The Missionary Review of the World — September 1936
1936
Six Chiefs Come to Kwato Emma Belle D. Pierson The Bethel Bands in China Andrew Gih Difficulties of German Christians Conrad Hoffmann, Jr.
What IndianWomanhood Owes to Christ Mohini Dass The New Era of Foreign Missions Julius Richter Hinduism as Seen from Within v. R. Chandra 25 Cents a Copy $2.50 a Year
NEWS! Dates to Remember president of the General Council
October 12-18-International Con- the Congregational and Christian Churches of America at the biennial for the Children's Division vention of the Disciples of Christ. meeting of the Council, June 16, at Kansas City, Mo. South Hadley, Mass. Dr. Mary E. Woolley, retiring president of Mount of your Sunday School October 14-15 – Annual Meeting, Holyoke College, was elected honorary American Mission to Lepers, New president. Standard's three completely correlated York City. closely graded courses for the Children's *** Division are outstanding in beauty and October 21-24-National Council of completeness. They offer the important Young Men's Christian Associa- Dr. Webster E. Browning, after and vital advantages of being (1) Christ- tions, Cincinnati, Ohio. forty years of service in South Amer- ica. has been called to act as Record- Centered in that the life of the child is November 17-19 – National Confer- ing Secretary of the Board of Forguided toward the attainment of the ence on the Rural Church, Ames, eign Missions of the Presbyterian Christ ideal through the lessons, and Iowa. Church. He will temporarily share (2) true-to-the-Bible as the revealed responsibilities in the administration Word of God. November 23-24 – United Steward- of the work in Latin America and Af- ship Council Meeting, Dayton, Ohio. rica. BEGINNER'S – PRIMARY JUNIOR CONFEREI'TCES AND SCHOOLS *** OF MISSIONS Rev. Ellsworth M. Smith, of An- THE BEGINNER'S COURSE, fully Affiliated with the Council of Women dover-Newton Theological School, has re-edited, profusely illustrated, with for Home Missions and the Com- been elected field worker of the Amerstory papers in full color. mittee on Women's Work, For- ican Baptist Home Mission Society in the Department of Town and Country THE PRIMARY COURSE. Brand eign Missions Conference Work. He is a graduate of Colgate University (1926) and of Andover- New – the last word in Sunday School Baltimore, Md.-October 19-21. Newton Theological School. lessons. The first year of the new three year course is now ready. Mrs. David D. Baker, 410 N. Cal- *** houn St., Baltimore, Md. THE JUNIOR COURSE, popular in Miss Margaret Wrong, Secretary thousands of schools, has been com- Houston, Texas – September 28 – Ocpletely revised this year. tober 2. of the International Committee on Christian Literature for Africa and Dean – Mrs. A. B. Hynes, 618 who has been visiting Africa during the past few months, is contributing THE STANDARD PUBLISHING CO. Highland, Houston, Texas. an article to our October number on Africa. 8th & Cutter St•., Cincinnati, Ohio, Dept. MR 836 Minnesota (Minneapolis-St. Paul)- *** Please send Free Prospectus and complete informa- September 21-25. tion on Standard Courses along with sample lessons Dr. William E. Shaw, a Methodist and lupporting materials for the______Dept_ Ex. Sec. – Mrs. C. E. Heard, superintendent for the Peoria, Illinois 3020 Colfax Ave., Minneapolis, District, has been elected correspond- Name ………………………………………. _ Minn. ing secretary of the Board of Foreign Missions of the Methodist Episcopal Address …………………………………….. . Southern California (Los AngeZes)- Church. September 21-25. *** City …………………….State …………….. . Mrs. H. M. Horn, 1965 Carmen Ave., Los Angeles, Calif. Karlton C. Johnson, the organizing secretary of the South African Na- Warren, Ohio-October 6-7. tional Sunday School Association, is now in Durban leading a campaign The Presbyterian Mrs. George Konold, 314 Scott for the improvement of Sunday St., N. E., Warren, Ohio. schools in that district. He will visit each Sunday school, and following A weekly religious newspaper in Personal Items each visit will meet the staff and sugits lo6th year of continuous pub- gest possibilities for the work. lication under the same name. Mrs. Ruth Stafford Peale was re- cently elected president of the Wom- The Rev. E*dwa*rd * Weeks Cross, It is conservative and evangel- en's Board of Domestic Missions of ical, gets its news by telegraph the Reformed Church of America. pastor of the Union Church, Richand keeps abreast of the times. She is the wife of Dr. Norman Vin- mond Hill, N. Y., has been elected cent Peale, pastor of the Marble Col- president of the Home Mission Boards It goes into every state of the legiate church, New York, and suc- of the Congregational Church in place Union, the District of Columbia, ceeds Mrs. James E. Graham, of Up- of William Horace Day, retired. Mr. and U. S. possessions. per Montclair, N. J. Cross was born in Minneapolis and was graduated from Carlton College It goes to Asia and Africa, South *** in 1907. He took his degree in the- America, Canada and New Zealand ology at Oberlin four years later. His and into twelve countries of Eu- The Rev. J. L. Dodds, Secretary of brother, Roland M. Cross and a sister, rope. the India Council for Northern India, Laura B. Cross, are missionaries in Punjab and Western India Missions, China. Subscription Price, – has accepted the invitation of the Ministerial Rate, Board of Foreign Missions of the *** Presbyterian Church, U. S. A., to be- 50e. extra—Canadian postage come one of the secretaries of the Dr. Harold Storm of the Arabian $1.00 extra—Foreign postage Board in New York. Mission of the Reformed Church in THE PRESBYTERIAN *** America, arrived in Bahrain at the end of March after making a tour 1217 Market Street, Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. Herbert B. Clark, of Massa- across Arabia and all around the coast chusetts, has been elected president from Jiddah to Bahrain. He started of the Northern Baptist Convention. on June 10, 1935, and traveled approx- He is a graduate of Williams College imately 5,000 miles. and a business man of very wide in- terests. *** *** Bishop John W. Robinson of the Methodist Episcopal Church in India Roger Ward Babson, eminent sta- has resigned from the office of mis- tistician and lecturer, was elected (Concluded on page 385.)
MISSIONARY Christ' and gives us the
REVIEW OF THE WORLD zeal to go on in this service."
DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor FORD G. LASSE, Missionary of the Africa Inland VOL. LIX SEPT., 1936 NO.9 Mission, Congo Beige. Publication and Business Office- Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. *** Editorial and Executive Office- Miss Mary E. Markley, President of 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City. the American Section of the Govern- Entered as second-class matter at ing Board of St. Christopher's Train- ing College, Madras, India, will be Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., undel glad to give information about the Act of March 3, 1879. school. Mrs. F. G. Cook, whose name is mentioned in the footnote of an 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. article about the school in our July Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. issue, died some time ago. Published monthly, except Aug••st, All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1935, Personal Items British agents – Marshall, Morgan and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, (Concluded from 2d cover.) London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, 10 shlllings a year.
MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB- sionary bishop to which he was elected LISHING CO., INC. in 1912. In 1920 he was elected gen- BOARD OF DIRECTORS eral superintendent. Bishop Robinson ROBERT E, SPEER, l'rcsident went to India as a missionary in 1892 A. L, WARNSHUIS, Vice-PreBident and has rendered very efficient, loving WALTER MCDOUGALL, 'l'reasurer service for the past 44 years. DELAVAN L, PIERSON, Secretary SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT *** WILLIAM I. CHAMBERLAIN Miss Jenny de Mayer, the Russian D. J, FANT MRS. ORRIN R. JUDD Christian, has at last been released WM. B. LIPPHARD by the Soviet after "three banishments and eight prison stays." Miss de ERIC M. NORTH SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Mayer is now in Palestine and is eager When your Call comes from the East … to do something for Moslems and SAIL BY P&O others out of Christ. Her hope is to Choose the convenient and traditional Editorial Chat look up the numerous Onsbek refugees way, to whatever part of the East the from Turkestan who have settled in work of the Faith may take you … to Egypt, Sudan, the Persian Gulf, India, In view of the necessary absence of Jerusalem, Haifa, Beirut, Damascus, Burma, Ceylon, Straits Settlements, the editor from the office of THE RE- and to distribute among them the China,Japan, Australia, New Zealand, VIEW for several weeks, Mr. Robert stock of her Onsbek tracts. East or South Africa. Just cross to M. Kurtz, recently editor of The Bib- England by Cunard White Star and lical Review of New York has kindly *** sail from there in any Liner of the undertaken to edit THE REVIEW for great P & 0 fleet … including the new October. Mr. Kurtz's work on the Rev. F. Raymond Clee, D.D., pas- sister-ships Strathnaver, Strathaird quarterly has made him well and fa- tor of the Old Bergen Reformed and Strathmore. You'll enjoy the utvorably known to a wide circle of Church of Jersey City, the oldest Prot- most comfort of this western world, readers. He is a member of the estant church in New Jersey, and one all the way East! Executive Committee of the American of the leading younger men in the de- Tract Society and is busy in many nomination, was elected president of Convenient through bookings can be arranged other forms of Christian service. the 130th General Synod of the Re- by your local travel agent or any office of formed Church in America this year. *** Rev. John R. Mulder, D.D., Professor CUNARD WHITE STAR LINE of Pastoral Theology of the Western Our next issue, October, will deal Theological Seminary of Holland, General Agents with the foreign mission study topic, Michigan, was made vice-president. 25 Broadway and 638 Fifth Avenue, New York Africa. Many interesting articles have *** been prepared by missionaries, mis- • Dr. G. Campbell Morgan will celesion executives and native African brate his sixtieth anniversary as a Christians. This issue of THE REVIEW, preacher next December. He began to with its wealth of information on Af- preach when he was thirteen years rica, will be a stimulus to many. Spe- old. Few living preachers have decial rates for quantities ordered at one livered as many sermons, lectures, and addresses, as this honored Bibletime. teacher, whose ministry still attracts 1,800 people every. week. *** The August issue of THE REVIEW was omitted-to save expense and be- Dr. Henry H*. R*igg*s of the famous cause many readers are away from home. To compensate for this the June, missionary family of Turkey, has ac- July, September and October issues cepted the invitation of the Near East each contain sixteen extra pages. Christian Council to become its exec- *** utive secretary. He succeeds Dr. RO.J- . ert P. Wilder who very efficiently filled What our readers think is shown in that office for six years. letters. "We not only keenly enjoy THE RI!l- VIEW but cannot help but realize how Dr. Wi11iam* F.* Fr*azier who has narrow and limited would be our view- been Congregational Superintendent point and our vision out here in Cen- of Vermont and Connecticut, was tral Africa were it not for these chosen by the General Council of the glimpses that give us Current Events, Congregational and Christian Church- Spiritual Teaching, and that benefit es to fill the position of executive that deepens the understanding and vice-president of the Home Mission broadens the sympathy resulting in Boards. He is a graduate of Oberlin.
the edification that brings us day by His headquarters are to be in New day to the 'stature of the fullness of York.
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A RECENT TOUR—–<CECIL ABEL AND HEATHEN MEN OF
THE KWATO EVANGELISTIC TEAM, WITH CARRIERS AT AMAU VILLAGE The Rest House, built for the team by Blruma, is on the right. Davida, the Kwato Evangelist, is in the center with a gun. The team crossed the mountains in the distance. REVIB ORLD VOLUME LIX AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER 9 SEPTEMBER, 1936 Topics of the Times PLANS FOR THE I. M. C.-HANGCHOW, 1938 hensive endeavor. Groups will also be formed in Western countries to study the problem of evangelism, and keep Plans are being made to hold the next general in touch with the general investigation.
meeting of the International Missionary Council c. The Life of the Church. Preparation under this head in China-ten years after the important meeting comprises: in Jerusalem in 1928. The Ad Interim committee of the Council met (June 4 to 8) at Old Jordans, (1) Studies of the inner life of the Church, its worship, the religious life of the home, and the problem of religious education.
near London, England, and the principal decisions (2) The enlisting of lay voluntary leadership; the re- regarding the 1938 meeting may be summarized cruiting, enlisting and training of lay voluntary service as follows. * in the upbuilding of the Church and in evangelistic work; the raising up of more lay service in so-called homebase 1. The place of meeting is to be Hangchow, China. This countries in furtherance of the main aims of the 1938 is a modification of the earlier proposal to hold the meet- Meeting.
ing in Kowloon, near Hongkong. The change was made (3) The nature and meaning of the Church. Here it is because of the strong recommendations of both the Chi-· proposed to encourage the publication of individual and nese and Japanese National Councils. The holding of this group studies by national leaders on the subject of the meeting in the Far East is significant in that it is evi- Church.
dence of the growth of the churches in Asia, and of their (4) The relation of the Church to Christian movements place in the future program of the whole Church. The outside the Church such as are found in Japan, China, "homebase" of missions is now world-wide, and East and India, Latin America and elsewhere.
West must work together for the evangelization of the (5) The relation of the Church to the cultural heritage world. of the different countries.
2. The meeting will be held during approximately a (6) The bearing of education on the life of the Church.
fortnight through the closing days of September and A definite effort will be made to survey the findings of the opening days of October, 1938. recent Commissions on different aspects of educational 3. The central theme is to be the Church. This means policy as they bear directly upon the life of the Church.
the universal Church, for the central issue all over the (7) The bearing of medical missions on the life of the world is the Church's life and witness in the face of the Church as shown in connection with studies on medical world situation. The meeting, being held in Asia, while missionary work recently undertaken in China, India and maintaining its ecumenical outlook, will have as its pri· other countries.
mary and immediate interest the development of the (8) The work of the missionary and his training for younger Christian communities as living members of the service under present conditions.
universal historic Christian fellowship. d. The Church and Its Environment. Here there are 4. This central theme comprises five main subjects: four main problems on which it is necessary that work a. The Faith by which the Church lives. It was agreed should be undertaken.
that the statement of the Christian Message as the basis (1) The economic basis of the Church will be studied of world-wide evangelistic work accepted at the Jerusalem in order that definite information may be made available Meeting has been so widely used throughout the world for the leaders of the Church as they face such problems that it is needless to repeat the work that was done there. as the support of the ministry and the maintenance of The need is to relate that message to the changing condi- Church life and worship.
