" reading of several selected missionary books afforded encouragement and preparation for something far more difficult-a campaign for the study of a single book, "The Price of Africa."
To supply the first requisite, teachers or leaders, plans were made immediately after the return of our delegates from the Silver Bay Conference, in August, 1902, which resulted in the formation, in October, of six normal classes, practically one in each district, led by expert teachers. The executive committee of the Union made a liberal appropriation for printed matter and other helps, and for compensating any of these teachers in cases where the use of time was involved w.hich could not otherwise have been available.
An average number of fifty-six students attended each of the eight or more sessions of these normal classes, twenty-five of whom, after J anuary 1st, organized in their own societies a second series of classes, and pursued the same course, enrolling nearly two hundred students, and generating widespread interest. Many details of this campaign, for which we have not space here, may be found in a disseminating article in the June number of the Assembly Herald, published by the Presbyterian Board.
The work of the Sixth District will serve to illustrate that in others, and certainly deserves a special paragraph. 'rhe leader of the normal
class was Miss Miriam L. Taylor, who had formerly been missionary chairman of the district. Six of the nine members of the class later organized circles of their own, teaching the same course, the attendance averaging eight per session. The interest and diligence shown were very gratifying. In two cases these latter students have begun to lead study classes on the same lines, making the third series, popularly known as "the grandchildren." Commencement exercises were held by the normal class with good effect, and another gathering celebrated the completion of the course by the second set of circles. Individual societies report much increased interest in the cause of missions as a result of this work.
Next year's campaign will be upon similar lines. Normal classes may not be required, but two general series of circles will be arranged, one beginning in October and one in January.
Such a mission study campaign could be conducted anywhere.
The work of the Sixth District, as outlined by Mr. Amerman, shows how well the plan can be adapted to small cities as well as large ones.
There are few places where the service of an expert teacher could not be secured to lead a normal class of the representatives of the young young people's societies or the women's societies. These in turn could organize classes in their own churches or societies.
TRAINING-SCHOOLS FOR MISSIONARIES * BY REV. J. W. CONKLIN, NEW YORK Field Secretary for Foreign Missions of the Reformed Church in America Every young man and woman who is physically fit to be sent to the mission field has, upon a life insurance basis, reason to expect at least twenty-five years of active service. How to make everyone of these years most effective is the problem both for the individual and the society which commissions him. His preparatory work must be done partly at home and partly after his arrival at his station. The whole of his equipment can not be secured before reaching the field. But it is surely advisable to gtlt in the home land as thorough a training as possible in those subjects and methods which are essential to the best work.
Adequate Preparat'ion is a needed watchword in the missionary movement. His easily conceivable that a year of special training may double the missionary's power in everyone of those twenty-five or more years of service; two years may quadruple it. To neglect or belittle this truth is foolish and hurtful. That it has been too lightly esteemed in the past is admitted by those most skilled in the science of missions and most experienced in their operations. Dr. Gustav Warneck said in a communication to the Ecumenical Conference of 1900: What we need beside expert mission directors is, above all, missionaries really capable for their great work. . . . The petition that the Lord of the harvest should send forth laborers into His harvest has also reference to their quality.
* Written for the revised" Encyclopedia of Missions," which is soon to be issued by the Funk & Wagnalls Company.
TRAINING-SCHOOLS FOR MISSIONARIES
If appeal be made to the missionaries now in action most of them will complain that, however much general education they may have received, they laoked training to meet most effectively the conditions existing in their fields of labor.
In order to raise materially the standard of missionary qualifica- tions two things are essential-stimulus and machinery. The former must be furnished mainly by the societies which decide upon the qualifications of candidates. These may, at will, raise the sta,ndard of requirements for obtaining commissions. The latter must consist of schools managed and equipped according to the best science and strength of the Christian Church.
Missionary training-schools are numerous. A comprehepsive list of them may be found in Dr. Dennis' "Oentennial Statistics." * Most of these are of great service to the men and women who seek their aid to qualify for mission work-city, home, or foreign. Do these meet the requirements of the time and the cause ? No invidious distinction shall here be drawn, nor dogmatic opinion expressed. A noted secretary of one of the largest American foreign mission boards writes: " The ideal school that we have in our minds has not as yet been realized. .
We feel the need of some institution that will train our young women and laymen satisfactorily, and also give some opportunities ior finish- ing off young men from the theological schools."
An attempt is here made to indicate what" the ideal school" must give to.those purposing to join the missionary ranks. All will agree with Dr. Warneck when he says: "Spiritual equipment is, of course, the chief consideration." This is a matter that can not readily be included in a scheme of subjects. In· one sense too much emphasis can not be placed upon the preparation of heart; yet this further statement from the same eminent authority is no less weighty: "The experience of more than a hundred years should prevent us from fall- ing into the mistake of thinking that this alone suffices without a thorough training." • Quality of the Preparation. The special training needed by missionaries is indicated by the abnormal conditions of the masses of the people to whom they are sent. Asia and Africa are the great missionary continents; most of the world's people inhabit them. In what respects are the people of these continents abnormal-differing from the masses of Christendom?
(1) They are religiously misguided, debased, and lost. They can not find the way to their Father and their Home; they can not find righteousness.
(2) They are socially dwarfed and demoralized. Tested by their treatment of the weak-women, children, the aged, the sickly-and by • We append some of the more important names from this list, with corrections and addi· tions.-EvI'l'ORS.
their domestic, civic and international relations, they are in or near barbarism.
(3) They are educaUonally illiterate. Leaving out Japan,probably not five per cent. of the population of Asia and Africa can read books. Their science is false, their minds warped.
(4) Medically they are ignorant. .rr'heir treatment of diseases and wounds is distressingly inadequate.
(5) Hygenically they are unsanitary. Oholera, plague, and smallpox run along avenues of uncleanly living.
(6) industrially and economically they are backward. Famine is a common condition. Poverty is the general state, because the land is overpopulated, improved methods and machinery are lacking, and thrift is very feebly possessed.
The true missionary can not help striving to cure all of these abnormal conditions. In his preparation he should take them definitely into account, and fit himself as far as possible to handle them. These conditions indicate generally the following requirements for the missionary candidate. He should have special training in- 1. His own religion and non-Ohristian religions. (1) Oompre_ hensive Bible study, including introduction. (2) The Ohristian system of theology and evidences. (3) History and comparison of religions. Is there any sufficient reason why all women, male physicians and other lay workers should not, as well as ordained men, obtain a clear knowledge of these subjects?
2. Elementary and practical Sociology. A study of the origin ana: growth of society, with its various institutions; of the perversions of marriage, family life, social intercourse, labor conditions, government, etc., and of the remedies for these ills.
3. History of Missions, and the established principles on which they are conducted.
4. Psychology and Pedagogy. Most missionaries teach or supervise schools. Many must train native teachers. There are 100,000 pupils in mission boarding aud training schools, most of whom are preparing to be teachers. They should have the best training. All who deal with the abnormally ignorant classes have special need of acquaintauce with the laws of mind and of teaching. Kindergarten training is most helpful. Rev. J. L. Barton, D.D., Secretary of the American Board, has said: " I heartily believe in a pedagogical course for the most of our missionflries."
5. Elementary medicine, surgery, and nursing. There are special schools for regular physicians and nurses. The missionary trainingschool should give to all other students such training as will fit them to render intelligent" first aid" to the sick or injured.
6. Principles of Hygiene or health lectures. 7. Technical Orafts and Business Methods. Women should learn
domestic economy; men should have training in carpentry, photography, stereopticon management, agriculture (or, at least, gardening), book manufacture, and even in blacksmithing. Both men and women should have drill in bookkeeping and in modern methods of filing correspondence and other documents.
8. Music. 9. Language of the people to be 1'eached. It is not practicable to teach many Oriental vernaculars in the home schools. But such comprehensive. languages as Arabic, Ohinese, Hindustani, and Turkish might be given. As showing that such a scheme is not impracticable, two actual courses are here given-one for men, the other for women: A. The Ohurch Missionary Society Training College at Islington. In addition to a regular university and theological course, instruction is given in- (1) Elementary Medicine and Surgery. (2) Principles and Practice of ~reaching. (3) Vocal Music. (4) Oarpentering, Book-making, Printing. Tinsmithing, and Blacksmithing. (5) The religious systems of the pagan world.
B. The Training Institute for Women of the United Free Ohurch of Scotland, Edinburgh, gives instructions in- (1) The Study of Scripture. (2) Ohristian Doctrine. (3) Introduction to the Bible. (4) The Hindustani Language. (5) Theory of Education, Kindergartening Principles, Nature Studies Class Teaching, and School Visiting. (6) Voice Oulture and Singing. (7) Account Keeping. (8) Drill Exercises.
(9) Nursing. (10) Oare of Health. (11) History of Missions. (12) Non-Ohristian Religions. (13) Sociology from the Missionary Standpoint. (14) Evangelistic Theology.
"Missionaries must be weighed, not merely counted," says Dr. Warneck. "Thorough training" is his prescription for their need. The vital question presses: Have the missionaries in the foreign mission service the weight obtainable through a practicable preparation? The ordained men number more than 6,000. Has the theological school given a training specific enough for their needs? The physicians, men and women, are more than 700. Have they been fitted most effectively to minister to the darkened spirits in the sick bodies? Unordained men, not physicians, to the number of about 3,500 are in
the ranks; unmarried women, an equal number; married women, more than 4,000. How many of these are lamenting the lack of a" thorough training" ? The best preparation is none too good for the missionary; it will not be wasted upon the Master's work for the heathen.
Missionary Training Institutions in America and Great Britain LOCATION DESIGNATION DENOMINATION Canada Toronto……… "" ….. Ewart (Women's) Missionary Training Home.. Canada Presbyterian.
Toronto………………Bible Training School.. …………………… Independent.
Totonto……………… Deaconess' and Missionary TrainingIIome…. Church of England.
. England Burgh……………….. St. Paul's Missionary College …………….. Church of England. Clapham …………….. PreJlaratory Institution ………………….. Church Miss. Society. Great yarmouth……… Deaconess' Missionary Training Home…….. Church of England. London………………. East London Missionary Institute…………. Regions Beyond M. U. London (Leyton) , ……..Livingstone Medical College……………….Independent. London………………. Zenana Medical College………………….. Independent. London (Islington) ……. Church Missionary College ……………….. Church Miss. Society. London (Highbury) …… Highbury 'I.'raining Home for Women ……… Chnrch Miss. SOCiety. London (Bermondsey) … Medical Training Home for Women……….. Chnrch Miss. Society. London………………. Medical Students' Training Home…………. Medical Miss. Associa'n London (Clapham) ……. Friends' Missionary Home ……………….. Friends' Foreign M. A. London (Upton Park) …. RedclyfIe "'omen's Miss. Training House …. Universities' Mission. London (Barking) …….. Training Home …………………………..North Africa Missio n. Warminster…………..St. Boniface Missionary College for Men …… Universities' Mission.
Scotland Edinburgh (39 Cowgate) .. Livingstone Medical Mission College ………. Edinburgh Med. M. S. Edinburgh……………. Woman's Missionary Training' Institute…… Free Ch. of Scotland. Glasgow……………… Bible Training Institute………………….. Independent. Glasgow……………… Med. Training Home for Woinen Missionaries. Independent.
United Statea Atlanta, Ga…………..Stewart Missionary Foundation for Africa (Gammon Theological Seminary)……….Methodist (South).
Berrien Springs, Mich…. Emanuel Missionary College ……………… Industrial Institute. Boston, Mass………….Gordon Missionary' Training School. ……….Independent. Boston, Mass …………Oriental Missions Seminary………………..Independent. Brooklyn, N. Y……….. Union Missionary Training Institute ………. Independent. Chicago, Ill………….. Moody Bible Institute……………………..Independent. Chicago, Ill…………..Training School for City, Home, and Foreign Missions ……………………………… Methodist. Chicago, IlL ………….Missionary Training School. ………………. Baptist. Hartford, Conn………. School of Religious Pedagogy……………..Independent. Hartford, Conn ……….Special Missionary Courses……………….. Hartford Seminary. Herkimer, N. Y ………. Folt's Mission Institute (for Women) ………. Methodist (North). Kansas City, Mo ……… Scarriet Bible and Training SchooL ……….. Methodist (South). Los Angeles, California..Training School for Christian Workers…….. Independent. New York, N. Y ………. Deaconess' Home and Training School.. …… Methodist. New York, N. Y ……… Training School for Deaconesses ………….. Protestant EpiscopaL New York, N. Y………. Bible Teachers' Training School. ………….. Independent. Nyack, N. Y …………. Missionary Institute ……………………… Christian and Mission ary Alliance: Northfield, Mass………. Bible Training School.. …………………… Independent. Philadelphia, Pa………Training School for Christian Work……….. Baptist. San Francisco, Cal…….Missionary Extension School………………Independent. Wooster, Ohio……….. Bible and Missionary Training SchooL …….. Presbyterian. Xenia, Ohio………….. Training School for Christian Workers …..•.Independent.
THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER FOR CHINA
THANKSGIVING AND PRAYER FOR CHINA * BY REV. GRIFFITH JOHN, D.D., HANKOW, CHINA In 1907 the Protestant Churches will celebrate the hundredth anniversary of the sending forth of Robert Morrison, which was the commencement of their mission work in China. Following on the lines on which the Church Missionary Society was guided to prepare for the celebration of its centenary year, the missionaries of China desire to bring before the home churches a three years' enterprise in preparation for the right commemoration of the China missionary centenary. The past history, the present circumstances, and the pressing need of the Church in China forId an imperative call for thanksgiving, confession, and prayer.
A Call to Thank God 1. For the many great and good men God has sent to follow in Morri- son's footsteps. Some of these are with us to this day, others have ceased from their labors, leaving names that will never be forgotten, and enriching the annals of the Church with stories of the faith that removes mountains, of consecrated devotion, and of the love greater than which hath no man-for many of them laid down their lives for the Chinese.
2. For the Church in China-a Church which, when called in the last year of the nineteenth century to drink of her Lord's cup and to be baptized with His baptism, furnished hundreds of her sons and daughters who sealed their witness with their blood, and thousands more who bore "trial of mockings and sc,ourgings, yea, moreover, of bonds and imprisonment. . being destitute, afflicted, evil entreated (of whom the world was not worthy) wandering in deserts and mountains and caves and holes of the earth."
3. For the opening up of the whole of China. Even Hunan and Honan are no longer closed against us. It is now a fact that there is not one of the nineteen hundred odd counties of China and Manchuria from which we are shut out, and before the hundredth year of our work we can say that if the Gospel is not preached to every creature in ChiDa, the reason must be sought outside China.
4. For the opportunities of work, varied in their kind, vast in their extent. Never before have men crowded to hear the Gospel as they are crowding now-in the open air and indoors, in our chapels and in our guest-rooms, we have opportunities to preach Christ such as can scarcely be found outside China. Never before has there been such an eager desire for education as there is now: our schools, both of elementary and of higher grades, are full, and everywhere applicants have to be refused. Never before has there been such a demand for Christian literature as , there is now: our Tract Societies, and all engaged in supplying converts and inquirers with reading material, are doing their utmost, but are not able to overtake the demand; and the demand is certain to increase, for it comes immensely from the largest number of people in the world reading one language.
A Call to Humble Ourselves Before God 1. Because of our shortcomings and mistakes. 2. Because that too many of the members of the Chinese churches are "carnal" and not -" spiritual"; "babes in Christ" and not -" full grown • Condensed from The Christian and Missionary Alliance.
men": through lack of use they have not" their senses exercised to discern good and evil."
3. Because the large increase of wealth in the home churches has not resulted in even a proportionate increase in the contributions to the work of GodJn other lands. Sometimes, indeed, a larger sum devoted to foreign missions proves to be a smaller contribution per member than was given when the church was smaller and poorer.
The Need for Prayer Let us look first at the colonial possessions, which occupy a vast area but are thinly populated. They are included in the fields practically unoccupied, and themselves include Tibet-the one citadel and stronghold of heathenism that still keeps its gates shut and barred against the missionaries of the Cross. We suggest as one definite object of prayer, that during the three years Tibet may be opened to the missionaries that are waiting the Lord's good time, on its eastern and southern and southwestern frontiers. We ask for prayer for these missionaries. We ask for volunteers to join them and their too few fellow workers who are scattered in far distant centers in Mongolia and Turkestan.
Such volunteers must needs be strong in body and stronger in soul, and well able to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christ.
The eighteen provinces are what we mean when we speak of Chinathe real home of China's millions. It is hard to grasp the area that is covered by those eighteen provinces-1,300,OOO square miles; it is harder still to grasp the numbers of the men, women, imd children who live in those provinces-400,OOO.OOO. What is the force which we now have to evangelrze these millions, and how is the force diposed over the whole field of China and Manchuria? From the most recent statistics as given in Beach's Atlas we learn that the force is made up of 2,785 missionaries and 112,808 communicants, of whom 6,388 are picked men and women more closely engaged in the work than their hundred odd thousand fellow workers. Some of the missionaries and some of the converts are to be found in everyone of the provinces both of China and Manchuria. But in the 1,900 odd counties into which the provinces are divided, each with one important town, and a large part of them with more than one, there are but some 400 stations. That is to say, at least four-fifths of the counties of China are almost entirely unprovided with the means of hearing the Gospel.
The Need for Reinforcements 1. Reinforcement of the members. This is at once both the end of our preaching and the start of our reinforcement. We preach that our hearers may believe; when they believe they in turn tell others of the Savior they have found. So that the more believers there are the stronger is our force for evangelizing China. Here, then, lies the first object for prayer: pray for an increased membership.
2. Reinforcement of Chinese workers. We read that before the Savior chose the twelve He spent the whole night in prayer. This teaches us the close connection there must be between reinforcing the workers and prayer. There IS a crying need for more Chinese workers; if we act hurriedly because of the need and select men without waiting to pray, we are in a worse condition than we should be in without workers.
Most earnestly do we ask you to join us in prayer for more Chinese
workers. Pray that God will raise up in the Chinese churches those whose whole hearts shall be aflame with the desire to preach Christ to their fellow countrymen. Continue to bear them up when your first prayer is heard. Whenever you remember us in prayer, remember with us our beloved Chinese colleagues, whose ministry is indispensable.
S. Reinforcement of missionaries. As with Chinese workers, so with missionaries-reinforcement must be preceded by and continued with much prayer. Otherwise we may get additions but not reinforcements. If men be sent whom God has not sent, they can but hinder God's work.
What manner of men are needed as reinforcements? For the old stations, those who can train others; for the newer, those who can lead others; for the unoccupied parts, pioneers who can seek and save others.
Who ·is sufficient for these things? Certainly not the man who has failed at home; neither the man who is confident that he is sufficient o-f himself to succeed abroad. We want men and women strong in faith, strong in hope, and, above all, strong in love-men and women "filled with the Holy Ghost."
For what kind of work are these missionaries wanted? For every good work that the Spirit of God leads us to enter. Some forms of work which are the outcome of the love that God has poured into the hearts of Christians, and which are often met with in the home lands, are almost unknown in China. There is no home for incurables, and only one asylum for the insane; only one school for the deaf and dumb, and only a few schools for the blind, and a few hospitals for lepers in all China. The need of such institutions is great. With what infinite distress must our Lord see any of Risfollowers possessed of wealth and yet having no sense of responsibility for His suffering poor. What a unique opportunity all these institutions present for displaying before the Chinese the symmetry, the fulness, the perfectness of that life which Christ has bestowed upon us in revealing to us the secret of the love of God.
Again in the e4ucational, literary, and medical work we want more men and more institutions. There is not only the actual work in these departments that needs men to do it, there is need to train Chinese in all these branches. For such work the Church should send us the best teachers and the best scholars, the best doctors and the best nurses. Just as no offering is too great for this work so no man is too good for it.
But above and before all we need preachers of the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. Men who will preach it in chapels and guest-rooms and city, and carry it from village to village. Men who will preach it in chapels and guest-rooms, or in the open air. For, ohl the number of sinners in China and the greatness of their sinsl And only Christ can save them from sin. With all prayer and supplication, pray in the spirit that God will send forth men who can say with St. Paul: "Christ sent me to preach the Gospel."
In view of the vastness of the field that lies open before us, and of the immense opportunities for good which China offers the Christian Church-opportunities so many of which have been quite recently open to us, and which were won by the blood of the martyrs of 1900.
Is it possible in three years to double the missionary force? Without prayer it is absolutely impossible-as impossible as the enterprise that Morrison commenced in 1807 would have been. But with prayer the entprprise is as possible and as reasonable as was Morrison's. Lift up your eyes and behold our Risen and Ascending Lord standing at the
right hand .of GDd tD make intercessiDn fDr us. Remember that He hilS entered intD that hDly place as .our FDrerunner, and that we have bDld- ness tD enter with Him and jDin .our prayers tD His. Remember that He has sent anDther Intercess.or tD help .our infirmities whensDever we knDw hDW tD pray as we .ought. Then say, Is what we ask in acc.ordance with GDd's will? We believe it is.
And this is the bDldness that we have t.oward Him, that if we· ask anything accDrding tD His will, He heareth us; and if we knDw that He heareth us whatsDever we ask, we knDw that we have the petitiDns which we have asked .of Him (JDhn v: 14, 15).
INDUSTRIAL MISSIONS IN INDIA * BY REV. EDWARD PEGG "The .only perfectly blameless way .of helping a man is tD put him in a pDsitiDn tD earn an independent livelih.ood fDr himself."-BIRJAMEs LA TOUCHE.
The last few years have been years .of SDre trial fDr India, with its tWD famiIl£s, attended, as all famines are, with the sister evils .of dysentery, chDlera, fever, and .other malign diseases. FDr years the peDple have been living in the very shadDw .of death. In all their dire distress the missiDnaries have ministered tD their temp.oral needs by feedingthefamishing, by healing their diseases, by starting industries and SD finding them wDrk, and by taking intD their variDus .orphanages s.ome thirty thousand destitute .orphans. Here these children are, rescued frDm starv/LtiDn; and nDW the further respDnsibility rests up.on U3 .of training them up nDt .only tD be gDDd Christians, but alSD tD be useful members .of the cDmmunity. Famine has a habit .of cramping the intellect, and we find that in the majDrity .of cases a famine waif is abs.olutely unable tD gD bey.ond the mDst elementary stage .of instructiDn. " What are we tD dD with them when they grDW up ?" is the CDnstant questiDn the missiDnary is asking himself, and the .only satisfactDry sDlutiDn .of the prDblem seems tD lie in industrial training. They must be taught tD wDrk with their hands. Thus it has CDme abDut that the prDblem .of industrial missiDn wDrk is .one ·of the burning questiDns .of the present time in missiDnary circles. The "hDur" has indeed CDme; GDd grant that the "men" may be fDrthcoming t.o.o. The" dull, hard stone" .of many hearts has been melted, and they are ready tD gather rDund the strangers WhD have lifted them .out .of their physical misery, and .one can but pray that the gratitude and cDnfidence which s.o many .of India's peDple have at this time in the Christian missiDnary may becDme faith-however rudimentary'-:"in his LDrd.· We must ever keep befDre us the th.ought that these children are fDrming the fDundatiDn .of many a native Church in India t.o-day; and if the fDundatiDn be nDt well laid, it may cause endless difficulties in the future, and in many cases be the means .of hindering instead .of drawing men tD the feet .of Christ. If these children are nDt trained up tD manual labDr. the majDrity .of them will beCDme mere l.oafers, and .our very purpDse in gathering them in will be defeated, fDr, as Dr. PiersDn says, "GDd wants a clean Church, nDt merely a crowded .one; He weighs, and d.oes nDt .only count."
One .other reas.on why this industrial question has bec.ome s.o pr.omi- * CondellSed from the Church Missionary Intelligencer.
INDUSTRIAL MIHSIONS IN INDIA
nent is because of the great increase in the number of converts of late years. According to the last census report, there are now some 2,600,000 native Christians, the total increase in the decade being about 30 per cent. This increase has brought the missionary face to face with another problem. "No sooner," as Gordon points out, "are communities quickened by the new life in Christ, than a desire at once manifests itself to improve their surroundings, and hepce some industrial training becomes almost a necessity." The influence of Christ not only produces a newness of life in things spiritual, but also in temporal matters, and His Church, if she is to retain her hold upon men in whom this new life is bursting forth in varied directions, must' concern herself not only with their spirituallife, but also with all the conditions and surroundings amid which this spiritual life has to be lived.
In many countries the people among whom the missionary works have only the most elementary ideas of smithing work and carpentry, and hence the missionary is obliged to take up industrial work; but while this is not true of India to-day, yet we are confronted with the everpresent difficulty of caste. Caste is a combination far more potent than any of the most powerful trades' unions, and it exercises the most absolute control over each of its members. To become a Christian often means for a mau loss of work, or, what is almost as bad, loss of a market for his goods. Few can realize the difficulties that often beset the way of one who openly professes Christ in aland like India, so that not only on behalf of all our famine children, but also on behalf of the younger members of our ever-increasing Christian community, we appeal to the members of the home Ohurch for their sympathy and help in this branch of our mission work, which provides employment, often at a very critical time, to the followers of our 'Lord and Savior.
For example, on a young man professing a desire to be a Christian, the missionary must have him for some time under his personal supervision; but if during this time he is doing nothing to earn his own living, the good which ~he personal influence of the missionary might have had is often entirely destroyed by the idle life which the youth has learned to love; if, on the other hand, such a youth be sentto some industrial institution, he is not only under the eye of the missionary, but he is learning habits of industry at the same time. Again, there are many Anglo- Indians who view with grave misappr'ehension the ever-increasing class of educated natives for whom no suitable work can be found, and the missionary is often accused of "spoiling them by education." Perhaps the solution of this difficulty lies in educating our Indian youth less in letters and more in industrial and practical work. Then, thirdly, it helps to take away at least some from the "land," which is a very necessa"y thing to do, for the future prosperity of India depends, to agreat extent, on inducing more or its people to engage in manufacturing pursuits.
There are many other reasons for the urgent necessity of industrial education. There is, for example, the popular contempt for manual labor among not only the educated but even the semi-educated classes. It is quite true that many of the existing methods of doing work in India do not inspire one with a sense of the dignity of manual labor. To see a couple of men loading a barrow with stones, one laying hold of the shovel, the other helping him by pulling at a piece of string attached to the lower part of the handle, does excite ridicule. Neither does the ordinary village artisan strike one as being very workmanlike in his methods.
It is for this reason that we need men, experts in their own line, who, for the love of Christ, will come out and take this work off the hands of the clergy-men who by their skill may be able not only to make our indus- trial concerns pay, but also to raise the standard of the various handi- crafts, and improve generally the methods of the various industries along the lines already existing. If industrial work is necessary, then as Christians we ought to do it as well as possible, and to appeal in Christ's name for the men who are best fitted for this work to "come over and help us."
In India, again, we have gained the experience that industrial train- ing is just what is required to develop the Christian character. Mr.
Smith, of Ahmednager, says: "As dependents, they can rarely develop the higher Christian virtues, and can never become a self-respecting and respected community. There never was a community of people who have mlYre to overcome than the poor Christians of India. Weare bound to give them a helping hand, and the only way to help any man is to help him to help himself."
There are some 457,000 boys and girls receiving literary instruction in mission elementary schools throughout the world, while only 5,000 odd are receiving an industrial training. In India there are but 167 indus- trial schools of all kinds. This shows how great is the need of such schools.
What is Being Done At the last meeting of the United Provinces Conference of Mission- aries, I was requested to visit some of the chief industrial institutions, with a view to picking up any hints which might be useful in the working of our C. M. S. industrial school at Secundra. I visited a good many stations and gleaned much valuable information. There are scattered over India many mission institutions where industrial training is taught. They may roughly be divided into three classes. First, we have a number of stations where the missionary in charge is endeavoring, alongside of all his other multifarious duties, to teach a few of his converts some industry, generally without any idea of financial profit. The industries engaged in are generally carpentry, ele- mentary smithing work, weaving, or lace-making. In some cases con- spicuous success has attended the laborious enterprise of the missionary, but in the majority of cases it seems but a waste of time, talent, and money. One can not help but admire the enthusiasm and the amount of work done by our missionaries in this direction, but an outsider is at once struck with the woful lack of organized effort. From such small concerns the spirit of competition is absent, the apprentice is apt to grow conceited and discontented, believing most assuredly that the missionary is gaining a great deal by his labor, and the missionary himself gradu- ally accumulates a lot of ill-made goods which he vainly endeavors to sell, and in despair he is glad to get rid of them at any price.
The second class of industrial institutions are those where not only a goodly number of apprentices, drawn from the surrounding smaller stations, are being trained, but where also numbers of skilled Christian workers are employed in factories, worked on business principles by business men. Attached to such factories, there are generally hostels where the young unmarried men live, and these are under the control of • some particular missionary, whose duty it is to try, by any and every means, to influence the youths for good. This appeals to most people as
INDUSTRIAL MISSIONS IN INDIA
the ideal plan. For each missionary district or conference to have a central institution, superintended by qualified men, to which each indi- vidual missionary can send those whom he wishes to have trained, is surely better than to expend his own time and labor in doing that which might be so much better done by others more fitted for the purpose. Of the institutions worked on these lines; perhaps those connected with the Basel Mission are the best examples. The mercantile branch pays inter- est on capital, but all profits over and above a certain percentage are used for spiritual purposes. Last year, I was told, they paid to the spiritual work some $50,000. Then mention must be made of the excel- lent Industrial Mission Aid Society. Founded in 1897, it has already earned the gratitude of all missionaries. Its object is "to assist the work of foreign missions by the establishment of industries to be carried on in close connection with ordinary missionary operations, but financially separate." Many a missionary's burden has been lightened since the founding of the I. M. A. S., for not only is it ready to step in and take a "going concern" altogether off the hands of the missionary, but it has established depots, both in Bombay and London, at which goods made at the various mission stations are received for sale. This society has an excellent carpet factory at Ahmednagar, which has met with the warmest approval of Lord NOl'thcote, and we hope it will receive the support it so well deserves, for it is to it that most missionaries must look for help to solve these industrial problems, unless they are able to start factories of their own.
The third class of institutions which have to do with industrial training are the hostels attached to the large railway workshops. In connection with the various railways there are central workshops, into which youths, irrespective of the creeds they profess, are admitted as apprentices, and in some cases Christian hostels have been built in the vicinity of these shops, in which Christian apprentices may live. This plan is an excellent one so long as the lads are really under a good spiritual leader, but unless the head of such an institution is a firm, spiritually minded man, the risk of congregating a number of young fellows together in such a country as India is a grave one. It appears, too, that the native non-Christian foremen often put obstacles in the boys' way of gaining any real knowledge of their trade.
Just as formerly supporters were backward in realizing the importance of "edueation" as a missionary agency, so they do not yet seem to have grasped the necessity of industrial training for our more illiterate converts. Dr. Hall, who lately visited India, says of this work: " All that I have seen commands my full confidence. So far from look~ ing upon industrial missions with distrust, I believe that the introduction of the industrial element into missions is as truly a work of the Holy Spirit as preaching or healing the sick."
The first resolution of the Industrial Committee of the recent Decennial Missionary Conference in Madras urges upon the several mis5lionary boards the necessity of giving such work a recognized,place among their agencies in India, and of affording it adequate support. We look for- • ward earnestly to the day when" industrial" will be as integral a part of the society's work as is its "educational" and "medical" departments.
I would emphasize, then, the need of industrial centers for each conference or district. Not only wonld such institutions save the trme of
individual missionaries, but the training would be of a higher order. If all the energy, time, and money so lavishly expended by individual men could be centralized, the success of our enterprises would be assured.
Having, then, established such central institutions, our next step should be to place them under properly qualified business men-men whose skill will enable them to impart instruction upon lines that are adapted to the circumstances of the people, men who will see that the best way of helping India is not by wholly sweeping away Indian methods, but by improving them.
Again, the standard and quality of our work ought to be of the highest. Many complain of the want of a market for their goods. The fault seems to lie rather in the quality of the things made; for ill-made goods it is not easy to find a market, but for all well-made articles we now have, through the medium of the I. M. A. S., the opportunity of selling them in Bombay or London.
There are, however, two very widespread difficulties. First, the dif- ficultyof insuring that the lads and others will follow in after-life the trade they have been taught. In one industrial school it was found that only nine per cent. were following the handicrafts they had learned in the school. It is evident, too, from the government returns of reforma- tories, etc., that quite a small percentage earn their living by means of the trade learned in youth. I suppose the remedy lies in more care being taken in the choice of trades, especial notice being taken of hereditary callings, and also in exercising more care in the general education of our industrial youths. They should, too, be made to begin to learn their trades much earlier in life; indeed, this must be done, if they are ever to successfully compete with their non-Christian neighbors.
The other difficulty is the alleged tendency of industrial enterprises to deaden the spiritual life of our infant Church. One meets with many who say that they have observed this tendency. Almost everything, of course, depends upon the kind of men at the head of affairs. Many com- plain of the difficulty of running a business on a mercantile as well as a reJigious basis. In the former case the work is of prime importance, while in the latter the worker is first thought of. I suppose the educa- tional missionary might also say the same. Industrial work there must be, and it is incumbent upon us to see that the spiritual life of our indus- trial communities does not suffer.
Surely here lies a call to the business men of our home Church-a call to go out to India and do for the industrial classes what others have done for the educated classes. Are there no business men ready to sac- rifice some of the love and sympathy, which is, alas! too much locked up in all our hearts, for the uplifting of these poor souls who have been given into our charge by Christ Himself ?
Dr. Zwemer well says: "The whole problem of industrial missions, which lies at the back of that other problem of obtaining a self-support- ing native Church, will have to be solved by men of business. The cause of foreign missions needs the help of business men in its administration- .• business men who will give their time and talent to this important work, and make it their business to do the Lord's work in a businesslike way."
NOTE.-An Industrial Missions Association has recently been formed in America through the instrumentality of Mr. W. H. Fry. This has the hearty approval of such men as Dr. Charles Cuthbert Hall, Dr. C. C. Creegan, Dr. James S. Dennis, Mr. Robert E. Speer, and-others. A further notice will be found on page 146 of this number of the REVIEW.-EDlTORS.
EDITORIALS
EDITORIALS Higher Education in India cases, their time, talents, and energy to the cause of the Master The Gospel invariably brings a in tbe mission field.
desire for enlightenment. Where This girls' high school in Cal- cutta i,s founded on the Word of Christ is proclaimed and accepted, God, and its hightest and chiefest aim is His glory. From the first there schools, colleges, and univer- Miss Gardner intended to turn the school ultimately into a college as sities spring up. The mind is well. Year by year this purpose was strengtbened as she saw her. awakened, and, if a truly Chris- girls matriculating from the high tian education can not be had, school and joining Bethune College to pursue their studies further, many will go to non-Chril'tian there being no other door open to them. Bethune College is the only schools and graduate with ideas too college for girls in Bengal. It is a government institution, entirely often destructive of their Christian under non-Christian management and influence. By far the majority faith and life. It is for this reason of pupils are non-Christians. To send girls of fifteen or sixteen years that many missionaries are urging of age, before their Christian char- acter has had time to mature, to the necessity of higher education such an institution, is, to say the least, far from conducive to the defor the future leaders of nations velopment of Christian character and spiritnallife. just emerging from heathenism. In connection with this high The Bengali principal of the school, Mrs. Shrome has started a' collegiate class on a small sca.le, Woman's Missionary Union High and they use the same building bo~ for school and college. An School in Calcutta, Mrs. Shrome, is American missionary lives in the school; acts as a mother to the an earnest Chdstian and a rarely girls, and holds daily classes for Bible study. The school has also gifted woman. She has taken her its prayer-meetings, its Christian Endeavor Society, its Young M.A. degree in English and in Women's Christian Association branch. At the last meeting of philosophy in the Calcutta Uni- the Woman's Union Missionary Society Board in New York, it was versity. Of educational work in voted to make of this high school and college for Christian girls a general, Mrs. Shrome writes: memorial to Miss Gardner, and People, both in Great Britain Miss Edith H. May has been apand America, feel, to a great extent, pointed to take up the Calcutta that the only work worth doing in work upon her return to India next heathen lands is that of direct fall. Help is greatly needed to carry evangelization. If one's aim in on this branch of work, which is so imparting education were the fulfiling of an end and not the adoption of a meane, and one of the very best of means toward a desired end, such a view of the work of evangelization would certainly be correct. But, so far as I know, the aim of the Christian educationist is to bring his pupils to the feet of Christ, so to train the young that they may become .. vessels sanctified and, meet for the Master's use." Tbat tbe work of the educationist has born fruit is most empbat~cally emphasized by the converSIOn of hundreds of men in India who to-day are wielding a mighty influence for Christ, and who first learned the truths of Christianity while students in Christian collegejl. Considering the sbort period during which proper attention has been paid to girls, and higher education imparted to them, they have shown their appreciation of advantages received by devoting, in most
necessary in the training of Ohris- Describing Things As They Are tian women to become leaders In our Book Reviews in the Sep- tember (1903) issue we published a both in their own Ohristian com- briefnoticeof "ThingsAsTheyAre," by Miss Amy Wilson Oarmichael, munity and in evangelistic work; and we now wish to add a few words of still more emphatic comandleaders are neededwhen we con- mendation. This book is one which is, we ,think, unequaled in its pecul· sider that there are only 1,000 Eu- iar line. It presents the actual conditions of things in India with· ropean women missionaries to out undue plainness-not to say coarseness-and yet with such skill reach the 100,000,000 women of In- and tact and suggestive reticence that the reader feels that he has a dia. And, as Miss Gardner so often ,deep insight into Indian social life without experiencing any offense said," The women for Christ means to the most delicate sensibilities. It is a book to instruct and arouse India for Christ." In order to missionaries and supporters of mis- sions to pray and to give. There is continue 'the work of the school no false veil drawn over facts, and no false halo put around the work. during the coming year, $2,000 is It will help to send out workers with open eyes and open hearts, to needed at once. But to secure the make others feel the wants and woes which the Gospel alone can relieve future of the school a fund of $50,- or remove. We again urge all dis- ciples to read this book, which 000 is needed. has been pronounced by one critic to be the best missionary book in It may be reme,mbered that this the world.
is the mission to which the edi- Miss Carmichael's book contrasts in one respect with another book retor's daughter, Miss Louise B. Pier- viewed in April last: "By Order of the Prophet." We have' read son, gave her life. * this story with considerable in- terest, but it impresses us as, in No Money for Missions? one or two cases, violating the principles of modesty by intro- A missionary, an esteemed cor- ducing the heroine of the book into situations which are described respondent, writes: so as to offend good taste. These passages prevent this story from I lectured before a Ladies' Mis- having more unqualified praise. sionary Society attached to one of There are many books in which the the wealthiest churches in B— general drift is good, but in which not long since, and while they there is a needless introduction of were conducting the "business" profane or coarse language, or part of the meetiug I estimated the scenes which are in bad ,taste, and worth of the jewelry worn at not which mar any book intended for less than ten thousand dollars. A miscellaneous readers. plea came from a mission church in the West for some money with which to build a little wooden church. After much deliberation, ten dollars was suggested, and after more talk that was etd down to .five dollars! They had asked me to offer a prayer and to close with the Lord's prayer. Each one said " Amen" at the close. They pray- ed "Thy kingdom come," and sub- scribed five dollars toward that work, while at the same time they wore jewelry worth ten thousand dollars! Do you think the Gospel is preached in that church?
At the latest valuation, the Pres- byterian churches of New York Oity alone are estimated to rep- resent a cash value of ten and a half millions of dollm's! and to ''''that material wealth in real estate the present generation has contrib- uted but a very small per cent.
BOOKS FOR THE MISSIONARY LIBRARY THE LIFE OF EDWIN WALJ..ACE PARKER, D.D., more faithfully the Master whom he served, even unto death." These MIssional')' Bishop of Southern As,.., words from the Preface of the book forl;),-one years a missionary in India. are true. The memorial of Horace By J. H. Messmore. With an Introduc- Pitkin was a difficult one to write, tion by Bishop James M. Thoburn. 832 because the material was neither., Pl'. $2.00. New York: Eatou & Mains. large nor, for the most part. of Cincinnati: Jennings & Pye. 1903. unique interest. But the book affords a meeting-place where his This will be a welcome contribu- friends will gather to ~hink again tion to missionary literature to tens of the courageous and consecrated of thousands in India and America. man they loved. The author lias done a fine piece of sensible construction work. He Pitkin was emphatically his was competent for the task. For mother's son. President Eliot over forty years he was associated writes that he retains" only agenwith Bishop Parker in every phase eral impression of his sweet and of work and worship. His pre- sincere character and manner when cision and sympathy with the sub- a boy." His work in academy and ject, as well as his grasp of ques- college and seminary was good, but tions involved in portraying BishoJl not extraordinary. After a year Parker in situ, commend the pro- of immensely influential work duction. It is Bishop Parker, not among our American colleges, he Dr. Messmore, that is outlined. sailed with his wife for China. He reached his field of labor at Pao- It will be many a year yet before tingfu in the spring of 1897, and was the Christian world measures killed by the Boxers in the awful Bishop Parker-the cubits of the summer of 1900. The memorial height, and of the breadth, and of preserves for us, to a remarkable the depth. Plainly, here is a prac- degree, the spirit of the man. Here tical biography within the limits are his breezy characteristic letters of a hand-book of a many-sided, to his chums, with their goodly practical, devout, broad-visioned repertoire of college jokes and "man sent from God." The de- slang. Here are a number of ideal velopment from a Vermont farm missionary letters written to his boy to a bishop, wise in adminis- home church-letters diffuse, detration, at a formative period of scriptive, telling the things that missions in northwest India, the people at home want to know. loving" Great Heart" among all They show Pitkin the worker, missionaries and native Christians, frank, genial, intense, filled with can not be summarized in 300 words ideals, yet practical to his fingerwith the 300 pages of an honest tips. biographer before us cramped to severity to make an etching. We Nothing so perfectly reveals the will return to this at another time. man as his last recorded words, There are ten illustrations, well spoken to his Chinese' helper while the devilish crowd were swooping selected and well executed. ** down upon the mission: " Lao- man, tell the mother of little A MEMORIAL OF HORACE TRACY PITKIN. By Horace to tell Horace that his father's last wish was that when he Robert E. Speer. 12mo. $1.00, net. Flem- is twenty-five years of age he should ing H. Revell Company. 1903. come to China as a missionary."
"This is not simply a story of a life. It is a meeting-place, where many who knew and loved the true man pictured here may gather and compare their recollections, and confirm their purposes to follow
No mere man ever spoke more dians, Porto Ricans, Brazilians, heroic words. The man who, under Japanese, Chinese, Syrian, Per- those circumstances, could say that. ,sians, Africans, Alaskans, etc.
had livedalifewhose~tory is worth There is still room for a book de- writing and worth reading. H. scriptive of children at home and .abroad, with and without Christ.
A FLIGHT FOR LIFE. By James H. Roberts. This would be a great boon to Sun- Illustrated. 12mo, -402 pp. $1.50. The Pilgrim Press, Boston. 1003. day-school workers and leaders of Dr. Roberts fled from China dur- junior missionary societies. * ing the Boxer uprising in 1900, and INDIA'S PROBLEM: KRISHNA OR CHRIST. By was one of ~ party of missionaries J. P. Jones, D.D. Second edition. 8vo, who escaped overland through Si- 374 pp. $1.50, net Fleming H. Revell Co. 1903.
beria. He here tells the story This second edition of a very valu- • graphically. and gives besides It able book contains, besides many large amount of information about corrections to the text, several Mongolia and the Mongols. The valuable statistical tables, religious experiences of the missionaries and missionary. It is an excellent must have been thrilling to them, reference book on all subjects con- and as a record of travel the story nected with the land, peoples, re- is readable, but in no way remark- ligions, missions" etc. * able. The most valuable part of the book is the incidental informa- THE LAND, THE PEOPLE, AND THE BOOK. An illustrated Hebrew-Christian quarterly. tion about the country through B. A. M. Schapiro, editor; Robert Cameron, D.D., associate editor. Pp.64. which the party passed. * 260 St. James Place, Brooklyn. New York. $1.00.
CHILD LIFE IN MANY LANDS. Edited by H. This 'magazine has now existed Clay Trumbull, D.D. lllustrated. 12mo. three years, and every number has 215 pp. $1.00, net. Fleming H. Revell contained valuable information Co. 1903. concerning Israel, its Holy Book, and its land. Such a magazine as This series of articles, descriptive this is useful, and deserves the supof child life in various countries, port of the Christian public. To was for the most part contributed the Christian reader it will prove by some twenty-two writers to the helpful and stimulating by making Su.,nday-School Times. They are him better acquainted with the interesting chapters, but disap- Jews and the Bible, while to the pointing from a missionary stand- cultured Jew it may possibly bring point. A splendid opportunity has the truth as it is in Jesus without been missed to give us a vivid picture of child life in heathen lands, and the difference which the Gos- offending him. as do so many of our pel makes in the home and child modern tracts for Jews. An extraining. Dr. Trumbull in his In- cellent facsimile of the scroll of the troduction strikes a key-note which Law in Hebrew is given with each should have been found in all the succeeding chapters. The descrip- subscription. M. '
tions bring us into closer touch with LEAFLETs.-Comparatively few the children of other nations, but realize the wealth of information most of them do not' throw much and interest that there is in the light on their condition from a leaflet literature of the various Christian point of view. Mrs. Bal- missionary societies. They cover lington Booth writes picturesquely a wide range of topics by the best on" Baby Footprints in the Slums," writers, and make excellent reading and there are other chapters on for young peoples' and women's Immigrant Children, American In- missionary meetings.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE AMERICA with appropriate and excellent A Day of The General Com contents. These are the titles of Prayer for mittee of the some of the articles: "A Historical Students World's Stndent Sketch, 1803-1903," "Serampore Christian Federa- and the Pioneers," "From this tion have appointed February 14, Storied Height" (a view of progress 1904, as the Universal Day of made in Burma, Assam, South In- Prayer for Students. All the dia, China, Japan, Africa, Europe, Christian student movements be- and the Philippines, each article by longing to the World's Student a missionary in the country Christian Federation have official- named), "American Reminders of ly endorsed and adopted this day Judson," ., How the Work Grows" for united intercession on behalf of (charts indicating the increase in students. These movements em- missionaries, native workers, brace over 1,600 separate Christian church-members, and contribustudent societies, with a total mem- tions). bership of 89,000 students and pro- It appears that two other names fessors. What a source of spirit· preceded the present one, The Masual blessing and power such a sachusetts Baptist Missionary world-wide concert of prayer . Magazine, 1801-17, and The Amerishouldbe, provided the opportunity can Baptist Magazine and Mission- ary Intelligencer, 1817-36. Curibe wisely improved I . Never has there been a greater ously, the second number appeared need of definite, fervent, believing not uutil May, 1804, or eight prayer for students. The growing months after the fil'st; in 18Q6.-7 numbers of students in the differ· they averaged three annually; in ent countries, the disproportion. 1808-10 they attained to a quarterly ately great influence which they estate. The number for Septemare to wield in after life, the prev- ber, 1809, contained that epochalence and activity in studentcom- making sermon of Rev. Claudius munities of the forces of evil, the Buchanan, "The Star in the East," remarkable success of the Christian which so tremendously stirred the student movements, the opportu- soul of Judson and many more.
nities on every haud for extending American This society sus- the helpful influence of these move- Board tains in Turkey 8 ments, the urgent call of the Medical Work dispensaries and 6 Church for more students to dedi- hospitals; in India cate their lives to the work of and Ceylon, 16 dispensaries and 11 Christ at home and on the mission hospitals; in China, 10 dispensaries fields-all these and other consid- and 7 hospitals; in Africa, 7 dis- erations constitute an irresistible pensaries and 3 hospitals, and in appeal for prayer for students. * Japan 1 dispensary and a mission- ary physician in a Japanese hos- Centennial of The Baptist Mis- pital. This makes a total of 42 dis- a Missionary sionary Magazine pensaries and 28 hospitals in which Magazine celehrates its cen- were treated last year 253,800 tennial in its De- patients. When we bear in mind cember issue, and pre"ents its read- that these patients are under Chris- ers with a number most attractive tian instruction while in the hos- to the eye, as well as overflowing pital, and that few come to get
medicines without carrying away sionaries. The society named has with them a word of Christian just closed its twenty-eighth year truth or a printed page, and when with receipts above $200,000 and we also bear in mind that for the contributions from more churches, first time many of these people ex- Sunday-schools, and individuals perience Christian sympathy and than ever before. Its largest tenderness, we can get some con- 'single gift of the year was $6,000. ception of the wide influence of It has recently sent additional workthis work. Many of these hospitals ers to Japan, China, and the Philand dispensaries are entirely self- ippines, and has a number of men supporting apart from the salaries in preparation to go out next year. of the missionary physicians in charge.-Congregational Work. Presbyterian During the last Mission Work year no less than Departure of A delightful mis- Alliance sionary farewell 5,227 church-mem- bers were reported added to the Missionaries service was held roll. The previous year there November 30th in were 5,241, this being the largest number, with a single exception, connection with' the departure of 7 in any year in the Board's history. missionaries for India, namely, The native membership now stands Mr. and Mrs. Rogers and their 2 at 46,540. In 1833 there were only children, Mr. and Mrs. Eiker, of 7 American missionaries under the Altoona, Pa., and Messrs. Green- Board. Thirty years later there grass, Carver, and Turnbull, late wete but 99 native workers. In students in the Missionary Insti- 1903 there are 781 missionaries, and tute of Nyack. This party will 1,988 native workers. These figform a valuable accession to our ures indicate a steady growth. brethren in that great and needy To-day there are 127 stations, 1,402 field. The Alliance has now nearly outstations, 764 schools, 27,370 80 missionaries in India. The num- pupils in schools, 38,342 Sunday ber may seem great to us, but as scholars, 693 churches, 122 students one of the outgoing missionaries for the ministry, 10 printingremarked, it seems very small to presses, which last year printed them.-Christian and Missionary 107,938,713 pages, and 91 hospitals Alliance. and dispensaries, which treated during the year 290,103 patients. Missionaries The Foreign Chris- for TIbet tian Missionary So- Industrial Steps were taken to Missions win friends for this ciety, which repre- Association mission in America sents the Disciples of Christ, is sending a band of 3 missionaries to at a meeting in the try to gain an entrance into the United Charities' Building, New exclusive land of Tibet-Rev. A. York, on December 8th. Rev. L. Shelton and wife, of Kansas; and Charles Cuthbert Hall, D.D.• was Dr. Susan C. Rijnhart, of Canada. in the chair, and addresses were Some years ago Dr. Rijnhart and made by W. H. Fry, Esq., Dr. C. her husband explored a part of C. Creegan, and others, on the ur- Eastern Tibet, and the husband gent necessity for the systematic lost his life in the undertaking. development of industrial mission This is one of the "closed lands," work on the best possible commerand the Tibetans can only be reach- cial basis. The existing missionary ed by border missions. It is hoped, societies are not constituted for however, that the British expe- this purpose, and it is not desirable dition may open the way for mis-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
that their missionaries should be A Mission A little steam- involved in commercial work of Yacht yacht called the this nature; so that- the Industrial Dedicated Sentinel, under the Missions Association of America auspices of the Pro- is established to give employment testant Episcopal Missionary So- to native Christians seeking to ciety for Seamen, has recently been enter industrial pursuits, and aims dedicated by Bishop Potter. In to become self-supporting on a addition to ministering to the Christian commercial basis. The spiritual welfare of seamen in association has received hearty New York harbor, it will act as a support from secretaries of mission sort of watch-dog, seeking to pre- boards, missionaries, and others in- vent shanghaing, protecting sail- terested in the development of ors also from land-sharks, crimps, strong, self-supporting Christian boarding-house runners, and the communities in India and else- like. It will also aid in bringing where. .. about more farewell religious ser- vices than are now held on ships Hartford One-tenth of the starting out on long voyages.
Seminary graduates of this The boat is attached to the float- and Missions s e min a r y have ing mission at the foot of Pike found their work Street, and will make four trips in foreign lands. A continuous around the harbor each week, dis- course of instruction in foreign tributing tracts and inviting sea- missions has been provided. The men to attend the mission. Itwill library, now numbering over 82,- make special trips on Sunday after- 757 books and 45,977 pamphlets. noons, gathering sailors on boats contains the Augustus C. Thomp- lying along the rivers and in the son collection on foreign missions, bay and bringing them to the mis- which numbers 7,275 volumes. The sion for supper and religious ser- reading-room, with its more than vice afterward. ..
400 periodicals, is supplied with all the leading missionary magazines. Chinese New York's China- Open-Air town is one of the The missionary museum contains Service in worst sections of New York the city. In it is 240 different missionary versions but one church•. a of the Bible. Opportunity is fur- Roman Catholic, but several mis. sions are doing excellent work. nished for the study of various mis- Among them is the New York Foreigners' Mission, with Miss sionary languages. The seminary Helen F. Clark as director. For several Sundays this institution has arranged for a number of lec- has held an open-air service in the heart of Chinatown, and a contures on the different non-Christian servative estimate gives the num- ber of listeners one Sunday as 5,000. religions, to be eventually devel- Not only Chinamen attended, but Jews, Italians, Germans, and Irish oped into a complete course in were present in large numbers, and different speakers at the meeting comparative religion. Some of the used all the languages of these people. The steredpticon was used special lecturers for 1904-1905 will to show pictures of biblic'll scenes; be Rey. G. W. Fiske, of Auburn, Maine, on "Business Methods in Mission Work"; Rev. W. B. For- bush. of Charlestown, Mass., on "Mission Work Among Young People"; Rev. C. J. Ryder, D.D., New York, on "The History and Growth of the American Mission- ary Association," of which he is secretary. ..
and to display the words of hymns. $75. There are about 150 children enrolled, and the daily attendance The meetings are remarkable even is 76.
in this city of big things, and are BrooklYn The Young Men's Y. M. C. A. Christian Associaso successful that it is planned to Jubilee tion of Brooklyn, continue them into the fall, and to N. Y., has recently hold similar gatherings in Mul- celebrated its fiftieth anniversary, and among other things rejoiced berry Park, the breathing spot over the raising of a fund of $425,- 000 for the erection of three new made through the efforts of Jacob buildings and the paying off of mortgages. About" $600,000 more A. Riis from the notorious Mul- is needed. The Association con- ducts work at 12 centers in that berry Bend. * city, including the Navy Yard, and the barns of the leading street-car Presbyterians and.. the Southern company. It has 6 buildings val- Mountaineers.-The Presbyterian ued at $1,000,000, 5,600 members, Church, North, sust,ains evangeliz- 900 of whom-are in the Bible classes. ing work among the mountaineers Mr. George Foster Peabody, who of the South at some 60 points: 6in as a poor boy obtained most of his West Virginia, 9 in Kentucky, 12 education while attending the evein Tennessee, and 32 in North Caro- ning classes of the Association, has lina. The work of teaching is given large sums for the' erection mainly in the hands of devoted of its buildings at Greenpoint, N. and self-denying women. Y., Columbus, Ga., Salt Lake City, and other places. The finest naval A Tuskegee John T. Hollis branch building in the world was Student's writes thus from erected by Miss Helen Gould at the Armstrong, A I a- Brooklyn Navy Yard. Achievement bama: A Christian A unique and prac- The schoolhouse at this place Health Farm tical form of Chris- was burnt down the year before I in Colorado tian work is the came here, so when I came there Association Health was no place in which to teach. I Farm near Denver. It is fighting was determined to begin the school, tuberculosis among the very large however, and so I opened in one of number of young men who go there, and are without home in- the rooms of a dwelling-house in fluence, without the touch of the community. The rapid in- mother's or sister's hand, and of crease in number of students made father's love. The establishment . it necessary to move to an old log of the Denver Association Health Farm marks the latest develop- house, which would have served ment in Young Men's Christian Association work. First suggested for a while had it not been for the by the crying needs of a mliititude fact that cold weather was on, and of young men seeking the Colorado there was no way to heat the house. climate for physical reasons; it was quickly and practically approved I moved into another dwelling- by generous friends, and to-day the house, where I taught until I was farm idea is an accomplished fact. able to build a schoolhouse. There were so many children that the boys had to remain by a fire outside of the house, and come in only to recite their lessons. I did not have money to buy lumber for the school- house, but I gave my note for it, and after the neigl:!bors hanled the lumber, with the assistance of sev- eral of them, I framed the build- ing. One of my more advanced pupils taught the school while the schoolhouse was being built. but I would hear several of the recita- tions each day. I built the stove flues and the blackboards myself, and in this way the whole build- ing, which is 30 x 20 feet, only cost
1904J QBNl!:RAL MISSIONARY INTELL1Gl!:NCB
The patients live in cottage tents, Lutherans, 44 Methodists, 25 Bap- tists, South, 10 Episcopalians, with because they have proven most several smaller missions supplying the residue. desirable for men seeking health. EUR.OPE Twenty to thirty dollars per month GreatBritain The Christian is charged for tent cottage and and the Union for the sev- board for each resident, deter- Opium Traffic erance of the con- nection of the Britmined, as far as possible, according ish Empire with the opium traffic to ability of the resident to pay has issued a letter with a view to arousing public feeling against the for accommodations. Employ- government's connection with the trade. The official returns show ment will not be guaranteed until that during the l.ast four years the opium manufactured by the Indian the physical condition of the appli- government amounted to 29,155,200 pounds-a yearly average of 7,288,- cant is fully understood. Some 800 pounds. About 600,000 ~cres of the best land of India are used for employment can be secured on ad- its cultivation. The letter ex- presses the hope that knowledge of joining nursery and vegetable the facts will lead to a "general determination that a trade so unfarms. * just and dishonorable shall no lon- ger be carried on in the name of Methodists There is an interest- our country." Many leading Free in Hawaii ing condition of Churchmen sign the appeal, as well as the Archbishop of Dublin and things in Hawaii. the Bishops of Durham, Liverpool, The Chinese are excluded, and the and Norwich. fear of overcrowding has practically shut out the Japanese. The British Among the more result is a great scarcity oflaborers, Baptists prominent features particularly farm-hands. The Aggrenive of the work of the farmers have, therefore, invited immigration from Korea. Not Baptist Missionary long ago 80 Koreans shipped on one Society during the past twelve vessel for Hawaii, of whom it was months has been the occupation of found that 31 were Methodists. A two large spheres of work in India. Methodist church was organized on among the aboriginal tribes of shipboard, which had 50 members the Chittagong Hill tracts and the when they landed. After reaching South Lushai country. The num- Hawaii they sent back to Korea for ber of conversions in India has been a pastor. There are now 600 large, and the native churches are Koreans in Hawaii, of whom 300 growing. In Africa the last links are members of the Methodist Epis- of the "complete chain" of miscopal Church. The American sions right across that country Board has decided not to enter it, from west to east are being forged. and the members of their churches The churches in the West India who take letters to Hawaii are ad- Islands, the Bahamas, San Dominvised to unite with the Methodist go, and Trinidad, havenowbecome Church.-Western Christian Advo- entirely independent and self-supcate.
The Gospel This imperial realm in Brazil includes about half of South America, and contains about 18,000,000 inhabitant who are all practically either Catholics or out-and-out heathens. And among this great host only 200 Protestant missionaries are to be found. Of these, 45 are Presbyterians, 45 are German
porting. The Baptist society has evangelical faith; Waldensian also got a new mission steamer, the chapels and schools being over- Endeavorer, on the Kongo. crowded, and everywhere thel e being a hunger for a Gospel of The C. M. S. Simply because of love and grace. In Sicily alone Forward the necessary en- the Waldensian Church has 30 Movement largement of its churches and missions. work, this great Now, as never before, is resting organization is threatened with upon the Waldensian Church the a serious deficit, and, to avoid this, opportunity and responsibility of calls for an increased incom'e of no giving the Gospel to the 33,000,000 of less than $443,500! And not only Italy. This band of Waldensians, calls for it, bllt proposes to secure poor in the world's goods and few it. For this purpose Dr. Herbert in numbers, but giving liberally of Lancaster has been put in charge personal service and material help, of the Home Organization Depart- is looking with prayerful hope to ment -jointly with Canon Flynn. America for a large part of .much Concerning the method of pro- needed pecuniary aid to enable cedure, he says: "I propose, with them to prosecute the great work tbe cordial cooperation of my col- so wonderfully opened up to her. leagues, to collect at least 1,000,000 This is the day of opportunity for shillings before February 29th, and Italy. Everywhere, under the -this can only be done if large num- liberal laws (If the land, there is an bers help. I am issuing three open door for missionary work. * sheets of small receipts. Sheet A contains 100 for one shilling; B, Interest Among The correspondence 20 for one shilling; and C, 60 for ifve Jewish Rabbis with Jewish rabbis, shillings, 20 for three, and 20 for two shillings." to which reference The Waldensian The field which this was made in THE REVIEW for De- Church native martyr of Italy church, "The Israel cember, 1003, as one of the encour- of the Alps," is aging signs of Jewish missions, is called of God to occupy, is one of unique importance. The evangeli- beginning to develop in a remark- zation of Italy means a wonderful able manner. Mr. Gelbert, superblessing to the whole world, because Italy is the stronghold of intendent of the Wanderers' Home the papal hierarchy. America is peculiarly interested in Italy's in Bristol, England, was from the evangelization, because of the -immigrants from that land, 136,000 beginning the assistant of the Rev. coming to us in one year, almost all of them from southern Italy, J. M. Eppstein in editing the periwhere illiteracy, superstition, and lawlessness have been preeminent. odical and is issuing correspond- W.hile all over Italy, Waldensian evangelists are meeting with most ence with Russian rabbis, and since encouraging success, it is in southern Italy, and especially in Sicily, Mr. Eppstein's death he has been in that the greatest results have been achieved; whole communities turn- sole charge. Some time ago he ating away from Romanism to the tended a congress of rabbis at Cra- cow, where he met several of those with whom he had been in corre- spondence. Opportunity came for conversation with 48, and he was * A contribution of $125 will support the whole band of 145 missionary workers for one day. $1,000 will, in many cases, "ecure a hOllse of worship fo'f<-one of the missions. $150 a year will support a student in the Theological Hall in Florence. The salary of a colporteur or evangelist is from $20 to $-30 a month, and of a pastor from $500 to $800 a year. A Bible woman can be supported for $10 a month, and a teacher for from $10*to $20 a month.
GENlilRAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
permitted to preach to them from E. B. Haskell's report of his canvass Matthew v : 3. After his return to of the vilayet of Monastir: Burned England an invitation was received villages, 17; burned houses, 1,700; from one of these rabbis to meet houseless people, 7,330; unarmed himself and 5 others in conference men killed, 87; families injured, during the Zionist Oongress in 1,336; women dishonored, 38; 4 Basel (August, 1903), and he reports churches and 1 monastery torn a profitable time with these and down; 14 churches gutted and de- other delegates at the congress. filed.
One of the numerous questions put A Prayer The Bishop of Gib- for the raltar has authorto the missionary was, "Why did Oppressed ized the use of the not the contemporaries of Jesus following petition recognize His Messiahship?" In in his diocese: answer, Mr. Gelbert simply quoted A PRAYER FOR OUR CHRISTIAN 1. Corinthians i:22-24:-" The Jews BRETHREN IN MACEDONIA require a sign," etc. M. o Almighty God, Who art a most Sunday-schools The Rev. Dr. strong tower to all that put their in Hungar)" Moody writes from trust in Thee, behold, we beseech Budapest: Accord- Thee, the afflictions of our brethren in Macedonia. Delivel' them from ing to statistics just collected by injustice and misrule, and from the Mr. J. Victor, for the Sunday- many other miseries by which they school Union, there are in Hungary are compassed. Heal their divi- 128 Sunday-schools. Of- these, 22 sions. Keep them from the I!Ipirit are in connection with the Re- of revenge, and from whatsoever formed Church, including thl;l Scot- else is contrary to the Christian tish Mission, 8 are in connection name and profession. Especially with the Lutheran Church, 92 are we commend to Thy merciful care in connection with the Baptists, 1 and protection their wives, daughis in connection with the Metho- ters, and' children; preserve them dists, and 5 are without special from cruelty, outrage, and dis- Church. connection. The number honor; comfort the mourners; sucof teachers is 398. The number of cor the widows, ~he orphans, the scholars in attendance varies from homeless: restore plenty, quietabout 4,200 to 4,900. The number ness, and the voice of joy into their of schools into which the group dwellings. In this hour of their system has been introduced is 67, sore need, wrong, and peril, be and the number of groups is 343. Thou their Savior and Mighty De- The number of schools In connec- liverer, because there is none other tion with whieh a teachers' prepa- to succor them but only Thou, 0 ration meeting is held is 50. In 94 God. Give ear, Lord, to the cry of schools the "International Scheme Thy suffering people, and save of Lessons" is used. In 94 schools them for Jesus Christ's sake. the language of instruction is Hun- Amen. garian, in 29 German, in 2 Hungarian anil German, in 4 Slavonian, ASIA and in 1 Rumanian.-Missionary Record of Church of Scotland. Medical Work The medical work Turkish Fiends As a fair specimen in Syria of Dr. Harris in in Macedonia of the widespread Tripoli w.as tempo- butchwy and abuse inflicted by the soldiers of the rarily suspended by"his furlough in Porte, read these items from Rev. the United Sootes. Dr. MaryPier- son Eddy has continued h.er clinics at Junillh and itinerated in the in- terior, being everywhere welcomed boy the people. No more in1!eresting sight can be seen in Syria than the medical camp of this American wo-
man, thronged by men, women, at a bishlik (11 cents) a day, and and children of all ages and sects, most diJ,ys they can not find work and even priests, monks, and nuns, at any price. emirs, and sheikf'!, eager to receive medical and surgical treatment at Emigration is the only relief, her hands.-Assembly Herald. and our churches are losing their best young men and many even of The Gospel In a city known to the pastors. and teachers. In the Touching us, 15 or 20 Moslem Presbyterian church of South Beth- Moslems women, even 50 lehem, Penn., are 55 communi- cants from the village of Amar in upon occasions, as- the Tripoli field, of whom 30 were church-members in Amar and the semble regularly in prayer-meet- remaining 25 were received in South ing. In- another city, ladies of Bethlehem upon profession of faith. high rank, upon whom Ii, life of On an average, one-third of our pleasure palls, read the Ne IV Testa- church-members are abroad, .most ment with joy. Here, a military of them in the United States, and man believes. There, a servant. from the United States comes a A humble man addressing his coun- large part of the income of those trymen says, fearlessly: "Your re- who are left in Syria. ligion is the same heathenism your fathers practised. They worshiped The Gospel The report of the golden idols, you a stone in your in Arabia Arabian Mission pockets (holy earth from a shrine). They prayed to an image, you to a mentions its medi- dead prqphet. This is the last word, 'Come to Jesns, who is called cal work as of primary importance. Christ.' " Only a year ago, at the close of a communion service under The number of patients treated at .Mt. Hermon, a Mohammedan pres- ent quietly begged that he might Bahrein has been 15,400, and 8,003 carry home a bit of the bread. He dared not eat it in the public meet- at Busrah-23,403 in all. To the ing, but he would eat it alone and would believe that the Savior com- Mason Memorial Hospital, at Bah- muned with him. No, Islam is a mighty foe to Christ's Gospel, but rein, a present has been made in it is not impregnable.-Woman's Work for Woman. the form of a windmill, an adjunct Drawbacks to Rev. F. W. March much needed, and which will be Work in S,ma writes in the As- gratefully appreciated. By the sembl]J Herald from the Tripo1i field: missionaries and colporteurs 11 The evils of poverty, oppression, tours have been made, occupying robbery, and bad government are greater and greater every year, es- 224 days, and covering 3,300 miles. pecially in the northern part of our field. A prominent church.mem- The sales of Scriptures amounted ber at Hamath, a successful mer- chant for man¥ years, has given to 4,059 copies, in 17 languages. Of up and moved away because he finds there is no longer any money these, 3,362 were sold to Moham- to be made. Beggars are more numerous than ever. Our pastor medans, or 82 per cent. of the said he could go ont at any time to the market-place and hire 100 men whole number. Steps have been taken to occupy Kuweit,.an im· portall't strategic position near the head df the Persian Gulf.
A Statesman's Sir. W. Mackwol'th Testimony to Young, K.C.S.I., India Missions 1ate Lieutenant- Governor Of the Punjab, recently made the follow- ing statement in St. Michael's Church, Cornhill, London: Possibly you mary have some doubts whether the methods adopted in the mission field are al- together. worthy qf approval, and whether the agents are worthy of trust. Is the money which is con- tributed at home to the mission
GENERAL MISSIONARY
cause being properly applied? Do gates or means of access other the missionaries work on right than by a ladder of six or eight lines? Are they really self-denying steps, which brings one to the top and devoted? Are the results at of the wall, and a good jump is all commensurate with the efforts needed to reach the ground on the made? Is the Kingdom of Christ other side; sometimes, however, a being really promoted by those notched bamboo pole takes the efforts? place of the ladder aforesaid, and then the climb is an impossibility I give you the assurance, from to anyone wearing shoes. One some observation of mission work patient I very much wished to see, in India, that all these questions but found no means of entrance to and many more of a similar char- ber abode, except by the bamboo acter may safely be answered in just descriBed. I was told, howthe affirmative. If the work were ever, I might reach the dwelling by altogether a work of faith, going going through a neighbor's comon underground, but not showing pound, but here again I was foiled itself in the open day, this would by a very deep ditch with steep be no reason for abandoning or con- crumbling sides separating the two demning it. For how many years gardens; into this I declined to after the death of Christ was not scramble. When the sick woman the cause of Christianity in an ap- was told of the difficulty she came parently hopeless minority? Cer- out, and, standing on the edge of tainly much longer than the Gospel her side of the gulf, shouted mit has been preached in India. Yet her symptoms to me on the other it bas triumphed in Europe, and it side, with the result that I was will triumph in Asia. And, able to send her some medicine. triumph or no triumph, woe is to us if we preach not the Gospel! In the hospital at Trevandrum But, as a business man speaking Miss Blandford says there have, to business men, I am prepared to say that the work which has been during the past year, been 62 padone, by missiOllary agency in India exceeds in importance all that has tients, 30 of whom were children. been done (and much has been done) by the British government The out-patients numbered 2,595. in India since its commencement. Hope for It is a sign of the * Hindu Widows times that the num- Work of A recent number of ber of Hindu wid- Healing Under In d i a's Women Diffi~ltie5 and Chi n a's ow marriages in different parts of Daughters, the or- India is increasing by leaps and gan of the C. E. Z. M. S., contains bounds, the brides in most cases an account by Miss Blandford of a being virgin widows. This shows visit paid by her early in the year that the resolutions passed year to a place called Koni, about eighty after year at the different social miles from Trevandrum, where conferences are not meant to be there was no medical practitioner nominal ones, but are intended to of any kind. The people were for be carried out in practise. It is, the most part poor, and many were indeed, gratifying to find that the suffering from malarial fever, de- Hindus are becoming more and bility, and anremia, so with the more alive to the importance of medicine-chest which she had with social reform and the pernicious her, she was able to do something nature of some of the social evils for the relief of those who came to which exist in their midst. We her for treatment. She tells of the are accountable to God for our difficulties sometimes encountered treatment of our womankind, and when visiting or' trying to visit unless we treat them with greater patients in their own homes: consideration God's curse will al- The houses are generally sur- ways'rllst'""on us, and our sufferings rounded by high walls with no will never cease. The prevention of early marriage, the education of
our women, and tb.e remarriage at by setting men free from the torleast of virgin widows, should re- ment of sin and also from the thralceive the first care of all those who dom of sin, by giving knowledge to wish our country well.-New Dis- the ignorant, both women and men, pensation (Brahmo-Somaj). in simple terms that all could un- derstand, Jesus had won for Him- Shoes for In view of the fact self a unique place (may we not say it ?) in human hearts. He is a Mohammedans t hat Mohamme- sea of beauty, a bottomless mine o:e moral and spiritual wealth, a store dans ought to wear of mercy, an ocean of knowledge. If you will cast off all the fetters of only sandals to please the Prophet, superstition, and look upon Jesus with holy and earnest intentness, and that Hindus abominate dead you can not but be fully persuaded to believe in His deity. His whole animal skins, it is interesting to life was actively employed in doing good to others, in bettering the note the growing Indian taste for condition of the world, in making earth as heaven. boots and shoes of foreign make, A notable Brahman scholar of shown by the steady increase in the Dacca is quoted as having expressed imports of these articles year by himself regarding this article in the year. In 1900–1001, the number of following terms: " We did not expairs imported was 709,059; during pect all this from a Brahman high priest who is a bigoted Hindu and the succeeding year the figures rose a recognized preacher of our religto 746,099; while last year they ion. The writer seems to me to be jumped up to 853,358 pairs. * a great lover of Jesus Christ, altho A Hindu's A remarkable arti- he is not a Christian. The article Testimony to cle appeared lately is the first of its kind in this coun- Christ in a Bengali maga- try. I do not know if any Bengali Christian could write a better." zine. The writer The Medicine An old Chinese was a Brahman of extensive repu- Needed for woman once came tation as a scholar and a writer. China into a missionary The subject of the article is " Jesus hospital, saying that she would like to see the doc- Christ of Judea," and from a trans- tor. On his asking what she wishlation of it which appeared in the ed, she replied: "The mayor of August number of the Missionary our town has lately been here with Herald, organ of the Baptist Mis- you. He was a very bad man; used sionary Society, the following quo- to cudgel his children, wasted his tations are made: money at play, and had so foul a The adorable Jesus Christ was mouth that all the waters of the born in the hamlet of Bethlehem, situated in the well-known province world could not have made it clean.
of Palestine. The religion He But since he has been with you preached is what is now called the the tiger is transformed into a Christian religion, and those who lamb, and his wife is full of joy and believe in and obey Jesus are called astonishment. He no longer gives Christians. As we contemplate His unique moral beauty, incom- her an unhandsome word, and they parable wisdom and learning, His live in peace together." "Good marvelous and mighty words, His news," replied the doctor; ," but spotless character, meek and lov- what now do you wish, my good ing spirit, His deeds of mercy and words of love, His mighty miracles woman?" "Well," said the woman, wrought by Divine power, the " you are to tell nobody, but I too heart refuses to admit that this Jesus is a mere man, but feels that He is Divine. By His wonderful works of love wrought for the help and the relief of the poor and needy, by His exquisitely tender sympathy with the afflicted, by the light, moral and spiritual, which He shed,
1904J GlliNlllRA, L MISSIONARY INTElLLIGENCE
have an unhappy mouth. and I am to and fro to evade the writ of afraid my daughters-in-law find it ejectment that was ever ready to none too easy to live with me. be served upon the then 'heirs of Therefore, I have come to beg you the empire, and yet inmates of "Hog Lane," as it was then called to give me some of the medicine by the Chinese. Nowhere else were that has cured our mayor."- they allowed to rest the soles of feet. .A few others had come to Monatsbltltter. t help Morrison and be his residuary Chinese Two recent events legatees, if he ever got anything, Opening but they were not a whit bet,ter off.
in Kayin, among They had everybody against them: Their Eyes the H a k k a s 0 f Chinese mandarins, Chinese schol- southeastern ars, and Chinese common people, China, illustr~te in a forceful way and, worse than that, even their the interest in Western learning own country now looked upon them which is universal throughout as crack-brained enthusiasts. The powerful East India Company. then China. One of these is the opening in existence, scourged them and of a free public reading-room in a persecuted them. Men like Sydney portion of the Confucian Temple, Smith cracked their jokes at the where dailies can be seen from expense of the cobbler Carey in In- dia and the bobbin-boy Morrison Swatow, Hongkong, Shanghai, and" in China. No man of .Macedonia Japan also other periodicals in beckoned the~n to come m, no man .• of the Cornehus type sent for them Chmese, and a few books. The to tell a message from the living room is a city institution, being God. They had converts-s~ only supported by the wharfage rates. after a generation of pioneering.
There are many who are regular Friends in Chjna they had none.
patrons of the place, and keep well Christian One of the most ininformed regarding leading events Japanese t ere s tin g items throughout the world. A recent in China from Japan is the visit of the missionary brought a flood of questions from the Chinese missionary w 0 r k present regarding such matters as now being done by the Japanese Church in China. At Tientsin the Venezuelan trouble. the there is a Japanese colony of up- Panama Canal, etc. The other ward of 1,400 residents. There event is the completion of a hospital are a few Christian Japanese in the by a native society organized for number. They have organized a the purpose, where it is proposed to ,young people's society and a have two resident physicians, with primary school, and have taken other helpers. Doctor Witten- steps to organize a church. This berg, of the Basle Mission in Kayin, church is attached to the Tokyo has been asked to give two fore- Presbytery. The first missionary noons a week .for the treatment of is Mr. Dentaro Maruyama. He is eye and surgical cases. The project to work principally amor.g the is entirely a native one. Chinese, but in connection with the China Only Rev. William Ash- Church. 'l'hey have also decided to Sixty Years send a suitable man as pastor of the more puts the mat- church.-Assembly Herald. Ago ter in this startling way: Shall the Nothing could be Missionaries further from the The missionaries had the promise Withdraw truth than to imagof all China as a portion, and yet, from Japan? ine, because there after trying to edge themselves in for'thirty-five years since Morrison are so many difficame, they were allowed only an old cultie5 in propagating Christianity out-of-the-way lodging in a dirty in Japan by foreigners, suggesting laRe in Canton, and had to dodge
the importance of a large employ- Commons) and the Speaker are ment of well-trained native helpers, that therefore the foreign Christians; one of them was chosen missionaries ought gradually to withdraw. In the present state of by a majority of 5 to 1, and reprethings the missionaries ought not to be recalled, but to be increased, as sents a strongly Buddhist district. has been rightly recognized, especially by American millsionary cir- The Christians are likewise repre-. cles. For a long time to come-for a century, aji least-foreign mission- sented in the navy, where the two aries are indispensable for Japan. It is their business to watch intel- chief men-of-war have Christian ligently over sound doctrine, to see to it that Christianity shall not be captains. Of the great Tokyo too deeply Japanized; that especially it shall not suffer by inter- journals, three are in the hands of mixture with ancestor and emperor worship; that it shall not, Christians as managing editors. through Buddhist influences, acquire a pantheistic imprint, or, The most important Df asylums through Confucian influences, suffer infringement of its purely relig- of various kinds are controlled ious or supernatural character. They must, moreover, for long by Christian directors. – Evange· years to come, remain to give the example of a genuine and holy lisches Mission Magazine. t Christian life in a land where most of the Buddhist priests, even up to The Forward Two years ago there the highest prelates, live in oP!ln Movement was an advance concubinage; where marriage is so in Japan movement, which easily dissoluble; where women is gave promise of still so lightly esteemed; and, finally, they are still indispensable for large results and also new courage the training of the native preachers, to Christian workers in various not only in theology and philoso- parts of the country. The final inphy, but also by giving them an gathering has not been what was example of zealous practical mis- anticipated, and it is a matter of sionary labor.-PAsTOR SCHILLER, much thought and interest why in Zeitschrift fur Missionskunde. more fruit is not manifest. One reason is that many of the inquir- 1" ers had a wrong conception of the Eminent The Christian com- nature of Christianity. While Christians munity in Japan they were quite willing to accept in Japan has already fur- the teachings of Christ intellectu- ally, they were not {'eady to be- nished a Cabinet come as little children and open Minister, two Judges of the Court their hearts to the Divine Spirit to of Correction, two Speakers of the be their sanctifier and guide. Others Lower House, and two or three As- were ready and willing to humbly sistant Secretaries, as well as a follow Christ if only there had been series of members of the adminis- the proper persons to instruct them trative courts, Judges of the Court and help in the new way. of Appeals, etc. In the present Parliament, 13 members (of the It has thus been demonstrated that there is an imperative need in Japan of persons who are fitted to care for inquirers, and direct them in the right course. The Chritltian Church needs not only to be plant- ed, but to be trained and nourished. Efforts are being made in some places to prepare Christian workers who will be able to give the de- sired help. With a supply of efficient leaders, the gathering of converts will be speedy and large.
REV. H. LOOMIS.
GENERAL MISSIONARY
A Conference Unless war between be pursued indefinitely, as the of Missionaries Japan and Russia region is absolutely unoccupied.
in Korea interferes to pre- It is understood that the country vent, there is to be becomes more healthy as one goes a week's conference of missionaries farther inward. The Lutheran in Korea next September (18– movement has the sympathy of 25) to commemorate the begin- the Liberian government, which ning of Protestant missions in will make an annual grant of $50 Korea. In 1884 Dr. H. N. Allen to each new school established.
(now United States Minister) en- The Loss of Not many months tered the land from China, and by a Mission ago, at great cost, his medical skill made a way for Steamer the Presbyterian the foreign teacher of the new doc- Church, Sou t h, trine. The general committee having the conference in charge is now placed the steamer Samuel N. actively engaged in pushing for- Lapsley upon the Upper Kongo for ward the plans for a gathering that the use of the flourishing Luebo shall be helpful both to Korea and mission, and now comes the sad to the wide world of missions. The news that it has capsized, that Mr. conference looks to a gathering not Slaymaker and 23 of the crew were only of all the mission force in drowned, and that Mr. Martin and Korea and many from near-by Mr. Vass had been saved. Of the lands, -but notable speakers and details nothing is known as yet.
workers from abroad have been in- Spirit Rev. W. H. Sand- vited to attend and take pa.rt. His- Worship in ers of Kamundontorical papers are to be presented, West Africa go, writes in the showing the growth of God's King- Missionary Herald: .
dom in Korea, and questions of To the thought of the _Ovimpractical import are to be discussed. The study of God's Word and the bundu, as to ours, the spirits of the culture of the spiritual life are also departed are alive. They, howto receive large attention. Among ewr, think of no supreme power those who have already promised attendance are John R. Mott, Dr. restraining them from participa- J. Ross Stevenson, Dr. Hunter tion in men's affairs. While dimly Corbett, Dr. Sheffield, of Peking, and Albertus Pieters, of Japan. * conscious of such a power, they conceive of Him as far off and in- AFRICA different. They strongly believe Pushing in The Lutheran Gen- that the daily affairs of mankind fromJhe eral Synod's mis- are influenced and shaped by West Coast sion at.Muhlenberg, spirits, and that these are persons West Africa, has who have lived on earth, known at length made an opening into the interior, having completed the them, and are toward themfriendlr arrangement for a school 65 miles or unfriendly. The spirit's attIdistant by paths. It is proposed tude is not supposed to be deterto place a succession of new missionaries at Muhlenberg, to remain mined by disinterested benevothere a year and become acclimated lence. The native line of thought and acquainted with the field, and then go further inland and estab- seems to be this: "Death comes lish new stations. This plan is to not by chance. Apart from the doings· of the living, only a spirit initiates the chain of events result.
ing in death. Disease, accident, madness, or wild beast are but the agencies used by it in accomplish- ing its purpose. It acts because offended. Some just claim is un- settled. Perhaps its will is un- known or ignored. Trouble will not cease until the spirit be satis- fied." Such a spirit, with just claims unmet, is an ocWulu" It
will surely cause trouble or death. cided that the disease is scattered After a long time, when relatives, by a fly called kivu. but no anti- dote has as yet been discovered. or whoever are responsible, have Another commission is said to be given in its rightful dues. it changes in prospect to see what can be done to prevent the spread of this alarmto one of a benevolent disposition. ing plague. Segregation seems im- It is then an ekisi. The akisi are possible, and no relief is in sight. guardians of the community. The The first symptoms of the presence of the disease is headache, with important ones, spirits of chiefs, swelling of the glands of the neck, will seek the welfare of all terri- followed by protracted sleeping on tory over which they ruled. the part of the patient. It runs its course in from six weeks to two England's The report of the years.
Gift to Uganda Railway ISLANDS OF THE SEA Uganda Committee for Modem Manila, in many Manila respects, has a 1902–3 has been is- growing attraction sued, and shows that the earth- for Americans. In it are being worked out a number of interesting works of the line are nearly fin- experiments in trade, government. finance, and education. It is reished, that 27 large viaducts wen sponq.ing in an encouraging degree to American ideas. It is a seat of erected during the year, and that power and influence in all that pertains to our distant possessions. all the bridges and culverts' for a But to Christians its moral and religious improvement is of first distance of 948 miles have been concern, and it is cheering to note progress in this direction. Favorcompleted. The station buildings able reports reach us of religious activity and revival. Before our throughout the line are all finished. government came into control, Roman Catholicism was the sole There are 43 stations, including' religion recognized, and the priest- hood ruled with a high hand and Mombasa, the terminus at the great intolerance. Now a differ- ent state of things is observable, coast; Port Florence, the terminus and it looks al3 if Protestantism would in no very distant day be on the lake; the headquarters, and the dominating force. According to the Madrid El Christiano, there 4 engine-changing s tat ion s. are now 17 Protestant chap3ls in the city and the suburbs against Twenty-two small and worn-out 22 Roman Catholic churches. This locomotives have been retired, and paper also concedes that, from 18 new ones, built in part in the present appearances, the Romish organization will, likely, before United States, have been fitted very long, be' in the minority. We are also assured by it that with automatic brakes. All the Protestant worship is being held passenger coaches and a portion of the freight cars are also supplied with the same brakes.-Zion's Herald.
The Deadly Notwithstanding all Sleeping efforts on the part Sickness of the British au- thorities, there is no abatement in the ravages of the •• sleeping sickness" in Uganda. The disease appeared in Uganda between two and three years ago, probably coming from the Kongo region. It prevails on the islands and shores of Lake Victoria, and inland from these shores fol' a dista.nce of a dozen miles. From the lint outbn!ak no less than 68,000 persons have died, some 10,000 of them within the past five months. A commission sent from England, headed by Colonel Bruce. has de-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
in private dwellings as well as in hammedans, and 533 heathen. It the largest theaters, in which the attendance at times has been as may be affirmed with confidence high as 3,000. that the Christians increase more Death of Rev. R. Wardlaw a Native Thompson reports rapidly than the adherents of the Evangelist the death of Rua- other religions. t toka, who was one of the first band of Hervey Island What the In his address as (Cook Island) native teachers to go to New Guinea for pioneer work in Twentieth chairman of the 1872, and of whom the Rev. R. Lovett, in his history of the London Century May C ongr e ga tional Missionary Society says: "No reader of Mr. Chalmers's thrilling Behold Union of England books needs to be reminded of Ruatoka's wonderful career. No and Wales, Dr. higher praise can be afforded him than that he is probably the noblest Robert F. Horton said: of the long succession of Eastern Polynesian teach«:trs who have done It is calculated that the sporadic such grand service for New efforts of the eighteenth century Guinea." Mr. Thompson said that produced 70,000 converts. War- Ruatoka had maintained an un- neck estimates that as a result of blemished reputation all through the nineteenth century there are his missionary career, and had 11,000,000 Christians won from been held in honor by all the mis- heathendom. If we may work out sion. His death meant the removal it proportion: as 70,000 is to 11,000,- of a great landmark from the mis- 000, so is 11,000,000 to 1,650,000,000; sion. After Mr. Ohalmers was that is the probable population of murdered, one of the first offers the globe in the year 2000 A.D. Yes, received was from Ruatoka- to go all the kingdoms of the earth made and see the people who had killed the kingdom of the Lord and of Tamate and Tomkins and try to His Christ. That is assuredly His do some work in their place. design. In a little island of the Southern Seas there is the grave of MISCELLANEOUS a missionary, and an epitaph: " When he came in 1848 there was Religions of The latest statis- not a Christian; when he left in the World tics, given in the 1872 there was not a single heathen." So it will be said of this island Allgemeine M i 8- planet in the ocean of the universe sions Zeitschrijt, represent that of which was visited by the Divine the 1,544,510,000 inhabitants of the Missionary. "When He came earth, 534,940,OUO are Christians there was not a Christian in it; (Roman, Greek, Oriental, and Prot- when He left it there was not a estant); 10,860,OOC are Israelites, heathen." 175,290,000 are Mohammedans, and 823,420,000 are heathen. Of these The Ideal At the Conference last the Confucionists (if theirs may Missionary of Christian Workbe called a religion) are the most nu- ers in Brummana, merous, having fully 300, 000,000. Of every 1,000 human beings, 346 are Syria, each of the 200 delegates Ohristians; 7 Israelites; 114 Mo- was asked to write on a paper on the "three most important char- acteristics of the ideal mission- ary." The following are some of them: Sound in body and mind. Able to eat all'kinds of food. Prepared to rough it if necessary. A natural gift for languages. Bible study, heart study, language study. A student of the problems of his field. The gift of humor, in being able to laugh at yourself and begin again. Able to preach Christianity and not laugh at the superstitions of the people. Earnestness in prayer and soul winning. An overflowing, spirit·filled life.
[February Believer in the possibilities of human had learned before me, and what was the fact there, that for every nature. dollar you give away to convert the heathen abroad, God gives you Tact. courtesy. and kindness to other mis-. ten dollars' worth of purpose to deal with your heathen at home. sionaries and the people. JACOB A. RIIB. Common sense. The Best " Appeals to give to The ability to set others to work. Missionary missions in general, Interest in everyone he meets. Appeal to missionary socie- ties. 'to the cause,' A warm heart, a hard head, and a thick should be made to mature minds, skin. and made without cant or hypoc- risy. If too great emphasis is Selflessness in accepting the station as· placed upon the fact that it is 'the Lord's work' the logical Christian signed. will be tempted to say 'Then let him do it.' That is not where One who lives up to what he preaches. Christ placed the emphasis. He laid the responsibility on the Of a single purpose. Church. Missions are no more God's work than politics or trade or Baptized with the Holy Spirit. sCience or art. Missions are the work of the Church, and the Church A witness of what God has wrought in him. will be held responsible for results." The truth contained in the above Much in prayer and intercession for others. extract is frequently overlooked by the average church-member and Of unfailing faith. sometimes by the average pastor. Brethren, get into line! Get hold Holds on, tho seeing no fruit. of the rope and pull together.- Messenger and Visitor. Belief in God, that he will have all men to OBITUARY he saved.
Sure of the ultimate triumph of the gospel.
Constrained by the love of Chsist.
Perfectly surrendered to God.
Willing to efface self and exalt Christ.
A Christlike humility.
A bond-servant of Christ.
Emptied of self.
A keen ear to detect God's whisper.
Gentle to all.
Apt to teach.
An unadvertised self-denial.
A firm belief in the people, ever striving to find the angel in the rough block of marble.
A life laid down at the feet of Christ.
A Cbrislike lo"e for souls.
Sanctified common sense.
Able to understand the people and win their confidence.
All things to all men.
Patience.
'Power of living at peace with all men.
A Divine sense of proportion, putting things * Jlrst which are ilrst, How to Every once in a Rev. Dr. Stitt. The Rev. Dr. Will- Believe in while I hear some Missions one growl against of New York iam C. Stitt, Secre- foreign missions, taryof the Ameri- – because the money and the strength can Seamen's Friend Society, who put into them are needed at home. I did it myself when I did not know died in New York last month, was better, God forgive me. I know better now; and I will tell you how for years literary editor of the I found out. I became interested in a strong religious awakening in my New York Evangelist. He was own old city of Copenhagen, and I set about investigating it. It was born in Philadelphia, April 23, then that I learned what others 1833, and was a graduate of Prince- ton University. He had for some years devoted himself to the spirit- ual welfare of the Seamen, and edited the Sailors' Magazine in their interest. *
The Missionary Review of the World — April 1903
NA.TIVE METHOD OF WINNOWING
SOME NATIVE HOUSES OF THE; UPPER CLASS THE LAOS OF NORTHERN SIAM Missionary Review of the World Old Series t APRIL j New Series VOL. XXVI. No. 4 f l VOL. XVI. No.4 ROBERT CLEAVER CHAPMAN, OF BARNSTAPLE, ENGLAND * BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF There are a few men who remind us of the giantfl that were before the flood. 'l'he subject of this sketch was a unique combination of gifts and graces. His mind was well trained and highly accomplished; his tongue was master of seven languages; he had traveled widely, and he had enough raw material of ability to have made a political premier or an ecclesiastical primate. Yet, withal, he was a child for simplicity, and in his crown. of virtues shone those rare traits of humility, patience, and love.
By birth a Dane, when he died (in June, 1902) he was within half a year of being a centenarian. Trained as a solicitor, at twenty a sermon by James Harrington Evans }Jroved the turning-point in his life, and the preacher became largely his pattern of godliness. His prompt and open confession of Christ was the starting-point in a Christian career, marked by a habitual obedience to Scripture teaching. For instance, satisfied that baptism is the act of a believer and should immediately follow and confess faith in Christ, he at once sought Mr. Evans to receive the ordinance. The cautious spiritual adviser favored delay.
"Yon will wait awhile and consider the matter." "No," replied he, "I will make haste and delay not to keep His commandmen ts." That early decision sounds the keynote to his life-anthem; in doing all that God required his habit was haste, tho in any ordinary matter he would neither hurry noi' be hurried. To know was to do the will of God: to every heavenly vision he was immediately obedient. Such obedience always begets jealousy for the Lord's honor. He was more afraid to live than to die, since dying takes but a moment, but living risks daily aud hourly danger of being false to God; and he • "Life of R. C. Chapman." W. H. Bennett. H. A. Raymond, London.
was wont to say that rather than dishonor Him, he would die a hundred deaths.
He was wont both to rise and retire early. He breakfasted at seven o'clock, but before his morning meal he made sure of ample time for Bible study and prayer, and a long walk. Up to within a few days of his death he worked for some hours daily at an old-fashioned lathe, his good habits helping to preserve the vigor which he scarcely outlived. The Word of God became his library, and the work of God his business. For about eighty years he was more and more the man of one book, and could say with Paul, " One thing I do." He became a master of j he Bible, reading and searching it in the original, comparing Scriptnre with Scriptnre, referring to its verdict as a last court of appeal all doctrine and duty, and, above all, translating its truth into life. lIe ueeame a walking concordance and a living commentary and epistle.
To know how truly Robert Chapman walked with God, more and more absorbed in Him, one must have watched him all day long—at his table, where needless waste was avoided, yet hospitality was abun- an dant; where malicious gossip had no place, btl t the salt of grace sea- soned all speech. In his humble home there was atmosphere in which Bible study and prayer and praise were always natural.
Love both prompted and sweetened all service. Mr. Chapman's intimate yokefellow for threescore years was 'VilIiam Hake, yet between them there was never a "jar." They waited till they were of one mind before they aeted; but even then they still waited for God to confirm their unanimity, remembering that, when Nathan had bidden David do all that was in his heart as to building the temple, the Lord sent Nathan to say unto the king that he was not to build the house.
This Barnstaple saint was a living proof that the Sermon on the Mount is not an "impracticable rule of life." He sought succes3fully to apply its high standard to daily conduct, as when he was subjected to an unjust exaction in a foreign land, remonstrating against the injustice, but meekly submitting, and taking occasion to get in his Gospel message; or as when he yielded a place of worship which he might have kept at cost of controversy-the Lord speedily sanctioning the peaceful course by givillg a better chapel than the one he surrendered.
His life was, in a high sense, a life of faith. He might have been rich; but he chose not to own a square foot of land, or lay up treasure upon earth, and to look directly to his Heavenly Father for daily supplies. In the same spirit of faith, he took no step without God's guidance; being always about his Father's business, he counted not only upon His meeting every want of the body but every need of direction. (Matt. vi: 33. Provo iii: 6.) His sense of God's prese)1ce and care made him bold to risk everything on His love and faithful-
ROBERT CLEAVER CHAPMAN, OF BARNbTAPLE, ENGLAND
ness. He might be going on a journey, but would not hesitate to empty his purse on the way to the train, if he found needs of others demanding prompt supply; and in more than one case he was singu- larly reimbursed, in one instar.ce by a man who got out of a railway carriage to put into his hand a five-pound note and at once resume his seat. In a still higher sense he had faith in the love of God, which forbade him even in sore trials to hang his harp of praise on the willows of despondency; and to a friend who had been" in easy circumstances," but had" used her all in the service of Christ," and who complained of having, henceforth, "nothing to look to but the living God," his calm reply was, "I would not give up that' BUT' for all the gold in the Bank of England." If he missed his way, he would look up for guidance as confidently as he would ask a fellow traveler who knew the locality, and he never failed of help from above, whether in things great or sman.
Mr. Chapman had early felt called to the ministry of the Word, but mindful of the maxim that first of all the minister of Ohrist should seek to be and to do all that he would have his hearers to be and do, his great aim was to live Christ, and for over seventy years he did, as no one who knew him will doubt. Mr. Darby once said of him-and he was not lavish of compliments: "That man l1:ves what J teach." lIe was recognized by an Vlho knew him as a man who walked with God. One morning a coachman said to his passengers, "You need not insure your lives to-day: Mr. Chapman is going with us." A Romanist who was dooming all Protestants to hell suddenly paused to make an exception in favor of Mr. Chapman, tho he did not even know his name, but only where he dwelt.
The great conditions of his mini,;try were two: he must be unhampered in testimony, and in all church life the one criterion must be the pattern showed in the Word of God. So long as he was quite free to teach whatever is written in the Scriptures, he would patiently wait till the Lord brought His people to one mind; in all things not involving fundamental principles, yielding preference and even self-interest for the sake of peace, but tenaciously holding firm and fast what is right. His Christian character united the two marked qualities of steel-tenacity and elasticity. No one could be more zealous to covet for himself and others the best gifts and most radiant graces, yet no one more patient and tender with the weakest in whom the grace of God was found working.
Mr. Chapman had a Scriptural conception of assemblies of believers. He believed in the actual presence and presidency of the Spirit. Hence numbers were not unduly emphasized, nor were intellectual gifts. The one thing needful was that God should be heard in prayers, exhortations, and even in the holy silence of a meeting. And to him there was a reality, both in the~presence of Him who says that
where two or three are gathered together in His name, there He is in the midst of them-and in the presence of that Adversary who directs his subtlest attacks against such gatherings.
In him humility and faith walked side by side, and it is hard to say which was most conspicuous. "He was ready for anything and everything-to wash your feet or go and preach Ghrist in the marketplace within a stone's throw of a baited bull; it was all one to him if he could do his Master's will." That will, being clearly revealed, he would tolerate neither com promise nor delay. Death was preferable to disobedience. His humility was of that genuine sort which thinks not of one's self too highly. In his own eyes he was nothing; he set up no standard of 'his own, lest he sbonlcl pride himself in the pel'suasion that he had reached it; but as he had no pattern of life but his Master's, he could but feel how far short of it he came. This habitual humility kept intimacy with the Lord from degenerating into familiarity, and made impossible in speaking to Him or of Him those free and familiar terms that so grate 011 a spiritual cal'. .
God had early led him to that narrow gate whose low entrance compels him to bow who would enter. In his youth he had been a legalist, seeking to commend himself to God by his works; but when he saw his own utter destitution, and took his true place, as assigned him in the Word of God (I. Samuel ii : 8), content to be raised up' as a" poor man out of the dust, and as a beggar lifted from the dung-hill," he never ceased to remember his poverty and beggary. "Sinners," he was wont to say, " are plentiful as stones; poor sinners, scarce as rubies and diamonds." He saw that the open iniquity of the worst is as nothing to t}1C secret iniquity shut np in the best, and onlyawaiting development.
Mr. Chapman was essentially and everywhere a missionary, believing every disciple set apart from the world for holiness, but sent back into the world for service. To him the whole-world field, far and near, was one vast mission field, and every follower of Christ a mission worker. Early in life he began systematic Yisitations of the poor, and none were too poor or needy or lowly to be the objects of his self-denying ministry. Later on he tramped over large portions of country, visiting from house to house, talking and praying with the inmates, and leaving a blessing e,·erywhere. All Devonshire bears the mark of this ministry. He chose to travel.on foot mostly for the opportunities it afforded of talk by the way, and in Spain, for example, he found this a means of free access"no priest or other restraining party being near, and these talks by the way brought many to Christ. To Mr. Chapman, as to his Master, one soul was a " great congregation," and he called this his" Sychar-well ministry." He had the fourfold passion of a true eyangelist: the passion for the will of God, for the person of Ohrist, for the Word of God, and for the souls of
ROBERT CLEAVER CHAPMAN, OF BARNS'1'APLE, ENGLAND
men. Having travded extensively in Spain, he naturally felt a keen interest in that priest-ridden land of the inqnisition, where he had often risked his own life to scatter Bibles and preach Christ.
His missionary spirit was partly revealed and exercised in his hospitality. The humble buildings in Barnstaple, put at his disposal by generous friends, were to him, as the Lord's abodes, always free to His people, and many saints found there a chamber of peace. He might have had better abodes had he not preferred dwellings where the poorest disciple would feel at home. For years he cleaned the boots of visitors as the nearest to the feet-washing enjoined by our I-lord. (John xiii.) And these" new buildings" are forever associated with the" uistrict meetings" held there weekly, at which the residents of a certain district gathered in turn, on Thursday evenings, to be refreshed with a simple meal, and then by an hour's prayer and feeding on t~e Word. We were once privileged to be at such a meeting and enjoy his illuminating expositions of the Book of God.
Mr. Chapman was an exqnisite hymn-writer, and if the hymns we sing both indicate and influence our habits of thought, how much more do the hymns one writes show the inner self? One has only to reacl these hymns to know that his eye was habitually fixed on eternal things, and his heart passionately adored Christ.
He gave himself largely to the ministry of intercession. It was in a sense hi!'! great life business. The late Queen of England, throughout her long reign, was daily the object of his prayers. But he was not a man to ask simply for the con version of others; he yearned for their holiness and service, for their obedience to God" at the first word," and their intimate fellowship with Him. He was wont to pass Saturdays in seclnsion, fasting, meditating on the Word, and praying.
A life so lived needed no dying witness to confirm its testimony. But it pleased God that when, in June, 1902, he had a slight paralytic stroke, he should, during the ten days that remained, continue both in mental clearness and spiritual rest in Goel, and the words which closed his gates of speech were: "The peace of God that passeth all understanding "-fit words to end this day of life and usher ill the new day-dawn. Thus ended a life which had dropped pearls wherever it had gone.
We have felt it a privilege to bring into contact with many other lives, especially on the mission field, this brief outline sketch of one of the most remarkable men of his age. It will be at once a rebuke to unbelief and inconsistency, and a stimulus to prayer and piety of an apostolic sort. After all, it is not primarily the field bu t the man that determines the true missionary. If every worker for Christ could but rise to the high level of a truly holy and consecrated life, a
life of faith, humility, and love, and take the place of a true inter- cessor, what new victories would be won for Christ in all parts of the world field! God is calling loudly not so much for more laborers as for more spirit-filled men and women to contend with wicked spirits in their strongholds of evil. What Mr. Ohapman said every disciple should be, he was himself-" a man of Pentecost, filled with the spirit; a man of the Scriptures, feeding on them; and a man of eter- nity," molded after the power of an endless life.
Mr. Ohapman was a. sage and a seer. He was unusually taught of God. His" Ohoice Sayings," gathered in a little book, give a mere sample of his heavenly wisdom. We give a few of his wise words: "Color may be found, in' the Word of God, for well-nigh any false doctrine or error; but no error can abide the test of the whole Scripture."
"It is better to lose your purse than your temper."
"The great cause of neglect of the Scriptures is not want of time but want of heart, some idol taking the place of Christ."
"It is one thing to read the Bible, choosing something that suits me (as is shamefully said), and another thing to search it that I may become acquainted with God in Christ and fashioned like unto Him."
"One day, while walking in the cloudless noonday, I was accosted by a stranger, who condescendingly offered to light my way with a farthing candle. As gr~vely as I could I declined. I afterward learned that his name was Higher Criticism."
"The portion of saints is far higher than of Adam in innocence. God as Creator, Adam could know and worship; but the fellowship to which we are called necessitates a knowledge of God as Father, which could only be given through Christ's redemption, and a nearness as children by heavenly birth beyond what even an archangel could have in the ground of creation."
"The disciple who yields to temptation is the object of our Lord's compassion and advocacy; but it is given to one who 1'esists temptation to prove His sympathy as High Priest."
"To an unregenerate person, temptation can not cause pain of It heavenly kind; to one born of God it does. The more like God one is, the more keenly he feels temptation to sin."
"There is more glory brought to God by a man ruling his family according to Christ than even by a iust potentate ruling a kingdom; because, for the latter no pattern is found in Christ's path on earth, nor are there any instructions in His words or those of apostles."
"Take out of life the bitterness of unbelieving fears, of mortified pride and of disappointed selfwill, and there will be very little left that is not sweet."
"We should be the first to find fault with our own work-the last to find fault with that of others."
"Which do we think most of-getting out of the furnace, or pleasing Godin it?"
"The patronage of the world is more to be feared than its persecutions. "
"Christ could never empty Himself of His Godhead, hut only of His state, as God's equal, taking the form of a servant."
"In the Book of Job, all the speakers, God included, take for granted all that man now calls in question."
"The first of our enemies are the wise men, next to them the religious men."
" Two lies of satan: first, some remnant of goodness in man; second, some mercy with God that will dishonor his justice."
THE CHRISTIAN OCCUPATION OF INDIA
THE CHRISTIAN OCCUPATION OF INDIA BY REV. H. P. BEACH, M.A., F.R.G.B., NEW YORK Author of "The Geography and .t).tias of Foreign Missions"
The Christian occupation of India is in a sense a topic which can not be discussed, since that land has never yet been more than scantily supplied with either native Christians or missionaries. Probably the entire Christian population has never exceeded one per cent. o[ the total number of inhabitants. Understanding the word" occupation" in a loose sense, the story of the work is a long one, extending, as it does, almost from the apostolic age. Only the main facts and factors can here be mentioned.
I. The Earliest Christian Pioneers Who the first Christians in India were it is difficult to say. L9gends of the doubting apostle's relation to the country can hardly be considered, since the balance of opinion is wholly against St. 'rhomas's primacy in India proper. The early stories which center about the white Jews of Cochin are probably true, tho it is not positively known that any of them were Christians. 'Vhen, however, the historian reaches the close of the second century doubts are removed, for a call was then sent from Indian Christians to Alexandria, and received as its response a princely man, Pantamus, who turned away from that famous seat of culture and went as the first historical missionary to Greater India-the India known to us, not those southwestern portions of the continent of Asia which also bore the name. A Stoic, born in Athens or in Sicily, Pantamus had intellectual qualities which, when brought into captivity to Christ, made him a fit instrument to lead philosophical Brahmins to His feet. Added to an acute.intellect were his peculiar power as a teacher and those rare opportunities for the development of pedagogical ability furnished by the school of catechumens, wherein he taught Christians and converted heathen alike the facts and doctrines of Christianity. His Didaskaleion at Alexandria confronted the Serapeum, as truly a stronghold of the cultured heathenism of his time as is the Al Azhar of Cairo to-day. Thus providentially prepared and with a world-wide reputation as an expositor of God's Word, Pantamus, so Jerome writes, was sent to India a that he might preach Christ among the Brahmans." Apparently he did not long remain on the Malabar coast, for he soon reappeared at Alexandria. Had he remained there all his life this a very great Gnosticus, who had penetrated most pro.. foundly into the spirit of Scripture." might have Jaid foundations that would have withstood the next Christian impact, which has ever since been a mixed good in a land which so sorely needed a full Gospel and a Savior wholly Divine.
II. The Nestorian Entrance Into India Whether Panta-mus won many converts or not, it is evident that there were, a century later, a goodly company of Indian Christians, if we may accept the testimony of 'rheophilus Indicus and the inference supplied by the presence at the Council of Nicea of Johannes, who signed himself as" of the Great India," in addition to being Metropolitan of Persia. It is very probable that most of their teaching had come to them from some Persian quarter, and hence it is not surprising to learn that soon after Nestorian zeal began to disseminate that form of Christianity throughout eastern and southern Asia, it gave color to Indian views of the person of Christ and of other leading doctrines of Christianity. "In the fifth century," writes Sir William lIu uteI', "Nestorianism, driven forth from Europe and Africa, became definitely the doctrinc of the Asiatic Church, and Syriac became the sacred language of Christian colonies far beyond the geographical limits of Syria. Bishops, priests, and deacons from Syria spread a certain uniformity in matters of faith and ritual through Persia and along the Persian and Arabian seaboards, and thence to the Christian settlements on the Indian coasts. It should be remembered, therefore, that dUl'ing thc thousand years when Christianity flourished in Asia-from the fifth to the fifteenth centuryit was the Christianity of Nestorius."
Indian Nestorians sailed over troubled seas during the Middle Ages. Persecution was their lot from without, while within legends connected with a number of 'rhomases finally confounded the original St. Thomas with Christ Himself, and led to a high reverence for St. Thomas' Mount, a part of Madras. 'rhis was not their invariable experience, however, for in the ninth century the Malabar Christians possessed all the rights of nobility and claimed precedence over the Nair aristocracy. Still later they and the heathen Nail'S « su pplied the body-guard of the local kings, and the Christian caste was the first to learn the use of gunpowder and firearms. They thus became the match-lock men of the Indian troops of southern India, usually placed in the van, or around the person of the princc."
Upon the entrance of the Homan Church into India, Nestorian Christians wcre nu merous in the southern section, and the Portuguese chanced to land in the vcry prodnce where they were most numerous and where they had long formed a highly respected portion of the community. This was a challenge thrown at the feet of a Church which had for centuries bitterly opposed Nestorian schismatics; and for that reason, and because of the Jews, the Goa inquisition arose with its barbarities, latcr bringing the Malabar Christians within the Roman fold. The Portuguese power yielding before the Dutch in the seventeenth century, the Nestorians gradually resumed their ecclel:!iastical existence, so that now the census shows the presence of five hundred
THE CHRISTIAN OCCUPATION OF lNDIA
and seventy-one thousand three hundred and twenty-seven Christians of the Syrian order. At present they are divided into two sects, the Syrian Catholics and the New Church, or the Jucobites. While they have thus had a continuous existence for fourteen centuries at least, they have not been an influential factor, either in ancient or modern times, in the higher life of India. Dr. George Smith is doubtless correct in his estimate of their occupation of India when he writes: "Because their faith was weak, their message mutilated, their intellect darkened, and their life selfish, it was not possible for the colonies of Syrian and Persian Christians dispersed on its southern shores to bring India to Christ. Unpurged from the old leaven, it was not for them to leaven the whole lump."
Ill. Roman Catholicism in India This element in the empire's Christian popUlation, which two years ago constituted forty-two per cent. of the entire native Christian Church, has come into existence since the year 1500, tho the body of Franciscans who arrived in that year were preceded by Roman friars who had sporadically visited the country since the thirteenth century. Da Gama's success in rounding the Cape and the beginnings o! Portuguese intercourse with India were quickly utilized by the pope, so that the land became an attractive field to zealous missionaries. Nestorian Christians knew nothing of papacy, transubstantiation, and the adoration of the Virgin, while countless heathen furnished an unlimited opportunity for multitudes of zealous missionaries, who soon flocked to India's western coast. They may have been moved thereto by Jordanus's " MirabiIia Descripta," in which the pious monk describes the many wonders of th'e East, ending his account of non-Christian peoples with a sentence as true of India to-day as in the fifteenth century, " 'Tis grief to hear and woe to see."
Four representative men indicate by their lives the attitude of Homan Christianity toward this field. The first great missionary is one whose spiritual fervor and apostolic zeal will always remain a norm for onr emulation, just as many of his mistaken views and questionable acts will be a lasting warning to the missionary body. Xavier burned out his brief Indian life, not with miracle working, as certain of his" unwit:le biographers" would have us believe, but in incessant and laborious efforts to bring the forms of Christianity to a people who could not unrlerstand his message nor the sym bolism of his rites. But he did something besides ring his bell through the villages and proclaim a misunderstood Gospel. His practical charity, shown in hospitals aud in the abodes of death; his tireless efforts to reform godless Europeans and their heathen wives, baptized forcibly by Albuquerque; his endeavor to establish a college to train native preachers who should later go forth to evangelize their countrymen;
Divine aspirations after a holier life, and greater nearness to his Savior -these are features of the life of India's Apostle which made him a factor in its elevation.
Three other Romish missionaries have a record which has always too largely marked the efforts of representatives of that communion. They are the Jesuits whose names are connected with the Malabar and Madras scandal-Robert de Nobilibus, who devised the scheme; John de Brito, who died for it; and Father Beschi, who carried it out.. Briefly stated, it was an unblushing attEmpt to foist upon the Hindu community three Occidentals who claimed to be Brahmans f~om the West, and who had come to teach a higher form of Brahmanism. One of them went so far as to forge a fifth Veda, in which the new revela- tion was contained. When through the awakened consciences and the jealousies of rival orders this iniquity was revealed, thousands who had been victimized by the scheme left the new faith, and the last state of Catholicism was worse than the first. Later Catholic workers have been more scrupulous, but their failure is like that so despairingly set forth by the Abbe Dubois: "I have made in all two or three hundred converts of both sexes, but I will declare it with shame and confusion that I do not remember anyone who may be .said to have embraced Christianity from conviction and through quite disinterested motives. Among these new converts many apostatized."
By the last census there were in India 1,202,039 Roman Uatholics, of whom 1,122,378 were natives. The latest volume on India, not yet out of the press, Dr. Jones' "India's Problem," has this to say of the present status of Catholicism: For a long time it has not enjoyed much increase in its membership. In many places it finds numerous accessions, but not a few of its people backslide and return to their ancestral faith. The marked defects of Romanism in that land have been its concessions to, and compromise with, the religion of the land, both on the side of idolatrous worship and caste observance. I have discussed the subject with Indian Roman Catholics in the villages, and find that to them the worship of saints, through their many obtrusive images, is practically the same as the idolatry of the Hindus, the only marked difference being in the greater size of the Romish images! In like manner the Jesuit has adopted and incorporated into his religion, for the people of that land, the Hindu caste system with all its unchristian divisions. All this makes the bridge which separates Hinduism from Roman Catholic Christianity It very narrow one, and it reduces to a minimum the process of "conversion" from the former faith to the latter. But an easy path from Hinduism to Christianity means an equally facile way of return to the ancestral faith. . . . Hence it is that the new accessions to Romanism hardly exceed the number of those who leave it in order to resume their allegiance to the faith of their' fathers.
After six centuries of missionary effort the propaganda is little carried on among Hindus or Mohammedans in the empire, "tho," St.
THE OHRISTIAN OCCUPATION OF tN1>tA
Clair-Tisdall writes, H in certain places attempts are made from time to time to utilize any dissensions among the members of Protestant churches in order to lead them into the Roman Catholic fold." Many among the descendants of earlier converts are in the employ of Euro- peans, and give occasion for the wholesale condemnation of Christian servants as often more dishonest and unscrupulous than heathen or Mohammedan ones. Comparatively few Protestants, it should be remembered, are in the employ of Europeans.
IV. Failure of Early Dutch Protestant Effort Tho 'Holland cared for the religious welfare of her subjects both in Ceylon and to some extent on the Indian mainland, the work carried on by ministers of the Reformed faith was dominated by the government, and was as much a source of disquietude to the Classis at Amsterdam as it is of criticism among later writers. Theoretically it had behind it among Church leaders at home the sentiments set forth so forcefully in Grotius's " De Veri tate Religionis Christianm"; practically religion was made the condition of prosperity and advancement to ambitious natives. In Routhern portions of Ceylon" Buddhists were told by proclamation that baptism, communion in the State Church, and -su bscri ption to the Helvetic Confession were essential preliminaries not only to appointment to office, but even to far~ning land. In every village the school-house became the church and the school-master the registrar of documents involving the rights and succession to property. The number of children under instruction and baptized rose to 85,000. Nowhere was there any evidence of genuine conversion, nor were there missionaries sufficient to give simple instruction in Christian truth." What wonder that the Amsterdam Classis declared the converts to be sine Christo Christiani! In India proper the Dutch settlements were isolated and few, extending along the coast from Cochin to the region north of Calcutta, and where missionary work was done, it was of the governmental order, and no Christian influence of any moment was exerted.
V. Christian Workers and an Unchristian Power The Dutch East India Company had failed to accomplish much in the uplifting of India; its sister company from England, on the whole, greatly hindered the cause of true religion, despite its beneficial effects on India later through its development of trade and the political and administrative activities of the company. "Yet," as George Smith writes, "it was used by the Sovereign Ruler of the human race to prepare the way and open wide the door to the first hopeful and ultimately assuredly successful attempt, since the Apostolic Church swept away paganism, to destroy the idolatrous and Mussulman cults of India."
Its distinctly helpful service to Christianity lay in its providing
chaplains for its wards, native as well as British. Not a 'few of these were thus described by Lord Teignmouth in 1795: "Our clergy iu Bengal, with some exceptions, are not respectable characters. Theirsituation is arduous, considering the general relaxation of morals, from which a black coat is no security." Some of them, however, were important factors in India's early evangelization. Among these were David Brown, preacher to the elite of Calcutta society, who secured for Carey his professorship in Fort William College; Claudius Buchanan, whose" Christian Researches in Asia," together with Brown's pIau, drawn up in 1788, for a Church mission to India, gave birth to the greatest of Protestant missionary organizations-the Church Missionary Society; and Henry Martyn," saint and scholar," whose devotion, fervid zeal, and deep spirituality have led as many to become missionaries as David Brainerd's flaming life. And there were among its secular officials also men of character and true missionary spirit-such gentlemen as Charles Grant, George U dney, and William Chambers. The first named had so much influence with Lord Cornwallis (who in India won moral victories which make one forget his inglorious defeat at Yorktown), and was so at one with Wilberforce at home, that in 1813 India's Magna Charta of missions and of popular education was passed by Parliament.
VI. Eighteenth Century Toilers The efforts of two private trading companies were succeeded by, and in part were contemporaneous with, the efforts of Denmark's king, Frederick IV., who, in 1706, sent to India two Pietist students of Germany-Ziegenbalg and Pliitschau. In a letter to Chaplain Lewis of the Honorable East India Company, written nearly nine years after their arrival, we find a snrprising account of what had so soon been accomplished. 'Their five charity schools were in sncceSHful operation and were apparently fulfilling their threefold purposenamely, "The laying of a foundation of true Christianity in tender souls; the preparation of disciples for the future service of Christ's Church; the bringing in the me of books among Christians in the East Indies." During the last six years reported in this letter Ziegenbalg and Grundler had written and translated no less than thirtytwo productions in the Malabarick language and ten in the Portuguese language, among them being two dictionaries and three volumes of sermons. Other members of this devoted band of Danish and German Lutherans carried on the mission with comparatively little success until, in 1826, the work which for many years had been aided by the English was formally surrendered to the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. Had it done nothing more than to produce Ziegenhalg and Schwartz- -one of the greatest missionaries of any land, whom foreigners and natives alike loved and revered-the Danish
THE CHRISTIAN OCCUPATION OF INDIA
effort would have been justified for the expense involved. Failure to develop the nati ve Church and toleration of the caste system robbed it of much of its power, notwithstanding the gloriolls record.
VII. A Century of Progress in India There lie before the writer two cartographical representations of the Christian occupation of India. '1'he first is a facsimile of a truncated eastern hemisphere, published in the jl1issionary Uegister in 1816, and containing all Indian mission stations at that date. The bt includes twenty-six in India and Burma, and seven which are not located on the map. The other representation is in the second volume of "A Geography and Atlas of Protestant Missions," (1!'03), prepared by the present writer. '1'hree of its double-page maps, each twol ve by seven teen illches in size, are required to show the location of the mission stations of to-day and the important towns adjacent. Near]ya thousand centers are occupieu permanent)y by missionaries or native ordained pastors having the same rank. Seven societies were laboring in India and Burma in 1816, of which most had no work there in 1800. In the statistical tables prepared by the author are the names of ninety-three societies having independently supported representatives in India. Dr. Jones reckons the societies as "about seventy" in number, while the statistical tables published last year in Calcutta mention sixty-seven societies, two Canadian Baptist societies and six Australian societies counting as only two.
More satisfying than maps are statistical tables, if read intelligently. The census, taken by the government in 1901, gives the following religions statistics for India and Burma: Hindu, 207,147,026; Mussulman, 62,458,077; Buddhist, 9,476,759; Animistic, 8,584,148; Christian, 2,923,241 (of whom 2,664,313 were natives of India); Sikh, 2,195,339; Jain, 1,334,148; Parsi, 94,190; Jewish, 18,228; minor and unclassified, 129,900. According to statistics prepared at the close of 1900 at the request of the Calcutta Missionary Conference, there were then in India, excluding Burma, 301,699 communicants in Protestant churches and 854,867 in the native Christian community. Our own figures, derived from official information furnished by the missionary societies, show 376,617 communicants, and for the Christian community, 967,927. Our statistics for Burma are: communicants, 43,420; Christian community, 134,531. The Calcutta statistics give Burma 42,207 cOlnmunicants, with a native Christian community of 124,069. The differences are probably accounted for by our larger number of society returns.