tions of the time. (2) The Church and the changing economic and social b. The Witness of the Church. It is proposed to pro- order. In view of the pressure of the economic situation mote in all countries a study of evangelistic work, to be throughout the world, it is proposed that J. Merle Davis carried out under the guidance of the National Christian should transfer his office to Shanghai, spending the next Councils. All mission boards will be invited to urge upon two to three years in the Far East and India, and that he their missionaries the fullest cooperation in this compre- shall confer with the leaders of the National Christian Councils and of the younger churches as to the nature • The minutes of this meeting have been published and may be ob- of the service which the Church should perform in this tained on application to the Secretaries, 156 Fifth Avenue, New field. York. (Price 10 cents.) [ 387]
(3) The problem of war. In all countries alike the duism re-absorbed much of this reform movement danger of war and the question of the duty of the Chris- and it became possible for Hindus to take over tian in relation to war are matters of urgent concern. what they wished of Christian teaching, provided Regard will be paid to the need for representing Chris- only that they adhered to caste restrictions. tian th'Ought on this subject. Thereafter the Christian movement in India be- came more and more a movement among the low- (4) The challenge of the modern State to the Church. caste or outcaste people; and for two generations Definite study will be undertaken in regard to the diffi- now multitudes of these people have been coming culties of maintaining Christian education under regula- into the Christian Church. By reason of their tions enf'Orced by some governments, and the menace poverty and ignorance they have constituted a offered in certain countries to conversion and to religious great problem for the Church. But, on the other freedom. hand, the obvious transforming influence of Christ working among them has been the most effective e. Closer Cooperation. Under this head three main sub- apologetic for Christianity in India. jects are to be studied: New terminology is now coming into use. In- (1) How to enlist groups of people who stand outside stead of being called the "lowcaste" or "outcaste" the fellowship of the Council and its related bodies. people, these unprivileged millions are now called the "depressed" classes or, in a phrase suggested (2) The financing of cooperative enterprises. by Bishop Azariah, perhaps the foremost Indian (3) The question of cooperation in practical work, the leader in the Christian Church, the "exterior" promoting 'Of more vigorous united activity, and the se- castes. curing of more common planning of Christian work in areas where the situation demands it. Now a new situation has recently arisen of (4) Every effort will be made in carrying out these which the Rev. William Paton, who has just repreparations to observe two principles: First, no attempt turned from India, writes: will be made to lay upon overburdened people fresh labori in the study and preparation unrelated to what they The movement among the depressed classes is both deep are now engaged upon. Second, it is vital to the success and extensive. The regions in which I happened to hear of this work that it should be conceived of, not as prep- most about it were the United Provinces, the Central aration for a meeting, but as the embarking of Christian Provinces, the Telugu country and Travancore. A meetpeople throughout the world upon a combined adventure ing of representatives of the Indian Church and the Misof work, thought and prayer related at every turn t'O the sions in the United Provinces agreed that while in the practical needs of the day, and bent upon the discovery western part of the Provinces the movement of the deof the will of God. In this combined adventure, which pressed classes toward the Church was strongest, and was must extend over years, the meeting will occupy a central rapidly growing in such a way as to demand Christian place, f'Or in it will be gathered up the lessons of experi- reinforcement, the attitude of the same class in all parts ence, and through it fresh light will be thrown upon the of the Province was such that consistent witnessing by problems of the day, and a new incentive gained in the the Christian Church would be attended by n'Otable results further carrying out of the work. everywhere. In the Central Provinces Bishop Pickett has followed up his Mass Movement Report by spending s'Ome The participation of the American churches in weeks in different parts of the Central Provinces studying this adventure will be organized under a special the evangelistic opportunities with Indian Christians and committee appointed by the Foreign Missions missionaries in the light of the principles 'Of his report. Conference of North America. Both missionaries and Indian Christians assured me th8" a number of groups, some depressed class, some aborig-· The need for prayer is emphasized and the wid- inal, were moving as communities towards the Church, ei' use of the Council's "Call to Prayer" is desired. and the Mid-India Christian Council is taking steps to press forward with a campaign of evangelism combined Two other actions of the Ad Interim committee with an attempt to bring to bear the principles of the will be of general interest: first, a new statistical Pickett Report in the study of what had been regarded survey was launched. The last world-wide statis- as sterile areas. tics of Protestant foreign missions were published in the World Missionary Atlas in 1925. The new The great movement in the Telugu country is familiar survey will" be based on the situation as of the to all. It is estimated that in the last two years 112,000 year· 1935. The committee responsible for the persons joined the Church in different parts of the Telugu study is internationally representative; the exec- area. As is well known, the depressed class movement utive offices will be in New York and the Director has in this part 'Of India been so strong and well led that is Mr. Joseph 1. Parker. it has had a profound effect upon the Sudra, or middle caste people, and the considerable accretions to the Church Second, the Archbishop of York was invited to which have come from these groups have been drawn, it serve as a Vice-chairman of the Council in place is interesting to note, mainly from the lowest group of of the late Bishop of Salisbury. the Sudras who are nearest to the depressed classes, and from the highest groups where there is leadership and A. L. WARNSHUIS. understanding sufficient to recognize the great issues at stake. THE "EXTERIOR" CASTE MOVEMENT IN INDIA Possibly the largest single movement by which the Church is confronted in the whole 'Of India is that of the In the early years of the missionary movement Ezhavas in Travancore, Cochin and British Malabar. in India many of the converts were from the higher castes in Hinduism. Then the Hindu reform movements began which supplied a half-way place between Hinduism and Christianity. Later Hin-
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
These people are not strictly "Untouchable" or "De- madiyas and others spoke through representapressed," and are rather similar in status to the Nadars tives. Two Christian speakers were heard, of of Tinnevelly, who have been the backbone of the Tinne- whom the Rev. John E. Wallace, of Mainpuri, velly church. Their lower grades are nearer to the Un- who was present, writes: touchables in status, but in their higher reaches they have men in the professions. I was told in southwest India Owing to the crowd, the heat, and the great length of that the total community numbers 2% millions, though this the meeting the speakers did not have an easy time in may be an exaggeration. There is deep unrest among putting their messages across. Our Christian representathem, and a steadily increasing movement for breaking tives were handicapped in coming on the program almost with Hinduism. I understand that they have been pass- at the last after four hours of continuous meeting, and ing resolutions by 90% majorities in groups all over the the Rev. John Subhan was able to present only a part of territory, expressing their desire to become Christians, his message because of the noise. Mrs. Mohini Dass, howand already their leaders have been in touch with Chris- ever, was aDle to get better attention and gave a powerful tian leaders in Kottayam. A special conference held in talk. The next day we heard from several different sources March in Alwaye considered ways by which the Syrian, that the Depressed Class leaders themselves considered Anglican and South India United Churches could coop- the addresses of the Sikh representative and Mrs. Mohini erate in meeting this gigantic opportunity, and it is fully Dass as the two best. On Sunday morning a number of recognized that nothing less than an enormous outpouring the leaders accepted an invitation to attend church service of voluntary service can be of any use. at one of the English churches, where the Rev. Abdul Haqq of our (Presbyterian) church gave a strong message The latest developments of the movement among the "exterior" castes may be said to have A number of us too received permission to attend the begun with the meeting of low castes at Yeola, meetings of their representatives, not open to the gennear Nasik, in the Bombay Presidency in October, eral public. From these personal contacts and conversa- 1935. At that time Dr. Ambedkar, Principal of tions it is apparent that there are many of the Depressed the Law College in Bombay and representative Class leaders who are very strongly inclined towards of the outcastes at the Round Table Conference, Christianity. The Conference in Lucknow took action declared that while he was born a Hindu, he did supporting Dr. Ambedkar's resolve to leave the fold of not intend to die a Hindu and advised the low- Hinduism, but to take no definite step for at least a year. caste people to reject the religion which had been the cause of their misery and to choose for them- The Lucknow Conference took no final action selves some other religion that would guarantee except that the exterior castes would not remain freedom and brotherhood. On November 10, within the Hindu fold. The following are the first 1935, Dr. Ambedkar had a conference with some two of the six resolutions adopted by the Conferprogressive caste Hindus who had been appointed ences: at a meeting on October 26. The report on his position in this interview was summed up by (1) (a) This Conference expresses its full confidence in Dr. Ambedkar, as follows: Doctor Ambedkar, the world renowned leader of the De- pressed Classes. (b) It also supports the resolution passed In brief, being born in the untouchable community, I at the Yeola Conference of the Depressed Classes in the deem it my first duty to strive for its interest and my District of Nasik declaring in favor of a change of reliduty to India as a whole is secondary. I have strong gion. (c) While this Conference declares that for their religious sentiment according to my own conception of salvation the Depressed Classes should not remain within religion, but I have no faith in Hinduism and I hate hy- the Hindu fold it further enjoins that the Depressed pocrisy. I have therefore decided to renounce Hinduism, Classes of this country must not embrace any religion, but I do not intend to do so immediately as I want to until the matter of their conversion is finally decided by carry my community with me. The Harijan army is not an All-India Depressed Classes Conference under the marching today and it is watching and waiting for a leadership of Dr. Ambedkar, after careful study of everysuitable opportunity. In the meanwhile, the "touchables" thing involved. may go on making their efforts on the lines chalked out by you … (2) In order to consider the whole question of the con- version of the Depressed Classes to another religion; this From the point of view of the interests of my commu- Conference appoints a committee consisting of the follownity it is necessary that it should be united with and ab- ing persons, with power to coopt other members. (Ninesorbed into some powerful and living community. It is teen names are given.) This committee after examining my intention to make this movement for change of re- the different aspects of all the religions and considering ligion an all-India one. If my community does not follow the whole matter in the interest of the Depressed Classes me then I will alone change my religion. should submit their report to the All-India Depressed Classes Conference. This committee will also work as From these beginnings agitation has spread the Executive body of this Conference. far and wide among the lowcaste people of India. In many local gatherings the question was de- Following the Lucknow Meeting there were bated as to which religion should be chosen, and meetings both in Madras and in Bombay. The after several postponements an All India Con- Times of India reports that the Bombay Conferference was held at Lucknow on May 22, 1936, ence, of nearly 10,000 men and women, urged on at which representatives of the different religions its members to stop worshiping Hindu deities, of India were invited to speak. The Mohamme- stop observing Hindu festivals, and stop visiting dans, Buddhists, Bahais, Sikhs, Quadianis, Ah- Hindu holy places.
Another great meeting was held at Dadar in the Bombay Presidency at which Dr. Ambedkar
spoke and at which similar resolutions were King displayed a keen interest in the proceedings, adopted. Mrs. Updegraff of Nipani writes of this personally attending a number of sessions and meeting: entertaining the leaders at a reception at the royal palace. Bishop Lunde, Primate of the Church of Although there were from fifteen to twenty thousand Norway, presided at the opening session and took people present everything went off like clockwork, quietly an active part in the convention arrangements. and sympathetically. Another presiding officer of distinction was Hon. Lord Kinnaird of England. Among the greetings Many special thoughts from Dr. Ambedkar's speech had received, was one from King Edward VIn and been printed beforehand and posted in prominent places an extended and striking message from Generalin the Audience Hall . . . Here are some of the above issimo Chiang Kai-shek of China. mentioned sentences in his speech: The reports place the present membership of 1. Why do you stay in a religion which does not allow the Sunday schools connected with the Associayou to become educated? tion at thirty-eight million-an army of peace far exceeding, numerically, all the standing armies 2. Why do you stay in a religion which comes between of the world. More than one-half of this vast you and employment? membership is in the United States, but impor- tant advances are reported from China, Africa 3. If you wish to live happily, change your religion. and other lands. There are 419,000 pupils in the 4. If you wish to gain independence, change your re- Sunday schools of South Africa alone, and 200,- ligion. 000 children in the Sunday schools of China, with 5. The religion that says to the illiterate, remain illit- 6,500 teachers. By way of contrast there are but erate, to the poor, remain poor, and gives this teaching, 7,500 Sunday school children in Italy, with 579 is no religion-it is punishment. teachers. 6. The religion that does not feel defiled when it touches impurity but feels defiled by touching a man, that is no The Convention theme was "Christ the Hope religion, it is foolishness. of the World" and the addresses were largely on 7. Why do you remain in a religion which at every step this lofty evangelical plane. Sir Harold Mackindestroys your self respect? tosh, President of the Association, proved an able The speaker making the address of welcome said: "In chairman. His brief addresses were marked by getting ready to change their religion (to prepare for it) unusual felicity and tact. Among the leading even old men and women in villages have thrown out of speakers, in addition to those mentioned, were their houses like rubbish their Hindu shrines and religious Hon. Nils Hjelntveit, representing the Norwegian books, etc.! People have become so ready to throw over Government, Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa, of Japan, Dr. Hinduism that whenever Dr. Ambedkar or his leaders D. Willard Lyon, of China, Dr. S. W. Hughes, of will say so, the Mahars will do whatever they say and London, Professor Daniel Lamont, Moderator of join whatever religion they tell them to join." the Church of Scotland, Dean Luther Weigle, of It is evident that a movement has begun, Yale Divinity School, and the very Rev. Garfield freighted with almost boundless possibilities for Williams, D.D., Dean of Manchester Cathedral. good or evil. The National Christian Council of The General Secretaries, Dr. Robert M. Hopkins, India is seeking to provide wise guidance for the of New York, and Dr. James Kelly, of Glasgow, Christian forces, and there should be prayer in interesting addresses dealt with the progress through the whole Church throughout the world of the movement and the challenge for the future. for all missionaries in India who are related in Workers from many lands gave encouraging reany way to the deep stirrings of the sixty million ports of progress, though in certain countries of people who may be affected by these movements Europe as well as of Asia they labor against alin their attitude toward Christianity. most insuperable obstacles. As Dr. Kelly ex- pressed it, "In some countries evangelical Prot- ROBERT E. SPEER. estantism is fighting for its life with its back against the wall." THE WORLD'S SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION A large number of departmental conferences dealing with methods, details of administration, The twelfth quadrennial convention of the and other topics, were held in different churches World's Sunday School Association, held in Oslo, of Oslo, led by specialists in the various branches Norway, July 6-12, was a striking manifestation of activity. Growing out of all these sessions there of the solidarity and influence of this world-em- appeared to be a consensus of opinion that the bracing movement for the spiritual welfare of missionary enterprise had been in the past too childhood and youth. The attendance of 3,000 largely an adult movement and that a vastly more delegates taxed to the utmost the accommodations fruitful field was to be found among the children, of the Norwegian capital. Representatives were present from practically every nation on the globe, the largest delegation-820-being from the United States.
The land of the Vikings presents a particularly happy setting for a world convention of Christians. Ninety per cent of its people are said to be connected with the Evangelical Church. The
who in all parts of the world are keenly alive to opinion on points of teaching and emphasis, the new influences and who are especially looking to cause of division was the question of obedience to the more advanced countries for light and guid- constituted authority. Ballington Booth, the son ance. of the founder of the Army and commander of Officers for the new quadrennium were elected the forces in North America, resigned from the as follows: President: Sir Harold Mackintosh, Army rather than to obey the order transferring Halifax, England; Vice-Presidents: Dr. Charles him to India. A result was a split in the Army Anderson, Capetown, South Africa; Sr. Jose Luis in America, with much bitterness and strife. Effi- F. Braga, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; James Cun- ciency and discipline were endangered. In the ningham, J. P., Glasgow, Scotland; Dr. Bayard midst of this dispute one officer, a major, then Dodge, Beirut, Syria; The Rt. Rev. Dr. Erling later commissioner of the Army, Samuel Brengle, Eidem, Archbishop of Upsala, Sweden; Charles stands out as an exponent of the Spirit of Christ. He was a graduate of DePauw University and of Francis, Montclair, N. J.; Theron Gibson, Toron- Boston University School of Theology and was to, Canada; The Rt. Rev. Johan Lunde, Oslo, devoting his rare talents to the saving of souls Norway; Sir John A. Roxburgh, Glasgow, Scot- and the promotion of spiritual life in the ranks. land; Rev. Dr. Sven O. Sigmond, Brooklyn, N. Y.; In the midst of this crisis Samuel Brengle refused Dr. Tadavki Yamamoto, Tokyo, Japan. to be turned aside from his main purpose and to be involved in fraternal strife. He wrote at this A Convention Edition of the New Testament time: and Psalms was furnished by the National Bible Society of Scotland, a copy being presented to each delegate. A richly bound copy of this Tes- "God is calling us to heart-humbling prayer…. We tament was also presented to the King of Norway. must beware and not let love leak out of our hearts, and The New York Bible Society also presented each bitterness and ill-will creep in. If we do, the devil will delegate with a copy of the Gospel of John in have accomplished his purpose even though our rivals should disband tomorrow. . . . It seems to me that now English and Norwegian. is the time to strike root; to deal with our people to make The next Convention of the Association will be them mighty in God." held in South Africa in 1940. This was decided He launched no diatribes against his rivals-even with- drew to another street when meetings were started obupon in view of the present opportunity for Chris- viously designed to embarrass and draw away his crowds.
tian service in Africa. The month tentatively "I am praying God," he said, "to thwart his efforts to suggested is August and the city is likely to be do us harm, but to bless him if he devotes himself to get- ting souls saved." either Capetown or Johannesberg. HUGH R. MONRO. A woman in the flat over Officer Brengle heard him preach in a Methodist church and asked if she might come down to his family prayers. One morning she was late CHRISTIAN UNION AND DIVISION and listened outside the door. "The Lord poured out the spirit of prayer mightily" on Brengle that morning, and In spite of the standards and ideals set up by the woman was brought to her Saviour's feet. Officer Brengle "trembled for days at the thought of how she Jesus Christ, the Head of the Church, the tend- might have been lost" if his prayer had been unloving or ency among many of His professed followers vindictive as he mentioned the rift in the Army. seems to be to divide rather than to unite. The ideal of the Christian army is not only loyalty to Is there not great danger today, in the Presby- the supreme commander, but unity and coopera- terian and other churches, that Christians will be tion in the campaign to win men to God through hindered in their testimony by being turned aside Christ. The ideal of the Church as the Body is from the one great purpose of the Church to win unity-but not uniformity-under the absolute men to God and to cooperate under the Divine control of Christ, the Head. Yet how far we come, Head in carrying forward His campaign?
as Christians, from reaching this ideal! The Prot- In the past twenty-five years many movements estant Church, with all its education in the Word have sprung up all over the world to reunite the of God, is divided {nto over 200 separate sects, followers of Christ and so to avoid even the aptoo often engaged in rivalry and disputes, rather pearance of strife in the Church, and waste of than in a common campaign against sin and for money and effort that reduces efficiency and hin- the salvation of men to the glory of Christ. ders her testimony to the world.
In view of the most recent division that has As in the Salvation Army forty years ago, the taken place in one of the largest and most influ- chief cause of strife in the Church seems to be ential Christian bodies in North America (The due, not so much to a desire for freedom in fol- Presbyterian Church); it may be helpful to note lowing the leadership of the Holy Spirit, as in a the lessons taught by a similar division in the desire to decide for others in matters of Biblical Salvation Army, forty years ago. Then as now, interpretation, in the fitness of candidates and as while there were doubtless many differences of to who shall exercise authority in the Church.
The desire to rule as dictators to others or to important to note the methods employed in anti- Christian teaching in America. There are those refuse to recognize any human authority seems who pride themselves on their liberalism and broadmindedness who would be called zealots and to be characteristic of some otherwise good men. fanatics if they were extending the knowledge of Christ in the same way that they attack Him. Is not the great question in the Church today, The General Secretary of the International How can we best exalt and glorify Jesus Christ Christian Crusade, Maud Howe, of Toronto, has contributed to The King's Business an article as Lord and Saviour and how can we best fulfill headed by the question: "How Can the New Athe- ism Be Met?" We give a few striking quotations: His desire expressed in His high-priestly prayer: "That they all may be one … that the world may believe … that the love wherewith thou lovest me may be in them, and I in them" (John 17: 21-26) ? D. L. P.
"WHEN YOU BECOME A UNITARIAN" Christian parents, Christian young people, and leaders in evangelical churches too often regard as "alarmists" Presumably every enlightened person would those who warn of the deadly peril of an aggressive contend earnestly for the right of everyone to "under-cover" atheism. We of the International Christian believe as he saw fit, and to express his beliefs Crusade (formerly the Canadian Christian Crusade) would freely. However, freedom of speech should be call attention to the fact that in this day there is a "New governed by high ideals, a thing many preachers Atheism," a world apostasy that embraces far more foland teachers seem to have overlooked. If a man lowers than do merely the communistic groups or the does not believe the Bible it is his right to say visible organizations such as the "4 A's" (American Assoso to those he meets in a general way, but it is ciation for the Advancement of Atheism). This new athenot his right to express his unbelief to students ism already claims a membership of over seventeen million in a conservative Christian school which may, members, placed in sixty-four countries of the world, workthrough some oversight, have engaged him as a ing, as many atheists have told me personally, "night and teacher. day" to bring about world revolution.
So also the preacher or missionary who has The "new atheism" is not the classical free thought of never accepted Christ as His Divine Saviour, or the seventeenth century in any sense of the world; it is a who has afterward abandoned that faith, has no far more subtle and dangerous thing. The new atheism right to proclaim his disloyal views, in his pUlpit invites into its membership every cult and ism under the or elsewhere. Outside its religious aspects, this sun, except the teaching of salvation through the cross of is a matter of fundamental ethical principle, and Calvary. Its elasticity reaches out to Evolution, Humanno man of high personal honor will continue in ism, Pantheism, Iscariotism, Spiritism, and the like. A the pulpit of a church whose faith he denies. Dr. universal religion is more than welcome, as it opens the Samuel M. Lindsay is credited with these search- way to ultimate acceptance of the tenets of the new atheing little paragraphs on this point, under the ism, which is based on human effort to attain human heading, "When You Become a Unitarian": ideals. The new atheists boast that those who deny the Calvary atonement will soon, under the tuition of versed Join the Unitarian Church. Do not try to convert your atheists and radicals, lose any faith they still possess….
church to Unitarianism from a Trinitarian pulpit. What are the methods employed? Members of the new atheist cult visit hospitals, even in some cases help ped- Do not try to convert your pupils into Unitarianism dlers to propagate atheism as they go from door to door. In almost every well-known school and college in the world while teaching in a Trinitarian seminary. there is an theist member; they have atheist workers in Christian organizations; they have atheist members at- Do not try to broadcast Unitarianism while serving as tending churches to offset any appeal from a Christian pulpit. Everyone of these statements can be proved up a Trinitarian missionary. to the hilt.
Men have the right to change their minds regarding the The Second Annual Report of the A. A. A. A. states: "We have representatives in the principal nations of the Deity of Christ, but when they do so they are under the world . . . the 4-A seeks to establish branches in every community … the hOlding of large meetings is not necesobligation to move from one denomination to another. sary. The silent individual propaganda with the use of 4-A literature is the hardest to counteract. . . . When Charles Francis Potter and Addison Moore be- But the attack is not merely upon young people of colcame Unitarians, they founded the Unitarian Church and lege age. Let us remember that years ago there were 1,700 known atheist Sunday schools in Canada and many continued their ministry in Unitarian pulpits. While we more in the United States. Statistics now give as a very conservative number 4,000 atheist Sunday schools in Cancould not approve their theology, we could appreciate their ada. They are of course "under-cover" societies, running in many cases as "social clubs," "camps," and the like. sincerity. R. M. K. A woman and a young Christian man called in the same AN ANCIENT FOE week from different districts in Toronto, to report a new atheist Sunday school begun in each of their separate The propagation of atheism in Russia has been neighborhoods. The young ma~ asked help to win back the subject of a vast number of protests ever two boys of twelve years who had been bribed to leave his since the present order of things there was estab- Sunday Bible class to attend the atheist school near at lished. But we have the same vicious propaganda hand, a group meeting in a private home. nearer home, and not only so, but it is carried on with a zeal that the Church may well regard R.M.K. as offering a serious obstacle to its own advancement in this country. In this connection it is
Heathen Chiefs Come to
Reports from Recent Letters from New Guinea By EMMABELLE D. PIERSON Montclair, N. J.
'RIDING on a west-bound train that was en- lime kiln and show the Papuans how to utilize tering mountainous Colorado, I sat beside the coral reef in building the hospital; to exa young man from the plains of our middle plain the workings of different engines, or to states. "I couldn't be happy living among mountains," install electricity; to equip a kindergarten, or to assist in nursing, or to do the work of an absent he volunteered. "They shut off my view." teacher. The mission is vibrant with consecrated "Oh, but think of the surprises that lie the young life, and carries on in the spirit and faith of the founder. The boat-building, printing, other side of the mountain," I said. "Mountains weaving, studying, nursing, houseworking, garare so challenging." dening, all go forward in an atmosphere of song. It is a place difficult to leave. "No," he said, "I like to see my work all laid out before me, and then tackle it. With a broad horizon I have plenty of time to consider and pre- pare for the 'what next' coming toward me." The Papuan Government is highly paternal, It was not an unnatural and the Governor gladly ac- step from that beginning to a knowledges the help Kwato few anecdotes of youthful pio- missionaries have given when neer missionaries who revel in he has wished to parole young scaling mountains of difficul- murderers instead of throw- ties in a great cause, -inspired ing them into jail. Two lads by the thought of what lies from an inland tribe, who had beyond. murdered their grandmother, were sent to the mission sta- ** * * The challenge of the unex- tion at Duabo. Their fright plored mountainous country was pitiable, for they thought of New Guinea, where air- their last hour had come when plane scouts frequently report they saw a g rea t kettle the discovery of new tribes, brought out in preparation for gripped the group of young the school dinner. Two years missionaries who live in Kwa- later they were returned to to, Papua, in the southeastern GADO, DANIEL, BIRUMA, their mountain home, happy end of the huge island. For a a native a Kwato a Dorevaidl Christians-the only members Christian generation Charles Abel and Guide Chief of their tribe with a knowl- his wife trained converted Papuans to work edge of Christ as Saviour. Whenever the Govern- among their own people; as a result, twenty-four ment is at its wit's end to know what to do with stations, manned by self-supporting Christian wife-stealers, murderers and other persistent iIl- Papuans, are now flaming torches around Milne doers, young Kwato Christians, brown and white, Bay and the China Straits of New Guinea. Two offer the best solution of the problem.
sons and two daughters came into the work thor- In the mountains of Papua, back in the interior, oughly equipped, and within the last six years to the west of the mission, live the Dorevaidis and after Mr. Abel's death in 1930, eight other young the Keveres, murderers all because of a tribal cus- people have thrown in their lot as teachers, nurse, tom which requires every young man to win his doctor, accountant, architect, business manager spurs by murdering some one. Then he can wear and engineer; but first of all they are evan- a white cock's feather in his bushy hair. The gelists, out to win these people to their Lord. more his murders the smarter his headdress, and In a most remarkable way casual visitors have the greater the young man's prestige among mar- changed their plans and have stayed on a month, riageable young women. The Government has a season, or even a year with them to build a tried to root out this custom, but both kindness [393 ]
and severity have failed. The prisons are usually meeting in the evening, and several of our group full of the murderers. At last the challenge came of Christian Papuans gave their testimonies. to the Kwato mission group just when they were Gado, a new inquirer, seemed to impress them considering plans to open up a new field. An ear- most of all. They listened in rapt silence until nest mature Papuan Christian and his wife volun- the speaker had finished; then they discussed teered, and the mission sent out Davida and what they had heard among themselves in low but Eauvenibo, his wife, with prayer and joy to settle emphatic undertones. We had to wait until they in Duram, on the Duram River, five miles inland, had said all they wanted to say, and then conwhere the trail from the mountains comes through tinue. The singing they seemed to enjoy, but to the sea. For a year these faithful witnesses could not understand. In every place we had to worked, influencing those near at hand, and con- tell them that it was not necessary for them to tacting the Dorevaidis and other tribes from the close their eyes while we were singing. Some mountains. women would forget, and then there would be a scolding and a slapping, or a man would pick up Davida is a cheery soul, so warm-hearted and a handful of pebbles and throw them at the bowed understanding that he makes friends quickly. heads of the women! Poor souls, they seemed Rumors of the new teaching and of his way of desperately anxious to do the right thing. Mothliving drifted back into the mountains and a ers and fathers put their hands on the eyes of Dorevaidi chief sent word asking him to come up. little children lest they should peep while the mis- The chief was interested, but still a bit doubtful sionary was 'making prayers,' as they put it." about the Message, so he said: "My wife and I will come down and stay awhile with you in your Chief Bidau gave a testimony: "Look at all home and see how the new way works out in your these young men! (indicating the Papuans of our team). They are my own age, and are doing life." God's work. What am I doing? Still following They came to Duram and must have been satis- the way of death?"
fied, for soon an invitation came for Davida to That same day he prayed his first public prayer. climb the mountain and meet the tribe in assem- He said how he was still ignorant of God's way of bly. A rare letter from Davida describes this first life but was glad that he had been allowed to come encounter. Men, women and children sat before along with us, for he was already beginning to see him so caked in dirt that the evangelist felt he the Way, and asked that as he went along his eyes could not give them the pure words of God. He might be opened, and that he might find life. put the matter before them, and then, with his disarming smile, marched all the children to the In the Dorevaidi villages, Mun, the ex-murderer, river where he scrubbed them well with sand and and Alice,.a Papuan girl of the group, gave telling grass. When they returned with shining faces, messages. Mun could speak on the subject of the men fell in line, laughing, and proceeded to their terrible customs, and Alice appealed to the remove some of their dirt. Then Davida gave his women "to help their men instead of degrading message to an outwardly clean and eager group, them." Cecil Abel writes that the "women's eyes and used the little episode to illustrate his talk. never left her face, and the men nodded approv- Ceeil Abel says that no one but Davida could have ingly as she spoke of the awful carnage resulting carried out such a program as a joke and not an from women inciting men to kill, and of the years insult. Chief Biruma was dead in earnest, and the their men had to spend in jail because of this hornext few months saw four ex-murderers petition- rible custom. Her final appeal was to cut it out ing Davida to forward an invitation to his Kwato because of God's law, 'Thou shalt not kill.' " friends to visit their mountain villages. As the Papuan team went on their way, chief For two years the Kwato "Power House" had after chief joined their party and went to the next echoed with prayers for these people, and now at place with them until they had acquired six. As last the time seemed ripe for a team to set out. the team set sail in the Lantic all six announced A Gospel group of six Papuans and Cecil Abel that they would go with them to Kwato and learn took the mission boat, the Lantic, and sailed miles more of the new life! around the coast and then six miles up the Duram River. There they were joined by Davida and So it came to pass that in the afternoon of the four mountain men whom he had interested in the day before Christmas, 1935, just as the Kwato true God-Chief Biruma, Chief Bidau, Mun (a Christmas festival was getting underway, the triple ex-murderer) ,and Gado. All were just Lantic was sighted, bringing the evangelists' and ready to learn more and to take further steps in their new seekers after God. Suddenly a bloodgiving their testimony. curdling war cry from the six chiefs came over the water!-rather a grim joke for people only A picture of one meeting will help us to realize one generation removed from cannibalism. some of the obstacles to be overcome. "At the peoples' request," writes Cecil Abel, "we had a As I read the description of Christmas at Kwato, the early morning carols, the communion
SIX HEATHEN CHIEFS COME TO KWATO
THE TOUGHEST CROWD WE MET-IN THE VILLAGE OF KEVER!