The Protestant missionary forces e~gaged, as given in our statistical volume, are as follows for India: Ordaineclll1en, 1,169; unordained men, 464; missionaries' wives, 899; other missionary women, 1,304; total foreign missionaries, 3,836. The native force of India consisted
of 23,001 men and women engaged in direct missionary work. Burma's contingent consisted of 66 ordained men, 7 unordained, 70 missionaries wives, 59 other women (a total of 202 foreign workers), and 1,797 native workers. This force was maintained in the Burman field by 2 societies from America, 6 from Great Britain, 1 from the Continent, and by 2 International societies. Of the 93 societies having workers in India, 35 were American, 34 were British, 9 were Oontinental, and 15 were International.
As for the distribution of missionaries and their converts, a glance at Plate 1 of the Atlas shows the largest number of Ohristian communities in the southern half of the Indian Peninsula, with a decided congestion of stations in the eastern region about Oalcutta and a large number in the Ganges Valley, especially in its upper reaches. 'l'he d l'y region of the northwest an~ the country south of it almost as far as Bombay are sparsely occupied by the missionaries.
A few additional particulars will show what the forces thus distributed are doing for the people. The Oalcutta missionary tables state that at the end of 1900 there were 5,362 organized congregations, which had connected with them 6,888 Sunday-schools, enrolling 274,402 scholars, whose members contributed Rs. 304,451. In Burma there were at that date 1,173 organized churches and 333 Sundayschools, with 17,350 scholars. Their contributions amounted to $76,621. Our own returns show that in India there were 8,285 day schools with 342,114 scholars, and 376 higher schools with 24,255 students. India also had 89 male and III women physicians working in 313 hospitals and dispensaries, where 1,209,738 patients were treated during the year reported. Burma had 585 day schools with 16,578 pupils; 41 higher schools and 4,440 students in them; and 7 men and 2 women physicians were in charge of 17 hospitals and dispensaries. The compill.lr of the Calcutta statisties states that 1 native pupil out of every 10 reading for government colleges or upper schools was in a Protestant missionary institution; and that 1 in every 10 who matriculated, 1 in every 5 who passed the First Arts, 1 in every '4 who gained the B.A. degree, and 1 in every 6 who attained the M.A. degree appeared from a Protestant missionary school. "Half the boys and young men in boarding-schools and hostels, and practically all the girls and young women in boarding-schools, were in boarding institutions maintained by Protestant missions." When it is recalled that the Protestant community constitutes only about one three-hundredth of the entire population, these figures are most remarkable.
As already suggested, statistics are significant only to the seeing eye. Confronting the missionaries are tremendous obstacles which make the gains noted little short of miraculous. Among them are these: Vast popUlations speaking diverse tongues, which needed to be mastered before work could be undertaken; the old difficulty so
THE CHRISTIAN OCCUPATION OF INDIA
quaintly described in a letter of Ziegenbalg's, written l~early two cen- turies ago, and entitled" 'l'he Vicious Life of the Ohristians a Princi- pal Impediment to the Oonversion of the Heathen"; the recent "Jesnit ad vance in India"; local opposition from Hindus; certain elements in their character which make it almost impossible to break with the past, and especially with its social institution of caste; and the power of religions which pander to the lower nature of men. How strikingly the old man has been transformed into the new is clearly portrayed in chapter four of Dr. Jones's. book referred to above. Socially, morally, religiously, and spiritually he has been regenerated, and his old ideals and prepossessions are giving way before the better light of Christianity.
Missionaries, too, are gaining power with experience and the adoption of better methods. Annual gatherings for deepening the spiritual life; such helpful conferences as that one which held its sessions in December last at Madras, under the shadow of St. Thomas' Mount-probably the most potent factor in the immediate future of Indian missions; a better understanding of the Hindu mind and con- sequent ability to reach men with greater effectiveness; the visits of evangelists and Christian organizers from the Occidellt, like Messrs. Myel', Torrey, Pentecost, Hatch, and. Matt; the Haskell Lectureship, which carries such exponents of Christianity to the cultured Hindus as Drs. Barrows, Fairbairn, and Hall; and a spirit of comity which has at last brought into fellowship with other Christians even the most conservative and excillsive of missionary societies-all these are the harbingers of a brighter day just dawning.
As the Madras Oonference has so strongly shown, these are a chal~ lenge to a militant Church, calling it to an advance far beyond anything yet dreamed of, especially in spiritual directions. With one of its resolutions, so typical of the present missionary situation in India, this article must close. "Believing that a great revival is urgently needed at the present time in the churches of Christ in India and Ceylon, and recognizing that there is a growing spirit of expectation in these churches of a spiritual revival similar to those which have been granted in other churches (e.g., in Uganda, Japan, Australia, etc.), ard being convinced that such a visitation of Divine Grace would reslllt in (1) the deepening of the spiritual life and sense of responsibility of all Christian workers; (2) impressing upon the members of the churches the great necessity of a more consecrated life and of active efforts for the salvation of relatives and neighbors; (3) the conversion of large numbers of nominal Christians to personal faith in Cbrist; (4) the winning to Christ of many from the increasingly large number of those who have lost faith in their old religions-the conference, while recognizing that such blessings ought to be sought by every preacher in the course of his ordinary ministry, yet would
recommend that the missions in different language areas, either singly or in unison with others, should concerl, measnres with this end in view, special sermons being preached on the lines indicated by the objects above mentioned, and fervent intercessory prayer being continually made for a great spiritual revival in India and Ceylon." The Church of God at home may become a very real factor in a great awakening in that great empire if its members will wrestle in prayer to this end. Remember, in such supplications, the causes which lie at the root of India's uhspiritnaIity as set forth in the Chri.st.ian press of lndianamely, an unspiritual native force, a defective presentation of the Gospel, a lack of personal fellowship with God among the leaders, and thp. prevalence of unholy customs among the native Christians. Let not these facts, nor the appeal sent out by the conference without a dissenting voice to the churches of Christendom for reinforcements sufficient to quadruple the present forces, stagger the faith of Christians. " 'I'o have prayed is to have labored."
THE MADRAS DECENNIAL CONFERENCE* BY REV. GEORGE H. ROUSE, D.D., CALCUTTA, INDIA Missionary of the English Baptist Mission, 1861- This conference- held its sessions from December 11th to December 18th, inclusive. The delegates were divided into eight committees on the following sn bjects : "The Native Church," ., Evangelistic Work," "Education," "Voman's ~Work," "Medical 'Vork,"" Industrial Work," "Mission Comity ahd Public Questions," "Literature." 'rhe committees met separately on the first three days of the conference, comidered the draft resolutions which had been prepared after correspondence by post, and put these resolutions into definite shape. The last four days were occupied by the whole conference in considering the resolutions thus presented, and finally deciding in regard to them. No resolution could bl' brought up in the conference which had not been passed by one of the committees, and no resolution was passed on which there was not practical unanimity.
Besides this business character of the conference, as compared with the previons decennials, there were two or three other marked characteristics. One was its cornprehensiveness. There are two great Cburch of England societies working in India-the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel and the Church Missionary Society. 'rhe latter has al ways worked in harmony with other missions, and has acted on the recognized principle~ of mission comity. To a very large extent the former society has held aloof from other missions, carried on its work without considering them, and its members have abstained from joining mission unions. But at the Madras conference the S. P. G. united heartily with the other missions. The Bishop • See preliminary article on p. 200, March REVIEW.
THE MADRAS DECl£NNIAL CONFERl£NCE 2fi7
of Madras, a High-churchman, was one of the S. P. G. delegates, the local S. P. G. secretary was chairman of one of the meetings, and Mr. Westcott (son of Bishop Westcott), member of an S. P. G. brotherhood, was convener of one of the committees.
A second characteristic of the conference was its harmony. It prevailed, to a very large extent, at the preceding conferences also, especially at those held in Allahabal and in Calcutta. At Madras the harmony was, I believe, absolute. In the committees and in the conference alike the spirit of Christian love was predominant, there was not a jarring note to mar the harmony of the proceedings.
Another mark of the conference was its hop~fnlness. 'fhe difficulties of our work and the vast mass of apparently untoucheu humanity arounu us in the field are constantly before ns. Yet there was not a word or tone or gesture in the conference that implied any doubt as to the ultimate triumph of our work: the sure coming of the day when" every knee shall bow to Him, and every tongue cOJifess that lIe is Lord, to the glory of God our Father."
One writer in reviewing the conference used these words: "I missed the enthusiasm which was a tradition of Bombay and Allahabad, but there was a promptitude in business which suggested ability and an attitude which showed how earnest the men and women were who had put tlieir hand to the task. I noticed that most of them were in early manhood." This is a characteristic which marked the conference-the large number of men and women in youthful vigor or in the prime of life, a characteristic which may well make one hopeful as to the future work to be done through them. Dr. Murdock was the father of the conference; he came out in 1844, and has been hard at work ever since, and is still" bringing forth books in old age"! Two members, Dr. Scudder and Mr. Alexander, came out before the meeting of 1857. There were perhaps half a dozen who came out about forty years ago; among them we were glad to welcome back Bishop Thoburn, who looked in good health. But most were young. Among them was Dr. Zwemer, of the Persian Gulf Mission of the Dutch Reformed Church, whose presence cheered us, not only by his enthusiasm and weighty words, but also by his presence reminding us that the Persian Gulf might in some sense be now called a part of British India, owing to the strong British influence which is being exerted there.
The Principal Points The first session took up the subject of "Christian Literature," a matter of great and growing importance, but one which has not met with a due amount of attention. Very few missionaries are set aside for literary work, and even when they are thus set aside, too often they arc turned from it for a time when their missions are in any kind of difficulty in regard to other departments of work; too
often it is the literary work which is the first to be shelvcd when an emergency arises. The con viction is growing in India that missionary societies should regard the prflparation and circulation of literature as one of the most important departments of Christian work, and should set apart a fair number of missionaries for it. The conference passed resolutions to the effect that a committee should be appointed in each language area to supervise the work of Christian literature in that area. We sometimes hear people talk about" the language of India," as if there were ollly one langnage spoken in the country; such persons wonld be surprised to heal' that we decided that nineteen different committees would be neede(l, each for a separate language, and some of them are to have charge of several cognate or neigh boring languages. English is one of these languages, for it is getting to be more aIHI more one of the" languages of India." A general committee was also appointed to help to unify the work of the language committees, and to prepare works in Ellglish which would be suitable for translation into several of the vemaeulal's. Special classes of books were mentioned which it was thought that the committees should seek to prepare. Resolutions were also passed ill regard to the dJ'culation of Christian literature and of the Bible as the all-important book. It may be mentioned that in India it is getting to be the cllstom to issue vernacular Bibles and Scripture portions in sections with brief headings. 'L'he Literature Committee heartily approycd of this plan. It enables the reader to understand much better what is the su bject-matter of what he is reading, whereas if the Bible is simply divided into chapters atHi verses the reader has to stumble on and find the general drift of the whole as best he can. The British and Foreign Bible Society approves of this plan of having sections and headings. This matter is commended to the attention of our readers who haye to engage in mission work in any part of the world.
The next subject discussed was" The Native Church." Resolutions were passed as to the su preme importance of seeking that the Church should be endued with the power of the Holy Spirit. Other ]'esolu tions related to the Sabbath, the evils of caste, debt, and intemperance. 'rhe self-support and independence of the Native Church i2 felt to be a matter of growing importance. 'L'hings are better than they once were, but tLe su bject needs to be pressed. Resolutiolls were passed in favor of the regular reduction of grants of foreign Illoney, with a view to their ultimate complete cessation. Other resolu tioIls related to what could be done in India for the promotion of self-su pport and self-extension. The subject of the training of the Indian ministry was also considered, and resolutions were passed in favor of the cooperation of the different missions in this work. Work among the young was also cOl1si(J'ered, and resolutions passed in regard to its importance and the best ways of carrying it on.
THE MADRAS DECENNIAL CONFERENCE
The next session was given to "Evangelistic Work." In India and . Ceylon we have to deal with three of the most important and mighty religions of the world-Hinduism, Buddhism, and Mohammedanism. Resolu tions were passed in regard to these, and a special appeal pre- pared for increased workers ill the Mohammedan field. The number of Moslems in India increases materially every decade, and now stands at 62,000,000. Not only is there this vast number of souls to be evangelized, but also there is no country where workers among Moham- medans have so free a hand as in India, being under the protection of the British law and enjoying the liberty which it secures. It was stated that the most recent statistics put the number of Mohammedans in the world at 259,OOO,OOO·-a far larger number than had been hitherto supposed. Resolutions were passed as to work amoug the aborigines and the depressed classes, among whom work is becoming more and more fruitful, and also in regard to the various instrumentalities employed in evangelistic work. The next session was given to" Industrial Work," its importance and practical matters in regard to the carrying of it 011. Oonsiderable difference of opinion was manifested in regard to Ohris· tian peasant settlements, some having found them very fruitful and others having had a very different experience. It seemed to be recog- nized tbat they succeed under some circu mstances, but not in other cases. A great deal of the depressed condition of so many millions in India is due to the exorbitant interest which has to be paid on borroweu money by the poor. The government is making some tentative endeavors as to the possibility of lenuing money at lower interest, and a resoln tion was passed by the conference in favor of the establishment of mission banks of a cooperative character among the Ohristion community.
The next subject was" Education" and the work among Englishspeaking people. It was recommended that the different missions should unite in college work, as is being so satisfactorily done in Madras. It has long been a moot question among missionariefJ as to whether what is called the" higher education," the establishment of colleges for the general education of all comers on Ohristian lines, is a legitimate department of missionary work. 'rho conference took a definite stand in favor of such work, and passed a resolution that it " recogniz('s in the work of missions day schools and colleges a powerful eYallgelistic agency," and it expressed the hope that mission colleges would be established" in all the larger centers of population." It was also resolved that it is very desirable that a weekly high-class journal for educated Indians should be started, which should discuss current history and literature from a Ohristian standpoint.
'rhe next sn bject taken up was " Women's Work." This, of course, covered a large field, as work among women is one of the most important and growing departments of the missionary enterprise.
The first subject treated was that of the baptism of women converts. This is a very difficult question in India, olVing to the lalVs of caste. Caste raises great difficulties in the way of baptisms in regard to all converts, but these are intensified in the case of married women. If a woman in a Hindu home should be baptized, the inevitable result would be that she would have to leave her husband and family for the rest of her life, unless her husband became a Christian also. She would lose caste, and so would her husbaud and the other inmates of the family home, if she remained in the house. The question thus arises whether the command to be baptized is so absolute that a woman who has become a believer must obey it, altho the result will be that she will have to leave her husband and family forever; or whether it is like the duty of Sabbath observance, a senii-ceremonial matter, which may in some circumstances be broken in the letter, in order to avoid the breaking of a higher dnty. If a woman can not be baptized without forsaking husband anu children, does not the principle of our Lord's words, "I will have mercy anu not sacrifice," imply that in sllch a case the mere outward act should be omitted? 'rhis is a question on which missionaries are divided. The resolution passed by the conference was as follows: "While fully recognizing the difficulties attending' the baptism of married women whose husbands are still unbelievers, we feel that we must put plainly before them the Savior's command, and leave them to act accoruing to the dictates of conscience, even if it in vol ves forsaking all for Christ's sake. We think such converts should be advised to confess their faith first in their own homes by deed and word, fulfilling in a Christian spirit all their conjugal and motherly uuties, and so seek to win their husbands and children for Ch rist. We do not ad vise secret baptism in zenanas." The existence of this very great difficulty in the way of the baptism of believing women in India shows how little the number of baptisms recorded represents the actual number of conversions resulting from women's work.
Other resolutions related to the obtaining· of employment for Christian women, the training of Bible women and teachers, higher education for non-Christian women and girls, rescue work, the best method of instructing Christian women and girls in village communities, etc. An appeal was prepared, addressed to Christian women resident in India, urging them to help in this great work lying at their doors, a work so important and so hopeful.
The next day the conference discussed " Public Questions" and "Mission Comity." In regard to the former, a committee was appointed to watch over any matters relating to opium, liqnor, the legal rights of Christians, and other public questions, and to act as the occasion may require. Mission comity relates to the harmonious working of different missions. There have been cases where one mission has not
THE MADRAS DECENNIAL CONFERE:N"CE
acted in a Ohristian spirit in its dealings with other missions, especially in regard to taking over agents and adherents of those missions. It is a matter of thankfulness that at the present time violation of the rules of mission comity is seldom heard of, but it does still sometimes occur. The conference recommended that for the present the principle of territorial division should be continued, only one mission occupying a given district; it passed resolutions as to the. conditions under which agents or members of one mission should be tranferred to another, and it appointed a permanent board of arbitration to settle disputed points which the parties themselves, or the societies which they represent, could not settle.
An Appeal for Nine Thousand MiSsionaries The following appeal for a largely increased staff of workers from the home lands was prepared, and a resolution. passed to the effect that it should be sent to the churches in Europe and America: In all parts of the country nearly three thousand missionariesincluding ministers, laymen, and women-are preaching the Gospel, while some twenty-five thousand native Christian preachers, zenana workers, and school-teachers are helping to extend and build up the Kingdom of Christ. The Protestant Christian community now numbers about a milo. lion. During the last decade it has increased in a proportion far larger than that of any other. • . . The number of foreign missionaries at present engaged in the work in these lands is not only inadequate to enable them to avail themselves of the opportunities that press upon them, but also far below what the resources of the Christian Church can well afford to maintain. . . .
We fully recognize that the greatest part of this work of district evangelization must be done, not by foreigners, but by members of the Indian Christian Church. But to train these Indian Christian workers and to supervise and direct their work, there will, for many years to come, be required a considerable number of foreign missionaries. It is thought to be anything but an extravagant estimate of the needs of the country if we ask that there be one male and one female missionary for every fifty thousand of the population, and this would mean the quadrupling of our present numbers. . . .
The work to be done is intensive as well as extensive. The quality of the workers sent out is of even more importance than the numJJers. As there is need of a large diversity of gifts, we appeal to those of the most highly educated classes of our native lands who have consecrated their lives to the obedience of Christ, to consider whether there is not a call to many of them to dedicate their talents, which are largely the heritage of seventeen cehturies of Christian privilege and enlightenment, to the uplifting of their brothers and sisters in foreign lands, who have had fewer advantages. .
In the name of Christ our common Lord-for the sake of those who. lacking Him, are as sheep without a shepherd, we ask you to listen to our appeal. You, under God, have sent us forth to India. Ve count it a privilege to give our lives to this land. For Christ's sake and the Gospel's, strengthen our hands, and enable us to press on toward the goal of our great calling, when the kingdoms of the world shall become the Kingdom of the Lord and of His Christ.
ON THE FRONTIERS OF TIBET BY REV.•JAMES JOHNSTON, A.T.S., DARWEN, ENGLAND The Tibetan tableland lies ill the heart of Asia, at an elevation from ten to seventeen thousand feet above the sea, with an average height equal to that of Mont Blanc, surrounded on all sides by gigantic snow-crowned mountains. This" Great Closed Land" has an area of over seven hundred thousand square miles. Tibet, girdled by these barriers of eternal snow," where the silence lives," remains up to the present time more shrouded in mystery than any other land.
1'he countt-y, which has been a dependency of China since 1720, is cold and uninviting. Some few travelers, from Thomas Manning, an Englishman, who went in 1811, to' Dr. Sven Hedin, the Swedish explorer, who has just returned, have in recent years essayed to pene- trate the "Forbidden Land," to Lhasa. The saclred city is strictly guarded against foreign approach, on religious grounds.
This stronghold of Buddhism has been besieged by mis- sionary heralds for many years, but with little Sllccess. Noble as the record is, it is still one of " working and waiting." Perhaps the most notable of these struggles to enter Tibet belongs to the Moravians. The story of their mis~ion to Tibetan-speaking natives, in the provinces of Lahul and Kunawar, on the borders of British India. in the Western Himalayas, is a perennial inspira- tion. After nearly fifty years' toil their COil verts are not llumer- ous, but they have prepared the ground for assured harvests. No stone have these dauntless pioneers left unturned to win a people sunk in indifference and degradation. One of their nu III bel' writes that any missionary working on the borders of Tibet would almost be prepared to start for Lhasa at five minutes' notice if the way were unexpectedly opened. Such is the intrepidity of the Moravian missionaries at these Himalayan outposts, eleven thousand feet above the sea. They are sowing the Word of Life in perilous journeys across the bleak plains of Rupshu, Ladak, Nnbra, and other lands. .
In 1856 the Moravian Church made its earliest assault on 'ribet, and altho foiled in their attempt to enter, the pioneers Heyde and Pagen settled in the great valley of Lahul at Kyelang. This station, together with Poo, a village of Kunawar, and Leh, the capital of Ladak, the highest mission station in the world, are the oldest mission settlements of the Moravians. Five other stations are likewise occu- pied and, lately, Shipki, the first village in Tibet proper, seventeen thousand feet above the level of the sea. When Chinese Tibet is opened the plowshare is ready in the form of It Tibetan dictionary and grammar, and the seed is prepared in the translated New Testa- ment and several books of the Old Testament, Never has the Moraviau Church lacked heroes. The devotion of Pagell and Heyde, of Heinrich Jaeschke, a man of marvellous perse- ………. N"
ScnlE:' of llliles.
100 ZiIO 300 400 600 verance and extraordinary linguistic faculty, first translator of the Tibetan New Testament, and pronounced by Max Muller as the highest authority on Tibetan matters, or of Drs. Marx and Redslob, eloquently eulogized by Mrs. Bishop, the missionary traveler; of Mr. Ribbach, present senior missionary at Leh, and the tireless medical worker, Dr. E. Shawe-these and other representatives of the Tibetan missions are of undisputed ability and character.
And there have not been wanting in these regions women endued with the heavenly fire of love. In the first decade the lone mission saw the arrival of three "brides," women of intrepid heart, one of whom was Emilie Auguste Rosenhauer, the future wife of Jaeschke, and destined to survive him. Strenuously did the sisters fulfil their part in those deep, untrodden, and silent valleys, where not infrequently the buds of the household withered before the piercing winds and terrible climate of "bleak, sterile, and desolate Tibet." Reading the narratives of these faithful toilers, one's heart warms itself at the fires which glow upon it from such consecrated lives.
At present the Rev. A. W. Heyde, "loa,ned" by the Moravian Missionary Society to the British and Foreign Bible Society, is engaged as the chief reviser of the Tibetan New Testament, together with a small company of expert coworkers. This Tibetan veteran, associated with the New Testament version from its commencement, is devoting his ripest years in making the translation still more perfect. With half a century of service behind him, with hair and beard as white as the SllOWS on the neighboring mountains, Mr. and Mrs. Heyde are perpetual examples of sacrifice at the village of Ghoom, near Darjiling. Messrs. Macdonald and Amund8en are strong helpers. Mr. Amundsen was on the Chinese frontier for five years with the China Inland Mission until driven away by the Boxer outbreak. He is now stationed at Ghoom, filling the gap caused by the death of the Rev. J. F. Fredericksen. Ghoom is also the heaclquarters of the Scandinavian Alliance Mission, with which Mr. F. Gustafson is associated. His many years' work at Shigar, a solitary station, is warmly appreciated.
Of recent missions on the Tibetan frontier, besides the Moravians and Scandinavians on the western border, must be named the Kashgarian Mission of the Swedish Missionary Society (1891), with stations at Kashgar and Yarkand, on the northwest, and the Church-Scotland's Mission at Kajimpong, on the southern border. The London Missionary Society occupies Almora as a strategic point, and has commenced work among the Bhotiyas, hill tribes on the southern slopes of the mighty Himalayas. In addition to intercepting Tibetan traders with copies of God's Word, the Rev. G. M. Bulloch writes that they mean to be among those who are to be first in Tibet and help to bring its wild nomads to the feet of Christ.
ON THE FRONTIERS OF TIBET
The unswerving persistence of Miss A. n. Taylor to enter Tibet is widely known. She is now stationed at Yatung, and has tried again and again in vain to secure an entrance into Tibet. Meanwhile she gives medical treatment to travelers, and circulates portions of the Bible in their own tongue to the Tibetans passing through with caravans. Some disappointmcnt has been expressed that Yatung has not developed into the trade mart anticipated. Miss 'raylor's toils and endurance are remarkable. After occupying her station for three years, save during a hrief furlough, in a mountain hut, three thousand feet above Yatung, Miss Taylor left for Calcu tta in December, 1901, in order to reinforce her stock of provisions and stores, having previously vaccinated hundreds of the natives to prevent further epidemic from smallpox. Large crowds of the natives awaited the return of their good physician and friend .
.Along the southern border the Assam Frontier Pioneer Mission has broken ground at Sadiya, among the wild Abor tribe, where Messrs. Lorrain and Savidge have exhibited much daring to evangelize these savage and degraded tribes.
'1'0 the east and northeast the Tibet Prayer Union (C. I. M.), at 'ra-chien·lu and surrounding country, has been ably represented by Mr. and Mrs. Polihill-Turner. At Min-cheo, in Kansuh, China, the Christian and Missionary Alliance has distant toilers amid the darkness, and so long ago as 1856 the Roman Catholics began work on the eastern borders, con tinuing the same amid much suffering and persecution to the present day. One of the most heroic Lndeavors to enter Tibet will always be identified with the Rijnhart family. Probably no more thrilling and pathetic story has erer been written than Dr. Susie Hijnhart's "With the Tibetans in Tent and Temple."
Altho Tibet remains barred to the torch-bearers of the Gospel, no doubt by means of the Scriptures distributed among the traders, God is giving into the hands of His servants. one of the keys by which to unlock the closed doors to carry the light to the six million souls under the blighting system of Buddhism, which for centuries has held sway over the Tibetans.
'I'he celebrated explorer, Dr. Sven Hedin, a Swede, returned to Europe in December, 1!l02, after three years and three days of what may justly be described as the most remarkable land journey of lIlodern times. He had traversed at least six thousand miles of land in Central Asia unknown to Europeans. The intrepid traveler made two attempts to reach Lhasa, disguised as a Mongolian pilgrim, and succee<led in reaching within one day's journey of that mysterious city, but was discovered and turned back. 'rhe doctor now thinks it impossible, under existing conditions, for any European to penetrate to Lhasa even in disguise.
AMONG THE MONGOS OF THE KONGO THE WORK OF THE REGIONS BEYOND MISSIONARY UNION ON THE UPPER KONGO BY A MISSIONARY OF THE "UONGO BALOLO )IISSION"
Shortly after Stanley's memorable three-year journey across Africa, which he completed in Angnst, 1877, it was decided that a mission should be opened to evangelize some of the many millions of degraded people whom the intrepid explorer had brought before the gaze of the Christian world. As the outcome of much thought and earnest prayer, the Livingstone Inland Mission was founded in the dawn of 1878. This mission was entirely interdenominational. For workers, money, and methods of work they leaned wholly upon the promises of God. '1'he late Mrs. Grattan Guinness was used of Goel as the main instrument in founding this noble little mission, and it is with abun- dant cause that she has been called the" Mother of the Kongo Mission_"
After six years spent in one long struggle to get past the forty cataracts which separate the Lower from the Upper Kongo Ri-er, the brave missionaries had the great joy of reaching the banks of the now famous Stanley Pool. In the meantime six mission stations had been built, and wbat this means it is difficult for any who have not had any experience of such 11 country as Central Afric"a to understand. Under that fierce sun the hard manllallabor involved was exceedingly trying and dangerous to health. The Lower Kongo language, Fiote, had been learned to some extent, a vocabulary had been compiled, and some useful translation work had been accomplished. The terrible fever so disastrous to the white man had claimed eight victims from among our brave brethren, and each station was consecrated by a missionary tomb. Two missionary steamers had been successfully placed on the Kongo by the little mission-one, the Livings/OlIO, on the Lower river, and later the larger boat, the Henry Reed. The latter boat was transported from Matadi to the pool upon the heads of one thousand native carriers in five hundred sections.
At the close of the six years the noble brethren of the Livingstone Inland Mission had founded a chain of stations extending from Banana, at the mouth of the mighty river, away into the interior as far as Bolengi station, at the Equator.
In 1884 the Livingstone Inland Mission was transferred to the American Baptist Missionary Union, and this society has been signally blessed at each of the stations from the coast into the far distant interior. Thousands of the Lower Kongo natives who, twenty years ago, were almost as savage as the Upper Kongo cannibals, have been converted, and those of llS who have mingled with them can testify to. the glorions power of the Gospel as displayed in their lives.
Four years later another advance was made by the Regions
19031 AMONG THE MaNGOS OF THE KONGO
Beyond Missionary Union * toward the evangelization of the Kongo, in the formation of the" Congo Balolo Mission." Mr. McKittrick, a missionary who had labored for some years in connection with the A. B. M. U. at Bolengi, and who had been trained at Harley College, came home on furlough. He brought stirring tales of the Mongos, whom he had visited occasionally. Some of the people had been sold to the Bolengi natives as slaves, and helped to kindle a deep interest in the missionary's heart by what they told him of the many thousands of their fellows who dwelt in the far-off forest villages. As a result of Mr. McKittrick's passionate pleading the" Uongo Balolo Mission ,. was inaugurated in 1888, and the first party, consisting of six men and PREACH1NG TO THE MONGOS 1…;' CEN_TRAL AFRICA An open-air scryjce at Lulama,. near Bonganda.nga two women, went out early in 1889, and opened a station at Bonginda, a district some forty miles up the Lnlanga, a tributary of the Kongo.
The Mongos lire in the Great Horseshoe Bend of the Kongo River. Their country is as large as the German Empire, and they number between eight and ten millions. Altho they are terribly degraded-Leing cannibals, polygamists, and slare-dealers-they are physically a fine race and very intelligent. Our missionaries have always found them ready to listen to the Gospel Story, and we have had many proofs of the power of the Gospel to convert these dark souls.
'fhe first thing which we had to do upon entering" Mongoland " was to learn the "Lo Mongo" tongue, and in this work we have to testify to the goodness of God, as already a large and useful vocabulary has been gathered, a grammar compiled, small primers printed, • Then known as the" East London Institute for Home and Foreign Missions."
and, better still, the four gospels a~d the Acts have been translated and circulated, while other Scriptures are at present being revised for the press. Great help has been rendered by the British and Foreign Bible Society, which has printed and given us from time to time various portions of the Word of God.
The Mongos are distinguished from the other interior tribes of Oentral Africa by having huge tribal marks upon their foreheads, literally lumps of flesh which stand out in bold relief, and which are raised by cutting the flesh when young. Most of the Mongos are tall and slim, and as they live for the greater part away from the rivers they are no watermen but splendid huntsmen, and spend a great deal of their time in the forests hunting the wild antelopes, wild boars, and many other animals peculiar to the African forests. Some of the men are adepts at twine-making, as well as at cloth-weaving upon their simple native frames. Each village has its own blacksmith, who with his primitive bellows, an viI, and hammer, does some wonderf~lly clever work in the way of making knives, spears, etc., from any old pieces of iron they can obtain. The women make baskets and mats very cleverly and see to the preparing of the food, such as the cassava roots, from which the native bread is made.
. Slave-trade and Polygamy The slave-trade and polygamy have played havoc among the people. 'rhe Kongo Independent State hus done much to suppress the former, but permits domestic slavery, and in the country there are many places where the trade is still carried on. One of the saddest facts in connection with polygamy on the Upper Kongo is that the old chiefs, who have a good deal of wealth, buy up the little girls, sometimes only three or four years of age, who are then called wives, but are really slaves, and are liable to be bartered at any movement. I have often seen poor girls and women fastened by native cordage around the neck and tied to a tree, or with their feet fastened in heavy wooden stocks. Upon inquiry I have found that they are kept prisoners until a suitable bidder appears. I have met chiefs who boasted of owning two hundred and even three hundred wives. Many of these poor women are hired out by their so-called husbands for the most horrible purposes, so that money may be made. As may be easily imagined, the moral results are disastrous.
The Mongo natives are intelligent and approachable, notwithstanding their deplorable degradation. Altho they do not worship idols, they are very snperstitious and have implicit faith in their witchdoctors. Like many others in Centl'"l Africa, the Mongos believe every sickness and death to be caused by witchcraft, and that the witch-doctor, or "llkanga," must be summoned to discover the culprit. A fowl is killed, and some one against whom the" nkanga"
AMONG THE MONGOS OF THE KONGO
has a grudge is accused of having bewitched the sick man by causing the spirit of a crocodile or hippopotamus to enter his body. The accused man must pay a very heavy ransom, or he may be sold into slavery or even be slain. 'l'hese witch-doctors also make charms for the natives. A goat's horn filled with their" bote," or medicine, like powdered charcoal, is supposed to ward off sickness, and other charms are for the market, hunt, war, etc.
The Mongos have a very vague idea of a creator, whom they call "Nzakomba." Among their many myths and traditions it is easy to discover distorted forms of the Bible stories of the Fall alld of the Flood. These traditiolls are found very useful in preaching the Woro WOMEN AND CHILDREN AT LULAMA, NEAR BONGANDANGA This picture shows women engaged in hair-drcsRing, preparing food, and basket-making, and children eating of God. The great majority of these Mongos are cannibals, and by many generations of this inhuman feasting have become lovers of human flesh; it is, therefore, the more wonderful to witness the many evidences that the Gospel is the power of God unto salvation if they only believe.
There are four stations where the Kongo Balolo workers have been laboring for some time: Lulanga and Bongincla, on the tributary Lulanga; Ikau statiOl], at the confluellce of the Maringa with the Lulanga; and Bongandanga, on the Lofoli tributary.
Bongincla, the first one of our statiolls to be openeo, is situated about forty miles up the Lulanga River, or about eight hundred and forty miles from the mouth of the Kongo. Here Mr. and Mrs. McKittrick settled in 1889, and labored with much success. Scores of souls here have been converted to Christ. When the missionaries
first came to Bonginda all was darkest heathenism. It was an ordinary thing when a native chief died for his many wives and slaves to be sacrificed at the burial; they were beheaded by the exe·· cutioner, and their bodies were thrown into the grave of the chief.
Now, altho tIle Christian church numbers only about fort.y mem- bers, the behavior of all the natives has much improved.
One of the brightest cases among the lads was the con ver- sion of Lofanza, a poor slave boy, who was ransomed by a mission.
ary, Mr. Blake, in the early days of the mission. Shortly after his ransom, Lofanza began to show signs of interest in the Gospel.
Before long he boldly confessed the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior and Lord, and became an unusually bright, devoted Chris- tian. We had great hopes of wide future usefulness for him. Dr.
BONJARE Harry Guinness bought the lad, A native helper at Bonginda station and many Christians were drawn to take a deeper interest in the Lord's work among the Mongos after learning to know and· love Lofanza. Bis love for Christ was wonderful, and at little prayer- meetings in Harley House he would often burst forth into passionate prayer for his nati ve land. When his limited knowledge of English failed to express his heart's desires, he would launch out into his native tongue and cry with tears for God's blessing upon his fe11ow- countrymen. He died in England, but we believe that more than one of his English brethren dedicated their lives to Kongoland at those little prayer-meetings. One of our best native helpers on the field is Bonjare, a BOllginda lad converted some few years ago. He is the son of a ehief, and made great sacrifices, as far as this world's goods are concerned, in corning ou t 011 the Lord's side. On one oeeasion we had the sorrow of seeing him backslide, but, thank God, he is now living a true Christian life. He is an excellent native evangelist, and is most useful among the child ren in the schools.
Christian friends in the home lallds, if they only knew the fearful sur- roundings of these poor people, would Ilot wOllder at their backsliding, but would pray more often and earnestly that these weak children may be kept pure in the midst of horrible temptations.
At our third station, Ikau, we have some very useful Christians,
and the native evan~elist, Mbilo, is much beloved by all. One of the most ellcouraging [acts is that even the heathen natives speak well of a man who lives a pure Ohristian life. On one occasion Mbilo had been maliciously and falsely accused of a certain sin, but when brought before the townsfolk they spoke nothing but well of him, heathen and degraded tho they are, so that his accusers were put to shame.
At Bongalldanga, our farthest Rtation on the Lofoli River, there has been marked blessing from time to time. 'rhe Mongos living in the Bongandanga district are very wild and savage, so that IV hen this station was first opened, about ten years ago, the villages were continually at war with each other. The poor women of Bongandanga, too, are very degraded, and slavery, polygamy, and oven cannibalism are rife. 'rhe Gospel has, however, wrought wonders, and in the lIlitlst of this abode of iniquity there is now a little chnrch of believers in the Lord J esns Christ.
One of the brightest cases out of forty converts is that of Evangelist Bongoli. A man of fine physiqne, and a born orator, he was songht for all over the district as one who would be most likely to "win the palaver." The chief who secured Bongoli's services to dehate for him felt sure he woulU get the best of the day. We prayed often for Bongoli's conversioll, but he seemed to be very careless, and at times sneered and scoffed at our message. All our efforts to lead him to think of his sins and his lleod of the Savior seeHled in vain, until God dealt with the poor man in It truly marvelous way. Very early one mornillg our missionaries were aroused by a loud knocking at the THE HONGA~DA~GA MISS [ON STATlON The ch"pel Is in the center. Tile other two llUlldlngs are missionary dwellings
door and a native crying ont, "Kumbol'ekuke! Kllmbol'ekuke!" (Open the door! Open the door!) As soon as the door was opened in came Bungoli, seemingly in a perfect frenzy. He said, "Oh, white men, I have had a terrible experience! Last night I felt that some calamity was coming upon me, and I couldn't sleep for a long while. Even when I did sleep I had a horrible feeling that your God was about to punish me for the way in which I had treated His message, and altogether it has been a fearful experience. I have now come to you that you may teach me the way of God." The missionaries were, of course, rejoiced to help him, but Bongoli was not a man to be easily convinced, and wanted to know the wh}s and wherefores of everything. After about six weeks of instruction the Holy Spirit had His way with this dark soul, and Bongoli became a new man in Christ Jesus. For the past eight years he has been one of onr best native workers, and has, we believe, won many for the Savior. For Christ's sake this native Christian has lost much of this world's wealth, but he is growing daily in the grace allli knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. Bongoli's wife has also been converted, and has proyed a true helpmeet to him.
The work among the women and children is especially interesting. Women's classes are held regularly at all the stations and with the most blessed results. One young woman, named Botaka, came as a raw heathen to Mrs. Ruskin's women's class at Bongandanga, and being present at a baptism of two women, asked her teacher if she too might be baptized. She was told she must wait, since it is our rule to keep candidates on probation for a short period, that they may show that their lives arc in accord with their profession. Botaka was disappointed, but went back to her village, and to onr sorrow very shortl,)' afterward died. We were told, however, by the villagers that in the days of her sickness she had gathered her neighbors around her and had pleaded with them to come to the Savior, in whom she had found such a friend.
In the day schools several hundreds have learned to read and write, and some have decided for Christ. It is no extraordinary thing to see a lad sitting outside his hut in the village reading his native Gospel, and onr hearts rejoice when we see that the llews of a Savior's love is spreading by means of our school children.
The" Congo Balolo Mission" has sent out two steamers and a small steam-launch called the Evangelist. The first sent out was -the Pioneer, a side-paddle boat, which for over twelve years has done the greater part of our transport work, both of missionaries and provisions. Latterly, however, she has proved altogether inadequate for the work, and we have found it necessary to provide a larger and stronger boat, the Limngstone, which was given in memoriam of Fanny E: Guinness. This fine steamer was carried in sections to Matadi, and thence
MOVEMENT TOWARD SELF-SUPPORT IN SIAM AND LAOS
over the new railway as far as Stanley Pool, where she was put together for her work on the Upper Kongo. The Evangelist is used in visiting districts upon the ri ver banks, and we trust will be found increasingly' useful in the future. 'rhe old steamer Pioneer will still be useful on the tributaries as a means of transport, bnt can no longer travel on the main river.
Among the millions of Mongos on the Kongo we have only thirtyfive workers, but there is every sign that the Lord is with us, and we go forward in faith. More men are greatly needed to open new stations on the Bolombo, Lofoli, Maringa, and Juapa tributaries, where there are yet untouched millions of unenlightened souls for whom Christ died. Means are also needed to equip and sem] forth the right men and women, who will preach the Gospel to these people. Pray that the" Congo Balolo Mission" may be abundantly supplied with the right workers and with funds to carryon the Lord's work, and thus speedily evangelize the Mongo tribe on the great Upper Kongo River.* THE REMARKABLE MOVEMENT TOWARD SELF- SUPPORT IN SIAM AND LAOS BY REV. ARTHUR J. BROWN, D.D., NEW YORK Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions Siam and Laos are a splendid illustration of the feasibility of 8e1£- support when the missionaries themselves are firm and wise in push- ing it. Here the people are not so poverty· stricken as in China, India, and Korea. The softness of a tropical climate reduces want, so that less expenditure is necessary for shelter, clothing, and fuel, while the comparative sparseness of the population and the exuberance of the soil make it easier to secure necessary food. Nor is money scarce. The per capita wealth of Siam and Laos must be greater than thltt of most Asiatic countries, if the rather superficial observation of a traveler can be trusted. At any rate, the people have plenty to eat, and they wear more gold and silver ornaments than any other people in Asia. Even naked urchins tumbling about the village streets are often adorned with solid silver anklets, wristlets, necklaces, or "fig leaves." .
Buddhism has taught the people to give largely for the support of * The Regions Beyond Missionary Union includes th~ training colleges ami variou"
evangelistic and medic-al mission centers in London. It has missions in Peru, Argentina, in the Behar Province of North India, and on the Kongo and its tributaries. The work i8 entirely dependent upon the freewill offerings of the Lord's people, and hIlS from the beginning been carried forward in faith in God. Help is therefore gratefully received from all who desire the spread of the Gospel of Christ. The Honorary Directors are the Rev. F. B. Meyer and Dr. Harry Guinness, and communications should be address~d to them at the central offices of the Union, at Harley House, Bow, London, E, England. The mcnthlymagazine of the Union, Regions Beyond, may he obtained in America from Messrs. Fleming H. Revell Co., New York, at $1.00 a year.
THE CHAPEL, SCHOOL, AND NATIVE PREACHER'S BOUSE, PITSANULOKE religious institutions. The land literally teems with temples and priests, and while old buildings quickly fall out of repair in this land of heavy rains, intense heat, and swarming insects, new ones are con- stantly being erected. There is great" merit" in building a temple, or "sola," but none in repairing one that some one else has built. This accounts for the number of crumbling wats and for the many new shrines which are springing up on every side. For these reasons Mr. Eakin says that the problem of poverty may be eliminated from the situation in Siam. The people are able to give.
But it would be an error to assume that it is therefore easy to lead the Siamese and Laos to self-support. In every other mission field the people pay far more to support heathenism than they are asked to pay to support Christianity. The Gospel makes no such financial demands upon converts in China and Indiaa as are made by the old faiths. Besides this, self-support is more a matter of proportion than of amount. If the average Christian in IndIa lives on less than the average Christian in Siam and Laos, it is also true that his pastor lives on less. If each family gives a twentieth, twenty families will be able to support a pastor in average comfort, no matter what. the average scale may be. The hardest problem everywhere is not ability but disposition. American Christians could quadruple their foreign mis- sionary gifts if the)' would. Probably the average income of the San Francisco Chinese is higher than that of any other body of Asiatic Christians in the world, but it is as difficult to induce them to pay their minister's salary as it is in India. The world over, people like ,to be supported by some one else and to do as they please with their own money. This general disposition in Siam and Laos is intensified by the easy-going life of the country, the lack of thrift and energy, the feeling that Christianity is a foreign religion, and particularly by the fact that for many years the missionary work was wholly supported by foreigners. In the old days native helpers were as freely employed, medicine as freely given away, scholars as freely educated
MOVEMENT TOWARD SELF-SUPPORT IN SIAM AND LAOS
as in some other mission fields, until the Siamese and Laos Christians came to expect foreign support, to accept it as a right, and feel aggrieved if they did not get it. When, therefore, the missions began to apply the new principle of self-support, they encountered as discouraging conditions as couid be found anywhere. Many fell away altogether, others became sullen, and in some places, notably Petchaburi, the work of years had to be virtually disbanded and reconstructed from the foundation.
The Doctor and His Fees The entire medical work of both missions is now wholly self-supporting, including assistants, drugs, instruments, supplies, and in several cases, lands and buildings, for the small deficit in one or two of the Laos stations is more than counterbalanced by the excess at another. For one of our best hospital plants in Asia, that at Chiengmai, the Board is asked to give only $1,500, all the remainder of the total cost of about $9,000 having been raised on the field. The customs of this hospital are fairly typical of the others. '1'here are no fixed fees for natives, but all in-patients, except the poorest, furnish their own food and clothing, and are expected, in addition, to pay something for medicines and attendance. Patients usually do this, sometimes in comparatively large sums. At the dispensary also there is no prescribed charge, but all who are able to do so pay for their own medicines. The poor are treated freely. A large stock of drugs is carried at this hospital, usually to the value of about 20,000 rupees ($6,000). '1'his is necessary because of the great distance from the source of snpplies, five or six months being required to fill an order from London. Our hospital is the only one in the city, but Chinese merchants are A SELF-SUPPORTING HOSPITAL AND DISPENSARY IN CHIENGMAI
now beginning to sell quinine and a few of the staple proprietary medicines, so that our sales in the future may not be so great.
This development of self-support has not obscured the spiritual aspects of medical work; on the contrary, most of our medical work in Siam and Laos impressed me as happily blending the medical and the evangelistic. The missionary physician is rightly in charge of the evangelical work of the hospital and dispensary. The usnal plan is to have a chapel in the hospital itself, and for the medical missionary to conduct its services. In Chiengmai I had the privilE>ge of delivering the address at the dedication of the beautiful mw chapel which is visibly to represent the fact that onr medical work of that THE WOMAN'S WARD OF THE LAXAWN HOSPITAL great institution is " for Jesus' sake." Dr. McKean voices the deepest heart feelings of all the Siam and L'aOs medical missionaries whom I met in the statement: While we recognize the power of medical practise, softening prejudice, and winning friends, and often in winning souls into the Kingdom, yet we are constantly made to feel that only the Spirit of God can touch and change the heart. Will not our friends at home pray more earnestly for all medical missionaries, that they may be men and women filled with the Holy Spirit, bringing forth the fruits of the Spirit, that thereby a greater number of their patients may be brought to Christ?
A considerable part of the income of our medical work comes from foreigners, who are charged comparatively high fees. But it should be remem bered that the fees include medicines as well as treatment, and that everything foreign in a heathen land is higher priced than at home. The foreigners in Laos are, as a rule, receiving large salaries, and are, therefore, abundantly able to pay a good price. Our
MOVEMENT TOWARD SELF-SUPPORT IN SIAM AND LAOS
medical atte~dance on foreigners is also more exacting than on natives, and takes valuable time away from mission work for which our hospitals and physicians are maintained. Only the institutional part of our medical work is self-supporting, the physicians themselves being maintained at heavy expense by the Board. I .believe that the foreign traders themselves cordially feel that if they have in a Laos jungle the benefits of the same grade of medical and ~urgical skill which they would find in England, it is only fair that they should pay such a sum for it as will aid in reimbursing the Board for the expense of maintaining medical missionaries and further the large charitable work which is done among the natives. After all, they do what the natives do (pay as they are able), only their more uniform ability makes it easier to make a definite schedule of fees.
The Preacher and His Salary The evangelistic work of the Siam and Laos Missions affords an even better illustration of self-support than the medical, for it can not rely for its income upon the motive of evident physical sufferiug. Yet in Siam the entire evangelistic work is self-supporting, except, of course, the itinerating expenses of the foreign missionaries. Not a single nati ve helper is employed at mission expense, all helpers, including the pastor of the First Church of Bangkok, being supported by the people. Not only this, but the new church in the central part of the city is to be paid for, laud and building, by the Siamese themselves, and while it is true that one man is to give most of the money, he is a Siamese, and the other Christians are. to give all that they are able.
A notable illustration of the practical working of a principle is afforded in "The Christiau Uuited Bank of Bangkok." It is a savings bank which was started by an elder of the First Church, on the advice of Mr. Eakin, about two years ago. Its president is the· native pastor, its manager is an elder, its treasurer is a Third Church member, and all of its directors are Christians. The bank does not attempt to invest its funds, but by a mutually satisfactory agreement places them at two per cent. interest with the powerful local branch of the chartered bank of India, Australia, and China. The depositors, nearly all of whom are Christians, have now saved over six thousand ticals, and as a check upon the temptation to draw their money and spend it unwisely, the depositors have bound themselves by the condition that no sum can be withdrawn except on an order countersigned by the president (pastor) and manager (elder), who refuse their approval, unless they know and approve the object! There is hope for a country which has Christians of that kind.
In Laos, also, the evangelistic work is virtually self-supporting, the groups and churches everywhere paying for their preaching.
At the !nnual mission meeting in 1897 the following resolution was adopted unanimously: Resolved, That the mission request the Board for no appropriation for native ministers, licentiates, Biblewomen, and Sabbath-schools for the coming year.
This was, perhaps, an extreme position, but the mission has held to it, not literally but in spirit. At this time only two helpers are employed at mission expense, and they are used solely for evangelistic work among the heathen, and usually accompany a missionary.
Most of the native helpers, however, even for this work are paid by the Christians themselves. The Praa church, for example, gave ten rupees for the work among the Ka-mooks and ten for work in Chiengtung, besides paying its own expenses and giving ten rupees to the· church school. The Chiengmai church is justly famous for both selfsupport and self-propagation. It has sent out several colonies, maintains evangelists in various places, and generously fosters every good work. In the Presbyterial conference at Lakawn, during my visit, one of the Lakawn elders said in substance to his felluw Christians: To whom are the Laos people indebted for the knowledge of the Gospel? To American Christians. Who must evangelize the rest of the Laos people and the mountain tribes? We must do it, not depending upon American men or money. Why should we hoard our money? Many say they wish to leave it to their children. But often it is a curse to those children, not a blessing. Let us freely give it to spread the Gospel.
What a fine example for some of our home elders is given by the Laos eld~rs of Muang Tung, an outstation of Chieng Rai. Dr. Briggs thus describes it: Two were sent by the church at three different times, and spent from four to six weeks each time. The Chieng Rai church has bought, for a consideration of one hundred rupees, a teak house in the most important Christian village, a rice-field, rice-bin, and some loose lumber. This church proposes to send one of its elders to live there. He is to have the privilege of farming the rice-field, and occupying such parts of the house as are not needed for a chapel. He is to receive no wages unless hired by the church to do evangelistic work at some distance from the village. In other wGrds, he will be on the same basis as every other elder in the church, except that home and fields are provided for his use, and for this he is to be practically the pastor of the disciples in that district.
We attempt to put practically the whole burden of shepherding the sheep upon the Laos elders, and the burden of evangelization upon them and every soul that receives the sealing rite of baptism. We are not theorizing; we are quietly putting our convictions of right method to the test. Thus far we are abundantly encouraged, and have great cause for gratitude to God.
The church in America is not asked to support any feature of the work in Laos that the native church there can justly be expected to support at this stage of its development. More than that, the native Laos
MOVEMENT TOWARD SELF-SUPPORT IN: SIAM AND LAOS
church is undertaking active work in the regions beyond. A small struggling church of fifty members (which has just finished building a neat, cosy chapel without any outside help) has contributed two months' support of a Laos minister to preach the Gospel in French Laos territory, where, for the present, the missionaries are encouraged by French officials not to go. A small Chr-istian Endeavor Society in I_aos is assuming partial support of an evangelist at work in the French Laos field. A Women's Foreign MissionarySocietyof fifteen members gave of their poverty thirty rupees in one year, sufficient to pay the expenses of a native minister for two months in evangelistic work.
In this connection it should be noted that the two youngest stations of the Siam mission, Pitsanuloke and Nakawn, have been self-supporting from the be- ginning. Not only helpers and teachers, but land, school, hospital, church buildings, and all their running expenses have been paid without a dollar's expense to the Board. Mr. Eckels writes from Nakawn: We have not exalted self-sup- port a bove other things of greater importance. Neither have we made a hobby of it. We have believed NOI PUNNYAH AND FONG KAOW that as the people grow in grace and A natIve helper and wife In Praa in the doctrines of the Word, self- support would be one of the fruits of its growth, and it has proved so.
In building their chapels and helping in the evangelistic work the dis- ciples do not seem to have thought of financial help from the mission- aries. Self-support has been spontaneous. During the past year the disciples built one temporary and one permanent chapel, and they are now securing materials for two more substantial chapels, while In addi- tion they contributed one hundred and eight ticals toward the new church in Bangkok.
In considering results, it would be unjust to cite Siam and Laos as comparatively unfruitful fields, because the actual number of present converts is apparently small, for these missions have thoroughly committed themselves to the policy of self-support. Unlike Korea, they did not have the advantage of beginning after the new principles of s~lf-support had been enunciated, but like most of the older missions, they have had to reconstruct much of their work-in some cases being obliged to begin all over again. It is not fair, therefore, to contrast the present statistical tables with those of a decade ago without
taking this into consideration. Discouragements there are beyond question, but I believe that the work in these two missions is now on a sound basis, that it is in a healthy condition, and that if the home churches will enable the Board to adequately equip it, we may reason· ably expect a great work for God in Siam and Laos. The care of these missions in working out their estimates for native work is worthy of high praise. So rigid is the application of the principle of self· support that there is practically nothing left that can be cut, unless the Board stops itinerating by the missionaries. I was present when the Laos mission considered its estimates for the ensuing year, and I am sure that the executive council and the finance committee of the Board could have been no more sorupulously economical in passing upon requests for new property than were the members of that mission. Self-support in these missions is not merely a theory for the distant future, but a practical working principle for the present.
(To be c01zclttded) . THE BIBLE IN THE MISSIONARY MEETING BY BELLE M. BJ1AIN, SPRINGFIELD, OHIO The greatest of all missionary books is the Bible. Without it there would be no missionary work. The most helpful of all mission- ary libraries is the "little library of sixty-six small books) usually bound together as one great Book, which has been the inspiration of every missionary and missionary worker since the world began."
Too little use is made of the Bible in the missionary meeting. In many societies, where the most elaborate preparation is made for the – remainuer of the program, little or no thought is given to the Scrip- ture lesson. It is true that reading the Bible at the opening of the missionary meeting is an almost universal custom, but too often it is done merely as a matter of form and not with the definite purpose of accomplishing something. The idea seems to prevail that if the Bible is read, no matter how, a holy service has been performed and a blessing is sure to follow. Yet to be effective the Scripture lesson must be oarefuI1y and prayerfully selected, impressively read, and its teachings forcibly applied. Otherwise it will make but little impres- sion and leave scarcely a memory behind.
The writer recalls a missionary meeting where the Scripture lesson, selected hastily at the last moment, was read in so perfunctory a manner that less than half an hour later, when a test was made, not a single person present was able to tell what had been read! It was one of the most striking missionary passages in the Bible, yet it had made no impression whatever.
On another well-remembered occasion a missionary worker of no little prominence was asked to read the Scripture lesson at a mISSIOn-
THE BIBLE IN THE MISSIONARY MEETING
ary conference. The passage selected was obscure, with seemingly no bearing whatever on the cause of missions. As he made no comment and drew no pal'allels, his hearers are still !n ignorance of the lessons he intended to convey. Selecting inappropriate passages is, unfortunately, not an uncommon failing. The writer recently heard of a leader of a children's mission band who opened her meeting by reading an entire chapter from the book of Lamentations ~ At still another meeting, the leader, who, by the way, was the pastor of the church, contented himself by having the congregation turn to the back of the hymn-book and read a short psalm not specially missionary in character. 'rhis practise is becoming so prevalent, and is such a poor makeshift for a Scripture lesson, that one could almost wish that the psalms might be omitted from future editions of the hymn-book. Responsive readings and concert readings can be made effective, but it requires special care to make them so.
Instances such as the foregoing, which could probably be duplicated by any one in the habit of attending missionary meetings, go to show the careless and ineffectual way in which the Scriptures are used. The result is a great loss of power.
The Bible in the Devotional Service There are many profitable ways of using the Bible in the devotional service of the missionary meeting. 'rhe wise leader will sometimes use one, sometimes another.* To be effectual the Scripture lesson need not be long. Sometimes a single text, followed by a few pointed remarks, will make a deeper impression than a whole chapter aimlessly read. For example: "Carest thon not that we perish?" (Mark iv: 38). These words of the disciples to the Master on the Sea of Galilee may well be taken as the cry of the forty million 1.1Oathen who die every year in foreign lands. Forty million will die during the ensuing year. 'rhey are passing away at the rate of olle hundred thousand a day. Every tick of the watch sounds the death-knell of a heathen soul. With every breath we draw four souls pass away never having heard of Christ. "Carest thon not that they perish?"
Uniting two texts somewhat similar in thought sometimes impresses a stronger lessoll than using either alone. For example: "I must be about my Father's business" (Luke ii:49). "The King's business requireth haste" (I. Samuel xxi: 8).
• Every missionary worker should have a "Missionary Bible," such as that described by William D. Murray, in the Sunday-School Times of January 15,1898. In it he has gathered four different kinds of material: 1. Antographs of missionaries and missionary workers. 2. Charts giving facts and statistics. 3 Sayings of great missionaries. 4. Striking missionary texts. "This Bible has been nearly ten years in growing," says lIlr. Murray. "Its first use· fulness might be QalIed personal. It has increased my interest in missions, it has made my prayers definite1 it has made me more efficient as a worker in the mission cause. Another use has been public. I have fonnd here mate"ial for missionary talks, and the things which hav" helped me have been where I could pass them on to others. "-13. ::11. B.
Also, "Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it" (John ii:5). " See that ye refuse not Him that speaketh " (Hebrew xii: 25).
Selecting a " golden text" from the Scripture lesson for the day and placing special emphasis upon it is an excellent plan. Such passage~ as the following are adapted to this purpose: The Feeding of the Five Thousand (Matthew xiv: 15-21). Golden Text: "Give ye them to eat" (v. 16).
The Story of the Lepers at the Siege of Samaria (II. Kings vii:3-16). Golden Text: " We do not well; this day is a day of good tidings and we hold our peace' (v. 9).
Our Lord's Inheritance (Psalm ii). Golden Text: "Ask of Me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for a possession" (v. 8).
Whenever possible it is well to make the Scripture lesson appropriate to the topic for the day. For a meeting on the mountain people of the South, read the parable of the lost sheep (Matthew xviii: ] 1-13), impressing the thought that missionaries to these people have literally gone to the mountains to "seek that which has gone astray." For a meeting on the Chinese and Japanese in America, use the story of Philip and the Ethiopean eunuch (Acts viii: 26-39)-the story of a "home missionary work for a foreign missionary subject." Like the eunuch, many a converted Ohinese or Japanese has gone "on his way rejoicing" and carried the Gospel to his countrymen in a distant land. For a Christmas meeting, read "The First Christmas Gifts" (Matthew ii: l-11), and call attention to the significant fact that the first offerings to the Lord Jesus were brought by Gentile worshipers.
Making slight changes in familiar texts, adapting them to presentday conditions, is another excellent plan. Texts showing the worldembracing character of Christ's mission can be made most effective by changing them to suit the attitude of various classes toward the cause of missions. Irreverent tho it may sound, John Smith, who does not believe in missions, either home or foreign, and has no concern for any soul save his own, reads th us: "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to savc John Smith." The member of the First Presbyterian Church who believes in working within the limits of his own church walls bu t nowhere else, reads thus: "The field is the First Presbyterian Church." The resident of New York City who believes in city missions, but does nothing toward saving his nation or the world, reads thus: "The Father sent the Son to be the Savior of New York City." The citizen of the United States who believes in llOme missions but not in foreign, reads thus: "God so loved the United States that He gave His only begotten Son." Only those who believe in world-wide
mISSIOns read thus: "This is the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin of the WORLD."
Following the Scripture lesson with a few terse questions is an excellent way of concentrating thought upon it and bringing out its teachings. The following questions on I. Corinthians xvi: 2 have been suggested: 1. How often are we to give? (Upon the first day of the week.) 2. Who are to be givers? (Everyone of you.) 3. What method should be used in giving? (Let everyone of you lay by him in store-i.e., set apart a certain portion.) 4. What is to be the measure of Christian liberality? (As God hath prospered. ) It is sometimes a good plan to call upon the society to give the Scripture lesson. Either with or without previous notice, let the leader ask those present to name some of th8 things given to God by prominent Bible characters (Isaiah gave himself, Hannah gave Samuel, the widow gave her mite, the little lad his "five loaves and two small fishes," Dorcas her needle, etc.). This is a most helpful lesson. For another meeting those present may be asked to repeat some of the promises to which Judson referred when he said: « '1'he prospect is as bright as the promises of God."
A very effective lesson, contrasting the idols of the heathen with the Jehovah God of the Christian, may be given as follows: R~ad Isaiah xl: 9-31, describing the majesty and power of God, and give special emphasis to the words, « Behold your God I" (v. 9). Then, holding up an idol, say, U Behold the heathen's god r" and read Psalm cxv: 4-8.
Studying the Bible as a Missionary Book In addition to reading the Scriptures during the devotional service, it would be well for every missionary organization to devote some time to the systematic study of the Bible as a missionary book. Because so few have done this, the average Christian has no clear conception of the place of missions in the plan of God.
Many, even among missionary workers, are so ignorant of the Scriptural foundations on which missionary operations rest, and of the great promises and prophecies by which the ultimate triumph of world-wide missions is assured, that their faith is shaken by every temporary wind of adversity that seems to threaten the missionary cause. Such events as the Boxer outbreak or the capture of Miss Stone fill them with apprehension concerning the final outcome of the work.
Half an hour, or even a quarter of an hour, devoted to a systematic study of the Bible at the monthly missionary meetings, not as a part of the devotional service, but as a regular number on the pro-
gram, would do much to correct all this. The result would be a band of strong and reliable workers, able to give a reason for the hope that is in them, and standing strong in the faith that the day will come when the kingdoms of the earth shall have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.
Two series of lessons, each containing twelve studies, are here recommended for the use of societies or individuals willing to take up such work. The first was suggested by a study of the opening chapters of Smith's" Short History of Missions" and Barnes' " Two Thousand Years of Missions Before Carey." The second is taken from Beach's admirable little text-book, "New Testament Studies in Missions."
I.-The Genesis of Missions J. The Missionary Covenant: "In thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blest" (Genesis xxii: 18). 2. The Missional'y Messages of the Prophets. 3. Missions in the Hebrew Hymn-book. 4. The Messiah Missionary. 5. Missionary Key-notes of the First Christian Hymns: The Bene- dictus (Luke i : 68–79); the Annunciation to the Shepherds (Luke ii : 10-12); and the Nunc Dimittis (Luke Ii : 29-32).
6. The Great Commission (Matthew xxviii: 18-20; Mark xvi: 15; Luke xxiv: 46-49; John xxi: 21,22; Acts i : 8).
7. The Birthday of Christian Missions (Acts ii: 1-41: "Fifteen nations heard the Gospel, and a missionary force of three thousand was created in a day").
8. The Divine Program of Missions (Acts i: 8). 9. "Beginning at Jerusalem "-the City Mission Period (Acts ii : 42-viii : 1). 10. "In all Judea and in Samaria "-the Home Mission Period (Acts viii: 12). 11. "Unto the uttermost parts of the earth "-the Foreign Misi5ion Period (Acts xiii: 28). 12. Missionary Le~sons from the Epistles.
n.-New Testament Studies in Missions PART I.-MISSIONS IN THE LIGHT OF THE ClOSPELS 1. Parallels between the life and work of Jesus and those of modern missionarIes.
2. Gospel teachings concerning the Gentile nations. 3. Messengers to the world. 4. Missionary fru.itfulness. 5. Hardness and opposition in missionary service. 6. The personal call to missionary work.
PART n.-ST. PAUL AND THE GENTILE WORLD 7. The development of Paul the missionary. 8. Condition of the Gentile world in St. Paul's time.
THE BIBLE IN THE IIHSSIONARY MEETING
9. St. Paul's missionary aims and methods. 10. St. Paul as a missionary teacher. 11. Difficulties encountered by St. Paul in prosecuting his work. 12. "Vhat St. Paul and his associates accomplished toward the evangelization of the Gentile world iq their own generation.
Stories of Special Texts Tho not always distinctively missionary ill character, texts and Scripture passages associated with great missionaries or connected with important events in missionary history can be used with profit in the missionary meeting.
Ezekiel xxxvii: 9, 10, containing the words, "Come from the four winds, 0 breath, and breathe upon these slain that they may live," is notable as the text of the first sermon preached in the native tongue on the American continent. The preacher was John Eliot; the date, October 28, 1G4G. By a strange coincidence the name of the chief in whose wigwam the sermon was preached was Waban, the Indian word signifying" breath" or "wind." This made a deep impression on the red men, and was regarded as a good omen by them.
Isaiah liv: 2, 3 was the text of Carey's famous sermon preached at Nottingham, May 31, 1792, which resulted in the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society, and ushered in the remarkable period known as the missionary century. 'rhe two divisions of this sermon- (I) "Expect great things from God," (2) "Attempt great things for God "-have become famous mottoes of the Church. Another text associated with Carey is Psalm xlvi: 10. On the Lord's day following the disastrous fire at Serampore, which destroyed property valued at nearly $50,000, including his valuable Sanscrit and other translations, he preached on the words, "Be still, and know that I am God," and set before his hearers two thoughts: (1) "God has a sovereign right to dispose of us as he pleases," (2) "We ought to acquiesce in all that God does with us and to us."
II. Kings xiii: 21-" As they were burying a man, behold, they spied a band of men; and they cast the man into the sepulchre of Elisha; and when the man was let down and touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood u pOll his feet"- was the peculiar text chosen by Gordon Lathrop for his powerful discourse delivered at an anniversary of the Church Missionary Society, held in 'Vestminster Abbey, three weeks after the funeral of Livingstone. The great audience, seated over the spot where the great missionary bad been so recently laid to rest, was intensely moved when the speaker exclaimed: "Let the whole Church touch his bones and rise to a new victory for God."
Genesis i: 1 and John iii: 16 are the texts that won Joseph Hardy Neesima to the Christian faith. The first, found in an abridged copy of a Chinese Bible in the library of a friend in Japan, revealed to him
God as the Creator of the universe. The second, slowly spelled out in an English Testament, while working his passage to America on board the Wild Rover, revealed to him God as the Savior of mankind.
I. Corinthians i: 26-29 was wondrously used of God as a means of leading Dr. Clough, the hero of Ongole, to a right decision of a most perplexing question. There was a flourishing school at Ongole, attended by over sixty high-caste boys, the entire cost being borne by their fathers. All went well until three low-caste men presented themselves for baptism. The missionary received them gladly, but the Brahmins declared that if he had any more to do with them they would withdraw their support from the school. It was a gr:1ve situation, and Dr. and Mrs. Clough retired to separate rooms to lay the matter before God. By a curious coincidence each had the same experience. After prayer each took up a Bible, and, opening it at random, was directed to the words found in 1. Corinthians i: 26-29. Next morning Dr. Clough announced his decision to receive low-caste converts, whereupon everybody left the school and the Brahmins became bitterly hostile. But God honored the work done according to His plan, and ere long great ingatherings began that are almost without a parallel in missionary history.
Psalm lxii: 5-8 has a most pathetic interest 'on account of its use by Allen Gardiner, the hero-martyr of South America. While attempting to carry the Bread of Life to the heathen of 'rena del Fuego, Gardiner starved to death with six heroic companions. When the bodies of the "deathless seven" were discovered a hand was found painted on the rocks, and beneath it "Psalm lxii: 5-8." The choice of these words, under such circumstances, shows how strong and unshaken was the faith of this martyr band.
Luke vi: 30 was once a cause of great perplexity to Henry Richards, the famous Baptist missionary on the Kongo. It was his custom to translate a few verses from Luke's Gospel every day and expound them to his dusky hearers. These people were notorious beggars and asked for everything they saw. When he came to the text, "Give to every man that asketh of thee," he did not know what to do with it. His first thought was to omit it; his second, to say that it was not to be followed literally; but neither satisfied his conscience. After two weeks of prayerful consideration, he decided to give out the verse just as it was written and take the consequences. After that, no matter what the people asked for he freely gave it to them. They were deeply impressed by this, and at length not only stopped asking but brought back much of what they had taken away. Ere long the great awakening began, known in missionary history as the "Pentecost on the Kongo."
1. Samuel xxx: 24-" As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so shall his part be that tarrieth by the stuff: they shall part alike "-is
THE BIBLE IN THK MISSIONARY MEETING
called Hannington's text, because he used it so frequently in sermons and addresses.
Jeremiah xlv: 5-" Seekest thou great things for thyself? Seek them not, saith the Lord "-was Henry Martyn's favorite text-a most significant one in view of the fact that he was a brilliant scholar, winning the highest honors during his college course, and so full of worldly ambition that he chose the law as a profession rather than the ministry, "chiefly because he could not consent to be poor for Christ's sake."
Psalms exxi (the Travelers' Psalm) and cxxxvare known as Livingstone's psalms, because they are the ones he selected to read on that memorable morning in November, 18400, when he bade farewell to father and mother, and the old Scotch home at Blantyre, and sailed away to his distant field.
Of all texts connected with missionary history, none seems more inappropriate than Genesis xlv: 24-" See that ye fall not out by the way"-which, together with Isaiah xli: 10, was inscribed on a brass plate presented by two ladies to the pioneer band of twenty-five missionaries who sailed for the South Seas on board the Du.ffin August, 1796. It recalls Marie Corelli's startling dedication of "The Master Christian": "To CHURCHES QUARRELING IN THE NAME OF CHRIST," and should remind us that missionaries are, after all, only human, and are exposed to the same temptations as Christians who stay at home.
Matthew xx: 28 has been a source of comfort to countless missionaries in the field, but to none more so than to James Gilmour at the beginning of his lonely work among the nomad Mongals. "Companions I can scarcely hope to meet," he says, "and the feeling of being alone comes over me till I think of Christ and His blessed promise, ' Lo, I am with you alway, even to the end of the world.' No one who does not go away, leaving all and being alone, can feel the force of this promise; and when I feel my heart threatening to go down, I betake myself to this companionship, and, thank God, I have felt the blessedness of this promise rushing over me repeatedly when I have knelt down and spoken to Jeslls as a present companion, from whom I was sure to find sympathy." * • For the stories of other texts see" Modern Heroes of the Mission Field," pp. 69, 131-133, 171,209; "Irene Petrie," pp. 60,61,63; "Modern Apostles of Missionary Byways," pp. 11, 15, 35, 36, 50; "Pilkington of Uganda," p. 98; "Islands of the Pacific," pp. 2.'8, 259; "New Acts of the Apostles," pp. 126,231; Thompson's "Moravian Missions," pp. 34, 183,198, 109; "Mosaics From India," pp. 82, 83; HLife of James Chalnlersl l1 p.136; Thompson's H Foreign Missions," pp. 373, 374 ; THE MISSIONARY REVIEW, February, 1888, p. 106; July, 1893, p. 5O-~; February, 1896, p. 83; February, 1902, p. 94; February, 1903, p. 148.
THE YOUNG MISSIONARY [At the last session of the International Missionary Union, June, 1902, a new feature was inaugurated-that of organizing classes for conference of new appointees to the mission fields of the world with veteran missionaries and specialists. Quite a class of outgoing missionaries, under appointment for the first time to China, India, Japan, Africa, and other foreign fields, testified at the conclusion of the week to the valuable information alid practical hints received at these interviews.
It was determined to continue this means of aiding young missionaries who might attend the session June 3-9, 1903. The officers and Board representatives in their annual meeting, January, 1903, took action com'fnending this feature of the program for the Twentieth Annual Meeting of the InternationallIiEsionary Union, and proposing, as far as practicable, to facilitate the attendance of theil' missionaries, newly under appointment, at Clifton Springs, N. Y., in June.
Some of the Boards now call their new appointees to their headquarters for special conference concerning their denominational methods of administration on the field, and the peculiarities of their business requirements in the home office, as well as specialties in the evangelistic and educational work abroad. This has been found very valuable. The work of the Union in no sense substitutes this. It is designed only to cover practical hints, through addressf's and conversation with the hundred or more missionaries present from all fields and of all societies.
It is proposed mainly to cover the period from the acceptance of the new missionary by any Board to the end of the first yea)' on the field. The scope of the interviews of the week may be inferred from the synopsis submitted to the committee having the conduct of them. Dr. W. E. Witter, Dr. Dobbins, Dr. C. C. Thayer, Rev. H. A. Crane, Dr. J. L. Humphrey, and others had charge of the conference of 1902. They are maturing a propel' schedule for 1903. The suggestions which are appended from Dr. Dobbins will show with what thoroughness the committee Bopes to prepare for the reception of the new appointees who may find it practicable to attend. All missionaries under appointment will be gratuitously entertaineil during the week. They shouIa confer with their Boards, and with Rev. Dr. C. C. Thayer, Clifton Springs, N. Y., at the earlist practicable date.]-J. T. GRACEY.
The Young Missionary: A Synopsis of Practical Counsels from Veterans BY HEV. FRANK S. DOBBINS, PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Introductory. The importance of the missionary's first year to his happiness and usefulness. The missionary temperament necessarilya very decided one, and climatic conditions intellsify individuality. Ten times the lleed for especial consideration of these points as against the need of a home worker in conditions more or less familiar, and with a favorable climate, etc. Yet never has anyone given especial attention to the matter, until it was first taken up at the International Missionary Union at Clifton Springs last year.
1. Getting ready to go. Going about, speaking of his call: How shall he do it with modesty and yet with effectiveness? Shall he take a wife? Shall he postpone marriage? Shall he begin language study at home? Is there aught he can do to create a deeper interest in missions? His outfit and equipment: Shall he spend all his outfit mon8Y here, or shall he buy things on the field? What shall he get? What does he need for the voyage-clothing, trunks, etc.? How much cash and how carry it-to Asia, north? to Asia, tropical? to Africa ( 2. Tile vO.lfage Old. The etiquette of traveling. Abou t speaking 011 religion to fellow travelers. Anything to be done for seasickness, or shall he let it all alone? His example one of unselfish consideration for otherR. He ceases to be a hero the moment he sets foot on board ship and becomes-well, a Jonah, one of a class frequently despised by Eastern residents. Prepare for douches of cold water, of criticism and contempt. Patience for it all. About tips and customs duties. Don't be extravagant and yet don't be mean, the happy mean. His first meeting with his new fellow workers; impressions of that first moment.
3. What is of first importance during lite first year? Language study and health. Language study: how go about it? Native teachers. Shall he devote himself wholly to vernacular, to the spoken language, or shall he mix up with it a study of the ,book language, usually different? How study: from books or from the people, or a judicious mixture of both? Shall he take in "coolie talk" or the language of the top-lofty? Go slowly; great danger of mistakes at first-e.g., Dr. Knox's sermon on carrots, when he meant to preach on mankind, its needs, its guilt, salvation for men, etc.; by a little mistake always put in word for" carrots" instead of the word for mankind-" Carrots need salvation," etc. Be modest in using language.
4. Health considerations. Of prime importance during the first year. Western hustle filling Eastern graveyards; look out 1 Health habits of tropics vastly different from those of the West. What points to guard especially: Eating, sleeping, exercising, general restraint in energy of work, etc. A missionary physician's theme; ad vice on health. Most breakdowns come in the first year. Why? What are the commonest complaints? Are all climatic? Can any be guarded against?
5. Relations of the young missionary to natives and to foreign residents not missionaries. Shall he talk up or down to one and all, or shall he talk on a level with all? How shall he speak of religions? Denounee them, abuse them, or apologize for them? Shall he disregard their customs, or shall he fall in with them? Shall he (this is very important) abide by their standards in his treatment of women, or shall he do just exactly as he would in America? Another important matter. In matters that are simple questions of expediency, shall he emphasize the discrimination, or shall he yield to the Oriental ideal? Is he, are we, called upon to Westernize or to Christianize? The missionary and his servants and the native Christian workers, the missionary and the guileful native, with smile childlike and bland. TIle missionary bargaining with Orientals. Social relations with non-missionary foreigners, the sympathetic and the antipathetic, etc.
6. His relation with felloUJ UJorkers. The missionary, like all pioneers of an earnest temperament, and, further, used to Western "hustle," is sure to find things going too slowly; sure to see, as he thinks, improvements in methods, such as he is familiar with at home. The young missionary and the older missionary both men of strong personality, and climate intensifies every idiosyncracy. Look out, trouble ahead! How guard against it? Shall the young missionary write home to his Board, criticising his fellow workers during his first
year? Shall the young missionary propose innovations in his first year? Has he such a thing as sophomoric conceit, and can he hold it in check? Speech is silvern, but silence is golden. How may he best befriend Ilis fellow workers and win their love? How can he be a .
genuine helper to them? With everybody overbusy, himself enduring the trial of becoming acclimated, where can he get patience but from the God of all patience?
7. Intellectual work the first year. Importance of rightly di viding this work: so much for language study; so much for Biblical study; so much for general study; so much for recording for publication impressions; so much for study of native customs. Usual complaint, and well founded: '" So busy," "Too busy." Some things must be given up. Which?
8. Some study of rn£ssions. Of missionary biography; of missionary successes and failures; of missionary methods in other countries than that on which he works. This to keep him from getting into well-worn ruts.
9. His relation to the home churches. Should he make time to write occasional letters to the missionary magazine? to certain churches? to givers of money especi,ally designated for his work? The value of this in stimulating interest in his station and in distributing a yet wider knowledge of missions. And how shall he write? Brevity? prolixity? Why missionaries' letters are sometimes not published. Just what do the home churches need to hear? Missionary photographs: value of pictures for pUblication and for lantern slide services. How help home authorities to pass on appeals for reinforcements, for more native evangelists that originate with the missionaries.
10. The study of non-Ohristian religious from books-which are the best on each of the great religions ?-and from the actual condition of things in and about the temples, the homes. Beauties in the books seldom show in the actual heathenism, in practises, in worship, in religion as related to social usages. Value of his knowing of the faiths he hopes to displace. How shall he treat temples, idols?
Not as bla.sphemers of the gods, nor robbers of temples, etc. No iconoclastic ways. 11. His spiritu(fl life. This of importance above everything, because this really dominates everything. Need of hours of devotion and of family prayers. Occasional" retreats," their places. Bible reading, devotional books, private prayer. A fountain to be constantly drawn upon, needs incessant refilling.
12. The missionar:¥ tr,1/in.q Ms 'prentice hand. When shall he preach his first sermon? Shall he learn John iii: 16 l1;nd go repeating that in, the various languages with which he has to deal, and then add to that? How far shall he tie himself down with school-work in his first year? How go about face-to-face work? His first venture out in the country, in jungle work, etc., points to be noted.
13. Specl:al counsel for medical missionaries; for teaching missionaries; for those who expect to make translation the main work of their lives; for those who go, say, to Africa, where no artisans are to be found to build their homes, etc.; for women missionaries. In general: Should all missionaries learn a little about medicine? Should a missionary take a family medicine-chest? Should he use patent medicines with natives?
BETTER THAN A THOUSAND NEW MISSIONARIES
BETTER THAN A THOUSAND NEW MISSIONARIES* MISSIONARY METHODS IN CHINA-OLD AND NEW BY REV. TIMOTHY RICHARD, D.D., LITT.D., SHANGHAI It is not a mere dream that God has a ladder from earth to heaven. Every rung is there. provided by a loving Father, but He expects us to climb up. Every discovery of the right use of the forces of nature is a climb of one rung upward, while lack of discovery and invention may wear out the rung on which we stand and make us in peril of a great fall.
China, like the West, had discovered agriculture in primitive times. It had discovered weapons of defense and attack, had discovered the art of writing, the value of organization into clans and nations, discovered the value of laws and principles of righteousness and benevolence. In a word, it had climbed high above the savage condition of the South Seas, of Central Africa, and of many castes of India, and attained to a wonder- fully high state of civilization. But it made the fatal mistake of think- ing that its sages knew everything and that there was nothing more t,o learn. On that rung it has stood proudly for the last few hundred years, till the rung at last gave way, and there have been the great fall3 of 1842, 1860, 1884, 1895, and 1900, or about one in every ten years.
This year, however, we have witnessed a great change. Who can estimate the immense significance of the change? In eleven out of the eighteen provinces we have records of the opening of colleges for the study of Western subjects. We find Japanese text-books on Western civilization translated by the score into the Chinese language, and circulated by the tens of thousands throughout the empire.
The reform of religion by the rise of Buddhism in India and its spread throughout all the Far East was an event of very great magnitude. The adoption of Christianity by Europe, America, and Australia was also an event of very great magnitude. .But the practical reform in_ education in China during the last year, ifperseveredin, isof still greater magnitude, for it will not only act on 400,000,000 Chinese, but will react on India, Europe, and America, and it starts with a far greater momentum than any of these other movements. Some 150,000 students who came as candidates for the Chinese M.A. degree this year were expected to answer questions about the history of Greece and Rome, all.d the civilization of the West generally. Add to this nearly ten times that number who are candidates for the B.A. degree, and we have an intellectual army of 1,500,000, with their faces turned westward. This is unprecedented. and its results are difficult to exaggerate.
This is the new China that opens before us. It was not brought about by the missionaries alone, altho they live in every province of the empire, and have their literature distributed in every town, and altho they have advanced far beyond the Chinese in the interpretation of nature. Nor has the change been brought about by foreign merchants alone, tho the imported articles are sought after by Chinese merchants from all parts of the empire as superior to anything China can prod~ce. Nor has the change been brought about by foreign statesmen alone, altho China has been deeply humiliated every time it has tried to put down • A paper read before the Shanghai Missionary Association, November 4, 1902. Condensed from The Ohinese Recorder.
foreigners by mere force. Nor has the change been brought about by Ohinese rulers alone, altho they have, in many respects, more autocratic power than any rulers in the world.
The change has been brought about by all these various forces uniting in insisting that without change China would be utterly ruined, and that with change China might again become one of the greatest powers in the world. Stubbornly and long did she believe that she had nothing to learn from the Western barbarian, but under God's providence the com- bined influence of war, commerce, and the Christian religion, was too much for her, and that is why we witness the great change of 1902' and the beginning of new China.
We might with profit review some of the methods adopted from the beginning in order to know when a change is necessary. We shall confine ourselves to missionary methods only.
1. The first thing was to understand the people, for unless we properly diagnosed Ohina's disease there was no hope of applying the right remedy. To do the work thoroughly we must know the language pretty thoroughly. The result was the preparation of dictionaries. Then there were graduated lessons prepared for learning Chinese in many dialects.
2. After the language the next important step in the diagnosis of the Chinese was to know and understand their religions. To help in this difficult task we have the standard translations of the Chinese classics, with learned dissertations on the relative value of the religions in China as compared with Christianity.
3. The third step was to have personal interviews with the religious leaders in Ohina and try the effect of Christian truth on them. This has not been carried out so systematically as the other methods, for the leaders would not dare to reoeive foreign visitors freely, fearing reproof from their authorities.
4.' Not having free access to leaders-whether mandarins, gentry, leading Buddhists, leading Taoists, or leading Mohammedans-the missionaries opened chapels in the main streets, in the hope of catching the attention of some passers-by. But anti-Christian leagues were formed to fine and boycott all who entered a Ohristian chapel. The consequence was that only strangers and men who had no character to lose came at first to the chapels and churches.
5. To break through the wall of prejudice, medical missions were started to deal with disease which no class in China could keep out, so as to prove to all, by kind deeds, that our work was really beneficial and not harmful to China.
6. At the same time journeys were made by the missionaries through the country villages, in the hope that the country people would be less prejudiced after free intercourse. This proved to be the case, and the majority of the converts so far have been from among the simple country folk.
7. Many, however, thought that the nation could never be converted as a whole by occasional sermons to the sick or to occasional strangers passing through our chapels, or by gaining over the country-folk; therefore an attempt was made to open schools, so as to train leaders. But no students came. The pupils had to be paid to come. Board and lodging, clothing and teaching, were given for nothing for twenty or thirty years! It is only now that the Chinese are willing to pay for Western learning.
8. But the Christian Church in the West could not dream of starting
BETTER THAN A THOUSAND NEW MISSIONARIES
schools throughout the whole empire, theref()re it occurred to a few that ilie preparation of high-class literature for distribution among the leaders throughout China might create an awakening among the Chinese themselves. Men might read books quietly in their homes without compromising themselves before the public, and these books were followed up by personal interviews.
9. Contemporaneously with these methods there has been carried on philanthropic work in famine relief, opium relief, and other helps to the poor and suffering.
These nine methods have not been in vain if it be asked: What produced the one and a half million converts, Roman Catholic and Protestant? What produced the Reform movement which shook the throne, causing a palace revolution because the emperor was on the side of Christianity and Reform, which again brought on the Boxer movement which shook the whole world? Undoubtedly these methods of the Christian Church, by the testimony of Chinese and foreigners, friends and foes alike, were among the greatest factors in the land.
New China. New Difficulties. New Methods Having dealt with old China and how old methods succeeded,' we httve now new China and new difficulties, and must consider some methods that are likely in turn to overcome these. Merchants and statesmen are devising new methods every day. Shall we be the onfy class to lie on our oars? God forbid I There are some essentials under- lying all adequate successful methods. For example: 1. A better understanding of the laws of God in regard to life and suffering than that possessed by the world at large. We need not dis- cuss eternal punishment as something for the individual in the future, but we know that perpetual punishment is the condition of the ignorant in every race and age in this world. Chinamen will continue to be beasts of burden till they learn that electricity can do the work better. The despairing will continue to suffer till he learns that ., all things work together for good to them who love God." Even the leading nations will continue to bear intolerable burdens of military despotism and to suffer the fear of invasion by neighbor or anarchist, till they learn and follow the juster laws of the kingdom of heaven. We also must be careful not to miss these laws. '
2. A better organization so that we may utilize our forces to best advantage. Consider the problem before us-how to influence and guide the mind of four hundred millions. Many are asking for more mission- aries, and making comparisons with the number of ministers at home to every million of population. According to that, there should be one missionary for everyone thousand of the population, or four hundred thousand missionaries for all China! Mission Boards have never dreamed of such a thing. They aim at sending only an adequate number, not of pastors over native churches, but of missionaries who will train natives to be ministers of the churches in China.
What, then, is the adequate number of missionaries necessary for this task? The Chinese government itself-has divided the whole empire into some one thousand five hundred counties, over each of which there is the district magistrate, the true unit of Chinese government.
Generally speaking every ten counties have a prefect superintending those district magistrates. Everyone hundred counties make a provinc~ pre-
sided over by a governor and his assistants. Then over all the provinces is the central government at Peking. By this means we arrive at the highly interesting and important fact that the Chinese government rules not only every county, but every viIIage and family, in the eItlpire by about two thousand civil mandarins! These considerations enable us to have some idea as to what number of missionaries is necessary for the guidance of the whole empiae. It is organization that we need far more than mere numbers.
3. Now a word about the qualifications of those who guide the empire. The Chinese principle for a millennium has been to appoint only the best ilcholars to the post of governing the people. Hence, being the picked of millions, they have raised China to the point of preeminence over all nations in the Far East. If we are to bring about the best result in Christian missions, we are to endeavor to choose the best qualified men from our universities, with post-graduate training in missionary principles, for the posts of ambassadors of the kingdom of God.
4. Last of all comes the all-important work of cooperation in organization. The Chinese government does not appoint two magistrates for one co-unty, or two prefects for one prefecture, or two governors for one province. Such a thing would be like trying to keep order by tolerating a rebellion. The same applies to missions. No Episcopal Church appoints two bishops over the same district. No Presbyterian, Congregational, or Baptist Church appoints two medical institutions, or two sets of schools, or two sets of evangelists in the same field, for they would regard that as preposterous. Now that God has bestowed His blessing on Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, Congregational, and Baptist, almost in equal proportion, are we not denying that real unity which God has sealed with His blessing if we do not agree to organize work as one body? Let us divide the field without overlapping, and divide our departments without overlapping, then we may naturally expect tenfold efficiency and economy in our work, and the blessing of God to be poured out in tenfold measure. If we are truly more loyal to Christ than to our respective denominations, we should never forget that our unity is the greatest proof of our divinity. Our upnecessary divisions are a proof that we are too much of the earth earthy, and if we could rid ourselves of this, then instead of having converts by the thousands, we would have them by the tens of thousands.
This shows the need of the scientific study of the laws of mission success, and the need of a new kind of statistics never drawn up in the reports of missions before, viz., a quantitative table of statistics of the leading methods known in the world with their results, instead of following opinion-often blind-as must be the rule withol'!t these statistics. This 'careful stUdy would revolutionize our mission meth<>ds, and make them advance in efficiency over the old ones with the same astonishing rapidity as we witness in so many other departments of modern activity.
I can Dnly briefly state some of the methods which seem necessary: 1. Not merely prayer for the Holy Spirit, but also a mastery of the laws which God has fixed for the obtaining of it and for getting answers to prayers. 2. Not merely elementary education, but also the highest education, for primary and secondary education will then take care of themselves. 3. Not merely extension of the Press, but al-so the circulation of the cream of the literature in the world.
BETTER THAN A THOUSAND NEW MISSIONARIES
4. Not merely mastery of the best modern Christian books, but also mastery of the latest books on comparative religion and their influence on the progress of the human race.
5. Not merely evangelization of any of the lower classes, but also the evangelization and organization of the leaders of every class; the rest will follow like sheep. The conversion of one leader is often potentially the conversion of a thousand followers as well.
6. Not merely friendly conferences and united meetings with all Christian denominations, but also a genuine recognition of the fact that God gives His Spirit to all without partiality, and therefore a determin- ation to divide the field and divide the work without overlapping, and to have far more cooperation than at present exists.
7. Not merely fresh org-anizatiun on a basis of a real unity of the Christian Ohurch, but also on parallel lines with that of the Chinese government-i.e.; our chief centers where their chief centers are, and our ecclesiastical divisions the same as theirs-county for county, prefect for prefect, and province for province. Above all, there should be fuU understanding and cooperation with Ohinese authorities and gentry.
8. Not merely study of the value and welfare of the soul in its relation to God, but also the study of the part man should take in political economy and social problems generally.
9. Not merely knowledge of how to influence men individually, but also how to guide them collectively-a science which all leaders of men must learn, or fail.
10. Not merely intense activity and unwearied labor, but also the knowledge of the chief springs of action in individuals and in nations. Some knowledge must precede every conversion, some renaissance before every reform. 'rhe·measure of harvest reaped is in proportion to the seed properly sown, otherwise it may be wasted.
11. Not merely effort to get the best text-books studied in China, but also translated and studied in all lands; then the next gem~ration will be friendly, because swayed by the same universal and best ideas which man has discovered and God has revealed.
12. Not merely prayer that the kingdom of God may come and His will be done on e.arth as it is done in heaven, but also an active part in the federation of the world to the infinite good of aU, on a friendly instead of a military basis, and the preparation of China for that step.
Hince Japan, which is only one-tenth the area and has only onetenth the population of Ohina could, in forty years, make wonderful strides, adopting the reforms which took us a thousand years in the 'Vest to discover and adopt, how much more will China astonish the world when once its intellectual army of a million and a-half of students are set ablaze with enthusiasm for the new learning, including the power of an endless life? Whatever methods we adopt in China must be undertaken quickly, lest the Chinese at this crisis lose their way and harm themselves and the whole world.
Judging from the analogy of the value of the application of natural laws to the progress of the world during the last century, we may reasonably estimate that if the laws of missions referred to above were practically carried out, it would be of greater value than if a thousand missionaries were added to our number!
THE RELIGIOUS OUTLOOK IN ITALY* BY REV. J. GORDON GRAY, D.D., ROME, ITALY It is marvelous what the young and capable King of Italy has been able to accomplish within two short years in the way of bringing new zeal and energy into the various departments of public service. He has already fulfilled the high estimate which Queen Victoria, at her last jubilee, formed of him when she declared him to be the crown prince of all others that was best prepared for his high position. In giving this new impulse, the king and his ministers have been greatly helped by the steady improvement in the financial position of the country. Very soon it ought to be in the power of the government to reduce the burden of taxation, and make the lot of the laboring classes less hard than it has been. One of the greatest obstacles to the progress of evangelical work in the country will thereby be removed. The grinding poverty of the mass of the Italian peasantry has prevented them from attending to anything else than the getting of their daily bread for themselves and children. The reports of the colporteurs from the various provinces bear evidence to the absolute poverty of many, so that even one halfpenny for a portion of Scripture would mean so much less bread for the family. The marvel in such circumstances is that the Bible societies have been able again to report the sale during the past year of upward of 100,000 copies of Scripture in whole or in parts. "Vith improved conditions for the people generally we may reasonably expect a considerable addition to our sales, as well as a more enlarged support of Christian worship in connection with the evangelical churches. The improvement in this respect, no doubt, will be slow, but it is surely coming~ One of the most notable events in connection with Gospel work in Italy that we have ever had to record has had its origin in the past few months within the Vatican itself. A society has been constituted for the express purpose of "diffusing the holy gospels," and has taken the name of " St. Jerome." A new translation of the Gospels with the Acts has been prepared by this society. There have been printed one hundred thousand copies of this new edition of the Scriptures from the Vatican press. 'I'hese are advertised for sale in some one hundred and fifty centers, for the most part connected with the various dioceses of the Church of Rome in Italy, at twopence each unbound and fourpence each bound. The society's funds have been manifestly drawn upon, and that to a considerable extent, to produce these volumes at so cheap a rate. The footnotes are meant chiefly to explain obscure allusions, tho here and there they are made to teach Roman Catholic doctrine, but to a far less extent than is the case of the old Martini Version. The Preface is in many respects the most remarkable feature in it. The writer refers in an altogether new spirit to the work that has been done by others in the same line. After affirming that the object of the Society of St. Jerome is to make these gospels truly a book for ths people, he says that it is "necessary to distinguish this from an analogous propaganda, which for a long time our separated Protestant brethren are carrying out with great activity." It is a new thing for us to be called" brethren," even separated and Protestant, by those whom the writer of this Preface represents. It is even more remarkable to have our activity in this • Condensed from A Voice/rom Italy.
THE RELIGIOUS OUTLOOK IN ITALY
respect commended. We welcome this new attitude, and most cordially do we acknowledge the important service to which this Society of St. Jerome has set itself. There is, however, one affirmation of the editor to which I must take exception, that "we substitute the Gospel for the Church, inviting its readers to draw froUl it directly and exclusively the dogmas of their faith and the rules for their lives." Only in the minds of those who place the Church before the Gospel can there appear to be on our part a substitution. Our principle is really no other than the oh~ apostolic one, which was well known in the early Church of Rome: "Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. " We can not but regard the formation of this society and the publication of this new edition of the gospels as the greatest tribute to the work of the Bible societies carried on these many years at no little sacrifice and amid many discouragem en ts.
Another fact of prime importance and of recent date that has brought joy to all the workers in the Gospel in Italy is the institution of an Evangelical Council in Italy, which became an accomplished fact in June last. All the churches (Italian Evangelical), with one exception, were represented. The absence of the representatives of the "Ohiesa Evangelica Italiana" was explained by the fact that four of its leading members were at the time engaged in foreign deputation work and could not be present. There were also representatives of the Bible Soci- eties, of the Claudian Press, of the Young Men's Christian Association, and the Sunday-school Union. The proposed articles of constitution were discussed in the most brotherly spirit, and the six churches, along with those others named, form the Evangelical Council of Italy. The churches are the Waldensian, the Wesleyan, the Italian-English Baptist Mission, the Italian Evangelical, the Methodist Episcopal, and the Italian-Alllerican Baptist Mission. The president of the committee of each of these churches, year by year in turn, is to be the president of the council. The dedsions must be supported by two-thirds of the members of the council present. The committee of the council is composed ex officio et de Jure of the representative presidents of the various churches or missions, and is charged with the execution of the council's decisions, its convoking, and the preparation of its order of business.
At a later stage in the proceedings this committee had highly important functions assigned to it, as the using of its influence so that, except for purely .conscientious reasons, the passing of workers from one denomination to another should take place as rarely as possible; that it should become the counsellor and defender of the rights of each individual worker in the field of evangelization as well as of the workers of the churches collectively, associating with itself for this purpose advocates and others, who can give practical assistance; that it prepare a popular confession of faith; and that it provide a common hymn-book, embracing one hundred of the best-known hymns. With the view of making this committee as effective as possible, there is a recommendation to the churches that every serious divergence should be submitted to this committee, that it may use its good offices to settle the dispute.
In regard to the division of the field of labor, there was the further recommendation to the committee to study the question of the possible concentration of the work already existing, and take cognizance of the initiation of new centers of work with the view of economizing labor and avoiding contention. It was no wonder that Dr. Prochet, who was in
the chair, took occasion after such It decision to express his peculiar gratification for a result which for thirty long years he had earnestly desired. Even the diversity of names inscribed over the entrances to the churches was not allowed to pass without a distinct deliverance on the subject. The proposal to deal with it came from one of the younger ministers of the council, to the effect that one common name should be , inscribed on all-" The Evangelidal Christian Church "-and it was afproved by a large majority. Tho it was wisely put in the form of an expressed desire, the vote was significant in showing that there was a decided opinion in its favor. From first to last the members of the coun· cil gave evidence that there can be a unity in diversity more precious hy far than a dead or mechanical uniformity. The results thus far obtained have done much to disprove the oft-repeated assertion that the evan- gelical churches of Italy are hopelessly divided. If the Evangelical Council only continues as it has begun, there will soon be a virtually united Evangelical Church of Italy, cooperating in all good work, and removing the one great stumbling-block out of the path of many Italians, who are seeking oneness of faith on an evangelical basis.
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS IN BURMA * BY REV. T. ELLIS, M.A., RANGOON For more than two centuries missionary work ~n the Burmese coun- try was confined to Roman Catholic agencies, and it was not until 1807 that other Christian bodies sought to enter this sphere of labor. In that year two Baptist missionaries, Marsden and Chatel', arrived from Seram- pore and began work in Lower Burma. These pioneers were joined in the following year by the son of the celebrated Indian missionary, Dr. Carey, who in 1813 moved on into Upper Burma, to A va, at that time the capital of the Burmese Empire. Two American Baptist missionaries, Judson and Price, had recently arrived from India; and to them was handed over the work begun in Lower Burma. Other missionaries of their society were sent to help them, and the mission grew and prospered, but not without opp'osition. Missionaries in those days were at the mercy of a despotic monarch, and of capricious governors and fubordinate officials, and had to deal with a fickle people, vain, supremely selfconceited, and contemptuous of all foreigners-Kalahs, as they called them. This national arrogance led the Burmans to defy with insult even the Brit ish government, and brought about the war of 1824. For the first time in its history, the Burmese Empire met with a check to its pride and ambition, and learned thut the Lord of the White Elephant and of the Golden Umbrella, the King of Kings, seated on the Golden Throne at A va, was not, as he was accustomed to believe himself to be, the supreme ruler of the universe.
When the war began, twc of the missionaries, Hough and 'Vade, were seized and kept in confinement until released by the British on the capture of Rangoon. Judson and Price, too, who were at Ava, were imprisoned, and suffered cruel hardships during the three years which intervened before the conclusion of peace, in the negotiations for which these missionaries were made use of by the Burmese as intermediaries.
Under the treaty the British obtained possession of the coast prov- * Condensed from The Christinn Pntriot, India.
CHRISTIAN MISSIONS IN BURMA
inces of Arakan and Tenasserim, and thus opened up to mIssiOnary work a new field of labor free from those special difficulties which attach to work in countries under non-Christian rule. In 1825, while the war was still in progress, mission work was started in Tenasserim, at Tavoy, by Mr. Boardman, the first Baptist missionary to the Karens, and in 1831 a mission station was opened in the Arakan province, at Kyaukpyn, by Mr. vVade. Two or three years later the missionaries in Burmese territory, which was then in a state of anarchy, transferred their school to Moulmein (the capital of Tenasserim), Akyab, and Sandoway (in the Arakan province).
The second Burmese war (1852–53), prDvoked by renewed insolence on . the part of the Burmese toward the Indian government, resulted in the annexation of the province of Pegu (that is, of the whole of the remain- ing pOt·tion of Lower Burma), and mission work again became possible in these parts. Rangoon was reoccupied, and stations were opened at Bassein, the chief town and post in the west of the new province, and at Toungoo in the north. The last-named town became, and is still, the headquarters of missionary work among the Karens. From it the moun- tain ranges, the Eastern and Western Y omas, on which these people live, are easily accessible.
It is the Karen mission, begun, as we have seen, at Tavoy, among the tribes of the southern (Tennasserim) hill ranges, in 1825, that has met with greatest success. Mr. Boardman was succeeded by Dr. Mason, who afterward moved to Toungoo, and so rapid was the spread of the Gospel among these people that Dr. Mason lived to see Christianity established as practically the national religion of the Karens of British Burma. Of these Christian Karens a majority belong to the Baptist missions. The Karens were spirit-worshipers, not Buddhists, and were but rude hill- men, but, thanks to their Christian teachers who brought to them the Word of God and taught them to read it and to rule their lives according to its precepts, they are now a civilized and a progressive people, advanced in IIltwy respects even beyond their Burmese neighbors, who were once their masters and who used to despise them as barbarians.
Dr. Mason, besides being a man of great missionary zeal and ability, was also a scholar of repute, and in him and Dr. Adoniram Judson, the translator of the Burmese Bible, the Baptist mission in Burma have had two men of whom they may justly be proud. Perhaps not less to Mrs. Mason than to her husband was due, under God, the success of their work among the Karens. This lady died at Rangoon only four or five years ago, and maintained to the last a close connection with her beloved Karens, among whom she was known far and wide as their" mama."
The work among the Burmese has not met with the same wonderful success as that among the Karens, but has neverthele~s shown satisfactory results and steady progress. Mission stations are frequent in all parts of the country. There are important educational institutions in connection with the mission in all the chief towns of both Lower and Upper Burma, and smaller schools in very many of the smaller towns and villages. The number of Baptist Christians in Lower Burma alone was at the census of 1891 nearly eighty thousand, giving an average of about ene hundred and fifty to every ten thousand of the total population.* * A very interesting story of the awakening of the Karen nation is fonnd in Dr. Bunker's new volume, "800 Thah." (Revell.)
EDITORIALS Bishop Hartzell on African Mission. important claims in the home fields, and the comparative failure of the Bishop Hartzell, of the M. E. large and heroic plans of that apos- Church in Africa, has made six tolic evangel, WilliaIll Taylor, have episcopal tours, organizing confer- all combined to discount Africa and its black races as a mission ences, fixing on mission centers, field in the thought and practical adjusting working relations with plans of the Church.
local governments, studying tribal But all this is rapidly changing. peculiarities and habits, developing The watchword "Africa is waitself-supporting work among white ing" has largely lost its signifipopulations, etc. The results are cance. The whole continent is encouraging. For example, at In- astir. With the coming of peace hambane, East Africa, five years in South Africa and the increase of ago, there was one Methodist mis- white population, the growth of sionary and one native mission sta- cities and wealth will be great, and tion with six members; now a con- the native population will increase ference of 19 members and workers, more rapidly than ever. The 8,000 miles of railroads in South Africa, and over 300 communicants; prop- along the Nile, and stretching into erty worth $100,000, besides 13,000 the interior from several points on acres of land; a growing native both coasts, will in a few years meet and form a continental syschurch and school, a busy printing- tem of vast proportions. Schools press, efficiently worked, industrial for the study of tropical diseases in England and on the Continent are station at old Umtali academy, doing much to reduce the dangers etc. Three mission presses have incident to missionary life. been set up, the most important one at Monrovia, Liberia, etc. An Example of Individualism Bishop Hartzell is an enthusiast Oncken was a servant, book- seller, and tract distributor. With about African missions. He accounts this the golden hour of op- six others he organized a church in portunity in South and East Africa. He says: "We have a territory of a shoe shop. He went forth visit- 300,000 square miles; workers offer, ing every part of Germany, scatterand it is simply a question of ?noney. The people themselves are ing Bibles and tracts and gathering calling for schools and teachers, and will themselves build houses converts into churches. In t'weTLtyfor churches, schools, and workers." five years this was the result of his work: 65 churches and 750 stations, One paragraph we add in his own words: from 8,000 to 10,000 members, 120 Ignorance as to the continent and ministers and Bible readers, Bibles its peoples; prejudice against the negro; the fifty years of experience and scattered tracts by the million, in Liberia by which our oldest foreign mission had come to be re- and 50,000,000 had heard the Gospel. garded as a forlorn hope by most of the bishops and other leaders Give us 250 such men as Oncken, and the masses of our people; the and in a quarter of a century Civil War and problems relating to we can not only organize 16,000 the freedom which shut Africa and its millions out of American chur'ches with 2,500,000 members, thought for a generation; the suc- but· may preach the Gospel to cess of missions in other foreign fields, and their growing needs every soul on earth. which success brings; the vast and The Resignation of Eugene Stock The resignation of Eugene Stock, Esq., Editorial Secretary of the Church Missionary Society, is an event of significance. He has for many years been, perhaps, the most
1903r EDITORIALS
conspicuous figure in the mission- she needs anything else, and that ary secretaryship of the world. He until she is truly converted to still retains office as a secretary, Christianity she can never take her but the departmental responsibil- place among the nations to which ity passes to other shoulders. she is entitled." While a man yet lives it is fulsome to say much in his praise; but it is The time is coming, and coming safe and proper to write of Mr. fast, when the Chinese, like the Stock that no man has ever filled Japanese, will realize that they can his responsible position with more be better citizens and better sons tact, prudence, and common sense, and better subjects and better united with more of true depend- neighbors by becoming Christians; ence on God, and more earnest zeal they will learn that they need leave for the mission cause. We hope nothing but ignorance and sin in the cause may yet be able to utilize following Him who came to save his counsels in many a crisis and the world. Missionaries are more forward movement. and more placing the emphasis on the essentials (heart-transforma- The Adaptability of Christianity tion), and leaving the lesser mat- ters to take care of themsel veH. One of the evidences of the Di- Christ in the heart will purify the vine origin of the Christian relig- life, but will not necessarily change ion is its adaptability to all races the harmless national customs. .. and classes of mankind. It is suited to the needs of rich and poor, high Comparative Religion and lowly, learned and ignorant, Eskimo and Hottentot, Britain and Conan Doyle, ir. one of his books, Hindu, American and Chinese. It introduces a character as having demands only what all can give if peculiar wisdom and enlightenthey will, and promises to lift all ment. He instructs the young hero its true followers to the level of the that while Christianity is the most children of God. eminent exemplification of religion, especially from the emphasis it lays Some missionaries have perhaps upon Love, yet all religions are submade the mistake of trying to force stantially the same, as all alike ap- Occidental civilization on Orientals prehend the existence of God and in the name of Christianity, and to His wisdom and goodness. clothe Africans in "broadcloth and patent leathers." But this is excep- There is nothing of necessity tional, and the sooner it is under- common to different religions, stood the better. Mr. Francis H. except that they are all an Nichols, an American traveler, has answer, more or less determinate, recently written an article in the to the question: What is the rela- Atlantic Monthly, claiming that tion of the Seen to the Unseen? the Chinese all over the empire have a deep-seated hatred of Chris- For instance, Hinduism answers: tianity. This is true of some, be- "The Seen is but an illusive and cause they link Christianity with transitory shadow of the Unseen. foreigners, and deem Chinese Chris- God is endlessly striving to create, tians unpatriotic and unfilial. Mr. endlessly failing, and endlessly Nichols wrongly holds that for a sinking back into a dreamless Chinese to become a follower of sleep." Christ he must be denationalized. He rightly believes that China Buddhism answers: "Seen and "needs the Gospel far more than Unseen alike are a hopeless illusion and fruitless effort, and the only hope for the weariness of being is extinction."
Mohammedanism recognizes God ers, Salvationists and evangelists, orphan houses and asylums, young as personal, but refuses to ascribe men's and young women's Chris- tian associations, but there are to Him any attribute except abso- organizations working among policemen, postal telegraph clerks, lute Will. To trace out His wisdom newsboys, bootblacks, hansome drivers, railroad men; servantand goodness in tlle creation is lit- maids, butlers, hotel porters, the drunkards, the fallen women, tle short of blasphemy, for it ob- theater actors, etc., in countless profusion. And yet the great mass serves the fundamental doctrine of all this misery and poverty au'd practical paganism is unreached that He is absolutely incongruous and untouched. What shall we say of the inadequacy of 15,OOOmiswith Nature. Therefore, even the sionaries to meet the wants and woes of 1,500,000,000 P fine scientific Arab mind was finally crushed under the weight of Mohammedan orthodoxy. God is called compassionate, but only be- cause He forbears to destroy the creation. Salvation and damna- tion are with Him equally arbi- trary, and salvation is a mere exal- tation of earthly sensuality. Char- acter is hardly even recognized in Islam. Wingate Mission. London.
The old Greek and Teutonic re- A new building is proposed in the West End of London, to be known ligions have but a slight and occa- as "The Wingate-McCheyne Mis- sion House." It is in memory of sional reference to morality or to Rev. William Wingate, who died on Christmas Eve, 1899. He was the Divine excellence. one of the most successful and win- ning of all the missionaries among Zoroastrianism alone apprehend- the Jews. He was born in Glasgow in 1808. and was associated for a ed God as the patron of Truthfulness time with Robert W odrow, whose prayers for the Jews were so reand Productive Activity. Other markably answered in the mission established at Buda Pesth, in convirtues are hardly recognized. Yet nection with the visit of McCheyne, Dr. Keith, Dr. Black, and Andrew even this approach to the truth in- Benar. Mr. Wingate himself went to Buda Pesth when he became colclined the Jews and Persians to league of Robert Smith. The Sa- phirs, father and son, were among mutual friendliness. the first fruits of this mission. Among Mr. Wingate's converts A Jew and Christian, therefore, was Edersheim, whose contribu- tions to Christian literature are so however well inclined, can not important and valuable. He found Christ in 1843. recognize the Gentile religions as even imperfect exemplifications of his eon. The many bright flashes of instinctive moral and religious truth which they ('ontain are much to be prized, but they themselves are false. t London City Missions DONATIONS RECEIVED In the City of London there are No. 252. Kongo Balolo Mission ………$30.00 said to. be more workers engaged No. 254. Famine Children in India….. 5.00 in some capacity in the evangeliza- No. 255. Zulu Industrial Mission……. 7.00 tion of these millions than the No. 256. Ramabai Mission………….. 1.00 whole force sent by Christians into the field abroad-over 15,000. This is a great center for Christian work, which ramifies into every department. Not only are there city missionaries and open-air preach-
J BOOKH }<'01{ THE MISSIONARY LIBRARY
BOOKS FOR THE MISSIONARY LIBRARY THE BATTLE WITH THE SLUM. By Jacob A. tact with John Williams, the Riis. Illustrated. 8vo, 464 pp. $2.00. The 1I1acmillan Co. 1903. lamented Gordons, Rev. John In- No one who has read" The Mak- glis, Dr. John G. Paton, and to get ing of an American" will fail to a clear conception of mission work read this companion volume, which on these islands as it is, with no is also a sequel to" How the Other false romance or deceptive halo, Half Lives." Mr. RUs has enlarged will find in these pages an excellent and revised IUs" Ten Years ,Var," guide. A missionary meeting may so as to make a practically new be thrilled by the reading of pages book. It is thrilling, it is fascinat, 49-56-the graphic account of the ing, it is stimulating. The battle death of that Polynesian apostle. was hot and the victory was worth This book has perhaps one faultwinning. There are still many that of entering too much into more such battles to be fought and minute details; yet from some won, but the task will be easier be- points of view this is its main excause of what Mr. Riis and his col- cellence.
leagues have accomplished. He has By ORnER OF THE PROPHET. A Tale of Utah. By Alfred H. Henry. 12mo, 402 pp. $1.50. succeeded in giving the dwellers in Fleming II. Revell Co., New York. 1902.
the tenements of the slum:> a better This is a most excellent and read- abl~ work of fiction founded upon chance for life and morality. He fact, with the manifold absurdi- ties, falsehoods, abominations, and is as fearless in his exposition of wofnl results of Mormonism sup- plying the impressive mora! of the the greed of landlords and the cor- story. Carissa Graham, of a choice English family, left an orphan of ruption of politicians as he is sym- a somewhat wilful make, falls in with and presently also falls in love pathetic in his advocacy of better with Eton Brand, a fervid young Mormon elder then sojouring in homes for the poor, more parks, and the neighborhood in eager quest of better school accommodations for the children. The battle against the slums is a battle against the devil and his agents, aud the victory won is a victory for the Kingdom of God. * ERROMANGA, THE ThfARTYR ISLE. By Rev. H. A. converts. She,accepts his new" gos- Robertson. Illustrated. 12mo, 467 pp. pel," runs away, and is married, but $1.50. A. U. Armstrong & Son, New York. later repents of her folly, for the Hodder & Stoughton, London. 1903.
This is a record of nearly thirty lives of both are filled with tragedy years of devoted work and persever- and wretchedness. This book is . ance amid great obstacles and trials, not strictly anattack upon Mormon- in a small and remote field, where ism, but is a mere candid setting the martyrdom of John Williams forth of its fundamental principles and other noble missionaries has and tenets, and of the fruits they made the very soil sacred. After all bear in lives by the ten thousand.
the repeated accounts of Villiams' Peculiar interest attaches to the heroic death, we have read this three months' trip of ox-teams from with livelier interest than ever, and the Missouri to Salt Lake, and to regard it as the most satisfactory the frequent use made of familiar we have seen. One who wishes to names of persons and places. The have an idea of the Erromangans, story will prove both a fascinating their daily life, industries, habits piece of fiction and an excellent eye- and customs and religion, who de- opener to those who have come to sires to be brought into close con- look upon Mormonism as maligned
and harmless, and have known to Theological Institutions; one to only its milder teachings. *** Conferences; one double' column INDIA'S PROBLEM. By W. B. Stover. Breth- to Leper Asylums; eight double- ren Publishing House, Elgin, Ill. 1903. column pages to Native Christian This is a timely and forceful put- and Mission Industries. Orders ting of facts and suggestions up to may be sent direct by postal union date about India. It is vivid, pic- (5 cents per half-ounce) and remit- turesque, and pungent, illustrated tances by money order to Rev. Dr.
with good pictures which illustrate. J. Husband, Rajputana Mission It is a capital book for most people Press, Ajmer, India. Three copies who are eager for fresh informa- will be mailed to America, post- tion. There is not a dull page in paid, for one dollar. Weare thus it. Even those things which many exceptionally specific, because mis- people already know have a fresh sionary societies should all possess setting. Altogether it is unique. it for reference. ** The author, after six years in India, YOUNG PEOPLE AND MISSIONS. Report of the Conference Held in New York, December, knows his ground. ** 1901. Pamphlet. 175 pp. 15 cents. For- eign Missions Library, New York. THE LAND OF THE CONCH-SHELL. By Augusta M. Blanford. Illustrated. 12mo, 83pp. This report is full of suggestions 18. Marshall Bros., London. for ways and means to interest The Church of England Zenana Missionary Society has issued many young people in missions. It will of these popular little books descriptive of life and work in mis- be very valuable to missionary sion lands. Travancore, "The Land of the Conch-Shell," is one committees in Sunday-schools' and of the star fields of the Church of England and may well be distin- young people's societies. guished by a volume descriptive of its history, people, and missions. NEW BOOKS Two other volumes of about the INDIA'S PROBLEM: KRISHNA OR CHRIST. By same size have just been issued J. P. Jones, D.D. Illustrated. 12mo, 325 under the auspices of the society, pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell Co. 1903. and both have to do with India. " Nevertheless Afterward" is a AN INDIAN PRINCESS: CHUNDRA LELA. By story by Rosa Alison, founded on Ada Lee Illustrated. 18.6d. Morgan & facts and" Rajammal's Faith," is Scott, London. 1903. a story of South Indian life by Caroline G. Milne. THE SHINING LAND (CEYLON). By E. S. Kar- ney and W. S. Malden. Illustrated. 12mo,. PROTESTANT MISSIONARY DIRECTORY OF IN- 96 pp. 18. Church of England Z. M. S., DIA FOR 190'~. Compiled by John Hus- London. 1903. band, F.R.C.S.E., C.I.E., Ajmer, Rajpu- tana, India. A JOURNE' TO LHASA AND CENTRAL TIBET. By Sarat Chundra Dao. Edited oy W. W. It is a great labor to compile such Rockhin: 2d edition. 8vo, 285 pp. $3.50, a handbook as this: the name of net. E. P. Dutton, New York. 1903. every missionary in India, society, date of entering the field, also every Two HEROES OF CATHAY. By Luella Mtuer. missionary society from whatever Illustrated. 12mo, 23& pp. $1.00, net. country, and a great deal of inci- Fleming H. Revell Co. 1903. dental valuable information. Five pages are given to the directory of LIGHT OF THE MORNING (FUHKIEN) By Mary Ladies'Societies; two to Y. M. C.A. E. Darley. Illustrated. 8vo, 251 pp. 28. and Student Volunteers; three 6d. Church of England Z. 11. S. 1902. to Bible and Tract Societies; three MISSION METHODS IN MANCHURIA. By John, Ross, D.D. Maps and illustrations. 38. 6d. Oliphant, Anderson,. and Ferrier. London. Fleming H. Reyell, N. Y. 19m.
SEA-GIRT YEZO. By John Batchelor, D.D. Il- lustrated. 8vo, 120 pp. 28. 6d. C. M. Society, London. 1903.
SPAIN AND HER PEOPLE. By Jer. Zimmer· man. Illustrated. 8vo, 350 pp. $2.00, net. G. W. Jacobs & Co., Philadelphia. 1903.
LEAVENING OF THE NATION. By J. B. Clark, D.D. 12mo, 362 pp. $125. Baker & Tay- lor Co., New York. 1903.
BIRTH OF BEREA COLLEGE. By J. A. R. Rog- ers. 12mo, 174 pp. Henry T. Coates, Philadelphia. 1903.
TWR'KTIE'TH CENTURY NEGRO LITERATURE.
Essays by 1l() Negroes. Edited by D. W. Culp, MD. Illustrated. 472 pp. J. L. Nichols, Napier, Illinois. 1003.
1903J GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE AMERICA aim is to destroy the saloon rather An Easter At their recent Con- than to save the drunkard. To Week of Prayer ference the foreign this end it seeks especially to se- for Missions missionary secreta- ries present, repre- cure local option all the land over, senting at least a dozen of the lead- so that each community, be it ing denominations of the country, under the conviction that the first township, suburb, or city ward, week in January is so generally given up to the inauguration of can vote directly as to whether evangelistic services to further the Kingdom at home ~hat the needs of saloons shall exist. Its latest trithe wide world are then well-nigh forgotten, decided to suggest to umph was gained in Tennessee in a the churches to observe a Week of Prayer for the conversion of the law which prohibits saloons in all world during the days just preceding Easter, being this year April cities with a population of less 5-12. How fitting and timely such an observance wauli' be! than 5,000.
Immigration For five years the The " Cost " of The H art for d , Our Great Perij influx of the for- Gospel VB. Law Oonn., Young Men's eign-born has been steadily and rapidly increasing, Ohristian Associawhile the average intellectual and moral quality of the immigrants tion has been criticized as an exhas as steadily and rapidly diminished, .as these figures abun- pensive institution, and in meeting dantly prove: In 1898 only 229,299 came in from foreign parts, a ma- the criticism, the general secretary, jority heing from Britain, Germany, and Scandinavia. But last Noel H. Jacks, has made this comyear of the 648,743 who landed on our shores, 180,000 were Italians, parison, which is stining up much 170,000 were Hungarians and their like from Austria, and 107,000 were interest and discussion in Hartford: from Russia, or a total of 457,000 from the three countries, as against Mr. Jacks found that the average only 128,000 from Western and age of the inmates of the Massa- Northern Protestant Europe. chusetts State Reformatory at Con- cord is the same as that of the The Potent Scarcely any men- members of the Y. M. C. A. at Hartford, and the value of the re- Anti-Saloon tion has even been formatory buildings is $1,000,000, and of the Hartford Association, League made of this organ- $250,000. The capacity of the two institutions is similal'. Last year ization in these the average number of young men in the reformatory was 939. The pages; and yet, tho having been in number of men and boys who are members of the Hartford Associaexistence less than two decades, it tion is 900, but nndoubtedly four times as many men come under the has come to the front rank among influence of the organization. The reformatory employs 65 officers forces which make for temperance. and 30 teachel's at an expense 8f $106,000. The Hartford Associa- The name defines the policy. Its tion employs 10 people with an ag- gregate salary of $8,600. The entire budget of the reformatory is $216,- 000, and that of the Hartford Asso- ciation is $17,500. Mr. Jacks fur- ther says that in the reformatory the inmates give nothing, while the members of the Hartford Associa- tion pay towards its budget over $5,000. He claims that the pur- poses of these two institutions are almost identical; that both are in- tended to improve the character of boys and young men; that the re- formatory treats the disease and
the Y. M. C. A. guards against its donian Phalanx, which means that attacks.-Advance. everyone of them is giving not less than $20 toward the support of The Chicago The Chicago asso- a mission worker of some kind. Y. M. C. A. ciation conducts Most of them give over $20 annu- ally. Ninety societies give $25 each. work at 26 points, Sixty-one give $30. Sixty-two including 5 general departments, 5 give $50. Sixteen give $75. Twentyrailroad departments, and 16 col- five give $100. Nine give $125. lege, or students' branches in pro- Eight give $150. Five give $200. fessional technical schools, and the Four give $250. Three give $300. University of Chicago. It has a One gives $500, one $600, one $693, paid membership of 8,829, showing one $1,230. a gain of 318 in the last year. It has held 2,063 meetings, attended How Some These great sums by 76,000 people. In the educa- Churches Give were bestowed last tional department there are 1.733 night and 288 day students. The year by 4 wealthy association has 5 gymnasiums, with churches in New York City: St. a total attendance of 98,287. Its Bartholomew gave $322,920, of natatoriums were attended during which $288,640 was devoted to misthe year by 263,000 persons. It has sions at home and abroad, and only secured boarding-houses for 1,425, $34,280 for the benefit of the church and business employment for 1,128 itself. St. Thomas gave $181,595, young men in the last twelve of which $140,410 went for the months. It has 1,055 junior mem- benefit of others and $H,185 of bers between twelve and sixteen themselves. Brick Presbyterian, years of,age. The railroad depart- $138,642, divided as above into ments have sleeping-rooms for 355 $109,175 and $29,467. Church of the men, and furnish 780 meals daily. Incarnation, $123,710, $87,718, and The association has raised during $35,992. The splendid total is $666,- the year from membership fees and 867, divided thus: $140,924 for self; subscriptions, $198,000. The gross but $525,943, or more than threevalue of its property is $1,746,000, fourths, for benevolence. and its net value $1,060,000.
How Some Some samples of StoodStill The American and Grew Board holds to the Endeavorers the way Endeavor- policy of raising up Give ers give to foreign a native agency for the develop- ment of its work, and since 1892 has missions will show not planned to increase materially its force of American missionaries. that their mission studies bear Accordingly, the number of such missionaries, which during the last fruit. The society of the Chinese decade has averaged 546, now stands at 549. But during this Congregational Church, San Fran- period the native agency has been increased by 981, or from 2,600 in cisco, of which Rev. Jee Gam is 1892 to 3,581 in 1902. The number of churches has grown from 434 to pastor, gave last year more than 524; the communicants have gained in number by 15,000; and the pupils $1,516, with but 40 present mem- under instruction in all grades of schools have grown in number by bers. The Madison A venue Re- formed Endeavorers, New York, gave $880, an average of $13.54 for each member. The Reformed En- deavorers of Zeeland, Mich., gave $1,172, or an average of $16.75 a 'member. These are some of the "star" givers, but there are 543 societies now enrolled in the Mace-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
13,634. The point has now been ganizations and individuals supreached where the development porting special missionaries would, from within the missions has forced I am sure, testify to their satisfacthem to call both for enlarged ap- tion with the plan. propriations and reenforcements of men and women. Soon the veter- How the The Cent?'ul Presans, tho with great reluctance, " Living Link " byterian testifies as wiIllay down their work. Old age can not be halted in its approach, Succeeds in follows:" The Foreven by the claims of a church at the South ward Movement home that enough laborers have been sent to meet the needs.- for Foreign Mis- Missionary Hera!d. sions in the Southern Presbyterian Church, in which 3 of our young Dr. Devins to Another Christian men have been engaged, Messrs. Preston, Stuart, and Moffett, has Tour in the editor and friend of been eminently successful. The churches visited are asked to under- Orient missions is to make take the support of individual mis- sionaries, or, by a plan of shares a tour of some of commended by the Nashville Committee, are given to some the Asiatic mission fields. Rev. specific station or work. During the six months ending December John B. Devins, D.D., the editor of 1st, 89 churches have entered the Forward Movement, promIsmg the New York Observer, leaves in hereafter a total of at least $38,038 per year, an average of $1.80 from May to visit Japan, Korea, China, each member. This is an aggre- gate gain of $23,785 over the the Philippines, India, Burma, amount contributed to foreign missions by these churches last Syria, and Turkey. We have ar- year."
ranged with him for a series of ar- The Station The "Station Plan" " Living-Link" aims to bring inditicles as a result of his independent viduals in the home observations in the mission fields. land into direct communication with a particular field without des- We bespeak for him everywhere a ignating separate missionaries to individual churches. It is proposed cordial welcome and hearty cooper- to form, in single churches or groups of churches, those who will ation on the part of the mission- support a mission station. Thi.s plan has been successfully operated aries. His tour is in the interest of for several years in some churches, notably the Presbyterian and Conthe Kingdom of God. gregationalist, and has several ad- vantages over the individual mis- The " Living R. E. Speer, of sionary "living-link." A church becomes familiar with a field, and Link " in the Presbyterian even if the missionaries die or re- sign the interest is not apt to die Missions B a a I'd , was re- out. There is also the same personal interest without such danger of cently asked how favoritism.
this method of raising money was working, and replied as follows: Of the 800 and more foreign missionaries of our Board, seveneighths are specially supported by individuals, by churches, by societies, alone or in groups. vVe could not escape this method if we tried to do so, and we do not care to do so. The demand for it on the part of givers at home is so strong that if it could not be gratified through our own Church, it would seek gratification elsewhere. The system is not without its drawbacks; but no system would be, and the counterbalancing a d van tag e s greatly preponderate; the great majority of churches and other 01'-
Deserved Honor The Spirit of Mis- where he was employed, that he might give the Dther half to the to sions for February study of the Bible and prayer. Having earned enough to do so, he Bishop Hare tells of the recent went into the mountains to devote all his time to Bible study and celebration in Phil- prayer, and so fit himself for Chris- tian work. And when I heard his adelphia of the completion of his testimony, I put it down on a pal' with John "Vesley's ' Christian thirty years' service as Missionary Perfection,' a book he had never ·seen, but the truth of which he had Bishop of Niobrara, with the Indian gloriously experienced. That spirit has spread throughout the comtribes as his especial charge. Of pany of Japanese workers. They go to the incoming steamers to meet his work it is said: "It is easy to their fellow countrymen, take them to boarding-houses, and there say that of the 25,000 Indians now win them to Christ. They even sent one of their companions to living in South Dakota, nearly Honolulu, a graduate of the uni- versity, an educated Japanese." 10,000 are baptized members of the Church, but these figures do not be- gin to convey an adequate idea of the wide gulf between the Sioux of 1873 and the Sioux of 1903. When Bishop Hare went to them they knew practically nothing of the Christian Gospel. To all intents and purposes they were as utterly heathen as people in Central Africa, and they were smarting under the sense of grievous wrongs inflicted How About Rev. H. A. Bridg- by white men, whom they natu- Cooperation in man, writing of rally assumed represented the Porto Rico? "Missions in Porto Christian community. 'I'o-day, as Rico," first suggests each Sunday rolls by, these Chris- and then inquires: tian Indians gather in 90 congrega- Above all, Porto Rico should fur- nish a shining illustmtion of hartions, scattered over the Dakota mony and cooperation between different Christian bodies. Three prairies, to unite in Christian wor- years ago, when work was begin- ning there, we heard a good deal ship by the use of the prayer-book about conferences between the dif- ferent Boards in New York, and of service translated into their own an allotment of different sections of the island to different denominatongue, and under the leadership tions. How are the compacts then made being fulfilled? What deof priests, deacons, catechists, and gree of fellowship and cooperation is there to-day between the 13 memhelpers selected from their own bers of our American Missionary Association mission, the 21 Presbyrace. Bishop Hare has confirmed terian, the 10 Baptists, the 5 Epis- copalins, and between all of these more than 6,500 Indians, and there Christian workers and the United States Commissioner of Education are to-day living under his care and his 125 American teachers?
nearly 3,500 communicants."
The Japanese The following is the The The three mining in California emphatic testimony Y.M.C.A. companies on Doug- of Bishop Fowler: "I want to say from a close and in Alaska las Island, Alaska, personal knowledge of the Japanese work, that I do not know anywhere are cooperating in in Methodism such a thoroughgoing, old-fashioned experience and establishing a Young Men's Chriswork as among the Japanese of California. These men go about tian Association with a $6,000 their daily life in a most prayerful manner. One man asked that he building at Treadwell, to be open might serve half time in the family day and night, for their employees.
GENERAL MISSIONARY !NTELLIGENCE
The building was opened on Christ- dogma, and as this dogma can not mas Day, and contains recreation be separated from morality, the rooms, gymnasium, bowling-alleys, law is against morality. Further, baths, smoking-room, and a lecture they affirm that to support the and entertainment hall. W. A. Civil Marriage Law means to deny Reid, formerly general secretary Divinity to Christ, because Voltaire of the association at Kalamazoo, was the author of Civil Marriage, Mich., and for several years engaged and Voltaire denied the Divinity in conducting associations among of Jesus Christ! miners and soldiers in Alaska, rnade a canvass of the Ulen in the At first it was expected that the mines. Eighty per cent. of the em- passage of the law would mean an ployees signed for membership at uprising of the Olerical party and· $1 a month, which it was agreed a new revolution, as the bishops should be taken from their pay by declared in their ·manifestos that the company. Violent opposition they would never recognize the to the establishment of the associa- new law, but would resist unto tion was shown by the saloon and blood if necessary. This means gambling-house keepers, and even that the priests will marry people threats were made on Mr. Reid's without a civil license for it, and as life. such an act makes them liable to a fine and imprisonment, they will Civil Marriage Those who have the rebel against its execution, but in Ecuador interests of the Gos- thus far there has been no dis- pel at heart will turbance.
rejoice to ~earn that a Civil Mar- EUROPE riage Law was adopted by the Growth of Mr. Howard Evans Congress of Ecuador, and duly Non-Conformity has for the sixth signed by the President on October 3, 1902. This means much in a time compiled the land which for generations has statistics of the Evangelical Free been a stronghold of Romanism. Ohurches of England, and finds A heavy blow has been struck that there is an increase of 37,000 against the papal power, and an new members over last year. advance step has been taken in the Sunday-school teachers number interests of public morality. The 388,599, a gain of 5,000. Sundayauthority to grant permission to school scholars are 3,321,539, a gain wed has hitherto been entirely of 45,000. with the Roman Church, and a man too poor to pay the fee de- Free Churches Members manded by the priest could not be married. The result was concu- Wesleyans ……………………. 573,876 binage or worse-a condition very common all over Ecuador. Mar- Congregationalists ……..•.•….• 414,218 riage is now regulated by the laws of the state, and celebrated, with- Baptbts.. " …………………… 357,066 out cost, before civil authorities. Primitive Methodists ………….. 190,149' The Clerical party made a very fierce fight against the measure, Calvinistic Methodists…………. 162,865 and the bishops have united in publishing several manifestos to their United Methodist Free Churches.. 83,590 people against it. They assert that the law is against Roman Oatholic Presbyterians. . .. . . .. . . . … ……. 78,024 Methodist New Connexion. . … •..• 30,305 Bible Christians ………………. 30,145 Society of Friends…… ……….. 17,115 Seven smaller bodies………….. 37,398 Total. ………………….. 1,982,801 From estimates furnished by the local clergy of the Established Church, it has 2,004,493 communi- cants; if this number is correct, then it has only 21,692 more com-
municants than the Free churches. The work is multifarious and un- The Free churches have 3,321,539 remitting in the social circle, the Sunday-school scholars, while the law courts, and legislative quarters. Established church has but 2,851,- Those desiring further information 606; these figures show 469,883 more may address Mr. W. A. Coote, Nascholars for the Free Church tional Vigilance Association Of- Sunday-schools than for those of fices, 319, High Holborn, London, the Established Church. W.C.
The Purity This movement is The Medical This organization Crusade in making progress Missionary was started 25 years England under the auspices Association ago, when English Christians greatly of the National Vigilance Association. The work needed to be aroused to enter the done by the association is varied: open door for this branch of mis- one day tracking the footprints of sionary work. The associat,ion was vice in the highways of a great formed through the instrumentalcity or a country village; the next ity of Dr. Fairlie Clark, Dr. George hunting down a white-slave dealer Saunders, Dr. James Maxwell, Mr. in the streets of Paris or Berlin; James E. Mathieson, and others. now listening to the heart-breaking Its purpose was to promote medicry of a father, whose fair daughter cal missions by awakening interest, has been decoyed into a life of im- helping missionaries, planting mispurity under promise of marriage sions, and publishing a paper, Medor of remunerative employment; ical Missions at Home and Abroad. anon helping a mother who can Affiliated with this organization is not manage her wayward child, the "Children's Medical Missionand fears the worst may happen; ary Society." A missionary trainone hour prohibiting the sale of ing home was opened 4'or medical disgusting books, the next nailing missionary students, and from here up warnings in the ship's cabin to hundreds of men have gone out to young women traveling abroad; various mission fields in all parts one month visiting the capitals of of the world. The association has Europe enlisting the services of been eminently successful in all its emperor and princess, pastor and aims and methods, and has heen consul, in breaking up the clln- greatly used to extend the Kingningly organized traffic in girls- domof God. another pleading the cause of purity in English homes and from Eng- Marked Growth There has been a lish platforms; to-day pacing the lobby of the House of Commons, in Medical wonderful developpressing on the attention of members the amendments to the Crim- Missions ment in our C.M.S. inal Law Amendment Act-tomorrow seizing barrow-loads of medical work durobscene photographs, or receiving parcels of vile literature left in the ing the last six years, and we feel cloak-room, and burning them with joy at the request and expense of that in no small measure the inthe depositor; to-night watching some haunt of deviltry in London- creased interest has been aroused the following holding a midnight mission in Holland. by information disseminated in the pages of our Medical Mission maga- zine. In that first number we printed the names of 37 medical missionaries; in this issue we have got out of the sixties and can print 71. The number of beds, in-pa- tients, and out-patients was then 925, 6,432,. and 419,000, 'as compared
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
with 1,704, 14,550, and 800,000. In possible to carrythe Gospel tothem. February, 1897, we mentioned that £1,744 had been received in the Mr. Archibald FordeI' recently office between April 1 and December 31, whereas now we can record penetrated 750 miles into Arabia, that £6,448 have been received in the eight months ending December and went from tent to tent, and 8th; and while our total income for the financial year 1896-97 was from town to town in those un- £3,700, we hope this year it will be little, if any, less than £25,000 (in- known and mysterious lands, uncluding about £4,000 for the support of medical missionaries which folding the story of Jesus and His previously would have been credited to the general fund).-Mercy and love, speaking and reading to the Truth. people in their own tongue. Tho The Weare glad to no- frequently in danger, and with no Archbishops tice that the Arch- apparent way of escape open to and Medical bishops, in their him, Mr. Forder's faith never wa- Missions letters to the public vered. The mission now being press calling atten- formed, with Jerusalem as its base tion to the Day of Intercession for and headquarters, will reach the foreign missions, ~ made special neglected poor of the Holy Oity mention of medical mission work. and the Bedouin of Northern Ara- They say: "Medical science can be bia, Eastern Palestine, and the used, and is increasingly used, as Sinai Peninsula, and will also keep miracles were once used, to prove in constant touch with the ever- to those to whom we are sent that flowing stream of Arabs who visit we have in our hands a gift of Jerusalem. The Arabs come im- God which may be made a blessing mense distances to sell and buy in to men." We do indeed believe Jerusalem, and they are obliged to that God is abundantly using this stay there a few days, during gift of His to His own glory. It which, very often, they get robbed.
tells of God's love, it attracts peo- -The Christian.
ple from far and near, it impresses Concerning ThE February Bible those who receive it with the fact Dr. R. N. Cust SocietyReporterhas that the man or woman through an article relating whom it is imparted may also have to the life and service of this illus- a message from God on spiritual trious Ohristian man, from which things. The Archbishops go on to these statements are taken: say: .. The time has come for reso- Born in 1821, he has lived through one of the most remarkable periods lute forward action, and as the last of the world's history. In addition to living in history, he has helped ccntnry has been the century of to make it-a distinction that falls to the lot of comparatively few. prepaTation the century now begun He spent six and a half years at ought to be the century of entirely Eaton, and then having the offer of an appointment in the Indian Oivil new devotion."-Mercy and TTuth. Service, pe entered the East India A Bedouin An effort is being Mission made in England to Oollege, HaiIeybury, and in 1843 Proposed establish a mission embarked upon the career in which with the object of he was later to distinguish himself so conspicuously. He tersely dereaching the neglected seed of Ish- scribes his life, when he settled mael. Only lately has it been found down to work in Hoshyarpur: "Peace and quiet, duties of. intense interest; time for my oriental studies; freedom from European bondage; eight hOl,rs daily on horseback; disuse of the English language, alld adoption of that of my people, to conciliate whom was the desire of my heart, and I was
successful; the majority had never binding, weaving, carpentry< etc., seen a white man before, and they in Africa, largely to deliver the na- learned what a gentle yet strong tives from the curse of idleness. rule meant-no bullying, no threat- Both attempts had proved pecuni- ening-'the iron hand in the velvet arily successful, and when united . glove.' Such were the principles of were placed under 6 directors the Lawrence system, by which in chosen by the society. By the last those distant days the Punjab was report, after paying 5 per cent. on ruled, and I had the delightful priv- the capital invested, and various ilege of being one of the earliest donations to the funds for the sup- proficients. I built myself a small port of invalids, widows, and or- house in a beautiful garden. I phans, a net surplus of $57,780 was issued the famous three command- turned over to the Basel Society. ments: A Romanist on How can one read Thou shalt not burn thy widows. Mrs. Gulick's the following with- Tbou shalt not kill thy daughters. Thou shalt not bury alive thy lepers. School out great grief of mind, although it I cut roads where none existed; I hanged murderers and imprisoned relates to the success of Mrs. Gu- thieves ~ I CUltivated friendship lick's International Institute for with the petty chiefs, but made Girls in Madrid, and to raise needed them understand what obedience money for which she is now in this meant." country. Quoth the Sac1'ed Heart Review: For reason of health and family he returned to England in 1867. Funds, of course, will be forth- coming, not because the school is Considering the vast amount of "a regenerating influence among the women of Spain," but because other work Dr. Cust has accom- so many well-to-do members of sec- plished, his literary output is little tarian churches would rather give a thousand dollars to rob a Spanish short of phenomenal, comprising Catholic girl of her faith than fifty 43 separate Volumes and 1,254 arti- cents to convert to decent living cles. A linguist of extraordinary the degenerates, male and female, versatility, he has a practical work- of their own country. The Pilot refers to the eminent men who ing knowledge of 16 different lan- spoke at the meeting as bigots, and guages. No member or'the Bihle says the effect of the institution is "to destroy Christianity" in Spain. Society's editoral committee speaks Religious March 12th bids with more weight on the manifold Toleration in fair to be an im- linguistic problems which come up Russia portant date in the for solution month by month. history of Russia.
The Basel The great value of On that date-the birthday of Industrial industrial missions Alexander IlL-the czar issued a decree providing for freedom of re- Mission and the difficulty ligious belief and worship through- out his dominions. This is a tre- of inaugurating and mendous stride in advance and, if carried out, will be as important as successfully maintaining them are the emancipation of the serfs. It yet remains to be seen how fully both well illustrated in the fifty this decree is observed, and how years' experience of the Basel Mis- much freedom for missionary work will be allowed. We earnestly hope sionary Society which, as a sort of auxiliary (tho in a sense independ- ent), has its Missions Handlungs- . Gesellschaft, formed in 1882 by the union of two somewhat similar bodies: one having operated since 1852 in Mangalore, S. W. India, and the other since 1859 on the Gold Coast, 'Vest Africa. The aim was to supply labor to the converts through a printing plant, book-
GENERAL MISsIONARY INTELLlGENCE
that the door will be opened for full ASIA liberty of conscience and for the progress of the Kingdom of God in Christ Divided Rev. Arthur J. the land of the czar. At any rate it will mean a relaxing of penalties in Brown has recently against Ohristian dissenters like the Stundists. There is also de- Western Asia written that in creed certain reforms in local selfgovernment, and the people are re- Syria and Palestine joicing at the prospect. are resident to-day no less than 710,000 "Christians," so-called..
The Nasairiyeh number 200,000, a semi-savage race; the Armenians, 160,000; the Maronites, 150,000; Orthodox Greeks, 150,000, and the Good Tidings During the I a s t Druses, 100,000. All these are from year we have been bitterly sectarian and overflow Corsica watching the prog- with the "Gospel" of hate. And ress of a work in it is from observing such wretched the village of Aullene, in the south- specimens of its friends that the west of the island of Corsica, with Turk judges Ohristianity.
great encouragement. This vil- lage, situated in the mountains, News from The appealfor Had- Arabia ramaut, which Dr. numbers 1,500 souls, very ignorant, Zwemer voiced in but having a strong element of the October (1902) REVIEW, has al- ready heen respt;mded to by a band piety. Six of the young men of of Danish missionaries who were studying in Bei~ut, preparing to AulUme are studying for the priest- work among Arabs. They have been aroused to go to Makallah and hood, and it was by meeting with begin work .. there. The leader of the band is Rev. Olaf Huger. So one of them in Ajaccio that M. writes Dr."Zwemer, and adds that it is an answer to ·definite prayer Gnendon, of the McAll mission of on the day that the article was sent to the REVIEW. The Arabian Paris, was first brought into con- Mission is now calling for 8 new missionaries to help occupy Kuweit tact with these people. A large and other centers.
number of them became disgusted with the life of the cure, and re- fused to attend church or to give the cure the usual payment in kind of bread, oil, and chestnuts. The influence of M. Guendon's teaching spread, and he was invited to go to Aullene and instruct them more perfectly in the Gospel. He was An Apostolic Well does the Mis- received with the greatest cor- Bishop sionary Record of diality, the mayor and several of the Scottish United the more prominent persons join- Free Church say: ing in the meetings. Notles!' than Deserving of note in our pages is the return of the apostolic veteran, 150 to 200 persons came to his Bishop Stuart, to Persia. His first departure for the mission field was meetings, held twice and thrice a in 1850. Along with three others he was "dismissed" at a valedicweek, while from 50 to 60 children tory meeting held by the ChUl'ch Missionary Society in a parochial attended the school held on Sunday school-room in Islington. He was then sent to India; afterward he and Thursday. labored in New Zealand, where he became Bishop of Waiapu; some The inhabitants earnestly desire ten years ago, desiring to utilize his Oriental attainments, he went to have .a pastor resident among to Persia; and now he returns them, who will care for them, and be to them a true shepherd. We hope that this will be arranged without much delay, in connection with the Societe Oentrale.
thither in his seventy-sixth year. study the sacred books of India, At the recent" dismissal" in Exe- and are not afraid of their influter Hall, as one of a band of 154 ence. But the people of India be- returning missionaries and 56 re- lieve that the study of the Bible cruits, he spoke with a voice and would prove to be dangerous to energy surpassed by none. Hinduism. They have no protest to make against the study of Missionaries' The editor of the Shakespeare, but the press of the country bristles with objections to Salaries Not Baptist Missionary the suggested introduction of the Bible. There are some among the Excessive Review, published people, however, who desire to see the study of our Scriptures under- at Ongole, South taken. One paper has the courage to say, "The Bible, if made the India, writing in the October num- center of India's religious thought, would work out the moral regenerber regarding salaries, native and ation of the land. And that is the end to be desired above all else." missionary, gives the following in- Should A Hindu Christian teresting facts which some people Jinrickshaws writes to the Bomought to commit to memory: Not be Used? bay Guardian that If salary were a consideration, missionaries themselves would have by the use of the a much better ground of complaint than their native brethren. There jinrickshaws by missionaries great are very few Baptist missionaries who are not graduates, while a harm is being done to the cause of large proportion of them have the M.A. degree also. The Madras Christ in India. He reasons as fol- Civil Service List (government), on the contrary, embraces at the pres- lows: ent time 180 men, of whom 15 only are M.A. 's, and 37 are B.A. ·s. The There was a time, not very long rest, or nearly 77 per cent. of the ago, when the custom and the law entire number, have no university degree; yet the newest appointee of the country reserved the use of in the list has a larger salary than vehicles borne or drawn by human any missionary we knew of, while the man whose name heads the list beings, for gods, kings, their family receives as much every twenty days and the gurus. British law has as the best paid missionaries of the American Baptist Missionary slackened this distinction, and now Union get for an entire year's serv- any street-boy, if he has money, ice. Further than that, there are native officials high up in govern- may move about in any such COllment employ whose pay is from 1,000 to 5,000 rupees ($333 to $],666) veyance. Even to-day in India per month, and any number of when a person is very much honminor officials, deputy collectors, ored, almost worshiped, he is drawn and the like, who are better paid than any European or American in a carriage by men. This kind missionary. Then, in addition to of homage was paid to Messrs. these big salaries in every case, there is a pension, which a mission- Dadabhai Naoroji and Surendraary would consider a fortune by nath Banerji, and the Christian itself. papers criticised the people for this Hindus A good deal of agi- silly act very mercilessly. The are Afraid tation seems to Ratha of Jagannath and many other gods are drawn by men. You of the Bible have been created must have seen how the Hindus am 0 n g scholarly lift their gurus into a palkhi and Hindus by a proposal to introduce carry them through their towns. Now if these people see a missionthe Bible in the schools of India, ary seated in a jinrickshaw and and indirectly a striking tribute to drawn by poor Christians, they are the power of the Christian Scrip- likely to receive a very wrong im- tures has been paid. The univer- pression. I myself feel, at such a sight, that my countJ::y is insulted, sities of England and America and I wish that the British govern- ment were wise enou~h to make a
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCEl
law to reserve such vehicles only of Christian truth <1mong the more for the representatives of the gov- cultured classes; the fatal obstacle ernment. to the acceptance of Christianity The writer, Mr. N. V. Tilak, also at all times is pride; and if pride objects to making men, our brothers, take the place of brute beasts. forbids men to enter the kingdom "India may speak or may not of heaven with the outcast and speak, but India is sure to feel very bitterly against a missionary with poor it is impossible for them to a jinrickshaw, because he is the enter into it at all. A Christianity preacher of love and brotherhood." that deliberately excluded the Pa- riahs from the Christian Church- nay, a Christianity thal did not earnestly and prayerfully strive to bring them in-would be no Chris- tianity at all.
A Note A Tamil tract has " Without Note Ami s s ion a I' y of Alarm I been circulated up or Comment" paper published in to our very church Not Best for China says: doors. Among other things it said: China Many mISSIOn- aries in China do Hindub! A wake, or you are lost! How many thousands of thousands not believe in the distribution of Scriptures among the Chinese have these missionaries turned to Ohristianity? On how many more heathen without comments. Inashave they cast their nets? If we much as few if any portions of sleep as heretofore, in a short time Holy Vrit were given originally they will turn all to Christianity, to raw heathens, but rather to perand our temples will be changed into churches! Is there no learned sons and peoples who were already somewhat acquainted with the subpundit to be secured for money jects or the ideas set forth therein, who will crush the Christians? it seems best to many here and now . . How long will water re- not to urge the Scriptures on the main in a reservoir which continu- heathen, but rather to preach, preach, preach! To partly offset ally lets ant but receives none in?
Lpt all the people join as one man this difficulty. some parts have b3en prepared with notes and comto banish Christianity from our land! JACOB CHAMBERLAIN. ments. The notes being in a lan- guage more easily understood, and Tile Gospel At the recent De- using many common illustrations, for Pariahs cennial Conference are thus doubly effective.
Bishop White- The same difficulty prevails in all mission fields. More urgent than house, of Madras, said: at any previous period in India is the need of carefully annotated It is only within the last few portions of Scripture. especially of years that missionaries in South the New Testament, for the widest India have been compelled by the possihle circulation. force of circumstances, rather than led by any deliberate design, to A Wonderful The following from turn to the Pariahs. And the recent movements have been only Mission Station the Assembly Heranother illustration of a fundamental principal that has governed in Korea ald indicates somethe spread of Christianity from the the first. The Gospel has first been thing of what the preached to those who by birth, education, and hereditary training Gospel is doing in Korea: have been n[tturally fitted to receive it, and when as a class they The story of the Pyeng Yang have rejected it, then it has been Station is a story of wonderful adoffered to those who sat in dark- vance. The annual report says: ness and the shadow of death. " And so from year to year we come And the crowning proof of the rejoicing, bringing our sheaves truth and power of Christianity in with us." The great complaint of every age lies precisely in this fact the Pyeng Yang Station is the that the poor ~nd despised have the paucity of numbers to properly Gospel preached to them. N or is care for" these little ones so lately this ever an obstacle to the spread born into the kingdom." Children from ten to fifteen years of age,
grown men and women, and old Buck." His death was sudden and men of seventy and 2 of eighty-five have been numbered in the conver- unexpected: sions during the year. No less.than 642 were added by confession dur- As soon as the sad news was ing the year. The number of cate- known, the legation grounds wl're chumens received was 1,363. The filled with theearriages of the nobilnumber of adherents is more than ity of Japan and of the diplomatic 12,000, who attend more or less reg- corps, together with American ularly, and in various ways come citizens, mourning the loss of one in touch with the Gospel. The of the noblest representatives our Pyeng City Church has a congre- nation has ever had in Japan. No gation of from 1,200 to 1,600 every tribute to his worth and to the ex- Sunday, and 9,094 persons attended ceptionally high regard in which the hospital during the year. More the Japanese held him was more than 3,300 persons were under Bible marked than the tears that were instruction in 107 special Bible shed by one and another as they classes, and 21 new chapels were reverently left their cards at the built during the year by the contri- legation. Marquis Ito was not the butions of the native Christians only man whose cheeks were wet. alone. The total contributions ot And the message of the empress the year were $2,930 gold. The that accompanied her basket of wages of an ordinary Korean la- rare flowers expressed truly the borer is but a few cents It day. feelings of multitudes of the noblest ladies of Japan: "I send these Colonel Buck On one occasion an flowers, not as the empress, but as a woman to a woman." Again and on Missionaries American gentle- again is heard from the Japanese; "He was the best beloved of all in Japan man came to Colo- the representatives of foreign nel Buck much dis- nations."
turbed by certain stories he had He frankly confessed that he had doubts, when he first arrived in heard on the steamers and in the Japan, as to the value and neces- sity of missionary work in this hotels derogatory to the mission- land. But he as frankly revised his opinion and said in public, aries, and remarked that tho he "The missionaries have done more for the lasting good of Japan than had been a friend of missions, he all other agencies combined." He cordially welcomed these Christian was in doubt about continuing his workers to the legation, and at one time he invited 400 to a lavish re contributions. Colonel Buck ad- ception. When surprise was ex- pressed that he should be on such vised him not to be hasty in his pleasant terms with missionaries, he said: "There is no reason why judgments, and told him that not I shouldn't invite missionaries here the same as I do travelers and merlong before he had said to a distin- chants, especially as I like them equally well." And the guests at guished Japanese statesman that the last legation dinner were al- most entirely missionaries. he (Colonel Buck) thought" the in- AFRICA fluence of missionaries had been The Egyptian The American worth more to Japan than all other Mission (United Presbyteinfluences combined." This Japan- Branching Out rian) Mission which ese statesman replied that he could for nearly a half not quite agree to that, but he did century has occupied the lower think "their influence had been valley of the Nile, established last one of the most potent which New year a branch for up-stream, even Japan had received." The opinion beyond Khartum, but to which thus uttered by Colonel Buck was recently independence has been entirely in the line of sentiments which he expressed frequently and to many persons. – Missional'Y Herald.
A Christian In the Congrega- Ambassador tionalist, Rev. J. H.
De Forest writes on "Why Missionaries Loved Minister
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
granted, for reasons thus expressed Boer Soldiers The L 0 v e d a I e Becoming Christian Express by the Christian Instructor: Missionaries has a story which It is difficult for the Church in reads stranger than America to think of our mission on the Sobat River as entirely separate fiction, to the effect that no less and distinct from the mission in than 175 Boer prisoners, while con- Egypt, for, historically, this mis- fined in St. Helena, Ceylon, India, sion is the child of the Egyptian and the Bermudas, were converted, mission; yet the fact remains that and have since devoted themselves from every point of view this is a to life service as missionaries to the distinct mission. Conditions of life heathen. Ret~rning home they are in the Sobat mission field differ received by the Dutch Reformed wholly from those in Egypt. The Church, and great preparations Egyptian life, with all its imper- have already been begun to assist fections, rests on a civilization cen- them to an education that they turies old. Life in the Sobat region may be fitted for their work. One is accurately described as "unciv- congregation has subscribed £2,000 ilized." The language of the Sobat for land and buildings, another has mission field has nothing in com- undertaken to support 21 students mon with the Arabic of Egypt. at an annual cost of £500, another Two thousand miles of land or to support 10, and so on. river travel separate the two fields. It is no wonder, therefore, that the Light Breaking M. Bianquis, of the Egyptian missionaries, tho deeply in Madagascar Paris Missionary interested in the success of this distant field, have asked that this Society, in a commission be regarded as separate, prehensive review of the present not only in matters of finance, but situation in Madagascar, makes also of administration. A Pitts- the following interesting remarks: burg Presbytery could scarcely be " Our earliest missionaries thought asked to superintend the evangeli- that it would suffice for us to be cal churches of Cuba. the protectors and guarantors, in the eyes of the French officials, of Growth in Not withstanding the English and Norwegian mis- sionaries. But time has cleared Spite of War Basutoland was on these brethren from the calumnies with which they had been charged. the margin of the The dignity of their life, their absolute political rectitude, and the theater of war, and the Basutos undenjable part which they are playing in the civilization of the felt some of the excitement of the colony, have assured to them aU the credit they need for the peacestruggle proceeding on their bor- ful continuance of their work."
der, the Paris Missionary Society ISLANDS OF THE SEA had a very prosperous' year, among The Situation Dr. F. F. Ellinwood in the writes thus sugthem. From the November Missions Evangeliques we learn that Philippines gestively of our responsibilities and 15 new schools have been opened opportunities in our new dependand 52 native workers have been ency: "Since May 1, 1900, the Phil- ippine Archipelago has been a part added to the staff of the mission. of the territoryof the United States. Its conquest was only a necessary Not less than 1,178 communicants have been added to the Church in Basutoland, making a total roU of 12,676. Including catechumens, there are 20,171 Christians in the mission. The most remarkable figure of aU is found in the amount contributed by the Basuto churches for their own home mission work, for the work on the Zambesi, andfor the deficit in the funds of the Paris Society, which reached the total of 92,224 francs, or about $19,000.
incident in the war whose aim at periments in trade, government, first was the lIberation of Cuba finance, and education. It is re- from the long-continued oppression sponding in an encouraging degree of Spain. The conquest of the to American ideas. It is a seat of Philippines was as great a surprise power and influence in all that per- to the people of this country as it tains to our distant possessions. was to the inhabitants of Luzon or But to Christians its moral and the Visayan group. ,It was recog- religious improvement is of first nized, however, as a providential concern. And it is cheering to event of the widest reach and the note progress in this direction. most momentous consequences, as Favorable reports reach us of relig- on the whole a great step toward ious activity and revival. Before the civilization and evangelization our government came into control, of Asia. With whatever differ- Roman Catholicism was the sole ences of sentiment as to what religion recognized, and the priest- course shall be pursued by the hood ruled with a high hand and United States government in direct- great intolerance. Now a different ing the political and commercial state of things is observable, and future of the Philippines, there is it looks as if Protestantism would no room for difference of opinion in no very distant day be the domiamong Protestant Christians as to nating force. According to the the duty which their various church Madrid El Christiano there are organizations owe to that country. now 17 Protestant chapels in the Intelligent Roman Catholics also city and tbe suburbs against 22 appreciate the fact that an equally Roman Catholic churches. This momentous duty is laid upon the paper also concedes that from prespap~l hierarchy, and especially ent appearances the Romish organupon the Catholic churches of izations will, likely, before very America in regenerating the low long, be in the minority. We are types of Christianity which have also assured by it that Protestant so long prevailed in the Philippines, worship is being held in private and so long outraged the sentiment dwellings as well as in the largest and degraded the morals of the theaters, in which the attendance people. It may safely be said that at times has been as high as 3,000. the united force of all Protestant churches in America will scarcely The Old and On the first Sunday equal the practical zeal of Ameri- the New in in last September can Catholics in the new departures Samoa the introduction of which will be made in the Philip- Christianity in Sapine Islands, and incidentally in the Roman Catholic countries of moa was commemorated by special the Western hemisphere also, for anniversary services. There are the discredited friars, who are times when an English missionary scorned and repelled by Filipino grows faint-hearted and heart-sick communities, are being transferred in the midst of his work. The as missionaries to Mexico and native is so primitive in his be- South America. liefs, so formal in his religion, so contrary in his ideas of right The GOS1>el Manila, in many and wrong, that the thought will in Manila aspects, has a grow- occur: Is it possible to build up these babes in the faith? I know ing attraction to Americans. In it is being worked no better answer to such misgivout a number of interesting ex- ings than to attend one of the an- nual thanksgivings for the over-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
ruling Providence which guided gate membership of over 82,000. John Williams in his self-made This is double the number included bark to the shores of Samoa; to when the Federation was organ- heal' a native pastor humbly and ized. Two years ago it was report- gratefully comparing the past with ed that there were 39 buildings de- the present, the days of darkness voted to the service of the Student with the days in which they walk Movement iu different lands, and as children of light, and then pro- that their combined valuation was ceeding to impress upon his hear- fully $1,000,000. Since then 11 ers~ the twofold duty of advance- other buildings have bf'en erected ment in the Christian faith, and of or provided for financially, the self-consecration for the sake of total valuation of which is $425,000. otheps living still in heathendom. Of these, 6 are in America, 2 in In- dia, 1 in Norway, 1 in Japan, and 1 True, the Samoan is not a strong in China. Christian. Was Christianity strong in Britain after seventy years' Christianity Some disquieting growth? The ~moan is but a babe in the faith, but his faith has vs. remarks have reat least the merit of sincerity. At the recent anniversary services, Mohammedanillm cently gone the after the congregation had united in song and prayer and had listened round of the press to some able addresses, 400 remained for a communion service. about the success of Islam in mak- v. A. BARRADALE. ing converts. A writer in the MI SCELLANEOUS Spectator has put this fact in its Nobody T. J. Barnardo, bas- true light. Granted that 60,000 Doomed by ing his judgment converts are made to Mohamme- Heredity upon nearly 50,000 w a i f s redeemed danism annually among Eastern from the slums, preaches the doc- nations (which is a purely conjectrine of hope for those who are born of degraded parents. He tural figure), this is nothing comsays: pared with the extension of the I am strongly of the opinion that fhe1'e is no inherent tendency in Christian faith. According to Mr. any boy 01' g'irl, no matter how descended, or how surrounded, Eugene Stock, in the new Encywhich may not oe eradicated, 01' at least s7hbjugated, under favor'able cloprudia Britannica, the increal:?e conditions. In the fierce contes t between heredity and environment, of communicantsamongProtestant I firmly believe that, all other things being equal, environment is missions is at least 120,000 a year, the more potent of the two. No one is hopelessly hand'icapped by which of course is far below the his birth conditions. number of persons baptized. This does not, moreover, include the ac- cessions to the Roman, Russian, and Greek churches. Thus one of the cheap arguments of the critics of missions is shown to be built on the usual slender foundation of such attacks. .Mohammedanism has never shown 8"ny missionary genius in the past except at the point of the sword.-The Christian.
Growth of a The Worlci's Stu- A Foreign When a man en- Splendid dent Christian Fed- Missionary's lists for the foreign Movement eration now em- Service at Home field the public braces within the thinks little of the eleven National and International service he may render the cause of Movements of which it is composed, missions at home. But years of 1,540 associations with an aggre- work abroad give expert knowledge
of native races and religions, and sions work everywhere for humaIi of the changes wrought by Chris- ity, for Christian morality is the tianity, which has a great educa- religion of perfected humanity."- tional value when brought to the Der Mi~8ion8-Freund. attention of churches in America. Rev. J. P. Jones, D.D., who has Mite Boxes. " 'VeIl, Helen," recently sailed for his station in the Madura mission in India, has Tags and Ends. said Mrs. Ludlow, given a striking example of such service. During his eighteen etc. earnestly, "I never months in this country, on this latest furlough, he made more than did use a mite box 300 addresses. He was heard at the Student Volunteer Convention for my money, and I do not intend in Toronto, at the C. E. Convention in Cincinnati, at numerous to. Not that I would belittle the state gatherings, and in widely separated communities. Dr. Jones use of the mite box. It has its also gave courses of lectures at 'Vesiern Reserve University, Ober- place, and evidently it has helped lin College, and Hartford, Yale, and Andover seminaries. The Ameri- you to make a beginning. But if, can Board secretaries feel that this specialist on missions has left be- as you say, I was the means of hind him an influence and inspiration which will last a long time.- awakening your interest in mis- Congregationalist. sions, let me try to make you see What Missions To the question, Have Done 1Vhat have mis- that there is another step to take. for Humanity sions accomplished for humanity and 'Frankly, Helen, I think it is no for the progress of mankind? Dr. honor to our Lord and His kingdom Mirbt, of Marburg, answers: "Missions have had the most essential for women as well off as you and I part in the abolition of slavery, in the removal of cannibalism and are to give to missions from a mite massacre; they mitigate wretchedness and poverty, sickness and box. famine· among the heathen peoples; they protest against ruining of the "You see, Helen, it is this way: heathen nations by the imports of rum and opium; by their well we are not wealthy, as the word is ordered social and religious la1;.>or, they exalt family life and contend understood in these days, but our against polygamy and premature marriages; and, above all things, husbands are prosperous in busiby their educational efforts they raise even the most degraded ness, and we have plenty of money. peoples into wholesome morality. It is no matter of chance that mis·' Now, if we only put a penny, or a nickel, or an occasional dime into a mite box for missions, we are just giving the tags and ends of our money for the work of Christ's kingdom. Isn't that true?"
Carey Did Dean Farrar pub- More than licly said: " The Hastings British E m p ire owed more to the despised Baptist cobbler, Carey, and the poor contribution of £20 28. 5d. of the Baptists than it owed to the genius of Warren Hastings and the fiery battle spirit of Clive -men who added the larger part of the East Indies to the British crown."
Bishop P. C. Rothe. an eminent friend of missions in Denmark, recently died at the advanced age of 91 years.
The Missionary Review of the World — January 1902
OF THE MISSIONARY SOCIETIES OF THE WORLD FOR
This table includes only Missions to non-Christian and non-Protestant peoples, and so they omit work done in non-Catholic Europe, while covering that in behalf of Indians, Chinese, and Japanese in the United States. The figures are derived almost wholly from annual reports, and relate in the main to 1901, though sometimes the year includes a part of 1900. The aim has been to leave the fewest possible blanks, and hence where official figures were not at hand, conservative estimates have heen made, based upon former reports.-REV. D. L. LEONARD, D.D.
~~~ 8 ~~~ :.g n . z.e.iQ)~.~5r;~:; .~~rtl .;!; -.1i.J ?; ~ ~~ :.!,i.~… <'-< 31l "Om 3 .r ~ :§~ S O I'" ~" i ]~ +"lo:~§ – ~~0 :;;~ U " rJ:J .~ ~ g 'il "0 ~-~_ Countries in which Mission. NAMES OF SOCIETIES S are Sustained s0 'Z'ijJ :: ~ ~. _~_O_"~I–~_–I–I—–<-~—-__:—–I'—-.———–_ o~ ~. _____ ,___ – __ American Board……… '" . …… .. … … .. .. 1810 $697,371 167 4 168 182 521 240 3,483 4,004 1,306 50,892 4,551 143,688 1,255 62,188 South Africa, Turkey, India, China, Japan, 1,444 Micronesia, Mexico, Spain, Austria. Baptist Missionary Union . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1814 628,460 1 160 10 184 102 456 295 3,232 3,688 1,432 112,163 6,553 158,387 Southern Baptist Convention.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1845 156,083 ' 46' 166 1,009 20,000 35 36,428 Burma, India, China, Japan, Africa, France, o 45 11 102 41 171 273 ~,773 96 Spain, Philippines.
Free Baptist…………. " ….. .. …. ….. . . .. 183.~ 40,476 7 1 8 11 27 8 71 98 14 815 74 1,800 939 China, Japan, Africa, Italy, Mexico, Brazil. Cuba.
3,332 India (Southern Bengal).
Seventh-Day Baptists.. ………… .. . .. … . … 1847 12,000 1 1 I 2 6 o 11 17 2 58 7 100 6 170 China (Shanghai).
Christian (Disciples). . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1875 162,151 41 3 35 17 96 40 161 257 73 2,442 368 6,000 31 2,522 India, China, Japan, Turkey, Philippines.
American Christian Convention.. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 18S6! 8,500 7 o 3 8 13 1 12 25 23 348 26 1,000 o o Japan (Tokyo, etc.).
Protestant Episcopal…… _……………… _ 183.'5 I 320,024 88 15 83 113 8~51 516 62~ 261 5,224 230 12,000 104 4,493 Africa, China, Japan, Haiti, Greece, Alaska.
Society of Friends………. … . . .. . .. .. … .. .. 1871 49,514 17 12 19 24 72 6 128 200 63 1,808 175 5,580 38 1,462 Mexico, Alaska, Jamaica, China, Japan.
Lutheran, General Council. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1869 20,000 6 o 4 41 14 1 138 152 210 2,580 75 5,760 118 2,780 India (Madras).
Lutheran, General Synod…….. …………. 1"37 48,183 14 o 9 7 30 o 452 48'2 432 6,817 330 20,586 213 6,108 India (Madras), West Africa.
Methodist Episcopal, North… , ……….. , … 1819 1,176,263 250 14 224 228 716 499 5,312 6,028 710 95,260 5,600 262,350 1,420 62,838 China, Korea, Japan, India, Africa, Bulgaria. ]00 Mexico, South America, Philippines. Methodist Episcopal, South……. . .. … . … .. 1846 449,064 82 70 78 2291 100 257 486 220 10,959 856 18,000 3,195 China, Japan, Mexico, Brazil.
Free Methodist……………. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1882 22,938 4 5' 4 14 o 13 27 12 99 40 150 5 280 India, South Africa, St. Domingo.
lIIethodist P~otestant. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1888 15,199 4 5 o 10 7 16 26 30 453 85 1,000 2 135 Japan (Yokohama).
Wesleyan Methodist……………………… 1890 7,000 3 o 2 1 6 o 3 9 1 20 o 50 1 20 Africa (Sierra Leone).
Presbyterian, North………………….. , … 1837· 935,187 241 58 241 170 710 175 1,841 2,551 1,299 41,559 4,481 110,000 718 25,910 India, China, Japan, Korea, Africa, Syria, Presbyterian, South……………………… 1861 185,018 62 9 59 89 169 12 103 272 171 4,571 1,010 Persia, Spanish America, Philippines. 9,680 2~ 1,037 China, KO/;.ea, Japan, Africa, Greece, Italy, Cumberland Presbyterian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1820 29,079 9 2 7 7 25 7 28 53 14 830 Mexico, Brazil.
90 1,500 3 200 Japan, Korea, Mexico, Indians.
Reformed Presbyterian (Covenanter)……… 1856 25,839 8 o 8 8 24 2 38 62 16 302 18 800 16 611 – Northern Syria, Asia Minor, Cyprus, China.
Reformed Presbyterian (General Synod)…… 1836 4,500 3 o 2 o 5 8 57 62 20 1,130 170 2,000 8 320 India (Northwest Provinces).
Associate Reformed Presbyterian, South….. 1874 8,779 4 o 3 3 1~~ 7 11 21 17 302 34 1,000 4 90 Mexico (Tampico, etc.). 34 35 1 44 464 577 United Presbyterian…………….. ……… 1859 162,728 37 7 41'>1 8,691 998 25,000 299 20,694 Egypt, India (Northwest Provinces).
RefOl'llled (Dutch)……………………….. 1832 173,204 30 5 30 26 91 31 461 552 26~ 4,961 879 12,000 190 7,345 India, China, Japan, Arabia."
Reformed (German) ……………………… 1878 35,895 9 1 8 4 22 32 40 62 53 2,025 344 6,000 2 189 Japan (Tokyo, Sendal, etc.).
German Evangelical Synod… . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1883 16,406 7 2 5 -1 15 o 72 87 17 1,200 15 2,000 11 1,100 India (Central Provinces).
Evangelical Association. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1876 9,086 2 o o 2 4 8 83 37 21 890 95 1,700 1 8 p'apan (Tokyo, Osaka).
United Brethren in Christ………………. 1853 21,000 16 o 16 o 32 a:1 3 57 75 3,200 210 6,000 8 600 Japan, West Africa. 22 Canada Baptist…………………………… 1873 46,392 23 1 16 52 11 368 73 4,644 573 9,000 99 2,049 India (Telugus).
Canada Congregationalist. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1881 7,845 1 2 2 2 7 o 5 12 5 49 6 100 4 625 Africa (West Central).
Canada lIIethodist….. . .. .. . ……. .. … . ….. 1873 186,255 60 5 65 o 130 41 91 221 243 8,127 430 10,000 48 1,400 Japan (Tokyo), Indians.
Canada Presbyterian. .. .. … . …… … .. . .. … 1844 141,094 45 18 1 4.~ 44 150 5 142 292 170 3,368 341 10,000 79 5,171 China, India, New Hebrides, West Indies, Twenty other American Societies…………. …… 432,640 60 172 97 160 489 29 835 1,324 208 2,780 325 6,000 125 12,890 Formosa. 4,304 1,640 119,493 23,011 Totals for America……………………. -:-:-:-:-:-: ~,173 1,620 -s481,4581,219 7,958 '397,340 34,308 —-;0,031 6,509 ~,995 Baptist (England).·· .. · ………………….. 1 1792 491,200 135 0 104 6 2451 27 1,110 1,355 1,011 53,882 1,206 110,000 652 18,519 India, China, Palestine, Africa, West Indies. 167 London Society (L. M. S.) ………………… 1795 730,650 417 36 168 67 438 879 5,811 6,249 1,357 58,059 7,329 182,710 1,876 76,292 China, India, Africa, Madagascar, Polynesia. 462 Church Society (C. M. S.)……………… , . .. 1799 1,550,000 38 149 354 340 1,260 377 7,896 9,156 588 76,370 R,142 281,584 2,387 104,755 Persia, China, Japan, India, Africa, North America, etc. Propagation Society (S. P. G.) …. _………… 1701 535,138 o 1,638 1,750 130 2,100 188 3,138 5,138 2,700 45,000 2,570 148,000 870 38,000 India, China, Japan, Malaysia, Africa, West Universities' Mission …………………….. 18.'59 146,720 196 22 1 49 110 13 216 826 78 3,743 700 11,000 103 Indies, etc. 9 4,372 Africa (Lake Nyasa and Zanzibar). 27 SoCiety of Friends. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1867 96,920 18 81 27 24 82 o 969 1,051 21,4 2,725 240 8,000 264 19,521 Palestine, India, China, Madagascar. 21 Wesleyan Society………………………… 1816 657,230 32 18 121 55 388 168 3,409 3,797 2,714 48,748 1,333 150,000 1,091 73,244 India, China, Africa (West and South), West 75 Indies. Methodist New Connection ……………….. 185~ 30,010 26 01 6 o 15 9 135 150 217 3,416 75 7,000 41 110 584 China (Shantung, Tientsin). 147 United Methodist Free Churches… .. .. ….. .. 1837 57,170 47 11 14 2 54 6 6 60 26 10,555 320 24,000 23 1,620 China, Africa, Australia. 166 Welsh Calvinistic………………………… 1841 39,890 94 3 14 7 il2 11 256 298 393 4,701 643 19,473 215 7,269 N. E. India, France (Brittany). 83 Presbyterian Church of England ………. , … 1847 111,000 58 17 :1 28 92 24 319 411 234 7,159 667 12,000 130 1,800 India, China, Malaysia, Formosa. 46 24 Prebyterlan Church of Ireland. .. .. . .. . . .. .•.. 1840 121,930 147 29 114 5 419 588 116 2,763 278 5,000 136 1,820 China, India (Gujerat), Syria. 15 China Inland Mission …………………… " 1865 266,825 125 252 275 209 807 20 683 1,490 250 7,683 280 15,000 85 1,200 China (Fifteen Provinces). 97 Established Church of Scotland. . …… .. . . … 1829 237,420 65 19 27 66 123 10 639 747 180 2,687 355 7,873 259 15,989 India, East Africa, Palestine. 157 42,133 168,532 968 United Free Church …………………….., 1843 56~,815 524 86 114 96 406 38 2,363 2,769 826 26,230 I 50,000 1,122 57,677 India, Africa, Arabia. Palestine, New Heb- 3,454 rides, China, Japan, West Indies. Other British Societies………………………. .. 1,386,463 5,074 273 178 680 1,278 74 3,840 5,118 540 1,256 1,215 33,800 Paris Society……………………………. [1822 270,280 18 43 15 123 42 3CO 423 45 14,960 423 25,000 198 12,080 Africa (South and West), Tahiti, Madagascar; Basel Society… .. . . .. . .. . .. .. . .. .. . .. .. .. . . … 1815 324,120 63 149 9 387 44 1,043 1;430 552 21,871 747 43,500 519 19,987 South India, China, West Africa.
Berlin Society…………………………… 1824 142,612 15 93 13 215 4 217 212 276 16,226 1,251 87,293 125 8,BOO Africa (East and South), China.
Gossner :Society. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1836 45,650 o 22 5 60 18 577 577 57 15,590 380 40,000 200 3,640 India (Ganges, Chota Nagpore).
Hermannsburg Society… . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. . … 1854 . 101,810 o 47 o 125 o 286 411 149 27,240 1,039 54,123 130 7,245 India, South Africa, New Zealand.
Leipsic Society.. .. . .. . .. .. .. . .. .. .. .. . .. . .. … 1836 149,894 6 40 5 97 22 720 817 219 8,830 20,918 269 8,061 South India, Burma, British and Germall'
lIIoravian Church………………………… 1732 172,554 29 167 18 361 21 1,959 2,320 201 96,877 470 East Africa.
32,028 1,580 23,998 South Africa, Australia, South America, West Indies. Eskimo, l'ibet. , North German Society…………………… 1836 38,302 1 11 7 34 3 55 89 35 1,565 128 3,000 38 1,296 West Africa, New Zealand.
Rhenish Society (Barmen) ………………… 1829 168,738 5 110 17 257 26 1,422 1,676 347 83,560 2,011 82,445 340 15,269 Africa. East Indies, New Guinea, China.. 28 199 2,340 Thirteen Other German Societies………….. 1….. . 147,132 o 74 10 142 341 255 4,270 235 8,000 42 o 81 Ten Netherlands Societies………………………, 124,126 4 12 30 280 331 230 5,041 110 9,000 950 47,500 Eight SC&.Ildinavian Societies………………….. . 366,364 28 97 59 341 84 2,058 2,899 1,122 89,097 3,441 75,000 890 45,000 Societies in Asia, Africa, Australia, etc.. . . . .. . …. . 866,305 231 171 230 1,156 370 18,320 19,476 4,3:l7 314,550 12,140 500.000 2,560 162,000 Totals for Europe. Asia. etc…………… …… $9,946,793 2,974 4,284 2,194 13,090 2,523 59,472 69,140 19,199 929,182 50,847 2,195,428 16,983 812,242 TOTALS FOR CHRiSTENDOM…………… ….. $16,174,966 3,322 5,742 3,413 17,467 4,169 78,965 92,151 27,157 1,326,522 85,155 3,145,459 23,442 1,089,237 Missionary Review of the World Old Series JANUARY New Series VOL. XXV. No.1 { VOL. XV. No. 1 .. LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS"
The Captain of the Lord's Host and the Missionary Campaign BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF The great command of Christ and the great commISSIOn of the Church are coupled with a promise than which there is no greater: "Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the consummation of the age."
Those four words, "I AM WITH YOU," are perhaps more frequently found in the Scriptures than any others, and, at every great crisis or turning-point in the history of believers, from Abram to Paul. When the father of the faithful was called out from Charran; when Jacob left Bethel, when Isaac was going to Padan Aram, Moses to Pharaoh, Joshua against Midian, and Solomon was assuming the kingdom; when Isaiah and Jeremiah and Ezekiel were undertaking the prophetic office-this great Jehovah promise was their stay and strength. It was repeated to Paul the Apostle, and was the consolation of Christ Himself: "He that sent me is with me."
In this particular case the promise takes a unique form, literally, I, WITH YOU, AM. The pronoun and verb, which together form the mysterious name of Jehovah, are separated so as to take in between them the two words which concern the messenger whom He sends forth. As this is the only instance of such order and arrangement, we can not think it an accident. It is as tho God literally took the disciple who acts as' His ambassador into His embrace, and stretched about him the everlasting arms of His presence. He says: "Be fearless and calm, for I with you am. I go before you as vanguard; I follow after you as rere-ward."
The Acts of the Apostles, which immediately follows the Gospel narratives, is the proof that the promise was literally fulfilled in apostolic times. Modern missionary history is a later exhibition of the fact of the continued presence on the field of the invisible Captain of the Lord's Host.
This promise means three things: first, the personal presence. of Jesus Christ, as Oaptain, with His missionary company; secondly, this presence continued to the full end of the age; and, thirdly, this presence affecting every day's details; in other words, a Divine providence over the whole work of missions, through the entire age of thE, Gospel dispensation, and extending to every event of every dayapparent adversity and prosperity, disaster and success, all equally under control, and equally part of the working out of the promise.
CHRIST IN THE DAYS OF THE APOSTLES The Book of the Acts shows how this promise was fulfilled, during the period of one generation. The history covers about as much tim~ as the Gospel record-thirty-three and one-half years-and records how, in that first generation after Christ's ascension, He manifested and vindicated His faithfulness and truth. As disciples went out to preach, in Judea and in Samaria and unto the nttermost parts of the earth, from first to last He who sent them was with them.
As these four words mark every great crisis, when Old Testament saints came to the parting of the ways, even so, when the Church comes to that new parting of the ways, which in itself embraces all the great steps, typified in the history of those old-time believers-the Church going out, not knowing whither, into strange lands and unto strange peoples, against myriads of foes massed in great hosts; when all these typical experiences of former days were comprised in one great experience of the new Gospel age, the great promise is renewedly given, " I with you am."
In the Acts we see at least twelve proofs of Christ's fidelity: 1. There are jour great pentecostal outpourings: among the Jews at Jerusalem, the Samaritans, the Romans in Cesarea, and the Greeks at Ephesus. These are representative outpourings, given at the inception of work among these various peoples, to indicate that the bestowment of God's Holy Spirit was equally for Jews, Samaritans, Romans, and Greeks-in other words, for the whole human race. 2. The sending forth of laborer8, as when Christ called Saul of Tarsus by name, in the ninth chapter; and when Barnabas and Saul were called by name, in the thirteenth chapter, and sent forth by the Holy Spirit on the first great missionary tour. 3. The pre-adaptation of laborers for their work. Christ said of Saul, "He is a chosen vessel," and He told him that he had been prepared for this work, as a vessel is prepared by the potter, whose hand molds the clay on the wheel for his purpose. Jesus Christ shows His presence in the work by fitting the laborers in advance, and often unconsciously to themselves, for the work unto which they are called. Then He gives direction to the workers. as when Paul was forbidden to go into Bithynia, and called to Philippi by a vision of the man of Macedonia. 4. The Lord is also seen opening doors. When Saul and Barnabas
"LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS"
returned from their first missionary journey they gathered the Ohurch together at Autioch and rehearsed how that the Lord had opened the doors of faith to the Gentiles. They told the same story on their way to Jerusalem, and to the council there; never claiming that they opened a door by any skill, personal, social, or political.
5. Again the Lord gave courage in the hour of danger, as when the apostles, threatened with death by the Sanhedrim if they should continue to preach in His name, went to their own company, and, lifting up their voices with one accord, said, "Now, Lord, grant that Thy servants may in all boldness speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thy hand to heaL" He exhibited His presence among them and encouraged and emboldened them by shaking the place where they were together, and then by giving them great power both over the souls and bodies of men.
6. When Stephen came to the hour of martyrdom he was permitted to look up· and see Jesus Ohrist "standing." Why standing? He is represented as having taken His seat at the right hand of the throne of God, after having ascended up on high; but Stephen saw Him standing as his advocate and defender, as if He was so aroused by what was going on on earth that He had risen from off the seat of power and stood there by the throne of God specially to encourage that first martyr.
7. All through the Acts we perpetually have answered prayer. Ten days of supplication, and Pentecost; Peter's prayer on the housetop, and a vision of the sheet let down; prayer by the Ohurch for Peter in prison, and his marvelous deliverance; Paul's prayer, and a vision at Oorinth. Over and over again all through this wonderful history Jesus Ohrist appears in answer to prayer, in some cases personally, as to Paul in Oorinth: "Fear not; I have much people in this city. No man shall set on thee to hurt thee. I am with thee."
8. Jesus manifests His presence in the ingathering of converts. Three thousand on the day of Pentecost; shortly after the men were about five thousand; then a great multitude of priests obedient to the faith; and so convert after convert, the most conspicuous being Saul of Tarsus, himself turned to the Lord by the literal presence and appearance of Jesus Ohrist.
9. Marked deliverances manifested Ohrist as present with His Ohurch, such as that remarkable deliverance of the apostles from prison when the angel of the Lord opened the doors and said," Go, and speak in the temple all" the words of this life; " and Peter's rescue from four quaternions of soldiers, when his chains fell off and the iron gate opened before'him of its own accord; and Paul's salvation from shipwreck, with all that sailed with him, after another appearance of God to him.
10. In sorne cases j~tdgment manifested Ohrist's presence. Ananias
and Sapphira were struck dead, and Peter expressly says, "Thou hast not ~ied unto men, but unto God." He felt himself only a representative of the Master. 'rhen, in the twelfth chapter, a great manifestation of judgment, when Herod, who had destroyed James and was proposing to behead Peter, glorified himself and not God, and was immediately eaten of worms and gave up the ghost. So, also, Elymas, the sorcerer, was struck blind for attempting to mislead and pervert the Roman deputy.
11. General signs and wonders were wrought by Jesus Ohrist. For example, the remarkable story, in tho nineteenth chapter, of the magicians of Ephesus so wrought upon by the Word of God that they brought their books, containing their incantations and magioal formulas, by whioh they imposed upon the credulity of the people, and then burned them in the presence of all men. The price of those books was probably about ten thousand dollars, an immense fortune in those days, one Roman penny being the hire for a day's labor. No wonder the writer of the Acts says, "So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed."
12. Christ showed His presenoe in the daily administration of affairs in His Ohurch. For example, notioe His individual care over converts. A eunuch is going down to Ethiopia. An angel is brought on the scene, with the Spirit of God and the evangelist Philip, all cooperating to bring one inquiring soul to God. In the next ohapter Ohrist appears to Saul of Tarsus and converts the aroh perseoutor. In the tenth chapter an angel and the Spirit of God deal with Oornelius and with Peter, heaven and earth oombining under the leadership of Jesus Ohrist to bring one individual soul to the knowledge of salvation.
'rhus the whole twenty-eight chapters of the Acts record Christ's manifold fulfilment of His promise: "Lo, I am with you."
CHRIST IN THE NINETEE.NTH CENTURY The nineteenth century furnished many indications that modern mission history has been a oontinuation of the Acts of the Apostles and a new fulfilment of our blessed Lord's promise, " I with you am."
There have been new Pentecosts-upward of a hundred outpourings of the Holy Ghost through the century past-whose general features are parallel to the developments of the Aots; 1ut seven great outpourings have been oalled "the miracles of missions."
In Tinnevelli, for instance, God gave in the first year of the century a remarkable outpouring, whioh, in a sense, has been oontinuous until the present day, so that this distriot in India is perhaps most thoroughly pervaded and transformed by the Gospel. Whole villages have turned to God, and old heathen temples been ohanged into Ohristian places of worsh.ip. In one instance the people in a village of
"LO, 1 AM: WITH YoU ALWAYS!!
a.bout fifteen hundred desired to turn it into a Christian settlement, a.nd the Brahman that presided over the villagers called them together and said: "Let us have no difference of opinion here. If you are ready to move together, move. We will have no schism; but I will not find fault even if you change your temple into a Christian place of assembly;" and they did. The stone step into that church is a heathen idol, turned face downward.
A wonderful work took place in Hilo, in the Sandwich Islands, under Titus Coan, a simple Gospel preacher with about one hundred and fifty miles of coast-line, over which he toured as an evangelist and pastor. As the people began to wake up under his visits and preach- ing, he found that he could not take care of these people in this desultory way, and so he established a three years' camp-meeting, and they came to him instead of his going to them. About ten thousand assembled around Hilo. 'l'hey erected little places of abode, and pre- pared to cook food and to manufacture baskets; and if at any time of night or day the signal was sounded, they would crowd the churches to rcpletion. So mightly did God work that at times Mr. Coan had to stop preaching. The sobbing, crying, and groaning, and the mani- festation of the Holy Spirit, were such that he could not be heard, and at times could not go or:. preaching, but prayed silently to God to carry on this great work. He baptized nearly two thousand people in the course of a few months, all being carefully examined as to the. proof that they had truly received Jesus Christ.
William A. B. Johnson spent seven years in Sierra Leone. He was a humble German, with only a common school education. The Church Missionary Society wanted a man for these refuse blacks, gathered in from the holds of slave-ships when Britain made this a kind of dumping-ground. He was warned, "They are the worst· people on the earth;" but he said, "That is where I want to go, where no one else will." He found an awful state of immorality, everything that was bad. He began to preach the simple Gospel. Inside of eighteen months he could not sit on his piazza, night or day, without hearing a group of people gathered under the trees shouting praises to Jesus for salvation, or others praying that He would be their Savior and give them eternal life. He lived only seven years at Sierra Leone, and died at sea, his eyes being closed by the first convert of her tribe, yet that whole community had been tranformed, every trade being represented among those blacks. No relic remained of their former heathen orgies. The whole community was gathered in, and they had their _own missionary society. They could not be kept from going to Church' even by floods; they would take off their clothes and put them on their heads .and swim across the streams, and then dress again and go on. When they could not get to meeting they would bring their offering next time, so that there should be no falling off of funds.
Many other examples might be added, and have been cited in these pages. In no single field of missions, since the last century began. has the Gospel been faithfully preached on spiritual lines, by spirituai men and women, without a pentecost of power. Sometimes it has been seven years before there was one convert, sometimes, as in Tahiti, fourteen years, and in one memorable instance, as in Australia, five times seven years; and when Nathaniel Pipper, first of the Australian aborigines, was brought to Christ, the event was so striking that a public meeting, over which the mayor presided, was called to give thanks. Everywhere Jesus Christ has fulfilled His promise, "I am with you," in spiritual outpouring.
His presence is also seen in the selecting, preparing, and sending forth of laborers into His harvest. Often these selected workers have not gone to the field to which they expected to go. Carey inclined to the South Seas because he had become so interested in thcse islands through Cook's voyages, but he went to India. Livingstone planned to go to China, but he went to Africa. Judson planned to go to India, but he went to Burma. Some manifest reason has only afterward been seen why God directed them to some other field than that which they had selected.
In modern missionary history there appear remarkable evidences of preadaptation. In nature this is one of the great arguments for a God. In a cocoon the legs, antenme, and wings of the future butterfly are all folded up within the skin of the caterpillar. The caterpillar could know nothing about its future, for it was born as a worm and lived on refuse; but at a certain point in its history it enfolds itself up in this covering and passes through a change, coming out no longer to crawl, but to fly, henceforth to feed on honey-an entirely different creature; yet all the preparations for this future life in the air are to be found in the caterpillar when it could have had no forecast of what was to come.
So in missionary history there is a Divine preadaptation of men for their work. John Williams was an iron-monger. When he first went to the South Seas he found there a ship which three years before had been laid on the keel, but had never been completed, because no one understood how to work with metals. This vessel was necessary to his evangelistic and itinerating tours, and he was the man to complete it. He did not know why he was trained as an iron-monger, but God did, and all this previous preparation came into play.
The century past furnishes no more conspicuous instance of Divine foresight and election for service than Verbeck, of Japan. Just at the crisis of its history Verbeck was sent to this island empire. He was a man of no country; born in Holland and trained in the United States, he was ready to be identified with Japan. He had no political
"LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS"
alliances and could be accused of no political ends or aims, and could identify himself as fully with Japau as if born and bred there. Had he allowed his good deeds to be proclaimed or the work that he was quietly doing to be trumpeted, it would have come to the ears of the Japanese inquisition, and his voice would have been silenced, and his work stopped, and his converts pflrsecuted, if not beheaded; but he was so modest and retiring that he would neither tell his own deeds nor let anybody else. Then, again, he was singularly versatile. He could talk in five languages-a born linguist and translator-and could therefore contribute to the translation of the Bible and of necessary books. He had singular tact, was an educator, a scientist, and an engineer. At this particular crisis there was probably not another man in the world equally adapted for the work that was put before him. He did not know of his own fitness, but God did. The Potter had prepared a particular vessel for His uses.
As to the opening of doors, when Oarey proposed to go to India there was scarcely a door in the world that was open,and he could scarcely get a footing even in India except as an indigo planter. The right of the merchant gave the right of residence, and so the opportunity to teach; but with great difficulty he obtained a footing there at all. The islands of the sea were inhabited by cannibals. Ohina was literally walled around, excluding foreigners. Japan had been sealed for two hundred years, owing to the reaction against Roman Oatholic intrigue. Korea was a hermit nation up to 1884, when it was opened through Dr. Allen and his medical treatment of the king's nephew. Almost the whole world, at the opening of the nineteenth century, seemed closed to missionary effort; now it is accessible. Between 1853 and 1858 seven great peoples became open to Protestant missions, embracing half of the earth's population-Japan, through Commodore Perry and the treaty with the United States; Ohina, under new treaties made in 1854; India, by the mutiny in 1857; Oentral America, under Benito Juarez, overthrowing the priesthood and confiscating the church property; Turkey, Papal Europe, Africa-a result which could not have been brought about in centuries by any ordinary political or commercial measures.
Ohrist has still given boldness to His people. Dr. Schauffier, for instance, when a Russian official said to him, "My imperial master, the czar, will never allow P·rotestantism to set foot in Turkey," calmly replied, "My imperial Master, Ohrist, will never ask the Emperor of Russia where He may set His foot or plant His kingdom." In 1851, when Sultan Mahmud in Turkey ordered the expulsion of all the missionaries, Oyrus Hamlin said to William Goodell, " We have got to leave; the sultan has issued an edict, and the British ambassador and the American consul say it is no use to resist." But Goodell replied: "Hamlin, the Sultan of the universe 'can change all this."
So they gave themselves to prayer. Next day Sultan Mahmud died. Six days before this there had been a great defeat of the Turkish forces; on the ninth of Augnst following there was a con~agration that destroyed between three and four thousand dwellings. Here within thirty days was a defeat at Aleppo, the death of the sultan, and the great conflagration; and since Abdul Medjid came to the throne the edict of expulsion has never been mentioned, nor has there been any attempt to enforce it.
As to the martyrs, no decade of years has been without one or more, and the century closed with the blackest page in all the annals of modern missions in the Boxer uprising in China. But every instance of martyrdom has been also one of Divine interposition and superintending Providence. The shells of the Chinese gunners, which were attached to time fuses, were fired so unskilfully that they went through the walls of the compound and exploded outside, doing little harm. If they had exploded inside, it would have been almost impossible to occupy those premises; and if the Chinese had not sent a number of their best gunners elsewhere, or the missionaries had not been led to gather in supplies of food early in the siege, and had not been directed by God where they could find stores of rice and other provisions, or had there not been a temporary cessation of hostilities, for no known cause, for about ten days before the final raising of the siege, or had the relieving army come twenty-four hours later, the sacrifice of life would have been terrible. Hev. F. D. Gamewell, who had charge of the fortifications in the siege of Peking, was the one man trained as a military engineer; he was just about to go away on his furlough when the siege began, and so he stayed with his beleaguered and endangered brethren, and became to them a sort of generalin-chief, to whom the safety of those besieged missionaries and of thousands of native converts was perhaps due more than to any other one man. Who kept him there just at that time? Who had given him that engineer training, the use of which he never knew until he was in the midst of the siege?
Has the Lord Jesus manifested Himself in answer to prayer throughout this century? Let the story of Budapest and the Jewish mission there answer. The Archduchess Dorothea, brought out of the Homan Catholic faith into unconscious Protestantism by reading her Bible, prayed God to send -some one to Budapest especially for the, large neglected Jewish population gathered there. Mr. Wodrow, an obscure man in Glasgow, recorded in his diary his prayer for the establishment of missions among the Jews; and the Church of Scotland sent out four men, Drs. Black and Keith, with Bonar and McCheyne, to go on a tour and see where Jewish missions ought to be established, and they left out Hungary because of the expected opposition from the Hungaritm government. At Jerusalem, Dr. Black fell
"LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS"
from his camel, and they had to take the most direct homeward route by way of Budapest, where Dr. Keith was taken sick with cholera. At this time the Archduchess Dorothea awoke at night, and God seemed to say to her, "The parties are here that are going to establish a mission." She inquired, and found there were three or four Scotch- men in town, detained there by one of their number who was danger- ously ill. She went to the bedside of the stranger and ministered to his wants; then, as he became better, told him of her longings and prayers~ and of the state of the Hungarian Jews. The result was that one of the largest missions established was at Pesth. Look at the leading of God. Two supplicators, one in Glasgow, and the other at Budapest, a committee to explore for Jewish missions, designedly leaving out Hungary and God designedly putting it in; one man falls from a camel and hurts himself, another is taken ill of the cholera and has to tarry; and so a prayer in Glasgow and a prayer in Budapest, going up to God, bring about Christian missions in Budapest.
A word about Divine judgments. The remarkable occurences in Turkey already mentioned in connection with the edict of expulsion illustrates this point. The Armenians who incited those persecutions were the greatest sufferers from the calamities that occured.
When Napoleon, in 1812, proposed his conquering career in Russia, the Russian ambassador said to him, "Sire, remember that man proposes, but God disposes." Napoleon, in his arrogance, answered, "I want your master to understand that I am he that proposes, and I am he that disposes." What II challenge to the Almighty! God did not stir from His throne, but sent one of the smallest messengers, a snowflake, to punish the blasphemer. Napoleon retreated from Moscow. He had already lost one hundred thousand men by sickness and war, and when he forsook his retreating army he had Lut twenty-five thousand soldiers left; and the officials reported to the Emperor of Russia that they had buried 213,516 French corpses and 95,816 dead horses to prevent pestilence. The arrogant Corsican found that there was a God in heaven, who, whatever man proposes, Himself does dispose.
One of the greatest revelations of God in the century has to do with African slavery. Between the years 1871 and 1889 some of the greatest apparent disasters occurred in the history of modern missions by way of martyrdoms and the deaths of invaluahle men. Patteson, in 1871, . died in Melanesia, the five wounds on his body inflicted for five victims kidnapped from the island of Nikapu. In 1873, Livingstone, virtually a martyr, died at Ilala on his knees in the little grass hut, his life apparently a partial failure. To him "the end of the geographical feat was the beginning of the missionary enterprise".; yet he had not entered upon the beginning of this his true work, for he had not reached the end of his geographical feat, and his last dying cry was
like a wail: "All that I can say in my loneliness is, may Heaven's rich blessing come down upon any man, American, Englishman, or 'l'urk, who will help to heal the open sore of the world-slavery." Then came the death of Krapf in 1881, dying on his knees like Livingstone, himself also one of the seven illustrious explorers of Africa. He had said, " Over the slain in the trenches will ad vance the hosts of God for conquest until this great African fortress is taken possession of by the Lord." Then came the death of Bishop Steere, in 1882, of the Universities Mission; of Moffatt, in 1883, one of the greatest of African missionaries; and, then, of "Chinese Gordon," in 1885, ill the Sudan, one of the best of Englishmen, followed by the martyrdom of Hannington in 1889.. The period of eighteen years, beginning with the death of Patteson, the martyr of Melanesia; and of Livingstone, the martyr of Ilala, and ending with the death of Hannington, the martyr of Uganda-surely this was a dark day for missions!
God's hand overruled all, as is seen in the subsequent history. Three weeks after Livingstone's funeral the Church Missionary Society held its missionary anniversary in Westminster Abbey. Gordon Lathrop preached his great sermon on the- revival of the dead man when he touched the bones of Elisha, and he besought the great audience seated over the very grave where Livingstone's body lies, as God's mighty army to follow Livingtone's death with conquest: "Let the whole Church touch his bones and rise to a new victory for God." Immediately came forward movements in every direction. First, Livingstone's own Scotland, by the Free Church, established a chain of missions at Lake Nyasa, and the Established Church erected its station at Blantyre, called after Livingstone's birthplace. There at the present ti,me Britain controls over five hundred thousand square miles. Then came the Gordon Memorial Mission, founded by the Dowager Countess of Aberdeen; then the setting apart of Edward Steere to the Universities Mission, in the very year of Livingstone's death, 1874. Then Stanley, who had discovered Livingstone in 1871, began his nine hundred and ninety-nine days' journey across the cont.inent, and traced out the Kongo to its source. Then came the Kongo Free State, in 1885. Then the Livingstone Inland and the Kongo Balolo Missions, both established by the Guinnesses. Events crowded fast upon one another like people that tread upon each other's heels. Livingstone died feeling in a measure that his work was a failure and beseeching people to interpose to heal the open sore of the world, and lo! within these few years came the mightiest movements that have ever taken place in the century in the way of missions. In 1879 Monsieur Coillard and his wife went to Barotsi land to identify themselves with the French missions in that country. In 1885 Chinese Gordon finished the six years of work, unequaled in the world's history for effectiveness, for the suppression of the slave trade.
THE ISLAND OF GUAM AND ITS PEOPLE
Patteson's death, in 1871, started the whole series of these events, for, having been slain by natives who sought to avenge kidnapping, his death called attention of the English and American people to this crime. Livingstone's death emphasized the effect of Patteson's death, two years before, and hence in that very year the Sultan of Zanzibar was compelled by England to close the slave-market there. Part of the ground on which it stood was bought for the Universities Mission, in the same year, and the great cathedral of the mission is erected on the very spot where used to be the slave-market, and the communion-table stands on the very site of the whipping-post! Not only so, but in 1874 Salter Price bought, in behalf of England, the site of a freed settlement at Mombassa where, whenever a slave lands, he is a free man because on British soil. Thus, within fifteen years after the death of Patteson, within thirteen years after the death of Livingstone, this greatest series of events that has ever taken place in missionary history occurred within the bounds of the African continent. He Who said, "I with you am, all the days, even to the end of the age," is thus demonstrating to the children of God that He means what He says, and that He abundantly fulfils His glorious promise.
THE ISLAND OF GUAM AND ITS PEOPLE BY REV. ~FRANCIS M. PRICE, AGANA, GUAM Missionary of the American Board The beautiful island of Guam, the largest of the Ladrone group, has a population of about ten thousand, of which Agana, the capital, has seven thousand. There are two somewhat distinct classes of people here: those of Spaniiilh blood (the so-called high-classed Chamoros), and the common people. The first class furnishes the civil officers of the government and possesses most of the wealth and intelligence, tho a large proportion of the poorer class have each his own home in Agana and a little farm in the hills. The blood of many nationalities flows in their veins, but the Malayan undoubtedly predominates and gives its character to the people. Their faces show them to be a weak race, and while many are pretty, few are fine looking. Some of the children are very attractive with their soft black eyes and olive complexions, but one seldom sees a beautiful old man or woman. The iron of the pure Gospel of Christ must be infused into their blood to impart strength to their characters and nobility to their countenances.
The language spoken in Guam is more highly inflected than those of other Micronesian isla~ds. It has personal prefixes and suffixes for the verb, distinct forms for some of the tenses and for the singular and plural of nouns. 1'he Spanish language is. used to some extent, and probably one-tenth of the people know enough Spanish for busi-
ness purposes and one-tenth of these understand it reasonably well.
The vast majority of the people speak only the Chamoro, understand- ing very few words of Spanish or English. At present everyone wants to learn English, and our tongue will doubtless supplant all others in the coutse of time.
The homes of the people are superior in many respects to those of other Micronesians, but in- ferior to those of the very poor in America. The small thatch-covered houses are set on posts three or four feet high, which have wood- Cll (often bamboo) sides and floors, and consist of two or three rooms. The better class have stone houses, cov- ered with tile or corrugated iron; many of them are neat CHAMOlO MOTHERS AND CBILDRE~ and homelike, but are gen- erally destitute of furniture, and suggest anything but comfort. Chairs are unknown and a mat spread on the floor at night serves for a bed. The women do the cooking on mud ranges; they chop their own wood, even going to the hillsides to cut and carry home bundles of sticks on their heads or shoulders. Rice and corn constitute the staple food, with vege- tables, fish, and meat for variety. . .
The Chamoros are inveterate smokers; men, women, and children smoke pipes or, if they cau afford it, immense cigars made from the native plant which, judging from the odor, can scarcely rival the Havana. Many of them chew the nut of the areca palm, the betel-nut, which is slightly intoxicating, and whose juice, mixed with lime,imparts a reddish color to the lips, and is supposed to add much to their beauty.
The clothing of the people of Guam is simple, and adapted to the climate.. For men it consists of white cotton trousers and a blouse worn outside (very neat when clean), and for the women a cotton chemise, a trailing skirt, usually of calico, and a white, thin camise, or over- waist, with low neck and large flowing sleeves. When the women go on the streets in full dress they usually wear a cotton kerchief, folded diagonally, over the shoulders, with the ends crossed and pinned over the breast and another thrown loosely.over the head. '1'he well-to-do wear clothing of richer quality. It is hard for the children to get used to the superfluous custom of wearing' clothes, and they throw them off and run about naked, in defiance of law, at every opportu- nity. One little fellow was caught by an officer and locked up over- night for venturing too far from home undressed.
THE ISLAND OF GUAM AND ITS Pli10PLE
SOME NATIVE SCHOOLBOYS IN GUAM The Chamoros are a peaceable people, not given to deeds of violence, quarreling little among themselves, and living, for the most part, in separate families. They are kind and generous, given to hospitality, and quick to return favors. When I was visiting a sick man one day I found that he had no proper food, and told him to send his boy over to my house to get a little rice. He immediately turned to the boy and said: "Catch that chicken and take it over with you." It was the only chicken he had and worth many times the value of the rice. For the most part they are tillers of the soil, but very fond of municipal life, so that farmers will go as far as ten or twelve miles to till their land and return to their homes in town rather than live in the country. Late Saturday night the men come home, spend Sunday with their families, and are off for their ranches before daylight Monday morning.
Most of the women and some of the men go to mass early Sunday morning; the remainder of the Sabbath is given to sports and trading or to the doing of odd jobs. Gambling is a passion with them, and the streets of Agana swarm on Sundays and feast-days with groups of
men and boys pitching coppers or larger coins. The natives admit that this is productive of great evil, since it deprives many families of food, and leads men to steal in order to pay gambling debts; but there is no public sentiment against it. Oock-fighting is so prevalent as to be a national.sport; it is crnel and demoralizing, restricted but not prohibited by the governor.
Drunkenness, so prevalent for- merly, is not common here now, and disorderly men, natives or marines, are very seldom seen on the streets. The liquor laws are practically prohibitory, especially for the natives, and no one can get foreign drinks without a per- mit from the governor. This permit is granted or not at his discretion, after the applicant has sworn that it is for personal use only.
Social life is, as a rule, very unclean, and the sentiment against social sins is abhorrently low.
Houses of ill repute abound~ One ClIAMORO CHILDREN-DRESSED I who was in a position to know said: "Parents even in the best families would be glad to give their daughters in temporary marriage to the officers of the navy who are married men for the time of their sojourn here." Snch a thing is not, of course, allowed in our navy.
The thirst for white blood has something to do with this, but the sad thing is that public sentiment tolerates it. There are two reasons for this. The large fees demanded for legal marriages, during the Spanish administration, compelled many to live in unlawful wedlock, and thus lawful marriage was lightly esteemed. But much more than this the immoral lives of most of the Spanish priests and officers gave a religious sanction to vice. Some of the padres had children by different women in different villages and publicly recognized them.
"They told us," said a Ohamoro, "to do as they said and not as they did."
The religious history of the island is interesting and sadly pathetic.
In 1668, Mariana of Austria, Queen Regent of Spain and widow of Philip IV., contributed 25,000 pesos from the public treasury and sent Roman Catholic missionaries to evangelize the Ladrones. Diego Luis de Sanvatores arrived in Guam with six religiosos in 1669, and so vig- orously did they prosecute their work that, according to the Spanish historian, "they taught and baptized 6,000 persons during the first
1902J THE ISLAND OF GUAlI AND ITS PEOPLE
year." Padre Diego was indefatigable in his labors, scarcely giving himself time to eat or sleep, carrying his message into all parts, instructing and baptizing multitudes, especially little children. He was slain after three years by a native chief for baptizing his child without his consent, and was posthumously honored with the title: " The Apostle of the Marianas." His associates continued the work after his death, and in the course of time all the islanders became Roman· Catholics.
Here was a fine opportunity to teach the Chamoros a spiritual religion, the pure Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and had they done 80 the subseql1ent history of the island would have honored the Spa n ish name; but they' chose rather to modify the mes- sage and adapt it to the low state of intelligence of the people. The re- sult is a form of heathen- ism shorn of some of its repulsive features, but still ignorant, false, and degrading. Image and picture worship are now well-nigh universal. In practically every house there is a shrine with an image or picture of Christ and Mary and some of the saints, candles are lighted before them, CHAMOROS OF THE BETTER CLASS and prostrations are made precisely as is done in heathen lands. In a little pamplet, the only book yet published in the Chamoro language, instructions are given for a pr!tyer to be recited before the image of a former priest of this island. Mary is more worshiped than Jesus, and in one of their common oaths-they are very profane-they use the names of Jesus, Joseph, and Mary in one breath.
Prayers to. ~he Virgin Mary and other saints, called the" Novena,"
are chanted by the women and children (men seldom taking any active part) for nine successive· evenings at stated times in given neighborhoods, each successive evening chanting being at a different house. The prayers are in Spanish, and, according to the chanters'
BUILDING USED FOR PROTESTANT SERVICES IN GUAM own confessions, are not understoorl by the great majority of those . using them. Of singing and prayer as known to Christian people they have little or no conception. The Carmelite Order flourishes here, and belts, blessed by the priest, are worn by nearly all the women and many of the men, with the delusion that if they have them on at death the Virgin Mary will come and take them to heaven. The Virgin Mary is practically looked upon as their savior,.and they hope for salvation not because of faith and a righteous life, or even because they try to imitate her virtues, but because of some superstitous meaning attached to a material object connected with her which the priest has blessed (for a consideration).
How can such people be moral? The fact is they are not moral in any strict sense of that word. Necessarily religion is divorced from morality, and with few exceptions the natives are liars and thieves, low in their social ideas and practises, in mortal dread of ghosts and the devil, and devoid of any of the comforts and restraints of a per- sonal religious life.
Enough has been said to show that, whatever may be said in favor of the Roman Catho~ic Church, it is not truly and thoroughly Chris- tian, and has utterly failed to lead the people to an intelligent knowledge of God and a faithful following of His Son. The Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ as taught by Him, and interpreted, under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, by an intelligent and faithful study of the Holy Scriptures, and preached by Spirit-filled missionaries, has been and is still the" power of God unto salvation" of the peoples of other islands of the Pacific, turning them from darkness to light,
THE ISLAND OF GUAM AND ITS PEOPLE
purifying and elevating social and family life, and creating a public sentiment such as is found in Christian communities all over the world. Christ alone can purify the heart.
There is evidence that not all the people of Guam have been satisfied with the spiritual food they have received; they have been hungry for better things. Prior to 1850 Bibles had been brought here, nobody knows how, possibly by whaling ships, and found their way into a few families, and were read with eagerness by the more earnest men. People long deprived of the Word of God, when once they have tasted of this Bread of Life, hunger for more, and usually are eager to have their friends partake-like other good things that are more enjoyed when shared with others. The reading of the Bible spread among the people, and finally knowl~dge of this reached the priest's ear; then priest and ruler combined to stop it. Diligent search was made for the Bibles, and three large baskets of them were publicly burned in the plaza about 1856. Some successfully hid their Bibles and have them still. One remarkable man, Jose Taitano, who has been reading the Book of books for many years, was long ago convinced that there was a better way than that he had learned from the priests, but he was perplexed. The government and the Church were against him, and it was a public misdemeanor to disobey the orders of the priests. So he waited and did nothing, only he discarded the grosser superstitions, such as the wearing of Carmelite belts and other charms and amulets, and hoped and prayed for deliverance. There may have been others like him, but for the most part the people had W!lE~ THlli J'ROTEBTANT SIIlRVICEij .utE lIEW IN GUAl!
yielded to the iuevitable, and remained subject to the priest and ruler, thinking there was no eye to pity and no arm to save.
On June 24, 1898, the Oharleston took possession of Guam for the United States, and the death-knell for political oppression and religious stultification was sounded. God's eye had pitied and His arm had brought salvation. 'Two natives of Guam who had lived many years in the United States and Honolulu, and had become earnest Christians, Joe and Luis Castino, when they heard that de- liverance had come to the i r people, were moved to return to their native island and t ell the "old, old story." On their arrival Mr. Taitano welcomed them, and with his large family of six girls and four boys openly united with them. The priest threatened them, telling them that they were still under Spanish law, and would be punished as soon as the Amer- icans left. But the Americans did not leave, and opposition only made these men more earn est. A daughter of Luis Castino, an earnest Christian of strong char- GOVERNOR SCHROEDER, GUAM acter, who had been well educated in the Honolulu schools, opened a schDol for teaching English, and has prosecuted her work with great ;patience, energy, and success. She is .a good musician, and by playing :the organ renders valuable assistance at the religious services.
Major KeIton, of the Marine Corps, associated with Q-overnor J.Jeary during his term of office, conducted services for the marines and natives, first at the barracks and later at a private house. He did much to encourage and strengthen the little band of believers. He was transferred before the missionaries arrived on the fi eld, but sent a letter, which they received at Honolulu, expressing joy that they were coming andregret that he could not be at hand to welcome them.
t~" On , November 27, 1900, the first American Protestant mission- atiesarrived in Guam, and found this little company of twelve Chris- tians. :Governor Schroeder, whose family joined him at that time, ;,had been attending the evening services with these simple worshipers, ~nd he and his family have been regular attendants at the Sunday evening services and mid-week meetings ever since. The governor is not the reconstructionist and reformer that Governor Leary was, but is a better ruler. He is deeply interested in the welfare of the people, just and honorable in the administration of his office, and of high character both in private and public life. He is a kind man, and beloved by the people.
Officers and a few of the marines also attend the evening services, and the number of the Chamoros is increasing. A young people's society, embracing in its membership all the Prot~stant Christians on the island who desire to identify themselves with Christian work, holds a meeting every Sunday evening. Some of these give conclusive evidence that they have been bol'll again.
Our difficulty now is to find a room large enough for our services. There is no available place in Agana for such services, and we await only the gift of some one interested in the Lord's work here to enable ns to purchase land and build a chapel. Our room is overcrowded and very uncomfortable in this warm climate. Many stand out on the street and listen to the singing, but we can not invite Jhem in because there is no room.
It seems to us that no people, even ·in the untouched i~lands of the Carolines, ever needed the Gospel more than these people do. The American Board is seeking to give them the Gospel, and by the side of the American flag to plant the blood-stained banner of the Son of G, od.
THE MISSIONARY OUTLOOK IN ASIA A Round-Table Discussion of the Far East SOME OF THE OPEN DOORS BY REV. W. E. WITTER, M.D. District Secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union, Boston The American Baptist Missionary Union has never before, in all the eighty-eight years of its remarkable history, faced so many wide open doors, or received such repeated and imperative calls to enter and possess vast fields for God. Rev. W. M. Upcraft, recently returned to our West China Mission, writes: "There are many calls, and open doors were never so widely open nor so many as now. At both Yachau .and Kiating there will be baptisms (D. V.) in the eighth moon. We need help, and if you have not already sent men, is it too much to ask that some be sent at once? It is far to come and toilsome, but once herA there is unbounded opportunity and unlimited welcome." We are glad to say that a few who faced death for the sake of the Name in that region are hastening back to those unbounded opportunities and unlimited welcomes.
No more importunate calls ever came from any part of the world for the immediate thrusting in of the sickle and reaping unto life
eternal than have been coming for months from our representatives in the Philippine Islands. Rev. O. W. Briggs writes; "On a recent Sunday I baptized forty-three at J aro. We also organized our church and celebrated the Lord's Supper. There are literally hundreds· of candidates. The work is growing daily like the Ohurch after Pentecost." One of Mr. Briggs' recent letters to the rooms was accompanied by a document containing the full name, age, etc., of 7,934 people, with thirty-five headmen or chiefs who desire to abandon Rome and go over to the Protestant faith.
From the inland seas of Japan, Oaptain Luke Bickel, of our Gospel ship, writes of having reached sixty-two islands with some three hundred and fifty towns and villages, and giving their first message of the Gospel to over forty thousand souls during the last twelve months. All this work has been simply thrust upon him through the eagerness of the people to hear the Gospel.
From Burma, Assam, and Southern India and from Africa come similar appeals for more laborers with the promise of abundant harvests, and we are glad to say that individuals here and there, and numbers of our churches, are hastening to the rescue. To illustrate, we have been having special prayer in our rooms in Boston for money with which to advance our work in the Philippines, and the Lord has signally answered our intercessions by sending us an offering from a hitherto unknown friend of $2,000; an application for appointment as a missionary from a man pecularly qualified to take up the work there; the offer of $200 from a wealthy woman if a new missionary shall be sent, and $1,400 from the Pacific coast for the support of the work there on its present basis.
The outlook is as bright as the promises of God. All that is needed are eyes to see the brightness and hearts filled with the passion of the Ohrist to embrace these opportunities and rejoice in the speedy fulfilment of the irrevocable Word, " A nation in a day."
ARE MISSIONS IN TURKEY WORTH WHILE?
BY REV. HENRY O. DWIGHT, D.D. Missionary of the American Board, Constantinople Lately a question has come up many times as to the good policy of persisting in missions in the Turkish empire. Is not Turkey a Mohammedan country, impervious to Ohristian ideas? Do not the difficulties which confront missionaries there justify shaking off the dust of our feet against the land, and turning our attention to less stony fields? But we need to bear in mind the distinction between closed doors and doors that are hard to open. Jesus Ohrist lets no mere difficulty weigh when the question is of saving men and giving them manhood. The history of missions does not show that obstacles
THE MISSIONARY OUTLOOK IN ASIA
are a valid excuse for failure to persevere in the Lord's enter- prises.
If this were not true as to missions in 'l'urkey, God would not have set upon them the seal of His blessing. No other mission of the American Board has rendered such return for labor expended. Some thousands of earnest, consistent Ohristians are trying to live in Ohrist, and to labor for Him in various parts of the empire. Within a decade multitudes of the people have been moved with amazement at the brave, patient manliness shown by these Ohristians during the out- break which involved them in a bloody tragedy without hope of escape. In place of the old type of Ohristianity, which was an out- ward show and an empty name, a new type has attracted the attention of the non-Ohristian population. A distinct movement toward a better spiritual state has begun to show itself among people and priests in the Eastern Ohurch. The Bible has been put into all the languages of the country, and no other book sells so well. Had the mission press the means, it could lead and, for a long time, control the revival of literature, which is sure to come. More and more the young of all classes of the population are placed in the mission schools with avowal" by their parents of the wish to have their children learn the secret of sturdy character, and clean living. Even among the non- Ohristian part of the population some have acknowledged Jesus Ohrist as Lord 'and Master, proving that they are not impervious to Ohristian ideas.
The whole Ohurch of Ohrist should seek to comprehend the mean- ing of God's evident blessing upon this far-reaching enterprise. In the presence of any Philistine giant with a loud-mouthed challenge, the Ohristians line of action is not flight, but greater trust in the Lord of Hosts. When the disciples of Jesus Ohrist stand appalled, asking why they can not cast out the evil spirit, the Master tells them to-day, as of old, "This kind goeth not out, but by prayer." Unless we read wrongly the history and present state of this field, what is demanded of the Ohurch at home respecting the work in Turkey is increase of interest, more fervent prayer for the power of the Holy Spirit to rest upon the workers, and a determination steadfastly to press the under- taking until the end. .
THE OUTLOOK IN BURMA BY F. D. PHINNEY, RANGOON, BURMA Supt. of the Press; American Baptist Missionary Union, 1882- The outlook in Burma was never brighter. Evangelistic work never met with a more welcome reception than at the present. Buddhism is so diametrically opposite to Ohristianity that it is impossible, except under the direct influence of the Holy Spirit, to get the truth lodged in the heart of its followers. A godless religion, a vicarious
atonement unthinkable, and a Savior of mankind an impossibility, it takes much time to displace the beliefs of centuries with a belief in God, forgiveness of sins, and a Savior who died that we might live. Yet to-day the Burmans are discussing these things, and the missionary and the native evangelist have snch interested audiences as lIever before. Yet the harvest still lingers, and the cry still goes up for more laborers to be sent forth into the harvest.
Educational work progresses, and in the great majority of mission schools is distinctively Christian. The results are seen in frequent conversions of pupils, even of those from non-Christian families.
The Christian Karen commllnity, noted for its self-reliance in the matter of self-sllpport, is going on to better things, and their own foreign missionaries are proving the power of God in their work among the wild and rude Kachins of the far northern part of Bllrma; and among the Shans of the Shan country to the northeast; and away among" the dispersion" of their own race in Northern Siam.
The outlook is now more evidently true-tho not a whit more true-than when Dr. Judson said of it: "Prospects in Burma are bright as the promises of God."
AMONG THE KARENS BY REV. E. N. HARRIS, SHWEGYIN, BURMA American Baptist Missionary Union, 1893- Seldom does the principle of the reflex influence of missions on the churches sustaining them have happier illustration than in the recent history of the Shwegyin (pronounced Shway-jin, with the accent on the last syllable) Karen Mission, of Burma. For about a quarter of a century this mission has been conducted on a self-supporting basis, all the pastors, churches, and schools, including even the head school at Shwegyin tOWll, being maintained exclusively by the contributions of the native Christians, and, altho it is one of the smaller of the Karen missions, it has long been regarded as one of the most successful, considered from the point of view of the spirituality, consecration, and general efficiency of the native membership. But about three years ago, at the suggestion of the missionary, yet altogether without assistance or even supervision from him, certain mission extension plans were inaugurated for the purpose of reaching more effecti vely the heathen popUlation of the field. First the native churches selected several of their best men to start substations ~t three points outside Shwegyin and contiguous to large heathen settlements (one of them being entirely beyond the circle of the churches and so constitl!ting practically a foreign mission), and furnished the money for the purchase of land on which to locate them. Then buildings were put up, and schools started both at the three sub-stations and at such neighboring heathen villages as would receive teachers, and a vigorous evangelistic campaign organized. The result has been a remarkable gain in all departments of the work. The attendance at the town school has increased about fifty per cent., while the entire number of pupils connected with the various schools under the care of the churches has about doubled. Before the new plans were inaugurated there were forty-five churches, but now the number is fifty-three. At that time the average annual number of additions to the churches by confession was about one hundred, but last year there were one hundred and sixty-nine. While the contributions for all objects aggregated about Rs. 7,500 ($2,500) for the year 1R98-and that was thought to be a large sum for the 1,800 Ohristians in their poverty to raisefor the year 1899 it was over Rs. 10,000, and for 1900, statistics for which have recently come to hand, over Rs. 14,000, nearly a twofold increase in two years' time. It is probably safe to say that during the last three years the efficiency and prosperity of the churches and of the whole mission have doubled. Thus we see that just as missions are indispensable to the highest prosperity of our churches on the home field here in America, so missionary enterprise is indispensable to the highest prosperity of our churches on the mission field itself.
THE MISSIONARY SITUATION IN CHINA BY REV. J. FRAZER SMITH, M.D.
Canadian Presbyterian Mission, China During the past eighteen months those most interested in the spread of the Gospel have had ample cause for alarm, owing to the difficulties that have arisen in different pq.rts of the world, which have seriously interfered with the regular work of very many missionary societies. Notwithstanding this fact, a careful survey of the whole situation is most reassuring, and should convince all, and especi~lly those who rest securely on the promises of God, that never was the missionary outlook more hopeful than at the present time.
As regards the situation in Ohina, even those who have given the subject the most careful consideration, and who have the widest and most intimate knowledge of the country and the people, are much divided in opinion as to what the probable outcome may be. It should be remembered, however, that for several years past the general feeling on the part of many was that an upheaval of some kind was inevitable. The reas'on for this is not far to seek. The terrible indifference of the Ohinese; their intense pride; their obstinate ignorance; their avarice and deceit, as well as their extreme conservatism and utter contempt for anything and everything foreign, have long been recognized as almost insuperable barriers to the evangelization of that great nation. Add to this the fact that this apathetic and paralyzed condition was felt to be due, to a large extent, to the rottenriess of the whole social fabric, and you have sufficient cause, not only for the tur-
moil of the past, but also, to the extent to which the above conditions still maintain, for anxiety for the future.
At the same time it is freely admitted on all hands that China will never return to the old condition of affairs again, and so far as this is a settled fact we have great reason to thank God, and with renewed energy press on in the glorious work. Besides, there is still another outcome of the trouble in China which is most encouraging. Never before, perhaps, in so short a period of time, has the Church at home been called upon to exercise so much patience, resignation, and faith in regard to her work abroad. The imminent danger of the mission- aries of so many different denominations has deepened the spirit of . prayer in the Church at large, and has broadened the spirit of Chris- tian brotherhood which is so desirable. In this way many half-hearted Christians in the home land have become enthusiastic workers. Then the fact that so many native Christians were faithful even unto death has caused the Church of God throughout the world to believe in the power of the Gospel and the value of missionary effort as never before.
THE OUTLOOK IN NORTH CHINA BY REV. COURTENY H. FENN Missionary of the American Presbyterian Church, Peking, 1893-1900 Missionaries, business men, railroad promoters, mining engineers, all returning to their old haunts throughout the greater part of the Chinese empire; edicts of toleration and protection of foreign teachers and teaching; proclamations of educational and political reform; a consequent increasing demand-like that of 1898 and bound to be greater-for Western books, scientific training and inventions; indemni~ies for the losses of missionaries and native Christians paid locally and long in advance of the general indemnity; funeral rites for the martyrs of Paotingfu attended largely by the gentry of the place, and a new mission site presented by the gentry and people of the same city, on their own initiative, to the American Presbyterian Mission; personal letters from native officials to various Protestant missionaries, expressing their grateful appreciation of the reasonableness of indemnity claims, and the total absence of the- spirit of revenge from the negotiations in this matter; the more respectful and receptive attitude of the people toward the preaching of the Gospel in many places-all these things are U signs of the times," and afford great encouragement to those who hope that the better day for China is already dawning. It is doubtless true that there are occasional signs of continued unrest, and rumors of other gathering storms; that the empress dowager has been allowed by foreign powers to retain the supreme imperial authority, and that she is probably no more enthusiastically pro-foreign than before her humiliating flight to Hsi An Fu; that the bulk (I use the term advisedly) of Ohinese officialdom is still intensely conservative, and would like to see Ohina forever free from foreign influence; and that there are still some who are mad enough to think it possible; yet 1 believe Ohina is prepared, more than she ever has been before, for an aggressive forward movement to proclaim the pure Gospel of Jesus Ohrist as the only tonic for the weakness which has been laid bare, and the only hope for the regeneration of a nation whose hoary age has been dishonored by individual selfishness, social foulness, political rottenness, and a national pride whose self-deception has rendered it the laughing-stock of the world. Ohina's chief lack in the past has been that of vision. She was blind, yet thought she saw. At length her eyes have begun to open, after the severest operation of the ages. Now that the bandages are being removed and the optic nerve is accustoming itself to the strong light, there is hope of a cure. What Ohina is to see with this new strong vision is largely for the Ohurch in America to determine, for never so much as now has Ohina realized that America is her best friend.
THE OUTLOOK IN JAPAN BY REV. J. C. DAVISON, NAGASAKI, JAPA1J Missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church The present outlook in Japan is certainly very encouraging and especially gratifying to those whose hearts have been enlisted through long years of active service on the field. The remarkable spiritual results of the recent special evangelistic efforts in connection with the Twentieth Oentury Movement furnish abundant proof of a condition favorable to even greater harvests still to come.
Directly conducive of these blessed results have been the systcmatic and united labors of missionaries, Japanese pastors, and lay workers who with earnest prayer, practical preaching, personal exhortation, and wholesale distribution of religious tl'Mts and Scripture portions seized the hour ripe for the manifestation of God's grace ready to be revealed after the patient waiting and continued seedsowing through years of icy indifference and wilful neglect, Of the more indirectly related causes may be noted: 1. The general sense of relief to the national mind resulting from the successful termination of the long-disturbing question of treaty revision, together with a pardonable complacency over the recognition by foreign nations of Japan's just merits as a naval and military power, since both have contributed in no small degree to the revival of a more cordial feeling toward foreigners, and willingness to listen to the Gospel message, 2. The present favorable opportunity for influencing the enlarged numbers of students entering our mission school, an event made
possible by reason of the changed attitude of the educational authorities on the question of religious instrnction, together with the removal of certain disabilities, to which the students of all private schools were formerly subjected.
3. The steady growth of Christian ideas manifest in the literature of the present day, the subject being kept constantly before the reading public.
4. The ad vance in self-support, far in excess of the relative growth in church-membership, and in some places even in spite of reduced numbers.
The temptation to accept more lucrative employment in secular life, consequent upon the general expansion subsequent to the war with China (1894-1895), and the issues growing out of the Boxer uprising and the acquisition of the Philippines by the United States, has resulted in a great scarcity- of encouraging candidates for the ministry, yet it is to hoped that as a result of the recent quickening efficient workers may be forthcoming in numbers adequate to the needs of the Church. God speed the day of Japan's redemption I THE OUTLOOK IN KOREA BY REV. W. B. SCRANTON, M.D.
Superintendent Methodist Episcopal Mission, Korea Korea, or rather Tai Han, the Great Han country, as they now prefer to call it, has come into the view of the world to stay. She is situated as a near neighbor to Japan, and is closing her second decade of intercourse with Western powers. During this period she has had foreign representatives continuously at her court, foreign advisers and many instructors of one sort and another in her employ and pay at the capital, and an energetic body of missionaries in the field. It is natural to ask, What impression have all these made, and what is the outlook?
At the capital the streets have been widened and lighted with electricity, and electric cars give the people some idea of the rapidity of modern progress. A steam railway connects the western port (Chemulpo) with the capital, and concession has been granted to the Japanese to lay three hundred and fifty miles of railroad from the most southern port (Fusan) to Seoul, and a further concession has been made to the French for a like length of road from the capital to the far northwest border at We-ju. These roads are but the forerunners and provoking- instruments of trade and of development of native resources.
Attempts have been made, especially aided by the Japanese, to put the Korean government on a better plane of administration, to give the country laws and better civil courts, and to open schools for general and special education. In one of the latter departments a humiliating but encouraging sign recently was an attempt on the part of some of the students to obtain redress from the government for the time and money expended without receiving the educational advantages which the government had promised to them. There is now a demand for real practical instruction along every line.
Protestant converts now number a ronnd ten thousand and more. Romanists have not been idle, and number forty·two thousand odd, as the result of not quite two hundred years of sowing and care.
What is the outlook? I answer, in the first place, it never was more encouraging than at the present. The opportunities for work, to say nothing of the needs for teaching, in all departments are far beyond the power of the force in the field.
And, second, this body of converts and adherents is now sufficiently large to affect thought and morals in the various communities where they are. Christianity has already become a force that must be reckoned with, and which will influence the further development of the country. Christianity closes markets on the Sunday, purifies the family relations, makes clean bodies and minds, brings honesty into business relations, fidelity in official positions, gives hopefulness in life, brings comfort in sorrow and victory in death. To give one illustration only: The mourners wailing, so sad and lugubrious and always present in the homes where death has entered, now has given place in all the Christian homes of the land to the singing of our Christian hymns of comfort. They use them in the services at the house, along the road as they go to the grave, and as a parting to the loved ones. Ohristianity in Korea" bringeth forth fruit as it doth in you since the day ye heard of it and knew the grace of God in truth."
The third sign of hopefulness, as I see it, is the live interest the Christians are taking in their church relations, and the sense of responsibility which is growing upon them, both in temporal and spiritual matters. We have churches where the avemge yearly contributions range from twenty-five cents to one dollar (gold) per capita.
Spiritually the people themselves are inquiring after the deeper life. The discouragements which we meet along this line are not a . ·few, but when there are individuals who are seeking after the deep things of God, such individuals in such churches furnish us great cause for rejoicing, and this is the case in many instances.
Lastly, the hardest for the missionary, but really a most encouraging condition of things, is the eagerness for instruction on the part of his flock. Their question drawer has no bottom. Their interest has no surcease, and their pursuit of the missionary never remits until from sheer physical exhaustion he has to leave the country for "'a quiet place apart" to gain the necessary relief.
MISSIONARY OUTLOOK IN INDIA BY REV. HENRY MANSELL, D.D., MUSSOORI, INDIA Missionary. of the Methodist Episcopal Mission since 1863 India, where" God has manifested His eternal power and Godhead," contains nearly three hundred million inhabitants, practically all idolators. Nine hundred years of Mohammedan misrule, intolerance, and iconoclasm could not break down idolatry which Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism have failed to reform.
1. What the British government has done.-More than a hundred years ago British supremacy began, bringing every influence except military and legal force against it. The government was tolerant of all religions except Ohristianity, and was an object-lesson against theocracies, and in favor of monotheism and sterling honesty and truthfulness in government. Since the government of India after the mutiny was transferred from the company to the crown the British government, without ostensibly propagating Ohristianity or violating the strictest neutrality and toleration, does in every principle and act give silent and speaking testimony. against idolatry and in favor of Ohristianity. She builds school-houses all over the country, and establishes practically free common-school education, and grants aid to mission schools of all denominations. She has a university in every presidency for students of all races, creeds, and castes. She builds churches and chapels, and supports chaplains for her own Ohristian servants, and grants aid also for non-conformist chaplains.
She gives decisions in all the superior and lower courts in accordance with strict justice, without favor to any caste, creed, or religion. Her civil codes are on the basis of the 'ren Oommandments. All these principles of Ohristian science, religion, and law testify without force of government against idolatry and in favor or Ohristianity.
She builds railroads (twenty-five thousand miles already operated), digs canals for irrigation (thirteen and a half million acres irrigated) to guard against famines, has public work-shops for all machinery, factories for every fabric, engineering colleges, technical schools, and model farms and gardens.
2. What the missionaries have done.-It is only a little over one hundred years since the first missionaries went to India, and they have translated the Scriptures into the languages of Oeylon, India, Tibet, Burma, and the Straits islands. With the aid of other English scholars they have written grammars and lexicons of all the languages of India and adjacent countries. They have written histories of India, from the earliest times. They have written extensively on the religions and religious observances, and the manners and' customs of the people. They have established mission schools and colleges, and written and translated text-books for them in science and history. They have preached in the streets, bazars, and religious festivals, as well as in the villages, city wards, and private houses of the people. They have established printing-presses and publishing houses for Bibles, tracts, and religious books, and written commentaries on the Scriptures, and books for the growing churches. They have built hospitals and dispensaries, orphanages and asylums for the blind, the lepers, etc. In fact, they have done every kind of missionary and evangelistic work.
3. Some reslllts.-I have not the report of the last census, but am sure we have at least three million Protestant converts in the seventy missionary societies. Our own Methodist mission, one of the youngest of the larger societies, after only forty-four years' work, has one hundred and twenty-five thousand of a Christian community, ninety-four thousand Sunday-school scholars, thirty-four thousand day and boarding .school scholars, twelve thousand Epworth Leaguers, one hundred and fifty-six ordained native ministers, and three thousand six hundred and forty-seven educated and trained native teachers, pastor teachers, and workers of all grades. We have church propertychurches, parsonages, school and college buildings, printing-presses, hospitals, etc., worth $1,400,000. We report about twenty thousand baptisms a year. Other societies show larger statistics.
4. There are mission centres and flourishing native Christian churches for all the great societies in all the capitals of the presidencies and provinces in India, and mission stations in all the commercial and religious centers in India, Burma, and Ceylon.
There are many millions of the people who have acquired an English education in mission and government colleges. Hundreds have received degrees in England and thousands in India. All these have had their faith in the unphilosophic teaching of their religions and their idolatrous rites irremediably broken. Millions more have studied in mission and government vernacular schools, heard Christianity preached, read tracts and Scripture portions, and know more of Ohristianity than they do of their own religions, and would embrace it if they could publicly renounce idolatry and receive Christian baptism without being outcasted, with the loss of. all social and financial standing; while multiplied thousands of the unlettered, depressed classes-India's dumb millions-are beseeching missionaries of all missions to make them Christians, who would baptize thousands a day if they had funds to employ pastor teachers to indoctrinate them and teach their children to read and write.
The Brahma and Arya somajes are two great theistic societies. formed to oppose idolatry and provide a half-way house for those who believe in Christianity, but have not the courage to break caste and embrace it.
The orthodoJ: Hindus are forming societies to dissuade their young
intelligent men from embracing Ohristianity. There is a large and growing society to promote the remarriage of widows. The Rajputana States have decided to oppose the consummation of marriage till the bride has reached the age of fourteen. Besilles all this, there is, through the influence of education, manufactures, commerce, railway communication, and enterprise, a rapid rise in civilization on Ohristian types, beyond that of any other country. The India of today is not the India of forty years ago. There is now the utmost cordiality between the missionaries of all denominations and the natives of all grades and castes from the rajah to the sweeper.
We have all the aforementioned tabulated and untabulated results in hand where one hundred years ago there was everything against us and only God with us. We have better educated and equipped missionaries than we had forty years ago, and since thirty years ago the noble bands of women. We have all missionaries, European and native, and all helpers and laymen praying for the baptism of power for the twentieth century forward movement. We have all Epworth League chapters and Christian Endeavor societies formed into evangelistic praying-bands. Ohristianity banished idolatry from Europe in three hundred years. Our outlook of faith and hope is that India will be a Ohristian empire before the twentieth century ends. Hallelujah, the Lord Ohrist reigneth!
THE NEW CENTURY OUTLOOK IN PERSIA BY REV. BENJAMIN LABAREE, D.D., URUMIA, PERSIA Missionary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions A hundred years ago Persia was scarcely allowed a place at all in any forecast of the new century's march, and now, at the close of that stirring period, no review of its history shows that such spirit of prophecy then was at fault. But here on the threshold of the twentieth cen"tury we dare not rate the influence of Persia on the near future of the world so low down in the scale as her tecord in the past one hundred years has been. Oonditions have changed rapidly within the last fifty years. New importance has come to be attached to Persia's political relations. They are assuming new shape already. Long into the nineteenth century English influence was in" the ascendant in all the political counsels of Persia; but for some time past Russian diplomacy has taken its place. Beyond question her future is to be closely allied with the aggressive policy of her powerful neighbor on the north. The die is cast in this respect, seemingly beyond recall. And undoubtedly the religious destiny of Persia is intimately bound up with the coming political development. Yet in this line there are factors of independent force which demand to be
THE NEW CENTURY OUTLOOK IN PERSIA
considered, inheritances from more than two-thirds of a century of Protestant missionary work that must be properly estimated and taken into account. We ask then, What are the religious signs of the times in Persia? What are the tokens of the coming of the Redeemer's kingdom in this compact Mohammedan state? What agencies are making for the ultimate triumph of Christianity? ·What is the bequest of the nineteenth century in this line to its impetuous successor? In order that we may answer these urgent questions and know just where the Christian Church stands to-day toward this empire, let us look at the preparatory work already done, examine the foundations on which the new century is to rear its structure, and judge as to the forces on which reliance may be placed for the definite advance of Christianity in the years before us.
MISSIONARY BEGINNINGS IN PERSIA We need not go back beyond the reach of a lifetime to meet with the beginnings of modern missionary operations in Persia. A full third of the nineteenth century had passed before its benign mis- sionary touch had started into life the new order of religious condi- tions which now so widely prevail throughout the land. The dawn of some new spiritual life might, perhaps, have been augured in the very beginning of the century, when, in the unfolding of the Divine plan, Henry Martyn prepared his translation of the New Testament in the Persian language, and a little later on the Old Testament was rendered into the same mellifluous speech by the venerable Andrew Glen, of Scotland. Yet these all-important fountains of light were sealed up, as it were, for scores of years, no one coming forward to open the way for them out into the deep Mohammedan darkness of the nation. Nominal Christian churches, Nestorian and Armenian, had for centu- ries been allowed a languishing existence in the land, but long since had they ceased to give out any true guiding light as to the way of life through Christ. Spiritual gloom and death engulfed the peoples of -the land. One-third of the century passed, with its faithful recor~ of apathy and neglect on the part of the Church, before missionary work was actually begun here. Then it was to the desolated fragments of the Nestorian Church that the Spirit of the Lord directed the awakened interest of certain churches in America.
The year 1835 marked the arrival at U rumia of those pioneer apostles of the American Board of Boston, Messrs. Perkins and Grant, and the inauguration by them of systematic efforts to kindle new spiritual fire on the ashes of this once famous missionary church. Again, as so often of old, did God signalize the mystery of His doings by the choosing of a "remnant" in which to magnify His power. For long it was a day of small things, materially and spiritually. The work of education, for bishops and priests and youth, began very humbly in a
cellar, which in part remains until to-day a suggestive landmark in our mission history. At the same time the resources of the beneficent healing art were stored in a small closet. Now; in the progress of more than sixty years, that cellar school has reared its head aloft and expanded into a modest college, choicely situated, with its several departments, academic, theological, and medical; while the cupboard dispensary has gradually become transformed into a beautiful hospital, whose fame has filled the land. Moreover, both college and hospital have been in some shape or other reproduced in other centers of mis- sionary work in the kingdom.
This development in material things has a striking counterpart in the spiritual tranformation which has taken place. The years 1847 and 1848 was an era of notable spiritual expansion in this century of mISSIOns. It was a new creative day. Upon the long-prevailing void and waste of true religion dawned the light of God. At once new views of sin, of the love of God, of Christ as a Savior from personal guilt, of true Christian character, of the reality of prayer, and of genuine Christian communion broke on the horizon of relig- ious thought and experience to these descendants of the early church of Antioch. And what the Spirit of God so signally inaugurated at that time, He has cherished and prospered through the suc- ceeding years. The marks of a Divine continuity are conspicuous all down the march of the mission's record. For one who is at all famil- iar with this history it is impossible to regard it as other than a Divine movement, a fulfilment of our Lord's snblime promise of His own efficient presence wherever the Gospel should be preached, and in vital connection with the whole display of Divine power in mission lands throughout the world as the century has rolled on. '1'he steady ingathering of hopefully converted souls.. the development of the Church from early formative conditions to present self-reliance and partial self-support, along with some most significant exhibitions of missionary zeal and self-denial in the nat.ive Church, are unquestion- able tokens of the indwelling presence and power of the Spirit of God. The v.ision of ancient prophecy has often been repeated in thewonder- ful providences attending the progress of missionary operations. The Church at home has made large plans, and the men commissioned by it on the field have counselled and toiled, but over and over have they . both been awed by the sense of some special guidance other than human, shaping their decisions, their labors, and results.
Whithersoever the spirit was to go, they-the living creatures-went; thither was the spirit to go: and the wheels were lifted up beside them; for the spirit of the living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when these stood, these stood, and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up beside them.
It witS uuder such unseen impulses thltt our missionary wheels
were lifted up out of the narrower purpose of preaching salvation to the Nestorians only, and were started upon the broader one of evan- gelizing the other nations of Persia as well. The writer recalls the day and hour, over thirty years ago, when the little band of mission- aries constituting the then mission to the Nestorians, at the solitary station at U rumia, resolved, with a deep consciousness of their respon- sibilityand clear convictions as to the leadings of God, to change their long-cherished name, "The Nestorian Mission," to be thereafter called "'1'he Mission to Persia." Thus they desired to publish to the Church at home, and for their own greater inspiration, their advance to a higher stage of missionary endeavor. On the basis of this wider sweep of evangelistic purpose the appeals went out to the home Church. And with memorable results at once. The appeal was met by a condition of things there wholly unanticipated. Divine Providence, most wonderful in working, had been preparing the way for the very enlargement of plan which the mission was now urging. Stirring events of historic note in the Presbyterian Church in America that same year gradually brought about the transfer of the mission from tenderly cherished relations with the American Board to the fostering care of the Presbyterian Ohurch. The latter assumed the new charge with a full sense of the responsibility, and entered into the spirit of the new ideals of the mission with an enthusiasm born, we believe, of the Holy Spirit. They responded promptly and generously to the plan for evangelistic expansion. Men and women and funds were liberally offered in order to extend the line of operations.