service, the simple feast, the representati.ons of very good; but we have good food at Dorevaidi the Manger Scene, and of the worshipping kings too. We have not come f.or that. Your schools of the East, I tried to see it all through the eyes and shops are very good. We would like to learn of those chiefs. Their contribution to the Christ- too; but we have not come for that. We have mas party was a repetition of their war cry, and only come for one thing-to learn about G.od. its horrible echoes had hardly died away when the Now our hearts are burning to go back and tell strains of the beautiful Christian anthem, "Send our friends all we have learned.' out thy light," sung by the Kwato children, fell on their ears. The contrast was thrilling. "You would not recognize these six chiefs as the same men who came to Kwato at Christmas For three months the visitors stayed at the mis- time," Russell Abel continues. "They are so sion station, hearing God's word and seeing the changed in appearance. They are going ahead Christ-life in action in most amazing ways. Rus- splendidly. An invitation came from the Chrissell Abel writes: tians at Sariba, asking them to spend the week- "Chief Biruma, one of the Dorevaidi converts, end with them there. * It was a fine opportunity gave a marvellous testimony in the morning service. He felt the Lord speaking to him, telling him for them to experience purely village, and not to testify, and at first would not .obey. Then the mission hospitality. It was also a great chance Lord told him that he would not grow any more for them to see village Christianity where it was until he obeyed, so he got up and spoke. There touching elbows with heathenism, and not only was quite an awe over the audience while he was Kwato Christianity at our mission head station. talking. One thought of all our prayers for that So they went to Sariba. We took them over on work and here was the fruit. Two missionaries Friday and they came back on Monday afternoon, who understood Motu were at Kwato at the time simply bubbling over with the marvellous time from another society. They were very much im- they had had. Chief Biruma went into lengthy pressed, and told us afterward what Biruma had descriptions, shaking his head and making exclabeen saying. He told how the Government had mations of wonder. I could not understand a been trying to make friends with the Dorevaidi word of it, until finally I got an interpreter. and Kevere people, inviting them to feasts at Biruma told him how wonderful it was wherever Abau, but they had gone back to their murderous they went to meet friends-friends for Christ's ways. 'Then the Government put us in jail, four sake. He could not get over it. years, five years, six…. We did not mind. Government rice and biscuits are very good.' They "The Chiefs were taken for a tour of the vilhad come back home still unchanged. 'At last,' lages, each village taking charge of them and said Biruma, 'God's children came out of love for showing them the next bit. There was a wonderus and brought us the real light that has changed ful feast in their honor, and a huge meeting on us right round inside…. Your food at Kwato is Sunday at which they were thrilled. There was • Sarlba Is a large island about ten mnes trom Kwato. It now has several l!ttle Christian communities with schools and churches min- Istered to by Christian Papuans.
not room in the church building to accommodate Sibodu and Labu, set off for the interior, stopping the crowd. Judging by the description, the serv- en route at villages, holding meetings, praying ice must have lasted hours. The chiefs all spoke, with the sick and dying, and working individually and many of the people spoke too. The Dore- with the people till nightfall-God working with vaidis used their own language which Sibodu, the them confirming their message by signal answers Chief of Kuroudi, interpreted into Motu which to prayer. most of the Sariba men understand. Then Viki, another Sariba man, translated it into local dia~ Davida writes, and Russell Abel translates: lect. They had a grand time, with no end of an "Sibodu and Labu reached Kuroudi, their home uplift. Finally, and I think this is most interest~ village, and had a meeting with the people. They ing, the Dorevaidis said that they never wanted told them all the news and testified to what they to lose touch with the Christians of Sariba. They had learned at Kwato. The meeting lasted till asked the church leaders to write regular reports midday, when the people scattered to get food for of their work and send it to them, so that they a feast the following day, to which they invited could pray for them regularly. They said that their neighbors from Nebulu village. The feast while they themselves could not read or write, was in honor of Chiefs Sibodu and Labu, and gave they would send their news to Duram to Davida, them an opportunity to speak to all the people. and ask him to write back to Sariba for them. The words were well received, and unanimously Fancy the Christians of Sariba being helped by the people decided to build a new village in which the prayers of erstwhile murderers! If one uses both Kuroudi and Nebulu will combine. They will one's imagination a bit, it is very thrilling. There break up their old villages and rebuild on the main is real romance in it." trail, with a school for the children and a play- ground. Shortly before Easter the chiefs left Kwato for their mountain villages, and the first report of "While Sibodu was at Kwato he was impressed with the belief, during his quiet time, that when DAVIDA, SE'ATIDD AT THE RIGHT, TAKES A he got home he would pray for a sick woman and CENSUS OF DOREVAIDI CHILDREN she would be healed. When he returned to Ku- roudi he asked his wife, 'Is there a sick woman The Chief, Ofekule, Seated in Front. Tobernome, here?' 'Yes,' she said, 'so-and-so is ill with a Next to Him Wears a Big "Pigtail" swollen leg, and her entire body pains. She can't even come out of her house.' It happened this them from Davida, the Papuan missionary at way: She was in a rage with a child and had Duram, has come through. After spending four been thrashing the child, and chasing it with a fruitful days with Davida and his wife, holding stick. The child ran into the thick scrub, and meetings with the people, two of the chiefs, when the woman followed into the bush her pain began."
"Sibodu said, 'I will not hasten to see her. I will pray about it first.' For two days he made it a matter of prayer; then he went to see her. He said to the sick woman, 'I will not pray to God to heal you yet. I will talk to you first.' Then he explained to her what was her great sin in God's eyes. 'This child,' he said, 'that you were beating and chasing is a creation of God's hand. He has sent you this sickness to make you realize. When the missionaries came here they wrote down the names of all the children on a paper. At Kwato they are praying for our children, but you are abusing them.' He taught the woman new respect for children, and her eyes were opened and she understood that God had something to teach her through her sickness. Then Sibodu prayed for her, and she was healed. Her swollen leg burst and pus drained away quickly and she felt better and was able to walk about. She said, 'Truly the power of the missionaries is great.' Sibodu too marveled on account of this power.
"When I heard of this I sent for Sibodu' and warned him to be careful and show the people that
SIX HEATHEN CHIEFS COME TO ICWATO
he had no power, nor have the missionaries, but their sacred day. Again the white man was angry only God is powerful. Sibodu told the woman and said, "Where did you learn this fashion? that God had healed her by His power in answer You are bushmen!" to prayer, and that we must know and obey Him." Finally he picked up some Morima* boys who Labu and Ofekule, another chief, had an expe- had gone to Abau to work for Dimdims. They rience with a Dimdim (white man) who was were old Methodist mission boys. On their way prospecting for gold. He wanted carriers and they came upon a large wild pig and the white visited all the villages looking for "boys." But it man, who had a big dog, set him onto it. Both dog was Sunday and the villages were empty, for all and pig disappeared. They waited so long that the people had gone to Dorevaidi to worship, and finally the "Dimdim" sent one of the boys to look only feeble old men were left. He asked them, for the dog and pig. He too did not reappear. "Where are all the people?" and they answered, The white man sent the other boys to search for "They have all gone to Dorevaidi to the Mission- him while he himself went on along with his cook ary chiefs to pray." So he went to Dorevaidi and boy to Kauru. harangued the people, saying, "What are you doing? Who taught you this idea?" They ans,wered, They searched for the lost boy two days. Then Chief Sibodu, from Kuroudi, met them on the DAVIDA GIVING HIS TESTIM:ONY AT KUROUDI-A HEATHEN VILLAGE "This is our holy day, and we have all met to- main road and asked what was the matter. They gether to worship God. The missionaries taught said, "Our master must be ill-deserving, for first us and God taught us." The white man was angry his dog and then his boy has been lost." Sibodu and told them they were deceived, and it was all said, "What people are you ?" They said, "Weare untrue. "You don't belong to any mission," he Morima." "Do you know God?" "Yes, we used said, "you are only bushmen." Then he told Labu to live with missionaries." and Ofekule that he was not going to listen to them, but insisted on getting the carriers he They all sat down together while Sibodu prayed wanted. But they answered, "We are chiefs here, with them, and prayed specially for the missing no one will move without our consent." He was boy. While they were praying this boy appeared very angry and called them liars and said they from the bush. He told them he had been dizzy were mad. They said, "So be it; we are mad. Go in the head for two days and had not been able to your way, and one day God will give you some find his way. At last he had remembered to pray, sign and speak to you as He has spoken to us." and after prayer his head had cleared and he had The Dimdim set off without a single carrier. found his way quite easily. Sibodu asked him if he When he reached Kuroudi the same thing hap- knew about God. "Yes," he said, "I have known pened again. Chief Sibodu told him that it was a long time." "You have known about Him a long • Marima is on Ferguson Island in the Archipelago, northeast of Kwato.
time, but have you really got His salvation in your old things ar~ false to me. There is only one real heart?" power, and that is God's. I tell you, throw those things away today; they can only bring you Sibodu led the eleven of them to Kauru and death." back to their master. When they met him they said to him, "It was your fault that this boy went Sibodu took the charms in his hands and prayed astray. The Kuroudi missionary met us and over them and said, "These are now powerless. through his prayers all is well and we are arrived God's power is greater." here. In future respect God's day, for we too are the children of missions. We have seen God's F1inally Naula said, "Take these things away. hand in this." I have already repented." Sibodu told him all that the New Way the missionaries had brought The Dimdim answered not a word but called would mean in his village, and Naula confessed Sibodu and offered him rice and two sticks of to- his sins. bacco, which Sibodu declined, saying he did not smoke. So the white man took it back, and asked Chief Biruma worked in Amau, Domara and him where he was going. "To Duram, to my mas- Eava. Then he became ill. In his illness he was ter, the missionary there." He said, "What mis- very down-hearted and said, "I have not even sion ?" Sibodu replied, "Kwato Mission." begun my work in Dou and sickness has got me. I have lain in a house for a week and done noth- Let us pray earnestly for Sibodu. He doesn't ing." He was weary of this and said, "How is this? Does God test me? Why is this sickness?" BE'LEI, A CHEERFUL CHIEF OF AMAU Weak as he was, he cloaked himself in a nogi and He accepted the Gospel and gave his life, his set off to Amao. He gathered the people together but felt too ill to talk to them. Just then Chief village and all his people to God. Ofekule arrived on his way to Dorevaidi. Biruma was much encouraged and said, "Ofekule, it is fear his old friends and just now is on a tour of well you have come to do my work for me. I am villages. His great longing is to learn to read. He too sick. I have gathered the people. You do the has had some lessons and some teaching about work here." how to work. He tried to win Naula, the chief at Makaia, for God. Naula showed all his magic The following day Biruma went to Domara. things to which he pinned his faith. Sibodu said, Here he stayed eleven days teaching the people. "My friend, what are these things?" He an- He taught them to pray and to have their quiet swered, "What I use to kill people." times of prayer in the morning. He won a man called Du'ubo, whom he brought to Duram later. "Are they dead things or living things?" This man is a case of real out-and-out conver- "They are living things." sion. He has given himself entirely to God, and "My friend, in God's eyes those are the things is a challenge to us all at Duram because he of death; don't say they are things of life. Give is so whole-hearted. He has won his wife, and yourself to Christ. He is the true Way of Life. she publicly cut off her heathen signs and de- Those things there I too used to believe in very stroyed her magic charms. Du'ubo longs to visit much. Then I went to Kwato and found life and Kwato and learn more. God's power, and I saw His wisdom, so now those The Chief of Domara needs prayer. His name is Bobogoni. He is not yet converted, but Biruma brought him to Duram and he is staying a few days in our home.
Here in God's new garden the harvest is ripe; where are the reapers to cut and gather it?
Greetings: I am Davida of Duram.
**** In response to this S. O. S., Russell Abel has set- tled the first contingent of Kwato-trained Papuan leaders in the Dorevaidi mountains, to strengthen the work so zealously begun by the six chiefs.
This is not an ended tale. The story of the six seeking and witnessing chiefs told in England this summer by young missionaries now on furlough from Kwato, has been the means of turning six British lives to God. Undoubtedly more surprises await behind the mountains to the west of Kwato.
of German
Naziism, Anti-Semitism and Foreign Missions By CONRAD HOFFMANN, Jr., New York Director of Committee on the Christian Approach to the Jews "B LUT und Boden," the Nazi slogan fre- the paper has recently been purchased by the quently heard, has dread significance for "Propaganda Ministerium," and we are told that many thousands in Germany today. It a large sum was paid to Streicher; but if the first implies purification of Germany from all traces few issues under the government management are of Jewishness or Jewish contamination. The any index of future policy, we are forced to con- Nazis, who do not necessarily represent all Ger- clude that the Sturmer will continue in much the mans, are determined to eliminate everything same vulgar fashion as heretofore, unworthy of Jewish from the "Dritte Reich." If consistent what one knows as German Ritterlichkeit. It does they will not stop at elimination of J ewishness not improve matters that in view of the Olympic from their physical life – race, commerce, civil Games' visitors this summer, many of the service, etc.-but will proceed to eliminate Jew- Stiirmerboards in the large cities have been re- ishness from their cultural, ideological, and spir- moved or are being used for other purposes.
itual life as well. In Berlin-Zehlendorf-West* a statue or monu- They fully recognize that Christianity is a dom- ment was recently unveiled in the presence of the inant factor in the field of ideology, and because local mayor and other municipal authorities. It Christianity is "Bluts-verwandt" with Judaism, is dedicated to Theodore Fritsch (1853-1933), a they have decided that Christianity also must be pioneer agitator of anti-Jewish sentiment and eliminated. Accordingly the fight against Jewish- represents a crocodile-like monster with a mali- ness and Judaism includes the fight against Chris- ciously exaggerated Jewish head. Sitting strident tianity, which in its origins and content is so on this monster is a man with uplifted sledge largely Jewish and Judaic. hammer in the act of crushing in the skull of the The racial purity ideal of Adolf Hitler demands monster. The pedestal carries the following in- that Jewish blood be eliminated from German scriptions which are extracts from addresses or blood, or at least must be made innocuous by a writings of Theodore Fritsch: sufficient infiltration of virile German blood. 1. No improvement of race without disappearance of Hence only the third generation from a mixed Jewry. marriage is acceptable to the Nazis. For the 2. The Jewish question is fundamentally a struggle be- Nazis, J ewishness is a scourge or plague like cancer, which must be exterminated at all costs tween the honorable and the dishonorable. and without mercy. 3. If it is proven that the lower race (meaning the Jews) deteriorates the higher (German), then the higher must display sufficient pride in its purity as well as Nor can Hitler escape responsibility for the will power and determination to keep the lower from brutal anti-Jewish madness which has' swept its life.
through large circles of Germans. Some would One hears stories from reputable people which seem incredible and the inventions of the devil. excuse Hitler, but he is the one who set things on One such is that of a schoolmaster compelling an unfortunate Jewish or non-Aryan child in his fire, a fire which apparently has got utterly out class to read aloud to the class some of the obscene anti-Jewish fomentations of the Sturmer. All of control. With all his autocratic power, for ex- one can say if such is true is that it is devilishly horrible. ample, Herr Hitler could easily have put an end That this anti-Jewish campaign does not stop long since to the vile, vulgar, and pornographic short of becoming anti-Christian as well is evi- denced in many ways. There are some who mainanti-Semitic Sturmer, edited until recently by tain that Jesus and all disciples but Judas were non-Jews, and that Judas, who betrayed Jesus, Julius Streicher. Instead, not only has the paper • AlleeI,n Cahatrmiabnegrlualianr,anladndWscianpteedrfepldlatc-setrbaossuennd.ed by Theodore Fritsch been permitted to continue publication, but also the posting of each issue of the Sturmer on special bulletin boards throughout the country has per- sisted. On these bulletin boards all the pages of the paper are displayed to serve as virulent poisoning of the minds of adults as well as of I. nnOCen t an d suscept 'b le ch1'ldreno It'IS t rue that 1 [399 ]
only did what the typical Jew would do. Others age. The issuance of the first number of their would debar all consideration of the Bible in- magazine was the occasion for a house investiga- cluding the New Testament because it is all tion by the police and Gestapo. April 28 and 29, Jewish. Some weeks before Easter, Professor their chairman attended the meeting of the Inter- Hauer, of the German Faith Movement, spoke in national Committee on the Christian Approach to Hamburg at a big mass meeting in a public hall, the Jews in The Netherlands. During' the first with permission of the local authorities, on the week in May the Society was ordered to liquidate!
question, "Can a German Be a Christian?" His These are signs of the times. In the face of answer was in the negative. Among other things them it is obvious that the whole foreign mission- he declared that ever since Christianity was in- ary enterprise of the German churches is bound troduced into Germany, one thousand or more to be seriously handicapped if not in actual danger years ago, it has done harm to the soul and fibre of liquidation. One must admire the many Ger- of the German people; moreover that religion man missionary friends for their continued faith, must be racial, each race having its own religion, hope, effort, and courage. There are forces at and that a German who is Christian in faith is no work which threaten to crush out their very exist- longer German but a bastard. All of these re- ence. To combat these forces is at the risk of marks were loudly applauded by the vast audience. liberty, if not of life.