The mission speedily felt the pulsations of a new life. But a few years elapsed and the spirit of life in the wheels had carried the living missionaries, with all necessary equipment for aggressive work, to the strategic centers, Teheran, Tabriz, and Hamadan. In these the new aims for larger evangelization have been kept in the foreground, and have been realized probably in a fuller measure than in the original Nestorian field. Christ, the only Savior of mankind, has been widely preached throughout large regions, in cities and towns, from peasant's hut to prince's palace; to Armenian, Israelite, and MOhammedan. And the printed Scriptures have been made to reach a still greater number. To how many this preaching has been unto their souls'salvation, only the Book of Life contains the record. We know it is a number very precious to the glorified Ohrist. Years ago the venerable pioneer of Persia missions wrote back as he was parting from the shores of Asia, "Heaven will not know sweeter songs of praise than those sung by redeemed Nestorians." Since then there have been added to the celestial chorus voices, no less melodious, of Armenians, Jews, and Mohammedans, redeemed by a joyous faith in the J..Jamb which taketh away the sins of the world.
(To be conclttded)
ZIONISM AND CHRISTIANITY BY REV. DAVID BARON,LONDON, ENGLAND There is a great deal of eager speculation among Zionists and in anti-Zionist circles through the Diaspora as to what revelations will be made by the president in his opening address at the Zionist Con- gress in Basel (December 26-29). Especial interest is felt in what Dr. Herzl will say in reference to his historical interviews with the sultan last May, and as to the attitude of the other powers to the progrant formulated at the first congress, the chief item of which is to strive to procure for the Jewish people "an openly recognized and- legally assured home in Palestine."
It is certainly very significant that the head and founder of politi- cal Zionism should have been received on three succeeding days by the Sultan of Turkey to prolonged audiences lasting several hours each time, and should have been decorated with the grand cordon of the Medjidie, one of the highest orders in the gift of the Ottoman sov- ereign. This leads us to believe that the question of a return of the Jews to the land of their fathers is now well within the range of prac- tical politics. .
As a matter of fact, the Zionist movement has a very sympathetic support of some of the European sovereigns, the foremost of whom is the Emperor of Germany. He was won for Zionism through the me- diation of his uncle, the Grand Duke of Baden, who is a pious Christian and a sincere friend of the Jews. It was through this most excellent prince that Dr. Herzl first gained the ear of William II., who has since 1898 granted several long interviews to the Zionist leader in Berlin, Potsdam, 'ConstantinopYe, and Jerusalem. Certain facts have been communicated to me in confidence, and I have seen with my own eyes certain remarkable private documents, in reference to the attitude of some of the European rulers and princes to the aims of Zionism, which prove to me that there is a great deal more politically behind this movement than even the bulk of even Zionists themselves are aware. At the third congress in Basel, in August, 1899, Dr. Herzlreferred to the, significance of the emperor's public reception of a deputation of Zion- ists in the city of Jerusalem.
There is much from the Christian standpoint to criticise and to lament in the fact that the means proposed for the accomplishment of this great end are entirely material and political; and that, so far, there is an utter forgetfulness of the cause of the long break in Jewish national history, and an ignoring of the words of their own prophets, that though He has doubtless used the nations to carry out His will, it was nevertheless God who scattered Israel on account of sin (Jere- miah xxxi: 10; Amos ix: 9), and therefore, tho He may again use means to gather them, without God, and without repentance, they will
ZIONISM AND CHRISTIANITY
never be restored to blessing. But, even to the Ohristian, Zionism is a movement which must be followed with the deepest interest, for what we are now beginning to see is nothing less than, to nse the title of Professor Heman's book on the subject, "The Awakening of the Jewish Nation," * after a sleep of nineteen centuries. This national awakening, in spite of the dark but short night of trou ble which still lies ahead, I greet as preparatory to the great spiritual awakening of Israel, the issues of which to the world will be as "life from the dead."
It is from this point of view that the Jewish parliament, which is about to assemble for the fifth time, is nothing short of a miracle, which, unknown as yet to the great actors, is brought about by the power of God. Here is a people which for two thousand years has been supposed to be dead, and whom the nations have done their utmost to bury out of sight, who have even said to themselves," Our bones are dried, and our hope is lost; we are cut off from Ollr parts"
(Ezekiah xxxvii: 11), beginning to live and move and to have a cor- porate being. • But tho full of interest as a sign of the awakening of the Jewish nation, and pregnant with hope in relation to Israel's national future, Zionism in the mn-in, in its present fo"rm, is by no means a relig- ious movement, and it becomes more and more apparent that the partial return to Palestine, for which it is a preparation, will be in a condition of unbelief. But this fact should of itself serve to rouse the Ohurch to fresh energy in preaching the Gospel to the Jews, while the nation is still }n dispersion, remembering that tho it may not be given to her to convert Israel as a nation, she has the glorious task entrusted to her of calling out the" remnant according to grace," and it is a grand fact that the proportion of individual Jews who receive Ohrist is continually on the increase. On the question as to the atti- tude of Zionists as a body to Ohristianity, the following extract from a paper read in German by Pastor Bieling, head of the Berlin Society for Israel, at a conference of Jewish missionaries in Oologne may interest the readers of the MISSIONARY REVIEW, tho my own experi- ence among Zionists in different parts of Europe does not leave me to take quite such a gloomy view of the situation. Pastor Bieling says: Zionism, far from making the hearts of the Jewish people more susceptible to the preaching of Christ, has rather the opposite effect of closing them against it. Proof of this is to be found in the utterances of its representatives, in the experiences of missionaries, and in the position assumed by Zionists in relation to Christians in Israel. The correspondence between Max Nordau and Pere Hyacinth, of Paris, which certainly possesses interest, has· been reprinted in various missionary journals. Nordau's reply to the grave and dignified letters of Pere Hyacinth not only betrays that lack of comprehension (If the truths of Christianity which, alas! appears to have become the fashion with the educated, * "Das Erwacben der Jiidiscben Nation."
but constitutes an open attack on it. The assurance that Jesus is in reality hailed with enthusiasm by the Jewish nation as belonging to them, and that Peter will continue to be the only Jew who says to the descendants of David, "I know not the man," does not mislead us. For the Jesus of whom he speaks is but the great Jewish sage by whom the Jewish people has given its religious ideas to the world in form cutdown and adapted to its weak comprehension. He is in nowise the Son of God, the Savior of the world. . . . Max Nordau asserts with all distinctness that the leading representatives and the great majority of the Jewish people are in no way inclined to follow "the Christ of the Gospel of John."
The experience of the Jewish mission confirms this statement. I have corresponded with a number of missionary brethren in reference to this point. The same answer is returned from Russia, Rumania, Galicia, and London, to the effect that Zionism does not in any way influence the Jews in the direction of the Savior, but instead its tend- ency is to harden their hearts against the preaching of the cross.
'rhe following passage occurs in a letter from a brother in .Russia: We missionaries certainly obtain easier access to Jews who are Zionists, especially when we converse with them on their favorite topic, but they are only inclined to listen so long as Zionism is the theme of conversation. If we change the subject to that of the Gospel they become wholly indifferent and wish to hear no more. The Zionist movement is not only no help to the Jewish mission, it is positively a hindrance, for by means of it the Jews become proud and self-conscious, and confirmed in the steady conviction that they are able to obtain their object without Christ. Truly pious Jews are opposed to Zionism. They do not expect deliverance from Herzl and others, but look for a fresh Divine revelation and the sending of the prophet Elijah.
I will not suppress the fact that other of our missionary brethren express themselves somewhat more hopefnlly to the effect that they discover a greater readiness to hear among Zionists. I can myself confirm this statement, but hearing is quite a different thing from receiving, and hearing often comes to an end when the speech concerns the savior from sin. And it may well be that the experience of one brother is the general experience-i.e., that Zionists are not less inimical to the Jewish mission and missionaries than are the Orthodox and Chasoidic Jews. This attitude of aversion to Christianity comes at last clearly to light in the position which Zionists take toward Jewish Ohristians.
The program of Zionism would lead one to imagine that religion might be left a priyate matter, and that Zionists could well endure that Jewish Ohristians should be among them. And, indeed, there are some who, on purely theoretic grounds, see no reason why Jewish Ohristians should be excluded from the new Jewish state. It is worthy of note that these are principally such as have themselves broken away from all religion. In practise, however, the disinclina- tion, the hatred, indeed, to Jewish Ohristians remains the same in all cases. The reason Zionists will not take counsel and cooperate with Jewish Ohristians is the old hatred to Jesus the crucified, which is still far from being overcome.
THE ANTI-PAPAL MOVEMENT IN SPAIN
The development of the Jewish people these 1900 years is known to have been anti-Ohristian, and Zionism is not inclined to forsake this course. It is true that this in nowise hinders it from seeking assist~ ance from Ohristian circles. It was openly acknowledged that one reason which decided the Zionist Oonference to meet in London last year was to obtain the interest of the Bible-loving English. But to draw any hope from this of a nearer approach of Zionism to Ohristianity, or to suppose for a moment that Ohristians, by means of their aid, would acquire any influence with the movement, appears to me mistaken. Undoubtedly, Zionists will welcome the help of Ohristians and be thankful for it, but they will not approach a step nearer to Ohristianityon account of it. Ohristians may relinquish all attempts in this direction to obtain influence with the Jews. Let us not indulge in delusions. Zionism does not incline Jewish hearts to accept the Savior; on the contrary, its effect is rather that of hardening them against Him.
THE ANTI-PAPAL MOVEMENT IN SPAIN BY CHARLES E. FAITHFULL Pastor of the Chamberi Evangelical Cburch, Madrid, Spain Thoughtful observers of important events in Spain during the last thirty-three years can not fail to have been painfully impressed with the backward movement that insiduously but gradually has been enveloping both political and religious-i.e., Roman Oatholic-circles.
This has been specially noticeable since the death of Alphonso XII. in 1885, the fa.th.er of the mere boy who will attain his regal majority next October and ascend the throne under the title of Alfonso XIII. The regency of his mother, estimable as a woman and mother undoubtedly, but eminently ultramontane in thought and purpose, willalways be looked back upon as a sad page in Spanish contemporaneous history -a period of such a retrograde character as to foment discord and sow seeds of class hatred such as will be difficult, if not impossible, to eradicate.
When it is remem bered that the opposition to religious liberty has been in direct opposition to constituted law, there is cause for a wellfounded anxiety, and the inquiry will press itself on the thoughtful mind, What will be the ultimate issue of this struggle?
But in a remarkable way a counter-movement was preparing, and the initiatory step toward its manifestation was, strangely enough, to be taken unwittingly and certainly unwillingly under the regal roof itself. The appearance of some leading articles from the pen of Father Montafia, one of the young king's professors, gave the signal of alarm, and so powerful was public opinion that the queen regent was compelled to dispense with his services-one fact that must suffice to show
the mischief this man was secretly effecting. The religious instruction imparted to his royal pupil was, as may be supposed, of the most advanced type, and, counting perhaps too much on court favor and on the sl~pposed general feeling in the land, he did not hesitate to state that the word" liberty" in matters religious or political was synonymous with sin! Such intolerance, stated also in the articles from his pen, was only an echo of his whole private instruction, and fell like a thunderbolt into the liberal camp. 'l'he challenge afforded was speedily taken up and liberty nobly defended by some and feebly acquiesced in by others less courageous, but culminated in the professor's removal.
But yet further developments were shortly to appear. At a trial, known as the affair Ubao, a nun who, unknown to her parents, had been inveigled into conventual life by a designing Jesuit confessor, became the subject of passionate discussion all over the peninsula, once again stirring up the mud of monastic institutions and afresh revealing this incurable cancer to the public gaze.
How remarkable, how inscrutable, are God's ways! Simul- – taneously with this trial that resulted in the lady obtaining her freedom from a bondage worse than that of Egypt, but into which so mauy earnest but mistaken souls are led, a book appeared that might have been written afterward, so exactly did it fit the case. It was admirably suited to the already excited feelings of the people. I refer to "Electra," from the pen of the prolific and distinguished author of "National Episodes, etc.," Perez "Galdos. The almost phenomenal success of this work, its translation into several languages, and its constant reproduction on the boards of theaters, both in the old and new worlds, show just what was in the public mind and what was calculated to affect it.
In the month of February another event, culminating in a strong expression of opinion, added fuel to the flame and threatened tempo- rarily to disturb public order, not to say the safety of the throne. I allude to the marriage of the Princess of Asturias, elder daughter of the queen regent, with the Count of Caserta. This gentleman's father fought in the ranks of Don Oarlos III the last Carlist war, and therefore was far from being persona grata either at court or in the country. The marriage was ill timed and ill chosen, except perhaps so far as the young princess' personal happiness was concerned, for on every hand it is openly and boldly stated that should anything happen to the young king the country would never consent to his sister ascending the throne. It is easy to perceive that the reason for such outspoken animosity is a latent but well-founded fear that her husband, imbued with Oarlist views, would exercise a deleterious influence and only too surely succeed in tying more tightly the knots of those bands with which the clerical party are ever seeking to hinder progress.
But there has been still another cause for this movement that,
THE A:NTI-PAPAL MOVEMENT IN SPAIN
strictly speaking, is anti-clerical rather than anti-papal. The jubilees ordered to be celebrated in all the churches of the pope's spiritual dominions have been a source of irritation needlessly produced, as there was no poseJble excuse, ,exctlpt that their prestige in the eyes of the faithful would have been diminished, for their going beyond the precincts of the churches. The collisions arising from this ill-advised policy have been lamentable spectacles loudly proclaiming the entire absence of the public good will toward the Church and stirring unnecessarily animosity in those who were already known to be' inimical to her.
From these facts it will readily be conceived that the prevailing feelings of anger and distrust were not likely to subside in view of events in Portugal of a similar character, and especially the energetic action of the French government regarding unauthorized monastic orders. Scarcely had Parliament reopened than a regular avalanche of abuse and invective was heaped upon those who in this law-making. but not law-abiding land had skilfully succeeded in eluding, not to say openly defying, legislation. This strong undercurrent of a deepvented hatred still flows, and will undon btedly pulminate in the application of what was promulgated as law, tho .possibly in such a feeble fashion that erelong the hydra-headed monster will rise again.
Thus far I have briefly traced the origin, character, and extent of this anti-clerical movement. It now only remains to answer the inquiry, What is or will be the result?
For the present it is difficult to prophesy as to the result. The immediate outcome has not so far contributed to any material improvement in the condition of the country, from a religious point of view, nor, indeed, can this be expected. One of the many phenomena constantly forcing themselves on our notice is the similarity to the successive stages of a storm. The premonitory symptoms of discontent and unrest are followed by an outburst of pul5lic indignation, manifested by processions, meetings, angry protests, violent recriminations, and so forth, but, like the fury of the elements, when spent, the calm sncceeds and everything resnmes its former aspect. True, th~ constant repetition must ultimately result in a wearing away of those opposing elements that to-day, even after thirty-three years of comparative liberty, are eating out the vitals of the nation's spiritual life and even her material prosperity.
From a Christian point of view there is but one remedy-the Gospel message permeating the masses, slowly perhaps, but surely, and so disarming prejudice, and calling out, one by one, as from other nations, " a people to His name."
BISHOP HENRY B. WHIPPLE, APOSTLE TO THE INDIANS BY MERRILL E. GATES, LL.D., WASHINGTON, D. O. Secretary of the Board of Indian Commissioners.
"Pax per sanguinem crucis" is the legend on the seal of the first Bishop of Minnesota, and at the foot of the figure of the cross lie a broken tomahawk and the pipe of peace. The name of Henry B.
Whipple became known to the whole country when the bishop who bore it fearlessly denounced the deeds of injustice on the part of the whites which preceded the Sioux outbreak, in 1862. He says: " When I entered upon the episcopate, in 1859, I determined that, God being my helper, it should never be said that the first Bishop of Minnesota turned his back npon the heathen at his door!"
He was the loving and tender preacher of the Gospel to these" men of the restless eye and the wandering foot;"
and he was also the fearless, outspoken champion of their rights. He stood for fair j u d g men t of Indians by whites even when fear, sus- picious jealousy, and local hatred were most intense.
" In his death," says a , mSHOP HENRY ll. WHrppLj: London religious j ou rna 1, " the Protestant Episcopal Ohurch in the United States of America loses unquestionably one of its most picturesque personalities, as well as the member of her epis- copate who was the best known in England. He will be remembered by posterity as the steadfast champion of the North American Indians."
The pioneer in missions must be an evangelist with a passionate love of souls. He should also be a statesman in his broad and clear com- prehension of the relation of his work to the civilization and the good government of the people among whom he works. The history of missions shows so many instances in which these two qualities have distinguished missionary workers, that one who studies the work of missions with affectionate interest comes to look upon this twofold endowment as the especial gift of God, again and again bestowed upon great missionary leaders. Is it not true that the habit of studying God's Word with the unselfish aim of making its great lessons useful
BISHOP HENRY B. WHIPPLE, APOSTLE TO THE INDIANS
to masses of men and women, tends directly to the breadth of view and unselfishness in action which civilized nations now regard as " statesman-like"? "The entrance of Thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple."
Bishop Whipple had this twofold endowment for the work of a missionary leader. He was a tender and passionate preacher of the gospel of the love of God in Ohrist. He was deeply and mightily moved in his heart to make Ohrist known to those who were indifferent and without hope. Especially did he care for the working people in Ohristian communities and those heathen whom he was fond of calling his" Red Brothers." When his election as Bishop of Minnesota made him the neighbor of the twenty thousand Sioux and Ohippewa Indians in that State, his preaching as a minister of the Gospel became even more simple, tender, and powerful than before. "I preached through an interpreter," he says, "which is at first difficult; but it compels the use of silllple language in order to reach the heart." "I was overwhelmed by the thought of the joy which would come to the Divine heart of the Savior as I looked down upon these men of the trembling eye and the wandering foot, kneeling at His feet/'
The distinctive characteristic of Bishop Whipple'S work lay in the fact that with the sweetness and fervor of his personal love for the Indians there was a clear recognition of the duty of redressing their wrongs and of making them civilized citizens. By personal inspection and by careful study he gained a thorough knowledge of the condition and the needs of the Indians. He was among the first to advocate important measures of reform, which have since been adopted into our Indian policy. His letter to President Buchanan in 1860-opposing treaties with Indian tribes as nations; calling attention to the evil effects of paying money annuities to tribes; emphasizing the need of law upon Indian reservations, and calling for Indian police and a United States Oommissioner at each reservation'; demanding that the government take steps to prevent the sale of ardent spirits to Indians; advocating homesteads for Indians, where they could live by the cultivation of the soil, and calling for practical teachers in the peaceful pursuits of agriculture and the arts of civilization;-was a statesman-like paper, which outlined, more than forty years ago, most of the successive steps in civilizing the Indians which the United States has since undertaken. And it is of especial value, too, as illustrating the right attitude of a public-spirited clergyman (in a nation which believes emphatically in the separation of Ohurch and State) toward national questions of legislation and administration, such as now cor..cern us in Porto Rico and the Philippines, closing, as it does, with the words, "I have written frankly, as a Ohristian Bishop may write to the Ohief Magistrate of a Ohristian Nation."
It is interesting to observe in his life the process by which he waS
fitted for his work. The natural temperament of this man, the cir- cumstances of his birth and early training, the experience of his younger manhood in mercantile and political life, and the first years of his ministry as an evangelistic preacher in a great city in charge of a free church especially for working people-all tend toward the equipment of the missionary preacher, the successful administrator of the affairs of a diocese, the public-spirited Christian philanthropist, and the courteous and beloved representative of one branch of the Church of Christ in cordial relations with Christians of other denomi- nations and of other nations.
Born in 1822, at Adams, New York, of parents whose antecedents and training were in the Episcopal Church, but who were communicants of the Presbyterian Church throughout the years or his boyhood, after some years under other Christian teachers, he became a student at Oberlin, living with his uncle, the Rev. George Whipple, who was professor of mathematics while that powerful evangelist, Dr. Charles G. Finney, was president at Oberlin. Strongly drawn by the activity of his temperament toward business and political life, he did not com- plete the college course. But the influence of the high moral standards and the Christian enthusiam of Oberlin is clearly seen in his sub- sequent life. As a young man in business, he took an active part in the State politics of New York. When he became a clergyman, Thurlow Weed said of him, "I hope a good politician has not been spoiled to make a poor minister." After a pastorate of seven years at Rome, N. Y., in the winter of 1856 he went to Chicago and organized a free church which worshiped in a rented hall, and undertook a mission work among the "artisans, clerks, and railway men in the city, who were as sheep having no shepherd." He showed tireless Christian energy and remarkable tact and sympathy in getting hold of working- men. He says: .
"I visited every shop, saloon, and factory within a mile of the hall, leaving a card giving the place and hour of worship, and stating that I w.ould be at the service of any needing help, day or night." His study of the locomotive and its history, in order that he might talk with railroad men" without their thinking him a fool," and the hold he thus secured upon them, have become historic. His marked success in this work among the poor of Chicago led to his election as the first Bishop of Minnesota, a choice which took him entirely by surprise. To the friends who came to inform him or it he said: "I can not go. It is a mistake. I am not a scholar, a theologian, or a preacher. I am not even a graduate of a college. I was trained up a merchant. I gave up my business to tell the story of the love of Jesus. I know that I can do that, and I can be a shepherd to the poor, but a bishop I can never be."
The steady and remarkable growth of the churches under his care
as Bishop of Minnesota; the erection of the first cathedral church of his denomination in the United States; the growth and influence of the schools and the theological seminary which he established and developed; his influence in the councils of his own Ohurch and in England, where he served repeatedly as the delegate and representa- tive of the Episcopal Ohurch of the United States, are sufficient evidence that he judged too modestly his own equipment for the work of a bishop.
Especially interesting and noteworthy were his missionary journeys among the Indians, and his. work at Washington, in Minnesota, and in England, in favor of Ohristian missions, of fair treatment, legal protection, land in severalty, education, and citizenship for the North American Indians. In the first year of his episcopate he made a long missionary tour upon foot among the lakes and rivers of northern Minnesota, visiting the Ohippewas and the Sioux, and wrote: "There is nothing more heart-moving than to look into a sea of heathen faces with the thought that they know nothing of the love of Ohrist, and then to feel the thrill that comes as a gleam is detected on some face showing that the story has taken root."
The words of Madwaganonint, chief of the Red Lake Indians, after he had heard the Gospel from Bishop Whipple, give the Indian estimate of the man: " Your words are true, like the words of a spirit; we want to know more than we do. All we understand of your words is pleasant to us. You are patient, and you make the trail plain. Your Ohurch cares for little children. I like it. We hope you will give us a teacher and a school. I have your face on my heart. Good-bye. I am done."
Hardly had Bishop Whipple entered upon his work in Minnesota, when, in the dark days of the Oivil War, in 1862, the State was convulsed by the outbreak of the Sioux massacres, in which eight hundred whites were murdered. With hardly an exception, the Ohristian Indians remained faithful to their avowed friendship for the whites. Leaders among these Ohristian Indians rescued and brought in safety to their friends large numbers of white settlers, women and children, who in their isolation would have been slain had it not been for the faithfulness of these converts. A storm of abuse was let loose upon Bishop Whipple because he spoke fearlessly, at Washington and in Minnesota, of the gross injustice on the part of the government and the whites, which had provoked this Indian outbreak. He possessed his soul in patience, standing steadfastly by the hated and the outcast. He exposed abuses, and fortified his appeals to the President and to Oongress by facts carefully collected, which supported all his statements. The result of years of this fearless Ohristian advocacy of justice and of hh~ tireless activity in missionary journeys among the Indians of Minnesota, was the conviction on the part of Indians and
whites alike that his statements could be implicitly trusted, his friend- ship and sympathy could be absolutely depended upon, and that his constantly growing influence must be reckoned with, and was steadily used for the best interests of the Indians and of all the people of Minnesota. The public estimate of the man on the part of Indians arid of white frontiersmen may be summed up in the words of Ohief Shaganash, who said: " You show us a good trail. I will try to follow the trail. And if I could be near a missionary, I believe that I could be a Ohris- tian."
Louis Robert, a French Indian trader, when asked, many years ago, if he knew Bishop Whipple, replied in the phrase since taken up by the newspapers and the novelists: "Yes, he is a sky-pilot, and always straight." The Indians called him" Straight Tongue," and trusted him entirely.
He visited Washington several times each year to plead for right- eous treatment of the Indians. The memorial which he drew up and presented to President Lincoln in 1862, and his suggestions to Presi- dents Lincoln and Grant, are believed to have led the appointment in 1869, by General Grant, of the Board of Indian Oommissioners, of whose work Bishop Whipple says in his autobiography: "There was little light on our Indian affairs until President Grant appointed a Ohristian commission, and sought the advice of Ohristian men in the appointment of Indian agents." In 1895 President Oleveland commissioned Bishop Whipple a member of this board.
His life and his work as a missionary bishop illustrate the triumphant power of the love of Ohrist in overcoming the selfishness and hostility of race prejudice. One who saw the first group of Indian children, as they were brought by Bishop Whipple to Faribault to his school, said: "You can't make Ohristians of them any more than you can tame a wcasel! " Two generations and more of Ohristian Indians, who have been useful as teachers and in the Ohristian ministry-men whose approved work and strength of character commend them to all who see and know them-bear witness in this field to the transforming and civilizing effect of the Gospel received and cherished in the heart. Wilen Bishop Whipple was invited by the Ohurch Mission Society of England, as the representative of the American Church, to deliver an address at the centenary of the society in April, 1899, it was SUgg8Stive of the uplifting power of Christian mission work among the most savage heathen races that Bishop Tucker, of Uganda, Africa (where, in 1883, there were but five Ohristians, while in 1899 there were over two hundred Ohristian honses of worship and 60,000 Africans who could read the Gospel), should there have sat beside Bishop Whipple, of Minnesota, who says, "on the site of the beautiful Shumway Memorial Chapel I witnessed a scalp-dance in 1860," and who lived to see
AN INDIAN CAMP-MEETING IN CANADA
Ileveral thousand Christian converts among the Indians of our country, and 60,000 of these Indians full citizens of the United States, with homesteads of their own. Verily," God hath made of one blood all nations of men," and through the blood of Jesus Christ hath "preached peace to them that were afar off." The first gift for Christian missions among the Indians, placed in the hands of Bishop Whipple upon his consecration as Bishop of Minnesota, was seventy dollars from Rev. Mr. Hoffman, missionary at Cape Palmas, Africa, who said: Before I left Africa our Christian black men gave me seventy dollars to carry the Gospel to heathen in America. I give it to you for Indian missions.
Thus beams of heavenly light from the cross are reflected from continent to continent into the" dark places of the earth." There is no such rational optimist in the world as the advocate of Christian missions! Well might Bishop Whipple close his autobiography with sentences that mark him as an enthusiastic Christian optimis.t; Not even in the primitive Church have greater victories been won in leading heathen folk to Christian civilization. . . . Ours is not a forlorn hope. We may out of the gloom of our perplexed hearts cry, "Watchman, what of the night?" but faith answers: "The morning cometh!"
AN INDIAN CAMP-MEETING IN CANADA BY REV. EGERTON R. YOUYG,TORONTO, CANADA Author of "On the Indian Trail," etc.
For years most of the great American camp-meetings have been given up. Owing to the newness of the country and the fewness of church buildings, these great annual religious gatherings in the primeval forests were in their day so much- appreciated by the people in the sparsely settled regions that they, with their whole households, made every sacrifice necessary to spend at least one week in the tented· grove. To travel forty or fifty miles to the selected campground, and there, in a rudely constructed tent or board hut, to reside for a week 01' ten days amidst the religious fervor of those remarkable gatherings, was considered a most glorious privilege.
With the advance of civilization and the filling up of these regions with people and churches, the camp-meeting gradually was given up. There are still some held every year, hut most of them are so associated with intellectual improvement, the pleasures of a summer outing, and other attractions, that they are widely different from the old camp-meetings of fifty years ago. These old historic campmeetings served their day, and were suited to the conditions and limitations of those formative times in the new country's history. With their passing away we can hut regret that under modern conditions
we have hardly retained all that was in them which was of the highest good.
The nearest approach to an old-fashioned camp-meeting which it has been my privilege to attend is held by the Ojibway Indians on Christian Island, in Georgian Bay. This annual gathering is held in September, after the Indian'S have gathered in their little harvest, for many of these now civilized Iridians live by culti"l'ating the soil. The spot selected is in a beautiful forest of native trees, principally beech, oak, and maple. About a thousand Indians, from several large reser- vations, gather here to worship with the band who live on this large island, which contains about twenty-nine thousand acres of land.
The visiting Indians come to the camp-meetings in various ways.
Some of the large reservations charter steamboats, others .come in sail- .ing-vessels, skiffs, and tugs. The old birch bark canoe is fast pass- ,,,~- mg away.
A hundred tents or more are pitched in a great circle under the trees, and thus enclose the spot selected for the religious services.
Large stone altars are erected in various parts of the grounds, on which, from the twilight hours until midnight, blaze great fires of resinous pine, which, with the many lamps, illuminate the grounds.
The whole appearance is inspiring and picturesque.
The services begin with a prayer-meeting'at six o'clock each morn· ing-always led by a native Indian. The singing and praying, which are in the Ojibway language, are hearty and earnest. The words of the leader are suggestive and to the point. 'l'hen the various camp- fires are lighted and a hearty breakfast is prepared. At 9 A.M. the few" whites" on the ground gather for a Bible reading, which is also attended by many Indians who are fairly gOJd English scholars.
The three great public religious services are held at 10.30 A.M., 2.30 P.M., and 7 P.M. The Indian choir renders most efficient ser- vice, singing hymns in both Ojibway and English. 'l'he lessons from the blessed Book are read sometimes in one language and sometimes in the other. A short sermon is generally given in English by one of the white ministers or missionaries present, and then an Indian preacher follows. For rugged eloquence and power, as well as pathos and tenderness, the Indian speakers easily leave their white brethren far in the rear. None of the great services seemed fairly under way until in charge of Allan Salt, Big Canoe, Peter Jones, liee-nese, or some other of these gifted Indians, the converts of the early missionaries. In conducting the after services, where men and women are directly urged to decide for Christ, they are simply inimitable. Stoical as the Indian generally is, when his heart is all on fire with the love of God and he is pleading with his own people to accept of the same Savior who has so gloriously saved him, he is full of the tenderest emotions, while his voice is of the sweetest music. Some of these loving addresses were
AN INDIAN CAMP-MEETING IN CANADA
almost irresistible. Strong, stubborn men are melted down, and then and there renounce their old lives and decide for Christ. The results are real and abiding. The holy boldness as well as sublime faith of some of the new converts was almost startling at times. I will here give one illustration.
It was in an after-meeting and the time was long after midnight.
I had closed the services with the Doxology and Benediction, and had urged the great audience to go to their tents and get some rest. A number did so, but sud- denly there sprang up on one of the planks, which served as seats, a zealous Indian brother. First turning to me, he said: "I know our beloved brother Young will forgive me for what I am going to say. When we were wild and wicked, and especially when we could get .the wicked white man's fire-water, we used sometimes to spend the whole night in our sinful revelry and debauches. And now that the love of God fills our hearts, can we not spend one whole night for Him? Outside of this great tent REV. ALLAN SALT are plenty of young men who A Christian Ojibway Indian, 84 years old have not given their hearts to God. They did not get in with the crowd that was here. Let us seek them for our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. They have come.• some of them, many miles, and in their hearts they want to find Jesus, but they are shy and timid. They are now wandering among the trees or are around the camp-fires. Now that so many have gone to their tents, let us go out and bring them in."
Of course I gladly said, "Go on and do what is in your hearts."
At once, while some began singing, others went out, and it was inspiring to see them coming in with perhaps thirty or forty of their friends, nearly all of whom were young men. With renewed vigor the evangelistic services were contiIllled in a way which would have delighted the heart of Mr. Moody. Seeing a fine-looking young man with a very serious countenance sitting off at some distance, I went and spoke to him about the necessity of giving his heart to Christ.
He admitted that he knew he ought to do so, and that really was why he had come to the camp-meeting; but he said: "Not to-night." I
pleaded with him to decide now, but I could not make any further impression upon him. While I was thus unsuccessfully pleading with him there came from the prayer-circle a young Indian who had been most strikingly converted only a couple of nights before. Without any of my quiet way, he seized hold of the young man to whom I had been talking and at once began: "Why this foolishness? You know you have come to this camp- meeting to get the load off your heart. You. want to have your sins – forgiven. You are miserable and unhappy. The fact that you are INDIAN CAMP-MEETING, CHRISTIAN ISLAND, GEORGIAN BAY, CANADA..
The tent ill the background was used for meetings at night and in bad weather j the stone altar in the foreground is one of seven on which camp-fires were lighted at night here is beoause you want to be a Christian. Now get up and come with me and settle the matter now. It is the bad spirit that says, 'Some other time.' Jesus says, 'Now!' Get up, I say, and come along! "
Thus, in a blessed sense, he "compelled" him to come in. The man went and was happilyeonverted, and went back rejoicing with the other Christians of his Reservation.
For three years these camp-meetings have thus been held, and there has each year been an increase in spiritual power. The converts of tbe first year were among tbe best workers at the second year, and this year it seemed impossible to tell who were the most zealous for the conversion of friends yet unconverted. It was beautiful to see a chief but recently converted go out into the crowd and put his arm around
AN INDIAN CAMP-MEETING IN CANADA
his brother's neck and literally by his tearful pleadings win him to decide for Christ.
One Indian said to us at the meeting this year: "When I came to the camp-meeting three years ago I was a great drunkard. I could never go off from the Reservation without getting the bad white man's fire-water. I spent all the money I made in that way, and neglected my wife and children and was a great nuisance on the Reservation.
Bu t I am so glad that I 'came to the camp-meeting three years ago.
The Spirit of God took hold of me and made me very miserable. My eyes were opened to see what a poor wretched creature I was. I am so thankful that my good friends, whites and Indians, talked to me and urged me to bow down in prayer at the foot of the cross. I could only cry, 'Blessed Jesus, I am very bad and miserable. I have noth- ing to bring, but I cast myself on your mercy. If you can save such a wretch as I am, save me!' And He saved me. Blessed forever be His name. And. now I have had all the appetite for fire-water taken from me, and my sale desire is to be the instrument in my Savior's hands of saving my countrymen from sin." This clear Scriptural testimony is that of the man who pleaded with me to let the services be continued when I had closed long after the midnight hour.
With one incident of touching interest I must close. As one of the steamers was coming down from the north shore with a band of Indians for the camp-meeting, at one of the ports where the boat stopped for a couple of hours some miserable white ~en sold some fire-water to three or four young non-Christian Indians. When the steamer reached the dock of our island, where the camp-meeting was in progress, the word was soon circulated that there were on board some drunken Indians. Our island police soon took them in charge, and then the question was what to do with them. The Canadian law is very dacided on the point, and some of the people, whites principally, said: "Let them be sent over to Penetanguishene and put in jail. We don't want to be bothered with them here." But good Simondson, a blessed Christian Indian, came to me and said: "We have a better plan in our hearts than that of sending these foolish young men to jail. We have a house at the other end of the village away from the camp-meeting ground. There we will take and care for them, and when they are sober and have been made to See the folly of their conduct, we will go and hold a prayer-meeting with them and try to get the spirit of Ohrist in them instead of the spirit of fire-water."
The suggestion of this godly man was carried out rather than that of the impulsive white Christians, who wanted to send them to jail.
Is not this act a beautiful fulfilment of the injunction of the apostle: "If a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual. restore such an one in the spirit of. me!'llrneslil, considering thyself lest thou all?>_ be tempted."" . _.
THE MISSIONARIES AMONG THE LAOS * BY THE HON. HAMILTON KING, BANGKOK, SIAM Minister Resident and Consul-General of the United States to Siam A journey of six hundred miles in America means a hastily packed grip and a few hours' run on a railway train. To go that distance into the jungles of Northern Siam, however, means a very different under- taking. First, boats had to be secured from the far north, for the northern streams abound in rapids and sand··bars, and only boats built for the purpose can be used. From the north also must be secured double crews of ten men for each boat versed in this peculiar mode of naviga- tion. In a little less than three months our two boats were at the lega- tion and the twenty boatmen, together with a superintendent, cook, boy, and maid, were ready for the start. In the place of the hastily packed grip we took tables, chairs and beds, dishes, cooking utensils, even to the stove, a list of canne~goods that covered four pages of my journal, fruits, vegetables, live fowls, and provisions of all kinds, even to the four large native jars of drinking-water. .
By the assistance of a steam-launch for a few days and the extra force of men we made remarkably good time, and were able to leave our boats, on the evening of the seventeenth day, five hundred and fifty miles from Bangkok and ten miles from Lakawn, our first stopping-place.
Elephants, ponies, and carriers were awaiting us here, and we were up and away in the morning before the heat of the day. My two daughters rode on elephants. These great creatures travel slowly-perhaps two and one-half miles an hour-and the train came into the city at half-past eleven.
Outside of Chiengmai, the oldest and the strongest station of the North Laos (Presbyterian) Mission is in this city. It was started some sixteen years ago by the Rev. Jonathan Wilson, D.D., who is yet in the work here. This station consists of a comfortable chapel, a prosperous girls' school, and a hospital which is opening the hearts and the homes of the people to the influences of the Gospel. In addition to this is the wholesome social life of the Christian homes, which is wielding a powerful influence for Christian living. The relations between the missionaries and the people of the country here are most cordial.
Chiengmai is four days' journey from Lakawn by elephant, pony, or chair. The road is through a rugged country and over a mountain range.
Chiengmai is the largest city of Northern Siam, and is the chief and central station of the North Laos mission work. Around it are situ- ated the other stations-Chieng Rai, eight days to the north and close upon the borders of Yunnan in China; Lampoon, one day to the south, and Lakawn, Praa, and Nan. The station at Chiengmai was established by Dr. Daniel McGilvary and his wife in 1867, who were joined by Dr.
'Vilson, now of Lakawn, and his wife the following year. These two veterans are yet active in the work, the one preeminently a man of action, and the other a man of sweet sentiment and poetic soul. The relation existing between these two men and the younger members of the mission is beautiful, while the respect and reverence with which they are looked upon by the natives reveals the cause of much of the success of the mis- sion work in the north.
*OOndel)sed from The Independent. The North Laos Mission comprises sixty-nine souls in all. There are five stations, for La,mpoon, being only seventeen miles from Chiengmai, is considered part of the Chiengmai station. These five stations have fifteen church organizations, five hospitals, one at Chiengmai, Lakawn, Chienghai, Nan and Praa, a thriving girls' school at Lakawn and at Chiengmai, a boys' school of ninety members and five native teachers, a successful printing establishment, and their converts are numbered by the thousands. These churches, with the exception of one at each of the five stations mentioned, are in the hands of native elders, carryon much of their own work, and do something toward supporting themselves. Besides this, extensive tours are made every year from the different centers or stations, and thus new fields are being opened up in all direc- tions and new people reached.
From the first the medical work has been given a prominent place and has proved a valuable auxiliary. When the Rev. Daniel McGilvary first went to his field forty-three years ago he took with him four bottles of quinine. The people were afraid of the white man's medicines and believed the ills of the flesh were due to spirits and hence could be cured only by offerings made to the spirits. The doctor hired people to take the medicine to prove to them its efficacy in fever, which is the prevail- ing malady of the country. In a very short time an order was sent for forty bottles more, and now thousands and thousands of rupees' worth of quinine are sold in Chiengmai alone every year. Vaccination, brought into Siam by Dr. Bradley, of Bangkok, about this time, was soon introduced into Chiengmai. This proved a success from the first, and not long after the doctor vaccinated a whole village of Karens of one hundred and sixty three persons, from a month old to seventy-five years of age. Now I am told that the majority of this generation have been vaccinated and untold numbers of lives have been saved during the last third of a century. The loathsome disease of goitre abounds in this country and to the north, and from the infancy of the mission a splendid work has been done in alleviating the sufferings caused by this disease. Work among the lepers, many of whom are also found in this country, has been prosecuted for the last seven years, and altho under discouraging circumstances for the want of money, much good is being done.
For many years past the medical work has enjoyed the favor of the rulers. The former chief, who was a veritable king, showed his appreciation of the work in many ways. He frequently made presents of horses, bicycles, and other articles for the use of the physician. And shortly before his death he gave Rs. I,GOO for the work. His appreciation of and confidence in the work were definitely shown in that the physician of the mission was in constant attendance upon him for two or three years, previous and up to the time of his death, and his sons, who are now reigning, continue in the same attitude. A recent move to enlarge the present mission hospital has elicted such generous response that the mission is encouraged to believe that their work is appreciated by all classes in this city. The missionary physician has free access to every home in Northern Siam, from the hovel of the beggar to the palace of the highest ruler.
Naturally this work appeals to the people of all grades and has a tendency to open wide the door to the influences and the principles that inspire it. At a recent banquet given in honor of Prince Damrong, Minister of the Interior, he said, in a voice to be heard by all present: Mr. King, I want to say to you that we have great respect for your American missionaries in our country, and appreciate very highly the work they are doing for our people. I want this to be understood by everyone, and if you are in a position to let it be known to your coun- trymen I wish you would say this for me. I have just now more espe- cially in mind my visit to Chiengmai. The work of your people is excel- lent. I can not say too much in praise of the medical missionaries there especially.
And what is being done in Chiengmai is repeated only on a smaller scale at all the other stations.
Here we found a well-equipped printing-house also running at full head under the supervision of the Rev. D. G. Collins. During the last year over one million and a half pages have been printed by this establishment, and 25,500 books and tracts have gone into the hands of the people. The income of the office goes far toward paying for the printing of the mission, the plant is constantly growing, and yet the orders from the government and other sources are far beyond its capacity. Aside from the influence of the tracts a~d Scriptures placed in their homes, the missionary has created for this people a printed language and is laying for them the foundations of a healthful literature. Dr. Wilson is giving to this people a wealth of song and music that is rapidly lifting them into better things. Few Christian missions can boast of a life that has given to a heathen people and to a language unknown to the world before a wealth of eight hundred translated and one hundred original hymns set to the best and most wholesome tunes that are to be found in the hymnology of our Christian Church. This is the gift of Dr. Wilson and his daughter to the Laos people during the last few years. A little over two years ago I bade good-bye to Dr. Wilson at Bangkok. He was then seventy years of age, and with a sad heart I turned to my family and asked: "Vhy should a man of so much culture and at his advanced age return to the jungles to die?" Now who can tell the untold blessings that shall spring up into the lives of the generations yet unborn because of the work this man has done since that day of our separation!
As I studied this field I was persuaded that there are few places now in the world where the influences of Christian missions can be seen to better advantage. Here the influences of Christian civilization, divorced to a very ·large degree Jrom those evils that generally go hand in hand with it, have been brought to bear upon the Oriental mind through the agency of the Christian mission alone. As we approached this city where the work has been the largest in operation, it was interesting each day to mark the external evidences of improvement that greeted us. Each day the women that we met were more neat and trim in appearance; as one who was with me remarked, they appeared better groomed, their clothing was more comely, their faces wore a more hopeful look, and they bore the mark of better things in their lives. The roads became better. Better-tilled fields, better-kept fences, better houses, more thrifty homes, and a general improvement in all that goes to make up a prosperous and thrifty people were evident in this province. The gardens looked more thrifty, water-wheels were doing the work of the hand, wheeled vehicles were taking the place of the woman's pack, and all spoke of an advance.
On the morning after my arrival, as I stood before an audience of six hundred people in the commodious church, I said to myself: "This is the best thing I have seen in Siam. The Gospel has the right hold upon this people's lives, and is lifting them." I never spoke to a more atteIltivE} audience. This is the best type of people I have seen in the country. Ina goitre district not one case of the disease was seen in the audience. There were well-dressed and comely women and maidens, some strong features and intelligent faces, clean and happy children, and men who seemed to appreciate what was said to them. The city itself is the cleanest and best- kept city I have seen in Siam, the streets are broader, straighter and bet- ter kept, and the roads in the province far and away are the best.
On the morning of the last Sunday we were in the city there were present in the Christian church seven of the officials and nobles, and six of the ladies of the noble and princely families. To the missionaries this L thought to be the beginning of larger things for the women of North Siam, and to appreciate what it means one must know the position of women in Siam in general, where even in the advance city of Bangkok very few are seen in public as yet.
It has not always been thus. Men have died here for the Christian faith, and for long months the missionaries have struggled against oppositions that to ordinary souls would have meant defeat. But wisdom has come to the missionary with years, and toleration has come to the country with more light.
These people are being stirred from the very foundations. They do not want the religion of Jesus. They are believers in the Buddhistic faith, the faith of their fathers, of their king, and of their country. But their king is willing that they should have the light, and the members of the North Loas Mission are interpreting their work to be to let in the light of a Christian civilization in such a way as to touch the people and influence them along the lines of every-day living. That these men and women believe in the power of conversion needs no better proof than the thousands of converts and the fifteen prosperous churches that have sprung up about them. But they realize also the indefiniteness of the term "conversion," a term that may mean anything from a little more rice each day in the native mind, to that spiritual uplift which, set before us by our Master, is yet the prayer and the aspiration of the best of us after two thousand years of light in a Christian land. Realizing this, they have for years, without antagonizing the people, been working, through all the influences of Christian living that will appeal to them, to open up their lives to this light.
I have great respect for the men and women I met in this work. They are larger than their work. They are broader than their Church. They magnify their profession. They are planting for the future. They count not on the number of so-called conversions alone, but on their SllCcess in planting pregnant ideas in this people's lives as well, ideas pregnant with a better civilization and a better national life. Planting seed that are sure to revolutionize this government, they leave the matters civil entirely to the authorities that be. They make friends with the officials by making of their people better subjects. They are clean, cheerful, and wholesome in their lives, without cant, spiritually minded in the best sense, and yet withal they are people of this world.
If this is missionary work, I believe in it. They live that they may show the natives how to live. Therefore, they have builded beautiful homes and spend of their substance to make life attractive. They are neat and comely in appearance. They enjoy the good things of this life, and are cultllred in the things of God's world; for it is along these lines the natives must be reached; it is in these things the natives must be lifted. This is the soil that must be raised to a higher state of cUltivation before the better and more spiritual fruits of the Gospel can be grown thereon. Spiritually minded, they have the wisdom to approach a material people in a material way, to let their works so shine that the people seeing the results in this world may go their way and try to do likewise. For they believe in the Scripture, "If any man will do His will he shall (come to) know the doctrine."
The distinctive elements that enter into the success of this mission are these: 1. It is separated from such influences of civilization as tend to counteract the influences of Christianity.
2. There is but one denomination in the field. 3. They show respect for those things that are sacred to the Siamese. 4. They have the wisdom to let the Siamese govern their own people.
MISSION WORK IN BULGARIA* BY REV.J. F. CLARKE, SAMOKOV, BULGARIA Missionary of the American Board The Bulgarians were almost unknown to the outer world until about the year 1850, when they began their efforts to throw off the Greek yoke, which culminated in 1870, when they secured the recognition by the sultan of their own exarch. A Slavic nation, having a language originating from the same source as did the languages of the Russians, Servians, and Bohemians, it was freed by Russia from its five centuries of subjection to Turkey in 1877, and its boundary extended to the .lEgean Sea, so as to include that portion of Macedonia in which the greater part of the population is Bulgarian. But by the action of the Powers in the Berlin CongrEss the Macedonian part was returned to the Turks. The population of Bulgaria is nearly three and a half millions, of whom about three-fourths are Bulgarians. The total number of Bulgarians, including those in Macedonia and elsewhere, must be about five millions.
King Boris accepted Christianity in 861 A.D., and from that time his people were called a Christian nation. Tho the Bulgarians belong to the Greek Church, they never use the word Greek, but call themselves the Pravo-slavs (meaning orthodox) Church, a Church similar to the Catholic, tho their priests are allowed to marry once. The religion of the mass of the people has consisted in picture worship, especially that of the Virgin Mary, while even the name of Jesus was little known. Their faith has had but little influence upon their lives, yet before the coming of European influences, especially infidelity, drunkenness, and licentiousness, their morality was far higher than it now is. Doubtless their nominal Christianity has had an influence to keep them together as a separate nation.
The destruction of books in their language by the Greeks, in order to increase the number of the followers of the Greek patriarchs, led Bulgarians to purchase eagerly the New Testament, first published in 1856, chiefly because it was in the sweet mother tongue heard in their homes from their infancy. Thousands of copies were sold in a few years in Bulgaria and Macedonia, and this great desire to purchase the Word of *Condensed from a pamphlet published by the American Board.
MISSION WORK IN BULGARIA
God led Christians in America to answer what seemed to them a Mace- donian cry.
The American Methodist Episcopal Board commenced work north of the Balkan Mountains in 1857, and the American Board south of the same mountains in 1858. And these missions have been working in cor- dial sympathy with each other to the present time. .
At an early date it seemed best to open schools, that for young women in Eski Zaghra, and for young men in Philippopolis. A Bohe- mian exile from Austria brought his sister with him to Bulgaria. and she, having been taught in the home of a missionary, was ready when needed to enter into the work of teaching. Her loving heart drew her girls to her, and she led them to Christ. A revival followed, which was deep and lasting. The voice of prayer for their parents and friends was heard in many a strange but secret place about the premises. A young man said to a relative, "You are deceived by these Protestants." But she anowered, "When you have tasted of an apple, do you ask if it is sweet? We have tasted of this Gospel and know its sweetness." Perse- cution followed, but only served to lead her closer to Christ. Marika was confined by her mother, but escaped through a window and returned to her teachers, nor was she frightened away by the mob of angry women who broke many of the windows of the school building.
A young merchant, Nacho, was led to Christ by what he heard at the Sabbath services, and,at once returned to his partner hundreds of dollars secretly overcharged in making purchases. The next day his partner called and said to a missionary, "What S'ort of people are you that you should lead my partner, in whom I had perfect confidence, to return me stolen money of which I knew nothing." The wife of Nacho returned to her father with her two children, and, as she utterly refused to come back to him, he entered the school to prepare himself for Chris- tian work.
During the first years the missionaries were received with great cor- diality in their tours among the villages, and one of them for a year taught singing in the Bulgarian school of the city. The people were grateful for the aid given them in education, and thousands of books, chiefly the tract primer, were used in their schools. But in God's provi- dence a great change took place which the missionaries would not at that time have chosen, but it led to a deeper study of the Bible. A monk married, contrary to their ecclesiastical laws, and was brought a prisoner to Philippopolis. He wrote a letter to the missionaries, saying that if they did not protect him he must become a Moslem. But before the let- ter was read he was in the home. Tho legally, and according to the "capitulations," he could have been protected, his letter proved that he was not a Protestant, and he was given up to the authorities. But the action, which for hours it had seemed a duty to take, caused the people to exclude all evangelical books from their schools and, to a great extent, from their homes, and led to bitter opposition from the Bulgarians.
But the missionaries persisted, and now opposition has ceased. God has given his blessing to feeble efforts, and little bands of Christians have been gathered to be lights to those around them.
At different times missionaries and others have been exposed to peril!!
and beaten. In returning from Constantinople in 1863, Mr. Merriam was murdered by Albanian brigands, and his wife's experiences at that time led to her death twenty-three days later. Another missionary has three
times been in the power of robbers, once losing his own and his wife's watches, clothes, and the money taken for workers and for long tours.
Christian followers, workers, and missionaries have also often met with violence from Bulgarian opposers, one missionary having twice been so beaten that it seemed best to secure a government physician's certificate of his wounds. But this violence has always led to greater openings for the Gospel.
Hindrances and persecutions in various forms still continue. Tho contrary to the constitution, a ministerial order, issued in subservience to ecclesiastical influences, prohibited the circulation of evangelical work, and according to this order, a missionary who had freely sold and given away books and tracts in the streets of Samokov was recently arrested for doing the same thing in a neighboring city and sent, with his books, to an ecclesiastic for examination. Redress was secured through the English consul-general, and the matter opened the way for quite satis- factory conversations with those who had given and executed the order.
The statistics of the European Turkey Mission for 1899 give four stations; fifty outstations; twenty-four missionaries, male and female; seventy-seven Bulgarian workers;' sixteen churches, to which have been received 1,998 members, of whom 1,270 are now living, of whom 110 were received in 1900; fifty-three places of regular worship, with an average of 2,847 attendants; fifty-three Sabbath-schools, with 2,379 s!)holars, and twenty-three schools of different grades, with 709 pupils. Native contributions for Christian work were $5,945.63. , In Philippopolis Mr. Marsh and nearly twenty Bulgarian fellowworkers are pushing forward the work in twenty-six places in this field, in all of which there are earnest followers of Christ. A new, substantial church edifice, which has for years cost much effort on the part of the missionary and the people, is nearly completed.
At Samokov Messrs. Haskell, Thomson, and Dr. J. F. Clarke and son; with Misses Maltbie, Haskell, Baird, and capable Bulgarian associates have been earnestly seeking to give a Christian education to young men and women, efficiently using the press to widely scatter religious truth, and doing all in their power in evangelical work in the surrounding places.
In Monastir Mr. Bond, Misses Cole and Matthews, and native workers are doing efficient work for Christian education in a school which at times has girls of seven different nationalities in it, and have labored, as far as possible, in other places. A deep interest is felt in the Albanian work under their charge, especially in the girls' school in Kortcha.
From Salonica Messrs. House, Baird, Haskell, and Miss Stone have abundantly utilized the three railroads spreading out through all Macedonia, and enabling them to do much for a population of two millions, among which they have twenty-one outstations. Their work in the city among different nationalities, and often among sailors of English fleets, will be much facilitated by a valuable property they have recently secured on their personal responsibility, but without any appropriation from the American Board. Miss Stone's efficient efforts as an "elder sister" among the Bible workers, teachers, and the women in many places have been of much value. Some of her workers and others in Bulgaria are doing more for Christ than many of the preachers. They have been welcomed even in Turkish homes.
The boys' school in PhiIippopolis, after various changes, has become the Collegiate and Theological Institute in Samokov, with about sixty students. While most of the higher national schools are to a great degree full of skepticism and infidelity and other evil influences, it seems essential to the progress of evangelical work in Bulgaria and Macedonia that this institute be well supported and manned. It is needed not only to educate Christian preachers, but also to prepare Christian laymen for
MlSSIOl' WORK IN BULGARIA
Sabbath-school work, church officers, and business men, who will have a.
positive infltlence among the mass of their own faithful people. God has from the first blessed the labors put forth, at times abun- dantly. The one hundred and nine Christian workers in the fifty-one places for stated'preaching, besides many more occasionally visited by colporteurs and others, are exerting a permanent influence throughout Bulgaria, Macedonia, and Albania, from the Black Sea to the Adriatic.
MISS STONE'S WORK AMONG llULGARIAN WOMEN * Miss Stone's capture has focused the world's attention upon her, and her missionary activities have acquired a new interest in the eyes of the public. For twentythree years she has had charge of the Bible women's work in Bulgaria. She made many long, arduous, and dangerous journeys, visiting schools, read- ing the Scriptures to the women in their own homes and in public meetings, preaching, teaching, praying, distributing the Word of God. Only one of her letters gives a clear idea of dangers encountered. It speaks of a tour undertaken in company with Rev. Dr.
House and s eve l' a I native workers.
Thursday night we spent in a lonely mountain khan (inn), with a robber on the other side of the fire from us.
You may be sure that I heard his planning. I could not MISS EI.LEN M. STONE sleep. Thankful enough were we when, long before d awn, the khanje (inn-keeper) aroused the robber and sent him on his way, bidding him wait for us along the lonely road.
We were a very silent party climbing the mountain, expecting the robber to come upon us anywhere. But as the hours passed we thanked God for deliverance. . . . Darkness overtook us upon an unknown road, and we sought shelter in a deserted Turkish guard-house. We tied our horses upon the ground floor, divided our bread with them, and got ourselves and our belongings up-stairs-all this in the thickest darkness. There- must have been robbers secreted somewhere inside. We were aroused by the sound of horses passing out. Mr. Petanschken went down and came- back reporting that the door had heen opened from within, the heavy stone with which he had barricaded it having been set to one side. Our- two best horses were gone. It was hard traveling in the rain, but at last, we arrived at Serres, and had such a good time among some of the most., hospitable, loving Christian souls I ever met.
• Condensed from The Chr-istian .Herald.
BANEFUL EFFECTS OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN WAR* From the recent report of the Berlin mission may be gathered how heavily their thirty-five South African stations have been visited by the war. Gerlachsthal-Springfontein, with its spreading cornfields, has become a solitary desert; from Bethany the whole of the cattle were carried off; Adamshoop was completely stripped; Botschabelo suffered great hardships from both Boers and English. What the English troops could not carry away as food was burnt, lest it should fall into Boer hands, and the result is great scarcity, sickness, and misery. But much graver than these material losses is the injury to missionary work-the looting of stations, the dispersion of congregations, and the arrest of missionaries. Mr. During, after having his station loot'ed by English soldiers, was carried off (a prisoner) in the middle of the night and while the rain poured down, and was kept for eleven days in vile durance before he was brought to Pretoria for trial. He was accused-some Jews being his accusers-of having spoken against the English and of having supplied the Boers with food. At the trial both allegations were proved false, and he was set at liberty after an imprisonment of six weeks. Mr. Balding, at Leydenburg, suffered similar indignity. 'Vhen, in July, 1900, English troops occupied the place, a piece of ground belonging to the Boers was made over to the natives, who looked upon it as absolutely their own. Mr. Bauling pointed out to them that not until the conclusion of peace such distribution of land could have final validity. This advice formed the basis of an accusation against him. His property was confiscated and the station turned to military uses, while he himself was thrown into prison and treated as a common malefactor, until the intervention of the German consul secured him some relief. Another grievous case is that of Mr. Kahl, at Neu-Halle. Some evil-minded persons who once had belonged to his church made a calumnious charge against him of harboring and supporting Boers. While he with three of his children were away from home, the station was surrounded by English troops in the dead of night, and his wife and five remaining children were carried off to Pretoria. Kahl himself was summoned to appear there, and, failing to do so, he was arrested, his ox-wagon with a team of twelve oxen appropriated, and he himself would have been deported to Ceylon· but for the remonstrance of the German consul. His station is occupied by English troops.
Another baneful result of the war is the demoralization of the native churches, whose members are exposed to all the dangers and temptations inseparable from the presence of the military at the time of confusion and distraction. The teachers, whose warning voice might have acted as a restraint to some, have either heen removed or discredited when they tried to be faithful to their office, and only those who are acquainted with the African character can adequately estimate the loss of such personal supervision.
The reports which arrive from several stations as to the revival of tribal conflicts indicate another danger. While the Boers held rule the natives were kept in check, but this return to general lawlessness may indefinitely add to the complications of the situation, and is sure to prove an additional hindrance to missionary progress.
* These particulars are taken from the organ of the Basel Missionary SOCiety (Evan.- gelillches Millsions Magaztn). Translated by B. Hitjer.
OF MISSIONARY WORK IN JAPAN FOR THE YEAR 1900.-Compiled by Rev. H. Loomis
…,..".'". 3" i .."-.".''."". ";::'"''" …… 'ag i-"'~"" -…"-"'" "" .",,,, I., z:§ I"'' ,; . .:a, ."..'.". NAMES OF MISSIONS. h. ,; <S§~i ,t …. ,; '" ,; !i ',d ,0<'"c, ."- lll";i)bC 'd' 1 .,_,"00 .~~~• '0~iILl 00 ~ ~… .; ,; !Srd :S ,,_ o@; ;:= o.~ ~~ ~w.E .~ ~ ~~ o"g S ~;; 0 ":0;; "«1''-'': ~g ~ '" " §~[~8 ","o ~t: … ", ~w >-il;l …. ~- 0 .~~ ~~~·~.6 "…'Po "",,PPoo :..;::::::: 0 '"d,1':": — -<.> '~d"'0'''0' E-< ill 0 A<E-< .0" 0" " ,,<.> oh E-< ~..:.. rQ:) tIl OQ;$O;::::! z'- 0":> S,,·S~ .a.~ §: ~o 0" "00,,, — :Pin :0 — "…, . – 00 – … "'" 0..8 '" '" -" :g~~:9§ 00~~ .>…",",<0.0> ",,,, — ~rg — – ->=-I ;:;; ~§ " '" oz…. – -,,!!::Q … ~ — E-<s ;:;; ~ ~ ",,, ~ ",- <.>'d 0 .. 00 S 00" — — ——————1-:-:- – – -0 — ->=I – p0::.".., – 0 – 0-0 — – -0 – 16 7 00 26…. American Baptist Missionary Union………………. " …….. 1860 56 9 54 27 1 26 204. .. . 2.011 754 ' 4,435 3.540.38 Amer.Board·sMissionwithKumiaiChurches(a) ……………. 1869 62 12 170 72 36 36 519 51 10,214 630 4,372 1 15 38 67 10…. 31,745.00 American Christian Convention (d) …………………………. 1887 6 2 23 7 …. 7 11 …. 344 51 608 …. 2 4 4 2 …. 278.01 Baptist Convention (Southern) …………………………….. 1889 8 4 9 2 …. 2 15 …. 90 …… 154 …. 1 4 3 .. .. 125.00 Christian andMissionary Alliance ………………………….. 1891 3 1 3 71 …. 3 4 …. 26 …… 330 …. 3 1.. .. (/) 10.00 i. Presbyterian Church of the United States………………….. 1859 54 12 (31 …… …. …….. …… .. ………… ..
Reformed Church in America …………………………….. 1859 31 9 114…… …. …… …… …. …….. …… …… …. …. …. .. ……. . United Presbyterian Church of Scotland……………………. 1874 2 1 1 ……………………………………………………………. ..
Church of Christ in Japan (a) ……………………………… ………… 71 40 31 619 139 10,846 2,202 5,428 2 18 34 113 27 … . Reformed Church in the United States……………………… 1879 18 3 48 ………………………………………………………….. .. Presbyterian Church in the United States (South) …………… 1885 28 7 53 …………………………………………….. ' …………… . Woman's Union Missionary Societies, U. S. A ………………. 1871 5 2 7 …… …. …… …… …. …….. …… 618 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
Cumberland Presbyterian Church …………………………. 1877 18 4 L12 …… …. …… …… …. …….. …… …… …. …. …. …. 6 …. .. .. 372"'.55' Church of Christ………………………………………….. 1883 19 4 14 13 …. 13 94 …. 734 150 738…….. 9 10 4 1 Evangelical Association of North America ………………….. 1876 6 1 16 14 …. 14 61 15 926 …… 553 1 3 18 12 9 …. 1,256.06 Evangelical Lutheran Mission, U. S. A ……………………… 1892 8 2 1 1 …. 1 13 4 77 …… 100 …. …. 2 2 1… 488.00 General Evangelical Protestant (German Swiss) …………….. 1885 7 2 1 1 …. 1 5 15 116 80 125 1 3 2 …. 1 …. 43.32 i Hephzibah Faith 1.8..9.4 ….2 ….1 .. …. …. …… …….. 31 25 …. …. …. 1. … …. 15.30 6 6 . .. … 604 22 290. … …. 3 7 3 . … 1,516.39 Independent and UMnicssoinonneacrytedAssoNcaitait~ioen((f.f))……………………………………. ….3 …… …. 70 4,692.00 25 . … MethodistChurchofCanada(e) ..~~.~~l.~~.~~:::::::::::::::::::: iS73 ~~ g"53 ….26 '''3 ….23 ·"i.ii "23 '(ii2~oi6 'i~ooo '2~23i '''1 '''4 "26 "64 "ii :::: Methodist Episcopal Church. U. S. A. (e) … .•.•.•••.•.•.•..••.••• 1873 64 9 81 79 4 75 488 88 (i) 4,855 2,880 7,326 2 10 60 28 46 1…… 13,940.00 Methodist Episcopal Church (South) (e) .. …………………… 1886 35 9 18 15 2 13 63 18 688 574 1,386 1 1 10 7 4 …. …… 1,620.00 t:: :::: :::::: : : :::::: :::::: :::: :::::::: :::::: :::::: :::: :::: :::: :::: :::: : : :::::: :::::::::: ~h';'.t:~~aMfs~~:~~f~o~~~~:~: ~:~:::: ~~~~ 1~~ Methodist Protestant Church (b)…………………………… 1880 13 3 651 Nippon Sei Kokwai (k) … . . . .-r:.. . . . . ::::::::::::: ::::::::: ~r …. …. 34 82 80 2 4 80 14 388 183 196 1 5 7 7 6 …. …… 998.21 78 705 371 (j) 7,976 2,901 5.739 4 39 45 141 59 4 2,051 11,233.67 …… ……………. ………
~~: ~fJ~~~:~'h¥s~~:,~~~i.t.~ ~~~~~~~:: SOClety for the Propagation of the Gospel. …………….•… 'l1873 23 … … …… …. …… …… …. …….. …… …… …. …. …. …. …. …. . …………. ..
: : : : : : : : : : : : : : :: : : : : : : : : : : : : : . : : : : ¥J:: :::: ….27 :::: :::::: :::::: :::: :::::::: :::::: :::::: :::: :::: :::: :::: :::: :::: :::::: :::::::::: Salvation Army …………………………………………… 1895 13 4 22 (h) 15 …. (h) 15 …… …. …….. …… 314…. 51 4 …. …. 2,585.15 Scandinavian Alliance Mission in Japan …………………….. 1891 8 4 10………. 17 …. 152 …… 110 …. …. …. 4 …. …. 14.50 Seventh Day Adventists .. : ………………………………… 1898 5 2 2 1 …. 1 12 …. 12 90 60 …. …. …. 10 …… ..
Society of Friends, U. S. A……………… " ………………. 1885 6 2 3. ….. …. …… (g) 33 …. 201 58 420…………… . 2 …. 104.33 Uni;:~r:;~;:~:t~::i:;~~;~~::~~ ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::I~~~ 75~ 17~ .~~~ ~~~ ~~ ~ .;~~ 42,: ~~:~~36,:~: ~~ ~ 32~ .~~ ~ Universalists……………………………………………… 1890 5 1…. 175.00 5 …. 5 11 31 65 13 137 1 2 3 3 3 ….
.. … .. … 3.1:: .. 55: 2'1211102'::: = = —-w = = 712401= Increase in 1900 ……………………………………….. 00 -5 12 32 -:-= ~I-:-= 799 -11-:-= "'7;953.72.
(a) Statistics to January 1,1900. (b) Statistics to April 1, 1899. (el Statistics to May 1, 1900. (d) Statistics to June 30,1900. (el Statistics to August 1, 1900. (f) Approximate; reports not complete. (g) Admitted to Christian fellowship by public profeossion of faith in Christ. (h) Not churches, but army corps. (il Probationers and commulllcants. (j) Catechumens and infants included. (k) Ueports not complete. (l) Yen = 82 cents (gold).
EDITORIALS Christianity in Great Britain F. B. Meyer Rev. Dr. Alex. Maclaren, of Man- Rev. F. B. Meyer has resigned chester, England, greatest of living his charge of Christ Church in preachers, is reported as saying London, in order to be free for a that he confesses that his heart wider work as a missioner in Britsometimes failes him when he ain and elsewhere. His resignation thinks of the present aspects and takes effect next September. He prospects of Christianity in Great feels called upon to give up the Britain. The great wealth, the comforts of a pastorate that he loosened bonds of Christian faith, may devote himself to the ministry the neglect of the Sabbath, the of the Church at large. He says: growing senseless luxury, the god- " I think I hear the voice of Christ lessness of all classes of society in saying, in unmistakable accents, this day, from the highest to the that I must fall into the ground lowest, are enough to break the and die if I am to bear the best and heart of workers. He could not most fruit." but read in the social life of England, in the public action of the The Christ Method of Evangelism country, in the corruption of the municipalities, in the growing in- When Mr. Meyer was in Calcutta temperance of the people, in the he recommended the Christ method manifestly increasing impa:tience of propagating Christianity, and of the press, in the leaders of said that, if he were a young misopinion who were ready to shake sionary, he would do his best to off the last fragments of Christian- "train twelve apostles, seeking to ity, and who in many cases were imbue them with his own spirit, talking rubbish and npnsense about living with them, working with the superior claims of Buddhism, them, and sending them forth." Hinduism, and he knew not what. A man of the fullest consecration, "ism "-he could not but see in all largest faith, greatest tact, soundthese things a call to Christian est judgment, and ripest expepeople to be ashamed of their quar- rience would be necessary for this relings and envyings, and to go kind of work; but given such a forward Shoulder to shoulder, and combination of qualities and twelve ·to close their ranks against the foe. workmen developed in this way, a most effective and blessed service' Everything that Dr. McLaren would follow. says is entitled to a hearing. How solemn the testimony of This was the m~dieval method this man of such advanced years, of carrying on missions, when who, in his fifty years' ministry, twelve men, giving themselves up has never said or written anything to the evangelization of a certain that needs to be recalled! And district, would elect one of their what a trumpet peal to the Church, number captain, go to some remote calling on all disciples to forget in- region, and under his direction significant differences in view of scatter in different parts, and seek their magnificent basis of agree- thus to compass the whole region, ment on vital truths, and the sin- meeting after intervals to confer gular unity and solidarity of a ma- and report. Such a method has lignant foel the stamp of God's suggestion on it and is always likely to succeed.
1902J EDITORIALS
Mr. Torrey's Tour Missions in Bulgariz… The numerous acquaintances and The capture of Miss Stone has friends of Rev. R A. Torrey and offered another opportunity for wife will be interested to know unfriendly critics of missions to that they plan to sail, December present their views in opposition 28th, from San Francisco, for Y 0- to those of Jesus Christ. One kol;tama, China, Australia, Syria, newspaper speaks contemptuously etc., spending about one year in of Miss Stone as "forcing her re- the tour. Mr. Torrey expects to ligion " on the Bulgarians (doubt- give addresses and hold Bible Insti- less accompanied by a fleet of tutes, and visit these lands to study gunboats anda battery of artillery). their religious and missionary as- This critic declares that it is fan- pects, and give such aid and encour- tastic to propound a religion to agement as he may be able to the a people which has not been edu- Lord's workers. The tour is mainly cated up to the point of accepting it. on invitation of the Evangeliza- If this were true it would not tion Society of Australasia. He apply to the missionaries in Bulwill spend three months or more garia. They do not offer a new in Australia and New Zealand, and religion, but simply a purer and probably hold Bible Institutes of more living form of the old. The some weeks' duration at prominent Bulgarians have been Christians centers. These world-travelers es- for a thousand years. The essential pecially ask prayer in their behalf. truths of the faith are -fully ac- Mr. Torrey's teaching is especially knowledged by them. The comemphatic along the lines of Bible plaint is only that with them inspiration and the Holy Spirit. knowledge has become too much He took the pastoral charge of the divorced from living faith and from Chicago Avenue Church in 1894, life, and too much oppressed by and during seven years the atmos- darkening ceremonies and burdenphere of this church has been one some enactments. The American of continuous revival. The small- Board does not send its mission~ est number added in anyone year aries to the Levant to propagate has been 254! Protestantism, but to aid in the development of an intelilgent and Satanic Opposition living faith. If the missionaries preach in ab- The lovers of God's work should solutely non-Christian countries, it not be at all surprised if diffi- contradicts history to call them culties appear in the field, and, unreasonable in going into a counat the same time, when success is try which has- not for generations apparent and the largest victory been educated up to the acceptance seems to be on the point of being of Christianity. The Gospel spread accomplished. The one greatest over the Roman empire, among a problem is, and always has been, people who were getting tired of how to meet, resist, and overcome their old gods, but who continued satanic opposition; and how, where to worship them until they turned he is permitted for the time to tri- to Christ. Ireland accepted the umph, to hold on patiently and Gospel almost at a bound; so did persistently both to our work and the Scottish Highlands, Southern our hope, believing that the final England, and most of the rest. The result shall be that Christ shall in work of conversion in Denmark all things have the preeminence, and Sweden was much more lingerand that we shall be partakers of His ultimate and etern~l yictoq! in~, b~t tbere too the only way in
which the people were educated up climatic or other reasons, to leave our shores. In the East End of London there is a great to the Gospel was by the spread of and rapidly increasing Jewish community, elbowing out their Gentile neighbors; the Gospel. These critics speak churches and chapels are surrounded by this immigration, and much good work is accom· like men who so dislike Christianity plished among them; but still there IS room for men of the highest ability and with burn· that they never ascertain the most ing zeal, prepared and qualified to point Jews to their true Messiah and coming King. palpable facts of Christian his- The difficulty of bringing men and women tory. t of this race to Christ has been greatly ex· aggerated, and the results of the Jewish Mis· For India sian have been grossly ridiculed. As Mr. Wilkinson, Sr., has often pointed out, Miss Louise B. Pierson, daughter 0< three-fourths of our Bible is the Jewish of the editor, sailed November 16th Bible; and a Jew or a Jewess is as responsive for Calcutta (140 Dharantala Street). to loving interest and effort to bless as any She goes to undertake work in con- Gentile can be_" Possibly a Jewish believer nection with the Woman's Union may have more adaptation than a Gentile Missionary Society of New York, believer (other things being equal) as a witin the orphanage and Bible school, ness for Christ to the Hebrew race; but that where Miss Gardner has so success- does not in the least degree remove the oblifully labored. Miss Crosby, re- gation laid upon Gentile Christians to offer turning to Japan, and Miss Loomis, the Gospel to that race. We can not shake now going out under the same so- off our responsibility for the huge debt we ciety, spoke at the farewell meet- owe to Israel as keepers of the oracles of ing in the Bible Society Directors' God and as the brethren of our Lord Jesus Room on November 13, at the same Christ. It would, we feel persuaded, be well time when Miss Pierson also spoke pleasing to Him were many men of high a few parting words. ability and of consecrated purpose to offer themselves to the well-known and honored A Call for Jewish Missionaries societies and organizations now existing to help in gathering in "the remnant according Mr. John Wilkinson (Mildmay to the election of grace." Mission to the Jews) thinks an initial failure in duty is to be seen Rev. Louis E. Meyer, an authorin the absence even of appeals to ity on the subject, says that 204,- students to give themselves to J ew- 540 Hebrews were baptized unto ish mission work. He insists that Christ during tha past century, and God's order has never yet been re- the average is 1,500 a year, excluversed: "to the Jew first." Mr. sive of the Romish Church. Yet, James E. Mathieson, of London, notwithstanding this singular blesssays: ing on missions to Jews, the old race prejudice seems still dominant We remember with thankfulness the bright and it interferes with all general but brief career of Ion Keith Falconer in work for this class. his efforts to reach the Moslems in Arabia, and also the noble close of a noble life when Modem Warfare Bishop Valpy French gave his last days to the same race. We recall the time when The destructiveness of modern " the Cambridge Seven" offered themselves warfare is more and more apparent, willingly for the China Mission, and we feel tho we become too much accusgrateful to God that He has signally used tomed to it, to have it impress us their testimony, and that they are all alive as it ought. Since the commenceunto this day. But a claim to similar devo· ment of Britain's struggle in South tion is surely urgent in the interests of God's Africa, however incredible it seems, chosen race. For this work the highest up to October 15th, 824 officers and scholarship, combined with the rarest devo- 16,648 men have died, in British tion, should be sought for, a mastery of the ranks alone, 6 officers and 417 men Hebrew language and of the Yiddish or other dying after returning home, and 7 dialects, and capacity to "reason out of the officers and 615 men reported" miss- [Old Testament] Scriptures that Jesus is the ing." Even the immense expendi- Christ." Many men find it impossible, for ture of money fades into insignifi- cance beside this waste of life, and the vast world of sorrow which these figures suggest.
OUR llUSSIONART LIBRARY
OUR MISSIONARY LIBRARY CONSTANTINOPLll: AND ITS PROBLEMS. By Sophia (69), and the girl Gulsum, Henry Otis Dwight, LL.D. Illustrated. the hired rabble of women at the 12mo, 298 pp. $1.25, net. Fleming H. office of the Minister of Finance Revell Co., New York. 1901. (115) and the funeral of the patri- arch (143), the dishonest tenant This is a valuable book. It is so (153) and the Levantine duel (192) good a book that we wish there -all these help us to understand were more of it, that it were more the burden which the reformers full on some points. It is radically must carry. different from the familiar "Notes" of travelers, in that it is The book improves as we adnot compiled from other books, and vance, and the closing chapter is it contains scarcely anything of the the best. It is a spectacle that may conventional guide-book type. In- well appeal to our sympathies, not deed, a page or two of such details a hungry nation only, but a circle might have been added without in- of hungry nations, all willing to creasing the cost of the volume, and read and studY-Ill fact, clamoring to the convenience of the reader. for books-and open to evangelical But this timely publication is influences, while, at the same time, crowded with facts of a most sig- the money needful for the editing nificant sort. They are facts of and publishing of such books is that kind which a mere casual withheld. The present reviewer visitor can not possibly know. Dr. has often expressed in public the Dwight has been from his youth a opinion that the time has come resident of Constantinople, and when our missionary effortsought part of the time a missionary, in to be gathered up into strong cenconstant touch with the people, ters rather than scattered. We great and small. The reader should ought to concentrate our fire on understand that this volume is not certain points, and win definite a text-book of Byzantine archreol- victories at such points, instead of ogy, nor a history of the Ottoman trying to occupy so much ground empire. It is not a discussion of as we do. Especially ought we to the recent massacres, nor a system- make sure of two things-namely, atic account of missionary enter- education and a vit.al Christian prise. It is fairly described by its literature. Therefore, the true title, and the nature of these prob- policy would be to gradually turn lems may be inferred from the over the evangelistic function to chapter headings. The incidents native preachers, and to put the with which each section is filled available force of living missionary are not mere objectless anecdotes, workers into these two departbut facts that bear on the solution ments of schools and the press. In of the difficulties involved. Any this we fully share Dr. Dwight's scheme of moral reform must face feeling, and his last chapter is a these obstacles, and the reader who pathetic plea for a Christian litergives careful attention to Dr. ature for the Ottoman empire. The Dwight's facts will soon share also voice of a preacher will soon be in his sense of the responsibility now silenced, but the hook which emresting on the American churches. bodies Western learning with East- The admiral's daughter (page 24), ern taste, as only a trained misand the effort to obtain a passport sionary Can prepare it, will remain by fraud (27), the clapping of hands for centuries a treasure of good (35), and the wine-drinking Pasha sense and truth. Dr. Dwight does (61), the eveniDgservice in St.
not even suggest his own relfLtion Bible will come to be acknowledged to this grand task, but it is a pleas- as mast3rs not only of their own ure to testify that he is himself one catechism and hymn-book, but also of the very few m'm to whom we of the traditions, genealogies, and look for the providing an evangel- chronicles of their own people. ical body of thoroughly good books in the land of the Green Banner. c. F. S. We are authorized by the pub- J. F. R. lishers to say that this work may be had by all foreign missionaries A HISTORY 0" BABYLONIA AND ASSYRIA. By at half price, carriage not included.
Robert W. Rogers, Ph.D, D.D., LL.D., -[EDITORS. F.R.G.S., Professor in Drew Theologi- cal Seminary, Madison, N. J. 2 vols., 8vo, VIA CHRISTI. By Louise M. Hodgkins. 12mo, pp. XX., 429, XV., 418. Eaton & n'lains, 257 pp. Cloth, net, 50c.; paper, net, SOc. New York. Price, cloth, $5.00. The Macmillan Co., New York. 1901.
No missionary, if his field be in This introduction to the study of this part of the Orient, should fail to acquaint himself with this work. missions was prepared at the re- For the first time the story has been clearly and completely told of quest of a committee of the the rise, reign, and fall of two of the chief nations which, under God, Women's Boards of Missions in the may be called the Schoolmasters of the Hebrew People. For the first United States and Canada. It retime the intricate labyrinth has been threaded from the outmost views in order the various ages of bastion to the inmost chamber, and the bearer of the torch knows all the Church, from St. Paul to the the way, as to the manor born, and yet is one of our own men and nineteenth century, and presents speaks his message in our own language, and without wearying us the progress of missions during or losing sight of us. this period. The book is valuable This is precisely the sort of work which the time demands, and will for reference and as a basis of do more to meet the speculative vagaries of the modern text de- study. * structionists than whole libraries of controversial literatures. The THE MODERN MISSION CENTURY. By Arthur eloquence of the facts is the secret T. Pierson. 8vo, 576 pp. Net, $1.50. of Professor Rogers' enthusiasm, The Baker & Taylor Co., New York. and is the secret of his power over James Nisbet & Co., London. 1901. his readers, and nothing is more plain or more satisfying than the The nineteenth century is par fact that the Assyria and Babylonia of the Bible are the Babylonia excellence a missionary century. and Assyria of history. Now when the real history of Egypt and Its achievements in winning the Greece, the other two full professors in the School of the Hebrews, world for Christ and the instances is finally written, the prospects are, from the abundant finds of the last of Divine interposition and leaderfew decades,. that. thft wrlpl'lr,S.of.the ship have been marvelous. "All history is mystery until it is read as His story." This volume pre- sents the facts of the progress of the Kingdom during the past 100 years as an evidence of the superin- tending providence of God. As General-in-Chief of the missionary campaign, He is shown to have gone before His armies, to have broken down barriers, prepared His generals and soldiers, and given the victories that have made us "more than conquerors." Noone who reads these pages can fail to see the hand of Godin nlpdern his- tor~. *-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE AMERICA Our Problem These figures tell of the something of the Fourth Student The fourth inter- task laid upon the Volunteer – national conven- Foreign-born Christians of Amer- Convention tion of the Student in Toronto Volunteer Move- ica: During the fiscal year ending ment for Foreign June 30, 1901, there arrived at the Missions will be held at Toronto, Canada, February 26 to March 2, port of New York 453,496 immi- 1902. Three volunteer conventions grants, being an increase of 52,654 have been held: the first at Cleveland in 1891, having in attendance over the record for the previous 680 delegates; the second at Detroit in 1894, having in attendance 1,325 year. The stream of aliens to our delegates, and the third at Cleveland in 1898, having in attendance shores now sets strongly from 2,221 delegates. At the convention in 1898 there were 1,598 students southeastern Europe. From Italy and 119 professors, representing 461 institutions of higher learning in alone came nearly thirty per cent. the United States and Canada; 87 secretaries and other representa- of the entire number. The followtives of foreign mission boards and societies; 80 foreign missionaries, ing table shows the sources of the and many other leaders. larger classes of immigrants: From present indications the <convention next February will be Italian …………..•………. 131,658 (even IStronger and more represen- Hebrew…………………. . 43,237 tative. It will, in all probability, Polish…………………… . 37,636 he attended by students and pro- German…………………. . 29,680 fessors from over 500 colleges, theo- Slovak ………………….. . 26,931 logical seminaries, medical schools, Scandinavian ……………. . 24,181 ;and other high institutions of learn- Irish……………………. . 19,953 ing. The fact that the next con- Croatian and Dalmatian….. . 12,348 ference of the secretaries of the Magyar………………….. . 12,344 boards of missions of the United :States and Canada will be held in Pennsylvania's Of the 6,302,115 'Toronto insures a large attendance Part of the popUlation in ,of officers and representatives of Problem Pennsylvania, the foreign mission boards. A 985,250 are foreignlarge number of missionaries from all parts of the world field are ex- born. To these are to be""added pected. National leaders of the 160,451 colored people, including young people's societies, state, pro- Negroes, Chinese, and Japanese. vincial, and international secreta- Adding 400,000, the children of perries of the young men's and young sons recently arriving in t.his counwomen's christian associations, try, we have 'about 1,500,000 of and editors of church paperlS and foreign-born in the bounds of the missionary magazines, as well as State. Of these between eight and fraternal delegates from student nine hundred thousand speak formovements in Europe have been eign tongues, who, if they are to invited. be successfully reached and dealt with, must be reached in the mother tongues.
Relative Cost I have compared of Home and the annual average Foreign Work expense of rUI1ning 3 New York City churches with the annual average expense of carrying on the Arcot Mission in India since it was estab- lished forty years ago, and it is less than that of those churches. And note what has been accomplished.
There are, now 8 mission stations, port of schools, or to withdraw en- 100 village congregations, 24 organ- tirely. As there.are no men ready ized churches with 4,910 members to go to Turkey, and as the treasand 1,861 catechumens. There are ury does not warrant the necessary 120 schools with 2,992 pupils, of increase of funds for that field, and whom 2,200 are not Christians; also as the Turkish field is limited and 16 girls' schools with 1,343 pupils; preoccupied, the executive com- 4 Anglo-vernacular schools, where mittee has decided to recommend ],000 young men are taught; 6 that the Foreign Society withdraw training-schools with 322 boarding from that field as soon as it can do pupils, and yet the average yearly so consistently with all the intercost of all this work is less than it ests and rights at present involved." costs to support 1 New York City church.-DR. JACOB CHAMBER- An Indian on The Mission Field LAIN. Indians reports the testi- mony of an Apache Growth of Baptist Missions.-Dr. Mabie states that since 1890 142,000 Indian at a Christian Endeavor' converts have been baptized and meeting held in connection with added to the churches in connec- one of the mission churches of the tion with the American Baptist Reformed Church in America. Missionary Union. This is twice ,, We Indians, " said he, "look like the number permitted any other man, shape like man, but we not society in Christendom to gather know enough. We not know God. in. The fact appears upon another We like snow man children make, page that this same society received all the time standing still in one 6,553 to its churches last year.. place, so cold, so cold, no go about, no work, go away little by little, Methodist Women and Missions. then all gone." -The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Epis- How the Gos- Bishop Hare, wh copal Church reports 2,405,575 pel Transforms seems to be followmembers in the 21,034 branches, and receipts amounting to $426,795 last Red Men ing hard after year, an increase of $12,264 from Bishop Whipple in the year before. The Northwestern Branch reports $102,612; the New service for the Indians, reports that York, $65,901; the Cincinnati, $57,- there are l7 Sioux now in the min- 013, etc. istry. There are about 60 others, not in the ministry, who are Surrendering a Some twenty years licensed' by the bishop to hold ser- Mission Field ago the Christians vices. The clergy, with the aid of these assistants, keep up service in (Disciples) under- 86 congregations. They have 63 took mission work in the Turkish church buildings. There are 3,286 empire, as not a few felt at the Indian communicants. The Indian time, in serious violation of Chris- congregations raised last year for tian comity. But now the state- charitable and religious objects ment comes from official sources $7,892. that for "some time the work in Turkey has not been satisfactory. Christian To their other good One of two courses seem to be open Red Men in works the Indians to the society: either to send a number of Americans to take the Arizona in our Fifth Pima oversight of the churches and to Mission are adding spend many thousands for the sup- the support of their minister, the Rev. W. H. Gill. He tells thus of their enthusiasm in this direction: Our Indians have begun to sup-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
port tl1eir own church this year, Friends, and the Cumberland Pres- besides giving to missionary work. byterian. Besides these there w'ere On the first Sunday of our fiscal several independent missions, such year 8 members paid up their entire as the Church of Jesus, part of year's subscription, while 1 enthu- which, about 1884, was formally siastic member doubled her's and taken up by the Episcopalians; an paid up. On the second Sunday 14 English mission originated by the more paid up in full. At the end late James Pascoe, but since his of the first quarter neady all of the death dismembered; and finally 00 subscriptions have been brought, the work of a Mr. Harris, of Oritho I told them they could have zaba. These report 650 congregathe whole year to pay in. This, I tions, 18,000 communicants, 60,000 think, is encouraging for the first adherents, 185 foreign workers attempt at self-support.-Assem- aided by 585 native workers." bly Herald. EUROPE The Mormon Some idea of the Growth of On this theme, so Tithing enormous revenue the British closely connected System the .Mormon Church Empire with the spread of the Gospel, in a late receives from ti.. Pall Mall Magazine, Mr. Holt thing may be gained through the Schooling has this to say: "During the century now drawing to a close, following item from a Utah corre- land has been added to the British Empire at the average rate of 2 spondent: acres for every sec,ond of time. In the year 1800 Greater Britain was Yesterday a Mormon young only six times as big as the United woman told me that her father Kingdom, while in 1000 it is found paid every tenth load of hay for to have become just ninety-six tithing when he brought it from times as big. Roughly, the increase the field. During the winter, when has been from 2,000,000 square miles he sold the remaining hay, he also to 12,000,000, and this growth of six gave every tenth dollar. Also with times the area. in 1800 has been his cattle, he gives one-tenth of going on all over the world. what he has, and the ne.xt year he tithes the same stock over again, George Miiller These are a Iso giving one-tenth of all, thus in- Orphanages known as the Ashcluding the cattle from which he ley Down Orphan has paid tithing for many years plus the increase. This man is in Homes at Bristol, and concerning moderate circumstances, yet he them an important new departure pays $500 a year tithing. He asked is announced. These homes are the officials if, having once tithed famous from the fact that they his hay and stock, he must again were founded and carried on by tithe them when any were sold by George Muller in the spirit of abgiving one-tenth of the amount solute dependence upon God for all realized, and was told that he must support; altho the founder is dead, do so. Is it any wonder that this his son-in-law, Mr. James Wright, organization is so abundantly pro- still adheres to the same principles. vided with the "sinews of war?', The new departure is a broadening of the work and the admission of Missions in Dr. John W. Butler half-orphans as well as the chil- dren who have lost both parents; 5 Mexico in his " Sketches of homes will be occupied instead of M e x i c 0, " say s : "Several of the evangelical churches in the United States en- tered the mission field in Mexico toward the close of 1872. They did so in about the following order: The Presbyterian, Methodist Epis- copal, Congregational, Baptist Southern Convention, Southern Methodist, Southern Presbyterian, Reformed Associate Presbyterian, Baptist Northern Ohurch, The
4, accommodating in all 2,050 chil- bel' 3d. The law required that all dren. In the sixty-third annual persons professing to work in assoreport there are mllny interesting ciation should publish the rules of facts and figures. The income for their association, and offer some last year was over $160,000, and reasonable guarantee that their the expenditures something over funds would not be applied to pur- $117,000, leaving a handsome bal- poses which they might not wish to ance on hand for advance work. avow. It seems that, out of a total of 16,468 religious establish- Where a Part This list of special ments, 5,141 have applied for of Missionary needs, or "inci- authorization, believing it to be Money Goes den tal" expenses, quite possible to carryon their work under the changed conditions. which appears in Among the applicants for authorithe C. M. S. Intelligence'/' will help zation are 1,045 estahlishments of us to realize that salaries and the Sisters of St. Vincel!t de Paul traveling expenses do not consume and 1,352 other female establishall the gifts of the churches. The ments. It is well known that these sums called for vary from $150 to Sisters carryon works of humanity $2,000 : and beneficence, and they have no reason to apprehend any difficulty For providing a grant to a Yeruba catechist in obtaining authorization from on retiring through loss of sight. the government. On the other hand, 11,327 religious establish- For furniture for the Lagos Old Mission ments, constituting about two- House. thirds of those which existed in France up to October 3d, have made For repairing the Beach House Sanatorium, no application for authorization, Lagos. and must, therefore, expect to be dissolved, the members of the dis- For a new house for an industrial agent, solved orders either renouncing Niger Mission. work altogether, or going into exile to prosecute their work on foreign To meet medical expenses in the Niger Mis- soil. sion during 1900. French According to the For reerecting a rest-house on Mamboia Hill. Catholic Catholic W01'ld, To provide school nlaterial, furniturE', etc., in Missions Catholic France • the U sag'ara Mis~ion. For various buildings, alterations, etc.. in the supplies 7,745 mis- sionary priests, and 9,150 mission- Uganda l1ission. ary sisters, besides 33,000 Sisters of For a paper-cutting machine for Uganda. Charity, of whom a considerable For building a mission-house at Shimba, and proportion work in "almost every part of the world." This large repairs in the 1!;ast Africa Mission. staff, however, is only in part en- For repairs and taxes at Gaza. gaged in missions among the For repairs at l1ajitha SChool, Punjab. heathen. Yet unquestionably France is of all Catholic lands that English The Eng 1ish which furnishes the most laborers Friends and Friends, in their for these. It also gathers the larg- est missionary contributions, of the Missions Thirty-fourth Mis- 6,848,700 francs which in 1900 the sionary Rep 0 rt, chief Catholic collecting society, show, in their five mission fields, India, Ceylon, China, Syria, and Madagascar, 27 missionaries, 5 medical missionaries (one a lady), 24 unmarried ladies. Full members, 2,725; adherents, 13,635; scholars, 19,521. Total income, 412,640 marks. Indian Famine Fund, 596,519 marks. Whole number of home members 19,OOO.-Allgemeine Missions Zeitshrift.
Exodus of The time allowed Religious by the law of July Orders from 1, 1901, to religious France orders for asking authorization to remain in France expired on Octo-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
the Xavier Union of Lyons, took in, missionaries, 130; missionary sis- 4,063,407 francs were from France. ters, 17; native pastors, 26; teach- The next largest sum came from ers and evangelists, 371; native Germany, 755,349 francs. These helpers (elders, etc.), unpaid, 923; voluntary contributions are far schools, 340; scholars, 15,259. from sufficient for the support of the French missionaries and their The Old In 1871 what has numerous and extended missions. Catholic since been known It will never be known whence the Church as the Old Catholic great sums come which make up the deficits.–Allgemeine Missions Zeit- Church broke away schrift. from Rome and became a separate body. The year before the doc trine Deaconess The fo urte e nth of the infallibility of the pope was Conference in conference of Dea- decreed. Those Catholics who re- fused to accept this formed the Germany con e s s 11 0 the r above-named branch of the Church. Houses was held a It has recently been growing rap- idly in Austria, as its last Austrian few weeks since at Kaiserswerth. synod showed. In 1882 there were The first one met in 1861, at which only 6,113 Old Catholics in Austrb, 23 institutions were represented, but there were reported at this modelled after Fliedner's original, synod 16,885. Since 1898 there have to prove to him that his darling been 3,620 accessions, of who m project had not been formed in nearly one-third en t ere d the vain. The deep interest attending Church in the early months of 1900. the recent conference was shown by One fact of special significance rethe fact that the sessions, begin- ported by the moderator is that ning at 8 A.M., lasteil until 11 or 12 there is a growing feeling of' harat night. Three delegates were mony between the Protestants and present from America (Baltimore, the Old Catholics, so much so that Philadelphia, and Omaha), and in some instances they worship toothers from Germany, Holland, gether. Undoubtedly the troubles France, Switzerland, Austria, in Austria, that have sent thou- Russia, Denmark, Sweden, and sands into the Protestant fold, will Norway. account for this growth of the Old Catholic Church and its relations Basel Mission Statistics, 1900 to Protestantism.
STATIONS ~-Missionaries–, " Los von Rom" Very striking ac- Once More counts continue India …………. 23 Male Female to be received of China …………. 13 Gold Coast…….. 10 79 60 the" Away from Rome" rnove- Cameroon …….. 9 ment in Austria. It is claimed that 20 14 as the result of it 13,000 have be- come Protestants, while 7,000 more 46 24 have join~ the Old Catholics. During the last six months over 29 15 3,000 Catholics have come over from the Papacy-the number far ex- Baptisms Members ceeding that professing conversion last year. Among the particular India …………….. 261 14,700 incidents mentioned are the follow- China ……………. 265 6,137 ing: Gold Coast.. .. .. . …. 859 18,136 Cameroon………… 549 2,615 After a conference held in Leit- Rhenish Baptisms: Adults, Missions, 2,973; chi I d r en, 1900-1901 3,375. 11 e m bel's, 82,245, as follows: Cape Colony, 16,023; Gennesee, S. W. Africa, 12,032; Cumberland, 132; Borneo, 1,957; Sumatra, 46,154; Nias, 5,020; China, 927. Stations, 92; substations, 254; European
meritz, 171 persons became Prot- sition in the Middle Ages of causing estants. The evangelical commu- ice-cold water to fall drop by drop nity at Turn, near Teplitz, which upon the victim's head. By the numbered 50 persons three years intervention of his friends, howago, now numbers 1,100; and a new ever, 11. Ientsch has escaped his church to hold this great number tormentors, and is' enjoying his is rapidly nearing completion. In freedom of conscience in Germany. Eger, after a sermon by Dr. Eisenkolb,27 persons announced their A Refuge for In Varna, Bulgaintention of leaving the Catholic Converted ria, an asylum is Church. Toward the end of a re- Moslems be i n g established cent month the Protestants in Graz held a thanksgiving service for converts from for the thousandth conversion from Islam and their friends. The plan Catholicism within their district. is to form a colony of converted Every Sunday in Brunn there are Moslems where they can still use services for the reception of newly the Turkish language and follow converted Protestants; and the the avocations of the Orient, and large village of Horschwitz, from yet have religious freedom and being an exclusively Catholic vil- form a nucleus for a church and lage, has become almost entirely centre for education. vVhile under Protestant during the past eight the care of Gerlllan Protestants, months. In Bohemia alone, since January, 1899, over 7,000 conversions have taken place.
The Is it the twentieth the chief agent at Varna is Br.
Dark Ages c e n t u I' y or the Hohannes Avedaranian, a convert Revived tenth? An almost from Turkey, who has married a incredible story is Christian woman of noble family told in La Semaine Religieuse, of in Germany. During the past year Geneva, concerningthe passingover two families from Northwest Per- to Protestantism of a Carmelite sia have gone to join this colony.
: monk in Gratz, Austria. His name The husbands, Mirza Ghulam and ; is M. lentsch, is 54 years old, and Naki, had married Nestorian wives, greatly esteemed for his character and in due time became Christians and zeal. By the study of the themselves. Tho not much molest- Scriptures he had been led to the ed here, they desired to go where conclusion that the Roman Cath- their children could grow up under olic Church was not the true Church religious freedom, and with spir- of Christ. He therefore quitted his itual and educational advantages.
monastery, and placed himself -REV. J. N. WRIGHT.
under the instruction of a Protes- ASIA tant pastor. His superipr, however, prevailed on him, on some pretext, The Pilgrim In Mercy and to reenter the monastery. Im- Road in Truth Dr. F. John- mediately he was imprisoned in his Palestine son writes: "In cell until he should retract his most modern maps heresies. On his refusal he was of Palestine you will find toward secretly transferred to a Franciscan the eastern limit, and running monastery. Thence he was taken roughly from north to south, a to Brixen, to a community of line to which is appended the name Sisters of the Cross, where, accord- •Derb-a-Haji.' This mysterious ing to one report, he was subjected name denotes simply the Pilgrim to a series of cold douches, but, Road, which consists of a broad according to another account, was camel track in the midst of a deso- made to undergo the terrible late country. Remains of the ex- punishment practised by the Inqui- cellent work of former rulers of
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
Palestine-the Romans-are plain- Missions Rev. C. H. Stile- ly visible in the Pilgrim Road, for are How Far man, of the C. M. in addition to road structure are found castles-ancient Roman mili- ,Apart? S., in a recent ad- tary stations which have been re- dress called atten- paired from time to time, and now serve as useful halting-places for tion to the painful fact that no two the pilgrims. stations in Persia were within 200 miles of each other, and there were "In company with my dispenser no stations belonging to other socie- and one or two Keraki, we reach ties between them. "Travel 200 one of the castles or halting-places miles in England," he interposed, after a journey of some eight hours by way of comparison, "and count from Kerak. The next morning a the church-spires as you go along! " horseman arrives announcing that In Persia there were many'towns the pilgrims will begin to arrive unoccupied, many villages unvis- after three or four hours. I go to ited. The earnestness of the Mo- the top of the castle, and far in the hammedans, such as it was, was distance can be seen in the midst like that of Naaman knocking at of an undulating hill country a the wrong door. The nee d of moving object, dark, ill-defined, women workers was especially which gradually increases in size great. In Mohammedan lands and definition, until at length the scarcely three women in a thousand several components-man, beast, could read, so that they were inac- and burden-of the huge caravan cessible by the printed Word, and call be distinguished. From statis- unless the living voice, which must tics given me by the Pasha of the be the voice of women, came to Haji, who with some 400 soldiers 'them, they would never hear the and two or three pieces of artillery, Gospel message at all. There was accompanies the caravan, and is an open door in Persia. responsible for its safe conduct, I learned that the number of pilgrims Moslems MI'. Stileman makes was from 6,000 to 10,000. Such a Touched by this statement as proportion of human beings would the Gospel showing that the involve. I suppose, not less than 15,000 to 20,000 beasts of burden, Moslem heart is not mostly camels. altogether flinty: "I could tell you of Afghans, and Arabs, and Per- " In the course of the afternoon sians, and Turks, of Mohammedans the area on one side of the castle is of India and North Africa, of Palcovered with tents, and one part of estine and Egypt, of Java and the encampment is set apart for Sumatra, who have become followbakers, butchers, etc., from whom ers of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the pilgrims purchase. These have been baptized. I suppose tradesmen make no small gain on that, of all Mohammedans, the the journey. Turk is generally considered to be the hardest to move. And if the " At some time between midnight Turk has a heart of stone, the and dawn a cannon is fired to warn Turkish official has a heart like the the pilgrims to prepare for resum- nether millstone. Yet it has been ing the journey. Before dawn they my privilege to baptize even a are well on their way to their Turkish official. 'l'hat man's life next halting-place. The risk to was transformed by t,he expulsive pilgrims, if not keeping in close power of a new affection, the power company with the main body, is of the constraining love of Christ. great"" I well remember one day when I
was reading the Word of God with natural qualifications which mark him, and we came to the passage them off from their birth as in~ where Christ is described as our tended for Sudras, whose service to Head, that Turkish official said to society can only be to labor for it; me, 'Oh, Sahib, what a glorious for Vaisyas, to trade for the supply thought! The eyes are in the head, of its needs; for Kshattriyas, to and the ears are in the head, and fight in its defense; or, finally, for the mouth is in the head. I am Brahmans, who, besides all this, blind, but Christ sees for me; I am are qualified for the higher office of deaf, but Christ hears forme; lam its teachers. dumb, but Christ speaks for me!' And when he was told on one occa- In India the harm done by the sion that if he were not very care- missionary effort has been pre· ful he would be put to death for cisely to aim at this confusion of Christ's sake, what was his reply? Dharmas as the "one thing need· He said, 'I am not a dark-room ful." A Hindu who becomes a Christian; I am a house-top Chris- Christian has lost caste in a far tian.'" deeper and more serious sense than even those who excommunicate him Widows How cruelly Hindu can understand, and the more sin· in India widows are often cere his renunciation of Hindu- ism, the more completely are the treated is shown by foundations of his spiritual life a case from Poona, related by Mrs. broken up. R. A. Hume. The plague was raging in that city. In a Brahman Deaths from A recent statement family six persons fell sick. After Tigers shows the mortality the death of the father, four Brahmins came to perform the custom- and Snakes from wild animals ary obsequies. A part of these and snakes in Inwas, that the head of the widow should be shaved. Altho she her- dia during 1900. The number of self was lying ill of the plague, yet human beings killed by wild anithe priests laid hold of the dying mals was 3,444, which was higher woman, tOOl. from her all her orna- than in any previous year .for a ments, broke to pieces her armlets, quarter of a century, except 1875 and held her first until her head and 1897. The DlOrtality from snake was shaved, meanwhile heaping all bite was 25,837, or nine per cent. manner of approbrious names upon less than in 1899; but larger than her. During this barbarous pro- in any preceding year since 1889. cess she breathed out her soul.- Nearly half occurred in Bengal and Evangelisches Missions Magazine. more than a quarter in the North- Excellence (?) A few months since western Provinces and Oudh.
of the we had a plea from Superstition An extraordinary Among case of lingering Caste System di vers e Chinamen the Hindus superstition among in behalf of foot- the Hindus is re- binding; and now comes the Theo- ported from the Madras Presidency. A man was charged at the last sophical Review, urging one and criminal sessions in Bellary with all to stand by the Divine system the murder of his son, five years old. He made several confessional of caste. Quoth the editor: statements, in the course of which There can be no doubt that the he did not deny the murder, but great division of the Four Castes is put forward the following extraorfounded in nature, and that in the dinary plea: He said that for sev- West, as in the East, men and eral years he had been worshiping women come into the world with at a temple in Hospett. the god of which used to appear to him and express approval of his devotion,
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELt..1GENCE
and demanded sacrifices, in return bers enables the doctor to give help for which he was to receive unlim- in other directions, and is really no ited wealth. The man assiduously reason, as some might think, for offered sacrifices of various kinds discounting the value of a medica1 -grains, fruits, and animals-until mission in such a region. It is the finally the god demanded the sacri- one daily center which guarantees fice of his child. He hesitated a an audience for the message of the long while, until the god promised Gospel of the Lord Jesus. that, if the child was sacrificed, he would revive it. Eventually the Baptist The statistics of man carried out the god's wishes, Statistics Baptist missions in and killed his child in the temple. from Burma Burma, as given in The police and villagers, having heard of the crime, turned up and the annual report apprehended him, interrupting his for the year 1900, are as follows: worship. The man contended that, Total number of missionaries. inbut for the interference of the cluding wives and single women, police, his child would have been re- 170; total native helpers, 1,533; vived. The judge, after taking into total organized churches, 689; consideration the religious delusion churches entirely self-supporting, under which the man labored, said 495; church members, 39,065; added he could not acquit him of the by baptism in 1900, 2,242; Sundaycharge of murder, and sentenced schools. 405; total number of pupils him to death, leaving it to the high in the schools, 17,575; church and court to deal with the punishment, chapel buildings, 717; total native if it chose to do so, in revision. contribution, $79,845.
The World's The Moravian Med- From Grievous Rev. Edward Fair- Loftiest ical Mission at Leh, "Failure" bank, of the Mara- Mission in Kashmiri Tibet. to Shining thi mission, told Station 11,600 feet above the Success how for many years sea, is probably the the work was a highest mission station in the total failure from the standpoint of world. The town is the capital of visible results. For eighty-two Ladak, which ill but a sparsely years more missional-1eS died twice populated place. In winter there over than there were converts is sometimes 50 degrees of frost, and this fact goes far to account to Ohristianity. But famine and for the small number of the people. The valley of Leh itself is said to plague proved a wonderful agency have only 2,783 inhabitants. The for turning the hearts of the people work at the town is therefore com- to God. More people were baptized paratively light. The maximum in the single year 1900 than in the number of in-patients at anyone previous sixty-three years. Thirty time last year was 7; the average villages actually begged for Ohrisnumber of out-patients 16 to 20. tian schools, and 70 villages have In the months of August. Septem- sent complaints that the Gospel is ber, and October, when Baltis, not preached among them. Thou- Turkis. and natives of Kashmir sands of famine children are being and India come to Leh for trading trained to become the industrial as purposes, this last number is nearly well as the spiritual saviors of doubled. The smallness, the com- India. parative smallness, of these num- Children's A writer in Funerals in Woman's Workfor Peking Woman quotes this from Mr. Hol- comb: "If you lived in Peking you
would be surprised never to see bearer chair. He gets a percentage a child's funeral pass; but if you go of all the cash that the beggars re- into the street very early in the ceive, and he has the beggars carmorning, you will find the explana- ried to the place of begging if they tion. You will meet a large, cov- can not walk. If a new man beered vehicle, drawn by two oxen, comes a beggar the beggars will having a sign across the front stat- not let him beg unless he pays ten ing its horrible office, and piled to dollars or so to the king of the begthe brim with the bodies of children. gars. A young fellow of whom I Sometimes there are a hundred in know was disowned by his father the cart at once, thrown in as gar- and went begging, but was beaten bage, nearly all of them naked, a several times by the beggars' guild. few of them tied up in old reed bas- He found it exceedingly difficult to kets, and fewer, never more than get anything to eat. He had not one or two, in cheap board coffins. capital enough to make the neces- These carts go about the streets sary beggarly investment. The each night, pick up these pitiable king of the beggars goes around remains, some of them mutilated and levys a tax on each store. -The by dogs; they are thrown in like so one not paying this tax will soon much wood and taken to a pit out- be overrun with importunate begside the city wall, into which they gars, until the tax is paid to get rid are dumped, then covered with of the pest. The store paying up quicklime. Does it make you sick is not troubled, except now and to hear of such a thing? I have then, by a mendicant priest or a, lived seven years in the city where wandering beggar." that is a daily occurrence." The Fruit Says a writer in Imperial A correspondent of of Medical Spirit of .Missions: University the North China Missions Some time ago a Redivivus Daily News says leading English. that Prince On'ing missionary told me that one of thinks the reestablishment of the their workers had visited a city at Impe.ial University ought to take the other end of this province. As place as soon as possible, and he he was the first foreigner seen has already officially asked -the there, he received the hospitalities president, the Rev. W. A. P. of the mob in the shape of cabbage- Martin, D.D., LL.D., to inform the stalks, ancient eggs, and brickbats. various professors that their ser- As he was running from the crowd, vices will soon be again required. a well-dressed native gentleman Dr. Martin had just prevIously sent called to him to enter his house. a strong letter urging the recon- The gate was closed and bolted, struction of the university. If this and the guest was told that the is accomplished reform is bound to mob would disperse, as they had no proceed. serious iII-will toward him; it was only their little way with a Begging as a Solicitation of alms stranger. After partaking of re- Business in this queer coun- freshments, the host said that he try has been re- would like to call in -some of his friends, if the guest would tell them duced to a science, a fine art, a 'of the Kingdom of Heaven. Soon profession. These wretched crea- a number of respectable men came tures in the large cities have "a head in; they listened attentively to the beggar, who is called the king of address, and then asked many the beggars, and rides in a fine four-
GE~ERAL lI:IISSIONARY iNTELLIGENCE
questions about the Christian re- we can not. The missionary doctor ligion. The missionary asked his gave him five or ten grains of sub- host what had induced him to desire nitrate of bismuth three times a a knowledge of the Gospel. The day, put him on a simple diet, and reply was: "Some twelve years ago his recovery was marvelous. Be- I went to Shanghai, was taken fore this man returned to his home very ill at an inn, and when my he bought a New Testament, and money was gone, as I was a used to read it night and day. He stranger, the innkeeper was going became intensely interested in the to put me out upon the street to Gospel. The day was not long die, when some one said, 'Send him enough for him, so he used to come to the hospital; they will care for and sit by the Christian doctor's him.' " He was taken, treated desk at night and ask .him ques- kindly, and cured of his disease. tions. " Doctor," he said at length. He was astonished to find that "I am glad I ever was sick." there were any people in the world, "Why?" said the doctor. "Oh!" especially strangers, who would said this patient, "if I had never care for persons who had no claim been sick. I should never h a v e upon them and no money to pay for known the Gospel of this precious the outlay. He then learned that book." When he returned to his our religion taught the love of our home, he was so enthusiastic a neighbor, and that every one was a Christian that he was in danger of neighbor. He received some relig- driving away the customers from ious instruction, and desired to his store, so faithfully did he preach learn more of this stra,nge religion. Jesus to them.-Rlustrated Mis- The missionary stayed some time, sionary News. and before he left he baptized this man and some of his friends, and Number of It has been roughly since then an important work has Chinese estimated that the grown from this little center. Martyrs .Boxers killed at least 5,000 Protes- The Need A man came to a for Medical mission dispensary tants and perhaps 20,000 or 25,000 Roman Catholics. The Shan,ghai Missions in Honan, China, Mercury contains an interesting ed- who had been ill itorial on the nativ~ martyrs. From this article we learn that it is now for a long time with chronic dys- safely estimated that in and around pepsia. The medical missionary Peking the Presbyterians lost about tried to find out something about 300, the London Mission lost at his history, and he found that he least 400 in the Province of Chi-Ii had been eating stone for nearly (in which Peking is situated), the two years. When ask.ed how much Methodists about 300 in the same he haa eaten, he said, "About half region, and the A. B. C. F. M. 150 a millstone," or sixty pounds of in Tung-cho alone. This gives the stone. He had been advised by a total of 1,150 native Protestant native doctor to eat it, so he ground Christians who suffered martyrit up in a mortar, and used to eat dom in the vicinity of Peking. half a cupful every morning; but Perhaps a larger number perished he was none the better! Then he farther westward, in the Province was advised to eat cinnamon bark of Shansi, under the bloody reign as a sure cure, and he ate forty of the infamous Yu Hsien, the pounds. The missionary say s, most of these latter being English "Yon can imagine the condition of Baptists and American Congragathat man's stomach." I am afraid
tionalists. A ve r y considerable converts. He knows that after the number must have perished in salaam they will gather around a Shang-tung, and large numbers demijohn of rum, thattheirdaughsuffered martyrdom in Manchuria. ters, somewhat scantily clothed, Therefore, it is perhaps safe to say will execute dances none too decent, that the earlier estimates of 5,000 that they will still keep and rever- Protestants who perished are en- ence their fetishes. What does he tirely within bounds. care? In heart he contemns this generation, but he is on the lookout AFRICA for the next. He well knows that before long he will be asked to The Islam is spreading teach the boys, to imbue them with his science, and evening after even- Preaching of rapidly in Senegal; ing he will gather them around him, having provided them with Islam in nor are the reasons tablets, each inscribed with a verse of the Koran. This verse is conned Africa hard to discover. over until it is ineffaceably graven in the memory. And to these A black Mussulman scholars he will teach the islamic precepts in all their rigidity; he comes into an important town. He will make fanatics of them, if he can -at aU events, faithful observers stations himself in a corner, under a of the law of Mohammed. They will take more serious account of veranda where some one permits the sacrifices which he requires of them; abstinence from alcoholic him to remain. He rouses no sus- drinks and from certain meats; certain limits to the passions; strict picion, speaking the same language, observance of the sacred ordi- nances. They begin to understand and living the same as the rest of the intellectual superiority of Islam above their own religion, and are the village. The fetishists, whose immovably anchored in the belief that such a religion, so elevated, religious practises are reduced to a yet easy to understand, demanding sacrifices, yet in return offering so very smaH minimum, soon begin to many brilliant promises, and, fin- ally, leaving an immense range to note the prayers which the new- the natural passions of the negro- that this religion is the only percomer repeats at regular intervals. fect one, and that no other has any right except to the deepest con- He is encircled with a certain re- tempt or hate. If Islam were the vestibule of spect; he says that it is the religion Christianity, if it were a step for- ward in a sort of natural religious sent by God to his prophet; that it evolution, I might wish it to have yet more followers, for it raises the is greatly superior to fetishism and level of a pagan people; and tho it were only by its struggles against at the same time very easy-to say spirituous liquors, it renders an im- mense service to the black popula-· the prayers, to observe the great fasts, and to be charitable-this assures all the favors of God for this world and for the next. The fetishists have very dim ideas of the life to come, and what they hear of Mussulman paradise, with its vari- ous delights, is wholly new, not .displeasing to them.
On the other hand, this Moslem priest, who is very intelligent, takes good care not to affront the super- stitions and rooted habits of his hearers. He passes silently over even that which is condemned by the Koran. Provided that one adopts certain forms, offers the prayers, even without comprehend- ing anything of them, and that one believes in ths virtue of the Moham- medan amulets, he demands noth- ing more of the first generation of
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
tions which are being poisoned. with tions are swept away by their ac- our alcohol. ceptance of the new faith. The difference between the Uganda But when Islam has once thor- of 1900 and the blood-stained, oughly entered into the life, into the harassed, barbarous days of Mtesa morals of a people, it is not a ves- and his son Mwanga, is really ex- tibule, but a high, insurmountable traordinary; and the larger share wall; not an open door, but a door in this movement is undoubtedly bolted and chained, whose keepers due to the teaching of Anglican will not even seriously reason with and Roman Catholic missionaries.. us. Islam has raised them and has made them believe that they have -SIR HENRY JOHNSTON. arrived at perfection. In reality, the only true way which leads to Christian An old woman of the Promised Land has been hidden Tribal East Africa, whose from them and they will not believe Marks face was heavily it. Islam is more a social system seamed by tribal than a religion. It does not go to the heart of man; it does not hum- marks (cuts and a rough kind of ble him, but puffs him up with tattoo), was asked why she thus pride; it does not ask him to change disfigured her face. The woman his heart, but only his habits. And replied that they were marks of this is the reason why this religion beauty. "But you do not see Eu- of Mohammedanism spreads so rap- ropeans mark their faces in this idly and exercises such an influence way?" " No," replied the woman, over its adepts.-Journal des "but you Europeans have your Missions. tribal marks-marks of love, for you feed us when hungry, clothe us The Gospel Among the naked when naked, and teach us about in Uganda Nilotic negroes of God. Others do not treat us like this; even our own people throw the eastern half of us away, and leave us to die. Yes, the Uganda protectorate, mission- you Europeans have these marks of ary propaganda seems at the pres- love by which we know you, even ent time absolutely impossible. as we are known by tribal marks." These people take absolutely no -REV. A. G. SMITH, C. M. S. Reinterest in religion or in any sub- port. ject which is not of a purely material nature. On the other Native Protestant Christians in hand, the Bantu-speaking natives are well inclined to religious in- South Africa quiry; and the rapid spread of Christianity over the kingdom of 1878. 1898. Uganda and the district of Toro is one of the greatest triumphs to Baptized ……………….. 168,432 347,142 which the advocates of Christian propaganda can point. It must Catechumens ……….•.•.. 127,497 176,322 not be imagined, of course, that the Baganda or Batoro have none ISLANDS OF THE SEA of the old Adam in their composition since they accepted Christian- Aborigines of "The Australian ity; but, undoubtedly, their intel- Australia continent has, in ligence is quickened, their ideas are all its peculiarities, enlarged-to a very notable extent -and their harmful old supersti- something unachieved. The na- tives, agreeably to the inferior types of surrounding nature, stand at the lowest step of the human ladder." They form an ethnic group and even a race apart in mankind. Professors, aforetime. of the whole Australian continent, their number has largely decreased,
incapable as they have been of French priests have been sent to the opposing a serious resistanc~ to the New Hebrides. Three are settled in sailors and merchants, and to the Big Bay, Santo, near Dr. Sandi- European colonists. The history lands. They claimed land occupied of the colonization of Australasia by Mr. Scott, trader, but he had peg- (Australia, Tasmania, New Zea- istered title-deeds. He gave them land) is one of the saddest pages of shelter owing to the wet weather, modern history; it is the system- but, as they claimed land not bouglit atic and' intended extermination by them, the natives ordered them of inoffensive tribes, and even of a away. In April two French tradwhole race, like that of the Tas- ing steamers, instead of one as bemanians. The attitude of the fore, proceeded from Noumea to the European colonists who settled in islands to draw the trade from the South Australia, Victoria, and New English to the French, but were South Wales was, toward the only partially successful." A numaborigines, cruel beyond descrip- ber of the New Hebrides chiefs have tion. Their struggles against them petitioned to be annexed to Enghave been hunts rather than wars; land. The Romish plan is generally the English colonists have often not to face- savages, but to follow treated them as if they were mere up successful Protestant missions, beasts of prey, and have pushed and to use French power as their them toward the barren stretches agent. of the inland, or into poor and unhealthy regions where their num- Snakes! Yes; Years ago some bers steadily lessen. We could but also Men missionary teachers cite overwhelming facts, deeds of cruelty wi.thout a name; some, for were about to go to example, in order to exterminate New Guinea. The islanders tried them more rapidly, are said to to dissuade them from going, and have fed bands of natives with they said, "There are alligators flour mixed with arsenic. It would there, and snakes, and centipedes." be easy for us to cite other ex- "Hold," said the teacher, " are amples, which mark the wars of there men there?" "Oh yes," was extermination of 1828 and 1830, but the reply, "there are men; but they to what end recall such abomina- are such dreadful savages that it is tions? Suffice is to say, that be- no use for you to think of living tween 1836 and 1881 the number of among them." "That will do," renatives in Victoria fell from 5,000 plied the teacher; "wherever there to 770; the tribe of the Naringeri, are men, missionaries are bOtllld to in South Australia, which, in 1842, go."-llfissionary Herald. numbered 3,200 souls, had fallen in 1875 to only 5lI.-Journal des Bad Say sEarl Beau- Missions. Europeans as c ham p, late Gov- French The French are de- Mischief in terminedly pushing Hindrances ernor of New South New Hebrides their way in the Wales: "One diffi- New Hebrides, under the speciai guidance of Romish culty is the variety of languages priests. A journal published by missionaries in the New Hebrides among the inhabitants. In the contains the following: "Within the last six or seven months 21 diocese of Carpentaria 21 languages a~e spoken, and in Melanesia the number is even greater. But I suppose that the prime difficulty which confronts all missionaries in the destrict of the South Seas is the lives which have been lived by white men. It would be impossible
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
for me to relate even a fraction of Given a country in which one per the sin and wickedness and vice cent. of the population is Christian, and misery which the early pioneer and where the whole population white men brought into the South grows by one per cent. yearly, and Sea Islands. Those persons were the number of the Christians by 10 originally buccaneers and pirates, per cent., it will only be seventy and they behaved as such. The years before the whole people will martyrdom of Bishop Patteson was have to become Christian.-Bulledirectly due to the fact that the tin de la Mission Romande. last visitors to the island where he was slain had been white men, who Campbell It is to be rememhad so ill-treatea the islanders that Morgan on bered that nations the inhabitants resolved to kill the "The Waste." do not tabulate the next white man they saw. It is only natural that ignorant and loss of life when half-educated natives should say: they enter upon a war of conquest, "What is the use of our becoming and until the first note of com- Christians when most of the Chris- plaint has been heard froD;t the men tians behave as they do ? " and women in the mission field we must be dumbandsiIent. Nothing The population of Polynesia at is wasted that is poured at the feet the present time is said to be about of Christ. Think deeply and you 863,000, of whom 323,500 are Chris- will find the cross of Christ everytians. This is the result of a single where. The old commonplace, century of work. " The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church," is true,"and we MISCELLANEOUS may expect that China is about to have a new Pentecost, the harvest The Progress The influence of the of a glorious result from the great of Missions Gospel is in the trials through which missionary course of pervading effort has passed in that country. But you can not convince the cold and transforming the whole wodd. business man outside of this com- In the comparatively few regions ing. It is ours to hope right on. into which it made its way as early We see Jesus, and there we must as the eighteenth century, Chris- be content. His work is mifinished. tianity has become the dominant The fog is on the world, but by the religion, as in Greenland, the An- waste of the moment he wins the tilles, Guiana, some Indian tribes ages. Missionary effort is the of North America, and the Hotten- necessity of Christian life and we tots of Africa. It is the same with can not escape from it. The first some of the regions evangelized conscious thrill of the life of God since 1800, Hawaii, New Ze~land, within the human soul is a missome of the Polynesian Archipela- sionary passion. The one function goes. A comparison of the statis- of the Church is missionary. tics of the whole of Protestant missions shows that, during a certain " Suffer This was the ringtime the Church among the heathen grew at the rate of 5 per cent. per Hardship with ing challenge that year, but that for two or three years back this increase has risen to 10 Me." the veteran fighter per cent. This result is a decisive answer to those who pretend that of "wild beasts at the work of missions is illusory, because every year there are more Ephesus" and of the "powers of heathens born than converted. wickedness in high places" flung out to young Timothy: "Suffer hardship with me" (2 Tim. ii: 3, R. V.). It is the call Jesus gave
to His disciples, and to anyone who to have a man come from the would follow Him-by the way of neighboring city and preach to the cross. King Alfred said, "No them in Italian. The men were so man should desire a soft life if he interested and grateful that other careth for any worship here from meetings followed, until now that the world or for eternal life after church has what might be called an tbis life is over." It is a saving Italian annex, and the results of call. Indulgence is making men the work are most gratifying. soft. Luxury grows lust. Sensuousness kills all noble sentiment. The Three The American Mis- Manhood is decaying because young Foes of sionary Bishop at men are not ennobled in a high pur- Missions Sh ang ha i, Dr. posed service for others that leads Graves, in a recent them to treat their bodies harshly for Christ's sake, to do the dis- article in the New York Churchagreeable, to venture on large man, says: "The three foes of misundertakings which take time, sions are the tesselated pavement, money, sacrifice, and thought. It the new altar, and the stained-glass is good Gospel to yoke up a man window." This is plain speaking. to hard service that calls for all and with very slight modification the strength and grace available. might not unfairly be addressed to Better for the men of the Church to hundreds of parishes in England, die in their youth in mission fields even where the vicar is one of the than to become soft, sleek, and "stanch friends" of the Church critical in their pews at home for a Missionary Society.-C. M. S. century.-Association Men. I ntelligencer.
What Fifty A year ago a Growth of The remarkable, Methodism growth of Method- Testaments woman was living ism which is now Did near a town where the largest Protestant denomina- tion in the world, was shown at one 50 Italians came to of the meetings of the recent Wes- 1eyan Ecumenical Conference, held work. She became very much dis- in Wesley's Chapel, London, by Bishop Hartzell, of Liberia, Africa. tressed at the heathenish way in "In the world to-day," he said, " there are nearly seven and a half which tltey lived, for she discovered millions of Methodist communi- cants. When Wesley died, the that they never went to church and Methodist members in England numbered 76,968, and in the United that the nearest Roman Catholic States 42,265. From that small be- ginning had grown the great compriest had not taken the trouble to pany of world-wide Methodists, numbering in actual communilook them up. Most of them could cants 7,358,392. If these be added to the adherents of Methodism who speak no English and she could attend upon its services and look to its nearly 50,000 clergy for speak no Italian, so she was at a spiritual ministrations, the number of Methodist adherents throughout loss to know how to help them. the world must certainly be 20,000,000 of people. Learning that almost all of them could read in their native tongue, she purchased copies of the New Testament in Italian, and gave one to each man. It was not long be- fore one of the leaders came to her and asked if there was a church where they could go and hear that Book read. He said most of the men were reading it, many of them with much interest. She consulted with her pastor, and they arranged
The Missionary Review of the World — January 1891
J. M
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIV. No. t.-Old Series.–J ANUARY.–VoL. IV. No. t.-New Series.
L–LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
FALLEN ASLEEP-REV. JAMES M. SHERWOOD, D.D. Like it winter avalanche in the Engadine-sudden, swift and inevitable-Deathcame to our beloved, associate editor, on October 22d. He had been, as usual, at the weekly prayer service, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, the week previous, and had spoken-all unct'>nsciously-his last public words. At the close of a brief, but earnest and impressive address, he faltered a little, said, "Let us pray," and sank back into his seat, speechless. He was tenderly borne to his home, and, after a few days of flickering flame, life's lamp went out so quietly that the exact moment was scarcely perceptible-let us not say "went out," but was transferred to another sphere to burn and shine forever. This departure withdraws from earthly scenes a man who had a large circle of friends. He had been preacher, pastor, author, editor, and in every sphere of activity he touched nothing which he did not adorn. He was not cut off prematurely, for he was in his seventyeighth year; and his years were packed with various and versatile endeavor. Born in Fishkill, N. Y., in 1813, he had only a common-school education, and entered, as clerk, his father's store in Johnsville; until, feeling in him the resistless impulse, toward the ministry of the Gospel, he, with his father's consent, turned his steps toward the pulpit, was taken under care of presbytery and studied theology with the pastor of the Presbyterian Church in Fishkill, Rev. Robert G. Armstrong. At, the age of twenty-two, he was licensed to preach, and subsequently served churches in Mendon, N.Y., New Windsor, N.Y., and Bloomfield, N. J. In each of these churches he left his mark both as a preacher and a pastor.' He also acted as evangelist for a term in Milford, Conn. After his health seemed to demand a change of occupation he found a fitting sphere for his busy brain and ready pen in the gi'eat republic of letters. His work as editor of the National Preacher, Biblical Repository, New York Evangelist, Eclectic Magazine, Princeton Review, Hours at Home, Homiletic Repiew, and MISSION-
FALLEN ASLEEP-REV. JAMES M .. SHERWOOD, D. D
ARY REVIEW, has entered, into the unchangable record of history. He was the founder of Hours at Home, which was, in a sense, the parent of Scribner's Magazine; and the richness, variety, and marvel- lous success of the Homiletic Review, none know so well as the twenty thousand readers who study its pages.
Beside all his occasional papers, published in the leading maga- zines and periodicals, he wrote the "History of the Cross," and edited a new edition of the "Life of David Brainerd." He had also written a voluminous work on "Books and Authors," which has not yet ap- peared in print.
Such are the brief outlines of an intellectual life that extended over half a century. He was thrice married; his first wife was Miss Amanda Carpenter; his second, Mills Jane E. Lamberson; the third, Miss Annie Clarke, who survives him, as do also his five children.
We have never known a man of larger capacity for work. No one who knew him would have suspected that he was far on the way toward four-score years. And there was not the slightest sign of intellectual decadence. Up to the last his mind worked with all its pristine vigor and versatility. To the very day when paralysis struck him, he seemed as fresh and young, mentally, as in the years of early manhood, and he actually worked from fifteen to eighteen hours out of every twenty-four.
He was an embodieo, conscience. Duty was his polar star. Indeed, he had but little patienc~ with anything wrong, ignoble, di3honest. In his vocabulary the word" expediency" was not found. Right was his only might, and principle his only policy. There were those who possibly construed as severity what was only an uncompromising adherence to right and righteousness. I,ow moral standards and equivocal moral practices could find with him no toleration, and but little forbearance.
Religiously he was a thoroughly evangelical disciple. He knew no theology but the old theology of Paul. That was good enough for him. He regarded the new notions creeping into the doctrinal beliefs of our day as signs of degeneration and disintegration. He believed implicitly the Word of God and the whole of it, and bowed in humility before tIle mysteries he could not explain. To no work of his life did he give himself with such absolute heartiness as to the editing of a REVIEW whose grand object was to promote a world's evangeli-' zation. ,He was especially desil'Ous' to live till he might see this, the last and most precious work of his life, established on a basis of permanency and having a world-wide circulation.'
As a man, especially in his own household and within th~ circle of intimate friends, we cannot in these pages undertake to photograph his character. There are some secrets that cannot be unveiled to the common eye-they refuse to emerge from their privacy; they lose their beauty by disclosure. It is enough to say that 'he was most bel6lved by those who best kRew him.
Our readers will no longer read his words or feel the pOWEl'!' of his guiding hand in shaping the content·s of this REVIEW. His work here was invaluable. Although his duties, as simply editor, gave him little leisure as a 'Writer, and it was only in an occasional paragraph or a more infrequent article that his hand was seen, even while hidden, it still moved beneath the whole structure of this REVIEW. He was constantly seeking to engage the most competent pens to contribute to its columns, and was always on the alert to improve its quality and increase its circulation and enlarge its influence.
He rests from his labors; we devoutly believe that his works will follow him.
"MORS JANUA VIT.LE."
It may be well for the editor to add that, being left now in sole <lharge of this REVIEW, he proposes some minor alterations, which will be noticeable in the present issue. The number of departments will be less, and the fine print, so trying to many eyes, will be abandoned. Instead of letters from abroad, we shall venture often to give only their substance, and notices of books will appear on,Iy as editorial notes. The Monthly Bulletin will be simply an appendix to General Intelligence, in the briefest and most compendious form, presenting the latest news from various fields, etc. And, in view of the unselfishness of our work, which is undertaken solely for the promotion of the Kingdom of God, we again ask the prayerful, sympathetic co-operation of all who daily pray " Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done In earth as it is in heaven."
SYSTBMATIC GIVING.-To raise large sums for missions we have no need to depend on a few large givers, but only to "organize the littles." Dr. Guthrie eloquently urged hundreds of the poorer folk to take subscription cards and fill them up with such sums as they were able, from a sixpence to five shillings; and explained to them how the drops unite in showers, the showers produce rills, the rills, rivers, and the rivers make the sea! Not six hours after his speech a poor woman in Currie's Close had collected from scavengers and night police and basket-wives and match-sellers-and beings who live no mortal can tell how, over half a sovereign! And a little woman, who sat in all weathers on the street selling eggs from her ba8ket, brought in five shillings, the earnings of many a day's labor.
LIVINGSTONE AND STANLEY
LIVINGSTONE AND STANLEY. [EDITORIAL. ] On the map of Africa, which history is making, these two names will be engraven in letters so large that they will be read at the distance of ages. It may, therefore, be well to put on permanent record some characteristic facts which link with Equatoria and with each other-David Livingstone and Henry M. Stanley.
DAVID LIVINGSTONE, born March 19, 1813, died April 30, 1873~ having just passed his sixtieth year. Converted at twenty, he was. for forty years, in heart and aim, a mIsSIOnary. Thus have we roughly outlined a life that, within those two-score years, poured forth as much of the costly ointment of a consecrated service as, perhaps, anyone life since the age of the Apostles.
He was a man of singular force. As Sir Bartle Frere said, "Any five years of his life might have established for him, in any other occupation, such a character, and raised for him such a fortune, as none but the most energetic can realize." His last public utterance in his native Scotland seems to have been in Oswell's school, where his closing sentence was: "Fear God and work hard," and these words disclose the double secret of his life. By simple, God-fearing, hardworking perseverance he traveled 29,000 miles in Africa, .and added to the known regions of our globe a million square miles; he discovered Lakes 'Ngami, Shirwa, Nyassa, Moero, Bangweolo, the Upper Zambesi and other rivers; he unveiled the Victoria Falls that surpass Niagara; revealed the high ridges that flank the basin of the central plateau; first, as a European, compassed Tanganyika and gave it its true orientation; explored the geology, and hydrographyfauna and flora of the continent; nd so grappled with the two great enemies of man and beast, in Africa–j'ever and tsetse-that he himself said those two words would, at his death, be found engraven on his heart.
To energy he joined industry. What Livingstone was, as a scientist and explorer, the world does not yet fully know. His powers of mind were but medium, and his early opportunities were but meagre. But, like William Carey, he could" plod;" and rigid economy of time, yoked with patient resoluteness, gave a momentum to his life which native genius and great advantages often fail to secure. In the factory at Blantyre, where attention to his cotton-spinning was necessarily incessant, it was only fragments of time-often less than a minute-that could be spared from his work; but those fragments he gathered up, and it was upon solid and substantial diet that he fed his growing mind. In the books he read as a lad we can see the germs of his scientific career as a man. He was also careful in details. That famous" lined journal' of his was a quarto volume of over 800 pages, where the plain, neat writing is a model and a marvel -of pains and patience. The mind that, even in African wilds, found Telaxation in "Smith's Dictionary of the Bible," will not be charged with lightness or waste of time!
He was certainly ve1'satile~' and what great questions he studied! the dessication of Africa, the possible utilization of her great rivers, .as water highways; the physical structure, geology, climatology, botany, of the tracts traversed! Then, again, we find him translating hymns into the Sechuana language, and adding to all else the toil of book-making, in which, perhaps least of ali, he was a success. This was the only task he did not approach with that enthusiasm, without which he himself said that nothing either good or great is done. Book-making was to him a mere task, to which even crossing Africa was far to be preferred. But it is no marvel if a man, shut in with pagans and for years without contact or converse with a white man, not to sayan Englishman, should feel that he had none of the facile <Jommand over his own tongue, and none of that leisure to digest and .assimilate his own material, which are needful if a book is to be any- thing more than a printed jou1'llal.
Livingstone's services to science were too great for hasty recognition. The accuracy with which he traced his course and marked his geographical points, leaves almost all other explorers behind him. His astronomical observations, his dilicovery of the fact that the In- terior is a plateau intersected by various streams and lakes, whose waters reach the ocean through great fissures in the flanking hills; and his manifold contributions to every department of natural science, compelled even sages to say that such various and versatile suc- .(lesses were without precedent.
Traveler, explorer, geographer, astronomer, zoologist, botanist, physician, missionary-what a many-sided man! What accurate observation of details! What husbanding of results! He brought home twenty-five different sorts of fruits; told of oils, dyes, fibres, varieties -of sheep and vegetable-products of which even the Chamber of Commerce knew hitherto nothing. In May, 1855, the Geographical Sodety decorated him with their highest honor, the gold medal; London, Glasgow and Edinburgh conferred on him the freedom of their dties, while he who loved to minister but not to be ministered unto, shrank from publicity and courted retiracy.
Humor is a conspicuous element in all great natures. A hearty laugh, genuine and generous, somehow inspires confidence. Livingstone's habit of seeing the funny side of things saved many a tragic ending and tU1'lled many a tragedy into a comedy. He writes to his daughter Agnes, about his almost toothless jaws, that if she" takes .any more kisses from him it must be through a speaking trumpet." He declared the sight of a soko (gOt'ilIa) nauseating, and that he is so bideously ugly that he could conceive no other use for him than" to sit for a portrait of Satan." When showing his lantern-slides-the only service for whose repetition the natives clamored-it greatly amused him that those who stood on the side where the slides were withdrawn shrank back in mortal terror lest the mysterious figures that so magically appeared and disappeared should prove wandering spirits and enter into their bodies!
.Duty was his watchword. He was an incarnated conscience. In the scales of a candid mind he weighed eve)·y question, and, aftercarefully considering a course, judged for himself; and then dared to act independently, even though against the remonstrance of his best friends. To keep his word and to do his work was the double motto of his life.
Such elements of character always crystallize about a strong will. His favorite maxim was" Try again!" His persistence and perseverance were heroic and herculean. "If I live I must succeed in what I have undertaken; death alone will put a stop to my efforts,'" were his words in 1866, and they proved prophetic. Half-starved on tough and tasteless African maize, even his goats lost, and milk denied him; his medicine-chest stolen; in the heart of Africa without resource or defence against a thousand ailments, like a warrior without weapons at the mercy of his foes; afterward, narrowly escaping' death thre!l times in one day, and then almost dead of debility and disease;-not one man in a million would have gone forward. Especially when, in 1872, Stanley himself begged him to return with him to England, he never flinched from his resolve to remain in Africa. Nay, when a strange presentiment burdened him that he was on his last journey and would never reach its goal, he pressed on, praying' that before he fell he might work out his purpose!
Self-denial was, from the first, a habit. Privations and sorrows he accepted and expected, as Moses did when he calmly exchanged the treasures and pleaBures of Egypt for a share in the afflictions of the people of God. Rather than sacrifice Africa's good he would spend his last penny, surrender his dearest gains, and give up his last drop of blood.
Such was THE ~IAN who, beyond all others, henceforth stands in history as the heroic friend of Africa. Mr. E. D. Young, who knew him so long and so well, pronounced him" the best man he ever knew.'" Such filial trust in God, such a childlike, Christlike spirit, such loyalty to duty, purity of motive, simplicity of aim, energy of purpose and unselfish love, united to make his life one grand sermon. The iron pen of action, held in the hand of resolve, wrote out its sentences in living deeds on history's imperishable scroll, for all future ages to read in letters of light!
Iile was a man of great faith. His strong but simple confid~nce· in God's providence was the north star of his life. He saw how every' crisis of his life turned upon some seemingly trifling event, as a door swings on a hinge-but the hinge argues a workman who knows how much to hang upon it. He remembered how the chance reading of Dick's" Philosophy of the Future State" led him both toward faith in the unseen and toward a reverent philosophy of science; how Gutz- laff's appeal led him to be a missionary and a medical missionary, too; how while the opium war closed China against him, Moffat's visit wedded him to Africa and to his beloved" Mary" ; how the friendly word of a director procured for him another" trial," while his dangerous illness in London strangely shaped his unconscious future.
He learned also that the leadings of Providence, like the subtle sense of the Inspired Word, are to be read not by the natural but by the spiritual eye; and he sought, by specific prayer for guidance, to cultivate the" single eye," that there might be no dim or confused vision; and carefully watched every motion of God's beckoning hand, pointing finger, or guiding eye. One text gave telescopic range and microscopic delicacy to his vision: "In all thy ways acknowledge Htm, and He shall direct thy paths." This trust in God's providence discerned good and cause for gratitude even in trials and troubles.
Apparent calamity became a storm signal of the will of God; and when, in the death of his wife, that nameless sorrow which finds no earthly balm smote him, his only answer was that great petition of his life: "Fiat, .Domine, voluntas tual"
He believed in special providence. Even among men it is the great minds that give heed to minutire: the astronomer grasps an infinity of small things; the general-in-chief commands the least details in his wide survey of camp and campaign; and so God is not so high above us as not to "number the hairs of our head."
Such a man, of course, loved his Bible, wrote on his heart its pre- cious promises, and became so absorbed in them that he was indiffer- ent, if not insensible, to praise or blame; and, that he might neither be misled nor inflated by human approbation, he made it a rlile never to read or preserve any words ofpraise-which resolve, of itself, marks him as a most uncommon man. While in Manyuema, he four times read his Bible through; and when in Ulva Cottage, in Hamilton, I took that very book in my hands, I saw dimly through my tears the evidences upon its worn pages of the singular devotion of its la- mented owner.
Whatever Livingstons may be in history, in his own eyes he was, first and last, simply a missionary. Charles Gutzlaff's "Appeal for China" first set his heart aflame; but, when his early longing toward China was transferred to Africa, the fire of his enthusiasm lost noth- ing by the transfer of those live coals to a new altar of service and sacrifice. ' When he began his work his conception of himself was that of a mere missionary laborer, but better acquaintance with Africa's wants and woes gave breadth to his aim. He said there was need of one whose plans would embrace a whole continent and its whole. future. The entire land must be surveyed and mapped out; the accursed traf- fic in the bodies and souls of men abolished; the resources of the country developed, and new facilities devised for travel and traffic. Before the missionary could go, his path must be explored. Some John the Baptist must go before Jesus to make a level highway for our God. And this humble missionary-worker unconsciously devel- oped into the MISSIO~ARY GENERAL AND STATESMAN. Restraining the natural impatience of visible progress, he was willing to wait a century for the fruits of his works to be seen; as he grandly declared, the "END OF THE GEOGRAPHICAL FEAT IS THE BEGINNING OF THE EN- TERPRISE."
And so this humble man had a passion to act as a PIONEER, and open a path for others to follow; if he could not himself sow the seed, he could break up fallow ground, where as yet neither sower nor reaper had ever trodden.
Livingstone's ideas of mission work were evangelical and catholic. He offered himself to the London Missionary Society, because its sole aim was to send the Gospel to the heathen; setting up no par- ticular form of church order, but accepting laborers from different denominations, it concerned itself mainly with rearing churches of Christ on Pagan soil. Paul's motto was also Livingstone's: "THE REGIONS BEYOND." He took no "other man's line of things made ready to hand," but yearned to preach Christ where He had not hith- erto been named. As he told the directors of the London Missionary Society, he was at their disposal to "flO anywhere provided only it be FORWARD." The views of Blantyre's great hero, as to missions, are such as we wish might prevail everywhere. "Vith him the foremost law of mis- sions was NOT CONCENTRATION BUT DIFFUSION! However important to secure conversion of individual!'! or of communities, the field is the Vorld, and seed, scattered broadcast over the whole area, is far bet- ter than seed sown however thickly over a limited area. Ve are to seek to sow the whole field, rather than seek harvests however abun- dant in any part of it. He favored colonization, transplanting a body of Christian workmen into the midst of the dark places of the earth and the habitations of cmelty, to show how men and women in every calling, may "abide therein with God;" and he yearned to see twenty . 01' thirty families going together, at one time, to build up a Christian community in the heart of paganism. He gauged missionary success not by the shallow showing of so many converts for so many pounds, shillings and pence; but by the diffusion of better principles which no statistical columns can exhibit, any more than Babbage's calcula- ting machine could suffice for a barometer 01' a thermometer.
He was, in every best sense, a missionary martyr, both in witnessing and suffering. "Sacrifices" he would not call them; but they were many and great. Often soaked with drenching rains; his bed, the coarse, damp grass; his food, bird-seed, roots, African maize; forty timE)s scorched in the furnace of fever; what words can tell the agony, when, April 27, 1860, he left his dear "Mary" in the grave at Shupanga, and turned from her dust to find the only balm for his broken heart in seeking Africa's redemption! Three years later he must have touched the bottom depths of trial. His wife dead, his <lhildren orphans, his expedition recalled, his very efforts to serve God and man apparently turned by Satanic ingenuity into instruments of {lviI, isolated from all true human companionship, with the prostra- tion of disease added to all the vexation of delay and disappointment, how many men have ever faced such environments without suicidal ~e~pair? Seven years later, long without tidings from home,or contact with any European, lingering on a sick bed, without wife, child, mother, brothel' 01' friend to cheer him, a horror of great darkness fell upon him!
Among the great charms of this great man his genuine interest in individuals, however humble, was at once one of the highest, both as an ornament of his character and a secret of his influence. His deep piety transfigured this noble trait into a passion for souls which begot unsparing self-scrutiny. His lament over "poor Sehamy," and his misgivings and self-accusations, lest he had not done all he might to save his soul, reveal profound depths of habitual watchfulness over the lost. He bent every energy to the good of men. When he could not preach, his lantern-slides were made to tell to the eye great facts of Bible history; he subordinated everything to service.
His abhorrence of the slave trade was literally detestation-i. e., it compelled a testimony, which marked his whole course and even his dying utterances. To abate 01' abolish this evil was, perhaps, his master passion. What a debt Christian nations owe to Africa! The destruction of life in the" middle passage" forms but a fraction of the total waste. For every slave transported, a score have fallen by war or violence, disease 01' fatigue. Such atrocities have been linked to this nefarious traffic that the victims sacrificed by it, if laid side by side, would reach round the world, paving with skeletons a pathway over land and sea-bed. Everywhere he saw signs of this continued and continuing desolation-bones bleaching in the sun, fresh corpses floating on the rivers; often heaps of bodies where slave caravans had abandoned their sick, helpless 01' dead. Inhuman drivers shot, stabbed or left to die tho1<e who could not keep up with the rest, and often these were found not yet dead. On his way to Lake Bangweolo he heard six men, wearing the slave yoke, singing in the joy of the vengeance they anticipated in coming back after death to haunt their captors. Exaggeration as to the horrors of this trade is impossible; as the sailor said: "If the devil don't catch these fellows, as well have no devil at all! " The massacres he witnessed gave him the impression of being in hell, and to disclose the horrors of this business so as to lead to its suppression, inflamed his holy ambition more than to reveal the fountains of the Nile. And so, wherever he went, he aimed to teach the first truths of the Gospel and to rouse the dormant Christian con- cience to the measureless atrocity of this traffic. Just one year before his death he uttered those memorable words which still speak from -that memorial slab in Westminster's aisle: "ALL I CAN ADD IN MY LONELINESS IS, MAY HEAYEN'S RICH BLESSING COME DOWN ON EYERY ONE, AMERICAN, ENGLISHMAN OR TURK, WHO WILL HELP TO HEAL THE OPEN SORE OF THE WORLD!"
Livingstone's devotion to Africa was n.ot more remarkable than his power over her sable sons" even his first year there showed that in his hand was the sceptre that could rule Africans. His power was an open' secret. His simple frankness, kindly bearing, honest courage, transparent unselfishness, trust even in strangers, disarmed both sus- picion and antagonism. While with prayer and faith he sowed the seed of the Word, he sowed himself as the seed of the kingdom; and by forgiving injuries and trusting even the unworthy, by absolute fidelity even to trivial promises, and by a Christlike life that taught more than any words, he moulded even savages into noblemen. What his character wrought in this direction may be seen in Susi and Chuma, his faithful body servants, who amid such hardships bore his body from Ilala to England.
Dr. Blaikie, in his charming" Personal Life of Livingstone," sug- gests that the old Roman fashion would have written his name Livingstone" Africanus." When first overwhelmed with the vastness , of Africa, he asked: "Who will penetrate through the Dark Conti- nent ?" And that was the question of his life. From the day in December, 1840, when he first set forth for those shores, this double work, the emancipation and evangelization of Africa, was his passion. When, in 1863, he expected the recall of his expedition, he could only say: "If I am to go ' on the shelf' let that shelf be Africa." And history presents no fact more pathetic, poetic, prophetic in its sym- bolism, than this-that when, on April 80, 1878, he was found on his knees, at Ilala, dead, his heart should be buried there beneath a moula tree, while his body was borne to England to be laid in the great sepul- chre of her greater dead! Emphatically Livingstone's heart was from the beginning buried in Africa; but buried as the seed of a future harvest. It shall not abide alone, but dying, and springing up, bear much fruit-fruit too vast in measure for our arithmetic to estimate! 1Ve yearn to see that life and death bearing fruit in many holy lives. How slow are disciples to learn the ministry of money. Moffat nsed to say that the coming day will :find rich and great disciples regarding it an honor to spend their money not on hounds and horses, but in the support of whole stations of missionaries. Many who read these lines are providentially kept from giving their lives in personal labor for the degraded and destitute. But how many of Ull, had we but the spirit of David Livingstone, would be found living in the persons of other consecrated men and women, and, by the agency of these workmen, preaching the Gospel where Christ had never yet been named. Oh, that those who read the story of such a life, and walk over that memorial stone at the Abbey, would take up the work he laid down, and by their money, their prayers, their tears, their influence, if not their personal efforts, help to heal this open sore of the world, and light the flame of the Gospel and of the new life wherever darkness reigns and habitations of cruelty are found!
Yes, David Livingstone-thy candle, found burning in the grass hnt at IIala, still burns and shines, and never will it go out, until, from Zanzibar to Banana, from Nile to Niger, and from the Cape of Good Hope to the Pillars of Hercules, shall shine the Light of the World!
HENRY MORTLAKE STANLEY is by birth a Welshman, and his. original name was John Rowlands. The same year, 1841, that David Livingstone first reached Africa, was the year that ushered into life the boy who was to be his distinguished successor in the exploration of the Dark Continent. This is one of the striking coincidences of history: while the cotton-spinner of Blantyre was on his way to the Cape, an infant boy at Denbigh, in Wales, was :first starting on his voyage upon the unknown sea of life. A certain Mr. H. M. Stanley,. in New Orleans, adopted this Welsh boy, transmitting to him his own name, little knowing what high honor that boy was to reflect upon it. We follow this waif of humanity, as he enlists in the armies of the Confederacy, and subsequently drifts into the Federal ranks; until 1865, when, acting as secrctary for an admiral, he was promoted fOl' heroism, having manifested his courage by swimming, under :fire, to fasten a hawser to a Confederate vessel.
The next great step toward his after career was his becoming a· representative of the press'-;"a newspaper correspondent. He served in a Guerilla warfare against the North American Indians, then wrote letters to the New York Herald, accompanied the British expedition into Abyssinia, etc. Thus a mixed experience on land and sea, in army and navy, :fitted him for camp or campaign, tent or vessel; picking up scraps of information and gathering treasures of varied experience, he grew to be peculiarly adapted for the unique life he was to lead, but which only God's Providence had foreseen.
In 1869 he was commissioned by James Gordon Bennet, of the New York Herald, to find the lost Livingstone. His expedition was to be kept secret. He went by a round-about course, arrived at Zan- .zibar January 6, 1871, and started for the interior, feeling his way toward Livingstone by such indications as only the most sagacious instinct could recognize. He had used the time at sea, en route to the African Coast, to learn how to take astronomical observations and lJrepare himself as a surveyor. November 10, 1871, found him at Ujiji, near Lake Tanganyika, and there he grasped the hand of the .scotch herb, of whom for three years no certain word had reached the ears of an anxious outside world. Twenty-three times Stanley }lad been prostrated with fever, but he felt repaid when, on December 27th, the travelers set out together for Unyanyembe; and more espe- {)ially when, on March 14, 1872, they parted, having been four months .and four days together.
In 1873, Mr. Stanley again accompanied the British expedition to Coomassie. That same year, May 4, 1873, Livingstone was found by Susi, at four o'clock in the morning, in the little grass hut, not in bed but at the bed-side, his head buried in his hands, and both buried in the pillow; the candle still burned, but the candle of life that bad shed its rays so far over benighted Africa, had gone out. In 1874, April 18th, the sacred dust of the great traveler reached their final resting-place in the Abbey; and MI': Stanley led the body of pallbearers, as they deposited, in the tomb in the nave, the body of the man to whom he owed more than to any other human being.
And now begins a new chapter, the .fourth in the weird experi- ence of that Welsh-American. He who, at U nyamyembe, had sorrowfully parted with Livingstone, by that open grave in Westminster, resolved to take up and finish the work he had left undone. And so a new chapter also opened in' Stanley's African experiences. On August 5, he left England, and on November 12-three years almost to a day from the time he first grasped Livingstone's hand-he left Zanzibar again for the unknown interior. At Uganda he met Mtesa, whose warriors he estimated at a quarter of a million. "While at his {)ourt he translated the Gospel according to Luke, and actually wrote a brief analysis of Bible history in Kiswaheli for the monarch's use. Mte,sa professed adherence to the Bible instead of the Koran, and invited to his capital Christian teachers. Stanley then wrote a letter, which was published in the Daily Telegraph, urging that missionaries should be sent. And so Stanley began, in more senses than one, to follow in the steps of the grand Scotchman. The Church Missionary Society sent men to Uganda, who, in 1877 began to labor. That letter of Stanley's had a stl'ange histOl"Y. It was given to I~inant de Belfonds, one of the officers of Gordon Pasha. When he was killed by the Baris the letter was found in his boot and forwarded by Gor- .don Pasha. After a journey of 7,000 miles, consuming 999 days, Stanley reached Banana point, August 9th, 1877. In January, 1879, he was again en route to the Dark Continent, at the head of the expedition, organized by Leopold 11., of Belgium, who, in place of his dead son, adopted Africa as his child and ward. Stanley reached the Congo's Estuary on August 14, 1879; Leopoldville station was built in April, 1882. Compelled by illness to return for a time to Europe, he came back to the Congo toward the end of the same year; and in August, 1884, reported to the King of Belgium that his mission was ac.complished. He had performed the stupendous feat of opening up the Congo basin, with its 5,249 miles of navigable waters, its 43,000,00() of people, its area of nearly 11,000,000 square miles drained by various streams. In February, 1885, the Congo Free State was erected and recognized as such, with Leopold II. as its sovereign.
January 20, 1887, Stanley begins a new chapter, and again Africa is the theatre of his action. He departs from London for the relief of Emin Pasha. February 25th, he once more left Zanzibar, and, going by the Congo's mouth, reached Leopo}dville, April 21st. A year later, April 29th, just fifteen years from the last day of Livingstone's travels, he met Emin Pasha at Kavalli, and December 6, 1889, emerged from darkest Africa once more at Zanzibar.
From that day honors were showered thick as autumn leaves on Stanley's head. The reception given him, May 5, 1890, at Albert Hall, in London, when 7,000 people were present, was one of the most brilliant assemblages of all modern history. Then, on July 12th, in the great Abbey, he led to the marriage altar his accomplished bride, Miss Tennant; and sInce, in her jubilee year, the Queen was there, Westminster has had no such gathering. Had it been a ,royal ceremony, the interest could not have been more intense or the throng more dense. 'l'he long, crimson carpet broke its lines only over the slab which in the isle bore the name of LIVINGSTONE. Two magnificent floral wreaths, one from the officers of the relief expedition, and another from Mr. Stanley himself, were laid on the sides of the prostrate tablet, and when the bride moved up the aisle she gracefully laid still another tribute upon the marble memorial, bearing, in flowers, the words, "In memoriam, DAVID LIVINGSTONE-H. M. STANLEY."
Thus, at no little length, we have chosen to place before our readers in outline, for permanent record, the twin stories of these two strangely-linked lives. We do no injustice to Mr. Stanley when we say, what he himself is reported to have said, that, to the four months and four days that he spent with Livingstone in Africa, he owes the greatest impulses of his later life, and especially his attitude toward Christianity. Livingstone found himself suddenly thrown into the society of a stranger who was far from being a Christian disciple. There is no. evidence that during all those months he ever directly <lonversed with Stanley as to his spiritual interests. But sure we are that by his manifest character he commended the religion of his }Iaster. His uncompromising loyalty to Christ, his unobtrusive conscientiousness, his unselfishness, considerateness, readiness to obligeall this impressed Stanley as no words had ever moved him; and, when he parted from his new friend, he was constrained to' say, what Pilate said of a far greater, " I find·no fault in this man!"
From that day Mr. Stanley has led a life that runs strangely in sympathy with that which had its spring in Blantyre. When Sir William Mackinnon asked the pleasure of presenting· him with some token of friendship to carry with him to Africa, Stanley replied, "Give me a Bible," and he took it and read it thrice through. Afterward, in darkest Africa, constrained at the darkest hour humbly to confess that, without God's help, he was hopeless, he says: "I vowed a vow in the forest solitudes that I would confess His aid before men. Silence, as of death, was round about me. It was midnight; I was weakened by illness, had been prostrated by fatigue, and wan with anxiety for m'y white and black companions, whose fate was a mystery. In this physical and mental distress, I besought God to give me back my people. Nine hours later we were exulting with a rapturous joy. In full view of all was the crimson flag with the crescent, and beneath its folds was the long-lost rear column."
And now he whose previous reserve upon such matters had seemed to bear a special seal of silence, has made this, his latest confession: "Many forms of belief and curious ideas respecting the great mystery of our being and creation have been suggested to me during my life and its wanderings; but after weighing each and attempting to understand what must be unsearchable, my greatest comfort has been in peacefully resting firm in the faith of my sires. For all the human glory that surrounds the memory of Darwin and his wise compeers throughout advanced Europe, I would not abate a jot or tittle of my belief in the Supreme God and that divine :Man called His Son."
Space alone compels our pen to halt as we pursue this fasciitating story of these twin lives. We have had space not even for a paragraph about that last book, with its thousand pages, of forty lines each, all the work of fifty days, and itself a greater feat than his march in Equatoria; and the production of which as a printed volume is said to have employed an army of nearly 15,000 men and women. We have had no space to repeat Mr. Stanley's noble tributes to the heroism and success of Christian missions which present such a marked contrast to some modern critics who ought to have been in better business. We have sought merely to put side by side two lives whose unique parallelism demands a permanent memorial and suggests lessons of lasting value. We must not fail to note one marked contrast. As Livingstone's great successor followed the mIssionary explorer, he iltrewed his path with the blood of the slain. Livingstone had trodden those same paths without even a pocket pistol for personal protection from wild beasts; his great weapon of defence was a magnanimous Love that forgave even the injuries it could not prevent. And, when we read of the demijohns of strong drink which Stanley, in his former passage across the Dark Continent, distributed to those sable sons of her soil whom he employed in building his stations, we cannot but deplore any such ministry to the destructive appetite for intoxicants. We recall that letter, the first written in English by a Congo native, and addressed to the Archbishop of Canterbury: " Great and Good Chief of the Tribe of Christ, Greeting: " The humblest of your servants kisses the hem of your garment, and begs you to send to his fellow servants more Gospel and less rum. " In the bonds of Christ, " U GALLA."
And now, 3S we turn from these two lives, may we not invoke the prayers of all Christians that the latter, the unfinished one, may complete its noble and heroic course by a service to God and a ministry to man that shall surpass anything yet accomplished by Stanley, or even by Livingstone? Our living hero is decked with many medals and crowned with many laurels. We crave for him one ,still higher and brighter-a crown wrought by no human handswhose lustrous gems burn with immortal fires and outshine in splendor ~Ven the glory of the stars!
A PERTINENT REPLY.-We understand that our friend, Chaplain :McCabe, has sent the following message to Colonel Ingersoll: "DEAR COLoNEL:-Ten years ago you made the following prediction: 'Ten years from this time two theatres will be built for one church.' The time is up. The Methodists are now building four churches every day-one every six hours. Please venture upon another prediction for the year."
Evidently the Colonel is as far out of the way as Voltaire was when he set up a printing press at Fernay to demolish Christianity. That press is now used at Geneva to print Bibles !!
MONEy.-Early in our own generation there were but five men in this country who were millionaires: John J. Astor and Stephen Whitney, New York; Nicholas Longworth, Cincinnati; William Gray, Boston, and Stephen Girard, Philadelphia. To-day in New York alone there are 500 millionaires, some of them worth from 100 to 300 millions, and in the coffers of American Protestant Christians there are not less than ten thousand millions oj dollars. One man in 1869 spent as much for a corner lot on which to build a private residence as the Presbyterian denomination spent for its entire foreign mission work!
NEW EFFORTS IN BELGIUM
NEW EFFORTS IN BELGIUM.
BY REV. HENRY E. DOSKER, A.M., HOLLAND, MICH.
Of all the countries of the continent Belgium is one of the most peculiar. With an area of 11,373 square miles and a population of nearly 6,000,000, it is the most densely populated strip of land on earth. This may seem strange, and yet it is true. While the Nether- lands come next in order, with a population of 312.86 to the square mile, Belgium crowds together, in the same space, not less than 481. 71 of its inhabitants. British India has only 311.57 and China but 83.86. These figures are respectively taken from the census-reports of 1885~ 1881, and 1887.
The physical aspect of Belgium, generally speaking, is flat, like that of Holland; a great part of the country actually lying below the level of the sea. In t.he south-eastern districts, alone, a considerable highland is formed, of some 2,000 feet high, by a spur of the Ardennes. This mountainous region, rich in different minerals and coal, together with a proverbially rich alluvial soil in the lower parts of the coun- try, enables Belgium to maintain its enormously dense population.
Its inhabitants are of a mixed Teutonic and Celtic stQck. The two main branches are the Flemings of German and the Walloons of Celtic, origin; the fonner out-number the latter, in the proportion of 4 to 3, throughout the country.
The French language is spoken at court and among the higher classes. In the rural districts and provincial towns a curious patois prevails, in various dialects of either Flemish or Walloon. This lack of a national language and literature has greatly retarded the intel- lectual progress of the nation, which is in no wise proportionate to its physical advantages. The educational system of Belgium was, till recently, quite deficient, and the sharp antagonism between the cleri- cal and liberal parties has made adequate provision in its behalf well- nigh impossible.
As might be expected from its history, the religion of the country is prevalently Roman Catholic. Of the nearly 6,000,000 of inhabit- ants, from 13,000 to 18,000 are Protestant, with some 35,000 Jews; the remainder nominally belong to Rome. Nominally, I say, for the close contact with France, the permeating influence of its periodic re- , volutionary attacks, and the prevalence of socialistic and rationalistic tendencies among the masses of the people, have so materially changed the religious 'complexion of the country, that a large pro- portion, possibly a majority, of its inhabitants may be put down as irreligious, if not atheistic.
The Gospel of Christ in Belgium meets with much the same dif- ficulties as it does in France. Efforts to bring the Word of God to the masses of the people have been made for years, and the so-called "Belgian Mission Church," and similar organizations, have not been unblessed in their endeavor to reach the Belgians by the channels of the two great languages of the country. But the trouble was that heretofore the labor performed has been too staid and conservative; the methods adopted were antiquated and ill-adapted to the peculiar character of the people and of the work in hand, and the little focus points of life, which resulted from such efforts, have had a tendency to develop too quickly into establishments for the edification of the few rather than for the salvation of the many.
A new attempt has been made of late at Brussels, which, if it should prove to be tenacious of life may become for Belgium and its capital what the McAll Missions are for France and Paris.
Allow me to outline the new movement. The name of its leader is Rev. N. De Jonge, who, some sixteen years ago, came to Brussels as a young preacher in the Dutch Evangelical Church. Through his personal influence, his church soon developed a rare missionary'activity. He made his people understand their divine call to labor among the bigoted 01' irreligious masses who surrounded them in the capital.
The year 1880 was one of special activity in this line. A revival visited the church, and especially those who were engaged in this department of her labors.
A city evangelization society was organized, of which pastor De Jonge became the director. The double task soon grew too heavy and he was placed before the inevitable choice between his charge and his mission. He was not long in deciding, and yet the decision. was one, in which he staked all on his faith in God; for he lost his salary and had no visible means of support. His resignation took effect on the first of Jannary, 1887, and another pastor soon took his place, whilst~ he began to devote himself, with all the energy of his young and vigorous manhood, to the work of evangelizing the masses of the Belgian capital, trusting, for the support of himself and large family, in the promise of God. And not in vain!
The work now rapidly extended and assumed encouraging proportions. It affords, to-day, the following aspect: a hall, named "Silo," with a seating capacity of 300, in the suburb I..acken; another, "Bethel," with l'oom for 80, about a mile distant, in the same neighborhood. In the suburb Anderlecht, a hall, named "Pniel," with seats for 200; neal' by, at the hamlet of Veeweyde, the hall "Bethlehem," with a seating capacity of 100. And still another and larger hall in the village of Ruysbrock, neal' by, as yet unnamed, but offering room for more than 300 hearers. As with the McAll rooms, the stations are simply but neatly furnished. Every night of the week, meetings are held in at least foul' of these mission halls, and the attend:l.llce is steadily increasing.
Besides all this the Mission has a printing-office in connection with the Silo station, where hundreds of pamphlets. and. tracts are pub- Hshed, to be spread broadcast over the entire kingdom. Two week- lies are issued fram this press: "Het Ohristelijke Volksblad" (The Christian National Paper), and "])e Blijde Boodschap voor Vlaamsch Belgie" (The Glad Tidings for Flemish Belgium.) The circulation of the latter, the smallest paper, has reached the number of 1,500. Moreover, a mission hospital has been opened, and h~ndreds of Catholic patients have been treated and evangelized at this "Beth- esda," as it has been appropriately named.
By catechetical instruction and Sabbath-school work the Mission endeavors to reach Roman Catholic children; hundreds of whom at- tend, notwithstanding the open opposition and secret scheming of the priests. All this missionary work is clinched by systematic house- visitation, which is richly blessed. Besides Rev. De J onge, the director of the Mission, two evangelists, two colporteurs, two regular trained hospital nurses, and some forty assistants are employed. It seems to me that this movement is worthy of close observation and encouragement.
The Catholic masses of Belgium are harder to be reached than those of France. The antagonism against Protestantism here is a.
growth of centuries; its earliest roots lie hidden in the memorable struggle of the eighty years' war. The southern part of the country never fully shared in the struggle for liberty. At Brussels the Spanish court was established; there the two most noted political victims of Alva's wrath were beheaded; there the "bloody assizes" held their councils. At Antwerp the two earliest religious m;utyrs of the Nether- lands fell. When the cause of freedom finally triumphed, and the North became independent, the South was still held in the Spanish vise, and the reformation within her borders had literally been drowned in a sea. of blood. From this time on, the unfortunate country was tossed to-and-fro between the great powers. To-day Austria, to-morrow Spain, then again France ruled it, as a whole or in part. In 1748 it finally came back to Austria, in whose g-rasp it remained, with varying fortune~, till the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, united it with Holland. But the two countries were only united never unijied.
In the revolution of 1830, the Belgians revolted and established their own independence and the severance became a fait accompli, by the treaty of London, May 21, 1833. Hence the antagonism against Protestantism has a political background. To the Belgian mind it is a thoroughly "Dutch" affair. And the overcoming of this prejudice is no small factor in the difficulties of Protestant missions in the country.
May the movement of De Jonge prove for the Belgians what the McAll Mistlion is to France, for the spiritual rescue of hundreds of thousands. Foreign Protestant missions, generally considered, in heathen lands, are far easier and far more hopeful than those COllducted by the handful of trusty laborers, who have given their lives to the evangelization of countries, thoroughly and for centuries nnder the influence of the papacy.
HELPERS AND HINDERERS OF MISSIONS IN JAPAN
[The following charming letter is from the beloved son of Rev. A. J. ·Gordon, of Boston, one of our editorial contributors.] HELPERS AND HINDERERS OF MISSIONS IN JAPAN.
BY ERNEST B. GORDON.
While enjoying the cordial hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Brand, the excellent missionaries of the Baptist Union, I have had considerable opportunity to observe the progress of the work as well as some {)f its drawbacks.
I went over to the Shogum's tombs, in Shita, the other day, and while straying in and about the temple of Zojigi, stumbled across a little fellow, a Buddhist novice, who spoke a little English. He had Dr. Hepburn's Dictionary, and was reading Peter Parley's Universal History. I struck up an acquaintance with him, and learned that he was a protege of Oolonel Olcott, who was to take him to India to study Sanscrit and the sacred books, but was prevented by the boy's poor health. Olcott, as is known, is the American Buddhist who goes about wearing a jewel said to be a crystalized tear of Mme. Blavatsky. He has published a Buddhist catechism in Singhalese, which has received the imprimatur of the Southern Ohurch in Oeylon, and is considered by Oeylonese Buddhists as almost canoni- ~al. It has gone through seventeen Singhalese editions, and was recently published in English by Estes & Lauriat, of Boston. I invited the boy around to Mr. Brand's to dinner and gave him a copy of the New Testament, which he promised to read. Last night he came again and talked a long time with Mrs. Brand about Shaka or Buddha and Jesus. He seemed much interested, especially when she told him of what Jesus left when He came to earth. He was surprised to find that Ohristians were not hateful and bitter.
The story of Roman Oatholic misl"ions in Japan is well known. Shinabara and the Oliff of Pappenberg will ever bear witness to the constancy and heroic endurance of the Roman Oatholic converts. Nevertheless, Oatholicism left a bad impression. I met the other day an old Japanese who remembers distinctly the annual ceremony of trampling upon the cross. A brass cross was brought around to every house in his village by the authorities, and everybody was required to trample upon it as a sign of his repudiation and contempt ()f Ohristianity. Much of this misapprehension and. bitterness still lingers among the Buddhist priests. The little novice, therefore, was pleased at our attention. He promised to come again and hear more about Ohrist.
Oolonel Olcott has done much harm here in Japan. An American is a person of influenee on account of his birthplace. To find an American teaching Buddhism was an experience, therefore, which startled young Japanese and which encouraged the Buddhist priests to attempt the galyanization of their putrescent superstition. Arthur May Knapp, too, the Boston representative of "Reciprocity in Religion," to use his own phrase, is encouraging the Buddhists in every possible way. He has abandoned his title of "missionary," and has assumed that of "ambassador"; the idea being, (,7idently, that he and the Buddhists are to exchange ideas and to treat with each other on an equal footing. This reassures the Buddhists and amazes the advanced men in Japan, who look upon Buddhism with the hatred and contempt which the liberals in Italy feel for the obscurantists of Rome.
Have you seen what Mr. Takahashi Goro, a prominent newspaper man, said at the banquet last May about the Unitarian movement in Japan? Its significance will fully appear when one takes into account the extreme politeness of the Japanese people. He said that he had not yet succeeded in fully mastering the doctrine of Unitarianism. He had perused the books kindly placed at his disposal by Mr. Knapp, but he still remained more or less in the dark. One thing, however, he had ascertained beyond question, viz., that Unitarianism is the child of orthodox Christianity. There was no manner of doubt about its parentage. Why, then, he wanted to know, should the attitude of Unitarianism to orthodox Chistianity be one of antagonism. He had read a book by Mr. Savage, entitled the "Religion of Evolution," and he had learned from it that Unitarianism regards orthodox Christianity with strong feelings of dislike, and would spare no pains to sweep it away from the face of the earth. Was that the proper attitude of a child toward its parent? Certainly not according to Japanese ideas of filial duty. Such an unnatural antipathy could only shock and deter Japanese observers. Besides, the Unitarians should remember that the law of heredity applies to bad qualities as well as to good. ""Vhen a man denounces his parents and declares them unworthy of respect he denounces himself by implication, for as the father is so, to a great extent, must the son be also. U nitarians coming to Japan, and arraying their forces against orthodox Christianity, would immediately find allies in the Buddhists and Confucianists. What would be the sequel of such an alliance? If the three united succeeded in driving out orthodox Christianity, the Unitarians might be quite sure that from that moment these sincere allies, the Buddhists and Confucianists, would turn on them and leave no stone untu'l'ned to drive them out also I In a. recent number of the Japan Mail, Mr. Takahashi Goro invites the attention of the Rev. Mr. Knapp to the short-sightedness of his alleged wish to ally himself with the Buddhists. Mr. 'rakahashi premises that he entertains no ill-feeling toward Unitarianism itself, but being convinced of the folly of the views of its representative in Japan as to Buddhism, he cannot but give utterance once more to the opinions he expressed at the Unitarian banquet some time .ago. Since then, he obse~ves, the Buddhistic press throughout the country had more and more distinctly shown a tendency to utilize Unitarianism as an instrument for attacking Christianity. Mr. Takahashi, however, believed Mr. Knapp to be too sagacious to become a tool of Buddhists. What, then, was his surprise to learn that the Unitarian missionary is still bent on cultivating the friendship of the Buddhists, as is shown by his article on the" Similarities and Dissimilarities of Unitarianism and Buddhism." Mr. Takahashi even goes so far as to say that Mr. Knapp'S attitude toward Buddhism is that of one who flatters, prays and solicits its favor.
"Does Mr. Knapp know," he asks, ,,, what Buddhism is really like? Buddhism is essentially an atheistic religion. This proposition can be proved by quotations from the Buddhist sacred writings." He then proceeds to consider another statement of Mr. Knapp, that, on the fundamental idea of creation, Unitarianism and Buddhism are directly opposed to orthodox Christianity. Mr. Knapp is represented to have stated that creation is not an event, but a perpetual progress which has neither commencement nor end.
"Now, in the first place, it is an abuse of a philosophical term to speak of 'creation' in connection with Buddhism, for how can there be any creation in a religion which does not recognize God? Nor is it correct to say that creation is a perpetual progress without either commencement or end, because man, as maintained by no less an evolutionist than Virchow, does not seem to have made any progress -during the first five or six thousand years. Further, there is no place for the idea of progress in the conception of atheistic creation."
If J-"1r. Knapp means to adopt the theory of atheistic evolution, Mr. Takahashi thinks he would better leave the Unitarian camp and join the atheistic Buddhists. Our author, however, believes that these apparently atheistic opinions have been expressed by Mr. Knapp for the purpose of obtaining the good will of Buddhists, for, from ·other utterances of his, it is evident that he recognizes the existence of God.
Mr. Knapp is said to have observed further, that Buddhism is, next to orthodox Christianity, a representative of the pessimistic religions; but that Unitarianism represents the optimistic religions. Mr. Takahashi does not attach much importance to the fact that Christianity is included among the pessimistic religions of the world, for he thinks this is merely a device of Mr. Knapp's to please his Buddhistic friends. He refers Mr. Knapp to Schopenhauer and Hartmann for an account of the crushing pessimism of Buddhism. He warns Unitarians against being utilized by Buddhists, and quotes from a Buddhist tract, by JUl'. Maesa Unkei, as follows: " Unitarianism will not be productive of any positive bendits / Jmt, as it will be negatively useful in neutralizing the evil effects of Christianity, we approve its spread for the sake of the country / nay" for the sake of our Shin-shu (Buddhistic) views."
It is interesting to note that the so-called " short cut" movement has extended to Japan. Last year the Japanese Presbyterians of Tokyo came to the conclusion that the work in Japan requires not only all the men who could be put through their theological school, but also those whose age or means would not allow them to take the full five years' course. Accordingly, of their own free will, they opened a school for evangelists. This year there are between thirty and forty men studying the Bible and receiving enough instruction to fit them for the work of preaching to the common people. The school is designed of course to supplement, not to antagonize, the Presbyterian Seminary. The Japanese Christians initiated the move.- ment, recognizing as they did the intense need of evang~lizing preachers, skilled in the Word, as well as of pastors versed in hermeneutics and apologetics. Many of the missionaries consider the success of the school as one of the most hopeful signs in late years.
It shows the determination of the Christians here to spread abroad the story of the Cross, and their good, common sense in choosing practical means for the furtherance of the work.
Christian work in Japan is complicated greatly by the present political excitement. The nnwillingness of foreign powers to repeal the unjust and unrighteous treaties forced upon Japan a generation ago has resulted in an increased hostility to foreigners and to foreign things. Christianity, of course, is classed in the latter category. Of our present United States representative, Mr. ,Swift, we will not speaK, except to say that the removal of his predecessor, the Texan Baptist minister Hubbard, appointed by President Cleveland, is greatly regretted. A Christian man, he did all in his power to assist Christian workers. No American since Perry, Minister Bingham possibly excepted, has been so popular in Japan. As to diplomatic. results, the Hubbard treaty negotiated with Count Okuma, although finally breaking down, was the first attempt to settle the vexed question of Treaty Revision in an honorable and statesmanlike way. If Mr;, Hubbard had been retained in Japan, it is likely that the revised treaty would be an accomplished fact, and the Christian missionaries would not be hampered now by the irritated condition of public opinion which prevails throughout the empire.
TOKYO, Oct. 12, 1890.
A JAPANESE CONVERT, who united with Bethany Church, Philadelphia, in 1886, said that "so great were the changes in his native country during the ten years previous, that nothing was left, as it. had been, but the naturalsceneryl"
EXAMPLES FROM MODERN MISSIONARY HISTORY
[Although the number of competitive essays sent in, in response to the editorial note in August number, 1890 (p. 631)-631), is not sufficient to justify the award, the edltor will avail himself of one or more of the best, as was then intimated, as articles in these pages.] EXAMPLES FROM MODERN MISSIONARY HISTORY OF THE UNMISTAKABLE INTERPOSITION OF GOD IN ANSWER TO PRAYER AND IN BEHALF OF HIS SERVANTS AND THEIR WORK.
BY REV. JOHN RUTHERFORD, M.A., B.D., ROTHESAY, SCOTLAND.
Pentecost was preceded by prayer. The coming of the Holy Ghost and the conversion of 3,000 souls in a single day were the result of ten days' continuous prayer.
Events like the siege and relief of Leyden, in 1574, when the Spanish armies were compelled to retreat, not before the brave Hollanders, but before the force of nature itself, visibly used by God in defence or the oppressed, witness to the fact that the hand of Almighty God is still interposed in behalf of those who trust Him. "As well," shouted the Spaniards derisively to the citizens, "as well can the Prince of Orange pluck the stars from the sky as bring the ocean to the walls of Leyden for your relief." But what was the issue? "A' violent equinoctial gale, on the night of the 1st ana 2d of October, came storming from the northwest, and then blowing still more violently f!'Om the southwest. The waters of the North Sea were piled in vast masses on the coast, and then dashed furiously landward, the ocean rising over the earth and sweeping, with unrestrained power, across the ruined dykes." The relieving fleet sailed up almost to the walls of the city. As the historian records, it was the hand of God that sent the ocean and the tempest to the deliverance of Leyden, and that struck her enemies wi th terror likewise. We cannot doubt that the preservation of Holland and Britain from the Spanish fury were in answer to many prayers offered up by those who fled to God as their refuge. (Motley, Dutch Republic, II., p. 558).
And much more does the history of the church assure us that God answers prayer. If we review the qistory of missions in any part of the wo,dd, we see that those who do the Lord's work live near to Him, and that He guards them in danger, and watches over that work which is not so much ours as His.
1. In the "Life of John G. Paton" (I., p. 118), the events are narrated which led to his leaving Tanna. He says, "On reaching Nowar's village we found the people terror-stricken, crying, rushing about in dispair at such a host of armed savages approaching. The whole village collapsed in a condition of indescribable terror. The approaching multitude had gone to the mission house and broken in the door, and, finding that we had escaped, they rushed on to Nowar's village. W e ~rayed as one only can pray when in the fear of death and on the brink of eternity. We felt that God was near and omnipotent to do what seemed best in' His sight. When the savages were about 300 yards off, N owar touched my knee, saying, 'MisRi, Jehovah is hearing! They are all standing still.' On gazing shc-rewards, we saw a dense host of warriors, but all were standing still. To our amazement the host began to turn and entered the remote bush at the head of the harbor. We were on that day His trusting and defenceless children; would you not, had you been one of our circle, have joined with us in praising the Lord God for deliverance from the jaws of death? I know not why they turned back, but I have no doubt it was the doing of God to save our lives."
2. Again Mr. Paton writes (p. 345,) "About ten o'clock the savages surrounded the mission house. My faithful dog, Clutha, pulled at my clothes and awoke me. I silently awoke Mr. and Mrs. Mathieson, who had also fallen asleep. We committed ourselves, in hushed prayer, to God, and watched them. Immediately a glare of light fell into the room. They set fire to the church all round, and the'l a reed fence connecting the church and the dwelling-house. In a ""lW minutes the house, too, would be in flames, and armed savages waiting to kill us on attempting an escape." Mr. Paton then ran out and cut the burning fence and tore it up, thus preventing the fire from reaching the house. He stood surrounded by seven or eight savages who had raised their clubs in the air, yelling in rage that none of them ventured the first blow, though they shouted "Kill him! kill him!" "At this dread moment occurred an incident which my readers may explain as they like, but which I trace directly to the interposition of my God. A rushing and roaring sound came from the south, like the noise of a mighty engine or of muttering thunder. Every head was instinctively turned in that direction, and they knew from previous hard experience that it was one of their awful tornadoes. Now mark, the wind bore the flames away from our house, and had it come in the opposite direction no power on earth could have saved us from being all consumed. It made the work of destroying the church only that of a few minutes; but it brought with it a heavy and murky cloud which poured out a perfect torrent of tropical rain. Now mark again: the flames of the burning church were thereby cutoff from extending to and seizing upon the reeds and the bush, and besides, it had become almost impossible now to set fire to our house." A panic siezed the savages, and, throwing down their torches, they fled.
Returning to the house Mr. Paton was met by Mr. Mathieson, who exclaimed, "If ever, in time of need, God sent help and protection to His servants, in answer to prayer, He has done so to-night. Blessed be His Holy name."
3. In "Darkest Africa" Henry Stanley writes, "Constrained at the darkest hour to humbly confess that without God's help I was helpless, I vowed a vow in the forest solitudes that I would confess His aid before men. A silence, as of death, was round about me; it was midnight. I was weakened by illness, prostrated by fatigue, and worn with anxiety for my white and black companions whose fate was a mystery. In this physical and mental distress I besought God to give me back my people." And' what was the result of Stanley's vow and prayer? "Nine hours later we were exulting with a raptur- ous joy. In full view of all was the crimson flag with the crescent, and beneath its waving folds was the long-lost real' column."
4. Shortly before the disruption of 1843 the Church of Scotland sent Dr. Keith, Dr. Black, Rev. R. McCheyne and Dr. A. Bonar, the last of whom still survives, on "a mission of enquiry to the Jews ;" they went to Palestine, and on their return journey visited Buda Pesth. There Dr. Keith took suddenly unwell, and all hope of his l'ecovery was abandoned.
In Buda Pesth there lived the Archduchess Marie Dorothea. Liv- ing, as she did, among a morally, degraded people, she longed that they might be made acquainted with the Gospel; for seven years she had prayed that God would send them a missionary. And God answered her prayers in a way she thought not of. She heard that an English clergyman lay dying in the hotel; she sent word that nothing should be left undone to save his life. The physicians had given up the case, but to please the Duchess they redoubled their efforts, applying friction and using other means, until, as they held a lighted taper neal' his mouth, the flames wavered: he lived.
The Archduchess visited him, and begged that the proposed mission should be located ill Buda Pesth. This was agreed to, and as long as she lived she gave it her protection and support. Thus the Gospel came into Buda Pesth. Fifty years Gospel work among a people held down by popery and ignorance and sin; such is God's answer to a woman's prayer (see Bonar's "Mission of Enquiry to the Jews").
5. Rev. E. Pearse in "China's Millions," September, 1882, vouches the truth of the following incident (see "Progress in China," by Rev. Arnold Foster, p. 52). "A man was converted, who had been for many years a vegetarian to gain merit and be saved. He came to our chapel, heard and believed the Gospel, and for years has lived a consistent Christian life. Some time ago the people collected a large sum of money to be expended in idolatrous work, in order that their houses might be saved from fire, and asked this man to contribute to that fund. He declined, on the ground that he trusted in the living God, and that the idols were not able to save them from fire. No sooner was the idolatrous ceremony over than an extensive nre broke out in the very street in which this man's house was situated; 120 houses were burnt down, and when the flames were coming nearer and nearer to his house, the people said, 'Now you see what you have got.' And they wanted to persuade him to take out all his furniture into the street that he might save something. He knew that if he brought the things out into the street, even though they would be safe from fire, they would probably be stolen. But he believed that God was going to preserve him from suffering loss, and he told the people so. While they were hurrying to-and-fro in all their excite- ment, he, in the presence of them all, prayed God that He would show that He was the living and true God. And then he watched the fire as it came nearer and nearer, until there was only one house standing between his own and the flames. But just then there was a sudden change in the wind: God had said, 'Thus far shalt thou come and no further,' and his house was saved. If I had time, I could tell you of a great many more instances."
6. David Livingstone, returning from Central Africa, tells of a great inland sea-Lake Nyassa. The Scottish churches and the Uni- versities' Mission take possession of the land for Christ-money and life are freely spent to evangelize N yassaland. After a dozen years the envy of Portugal is aroused; she sends Major Serpa Pinto to sieze the country, and Cardinal Lavigerie is ready with his priests to sta- tion them in all the places where the missionaries have labored, where the graves of English men and English women are "the title deeds to Nyassaland." Alas! is all this work for Christ to be overthrown? No, indeed; a spirit of prayer comes over the British churches, and the Portuguese encroachments are defeated not so much by the s~ates manship of Lord Salisbury as by the prayers of those who sent out the missionaries, and who, day by day, cease not to pray on their behalf. "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in princes."
7. On August 19, 1856, Rev. William Burns arrived at the city of Chao-chow-fu, south China; he had gone there in order to preach the Gospel and do colportage work. vVhen suddenly he was arrested and the same night examined before the district magistrate (Life of William Burns, p. 290). The magistrates decided to send him to Canton., It was the time of the Taiping rebellion, and, in addition to this, his arrest took place immediately on the eve of the war which that same year broke out between Britain and China. Had he arrived at Canton just a very little later, while the events begun by Commissioner Yeh were in progress, death would have been the probable result to the missionary. N ow compare an entry made by Mrs. Stewart Sandeman, at Perth, Scotland, in her diary, of date 28th December, of the same year: "Mr. Burns was safely kept through his arrest and imprisonment in China. Comparing the dates I find that we were met in prayer for him during his dangerous jOttrney under guard of the Ohinese ofJicials." (lVlemoir of Mrs. Stewart Sandeman, p. 177).
[ NOTE: The 8th and 9th instances are omitted, having been already published in the REVIEW, 1889, pp. 29, 348-ED.] 10. The repeal of the Contagious Diseases Acts in Britain was a.
work as arduous as any in Asia or Africa. Those vile acts roused t(} a white heat the zeal of a noble band like Mrs. Josephine Butler and Miss Elice Hopkins who were aRsisted by men like Mr. Stead, Mr.
Stanfield, ~1.P., and Professor Stuart, M.P. Almost the whole strength of the House of Commons and of the House of Lords were against them. The army and the navy were against them. Two or three women and as many men against a nation! but they determined to struggle and suffer in order to save our poor, lost sisters from the brutality of demon-like men. They could endure to he hooted, to be insulted, to be written against in the daily press, as "the howling sisterhood," and they could enlist the arm of God against the power of British immorality. Christians gave themselves to prayer through- out the whole kingdom, and the power of prayer conquered, the Gov- ernment yielded, and by the unanimous vote of Parliament the Con- tageous Diseases Acts were abolished. '
Verily, there is a God that judgeth in the earth, whose ear is not shut to the cry of those who wrestle in prayer as they do His work.
11. And pr~er which God thus answers for the preservation of His servants and their work, also brings spiritual blessing. We have testimony to this on all hands. For example: Rev. Griffith John, of Hankow, says (Records of the Shanghai Conference of 1877, p. 26)), "Feeling my own lack of spiritual power, I spent the whole of a Satur- . day in earnest prayer for a baptism of the Holy Ghost. On the fol- lowing morning I preached on the subject. At the close of t·he ser- vice I proposed that we should meet for an hour on every day of the ensuing week to pray for a baptism of the Holy Ghost. From fifty to seventy of the converts met day by day, and confessing their sins with tears, pleaded for an outpouring of the Spirit of God. The na- tive church at Hankow received an impulse then, the force of which continues to this day. The Holy Ghost became a mighty reality t(} many. vVhere once other things are preached, Christ and His power to save is now the theme."
12. What a successful mission is that carried on in China by the English Presbyterian Church. Begun in 1847, by that apostolic man> William Burns, it has increased until now it has five separate centres, Amoy, Swatow, Formosa, the Hakka country, and Singapore. With its thousands of converts, its native preachers, its ordained native pastors, its schools and Sabbath-schools, its medical missions, its lady missionaries, it has received from God much spiritual blessing-bless- ing which has enabled the converts to stand true even when persecu- tion brought the loss of worldly goods and when heathen fury against the native Christians resulted in murder: this occurred at Poih-buan, in 1878. And they willingly acknowledge that much of the divine blessing, so abundantly given, is to be traced to a monthly prayermeeting for China, held in a room in Edinburgh.
Whether we are opposed by immoral legislation or the opium trade {)r the cruelties of slavery or of the African trade in alcohol, or by the vast forces of heathenism, let our resources be the power of God made available for all the needs of His church. Yes, in all Christian work God supplies all our need according to His riches in gl'ory in Christ Jesus.
GREED IN THE WAY OF MISSIONARY ZEAL.-We fear that there is no form of selfishness more fatal to missionary consecration than the worship of the dollar. Avarice prevents abundant giving, and it hoards fol' the sake of gain what could be used with the most ~bundant profit in the wide harvest field. Not only so, but the Scripture phrase is sagaciously accurate, gold "blinds the eyes." Men do not see the facts or feel the force of the appeal of God and {)f souls because the love of money intervenes as an obscuring medium. There are many professed disciples who hold a dollar so Dear the eye that they can see scarcely anything else in the world.
Robert Hall, arguing with a clergyman suspected of having -changed his opinions from mercenary motives, proposed to him several reforms of great importance, but was invariably met with the reply: "I don't see it; I can't see it at all."
At length, penciling in small letters the word "God" upon an .envelope which lay on the table, Mr. Hall showed it, and asked: " Can you see that?" "Yes. " Then, covering it with a half sovereign, he asked again: " Can you see it now? " " No." Whereupon, without another word, he went away. The argument was sufficiently conclusive without any drawing of a "moral" after it!
THE " New Theology," according to Dr. O. W. Holmes, in teaching probation beyond this life, has as effectually deadened all sensibility to the fear of eternal punishment, as cocaine, the new local anresthetic, deadens the sensibility of the part to which it is applied. We may be permitted to raise the honest inquiry whether any doctrine which practically destroys the power of the retributions of a future state can have any other effect than to paralyze missionary activity. And, if the tree is known by its fruit, can that be a safe doctrine to hold which either deadens sensibility to the plain warnings of the Scripture or to the degradation and destitution of the heathen world?
DO HEATHEN MULTIPLY FASTER THAN CONVERTS?
DO HEATHEN MULTIPLY FASTER THAN CONVERTS?
BY THOMAS LAURIE, D.D., PROVIDENCE, R. I.
The thought of the conversion of the world prompts the question, " How large is it?" There have been v~rious estimates of its popu- lation. In 1753, Voltaire said 1,600,000,000. Fifty years later Volney put it at 437,000,000. Matte Brun, in 1810, made it 640,000,- 000; Balbi, in 1816, estimated it at 704,000,000, and in 1843, at 739,000,000; Behm and Wagner, in 1880, fixed it at 1,456,000,000, and in 1882, with probably greater accuracy, at 1,434,000,000, though it was less than their previous estimate by 22,000,000. This popUlation they distributed as follows: Europe …….. 327,743,400 Asia…………… 795,591,000 Africa………. 205,823,200 America …………100,415,400 Polynesia…… 4,232,000 Polar Land……… 82,500 Total population of the globe………………… 1,433,887,500 These statistics do not introduce a dissertation on population, but only a brief consideration of a recent objection to the missionary work. It is estimated that modern missions have won about 4,000,- 000 converts from idolatry; but we are told that running parallel with these conversions is an increase of the number to be converted from 600,000,000 to 800,000,000, and if 200,000,000 heathen are added to the number, while only 4,000,000 become Christians, at that rate when will the world be converted to God? At first sight the case seems hopeless, and that on these conditions we can only make progress backward; but is the prospect as dark as it seems? Let us look at it carefully and dispassionately. One thing is plain: while the 200,000,000 are the natural increase of the previously existing 600,000,000, the 4,000,000 are an absolute creation. Four millions from nothing is a vastly greater proportion than the other, though the Bums are larger.
But let us examine the subject yet more carefully. Modern evangelical missions have now been in operation about a century. The first missionary society (the Church Missionary Society) dates from 1792. Now, if conversions began immediately, then the 4,000,000 converts are rightly set over against the 200,000,000 increase of heathen; but if they did not begin for a number of years, then the heathen increase of the years during which there were no converts must be subtracted from the 200,000,000, and so we have already reduced the seemingly hopeless contrast.
But that is not all. '1'he first converts were not only the fruits of many years of labor, but they were very few in number. For many years Leang Afa was almost the only convert among the many millions of China, and this introduces a riew element into the discussion, for while the natural increase goes on from year to year, and from age to age, with slight variation, missionary converts in~ease in the ratio of a geometrical progression. At first there were no conversions at all; only a work of preparation. The military stores are gathered together and the forces massed for the coming conflict, and, when that begins, each prisoner taken is not immured in a dungeon, but becomes at once an active soldier, able to avail himself of his famil- iarity with the condition and position of thc enemy for their over- throw. And it is worthy of notice, that the Lord of Hosts does not isolate the converts, but scatters them purposely among those to be acted on by their example and their labors. Already in some.of the latter decades of the century the increase of the converts has been at the rate of eighty-one per cent., and the natural increase of the heathen during the same period only six and one-half per cent. Now, if that proportion were to continue it would only require a sum in arithmetic to find out how soon the eighty-one per cent. would overtake and go beyond the six and one-half per cent. But we have seen that the ratio is one of geometrical progression-" the constant quantity by which each term is multiplied to produce the succeeding one "-and so we see the way clear to transfer very rapidly the hundreds of millions from the heathen side to the Christian side of future increase.
It may be said this is a very beautiful theory, but-. Then take an actual case. Robert Morrison entered China through much tribulation in 1807. When Dr. Happel' went there in 1844 he found only six Protestant missionaries and two native assistants in all that empire. While at the Shanghai Conference, in May, 1890, 1,285 missionaries and 1,469 native assistants were reported as then in that field, and with slich an increase in the past, what may not be hoped for in the future? Other examples might be given equally encouraging. When a fire is kindled in the forest its progress depends on the denseness of the mass of trees to be set on fire, and when everyone of the millions of China is a tor~h waiting to be lighted, it needs no prophet to foretell the effect of casting in these torches already lighted.
Take another view. A century ago there were in all the earth 174,000,000 nominal Christians, 44,000,000 of them Protestants. Now there are 165,000,000 Protestants, almost as many as the whole number at that time, among 450,000,000 nominal Christians. Add to that that the energy and efficiency of the race is concentrated in those Protestants, and the prospect for the future is radiant. Furmerly the Latin race was the conqueror and colonizer of the world, but since it fell under the paralysis of Popery it has lost its power. Now the race which lives by truth is marching at the head of the race, carrying the source of its own energy to all the nations.
It is significant in this connection that, while one hundred years
THE PRAYER LEAGUE
ago only 22,000,000 of the race spoke E'llglish, 115,000,000 now use that language, an increase of more than 500 per cent., and while at that time the 22,000,000 had neither missions nor missionaries, the 115,000,000 now sustain 120 missionary societies, of which our American Board is only one, and these societies raise annually $11,250,000 for the conversion of the world to God.
Then we need only to call to mind the immense store of Christian literature in that language to thank God that it is having such free course in all the earth.
Indeed, we thank the objectors for calling attention to a line of truth where there is nothing to discourage but everything to fill us with the assurance of a glorious success.
THE PRAYER LEAGUE.
We note with sincere gratitude the movement toward covenant prayer in various parts of the Church, and we regard it as the most promising sign of the times. When God's people begin to pray in faith and with true agreement marvels begin in the earth. And not a crisis of missionary history, from the beginning until to-day, has been turned except by prayer.
The Reformed Church has recently formed a Foreign Missionary Prayer League, whose purpose it is "to unite God's people in abundant and prevailing prayer; to intensify, accumulate and direct the power of prayer so that multitudes of heathen may be turned to the Lord in our missions."
In the very impressive appeal which has been issued prayer is recognized as the mightiest power in missionary work, whether to open the doors, thrust forth the laborers, secure the needful means, or to call down abundant blessing. Those who cannot go to the foreign field can, at least, sustain the work by prayers for it, "striving together" with the workmen by their own supplication. United prayer carries resistless power, as is shown throughout all history, and is especially acceptable to God. The method encouraged is special seasons, daily set apart, and particular prayer for individual persons and places: abundant prayer, prayer with fasting, arid with intercommunication among those who join the league.
Mrs. Joseph Scudder, 57 Cannon street, Poughkeepsie, N. Y., acts as secretary of the league. We exhort all who belong to that communion especially to join this league, and make its objects and aims heartily their own. We believe that if the whole Church would get into a new attitude of fervent, believing prayer there would be such a new Pentecost as the history of man has never yet recorded.
COl>'VENTION OF CHRISTIAN WORKERS AT BANGALORE, INDIA
CONVENTION OF CHRISTIAN WORKERS AT BANGA- LORE, INDIA.
BY REV. JACOB CHAMBERLAIN, M.D., D.D., MADANAPALLE, INDIA.
Bangalore, the chief city of the kingdom of ]fysore, has just witnessed a singular sight for the capital city of a non-Christian kingdom.
Pursuant to an invitation from the missionaries of all societies working in Bangalore and other earnest Christians residing there, a convention gathered at that place on the 23d of September, of missionaries and other ChriAtian workers from all parts of the Madras Presidency with some also from Bombay.
'l'he convention was not for the discussion of abstruse problems of missionary policy, but for the promotion of spiritual life and growth and earnestness in work for the Master.
Trains arriving on the afternoon of September 23d, from four different directions, centering at that place, brought those invited, and others who could attend, from many different provinces, districts, cities and villages. .iUJ. parts of the Tamil country, from near Cape 00morin to Madras and the N eilgherry Mountains,sent representatives. All parts of the kingdom of Mysore, the Kanarese kingdom, were represented. Two delegates from the Marathi country and one from the Gujarathi; myself and another from the Telugu country; missionary workers among the Mohammedans in Hindustani; workers in English among the Eurasians and in the English army, and native preachers in Tamil, Kanarese and Telugu were there. Seven languages were required to do the daily work at their stations of the workers there assembled.
Not missionaries alone: many laymen were there. Coffee planters from the Shevaroy and the Neilgherry mountains. An executive engineer from one of the new state railways on the East Coast; a general and several other officers from the Madras army; soldiers in uniform from the garrison; artisans and tradesmen and their families; natives, male and female, in their striking costumes. All mingled, as children of the King, in this conference. It would be hard to match it in any city of the Western world.
Twelve different branches of the Church of Christ were represented-the Church of England,English Baptists, American Baptists, English Independents, American Congregationalists, English Wesleyans, American Methodists, AustralasianWesleyans, German Lutherans, American Reformed, English Plymouth Brethren and Salvation Army officers-all joined heartily in counsel and prayer for higher spiritual life, for more absolute consecration, for more efficient. service.
Tuesday evening was devoted to an informal reception, a social gathering, the Rev. and Mrs. W. H. I. Picken, Wesleyan missiona- ries of Bangalore, behlg host and hostess.
It gave us all an opportunity of becoming acquainted. English, Germans, Hindus, Americans, Australians, and an exceedingly pleas- ant gathering it was, closing with half an b1u ~Cff more formal words of welcome, praise and prayer.
The next three days, with three sessiOn!, each day, were given to the consideration of "What Christ does for His people," "What Christ does in His people," and "What Christ does through His people," one day being given to each theme.
The vVednesday morning meeting was a Bible reading on the first theme, conducted by Rev. E. Chester, M.D., thirty-one years a missionaryof tbe American Board in the Madura Mission. The afternoon meeting was devotional, led by Rev. I. G. Hawker, twenty-five years a missionary of the London Missionary Society at Belgaum. It was a helpful, uplifting meeting. The evening's session was a more public meeting for addresses on the day's theme, presided over by the representative of the Arcot Mission of the Reformed Church in America, thirty years a missionary among the Telugus, at which every seat in the large audience-room was filled and some stood. Addresses were given by the chairman, on what Christ does (a) by His atonement; by Rev. G. W. Lawday, of Tumkur, Wesleyan, (b) By His example; and by Rev. W. Ioso, London Mission, Madras, (c) By His intercession. The exercises were interspersed with warm prayers and spir:ted singing by a volunteer choir who had previously practiced for the purpose.
Thursday's was the second theme, "What Christ does in His people." The morning's Bible reading on it was led by Handley Bird, Esq., Plymouth Brother, from Coimbatoor, and was exhaustive and stimulating. The afternoon meeting was for ladies only, and was said to have been of exceptional interest. The evening meeting, for public address, was led by Dr. Chester, of Dindigul, and addresses were given by the chairman, by Mr.E.Lynn, Plymouth Brother, Malvalli, and by Rev. John S. Chandler, of the American Madura Mis- SIOn.
Friday was the crowning day. The theme, "What Christ does through His people." The morning Bible reading, led by H. Clift, Esq., railway executive engineer, mapped out the subject well. The afternoon meeting was a conversational session on "Methods of Evangelization," or "How shall God work through us for His higher glory?" 'rhe writer was asked to open and guide the conversation. This was declared to be a "Council of War" for the conquest of India. And it proved one of the most stimulating of the meetings, full of val'lety and suggestiveness.
The methods referred to were: Oral proclamation of the Gospel in the streets, villages, markets, fairs, with such accessories as large colored Scripture pictures or magic-lantern Bible scenes, by night;with cornet and bicycle to tow in the crowd and "baby organ" to hold them for the preaching: Medical missionary work, with preaching to all patients, and terse Gospel tickets for the patients to take home; and Zenana medical work by lady doctors; Reading rooms and preaching halls in crowded thoroughfares; Sunday-school work among Chris- tian and heathen children; Young Men's Christian Association work in large cities, and Young People's Societies of Christian Endeavor in smaller places. The Press and Tract Gospel and Christian book distribution all through the country. Christian school work to reach non-Christian pupils, and to train workers, and Zenana work and Bible women, and lIindu girl's schools to reach non-Christian women.
This meeting being a "family gathering," all mingled freely in the discussion-ladies and gentlemen, lay and clerical, English, Germans, Australians, Americans, Hindus, Episcopalians, Methodists, Salvation Army, Presbyterians, Plymouth Brothers, "Faith Mission" Workers, Baptists, strict and open, Congregationalists and Wesleyans, with prayers of unction, and hymns of victory thrown in all the way. The only difficulty was in bringing the meeting to a close.
Friday evening'S meeting, the closing one of the series, was the most crowded one of all. General MacAusland, of the Madras army, presided and made the opening address, on "What Christ does through His people." (a) by the example and influence of their live!', and was followed by Rev. L. S. Gates, of the American Board's Mission, Sholapore, Bombay, on (b) by their testimony to truth and experience, and by Rev. I. G. Hawker, of Belgaum, on (0) by their works of faith and love.
After the Benediction there was a general handshaking of those who had come, many of them one and two days' journey to attend, and so this memorable "Mildmay Conference," held in India, of Christian Workers, was brought to a close amid a universal desire for a similar meeting to be held next year, at which very many more workers, lay and clel'ica~, will be sure to be present. The Kingdom is coming. We can see its onward progress. God bring it in speedily!
SAID a heathen to a mlsslOnary: "There must be something in your religion which makes you come all the way out here to tell us of it. I am sure I would not go so far to tell you of mine." Nothing is perhaps more likely to impress the minds of pagan people than the evidence that missionaries afford, that the good news is worth telling! And the more sacrifice our evangelism costs us the more eloquent is t.he testimony that missions give to the value of the great salvation and our own passion fOI" souls.
THE MISSIONARY OUTLOOK
THE MISSIONARY OUTLOOK.-I.
BY J. MURRAY MITCHELL, M.A., LL.D., NICE, FRANCE.
We intend to take a view, if possible, of that field which is the world. It follows, of course, that in so general a survey, many particulars that are by no means unimportant, must pass unnoticed, and that only the most outstanding objects can receive more than a passing glance.
It is often said that we have entered, or are entering, on a new era in missionary history. Various things seem, on the whole, to justify this language. Of these we shall specify only three-the student movement in America, the request of the Missionary Conference at Shanghai that a thousand missionaries be sent to China within the next five years, and a prayer from members of the Church Missionary Society that its missions speedily receive the same accession. Ten or five years ago such things could not have been. The double, indeed ,triple demand (Mr. Hudson Taylor had already asked for a thousand new laborers for the China Inland Mission) for a thousand missionaries, if made, would have been scouted as ridiculous. Reserving to the end of this paper Bome questions as to the practical carrying out of the proposal, we can express nothing but admiration in view of the enlargement of heart which the demand implies.
We divide this paper into three parts. We first advert to the missionary spirit as it exists at home. 'Ve then speak of the position of things in the foreign field. We shall conclude with a few suggestions grounded on the sur~ey we shall thus have taken.
I.
First, then, let us attend to the missionary spirit as it exists in Christendom: Undoubtedly there has been, for a good many years past, a steady growth of missionary zeal. The movements we have already mentioned are the natural result of what preceded. Hardly any portion of the Church of Christ now fails to take a share in foreign evangelistic work; or, if it fails, it is quite aware of having to explain its position and apologize. Otherwise, it knows it will stand condemned at the bar of Christendom. There is not merely a growing interest in non-Christian peoples, arising out of a growing knowledge of their condition; there is a deepening sense of duty towards our fellow-men -an increasingly clear perception of the social character of Christianity. Time was when even good men thought not too much, but too exclusively, of their own salvation. We see better than we did that we must "add to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity"-to love of God and love of Christians-a love that embraces the entire human race and that does not evaporate in talk.
Such is increasingly the feeling of the church, and the general public shares it to a considerable extent. We are old enough to remember the time when any new missionary effort that might be pro- posed was sure to be sneered at-classed under the head of "missions to the moon and elsewhere." But no man will scoff at missions now who does not scoff at the Bible itself, and he who speaks of the useless- ness of missions is prepared to assert in the same breath the useless- ness of Christianity.
This growing appreciation of missions on the part of the general public is due to the strong testimony in regard to their practical ef- ficacy, which has been so often rendered by men fully qualified to form a judgment-many of whom were prepared to look on missions with an eye severely critical. Among .such witnesses Charles Darwin has been one of the most tnfIuential. He certainly had no predispo- sition to think well of missionary work; but, as an entirely honest man, he told what his own eyes had seen. One of his expressions has become proverbial: "The lesson of the missionary is an enchanter's wand." Speaking of some who had ridiculed the work in the South Seas, which he himself had carefully examined, he used the scathing language: "Disappointed in not finding the field for licentiousness quite so open as formerly, they will not give credit to a morality which they do not wish to practise." Testimonies in favor of missions are multiplying. Stanley has spoken, with characteristic warmth, in praise of Mackay and others, and, as we write, an eye lights on the high eulogium which Mr. Johnston, in the New Review, pronounces on the doings of Dr. Laws, of Nyassaland. Mr. Johnston says Dr. Laws "learned to make bricks in order that he might teach others. He has become a practical engineer, carpenter, joiner, printer, photographer, farrier, boat-builder and druggist, so that he might instruct his once savage people in these arts and trades."
Mackay, the "engineer missionary," labored with much zeal in teaching the arts of civilized life at Uganda. He spoke very warmly of the missions at Lovedale and Blythswood, in South Africa, as exemplifying what he regarded as the right kind of missions for Africa. They combine intellectual and religious teaching with industrial training.
Men who are believers in Christianity may be expected to write in terms such as we have been referring to. And when those that are not believers use such language as we have quoted from Darwin, we need not be surprised. For now-a-days many who never think of the service of God, plead earnestly for "the service of man." They have drawn the lesson, directly or indirectly, from the Bible, which makes the service of man an essential part of the service of God; and this they ought, in fairness, to acknowledge. But, although they believe in no Divine command to evangelize the nations; they can hardly deny the elevation of the aim. They may blame the missionaries for proclaiming dogmas which to them seem unintelligible, but the philsnthropic character of missions they do not seek to deny; and, when testimonies multiply as to their practical efficacy in raising degraded races, they cannot but express approval. 1'his is true, at least of the higher class of unbelievers-of men like Cotter Morison, one of the ablest of the Agnostics. He speaks of the "unequaled potency" of Christianity in moulding character, and of the "true Christian saint" as "one of the most wonderful phenomena of the moral wOl·ld-so lofty, so p~re, so attractive." We do not wish to make too much of such testimonies; neither do we despise them; but, at all events, language like this rises infinitely above the polished sarcasm of Gibbon no less than the vulgar ribaldry of Paine.
While we speak thus, we are not ~rgetting that, if missions are better appreciated than they were, yet the missionaries themselves have lately been subjected to severe criticism. It is not long since an Anglican canon was writing foolishly about Mohammedanism, and bitterly about the missionaries of his own church. And, certainly, we cannot overlook the excitement aroused among the 'Vesleyans by charges made by one who had seen very little of India-charges which were repeated in one or two influential quarters at home. Such attacks do temporary harm, both at home and among the heathen; but, as the truth becomes known, there is a great reaction in favor of the men assailed. Canon Isaac Taylor will hardly return to the bat-' tIe, seeing he was not only refuted by missionaries, but charged by literary men like Mr. Bosworth Smith with "invincible ignorance" and" headlong heedlessness." The Canon has done good service in linguistics and archreology, and to these he should confine llimself. And as for theWesleyans, it is, we trust, a joy even in the quarters at home in which the accusations were rashly credited, that, instead of their being" proved to the hilt," the sharp weapon, though powerfully wielded, has not pierced-has barely grazed-the skin. For the mis- .sionaries were, after the fullest inquiry, completely exonerated from all charges made, or implied. And so let us pass from the whole thing as from a painful dream.
Of course, criticism is not over. It is inevitable, if real interest be taken in the work. There will be unjust and ignorant criticism; for some men have a perfect genius for finding fault, and there will be room for legitimate and enlightened criticism, for missionaries are not infallible. Inquiry into evangelistic methods there ought to be. Every true-hearted missionary will be most grateful for any new light that can be thrown upon his work, and all friendly criticism he will meet in a friendly spirit. He will indeed be disposed to smile at not a few of the changes that are suggested as improvements on pres- ·ent methods, for probably either he himself, or others, have already tried the thing proposed and found it wanting; but he will fully appreciate the spirit oy which the criticism is prompted. No doubt, as he watches the slow, steady advance of the truth wherever the Gosper is faithfully made known, he will be pained to note the impatience of some who think that the high places in heathenism ought to be cap- tured by a rush; and he will be disposed to ask why things move so slowly at home-why the Pope and the College of Cardinals are not r converted-why unbelief and worldliness are still so fearfully strong A craving for the salvation of souls is beautiful, but a craving for results, mainly in order that we may get our money's worth, is pitiable; and the Church of Christ needs to examine her own heart and see which feeling chiefly sways her. The Apostle speaks of the need of the sower having" long patience," "till he receh-e the early and the lat- ter rain." N ow, in this ale of unsettlement and restlessness, "long patience" is, to the best of us, difficult of attainment; and many crave- for perpetual excitement and perpetual change. Let the Church be " instant in season and out of season," but let her also seek to enter into fuller sympathy with Him who sees the end from the beginning, and who is seated at the right-hand of God" from henceforth expect- ing till His enemies be made His footstool. "
We hail a growing desire on the part of the Church at home to draw tighter the bonds between the foreign laborers and herself. .One mark of this is the sending of deputies to the missions. When these are wise and sympathetic men, only good should result from this. Would that all home ministers could visit heathendom! It would enable them on their return to plead the cause of missions far more zealously and effectively. "Mine eye affecteth mine heart," and a sight of real heathenism would be a lesson and an impulse for life. Indifference to missions is often traceable to ignorance rather than unfaithfulness. Certainly, in this case, zeal will be in proportion to· knowledge.
All that we have said implies that the interest of the Church, and even of the general public, in regard to mission work has been, and still is, deepening. The world begins to see that the work is good, and the Church that it is glorious. Now, do we sufficiently realize the magnitude and importance of the change? Doubtless everyone has heard of the rebuke administered by Dr. Ryland to young Carey for his excess of zeal, and most of us -can repeat the story of the Scottish Assembly, and good Dr. Erskine's "Rax me that Bible.'" But at a later date such representative men as Bishop Horsley, in England, and Dr. Timothy Dwight, in America, were opposed to the' movement on behalf of missions. Or, going farther back, it is deplor– able that from the Reformation till about the end of the sixteenth century the only great man who is known to have seen the import– ance of missions was Hugo Grotius. When from about the year 1664 the Austrian nobleman Van Welz was striving to arouse the churches: of Germany to a sense of their obligations, he encountered the sternest opposition from men of position and unquestioned orthodoxy, such as Ursinus, the superintendent of Regensburg. "The heathen," said this high ecclesiastic, "have already had sufficient means of learning the truth. The Greenlanders could have learnt it from their neighbors, the Danes and Swedes; and the Turks and Tartars from the Greeks. God is not bound to help these'heathen more than He has done." "As for those who have been persecutors of the faith, why should heaven's pearls be thrown to dogs or swine like them?"* Can such things have been said by the leaders of the Christian Church? Unhappily, yes; and they were, by the people under them, all too readily acquiesced in.
Let us thank God that such words cannot be used again. They would arouse one general feeling of horror throughout the churches.
One proof of the deepening interest in missions is the increasing number of university men that are offering themselves for service. It was long before any such, in the Church of England at least, were willing to work among the heathen; but, during the last four years, seventy-nine English university men have become missionaries. In former days of coldness special colleges for training missionaries were wholly indispensable; but the belief is growing that ordained men in the foreign field require at least as good an education as ordained men at home. In the Presbyterian churches the same training has long been given to both classes; there is no abbreviated curriculum for missionaries. The flower of university youth everywhere is pressing more and more -into the foreign field.
The steady increase of female missionaries is equally remarkable III all missionary churches and societies. If we mention the C. M. S. as an example it is not because it stands specially prominent in this respect, but because the requisite information regarding it happens to be at hand. Three years ago it had twenty-two female missionaries. (excluding the wives of missionaries); now it has sixty. Equal or nearly equal progress has been made by the distinctively female missionary societies connected with all the churches. For example, the Zenana, Bible and Medical Mission has, during the last eight years, sent out 138 additional workers, and is making an effort to send twenty more.
The claims of the heathen world are overwhelming, and the conviction grows that the class of ordained missionaries must be supplemented by the unordained men, with or without academical training. This is as it should be. In certain fields, and for certain kinds of work, the higher education is indispensable; a thorough acquaintance with Hebrew and Greek, for example, is necessary for those who are to translate, or revise, the Holy Scriptures in foreign tongues. Devout laymen do admirable service at home, and why may they not abroad?
* See The Nordisk Missions-tids sleri/t. vol. 1, pages 62, 68. This excellent missionary maga- zine has just been started under the able editorship of Provst (Dean) Vah!. As for women, of course, the question arises: "Is the Church to Rend forth only those who are in the position of ladies?" Certainly; native ladies in India and elsewhere can quickly take the measure of their foreign visitors, and a woman of little education or refinement will hardly be welcome in the homes of the higher and middle classes. But are the lower classes to be' overlooked? No woman whose heart is burning with the love of Christ need despair of doing good to her heathen sisters. And, then, the Spirit of God will seldom work powerfully in the heart without imparting a large measure of sweetness and refinement to the bearing-whereas, polish of manner without the grace of God is nothing worth-for Smooth, good breeding, supplemental grace, 'Vith lean performance apes the work of love.
The importance of medical missions is now pretty fully recognized in Britain and America. lVIedical missionaries having British degrees are about 141 in number; while from America and the Continent there are 150. China has the largest proportion. The number of female practitioners seems to grow rather more rapidly than that of medical men.
So hI' we have spoken of Britain chiefly, though we trust our remarks apply also to America. We proceed to refer briefly to the Continent of Europe.
In Germany there is decided progress in missionary zeal. 'rhe vast territories which Germany now possesses or " influences" in East Africa have naturally led Christians to feel that new obligations rest upon them; and new societies ha~e been formed to meet these claims. For example, one at Neukirchen, another in Bavaria, and another at Berlin (where a third society has thus been set up). In medical missions Germany does comparatively little, though the late Professor Christlieb earnestly pleaded for them. Still, the lVIoravians and the Basle and Bremen societies now recognize their exceeding value.
There is a clear advance in Denmark. The imperative obligation of evangelizing heathen nations has been of late earnestly pressed on believing men and women, and a great many missionary uriions (450, at least, we understand) have been formed. The first university men that have become foreign missionaries did so in 1888 and 1889-one in each of these years; but several students of theology have resolved to give themselves to the foreign work on the completion of their course. ,"Vomen also begin to come forward. A deaconess was sent to India, in 1888; two young ladies are under training for foreign work, and several others are likely to follow their example. No medical missionaries have as yet proceeded from Denmark; but two young men are receiving medical tralning with a view to go out in 189l. The mission to the Red Karens has been given up; but one is to be begun among the Burmese. All this, it may be said, does not amount to much. Still, it distinctly implies progress; and some Danish Christians are very much in earnest with regard to missionary work.
Three missionary societies have for a good many years existed in Norway, and a fourth was formed a short time ago, called the" Free lEssion," which sends out men and women to Natal. Quite recently a small society has been set up which will send missionaries to China.
In regard to medical missions Norway is in advance of Denmark.
Au ordained medical missionary was sent to Madagascar in 1869; a second in 1876, and in the same year a third, who had taken his degree in Edinburgh, was sent to Zululand.
In Sweden there are three larger societies-that of the state (lhurch, the evangelical union, and the missionary union. '1'he Swedes work earnestly in various places abroad, especially in Africa, in the Congo Free States and among the Gallas. They have not been able to enter Abyssinia itself, but among Abyssinians on the borders they have done a good deal. These bodies send out among their agents both m<edical men and ladies. There are several other small SOCletles. There is evidently au increasing zeal for missions in Sweden, and it is interesting to note that the state church, as a (lhurch, is hearty in the cause.
The French Societe des Missions Evangeliques has of late made ~al'llest efforts to increase the zeal of French Protestants. The synods of the National, Free and Lutheran churches some time ago recommended that there should be annually a mission Sunday-a day on which the duty of evangelizing the heathen should be pressed on the attention (If worshippers. Mission festivals (fetes) have been established in "Various places~* though by no means as yet in every parish, as was the hope of the synods; publications giving missionary information are largely circulated, and subscriptions to missions have considerably increased. '1'he missions have struggled with great difficulties (in Senegambia particularly); and now, when France has obtained such vast possessions in northern and western Africa, the question is, (lan the French Protestants rise to the requirements of the high occasion? '1'hey deserve sympathy; they require help in their foreign, as in their home work.
In Holland missionary zeal is increasing, though not rapidly. Switz('rland has the Basil Missionary Society-a most valuable and progressive institution, and the small Canton de Vaud has, sinee 1872, had foreign missions connected with the Free Church. In 1883 the free churches of Geneva an<d Neuchatal joined in the work. The united society is called La Mission des Eglises Libres de la Suisse Romande. The venerable Waldensian Church, while it feels itself especially .. See last annual report, p. 3.
NUNNERY LIFE IN NAPLES
called tp evangelize Italy, has taken some part in foreign missions since 1881. It works in South Africa in connection with the Paris society.
The Finnish Christians are not neglectful of missions to th~ heathen. We wish we could say the same thing of the Hungarians (who are also of the Turanian stock). Still, let us not forget that the "T Hungarian Church works both in Herzegovina and Roumania. e have been speaking of interest in the evangelizing of the heathen nations as it is manifested in Christendom. Happily, the bounds of Christendom are enlarging. Ve may now include Australia and New Zealand under that designation. In point of missionary zeal the churches in these regions are hardly behind those of Europe and America. The Dutch Church in South Africa" is also earnest in missionary work.
[To be continued.] NUNNERY LIFE IN NAPLES.
The recent disclosures in this Italian city have produced a pro- found sensation throughout the whole bounds of the thinking world. A convent in Naples, which for four centuries has been shut to all, and has been appropriately known as the nunnery of the "Buried Alive," has been opened by the police and the secrets unearthed. A young girl had been hurriedly" buried" there to cure her of an un- fortunate passion; but when her family afterwards wiRhed to com- municate with her it was found impossible. An appeal to the Italian Minister of Justice procured an order for entrance, and, against vio- lent opposition, the police forced their way. They found twenty-six nuns, ragged, wretched, and some of them half-insane. Eight of them had been immured in this death trap by order of their parents, against their own will. The horrible spectacle thus brought to 'light has caused the Governor of Naples to order a further and complete investigation, and all the closed nunneries of Southern Italy are to be visited officially. "Free Italy" is proving both her right and her power to be free! These women were walled in, 'Yith only a small opening to " pass in food, and were like bony skeletons, The government pro- poses to turn the large convent into a school for girls. Of course the priests cry, "Sacrilegio I Sacrilegio!"
One of the Erskines said: "I can call God to witness that I have done my best to bring on a definite issue between Christ and the adversaries of the truth." .Let us not be afraid of conflict. Christ came not to send peace, but a sword. Loyalty to the truth will inevitably arouse to violent opposition the minions and myrmidons of' error.
"HOW MUCH BETTER THEN IS A MAN THAN A SHEEP?"
"HOW :MUCH BETTER THEN IS A MAN THAN A SB,EEP?" MATT. xn:12.
BY A. J. GORDON, D.D., BOSTON, MASS• • An absurd question! you may exclaim at first. But it was a very pertinent question when Jesus asked it. And it is just as truly so to- day. For do you not know that our American congress has given vastly more attention to the protection of sheep's wooi than it has given to the protection of the home and family? And this is a typi- cal fact which illustrates the conduct of worldly rulers and secular shepherds in all time. Therefore, it is necessary for us to answer anew the question: "How much better is a man than a sheep ?"
Answer first: "The gooa shephera giveth his life for the sheep,'" (Johnx:ll), which, being interpreted, means: "The Son of God gave himself for the sons of men." Our first computation of the worth of man, then, is not in an earthly currency but in a heavenly; not in the denomination of "corruptible things as silver and gold" but of "the precious blood of Christ as of a lamb without blemish and without spot." Think of that, ye monopolists and Christian millionaires~ who have ground humanity between the upper and nether millstones of combination and capital in order to make gain and grist for yourselves, till the Lord has cried out repeatedly: "Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge who eat up My people as they eat bread ?" Here is the difference between man's estimate of man and God's estimate: The one will grind the masses into food for his own stomach, if he can do so; the other-the Son of God-will give his own body to be ground into food for man, saying, as he offers us his own wounded and bleeding members: "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live forever; and the bread that I give is My flesh, which I will give for the life of the world." The philosopher, Compte, is said to have instituted and kept what he' called "Man's Supper," in which he partook of a crust of bread and a cup of water, saying, as he did so: "This I do in remembrance of the great multitude who have only a crust to feed upon.'" But such a sacrament is not needed: for the Lord's Supper, instituted centuries ago, declares all this and vastly more. By it our Lord says to our hungry, oppressed and suffering humanity, " I give myself to you, My.body to be your loaf, lIy blood to be your life, take, eat ye all of it." When was ever such valuation set on man as this? "Every man has his price," says the proverb. And the politician is in the market bidding for him; and the capitalist is in the Exchange bidding for him; and the man-slayer stands in the door of his saloon bidding for him. All these are bidding him down, vieing with each other in deadly competition to see which will get him for the smallest. and most paltry price. But Jesus Christ steps into the circle and sternly asks of the bidders: "How much better is a man than a sheep? Look on him, made in the image of God, and, though bruised and broken by the fall, capable of being restored to that image, and re- dothed with glory and honor and immortalityl And is this all that he is fit for, to be sheared of his daily income by the saloon; to ~ Tobbed of his fleece by the usurer, and to be sold in the shambles by the monopolist? I will not bid him down, I will bid him up. 'As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father, and I lay down my lifefor the sheep,''' (John x:15). Here is the Divine valuation of man; Christ's invoice of humanity. Look at the price-the Lord Himself – and then estimate the purchase. N ever was such fine gold of purity and perfection coined into a single life; never was such weight of priceless suffering crowded into a single death. And all this the purchase money of our redemption. "Or what Hhall a man give in exchange for his soul?" asks Jesus. And He answers His -questions by giving Himself. We want no more powerful argument for missions than this: "Who loved me and gave Himself for me"- Himself, so infinitely much, for me, so insignificantly little. Then woe to the Christian who can hoard his gold, when the dying millions are crying out for more missionaries to be sent to them; and our bur- dened and anxious Boards are crying out for more money with which to send them.
"How much better is a man than a sheep?" Answer second: "I willmake a man more precious than fine gold/ even a man than the golden wedge of Ophir" (Is. xiii. 12). The seer looked on, through the long perspective of prophecy, to .the day when the heavens shall be shaken; when the sun shall be darkened .and the moon shall withdraw her light. In this time, when God shall }mnish the world for its eyil he "will cause the arrogancy of the proud to cease, and will lay low the haughtiness of the terrible"- then" a man shall be more precious than fine gold." Here is something new in the history of the race. For ages the gold brokers of this world have counted humanity as oBly so much crude ore to be reduced and coined into cash for their vaults. But now the golden age has come when a man stamped with the image and superscription .of God will pass for what he is worth-the highest currency on earth. Hear this, ye missionaries of the Cross! You have forsaken all to go down into William Carey's "Gold Mine," while many of your brethren at home are filling their safes with thousands and ten thousands of superfluous wealth, leaving you short-handed and discouraged for want of helpers which they might send you if they would only give as the Lord has prospered them. And in hours of heart-sinking and faintness you sometimes wonder what you will get for all your thankless sacrifices. Be of good cheer. You are mining men, and that for the most part out of the lowest strata of humanity; and though your products have little value in this world's market, wait a little. There is a financial panic approaching in which yellow gold will go down, while there will be an astonishing rise in your securities. Listen to the report of the coming crash, as it appears on the bulletin-board of James, v: "Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 'Your riches are co~ rupted and your garments are moth-eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered: and the rust of them shall be a witness against you and shall eat yourflesh as it wereflre. Ye have heaped together treasure for the last days." Did you ever hear of such a gold panic as that? Boom the market; form syndicates; pass silver bills; enlist the banks! It is of no use. The day of judgment has come. "Your gold and silver is cankered." :Millionaires become insolvent, banks suspend, and the only people who have anything to depend on are those who laid up somewhat in the savings bank of heaven.
But what news for the missionary on St. James' bulletin-board? Listen: "Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the husbandman 1vaiteth for the precious fruit of the earth and hath long patience for it until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye also patient/ stablish your hearts/for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh." "The coming of the Lord." And what of that? Ah, that is going to revolutionize society. Read the :Messianic Psalm 72d and learn for yourself the change that will be ushered in by the millennium. :Money will go down, man will come up. Immanuel will now control the market in the interest of his clients. "And to Him shall be given the gold of Sheba," and" He shall deliver the needy when he crieth, the poor also and him that hath no helper."
And most wonderful of all: "A man shall be more precious than gold." Hear that, 0 long-suffering and patient missionary; your stock will be at par now-as it never has been before. The poor souls which you dug from' the dark caverns of heathenism, and which you coined in the mint of redemption, will be worth millions of such "corruptible things as silver and gold." Did the mother of the Gracchi present her own children to those who inquired concerning her treasures, saying: "These are my jewels?" How much more will the missionary exult in his spiritual children in that. day when the ]~ord shall" make up his jewels," presenting them before the Redeemer, and before the angels, saying: "These are my riches!" :Moffat, who is that black man who stands by your side, and what do you count him worth? And the aged apostle of Africa replies: That is Africaner, the once bloodthirsty and raging man-slayer, now become as gentle and tender as a Iamb since Jesus laid him on His shoulders rejoicing. Do you ask me wha':. he is worth? He is "more precious than fine gold. Yea, than the golden wedge of Ophir." 'Who is that, 0 William Carey, whom you are introducing with such joy to your Lord? That is Khrishna Pal, my first convert from among the heathen of India. Listen, and you shall hear him sing, " 0 thou my soul forget no more The friend who all thy sorrows bore."
And who is this, 0 Boardman beloved, whom you are leading up to the throne with such thanksgiving? This is San Quala, whom God gave me from the dark-faced Karens, and who himself in turn led thousands to Jesus Christ.
" Where can I invest most safely and profitably?" is the question constantly asked on 'Change. Invest in souls; seriously, deliberately and solemnly we urge you to inv~st in souls. There is no insurance on gold and silver that will protect tllem against the fires of the last day. But saved and glorified souls-these are" the gold tried in the fire," out of which your crown of rejoicing shall be wrought. Get money, you mayor may not, 0 Christian. But as you care aught for the rewards of heaven, fail not of getting souls. Get them at your own door; get them from the ends of the earth; but fail not to get them.
" I FEEL age creeping on me. I know that I must soon die. I hope it is not wrong to say it, but I cannot bear to leave this world with all the suffering in it /"-Earl of Shaj~esburJ/.
SCHLEGEL, and Madame de Stael after him, called" architecture, frozen music." From some of the music we have heard in so-called sanctuaries during the past five years we have concluded that the praise was frozen in the icy surroundings of an !esthetic performance, in which all the warmth of devotional fervor had somehow been utterly lost. Is it not possible for even our missionary spirit so to be chilled by the icy rigidity of a heartless formalism, that even while we are boasting of our efficient organizations, God sees that they are like frozen corpses, from which all life is gone?
ARE OUR PASTORS FAITHFUL?
The large number of our non-contributing churches, after making a liberal allowance for unintentional omission, and churches having only a nominal existence, also the trifling amount given to the Foreign Mission Work by congregation" whose wealth runs up into the millions, shows the necessity of some new movement. I have been attending a prominent evangelical church in a great city for the last three years and more, ministered to by one of the most mature preachers in our church, and during the whole tiJlle he has made no reference to the foreign work from the pulpit. The attention of the officers of the church has been called to the strange omission but no explanation has been given. If men who have the ear of the church are silent, God will raise up others. " The stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber and help destroy it." This is beyond endurance.-A Parishioner.
1891.J Tl4-NSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.
BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK.
-The Missions-Blatt der BrUdergemeine, for June, 1890, gives the follow- -ing account of the peculiar relations of the mission-stations in South Africa to the civil authorities: " The practical English government has long since come to see that mission_ stations are the very best representatives of good morals, good order and civilization, the most trustworthy guarantees of public quiet, above all in the domain <>f the hot-blooded, turbulent Caffres, who have already cost the English colony streams of blood and untold sums of money. No wonder, then, that the higher -officials, in the well-understood interest of the common weal, encourage missions~ It is natural, therefore, when a mission-station is laid out, that they should gratuitously grant the ground required for church, school and missionhouse, if it is in the hands of the government. Indeed, they used also to give, without compensation, even the land for fields and gardens likely to blil required by a future community. This was known as the station-land. The rules and ordinances necessary for such a station then receive government sanction, and the presiding missionary receives civil jurisdiction to expel, from the station and its domain, those that offend against these ordinances by gross offences. Less important violations of station rules are visited with a fine paid into the public purse of the congregation. Thus the presiding missionary of the station is armed, not only with ecclesiastical, but also with civil and judicial prerogatives. On the other hand, the State naturally reserves to its representatives the right to ascertain whethcr the grant in land is actually applied to the designated purpose, whether discipline and good order prev:;til at the station, whether the school is efficiently carried on, and so on. Moreover, those that are condemned to leave the station lands have the right, in case they esteem the penalty unjust, to appeal to a government officer, who takes cognizance of their complaint."
This banishment from the station, however, especially as concerns submission to the heathenish and degrading rites connected with circumcision, is now in disuse, milder, but practically less dangerous and more effective measures of discipline taking its place. This universal Caffre usage, in itself indifferent, is so inextricably interwoven with all manner of vile concomitants, that it seems to be Satan's chief instrument for holding the Caffres under his dominion. Yet a Caffre yputh who does not submit to it becomes virtually a pariah among his tribesmen, and can scarcely obtain, even from Christian parents, the hand of one of their daughters. Its final overthrow will storm the citadel of darkness.
-The Rev. Mr. Stahle, of Australia, a Moravian, though at present connected with another society, communicates the decision of the" Aboriginal Board," appointed to look after the interests of the rapidly-vanishing native race, that they shall all be removed to certain stations, where they shall be kindly cared for, and not allowed intercourse with the whites, or even with the half-whites, until the race disappears, as within a calculable time it appears that it must.
Mr. Stahle says that for several months an awakening, accompanied with rich blessing, had been in progress among the Tapuas of his station. "Much sickness, however, had prevailed, and from January till October there had been eleven deaths. But all who fell asleep bore witness on their deathbed of their faith in Him who justifies the ungodly, and of their fervent desire that they might be permitted to enter into the joy of their Lord."
A visitor to the station, who attended a meeting, says: " But, ah, the hacking cough, which is heard on every side from among them! It sounds like the deathknell over the remnant of the once so numerous native tribes of Australia. Sitting thus in the midst of them, we cannot fail to remark how weakly they are, and how evidently the sentence of death against them is already proclaimed by their debilitated constitution. How emphatic is the appeal to our affectionate Christian sympathy, which resounds in our ears as we listen to this cough!"
-This work of bringing the regenerating influences o(the Gospel to the last survivors of a dying race, casts, of course, a shade of sadness over the minds of the missionaries, such as appears in these words of Missionary Kramer, of the Brethren's Mission, at Ebenezer: "Our beloved Ebenezer will, doubtless, be permitted to enter, as a mission station, upon the new decade. But how will it be at the end? The Lord alone knows. If it is to be dissolved I hope that ourlittle church will remain 'God's house,' and not be turned to the uses of a barn or a· stable. Many blessings, by God's grace, have descended upon us therein, and a certain sadness comes over me when I fear that in the place where we have assembled so often, in the name of the Lord, seeking to be built up out of His Word, or to present before Him our supplications and thanksgivings, or to raise to Him <;lUr songs of praise, the voice of riotous blasphemy may be heard. May the Lord forbid that it should be so !"
The following description of Cashmere, from the Missions-Blatt, reminds one of Moore's "Who has not heard of the vale of Cashmere, With its roses the brightest that earth ever gave, " etc.
"It is a region so richly and bounteously endowed by the goodness of God. that some naturalists have ventured the conjecture that it must have been the cradle of mankind-the origin at Paradise. That wonderful union of the sharpest antitheses in the life of nature, which characterizes the mighty Indian empire, the heat and luxuriant vegetation of the tropics, combined with the refreshing alpine ail' of snowy summits, glaciers and blue-green mountain lakes-so strengthening to the nerves-this fullness of God's glorious creation bursts upon the traveler in Cashmere in its purest, noblest forms. We cannot wonder, therefore, that the children of men to be met with there are also a. wonderful combination of the most startling contrasts. These are the proper inhabitants of the land, genuine Asiatics, arrested in their development for centuries back, and still bound in the chains of a relaxing heathenism. On the. other hand, you meet here with all the facilities of modern intercourse, and the country swarms with Europeans, some seeking recovery from the ill effects of a long sojourn in the heated plains, some finding delight in climbing the glaciers and snowy mountain-tops, like the tourists of Switzerland and the Tyrol."
-It is known that the Moravian Mission among the Himalayas is at oncein Thibet and in India. In other words, the people are Thibetan Buddhists, but are on the Indian slope of the main ridge, and are subject to British authority. They say: "As a missionary, Brother Redslob, so long as he and his wife, though seeking relaxation, are still within the range of Thibetan speech, he feels it incumbent on him, wherever he makes a stay of any length, to bear his witness to the crucified and risen one."
-The Roman Catholic government of Nicaragua, after many refusals, has finally granted permission to the Moravian brethren to establish mission stations in Nicaraguan Territory, for the pastoral care of the converted Indians, who have emigrated thither from the Mosquito State, or have received the Gospel from there.
-The Missions-Blatt' expresses surprise that John Morongo, a leading Indian of their Ramona Mission in California, had previously been a member of the Protestant Episcopal Church, but until lately was unbaptized! Of course he was only an adherent, not a member, of the Episcopal Church-a distinction with which our German brethren seem to find it a little difficult to become familiar, as almost everybody in Germany is baptized, and, therefore, accounted a member of some church, though not necessarily a communicant member.
-The Missions-Blatt likewise makes a slight slip, very natural in a German magazine, in speaking of the government of California, instead of that of the United States, as controlling the Indian reservation. The distinction, of course,. is of no consequence to German readers.
-Our German brethren greatly admire the American and English institution of medical missions, to which, for want of suitable candidates, they themselves have not as yet been able to give any wide extension. The Unitas Fratrum, however, has its first, and, at present, its only trained medical missionary, in Carl Marx, who is established in Leh, in connection with its Thibetan Mission. The different German societies are making special effort to come up in time with the Anglo-Saxons in what may be called this left-hand of Christ's work, which now, as with the Lord Himself, has always so mightily supported the work of His right hand.
-The annual report of the Societe EvangeZique of Geneva, for 1890, has-the following remarks: "It is, in fact, beloved hearers, a word of hope, of confidence, indeed of certainty, with which we would fain conclude this reporta word of faith, for that is it of which we have need, in present conjunctures, to sustain us in our work. The times are most serious, and, in face of the growing troubles of the present hour, one might easily be tempted to dl~wur agement. Owing, to our limited view-owing, above all, to the deafening cries of our adversaries, who, in the name of science, of progress, of liberty, of equality, of democracy, proclaim that the era of Christianity is past; that the hour of the definitive enfranchisement of human thought is about to strike on the clock of time–one might believe that it is over with the reign of Christ; that the last times are here, and that the world, given over to itself, is about to undergo the final convulsions. In face of the storm, some are ready to lay down their arms. Why strive, when defeat is certain, why suffer when there is no longer a morrow? Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die. Others, more spiritual in appearance, hold another language: "Let us separate ourselves," say they, "from this perverse world, destined to a final destruction. Little Hock of the Good Shepherd, as we are, let us withdraw into His fold; the hour of deliverance is at hand. Let us go out of Sodom and Gomorrah, and, in prayer, await our Deliverer. Let us, too, eat and drink; let us feed on the heavenly bread, let us refresh ourselves with the spiritual drink, and let us abandon to their fate the masses destined to destruction.' Gentlemen, let us listen to neither of these voices, the voice of discouragement and of pessimism or the voice of spiritual egoism; the voice of insane enjoyment or the yet more culpable voice of abdication in the name of sanctity! No, no! neither: .. 'Labor, labor, for the thankful 1 let the thankless hold their hands, Happy the servants whom the Master, when He comes, shall find watching I'
"Is it true, in fact, that the final hour of defeat is arrived, and that everything is discouraging in the Church? Must the rapidly approaching twentieth century necessarily witness a new inroad of barbarians, the more terrible that it will be the inroad of science turned infidel? I do not believe it. It is true that humanity, that unceasing traveler, marches uninterruptedly through valleys and mountain ranges, now ·on the summit, in full sunshine, to-morrow in the depths, in darkness and peril. Possibly we have reached one of those dolorous hours when it descends towards the precipice; but let us not forget it stops an instant; where it takes breath and rests, in order there to address itself to the climbing of new heights. And, gentlemen, let me be taxed with optimism, but I must still say, in spite of all I hear, in spite of all Isee, in de- spite of the sombre prophecies of the guardians of Israel, and of the cries of distretls from the leaders of the flocks, I believe that the present hour is not an hour for despair; I believe that at this end of a century Christianity is not like a wild creature brought to bay; I believe, and I may even say I affirm, that never has the Church been more active, more audacious, more victorious; that never, at any epoch of its history, has Christianity exercised upon the world a power more energetic and more glorious.
"To open, Christians, the way to you, the princes of industrial civilization are transformed, without willing it or knowing it, into pioneers of Providence. These bridges which they hang in air, these mountains which they transpierce, those roads on which fire is their ,bearer and which they desire to serve their ambition, are only channels through which the Spirit is to flow. Thus did three centuries before Jesus Christ, the conquering Alexander, when he sub- dued Asia and transplanted the Hellenic civilization into the distant Orient; thus did the Romans, his successors, when marching in their turn to the con- quest of the world, they brought peoples together by their arms, and furrowed the three continents with their military roads. They believed that by these their legions would eternally pass and repass to impose their commands on the world. They knew not, what we know to-day, that they were preparing tri- umphal ways for the Saviour and his Apostles. 0, you, then,masters of science and of wealth, engineers, colonizers, conquerors, whatever may be your names and your designs, continue the work of your predecessors, abridge space, les- sen the breadth of the sea by your steamers, and suppress distance by your telegraphs, draw from nature her final secrets, so that one day the Truth may no longer be checked by rivers and by mountains, but may advance rapidly to break the last-remaining bonds of slavery and to stifle the ultimate lurking places of barbarism and superstition !"
-The report for 1889 of the Societe des ll:fissWn8 Evangeliques gives for Tahiti: 23 parishes; 4 European missionaries; 20 native pastors; 2,044 church mem- bers; 44 catechumens; 8,949 francs for home work, 594 francs for foreign missions.
-The Paris society, speaking of Tahiti, remarks: "The religious life of the Tahitians is still in a state sufficiently rudimentary. It has its bright sides: profound attachment to the Word of God, very general observance of the Sunday; regular attendance on worship; practice of Christian liberality. Butit has its deep shadows likewise: for one thing, the considerable number of the unconverted, who form the majority of the population; then, even among believers, are insufficient apprehension of the -exigences of the Law of God; the almost complete absence of true Christian faInily life; in brief, to speak with our brethren, 'a piety which still localizes itself too much within the walls of the churches, and which does not spread abroad sufficiently in good works and in regenerating influences.'"