When leaders of the Confessional Church move- Foreign Mission Difficulties ment applied for permission to hold a counter- meeting in the same hall, it was refused. They Among the major difficulties resulting for the then organized a church meeting in protest, using German foreign missionary enterprise, the folthe same topic but answering it in the affirmative. lowing merit mention. They are taken from an So many turned out that it was necessary to hold article by Professor Julius Richter in the October, two overflow meetings – evidence of the feelings 1935, issue of the Neue Allgemeine Missionsand convictions of many Germans. Zeitschrift. The title of the article is "Die Kri- tische Lage der Deutschen Evangelischen Mis- It is well to voice the caution that one should si.onen." never generalize when talking or writing about Germany, or for that matter about any country 1. Financial: First because no public appeals or people. Not all Germans are anti-Jewish or or collections for funds can be made. Second, anti-Semitic, nor are all Germans necessarily anti- owing to the foreign exchange regulations of the Christian. Moreover, whereas most Germans to- German Government, the thirty societies federday probably regard Hitler as their only hope, ated in the German Evangelical Missionary Althat does not mean that they agree with all his liance, and responsible for one thousand missionaims or policies. aries (not counting the wives), are permitted only 172,500 marks per month for foreign transmis- But having said that, one must add that there sion. That equals 172 marks ($43.00) per misare powerful forces at work in Germany today sionary family per month. This means roughly which, if not checked, will undoubtedly make·Ger- but 2,000,000 marks per year can be forwarded many anti-Jewish and anti-Christian and force all from Germany to the foreign mission stations Germans to become subservient to the extreme maintained by the German societies. In 1933, totalitarian concepts of Hitler. These violate hu- however, before the exchange regulations were man liberty and rights as well as annihilate all enforced, the actual remittances and expenditures freedom of conscience. It is here where the men- were 11,000,000 marks. ace lies. This menace, like the sword of Damocles, swings with scientific precision ever lower and An analysis of present income prospects reveal lower, lopping off all possibilities of a livelihood the following: in Germany for increasing numbers of Jews and non-Aryans. Ultimately, if unchecked, it will Assured from Germany ………….. marks 2,000,000 reach the heart of the Christian faith as well. In prospect from friends in Switzer:and, 1,400,000 Already religious publications, such as Y. M. Holland, Alsatia, etc. ………….. Government appropriations for schools C. A. monthly magazines and even the Missions- and hospitals and contributions from 3,000,000 Zeitschrift ("Missionary Review") of Professor native Christians ………………
Julius Richter, are classed as political publica- A total income of 6,400,000 marks is available tions. They are therefore subject to the rigid to meet expenditures of 11,000,000 per annum.
censorship of the Gestapo. Some time ago the The German Exchange Bureau allows merely for German Jewish Missionary Society of Berlin was the existence minimum for German missionaries reorganized in an attempt on the part of its mem- but nothing for the 10,951 native workers and bers to manifest Christian love and neighborliness nothing for maintenance or upkeep of the mis- to the unfortunate Jewish and Christian non- sion stations.
Aryan friends. One can only admire their cour- 2. All stations are undermanned. From 1914
DIFFICULTIES OF GERMAN CHRISTIANS
to 1925 no new young missionaries were sent out. The greater the difficulties and the opposition, the Hence missionaries on the field are largely old veterans, many of them near seventy years of age. greater the resistance. Today there are fifteen German Protestant mis- "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor sion stations in South Africa, six in China, and five in East Africa entirely unoccupied. Whereas life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, the Gossner Mission had thirty main stations with nor things present, nor things to come, nor forty-three ordained missionaries in 1914, today height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall it has but four stations with only seven ordained missionaries. The other societies without excep- be able to separate us from the love of God, which tion report similar reductions. is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8: 38, 39.
3. The lack of unity and federation among the Let us thank God for the marvelous stamina German missionary societies in the face of these and faith of so many Germans. It is truly a mirsituations is disastrous, even if in some cases at least excusable. Origins, traditions, all these can- acle that so many Germans have stood so loyally not be suddenly pushed aside for the sake of unity by even in the face of unpopularity if not actual without serious consequences. danger of persecution and imprisonment. We who are Christians outside of Germany should appre- 4. Finally, there are the great difficulties in the home field arising out of the present currents ciate more our freedom; we need to pray for our in German life, to some of which reference has German colleagues as they fight for the faith. already been made. These hamper the Christian Church and missions. There is much propaganda During the summer a lull is anticipated, due to against Christianity as we have seen, in spite of the plea of Hitler for "positive Christianity." new developments in international affairs, and the Books like "Salvation from Christ," by Mrs. M. presence of many Olympic Games' visitors. But Ludendorff, and Alfred Miller's "Deterioration of most people with inside information agree that Race Under the Cross," help to undermine Christian faith. Men like Wilhelm Hauer, Graf Revent- a renewed tightening of the reins will come in the low, Ernst Bergmann, exercise unusual influence autumn. Should such actually occur, the Jews in many circles. Former Bishop MUller's "Deutsche Worte," while utterly discounted in and non-Aryans will probably suffer first and Confessional Church circles, is nonetheless read increasing difficulties will follow for the Church by many, and notably by youth. The difficulties and its auxiliary foreign missionary enterprise. put in the way of Christian youth organizations, and the increasing pressure brought to bear to More trials and tribulations are thus likely to force all German youth into the Hitler Youth come. But in the end the Christian faith will Movements, do not serve to promote Christian faith or interest in Christian missions. triumph. Indeed, may it not emerge purified as gold by fire, freed from all hampering dross and And unfortunately, at this critical time when positive Christendom should present a united so able to go forward with new courage, new confront, there are increasing divisions within the viction, and with new dynamic power to help ranks of the Confessional Church circles. build the Kingdom of God among men in Ger- Anxiety is felt. Fear exists, but not despair. many as well as throughout the world. * * "There were twenty-four large evangelical missionary conferencGs held in Germany in the year 1935. The missionary forces supported on the foreign field by these societies number 1,571, whereas German Catholic missionary societies support abroad 3,673. As there are twice as many Protestants as Catholics in Germany. the Catholics are four times more numerous on the mission field than Protestants. Against 515 ordained Evangelical missionaries the Catbolics have 999 missionary priests. In contrast to the 851 feminine Evangelical workers on the missionary field the Catholics have 2,002 Catholic sisters. There are 205 Evangelical nonordained workers as contrasted with 672 Catholics. The German Evangelical societies are respon- sible for 61 mission fields whereas the German Catholic societies have 50. The total number of Evangelical native Christians is 1,176,381, with an additional 64,553 to be baptized. The Catholic native Chris- tians In the missionary field number 742,716 with 126.144 to be baptized." Data taken from Die Deutsche Evangelische Heiaenmis- sion. Der Vereinigten Deutschen Missionskonferenzen. 1936.
LEADERSHIP MUST FEED ON DIFFICULTIES The leaders in momentous days like these must be able to feed on difficulties. Probably never has there been a time in the history of the expansion of the Christian religion when the leaders of the home base, in fact in every country, were confronted with such a consentration of unsolved problems and impossible difficulties. We have all too many among them who have become expert in seeing lions in the path, men who have become habituated to taking counsel with their fears. Great is the need of more men and women in positions of leadership who; while not failing to see with clear and steady gaze all the adverse or opposing facts and factors, are even more determined to take counsel with their faith. In reality is not this one of the chief functions of a leader? The true leader is at his best under most baffling circumstances. The board secretaries and board members to whom the churches are most indebted are not those associated with so-called strategic retreats but with steady, triumphant progress under conditions where the majority insisted that the advance was impossible.- John R. Mott.
Bethel Bands in
Experiences of Chinese Evangelists in Manchuria and in the Provinces By REV. ANDREW GIl:I, Shanghai A Chinese Evangelist of the Bethel Mission I N 1931 the official members of the Bethel Mis- North Manchuria near the border of Siberia, with sion Band were praying for the Holy Spirit's a total membership of about twenty-five, including guidance as to a particular field to which we preacher and elders. It would take three nights should go with the Gospel. We were impressed and two days on the train to reach that place, and with a verse about Jesus being led by the Spirit it did not seem very wise to spend so much time, into the wilderness. We remembered that Man- money and energy for our team of five people to churia was in many respects like a wilderness- go to preach to twenty-five. We wanted to divide not densely populated-so we . our party by sending one of our took it to be the place where we Band to this small church and should go to conduct an evan- The Bethel Mis s ion 0 f the others to some big city. gelistic campaign. The tem- Shanghai was established But as we prayed we felt imperature in winter was fifty or some years ago through the pressed that we should keep tosixty degrees below zero, so we min is try of Miss Jennie gether, even though we could prepared for the cold weather Hughes, formerly an Ameri~ not understand why the Lord and started out the last of Au- can Methodist missionary, wanted us to go together to gust. and Dr. Mary Stone, the first such a small church. When we Chinese woman to receive her When we arrived at our first medical degree in America. arrived at the place where we stopping place we found a con- This mission has now grown should make connections with ference of Christian leaders to large proportions and ex~ a train going to our destination gathered there for s p e cia I erts a nation~wide influence. we learned that Mukden had meetings. It was a wonderful been captured by the Japanese. opportunity, for if all of these It includes a large church, While we were waiting for the hospital, schools, theological leaders could be filled with the seminary and evangelistic train the Lord spoke to me, tell- Holy Spirit and be set on fire bands that go all over China, ing me to go to find some for the Lord Jesus Christ there working in cooperation with church near by. My co-worker, might be a wonderful revival missionaries and Chi n es e Mr. Frank Lin, and I walked in the whole of Manchuria. Christians of many denomi~ over to the town and found a nations. It is a "faith mis~ But the Lord led us another sion," believing in the full small church. The preacher way. The door was suddenly Gospel, depending on prayer was away but his wife asked us shut and we decided to turn and the Holy Spirit, and to wait until her husband got our steps to the City of Muk- trusting God for the supply home. We replied that we did den. There was a large Chris- of every need. Mr.. Andrew not have time because we were tian church there but our sud- Gih is now in America hold~ waiting for the train. Fortu- den arrival gave little time for ing evangelistic meetings. nately the preacher returned preparation. The elders and soon and very kindly said he leaders got busy in the morn- would accompany us to the rail- ing, riding on bicycles to make these meetings way station. There we found two members of the known. The first night about three hundred peo- Band sitting beside our luggage, surrounded by pIe came, and night after night the meetings grew policemen, but one member of the Band-the until the large church was packed with eager lis- youngest-=-was missing. An officer had suspected teners. People had to sit on the window sills and this group of young people and had taken this to stand outside the doors. The meetings closed young man for cross-examination. They could not on September 18th with over one thousand people understand why, in the time of war, this group of professing salvation and rejoicing in the Lord. young people had come with no other motive than We prayed again that the Lord would lead us to preach the Gospel. We had not been invited by to other places. There was a small church in any church or promised our expenses, so the Chi- [402 ] nese authorities thought that we must be Commu- And yet they had not bothered us nor questioned nists. The young boy was frightened; he had us, but had let us in.
been told by the police that if he could produce During the Manchurian war great numbers of some one from the city to guarantee that we were people were killed and there was much confusion evangelists they would let him go, otherwise the and turmoil. People were fleeing here and there!
whole Band would be taken to prison. I whis- yet for more than three months the Lord guided pered to the local preacher, "Now this is some- us, protected us and delivered us from all dangers.
thing you can do for us." So he went with me and When we were ready to go back to Shanghai, we told the officers his name and his church. When did not have enough money for our passage, s.o asked by the police if we were really the Bethel we prayed that as the Lord had given us souls, Band Evangelists here to preach the Gospel, he re- now He would provide passage back to Shanghai.
plied, "Oh, yes." We did not want to burden the Manchurian Chris- "Do you know them?" tians, so we prayed that the Lord would, in some "Yes, I know them." way, send us the money. The owner of a steam- "Are you willing to guarantee them ?" ship company was converted in our meeting and "Yes," he said, and took his pen and signed his was s.o happy that he gave us first-class tickets on name. Two minutes later we were free. one of the steamers sailing for Shanghai. The Now when we arrived at the town where we Lord is faithful. For His glory about five thou- were to hold meetings the rumors of war were sand people were saved during that period, during everywhere. The Japanese airplanes came flying the time of war and trouble. God delivered us in the air and the people there were much fright- from all dangers. He is still on the throne and ened. They wanted to flee somewhere for refuge proved His faithfulness.
so we could not go on with the meetings. We had Dear Christian, if we walk after the Spirit and to flee with them to another city. The war was are spiritually-minded we will know the will of so bad that communications were cut off. The God. We ought to be like the handmaiden of money we had was spent and we leaned hard on whom the Psalmist speaks, whose eye is always the Lord for needed guidance. We wanted to go watching the hand of her mistress so as to catch to another city but didn't have any way of inform- any indication of her will.
ing the people there because the telegraph and In the Gospel of John we learn in the third chap- telephone offices were guarded by the Japanese ter that the Holy Spirit gives life to the soul. In and the Chinese were not allowed to send mes- the fourth chapter we learn that the Holy Spirit sages.. We had to go on by faith trusting God to becomes a fountain within the soul, keeping the protect and to lead us. When we arrived in the Life renewed. In the seventh chapter we learn evening we hired a horse and cart to take us into the Holy Spirit becomes "rivers of living water,"
the city. We found the church and the residence bringing this Life to others.
of the pastor, but the doors were shut. We The Holy Spirit, when I was yet a sinner, dead knocked but the pastor could not believe when we in trespasses and sins, came to quicken my soul told him that we were the "Bethel Band." and to give me life, so that I was born again.
"Where do you come from ?" He also works in me as an abiding fountain "Weare from North Manchuria." springing up unto everlasting life. This is a won- "How did you come?" derful experience. But He promises to do an even "By train." greater work through me by causing me to over- "How did you get into the city?" flow in blessing to others. There is no reason why "By horse and cart." we Christians cannot testify to others and bring At last he opened the door and said, "Now are souls to God. Jesus Christ gives us these experi- you really the Bethel Band?" ences because He wants us to tell others about His "Yes, we are." salvation. He has not only given us an experi- "Now how did you come?" ence that we can talk about, but He has promised "We came by train." to give us power to witness for Him.