-In speaking of the great work of the Paris society, that in Basutoland, or, as the French call it, Lessuto, the report remarks: " We bless God that He has given to the churches of France a work proportioned to their strength, adapted to their genius, and the success of which has stimulated a zeal which efforts too long without fruit might have discouraged. And, to-day, that which strikes the eye in the Lessuto mission, by the side of that in still advancing, it from time to time regains some large plateau where weaknesses and defects inseparable from every human work, is its sound and vigorous growth."
This mission last year experienced a remarkable revival, bringing in many pagans. This has not continued, but it has left open many new doors of access. Paganism, on the other hand, having recovered from the early impressions of awe before the missionaries, has become at once more malicious and more aggressive. It is assisted, as in Paul's day, by two rival missions, the Roman Catholic and the Propagation Society. The latter, however, excites the contempt of the Basutos, who regard it as coming to the ground between two -stools. "The danger is in the scandal of these three rival Christian confessions, these three Gods, as the natives still phrase it."
The awakening among the heathen Basutos resulted in the addition of 514 new members, making the present number 6,543. The present number of catechumens is 3,332. Out-stations, 110; for 1888, 94; native helpers, 194; for 1888, 176. Primary scholars for 1889, 5,347; for 1888, 4,566.
-11. Coillard, of the incipient, but noble mission of the Zambesi-anoffshoot (){ the Lessuto mission-speaking of the imperative need of extension, or rather 1)f filling up intermediate space, remarks: "We are no longer in the earlier time when missions of magnificent distances had leisure to develop themselves as they might without the risk of taking any harm. To-day the centre of Africa is the object ofa general assault, which contests every point of attack. God grant that we may be resolved and faithful."
-It is known how discreditably,indeed, ridiculously, jealous, both the French and the German governments are, of having missionaries of any other nation in their colonies. Germany, however, being Protestant, does not dislike them as Protestants, and, by its late agreement with England, expressly allows them in Africa. France, however, whose occupancy of the Gaboon, in West Africa, is much more recent than the American missionary occupancy of it, distrusts .our Presbyterian brethren there as foreigners and dislikes them as Protestants. Even French atheists are" Catholic atheists." They have forbidden our missionaries to use English in their schools, to which acceding, the Americans have obtained from the Paris brethren several teachers of French. The Journal says: "The authorities, having obtained satisfaction on the point as to which energy"-French-" colonial administration is inflexible, the teaching of the language of the mother country in the schools, have come to regard the American missionaries with a more favorable eye. If, as we hope, these friendly dispositions become fixed, every one will at last comprehend that which has always appeared evident to us, namely, that an intelligent administration, eager to extend civilization, ought not to refuse any assistance, even though offered by foreigners; especially when these foreigners are the repre sentatives of a friendly nation, and only ask leave to preach the Gospel without any intermixture of political aims."
Should the French Republic, as Father Hyacinthe forebodes, swing over from atheism to Jesuitism, it would fare ill with Protestant efforts, French or foreign, in her colonies. But, as Sainte Beuve remarks, whenever Jesuitism stretches out its hand to some great work of mischief, the eternal wound dealt by Pascal reopens, and it gives up the ghost afresh.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
n.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND OONDUOTED BY HEV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Past Ten Years in Persia. rians, and Catholics; and the Jews, who are quite numerous. BY REV. W. L. WIDPPLE, D.D. The field of the Bible work is divid- In looking backward ten years we ed with the British and Foreign Bible find very little change in the status of Society. Dr. Bruce, its representa- Persia. The same king, ~asr-ed-deen tive, looks after the southern, while I Shah, who has reigned, according to superintend the northern portion or the Persian reckoning, nearly fifty the kingdom for the American Bible years-the longest of any Persian Society. monarch-is still on the throne, a wiser and better sovereign than he There has been decided progress wastenyearsago. The journey which made in the missionary work, reprehe made to Europe, for the third time, sented, on the one hand, by the Amerilast year, seems to have had a bene- can Presbyterian Board, in the North, ficial effect upon him. He visited and on the other hand, by the Church most of the principal capitals and Missionary Society of England, who manufacturing centres, and appeared have their centre at Isfahan. to be in earnest in obtaining information and an insight into the various. In taking a retrospect of the Bible improvements and progress of the 19th work in Persia during the decade just century. Since his return he has be- drawing to a close, I am glad to say gun to introduce changes and reforms that it comes up, in the main, to my of a practical nature. This is no easy reasonable expectation, though not so task, for the same forces are still at extensive as I should wish to see. In work, opposing in every possible way forming plans for the work, when I the introduction of Western ideas, as first entered upon my duties, July 1, on his return from his previous Euro- 1880, I thought that if I succeeded pean tour. He has, however, gained in placing in the hands of the people in solid stamina, and we trust that he of Persia, in ten years, 40,000 copies will not be held in such subjection by of God's Word, I should be thank- "the power behind. the the throne" as ful. I was not over-sanguine that in former years. I should be able to attain that cir- culation. I find that the total cir- The kingdom has been quite free culation, including grants, has fully from internal troubles, with the ex- reached that amount. The sales exception of the Koordish Rebellion, ceed the grants in the proportion of which occurred about nine years ago, fourteen to one. The larger portion and was soon suppressed. are in the Persian, Turkish, and Ara- bic languages, representing the Mos- There has been no foreign war. The lem population. The Syriac comes. territory remains the same, contain- next. Then follows the Hebrew, ining nearly one-fifth of the area of the dicating the interest manifested by United States, or about as much as God's ancient people in His Word. Germany, France, Austria, and Hun- The Armenian does not enter so gary combined. Roughly estimated, largely in our sales as we expect it to it is 1,500 miles long, by 850 miles do in the future. There is too much wide, in its greatest extent. light creeping in on all sides of that ancient and dark Christian Church to Our work is among the following debar God's Word from its communion nationalities: The Moslems-the pre- much longer. dominent class-including the Sheah and Sunee sects (the Koords, as a In 1885 I made an address at the rule, are all Sunees); the nominal jubilee celebration in Oroomiah, com- Christian nations-Armenians, Nestomemorating a half century of mis- mission to the present time, it is be- sionary labot among the Nestorians, <>n the subject, "What part has the lieved that 70,000 copies of God's Word Bible had in the work of the last fifty years in Persia?" There were have been distributed, in different present about 2,000 persons, nearly Qne-half of whom were women and languages and among varions nation- girls. It was stated then, that fifty years before there were only two alities in Persia, apart from what has women in the entire Nestorian nation who could read, and the request was been done by the British and Foreign made that all the women present who (lould read the New Testament would Bible Society, through the agency of rise to their feet. Imagine our grati- fication when 800 arose. It was a Dr. Bruce. This may not seem very sight never to be forgotten by those present, who saw those daughters of wonderful to one unfamiliar with the the East, with intelligent and beaming faces, rise up, en masse, and remain bigotry and self-satisfaction of the standing until they were counted. And these were only representatives Persian Moslem, especially when he from many villages and towns upon the plains of Oroomiah, Sooldooz, and reads the circulation reported each Balmez, with a few from the moun- tains of Koordistan. The incident is year in some larger and older estab- a very impressive and encouraging object-lesson of what missionary ef- lished agencies. But let us not despise forts have accomplished in one di- rection merely-a rather liberal per the day of small things, nor forget >cent. of return in fifty years. Itspeaks even more teIlingly, when it is borne that these millions in Persia are a part in mind that at the commencement of the work among the Nestorians by of the world into which the triumph- Dr. Perkins and Dr. Grant these poor peeple did not have the Scriptures in ant Master commanded to preach the their own language (the Syriac). There were a few manuscript copies on Gospel. ' parchment of the ancient Syriac, so revered and precious that they were The fact that the representatives -only used on special and very holy oc- Clasions, and upon which oaths were from this Oriental land were the first administered to Moslems. as well as Christians, as they were counted very ambassadors to pay homage to the in- sacred by all classes. fant Saviour, and to lay at his feet It was the privilege of the American Bible Society to furnish the means to their royal gifts, is a very significant -carry through to completion the publication of the entire Syriac Bible, in one. And cannot we bring this up both the ancient, or sacred, and the modern languages. It is now revising before the adorable Master as "a methe modern version, and preparing to :,print a new edition with references. morial" in her behalf? We all in Per- From the commencement of the sia believe that there are brighter days in store and greater ,blessings held in reserve. The people are beginning to be aroused to a sense of their duty.
There is no more potent energy at work to bring about this greatly de- sired end than the printed Word. It enters silently where no preacher is allowed to stay, and quietly'and daily preaches to some one or more in that village or city where it finds lodgment and then suddenly the place is thrown into commotion by the rumor that one of their number has left the faith and become an "infidel Armanee"
(Christian). Then persecution begins; loss of relatives and friends and prop- erty follow, and revilings, beatings, and imprisonments hasten on apace; then threatenings, and, at last, it cul- minates in casting out and banish- ment from home and country. It may terminate in death itself.
But, meantime, this faithful one has taught a few of his firm friends, or read to them night after night from this new and interesting Book, .And this was the fact, as I can testify until they, too, have been won over to from what I have seen as I walked believe in the Injeel, and to accept through the bazaars. Christ as their Redeemer. And when a colporteur or evangelist visits the .After various methods were tried, place again, he is surprised to find a without avail, it was decided to pronumber who are not only favorably hibit all sales of Scriptures by colinclined, but who actually accept porteurs, whether in cities or towns Christianity, and petition the mis- or villages. So they could not make sionaries to send them a teacher or tours. This was made a jetwa, or ofpreacher. This has been the case in ficial action by the chief mujhtaheeds, a number of instances. It is inter- or highest ecclesiastical authority; esting, indeed, to see how the leaven 'and when the notice was communiworks, "until the whole lump is leav- cated to the governor-general hedared ened." not disregard it. He therefore in- formed our representative of this or- But in Persia, as elsewhere, "the der, and requested him to notify the kingdom of Heaven cometh not with agent of the American Bible Society observation." Very little attention at to respect it. After careful deliberafirst was paid to the circulation of the tion and counsel, we all deemed it Scriptures. When I began the work, expedient to observe the rule until reten years ago, they were admitted free dress could be obtained. of duty; but as the demand increased, and the cases of books-fifty and This proved to be by far the heaviest eighty at a time-began to arrive, the blow our work ever received. It was custom-house officials deemed it worth over one year before we could get the their attention, and soon we had to order rescinded, and receive permispay customs. A moderate rate wa..'1 sion to resume our work. This profixed, to be paid in kind. But it was hibition was in force only in .Azerbinot long before the officials com- jan, the other provinces being still plained that this was burdensome to opened to the colporteur. The printhem. They did not have room, they cipal part of our work, however, was said, to store away their share of in that province, where such cities Scriptures received for duties; so it and districts as Tabreez, Oroomiah, was decided, after due consideration, Salmas, Maragha, Sooldooz, etc., are that mone,y would be paid instead of situated. It affected, in conse- Scriptures. Soon after these points quence, our sales very materially. were settled, then the mullahs and high ecclesiastics of the Moslems ap_ I have told this story of the conflict, peared on the scene. They seemed to between truth and error, which has have been taken by surprise, and were been in progress for some years, so not aware how many Scriptures were quietly that few have been aware of going into circulation. They began to it, to show what advances the former investigate, and the more they in- is making over the latter, and, how quired the greater were they dis- stubbornly each stronghold has been turbed and alarmed. They held coun- held until captured by force. Progcils in various places, and discussed ress has been slow all along the line;' meaures for putting a stop to this but the fact that nearly 100,000 " torwork. Some were heard to say: pedoes" have been" placed," and are' " These men are filling the bazaars only abiding their time set for them with the Injeel, and wherever we go to accomplish the work intended for' we find one. Even merchants and them to do, is full of encouragement tradesmen are seen neglecting their to those who "wait patiently on the work, and poring over this book." Lord."
The colporteurand evangelist going' out together to the districts and, cities in the distant portions of Persia Testament. There are a number of have had a marked influence for good. converts to Christianity from the Indeed, they have been the advance Jews, and all have been faithful readguards, and have prepared the way for the establishing of every station in ers of the Tourat, or Old Testament. Persia except Oroomiah. All the others, viz.: Teheran, Isfahan, Ta- But as they compared Scripture with breez, Ramadan, Salmaz, and the Scripture, they were at last convinced new one recently established in the that the Messiah had surely come, and mountains of Western Koordistan, they hastened to acknowledge, and do were visited and canvassed first by him honor. There are many intellicolporteurs and evangelists, sent out gent Jews in Persia to-day, intellectuyearly by the missionaries in OroD- ally converted to Christianity, who do miah. They would spend, every not confess Jesus publicly" for fear visit, one week or more in each city in of the Jews," lest they be cast out of preaching and selling Scriptures. In the synagogue. That means to-day this way much precious seed was what it did 2,000 years ago. But the sown, which, after many days, has truth is working in many hearts, and sprung up and brought forth fruit–a will eventually prevail. The missionrich spiritual harvest–already; and aries' schools are composed entirely of the work is only fairly begun., Jewish boys and girls, who daily study the New Testament, and even the OBSTACLES IN THE WAY. catechism.
During these ten years a civil war, Another encouraging fact is the following closely upon the heels of large sale of Scriptures to Moslemsfamine and pestilence, has interfered perhaps the largest part of the gross with and curtailed materially the sales. These are in the Persian and sales of the Scriptures. Likewise, as Arabic, the Azerbijan and the Osalready mentioned, for over one year manli – Turkish languages. Weare no colporteur' was allowed to sell able, by these languages, to reach all Scriptures in the large and influential classes of the Mohammedans of Persia province of Azerbijan, where the larg- and Koordistan. Not only that, but est share of sales was usually made. they are purchased and carried home These circumstances, combined with to dwellers in Mghanistan, Beloochisthe constant animosity and vigilant tan, Turkestan, and even India. opposition to our colporteurs and the scarcity of ready money, have ham- It is a grand accomplishment and a pered the sales. Should the Armenian powerful agency in the evangelization bishops and priests withdraw their ob- of Mohammedans that the entire jections to the people purchasing the Scriptures have been translated, pub- Scriptures, and permit them to be lished, and circulated for years in the used in their schools, our sales would Arabic tongue, the sacred language of be greatly augmented; for they are all Moslems. abundantly able to purchase, and they are well supplied with schools. We The Arabic Bible and New Testahave been working to bring this about, ment are popular with the Moslem and some recent indications lead us to high ecclesiastics and clergy; for, behope that it will not be long before our ing in the sacred language, they al'e en<! will be accomplished. not suspected of reading the holy books of the Christians. If questioned ENCOURAGING FEATURES IN OUR WORK. what they are reading, they can re- ply, "the blessed Arabic tongue," and Among others might be mentioned then they read aloud a few verses in the number of Scriptures that are sNd confirmation of their statement. Our yearly to the Jews. It is true that colporteurs have sold Bibles in this most of these are copies of the Old language to some of the highest rank of Moslems, both clergy and nobility. I could mention some very interesting In concluding this paper, I append cases of this character, which it is not the resume of sales and grants for ten prudent to publish. years. The figures for 1889 are only All the converts 'from Islam to Christianity, whom I have met, at- approximately correct: tribute their conversion directly to the reading of the New Testament in The average number of men employed Persian, and not any human agency. annually ………. ~ •….. . . .. …. …… 25 Number of years spent by them…….. 170 " U miles (on horseback) tray· eled by your agent …….. 10,000 " " months spent on those jour· neys….. …. …. ……… 22 RESUME OF SALES AND GRANTS FOR TEN YEARS. GRANTS. SALES.
Bibles. Tests. Parts. TotaL Value. Bibles. Tests. Parts. TotaL Value.
From July 1880 to 2,114 1,921 4,488 $1,24800 50 285 402 737 151.00 end of 1881. .. .. . 453 2,129 1,755 4,308 1,069 12 47 265 394 706 149.40 2,178 2,363 5,026 1,295 48 58 185 240 483 127.85 F,?r 1882.. …….. 424 1,973 1,977 4,426 1,050 03 …2.9… ..1..7.3.. 236 ….4…3..8….. .1.0.6…2.5.. 1883………. 485 1,105 1,310 2,754 94090 1,549 2,974 4,852 …….. ……. . …… " 1884………. 476 1,023 1,625 2,844 1,311 98 . …… " 1885…… …. 339 2,464 2,129 5,004 384 36 1,500 1,870 3,625 87588 48 " 1886 ……… 329 1,225 15 ……… …9.0… ..1.7.1… ..3.0.9… ..6.4…0.0. , 1887. ……… 196 " 1888………. 411 " 1889………. 225 Total Sales in 10 years. .. ……… 3,368 16,035 17,924 37,327 $9,401 50 232 Total Grants in 10 998 1,448 2,637 $598.50 years… … ….. 232 998 1,443 2,637 59850 Total circulation, 10 years….. '" 3,600 17,033 19.367 40,000 $10,000 00 [NOTE: The above paper was read before International Missionary Union, 1890.-J. T. G.] Missions to the Native Mexican Races. and saving power of the Lord Jesus than their ancestors knew in the old REV.WH. P.F. FERGUSON, BANGAL, N.Y. days when the Aztec altars were piled with human hearts. I showed, in my former paper (see What prospects are there for their MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, Christianization under present meth- ods? March, '90, p. 218) that there are today in Mexico, out of a total popula- The Roman Church has given them tion of less than 12,000,000, nearly all that it ever can.. They have the 4,000,000 who speak some one of the rosary, the crucifix, holy watermany ancient languages. In other pretty idols, compared with the fiendwords, to-day, after 370 years of the ascendency of Spanish blood, one- ish representations of the old Aztec third of the nation still use the lan- divinities; but only idols, and Rome's guages of their fathers, hands hold no better gifts.
In regard to these peoples I shall The Protestant missions' now at raise a series of questions and suggest work in the country have not, as yet, such answers as are in accord with attempted any very considerable work my conception of the facts: among the indigenes, not can they in the near future. Given the money Have these people been Christian- and the men, and to·day, in parts of ized? the Republic already under the eye of the missionary, 100 workers could be I might give a very extended an- placed in Spanish-speaking towns and swer. I might array facts and pile cities of from 1,000 to 10,000 inhabitup quotations to show you their con- ants where there is now no teacher of the Gospel and where good and sucdition. i refrain, and, with full real- cessful work could be entered upon at izationof the sad import of the words, sum up the condition of the native Mexicans to-day, in the one statement, that they know no more of the love <lnce. It is to be expected, and is To say nothing as to the ability of right, that these missions should ex- native workers to create a Christian pend their slowly increasing force literature of which I shall speak, none upon this work, lying right before of the missions at work in Mexico them and for which they are prepared. have as yet succeeded in training any It will be many years, in the probable considerable number of native minis- -course of events, before any of our mis- ters who would be considered by those sions can offer the Gospel to even the who best know them, as competent to greater part of these ancient peoples. manage the affairs of a mission with- out the constant supervision of the It seems to me, then, not in the least foreign missionary, and, besides, they unreasonable to urge the establish- are, with a few possible exceptions, as ment of special missions among the ignorant of the native languages as native Mexican races. At this day are foreigners. Some boys and girls missions are being founded among in our mission schools, and a few wasted tribes that contain only a few young men employed in the "supply" thousand, or even only a few hun- work would be available as interpre- -<Ired souls, and shall we neglect these ters, but I need not draw upon my peoples who, remnants though they own slender experience to show to .are, still are counted by hundreds of anyone who has ever been obliged to thousands and even by millions? Their work by such agencies that such work romantic history, the remains of their is often worse than unsatisfactory. .ancient greatness, their manifest and And I believe that the best results can' admirable qualities of mind and heart, never be attained by it. The bearer and, above all, the love of our common of the Glad Tidings must come into Saviour impel us to the work of their personal contact with those to whom salvation. he is sent.
This leads me. to question: Can mis- Is there any reason why the Amerisions to the native races employ the can missionary should not go to these Spanish language as the means of peoples, leaming their languages and -communication? entering into their life as he does among other nations? I speak with the fact fully in mind that there are others whose observa- Some have expressed the belief that tion uponthis point has been far more the Mexican government would asextensive than my own, and thus sume an attitude toward any such more valuable; but, in my judg_ movement not unlike that of our govment, the answer to this question is, ernment toward the use of the native No. As well as I am able to judge, languages in the Indian schools. much less than half of the 4,000,000 of whom I speak, have any knowledge of This seems to me in the highest dethe Spanish, and the greater part of gree improbable. I would expect that these but very little. I have seen the government would rather look people living within six miles of one with favor upon anything that would <If the largest cities and gaining their tend to arouse a pride of race among living by selling garden produce in the indigenes, It must be remembered its streets, who could' scarcely under- that Mexicans to-day are fond of 13tand or 'use the Spanish language thinking of the Republic as the lineal enough to transact their business. To successor of the Aztec Empire. Many confine us to the Greek language for scholars would, too, I think, give a <lur religious instruction would be welcome to a missionary who should about a parallel. undertake the study of the ancient languages. It may next be inquired: What are the available resources among our va- Some, again, look upon such labor tive Protestants? as unnecessary, believing that the use of the native tongues is soon to cease. Scriptures and religious books, my I consider this also improbable. For 370 views would be as follows: The be- years the Spanish has had every advan- ginning already made by the publica- tage in Mexico, but has failed to dis- tion of the Aztec Luke, I look upon as place the native languages. To-day it is valuable, more because of the interest· itself growing weak. The day comes, I that it has attracted than for its prac- venture to predict,when, in the greater tical use, which must be slight because- part of Mexico it will be of no greater of its antiquated form. But if mission importance than isthe French language work is ever conducted among these to-day in some of our Southern States. people to any extent, a translation of It cannot be expected to do, in its de- the Scriptures into the languages used cadence, what it has failed to do in will be a necessity. Independent. its strength. So that I do not expect translation by each worker could not to see the native languages spoken by be thought of. If schools should be any very greatly less numbers until a established and the people taught to stronger than the Spanish race rules read their own language, which they in Mexico. cannot now do, the Bible would, of course, be put into their hands and Again, it is asked, if these lan- other Christian literature would be guages are capable of expressing the called into use. The teaching of the truths of the Gospel, and if they are native languages, would, however, de- not of so barbarous a character as to pend upon conditions not as yet fully be almost impossible of acquirement. understood.
Man speaks no language in which The facts which I have briefly he may not be told that "Jesus Christ stated warrant, it seems to me, the came into the world to save sinners." appeal and give promise of success. There is no linguistic impossibility to It may be, that some of the missions the successors of those upon whom now established can be so enlarged fell the baptism of tongues. And, and adapted as to include the most from what little study I have given urgent part of the needed work; but I the subject, I am of the opinion that a should expect better results from new man who has the courage and ability missions established either by the soto begin his study at the very basis cieties now engaged in Mexico, or by anew can master even the most diffi- others. If each would confine itself cult of these in about the average to one nation, or, at least, if the work time required to master other foreign could be so adjusted as toavoid waste, languages. and conflict of forces, much could be accomplished in a short time, while The existence of numerous dialects the less numerous tribes would furnish is also urged as an insurmountable fields of labor for societies of limited obstacle. We are told that even a resources. slight change of location among people of the same race would render Conceeding the possibility that some useless the study of years. I question of my condusions may not be well if this obstacle is not very much over- founded, and doubting at the same rated. I believe that missionary his- time if data are yet at hand for a pertory will show many instances of fect judgment of the case; I would greater difficulties of this character urge that the first step should be an overcome elsewhere. And, it is to be exploration with a view to discoverremembered that the introduction of ing accurately such points as, to what missionary work in the languages will extent these peoples are dependent strongly tend to remove the differences upon the native languages, to just – of dialects. what extent the more important of them are divided by dialects, and If we shall raise here the question of the necessity of translating the what is the present prospect for their interest to remember that the mission- survival. Attention should also be ary living among these peoples, mak- given to the disposition of the people ingan intelligent studyof theirlife and toward the Roman Church, their wil- language, would doubtless encounter lingness, or otherwise, to receive in- many facts, and would give light upon struction and other things that would that most perplexing problem, the aid in the selection of fields of labor history and origin of American races. among-them. If those who were ex- pected to become the missionaries This work is a duty to someone; is should make this exploration (and this it not to us? How can the Protestant would be desirable), a good beginning Christianity of the United States be should be made toward a mastering blameless if it fail to preach the true of the native languages. Gospel to these dying millions, who, right at our doors, have been for cen- The outfit for such an expedition turies cursed with a false faith ? When need not be very expensive and. the we stand before the judgment throne total cost of a year's work could be will not we hear the question, "Where more than met by the literary pro- is thy Mexican brother?" Shall we ceeds. This part of the work might be answer, "Lord,we left him in his filth entered upon at once and would do and ignorance and vice." Or shall we much to arouse an interest in the sub- answer, "Lord, we told him of the ject and make further advance pos- blood that cleanseth, we brought to sible. In fact, I believe that it must be his dark mind the knowledge of Thy done and that, too, by private effort, be dying love, we showed to him 'the fore any organization will move to the Lamb of God that taketh ..way the work of planting a miSflion. sins of the world,' and here, Lord, he is, washed and redeemed, a jewel for Once in possession of the facts that Thy diadem." could thus be brought to light, some society, or it might be, some man of llnent the ~ec~ means whose heart God should touch, would, I trust, furnish the necessary BY REV. LEVI B. SALMANS. financial support for the opening of the work. The field chosen would Anglo-Saxons, as we are, and misprobably be remote from civilization sionaries, too, suddenly set down in and full of dangers. A small, care- the midst of a Latin people, we could fully selected and well-furnished force not fail to admire the Astec populashonld be sent to make a beginning and tion of the fastnesses of the Sierras. advance should be upon the lines de- They have never been conquered by veloped. It might prove that,under the force of arms, though the Latinized touch of Christianity, elements of the government, which has come to preold civlization would spring to life and vail throughout Mexico in a certain thus new peoples be brought into the way, has come into the power of ruler- "federation of the world." Or, it ship. Yet the Ancient Cacique is the might prove that all traces of the old organized ,power behind the throne. were but forms of dust to vanish at Nothing of importance can be done by that same potent touch. Then it the Mexican government in these would be the work of the missionary mountains except it be agreeable to to guide these peoples clear of the the leaders among the Indians, as we dangers of the present Spanish-Ameri- would call them, though they are as can civilization, and introduce them different from our Indians as the Japinto the better and purer form of life anese are from Chinamen, or French into which we are already trying to from English. I do not know whether lead their Spanish-speaking neighbors. these comparisons are just right or not, but the Astcc was a semi-civil- It cannot fail to add a thought of ized race, living in cities built of stoneand morta'!', and had laws and govern- than the inhabitants of the Sierra of ment, with arts and industries, and Pueblo, risen into prominence or fur- were by no means the wild savage nished political leaders in the national nomad, known as the Indian in the affairs of the past generation. United States. Bishop Hurst says: .. while the Spaniard conquered and On Board the "Taichiow," Two Days ruled for three hundred years in Mex- From Bangkok Siam. ico, and grafted upon the people his religion, laws and customs, the Mexi- August 30, 1890. can or Indian has at last conquered DEAR DR.GRACEy:-Am on my way the Spaniard, and taken possession of to my field of missionary labor, in the realm. More than this is true of Laos, and, in reading the July num- the Sierra of Pueblo. They were ber of THE REVIEW, 1 have been much never conquered at home, while they interested in an article headed "Meaided nobly in conquering and ex- chanic Missionaries," by Secretary pelling the Spaniard, and afterward Brown, of the International Commit- the Roman hielarchy. They formed tee of Y. M. C. A. the troops who saved the day on the The Church is waking up to the great fifth of May, 1862, at Pueblo, grand importance of utilizing its lay and on many another fiercely fought element, though slowly. Themechanic battlefield. They hold their land in missionary comes in contact with a severalty, and live largely on their class of people, the very bone and land, rather than in villages. The sinew of a country, unreachable by personal independence of the Anglo- either the ordained or the medical Saxon largely. characterizes them. missionary. The rank and ,file of an They are fierce in war, while at the army could not be made up of colonels Bame time they are very mild-man- and generals. Private soldiers do the nered in peaceful intercourse. Ro- fighting directed by their officers. manism destroys the individual and Why should not the Church carry on builds up the institution. When Pro- her work both at home and abroad on testant evangelism seeks in the midst the same plan? -of a Roman civilization for individuals Secretary Brown speaks of an extento convert, who, after being converted, sive movement to establish one or more will have independence and individu- Christian undenominational schools ality enough to become useful evan- of technology, to fit men to become gelists and leaders among their people teachers of the trades and first-class against the odds of sin, conservatism, mechanics, and at the same time to and feudal inequality, it rejoices the enlist and prepare them for personal heart to find such a people as these in work in winning souls. This is a the Sierra. It is true they are not laudable undertaking, and ought to .nearly so highly civilized as the people have the hearty support of the entire in the cities of Mexico, but they are in Church. But it will, necessarily, be sympathy with the country and the some time before these institutions country is in sympathy with them, can be in readiness for students, and and they belong to the race that is on then some time before these students the top at this time; and when we get will be ready to be sent to work. Let them converted we will have a most us call attention to the fact that you valuable evangelizingagency. Nearly have just such a school in your midst. -one-half of the whole population of Park College, Parkville, Mo., has for Mexico still speak their original fifteen years been sending its trained tongues, and maintain, to a greater or men, and women, too, into all parts less degree, their original customs. of the home field (1 am writing as an Among these none have, more notably American), and into many foreign countries. There is this difference be- hundreds of her sons pleading to be tween this college and those proposed fitted to carry the Gospel to all lands?
by Mr. Brown: its distinctive work is ROBERT IRWIN.
the training of Christian workers for M. Henri Lutteroth, who died personal Christian work. The study February 12, 1889, was the last surof the Bible and the inculcation of viving founder of that lamp shining, personal piety are first; then the col- we will not say amid darkness, but lege work proper leading up to the de- certainly among vapors, the Societe gree of A. B., and lastly, the manual des Missions Evangeliques de Paris. training, embracing nearly all the Speaking of him, the Journal says: trades. " Our work has never had greater This would seem to be the natural need than at the present hour of colorder, and an argument in its favor laborators of this stamp, knowing how is the great success Park College has to place at its service the intensity of had. Everyone of our hundred and piety and of zeal together with all the twenty-five graduates is actively en- distinctions of culture and of knowlgaged in Christian work, besides a edge. Never, in fact, has the amount. great many who were unable to of labor imposed on the committee graduate. There is a practical advan- been more considerable than during tage in their mechanical department. this year." Nothing is done simply to show how it is done, but because it is necessary. The Moravian Church, which first The institution depends largely on the sent a missionary to the south of work ,of its students. They quarry Africa, in 1737, and which has a flourthe stone, mould the brick, burn the ishing work in Cape Colony and the lime, cut the logs, saw the lumber, neighboring lands, now proposes t() and build their houses; they cultivate join the ranks of those who are seekand tend large gardens and a farm of ing the evangelization of the equaseveral hundreds of acres; raise cattle, torial regions. A mission has been sheep and hogs; make wagons, repair projected, under the protection of the implements, shoe horses, and do the German government, for that part of one-thousand-and-one other things the German zone of eastern Africa necessary on a large industrial estab- adjoining the northern and northlishment. There are now over three eastern shores of Lake Nyassa. The hundred students in attendance, and two pioneers of this newest Moravian' hundreds are refused admittance mission, Theodore Meyer and Theaevery year just because there is no phile Richard, will shortly set out for room. If now there are those who the sphere of their future labors. want the mechanic missionary training, proposed by.Secretary Brown, J. TAYLOR HAMILTON, they need not wait until several other Secretary of the Societyfor the Propainstitutions are equipped. Let twenty gation of the Gospel, Bethlehem, Pa.
such be built at once, they will not be A Waldensian church-edifice, hold- too many; but let the Church use, to ing four hundred, has been opened its utmost capacity, that one now in by Cav. Dr. Prochet in Vittoria, a existence. The foreign field is calling Sicilian town with a population of for men. It is the loud cry from the 25,000. The church was so full that north and the south and the west and Dr. Prochet could scarcely reach the the east and from all over the home pulpit. After sermon seven catechu- field. Shall the Church hear the cry mens were admitted, and the crowd, and withhold what is in her power to inside and out, was so much interested give-viz: facilities for training Chris- and excited that the municipal guards tion workers, and oppo~nities to the had to disperse it.
ii2 EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
1II.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Editorial Prospectus for 1891. eluding notes by the editor on various The editor cordially salutes his read- topics and books of a mISSIOnary ers with the best wishes of the New character, and editorial correspon- Year. Notwithstanding the decease dence. of the associate editor, no material change will be needful either in the IV. The Department of Intelligence, character or contents of THE MISSION- including the Monthly Concert, Gen- ARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD. The eral Items of Information, Statistics editor-in-chief will be aided by the and Monthly Bulletin. prolific and graceful pen of the Rev. J. T. Gracey, D.D., president of the The editor will spare no pains, and International Missionary Union, under the publishers no expense, in securing whose sagacious control it is hoped from the ablest sources whatever will that the International Department enrich the columns of this magazine. IDay supply to our readers even richer We hope to make it indispensable to stores of missionary information and every minister and missionary, theoinspiration. The Rev. A. J. Gordon, logical student or friend of human D.D., of Boston, whose praise is in all weal. We have planted our standard the churches, will act as a regular on a level higher than any denomina. editorial contributor, and we can tional platform, and shall seek to think of no man in this country whose unite all true disciples of Christ in a words will be read with more interest new crusade against all the powers of and profit. darkness, and in favor of a speedy Beside this editorial staff we shall and universal proclamation of the be aided by a large and able body of Gospel. Once more we ask the prayer. editorial correspondents and contribu- ful and sympathetic co-operation of tors, and no pains will be spared to every Christian, and invoke, upon this secure the best talent and the most sincere and unselfish endeavor, the consecrated piety in the service of this blessing of the Master of us all! REVIEW. These pages will be devoted to the discussion of all the great ques- The editor would add a special word tions connectedwith the spread of the to contrlbutors of articles intended Gospel both at home and abroad, and for publication. So great is the influx will be open to the advocacy of every of unsolicited manuscripts already cause or IDeasure which is linked becoming that even the reading of with human well-being, and to the them has been almost impossible. Of impartial and critical investigation of course, preference will be given to papers which have been solicited; but those who desire to send manuscripts all forms of philanthropic and Chris- would ordinarily do wisely, before tian endeavor. sending, to inform the editor of such intention, state the topic, and inquire It will be observed that, in the whether they are likely to be used. interests of greater unity and sim- The editor begs to say, also, that the plicity of arrangement, we have but qualities of brevity, directness, and, four main departments: especially, freshness of matter and pertinency to the great qUj*ltions of I. The Literature of Missions, in- missions, will give particular value to cluding papers pertaining to general contributed matter. We cannot undertopics, translations from foreign peri- take to return rejected manuscripts odicals, etc. unless stamps for that purpose are enclosed with them when forwarded II. The International Department, to us. Any recent and well accredited under the efficient conduct of Dr. Gracey.
III. The Editorial Department, inintelligence from any part of the field tional interest, and at Cleveland, Ohio, will be especially valued, and all the evening meeting held in Music accepted articles will be paid for so far Hall numbered, probably, 4,000 peras the limited resources of the REVIEW sons. Some very beautiful examples allow. Manuscripts, written in a clear of the power of consecrated mission_ and legible hand, and not obscured by ary-spirited pastors to mould their corrections, interlineations and other congregations into missionary helper, blemishes, are also more likely both to and to stimulate systematic and cheerbereadandaccepted. Wehaveattimes ful giving, have been found. As in been compelled to cast aside a manu- Great Britain, there have been many :script because it was neither possible gifts of jewelry, etc., showing how for the editor to read it, nor the printer God is leading His people to sacrifice <correctly to put it in type. Special superfluities for Him. A gold pen pains should be taken by writers to with pearl handle, a seal ring, two make proper names correct and plain, solid gold chains, a society badge, a and statistics accurate and unmis- pair of gold-mounted eye-glasses, etc., takable. No second article should be have been sent to me for missions. sent, ordinarily, until it is known that Large collections of money have, in the first is accepted. If the corres- several cases been made for the Board pondents will observe these sugges- of Missions. And the farther the tour tions and exercise due patience, the has reached the more abundant the editor will endeavor to see that there calls for service became. It was a is no just cause of complaint as to his curious coincidence that the very day part of the work. The burden of on which the last week-day appointeditorial duties and responsibilities is ment was fulfilled, was the day on excessively onerous, but the constant which the co-editor, Dr. Sherwood, endeavor will be to deal courteously, departed for the Better Country! In promptly and impartially by all con- any case that death would have made tributors and correspondents. further engagements, to any consider- able extent impracticable, as it im- Since arriving in this country, in posed double duty on the survivor. June last, the Editor has been making But no impression is stronger as left a brief tour of the churches in the by these four months of contact with great centres, mostly east of Chicago, the churches, than this, that the best in the interests of missions, and with agent a mission board can have, is results most gratifying and encourag- simply an unselfish missionary-spiriting. Boston, Northfield, and Green- ed, well-informed pastor, who keeps field, Mass.; Willimantic, Conn.; Ger- the vital interests of the world-field mantown, and Pittsburgh, Penn.; Al- constantly before his people. We bany, Utica, Syracuse, Rochester, never once struck an apathetic church Buffalo, Lockport, Binghamton, and where there was a man in the pulpit Elmira, N. Y.; Montclair, Newark who was full of passion for souls. and Camden, N. J.; Baltimore, Md.; Youngstown and Cleveland, 0.; Lan- Are Mission Oonverts a Failure? sing and Detroit, Mich.; Indianapolis, In The Ohurch of Scotland Mission Ind.; and Geneva Lake, Wisconsin, Record of May and October, 1890, Dr. and Chicago, Ills., have been among the places comprehended in this hur- Archibald Turnbull, B.D., of the Darried tour. Almost without exception jeeling Mission, writes on the above the audiences have been large and the topic. The author is abundantly able interest manifested unusually intense. to discuss the subject. He is one of the At Albany, Rochester, Syracuse, El- ablest and most accomplished missionmira, the gatherings were of excep- aries in the field and his labors have been remarkably successflK. The A. Beautiful Epitaph.
work begun by Rev. McFarlane, in The most interesting specimen of an 1870, yielded to his prayers and labors, epitaph is one to be seen in a pretty but little apparent fruit, for some church, in Aneityum, one of the Loy- years. When Mr. Turnbull first joined alty Islands, or New Hebrides. It is the Mission, in 1880, there were some a tablet erected by the grateful natives hundreds of converts; and Mr. McFar- to their missionary, John Geddie. On lane, having been called to his rest, this tablet is inscribed, in their lan- Mr. Turnbull is now at the head of guage, the following: the mission, which has branched out When he landed, into three divisions, each headed by in 1848, able and devoted missionaries. Considerably over a thousand baptized there were no Christians here, and when he left, in 1872, Christians are now in communion with there were no heathen. it. Professor Lindsay, convener of On almost any island within 2,00<1' the Free Church Foreign Mission, who miles of the shores of Tahiti, in any recently visited India, has described direction, a similar tablet might be this Darjeering Mission, as the "best erected, as an expression of the results mission he had seen in India." When of the twenty-two years' work, besuch a man as Mr. Turnbull, with tween 1817 and 1839-the epoch of such a large experience, tells what he John Williams-and yet, "missions has seen of converts, his opinion can- are a failure! "
not but be of great value, and by per- A Practical Cure for Scepticism. mission of our beloved friend, Rev.
Thos. Nicol, B.D., the editor of The In the life of Dr. Fleming Stevenson Ohurch of Scotland Record, we pro- we find an interesting commentary on pose to give our readers hereafter, at the words, "He that doeth my will least, some portions of Mr. Turnbull's shall know of the doctrine." At one valuable testimony. He proves, to a time his mind was in a somewhat certainty, that the Gospel is the unsettled state regarding some ele- power of God unto salvation, even in ments of the creed in which he had India. been brought up, to which he clung with loyal reverence. Itwas by plung- Rabinowitch, the Hungarian Jew- ing into practical mission work that ish Rabbi, who, a few years since pub- light was to come to him upon these licly conf03ssed Jesus as the Messiah, thorny points of theology.
and led out a new body of Jewish be- This reminds us of what Shaftesbury lievers, adheres to his faith and used to say to young men: preaches to great crowds. A new, ,,Nothing is more likely to keep you large hall, called after the great evan- from mischief of all kinds-from mis- gelist of the Free Church of Scotland, chief of action, of speculation-from the Somerville Memorial Hall, is to every mischief that you can devise, be opened soon. We look with the than to be everlastingly engaged in intensest interest upon the new some great practical work of good.
movement, known as the "Israelites Christianity is not a state of opinion of the New Covenant," and bless God and speCUlation. Christianity is essen- for the Hebrew New Testament trans- tially practical, and I will maintain lated by Dr. Delitzsch, and for the this, that practical Christianity is the sermons and addresses of such men greatest curer of corrupt speculative as Rabinowitz, David Baron, Wilkin- Christianity. No man, depend upon son of Mildmay and a host of others it, can persist from the beginning of Who are taking the warmest interest his life to the end of it in a course of in the conversion of the Jews. self-denial, in a course of generosity.. in a course of virtue, in a course of ing service, go first to gather in and piety, and in a course of prayer, un- teach the poor neglected children in less he draw~ from his wellspring, un- the afternoon, then hold a yoke-felless he is drawing from the fountain lows' prayer-meeting and take supper of our Lord Himself. Therefore, I together at their humble place of meetsay to you again, and again, let your ing; and who then go out for an hour, walk the streets, and personally invite Ohristianity be practical." * to service those whom they find. And then, at eight o'clock, they go to their To all of which the writer adds his meeting-hall, or tent, and, in their confirmatory witness that never, since simple way, preach, simply as laymen, the taking up in dead earnest the work and hold after-meetings for inquiry. of a world's evangelization, have speculative doubts harrassed the mind.
As to churches and missions, I think The Ritualism, which is more and their true relations to each other are more obtruding itself upon observation very simply defined. The church is in the Anglican Church, and in some both a rallying and a radiating point. of the High-Church services of this We are to come there to be fed and go country, is compelling some who have from there to feed others. GenerallyI been zealous champions of the Episcomake my morning service especially a pal Church, to look with alarm on the encroachments of a latent Romanism feeding time for Christian swubosrtkaenrcs~ .that is rapidly becoming patent. If when I try to bring out the of the Word-the promises, the ways these things go on, they will compel a of serving, the motives of true work withdrawal of those who cannot felfor God, the preparations of prayer, lowship these semi-Papal practices. etc.-whatever helps to qualify any Take these two examples: Canon Scott mHogllhaI.nSds,eirnmSont., Preafuelr'srinCgatthoetdhreald' edautrh- . disciple for holy living and unselfish serving. Then I am glad to have my Christian workers go out after that of the late Canon Liddon, thus solicitmorning service to preach and teach ed prayers on his behalf: "Pray for that sermon and that Gogpel else- him-for his refreshment, for his ilwhere, and am quite willing to have lumination, for his eternal repose." their places empty at the second service Praying for the dead finds no warrant that they may go and hold little evan- in Scripture; it is a Romish practice gelistic meetings, cottage meetings, that ought to receive no countenance prayer services, etc., where they may from Protestants. A service, which was, to say the get at the non-church gael's. I do not least, novel, was held lately in that believe in Christians feeding without same Cathedral. It was styled a "Serworking. "If any man will not work vice of Reconciliation." In Septemneither shall he eat." Activity for ber last, during public worship, one souls prevents spiritual dyspepsia. It Sabbath morning, a stranger suddenly is the exercise needful to carry off the drew a pistol a.nd shot himself, and food into normal channels and assimi- I?hortly died within the sacred struclate it to our constitutional wants. I ture. Having no precedents to folcannot understand how any man can low, after much consultation, the dean be jealous of his workers going out to ' and chaplain formally requested the carry the Gospel and leaving an empty Bishop of London, in the exercise of place half a day for some one else to his Episcopal authority, "to declare fill who needs the Gospel far more. I the said Oathedral church exempt and have had a band of such young men, reconciled from all canonical impediespecially, for years, who, after morn- ment, and from everyprofanation con- * Hodder's Life of Shaftesbury, 1: 328. tracted and incurred by or through the aforesaid acts of suicideand blood-let- all thatoffends refined taste, the Salva- ting, forever." Hence this "Service tion Army compels recognition by of Reconciliation" on the 14th of Oc- downright earnestness and heroic self- tober. The London Times, with a denial. One of the most conservative tone bordering on contempt, asks why, ministers of the Presbyterian body, in if the great temple was "polluted" by a recent visit to London, went re- the crime, services were not entirely peatedly to the army meetings, and, suspended-why the altar was not after careful investigation, declares dismantled, and the edifice closed un- himself wonderfully impressed with til the profanation could be removed· the evidences of God's presence and by a "reconciling service?" Others power.
ask, why the freak of a sensational Shortly before his death Canon suicide, should be considered as "pol- Liddon went to one of the Salvation luting" a sacred edifice. Army meetings in London. As' he was returning with a friend, he said: General Booth gives to the world "It fills one with shame! I feel his new contribution to the great guilty when I think of myself! To problem of how to take care of the think of these poor people, with their unhoused, unfed poor of London, imperfect grasp of the truth! And yet almost at the same time that his wife's what a contrast between what they do body is borne to burial. and what we are doing! When I Her funeral was one of the most compare all the advantages we enjoy, impressive events of modern social we who possess the whole body of history. Whatever we may think of truth, and see how little use we make the Salvation Army, it is one of the of it, how little effect we produce com- most remarkable developments of our pared with that which was palpable time. Its genesis is recent-it began at that meeting, I take shame to my- in the year 1865, and kept its" Silver self. I did not like the women speak- Jubilee" in 1890. A quarter of a cen- ing, however. You know I have the tury ago William Booth resigned his misfortune to agree with the Apostle post as a'Methodist minister, New Con- Paul on that question. "
nection, and began his "Christian And now, Mrs. Booth, after long ~fission," thirteen years later called and acute suffering, has died, and the the" Salvation Army." day of her funeral, though raw, foggy, After this quarter century, this dismal, the procession numbered Salvation Army, at whose members probably 50,000 people, and the streets and methods the world and the were densely thronged with spectators.
Church sneered, now has its banners At the head of the marching columns flying in thirty-four countries or colo- were the 5,000 officers of the army, nies, boasts 10,000 men and women men and women, marshaled in fifteen wholly given up to its work, holds battalions. Each battalion carried a 50,000 religious meetings weekly, flag, some of them a number,of flags, which are attended .by millions of generally of white, with inscriptions hitherto neglected and outcast people. in colored letters, such as "Love one It has, moreover, twenty-seven weekly Another," " Save your Soul," " Believe newspapers, of which about 31,000,000 in God," and one especially striking copies are sold in the streets, saloons, flag bearing the words, "Mother of etc. It has accumulated nearly $4,000,- the Salvation Army." The coffin was 000 worth of property, and its rentals carried on an open hearse, and bore for meeting-places reaches $1,000,000 no emblems beyond Mrs. Booth's a year, while it has a total income of bonnet and cloak, and the flag of the between three and four millions. army, according to her earnest desire Despite all ita sensational methods, for simplicity in funeral reform. Even the London Times lends two or the individual statements and >()olumns to a detailed description of propositions of this book, in common the event, and the Methodist Times with thousands of the best men and describes Mrs. Booth as " the greatest women on both sides of the sea, we Methodist woman of her generation." heartily wish General Booth success. No one who has read the little volume of her addresses, known as " Aggres- Canon Farrar, on November 9, sive Christianity," will doubt her preached a sermon on this philan- })ower. thropic scheme, and even the great Abbey would not hold the crowds that And now, almost simultaneous with thronged to hear it. He had, the her death, General Booth issues his week before, made a tour of the army book, inscribed to her memory: "In centres, and was so impressed that he Darkest England, and the Way Out." made a fervent and impassioned We have read it with profound in- appeal in behalf of the proposed plan, terest, and we find ourselves very far while he disclaimed any authority to from being disposed to ridicule or dis- represent anyone but himself. regard its practical suggestions. From a somewhat extended study of the Those who wish to get the substance practical methods of the Salvation of General Booth's scheme may find a Army, especially in Great Britain, we l·ecapitulation of it in Chapter VII, were compelled to admit that, more Section 5. Some of the most pious than all the churches put together, this and philanthropic of British Chrisunique organization is bringing relief tians are coming forward with liberal to the unfed, unhoused and uncared contributions toward the $5,000,000 for masses of the great cities of for which General Booth appeals, as Britain. the financial' basis of his plan. So awful and so widespread is the degra- General Booth's book is a bold dation and destitution of this "sub- ~ttempt to solve the most perplexing merged tenth" of Britain's population, <>f social problems. His plan is a that we rejoice at any honest attempt mere expansion of that which on no to relieve and remove another of the small scale is in actual operation in open sores of the world. Let the new the Salvation Army ~ntres in London. project have at least a fair trial. He proposes a scheme of three colonies -a town, a country, and an over-the- The following is from the son of the sea colony. Cheap food depots, advice editor, studying this winter in Edinbureau, labor shops, a household sal- burgh, Scotland: vage brigade; the gathering of what would be wasted otherwise, and its " After tea we went to the univerutilization as food for human beings sity to hear Professor Drummond on and for animals, or for various pur- , Christian Evolution.' He dwelt par- })oses of manufacture. He proposes ticularly on the progress of missions to exact a reasonable amount of work and their condition and work, as he from colonists and to pay reasonable had noticed it in his recent trip around wages, so that there may be no en- the world. The lecture was a fine one couragement of paupers; to help out- in every particular, and he seemed to cast and criminal classes to a better be thoroughly in sympathy with the life; to help those who are disposed missionary movement; to have obto help themselves; to maintain whole- served keenly on the subject in his some discipline, and afford religious tour; and he urged all to consider care- {lulture without compulsion. Those fully if their lives could not be best who would know details must read his used for Christ in the foreign field. book. Without giving endorsement He lamented the fact that there seemed to the peculiar methods of the army, to be so much misdirected effort by well-meaning Christian missionaries, because the problem of missions, in Here is another, enclosing a gold. connection with the special countries pen with a pearl handle: in which they worked, was not more thoroughly studied and understood. Sabbath Morning, Oct. 5,1890. He contrasted Australia and the South Sea Islands, Japan and China, espec- DEAR DR. PIERSON: ially, as presenting entirely different kinds of fields, which were to be sown This gold pen was a Christmas gift. with the same seed but in different It has a sad story. It has nev!'r been ways, according to the nature of the used-it has lain idle ten years. May ground, and growth already planted the dear Lord now use it in some way there. One thing he said about Japan so as best to tell of the "Peace on was pretty well put-Japan is ready earth and good will from heaven for anything new and European; she toward men." has taken from France a system of law; from Germany an organization ONE OF YOUR HEARERS. for an army; from England a navy; from America a public school system; The American Missionary Associafrom' the civilized world in general a tion has 500 missionaries. Among fine system of railways and electric the Indian children they have entelegraph, etc. At present she is in couraged unselfish efforts to help in the unique position of prospecting for carrying the Gospel to the destitute a religion. There are, too, on the and unevangelized. But the children islands many missionaries prospecting had no money. Some of them had for converts: they include Episcopal- never seen a copper coin. The governians of every degree of height, Presby- meNt had offered premiums for the terians of every degree of breadth, and killing of gophers, and so the boys Methodists of every degree of warmth. would hunt the gophers and bring Roman Catholics are practically out of their tails in as proof of the work the race. done. Among other contributions was an enclosure, wrapping a gopher's tail " It was a thoroughly good lecture, within, and bearing this memoranand I would like to have it in print. dum: "Richard Fox, one gopher's tail: four cents." "DELAVAN L. PIERSON." One old colored saint in the far South Latterly, the editor has been making used to pray with great fervor for the a short tour of the great cities in the missionaries, and this was one prayer interest of missions. Among numer- heard from his lips: "Oh, Lord, let ous letters received by him, the follow- de missionary down deep into de treasing will suggest their own lesson: ures of de Word, and hide him behind de Cross of Jesus." For whom might DR. PIERSON: not that prayer well be offered?
Dear Sir-Enclosed please find four While Christianity makes us more dollars and ten cents, a small sum that and more tenderly considerate even of I had intended to use toward a society the welfare of the most distant and pin, but if the Master can use it for destitute of the race, sin makes IlUtelling the good story in the lands of man beings more callous eve:n to the darkness I dare not keep it for my own most appalling misery close at hand. pleasure. We have all heard of that notorious gambling resort on the Gulf of Genoa, I would that it were more than Monte Carlo, and of the wretched and it is. summary life-ending of many who have thrown away their means in its May God, our Master, bless you in elegantly-furnished halls. Very lately the work you are doing for Him, is it was reported that during ten weeks the prayer of a college girl. of this year as many as forty-nine E – College, Oct. 6, 1890. suicides had occurred there. "Every before the introduction of Christianity. night," says The Christian, of Boston, All interested in South Sea missions "'the grounds are carefully searched should procure it. It especially com- by the police after the casino is closed. mends itself for brevity. Other vol- Dne man drags a covered spring-cart, umes in this series, lives of Carey, the wheels of which have India-rubber Chalmers, Comber, Crowther, Morri- tires. When a body is found, for son, Patteson, Griffith John, etc., are which a reward is given, it is immedi- as readable as romances. Such vol- ately stripped of clothes and valu- umes can scarcely be multiplied in too ables, tftrust into the cart, and silently great abundance. hurried away and buried. Next morn- jng the sun shines again, the band The Success of Christian Missions, plays, saloons and tables are thronged, by Robert Young, F. R. S., G. S. In and people gamble as usual." this volume, Mr. Young has made a careful compilation of testimonies in New Books. favor of foreign missions in most heathen lands, similar to that of Mr. F. H. Revell has issued two more vol- Liggins. Personal, official and .pub- umes of the short biographies of mis- lic testimony to the value and influ- 'sionaries: Henry Martyn and Robert ence of the missionary operations of Moffat. If there are any better brief many societies is here gathered and biographical sketches for general nse preserved. For permanent reference, .as educators of the young, and as a and as an answer to the slurs and at- means of general stimulation to the tacks of adversaries, the book will be missionary spirit, we have not met always useful and should be at hand them anywhere. 'Within the compass in every well-stocked missionary ,of 160 pages, there is comprised a library as, in its way, an encyclopedia mass of information that is often di- of testimony. London: Hodder & .luted through three times the space. Stoughton. Cheap, thrilling, fascinating, these stories of missionary life combine the While we write, there just comes facts of heroism with the fancies of by mail from a dear personal friend, romance. They are very near to Dr. George Smith of Edinburgh, the ideals realized. We believe that few last book so far produced by his schol- will read one chapter without wanting arly and prolific pen. It is entitled A to read the whole, or read one of the Modern Apostle, and is the life of series, now embracing twelve, without Rev. Alex. N. Somerville, D.D., "the wanting to possess the entire series, world's evangelist." He was an ex- ,and give them away to others. We traordinary man, and we propose here- would like to give the series to every after to present an article upon young man and woman in every him to our readers. Suffice it to say Protestant congregation where Eng- that he thirteen times made a "world lish is spoken. The whole twelve may tour of missions;" viz.: to Canada, be had for $6, exclusive of postage I Syria, Spain, India, Australasia, France and Italy, Germany and Rus- The editor also cordially commends sia, Central Europe, Greece, Asia and to all readers the following books on Africa; and beside this was the able missions: James Calvert; or from and faithful pastor of one of the most Dark to Dawn in Fiji, by R. Vernon. prominent churches of Scotland. Here F. H. Revell, Bible House, New York. is a story of more than seventy-five 'This account of mission work, in what years, full of service and every form was once the cannibal group of Fijian of inspiration to heroic endeavor. – Islands, is rendered specially valuable Those who have read the lives of Carey, by its graphic account of native man- John Wilson of Bombay, Alexander .ners and customs as they were found Duff, Stephen Hislop, and that Short History of Christian missions which terestmg and valuable. One sees as. we have never seen equaled in its in a birdseye-view the steady and sure way, all of them by the same gifted advance of the Master's Kingdom, and author, will not need to be told that we rejoice. this latest volume from his pen, recently issued by John Murray of Lon- In the work of a missionary there don, is a book without which no min- is often much to disappoint. One has isters library is complete. It is one to sow in faith and labor in patience, of the grandest books that modern seeing no sign of a reaping-time. But biographers have offered to the public. when one reads of others who are al- ready rejoicing in the ingathering of Livingstonia Mission. an abundant harvest, he for a mo- ment forgets the plowing and sowing, [The following letter relol,ched Dr. the watering and waiting, and cannot Sherwood's home November 3d, too help sharing in their joy and the Maslate for his eyes to read it. Notwith- ter's. standing the personal references, the Another end gained by your REVIEW Editor feels that it belongs to the is that our hearts are enlarged and we begin to have a fore-taste of that readers of THE REVIEW.] glorious time for which our Saviour LAKE NYASSA. prayed: "That they may be one even as we are one. . . . that they may Mvera Station, May 11, 1890. be perfected in one, that the world DEAR BROTHER:-Were there the may know that Thou didst send Me." least doubt about the excellence and usefulness of your REVIEW, I With reference to the contents of should gladly give my testimony in THE REVIEW I have no suggestions to its favor. Let me merely mention make. What we in the field need is that, along with many thousands of an occasional inspiring article, one to, your readers, I most heartily enjoy rouse and encourage. To my mind and profit by it. Especially on a Sab- there is no pen so gifted, in this rebath afternoon or evening, after sev- spect, as that of Dr. A. T. Pierson. eral services and two Bible-classes, Let us be urged to prayer, patience, feeling somewhat tired, it is with personal devotion to Christ, to faith great pleasure that I take up THE and faithfulness. "Ve know these MISSIONARY REVIEW and read it things but do not realize them. through, I may literally say, from beginning to end. Even though the As many of us are unable to have "news" is from four to five months large libraries, a summary of the biold when it reaches us, we, neverthe- ography of some missionary hero (as less, eagerly look forward to each fol- has appeared of Carey, Egede, etc.), is, lowing number. always most acceptable, or even an I have, of late especially, enjoyed episode from such a man's life, or his an article in the number for Septem- views on any important missionary ber, 1890, on "Prayer-Basis of Mission subject. And why not pubhsh a whole Work," by Dr. Pierson. I have read biography, continued in several numand re-read it, and read it to my com- bers ?" panions, and each time I feel more than ever that "the whole basis of suc- As regards my own work Ishall not cessful missionary work is to befound say much. At this present station we in believing and importunate prayer." have been at work for only about six These words should be written in let- months. The work is much the same ters of gold on the tablets of our- here as on other stations round the memory. lake. Weare 3,400 feet above the sea The items of news you give from in a healthy and fertile country. A various fields of labor are most in- great door has been opened to us. The work is becoming more and more, interesting. Some 500 to 600 people simply as a way of introducing the hear the Word preached every Sabbath letter. Mr. Baldwin will be remem- day. In the school, however, we bered as the writer of the papers in have as yet only some twelve boys- The Christian (London), on "The boarders. People are afraid to send Question of the Hour," advocating the their children lest, having secured a conduct of missions on the lines laid good number, we should run off and down in Matthew x.
sell them as slaves! This fear, will, of Without giving our endorsement to course, pass away in course of time. every sentiment of Mr. Baldwin in Should you care to publish any part those letters, we confess to a large of this letter and any discouraged measure of sympathy with his general worker happens to read it, let me position. And we cannot but feel that stretch out to such an one a brotherly when any missionary in these days hand, and say, "Courage, friend! the attempts a work for God in the spirit Master is looking on and is intensely of faith and prayer, it is not for other interested in our work; let us press on, Christianworkers toridiculeor criticise if not so ably as others, then at least or oppose. There are many ways of as faithfully. Let us often prostrate doing the Lord's work. Why not let ourselves before the 'WondroUB Cross,' them all have a fair, faithful trial?
and in deep self-abasement and lowly Experiment will show whether God reverence, there learn to be' nothing, is with such methods; but the ex- nothing,' that the world might our periment must not be embarrassed Saviour see. When weary let us rest with the secret or open hostility of at His feet; when sad, lean on His even nominal disciples. Mr. Baldwin's breast. Let us drown our cares and personal consecration not even his worries in the ocean of His love, and critics can question. He is about to we shall not sow in vain, but receive start on a prolonged journey, with a the sower's reward." single companion, probably among the Bedouin. May God be with him!
Itis because I so often feel the need of encouragement myself that I am seek- Rev. Dr. Wayland Hoyt, his brother, Colgate Hoyt, and Charles L. Colby, ing to encourage others to-llfght, for Esq., have been preparing a" chapel the Master bas been very near to-day car," for use in Minnesota and on the and wonderfully kind. My subject of Wisconsin Central and Northern to-day, "My son, give me thy heart," Pacific railroads. ' , Uncle Boston" is has touched my own heart. to use this chapel-on-wheels for his I cannot ask your readers to pray Sunday-school mission work, and it is for us and our work specially; there finely adapted to his purposes. Atone are others who have probably a end are arrangements for living, and greater right to their prayers and the rest of the car is a chapel fitted thought; but let me urge all who pray for about 100 persons. During summer for missions to more "believing and months a tent will be carried, which importunate prayer," and we also can be set up for temporary use where shall receive our share of the blessing. crowds are too great for the chapel. Bishop Walker, of the Episcopal ANDREW C. MURRAY. Church, has done a like thing for the territory under his jurisdiction, in The Rev. E. F. Baldwin, now in North Dakota. Each of these moving Beyrout, Syria, desires it stated that chapels is about 60 feet by 10. The latter has gothic projections to give it the letterin the October number, 1890, a church-like appearance, and is finpages 776,777, was not a specific letter ished in oak, in gothic style,. with for THE REVIEW, although Dr. Sher- . chancel, altar, lectern, cabinet organ, wood so understood it at the time, but and even baptismal font and bishop's a circular sent to THE REVIEW. The chair. Weare surely making pro- adch'ess, "Dear Editors" was affixed grE'ss!
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
IV.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
[EDITORIAL. ] Faots and Figures about the World-wide Field.
-.Alaska's coast is the sepulchre 40,000,000 were called Protestant; now, of ships. Dr. Sheldon Jackson says the population is more than double, that almost a hundred vessels have and the nominal Protestants more found a watery gra,e there within than quadrupled!
twenty years! In one storm, and atone -The first convertamongthe natives place, thirty-three ships were ground of India was Krishna Chundra Pal between ice-fields, and 1,200 sailors in 1800. Renry Martyn said it was a cast, wrecked, on a barren shore. miracle as great as the raising of the -According to the census of 1890, dead. Now, every ten years the con- the population of the Unite9. States is verts increase over eighty per cent.
62,480,540. It seems to us that this is The first convert in western Poly- an underestimate; we have supposed nesia was King Pomare II.; now there 66,000,000 nearer the actual truth. are 850,000, and all western Poly- -A Messianic pretender appears in nesia is evangelized.
an Indian tribe. He claims that the -Up to 1853, the Edict Board of Indian power and prestige is to revive Japan made it capital offence for a and the lost ground be recovered. If Christian to set foot on the island this notion gets hold of the mercurial empire. Now, there are 30,000 pro- red men no one can tell what may fessed converts and 17,000 children in come of it: they may attempt to ex- Sunday-schools. One in twenty-eight terminate the whites. .Already, for of the elect members of the new par- three months, the whole northwestern liament is a Christian church member.
part of our country has been in a state As the Christians of Japan number of disturbance and serious alarm. but 1 to 1,200 of the population, it will -Principal Magee,ofDublin,says the be seen that the proportion of Chris- dogma of the infallibility of the Pope tian members of parliament is forty- has repelled the bulk of Irishmen, and three U'Yhes as great. This impresses led to intellectualindependencewhich us as one of the most remarkable is reducing the ranks of Romanism signs of the power of Protestant mis- and filling up those of Protestantism. sions in Japan. The contributions of He thinks vaulting ambition has native converts were about $50,000 again" overleaped itself" and "fallen last year, nearly $2 a head!
on-tother side." -At Oroomiah, Persia, last year, -These are old figures, but their fifty-one out of sixty-seven pupils in lesson is always new: the seminary were Christians and In 1800, not over 50,000 converts in members of the church.
all heathendom; now, over 1,500,000, –The McAll mission schools had and five times as many adherents. last year 235,000 children under in- In 1800, not over 70 mission schools; struction.
now, about 14,000, with 600,000 -The Established Church of Scot- scholars. land reports 2,034 converts and 2,465 In 1800, 50 translations of the Bible; pupils in the schools in the Punjab now, between 300 and 400, of the whole Mission, India, with 723 converts bap- or parts, like the Gospel of Mark. tized in 1890.
In 1800, not over 5,000,000 copies of -Dr. Robert N. Cust reckons 223 the Bible; now, more than that issue missionary societies in the world: 113 from the press every year. in Britain and colonies; 56 in the In 1800; the population of the globe United States; 20 in Germany; 14 in about 700,000,000, of whom some Netherlands, and 20 in other lands. Many of these are doubtless small. sustained by the facts. Mr. Henry Fifty have incomes of $10,000 and up- A. Hinshaw, in the August Science ward, and twenty report over $100,- Monthly, says: "At the end of the 000. At least ten of these have got mission rule the Indian was really three-fourths of their funds from less capable of taking care of himself 1tative converts! than at the beginning. He was found Roman Oatholicism, if we may trust a free man, he was left a dependent.
the "Catholic Dh;.ectory," for last year, Driven to church by the whip, forced has, in the United States, 13 arcb- to kneel by being punched by goads, bishops, 73 bishops, 8,332 priests, 2,132 with no free or rational cultivation of ecclesiastical students, 7,523 churches, mind or conscience, the religious in- 3,302 chapels and stations, 35 theo- struction made up of scarcely any- logical seminaries, 102 colleges, 635 thing else but ritual and superstition, academies, 3,194 parochial schools and the idea of obedience to the priest, with 633,238 pupils in them, 553 chari- the result was what might have been table institutions, and about 8,000,000 expected." Why should the Govern- members. ment continue to appropriate money The approximate distribution of to such schools?
missionaries is said to be as follows: -M. Monod says he adopts very No. of Mis- .much the words of one of his best col- Populatlou. sionaries. Proportion porteurs: "It seems to me supersti- .syria …….. 3.000,000 100 lto 80,000 tion is not so general as it was, and Turkey …… 21,000,000 450 lto 45,000 that what people call the' Protestant Madagascar. 5,000,000 50 1 to 100,000 Burma …… 8,000,000 40 1to 200,000 faith' is honored by many Roman Japan……. 38,000,000 200 1to 200,000 Catholics, who ten years ago felt noth- Jndia …….. 250,000,000 900 1 to 275,000 Persia……. 7,500,000 80 1to 300,000 ing but a bitter hatred against the ·.Africa.•… _..250,000,000 600 1 to 400,000 Gospel and the Scriptures which we s. America'.. 80,000,000 75 1to 400,000 colporteurs circulate. Blessed be the Korea…….. 9.000,000 25 1to 400,000 Lord for that! Those times are gone, .Siam …….. 8,000,000 18 1to 000,000 and the light of the Gospel seems to Chiua …….. 380,000.000 600 J.toQ..A5O,OOO spread. The Lord gives me new Arabia……. 6,000,000 4 1 to 1,500,000 'Tbibet.. ….. 15,000.000 7 1 to 2,000,000 openings, and I must hasten to meet In Sahara district with 3,000,000; . theln." ~ Afghanistan, etc., with 3,500,000; An- -The women's societies in America nam, etc., with 12,000,000; Russia, are doing untold good by preparing 16,000,000; Algeria, etc., 12,000,000; and scattering broadcast missionary Soudan, 75,000,000, there is an ENTIRE literature in condensed and cheap DESTITUTION. forms. Some of us, in·this fast age, [Weare aware that the above must skim the great pan and serve figures are not exact, but they are the up the cream in little pitchers, rich best we have been able to'Obtain from and sweet. Our" little pitchers" are a variety of sources. We shall be multiplying. Brief, compact and in- grateful to anyone who will furnish teresting leaflets, containing the great us correct and reliable statistics.-ED- facts of missions, or short biographical lTOR.] sketches, or quaint stories of a half- -Senator Dawes, opposing an in- humorous sort to illustrate giving and crease to the appropriations to Roman praying, and helping in the work, are Catholic schools among the Indians, freely circulated. Those who can declared the 120 years of Jesuit mis- condense the facts into a small space sionary work among the Indians of and yet preserve all their vitalizing California had left them less capable force are benefactors indeed, and this of self-support than it had found the women of our day are doing with them. The accusation seems to be well grand success. -The Church of Scotland Mission -On the plains and in the selva.s of Record nobly says: Brazil there are a million of wild " But no one can pretend that our Indians, ignored by the Christian missionary collections are such as world.
ought to satisfy us. Let us remember – During the past ten years over how large is our number of communi- 11,000 converts have been gathered in cants-about 588,000. Our missionary the missionary fields of the Moravian contributions show but a very small Church.
sum as given per communicant. For -Sabbath observance is making the foreign mission, or mission to the great progress in Paris. A determined heathen abroad, there was contributed effort is made to close all places of last year by the church at home, business on Sunday.
through the assembly scheme, the -Ninety thousand copies of the ladies' association, legacies and special illustrated Bible, issued in weekly subscriptions, a total of £28,331-not , parts, have been sold among the quite one shilling from every com- Roman Catholics in Italy.
municant. And when we exclude the -The last five years have seen ladies' association, legacies and special greater developments in the opening subscriptions, it appears that the sum and Christianizing of Africa than the raised for tilis object by church col- ninety-five years preceding.
lections in Scotland was £13,172-giv- -The Gospel of Matthew has been ing an average of only 5 1-4d from translated into the Laos language by each communicant. We grant that Mrs. McGilvary of the Presbyterian many of our communicants are poor Board. The Acts of the Apostles is persons, but it will not be denied that also nearly ready.
the great majority are in circum- -The American Baptist Telugu stances to afford some help to any Mission calls for a re-inforcement of good cause which thoroughly interests twenty-five men in the next two sears.
them. If they give nothing, or very Dr. J. E. Clough, of Ongole, has under little, we must conclude either that his care more than 17,000 Christians.
they do not know that there is an -:Et!!',">Dr. Boggs, of Ramapatam, object deserving and needing their aid, says all India is in a state of ferment.
or that they feel no interest, or little The Hindus and Mohammedans interest, in it." actively oppose the advance of Chris- -Arch-deacon Farrar, of London, tianity, and at the same time mis- says: "It comes with shocking ill sionary work is pushed more vigor- grace, and sounds like shameful ously than ever.
hypocrisy, when those who give -The appropriations of the Ameri- nothing and do nothing for mis- can Baptist Missionary Union for the sions, make the 'home heathen' year ending March 31, 1891, are $503,- a false excuse for doing nothing. 159.53. The society calls for an im- They talk as if it were weakening the mediate special contribution of $50,000 resources of England and surely that to meet the deficiency caused by the is stupendous nonsense when we are passage of the silver bill.
not even spending as much on mis- -Four railroads are projected, or sions as on tobacco and Christmas in process of construction, from the cards." east coast of Africa toward the in- -Canon Christopher, one of the terior ; one in the territory of British notable men of Cambridge, England, East Africa Company, one in German proclaims his interest in missions territory, one in the Portuguese pos- by annually entertaining a great sesions, and one passing through Port- company of representative men to uguese territory to the domain of the breakfast. British South African Company.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Foreign Mission Notes, by Rev. James Johnston, Bolton, England.
African Mlssions.-There are re- cessible. remarkably intelligent, and ported to be over 500 missionary considered by the missionaries to be stations in the Dark Continent, with more Christian, on the whole, than the which 400,000 converts are associated, ordinary run of Christians in England.
whose numberis increasing at a yearly By the Rev. W. E. Taylor, (C. M. S., average of 25,000 souls. Frere Town,) it was observed that the Slavery.-A meeting held at the present is the time to win the popula- Stanley and African Exhibition in tion to Christianity, otherwise they London was addressed by several re- would be made converts to Moham- turned missionaries, of different so- medanism. The Rev. R. P. Ashe cieties. Their reports were very en- (late missionary of the C. M. S. at couraging, especially as to the Congo Uganda) said that the friends of mis- region. Lord Knutsford urged more sions do not realize that the mission- exertion for the suppression of the aries in Central Africa have, with less horrible slave traffic. Although the assistance, d1fficulties to face, corresc British are less directly active in com- ponding to those which Mr. Stanley batting it they seem determined to narrated in "Darkest Africa." A col- banish the great curse of Africa. So lection was taken for the purchase far as Pro1!estant societies are con- of a steamer to be launched on the eerned they are free from the disgrace waters of Victoria Nyanza for the use of buying boys and girls to train them of the Church Missionary Society's as Christians, whereas, French Catho- agents. The total outlay will be £5,000, lie societies openly countenance this of which £2,300 has been secured. In unwisfj .pgliey. A representative of aid of this desirable object Mr. Stanley the -~Anti-Slavery Society entreated made an eloquent appeal in the eol- English people to eschew the use of umns of The London Times, to British ivory, every scrap of which, accord- Christians. ing to Mr. Stanley, issteep~la:lnblood. Bishop Smythies.-The brave lead- The venerable Archdeacon Maple, of er of the Universities' Mission, de- the Universities' Mission, described parting once more to his field, his work on Lake Nyassa. He paid a preached a farewell sermon to a eon- warm tribute to the African Lakes gregation of supporters in St. John's, Company for resistance to the intro- Red Lion Square, Holborn, from the duction of liquor and to similar evils. mlsslOnary passage in Col. il-:3, The work of Dr. Laws, of the Free "Withal, praying also for us, that Church and of the Scotch Established God would open unto us a door of Church, on the Shire Highlands, was utterance, to speak the mystery of equally eulogized. The Archdeacon Christ, for which I am also in bonds."
said, in face of the partitioning of He returns, accompanied by three Africa by European powers, their clergymen and two lady nurses, mak- duty as pioneers was to maintain their ing a complete mission staff of seventy ground unless superior force com- persons. During his sojourn in pelled them to retire. Dr. Guinness Europe the Bishop visited Berlin, and referred to the scope of the Congo was cordially welcomed by the young Mission, founded in 1878, by Mr. Emperor of Germany, who spoke with Henry Craven and others, which had marked sympathy and appreciation of at the present time three missions the Universities' Mission.
and seventy-five missionaries. No- Cardinal Lavigerie. – After dis- where in the world is mission work cussing in Rome further plans bearing more hopeful. The people were ac- on the anti-slavery question, the • Cardinal passed through Marseilles, on 1890, they had received only £13,000; his way to ~'.lgiers. From there, to meanwhile they had to borrow money Biskra, whence he will make various at a high rate of interest to meet their ,excursions in southern Algeria. . liabilities.
Holland and the S,ave Trade.- Japan. – To secure more help for The principal members of the Belgian the English Church mission in Japan government are impressing upon the an important meeting has been held Dutch cabinet the absolute necessity in the library of the Lambeth Palace, 'of giving its signatures to ,the general London. Bishop Barry said, not- act of the Brussels Conference; if not, withstanding the lateness of the Eng- a stigma will rest on the country in lish Church in the field, it would ulti- preventing the execution of effective mately take the leading place in measures for the suppression of the influence and responsibility among slave trade and its horrors. The ex- Christian communities there. A re- port trade'of the Congo State for the markable feature of the Japanese is second quarter of the year 1890 was their capacity to adapt themselves to double that of the corresponding what they had adopted. The church period of 1889, and five times larger mission had certainly no desire to than it was in 1887. These figures hinder the growth of native institushow the necessity of giving the Congo tions, or .to press upon the Japanese State the means to pursue its honor- any western customs which could not ,able and humane mission. be appreciated or assimilated.
Wesleyan Missionary Society- Madagascar. – Excitement reigns Tonga. – The good news is con- in the island consequent upon the fumed respecting the improved condi- terms of the Anglo-French agreement tion of affairs among the native Wes- becoming known. The various misleyans, chiefly due to the wise inter- sionary societies view with lIlisgivings vention of the High Commissioner, the ultimate action of the queen and Sir J. B. Thurston. The majority of her advisers. As to the immediate the exiled Wesleyans have returned prospects, religiously and politically, from Fiji. With the re-affirmation of the sta£ements of authorities are conreligious liberty, the hitherto sup- flicting. According to agents of the pressed feeling of fear and restraint is London Missionary Society recently beginning to disappear, and large arrived in England, no alarm is ennumbers are again attending the Wes- tertained in relation to Madagascar's 1eyan Church. agreeableness to the French Protecto- rate. An experienced missionary, the Secunderabad.-That ardent Wes- Rev. J. Sibree, believes that there isa leyan missionary, the Rev. William tendency to exaggerate the differ- Burgess, reports that he has baptized ences and apprehend risks only in 200 natives this year (1890), and ex- days to come. The English Governpects shortly to announce double that ment have been gradually compelled number. to subscribe to what the Malagasies must have foreseen many years since. Italy. – In, connection with the A younger missionary, the Rev. James vigorous campaign of English Wes- Taylor, declares the influence exerleyans in the Italian peninsula, the cised by the London Missionary Socidoubted secession of a whole Roman etyon the natives is unequaled by any {)atholic village in Italy to Method- kind of organization in the island, and ism is now ascertained to be beyond that from the Society it would be difdispute. ficult to wean the people.
English Wesleyan Missionary So- On the other hand these assurances ciety Finances. – With regret the are vigorously controverted by the secretaries state that out of a procSpective home income of £100,000 for latest mail communications from the car has remained quiet because she island. Great unrest prevails touch- believed that she was outgrowing the ing the Anglo-French agreement; the time for foreign aggression. She now Hovas pronouncing vehemently finds that she has been sleeping in fan- against a French Protectorate sway. cie<i'security, and to-day she is awake For two powers to deprive a country in a rage. The country is aroused. sUbstantially of her rights and privi- There is a dangerous spirit thrilling leges without consulting her is con- throughout the country. The late po- sidered cruelly unfair. In retaining litical calm has disappeared. To an her freedom to conduct her civil and individual the Hovas are patriotic, commercial intercourse, "Madagas- and, if France insists upon putting car," says the principal local journal, a wrong construction upon the Treaty "will fight to the last if France de- of 1885-6, the Malagasy will heroic- mands the control of the foreign of- ally repel her aggression. Watchful fice, or assumes a protectorate over sympathy is desired for the religious the Government of Her Majesty Ran- and national welfare of a people who avalomanjaka III." This language is are beginning to enter on a civilized unmistakably decisive. Until very career. By the missionaries in particu- recently the government in Madagas- lar, abounding grace and wisdom are car had no idea of the island's liberty needed to guide their converts in the being endangered. A claim of France right paths. some time ago to represent Madagas- London Missionary Society. – car in her foreign relations was re- The London Missionary Society will fused, consistent with articles 1-2 of send delegates to the International the 1885-6 Franco-Malagasy Treaty. Council of Congregationalists, to be It was consequently surmised that held in London in 1891. This step is as France did not urge it ,that she regarded as a sign that the society is inte~ the clauses to refer to moving from a broad evangelical basis the pledge of Madagascar not to to one of a more denominational enter into compact defensively or character. offensively elsewhere unless–tt";"'con- Church Missionary Society.- sent of France was previously ob- The benefactions to the Church Mistained. The Malagasy Government sionary Society for the current year is content to allow France to intervene are about twice as much as those of on her behalf in exterior political mat- the average of the last five years, and ters, quite otherwise respecting inter- the ordinary income steadily increases. nal affairs. Madagascar cherishes her Six London societies send out unindependence and sets great store on ordained missionaries, not demanding everything which develops her re- college education. Thus not only sources, and naturally wishes to retain are wider doors opening before the ' a free hand for her administration and, church in foreign lands, but the gate an openseaboard to transacttrade with ,of entrance for workers is becoming other lands. The organ of the Eng- much broader. lish, The Madagascar Times, asserts Two more young ladies went out that the agreement is a monstrous last month to the Zenana work in contravention of past treaties, and Rajahmundry, India, sent out by the warns France of the dangers which Lutheran Mission Committee. The await her should she persist in taking two workers, Miss Sadtler of Baltinominal possession. "Europe," this more and Miss Schade of New Brighpaper states, "is mistaken in her be- ton, Pa., were given a farewell meetlief that Madagascar has been unde- ing in St. John's Lutheran Church, monstrative because the French con- Philadelphia. A chest of medicines trol affairs. This is not so. Madagas- was presented to the missionaries. Monthly Bulletin. -Miss Anna E. Johnson has left Bryn Mawr, Pa., for the McAll work -Mr. David Sinclair, M.A., princi- in Paris. pal of the Missionary College at Mad- ras, and who, after twenty years of -Two Bengalese ladies, after a five service, retired at the beginning of the years' course, received at Calcutta last year, is dead. University the degree of Bachelor of Medicine. They are both disciples of -Professor Riggenbach, of Basel, Christ. for twelve years president of the great Basel Missionary Society, died also -The British and Foreign Bible So- September 5. He had a fascinating ciety issued last year 3,790,000 copies history. of the Bible, either wholly or in part; -Some 200 Hebrew students in the and the London ReligiouB Tract So- University of Odessa petitioned the ciety 77,000,000 publications, every Russian government to be allowed to one of which, in some form, ango forward with their studies as nounces the glad tidings of salvation Hebrews, and met a refusal. It re- in Christ.
sulted in their conversion to Ohris- -The French Protestant Mission tianity! among the Basutos has over 6,000com- -Bishop Hannington was cruelly municants.
murdered by Mwanga, of Uganda, -Rev. R. Glover, D.D., of Bristol, whose Christian subjects have now re- and Rev. T. M. Morris of Ipswich, instated him on his throne. Two years two of the foremost men of the Bapago Bishop Parker, who followed tist deilOmination in England, are in him, perished on the shores of Victoria China as a deputation from the mis- Nyanza. And now, a third bishop, sionary society to visit the stations Mr. Tucker, has started for equatorial Africa. Thus far these bishops have and report on needs and claims of the ~-…. work.
held office less than two years each; -Arthur Brooks, whom the natives but lor the work in which they per- killeq a year ago in Africa, was the ished .more than twenty have been elev~lM:llartyr the London Mission- found ready to take the place of each ary Society has given to the East one who has died. African Mission. Since then Mr.
-It is proposed to build a sort of Slade's death left but three men to "People's Temple" in London, with carry on this work.
sufficient space for 100,000 persons, so -Rev. Dr. Sheldon Jackson has been that when great public interests are at establishing three new missions-Con- stake room may be found for popular gregational, Episcopal and Presby- meetings and discussions. terian respectively, in Alaska. This -A "Hindoo tract society" in is a practical illustration of inter- Madras is trying to neutralize the denominational comity.
missionaries' work by leaflets in de- -In three colleges of North Caro- fence of Hinduism, as they have lina 15 students have volunteered for already imitated Christian "cate- mISSIons. At Oberlin 32, and $400 chisms " for teaching and indoctrina- have been raised for their outfit.
ting the young. -On Lake Nyassa the Scottish Free -A chair for study of the English Church has, at Bandawe, 1,180 pupils Bible was last year established at and 38 native teachers in its schools.
Princeton College. At Yale over 150 -Moravians distance us all in mis- students of the higher classes elect a sionary heroism. One of their Alaska course of Bible studies, with two lec- missions is 3,000 miles from its base tures a week. of supplies, and sometimes the cold is so intense that even the smoke is a pronouncedly good influence upan turned to frost in chimneys. him and his people. He has abolished drinking in his land, and is always -Mr. Penazottj, the agent of the intent on some reform. His word is American Bible Society, in Peru, is always trusted, not only by the mis- in prison solely for the crime of circu- sionaries, but also by traders and lating the Word of God in the Spanish hunters, wl'lO are mistrustful of every- tongue. His instructing of the people thing accomplished by missions. He has been construed as violating a is sincere, courageous and manly, and semi-obsolete decree of the Peruvian if all Caffre chieftains were like him, {lonstitution. We watch the result of Caffreland would have a very different this trial of Protestantiam in South look from its present one. America with interest. -Basel Missionary Society recently -Rev. John Newton, seventy-eight observed its seventy-fifth anniversary. years old, and oldest of missionaries It has missions in India, China, and in India, landed in Calcutta in 1835, on the African Gold Coast and the and is still a hale and happy worker. Camaroons, and not until recently He is a Presbyterian, and believes in have unmarried lady missionaries goue the" Perseverance of the Saints!" to the frontier to engage in educa- tional and other work among their -According to Dr. Pentecost, dark and darkened sisters. Bishop Taylor is the only evangelist who has left behind him in India a Alaska.-Important are the openpermanent work. We may be per- ings for the spread of the Gospel in mitted to say that our friend Pente- this largest possession of the United cost sometimes allows himself to make States. Its area is 531,409 square statements which are too sweeping, if miles: Arctic division, 125,245; Younot careless. Bishop Taylor not only kon, 70,884; Southeastern, 28,980. Its worked as an evangelist, but he extreme length north and south is founded churches, and large churches, 1,100 miles; its extreme breadth is too, which few evangelists do. Hence, 800 miles. Total population about his eminently scriptural and apostolic 30,426; white, 430; Creole, 1,756; Inwork abides, which cannot be said of nuit, 17,617; Aleut, 2,145; Tenneh, some who only do the work of an 3,927; Thlinket, 6,763; Hyda,788. It evangelist. . occupies the extreme northwest of the continent. This important coun- -Think of America sending a few try was purchased from Russia by the missionaries to Africa and finding it United States government in 1867, difficult to raise enough money to and is now under its control. support them, while Boston alone, from 1882 to 1887, sent to the Dark Turkey.-Great Revival in Aintab. Continent 3,500,000 gallons of strong In the annual report of the American drink! Rev. David A. Day, at Monro- Board the siguificant event in Asiatic via, saw landed at one port on one Turkey was the revival, whereby 538 Sunday 50,000 casks of gin! were added to the church in Aintab, and by its influence no less than 1,000 Africa.-Mr. J. Nixon declares of hopeful conversions occurred within Magata, a chief near Pretoria, where the limits of that one field. The three the Hermannsburg missionaries are centers of collegiate and theological working, that not even in England training were specially blessed. Only has he met with a more perfect gen- a small number of college graduates, tleman. Chief Kchama, he declares, however, enter the theological school, is also a chief whose word can be de- and there is an increasing tendency to pended upon, a noble example of suc- come to America to complete their cessful missionary work. His Chris- studies and to better their fortunes. tianity is nothing nominal, but exerts Cost of War.-According to rep- Canon Liddon on Missions.- resentations given recently in the Across the triumphs and the failures German Reichstag, France has'a war of well-nigh nineteen centuries, the footing of 3,300,000 men; Russia, spiritual ear still catches the accents 2,570,000; Germany, 2,900,000; Austro- of the charge on the mountain in Gali- Hungary, 1,150,000; Italy, 1,090,000; 100; and, as we listen, we note that or these five powers can summon into neither length of time nor change of the field, should the necessity require circumstance has impaired their it, 11,019,000. Who can foretell the solemn and enduring force. It is a awful consequences should any power precept which, if it ever had binding be so rash as to let loose the war virtue, must have it at this moment dragon? And to prevent such a catas- over all who believe in the Divine trophy, it is deemed necessary to keep Speaker's power to impose it-it must up a peace footing for Russia of 314,- bind us as distinctly as it was binding 000; France, 511,334; Germany, 486,- on the first disciples. Weare ambas- 983; Austro-Hungary, 325,693; Italy, sadors of a charity which knows no 255,418; or in all, 2,393,423. distinctions between the claimants on Worth Noting.-The secular press. its bounty, and no frontier save those announces that Abbe Mesmer has of the races of man. A good Chrisstarted from Rome to assume his posi- tian can not be other than eager for tion at the head of the Roman Catho- the extension of our Lord's Kingdom lic University in Washington. In among men, not only from his sense of this case at least, we regret that the what is due to the Lord who bought law which prohibits the importation him, but also from his natural sense of of contract labor will not be enforced. justice, his persuasion that he has no We trust, however, that the American right to withhold from others those public will not lose sight of the fact privileges and prospects which are the that this new university is to be placed joy of his own inmost life. When he under the direction of tt foreigner, and finds comfort in the power of prayer, of one who comes witk the blessing of when he looks forward in humble a Pope who, from his hatred of free confidence to death, when he enjoys institutions, continu~s to keep up the the blessed gift of inward' peacefarce of his being a prisoner in the peace between the soul and its God, Vatican, and is arrayed in open an- peace between the soul's various powtagonism to the civil law of Italy. If ers and faculties-he cannot but ask the man is like the· master, we may the question: "Do I not owe it to the reasonably expect that the consistent millions who have no part in these policy which has been so long main- priceless blessings that I should do tained in Italy will not be forgotten what I can myself, or through others in America. to extend to them a share in this smile of the Universal Father which is the Mr. W. F. Wilkinson.-Another joy and consolation of my life? Can worker fallen on the Congo. The I possibly neglect the command to Baptist Missionary Society have re- make disciples of all nations?"-Spirit ceived this.sad intelligence of one who of Missions.
less than ·six months ago was set Rev. Dr. A. P. Happer, President apart at the Society's Birmingham of the Christian College, Canton, meetings for the noblest of callings. China, .is ordered by his physician to Of heroic ardor, the death of so give up work and return home. He young a man cannot be other than a has disease of the heart. As soon as source of grief to all wilo follow with the trustees appoint his successor he interested eye the course of the con- will hand over the College, which he flict. is now arranging to do.
The Missionary Review of the World — July 1889
~ERVING OUR OWN GENERATION
IISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE- WORLD.
VOL. XI. No. 7.-Oid Series._-JULY.-_VOL. II. No. 7.-New Seriu. , I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. SERVING OUR OWN GENERATION.
LEDITORIAL.-A. T. p.] PAUL, in the Antiochan Synagogue, significantly said of David, "He served his own generation by the will of God." * If anything especially distinguishes those foremost missionary disciples of our day-the Moravians-it is the sublime purpose to reach their own generation with the gospel. Count Zinzendorf led in this unique consecration to present service, when he chose as his motto, "That land is henceforth my country, which most needs the gospel."
To this thought we would now give emphasis: the lifetime of our generation bounds at once our work and our opportunity. What we are to give we must impart while we are living; what they are to receive from us they must get while they are yet living, We owe to our Lord an infinite debt; we can never pay it ; all we can do is to acknowledge it by service to our generation according to His will and in His name. Obviously 80 far as that debt can be paid, it can be paid only during the period which limits the generation of which we form a part. This proposition seems so simple and obvious as to need no argument. Yet, practically, it has never been accepted and acted on by the church in modern times, nor at any time since the apostolic age.
There are two sorts of service we may render to humanity: one is immediate and transient, the other is remote and permanent.
For example: a confbgration sweeps over some great metropolis, consuming every conbustible dwelling and leaving thousands of families without clothing, food or shelter. Manifestly, every true fellow-citizen owes to the naked, starving, homeless, an immediate and imperative duty which can be done only now. The first necessity is to rally universally to put out the fire, save those now imperilled and perishing, and feed, clothe and house the destitute. After these present and pressing needs are met, it behooves us to make permanent provision against like calamities hereafter, preventing such catastrophies by securing a more adequate water supply, a better equipped fire department, and a fire-proof class of buildings. But only fools or monsters * Acts xiii : 36. would meet to consult about such permanent preventive measures while the fire was yet raging or the multitudes were yet starving or freezing! Humanity and philanthrophy instinctively impel us to re- lieve immediately the peril of the perishing. '
God has committed to the church a double work. Undoubtedly there are remote and permanent results at which we are to aim, even the laying of broad and firm foundations for the evangelization and edifi- cation of future generations. We are to erect Ohristian homes, churches, schools, colleges, seminaries; provide translations of the Word of God and a Ohristian literature, thus simplifying the work of each succeed- ing generation, lessening the labor, facilitating the process, accelera- ting the progress of the work, for all time to come. But, me:1nwhile, we must not overlook what is even a more pressing duty and'privilege, viz.: 1.oe must not permit this1!eneration to die unsaved, so far as our consecrated labor can prevent it. No activity in providing for future generations can atone for our inactivity in providing for our own generation, which first of all we are to serve, by the will of God, with the gospel.
We pray God that this one thought may press with mighty and resist- less weight upon the heart and conscience of every believer. When Ohrist said, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature," he must have meant that those to whom he spoke should go forth and reach those who were then living. That command is of perpetua.l force. It applies to every new generation of believers; and it means that, in every successive age, the church shall both undertake and overtake this great work. If it seem too great, he reminds us that omnipotence is His: "All power;" omnipresence is His: "Lo, I am with you;" eternity is His: "Alway, even unto the end of the age."
And, if the church will take up this work faithfully, He will supple- ment all her efforts with His omnipotent, omnipresent, perpetual co- operation.
How the church may serve its own generation has an example in Scripture history. The so-called Acts of the Apostles is a book, the very frame work of which has a strange meaning. It covers just about thirty-three years, the average lifetime of a generation. It reveals the infant church, receiving its" infant baptism," its anointing ofthe Holy Ghost for service; and then undertaking to reach every "nation" and "every creature" with the proclamation of the gospel. The book covers only the period of a single genemtion, as though to show us what was possible even then, with a few disciples who had no wealth, no learning, no social standing; no modern facilities for travel and transportation, for translation and publication and distribution of the word of God, for acquiring and utilizi"!1g foreign tongues; and, as though to demonstrate to each succeeding generation of believers what could be done and what should be attempted, as the progress of the ages should put at their disposal new and marvellous helps to the work.
How did .those primitive disciples undertake the work of serving their own generation by the will of God? As John Wesley said, they were" All at it and always at it." The first glimpse we get of the apostolic church reveals the disciples, men and women, meeting for ten days of continuous prayer, waiting before God for the gift of the Promised Spirit. They had from Christ a verbal commission; now they tarried for that enduement and endowment which were to become a new and actual and dynamic commission: they had the message; now they waited for the power. The only time that was "lost" for the direct work, was the time" saved" in getting the divine preparation for the work. Then, at once, on that very day of Pentecost, the actual business of bearing the message of life to every nation and every creature was systematically begun. Peter's unfolding of pruphecy and of the history that fulfilled it, was the means of bringing 3,000 hearers to the immediate acceptance of Christ as Messiah and Saviour.
That was' the first step. What was the second? Those converted souls became witnesses for God and the gospel unto the uttermost parts of the earth. Read this explicit narrative. Why is the Inspiring Spirit so careful to leave on record the wide representation gathered in that Pentecostal assembly? Four verses in the second chapter are given to the brief delineation of the Pentecostal Descent of Power: the fulness of time, the one accord in one place, the sudden sound from heaven, the three symbolic expressions of the Holy Spirit-the wind or breath, the invisible secret of communicated life; the fire, that represents light, or knowledge, heat, or love-that purifies what 18 most precious and consumes what is worthless; and the cloven ton.tue, that represents the VOICE, that sign and signal and symbol of intelligence and affection, multiplied to meet the ears of all strange peoples.
The next eight verses are given to the delineation of the wide territory represented in that Pentecostal gathering. "There were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven." And subsequently minuter particulars are added: they are from the remote East, Parthia and Media; from the north, Pontus, and the shores of the Black Sea; from the south, Arabia and Egypt; from the west, Crete and even Rome. In other words, every quarter and almost every portion of the known world is represented in that audience and in that anointing. Ears accustomed to strange tongues hear in those foreign dialects the story of redemption, and tongues accustomed to foreign speech begin to tell the story to others. What is the Spirit doing? Not simply bringing the message to the ea.rs of all nations in one gathering, but raising up and equipping a great body of heralds to bear the good tidings back to their own peoples. Let lis not attach too narrow a meaning to that phrase, "dwellinJ! at Jerusalem." * These were probably not permanent inhabitants, otherwise they would not have been more familiar with foreign tongues than with their own Jewish language, or the current Hellenistic dialect; they were proba- bly either Jewish proselytes or foreign Jewish residents, who were tem- porarily residing at Jerusalem to keep the sacred feasts, and who would, sooner or later, return to their own homes, going to all points of the compass to carry the good news of salvation. The Eunuch of Ethiopia has generally been regarded as such a proselyte, who, on his return from the sacred city to Ethiopia, was reading Isaiah's prophecy, deeply absorbed in what he has heard at Jerusalem, and who, on be- ing taught by Pl:;tilip, and illumined by the Holy Spirit, went on his way rejoicing; and, as traditon states, together with the evangelist Mark, founded the church at Alexandria.
But we autictipate. The natural, conservative, concentrative ten- dency of the Hebrew converts would lead to their prolonged iltay at Jerusalem. On the one hand there was the old exclusive jealousy of Jerusalem as the capital city and only nucleus of the Jewish state and church; and on the other hand there was the exclusive spirit of Judaism that shut in all Jews, and shut out all Gen- tiles as common and unclean. God interposed to prevent the church from u tarrying at Jerusalem" after being "endued with power from on high." First, He dispersed those disciples by persecution and while the apostles were still at Jerusalem, the great body of be- lievers were scattered abroad, and went every where preaching the word. t And, secondly, He taught Peter, who was both a leader in evangelism and in exclusivism, a threefold lesson on the house-top, that what God had cleansed no man must call common. Here, then, were the three grand conditions of universal evangelism: a universal commission and endl1ement, a general scattering of disciples in all di- rections, and a rebuke of all exclusive Jewish prejudices.
The church of apostolic times heeded the voice and finger of God, and took up, straightway, the work of preaching the gospel to their generation. They all undertook to reach all men God gave suc- cessive Pentecosts, as He always will when the work is done in His own fashion. The outpouring in Jerusale~ was followed by another in Samaria nnder Philip, and another in Oornelius's palace under Peter, and another in Ephesus under Paul,-and so Jew, Samaritan, Ro- man and Greek-all had typical blessings.
Another step must be noted: the division ofthe world-field. So vast a terriiory could not be covered 'in one generation without system There wert several conspicuous" pillars" of the church, leaders of the Lord's host: Peter, James, John; and, later, Paul was added.
*KilTou'oiJV're~. tActs viii : 1-4; xi : 19-21. There were at least four classes of peoples to be looked after-converted Jews in Judea, dispersed Jews in the East, Greeks and Romans. A glance at the Acts of the Apostles and at Galatians 1 : 7-10, will show that there was a distinct und~rstanding entered into and acted upon that there should be a divisiou of labor. James seems to have become the guardian of converted Hebrews in Judea; Peter, to have gone eastward to the Dispersed Tribes about Babylon; John, to have nourished the church in Ephesus, the center of Greek civilization and Diana worship; and Paul to have set his face toward Rome and Gaul. There were doubtless minor subdivisioJ).s of labor, but these cardinal points in the compass of the work are conspicuous. In the book of Acts, after the first ten chapters, Peter disappears from view, because the book is mainly designed to tell us how the doors were opened to the Gentile world, entered by the apostle of the Gentiles. But we are not necessarily to suppose Peter to have been any less active or successful among the circumcision than Paul among the uncircumcision.
Now we have no record of Peter's activity in evangelism, but we may take Paul's as a specimen of how one believer in the early church served his own generation. We find this one man going within thirtythree xears over most of the known world west of the Golden Horn, from Antioch to Athens, from Jerusalem to Rome, and, as some think, to Spain and Britain. And the astounding result of such evangelistic activity on the part of th~ whole church is that Paul is able to write to the Oolossians, before his death, which must have been, of course, before Nero's death, which was in A. D. 68: "The gospel is come unto you as it is in all the world;" and again, "the gospel which ye have heard and which was preached to every creature (or, in all creation, R. V.) under heaven." * Making all allowance for a legit- imate generality of I:'tatemen t, we find it difficult to get away from this fact that, within thirty-five years after our Lord ascended, the gospel had been carried throughout the known world. That generation of believers gave the gospel to that same generation of unbelievers as it has never been done since!
There has been a long, a criminal delay of the church in taking up the enterprise of a world's evangelization. While we have been" playing at missions," fifty generations have come and gone, without one generatiou of them all being overtaken with the gospel! It is believed that, since the days of our Lord, the average of a generation has been from about one-third to one-half of the present popUlation of the globe, say 600,000,000. If so, the aggregate of these fifty generations has been 30,000,000,000 or twenty times the entire present population of the globe! Of course we can form no conception of such a vast host. To march by us in procession, day and night, ten abreast • Colossians i : 6-23; 1 Thess. i: 6·7. passing each second, such a multitude would require nearly a centur,y! Each generation thus perishing without Christ has gone to accuse the church before God of the double crime of unfaithfulness to the Saviour and neglect of souls.
Meanwhile, during all these fifty generations, the church has been suffering injury in every vital interest. The connection between evangelistic activity and evangelical purity is natural and necessary. Dr. Duff rang out this as with a voice of thunder. Shaftesbury testified that the most potent remedy for current unl:>elief, skepticism and ungodliness, is to be perpetually busy in work for souls. And Dr. Hitchcock, almost with his last breath, declared that the church that has no missionaries will soon have no ministers. The primitive church still stands a model and a pattern of purity of faith and fidelity of work. Never was evangelism so universal, both as to those who undertook it and as to those who were reached by it. Ever since, and down to our day, the best churches in every respect have been those which are foremost as aggressive missionary bodies. In fact, the guage of church life has come to be, what we are doing for lost souls outside of ourselves.
But, most of all, this thought oppresses us, that for fifty generations Christ has been waiting to see of the travail of His soul and to be satisfied. Missions have an intensely vital relation to the person of our Lord. He left certain representative commands-commandswhich center about His own personality: "Follow thou ME 1" "Do this, in remembrance of ME"; "Go ye: and 10, I am with you." Weare identified with Him; we are to share His travail, His yearnings, His sorrows, His vicarious agonies;* yes, and His conquest, His satisfaction, His coronation, too. How can we be Christ's, and yet have none of His passion for souls? How escape travailing in birth for souls until Christ be formed in them ?t Upon the banners of the church let us emblazon, as in letters of light, our motto: THE WORLD FOR CHRIST IN OUR OWN GENERATION; and let us take up the work anew, with a firm purpose, by God's help, to overtake eveOry living soul with the message of the Gospel before this generation shall pass away 1 God is in haste to cut short this work in righteousness. In a reverent sense, Dr. Gordon has reversed the old adage, and says, "God's extremity is man's opportunity." We, who are His disciples, must come up on higher ground. Our platform must be one of abso- lute self-surrender to Him for service to our own generation. We must be willing, now and here, to say, "Lord, I am ready to do what- soever Thou shalt appoint." In simple obedience to that last command, without a secular spirit, a calcula:ting hyper-caution, a dependence on worldly patronage, a distrust of adequate support, without wait- *0010s8. i:24. tGal. Iv: 19. ing for the whole church to recognize her obligation or attempt to"
discharge it, those who do feel the mighty pressure of these great facts and truths must covenant with God and each other, that this generation shall not pass away till all this work be done I This conception of evangelism grows upon the writer until it is difficult to think of anything else. God has given to the church of our day a material equipment for this work which is as far in advauce of apostolic days as the speed of steam and lightning is ahead of camels and horses. Every resource is divinely at our disposal. We can go round the earth in ninety days, and girdle it with electricity in ninety seconds. Steam cars wait to carry us wherever engineering can construct a track, and steamboats are ready to float us wherever rivers run. The printing press will multiply the healing leaves of the tree of life as fast as we can scatter them, and the common school, now fast becoming universal, offers to fit every man to read the Scripture in his own tongue. God has flung all the doors open, and every land is now a Macedonia whose voice is, "Come over and help us/' Back of the missions of a century there stand results so amazing that even unbelievers confess the finger of God. In front of the mission band lie unoccupied territories, inviting the plowman and the sower, and white harvest fields demanding the reaper with his sickle. .AJ3 to money, if one-tenth of the treasure now in the coffers of Christians in England and America were put on the altar of sacrifice, it would suffice to multiply all that is now spent on the entire mission field~ two hundredfold. Do we realize what that means? It means twelve hundred thousand missionaries in the field, or one to every eight hundred of the unevangelized; it means churches, schools and colleges in every heathen, pagan, papal, and Moslem community; it means the blessing long since promised, when all the tithes are brought into the store-house,-a blessing poured out until there be none left to pour ouf; 1* Here is a magnificent material equipment, but it is a machine without an adequate motor. All the combined energy of the flesh will never set this huge mechanism in motion. There is bnt one Power equal to the emergency; it is the vital spark that flashes from above, and only prevailing prayer can bring that spark down. The whole church of Gou should be on her knees, pleading and waiting for the celestial fire. Let that descend, and every wheel will move and every lever play; money will be outpoured like water; life will offer its vitality and vigor, and, better than treasure or life, LOVE will count no cost dear, no toil hard, no load heavy, when Jesus leads and souls are dying! We write these words with the conviction taking hold like a taproot upon the depths of our being, that it is both practicable and *lIIalachI3: 10. See Hebrew.
MUSTARD SEEDS OF MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA
possible to preach the Gospel to every human being before this generation passes away!
THE MUSTARD SEED OF MISSIONS IN SOUTH AFRICA.
BY REV. LEWIS GROUT, WEST BRATTLEBOROUGH, VT.
IT was a little more than 150 years ago, or in 1737, that George Schmidt began to tell the story of the cross to a little company of darkminded Hottentots at Bavian's Kloof, 130 miles out from Cape Town. This little nook at length took on the more beautiful and appropriate name Genadendal. or "Vale of Grace." Having built a house, planted a garden, set out a few fruit trees, taught some of the people to read the Scriptures, and gathered a few of them into the fold of Christ, the Dutch settlers began to put such hindrances in the way of his work that, at the end of seven years, he was obliged to give up and leave the field. And yet, the seed he sowed, though much of it laY" buried long, was neither lost nor forgotten. After a lapse of 50 years the way was opened for others to come in and renew the work. Reaching the same field, "the Vale of Grace," to their great joy, in a few remains of the old mission walls, a few fruit trees still in bearing, and, most of all, in a few praying souls, they found glad mementoes and proof of the good work there begun in the years of long ago, and among the rest an aged Hottentot woman, whom SchmIdt had baptized, who still remembered her beloved teacher, had, indeed, a Bible he had given her, and rejoiced exceedingly when she was told that the new missionaries were his brethren. This new mission, though for a time greatly opposed by the Dutch, was greatly blessed of God. The enterprise, there and thus begun, has continued to grow until that" Vale of Grace" is now able to show a large and prosperous settlement, and a congregation of more than three thousand members, and from this blessed center the good work of theMoravians has gone on to prosper and extend till it now includes two South African provinces with 16 stations, 60 missionaries, and more than 12,000 converts to the Christian faith.
It was not long after Schmidt's immediate successors revived his work, that the London Missionary Society was formed (1795) and began to seek some one who should be suited to the same pioneer work of carrying the light of the Gospel to the benighted tribes of Africa. Nor was it long before they found such a man in the person of John Theodosius Vanderkemp, of Holland. Having pursued a five years' course of training at the University of Leyden, distinguished himself as captain of horse and lieutenant of dragoon guards in the army, taken a course of study in the classics, both ancient and modem, in the natural sciences, and in philosophy, at Edinburgh, and then risen to great repute in the practice of medicine, and been subject, meantime, to much severe discipline at the hands of the Lord, at the age of fifty he responded to the call to be a leader in raising the standard of t116 cross in one of the darkest parts of the earth, and entered upon his work in 1799 at the Cape of Good Hope. Having labored for a time among the slaves, Mohammedans and Hottentots here at the Cape, and awakened a deep interest in his mission on the part of the colonists, he set forward for the regions beyond; and then to the northeast, among Hottentots, Kafirs, and other tribes, shrinking from no labor or peril, however great, he did a marvellous work for Christ and his poor. Often opposed, often persecuted, yet never yielding, he devoted himself with great diligence and fidelity, for 13 years, to the cause he loved; and then, with a few farewell words, went suddenly to the rest his Lord ~ad prepared for him in "the better country." The station which Vanderkemp founded at Bethelsdorf continued to prosper, and the work he began under the auspices of the London Society went on to develop and extend until it has already raised up more than a hundred native preachers, brought about 6,000 souls into the church, and won to its instruction about 30,000 adherents.
'1'he Wesleyan Missionary Society began work in South Africa in 1814. Extending its operations by degrees from the Oape Colonyinto, Kaffraria, Natal, and the Bechuanaregions, it now numbers 40 stations, 60 missionaries, and more than 6,000 church members. The Rhenish Society, which commenced operations in this field in 1829, now numbers more than 10,000 members. The Berlin began in 1833 and has 8,000 members. The American Board, which entered the field in 1834, has grown into three missions, the Zulu, the East African, and the West African, and now numbers 30 stations, 48 laborers from America, more than 40 native assistants, about 2,000 under instruction and 7,000 adherents. Besides these, the French Protestant Missionary Society is doing a large and blessed work among the Bechuana and other tribes. The Norwegians are laboring among the Zulus, the Scotch among the Kafirs, the Hanoverians and the Ohurch of England in Natal and Zululand.
These, with a few other organizations, make more than a dozen societies at work in South Afri~a, occupying more than 200 stations, and employing about 500 foreign laborers, besides a much larger force of native helpers. Of the success and value of these labors we get some idea when we find it estimated that not less than 40,000 souls have been brought in this way into the Redeemer's fold, 50,000 children gathered into Ohristian schools, and 100,000 men and women blessed with the direct teaching of the gospel of Ohrist.
Similar labors have been bestowed upon other parts of the continent, and similar results achieved. Well nigh every Christian nation is coming to have a mission, one or more, in some part of that long-neglected land. The mustard seed which the Lord used George Schmidt to plant 150 years ago, in the Southern angle of the continent, though it lay, in
HE BOOK OF ACTS AND THE WORLD'S EVANGELIZATION
a measure, hid for half a century, has taken deep root, sent up a vigorous stem, and sent out many a strong and fruitful branch. The successes of the past, the openings of the present, and the demand for the future should awaken a redoubled devotion to the blessed work. In no age of the world, in no history of continents, can anything be found so surprising as the discoveries and developments made in Africa since the days of those pioneer missionaries, Schnirlt and Vanderkemp. It would take long to tell how her bays have been sounded since their time, how her plains have been spanncd, her mountains scaled, her rivers threaded, lakes discovered, diamonds found, and a goodly number ' of grand highways projected into even "';he remotest parts of that, till of late little known, yet most marvellous land of the sun; and all under the gracious ordering of the Lord, that men freighted with the blessings of the gospel of God's own dear Son might enter and occupy. EthIopia, all Africa, is on tiptoe of expectancy, only waiting to know who God is, that she may stretch out her hands unto Him, and be lifted into His truth and grace.
THE BOOK OF AOTS AND THE WORLD'S EVANGELIZA- TION.
BY PROF. A. W. PITZER, WASHINGTON, D. C.
THE Book of Acts was written by a Gentile physician, who was the intimate associate of the special Apostle to the Gentiles and his companion in the work of evangelization. It is not a record of disconnected facts and incidents in the lives of the Apostles, but an accurate and scientific history of what Jesus continued to do after His ascension, through His spirit, His word and His servants. The principles and patterns of all missionary work, in all lands, among all peoples, until time shall be no more, are contained in this precious book; and as the church addresses herself more and more eagerly to the great and blessed work of preaching the gospel to every creature, she will also turn with ever-increasing delight to this noblest of all missionary records for guidance, for strength and for comfort.
Until our Lord shall return in bodily presence from the heavens, the elements of the missionary problem will never be essentially different from what they were when Luke prepared this record: A risen Lord on his Father's throne in glory; an omniscient and omnipresent Spirit; a living Word, written by men inspired by the Holy Ghost; living men and women, filled with the Spirit and thus endued with power to be witnesses for Ohrist; a lost race, without God and without hope either for this world or the next; the command of the King, H Go ye"; and the limit of labor-Ci into all the world."
In this Apostolic constitution and by-laws of the First Missionary Society there is a conspicuous absence of elaborate and intricate machinery, of minute rules and regulations for the guidance of the missionaries, ot endowed colleges and seminaries for training ministers, of multiplied scholastic requirements before anyone should preach the gospel-in fact, many things now thought to be indispensable, were not, at that time, even so much as thought of.
And yet the old Roman Empire extended from north to south more than 1,500 miles, and from east to west more than 2,000 miles, and included Medes, Parthians, Syrians, Ethiopians, Egyptians, Cretes, Arabs, Greeks, and many other tribes and tongues of Europe. ChrIst was the Captain, the Word was the instrument, believers were the agents, power was to come from the Holy Ghost; the only waiting to be done by the missionaries was for Him: He would endue them for their work, then they must start, and never stop until the gospel had been preached among all nations as God's witness.
Not the apostles only, but all disciples, were to go everywhere preaching the gospel. The duty of evangelizing the world was not laid upon a chosen few, with superb scholastic attainments, who could discuss gnosticism and polytheism with the scientists of that era; but every disciple who felt in his own soul the power of the Holy Ghost, was to go forth, and as the one supreme business of his life tell his fellow-men what he personally knew of Jesus of Nazareth; they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and went everywhere evangelizing.
We hear much in these days of new and difficult problems, and of new and special difficulties in the missionary work. But there are no new problems, and no special difficulties. The problems and difficulties that confront the missionary of to-day confronted the missionary of the Apostolic age. Heathenism, polytheism, philosophical speculations, sacramentarianism, polygamy, drunkenness, licentiousness, prize-fights, theatres, party spirit, persecutions, unknown languages, different tribes, tongues, races, slavery-these were in the world then, they are in the world now. The Book of Acts is a perfect Manual of Missions for all Christians, in all lands, among all peoples, through all ages, until the gospel has been preached to all nations as God's witness and the end shall come, and the Lord shall return.
The gospel proclaimed by apostolic Christians came in contact and conflict with every phase and form of human existence; in contact and conflict with Jewish bigotry, with Grecian idolatry, with Roman cruelty, with Cyprian licentiousness, with Ephesian magic, with Corinthian luxury, with Lystrian barbarism, with Sadducean skepticism, with Epicurian agnosticism-in contact with race prejudice, caste, polygamy, slavery, the drink traffic and the social evil; and the testimony oJ the humble witnesses, under the power of the Holy Ghost, was indeed the power of God unto salvation; and the men and women of all classes and conditions, of al~ races and tongues, turned from idolatry and vice to serve the living God and to wait for his son, Jesus Christ, from heaven. What problem or difficulty can meet the evan-
THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS
gelists of to-day that did not meet the evangelists of the first Christian century? Within the pale of the church, then, there were mistakes of jndgment, and sins in conduct; there were legalism and Antinomianism; excesses and excitements; false teachers and bad doctrine; dissentions and factions; backsliders and apostates; but in spite of all these evils, the work went on, believers were multiplied on every hand, churches were organized and Christ was honored.
After eighteen centuries, the church of this age finds itself engaged in the evangelization of the world; and we call this the era of univerversal missions, when many questions of urgent interest cry aloud for answer; the sphere and functions of Missionary Boards, the powers of the evangelist, the relation between the home and foreign churches, the status of heathen converts, churches and ministers, the erection and support of schools and colleges, female missionaries, medical missions, the uses of cI,"eeds, denominational comity, increase of heathen populations, Mohammedanism and Buddhism. Whatever answers may be given to these questions, the fact remains that all the essential elements of the missionary problem are precisely the same to-day that they were in the apostolic age of the church. As regards evangelization, there is no new thing under the sun. In every perplexity and difficulty the disciple of Ohrist may turn with confident hope to this Missionary Manual for light and guidance; he will not here search in vain for either principle or practice, for example or illustration.
THE MIRAOLES OF MISSIONS.
. WORK AMONG THE WY'NDS IN IJLASGOW.* [EDITORIAL-A. T. P.] LOVE is omnipotent. Wherever passion for souls burns there we may find a new mount of transfiguration, where the earthly takes on the complexion of the heavenly. Let us find an example of the power of such love and holy passion in one of the citief: of Scotland.
It is now a little more than forty years ago since a young man of 23 undertook work as an agent in the Glasgow Oity Mission. Even before he was fully accepted as a missionary by the directors of the work, he began his apprenticeship by visits at every house in one of the lowest districts, and by conversing with every person there encountered, as to eternal things. The whole salary he was to receive for a year's work was less than two hundred dollars; and the section of the city appointed to him was especially needy and destitute, and particularly difficult as a field of labor. It had never yet been occupied and was in the worst respect pioneer ground. It has been well said that he who is not ready to preach the gospel everywhere and anywhere is fit to preach nowhere; and we are more and more persuaded that if every candidate for the office of the ministry were first tried in some such field it would prove a training in its way more profitable than any • John G. Paton, missionary to the New Hebrides. London: Hodder& Stoughton. discipline in the classroom, and would "shake the napkin at the four corners," and disclose whether or not there were in it even "one talent" for winning souls. What a preparation for practical dealing with men and women and children; with people of every variety of temper and temperament, of thought and opinion, of character and life, would such an experience be !
But we anticipate. The young man, who took up that work in that most degraded district in the great Scotch Manchester, was John G. Paton; afterwards the devoted missionary to the New Hebrides, a man whose biography, just issued from the press of Hodder & Stoughton, is uusurpassed for stimulating and inspiring narrative by any existing story of heroism. Mr. Paton found that many families around the Green street of Oalton had never been visited by any TYbinister; and there were lapsed church members who, for ten and even twenty years, had never been in a church building, and had been called on not even by a Ohristian visitor. Of course, in such classes and courts the worst conditions of society were to be found. Drunkenness, infidelity, licentiousness, blasphemy, ran riot; and there was no religion to set up any barrier against them save Romanism in it~most ignorant and superstitious form. Sin and vice walked about openly, naked and not ashamed.
Four hours a day were spent in house-to-house visits. Little prayer circles, or larger evening meetings, with personal sympathetic contact, were the means mostly used to reach and relieve all this misery of soul and body. A Sabbath evening evangelistic service was very needful; but the only available place for it was a hay-loft, with cowstalls below and a rickety wooden staircase as an outside approach. After a year's hard work Mr. Paton could show only six or seven nonchurch goers whom he had persuaded to come regularly to this rude assembly room, besides about as many more who on a week night met in a humble room of a house of the poor. That very house was a scene of gospel triumphs. The hardworking Irishwoman who lived there had a husband whob the demon of drink turned into a monster, and who cruelly beat her and pawned for accursed rum everything of value. Through the influence of these night meetings this man became a total abstainer, abandoned his evil doing, and not only attended Sabbath worship regularly, but urged others both to become abstainers from drink and attendants at worship. '.rhis man and thi!:! woman became the first real helpers of Mr. Paton in his self-denying work in the wynds of Glasgow.
Still the results of twelve months' work were so small that the directors inclined to abandon Green street as a hopeless and fruitless field and try some other section of t.he great city. But Mr. Paton's heart had become enlisted, and he who afterward at hourly risk of life persisted in abiding among the cannibals of Tanna, pleaded for another six months among Green street heathen. He obtained permission; and at the next meeting told his little congregation that if he could not induce more non-church-goers to attend he would be sent to work elsewhere. Few as they were, they had already learned to believe in Mr. Paton and to love him, and they remembered that first lesson in arithmetic, "two times one is two; " and so each one present agreed to come to the next meeting and bring one more. Of course that simple and easy method at once doubl~d the attendance. When people learn this practical multiplication table, it is surprising what wonders are wrought. From this time forth no house that could be had in that whole district was big enough for the meeting. A Bible class, singing class, communicants' class, Total Abstinence Society, Mutual Improvement Society, etc., were instituted. Beside the usual services, two prayer-meetings were opened for the policemen, one for those who were on day duty, and one for those on night duty. Mr. Paton now found every evening in the week occupied with his work, and every Sabbath brought two public services.
And now the hay-10ft had to be abandoned, for the owner required it, and the poor people were at a loss for any other place of assembly. The hostlers and other servants of a certain coach-hirer, lIfenzies by name, got permission to clear out another unused hay-loft, and at their own cost built an outside stairs for approach, to the great relief of the little congregation. Mr. Paton shared the general joy, but felt that if the work were to prosper, a permanent building of some sort must be had which they could control; and with the help of Thomas Binnie, Esq., secured not only a good site, but a Mission Hall was projected at Mr. Binnie's own expense. Just then a block of buildings being offered for sale, singularly adapted for the purpose, this generous benefactor persuaded Dr. Symington's congregation, in connection with which this mission work was carried on, to buy the whole block; and so, at the crisis of the work, God's providence put at the disposal of Mr. Paton and his mission buildings suitable both for evangelistic and educational work.
Of course the time had now come for reorganizing aud enlarging this work. At 7 A. M. on the Lord's Day. Mr. Paton held a class for BIble study, where from seventy to one hundred of the poorest young men and women of the vicinity were gathered. They came in their workclothes, for they had but one suit, all without coverings for their heads, and some without shoes for their feet. Mr. Paton remarked with joy how contact with the gospel brought improvement even in dress and manners. Gradually the attendants began to come in better and more complete attire, fitter for such assemblies; then they were emboldened to "go to church; " and then to bring others with them. Their teacher's joy in his work was ecstatic, but it was not reached by any dainty and delicate steps. At six o'clock every Sunday morning this indefatigable worker might have been seen running from stl'eet to sheet and from door to door for an hour, drumming up his recruits. He kuocked and called, till he roused the careless and the sleepy; and by dint of such perseverance he got together and kept together that early morning Bible class. At a later stage in its history, a band of voluntary visitors from the class itself undertook to relieve him and loolf after the irregular, indifferent and tardy members.
On Monday nights this devoted city missionary held a sort of Bible ;reading for all who chose to come; on Wednesday evenings a combined Bible lecture and prayer service that half filled the church; and on Thursdays an Intending Oommunicants' class for the instruction of those who wished to confess Ohrist and join anyone of the Protestant churches in the city. Friday evening brought a singing class for church music, and Saturday, a total abstinence meeting, in which the members themselves conducted the varied exercises. Mr. ,Paton testifies to the great influence and power of Temperance as the handmaid of the gospel. He himself being a total abstainer both from liquor and tobacco, he found himself the more able to influence others to forego these injurious indulgences.
Thus this mission, which began with so little promise, became a feeder to all the churches, training active and useful members for neighboring congregations; not only so but it became a kinll of theological seminary in which eight lads got their first lessons in Latin and Greek from Mr. Paton's little stock, and their training for the work of preaching the gospel and winning souls.
And now this Oalton Mission grew rapidly to unrivalled dimensions. From 500 to 600 were in weekly attendance, exclusively poor wageworkers and very largely mill-workers. The results were wide-reaching and far-reaching. Habits improved, personal appearance and the whole environment; many removed to better localities. But Mr. Paton kept watch and hold npon them nntil he saw them safely housed in some church. Often his four hours of daily labor which were "nominated in the bond," expanded to double that time. He trained eight or ten devoted young men and twice as many young women as visitors and tract distributors, and twice a month they went on their rounds of visits. At monthly meetings of workers, reports were made and matters of importance brought to notice. Mr. Paton fou.ud himself the head of a sort of Bureau of Tract Distribution, Relief and Employment.
All this work for God and His poor could not be carried on without antagonism. The keepers of the public houses saw the Total Abstinence Society making fearful inroads on their destructive business, and they were ready for any act of undcrhanded or openhanded violence. Mx:. Paton held, on summer nights and Saturday afternoons, Evangelistic and Total Abstinence meetings in Thomson's Lane. The top of an outside staircase furnished a ready pulpit, and the audiences were large, though the gospel had no meretricious charms of art and resthetics by which to "draw." Oomplaints were made by these tavern keepers to the captain of the police that these meetings were hurting their trade. l!'ortunately the complamt was true, though in another sense frpm that intended by the complainants. The captain happened to be himself a pious Wesleyan, and he informed Mr. Paton of the complaints and of the attendance of his police force, but bade him go on and conduct the meeting as usual. A large crowd gathered, and among them many of the dram-sellers and their minions, expecting to see the police break up the meeting and humiliate the missionary and his helpers. The police appeared in force, headed by Oaptain Baker, and the foes of the mission were jubila.nt in anticipation of a row. But the meeting proceeded in so orderly a fashion that Oaptain Baker himself surprised both friends and foes by mounting the platform and devoutly listening till the close. Thus the whiskey ring had to "wait out" the service and hear the gospel-which was not a frequent experience. And at the end of the service Oaptain Baker, instead of breaking up the meeting, or prohibiting others like it, spoke warmly in favor of the work and wished it God speed.
So the enraged dram-sellers planned another assault. The next Saturday evening, a spirit-dealer ran his van in front of the iron gateway of the church which was the only place of egress for the assembled multitude. Two young men were sent by Mr. Paton to drag away the wagon; they were seized and marched off to the police office for "injuring the whiskey-dealer'S property!" and when Mr. Paton ran after them to ask their offense, he was threatened with similar arrest if he did not cease his interference. He went with them to the station. The rumor flew that the missionary and his young men were being" taken up" by the police, and a crowd ran to the rescue; but Mr. Paton begged them to refrain from all disturbance. The lieutenant on duty was manifestly in league with the conspirators and no justice would have been done but for the interference of some gentleman who threatened to expose the whole outrage, and the accused parties were suddenly set at liberty.
Romanism and skepticism likewise opposed the work; and Mr. Paton at first tried to offset their influence by lectures with free discussion at the close, but he became satisfied that he was only advertising the devil's wares, and he abandoned all defensive methods for the simple preaching of the gospel.
We cannot close this remarkable chapter of city missions without an example or two of the wondrous power of the gospel in these Wynds. An infidel lecturer in that district was very sick and Mr. Paton was called to see him. He found him in the midst of a library of infidel publications which he eagerly circulated to poison the minds of the linwary. Whatever little he knew of the Word of God, was only sufficient to feather the arrows of his ridicule. But now he felt himself to Qe taking that awful" leap into the dark," and his mind was full of terror at the "unknown." Mr. Paton's visits were so blessed even to .that hardened sinner, that another wonder, like that of Ephesus, occurred. With cries and tears for pardon and peace, he became a penitent believer and called in all the infidel works he had set in circulation, piled them together after his wife and daughter had torn them in pieces, and he himself struck the light that turned the pile to ashes. * That man was so completely transformed by that simple gospel message that he not only abandoned his infidelity and ceased to be a panderer and procurer for the devil, but till the close of life continued to wit- ness to souls and thereby to win souls.
The district where Mr. Paton labored was so degraded and depraved that he not unfrequently came upon those who seemed to be possessed of a demon. He met an infidel whose blasphemies made even his vile neighbors shudder; and who even as death approached would not hear a word of gospel comfort, but foamed with rage and even spat at Mr. Paton when he mentioned the name of Jesus. His hatred to God seemed to drive him mad. He yelled like a demoniac, and tore to pieces his very bedclothes, till he had to be bound to his iron bed, still foammg out curses and blasphemies. When the humble missionary asked if he might pray for him, he shouted with all his remaining strength, "Pray for me to the DEVIL!" And when Mr. Paton re- minded him that he had declared that he did not believe in either God or devil, he shouted again in terrific rage, "Yes, I do believe in a devil and a God, and a just God, too; but I have hated Him in life and I hate Him in dea.th I "
Yet, even into such a "mouth of hell" went this fearless young mis- sionary, even there to rescue souls; and he did it I He was called to see a doctor who was both an unbeliever and a drunkard. In hi.s at- tacks of delirium tremens he had tried one and another method of suicide. At one time the watchers barely succeeded in dashing from his lips, after a fierce struggle, a fatal draught of prussic acid; again they caught a glimpse of a shining lancet hid in the :folds of his shirt with which he would have bled himself to death. In one of these fits of suicidal madness Mr. Paton, at his request, took his seat beside him, alone, he having first promised that he would do anything the mis- sionary would ask if everyone else might be put out of the room. After a long conversation Mr. Paton took down a dusty Bible that had long lain neglected in the closet, and after reading said: "Now, shall we pray?" "Yes," said the doctor; and kneeling beside him, the missionary whispered: "You pray first."
*Oompare Acts xix: 17-20.
NOTES FROM OUR ENGLISH CORRESPONDENT
"I curse. I cannot pray; would you have me curse God to His face? "
"You promised to do all that I asked. You must pray or try to . pray, and let me at least hear that you cannot."
"I cannot curse God on my knees; let me stand, and I will curse him; I cannot pray."
Mr. Patou gently but firmly held him on his knees, saying: "Just try to pray, and let me hear you cannot." Instantly he cried out: "0 Lord, thou knowest I cannot pray," and strove to rise up as though Satan were struggling within him to turn that beginning of prayer into a curse. But the noble winner of souls took up that unfinished prayer and continued it as though it were his own, till the old blasphemer was subdued and quiet at the feet of the Master. Then inducing him to lie down and sitting beside him till he fell asleep, Mr. Paton commended him to the care of the Lord, and slipped away to other duties. Returning later in the day, the poor victim of delirium was found in his right mind; nay, running to meet the missionary, he hugged him in his arms, crying, "Thank God, I can pray now! I rose refreshed from sleep, and for the first time in my life prayed with my wife and children; and now I shall do so every day and serve God while I live, who hath dealt" in so great mercy with me !" And so he did, joining Dr. Symington's church, and giving his medical skill to a holy ministry to God's destitute little ones, as anxious for their souls as their bodies, until he, who once could not pray, but only curse, fell sweetly asleep in Jesus, to wake where there is "no more curse."
What wonder that even anonymous letters threatening his life, and the public curses from the altar by Romish priests, and the advice of directors of the mission could not induce this brave city missionary to leave a work attended by such supernatural power of God. For ten years he struggled patiently on, though he was at one time felled to the g.round by a stone hurled.at him by a malignant Papist, and mar- vellously escaped assault after assault upon his life. While we sit quietly at home, in our easy chair, or making rousing addresses or write with burning pens on city evangelization, or the estrangement of the masses from the church, here is one man who dives into the depths of all this depravity and degradation, and demonstrates what love and the gospel can do to rescue drowning souls!
NOTES FROM OUR ENGLISH CORRESPONDENT, REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, A. S. A.
I. RELEASE OF EAST AFRICAN MISSIONARIES.
AFTER months of suspense there is rejoicing among the frIends of the English Church Missionary Society over the telegram from Zanzibar of May 5: "Mr. D. A. L. Hooper, the last of the missionaries detained by Bushiri, has arrived here safely." In conne"ction with the release of the entire band of missionaries, special acknowledgment is due to the British Consul- General, Col. Euan Smith, at Zanzibar. His energy and tact in effecting the safe arrival of the missionaries recalls the generous aid tendered to Dr. Livingstone by Sir John Kirk some 25 years ago. Since the outbreakofhos- tilities between. the Arabs and German traders, the missionaries have been imprisoned at the mission stations of Mamboia and Mpwapwa, about 160 miles from Bagamoyo. Early in February the British Consul deputed the Arab Commissioner to re-open the negotiations for the safe conduct of the missionaries to the coast. Meanwhile, March 11, a gleam of consolation was given by the French missjonaries securing the ransom of the German missionaries, numbet"ing six men and one lady, on payment of 6,000 rupees and the sunender of 12 slaves captured by the German war vessel, the Leip- sic. Subsequently rumors reached Zanzibar that the missionaries belong- ing to England were in daily apprehension of a catastrophe at the mission station. A letter from Mrs. Roscoe, a missionary's wife, dated Mamboia, March 11, and received in England April 28, showed the danger to which the brave band was exposed. The raids of the hostile natives compelled them twice to retire to the hills. In vain they tried to obtain a travelling escort. From this neighborhood Mr. Brooks, at his own risk and against the wishes of his friends, attempted at the cost of his life, to make a pas- sage. The lady correspondent had slight faith in Bushiri, which was speed- ily vedfied by his demand for a ransom as soon as he had the missionaries in his power.
Late in March the French missionaries, by request of the British authori- ties, prevailed upon Bushiri to grant the English missionaries protection from Mamboia and guaranteed arrival into Bagamoyo. Thh. port and mis- sionary station is COining in to rapid prominence. From Bagamoyo, which lies to the southwest of Zanzibar, runs the main trade route inland to Lake Tanganyika. A telegram was dispatched to England April 24, fromZanzi- bar, stating that Mr. Roscoe, of the Church Missionary Society, and his . wife, who were on their way from Mamboia to the coast, had been released by Bushiri and were then receiving the hospitality of the French mission station at Bagamoyo. This good news was darkened with the intelligence of the retention in Bushiri's camp of the Rev. W. E. Taylor, Dr. C. S. Ed- wards and MI'. D. A. L. Hooper, three of the society's missionaries, as hos- tages, for whose redemption 10,000 rupees were demanded. With commenda- ble decision the acting British Consul, Mr. Hawes, authorized the Ft"ench missionaries to pay the entire required amount.
A message dated Zanzibar, April 28, intimated that Bushiri had allowed the Rev. W. E. Taylor and Dr. Edwards to leave his quarters. Without de- lay, the missionaries, in the company of Mr. and Mrs. Roscoe, proceeded from Bagamoyo to Zanzibar, en route for Mombasa. Bushiri still detained 111'. Hooper, on the plea that he was not a missionary and did not hail either from Mpwapwa or Mamboia. Fresh negotiations resulted in his release as announced in the first telegram. Happily, the reported death of Mr. Stokes is untrue. Despite his very critical situation, he has passed through the country safely, and is now on the Victoria Nyanza, arranging for commu- nication by water with Uganda.
The unwearied efforts of Col. Euan Smith throughout the negotiations }Iave made him popular on the East African coast and in England. His de- parture from Zanzibar on a short visitto London was a signalfor an ovation at Zanzibar. In this the fOI"eign representatives, the native community, and even influential Arabs participated. Captain Wissmann cordially bade the Consul a temporary farewell, expressing his intention to encourage British Indian commerce on the German seaboard, and forthwith to open and . protect the caravan routes into the interior !rom Bagamoyo, and Bwam- bara.
Since Col. Euan Smith's arrival in England he has paid visits to the For- eign Office. He has freely communicated his views to the Church Mission- ary Society with regard to the outlook in East AfrIca. With Great Britain the Sultan remains friendly. In suppressing slavery the combined blockade of Germany, England and the other powers had been most effective. The conveyance of slaves by sea had been almost entirely checked. A less fa- vorable statement is made respecting the stoppage of the importation of arms and ammunition. These were landed among general cargoes in large dhows. The Colonel denies the truth of the charge made in the English House of Commons, that slave dhows carried the French flag, or that let- ters of marque were given to such craft by French Cousuls. With reference to German colonization, the Colonel spoke of an interview with Captain Wissmann at Zanzibar. He believed him to be a man of great power and I knowledge, whose experience would undoubtedly help him in hi,; mission.
The latest telegram, May 5, states that the hostilities between Captain Wissmann and Bushiri are imminent neal' Bagan-lOYo. The German force numbers about 400 men, composed of Europeans, Soudanese, Tomalis and Zulus. His purposed by the Germans to restore law at Lundi, Kilwa, Dar- as-Salaam, Pangani and Tonga, and to make a re-conquest of the stations Usagara, Usegua, Ukami and Nguro, belonging to the German East African Company. Along the coast-line from Wanga to Rovuma Bay a pax Ger- manica will, if possible, be impol'ed. Gl'ave apprehensions are felt regard- ing the issues of the ensuing conflid on the mission centres situated in East Central Africa.
P.S.-We append the following telegrams, which are creating much ex- citement in English missionary and colonial circles: " ZANZIBAR, May 9. .. There was a decided engagement yesterday between Captain Wissmann and Bushiri, the former being assisted by a detachment of 200 German sailors. Bushiri's camp was captured and destroyed, and his followers dispersed. His loss was 70 killed and 20 prison- srs. One German naval officer was killed and several of Captain Wissmann's officers were wounded. Forty black soidiers were killed. Bushiri has escaped."
"BERLIN, May 10. "Captain Wissmann's victory over the Arab insurgent leader, Bushiri-a victory though achieved with considerable superior forces-bodes well, think people here, for the future tranquility of German East Africa. . The Imperial Commissary's forces numbered about 900 men, iucluding 200 marilles from the blockading squadron, while Bushiri's in- trenched camp was defended by only 600 of his followers. The fight was short and sharp. Bushiri. himself, managed to escape, according to one account, even before the stormers advanced on his position, his loss being 80 killed and 20 prisoners. while Captain Wissmann had 40 of his black troops killed and one German sergeant of the naval contingent,one offi- cer-Lieutenant Schella of the Schwalbe-and a marine, of the Leipsic, were killed. What effect this defeat of the Arabs will have on the future of the missionaries and other Euro- peans in the interior, remains to b~ seen, but the opinion here is that the insurrection on the East coast will now collapse."
The London Times' comment on the conJecture is as follows: "The escape of Bushiri renders the issue uncertain, nor is it possible to avoid apprehen- sions for the safety of Europeans in the interior. There is a solidarity among the so-called Arab traders of Easters and Central Africa, arising from the con~iction that the advance of Europeans into the country is fatal to their interests."
II. THE BAPTIST MISSIONARY· SOCIETY.
Rev. C. H. Spurgeon has recently spoken in tones of strong encouragement on missionary matters. He remarked that it was wonderful how much was being done for the conversion of the world by Christian people of all sorts, in aU sorts of ways. He believed their missions would yield a glorious harvest tor Christ one day, whether they lived to see it or not. Sometimes it took a. good while to prepare for a great work, and a vast amount of material had to be expended in order to make the foundation solid and good. He had no doubt that by and by they would be well repaid for all their labor and sowing of seed. In a similat' vein of congratulation his brother, the Rev. J. A. Spurgeon, urged all Christian toilers to remember that love was the secret of success in foreign missions.
It is noteworthy that notwithstanding the criticisms which Mr. Caine made upon the methods pursued by the Baptist Society in India, and also the severe strictures to which Canon Taylor subjects the Church Mi5sionary Society, both societies are in receipt of unprecedented incomes for 1888. Secretary Baynes, of the former society, announced at the annual meeting thatthe receipts for the yeal' just closed amounted to £80,818, as compared with £66,- 209 for the previous year, an increase of £14,609. A special sum of £3,800 had likewise been contributed for the relief of sufferers in the Chinese famine. Still thet'e was at the close of the year a deficit of £2,800, caused by increased expense in connection with the Congo Mission. Part of this deficit had been made up. The river Congo rates for transportation were excessively large. Mr. Baynes stated that the contract for the new Congo railway had been signed. On its anticipated completion four years hence the cost of mission freights would be much reduced. This railway will have a length of 265 miles, at a cost of 25,000,000 francs. It will start from the Underhill Baptist Station on the Lower Congo and terminate at Kinshasha, Stanley Pool. By this communication Central African commerce, civilization and Christianity will be enormously benefited.
From the report of the society (ninety-seventh) we learn that six missionaries have died and eleven new ones gone forth during the past year. On the society's staff are now 125 English missionaries and 334 native preachers. The numbers of unpaid native agents and self-supporting native churches formed a promising outlook. In 1888 the converts baptized represented 317 in India, 113 in the Bahamas (and upwards of 240 awaiting baptism in the out-stations), 70 in the Shantung province of China, 40 in Japan and 22 at San Salvador. Marked progress was noted III the Congo Mission. In China there were 21 Baptist missionaries who for some months had been mainly engaged in ministering to the famine-stricken Chinese in Eastern China. Two of them were credited with keeping ~live 2,000 at a station in the city where they resided and over 10,000 others in the neighborhood.
Educational and literary agencies had been vigorously maintained. The sale of bibles, religious books and tracts during 188£ in India by the Baptists had never been exceeded. Issnes of portions and complete copies of the Scriptures from the Calcutta Mission numbered 34,535. Testimonies of missionaries and civilians demonstrate that the preaching of the gospel and the translations of the Bible are working a revolution in that empire, and inevitably, is gradually undermining the degraded superstitions of the Hindoos.
'1'he Baptist Zenana Missionary Society drew as usual a crowded assembly. Financially the year has been exceedingly stimulating. Receipts were £9,- 641, which leaves in the treasury a balance of £1,100. Miss Angus, of the Ladies' Home, Delhi, delivet'ed a notable address, from which we quote a single passage: "The map of India is now dotted over with mission stations. Butit must be remembered that these are, for the most part, situated in the large cities, and even there the work to be done far exceeds the strength of the workers. There are literally thousands of smaller towns and villages as yet unoccnpied, hundreds of thousands who have never heard the name of Christ. Day by day the cry goes up to God from many a heart, 'Refuge bath failed me, no man careth for my soul.' For' the millions of India still lie untouched.' Dr. Pierson's words in THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THill WORLD snould ring in our ears: • We are not responsible for conversion, but we are for contact.' When will the church of Christ rouse herself to the duty of contact with these millions?"
III. MISSIONARIES FOR CENTRAL AFRICA.
Toward the last of March a splendid ovation was given in'Exeter Hall to the eight pioneer missionaries departing for Central Africa in connection with the new Balolo Mission. This mission has been formed for the evangelization of the Balolo people dwelling in the Upper Congo, and is a continuation and extension of the Livingstone Inland Mission, begun in 1878. The chairman of the meeting, Mr. J. E. Mathieson, held that it was obligatOL'y upon England to let Africa occupy a large place in the affection and intecests of the church. In deprecating the sever-ely critical attitude taken by so many toward missions, the speaker endorsed the action of five or six of the great missionary societies in London whose methods were being revised in orner to open their doors to young men who had not gone through the regul.ar college curriculum. In sending forth this class of missionaries the directors would command the sympathies and gratitude of the churches. Dr. Grattan Guinness followed with a panegyric upon thL'ee men by whom Central Africa had been opened up to Christianity and commerce, viz.: Livingstone, Stanley and Leopold, King of the Belgians. On the banks of the Upper Congo, where the mission was to do its work, one tribe alone nuPlbered over ten millions, among whom only two missionaries labored. The mission was originally started by a gift of £800, and in a very short time more than £1,500 had been subscribed by friends interested in the enterprise. A rousing speech was delivered by that gifted and eminent representative of young Wesleyanism, the Rev. Hugh Price Hughes. He maintained that the antidote for drunkenness, gllombling and all forms of crime and infidelity in these days was foreign missions. England ought to be active in this branch of service, as there was probably no nation now existing that had done so much mischief as Great Britain by the liquor traffic, and in many other ways, and also by shedding innocent blood in almost every corner of the globe. He held that at the present time there were too few evangelists abroad and too many English ministers at home, a state of things which ought certainly and speedily to be reversed. The devoted leader of the mission, Mr. J. McKittrick, and some of his fellow-workers subsequently addressed the large gathering of friends.
IV. PROTESTANTISM IN HAMBURG.
In Hamburg, one of the gayest and most licentious cities In Europe, a bazaar liberally supported in aid of the maintenance of the Church Fund and, if possible, the early erection of a new English church in the city, realized £1,700. .This amount, raised by the combined efforts of English, American, German and other nationalities, chiefly of the Protestant faith, far exceeded the expectations of the small colony of British and American SUbjects. The l:iympathy which this worthy undertaking has elicited has been confirmed by the unanimous praise accorded to it in the local press, which describes it as the most tasteful and brilliant enterprise of the kind ever attempted in Hamburg.
At the opening ceremony, April 4, the reigning BUrgomaster Dr. Petersen, expressed the genuine sympathy in which Hamburgers held the English people. As the head of the Hamburg Government, he remarked that between England and Hamburg an unbroken friendship had continued for upwards of 600 years, commencing as early as 1266, when the King of England bestowed valuable land and commercial rights upon Hamburg subjects in London. These rights the Hanse factory in the metropoHs was privileged – to enjoy undiminished until the beginning of the nineteenth century. On the other hand, the company of British merchant adventurers received a grant of land, the permission of living under English law with inulluUlty from taxation, and religious freedom in the shape of an English church a.t lIam- burg as early as 1567. Notwithstanding hard times of fot"eign religious in- tolerance, Hamburg alone, perhaps, of all states, can point with pride to the fact that the English church of evangelical profession had been allowed un- mterrupted toleration for three centuries.
V. ROMAN CATHOLIC MISSIONS IN INDIA.
In the voluminous replies which Mr. Caine's attack on Indian missions has provoked, there will be some advantage in recording the results oC the mission work in India, with which the Roman Catholics credit themselves. The editor of Illustrated Catholic Missions in England has published various statistics bearing upon Roman Catholic missions in India, chiefly based on the figures published in the new edition of the Imperial Gazateer of India, compiled by Sir W. W. Hunter. An English correspondent who has spent 20 years in the Indian Civil Service recently asserted that Catholic and Protestant missions were equally failures in that Empire. He held that in an especial deg-ree this was true of Catholic missions since the beginning of the eighteenth century, while in view of the increase of population Catholicity had been declining for many years. Challenging Mr. Caine.'s implied assertion that Roman Catholics were more successtul than Protesta.nts, he quoted in his proof the official returns of 1881. These show in round numbers as follows: Catholics, 936,000; Protestants, 435,000; Nestorians and others, 456,000; total, 1,827,000. From the number of Pl'otestants 100,000 might be deducted for Bt'itish-born and foreign Christians, though they are not all Protestants. This would leave 335,000 Protestants, a far more satisfactory number in less than 100 years than 936,000 in the 350 years since Xavier began the gt'eat work in India.
It is admitted by Roman Catholic wt"iters that the census of 1881 returned the total number of Catholics as 963,058 (excluding French and Portuguese territories, which contain 285,703 more). The census returns they regard as erroneous to the extent of 100,000 Christians, quoting from Sir W. W. Hunter to the same effect. He writes (vol. vi., p. 265) : "The Roman Caiholies were under-estimated in the census returns by the exclusion of about 100,000 Syrian Christians who acknowledge the jurisdiction of the Vicars- Apostolic of Verapoli and Quilon, andby their inclusion among the Jacobites, who are unconnected with the Roman Catholic Church." Adding, it is said, these extra 100,000, and also the Catholics of Portuguese and French India, which practically all form one mission field, there will be a grand total of Catholics in India numbering 1,349,441. According to the" Madras Catholic Directory" for 1885, the returns at"e estimated at 1,356,037 for British, native and foreign India, some four or five years before the inauguration of the Indian hiet"archy. Mulhall supposed the Catholics in India to number 1,318,000, and another estimate, which appeared in the Deutsche Reich8 Zeitung, gives 1,600,600 as the probable total.
In reply to the charge that the Catholics are steadily diminishing, the advocates of Catholic missions quote the following passage from Sir W.W. Hunter: "The Roman Catholics in India steadily increase, and, as in former times, the increase is chielly in the south, especia.lly in the missions of Pondicherry and Medura. The number
A FmST YEAR'S IMPRESSIONS .oF JAPAN
of Catholics in British and French India and the native states, but exclusive of the Portu guese possessions, rose from 732.887 in 1851 to 93~,400 'n 1871, and to 1,103,560 in 1881. The Pondicherry Mission lately performed over 50,01 ) adult baptisms in three years. In British India. and the native states the children in Catholic schools increased from 28,249 in 1871 to 44,699 in 1881" (p.259).
The Catholics contend that they do not possess a tithe of the funds which the Protestant missionary societies have at their disposal. In verification of this the evidence of Sir W. W. Hunter (in the Imperi:J,l Gazetteer, vol. vi. p. 260) is again adduced: "The Roman Catholics work in India," he writes, .. with slender pecuniary resources. Theyderive their main support from the two great Catholic organizations, the Associa- tion for the Propagation of the Faith, and the Society of the goly Childhood. The former contributes £24,4M yearly to Indian missions, and the latter £12,300, making a total of £-36,- 764. This is exclusive of the expenditure within the Archbishopric of Goa; but it repre- sents the European contributions to the whole vicariates under the Pope. In 1880 they maintained 16 bishops and 1,118 priests, teaching 1,288 schools, 40,907 pnpils, and giving instruction to 1,002,379 native Christians. Tbe Roman Catbolic priests deny tbemselves the comforts consid- ered necessaries for Enropeans in India. In many districts tbey live the frngal and abstemious life olthe natives, and their inlluence reaches deeply into the social life of tbe communities among whom they dryeU."
This Important chain of testimony relating to metbods of operation and principles of teaching, so distinct from the great Protestant sections in the Indian mission field, will nevertheless receive re- spectfulattentlon when associated witb the authoritative imprimatur of tbe foremost living Indian statistician.
A FIRST YEAR'S IMPRESSIONS OF JAPAN.
: BY REV. FRED. S. CURTIS, HIROSHIMA.
As a mission field Japan is doubtless second to nonein regard toits present results and promise for the future: but, judging from a purely human stand- point, the coming of the kingdom of God in Japan is yet in the dim future. The eighty million;; of gods in the" Flowery Kingdom" cannot receive their . deathblow in a day. In the houses of all who are not.either Christian 01' agnostic you may stilI see the little shrine with its offering of flowers. Every- where-not only" on every high hill and under every green tree;" but in the shops and boats, by the wayside, at every turn in the road, these symbols of idolatry meet the eye.
Hiroshima is a stronghold of Buddha. The street on which we live has a continuous row of temples for an eighth to a quarter of a mile. And though the worshippers at these tern pIes seem very scarce the strong Buddhistic prejudice of the people renders them unreceptive to Christianity. The Hiroshima people are looked down upon throughout the Empil'e as being hard, indifferent and unreliable. On arriving we were much disappointed to find tbat, aside from the regular attendants at the Presbyterian and Methodist churches established here-some two or three hundred people- there were but few who manifested any particular interest in Christianity, or who would even come to the preaching places from curiosity. We had expected to see iarge crowds flocking to hear the word of God, and inquirers coming from all parts of the interior, and that anywhere and at any time a large audience could be gathered. This last is true when a large hall or theater is thrown open for a popular lecture on Christianity and prominent speakers are advertised.
I find that the people differ greatly in different localities. For instance, in Koohi the people are exceedingly impressible and embrace the Christian re- ligion readily, while in Nagasaki the old prejudice against the Christian and the" Christian's God" still lives, making it perhaps a more difficult field than Hiroshima. Here it is very difficult to induce the people to enter a otlurch building j they seem to think that in so doing they would commit themselves to Christianity. Since this feeling exists, I am strongly in favor of establishing out-statiorls or preaching.places which at present shall not themselves become churches, but act as feeders to the churches already established till the prejudice is overcome.
As to the government, while it t~lerates Christianity, it clings to idolatry. A recent report shows $150,000 as given in one year to Shinto temples, and year before last $50,000 was given to one single temple. The Mikado himself is an idolater and worships his ancestors.
What the government wants is not so much Christianity as Western science and institutions, and just now, perhaps, more than anything else, treaty revision; and to bring about the last is doubtlebs their motive for keeping foreigners out of the interior. If it permits freedom here, there is no privilege left which it can grant to foreign nations in the future. The various fOl'eign powers have certainly taken advantage of Japan, obliging her to admit aU their products at a duty of five per cent. or less, while she has to pay enormously on her exports. Then, too, no foreigner is amenable to Japanese law, all cases being tried before the consuls.
Some time since I saw quite a melee in front of the hotel at Kobe. A Japanese boatman was being very roughly and to all appearance unjustly treated by a crowd of Chinamen, while not ten feet distant stood a Japanese policeman, his sword hanging by his side, for the treaty laws do not permit any interference with foreigners. Now the time has come when it would seem that the Japanese government does not propose to remain longer in leading strings; but the other nations cannot seem to agree upon any satisfactory revision of the treaties regarding "exterritoriality." What can Japan do to bring about the desired change? If it absolutely forbids foreigners to travel, reside and teach in the interior, "the people would probably become disaffected, so to go outside the treaty ports is being made as difficult as possible. Heretofore the government has permitted foreigners to go to different parts of the interior on passports for" travel, health and scientific observation," also when employed by the Japanese. These purposes have been regarded as mere technicalities by the officials, and many missionaries have lived on such passports.
Having tried every other expedient, the government, while continuing to issne, enforces the strict letter of the law, thus making them very difficult to obtain. One of our missionaries waited at Kobe fOI" his passport from Thanksgiving time till the middle of January. Then, too, after a passport has been once obtained the trouble is not over, for it must be renewed, with greater or less frequency. When the time for which it has been granted is about to expire, the passport must be brought to a treaty port and surrendered and an application made for the renewal. The passport is then sent to Tokio, and after a longer or shorter time the renewal is granted.
There is a missionary who has waited three months, and is still waiting, in Kobe, for her passport to be renewed. This lady is a teacher in a mission school, which may account, at least in part, for the delay, for the government having taken such pains to establish its own schools throughout the empire, naturally wishes them to be well patronized: hence, all private schools are discouraged. Recently it was desired to start a Christian school in Kochi. The Japanese engaged by a missionary was obliged to write "almost a volume to the authorities in regard to the matter," after which, says a missionary, in writing home of the action of the authorities, "they sent this communication back as not correct, wanted to know the number of feet in the school-house and around, the name of the school, etc. All this was written out at full length, when again the paper was returned, asking , what books would be taught, who were the publishers, when and where were they published, how far in each book the pupil must get in a term and at what age a pupil could enter the school.' " .
These questions were duly answered, but sometime after came the query: "If you get two hundred pupils at 35 cents each pel' month, how will you use all that money? If you do not get that number of pupils, where will the money come from? "
Viewed in the light of a determined purpose to secure treaty revision, such seemingly puerile actions are significant. I trust the time is not far distant when propel' treaties will be made, giving Japan her ri~hts and a footing more nearly equal to the otb.er great nations of the earth. For sev- eral months there have been rumors afloat to the effect that Japan had made a new treaty with America, which will give us liberty to go anywhere in Ja_ pan, but whether this is true or not remains to be seen. That some sort ola treaty has been concluded with a certain foreign power, is all that we can now be sure of.
Let mesay a word in regard to my personal work so far. Although I cannot yet preach in the vernacular, I have established a temporary preaching place at the girls' school. My teacher has done the preaching while I have read the Scriptures and led the singing. This tl'acher is a young Japanese student, who is working to obtain funds that he may resume his studies for the ministry in the Congregational College at Kyoto. Though but twenty- two years old, he has already, we think, shown a gift for preaching, but he lacks power, and seems to have very little realization of the meaning and responsibility of the sacred office to which he aspires. I am very glad, how- ever, that he does not think it necessary (as many of the native preachers do) to use the classical Chinese words, which are unintelligible to the unedu- cated. The services which we have carried on together have had an aver- age of about twenty-five attendants, half of these being heathen. Were the preaching place on some large thoroughfare, instead of being near the outskirts of the city, no doubt many more would come in and heal' the gospel.
By the time I am ready to preach, it is my hope that the Lord will open the way for the establishment of a preaching hall on some main thorough- fare, where large numbers may readIly be reached. The people are so ex- ceedingly curious to see foreigners that I am sure they would listen, could some prominent spot be secured. When any of the missionaries enter a store on one of the principal streets, a large crowd invariably collects to watch their every movement and catch their every word. 0, that this same spirit of investigation might be transfel'l'ed to the Gospel of the one true God! For there are in this city a hundred thousand souls who know Him not. Of equal urgency is the need of the handful of Christians here who must be" instructed in the way of God more perfectly." Were I asked what I consider to be the most vital needs of the church of Hiroshima, I should say.
a deepel' heart experience and life, and a realization of the lost condition of the souls of their countrymen, prompting to earnest effort for their speedy evangelization. With many their Christianity seems largely a matter of intellectual belief, and in this section of the country I have failed to see any marked spirit of evangelism.
As to ihe people of Japan, as a race, it may indeed be said to be favorable towar(1 Christianity, but it is, like its rulers, much more favorable towal'd western civil~ation and its accompaniments. .Witb the multitude it mat-
FATHER DAMmN THE LEPER PRmST OF MOLOXAI
tel'S little what it is, if it be but American or European, whether to wear foreign clothes, to eat foreign food, to drink fpreign liquors, or to learn the English language. All these things are done to a most remarkable extent; for our language there is a perfect "craze." The highest ambition of the Jap1.nese youth is to go to America, and next to this to speak Engbsh.
Many Christian teachers would lack for pupils, were the teaching of English done away with.
The superficiality, fickleness and" happy-go-Iuckiness" of this .people, with an impressibleness that is only" skin deep," :O,re the greatest trials of the missionary who seeks to labor among them.
But there is another side to this picture which is so well presented in the recently published report of" The Council of Missions co-operating with the United Church of Christ in Japan," that I send you a brief extract from it• * .. The United Church of Christ in Japan has enjoyed a year of constant growth. * In no previous year have the additions been so many. The adult members of the Church number 7.551. The infant members number 1.139. The total membership is 8.690. The increase during the year is 1.831. The churches are sixty-one. The ministers number thirty-six. The contributions for churCh purposes were yen 20.315.82. A comparison with longer periods is instructive. The United Church of Christ was formed in 1877 by the union of eight churches and 623 Christians. including the children. In 1882 there were twenty- five chnrches. with 1.728 members. Three years later. in 1885. the churches were fifty and the members were 3.922. In the past the church has doubled 10 membership in each three years. and in eleven years the incrl'ase has been from six hundred to nine thousand. A like progression for the remaining twelve years of the ceMtury will make the· membership in the year 1900. one hundred and forty-four thousand.
"Such a hope should notbe too great for our faith. The future may well be richer in blessing than the past."
And there are some of us who are hoping and praying for still greater things-the evangelization of this Empire before 'l,e present century closes.
FATHER DAMIEN THE LEPER PRIEST OF MOLOKAI.
BY REV. EDWIN M. BLISS, NEW YORK.
ON the little peninsula of Kolowao, on the island of Molokai, Sandwich Islands, is the famous leper community established by the Hawaiian Government in 1864, after the ierrible scourge of leprosy that committed such fearful ravages among every class of the people. It is not an ideal place of residence, cold in winter, hot in summer, absolutely isolated from the rest of the island by high mountams. Here the unfortunates were placed. So terrible was their fate deemed that many families sought to hide their afflicted members from the officials, preferring to l"Un every risk themselves rather than condemn loved ones to such hardships and privations. Suitable dwellings were not provided, fo.od was insufficient, there was no medical attendance or nursing; the outcasts were practically condemned to death, with no hope of even the last sad offices or sympathy of friends. It was little wonder that every evil passion rose triumphant. A root growing in quantities at the foot of the mountains furnished a highly intoxicating liquor and drunkenness became almost universal. With this came'licentiousness, until prostitution was the only resort of women who sought a living fOl' themselves and their children. The hula dances were seen on every hand and the whole community became a mass of corruption of every kind.
Into this community, in 1873, went Father Damien, a Roman Catholic Priest, of Honolulu, a native of Belgium, of great talents, wealthy, and with every prospect of success in life. It was no rash act, but a carefully considered purpose, with full recognition of all that it mean~complete isolation from all associations such as he had held deal', fellowship with those who were lower and more degraded than the brutes, and the certainty of the most horrible dise;tse and death known to the human race. • The Government, unable to understand his purpose, thought he would soon seek to return, and gave strict orders for his immediate imprisonment should he stir from the community. They refused him counselor assistance of any kind, and he was compelled to rely upon the lepers themselves for support. He found the dead and dying on every hand, and was so absorbed in his care for them that he could find no time to build him even a plain hut, but slept under the trees. His kindly words and efficient aid won him the confidence of the whole community, and little by little his influence became unbounded. Recognizing that in their condition, spiritual counsel was of little avail without temporal help, he was not only priest but" magistrate, school-teacher, gardener, carpenter, joiner, painter, housekeeper, cook, and often grave-digger and undertaker." He lived with the people, shared their experiences in every way; he persuaded them to care more for cleanliness, comfortable houses, good food, so far as practicable. Soon thE' Government, recognizing his real spirit, changed their attitude, gave him greater privi.
leges, allowed him counsel and assistance, at his suggestion provided bettel'
dwellings, and more suitable food; sent medical officers and nurses, fur.
nished medicine, and sought to alleviate, instead of increasing, the suffer· ing of the poor unfortunates.
The natural result has followed. The hula dances are no more heard of.
Licentiousness has almost disappeared. Intoxication has given place to sobriety, and the company that seemed given over to everything evil has become peaceful and happy, so far as there can be happinE'ss with so much suffering. Even much of the virulence of the disease has disappeared.
Better dwellings, good ventilation. healthy food, sobel' lives, and quiet minds and Christian faith have had their effect to lessen suffering, to pro- long life, and make death itself less dreadful. When, nine years after Da- mien's voluntary exile, the queen visited the settlement, and saw the neat houses, the fields and gardens, the well-dressed, orderly people, her officers, pointing to Damien, who stood humbly at a dtstance, said, "He is the father of it all."
Already the dread digease had taken its hold. A few months later the fatal tubercles appeared, and the devoted priest knew that he was to pay the penalty of his self-sacrifice. In 1886 he was joined by Father Conrardy, a young priest from Oregon, and after initiating him into the work, Da- mien himself yielded to the progress of the leprosy. April 10, 1889, he died, leaving a record of as noble work as that achieved by any martyr of the early church.
There are not a few who claim that the heroic age of the church has passed. The lives of Henry Martyn, David Livingstone, James Hannington, Adoniram Judson, Father Damien, are eloquent witnesses to the fact that this is not true. Yet, while they are conspicuous by reason of their position and public office, they are no whit more heroic than many a faithful laborer among the slums of our great cities, in the dugouts of the Western prairies, or the out-stations of China, Africa and Abyssinia.
One healthy sign of the church's life is the universal recognition of Damien's service as a Christian service. To the great body of Christian believers his creed is lost sight of in admiration for his work. "As many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God."
EVANGELIZATION OF THE CHINESE IN AMERICA. I
EVANGELIZATION OF THE CHINESE IN AMERICA.
BY J. STEWART RAPPER, NEW YORK, EDITOR "CHINESE EVANGELIST."
THE marvellous way in which God ans weI'S prayer is contin uaUy shown to His children in a manner which humbles their pride and rebukes th('i1'
unbelief. There is no more wonderful instance in modern times than the way in which prayer for the work in China has been ans wered. The barriers of. supel'stition, bigotry, political seclusion and national conceit have been broken down, and now the gospel can be preached in every province. But the answer IS ovedlowing in its abunda,nce of opportunity; and not alone in China is the privilege given to the faithful preacher of the word, but in this la.nd also the Chinaman is found, and those who are unable, for any reason, to go toa foreign land, have the opportunity offered them in their own city, nay, at their own street corner or in their near vicinity.
Thb large number of Chinese who came to California, early attracted the attention of the church, and efforts were made to reach them by the establishment of Missions. Of the work on the Pacific slope I do not in- tend to write at this time, but shall confine myself to the work which is being carried on throughout the Eastel'll and Middle States.
Twenty years have now elapsed since the work among the Chinese in the east was started by the efforts of the Rev. Lycurgus Railsback, at tne New York" FIve Points House of Industry." Since then the Chinese Sun- day-school is found inevel'Y large city, and in almost evel'y place where ~he industrious Chinaman is found, there are also found those who look at the boul in the uncouth mati and try to save it.
So peculiar is the work of evangelizing these heathen in our midst, that it may be of interest to many to speak of the methods and the character of the work in general.
The Methods.-Af> will be readily seen, the work is necessarily at first of teaching the alphabet and the rudiments of our language. Given a China- man who understands little or no English, and a teacher who understands no Chinese, and the conditions of solving the problem of educating the for- mer will at once be undel'stood to be difficult in the extreme. The methods of instruction must necessarily be those which are employed in the primary schools,and picture and pencil are used to express what words fail to convey.
In its first stages a Chinese Sunday-school differs little from a primary school for teaching English. .
The arl'angement of classes is different from the usual manner, for each teacher has but one pupil. This seems at first an unnecessary waste of ma- terial; it would be so, were all the godly people who take this field of labor skilled in teaching languages, for then more than one pupil might be taught; practical experiment, however, has proved that it is hard for the avel'age teacher to manage more than one at a time, until the pupil is far enough advanced to read the Bible. The writer is endeavoring to secure a reform in this matter wherever it is feasible, and urges that the ol'dinary manner of arranging classes of three or four be adopted wherever the pupils.al'e suf- ficiently advanced to make it possible.
Anothel' feature of this work is the fact that the teachel's are (01' the most part ladies, and much trash and scornful comment has appeared in the secu- lal' newspapers in l'egard to the fondness of the Chinese for the pretty Sun- day-school teachers. I would like to express my deliberate opinion that the reason why the Chinese pl'efer lady teachers is because the ladies are more willing to teach the Chinese, and, in fact, are often the only ones who will teach them. If you find a young man who has the patience, the dogged determination, the persistency and tact which are displayed in such a mal'ked manner by lady teachers, you will find that the Chinese will accept him as a teacher just as readily, and treat him with the same consideration. The fact is, that as the work resembles the work of the primary school, so the teachers must possess the same qualifications; and we find most of the teachers of the yonng to be ladies.
Difficulties of the W07'k.-The greatest difficulty often arises from the op- position of supposed Christian people. Some have been known to say that the Chinese never could be converted. As though the grace of God, which can reclaim a South Sea Islander, could be baffled by the Chinaman! Others say the Chinese are such low, degraded creatUl'es that we ought not to ass<>1(iate with them even as teachers! Did not Christ die to save sinners? Others seem to be infiuenced by sentimentality in their religion, and will give freely fOt' the cause of foreign missions, and weep tears over the thought of .. the heathen in his blindness, bowing down to wood and stone;" but fail to see a fit object for their benevolence or effort in the heathen on the avenue, bending all the day over the wash-tub or the ironing-board! Then the charge is made that the workers are actuated by sentimentalism in taking up the work. If sentimentalism consists in coming Sabbath after Sabbath, rain or shine, t!,spend an hour in the hardest kind of teaching, then we must admit the truth of the charge, though I should call that the hardest kind of prosaic work. The most plausible, yet illogical objection, is the one which is made against teaching the primer and against the school, because the Chinese come merely to learn English and not to learn anything about Oul' religion. No one who has been in the Chinese work will attempt to deny that at first the impelling motive, perhaps the only motive, which leads a Chinese into the Sunday-schoolis the desire to learn Eng'lish. We know that, we recognize that desire, but it does not prevent us from using that motive to the good of the man. Soon after he comes he begins to understand that the teaching is done from a spirit of kindness; he begins to look for our motive, and when he has at la!>t comprehended that it is Christian unselfishness, he realizes that here is something he knows nothing of, and he wishes to learn of Christ and His doctrine. Even if he should be so bigoted as to care nothing for these things, he receives a lesson of practical Christianity which does more good than many hours of preaching and theoretical instruction.
Another difficulty, and a most serious one, confronts the teacher of the Chinese when at last they know enough of our language to read and understand the blessed truths of the gospel. In a so-called Christian land, among a professedly Christian people, the observant Chinese is immediatelyoverwhelmed by the difficulty of reconciling the practical Christianity (as he imagines it to be) which he sees around him six days in the week, with the blessed maxims and truths he is taught on the Sabbath. If you tell him that the people who break everyone of the commandments almost every day of their lives are not true Christians, it does not make the matter much better, for, thinks he, why do they not accept such blessed truths? Will a man offer good gold to a stranger when his own kindred l,ave it not? There must be a false ring a bout the gold! It is for this reason that those who have labored both in the foreign field and in this land, unanimously concur in saying that the work is much harder, more discouraging in this land on account of there being" too many weekdays for one Sunday."
Results.-The direct results of the work have been such as greatly to encourage the workers. Nearly everyone of the different denominations working in New York City among the Chinese have several Chinese connected with the chUl"ches, who have proved themselves to be worthy of their profession and excellent examples to their heathen brethren. In many respects they put other Christians to the blush. They are characteristically slow in professing their faith, but that slowness arises often from their deep sense of the responsibility involved. 1 have often been told by an inquirer that he wished to profess faith in Christ, but he did not know enough to lead in pI'ayer, or to give a few minutes' talk in prayer-meeting, The first Chinaman who was converted under my instruction was quite perplexed over the question whether it was right for him to shave his head and plait his queue on Sunday I A Chinese Christian asked me recently whether I did not think that having a fair in the Sunday-school rooms of a church did not resemble the sin committed by those who sat at the tables ot the moneychangers in the temple. Another Chinese, who is soon to be baptized, was very much troubled because the writer did not ask a blessing at an evening gathei·ing where a few Chinese were entertained by their teacher, and icecream and cake were passed al'ound. It was a difficult matter for his teacher to explain to him the reason for the omission, but finally he looked satisfied and said, "0 I I see, ice-cream no count with God."
Space fails to speak of the many notable examples which have proved that the saving grace of God is not confined to any ('ace or people, but wherever sin abounds grace doth much more abound.
The results of this work are wider and reach further than we would at first suppose. Not only do those who are converted in this country return to be messengers of good to their brethren, but on account of the friendly feeling engendered in them toward the Christian people, they are made the means of introducing a minister 01· an evangelist to their neighbors or friends, who would not gain a hearing were it not for their friendly intervention. Even if a man has not been converted, he respects Christians after he has been an ob- ject of their kindness, and he is able to assure the villagers in China that the "Jesus man" has no ill designs on them, but is a harmless person who does good, even though he preaches a lot of nonsense, and thus the reflex in- fluence of the Sunday-school here opens the door for the preacher in China. So no one can estimate the results of this work, except Him who hath said, "My word shall not return unto me void," and in the day when He maketh up His jewels we shall be amazed at the harvest. We sow blindly, but we shall reap abundantly, for it is God that giveth the increase.
I have not attempted to give any statistics as to the number of schools and of those attendant thereon. The simple reason for this omission is that it is hard to get such statistics. As editor of The Chinese Evangelist I have made great efforts to get a complete list of the schools for the Chinese, but every day we hear of some new one, and new ones are continually being started. Since the establishment of The Chinese Evangelist we have en- deavored to systematize and tabulate the work, but such is the difficulty of getting accurate information that so far we cannot indicate the extent of the work except in this general way. The Chinese Evangelist is now being taken in schools all over the land from Maine to Oregon, and from Canada to Florida, and even in the Sandwich Islands and China. From the letters which come to the editors, it seems that the work is being carried on with increased vigor, and the Christian church is awakening to the responsibility resting upon it, and is improving the opportunity now presented. There are still 100,000 Chinese in America, and in spite of the Exclusion Bill more are
TRANSLATIONS }!'ROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES"
coming, and hardly any are returning. The opportunity now is great, the need is pressing, and no one can overestimate its importance, when we consider that the best way to reach China is through the Chinese themselves. In our land we can infuse American pluck and energy into the slow-moving, phlegmatic Chinaman; and these, united with the love of God and his fellow-man, will enable the Americanized Christian Chinaman to be a power in his own land, and he will be able to do a work which none other can do. H anyone cannot go and work directly for China, here is a field, hard, stony, comparatively uninviting, but one which will yield a rich reward in God's own time.
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
THE Rhenish Missionary Society, as is known, has a very important mission in Sumatra. We give some extracts, which make this great island seem more like a real country to us than it has seemed before. From the station of Bungabondar: "In the last yea.r ninety have been led to the Saviour and received into the church by baptism." It is known that in Sumatra Mohammedanism is very strong. Yet, as remarkable exception to the general fact, almost half the converts are from Mohammedanism. On the other hand, a good many unstable Christians flo.at over to it. The following narative from the Berichte for January, 1889, casts a new light on the mental attitude of Moslems in the face of death. We often heal' of their contempt of death. But this appears to be only in the fierce fanaticism of a religious war.
.. Here I must make mention of the faithful Asenath, whom on the last day of the old year we committed to the bosom of the earth. After an illness patiently endured for two years "he felt her end approaching. As the last provision for her way she wished yet once more to enjoy the Holy Supper. I administered it to her in her roomy house before a large assemblage. As Iwas about to give her the bread she said, • Let me first pray.' And now the woman, who for weeks had not been able to sit upright, straightened herself up, and prayed for full ten minutes, as if she would fain pray away every earthly care out of her heart. I have seldom heard a woman pray in snch wise. Thereupon she recei ved the sacred elements. The next day I found witlit her a Mohammedan chieftain, who at taking leave wished her health and long life. •What say you?' she replied, •after that I have no further longing. My wish is now to go to heaven, to my Lord. Death has no longer any terrors for me.' Astonished, the Mussulman replied: 'Such language is strange to us. We shrink and cower before death, and therefore use every means possible to recover and live long.'
.. Even so I think of our James, whose only son had died. When at the funeral I pressed his band, with some words of comfort, he Said: • Only do not suppose that r murmur and complain. All that God does to me, is good and wholesome for me. I shall hereafter find my son again in life eternal.' So vanish little bylittle the comfortless wailings of heathenism; the beams of a living hope penetrate the pangs and the terrors of death, as the. beams of the sun the clouds of the night. And, as the hopelessness of heathenism is disappearing, so is also its implacability. When Christians contend, and at the communionl say to them: 'Give each other your hands,' they often say: 'Natureisagainstit; but how can I withstand the graciou~ness of mv Sa.viour ?' Such words are not seldom heard. And am Inot well entitled to hope, that they, as a grea.tgift of my God, warrant a confident hope in the final and glorious victory ot the Prince of Life, and of his great and righteous cause? "
On Palm Sunday, at this station, Missionary Schutz Qaptized 18 fOl'mer Mohammedans, confirmed 18 Christian children, and restoi'ed one apostate.
THE Rhenish Missionary Society has in all over 150 native trained helpers, of whom only foul' are ordained. The Society has also in all, in Sumatra, China and Africa,250 native elders, and remarks that it might easily be that these" signify as much, perhaps, indeed, even more, than the salaried assistants, for the development and healthy growth of the general cause." The government of the Transvaal Republic, in .South Africa, has suddenly put in force atainst the mission stations a law which forbids more· than five native families to live together on anyone estate. This harsh statute, harshly applied, has already broken up five Hermannsburg stations, and at least one Berlin station.
The MonatsbUitter remarks that in Africa it is not the Mohammedans who have introduced slavery, though it is they who. are fast depopulating lal'ge regions of the unhappy continent by their ruthlessness in conducting the hunting of slaves. Slavery itself is aboriginal in Africa. As no one in Africa has any hope of protection unless he belongs to some one of the few great men, the poorer freemen have gradually reduced themselves to servi- tude, until now, in some n~gro tribes, out of evel'y 100 persons, 80 or 90 al'e slaves. In Igonda the traveller, Paul Reichard, out of 500 or 600 inhabi- tants, found only six free persons. Of his own caravan of 650 there were only five freemen. An institution so deeply rooted cannot, of course, be otherwise than gradually done away, remarks the MonatsbUitter. But the horrors of the Arab slave trade are to be at once attacked. And it is to be remarked that Christian Europe was the first great offender, and not Mohammedan Arabia. Christianity, however, is against the iniquity; Islam fully sanctions it. Christendom, therefore, could be moved from within to abandon it; Arabia will have to be coerced from without.
The MonatsbUitter remarks that the best known emporium of the Arab slave trade is Ujiji, on Lake Tanganyika, and quotes the following descrip- tion of it from a Catholic missionary: .. This is the meeting point of all the caravans of slaves who, captured in the interior, are to be brought to the coast. There are gathered all the Waguana and Mohammedan reprobates to con- cert in what direction and against what tribe the next foray shall be nndertaken-a veritable Sodom, a theatre of all sorts of crimes, excesses, shamelessness of vi~. What a day of calamity for Africa. on which the Arabs first set their foot in its interior I For with them they have brought into the land also their immoral religion. their Vices, as well as the foul contagions dis- eases, which previously were wholly unkuown among the negroes. Towards the end of 1887, when I was in the city, it waS regulu!y flooded with slaves. You saw in hideous medley men, womeu and children, some bound together with cords, some with chains. Some had their ears pierced to admit a small cord, for the sake of fastening them together. At every step which one took along the streets, he encountered living skeletons, painfully dragging th"mselves along by the help of a stick: they had been released from chains, as being too weak to flee. It was not Sickness, but hunger, which had thus reduced tbem, aud the great scars which appeared on tlieir backs su1llciently dis- closed that their masters had not spared blows to urge them along. Others you might see lying in the street before their masters' doors or elsewhere, awaiting the end of their comfortless existence. The heart bled to reflect that these unhappy ones had uot eveu the hope which helps a Christian to bear his misery.
•• An uncultivated plain, growu up with grass, which separates the marketplace from the lake, Is the graveyard of Ujiji, or more accurately the trench, into which are thrown all the bodies of the deceased slayss, and even of those who are still in the last agonies. The wild beasts are their only sextons. A young Christian who did uot set know Ujiji set out to go from the town to the lake shore,but came back in dismay at the view of the numerous corpses, which, gnawed by hyenas and birds of prey, lay along the footpath. Then I asked au Arab why the corpses here were so numerous, and why they were left so near the town, at the risk of a geueral pestilence. He replied with the utmost composure and nonchalance: • From of old we have been used to throw the bodies of our slaves iu this place, and the hyenas would come every night and carry them away; but this year there are so many dyiug that the wild beasts can't get through with them; they have come to have a loathing for human flesh.' It is plain then that blockading the coast is but a small part of the work."
The Evangelisch Lutherisches Missionsblatt says; "We read here and there, e€pecially in English missionary magazines, that the Indian temples are falling into decay. 'rhis may be here and there the case, indeed it is some- times so In the Tamil land; bnt in general our Tamils, especially those who live in the Cauvery deta, are still thoroughly zealous in the temple-service, standing, as they do, wholly under the influence of a. numerous priesthood, for which the maintenance of the temples is a matter of life and death. Here, as in all reports from Ind'ia, we must remind our readers how needful it is to abstain from unadvised generalizati07l/l. For India is a mighty land. Conditions differ enormously from region to region within it, so that It Is only seldom that what may be said of Olle place or district applies to another. What traveler could pronounce a trustworthy judgment respecting the religions condition of all Europe? And if he could it is still more difticult in India. The visible decay of the temples will be in India, as It was in Greece the last 8taqe of heathenism."
.. Here In Shiall the modern schooling has not yet undermined belief in the ancient gods. Here there still prevail" the same zeal in their worship which the Apostle Paul recognized among the Athenians. New temples are still built and the old ones repaired. Wealthy merchants give hundreds of thousands of rupees for this end, and the people work themselves weary for half-wages. The festivals are celebrated regularly, and on their account the most important labors are interrnpted. Even the State must still recognize the heathen holidays, at least as respects its heathen officials. The Brahmans not only claim divine titles for themselves, bnt are also in fact addressed by the people as gods. They, are not only the intellectual and spiritnallea.ders of the people, but as wealthy landholders, are in various ways their secula.r lor:ds.'· .
"Yet worse "-in Shiall, in South India-"the heathens force the Christians into the idol festivals In order to drag through the streets the great car on which the idol. with his tram of attendants, is placed. One would think that for such a work of honor to the god the heathen themselves would gladly offer and be proud of the toil. But this is not so. The wealthy do their part bV deputing their servants and dependents. And almost all our Christians here are depeudE'nts of theirs. At alate festival they came in great numbers to me, showing me their masters' orders. I dissuaded them from obedience. Some followed my counsel and hid themselves in the church or the garden. Others followed their orders and went to take their place at the ropes. What the consequences are likely to be for the disobedient I have not yet learned. One who had refused from the first showed me the marks of a seVere beating."
We have all'eady given a description, from the Mi88ionablatt, of the great temple of Trlchinopoli. We here give a description of the city itself: .
.. Trichinopoli, or, in Tamil, Tirisiril.palli, that Is,' City of the Three-headed Giant,' formerly the capital of a mighty Nabob, with 76,000 inhabitants, among whom are many skillful and industrious Hindus, fanatical Mohammedans, and some 15,000 Catholics, is also a garrison town for a regiment of Sepoys, that Is, nativetroops in English pay. It lies near the ri ver Canvery, which here diVides into two grea.t a.rms, forming the long and fruitful island of Soi-r..ngam, that is, ' Holy River isle.' This island, the paradise of the Vishnuites, is renowned for the magnificent temple of Vishnu, whose external inclosure is some four miles and a half ronnd, and comprises 21 gopurams, that is, p..godas, in fact, a whole city of tcmples. No wonder that the smothering atmosphere of idolatry prevailing here weighs depressingly upon our missionaries, even more tha.n the solar heat augmented by the rockY soil. Yet even as early as 1762 Protestant missions gained a firm footing here. The simple church built by 'Father Schwarz' in the next neighborhood of the' Prichi-rock,' and his modest dwelling-house, keep up even here the memory of this blessed missionary. Southward from this rock the slender spire of our Zion Church, built upon the' Elephant hill,' nea.r the market, points the heathen to a better heaven than the stone god Ganesa, enthroned upon the rock, has power to give."
Herr Kahis then speaks of their girl's school: .. Twenty years ago no heathen girl was yet to be seen in our school. Now many are coming. There is no more grateful task than the instruction of little ~L'ami1 girls. Quiet and yet joyous, easy to guide and of responsive intellects, they make the work of their teachers light. What joy it affords us to scatter the seeds of life in their childlike hearts, and through them to see it borne into families which are otherwise inaccessible to our preaching."
The Caho MonatsbUUter, quoting the text Proverbs xxiv: 11, Which, in the German, reads, "Delivel' them, whom one will kill, and withdraw not thyself fl·om them whom one will strangle," refers to the dangers in East Africa, which since then have been terribly realized: .. This word applies to E..st Africa in a two-fold way. First, to the poor natives who live yet under the curse of superstition, discord and the slave-trade, and whom we may not withdraw ourselves from the duty of delivering out of the hand of him who is a murderer from the beginniug. Secondly, to the missionaries themselves who are laboring there, and who would have cast their lives into the breach in vain unless we send the requisite force of men to support them. Some of them are absolutely in danger of being put to dea.th. TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZnmS. M5 Missionary Gordon at Uganda lies there, as it were, in a den of lions; the Scotch mission- aries live every moment in expectation of an assault from,their Mohammedan foes, and the Neukirchen brethren on Toka river have no assurance of their lives."
"The Anglican and High Church Universities' Mission," says the MonatsbUitter, "has passed through grevious years. Once, or rather more than once, it was a fire, then a hurri- cane, then a plundering irruption of savage heathen, and more than all, a succession of sud- den deaths which appeared to imperII the continuance of the work. But the undaunted sol- diers of the cross, all of them unmarried brethren and sisters, have yielded tono discourage_ ment. They go on unweariedly with teaching, with preiLching, with building, with jour- neying, with care of the sick, with singing and praying; and now they are able to show a.s visible results, not only handsome churches, schools, workshops, gardens and fields, but alsu Christian flocks, amounting in all to about 1,000 souls. All their ways, it is true, are not after our taste. They lay more stress than is easily reconcilable with the New Testa- ment on outward forms. genuflections and vestments, on liturgies and sacraments, on churches and tapers, on eucharistic functions and altars. And when Bishop Smythies went out he took with him, uot only a costly crosier in an oaken futteral, but a set of vest- ments as highly tinseled as you need look for in Rome. • A droll bishop I ' we thoull'ht then. But for all that the mnn has shown himself a workman that needeth not to be ashamed. Worthy of all honor in these years past have been his achievements in journey_ ing and visiting, in care spent on all his stations, in sacrifices of bis own strength and com- fort. It is true while he has been about this the poor crosier has fallen a prey to the flames. But though the shepherd's crook has perished we do not learn that the sheep are any worse cared for."
The Monatsbliitter, as well as the Allgemeine Jlfissions Zeitschrijt, thinks , that the present craze in Germany for colonial possession is of veryambig- uous benefit to missions. "Bishop Smythies complains that since the terri- tory in which most of his stations lie has become German, he enjoys neither the protection of the Sultan of Zanzibar nor of the English Consul, but has to endure passively the plunderipg attacks upon the missions. This then is the shady side of the' colonial policy.' And who forgets the sad end which befell good Bishop Hannington under Mwanga's fears of the' land- eaters.' " Those people who imagine that men go out as missionaries in order to have an easy time of it among a simple people who half worship them, will be profited by reading these words of Mi.3sionary Posselt, among the Caffres: .. After having worked myself weary through the week, when there, on Sunday, I saw these wild men of the wilderness sitting before me, absolute obtuseness towards everything divine, together with mockery and brut2,1 lusts written on their faces, I sometimes lost all disposition to preach. Those fluent young preachers who not only like to be heard, but to hp.a.r themselves, ought to be sometimes required to ascend the pulpit before such an assemblage. There is not the least thing there to lift np the preacher of the Divine Word or to come to the help of his weakness. As when a green, fresh branch laid before the door of a glowing ovp.n shrivels up at once, such has sometimes been myex- perience when I had come full of warm devotion, before the Caffres, and undertaken to . preach. I have sometimes wished that I had never become a missionary. Once the hour of Sunday services again approached. The sun was fearfully hot, and I felt weary in body and soul. My unbelieving heart said: • Your preaching is for nothing,' and Beelzebub added a lusty amen. The Caffres were sitting in the hut, waiting for me. • I will not preach to-day,' said I to my wife; but she looked at me with her angelic eyes,lifted her finger, and said gravely: • William, you will do your duty. You will go and preach.' I seized Bible and hymn·book, and loitered to church like an idle boy creeping unwillingly to school. I began, preluding on the violin, the Caffres grunting consentaneously. I prayed read my text, and began to preach with about as much fluency as stuttering Moses. Yet soon the Lord loosened the band of my tongue, and the fire of the Holy Ghost awakened me out of my sluggishness. I spoke with such fervor concerning the Lamb of God, that t&keth away the sin of the world, that if that sermon has quickened no heart of a hearer yet my own was profoundly moved."
Yet Herr Posselt lived to baptize 1,000 Caffres.
Rev. Victor Holm, Director of the Daillsh Evangelical Missionary Society.
STUDENT VOLUNTEER NOTES
in announcing the appointment of a young parish clergyman, the Rev. Nils Peter Hansen, as a missionary for India, remark!!: .. This will undoubtedly be received with general delight. We have so often complained that no clergyman already proved and found to be a faithful servant of the Lord and possessed of the requisite culture offered himself to serve the Lord as a missionary among the heathen. It has also been the them" of many prayers, that the Lord would provide and send out such a man. That this has now come to pass, that our prayers are heard and fulfilled, is, we are sure, no matter of doubt to all who kuow Pastor Hansen, whose circle of acquaintance is far from being a narrow one."
A German nobleman, quoted in the Missionstidning for Finland, Count Limburg-Stirum, writing from the Dutch East Indies, avows that he had been greatly prejudiced against missionaries, but adds: "But God brought a missionary in my way. And now I could not say, like Cresar, veni, vidi, vw~. True, I came and saw, but instead of conquering I was conquered. I can no longer deny the good fruits and blessed influence of missions."
The Finnish Society first sent out missionaries 20 years ago to King William's Land in South Africa. For more than 12 years they baptized no one, then they baptized 6. At the end of the fourth year there were 80. During the fifth year there were baptized on Whitsunday, 51; ten days later, 23; and subsequently 11. So durlllg the fifth year the number of the baptized was just doubled.
In Germany, hitherto, it is known, the leading classes have been, for the most part, very disdainful towards Missions, and the journals, largely conducted by Jews who had ceased to believe in their own religIOn, and were bent on the destruction of ours, have exhibited towards them a virulent hatI'ed. But in a recent debate on the colonies, held in the Reichstag, a great change was noticeable.
.. We must note as a great matter of satisfaction," says the Allgemeine Missions Zeitschrijt, .. that this time missions have been discussed without being attacked, indeed, withont even the jocularity commonly thought to be due to such a subject. On the contrary, one had only honorable recognition for them ou all sides of the house. 'Missiouary testimonies' were designated as the 'most uuimpeachable,' the aims of the missiouaries as 'undeniably ideal,' their' work of Christian beneficence as rich in blessings,' 'the mission·stations as the true points d'appui of Christianity and civilization,' and all this by men, from whom, hitherto, we have been wont to hear a very dif- ferent language."
Especially significant, in the German Parliament, was the testimony of a social democrat, Sabor, who, of course, occupies a position of incompatibility with Christianity. He says: "We acknowl- edge that there has been a healthful activity developed by the missionaries in Africa. They have shown how much everywhere in the world is to be accomplished by patience and love; they have pi'oved that even with uncivilized tribes hearts which have a fund of goodness, can accomplish mnch without the lash of compulsion."
Spain and France both, from a regard to the political value of the Catholic missions in their colonies, contribute large sums from the public treas- ury for the support of these, doubtless to the great detriment of their spiritual character. But, as the Zeitschrift remarks with just satisfaction, Herr Windthorst, the leader of the Ultramontanes in the Reichstag, has distinctly disclaimed for his party all expectation of such subventions from the imperial treasury. There is no reason, as the Zeitschrift remarks,. why the government should not afford aid to the schools and presses of the mis- sions, Catholic and Protestant, but every reason why it should not inter- fere with their properly spiritual work, even by affording aid, since aid soon establishes a claiI!l. of supervis-ion-. – – – – STUDENT VOLUNTEER NOTES.
THE volunteers who were at the Northfield Summer School in '87 will remember the In- spiring words of Mr. H. F. La. Flamme, who but six months before, when Mr. Forman was in Toronto, had decided for the foreign work and was thAn on his way to his field in India. During the summer of '87, Mr. La. Flamme and Mr. Davis made a tour of Canada and secured about $3.000 for India. Then they saIled together.
After sixteen months spent in the study of the language they set out in February last on their first tour" to breathe out the new words in an old, old storv." Mr. Davis was given permanent charge of 500,000 souls. Mr. La. Flamme will work with him until joined byaB- other man from America, when be will push up north and open a new station. The people rush together in crowds to hear them preach, at times literally mobbing- them by pressing around tbem for the tracts they distribute. A strong appeal is made by the missionaries of the district for 52 men at once, and the third of April Was observed as a day of special prayer for tllis end. The same need is felt all over India, as IS indicated by Dr. Chamber- lain's trumpet-call in THE MISSIONARY REVIll:W OF THE WoaLD for 5,000 men. In the central provinces a work is being originated similar to the China Inland Mission to get out young men on a salary of $300 a year to evangelize Central India. Until they learn the language they will all live in a central horne, BaJaghat, with food and cloth..s only provided. Then they are to go out two and two throughout the land proclaiming Christ.
It gives us pleasure to present a letter from Mr. La. Flamme to the volunteers: My Dear Fellow Volunteer.: CORANADA, INDU., April 8,1889.
As one of you I wish to give testimony that Jesus Christ fully satisfies. That promise, .. Lo I am with you a.lway," is a living- promise, and is fully wrought mto life only when we leave all to follow Jesus. One of our number said at Northfield in IM87: .. Perhaps you think we men who are about to start for the foreign field are sorry men. I tell you we are the happiest men here;" and he spoke the truth. We prove a problem by working it back- wards. The problem of "'peace on earth and good will toward men" was worked out from God to us by the death on the cross of the Son of Man. The proof of It is found in Luke ix: 23 : .. If any man will come after me, let bim deny himself and take up his cross dally and follow me." .. Whither, Lord?" ., To crucifixion," he a.nswers. Self-crucifixion, na.iling the old man to the cross, leaving all to follow Christ, that only brings to the soul the" peace of God that passeth knowledge." Self-devotemen~ to God, and that only, works the prob- lem back from us, in our peace with God, to the full peace of God in us, which proves" the good and acceptable and perfect 1"ill of God."
And now we have proved the problem, we hav.e given ourselves. not our belongings only, not a portion of our time only, but ourselves to God himself-not to God's service merely, but to God himself. We are ready to go anywhere for Jesus, and we have peace in our souls. Bu t let us not rest there. Let us apply the problem. 1 Tim. ii : 3-4: .. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour: who wllleth that all men should be saved and corne to a knowledge of the truth." And how shall they be saved? .. Whosoever call- eth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." .. How, then, shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? and how shaH they beheve m Him whom they have not heard ?
and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be &ent?" The voice of God cries. "Whom shall I send 1" "Who will go for us?" The WIlling response comes, U Here am I, send met"and with it the question, "'Whither, Lord? "-many volunteers stand just there-willing to go, but wanting to be sent, and asking… Whither, Lord?" And as they wait, expecting a special call, the great need of the foreign field is lost sight of. God's proTidences are the indications of His will.
And what are these indications? (1) Christ means each generation of Christians to give the gospel to each generation of unbelievers. Marl< xvi: 15. And the special providence for all the essentials of this vast enterprise Is found in Acts i: 8 : .. Ye sh..l1 receive roWER, after that the Holy Ghost is COrne upon you • • . to witness unto the uttermost parts."
(2) Though in some generations the carrying out of such an enterprise might have seemed like a march up to the Red Sea with the command to cross. it is not so in this. Every door is wide open. all peoples can be reached, all mission boards are calling for more men.
(3) God has established a law which makes It .. more blessed to give than to receive." If you would see the home church largely blessed,let her send you out to the foreign ser- vice according to that unfailmg promise, .. There is that scattereth and yet increaseth."
(4) One other striking indication of God's will in thIS matter is that be has informed you of the need of these destitute parts. Is that not significant? See John iii : 17. Of India's immense population, 288,000,000, fully 8,000,000 die every year, 24,000 every day. To reach these millions with the gospel the present staff of missionaries is 'Utterly inadequate. A call for 5,000 men (there are now some 600) has gone ringmg through tbe home land without contradiction or response.
But why no response? It Is because the great and perishinll:" need of India's millions Is l!Iot realized. To impress this need upon thIS home church Is the duty and the hIgh privilege of you volunteers. Urge the young men and women by the love and death of Christ, by the worth of souls and by the awful condition of the heathen world to devote their lives to the work and cry in an agony of love, .. Here am I, send me."
Mr. Wm. M. La.ngdon, another volunteer, writes from Pekin, Qhma. :
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER
"The needs here are oTerwhelming, and yet are not to be compared with those inland. With more than 200 foreigners in this city, we still sometimes attract curious, gaping crowds; and If the preacher is so strange, how unknown must be his gospel of salvation I Eleven months ago I learned of my appointment to North China, and was a little less pleased than if it had been to Japan. To-day I am glad it was China. Japan seems attractive to young America (and may the volunteers crowd that country), but tell them _ they will not regret giving their lives for Christ's work in old China."
NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.
Garenganze,. or, Seven Years' Pioneer Missionary Work tn Central Africa. By Fred S. Arnot: Fleming H. Revell, 12 Bible House, New York. Victor Hugo predicted that m the twentieth century, Africa would be the cynosure of all eyes. In this story of seven years in the Dark Continent, Mr. Arnot has given us a son's letters to his mother and the home group; a story of strictly pioneer work, fer he undertook to cross the contment on foot. The journey was marked by supernatnral savor so sweet to a believer; as when, for example, . In a terrible thunder storm, an electric ball rell crasbing at his feet hke a cannon's shot, yetlefthim unharmed; or as, when III reptlated Illstances food and water were found to reo lieve extreme hunger and thirst, just whell the crisis came and behevlng prayer had made appeal to God. The book reveals a passion for souls.
With his whole heart Mr. Arnot loved those poor Africans and yearned for their salva- tion. He was divinely restless so long as his tongue was forced to be mute amid such spiritual destitution; and love quickened his mental powers and well nigh became to him a. gift of tongues, so that after but four months he began to use the Sechuana dialect in reading, conversation and prayer. The gospel still proves its power. The converted chief Kama not only forbids the traffic in stron!" drink, but the right of way for it throngh his dominions; he puts down revolting heathen customs, and sets an example of self. denial; yet while warring against their pagan practices, he wins the hearts of his people so that, almost to a man, they would die for him. One might see more shameless vice and immorality in Glasgow 111 one day than in Shoshong during a twelvemonth. It will take more than an English canon or M. P. to shake our confidence in Christian missions while such resnltsare wrought in the very homeso! thedeathshade and the habitations of cruelty.
Mr. Arnot's secrets are open secrets. A faith that made God's promises verities, real- ities, certainties to go by; a felJowship with God that would not be satisfied Without the holy llltimacy which reveals the secrets of God to the meek; a fidelity to the lower law bf duty and.higher law oflove, that turns our groveling into pimons that bear these secrets of this apostolic traveler's success-any disciple may learn and follow… There are eudless fresh beginnings in Christ." We have not yet begun to sound the possibilities of missions, because we have not yet proved the full power of prayer and faith and obedience. When believers trust the promises, learn of Christ and fully accept the great truth that the whole world is thejield and the whole church is the foree, many more will go forth with seed and with sickle, ready both to sow and to reap; and no part of the wide field shall re- main destitute of laborers, and given over to the Harvest of Death I-A. T. P.
F. H. Revell has also published a new Imperial AUas of the TVorld in convenient folio form at the amazingly low price of one dollar. We recommend all students, and espeCIally stu- a. dents of geography, history and missions, to procure copy to place on their tables for constant reference. We have found it invaluable. It has some thirty-three maps repre- senting every continent and country in colors, with a copious index by which easily and rapidly to find any city or town or distrIct; and one great excellence of this atlas is that the maps are not encumbered With too much matter, which sometImes makes an otherwise first-rate map obscure by multipliCIty of details and lessen its utiiity.-A. T. P.
The Missicmary Library. Chicago and New York. Eight charming volumt's, of moder- ate compass, ha.ve thus far appeared in this series, viz.: the lives of Robert Morrison, Rob- ert Moffat, Jas. Chalmers, Thos. Comber, Wm. Carey, Griffith John, Bishop Crowther and Bishop Patteson. Mr. Revell's aim is to put into brief form the most interesting and a.rousing narrative" of missionary heroism. These are not pans of milk, but little pitchers of cream. compact a.nd condensed from bulkier volumes. They can be read in few hours, and easily borne ill memory. because they do not burden the reader with details. If some benevolent person would put a set of these books into every college library or within reach of students in our theological seminaries and Y. M. C. ASSOCIations. not to say the children m ourSunday-schoels. they would become the seeds of many a devoted form of service on fields both at home and abroad. We rejoice to see cheap and available mis- sIOnary biography multiplying, and have seen none that more fully suits the growing de- mand.-A. T. P.
Missionary Enterprises, South Sea 181ands. By John Williams, Presbyteria.n Board, Phil. adelphia. The name of John Williams, the martyr of Erromanga, is a sort of talismllol1 of mlSSlOns. He who knows nothing of Williams has yet to learn the alphabet and primer of missionary literature. He went to the most hopeless field in the South Seas, and found tile isles waiting for God's law. He dared all perils for the sake of Christ aud souls. His career became a triumphal one. Before he died he had the satisfaction of sowing Polynesia wiGh the gospel, and of seeing in most of the islands the seed coming to ripeness in the harvest. 'this Is another chapter in .. The Acts of the Apostles." Williams burned with it Pauline fire and God granted him a Pauline success. This book is one of the" Evidences of Christianity," an unanswerable argument and appeal for the truth and power of the Gospel.-A. T. P.
Ohri8tian Womanhood. W. C. Black, Nashville, Tennessee. There has been need for a. longtime of some monograph upon woman's position in the ancient and modern civihza.. tions. Without endorsing eVt'ry statement or opinion of Dr. Black we consider his book a. very valuable contribution to the literature of the subject, and calculated to throw much light upon some of the most important questions of the day. HIs disc~ssion of the female Diakonate is especially thorough and helpful. He shows woman's position in the ages bafore Christ, ber domestic thraldom, her social status, her systematic ignorance.alld degradation, and the wonderful reversal of all these condItions after Christ came. No ·'coman, especially, should be WIthout the stimulus this work imparts. The place woman holds and is to hold in modern evangelizatlOn is emphatically brought to the front. The book wlll prove a great help in stimulatingmissions.-A. T. P.
The Romance 01 Mis8ions. By Maria A. West. Boston: Ara Kelyan. This book is well named. It is from the pen of a most accomplished woman, Whose imaginative pen invests the work of missions with a romantiC, but not illusive or deceptive coloring. Her experi_ ence in the La.nd of Ararat we have not only read in tilese pages, but hear4 from her own lips with not only interest but fascination. She sees and hears with singular acuteness ot observation,and then with graphic power paints what she observes. We should think our misslon~ry library very deficient without Miss West's delightful and instructi ve book. Missions would not be barren of mterest if such volumes were more read. Few novels compare with this narrative of bcts.-A. T. P.
Bits about India. By Mrs. Helen H. Holcomb. Presbyterian Board of Publication. The writer of this beautifnl book has long been a missionary resident in India, and is thoroughly familiar with the things of which she writes so pleasantly. The title of the book indicates its character. It is fuJI of interesting facts about India, its people, Its customs, its wor. ship, its prlva.te and social life-the very things that really tell most concerning a. country, and yet the very things which most writers are apt to overlook.-J. M. S.
Twenty Years of the Woma.n's Foreign. M"Ul8ionary Society of the Methodist Episcopa.l Church. By Mrs. J. T. Gracey.
Sketch 01 Mr8. J. C. Doremus, by the same author. The first of these brochures is an Intel. lIgent, compact and comprehensive outline sketch of the history, the work and the results of twenty years-from 1869 to 1889-of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the M. E. Church, published bV the Heathen Woman'8 Friend, Boston. It is a sketch of remarka.- ble Interest and full of information and of inspiration.
The other Is a graceful and most touching tribute to the memory of one whose name Is like preclOus ointment ponred forth-a name lJIustrious in the annals of philanthropy and ChristIan work. She Was the first President of the first Woman's Missionary Society- "Woman's Union Missiona.ry Society "-and made her blessed infiuence felt at home IIilId abroad through a thousand channels. We wish this sketch, which costs but three cents, and is published at the same place as the one above, could be read by every woman in the land.-J. M.S.
Memoirs of Mrs. Augusta Tullis Kelley, late missionary to East Central Africa. By her husband. "In these memoirs the reader will find nothing fictitious, exaggerated or highly colored, but a plain, faithful record of the work and sacrifice of a woman of God of more than ordinary ability, wholly consecrated to his service It is a deeply interesting volume. It is charming for its simpilcity. It is the record of a holy symmetrical lire. Her own writings contribute an attraFtive pa.rtof the book. It will encourage all who pernse It to holy living. It will, we trust, awaken new zeal in the missionary cause." rhe book is deeply spiritual, bntisnot narrow or sectarian. $1 sent to Rev. W. W. Kelley, Paxton,Ill., wllIse- cure a copy.-J. M. S.
The M"l8IJionary Year Book for 1889, containing historical and statistical accounts of the principal Protestant Missionary SOCIeties in Great Britain, the continent of Europe, and America. London: The Religious Tract Society. New York: F. H. Revell. 12 mo, 428 pp. Prlce,1.25. We barely announced this work in our June issue,anda.reglad to saythat it is now upon the ma.rkilt. A similar volume was published last year, but we note a decided
GENERAL MISSI,ONARY INTELLIGENCE
improvement in the present, especially in the American department, which last year was very meagre and imperfect. Fortunately Dr. J. T . Gracey, who conducts the International Department of this R&VlEW, collated and edited the matter in the American section -<lver one-fourth of the book-which is a guarantee that this part of the work has been intelligently and thoroughly done.
The design of the Annual is to give a bird's-eye view of all the important missionary operations of Protestant Christendom. Each society in turn is briefly sketched, its field and work described, and the latest statIstics presented. So tbat within the space of a moderate volume the reader can learn just what each missionary society or agency in the wide world is doing, ",here it is laboring, and with what success. The statistics given-often tabulated-are official and invaluable. It is justsuch a work as thousands of those engaged in missionary work need for information, and it ought to have, and we believe will have, a large circulatiou. And If the success of this volume warrants it, a similar one will be issued each year hereafter.-J. M. S.
H.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Afrlca.-Prof. Calderwood, in an able -Diffusion of the English language. The article in the Unzted Presbyterian Magazine, fact that at the recent National Congress shows conclusively that concentrated effort in India all the speeches and the entire prohas proved far more effective than desultory ceedings were in English, is a striking illusenterprises. He contrasts for example what tration of the wide diffusion of that tongne. has been done by the China Inland Mission, There were gathered at Madras seven huna.lId by the Presbyterian Church of England. dred dele::a.tes from all parts of India, Af- "Wilham Burns went to China," he says, ghanistan, Nepaul, Bnrmah and Scinde. .. in 1847: Hudson Taylor in 1>l55; Burns had They spoke nine different languages, and thus the advantageo! eight years m ad- the English was the only medium throu&'h vance. The Presbyterian church has con- which the proceedings could be satisfactocentrated in Amoy, Swatow, and in the rily conducted. Great Britain's colonial island of Formosa. This mission has now 16 enterprises ha ve been probably the largest missionaries, 7 medica.l missionaries, 13 wo- factor in spreading a knowledge of English. men wboare zena.namissionaries-36agents It is found also that in countries like Java, m all ; whereas the China Inland Mission where Great Britain has no control, the has 339 agents. How then do resnlts stand? knowledge of English IS steadily growing. The Presbyterian Church of England Mis- Not long ago the French language was the sIOn reports at the end of 1887, 3,528 commu- medium invariably employed in all internanicants. The China Inland Mission, with its tional conferences. At the last Berlin connoble examples of seJr-consecration, cannot ference, however, English and German as show results to compare with them."-Free weIl as French were employed. The other Church 01 Scotland Monthly. leading languages of Europe have graduaIly been insisting on recognitiou on an equal -We must be aggressive. We neglect the footing with French in their proper domain. work of missions at our peril. Look abroad. It was Mr. Canning who led the way when The multitudes of India and China are fast at the foreign office he ordered that certain becoming possessed of the instrnments and correspondence, hi thertowritten in French, appilances of Illodern civilization, while should be sent in English. .. The time will vice and Infldelity from the West keep pace come:' said Bismarck in 1863," when I inwith the advance of art and commerce. If tend to have all my dispatches written in Christianity fails to s~bdne these people, If German, and when I shall find means to the Christian church fails in her duty to make them understood even ill FranCe." He them, and selfishly Ignores the splendid op- kept his word, and both the English and portunities before her, she Is preparinl';' German tongues have profited by the cona.:vengers of her guilty negligence and sel- siderable decline of French as the interns.- fish apathy more cruel than the harbarlan tionallanguage of diplomacy and polite soscour&,es that deva~tated Imperial Rome. ciety. Look at h"me. Infldeilty, socialism, anarchy, the outcome of the neglect, oppression -The Scriptures are now accessible, as to and unfaithfulness ofChristendom,are rally- languages, to nine-tenths of the world's ining their forces, and preparing certain judg- habitants, while in the early part of this ment for a worldly and apathetic church. century they could be stndied only byabout Whatcanavertlt? Communism must come one-flfth. Shall it be the commnnism of the devil, or the communism of Christ? Under God, our _. Are our foreign missions a success? salvation as a church, and as a. people, de- Though the direct results of the propa- ·pends npon revived faithfulness to that ganda of the various Christian missions great aggressive work Which Christ has which have long been at work in Africa may not show an extraordmary num- Iiven us to do. ber of baptized and professing Christians in their pnblished statistics, yet their vastated." At the close of 1887 the Arab Indirect inlluence has had really remarka- traders attacked Karonga, one of the com..
ble effect in educating and humanizing can- pany's stations at the North end of Lake nibals and fetish worshipers, and the mere Nyassa, but a body of native allies came to fact that numbers of savages have been their help, and after five days the siege was taught to read, write and speak good Eng. raised. The company are appealing for lish or French, is alone one result of mis- funds to enable them to send a force of ex- sionary enterprise which should secure the perienced and equipped men to undertake sympathy and support of European Goveru- the work of repelling these Arab aggressors.
ments for these painstaking societies. In- -ReVIved HindUIsm. TheBharatDharma deed, though the converted barbarians may Maha·mandal (Iiterally"theGreat Assembly afterward grow slack in observing theprac- of the India Religion"), Hindooreligiou8 con..
tices of our religion, no one can deny that ference, concluded its second annual meet- they have been very much benefited by ing at Brindabun on the 29th ultimo. About their studies at the mission. No doubt if 200 delegates from various parts of the Pun- the great missionary propaganda of Britain jab, the northwestern provinces, Oudh and confined itself to being a kind of School Behar, including Dewan Ramjas, C.I.E., and Board for savages, it would save time and Dewan Mathuradas Bahadnr of Kapurthala, money spent in installing into low-grade were present. The conference upheld im- minds dog-mas and doctrines which these age worship, the incarnations, sbl'addha barbarians are scarcely capable of turning and pilgrimage. It was resolved that to the practical purposes of life, but inas. branches of the Maha·mandal (Great As· much as that is the original motive-power sembly) be established in places where they of Christian missions, and one must utilize do not already exist, also to promote all forces as one finds them, political ec·ono- over the country religious education, and mists should be content to let the missiona- that Hindoo boys sl,ould be taught :rI:indi, ries dogmatize and indoctrinate without let Sanskrit and the principles of the Hindu or hindrance, on account of the education religion before they begin to learn a foreign and civilization which they laterally intro- language; that no boy be married below 16, duce. The trader civilizes, but he does not and no girl belOW 10 or above 12. The con· go to savage countries for that purpose; he ference closed with prayers for the Queen- goes to trade. In like manner the bait Empress under whose benign rule, as the which draws these good men and women of Secretary remarked, they enjoyed that Ro~an Catholic and Protestant missions to mo.t invaluable boon, namely religious free- Africa, Polynesia, North America, India, dom. Prayers were also offered for Lord China aud Persia, is the desire to instUl into Lansdowne, Sir Auckland Colvin and Sir the minds of the backward races of these James Lyall; but to which of the 330,000,000 'savages of semi-civilized lands their own Hindu divinities the prayers were offered, views of Christian faith and hope, but they our authority does not say. We take it to accompany their care for the spiritual well- be to Krishna and his mistress Radha, the being of the pagan or Mohammedan with a local divinities, who, we suppose, presided very practical intention to improve his over the "Great Assembly."-Indian Evan· bodily life and to educate his mind, and in gelical Review, April.
this they do, and have done in the past, an -Results of a Christless Civilization. Grat- amount of good that has never as yet been tan Guinness lately said: .. All along that sufficientlyappreciated.-H. H. Johnston in West coast of Africll. we have built great Fortnightly Review for Aprtl. warehouses stocked with guns, gunpowder -" The African Lakes Company was form- and murderous drinks. We have built them ed in 1878 to assist the various missions at every river's mouth, and far up every then established and to work out Living- navigable rlver in the interior of the coun- stone b schemes." James Stevenson, of try, wherever European capital and power Scotland, is chairman of the company, and could reach. Where the Senegal, the Gam.
the road known as the Stevenson Road, con- bia, the Niger and the Congo roll their be- necting lakes Nyassa and Tanganyika, was neficent waters to the sea, there we have b'lilt at his expense. This is said to be one set up the man-murdering fa.,tories, and of the most important roads in Central there we land our cargoes of deadly poison.
Africa, commercially considered; but the Look at the green boxes in those factories, Arabs have begun to appropriate it to their packed with gin-infamously bad gin, too, own use, and to block the way with their scarcely lIt to make paint with; gin boxes caravans. Mr. Stevenson has just issued a by the l'Illllion I Look at the demijohns of pamphlet containing a slave-trade map of rum, great glass jars enclosed iu wicker Africa, and bringing together facts to show work, filled up to the brim with burning, that "within the last five years the ravages maddening liquor; rum jars by the million I of the Arabs have increased in area and in- Look at them in every African village and te,sity, so that a territory West of the town all along the coast, positively for thou- G~t Lakes,l,OOO miles by (O(), llle been de- sands of miles, and far away in the interior. See how the deadly trade eats like a cancer that it was fun of interest, a.nd that the into the very vitals of tbe dark continent." road is perfectly open; but being a white man, I had to pay' right of way' to the .. In wandering through some native vil- principal chiefs, who, by the way, are anxla.ges on the Kru coast," says Thomson, ious for white men ~o live with them. We "one feels as if in a kind of hades, peopled a.ri ved here in a. hundred marches, the by brutalized human beings, whose punish- marches averaging six hours. Here my ment it is to be possessed by a never-ending head was overwhelmed at the reception I thirst for drink. On all sides you, are fol- everywhere got from the BashiJange. Every lowed by eager cries for gin, gin, always hUJ dotted with large and beautiful vilgin. I had travelled and sulfered in Africa, lages; the couutry teeming with people who inspired by the idea that I was doing some ha,ve abandoned fetishism and are waitillg good in the world in opening up new lands for what the white men can bring them; all to commerce and civilization, but all my a.nxious to'learn, intelligent, have now some satisfaction was blighted as I felt that what idea of God, want to know about everything. httle work I had done had better have been faces all smiling, and everyone polite. Go undone, and Africa still remained the dark anywhere over the country, and great vilcontinen t, if such was to be the end of it all I lages enconnter tbe eye. The population is For me, as things stand in many places, I enormous and is marvellously thick. Trnly, am inclined to translate this cry of the • the harvest is great, but the laborers are opening up of Africa to civilization as really few.' Few I one only, and that one worth being the opening of itupto European vices, almost nothing."-Baptist Mis.ionary. old clothes, gin, rnm, gunpowder and guns." Ch i na.-A good book. A Chinese mer- -An Italian traveller, Signor Cechi, has lately published, in his work on East Africa, chant came into the American Baptist Misa.n interesting account of the degenerate sion Chapel in Shanghai, and, after talking representatives of ancient Christianity with him for a short time, Dr. Yates sold whom he found among the peoples inhabit- him a copy of the New Testament. He took ing the region South of Abyssinia. The Mo- it home, ;;00 miles awa.y,aud, after about hammedan invasion has driven these de- three months, appeared again in the chapel. scendants of the primitive African Chris. tians to the more mountainous parts of the He came back to say that he was uuder the country, where, .in sequestered vales, scat;.· impression that the book was not complete, tered communities of them have churches that surely it must have other parts, and so adorned with double crosses, and dedicated he came to get the Old Testament as he tosnch names as the" HolyEmanuel." They read and studied the New. What had he profess the old heresy that our Lord had only one nature, the divine. But Signor done with the New Testament r He had Cechi found them so staeped in ignorance that their doctrine can be little more to taken it to his home and shown it to the tbem tban a traditional formula. schoolmaster and the readiug people. They said: .. This is a good book. Confucius him- -Dr. Robert N. Cust, in a recent number self must have had something to do with it." of Ohurch Work, says: .. After a careful As there was only one copy, they unstitched consideration of the subject for many years I have come to the firm conviction that a this one and took it leaf by leaf, and all missionary in Equatorial Africa, East or those who could write took a leaf home. West, at a distance of, say fifty miles from Tbey made twelve or fifteen complete copies the coast, .hould not be encumbered with a of the New Testament, and introduced it family. He is like the captain of a ship, the into their schools without any" conscience soldier on a campaign, the explorer of un- clause." It was introduced as a class- known countries, and should not be weak- book throughout that district for heathen ened in the hour of peril by personal and schools.-Selected. home considerations calculated to unnerve him. It should be a rule absolute that as England.-A missionary exhibition. regards Equatorial Africa no woman should The Kensington Town Hall, London, has be allowed to be sent to a station in the in- been the scene of a very interesting exhibi- terior. I have seen a procession, as it were, tion and bazaar. A perfect museum of arti- of young women pass from the committee- cleg, illustrative of native life in India, room into African graves, with no possible China, Japan, Africa, North America and advantage as rega.rds mission work to com- Palestine, has been brought together under pensate for the frightful sacrifice of life." the auspices of the Church of England Mis- sionary Society; whilst lectures, with dis- Central Africa:-Dr. Wm. R. Sum_ solvIDg views, au the society's various fields mers, who died ,at Luluaburg, in the Congo of foreign labor have helped to render the Free State, wrote as follows to Dr. Sims re- exhibition still more instructive. Manyob- garding the people among whom he found jects of great interest, including idols, himself in that remote station: models of temples, weapons of sa.vage war- fare, and numerous specimens of native .. Of the journey I will sa.y notbing but mauufactures have been lent, and in each division of the exhibition a missionary well acquainted with the country from which the articles came was generally to be found have asked for a re-enforcement of Ii2 missiona- ready to alford all needed infotmation. ries. By the same proportion our own force Qught Relicsofa personal character, too, attracted to be enlarged by more than 100. Bnt they do much attention. Among the latter the most pathetic was the diary of the late Bishop not ask that. They ask this year for sW: new Hannington, with the last entry on the men. Let the young ministry see that the men day he was murdered, October 29, 1885: .. I can hear no news, but was held up by the are found, and the chnrches be sure that tho 30th Psalm, which came with great power. means are provided to respond fnlly to this A hyena howled near me last night, smelling modest request.-Baptist Mis8ionary. a sick man, hnt I hope it is not to have me yet." -The Pandita Rambai has met with a kind reception from all parties in Bombay, and her -The income of the Church Missionary So- experiment of opening a training school lor ciety is larger this year than it has ever high caste widows will have a fair trial. Dur- been before, and the Kensington exhibition ing her prolonged visit to America the Pandlta must materially increase it. Mightnotother met with great favor, and received more liber· missionary societies imitate with advantage al assistance than, we think, had ever before such a good example? been given to any person for missionary pur- poses. We have not been sanguine by any I ndia.-The American Baptist Telugu means in hopes for her success, knowing as we Mission. The Telugn Mission presents a cu- do the character of some of the barriers wb;~h rions 'anomaly in the missions of American Bap- rise in her way, but every such experiment Is tists. It was the most hopeless at the first, worth a trial, and every elfort, whether suc- and is now the most prosperons. From the cessful or not, which aims to ameliorate the least illteresting and encouraging, it has ad- hard lot of Indian widows, deserves the sympa- vanced, in less than twenty-five years, to the thy of all good people. The Pandlta has en- most marvellonsly successfnl mission on the thusiasm and persistence of pnrpose, and we face of the earth. The history of Christianity trnst that her success will be snch as to silence all donbters. As to opposers, she has none.- in all ages and countries shows nothing which Indian W,tnes8. snrpasses the later years of the American Bap- tist Telngn Mission in spontaneous extension, .Japan.-A College Revival. In the Chi- in rapidity of progress, in genuineness of con- cago Watchman, Mr. L. D. Wishard tells a very ver.ions. in stability of results, or in promise for the fnture. The missionary marvels of the interesting story of work in connection with his Sonth Sea Islands cannot parallel it. Only in visit to'the leading Christian college in Japan: the tragic and romantic annals of Madagascar can we find anything to compare with it; and " The Doshisha, as it is called, contains 700 , in the missions of to-day, when the amonnt of students, about one-half of whom are members elforts pnt forth, and the reality of personal ex- of the college church. The institution Is not perience is taken into consideration, not even only the largest Christian college in Japan, bnt the wonderfnl progress of Christianity.ln Japan is one of the very largest Christian institutions can he placed beside it. . . . And yet the Tel- In Asia. It has done more for the spread of ugn Mission occnpies no such place in the af- Christianity in Japan than any other agency, fections and aspirations of American Baptists, and has a national reputation for its literary as as Its wonderfnl history and success would well as its religions standing. We pursued ex- warrant. Here is one man who has under his actly the same course wbich we had followed care more than half as many native Christians so often In American colleges, and the work as there are In all Burma, ann we haven't sent from the beginning to the end of the visit was so similar to an American college revival that any even one man from Am~rica to reinforce the special description Is scarcely necessary. One Telugu Mi8sion jor near,v three veal's. .•. subject which especially interested the stndents was the place which Christianity holds in the Bnt the crisis has come. The mission cannot colleges and among the highly educated of the and must not go longer in the way it has been West_ Many of them had been led to think going. These thousands of converts, most of that Christianity was losing its hold upon onr whom are less than ten years in the Christian intellectnal classes. This outrageous falsehood life, must be trained for Christian manhood has been circulated in Japan by skeptical pro- and womanhood. The appeals of these hun- fessors from England, Germany and America. dreds, and even thousands, who are asking for the missionary to visit their villa~es, and bap- "One of the most interesting and the most dif- tise taem, must be responded to. The over- ficnlt features of the work consisted in the in- worked and overburdened brethren mnst be qniry meetings. It was an imposing sight to see relieved and enconraged by seeing re-enforce- a score of gronps of from three to six students ments coming to their help. We have other gathered about a professor or experienced great and pressing works which must be done, Christian student eagerly discussing the plan of but the re-enforcement of the Telnga Mission salvation. The meetings for personal work presents claims npon our young men, and upon were generally held In onr private rooms. Dr. the gifts of the people, which cannot be longer Davis gladly tnrned his parlor and dining-room into an inquiry-room, and sometimes forty or Ignored. The Canadian Baptist TeluguMission more stUdents would crowd in and spend from ODe to two hours. It was a joy indescribable to answer their eager questions, and lead them we left. The same evening fifty men in a meetstep by step into the light. One of those meet- ing for the unconverted announced their deterings I shall never Corget. The company was mination to begin praying for themselves, and pretty evenly divided-about half of them skep- to seek Christ, as it was expressed, untll they tical concerning the inspiration of the Bible, the found Him." Divinity of Christ, the immortality of the soul, &c.; while the balance were settled upon these Iu this connection we add the words of a mispoints, and were willing to accept Christ as sionary who writes to the ilfiBsionary Herald their Savionr. I di vided the crowd, leaving- the that on March 24 103 students from this instituskeptics with Mr. Bartlett of Dartmonth, '87, tion, 98 young men and 5 young women, received who was one of the first of the pledged mission- Christian baptism and were welcomed to church ary volunteers to reach the foreign field, and fellowship. Last year 141 of the students wbo has a special knack for meeting skeptical made public profession of Christ. And still objections. I took the others into an adjoining further: room. There were abont twenty-two of them. After talking for some time about the plan of .. It is with great pleasure, " says the Mis8ionsalvation, I asked those who had already ac- ary Herald, "that we are able to announce that cepted Christ, or were willing te accept Him a Christian gentleman of New England, who there and then, to aunounce it. Fnlly seventeen desires that his name should be uUknown, has did so, and the reasons which theygayefortheir been so impressed by the value of the work hope in Cbrist were as satisfactory as you will done by the Doshisha Institution at Kyoto, and ordinarily hear iu an American college. by the caU which Mr. Neesima has made for its enIargementasa university,that he has contribut- .. Four or five fellows listened earnestly and ed the noble sum of $100,000, of which $.5,00 are iadly to the testimonies of their companions, to be for an endowment, and $25,000 for the but were unable to grasp the fact of his gift of erection aud furnishing of a science haU. " eternal life. So I said to them, 'Fellows, what will convince you beyond a doubt that the gift PerSia.-Mission Movements. A recent is yours?' They did not answer at once, so I letterfrom Persia speaks of the rapid move tosaid, 'If I should come to you and teU that you wards religious liberty to Moslems, which has had fallen heir to a maguiflcent estate, what been taking place in the capitol, Teheran, and iu would convince you beyond all question of the the part of the field where our American truthfuluess of my word?' , We may be satis- brethren are at work. A few facts will illustrate fied if we could see it,' one. of them replied. this: (1) At Tabreez, an American medical mis- • Would that really satisfy you f' I asked. They siouary was asked by the Vali Ahad, or heir-apdidn't grasp my meauing, so I continued, ' Sup- parent to the throne of Persia, who is also Govposing you saw the legal document-the re- ernor of the Province of wbich Tabreez is the cord? ' , Oh, yes, that would settle the ques- capital, to give up his connection with the mistion,' they exclaimed. 'Well,' I continued, • we Sion, and become his private physcian on a large are 80 fortunate as to have the record. Turn salary. The doctor had no wish to accept it, but to John v: 11, aud let us read, .. And this is the was urged by· his brother missionaries aud the record, that God hath given us eternal life, and Mission Board to doso. He told the prince that he this life is His Son." , could do so on the condition only that he should bequite free to teach and preach his own religion, " I bhall never outlive the memory of the and to this the prince agreed. The appointment scene of that room. They fairly snatched their was considered so important that it was dis- New Testaments from their pockets, and eag- cussed by all the Legations, and oppo,ed by erly searched for the record. And bending low Russia only. The strangest thing was that tho over the pages they seemed to drink in the Mullahs approved of it, and said they could trust words like thirsty men. It was a pathetiC a man to attend to their women who was not sight, those boys beuding anxiously over the ashamed to stand up for his own religion. (2) record, which probably none of them had ever A convert from Islam in another city has not seen before. I could see their faces brighten, only made a public profession of Christ, but has althougb my eyes were becoming somewhat also acted as a mission agent under the American dimmed. Presently one of the boys looked up. missionaries there, and was lately married tothe His face glowed. He reached out his hand. daughter of the native pastor. Great opposition • Is the qnestIOn settled f' I asked. 'Yes, it is was raised to the marriage by the native Chrissettled,' he replied; and they all said the same. tian community (Armeniaus), but none whatever There was joy in that room. The iuterpreter by the Moslems. (3) Not many years since an said, 'L.t us pray'; alid while he prayed I order was given by the Shah, through H. B. M. thought of the joy with which heaven was ring- Minister, that the missionaries should not allow ingas any Moslem to enter their church, or attend any kind of service. Iu December, when Dr. Bruce The angels echoed around the throne, was returning to Julfa, he preached in Persia in .' Rejoice, for the Lord brings back his own I ' Teheran to a crowded congregation of Chris- tians, Jews, Parses., and Moslems. After the "So the work continued day after day. As service the whole congregation stayed for Sunsome indication of the progress of the work, I day-school, and one of the missionaries had a wi11 say that fully one hundred men attended a class of some 25 lloslems, Jews, and Parsees. meeting for new converts, held a week before
MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL
chiefly Moslems, whom he taught the word of Sabbath, with a total attendance of about one God, just as in any Sunday-school clas~·. (4) thonsand. In the qnarters ot Haskeuy and Scu. After service one of the missionaries went out tari and in the rear of the Bible Honse, there are with, a catechist to two Moslem villages, and commodions chapels, bot for more than torty preached quite publicly to attentive congrega- years the evangelical Armenian chnrches in the tions in the street. (5) There are now several great quarters of Pera and Stamboul have converts from Islam In Ooroomiah who make 8 snffered severely in their growth and influence public profession of their faith. These five facts for the lack of church homes of their Own. The are significant signs of progress, and give ground brethren of the Pera and Stamboul churches are, for belief that God's time to favor Persia, of now about to make fresh efforts to secnre hOllses which Dr. Bruce has so often spoke, is at hand. of worship, and we bespeak for them tbe sym- -Christian at Work. pathy and aid of American Christians. The preachers of the gospel have never been so nn- T hi bet.-Mr. Andrew Wilson says that the merous and strong as at present, and the spirit of love and union among the brethren has sensi- Thibetans are the most pre-eminently praying bly increased. By means of our station conferpeople on the face of the earth. .. They have ence, genuine co-operati~n in carrying forward praying stones, praying pyramids, praying flags the evangelical work has been secured, and the flying over every bouse, praying wheels, praying differences of former years have quite disap· miJJs, and the univereal prayer, 'Ommani padme peared.- M!88ionary Herald. haun,' is never ont of their mouth," A German writer on Lamaism says of this sentence, which United States.-A fearless Missionary. literally means" 0 God 1 the jewel in the lotus," Dr. Otis Gibson, who died recently in SanFran. that these six syllables are, of all the prayers of cisco, was a noted missiona.ry among the Chinese earth, that which is most frequently repeated, in that city from 1868 to 1886. Dr. S. L. Baldwin written, printed, and conveniently offered up by in the Chinese Evangelist gives a thrilling acmechanical means. .. They constitute the only count of hisebaracter and work. We give,an exprayer which the common Mongols and Thihetans tract. "He soon gained the entire respect and know; they are the first words which the stam- confidence of the Chinese residents; and when mering child learns, and are the last sighs of the the hoodlum spirit became rampant and truckdying. The traveller murmurs them upon his ling politiCians catered to it for personal advantjourney, the herdsman by his flock, the wife in age, so tbat a public sentiment was engendered her daily work, the monk in all stages of con- very inimical to the Chinese residents, Dr. Gibtemplation-that is to say, of nihilism; and they son with that lofty courage cbaracteristic of him, are the cries of conflict and triumph. One meets stood firmly and resolutely in defence of the opwith them everywhere, whereever the Lama pressed Chinese. He was once burned in effigy church has established itself-on flags, rocks, in front of the City Hall, while the mayor of the trees, walls, stone monnments, utensils, strips City was making an anti-Chinese speech within, of paper, human skulls, skeletons, etc. They and conniving at the doings of the godless mob are, according to the meaning of the believer, without. On appearing once in the Legislative the essence of all religion, of all wisdom and RaHat Sacramento, a motion was promp~y revelation; they are the way of SIllvation and made by one of the hoodlum members that Otis entrance to holiness." Gibson he expelled from the hall; but there was a majority of rational and dece&! men in the Turkey.-Constanti~ople. Arnerlean Chris- body large enongh to prevent the passage or the tianity has three grand institutions in Constanti- resolution. Sometimes it was necessary to senople, namely, the Bihle House in Stamholll, cure police protectiou for the mission house, which is the centre of literary work for the Em- and on many occasions Mrs. Gihson was in seripire; the Female College, called the .. Home," ous donbt when he left the building whether she on tbe heights of Scutari, on the Asiatic shore, wonld ever see him again alive. In the midst and Robert College, on the bluff of the Bo~pho of such conflicts and trials he pressed on unrus, six miles above the city. There are thrEe daunted in his work until three years ago, when native evangelical churches, namely, two Arme- he was stricken with paralYSiS, undoubtly the niau and one Greek, with a total membership result of the long nervous strain to which he of over two hundred, and eleven religious ser- had been subjected." services in eight different quarters of the city and in three different langnages lire held every I1I.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Africa. of a year now accessions have been constant E. F_ Baldwin's Work in Southern and everyone haptized has renounced Moham- Morocco. medanism. For a time the work was seemingly much hindered by severe persecntion. Impris- MOGADOR, MOROCCO, March 21, 1889. onment, be3ting, disowning, banishment-these DEAR BROTHER: Some of your readers know are all too familiar to the converts here in somewhat of the precious work of grace in pro- Southern Morocco. But when it was impossible gress here among Mohammedans. For upwards to longer work here in Mogador we travelled and preached, going literally on the methods gospel brings them. May not all thia encourage laid down in Matthew x, which we hold with, the zeal and faith of scattered workers toiling we find, increasing numbers of God's children in these bard Moslem fields? to be of perpetnal obligation. We have found them to contain the deep and matchless wisdom Some new workers, all committed to Mat- thew x lives, have just jOined us. Tbere are of God for missionary etrort.* Several others now six of us bere, all mrn of course, with onr lives given up to toil for Lurist nnder bis primbesides myself, inclllding recently converted itive instructions. A band is forming in Ayernatives. are so travelling. The natives knowing shire, Scotland, of others. who will come to us no other methods, have gone glad)y forth, with- soon, we trust. Others in different places are ont purse or scrip. on foot, taking uothing and greatly interested. We hope to have many namarvellous blessiug in the way of conversion tives together here in the summer months for has followed the steps of their simple faith. trainiug in the Word, that they may afterwards They go with no thought of payor salary. The go forth two by two, without purse or scrip. Father makes their simple needs His care. lily own position as an unattached missionary, de- E. F. BALDWIN. pendent only on God for temporal supplies (which, blessed be Hie name, He ceaselessly Brazil. supplies), enables one to consistently instrnct these native Christians in the principles and THE MISSIONARY BUREAU,LoNDON, methods of .Matthew x, and encourage them to go forth npon them. April 8, 1889. DEAR DR. PIERSON:- I enclose It is to this retnrn to these first principles of mission work I attribute the constant :!low of copy Qf a letter received from Brazil, blessing we are having. and which is so except- 10~1 in Mohammedan fields. I earnestly rec- on the subject of "Self-Supporting ommend them to others who may have the faith and are so circumstanced as to practice them. Missionaries." As it is the phase of I say this without any reflection upon the more ordinary and accepted lines of mission endeavor. the subject <in which we are most The field is vast and the need great, and by all and every means let the gospel be.preached. deeply interested, and one in which Jnst now the vigilance of our persecutors and very much more can be done than adversaries has somewhat relaxed, and our fre- has yet been ~ttempted•. I thought quent meet:!Igs (sil<teen in Arabic and eight in English per week, are well attended, and we you might find room for it in your are cheered by more conversions. Several are jnst presenting themselves for baptism. Last excellent REVIEW. night one of the most intelligent and best educated Moors I have ever met,:pnblicly confessed JOHN M. PAMMANT, Secretary. Christ for the first time-both speaking and praying (as all the native Christians do from the Self-Supporting Missionaries: honr of their conversion) in onr meeting before "GREAT BRITAIN, tbrough her vast commercial many witnesses. He is one of the few" honor- and colonial relations, sends men to all parts of able" ones who have been won. We trnst he the habitable globe. These men are natnrally may become a veritable Paul. He was··some energetic and enterprising or they would not months since arrested and thrown into prison on offer for foreign service. the suspicion of being a Christian, which at that ,. Is it not possible to transform this splendid time he was not. His feet, like Joseph's, .. they army of yonng men into repres~ntatives of hurt with fetters," the scars of which he will Christ? I sincerely believe it is. The church never cease to carry. Poor fellow' He was of Christ in England has within its fold the very then withont the comfort that comes to a child flower of manhood, ready for service In any part of God in a1Hiction, and yet enduring reproach of the world. What then is necessary? That for Christ. But God blessed his dreary sojourn for every foreign post a Christian man should in prison to his soul, and it contribnted to his be forthcoming, a man with every qualification conversion. Pray for him. necessary, and equal to any that may be fur- nished from the world's ranks. But how are Some from among the few resident Europeans these men to be brought into contact with the and from among the Jews also have turned to companies who are to employ them? Anassoclthe Lord and confessed Him in baptism. ation might he formed of Christian merchants and others, who would, by their infiuence and Tidings from different places in the interior, known integrity,be nble to select men ofguaranwhere tbe word of life has been carried from teed ability antI general suitableness. But what here, tell us of many turning from Mohammed's wonld be the ~ractical gain to the church by all cold, hard. false faith, to the love and light the this? The gain would be sim ply incalculable. In the first place a great stumbling block wonld –*A series ofpapers dealing witb the qnestion be removed, fornothing impedes the spread of the gospel abroad more than the lives of godless of mission methods and entitled The Question Englishmen. All missionaries will attest this. 01 the Hour-Foreign Mis8ions, is appearing But the greatest advantage of all will be that now in The Christian of London, and are at- thousands of seU-supporting missionaries will tracting wide attention. be located all over the world, for every living Christian is a missionary, whatever his private , calling may be. The opportunities of spreading I hear Miss Pilditch is this moment bnsy giv- the gospel which lie within the reach oC every ing a singing lesson to our school children.
Englishman abroad are very great, and this Santhals are hill people and good singers.
without in any way interfering with his private Thank God for liberty to praise the Lord in the dntles. While laboring abroad I have had the midst of heathendom.
constant fellowship an 1 help of several young Last Sunday about 150 were at the Lord's Englishmen. One who ,vas ever ready to help table to remember His death; it was the won- was the manager of a foundry; another was the der of the RItes, the Son oC God dying for sinful director of one of the largest companies in this men. Eleven men and women were baptized city; and in the same way every Englishman in November, and one man l'lst month, on who fills an engagement abroad may do good proCession of faith in Christ. There is hope oC work for Christ, providing he be a living Chris- many more to Collow. Pray for them.
tian. Famine is tormenting thousands of people i I ask, should all this power for good be left daily heads of families, men and women, come to unapplied f Surely heroic young Christians will me, saying we have nothing to eat; give us some be forthcoming to fill any post that others work, rice or money; the children are crying.
would accept for the salary. The love of Christ The Santhals are a brave and hard-working.
should be stronger than the love' of enterpri.e people, but this famine is a great trouble, and or lucre, and as to fitness, who shall say that the Government does not Ceellncllned to help.
the man of God is inferior to the worldling f " Come ye blessed.-For 1 was hungry and ye Joseph and Daniel proved themselves not one gave me food. Inasmuch as ye did it unto one whit behind their godlesR compeers in worldly of these, my brethren, even the least, ye did It knowledge, tact and business capacity. unto me." Matt. 25 : 14-40. How can we see All that is wanting to put this scheme into these people starving before Our eyes f This is practice is the formation of an association of a time of need. Pray lor them, and afterwards Christian merchants and philanthropists, and see how mnch you can deny yourself to help its results will be universal. them. If friends knew their need, they would " JAMES F ANSTONE." cheerfully send a few pounds to help them.
India. A Ohristian Baba. Interesting letter from Secretary From Rev. J. A. B. Cook, Singa- Haegert, of the Bethel Santhal Mission. pore, Feb. 21, 1889.
BETHEL. 21st March. 1889. MR. TAlIl KONG WEE was born In Singapore, DEAR EDITORS: of Christian parents, in 1842 i he was thus a Baba. To explain this word, I cannot do better We left England in October, '88, with six new than quote the following from Vaughan's" Chi- missionaries for onr mission, and arrived here nese of the Straits Settlements": "The term safely on the 2d December. Our services on Baba Is used by the natives oC Bengal to board were a joy to os and a blessing to others. designate the children oC Europeans. and it Is Oor missionaries learned 500 Santhal words, probable that the word was applied by the and attended 24 lectures on diseases, their Indian convicts at Renang to Chinese children, cause, their course and treatment on board. No and so came Into !(enerai use. The word is time was lost; since their arrival they have given in Donglas's Hokien Dictionary as mean- continued their study. and made good progress Ing a half·caste Chinese from the Straits. In in medicine and the Santhallanguage. Mess1·s. the Straits, however, the term Is applied to all ,Panes and Hearn are at Bethlehem, 20 miles Chinese born there, half-caste, or otherwise." east; the others are here. We trust Mr. The term, moreover, is applied to adults as Rowat will go 20 miles north by and by. well as to children.
D,n:ing the last four months, patients from Mr. Kong Wee's father was a gambler 25 villages were attended at Bethel. Our and pepper trader. who sent him to school at the ulne dispensaries are busy at this time, as Rame's Institution, where he was taoght Eng- the prevailing heatlays many aside. (It is 8 P. lIl. lish. Like all Babas he knew Malsy better just now. and we have 95 degrees on our veran- than Chinese, though he also knew Chinese, dah, in the shade.) Oor nine dispensaries re- which some Babas do not. He left school when move moch misery and woe from many a home, sixteen to enter a lawyer's omce, where he and this they do all the year rouud. As a rule, remained until about three years ago, when he patients from more than 150 vill"ages receive removed to Madras for the education of his two treatment every year. sons. He had saved sumcient to enable him to. retire and do this. The reason why he went Since January, '89, we visited four melas there I will give further on. (heathen feasts) and disposed of 1,850 gospels. May the bleSSing of the Almighty rest on His His parents, brothers, sisters, and indeed all word, printed and preached, and may He guide his relatives were heathen. He also remained a the people to the feet of Christ. heathen Cor some years after leaving school, un- til he came into contact with a Chinese Chris- Last week our preachers, two and two, visit- tian, one of the earliest converts oC the London ed ftfty villages. M18si(!nary Socie.ty, which nnfortunately aban- children the best training they could under ~ most fayorable conditions. Their hope was that doned the Straits altogether, so long ago as both the lads might not ouly become earnest Christians, but also like the f:tther, preachers of 1847. By this Chinese Baba he was induced to the gospel, to the Babas of Malayrla. I am thankful to add that both the BOns are now cast in his lot with the Christians. He after- members of the church, and we hope to. see them more than filling their father's place in wards married one of his daughters, and she the coming years. May God grant it.
had much to do with the after life and usefulne.s PerSia.-The American Presby;'
ot her husband. She still survives, and intends tcrrian Mission.- From one of the missionaries: to return to Madras, until her sons complete The missionary work of Oroomiah Station is their education there. . in some respects unique, and iu many ways it is di1llcult, but full of promise. We area band The whole of Mr. Kong Wee's relatives stood of missionaries set down among a remnant of ancient Christendom in the midst oC Moslem out against his becoming a Christian. He was conquerors. It is a journey of nearly two months' travel to our field-so Car inland and so afterwards on visiting terms with them, and Car isolated that very few Americans other than missionaries have eyer yi"ited tbe region. The supported his mother nntil the last, but he was band of missionaries are four Presbyterian min- isters and their wives; one physician, his wife never forgiven by them for leaving the" cus- and mother; one secular missionary, and tbree single ladies. toms of his fathers," i. e., idolatry. While in The location and extent ofthe field.-To the India he often wrote, urging Mrs. Cook to visit north is Monnt Ararat, at the corner of Persia, Russia, and Tnrkey. The eastern boundary hi… de",rest mother" and sis ters. This we for nearly a hundred miles is the inland Ses of Oroomlah in ancient Media. Then the field extried to do, but apparently with little good tends westward to the Tigris, over the rugged region of the mountains and valleys in Kurdi.. result. Yet snrely God will hear his prayers on tan to the Tigris, as it passes the site of ancient Nineveh. The territory to be evangelized by their behaIr. When he first became a Christian, our station is nearly as large as the State of OhiO, partly in Persia, partly in Turkey, and is he once told me, thongh he had made a clean one of the oldest abodes of man.
break with idolatry, he knew very litt:e of the The Population and Nstionalities.-The first people Cor special efl'ort are the Syrians, or steps he had taken. Bnt by the teaching o~ his Nestorians, a remnant of the once great church of the Far East, that had its missions even in wife and others, by prayer, and the constant China a thousand years ago. This remnant nnm- bers about 150,000. There are probably 30,000 stndy of his Malay New Testament, he came to Jews on the site where they were carried cap- tive twenty-five centnries ago; there are as see "trnth as it is in J esns." He became a many more Armenian Christians; nearly a mil- lion and a quarter oCKurds, Moslems and Devil trne disciple, and was ever found ready to worshipers, aud over half a million of Persian Moslems; a total of near two million souls. speak for the Master, in his own house, at tbe There are many reasons why we should expect the Nestorians to be won over rapidly, as a cbapels, tbe prison, and elsewhere. He was people, to pnre Christianity, and the other peo- ples more slowly. certainly tbe most hearty and enthusiastic Chi- History of the Miasion.- The Nestorian naman I ever came across. So frank and out- remnant were first fully made known to the Protestant world in 1830, by exploring missionspoken. It was qnite refreshing to meet with aries. The mission was begun in 11l35, and called the Mission to the Nestorians. The him. first missionaries were Rev. Justin Perkins and Dr. Asahel Grant, very noble and euthnsiastic He preached freely at his own charges, and pioneers. Others, of a like spirit, ,followed them, of whom the Messrs. Stoddard and Rhea, gave regularly of his means to the cause of the and Miss Fidelia Fiske (as well as the two piO- neers) furnished subjects of bioll:raphy. In 1870 gospel, and even when away in Madras, where he also gave, he always had his monthly sub- scription paid in Singapore, and when he heard of the new chapel at Bukit Timah he sent twen- ty-five dollars towards the building fund. For years he and a few others went regularly once a quarter to communion services, and thus helped to keep things going tbere, after the founder of this station, Mr. Keasberry, had passed away; and it was largely owing to him and two or three others that services were maintained at tbe Malay chapel from the time Mr. Keasberry died, until our mission took over this station also, with its much reduced congre- gation. We shall continue to miss him in many ways. I shall always be thankful I knew him, and learned to love him as a brother. I shall remember his pleasant, hearty manner, his readiness to take a service or help in any way he could.!