"But how did you get into the city?" When we should be "rivers of living water"
"By horse and cart.'" many times we are like the Samaritan woman's "Did you· see the Japanese soldiers at the city pitcher which was continually becoming empty gate ?" and had to be brought back to Jacob's well. Our "Yes, four of them, two at each side, fully capacity is so small that we easily become dried armed." up. We go to special meetings to be filled up; and "Then," he said, "how did you get past them, then go home to become dried up again. There is for the soldiers have been told not to let the Chi- water down deep in the well but we must go there nese go in or out without being examined and to draw it up. In the modern days we have the searched?" pump, but when we stop pumping the water stops
flowing. It is sadly true in the churches today sengers. They already had forty passengers and that somebody must pump all of the time or spir- the little boat was top-heavy, but that was the only itual life dries up. We must pump to keep the way we could go, so we committed ourselves into prayer meeting going; pump in the song service; God's care and went aboard. There wasn't any pump in the testimony meeting; all the work of private cabin so we had to sleep on the floor like the church has to be pumped, otherwise it will not sardines. There were crying babies all around go ahead. But the Holy Spirit cannot only fill our that took turns crying so that we could not sleep. hearts but will make us rivers of living water that The Yangtze River has many rapids. When we naturally flows out to others. A river does not came to a strong rapid the launch could not go on, need to be pumped, it flows itself and nothing can so cables were thrown out and the villagers, a coustop it. If each Christian will realize his need and ple hundred people, helped to pull the launch up come to the Lord Jesus Christ with a thirsty heart the rapids. Going through one of the rapids the and freely drink of the Water of Life, rivers of people were pulling and the engine was going to living water will flow out through him to others. its limit of power. Suddenly there was a terrific shake and a noise-the cable had broken. Our The prophet Ezekiel had a wonderful vision of ship was carried down by the power of the swift the river of living water (chapter 47). He saw stream and it seemed as if it would be dashed water issuing out of the altar of the temple. The right on a big rock. Then suddenly the ship was Holy Spirit came on the day of Pentecost so that lifted by the water and was landed right up on the 120 were filled with power. The Spirit came from rock. It was a miracle. The next question was the Holy of Holies as a river of living water. This how we could get the ship off the rock. The pas- River still flows today and we can have the same sengers were taken ashore in a rowboat and were privilege as the early disciples. Paul tells us that told to pull, but we could not move the boat. our bodies are temples of God when the Holy Spirit lives in them. If we want to overflow with Then I went behind the rocks to pray. I respiritual power and blessing we must be wholly minded the Lord that we were on His mission and dedicated to God. Then the Holy Spirit will be a should not delay any longer. The Lord told me to river flowing out through our lives. attend to my business and that He would attend to the boat, so I went back to distribute tracts and to There are four steps to the overflowing life as preach. Finally the boat was pulled off the rock pictured in Ezekiel. First the water reaches to to a place of safety. It was about four o'clock in the ankles. This means the guidance of the Holy the afternoon and we were told that the boat Spirit. How many times we so-called Christians would not go on that day, so we went to the vildo not walk after the Holy Spirit, but after the lage to preach and distribute tracts. We felt that flesh. Weare worldly and are interested in the our boat was not reliable so we again knelt on the things of the world; but if we would walk after river bank and prayed that the Lord would send the Spirit we would be spiritual. God will guide us a better ship and take us to our destination in us by the Holy Spirit, by His Word and also by time to keep our appointment. His providence, to the "green pastures beside the still waters" where our experience c~n be en- Before we had finished praying we heard a larged. whistle and suddenly a large steamer appeared. This was not a place where it usually stopped, so Next Ezekiel says that the water came up to the we asked the Lord that it might stop if this was knees. This denotes prayer. Christians and the boat for us. We watched with joy when it did churches do not have much power today because stop in the middle of the river. We hired a small they neglect prayer. The prayer room is less used row boat to take us to the steamer and asked if than the dining and social rooms. When we pray there were accommodations for us. Then I heard in the Holy Spirit prayer will become power, a man calling out, "Jesus man, Jesus man." A bringing real fellowship with God. We don't few seconds later a man with a smiling face, came know how to pray but the Holy Spirit can help us. and took my hand and said, "Are you Pastor When He leads us to pray we forget time and our Gih ?" souls are lifted up. The windows of Heaven are opened and blessings are poured down upon us. "Yes," I said. "How do you know?"
Members of the Bethel Band have experienced "I was in Shanghai and attended your confermany answers to prayer. The Band started out for ence and- heard you preach." West China, arrived at the Yangtze River, where we were to catch a boat going up to Szechuan. "That is good," I replied, and asked him if he We were in a hurry and wanted to catch the first could help us to get accommodations on this boat. boat. The river was so low that the large steam- He went to the manager and told him that our ers had to wait for the water to rise. There was party came from Bethel Mission. only a small river launch scheduled to sail up the river, and this launch could only carry twenty pas- "Why, my wife talks about Bethel Mission," re- plied the captain, "because she has a friend study-
THE BETHEL BANDS IN CHINA
ing there. If they are from Bethel Mission I will Many a soldier found the Lord before he was make special accommodations for them." killed. Many prized the tracts and Gospel por- tions given them, and read them in the trenches. We thanked God for the answer to prayer and went back to the small river launch to get our The Japanese airplanes were able to destroy the things. The next day we safely reached our desti- strong defensive lines and the Chinese had to renation. Later we learned that the day after we treat. The Bethel Band had to flee for their lives, left the small launch it went to the bottom of the and on their way they passed through a village river. where there was no way of getting out of danger. As our boys stopped to give a short message of In Ezekiel's vision the next measurement of the the Gospel, they heard the planes coming. The water was "up to the loins." This, I think, de- villagers asked the boys to go with them to hide notes humble service in the Holy Spirit. At the in the dug-outs which they had made but the boys "last supper" Jesus girded Himself with a towel refused to go. They remained in a little Gospel and washed the feet of His disciples. When we Hall, saying that if they were going Home they are obedient to the Holy Spirit, we will know how would rather go from the heavenly Father's to serve the Lord. How often we work in our house, so they knelt there in prayer and were preown power! We labor, but do not see any results. paring their hearts to go to Heaven at any mo- Before the day of Pentecost the disciples worked ment, when they heard a terrific noise and felt and preached, but there were no conversions; the foundation of the building shake. Something when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, in one hit the roof of the little Gospel Hall and they day three thousand were saved. . thought it was a bomb; but everything quieted down and they opened their eyes; they were still In 1932 there was war in North China between alive and so they thanked the Lord for His deliv- Japan and China. The papers reported the erance. The villagers who had hidden in the dugslaughter of Chinese soldiers because the Japa- outs had all been killed. The little Gospel Hall nese had airplanes and big guns while the Chinese was the only building left standing. They thanked lacked these modern weapons. Our Chinese boys God that before they returned to Shanghai they and girls at Bethel Seminary were greatly stirred had been able to lead over 2,000 soldiers to the and four young men especially seemed to have a Lord Jesus Christ. The time was war, the place definite call from God to go to the front to preach was dangerqus, the hearts were hard, yet they to the Chinese soldiers. They said, "Weare here worked in the power of the Holy Spirit and saw preparing for the ministry, yet our soldiers are over 2,000 soldiers converted. dying by the hundreds every day." We prayed for them and everything was ready for them to In our seminary young men and young women go except the money. Our mission is a "faith are trained to be evangelists, full of the Spirit of mission" and we don't keep reserve funds; so God. Their aim is to go out and preach to the these special undertakings must have special lost the message of the Gospel. May the Lord funds to meet them. Dr. Mary Stone was invited bless these young people, provide the needed funds to preach at a church in Shanghai and took two to take in those who cannot support themselves, of these boys, who called themselves Bethel War- and give them proper training so that they may zone Band. They told the people of their call and go out to preach the Gospel, to evangelize China. asked the people to pray for them. The people not only prayed for the boys but prayed that be- The last measurement that Ezekiel reports is a fore the soldiers should slip into eternity they river that he could not pass over, water to swim might have a chance to hear the Gospel from these in. This may denote the life lived wholly in the young people. The next day a special messenger Spirit. It is a life of liberty, a life of trust, a life came to Dr. Stone with an envelope containing of fruitfulness and power. Christians must first $300, with a note saying that since the sender be obedient, second must spend time in prayer, could not go to preach to the soldiers the money third in work for Him, and then we will have the was being sent to enable these young people to go. secret of living in the Holy Spirit. When we live in the Holy Spirit our life will be naturally fruit- The Bethel Warzone Band started forth to ful and the results will be far-reaching. The preach the Gospel, not only risking their lives in tragedy today is that many people want to expethe dangers of the war but also facing Chinese rience the Holy Spirit while in the church, but soldiers some of whom were angry. One soldier when they go back home, to business, to school, loaded his gun, threatening to shoot them if they to hospitals or to their societies they do not seek preached again. He said that China was invaded to have the Holy Spirit control them. We must by a foreign nation and yet these Chinese boys had not only believe in Christ, but we must live Christ. come to preach a foreign religion. It required bold- We should so live in the Holy Spirit that we will ness, with tact and wisdom, but the Lord was car- live victoriously. ing for them and they preached to the soldiers.
The prophet Ezekiel tells us that "at the bank catch nothing because the nets are broken. We of the river were very many trees on the one side not only need to go to preach to others but we and on the other." If there is not water the land need to take care of our nets by spending time in is dry and barren, but when the water comes the devotions, prayer and Bible reading so that our trees, grass and flowers will grow; the place will nets will be able to hold the fish. become beautiful and fruitful, for the water is life-giving. The water in the vision flowed into Ezekiel tells us about the fruits-new fruit a sea and the salt and bitter sea water was healed every month and leaves that shall not fade. We and made sweet. How many lives are filled with are to bring forth fruits all of the time. Green bitterness because of suffering and disappoint- leaves represent fresh testimonies because we rement. If Christians are filled with the Holy ceive new blessings every day. Some people give Spirit, their bitterness is turned into sweetness. as testimonies the yellow leaves many years old and repeat them over and over; people get tired Ezekiel also tells us that there were many kinds of hearing the same thing, but green leaves are of fish in the river. The Holy Spirit enables us new experiences. The leaves can be used for to become fishers for men, to lead souls to Christ. medicine for some needy souls who hear our testi- mony and are healed. Spiritual diseases can be There are several ways of catching fish. First cured by this medicine. with a hook-personal work, hooking them one by one. But sometimes the fish hooks just on the Do we desire to live in the Holy Spirit? Do we skin of the nose, and the fish is hurt-the skin is want to be fruitful and victorious and powerful? broken, and it flees away and never comes back. Do we want to live a life of joy and liberty? Then, When we do personal work we should not argue. beloved, let us give ourselves wholly to the Lord, We should be careful not merely to hurt the feel- so that our lives become sanctuaries of our heavings of the people, but gently to lead them by giv- enly Father. From the Holy of Holies these rivers ing them food. of Living Water flow out until many souls are won to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the life that He There is another kind of fishing, by casting nets wants us to live-lives of faith, of joyful satisfacto catch a number of fish. This is preaching in tion, of service and victory. public. Many times we preach in public and VOLUNTEERS WANTED FOR AFRICA* Young men and women with the spirit of adventurers and the devotion of crusaders; who are not afraid of hardship; who can play the game as goodspirtsmen; who can carry on as good soldiers-men and women, eyes aglow with vision, faces agleam with high resolve, hearts ready for service here in Africa, a good, good land even though Christopher Columbus didn't discover it.
The need is urgent. Reinforcement must be had. Our total working force numbers eighty-five. Only fifty-three are on the field. Our responsibility is enormous.
We need doct.ors. Only two are on the field, one away off on the periphery of the mis- sian; the other in charge of the large, modern hospital at Elat, itself a job for two doctors, and with the care and oversight of eleven of the mission stations,-an impossible task. We need some of the sterling stuff that had its counterpart ten years ago in young men return- ing from the wars. Where are they?
Four years ago we began a French Normal School at Foulassi with the expectation of placing there a force of three teachers. Instead, presently, there will be but one. We need teachers-men who, were the War still on, would be doing their bit as interpreters at the front.
Ten years ago we began an Agricultural School. For two years it has been closed- no agriculturist. Where is the Christian graduate of one of our Agricultural colleges who will volunteer for this big job, tremendous, rich in opportunity and promise?
This past year money has been pouring in for new buildings and repairs. Almost every station has large unused appropriations for buildings, urgently, pressingly, needed. Mis- sionaries now have more demands made upon them than they can meet, they can not build. We need builders. – Young men and women with the spirit of adventurers and the devotion of crusaders- come! The missionary enterprise calls, and above all Christ calls-"Who will come and work today" Come!!
• A call from The Drum Call, pubJished by the American Presbyterian Mission in Cameroun District, West Africa.
as Seen from
-'~l!;11 _In_d_ia===~II~- ===_B_y_V_._R=._C_H_AN=D=R_A_*,=M_a_d_ra_s_, I am sending to you a manuscript written by V. R. Chandra, The community acts like one man. They are cal- B.A., one of Dr. Ambedkar's men from Madras. I hope you can CUlating about the religious, social, political and economical consequences, should the eighty thoumake use of it in some publication as showing how Hinduism looks sand Untouchables join their fold. So do the Christians; so do the Sikhs. from the Inside and the bottom. Mr. Chandra went with us to the Malerkotla Jalsa, and was duly Impressed by the neat church and On the other hand, what do I find in the Hindu society? The Hindus are sleeping and snoring clean appearance of the Christians there, who are the sweepers of soundly. They are indifferent. They are immov- able. They are believers in "Karma" or "Kismet" the city streets. Indeed, I learned later that during the communion (or Fate); they think that what should happen will happen and so why bother! On the other service he wished to take part. One of our workers reminded him hand their religious leaders, the Sankaracharis that he was not baptized as a Christian; but he said, "But why should I not remember the Lord Jesus who gave His life for us Untouchables." He took part reverently, and no one wished It otherwise. India is indeed being shaken from the very foundations, and all religions are In the Providence of God being judged by these "who are not." The Christian Church is slowly awakening, but I feel we are not nearly so alive to the significance of all this as are the Sikhs and Mohammedans. I may add that It Is very diffi- cult to get such an article published in any except our Christian papers out here, as most of the larger publications are financed by Hindu money. REV. CLINTON H. LOEULIN, American Pre8byterian Mission, Jullundur City, Punjab.
SOCIALLY, religiously, politically, economi- and the Brahmin Pandits, are advising the Un- cally we, the people of India, have been the touchables to join any other religion which is a .slaves and helots of Hindu society, and branch of Hinduism or to start a new religion of consequently of other societies as well, for ages their own. This is unsolicited and unwanted and are even today being crushed down in spite advice to the Untouchables who know by now of the British Government. We have found out what to do and what not to do. Having crushed that the remedy for these wrongs lies in our hands us too long and too much, and incapable of eradi- and not in others. Dr. Ambedkar, than whom cating the darkest blot on humanity in the name there can be no better, nobler, worthier leader for of God and religion, it is not for them to advise us, has suggested a very easy remedy and it is for us now when we have already decided upon giv- us to carry out that suggestion into execution. ing up Hinduism and all its paraphernalia.
Ever since the great doctor made his announce- Now what are our sins that merit this great ment that emancipation of the Untouchables lies curse? We have been of great service to Hindu in the desertion of the Hindu fold and embracing society from time of yore. Weare washing your any other religion according equality and broth- latrines, we are sweeping your roads, we are erhood there is a stir in the religious, social and ploughing your fields, we are stitching your shoes political atmosphere unparalleled in this country -in short, we are a band of very useful servants or for that matter, in any other country, ever be- of human society, being also hewers of wood and fore. All other religions and societies are agi- drawers of water, working like bulls during day tated over the situation, except Hinduism and and night. The wages that we get are nothing Hindu society. rfhe Moslems, the Christians, the to the hard and the dirty work that we perform.
Sikhs and others have begun to think furiously Our position is nothing better than that of the and seriously about the situation created. I am slaves of Abyssinia and helots of ancient Greece going about the country for the last four months. and Rome. To such useful servants of the society Wherever I go I am struck by the wonderful mil- what is the treatment accorded? It is worse than itary dicipline that is actuating the Moslem com- the treatment meted out to pigs and dogs and munity in matters social, religious or political. donkeys! We are called "Untouchables"; we are excluded from society and are made to dwell in • An address by a Hindu, delivered at the Jullundur District Con- dirty and unsanitary slums both in towns and ference of Untouchables, June 15, 1936. A large number of dele- villages. Why? Is it because we eat beef? Do gates, numbering about 500, attended and great enthusiasm prevailed. not Europeans also eat beef? Do not some Mos- Hindu, Mussulman and Christian public watched the p·roceedings- lems eat beef? Don't you touch them? Then why the audience numbering about 1,500. Three resolutions were not touch us? We alone are untouchable. Why? adopted: the first expressing loyalty to the British throne, the They say we are unclean. They say we do dirty second voting full confidence in the leadership of Dr. Ambedkar work. They say we are latrine cleaners. Do not and condemning the misleading manumvres of almost all the so- your mothers and sisters clean the filth and excalled nationalist papers and the press of all and sundry denomina- creta of their children? Do you call them "Untions to pooh-pooh the activities of the accredited leader and the touchables"? Do they not serve you food? If we uncrowned king of the Adl-Dravldas (Untouchables) of this land. The third resolution appealed to the Untouchables throughout the land, saying that unless and until they give up completely the Hindu religion and all the paraphernalia of Hindu ceremony and worship, the so-called sacred books and beliefs, superstitions and pilgrimages to the so-called holy places and tltirthas, the community has no chance of any advancement either spiritually, socially, economically or politically.
[407 ]
are unclean, thanks to the nature of our work, it try there was a civilized race, the aboriginal race, is for society to allow us sufficient water conveni- an agriculturist race, called the Dravidians living ence and sufficient wages to keep us fit and neat in this country. Overpowered by numbers, and to be respectable members of society. You do not overpowered by bows and arrows of the Aryans allow us even drinking water. You do not allow (who lived by hunting) the Dravidians had to us to draw water from public wells and get into submit to the barbarous Aryan brute force. Those public tanks to wash off our dirt or to wash our of the Dravidians who meekly submitted to the clothes. Aryan yoke were given superior ranks, such as Kshatrias Vaisias and Sudras, and those who Anyone may be made an untouchable under stood strong and long and fought sternly and firmsuch conditions. Even if Mahatma Gandhi, Ma- ly were reduced to eternal slavery and dubbed lawiya, and the Sankaracharia could be shut up "Untouchables" or Chandalas. This historical in a room without any water facilities for three truth was recognized by even Mr. Winston days together they will be as clumsy and dirty Churchill in one of his speeches, meeting the castesmelling as any of the worst among the so-called Hindu-ridden-Congress-wallahs' threat of driving "Untouchables." Such being the case it is for the out the foreigners from this land bag and baggage. municipalities and union Panchayats and other The Aryans are as much foreigners to us-the agencies in charge of sanitation and health to see aboriginals-as Europeans. Perhaps even worse, that sufficient water is supplied to the "Untouch- being unsympathetic. able" quarters. But what do we see in actual practice? It is the touchable quarters that are sup- Then, the Aryans concocted the institution of plied any number of taps in towns and any num- Varnashrama Dharma or caste system, placing ber of wells in villages and the "Untouchables'" premium on birth. They divided the community quarters go almost without any. Under such cir- as the Head-born, Hand-born, Hip-born and the cumstances how can we fail to be unclean? Dogs Heel-born of the God-Head. They assigned no and pigs that eat the human excreta (including place in the God-Head as the origin of the Un- Untouchables') enter your houses and temples, touchables. The obvious inference is that the Unbut your conscience is not pricked, though you touchables came from the obviously understood are touched to the quick, as if by an electric shock, natural place, viz., from the womb of their moththe moment you consciously or unconsciously ers. No physiologist, no doctor would dispute this touch an Untouchable. The reasons that you as- inference. What about the four castes said to have sign to damn us as "Untouchable" are unreason- burst from the God-Head? Coming as they did able and unconvincing. What, then, is the real from unnatural places and non-human sources, cause for this unprovoked animosity against a it is not surprising that they have been behaving whole community for ages together? There is an from time immemorial, including the year of grace historical cause. There is a racial cause. 1936, unnaturally and inhumanly towards the nat- ural-born Untouchables. I was once discussing with a Sanathanist the question of Untouchability. I told him that due The Bible, the Koran, the Granth Sahib is open to Hindu conservatism and intolerance, the Hindu to all. They are published in different languages population which was the only population in In- of the world and everyone is requested to read dia, once upon a time numbering about 330,000,- including the Negro of Africa, and the Red Indian 000, has now dwindled to about 210,000,000, and of America. But the Vedas has been the monopthe rest of the Hindus have become either Mussul- oly of the Head-born, the Brahmin, and a sealed mans, Christians, Sikhs or Buddhists. He replied book to the otherwise-born. Noone but a Brahthat it was not so, that the number of Hindus min should read the Vedas, nay, not even hear it were only about 210,000,000 from the beginning chanted, lays down the Manusmirithi-the ancient and the rest of the population, viz., 120,000,000, law book of Hindustan. Pray what is the penalty? were formerly Rakshasas who gradually changed The tongue that reads the Vedas would be pulled into either Buddhists or Moslems or Christians or out, and the ear that hears it chanted should feel Sikhs and that Sanathanism was a divine crea- the molten lead. This is Hindu Dharma! Still, it tion; therefore no Sanathanist could ever be con- is the Hindu politicians that glorify the India of verted to any other religion. the past and attack the present administration of racial prejudice and discrimination. Yes! my brothers, there is no use of laughing over the statement. That only shows you have Mahatma Gandhi wants Sewarajya to be turned forgotten the history of your forefathers and that into Ram Rajya of old. He calls the present Raj the Sanathanist has not, for what is the historical the Satanic Raj, devoid of sympathy and imagbackground for this? You must remember when ination. Now I feel it my duty to illustrate Ram the barbarous Aryans, in search of food for Rajya by a story in Ramayan in the interests of themselves and for their cattle, entered this coun- Truth which Gandhi is never tired of experi-
HINDUISM AS SEEN FROM WITHIN
menting upon. During the reign of Ram over assertion when his own eldest son, Hira Lal Gan- Ajodhya, and Ram is considered the tallest of dhi, stands transformed into Abdulla Gandhi be- Aryans, a Brahmin and his son were bathing one fore an awe-struck and wondering world! No day in the Ganges. A crocodile stealthily snatched better reply, no more convincing answer need be away the boy. The broken-hearted Brahmin ran given to the Mahatmic egoism. to the palace of Ram and broke out thus: "Oh Ram Chandra! While I am living, my son is dead. The very people, the caste Hindus in general This should not happen in your Rajya, Ram and the Brahmin politicians in particular, are Rajya. There is something wrong with you, never tired of asserting Swaraj and self-deter- 'something is rotten in the State of Denmark.' mination to be their birth right, but it is they that Find out the cause and deliver my son into my deny, in the name of their religion and God, even hands, else be_ prepared for the curse of a Brah- the elementary civil rights to the so-called "Unmin." The great Ram, the great Avatar, began touchables." All temples are closed to us, some to shake in his shoes and commanded his brother roads are blocked to us, no wells and tanks are Lakshman to find out the cause at once. Laksh- open to us, riding on horses is not for us, no shoes man hurried out of the palace, and returning for us, no jewels for us, no umbrellas for us, no after some time told Ram that he had found chapels for us, etc., etc. Still no man, no nationout the cause for the incident-that a Sudra alist, no Hindustani, no congressman, and no Sonamed Samhoog was making Tapasya, or meditat- cialist came forward to form any "civil liberties ing upon God, in the forest. Ram asked his Brah- protection league" for us. The great president min Guru, Vashishta, regarding the punishment of the so-called Indian National Congress talks tall for such a crime, viz., the breaking of the Varnash- on Socialism but he had no word to say against ramadharmic rule. Vashishta turned the pages of Varnashrama or Caste System. He has only one Manusmirithi, the then law book of India, and sentence, and that a very short sentence, in his read out that capital punishment alone could meet long presidential address to say about untouchthe ends of justice and commanded Ram to carry ability which is considered to be the burning quesout the punishment by his own hand. Ram ac- tion of the day. He carries on a tirade against cordingly hastened to the forest and did "justice" imperialism, landlordism and capitalism but has by chopping off the head of the "criminal." And entirely, and, conveniently forgotten Brahminism lo! and behold the crocodile restored the child! which has been corroding the very vitals and This, my brothers, is Ram Rajya and Dharma poisoning every department of Indian Society in Rajya for which the great Mahatma is yearning general, and Hindu society in particular. Blood day and night, in and out of jail as well as in and is thicker than water, and the great Kashmiri out of politics! Pandit has only proved it to its very hilt. It is the irony of Indian politics that the political ex- And when our leader suggested conversion to tremists prove social reactionaries, as the late Dr. some other religion as the only proper remedy to T. M. Nair of revered memory once observed. get relief from such a Ram Rajya and from such a religion and society that is trying its best to Socialism is a thing by which the Untouchable bring about such an unfortunate contingency, has everything to gain and nothing to lose and the Mahatma said that none has any right to as such he wiII never be shy of being a Socialist change one's faith and that one's faith dies only but then, if the agitators, with the slogan of Sowith one's death. What an extraordinary dictum cialism on their lips, should try to distract the this! If there should be any rhyme or reason or present determined position of the Untouchables any logic in this, then, all other religions except to renounce Hinduism for obvious reasons and Hinduism, which is as old as barbarism itself, embrace any other religion based on equality and stand condemned. According to Mahatmic asser- brotherhood, then such deep diplomacy should tions, Lord Budda, Lord Jesus Christ, Prophet meet with strong resentment, and should be Mohammad, the Ten Gurus of the Sikhs, etc., (all treated with the contempt it deserves. of whom, so to say, revolted against Hinduism or heathenism, conservatism or barbarism and . We have tasted enough of Hindu diplomacy. preached perfect fraternity) ought to have gone We have found it so bitter and suffocating that on bended knees before this great Mahatma to we do not want any more. By now all Untouchget sanction for breaking away from their re- ables should have come to know the deep and the spective faiths in which they were born and es- dark diplomacy underlying the Poona Pact. How tablishing new ones for the glory of humanity did it come about ?-the Communal Award grant- ed separate electorate to the Untouchables. Mahatand to the eternal shame of Hinduism. Alas what ma Gandhi protested against such a "calamity" an open revolt against Mahatmic inj unctions! and began his now notorious fast unto death to and now comes the fatal knock to the Mahatmic coerce the unfortunate Untouchables to walk into the joint electorate. Days and weeks passed. The
Mahatma was choking. His son, Mr. Deva Dass a garland of human heads round her neck, a Gandhi, was weeping. And other Hindu leaders tongue a yard long hanging out, four hands, one assembled round Gandhi's bed were shedding with a raised blood-stained sword, another holdtears-but only crocodile tears. That was the ing a chopped off human head, the third with a scene created before the eyes of Dr. Ambedkar vessel to hold the dripping blood. This figure is adand other Untouchable leaders. How could the dressed by the crowding devotees as the Loka doctor, coming as he does of the Untouchables, Matha or the Great Mother of the Universe! who, historically as well as practically, even unto Daily sacrifices of goats and buffaloes are made this day would rather submit to all sufferings at to appease her thIrst. Even human sacrifices others' hands than retaliate, persist in the midst were made in pre-British days. It is indeed a of such a heart-rending scene? At last Dr. glowing tribute to the British flag that Kali has Ambedkar "succumbed" to the coercion. A very lost taste for human blood now! Among her enchanting picture was drawn that a new heaven devotees may be counted eminent Bengalees of would be created on this old earth and that every light and leading, such as Arobindo Ghose, Dr. conceivable social, religious, political, economical Tagore, etc. Still, "what Bengal thinks today and educational facility would be given to the the rest of India thinks tomorrow," boasts the Untouchables on a par of equality with the Hin- Bengalee. I stared at the figure. The more I dus. It is now nearly five years and nothing has looked at it the more I disliked it. She is obviousbeen done, not even one promise carried out ex- ly to my mind a great enemy of mankind wearcept that a new name "Harijan" has been coined ing a garland of human heads and holding a hufor us and a big fund collected in our name for man head dripping with blood. Perhaps she rep- Congress propaganda or perhaps it has gone the resents a bloodthirsty Aryan "demon" in womanway of Tilak Swarajya Fund and other such form who should have massacred a number of funds. Poona Pact is a bundle of broken pledges. my ancestors-the Dravidians. For no other rea- It is another Manusmirithi written with the blood son would an Aryan, a Brahmin, a High Caste of the Untouchables to tie them to the intolerant Hindu worship such an ugly, atrocious and aweand tyrannical Hindu yoke and to reestablish a striking figure. I was wondering why Gazni Mo- Hindu Raj, a Ram Raj, once again in this coun- hammad should not have paid a short visit to try. The Untouchables are going to taste the bit- Kalighat! ter fruits of the Poona Pact for the first time in April next when the new constitution sets to work. One day as I was bathing in one of the ghats It is the Peters and Judas Iscariots among the near the Howrah Bridge, I saw two people emp- Untouchables that are going to be backed by the tying two big vessels of milk into the Ganges Caste Hindus; it is the Vibhishanas and Hanu- costing at least Rs. 10/-1 coul~ not bear the mans among the Untouchables that will poll heav- sight, and asked them why they did it. They said ily, thanks to the Divide and Rule policy of the that Ganga Matha liked such offerings and that Hindus; it is the traitors and betrayers of the they only carried out a former promise to her. sacred cause of the Untouchables that will be re- Just then some coal dust was coming along the turned to the legislatures to be but the hand- waters obviously thrown out from some steammaids of Hindu politicians. boat. I pointed the spot to them and remarked that their Ganga Matha could not discriminate Apart from the social and religious inferiority between milk and dust! They simply smiled and and superiority complex nursed and nurtured by went away. Hinduism, economically also it is a big waste and drains the hard-earned resources of rich and Another day I witnessed in one of the bazaars poor alike. Besides, it breeds and encourages all two Hindus feeding cows and bulls with gur from foolish ideas, inhumanities, superstitions and im- two big baskets. Just then about four or five possible beliefs. Ever since I went through Miss beggars, including two children-all skin and Mayo's "Mother India" I desired to go through bones-dressed in tatters, stood stretching their North India to see things for myself. Since the boney hands begging for a piece of gur. The two last four months I am going around. I spent a Hindus would not give them anything but only scolded them, stretching their hands and legs and month in Calcutta. The first place I visited in heads to beat them and asking them to run away Calcutta naturally was the Kalighat. The moment from the place. This was appalling to me. I ar- I set my foot into the precincts of the temple I gued with them and pointed out to them their felt the atmosphere so deadly and nasty-smell- unreasonable and unsympathetic attitude towards ing that I had to close my nostrils as if I had their own kind while being so over solicitous and entered some fish market or beef market. I ap- over charitable to nonhuman beings. They said proached the sanctum santorum and I saw the in reply that the beggars and the sufferers in this huge figure of "Goddess" Kali with a huge head, world were condemned by God as a result of their
"Karma" and that it was a great sin to go against ers, camphor, incense, bread, fruits, sweetmeats, the will of God and that He would be angry with and what not. "Mother India is poor" is the slothem and displeased with them should they help gan of the "patriot" and he stretches his hands the poor. What a high and soul-stirring philos- towards the west for this poverty. I wish a pubophy! lic enquiry committee would look into this waste and place it side by side with the much maligned While crossing the Ganges bridge near Be- military budget! There are innumerable Dharamnares, my nap was slightly disturbed by sounds salas Chatrams and choultries throughout India. as if several stones were thrown on the carriage. There are nearly 360 Chatrams in the "holy" city Just then I saw the one sitting by my side throw- of Benares alone. Poverty is no basis of feeding ing something into the river. I asked him what. in these Chatrams. Birth and caste alone is the He said that he threw a rupee into the Ganges as deciding factor. "For Brahmins only" is the writpromised. I remonstrated with him that while ten and the unwritten law of these so-called charhe had not the mind to give a pice to the old and itable institutions. So much is made of color bar blind beggar, yet he was so liberal with the and the Brahmin politicians attack the Govern- Ganges which could have no use for it and from ment and the Europeans for it. Has anyone which it could never be recovered. He assured among them till now said or done anything against me that in return for the one rupee that he gave this discriminative feeding. Still they swear by Ganga Matha was going to bless him with a lakh Socialism! All sorts of imaginary exploitations next year. What a fine investment! Such "in- by Europeans should be violently condemned but vestments" range from one pice to one rupee and the actual exploitations by Brahmins in every one hundred rupees, and in the case of merchant walk of life should be silently ignored! That is princes and Maharajas and Maharanis even sov- the Brahmin ethics, that is his social game, his ereigns and precious jewels costing thousands of political game, that is his dirty game everywhere. rupees are deposited into the depths of the Ganga He is not only exploiting the people in every pos- Matha. Still, "Mother India" is poor, thanks to sible and conceivable way but has made them the Satanic Government," prates the Hindu poli- fools and idiots in the name of religion and God tician! and is daily injecting, inventing and encouraging all sorts of false beliefs and foolish ceremonies "Dressing the Ganga Matha" was another of and customs. The Brahmin has captured religion, the scenes that I saw in Benares. A long line of captivated the society and even today dominates boats were stationed in a line from one bank of politics. There are parties and parties and the the river to the other and all the boats were cov- Brahmin politicians figure prominently in every ered by a long stretch of new cloth. After the party. They may make nice distinctions between pooja was over, lasting for nearly an hour, the parties, they may carryon even some word-fights whole cloth was bundled and thrown into the -all pillow fights-with a view to mislead the center of the river and proper care was taken to public as they have done in the religious sphere, see it was well drowned. The cloth could have but all of them, if you slightly scratch them, will easily dressed at least 200 beggars appearing be black communalists. The Brahmins have been almost naked in the streets of Benares, but then, the lagos of Indian affairs either in Hindu Raj, Hinduism and Hindu society wills it otherwise. Muslim Raj, Sikh Raj or British Raj. So long The burning ghats in the midst of human habita- as the designing and unscrupulous Brahmin tion in Benares, causing nuisance and poisoning priest and politician is occupying the present the atmosphere and spreading disease, speak vol- strong position that he does today and the other umes of the civic and sanitary consciousness of misguided Hindus follow his lead, only one course Hinduism and Hindu society! And the Govern- is open to us Untouchables, viz., to give up the ment is pledged to non-intervention in religion! Hindu fold completely with all the paraphernalia of Hindu ceremony and worship, the so-called While bathing again in the Ganges at Harid- sacred books and beliefs, superstitions and pilwar, I was horror-struck to find a Marwadi wom- grimages to the so-called holy places and Thirthas an throwing five shining fresh silver rupees into -all which were invented to drain our poor rethe waters-perhaps to propitiate for the sins of sources-and embrace any other religion practicher husband or son dealing in money-lending busi- ing as well as promising equality and brotherhood ness which is of a blood-sucking nature. There is and salvation not only after death but in this life no end to what the Hindu people throw into the as well. Ganges from its very sources, all along its course, and up to the point of its emptying into the Bay of Bengal-money, milk, honey, curds, ghee, flow-
Indian Womanhood Owes to Christ*
~J,!,;;l=====B;o;;Y;o;;M;o;;R;o;;S;o;;';o;;M;o;;O;o;;H;o;;I;o;;N;o;;I;o;;D;o;;A;o;;S;o;;S====~II~'- T HE only, reason why I am standing before In the so-called depressed races of the world to- you today is that, though a nominal Chris- day there are many who are not in the least tian for many years, it was just five years "depressed," who hold their heads high, but, view- ago that I discovered for myself the wonderful, ing the situation as a whole, I maintain that, as life-changing power that Jesus Christ can bestow for suppressed individuals and races in general, on those who accept Him whole-heartedly. Since so for women, Jesus by His teachings and His then, the greatest desire of my life is that others, life opened a new door of opportunity. Listen to too, may know of this marvellous Force which has what Jesus proclaimed at the very outset of His transformed the lives of so many individuals and ministry. He said, "The spirit of the Lord is upon races, from a life of suppressed potentialities to me, because He hath anointed me to preach the one of power and usefulness. Gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the Glance for a moment at the history of the world, broken hearted, to preach deliverance to the cap- with special reference to the condition of women, tives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set and you will see that in olden times there was at liberty them that are bruised." He taught hardly a country where women were not treated therefore that oppression and the suppression of more or less as members of a Depressed Class. the individuality of anyone is wrong, be he man Look at Japan. There was a time when no Jap- or woman. In the olden days it was customary anese woman was allowed to scale the sides of for the Jews to have more than one wife. Jesus the sacred mountain, Fujiama, for fear of defiling realized that this "bruises" the self-respect of a it. woman, so, when questioned by the Pharisees on Turn to China. In olden days, more often than the subject, He laid down that a man should have not, girls, when born, were exposed to die. Dur- one wife and "they two shall be one flesh . . .