A severe liver complaint brought him back with his wire to Singapore, but it was too late to save his life; he died in February of last year in great sufl'ering, but" in peace."
The reason why the parents took their sons- their ouly surviving children-to Madras was· that they might be witb them tbere, away from the debasing influences of Chinese idolatry, and the example and practic~s of heathen rela- tives. He knew too well what heathenism was.
So these loving parents wished to give their the name of the mission was changed to The Church has four Presbyteries -and a Synod; MiSsion to Persia. Since then it has enlarged also a native Board of Evangelization that meeta its sphere to embrace half Persia, or near 5OO,()(,0 monthly. By combining funds and counsels square mUes, in its efforts. Stations have been with the miSSionaries, a system of pastoral care established in Tabreez, Teheran, Hamadan and and itinerant labors is in operation which aims, a8 fast as possible, to reach all the Christian Salmas. population, and to carry the gospel to all other 1835, the work was hegun, and the mission- population. about us.
aries warmly welcomed by the Nestorians; The people are very poor in worldly goods, 1836, the Shah of Persia gave a firman to the but are able to do much for their own support, missionaries, and severely punished ruffians and for the spread of the gospel. The average that tried to kill them; 1838, the Roman Catho- amount given is about a dollar to a communilic mission was begun in the same field; 1841, cant-$2,000 per annum. This sum stands for the first printing-press ever seen in Persia began much real devotion and self-denial. Tne wages its work at Oroomiah in printing the Bible; of a laboring man is ten to fifteen cents a day, 1844, the training-school was removed to Seir, and of a skilled laborer, suob as a carpenter, and the Female Seminary was fairly opened; never more than thirty cents a day. Money is 1845, was the massacre of thousands of Chris- very scarce, and the sum that passes the hands tians by the Kurds, and follo wing this was a se- of our Christiaus is very small and very bard to vere persecution; the Patriarch and the Persian Governor beat and imprisioned many of the earn; but all give, and some conSCientiously missionaries' converts; 1846 to 1849, remarkable revivals; 1852, Persia was at war with Enl(land, give their tithes. and the missionaries were under Russian .pro- The Special Needs.-These are numerous; tection; 1855, the Reformed Church began; 1862, the Presbytery formed; 1862 and 1866, the one most pressing at this time is to provide years of cholera, and many thousands of people larger accommodations for our college. The swept away; 1870 to 1871, years of famine iu present building (two stories and basement, 110 many parts of Persia; 1871, the missiou trans- by 45 feet) gives ns chapel, library and recitation ferred from the American Board to the Presby- rooms, aud accommodations for sixty students, terian Board; 1877, extensive revivals; 1878, This building cost about $5,000. The demand is the Reformed Church more fully organized; very great to double the number of students, 187~, the new college built, and hospital begun; and give to half of them industrial educatiou. 1880, terrible famine, also insurrection of the It is an opportunity we must avail of, and thus Kurds; 1885, prevailinl!: revivals in the congre- bring the active and leading young men into the gations; 1886, High Church ritualists sent out evangelical Influence. In a few years these by the Archbishop of Canterbnry and began a young men will be the pillars of the church. If miasion; 1888, new Female Seminary built; we fail, these young men whom we reject will 1889. a new station nndertaken in the Kurdish fall Into the hands of Roman Catholics and Mountains. other errorists. While we sleep the enemy will sow tares. Three thousand dollars will bnild The first yearl, from 1835 to 1845, were years the needed accommodations for seventy addiof preparation in teaching, preaching and trans- tional students and provide shops. lating the Scriptures. From 1845 to 1855 there were many blessed revivals in the boarding- DEAR DR. SHERWOOD:-I have just schools, and the young men and women con- received particulars of the murder of verted carried the love of Christ with them to the villages, and many souls were spirituaJly of one of our converts in the Reformed renewed. From 1855 onward the Reformed Church was gradually formed, necessitated by Presbyterian Church, Antioch. persecution and other causes. The converts Yours faithfully, were first invited to meet with the missionaries R. M. SOMMERVILLE. in the Lord's Supper. As the members increased. separate congregations were formed in The following extractfl'oma private the villages, and native pastors placed over letter, recently received at Mersine, them. As pious young men were trained, they from Mrs. James Martin, of Antioch, were sent outaa teachers and evangelists. Thus should drive the churches to more the work has grown, and several thousaud souls are annuaJly reached. There is the stated importunate prayer in behalf of the preaching of the gospel in 120 places. The devoted brethren who are laboring largest congregation numbers 600 ; the smallest there in the face of such violent only ten or fifteen souls. opposition: The communicants in 1S:>7 were 216; in 1867, 697; in 1877, 1.087; and in 1887, 2,003. The .. We are now in deep grief and aftliction. whole number from the first is over 3,000. The Two weeks ago yesterday Abd EI Maseeh Telroll of ministers shows 40 fully ordained, and fort, one of our members, a yonng man of about 30 others, licentiates; also 87 elders and 91 dea- twenty, who joined our church in company with conesses of the congregations. The Reformed his mother three years ago last October, was set on by the Greeks in the shop where he was learning dyeing. Being at leisure, he was reading in the Bible, when a man standing on the other But the Persian Consul brought to court lve side of the narrow street said to another, 'See men, Greeks, who Baid they were in the street that fellow I He is still reading the gospel.' all day, and no assault occurred. We had Fast- Then the man attacked Abd Et Maseeh, striking day yesterday. The Greeks say, •That is the him on the head and kicking him, and cursing first of you only; we will settle you all.' Yeshim, his religion, and hook. A brother of the terday our cook was out in the evening, when young man roshed on him too, aod they dragged one of several men cursed his religion and made him oat of the shop, beating and kicking him. to strike him. Another caught the man, and He appealed to his master for help, but the mas- Yusef got away. The Lord is on our side, and ter took up a stick and made to strike him, and we shall not be moved." others coming np, Abd Et Maseeh got off. This is what the witnesses iestify. The father of Tahiti.-We gladly give place to the yoong man says that his son came home with blood flowing from his ears and nose. The this communication. father, a Greek, wanted to complain to the Government at once, but Abd Et Maseeh replied, In the midst of this dark financial 'No, my father, leave it to Christ, the Judge.' crisis of the London Missionary Society, Tile Ioung man ate a little supper, and went out we have been favored with the sight of a recent to an evening meeting where he and some others letter from Tahiti, well known and remembered were discussing Bible truth. He Boon returned by some of us as Otaheite, as the earliest part home, and after vomiting lay down, and falling of the field of the labors and of the signal sucinto coma, never spoke again. It was near noon cess of this mission. next day before they came for the doctor. When the doctor saw him and heard his story, he got the The remarkable importance of this intelligence futher to call in the Greek doctor and Immanuel, at the present moment is that it shows in a well the Bon of the Turkish Protestant pastor here, authenticated and most interesting detail the who had just returned from Stamboul with a fresh fruit that still remains on the old field of diploma, having .todied in Beirnt. The Greek Pomare, even after the French aggression. and Protestant doctors quarreled at once, the Greek saying it was meningitis, and the other We think we are noW warrented to print and saying it was impossible-it was from violence. to circulate privately some sentences of this let- The family dismissed the Greek, and the doctor ter, which is addressed to a lady in Edinburgh got there just as he was leaving. The doctor who was once herself a foreign missionary, and and Immanuel examined Abd EI Meseeh, and who presided at the Edinburgh Ladies' Associthey came together here, and in this room Im- ation of the London Missionary Society the manuel declared it could be nothing but violence. The young man died Friday evenin!(, and the other day: doctor asked the family to get a paper from the "I have always been hopiug to have a great Government for a post-mortem. Dr. Garabet Hagopian, of Aleppo, who studied in New York deal of missionary news to give you, but, though under Dr. Post's father, is here, and the doctor it is now nearly seven months since we left Sanasked the family to call him, and with Immanuel Francisco, I have not seeu a single European and his brother Yakoub, who studied in Aintab, Protestant missionary. All the IslandS that we and Is the agent of the city, made a post-mortem have visited are in the hands of the French, and examination and declared all the signs were of the English missionaries have been gradually violence to th~ head. That was On Saturday, driven out. Both in the Marquesas and the and on Tuesday they met to arrange their re- Panmutos we saw a great deal of the Roman port, and the sons of the Protestant pastor, Catholics, and I am glad to say that they seemed though not daring to deny that death was caused much less bigoted than they are with us. They by violence, said that there were many enemies, read the Bible in churcb, aad preach sermons, and they dare not say in the report to the Govern- and where there was only a catechist to conment that it was so, and they, too, actually drew duct the service, it seemed quite like our own, up a report in the Interest of the murderers_ as, of course, he could not celebrate Mass. At Dr. Garabet was besieged and offered bribe~ and Tahiti, though I found no missionaries, I am intimidated to compel him to pui his signature to very·glad to tell you that I found that the work their report, but he refused. The assault oc- had been so thoroughly founded that it is going curred In open day, in the street, and the wit- on quietly in the hands of native missionaries, nesses are numerous; but Greek and Turk have and very few have joined the church of Rome. united to kill the case. Three Moslems and two • . • After leaving Papeete we were detained Fellaheen gave testimony, but the Government by broken masts for two months at a very beausaid it would be wrong to write down that they tiful village in the southern part of Tahiti, called cursed his religion aud his book. The murder- Tantira, and it was there that I saw most of the ers are hidden in the house of the Persian Con- people, and loarned to love them. They are so sul. He is a Mason, as also are the pastor's loving and hospitable, and so cheerful and sons. The do«tor telegraphed home and lI:ot au happy. The fir~t Sunday, when I went ashore answer, and the pressure on the Turks is strong. to church, I found the table spread for the communion, and all covered with a white cloth. I asked leave to jOin, and was welcomed by the officiating minister, who was dressed in a dark blue and whIte narin (a cottou kilt), white shirt, and black paletot coat. All the ministers and deacons 'll'ere dressed in this fashion, and
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
had bare feet. In fact, my shoes were the only ship on Wednesday. On the appointed day ones in the chnrch I thirty women and three children came dn .. When the covering-cloth was removed, I fonnd that the wine was in black beer bottles, board, and not satisfied with what they had the cups were of very coarse earthenware, and the bread was baked bread-fruit cut in very already given me, they brought twenty-five small pieces. It was very touching to me to keep the feast with the Mi.sion congregation cocoanuts, fowls, and six pillows stuffed with so recently rescued from heathenism,-touching, too, to realize how the simple rite is silk cotton from the cotton-tree. I asked them snited to all climes and peoples, and may be nnderstood and partaken of although you do to sing a hymn before we went downstairs, not nnderstand a word of the language. When the service was over, I fonnd that I had put my_ which they did; and then, to my great surprise self in a much more conspicuous position than I had any idea of. First, all the ministers and they proceeded of their own accord to make deacons shook hands with me, aud ~hen all my fellow-communicants, of whom there must have speeches and prayers. An old sailor on board, been more than 280. who speaks the language, told me that one wo- .. That afternoon the chief called on me, and begged me to come ashore early on Monday man, who prayed fervently, prayed much for the morning, to receive a gift which the people wished to give to their new member. I went, captain, that he might be guided to do all that and here is a list of what I call •the gains of godliness' in Tahiti :-six fowls, one hundred was necessary for our safety. I was strnck with cocoanuts, bananas, ripe and green, breadfruits, sweet potatoes, taro, pine-apples, eggs, that when I heard it, and still more when the capand a lobster. These were all carried by men on poles over their shoulders, and laid on the tain discovered the very next day that the mast ground in front of our house. ,The chief preseuted them in the name of •Tws/ell religieus.. ' was in a bad state, and must be repaired before of the village. I returned thauks through the chief, and invited the givers to come and see the we could continue our voyage. Was it not a wonderful anSwer to prayer? and don't yon think the Christian kindness of these people might be a lesson to many professing Christians at home? I was a little vexed with the very common look of the vessels of the sanctuary, and have promised to send them Communion cups from Scotland, much to their delight."
Being personally acquainted with the writer.
I can confidently commend this unexpected testi- mony to encourage and stimulate all friends and supporters of Foreign Missions to contribnte to the funds of the London Missionary Society, ihat commenced in Otaheite at the close of last century. G. D. CULLEN.
EDINBURGH, 16th March, 1889.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY J. T. GRACEY, D. D.
Mr. Oust's" Notes." country, as a member of the Indian Civil Service, has been supplemented A CLERGYMAN who was a very by extensive travel in Turkey, Transbrilliant writer but not equally at- Caucasia, Syria~ Egypt, Tunisia, AItractive speaker, said to a brothel' gel'ia and Morocco. He has been for minister whose qualities were direct- many years associated with the conly the reverse of his own: "When trol of the British and Foreign Bible you write people go to sleep, and Society's interests and operations, when you speak they keep awake; as well as with those of the Church but when I speak they go to sleep, of England Missionary Society and and when I write they keep awake." other prominent and important evangelistic a~d learned associations. But if Mr. Robert N. Cust, of Lon- The Royal Asiatic Society designadon, speaks he is sure of a hearing, ted him as an Honorary Secretary. and if he writes he is sure of a He has contributed most valuable reading. He is entitled both to speak stores of knowledge on the languages and write on missionary topics. He of the East Indies, Africa, the Cauhas had to do with missionaries and casus and Oceanica, being the author missionary societies for> almost half of separate works on each of these, a century, and for over thirty years besides linguinistie and Ol'lental has made a close and careful study essays and other more popular topof missions and collateral subjects. ics. He has, besides, taken promi- A large personal acquaintance with nent part in the missionary discusthe people of India, gained during a quarter of a century's residence in the sions of the last quarter of a century, In his annual tours, made volun.- and is well and widely known as a tarily at his own charges, inconnea.
man of strong opinions, which he tion with the Bible Society's work, holds independently and champions he has visited many parts of Europe, fearlessly, according to others the Western Asia, and North Africa, right to exercise the same pdvi- except Tl'ipolitana. One year he lege!3. was in Norway discussing the Lapp We are favored with the second translation; the next year on the and enlarged edition of his valuable cataracts of the Nile, listening to contribution to missio)lary literature, men speaking in the language of which he has modestly entitled Nubians; then on the shores of the Notes on Missional'Y Subjects. The Caspian Sea, or the Sea of Galilee, volume consists of four parts, which or down III the Sahara of Algeria, or though published and procurable at Cape Spartel in Morocco.
separately, are here gathered in one Such a writer, were he far less large and comprehensive book. Part learned than our many-sided scholer I contains (1) Obsel'vations and Re- and literateur, would challenge at- flections on Missionary Societies,and tention; but when there is super- (2) Language Illustrated by. Bible' added a devout sympathy with the Translation. Part II treats of The progress of Christ's Kingdom in the GreatProblems Outside the Orbit of world, he commands it. He told the Pure Evangelistic Work, but which under-g-raduates of BaIliol College, the missionary has to face. Part III Oxford, in an address on "The Duty is devoted to the Relation of Mission- of the Youth of Great Britain," that aries to the Outer World. Part IV when, in 1838, he went to that col- is composed of missionary addresses lege, they knew as little about mis- delivered by the author under vari- sions as they did about Chinese mu- OilS circumstances, and what he sic. On repairing to Calcutta, styles " Pictures" and," Notices," through conversation with Bishop composed in omnibus and railway Wilson, he became interested in mis- trains or elsewhere, as reading, con- sions, and found "a new world"
versation ot' observation have sug- open to him, and missions have since gested the train of thought. They are been the" leading object of his very a layman's utterances on these great existence."
themes. Part V is to follow on " The But Mr. Cust pre-eminently de- ,Missions of the Romish Church." serves attention as one of the com- Mr. Cust's wide experience and ex- paratively few laymen of large abil- tended acquaintance in the depart- ity who have not only lent an ab- ments of geography, philology and sorbing attention to the subject, and ethnology, together with his promi- aided intelligently in missionary nent relation with practi'!al politics, counsels, but who have devoted have been all laid under contribution their enel'gies and literary skill to in the production of the several parts produce a literature on the subject.
of this volume; and the relation of It is surprising what stores of all these to missions has been con- knowledge and thought are gathered stantly present in' his thought dur- in this large and importantcontribu- ing all his life in the saddle, on the tion to curl'ent evangelistic litera- judge's bench, and in the student's ture. We are enthusiastic and ap- retreat; so that the consideration preciative to a degree which will of these themes is not something he scarcely be accredited to be sober, in has taken up, as he says, as the our estimation of this volume; and: "craze" of his "old age," but has yet, there al"e some whole chapters, been almost a life-long study. and plenty of paragraphs and sentences, which do not command our where after the festival is over, one judgment;' and there are manystate- might purchase hundreds ofcarcasses ments of facts from which we would of little pigs at a pice apiece. But dissent, and of opinions which we we do not wish to distract attention judgemustbe greatly modified before from the estimable qualities of this they can be accepted as the last or book by the correction of incidental even the best analysis of the subject statements, norby giving expression in hand. Some of the statements to any diversity of view on the subare, to om· personal knowledge, too jects treated which we, or others, to sweeping, both as to facts in India our knowledge, hold. and in Africa, while the ex cathedra This volume, as a contribution to manner in the utterances of opinions missionary criticism from one of the is not indicative of the essential mod- stoutestfriends and ablest champions estyand broad charity which really ofall evangelisticlabor,has a peculiar pervade the volume. The wisest value. It is a sad fact that the gencounsels are divided upon subjects eral church has not been until of late, on which Mr. Cust does not hesitate intelligently acquainted with the isto write, in the rhetoric at least, of sues and problems of practical workan ultimatum; and though large lib- ers enough to either pass judgment erty be conceded him as a "Christian upon their merits or become intereststatesman." there are other eminent ed in their presentation; and it has Christian statesmen, with long ex- only been when some secular or ecperience and careful judgment, who clesiastical adversary antagonized will differ from him as much as he them in press or on platform, that will from a multitude of missiona- they came to know of the existence ries, who he thinks take a less sym- of some of the most vital problems. pathetic view of human affairs than Friends and administrators of mis- the secular student does. But Mr. sions have discussed thf'se questions Cust does not expect uniform concur- too esoterically. But we hail the rence with his views; he distinctly day when friends and advocates are says so about some chapters of the to assnme the role of frank and book; and though he says all per- friendly critics; and, taken all in all, sons acquainted with the subject we do know not where we will find will agree with his views as express- a warmer friend and abler aU-round ed in "Islam," it is more than proba- critic of missionary matters than the ble that he overestimates the gen- honorable gentleman, the product eral unanimity even there. We do of whose pen has afforded us such not know, for instance, if we appre- great delight, and yet, from whom we hend him aright as meaning to say and so many others; we repeat, will that after li·ing with Mohammedans on so many points widely differ. in India for a quarter of a century, But there is so much that is valua- he never heard of their offering ani- ble in the book that .we must have mal sacrifices; but if so, it seems in- done with our dissertations about it, explicable to us. The "anachron- and regale our readers with some ism" to which he refers may be wit- extracts, though should we even se_ nessed at the Devi Pathan Mela, at lect the samples that tempt us, we Tulsipur, near Gondah, any year, would quote enough to fill a whole where the Hindoos sacrifice sheep and number of the REVIEW. goats; and close by a long line of Few persons appreciate the au- Mohammedans can be seen, each thor's reference to the variety of reo with a squealing, suckling pig under sponsibilities devolving on Mission his arm, waiting their turn to pre- Boards, which have to sent their animal sacrifice; and .. Discharge the duty of a Quarter-master General, the head of a great ~ommission, a. * * .. The last two decades have been ex- Boa.rd of Architects, Shipbuilders and Engineers, a Board of Finance, a Council of ceedingly propitious to the extension ofmis- Education. a Committee on Geographical sions ; the expansion has been marvellous, Exploration, a Superintendent of a Trans- but mnch of it imprudent. The next two IMing and Publishing firm, as well as other decades may prove periods of trial and peril secular duties." by the close of that period the Europea~ octopus will have closed over the continent He adds: of Africa as it has already over Oceanica. and America." .. I have been for more than forty years a witness and a studier of the conduct of hu- :Mr. Cust invites" dowlll'ight critiman affairs, bnt I never realized such puri- cism," he says, a.nd he will surely get tyof motive, such'simplicity of conduct, it sooner or later, though the high and on the whole, such practICal wisdom as respect in which he is held may deis found in such a body." ter some, and others will forbear lest the friends of missions be thus Mr. Cust thinks-and with the hIgh- apparently set over against each est esteem for the missionary force other, in the estimation of the of Great Britain and the eminent thoughtless and indifferent members qualities and immense labors of of the societies themselves, or be many of them, we yet, on the whole, flaunted as sectarians and dessenticoncur with his statement-that the ents by those downrightly antago- 'American churches send out their nistic to the cause. But like Calbest men" to foreign fields, while' vin's Institutes, Mr. Cust's "Notes" might take as their symbol a flaming "Great Britain keeps her best at sword. Missionaries may, themhome." But this must be taken in its selves, not concede the justness of broadest sense or we shall be asked the criticisms on their personal conto show who Great Britain's" best" duct toward the heathen, but they men are, with the record of Pat- will find no public test to exceed the teson, Hannington, Griffith John, high standard to which they hold Dr. Duff and othe1's before us. Still themselves as a class, to be amenawe appreciate Mr. Cust's compliment ble; and our autho1"S beautiful imi- -not to the missionaries, but to the tative extension of the XIth chapter of Hebrews will be as oil to the estimate put by American churches wounds made by Mr. Cust's free on foreign mission service, as de- lance. "By faith the United Mora- vian Brethren at Herrnbut, in Germanding the richest contribution of many, more than a century and a talent they can command. Mr. Cust half ago," &c. "By faith the London thinks missionary operations legiti- and Wesleyan Societies," &c. "By mate subjects of criticism. He says: faith Moffat's son-in-law Livingstone abandoned his home, his chapel ano '" We can no longer treat missionaryop- his school/' &c. " By faith Krapf and erations as above or below candid criticism Rebman sat year after year at the when t4ey are forced up<¥> tbe public notice watch tower of Mombasa, waiting till in the public papers, in Parliament,on plat- the day should dawn, calling to each forms and ,an abundant literature. Mis- other: Watchman, what of the sions like those of tbe Moravian Missionary night?" and thusonandon through a Society,or of the Americau Societies to their galaxy of heroes of whom time would indigenous wild tribes, might be conducted fail us even to mention the names for centuries without public notice: but selected by our author. It was with the evangelizing warfare all round Africa much sadness we read the almost pa- all over Oceanica, into the heart of India; thetic closing paragraph of the vol- China and Japan, by at least two thousand ume in which the author concludes: agents, at a cost exceeding two millions [pounds] annually, cannot escape notice." .' I have said my say. This is probably my '" '" It must needs be that mistskes-are made, but tl:ey need not be perpetuated.
'" * Hard words are often spoken against missions, and whole classes of the commu- nity, from deep prejudICe, hold back from their support. It is in their interest, their positive advantage, that the tendencies should be exposed, that the blots should be hit, and the dangers pointed out." ast contribution to missionary literature. self of the former, and the latter could be If I have written what is not true, let this of no use to him in the social circles of the paper be consigned to the fire. If there is leper colony. a scintilla of truth, think over it. It cannot now be said that we must travel onward, as "Father Damien had resided among tbe if in mist, and that, as nobody criticized lepers for sixteen years when death came to there wa.s no error." his relief, and be had seen the population of Molokai renew itself three times, as the Missions to Lepers. average duratiou of a leper's life is about se ..en years. Years ago he became affiictep THE death of the Roman Catholic with leprosy himself, and for a long time bepriest, Father Damien, popularly fore his death Was a painful sufferer from styled" The Apostle of the Lepers" the scourage. The latest letters from the and now" The Martyr of Molokai," leper colony stated that his health was so which occurred on April 10 last, at broken that h;s death was likely to occur at Kalawa, Hawaii, has called popular any time. Father Damien had for assisattention to a form of Christian tants two men as beroic as himself. One of heroism which may well be exalted these was an Irishman natned Walsh.· He in the public mind in an age quite was a mason by trade, and had been a soldier too justly characterized as supremely in the English army. Walsh reached Honoselfish. lulu III broken health and reduced circum- stances just at the time a supermtendent As the daily papers of the country was needed to keep the colony in order. He generally gave large space to the accepted the position with the result that facts of the self-surrender and self- he is a leper himself to-day and pining for immolation of this Romish priest, relief in death. Father Damien's other we will only give so much of the nar- helper was the Rev. M. COJlrardy, a Catholic rative as is essential to our general priest formerly connected with the Archditreatment of the theme in hand. The ocese of Oregon, who volUntarily went to account before us says Father Da- Molokai about two years ago to become mien was a native of BQlgium and Father Damien's assista.nt." was born in 1840. Mr. Ed ward Clifford, of England, .. He was ordained to the priesthood in writing of " Father" Da.mien during 186~, and SOOB. after went to the Sandwich a visit to this leper island, said: Islands as a missionary. About sixteen years ago the Catholic bishop of the islands "He is just what you would expect him to wanted a priest for duty at the leper set- be-a simple. sturdy. hard-working, devout tlement at Molokai, and Father Damien man. No job was too memal for him-bnildpromptly volunteered for the work. Both ing, carpentering, tending the sick, washing he and his bishop knew what the end would the dead, and manr other such things form be, but these heroic men did not hesitate- part of his daily work. He is always cheerthe one to give the order and the other to ful, often playful, and one of the most truly obey. Father Damien was landed at the humble men I ever saw. The leprosy has leper settlement on the ,eland of Molokai disfigured him a good deal, but I never feel and allowed to provide for himself as best he it anything but a pleasure to look at him." could. There appear to be a thousand or .. From the time of his taking up his resi- more lepers on the part of the island, dence among the lepers Father Damien had occupied by the leper settlement, so much to do in simplyatte.nding to the shut in from the other parts of the wants of dying people that he was unable to island by enormous cliffs, which renprovide shelter for himself for .. long time. Once placed on the island, he had to resign der it almost inaccessible from the his liberty. The sheriff had orders to arrest land side. This touching story and him if he crossed to any of the neighboring the pitiable condition of this portion island.. He became physician and teacher as well as priest, the children born of lepers of the human race, deserves more depending on him for all the education they than a passing glance of the curious could expect to receive. Kiug Kalakaua or sigh from the sympathetic. When soon learned to admire the martyr priest, we learn that there are 40,000 idiots and a rew years ago bestowed on him the in the United States, the first quesprivileges of the medical inspector at!d the tion that occurs is why they should decoration of Knight Commander of the not all be chloroformed out of exist- Order of Kalakaua I. He did not avail bim- ence. What is it that makes that sort of life and life of every sort sacred, when it.cannot be seen to be valuable to it!! possessor or to man- they congregate oCten in latoge numkind? When we learn that in India bers. alone there are half a million of our fellows who are lepers, with no hope The disease may begin anywhere of recovery, deformed and decaying on the body, or at more than one before they are in the grave, suffer- place at the same time, and then, ing a living death, the first thought loathsome, painful and offensive, it again is, why is it any mercy or duty progresses till it reaches some vital to prolong their existence? As Chris- part, and the wretched subject is retianity throws the halo of sacredness lieved. When it commences at the over this wretched and ghastly mock- extremities the first joints of the eryof life, it is not far to see why it fingers, or toes as it may be, fall off should be held responsible for the and then the next joints part, and so amelioration of the condition of on till you see them in all shapes those who carry about this body of from this horrible disease. It is too death. revolting-this rotting alive-to jus- tify more minute description. Leprosy as a disease is in all its varieties in all lands and in all ages, We turn rather to note what the the most repulsive, protracted and kindliness of Christian charity has painful of human maladies. It is attempted in the way of relief to this scrofulous in its character and is helpless, hopeless and suffering portransmitted from parents to children, tion of the human family-vexed and though the offspring of lep~rs with the unsolved problem, Who may be apparently free from the did sin? they or their parents, that taint for many years after birth, the they were born thus? which presses disease is sure to develop sooner or npon them and upon othel·s. We later. Whether leprosy is contagious, cannot attempt any comprehensive and if so, whether alone by contact, summary of the ope:"ations of the are questions about which there is Christian chul"ch to afford relief to considerable diversity of opinion, yet these sufferers. We take from what in all countries contact with lepers is is at hand a few facts sufficient to avoided. After the disease is devel- show that Protestants have been oped so as to render its character active in this department of eleemosmanifest, the subject of it is removed ynary labor in several quarters of from social life and obliged to dwell the globe, as Father Damien and his apart from the community. Though associates were in Hawaii. In 1823, at all stages of the disease they are owing to a request of the Governnot unable to work, yet, except as ment, Hemel-en-Aarde, a leper hoscared for by Christian charity, all pital in South Africa, became a mislepers, so far as the writer knows, sion station of the Moravians. i'his lead a pauper life. They become in was removed to Robben Island in various parts of India quite a commu- 1846 and placed in the charge of the nity and beg in groups. They resort church of England in 1867. Rev. Dr. Augustus Thompson, writing of to places most frequented that they this mission, says: "A less inviting may appeal to the benevolence of the field can hardly be imagined than this refuge of wasting sufferers, and mere passers-by by the exposure of their relics of humanity-deformed, cripdisgusting sores or helpless deform- pled and loathsome beyond expresity. They build for themselves some sion. For simple garden operations flimsy shelter by the roadside in In- one patient would supplement andia, whence they make their exit to other. A man who had no hands petition for the inevitable "bak- might be seen carrying on his back sheesh." Along the trunk roads, another who had lost his feet, but at the ferries, near holy places, who could drop seeds into the ground wOl'k among the lepers at qmb~l)a, with the member which was want- in the Punjab, where their last ing to his fellow, sufferer. report mentions the bapti5m of fif- The institution has a large space of tt-en of this class of pE'rsons. The gl'Ound enclosed with a high wall, and only one entrance, which was accomplished Dr. John Newton, .Tt-., strictly guarded. The leper who entered that gate might never return." labored among these poor sufferers Mr. Thompson says the mistake has for years and wrote a work on leprosy gone abroad that the missionaries which was published in England. who went into this leper enclosure His estimable wife, Mrs. Sarah Wigwere never allowed egress; that he fall Newton, conducted this work for went in there, as Father Damien did a season after her husband.'s death. to the island of Molokai, but this he contradicts positively. But there was At the time when the Moravians still quite sufficient self-denial re- handed over their leper work at Cape quired in the service rendered to these Town, South Africa, in 1867, the poor sufferers. Lord opened to them a' similar work The London Missionary Society has long conducted a leper asylum in in the Leper Home at JerusaJem. the Himalaya Mountains at Almora. which was founded by a Christian which we believe has usually about baroness. Froln its commencement 150, though at times we think as the missionaries for the hospital many as 300 inmates. These are not have been supplied by the Moravian necessarily restrained within the en- Church, and in 1880 they assumed its closure. They also marry and are directiol'l. In 1887 they erected a new gi"en in marriage among themselves. building, which accommodates about A little farther east, at Pithoragarh, twenty-five patients. is another asylum for lepers in charge of Methodist Episcopal missionaries In 1875 an independent societ.y was from the United States. Here an es- organizcd in England, styled "Mistimable Methodist brother, Rev. M. sions to Lepers in India," which B. Kirk, of Ohio, who was educated seeks to alleviate their sufferings by in Mount Union College, for some medical aid. It is at pl'esent carrying months before his death waited on on work at eighteen different centers these wretched sufferers. However and in connection with eight differloathsome their condition, that de- ent missionary societies. It seeks to voted servant of the Lord never utilize asylums already established shrank from ministering often per- and aid them with mean!:' to carryon sonally to their wants. It was while their work. It makes grants of money , collecting funds for a chapel for these for new asylums, and in some cases lepers that he was suddenly called to provldes entirely for the support of his reward. The chapel has since lepers. Mr. W. C. Bailey, a misbeen completed as a memorial of this sionary of the Church of Scotland, devoted servant of God, and on the was the founder of this organization. opening day, after the service, twelve It is at present carrying on work at lepers were baptized, thus raising the Kashmir, Rawal Pindee, Chamba, number of Christians in this institu- Sabathu, Dehra, Rurki, Almorah, tion to slxteen; and a new building Pithora, A~lahabad, Calcutta, and was ordered to accommodate twenty- other places and aids the American five more inmates. Presbyterian and Methodistmissiona- ries, and three of the principal mis- The American PresbytE'rmn Mis- sional'y sociE'ties of Great Britain, as sion has for many years QQl,lducted well as Gossner's Independent Mis- sion.
It must be gratifying to friends supporting this work that it is not only l!eIeVQ!ent, but evangelistic. The record of the Christian experi- with nine evangelic"l churches: Presbyterians, ence of many of these sufferers is two branches of Methodists, and Baptists. most affecting. Not all, but many of these who seem ." baptized unto Denominational lines bad been drawn rather death," enter bto most gracious closely about these churches.. They met one Christian life. One man in India, anothsr at union meetings once a year, on the being pitied on account of the loss of afternoons of the" Week of Prayer," but be- his eyes, said; "I have lost my eyes, yond that hardly knew one another in any way. but with the eye of faIth I have seen Probably it was noc realized that Christian the Lord Jesus, and shall soon go to union was really under discussion in the minis- Him." The testimony from South ter's meeting in the form of a proposal to invite Africa is similar; "Amongst the a pandenominational body of missionaries to poor suffp.rers in that lazar-house," work their will upon the city for a week. But writes one of the missionaries, they determined to invite the International Mis- "there are many dear souls who re- sionary Union to their city. A representative joice in the Lord their God and the meeting of the churches-a remarkable novelty assurance of a better world, and re- -was called, and proved of the same mind with lyingon their Saviour's merits watch the ministers; and in the preparations which their diseased tabernacles falling to all the churches shared together, there began to pieces in the hope of soon being with be the dawn ofa better day. Him in glory. It makes one Hhudder to visit the patients in their dwell- Contemporaneously with this undertaking, ings, such pitiable objects do they the pastors asked all the churches to unite in a present, and so offensi ve is the efflu- complete visitation Of the city for evangelizing via j yet when you enter into con- purposes, and obtained from them all a body of versation with them on the concern visitors, four to each hundred of each church. of their souls and find these poor As might be supposed, the public interest in cripples full of faith and joyful COI1- missions had not been on a much higher plane fidence in the Saviour's merits, it than that in Christian union. The invitation to makes you feel ashamed of your the missionaries was favored, perhaps as much . fastidiousness, for they exhibit only yom other considerations as from love for ' too often in their helplessness and Foreign Missions. And when the International .hopelessness the fun measure of that Union arrived, forty-five strong, the city was at other more dire leprosy of sin. They first disposed to feed them and sleep them cour- are often as repulsive morally as teously, and leave them to carryon their own physically. They need cleansing in meetings by themselves. the blood of Christ." But gradually the spiritthat animates mission- That this is a direct work of grace aries of thc Uross bAgan to make its impression. and of change of heart is abundantly People who dropped in at their meetings were proven by the testimony as to the greatly surprised at their earnestness. It so selfish sordidness and innate deprav- happened that the Union came at the hottest ity which so manifest themselves in time of the summer, and when the native mos- those not the subjects of these gra- quitoes were masters of the town; but people cious influence. who looked in found the missionaries so busy at their conferences, that they sounded their The International Missionary Union praises abroad. "These men and women," they said, "have not come here for a holiday; and the Revival at Bridgeton, N. J. they are doing good hard work studying the questions which concern them." The Upion be- REV. WILLIAM H. BELDElif, A. M. gan its sessions on Thursday, July 5; by Monday evening they began to be crowded, and from that BRIDGETON, New Jersey, was the first place time until adjournment on the 12th missions be- not a summer resort, which invited and enter- came the theme of the town. Tuesday evening tained the International Missionary Union. Re- was occupied by J. Hudsou Taylor, founder of snits can be traced from that meeting, among the Chiua Inland Mission, and Wednesday by the most recent of which has be~n a revival of Cyrus Hamlin, founder of Robert College of religion affecting the whole community. Bridge- Constantinople. The impression made by these ton is a mauufacturing cit;v 9f 12?OO(lj~h!lbitants, two mighty men of God, exceedingly different, but one in testimony to the power of God as dis- played in the missionary work, will never be forgotten in Bridgeton. They lifted Foreign Missions from being a H cause" to receive un- willing pennies or dollars, to a living and boly reality endeared to the hearts of awakeuing Christians. Not, of course, that all needed this advance, but as a change of the general public mind on this great theme, the International Mis-
1889.] THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
sionary Union bad its way witb tbe town. A affections and convictions, that when a8 Presinumber of young persons consecrated tbeir dent of onr Ministers' Association I' had to lives to tbe missionary work. New missionary make the parting address to Mr. Mills, my felsocieties began to be formed; and in tbe old low-pastors, with remarkable agreement, reones the subJect took thence forward a 'real quired me to include in my acknowledgement aspect nnknown before. of the divine work among us some careful refer- ence to the infiuence of the visit here In 1~88 of So spiritual an effect did not, naturally, stop the International Missionary Union. witb the revival of missions. The cburcbes bad enjoyed their work in commo)! of entertaining THE SIXTH AN,mAL SESSION OF THE INTERthe Union. The Ministers' Association had become a recognized and trusted organization. NATIONAL MISSIONARY UNION, as we have al- Plans for furtber work in common were ready announced. will be held in Binghampton, broacbed. The "Week of Prayer" found tbe N. Y.. July 5-12. The prosPect is ofa meeting of cburches in new sympathy with one another; great interest_ Important papers have already never before was there such a "Week" in been received from the outlook Committee in Bridgeton. At last the suggestionstook.hape; foreign parts. to invite Rev_B. Fay Mills, the evangelist. His first demand, of absolute fellowship of all the On the last day of the meeting special attenevangelical churches of the city, could not have tion will be given to aiding missionary candibeen complied with before those blessed days dates appointees and others inquiring as to of the Missionary Union; but now tbey could their duty regarding personal service abroad. and they were, and be came. Mr. Wilder, wbo has so successfuliy with others stirred the students of the country in this mat- We have just risen from bis two weeks visit. ter, will be present, and veteran missionaries of Six hundred persons bave signed his cards, say- almost all fields and churches will be there, with ing: .. I desire bencefortb to lead It Christian whom these persons can take council. Nothing life." The cburcbes bave called themselves for could be better for persons seeking light on this many weeks" The united cburches of Bridge- line of personal duty, than to spend the week ton;" and are studying now how to perpetuate with this noble band of returned missionaries, their harmony. Some of tbem bad been t""ns- and listen to their discussions of practical matformed from a conservatism wbich was threat- ters. ening their spiritual existence into a practical piety which is the wonder of tbe town. The Railroad certificates can be bought of any whole city has been shaken with· the power of ticket agent at point of starting on paying full the Holy Ghost, as it never was befor~. fare, and when countersigned by· secretary of the meeting the return ticket will be one·third It is a significant testimony to its place in our the usual mre. Tickets procurable on the 3d, and good tilIthe 14th of July.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY ARTHUR T. PIERSON, D. D.
SUBJECTS for July: Islands of ea, in the Hawaiian group. This the Sea, Java, Greenland, Utah, crater is three miles in diameter, a Alaska, North American Indians level bottom with three cones rising and the Chinese and Japanese in from its center hundreds of feet high, America. and onl) of which, hom its ceaseless Java, which we select for this activity, is called Brahrna.
number, is the third island in area Though a Dutch colony, two native and first in importance of the Malay kingdoms were suffered to retain a archipelago, 666 miles long and from nominal existence under Dutch offi- 36 to 126 miles broad, with 50,000 cials, namely the dominions of the square miles of surface and a coast Senaan or Emperor of Surakarta and line of 1,400. It is shaped like Cuba the Sultan of Jokjokarta. The rest and about as large. The geological of the island is split up into twenty formation is highly volcanic, a range residences or provinces, ruled by of mountains traversing the central Dutch residents, six of which belong line from end to end with peaks to the country of the Sundese and reaching from 4,000 to 12,000 feet. the rest to that of the Javanese, the The most remarkable of these is Mt. two distinct nations comprised in the Yenger, whose crater is 1,000 feet be- native population. The Sundese hold low its summit and the most remark- the west end, are inferior both in able in the globe, except only Kilau- numbel' and civilization to the J avanese and speak a distinct language, ninth or tenth centul"y when the but both nations are Malayan. , They are docile and peaceable, so- J ains had ascendancy in Guzerat ·and ber and industrious. Crawfurd pronounced them the most straightfor- westel'll parts of India. ., ward and truthful of all Asiatic people. Java is densely populated, hav- In some respects Javanese civilizaing about 18,000,000 of people, and Buddhism still sways multitudes of tion is an advance upon that of Brit- Javanese. In the central district this story is told on stone: The famous ish Ind~a. The Dutch rule here dates ruins of Borobodo, or Bol'o Buddor, are among the most imposing re- from 1623, with five years interrupmains of religious structures. A pile of masonry, pyramidal in form, 525 tion. Batavia,on the northwest coast, feet squat'e, nine stories h;gh in the center, is covered with figures of is the capital and commercial depot, Buddha. To descdbe this extraordinary group of buildings, the temples with over 100;000 inhabitants. Moof Bramb~nam, mO'e exactly: the great temple is a square building 45 hammedanism is mixed up with feet square, 75 feet high, terminating upwards in an octagonal, straight- Buddhism and heathenism as the relined pyramid. On each face of this is a smaller temple of similar dimen- ligion of the island. Annually the sions, joined to it by corridors. The whole five thus constitute a cruci- natives go in crowds with priests up form building raised on a square base very elaborately ornamented. One the Bromok volcano to propitiate of the minor temples serves as a pOI'ch. Two hundred and thirty-nine with offerings the Fire Spirit. Cocoasmaller tempIes surround this central shrine. Twenty-eight of these stand nn ts, pineapples, rice, cakes, fruit, just beyond the square terrace of the central fane, eight of course standing coins, are cast into the crater. This on each side of the square, and each corner one counting for two sides; ceremony has probably been sugbeyond these 35 feet off comes a second square or court with 44, 12 on gested by the ten"Hic and fatal vola side; then comes a space 80 feet wide, with 6 more temples; then two canic outbreaks that have abounded. more rows o( temples, standing close, Java has near Batour a VaUey of back to back, 160 in numbel', forming another square, each face of which Death, of an oval shape and half a measures 525 feet. All thes~ 239 temples are similar, the lesser ones mile in circuit, in which the exhala- 12 feet square at base and 22 feet high, all richly sculptured and each tions of carbonic acid gas make imhaving a small square cell, within which originally was a cross-legged possible plant or animal life. It also figure of a Jaina saint or Buddhist image. The date assigned to these has its Poison Tree (antiaris macro- most remarkable monuments is the phylla), an ornament to the woods, but from the bark of which flow poison juices.
The Evangelical Mission in Java is in a very destitute condition. There are at most only about 4,GOO Chris- tians, a fact whIch reflects no glory on the Dutch rule and the Christi- anityof the Netherlands. The few luminous points in the meagre mis- sion history of Java, says Dr. 'War- neck, are the Watchmaker Emde in Surabaya, the Missionary J.ellesma, the newly-founded and nationally- aided institute at Depok, an " Oasis in the Desert," and the work of the Nethedands Missionary Society of Rotterdam among the Soudanese.
NEW GUINEA.
S. McFarlane, LL.D., has recently published a story of missionary labol's " Among the Canm'bals of New Gui- nea." It is published by the London Missionary Society. We advise any one who wishes to know what are both the difficulties and the triumphs
1889·1 THE lloN'lHLY OOlWER'l' Oli'1.USSIONS
— ofmissIDn,ary life among the worst eluding the immediate~y adjoining savages to read this book. We give islands, of 311,958 square miles. Con~ space to a brief resume of its· con- sequently its at'ea is about the same tents: as the united area of the Britisn Mr. MacFarlane first had experi- Islands with France, or the British ence of savage life on Lifa, a charm- Islands, Italy, Turkey in Europe and ing South Sea island. Greece. And this vast region has to Three months after his arrival, in be won to Christ and to humanity.
1859, he could preach to the people in What an object of holy ambition I their own tongue. The first years' of If the Christians of the nin~teenth danger, toil and loneliness were also century rose to a perception of .their years of great blessing, useful expe- duty they would follow the example rience and encouragement. Before of the Christians of the first, and he left, at the end of twelve years, count nothing that they possess their "a marvellous change had taken own if only they might acquire the place Il'om idolatry, cannibalism and glory of gathering the outcasts of constant wars to the worship of the New Guinea into the church of the true God, peaceful industry and a living God.
growing education. Schools and In their mission in New Guinea.
churches established throughout the they had to contend with difficulties island, and the New Testament and quite peculiar to the place; to sail in Psalms translated; the teachers' unknown and dangerous waters in seminary in good working order, order to reach the natives; to con- supplying native teachers and pas- tend with savages and cannibals, tors and pioneer evangelists; Euro- who regard strangers generally as pean stores established in different enemies to be killed, cooked and parts of the island, and the people eaten; to pass through sickly swamps not only paying for their books and and be exposed to deadly fevers in providing for their pastors, but also planting and superintending mission making a very handsome contribu- stations; to reduce the languages to tion to the London Missionary Soci- writing and translate portions of the ety to help to send the gospel to the Scl'iptures, school-books and hymn- heathen beyond." books into them; to battle with the In 1870 Mr. MacFarlane began a evil influences of abandoned sailors; mission in New Guinea, "largest, to guide the natives in making and darkest and most neglected island in administering laws, in developing the world." He laid the matter be- the resources of their country, in fore the students, native pastors and building houses, making roads, and, churches of Lira, and asked for vol- in fact, in everything connected with· unteers, giving them to understand their material as well as their spirit- the dangerous character of the ual progress. They opened up about climate and the savages. Every na- six hundred miles of coast line, tive pastor in the island and student gained the confidence of the natives in the seminary offered himself for and established sixty mission stations the' work! Four pastors and four along the coast. They formed six students were selected, and in July, churches, which contain an aggl'e- 1871, the party started for that great gate of between six and seven hun- land of cannibals. dred members, I'educed six of the New Guinea is larger than any languages or dialects to writing, and country III Europe except Russia. It translated portions of the New Tes- is 1,500 miles long and from 30 to tament, a school-book, catechism nearly 500 miles wide, containing an and hymn-book into each. They area of 303,241 square miles, or, in- have two institutions at work for the training of native pioneer evangelists ture's children the comforts and the and pastors: the Papuan Institute at decencies of humanized life, ex- Murray Island, in Papuan Gulf, con- claimed: "Oh, ye orators and phi- taining over fifty students; and the losophers who make the civilization institute at Port Moresby, containing of the species your dream, look to ten or twelve. Twenty-five have been Christian missionaries if you want to sent out from the former and eight see the men who will realize it! You from the latter as native pioneer may deck the theme with the praises teachers, and are located at stations of your unsubstantial eloquence; but in the interior, on the coast and on these are the men who are to accom- islands off the coast, and are doing plish the business! They are now excellent Christian work amongst risking every earthly comfort of ex- the people with whom, in many in- istence in the cause, while you sit in stances, their fathers used to fight, silken security and pour upon their As an illustra,tion of the change holy undertaking the cruelty of your from cannibalism to Christianity, scorn." These words were spoken in compare father and son in the fol- what seems a past age, the age when lowing passage: "The old chief the highest organs of literature Mamo was our friend all along, al- treated missionaries and their work though he had a weakn{'ss for cutting with contempt. The more than seven off the heads of his enemies, and de- decades that have passed since then clined to embrace Christianity' be- should satisfy the most rigid experI- cause its pr{'cepts forbade him this mental philosopher that the words of pleasure. The last time I saw him the preacher were words of tru th and (he died two or three years ago) he sobemess, and that the only power was sitting, as usual, cross-legged on that will redeem degraded nations is a mat in front of his house waiting the power of the gospel of Jesus to receive us, and looking as dirty Christ.
and as ugly, and as great a'savage, "There is a change seen even in as when I first saw him thirteen the appearance of all the natives of years before. He was getting too old New Guinea. They were a wild can- to pursue his favorite sport, skull- niballot a few years ago. One of the hunting. His son and successor is a natives spokea little English. Peat'se fine, tall, powerful man, who at- asked them if they eat man, and was tached himself to the teachers from answered, 'No. No eat man now; the first, and by whom he was edu- all follow missionary now.' In the cated. He has been for many years evening, at seven, a bell rang, and an earnest Christian and indefatiga. soon hymn-singing was heard; they ble local preacher." May we not say, were having evening prayers. You look on that picture and on this-the cannot realize it-savages, cannibals, savage cannibal skull-hunter, and the murderers-now seeking to worship loving, kind-hearted Christian, who God. It was strangely pleasing to is indefatigable in his labors to save hear an old hymn tune in such a both body and soul. Hear this, ye place," A New Guinean, preaching, who prate about the service of man 'I said: "The time has come for us to Where are Yl1ur missionaries ? Where be up and doing. Foreigners have are the savages converted into men brought us the gospel, many have and brothers of whom you can say, died of fever, several have been " These are our epistles"? Echo an- speared and tomahawked; now let swers, Where? us carry the gospel to other districts, Dr. Thomas Chalmers in 1812, after and if we die 'tiS well, for we die in describing the missionaries as ex- yhrist ; if we are murdered, 'tis well- tending among the wildest of na- 'ms carrying His name and love, and 'twill be for Him. Motu, let us do and sacl'ificed thousands of lives, it I" "He knows only a 'little, so Canada, with a larger proportion of vel'y little; yet he loves, and he is Indian population, has not spent a , willing to endure for Chl'ist. I saved dollar on such wars nor suffered that lad a few years ago from being from one such massac!'':l.
attacked, perhaps murdered, by his It is commonly supposed that the own people. Did I LeU you at Vab- Indians are rapidly disappeal'lng and ukori, neal' here, there are forty- almost extinct. This is a. great mis- three catechumens, and at Tuyuselei take. The total number was estimated fifty-six? The prayer of faith is be- by Schoolcraft in 1855 at 350,000. In ing answered. The greatest power Mexico there are at least 4.000,000, in of the mission-house is that monthly Central America 1,5@0,000, and in prayer-meeting. " South America 7,000,000.
NORTH AMERICAN INDIANS. The Puget Sound Indians have no THE question of the N. A. Indians literature. Hieroglyphic emblems and is too big to discuss in this limited signs and pictures take the place of space. Our Indian record is not an books. But, the exigencies of kade honor to us as a nation. Our gov- have created a sort of commercial ernment has made hundreds of trea- dialect, which, after a century, has ties with the redman, and seldom if largely displaced the many Indian eve~ kept them. Bishop Whipple dialects aB a vehicle of communica- asked scores of brave officel's if they tion. With only about 450 words in knew of one instance in which Indi- its vocabulary, it is capable, by into- ans were the first to break these nation and vocal inflection, of a wide treaties, and they Il.nswered, in every range of expression, and can be used case, "No." to impart gospel truth.
In 1828 we solemnly guaranteed to No more remarkable work has ever the Cherokees their lands forever. been done among any people than by Ten year later, at the request of Wm. Duncan in his Metlakhatla, Georgia, 18,000 of them were dl'iven the story of which has been so well from their homes and tilled lands told by Mr. Wellcome.
into an unknown wilderness. In Who in the United States shall an- 1876,700 Poncas were similarly robbed swer before God for the sad fact, that and exiled. In 1878 a remnant of in this second century of the life of the Cheyennes, driven to a new this mighty Republic there are still home, were compelled to attempt to 200,000 Indians unchristianized with- return, to avoid starvation, and were in its borders I It is stated that there pursued, captured, and imprisoned, are only eighty-one missionaries at until the chief and his wife escaped work among 184,000 Indians, or one tortnre by snicide. Foul' times in a miSSionary to 2,000 Indians; "17,000 century the Stockbridges and Dela- Navajoes whom Christianity has not wares have suffered the horrors of touched; 5,000 Apaches in Arizona "removaL" absolutely destitute' of Christian The manner in which we have, as light; 17,000 Indians in Washington a nation, paid our Indian debts, the Tel'ritory still heathen." In our In- violation of our express pledges, the dian Territory murder and crime 'are provocation of Indian wars, the mas- rampant, anditis impossible to obtain sacres to which our unfaithfulness justice, owing not only to wickedness a,nd injustice and cruelty have been of government officials, but to the the incitements, all these have come drunkenness and lawlessness of the up for a memorial before 9-od to call Indians. Driven from home by land- down His wrath. While 'Ye have grabbers, they are the victims of the spent $500,000,000 upon Indian wal'S, very officials to whom they look: tor protection, whose character is so vi- says Mr. Egerton Young, missionary orthe Cancious that the Indians say: "If this ada Methodist Church there, .. a number· of Inis civilization and Christianity we do dians came into my room, noiselessly, aCter their not want them." In the southwest- fashion, so that the room was filled with them before I knew it. When I became aware of ern part of Indian Territory is a their presence I asked whence they were.
much more neglected tribe, number- • From a journey of fourteen nights,' they reing about 1900, living in teepees and plied; for they reckon distance by the number tents. They have had the worst of of nights they are delayed to sleep. • We have got the Kessenaychen (the Great Book), but we agents since the administrations of don't understand it, although we can read it.' I Grant and Hayes, whose bad exam- thought they were joking, for the Indians canple has done much to debauch and not read unless some one has taught them, and discourage them. One of these a- I knew from their accoont they must live far away from any missionary, but I asked them: gents is said to have stolen $14,000 'From what missionary did you learn f' • We from these Kiowas and Comanches. never saw a missionary nor a teacher.' I took There is a government school, to down from my shelf our Bible, printed in the beautiful syllabic character for the Cree lanwhich only about fifty Kiowa chil- guage, and opened to Genesis; they read it with dren are admitted, when there· are ease and corr~ctness. I turned the pages and nearly 400 anxious to be educated. they read in many places. I was amazed, and asked them again where they lived. They de· '·The Kiowa,s are eager to lea.rn agricul- scribed it to me; it was far away, north of tural arts aud housekeeping. aud some have Hodson's Bay, hundreds of miles from any mis· taken up land and are trying to improve sionary. Their honting-gronnds, it seems, adtheir methods of tilling it. One woman join those ofsome Christian Indians-they cover about fifty years of age. visited a returned great distances in huuting-and, continued my student of the Carlisle school and saw the visitors, •We vislte~ your Indians and found famliy hving in a house with land and us- that they had the K688enaychen. We got them ing agrICultural implements and living a to read it and then to teach it to us ; and we CIvilized life. She returned home. sold two were so pleased with it that we all learned to horses and a mule. bought a set of harness. read it during the Winter.' Every soul in a a plow. hoes. several thousand feet of wire village of three hundred population had thus fence, and went to work with her two actually learned to read the Bible without ever daughters. They went into the woods, cut having seen auy white teacher; and having rails, and fenced in fifteen acres, not know- providentially come into possession of some ing the use of the wire which they had pur- copies that happened to be in the hands of the chased; neither did they know the use of Hudsou'~ Bay Company's agent, these heathen the tools after obtaining them, but they put Indians had journeyed through the snows fourup a log cabin and raised a fine crop of po- teen nights' distance that to them might be tatoes and melons. While the woman was given instruction in the Book they had thus a.t work a rough man from the Texas border learned to love." was riding by and sa.w her, He dismounted and asked her what she was doiug, and Ohinese in America. hearing of her ambitions, showed her the use of the harness and plough, and from The new Chinese temple, the second Chinese that time she has steadily improved in cir- place of worship in America, was dedicated in cumstances and surroundings." Mr. Her- New York, January 7, and Joss duly installed bert Welch says: .. The two wants of the in his new quarters. The unique dedicatory Indians are tools alld schools.•, services were conducted by the Chairman of the Among the Indians, as among the Chinese Mnnicipal CounCil, acting High Priest ·Africans, the rum traffic has intro- of Joss. Woug Siu Nam and Ah Hi, both being duced evils that actually more than well·to-do merchants of Mott street, and acting as assistant priests. and the Chinese Council, in overbalance aU that thus far Chris- full Mandarin costume, attended. Among the tianity has accomplished for their curious proceedings were the carrying of a big good. The New York TribuniJ, re- roasted pig, painted and decorated, and many ferring to the illegally licensed liquor chickens, pigeons. cakes, etc., to Joss.
A Chinese gambling room was lately raided shops of Alaska, says: by the police. The Chinese when brought be- "The result of the immunity to these grog fore the poliee eourt contended that they were shops is s great spread of immorality among but imitators of the best American society in the natives who will sell their offspring or the National Capital. The keeper of the room, wives for whiskey." Kwong Chong Lee, said he had heard of the "At Norway House, on a certain occasion," clubs incorporated by " the Mellcan man," who
1889·1 ];:i)I'f'OIUAL
can play poker and not be molested, and, ac- the children. The preachllr on the Sahllath cording to his statement, the "Celestials' Pleas- afternoon will often consecrate the elements- . ure Club" meets at .the house raided. He they administer the sacrament every Sabbathshowed Policeman Costello a book in which then preach a sermon, retiring immediately were written the names of the officers of the afterwllrd to bet on a horse race that takes club. The incorporation purported to have place the same afternoon. Last :week I heard been sworn to before Justice Clark. The Chi- one of the elders say in the pulpit, at one of their nese on their arrival at the police station were conferences, that he would as soon have his taken into the sitting room to the rear of the children read Dickens's works as the Bible. office, where there was a pack of cards on the table. Some of them evidently thought they The missionaries sent into" the world" to ' had struck another Chinese joint, fOt' one ofthem preach" the gospel" are often renegades ofthe picked npthe cards and started a game of poker, wildest nature and lowest character, who are but the police interfered before much progress sent ont to see the world. I know of several was made iu the game. A curious commentary young fellows of the higher classes, however, is all this on morals among certain Americans. who were sent" on missions" to Europe sim- ply to procure better edncations. One of them, Morman Morality. The term morality as the son of an nnderground apostle, did the Holy known among the Christians of the world, is an Land in that way; while another, the son of a nnknown term among the Latter Day Saints- German professor, simply went as a guide Mormons. Upon becoming a Mormon no one is through Switzerland for a party of Salt Lake required to lay aside his cupidity, evil heart, young blood. From a town to Southern Utah foul month or beer bottle. A Latter Day Saint there w,ent in 1886 a young man to Nebraska on is not known from other men by the testimony a missiou. He is one of the most notorious of a spotless life. Many a father sits down to gamblers in the whole country, and the night the dtnner table, asks a blessing, and before the before he left lie won a team of horses and a meal Is over is cursing and sweartng at one of wagon at the gambling table. Of such is the kingdom of the Mormons.
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
Strange Doctrine. judged fairly in isolation from their surroundings. The text is often ex- .. Da. PIERSON is reported as saying' I be- plained by the context. but above all lieve that, all the time. men and women are by the drift and tenor of a man's going up to heaven from heathen lands, who whole book of life and testimony. never heard of Christ.' Such a hope would Whatevertruth lies back of the above afford as grateful exhilaration to old mis- professed" quotation" is connected sionaries, whose work is almost done, as to with the teaching of a class in the Y. Dr. pierson-if it can be shown to rest upon M. C. A. Hall of Philadelphia, where a solid foundation. •Take the case of Cor- on Saturday at 4 P. M. from 500 to nelius,' says Dr. Pierson. 'He was a, 1,200 of the most earnest and evanheathen; he had not heard of Christ; and gelical Sunday-school teachers and yet his prayers and his alms came up before adult disciples of the city gather. God. Do you believe that Cornelius would And it may be sufficient to say that have been lost if he had died before he saw whatever was said by the writer, Peter?' I have been face to face with the who has the honorto lead the studies races of Bui-ma for thirty-five years, and of that great class, it awakened no have not yet fonnd a Cornelius, nor have I murmur of disapprobation. So met or heard of a missionary who has found much for the orthodoxy of the a Cornelius among any af the heathen races teacher and of the class. of Asia. It is true that I have found some,· to my great joy, who somewhat resembled But as to the sentiment itself. We Cornelius; but it was soon found in every were studying Matthew xxv. and case that the person had read and pondered the last judgment. The question a ChristIan tract, or a portion of God's arose as to the grounds of final conword." demnation. And one of the princi- ples affirmed from Scripture was that Such paragraphs as this have been no man is held accountable except flying about in the newspapers. We for the light he has. And again, do not often consider it worth while that if the measure of knowledge to chase up our" good name," be- lieving that a reputation which needs much looking after is. not worth looking after-no man's utterances, whether of tongue 01' pen, can be
NOTES
given him is improved, he will not found in the depths of the jungle be condemned. ,Those principles we who had fur years been living in a regard as self-convincing, like axi- state of discontent with his own oms. There is no question in our ancestral faIth, and had been led in mind as to the condemnation of the a strange way to trust to some other heathen world. The first chapter of plan of salvation, of which till then Romans settles that. But it settles he had never had distinct informa- also the grounds of their being tion. Dr. Nevius of Chefoo has just "without excuse." "They held written of Yang-yin-shin, whom he down the truth in unrighteousness," met in a market town of China, and "they did not like to retain God in who, as soon as he heard the gospel their knowledge," " when they said, "This is the very truth Iwant, knew God they glorified Him not as this is what I have been waiting for God." for twenty years. I have been earn- estly seeking for light and guidance, Now it follows from the same inex- but without success. This is the orable Logicthatif a heathen man does very truth that meets and supplies use thelightandknowledgegiven him my want." And his embrace of the hewillnotbejudgedguilty. Weven- tru1tl was immediate. He proved tured to say to those teachers, that If himself one of God's elect by the God saw any man in a pagan land avidity with which he immediately . honestly endea..voring to live up to welcomed redemptive truth. the light he had, he would if neces- sary send to that man an angel as he Now, we have no sympathy with did to Cornelius. We did affirm that universalism, restorationism, second it was not conceivable that if Cor- probation, post-mortem opportunity, nelius had died before Peter reached preaching to spirits in prison, or any him, he whose "prayers and alms other of the hundred modern extra- came up before God" with accept- scriptural expedients to get men ance, "for a memol"ial," would have saved without compliance with the been driven into outer and eternal terms of the gospel within the limits darkness. And we did also venture of the life-time. But no man is com- to say that there may be those who petent to affirm that it is impossible out of every nation go up from time for any heathen man to be saved to time to a saved state, exceptions without the knowledge of the historic to the great mass of the heathen, as Christ. The grace of God is wider proofs that there is no fatality about than our creeds or our philosophy. this wholesale perdition, and alil jus- The love of God is broader than our tifying the condemnation of the rest. narrow theology, Arminius did not This is scarcely an article of faith, know everything, nor Calvin either. for it is not revealed. Yet we cannot And if O'u:f; of every nation some shall but feel that "in every nation he join the redeemed, who, never having that feareth God and worketh right- heard of Christ as a historic person, eousness is accepted with Him," and have been led and taught of God's that in some mysterious way, un- Spirit to rest upon a method of sal- known to us, God may lead a. poor vation only dimly revealed to their pagan who is feeling after Him if yearning souls, not only will God's haply he may find him, to rest upon justice and grace be vindicated and the merit of a mediator, of whom as glorified, but the condemnation of a historic personage he has never aU other lost heathen will be maqe heard. to appear consistent with human freedom and responsibility. While A most beloved missionary in the we suggest this relief to the dark Orient has told us of a white-haired picture of the wOl'ld's condition and and venerable patriarch whom he
EDITORIAL
prospects, it must be remembered paper; I beg leave to quote one par- that, as a practical question of duty, agraph giving my views: this hope does not affect the respon- .. Evangelization-the proclaiming of the good sibilityof the church. It still re- news of salvation to all who are ignorant oC a mains true that without the gospel Saviour's love and intereession-'-is our part in proclaimed among them by believers. the Divine economy of redemption, on whieh is conditioned the conversion of men by the Holy the vast multitude of the heathen Spirit. The work includes the Christian colwill actually perish. This we cannot lege and seminary for the education of a native but believe. While some may be agency, since every country must be evangelized speculating as to the future of those by its own sons, duly prepared by divine grace, through miSSionary instruction and example; who die unsaved, we prefer to give and it includes a Christian literature for the demen the gospel here and now, assured velopment and nurture of Christian life and on the authority of God that "it is eharacter in new-born souls; but more than all else, it includes the preaching of' the word.
the power of God unto salvation to • How shall they believe in Him of whom they – everyone that believeth." have not heard, and how shall they hear with- A.T.P. out a preacher, and how shall they preach THE editors are more and more except they be sentf' No miraculous power is to print the Scriptures and scatter them broad- cast among the tribes of men. No voice from satisfied that the views presented in heaven is to proclaim the message of Ufe in the the leading article of the May num- ear of assembled mnltitudes. This work has ber, on the "Mission and Commis- been committed to the church. The final glory sion of the Church," are not only is not promised till the gospel has been preached for a witness to all nations. The way must be unassailable, but fundamen tal to a prepared for the coming of the Lord, for those right conception of our work and its grander workings of the Spirit, which have success. We venture to print a let- been the hope and the joy of the people of God ter from one of the greatest of the in all the ages, when Christian institutions shall cover the earth, and Ch"istiau homes shall be leaders of the missionary host. the common heritage of all the children of DEAR DR. PIERSON :-1n the May men." number of the MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, 1 read with much Grateful for your valuable services interest your editorial on the matter in your present field of labor as conof "evangelization" as distinguished nected with the progress of the kingfrom "conversion" in the foreign dom of God. field. 1 was very glad to see the article, as 1 hope it will correct a good Very sincerely yours. N. G. CLARK.
BOSTON, May 10,1889.
deal of improper lan~uage, which THE HELL GA'fE EXPLOSION of Oc- we hear in the pulpit and through tober 10, 1884, caused the most in- the press. 1 have for years been tense excitement in New York City.
very careful never to speak of the The Brooklyn Bridge was crowded, conversion of men as in any sense a every available space on the house- human work. That is the preroga- tops, the horse cars, the river banks; tive of the Holy Spirit. Evangeliza- all the world was on the streets. The tion is our work; when that work is explosion took place at 11.13 o'clock well done we may hope and pray for A.M., and the progress of the vibra- the conversion of men. Of that the tion was found to be' 1,700 feet per Holy Spirit will have all the honor. second. There was great fear that As long ago as at the annual meet- the shock might cause disaster to the ing of the American Board, in 1877, foundations of buildings, and even I presented a paper entitled" Claims the towers of the East River Bridge.
of the Un-evangelized," in which I Just before 11 o'clock a small band endeavored to set forth the truth on of engineers stood about a small bat- this subject. I should be glad to terynear the Astoria Ferry slip, with call your attention to the entire General Newton, theil'chief, who frequently looked at his watch. At revolutionary. He would have m'i~ 11.12 precisely, a baby's hand was laid upon the little key of the bat- sionaries go out without purse ,Ii# tery and instantly 13,286 dynamite scrip, without human patronltgeQl" cartridges, protruding from as many dependence, without stated salary,Ol' holes in the mine, exploded, and a settled habitation, precisely as did second later the 240,000 pounds of those primitive disciples. With l'ackarock, packed bacl~ of the car- many of Mr. Baldwin's principles and tridges. Flood Rock was blasted sentiments we confess ourselves in away. The report was not loud, but very hearty accord, while we feel a second before it was heard a great confident that he has carried those mass of foam white as snow shot principles to the extreme of applicainto the air 200 feet, and fell back in tion. wild confusion to meet new upheavals. Great masses of rock were We believe that there are some flung upwards in a giant shower, but truths which belong to the realm only seen here and there through a not of obligation, but of privilege• mountain of shining foam. The elec- .. He that is able to receivli}t, let him tric current moved over a single wire receive it." And to all Mr. Baldwin's beneath the river to a heavy bichro- papers we have one answer-a scripmate battery on the rock, which dif- tural one; it is found in 1Corinthians fused the current through twenty- ix.,3 to 19. Paul, to those who critfour independent circuits, the ends ically examine His course, insists of those wires being bridged and upon certain rights, while at the joined by a fine platinum wire. Big same time he waives them. To rewaves were driven shoreward, and duce all the self-denials of a devoted vessels rocked wildly to and fro. The life to the level of cold duty and newater settled slowly, yellowish in cessity robs them of theil' beauty. hue, and emitting an odor of car- But when a life is lived in peculiar bonic acid gas. The crowd on land closeness of faith and fellowship, and river cheered lustily and waved leaning absolutely on God, and votheir hats and handkerchiefs, while luntarily choosing to have no interthe steamers whistled their salute. mediate dependence on man, we con- The channel was deepened from five fess there is about it a sublimity and feet to five fathoms. What an illus- beauty that are without a rival. tration of the work of God in mis- SIOns, long undermining great sys- A.T.P. tems which some day shall suddenly upheave and disappear.-A. T. P. REV. GEORGE STOTT, of the China Island Mission, fell asleep at Cannes, OUR friend and correspondent, Rev. April 21, 1889, aged 54. He and his E. F. Baldwin, of Mogador, Morocco, beloved wife were the companions has been furnishing a series of letters of Drs. Gordon and Pierson on their to The Christian (London) on "The tour of missions in Scotland in 1888, Question of the Hour-Foreign Mis· and Mr. Stott was one of the lovelisions." These remarkable papers est disciples we ever knew. He had take Matthew x., etc., as the basis of for years had but one leg, but he did all foreign mission work. Mr. Bald- as much work as most !pen with two. For some time he had been troubled with his lungs and a complication of diseases.-A. T. P.
win regards our Lord's instructions THERE was recently held the great to the twelve and the seventy as per- centennial of Wasl~ington's Inaugumanent and authoritative guides in ral Oath. No such celebration has the work of evangelization. His po- eyer been seen on American soil, but sition,is of course both radical and it may be doubted whether any spec-
1889.J ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND
tacle equally disgrltceful with the utterly inadequate; but ample means are EaIl at the Academy of Mu~ic ever at the disposal of our 75,000 Baptist breth disgraced and dishonored such a fes- ren iu the Dominion of Canada; tive occasion. What a contrast between the morning service of wor- That to every 50.000 of the population of ship at St; Paul's and the evening this land one missionary and fifty native worship of the world, the flesh, the Christian helpers are the least possible devil and the drink demon I number of evangelizing a.gents necessary; The Speedy Eva.ngeliza.tion of the Te- That nntil the country is thoroughly lugu People. evangelized, the home churches must pro- vide the support of missionaries and the AT the Thirteenth Annual Cana- higher traiuing of native agents, leaving to dian Baptist Missionary Conference, the Christians of this land the support of in Bimlipatam, India, January, their own pastors and teachers. 1889, the following resolutions were adopted: Therefore we now urge upon the home churches the pressing necessity of at once That the commission of our Lord Jesus grappling with this work by sending out Christ means that this generation or Chris- immediately fifty-two men. and additional tians in the world is commanded to give the lady·missionaries as the work demands' gospel to this generation of heathen; and providing for the consequent extension of the evangelizing agencies; That the one thousand million who are in spiritual darkness. the three millions of We will impress more fully upon the Telugus dependent on us for the Bread of native churches their responsibility in this life. are a share proportionate to the num- work; ber of our brethren in the Canadian Baptist churches; We request both the hotne and native churches to unite with us in steadfast and That for the evangelization of these continued prayer to the God of Missions, for people, the means at present employed are a large output of laborers into this His har- vest field; for an abundant out-pouring of His Holy Spirit, that the workers be filled with power, and their hearers bowed with conviction; and for the speedy triumph of the cause of Christ throughout the world.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
Wesleyan Methodist Mission (English) of a native minister, who seized the oppor- in the Mysore District, Madras, India. tunity to dwell upon the spiritual life of Christianity. Another most important and STATISTICS FOR 1888. useful work is that accomplished by the temperance societies• ., .,riJ cO …;. .; ';' …;. '" ., " ''".""", """ . " ." ~".'" t"": . :5 " " '" 6 ss ::iiij '-·'5§Io~;"w:si ~~''E;§"0~;::'· oZ.,~~…"..,;..~£,<,:.:;~rQ.t~";I.t0.'!,-'Ij'l.a<,.=8l~3.0!:.,lI. ~ "~ ~ .; ",!l .0 The North India Oonferenoe of the Meth- .; c III 0 odist Episoopal Ohuroh. S 'i:l THIS conference met at Bareilly on the 9th .; ~z January under the presidency of Bishop ~ Thoburn. General delight was expressed " .s 'r::-" " '" <J at the bishop'S presence, because his ea.rli- 'a 0 .; .; ~ '0 est field of labor was North of India. The ~ .<:I 0 following table indicates the position of the 0 " ~ rIl '0 Q) rIl work: ~ 0 0 " :g ai S '0 S -" -oj rIl ai .cI rIl '" Q) rIl Eo< E-I u1i – – – – – – – —- – – 84042 912 109 28 1,068 136 8,621 24 1.030 THE field covered by this mission is larger DEPARTMENT. Increa.se than Scotland, and has a populatiou of over Total. on 4,000,000. Except Mysore and Bengalore, there are no large cities. the headquarters Year. of the different districts being towns of about 10,000 inhabitants. Among the most Church Members………… 7,944 1,924 important phases of the work is that among Nat. Christian Community. 10.828 1,602 the Kolar gold fields. The most effectual Baptisms. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 1,952* evangelistic work is accomplished at the Sunday-schools…………. ' 703 520 time of the idol festivals, which are univer- Sunday-school Scholars,… 26,585 109 sal holidays. One special instance is noted 2,672 where a quarrel between two rival idols resulted in marked attentIon to the preaching *Of these 1,201 are adults.
That is a grand record for a year's work.
In the day schools there are 16,000 pupils, 5,000 of whom are girls, and over 3,000 Chris- tians. Deaconesses' Homes are to be openeO at Mathra and Lucknow. Bengal Mission of the Methodist special lecturers, one American on physi_ Episoopal Ohuroh. ology and sanitation, and two native on methods of theory and practice of mission REpORT for 1888. See Statistics Page 314 work. In the theological department there MISSIONARY REVIEW for April. are 37 students, and in the normal depart- ment 30 students. The course of training The reports of the presiding elders of the includes specially Bible study, togetherwlth four districts, Ajmere, Burmsh, Calcntta and practical instructions in evangelistic work. Mussoorle, bring very forcibly before the reader The classics are those of the country, though the need of the great work. In some places, occasionally Greek and Hebrew are taught where there was urgent need of advance and increased elfort, the word came to retrench, and General Synod Evangelical Lutheran the problem became a serious one how to hold the ground already occupied. The laying of Mission in India. Baptized in 1888 by: the corner stone of the J abulpore Mission buildings brought some grateful words from Rev. E. Unangst { Adults, 311 the chief commissioner, Mr. A. Mackenzie, Chtlctre:1, 318 C. S. The times have greatly changed in India 629 since the day when the first American mission- { Adults, 11 aries were peremptorily ordered out of the Rev. L. B. Wolf, Children, 14 country. At pr.esent there are no warmer sup- 25 porters of their work than mallY of the oftlcials { Adults, 140 of the Indian Government. Rev. B. John, Children, 271 411 Bareilly Theologioal Seminary of the Adults, 9} Methodist Episcopal Mission, N ol'th { Rev. M. Nathaniel, Children, 117 India. 216 REPORT for 1888 shows two missionary professors, with six native assistants and three Total, 1,281 These statistics show that our work here is a graud success. Who will come to help to carry it on ?
Malayalam Mission, Travancore, India..
LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY, COMMENCED 1805. STATISTICS FOR 1888• .; ..",; ..",; ….,.;. .; ….;, .; M …., . """…. ~ ….;, "tS.~ ",.c:I ~ .c:I "o· """".c:I -;; .; .; oj't:l ..;.0.:.,:, .,0 0 "oj A ., …. ~ oj ~ 't:I oj "'>< "0 ~" – "'"0 " o";o;f!j oj ~ "oj ..c."".:,I "E-o M 'a0 0 .c:I o0.j..", "",Il< ~Il) .c:I ".o~ j o "0 "…. "ee ",.c:I 0 r:0n .~…, o~ …. 00 't:I.~ 0 bo 0 "..q, ' " "g..q zoj 0 .c:I 0 ;;: o,-.;!";l: 0 "0 00 0 — —- ———————- —- — 6 6 19 213 1163 266 44.633 5,356 g56 295 13.229 27.657 Trevandrum station, including the city those sold by the colporteur Bible women and with a population of 57,611, and the district, at the depot. covering 632 square miles, with a population of 253,280, has 48 congregations with 1,200 The Medical work Includes 1 MiSSionary, 9 church members, 7,719 adherents, 59 schools Medical Evangelists in charge of Dispensaries, and 1,712 scholars, new adherents 584. 2 Dispensers, 1 Evangelist, 1 Catechist, 1 Bible woman, 1 Colperteur. The patients included Among the chief features of the work are 10,503 Protestants, 2,694 Roman Catholics, 13,- Gospel lectnres to caste Hindoos and 930 Heathens, 530 Mohammedans. others; open.air preaching and private conversation with enquirers; dissemina.- Zenana Work in India.-The Zenana Mistion of Scriptnres, religious books and sionarv Society of the Church of England tracts. reports that in 1888 it had 106 missionaries in the home connection, 189 Bible-women, The chief hindrance is from the high caste and 349 native teachers. Under this mis- Hindoos, alarmed for the safety of their sionaryforce 3,118 houses have been visited traditional religious usages, and hostile to in which there are 2,797 pupils. This method the low cast people who are glad to come of reaching the women of India is proving to the preaching, so that care has to be taken successful, and those who could not possinot to open more places of worship than can be bly be brought together in any public aseared for. 1,439 Scripture portions, chiefly sembly are glad to welcome Ilo Christia.n Gospels, were sold by the preachers, besides teacher in the home, United Ohuroh of Ohrist in Japan.
TWELFTH ANNUAL REPORT, 1888.
~..".,.. STATISTICS.
9o · MISSIONA.RIES, ! . .n..; as 0"""0i''."-" FOREIGN. " I '" '""§ Sil .n (!)~t ~al .. Sl" ,!.-~ "CIS000"O-, "M D.S ~ ~" .; 6 ;;" z"'''….. f ~.~~,!:,g..= '" – <S»l § o§o.Jd3'fi ,.,~"Qg-.".:a2'e0dgen-j ~ .; .; rJ2 ~~() – – ''"" – – 0 0 Po< ,; ."8o"s' o Po< zg ".d – – – – .S :c ~ ,; PPo< " !l ~ :~:;: ~ I: ~ 44 ~ rJ2 0 8 rJ2 411 : ~ ~ "~ —— 0 -rJ2- 1$:,;;00 8,690 1,831 80 24 2,260 4,000 39 38 36 THE whole report is one of encouragement Missionary Society are calling for men and and hope. An increase for the remaining twelve money to enter the doors open on every side. years of the century similar to that of the past The great desire i8 to increase the power of the year would give for 1900 a membership of 144,- union by the addition of the Congregational 000, a token of the evangelization of this great churches, which will nearly double the effectempire. ive force of the union, adding to it 45 churches with 7,093 members. With such a compact Several more churches have become self-sup- body of Christian workers, animated by such a porting, and it is a question whether many of those still receiving aid are not hurt more than spirit of self-consecration and earnest purpose they are helped. The principle laid down is to work for Christ; there is no obstacle too tbat any church of a hundred members should great. In union is strength. We earnestly be entirely self·reliant. The chief growth is in hope that there will be nothing done to kamper the chnrches, but the fields on every hand are or hinder that union. white to the harvest, aud the native Home -~– Statistios of the Egyptian Mission. (Frbm 1865 to 1887.) ESTABLISHED IN 1854. 1865. 1870. 1875. 1880. 1887.
—-.——-_._-.—————- Ordained Missionaries…………………………. . 8 7 8 8 11 Unmarried Female Missionaries……………….. . 3 3 7 8 10 Native Pastors…………………… , …………. .. 1 3 6 10 Native Licentiates…………………………….. . 5 Organized Congre:oations……………………… . 1 3 8 12 7 3 24 Stations Occupied ……………………………. .. 5 10 6 48 21 85 Communicants …………………………. , …… .. 79 237 676 1,036 2,307 Average Sabbath Attendance ………………….. . 125 513 1,133 1,837 4,747 Pupils in Sabbath-schools…………………….. .. 236 658 1,494 4,438 Number of Schools…………………………….. . 5 49 82 8 23 Pupils in Schools ………………………………. . 815 520 1,040 2,219 5,601 Books Distributed (volumes) …………………… . ? 5,506 1l,8PO 25,534 33,609 $655 $797 $4,863 $13,083 Tuition Fees…. :………………………………. . 1,037 2,795 5,541 7,815 Proceeds from Sale of Books……………………. . Totals paid by Nat's for Prc'h'g., Schools and Books 2,788 4,840 14,986 27,173 Baptist Foreign Missionary Society of The Woman's Baptist ForeIgn Mis.ionary Ontario and Quebec. Societies of Ontario and of East Ontario and Quebec report for their Zenana work MISSION FIELD, TELUGUS, MADRAS, INDIA. expenses additional to the sums paid to the General Society of $2,315.32. STATISTICS.-TwENTY-SECOND ANNUAL RE- The work of the Societies has been ham· PORT, 1888. pered by changes necessitated throughsick- ness and retirement of some from the field. …. " . ".- " " … ;1ui't:! .u..i .n .u.,i Yet they go on their way with good cour- age, "300,000 sonls with a single missionary, :s .-" . " " <II"d~~.~~~c.'g..",.:. 't:!.n ..e- .n .; ::l ::l and he 35 miles distant," calls for help• .':~-t:l:Q."!c~) '0 " " A::l'~" ~~ "'~ Ci~ ~… ."c ~ ~ The Leper House at Jerusalem, 1888. "~ 0 't~::!:ol 80 :te:l'Ow :J .d ~ ';":; The Seventeenth Annual Report of this Insti- Ci'~ E-< tution, under the care of the 1I0ravian Society, ",.- S.:!i 0 "rJ2 ".O..r "S shows an e'lCpenditnre of £435-3-0, $2,176. The Sil new asylum, built at a total cost of about ~dl ~, S $21,C-00, and unencumbered by any debt, has 19 inmates, 13 males and 6 females, 8 Christians Sil ~::. <= 0 and 11 Moslems.· Three died during the year, _. — — — — — — — – 0 aU haviug the Christian hope. 0 0 4 5 4 4 5 46 40 40 13 1.947 Increase from collections, legacies, etc ………………………….$14,67648 Received from Woman's Societies (less $325 returned).. .. .. .. .. .. .. • 4,605 Do 'l,'ota.l income …………… $19,281 48
Missions in the Dutch East-Indian
From the latest reports received during the year 1888, prepared jor THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD by Rev. N. D. Schuurmans, Haarlem, HoUand.
Name of the So- Stations. Receipts European Native As- Adherents. Schools. Scholars. during the ciety. Missionaries -s-i s t-a n-t s . – -l-as-t y-ea-r.- Notes. 8.- 74.- — – – – – – The Netherland ModjowarnQ-Java. 5,me, (on Ja- 135 8,472 on Java $37,706 In the Minahassa (Celebes) are a great . .(founded in the Kendal-pajak, llilissional'Y Unlun Kediri, h The number va) 221 (be. and Celebes; many native churches (communions) for- year 1797 at Rot- ~~:~b~~~Cele~~s. teachers and longing to of Savoo the merly founded by the missionaries of the lterdam). catechists the resort of N. M. S., now under the pastorshlp of Euro- Tanawan~ko .. in the lIiina- Seba (Savoo) number is pean associate preachers, who in connec- hasia prov- not known. tion with the Dutch Protestant Church in Seba-8avoo. inee is 115. Neth. India and under pay of the Dutch Government, yet greatly act asmissionaries for the propagation of the gospel,. Thenum- ber of native Christians is reported abont 120.000 souls. Notwithstanding two mission- aries. properly so-called, are at work in the niinahassa, the one is placed at the head of a training school for native assistan ts, the other occupied witha printing press for the sake of the missions on this Island. – —– .. Missionary Socie- Cheribou, The Netherland nieester-Cornelis-Ja va 7 24 874 11 146 $17,846 Of the 874 adherents 251 may partake of .. ty II. (founded in Indramaju, .. ,he year 1858 at niadjalengka, the Holy Communion.
. Rotterdam). . Sukabumi. Sumedang, .. 1'jiandjoor, .. Pangharepan, . Buitenzorg, —– —- ———- –~~— This year (1889) one Missionary more will Foreign Mission Batavia-Java. 3 6 200 4 224 $8,000 c f the Christian Surbaga, U be sent to Sumba.
Reformed Church Melolo and Cabernero, in the Netherlan<ls Sumba. (founded tn the ear 1860 at Leyen.) – – – – – – 125 Missions Church Salatiga-Java.. 6 8 500 5 $1,892 Only one missionary is sent by tbe Erme a t Ermeloo (found- 'Vonoredjo. ,. (during 1887.) 100 Mission; the other by the Neukinchan Mission. which are united on Java. under .. e d in the year Klampok, the name of h Salati;;a Mis8ion."
1856 at Ermeloo.) Kali<lJeret, ..
.. Tjem~h,
Un- Mergoredjo-Java. 3 16 491 5 200 I $8,479 The three old missionaries, thonlth
ion, for the propa- Pakanteu-Sumatra. (during 1887). directly on the mission field, are yet occugation of the gos- pied wi th working for the missionar~ cause; pel in the Dutch the first by translating the Bible lDto the colonies (founded Javanese language, the second by means of in the year 1847 at writmg, the third by preaching (Reise- Amsterdam). 1——— —– —— —- – – – – – '- – – -…- – $2,127 prediger.) Dutch Lutheran Pulo Tel;o. 2 This mission but just begun.
Society for Home Batuv Islands.
and Foreign Mis- sions (founded in the year 1882 at Amsterdam).
Java Comi te Batavia-Java. (2 on Java. 13 on Java. 115 3 ..t200 $11,911 Missionary I. Esser, of Bondawosso. is at 5 80, present in Holland for the translation (branch of the So- Bondowossa" 1 all Sum",-.J 011 Suma- 450 of the Bible (New 'l'estament) into the Maciety for Home Uta Rimbaru-Suma- tra). tl'a.) durese language. and Foreign Mis– tra.
sions at Batavia, Java) founded in the year 1856 at Amsterdam. —— —– Utrecht Mission Mansinam-N.Guinea. 8 total. 7 180 6 U38 $21,940 Union, founded in Andai, •• the year 1859 at Doreh, Utrecht. Rhoon, Duma, Almaheira. Soa, Konora, •• – – – – – – – – -Ka-w-ir-i. B-u-ru-. —- ——-, —– —– Rhenish Mission Bandjarmassin-Borneo 8 {on Borneo)i26 {on Bor- 1,120 {on Bor- 136 (on Su- $83,362.56 An auxiliary society tor the Rhenish Mis- Society, founded Kwala Kapuas, .. 15 (on Suma- neo). neo). matra). for year end- sian was founded at Amsterdam in the year in the year 1828 at llIandomal, tra). 220 (on Suma-12,702 (on Su- – – – 373 (all Bor- ing Easter 1869. Barm en (Ger- Pangkoh, 5 (on Nias), tra). matra). many). Telang, 9 (')n Nias). 616 (on Nias). neal. 1888. * We have valued thejlorin at 50 cents, Amer- 48 (on Nias). Tameanlajang, U ican money, in these jigures. The Dutch guild- , er is equivalent to 40 cents our money-EDS. Sipirok-Sumatra. Bungabonder, U Pangaloon, U Sigumpu]an.
Pantjarnapitu-Sum. Stations (Continued). Simorongkir, " Pearadja, Sipokalon, Sibtoga, Sum. Lobusircgar, Gunougsitoli-Nlas. Lagubati, Dahana.," Balije, Ombalata, I Sipahutar, Padang, I
ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS
SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES. On the Sangi and Talauuer Islands are 6 As already mentioned in the a.bove Tables, several native churches, founded in stations and 6 missionaries (under pay of former times, are now under the care of European association preachers, not only in government) with about 20,000 native Christhe Minahassa (Celebes), but also on the other islands of the Dutch East Indian tians. One of these missionaries, Rev. Kel- Archipelago, as on Java, Timor, Amboina, Ternate, etc. Their number (i. e. of the ling, on the Sangi Islands, preaches at preachers) amounts to 26. Likewise there are a.bout 80 native teachers. All these are 21 different places (villages), while 15 schools paid by the Dutch Government. At Depok (Batavia) is a seminary or are entrusted to his care. trainiug school for native assistants of missionaries. Dnring the year 1888, 10 pupils, The Netherland Reformed Mission Union, being well taught and examined, have left this institution in order to begin their founded in the year 1860 at Amsterdam, has work among their fellow-countrymen. At Madjowarno (Surabaya) Missionary Kruyt 2 stations on Java, with 3 missionaries. has also founded a training-school with about 14 pupils. The number of native The number of native Christians is about Christians at D6pok is about 600 souls. The Netherland Bible Society. founded at 6,000 distrtibuted in 47 churches or lo- Amsterdam in the year 1814, has 122 branches in the Netherlands and also in the calities. Dutch East Indian Archipelago at Batavia, Depok, Samarang, Surabayo, Padang, Aug… For the evangelizatiou in Atjeh (North kola, l'Iakassar, Tondano, Bandjarmassin, and in the Dutch West Indian colonies Sumatra) a comita last year was founded (South America) at Paramaribo. With the aid of this society the Bible has at Zeist. Probably this year (1889) a misbeen translated into ten different languages of the Dutch East Indian Archipelago, viz.: sionary will be sent out to that country. the Dajak, the Javanese, the low Malay of Surabaya, the low Malay of Samarang, the The Union for the Propagation ofthe Gos- Sundanese, the Alfurese, the Batta (Toba), the Buginese and the Macassar languages. pel in Egypt was founded in 1886, at the Two new translations of the Bible have been made, namely, one into the Sun- Hague (Holland). Its missions-field is at Caldanese langnage by Rev. S. Coolsma at Bl1ndung (Java), and another into the Madurese iub, which is i:lhabited by Mohammedansand language by Rev. J. Esser at the Hague. During the last year 57,405 copies of the Hoptish Christians. According to the report, Bible, or parts of it, have been sold or distributed. The receipts of the society dur- 1887-'88, there are seven adherents and a school ing this year (1888) amounted to 53,267florins. Likewise the" Society for Home and For- with sixty pupils. The miSSionary working eign Missions" and the uUnionforspreading Christian literature,"both at Batavia (Java) there will be joinml by a European schoollargely contribute for the propagation of the gospel into the Dutch East Indian Arch- teacher, in May. Receipts, 5,052 florins. ipelago. Total receipts in Holland for the Prot. Mis- Mission of the Christian Reformed Church sion in the Dutch E. I. Archipelago, about $150,000; total native Christians, 240,000 among Israel, began in 1875. Report, August souls.-Two mis~ionaries of the Neth. Miss. Society had arrived on Java for the Missions 1, 1885-Julv 15, 1888: Missionary HORter held on Savoo and Soemba. The Java-Comit" intends to enlarge its mission-field, namely: meetings in several towns and villages that to found five stations more in East Java and Madura; also the Dutch Ref. Union were frequented by the Jews; at many intends to send as soon as possible missionaries to Tegal and Rembang and Madiun, places he visited Jewish families in their houses. Java.-To the mission on the Sanggi Islands, Rev. P. Helling departed Feb. 2. At present this missionary has been honorably discharged, and several members of the Board occasionally hold meetings. Many religiOUS writings or tracts were spread among the Jews.
Receipts, 5,7€2 florins. '
The Netherland Union, for the propagation of the gospel among the Jews, in connec- tion with the English Episcopal Church, began in 1£84, Leist (Holland). Report, 1887: The missionary has his mission-field at Amsterdam, and another at Rotterdam, who visited also sev- eral provinces of the Netherlands. The evan- gelization met with mnch opposition from the Jews; the iOlOrance of this people with regard to the Bible, was very breat. Notwithstanding this opposition, many of them accepted' and read the religious tracts, that were spread among them. Though the resnits of the preach- ing of the gospel are not clearly visible, the labors of the missionaries can be considered as pr<)paring the way for the children of Israel to receive their King. During the last year thirteen Jews asked religious teaching, and fonr of them were baptized. Receipts, 2,724 florins.
Dutch, East Ind.an Arch.pelago.-In the Bottom-lands (North Snmatra) the progress of Christianity is stated to be very hopeful. The missionaries of the Rhenish Missionary Society have their station near to the lake of Toba, at Lagubati, and Balige. In their efforts to spread the gospel into this eDnntry they receive much help of the native Christian churches, and of tbeir assistants. SociE)tyfor the Propagation ofthe Gospel 5, Druze 1. .. All Lhese, evening a.fter even- in Foreign Parts. ing, have heard the Word of God read and very simply and earnestlv explained, many EsTABLISHED 1701. Report of the year 1888. of them joining, with every appearance ~f THE SOCIETY'S INCOME FOR 1888. reverence in' Christian prayer." In this as ,in so many other cases the most interesting I. GENERAL FUND- £ 8. d. features of the work can be known only to Subscriptions, Dividends the workers themselves and to God. The supporters must be content to await the and Contributions…… . 105,910 1 1 open answers to their prayers and dona- Legacies ……………… . 8,552 11 5 tions, until there is more perfect liberty granted to searchers after truth. Reuts, Divideuds, etc ….• 3,222 2 6 Totalreceiptsgeneralfund 117,684 15 0 II. SPECIAL 1<'uNDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21',982 2 6 Total income …………. £]38,666 17 6 American Seaman's Friend Society. The sixty – first annual meeting was held in the In addition to the above, the society's chapel of the Sailor's Home, 190 Cherry street, . treasurers had received for invested funds, New York, on the afternoon of the 6th inst. held by the society as a corporation for The annual report shows that 27 chaplains or specific trusts by request, the sum of £1,- missionaries have endeavored to promote the 429 Os. 8d. spiritnal and temporrl welfare of seamen in ports extending around the world. During the In this sum of £105,610 Is. Id. are included year 501 loan libraries have been sent out, contwo gifts of securities, worth £25,296 and sistine: of 18,036 books, 7,524 being new, and £2,263 respectively. The former was U a supplying crews of 7,781 seamen. On U. S. thankoffering to almighty God for the ex- Naval vessels and in U. S. Hospitals, 993 libratension of the church in the colonies and ries, of 35,742 books, )lave been maintained dependencies of the British empire and be- within reach of 114,267 men. The heroic U. S. yond it." The latter w..s a memorial of one Life Saving Service has been remembered by 117 who had long been a munificent supporter libraries of 4,220 volumes. The Sailors' Home, of the society. on Cherry street, N. Y., accommodated 1,351 sailors during the twelve months, and took Oentral Ohina Missions of the Methodist good care of more than $10,000 deposited tem- Episcopal Ohurch. porarily with the lessee. Shipwrecked and destitute seamen were relieved by gifts amount- REPORT for 1888. See Statistics Page 314, ing to $653.70. The income of the year MISSIONARY REVIEW for April. amounted to $27,832.89, and the outgo to $34,- 971.05. One of the most important minor reports presented is that in regard to Land Tenure. It American Bible SOCiety. The sixty-first should be followed up in every mission of every annual meeting was held Thursday aftersociety. The necessity of owning and develop- noon at the Bible House. The annual reing real estate in connection with mi.sionary port shows that the total cash receipts for genwork makes it of the highest importance that eral purposes were $499,823.56. The disbnrsethe laws of Land Tenure should be well under- ments for general purposes amounted to $555,- stood. The Brother who makes the report 979.78, leaving a deficiency of $56,166.22, which seems to feel as if the time spent upon it was of was provided for j'l part by aloan and in part by little value. We would reply in the words of the sale of certain securities. The following the venerable Father Goodell of Constantinople were elected to the Board of Managers for four to one who made a similar complaint: "The years: John H. Earle, S. V. R. Cruger, Elbert disciples were serving the master just as much A. Brinkerhoff, James G. Levett, Charles H. wheu they went to get the ass as when they Trask, William Hoyt, Robert W. De Forest, J. preached at Pentecost." D. Kurtz Crook and T. G. Sellew_ The Philander Smith Memorial Hospital at The seventy-fifth anniversary of the Nanking reports in all 10,100 patients treated, a American Baptist Missionary Union began grand record of good work done. at Boston, May 15. The following statistics were given: Missionaries appointed dnr- The Woman's Foreign Missionary Society has ing the year, 30; missionaries sailed to the b~en very successful in its medical work among field, 31; missionaries retnrned, 9; total the Tartar women of Chiukiang and good re- appropriations for the year, $423,318; total sults are already evident. receipts, $415,144; balance against the treasury, $8,174. The Foreign Secretary's. Jaffa Medioal Mission and Hospital. report shows that in all the missions there are 279 missionaries,l,316 churches, 134,413 The annual report for 1888 shows expen- members-an increase of 17 missionaries, ditures of £1,209, $6,046. The number of out- 20 churches, and 7,205 members. In misdoor cases has heen 13,217; 138 on a single sions to the heathen are 62 stations and day. 511 patients have been received to 1,179 out-stations, the hospital; 307 men and 204 women and children. The various religIOns represented have been, Mo~lem 414. Greek 44, Je~ish 23, 11aronite 13, Protestant 10, Roman Catholic
~~ . r r
556 [JULY, PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN.
l"
VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY' "
BULLETIN.
What a stimulating Btudy follows the lower Rownma, three in Zanzibar and three footsteps of Jehovah through these forma- in the Portuguese interior. Besides there tiveyea.rsofmissionaryenterprise I Mighty are the East Africa. station. of the London obstacles removed; a missionary spirit de- and Scottish societies.-In~pendent.' veloped; over 200 general missionary societies and boards organized; woman's work ·-Rev. E. F. Baldwin, writing from Mogafor women inaugurated and already a phe- dor, Morocco, in April, says: The, work nomllnal success; many of the sons and goes on well, now. There is a. lull In persedaughte~s of ~he church in our educational cution: hence many meetings-five on Suninstitutions pledged to service In the foreign days, fonr on Wednesdays a.ud Sa.turdays, field; medical missions securing gratefulre- a.nd three on other days. We are trying to cognition; the .Bible printed in 300 tongues; make the most of our opportunities. On our a vernacular literature created, and schools last trip Mr. Nairn and I were reported for the lowest grade to the well-equipped killed, and the statemeut was believed by college and theological seminary estab- all except my family. True.wewere roughly lished. handled, but not a. bail' of our heads per- ished. Rosine Is back. and Abraham is on -The most effective reply to pessimists his way. They were separated by Abraham like Canon Taylor and Mr. Caine will be being in prison and put in irons nine days. found in the MISSIONARY REVIEW oJ!' TliE his outer clothes heing also stolen. For WORLD. and more especially in such a paper about six months they were away on a jouras Dr. Pierson's in the April number on ney. on the lines of Matt. x.; many believed. .. Further Testimonies to Missions." Itsets and many were baptized. The work grows forth an array of well attested facts, so in other ;>laces. We hope to devote the weighty that all the accusations and in- summer months to systematically training sinuations of professed friend. or open foe, in the Word the most promising converts. will be but a feather's weight in comparison. in order to their doing service as native No Pl'Stor who desires to keep his congrega- evangelists. Blessing has begun among the tion up to the mark In missionary fervor Jews. I have recently baptizcd three Jewa should fail to procure this hest of all the and lour Moslems. One of the Jew8 Is just missionary magazines.-OhriBtian Leader out of irons for his faith; one or two others (Scot/and). await baptism. The last steamer brought Mr. Sheehan. s. non-commissioned olHcer Africa.-The Missions ofthe German and from Gibraltar, to join us on Matt. x. lines. English societies cover a considerable part Thank God. there are six Matt. x. missionof the countries around the back of the ter- aries (men) here in actual work; one is Mr. ritories of the Sultan of Zanzibar, on the Martin and two natives. I am just olf …. east coast of Africa. The Nenkirchen So- another trip, going first to Cass. Blanca. ciety has had since 1887 a station at Ngao wearing Moorish clothes. which we all (men) on theTana. in the Suabalicountry with two now wear, finding it much better tor the missionaries; a third missionary died short- work, and more comfortable every way. lyafter his arrival. On the other side of Blessing and trial continue intermingled. I the Tana is the station Soldanti. of the hope in tbe coast towns to visit and os- United Jllethodist Free Churches, who also tablish several ~roups of believers who have two stations, Joursee and Ribe, in the have never seen the face of a foreign mis- Mombasa. district. The Evangelical Lu- sionary. therau Missionary Society for East Africa of Jla,varia. has stations at Jimba and at -The Romish Church is pushing for the Mbungu among the Wakamba, six hours in- open regions of the upper Congo. Two Porland, with three missionaries; a fourth mis- tuguese steamers recently carried from sionary died at his home, whither he had twenty to thirty Jesuit priests and nuns to retUrned for his health. One bour from labor in Africa for the propagation of their Jimho is the station at Kisulutini, or Rabai, faith. foun!ied by Krapf and Rebmann in 1876, which with Mombasa, Freretown and Kam- -Rev. George Grenfell, Ia.tely returned likene. torms the Mombasa district of the from the Congo, reports .. Cbristianity English Church Missionary Society. The spreading even where missionaries had not Evangelical Missionary Society for German labored. As he approached one town in East Africa. has a station at Dar-es-Salaam, which no Baptist missiona.ry had ever lawith one projected in Kisserawa, on which bored. he saw a band of native eva.ngelists are two European missionaries, one Abys- coming out of it to preach the gospel to sinian teacher and a deacon. The English their native brethren, and that town. a few Universities Mission has five stations In years a.go, wa.s sunk in hea.thenism." Usambara, oPpol'ite the island of Pemba, four farther south, in the !iistrict of the -Inspector Harms, in his tour among the Rerma.nnsburg missions in South Africa. last year, also visited the Norwegian mis-
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY
sion at Umpupulo, Natal. The stationed celve all who apply; 70 applicants have "missioo!lory had seven 'preaching places, a.t been declined. A Training Cla.ss from the which his helpers preached, ha.ving heen school visits female patients in the Hospispecially prepared for the service on the tal, There are six native teachers at work. Saturday. .. This is a matter of which we do not take thought enough," the Inspector -The Baptist Mission in the' Sbantung remarks; .. yet the Norwegians are lacking Province, have, in the districtofTsing-cheu in emcient evangelists, while we are much Fo, 55 chUrches, all self-supporting, minisbetter provided through our Seminary at tered to by five native pastors maintaining Ehlanzeni, with its 16 pupils." themselves and not drawing any of their support from the society. Belglum.-The Missionary Church of Belgium (EvangelicalSociety) reports a rich -Tho Chinese Inland Mission has been enspiritual growth within the past year. A abled to send $20,000 for the reliet of the letter from Pastor Brocher says that this sufferers from the famino in China. missionary church is composed largely of -The ratio of the gain in converts In all the poor miners who have come out from Ro- Protestant missions In China during the manism. There are 22 ordained minIsters, decade is about 140 percent. ; and In Japan four evaugelists, eight Bible readers, and It is over 300 per cent. four colporteurs, but a large portion of the work Is rendered by the workingmen who, Central Amerlca.-In the latter from the mining and manufacturing dis- part oflast year tbe Prt'sbyterian Bo~rd of tricts, return to the village. There are now Foreign Missions made a liberal appropria- 27 churches, with sixty-one preaching sta- tion of funds to help the mission in Guatetions and 84 other localities where ihe gos- mala, Central America. in purcha.sing proppel has been preached occasionally, besides erty and huildlng for mission purposes in 000 placas visited by colpoteurs. Nearly the city of Guatamala. Ground was imme- 8,000 religious services have been held dur- diately bought and building begun, and ing the year, with a regular attendance of now a house is almost completed and a from four to five thousand hearers. Of the church well under way. 00 Sunday-schools 18 are called .. Missionary Sunday-schools "; that is, composed -City of Mexico, May S.-News has heen reexclusively of children of Roman Catholic ceived here of a discovery of great archfamiliee. This certainly is a cheering re- reological importance in the State of Chia.· port, and the appeal for financial aid which pas, near the ruins of Palanque, being no- Is made by this Missionary Church of Bel- thing less than a large city hidden in the gium should have a generous respoDse. depths of the forests. Some buildings are five stories high and in a good state of pres- Chlna.-In Canton, with its 1,500,000 in- ervation. There is a well-paved road sevhabitsnts, are fifteen Christian chapels, wbere eral miles in length still perceivable in the missionaries and the native ministers preacb midst of a tropical fOl"est. Very few partie. the gospel, not on Sunday only, but daily, and ulars bave reached kere, but the report from two to four honrs each day, to audiences comes from good sources. Palanque is said varying from fifty to several bundred. After to be S, mere village in comparison with tbls the sermon, Chinese Evangelists continue the lost city of prehistoric times. services. Free conversations and discussions tollow; rooms are at band for private confer- Egypt.-Miss Whately's work in Cairo. ences, and Cbristian books and tracts are kept The schools and mission established in in readiness, and disposed olin large numbers. Cario by the late Miss M. L. Whately will The preaching halls are tbronged during the hot- be carried on by her sister, Miss E. Jane test montbs–July. August and September-and Whately, who is well known as the biografrom noon till tbree o'clock-tbe hottest part of pher of. her father, the late Arcbbishop the day. Tens of tbousands of visitors to the Whately, and as a frequent contributor "to city bave beard tbe gospel in tbese cbapels and various periodicals. She will have the valhalls, and have carried It hundreds of miles uabie aid of Mrs. Shakoor, the widow of a. into the interior. The missionary encounters Syrian gentleman. who voluntarily assisted tbese in the most remote places on bis inland Miss Mary Whately in her work until his tours, and sometimes listens with surprise death some years ago. Mrs. Shakoor had while tbey repeat the substance nfthedlscourse for many years been tbe devoted friend and which tbey have beard. The dialect used by companion of the late Miss Whately. most of the miSSionaries, in preacbing, 1s the Punti, or pure Cantonese. by wbicb tbey have England.-English Presbyterians now access to twenty millions of people. number 64,000. according to reports submit- ted to the annual meeting of synod held in -Letters just received from Dr. Happer at Regent Square Church at the beginning of May. This shows a gain of 1,500 communi- Canton, speak of the encouraging Increase cants for 287 congregations in the past year' of students In the Anglo-Chinese College. -a small total and a small average. We The number at the beginning of May was had hoped for better things after the meettrT. The Girls' Boarding School cannot reo ing of the Presbyterian Alliance in London last year. -Dr. Dale, ofEnglan4, thinks that India is to be Christia.nized by her own sons, and cumbent of the Established Church, in the therefore he believes in sending out edu- enjoyment of a remarkably good living, with cated Christian men, capable of training a very small charge, who dwells at ease in Indian converts for the work of teaching England during its pleasant snmmer, and the gospel. There can be no question that enjoys himself in Southern lands during its the native element in missionary work has winter, and who does not even subscribe not been utilized as it should be, not in the con ventional guinea a year to the C.M.S., India only, bnt in other regions, as not- is hardly the man to·hold up a. high standably in Armenia. ard to his fellows I"
-The Wesleyan Missionary Society, with France.-Interference With Missions.- headquarters in London, has missions At a missionary breakfast at Birmingham established in Europe, India, China, West recently, at which Rev. J. Jones, who was Africa, the Transvaal, British Honduras expelled from the Island of Maro, iu the and the Bahamas. It reports ::36 central South Seas, was present, Dr. Dale uttered a stations or circuits and 1,338 chapels and timely protest agaiust what has the appear_ preaching-places. It has a staff of 833 mis- ance of French vindictiveness against Britsionaries and assistants, with 2,000 other ish missions in heathen J~nds. .. It is all paid acents, such as c",tcchists, interpre- the same," said Dr. Dale, .. whether the Emters, etc. It enumerates::;,::::J unpaid agents, pire, the Monarchy, or the Republic obtain such as local preo.chers and 3abbath-school iu Frauce, her officials, goaded on by priests. teachers, and a el:urch membership of 32,- repress Protestantism, wherever possible." 325, with 4,674 persons on trial for admission And he added: "When M. Paul Bert. the to the· church. The method pursued by the bitter opponent of Cleric",lism at home, society is to send to the field English mis- went as Governor of Tonquin, he remarked sionaries for the purpose of organization that their free thinking aud liberty of conand supervision or to gIve instruction in science views were not for exportation. training institntions. All subordinate po- In Tahiti and several other South Sea sitions are occupied by a trained native Islauds, in Madagascar, and wherever our agency, While it is understood that every missionarie~ have been signally successfuh convert, according to his ability, should be the French have. if opportunity offered, a voluntary worker for Christ. The total tried to damage them." income for the past year was nearly £132.- 000. The report for the year expresses -The Paris Missionary Society has a wongreat discouragement because of a debt of derful missionary work in South Africa. In almost £17,000 which has been accumulat- connection with its mission amoug the ing for the past three years. In addition to Basutos it has 176 native workers and 6,000 the above is the work done by the Ladies' church-members. The Zambesi Mission, of Auxiliary connected with the society. and which M. Coillard is in charge, is an offreporting an income for the year of almost spring of the Basuto Mission. The society £8,000. also has missions on the Congo, in Senegam- bia, and in Kabylia. -Rev. James Johnston, F. S. S., in a recent letter to us, speaks of the attacks which India.-Rev. J. E. Scott writes from have been made by Canon . Taylor and Muttra: others on the missionary societies of Great Britain, and says: .. These recent attacks .. There are 90,000 people just around me, on our missions in this country are encaur· and more than 700,000 iu the district. The aqing ! ! They are made by men whose sound of the hammer and trowel has comtrade is sensation and can only gain it by menced. A mission house half finished, a attacking what is great and popular. Not training-school (Woman's Foreign Missionone society has suffered. The Church Mis_ ary Society) just commenced, a schoolsionary Society never had such an income house and a hall and chapel in prospect. as this year. The London Mission Society The fincst temple in North India is here. A have in a few weeks made up their chronic temple covering 10 acres and costing $2,000.- deficit of £15,000; and the number of new 000 is here. 'l'here are 8,000 widows, all bad, schemes started by independent societies is at Brindabon, in the vicinity. They are the another sig.. of life. though it takes erratic so-called' Brides of Krishna.· .. forms and tends to weaken old societies."- The Missionary. -From Dr. Fry's report of the Travancore Medical Mission for the past year, we learn -Canon Isaac Taylor's attack on the mis- that at Neyoor. and in the eight branch dissions is the subject of a brief but powerful pensaries now opened throughout the provarticle in the January issue of Regions Be- ince, 27,657 patients were treated during yond, by Mrs. H. Grattan Guinness. Agree- 1888. Of these 1,255 were received into the ing with the Canon that" the work would Neyoor Hospital as in-door patients… The be better doue if the missionaries were year 1888," writes Dr. Fry, .. is one of faultless, unselfish. devoted, heroic saints," special interest, as being the jubilee year Mrs. Guinness tersely says: .. But au iu- of the South Travancore Medical Mission. Fifty years have' now gone by since Dr. Ramsay, the first medical missiona.ry, began his work in Nagercoil. Drs. Leitch, whole Waldensian church of Italy, of which Lowe and Thomson have successively sus- the present statistics are 42 churches, 38 tained the burden and increased the influ- preachini' stations, 124 pastors and other ence of the enterprise, and it is gi ven us to workers, is the outcome of that return of .. reap where others have sown, and to wit- few hundred, Who were all that were left of ness in the present developments of this the 3,000 to 4,000 that had been expelled by branch of service the results of half a cen- Victor Amadeus II. of Savoy. Without that tury of faithful toil. We have every reason return the Waldensian Church would have to bless God and go forward in firm depend- been wiped outof existe'lce in Italy. In the ence on His power who has so markedly minds and hearts of this people it is the most supported His servants in past days."-Ed- glorious event in their eventful history {nburgh Medical Missionary So~iety. which they are this year celebrating. Dr. Emil Comba, probably their best known -Arcot American Mission. At Katpadi a itterateur, compares it with the return of new chapel wasopcned January 10, on which the ten thousand Greeks, and draws special occasion twelve children and two adults attention to the fact thltt the skill of were baptized. The mission was established leadership had called forth the warm adat Katpadi 1.1 Rev. W. W. Scudder, D.D., miration of Napoleon Bonaparte.-The ["'- who occupied the station for five years and dependent. baptized fifty person~. At the close of his pastorate there were fifteen commnnicauts. -Count Campello, who was a canon in the There are now 164 communicants and a con- Church of Rome tiil1881, when he placed his gregation of 485 Teluga and Tamil ChriA- resignation in the hands of Pope Leo XIII., tians. A native minister, the Rev. A. Wil- has lately been addressing immense meetliams, is assisted by two deacons and two ings in various parts of Italv. He does not elders. call himself a Protestant, but a Catholic Reformer. His latest meetings were at -In the Northwest of India and of Qude San Remo, where, a correspondent of the missionary physiciaus are coming promi- Christian says, .. the Italians turned out in neutly into nutlce. Nearly 75,000 cases were thousands to hear liim. He told them plainly treated at eleveu dispensaries, and 11,000 that he left the Vatican because he was women sought relief at Mrs. Wilson's dispen- wearied of hypocrisy and of slavery. He sary at Agra; 18,850 women and children were left itobecause he wished to profess himself treated at the Thomas Dispensary at Agra. a believer and follower of Jesus Christ. He The women doctors in charge. successfully called upon the Italians to drive the papacy performed some very important surgical from their consciences aud minds, and operations. hearts, and homes, and, if one day an oppor- tunitv came to do so, out of their country. -The Moslems of Delhi have opened a And then, in most earnest and impressive seminary in which preachers are taught all words, he urged them to put Christ in the the objections of Western infidels against place of the pope, and the gospel in place of Christianity that they may go forth to op- the Syllabus. In all he -said he was suppose the Christian preachers in town and ported by the applause of his audience. count.rv. Even when preaching Christ there was not raised one cry of opposition. The local press -The Waldensians are eagerly preparing is strongly supporting Count Campello and for the celebration of the second centennial his movement, and some of the young Italof the" glorious return" of 16~9, when after ians waited upon him before he left the Umuntold sufferings aud banishment from the bria to beg his return." historic valleys as one of the results of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, they, Japan.-Opposition to the proposed unwith sword in hand, and led by their war- ion between the united church of Japan, like pastors, Janavel and Arnaud, forced which is composed of all Presbyterian bodtheir way back to their ancestral homes. ies in that empire, aud the Congregational- The contest was against fearful odds. On ist missionaries, comes from a new quarter. the mountain fltstness of Lit BalsiJIe, Where, Theaid of the Southern Presbyterian church of the 900 Waldensians that returned, about has been invoked to hinder consummation 400 held at bay more than twenty thousand of the union. The Presbytery of Greenbier, Savoyan soldiers, a school is being erected. in the Western part of Virginia, has OVer- In Sibltourd, where, when surrounded on all tured the General Assembly of that church Sides by the hosts of the enemy, the Walden- to take measures to protect the infant sian Christians took a solemn oath either to churches formed by its missionaries from conquer or to die, a pyramid bnilt of blocks the dangers which it believes to be involved of stone is being erected, the number of in this union. These dangers the Presbytery blocks corresponding to the number of Wal- declares to be both doctrinal and ecclesiasdensian congregations existing at present. tical-that is, a danger that fundamental At Torre Pellice, the centel' of the literary truths of the Christian faith may be ignored, and educational work of this people, a new and a danger that principles of church order theological hall is to be dedicated. All these memorials are now abo;]t completed. The which are manifestly scriptural may be moa of the invasion of that troubled king- dom by a band of Mormon missionaries. Six abandoned. ' of them have appeared and six more are on the way from Utah, and they say they are -The number ofconverts in the Japan Mis- going to carryon a vigorous campaign in every viJIage in the group. They appear to sion of the American Board has increased have plenty of financial support., The na- tives receive them coldly, but they have in fifteen months from 4.226 to 7,098, a gain made an impression on European traders.
of 2,867. This is the most remarkable record Thlbet.-Thibet is the only known coun_ tryon earth not open to missions. It has an in any mission connected with the board, area of 750,000 square miles, about as large as the United States East of the MiSSisSippi with the exception of tbe great gathering River. The greatest length from East to West is 1,500 miles, and the population is esin the Sandwich Islands. timated at 8,000,000. It is the stronghold of Buddhism. Lhassa, the capital, is the -At the service in the Doshisha church, .. Rome" of the Buddhists, and the Dalai Lama is the Buddhist pope. He is supreme Kobe, Japan, March 24, there were 100 of in both temporal and spiritual things. One monastery has about 5,000 Buddhist priests, the pupils who united with the church. Five and there are about 60,000 in the country. Thibet is virgin soil for missions. The counwere from the girls' school, 62 from the pre- try is tributary to China.-Illmtrated Chris- tion Weekly. paratory department, 20 from the first year -Mr. and Mrs. Turner, of the China Inland collegiate, and 16 from the second and third Mission, have begun work in Thibet from the Chinese side. They travel in Chinese clothes. years. This fact is a most important one. Thibft is inaccessible to Christian missionaries -The Japan" Mail," of Yokohama, in a from the Indian side, the natives supposing that the British Government have designs series of ILrticles on thc rising generation in to annex the country whenever a missionary in European costume enters their State Japan, says that the young reformers agree from the South. If the China Inland Mission .. keeps low, keeps believing and keeps going that there must be a new moral system for forward," it has a still mightier future be- fore it than in the past. The society that Japan, and that it must harmonize with the opens up Thibet to the gospel deserves the hearty thanks of the whole Christian church spirit and aim of modern ciyilizatior: ; but throughont the world.
they are divided on the question whether it United States.-Dr. Talmage, ofBrook- lyn,says: "The church, if it would do its shall be the Christian system of moraJity or duty, could convert the world in ten years. Ithas the men and money." On which The Inthat which is based on science and philoso- dependent makes this cutting and deserved criticism: "Perhaps so, but it must turn phy. The MaU goes on to say: over a new leaf of generosity very soon if it is going to undertake so great and speedy a "That in recent years a wonderful change task. The Brooklyn Tabernacle last year, with 4.126 members reported, gave $151 to has taken place in our attitude toward home missions and $138 to foreil:'n missions."
Christianity is now a well-known fact, and -Romanism. Father O'Connor, the con. verted priest, is said to have led 800 Romanneed not be dwelt upon here. Only, how- ists into light in five years in New York City ever. within the last two or three years, or, -Gift to United Presbyterian Board. An- other l,OOOcopies of the" Crisis of Missions" in other words, since the awakening of the has been given to the United Presbyterian Board, the author and publishers uniting rising generation, has the new creed become with Rev. J. B. Dales, D. D., in the gift.
a vital element of the nation's civilized life. -Woman's work. The Woman'& Execu- Its inlluence is now felt through the rising tive Committee of Home Missions ot the generation, not only by reason of the fast Presbyterian church announces that its re- ceipts for the year just closed amount to increasing number of young converts, but S320,OOO, an advance over last year of $94,000. Well done. also, and perhaps to a greater extent, by means of the creation of a powerful litera- ture thoroughly imbued with Christian spirit."
-"The Twelfth Report of the Council of Missions co-operating with the united church of Christ In Japan," publislled at Tokio, January, 1889, says: .. The united church of Christ iu Japan has enjoyed a year of constant growth. There has been no excitement and no extraordinary efforts have been put forth." Yet it says in no previous year have 'the additions been 80 many. The adult members of the church number 7,551. The" infant members" num- ber 1,139, the total being 8,690, an increase of 1,831 during the vear. The churches num- ber 61, three having been added during the year. This church was formed in 1877 by the union of eight churches and 623 Christiaus, including the children. In the pa.st three years the church has doubled its member- ship, and in eleven years has progressed from 600 to 9,000. A like progress for the remaining twelve years of the century will make the membership in the year 1,900, the nuinber of John's vision, 144,000.
Samoa.-Monnon InvaSIon. The Lon- don Missionary Society has news from Sa-