ing the days of the Old Testament the Jew gen- therefore they are no more two, but one flesh."
erally prayed as follows: "Lord, I thank Thee Listen to what is laid down for the guidance of that Thou didst not make me a woman, or a leper, the followers of Jesus in the New Testament: or a Gentile." "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither In our own India it has been taught that if a bond nor free, there is neither male nor female, man's deeds in this life are not what they should for ye are all one in Christ Jesus."
be, he may be born a woman or dog in the next. Jesus proclaimed this new principle to the world Turn to Europe, to Africa, and, indeed, to any -this principle of equal opportunities for all- country the world over before the coming of for all whose individualities have been sup- Christ, and you will find that generally speaking, pressed, whether they be men or women, and the condition of women at that time was more what was the result? Wherever His teachings or less that of a depressed class. They were often took root the condition of woman began to alter.
classed with "dogs" and "lepers"; Their condi- She became not just a glorified courtesan and tion in every way was, generally speaking, the housekeeper, but a home-maker, a companion to condition of a "depressed" or "suppressed" race. her husband and a fit mother for bringing up his I stand here to witness, and I challenge anyone children.
to repudiate the statement, that it is Jesus and A famous European scholar has propounded His teachings which have permeated the world the theory that, very probably, the ancient civ- and have caused the women of the world to stand ilizations of the world crumbled away because in erect as useful members of the community, and of those days woman was not given her proper the race. place in the home and in society as a whole', Con- True, this does not mean that in the years be- sider the proposition for a moment and it will fore the Good Tidings that Christ brought to the strike you as one that is reasonable because it is world, all women were classed as dogs and lepers. the woman in the home who has the care of the • An address delivered at the All-India Depressed Classes Con- children in their most impressionistic years and ference in Lucknow. May 22. 1936, it is the children who are the promise of the fu- [412 ] ture. What your children are, not only physically Indian Christian women drawn from the Debut morally and intellectually, will be what your pressed Classes, but now teaching, among others, race is, and your children will be more or less the children of Brahmins-looked up to and rewhat their mothers are. It is the woman too who spected by them. And this one example is typical outside the home must help in tackling the prob- of many institutions in the Punjab and in this lems which affect her and her children, for it is Province, and in fact, all over India. she who has the best knowledge of these problems. Again, the Indian Christians of one of our prov- The new idea regarding women, which was inces chose a woman to represent them in their thrown out into the world by Jesus Christ, has Legislative Council because of her outstanding resulted in a revolution the world over, a revolu- ability, and that woman was drawn from the Detion that astounds one in its tremendous implica- pressed Classes, but she was now an honored tions. I have time to cite only a few outstanding member of a Christian group which probably incases of the effect of this revolutionary teaching cluded some formerly Brahmin and Kshatriya on the women of the world in general and of India converts. in particular. Right here in this very city about five or six Listen-the very first college for women estab- years ago the Legislative Council was meeting in lished in Asia was established by a Christian the magnificent Baradari, once the home of the woman. I refer to Isabella Thoburn College for Women, in this very city. The first hospital Ruler of Oudh and his 150 wives. A resolution founded in Europe was founded by a Christian woman. The Red Cross, an association that has was put to the house regarding the entry of womdone such invaluable work for the alleviation of en into the Council. One of the supporters of the suffering, was initiated by Florence Nightingale, resolution rose, and looking up at the ladies' gala Christian woman. lery, thronged with visitors, mostly past and pres- ent students of our Isabella Thoburn College for True, and we thank God for this, the flower of women, said "How can we do anything but pass emancipated womanhood is now blooming every- this resolution with the pressure that is being where, but from whence came its seed? It is ob- brought to bear upon us from the galleries." This vious to a student of history that the seed was "pressure" was from the past and present stuthe principle of equal opportunities for all, in- dents of a Christian college for women! jected into the world by Jesus Christ nearly 2,000 years ago. Brothers, we are quite conscious, just as you are, that there are many so-called followers of the Why turn to other lands? Just consider our Lord Jesus who are not really His followers, and own motherland. Of the three communities in who are surely crucifying Him afresh by their India which rank the highest with respect to num- actions and their words, but we would entreat you bers, the Indian Christians are placed third in to consider what the Lord Jesus has accomplished order of numerical value, but rank first of these the world over as well as in India through those three communities with respect to the literacy of who have sought to follow their Master wholetheir women. And, mark you, 90 per cent of this heartedly. And we would assert once again that Protestant Indian Christian community are from not only did Jesus initiate the idea of release from the so-called "Depressed Classes"-once sup- bondage to oppressed men and women the world pressed but now equal members of a glorious over, but that He has accomplished through His Kingdom. sincere followers this release, this newness of life in India and the world. Stop for a moment and see what is happening. In both mission schools and hospitals the daugh- Brothers, have I helped you to see, even in a ters of so-called Depressed Classes, now Chris- small way, the potentiality of that Force released tians, are teaching and tending the children of nearly 2,000 years ago, and still energizing in the Brahmins! Untouchables? What has happened? living present ?-the Force that worked as leaven They are Untouchables no longer, for Jesus has and revolutionized the position of women, as that touched them! Come with me to Kodikanal in of all suppressed peoples? If so, my purpose is South India, climb its highest peak and you will accomplished. I am not here to make glowing see stretched out on the plains below many vil- promises. I only point to the sources of tremenlages nestling among the trees. These villages dous power, power that has transformed those of have schools run by local boards, and three out your number who have accepted Jesus, power that of every four of the teachers in these schools are has tremendous possibilities, if accepted by you who are the leaders of your people.
New Era of Foreign
By JULIUS RICHTER, D.D., Berlin, Germany Author of "Missions in India," "Missions in the Near East," etc.
THERE is widespread agreement that we are nearer proximity and greater eagerness than ever passing through a new crisis in the foreign before, and when humanistic or atheistic or anti~ missionary movement. Since the first com~ religious philosophies at the same time are claim~ mon experience of the whole race in the World ing world-wide allegiance, it is becoming more War, the rapidly extending communications, tele~ and more a question of life and death for the graph, radio and wireless, railroad, steamboat Christian Church to proclaim triumphantly and and airship all compete to bring individuals and with new tongues that there is no other salvation nations all the world over near to one another as for the human race than in Christ Jesus.
one big family with the same problems and It is true that at present there are many achievements. The occidental civilization, like a hindrances which impede any rapid advance and rising tide, is penetrating even the remote corners that threaten to bar the way of further advance.
of the globe and is irresistibly changing its back~ The financial stringency in consequence of the ground. world depression is immediately pressing into The system of the family of nations is out of view; in Germany it is excluding all financial joint. Agriculture and industry easily produce subsidies for the foreign field, beyond a meagre overwhelmingly more than the impoverished race allowance for the missionaries' salaries. Shall is able to buy. So half the race is lingering on our foreign missions be starved out, just at the the point of starvation whilst the other half is time when the rapidly advancing impoverishment ruthlessly discarding its useless surplus and thirty of the peasant millions of Asia are iess than ever or more millions of unemployed have no scope able to provide church finances? Nationalism neither for life nor for death. Whilst world everywhere creates pride in one's own cultural traffic is laying down all separating walls, nation~ heritage, but in many countries this goes hand alisms are everywhere building up even higher in hand with a recrudescence of the primitive re~ barriers and dire necessities of self-preservation ligions so that Christianity is looked at askance are squeezing down interchange of commerce to as a part of foreign imperialism, all the more ab~ paltry barter between neighboring countries. The horring because it is looked upon as creating for~ missionary movement of the Christian churches eign . cultural groups in the heart of a nation.
falteringly is seeking its way through the gen~ During the greater part of the last century Prot~ eral confusion and the kaleidoscopically changing estant missions had a fairly free field, distances scene. being great and the field large; the Roman Cath~ There are large tasks and alluring vistas be~ olic competition, though hitting sorely in many fore us. The more than one hundred fifty mil~ places, was not considered particularly dangerous.
lion primitive and animistic peoples, in Africa, This situation is changing rapidly. Under the Oceania and many parts of Asia, are rapidly dis~ ingenious leadership of the popes Leo XIII and intregrating religiously and culturally. It may Pius XI, the Roman Catholic propaganda is cov~ be a question of only a few generations before ering the globe with a close net of missionary they will be absorbed by the stronger religions dioceses, vicariates, prefectures, and missions.
busying themselves about them. A carefully Year by year new monastic orders, missionary planned campaign and an energetically pursued societies, brotherhoods and sisterhoods are enter~ crusade might cause these millions to be integrated ing the foreign fields; hundreds of priests, breth~ into the Christian Church. The Roman Catholic ren and sisters are swelling their ranks and al~ Church is already dreaming of a Roman Catholic ready in many fields they outnumber the meager continent of Africa. Many mission fields seem Protestant forces. This advance of Roman Ca- slowly to pass from the period of a slow knocking tholicism in the world-wide crusade is a loud at closed doors to a landslide when mass move- challenge to the conscience of Protestant Chris- ments sweep tens of thousands into the church tians. .
and the missionaries look around for companions What then shall we do in this emergency?
to bring in safely the breaking nets. The task of Some parts of our duty appear to be evident. Let world-wide and powerful evangelism has never evangelical forces join ranks; cooperation is the been greater than at present. When the great call of the hour. If Protestant missions are in world religions are confronting each other at danger – as they really are – it is disastrous to [414 ] dissolve into unorganized, independent groups, state of adolescence, are acknowledged as of full without a concerted plan of action; it would be age there remain the hundreds of millions of their own fault if they are pushed aside and their pagans so that the task of the "sending countries" praiseworthy endeavors, sanctified by prayer and is not diminished but is rather increased. We self-sacrifice, prove futile. The work of the In- may ardently hope that the "younger" churches, ternational Missionary Council and of the Na- in their youthful vigor and enthusiasm, will . tional Christian Councils in many countries and grapple energetically with their surrounding mis- of similar enterprises has never been more needed sionary problems but it is clear that every bit of than at present. The leadership of the Christian help that the sending countries may be able to movement in many countries, particularly in Asia, provide will be needed in an enterprise far sur- is passing from the "older" to the "younger" passing even the most strenuous exertions. churches. On the side of the "older" churches there will be a generous acknowledgment of the Syncretism has always been a lurking danger particular responsibility of those "younger" when Christianity was confronting foreign re- churches and an unreserved willingness to give ligions; even so, agnosticism was a danger when them full scope for the development of their yet the young Christian religion for the first time untried forces and inexperienced methods, even emerged into the world of Greek philosophy. if their ways sometimes may seem curious and Wide-spread relativism also resulted from the not very practical. The older generation of the rapprochement of Christianity, Islam and Juda- missionaries has learned much from its failures ism at the time of the crusades. Similar syncre- and mistakes. There are many complicated ques- tistic tendencies will be unavoidable in the mixing tions with regard to church property, colleges, and meddling of various types of religions and universities, hospitals, literary undertakings, and philosophies at the present age. Perhaps at no other establishments and organizations, where time has there been greater need for a hallowed knotty problems are to be solved through further theology soundly based on the divine revelation in cooperation; this includes the handing over of Holy Scripture; the task of the theological fac- partial or complete ownership to the "younger" ulties at home and abroad was never more urgent churches, and maintenance of their original scope. than in the present emergency. Often there will be a wide divergence of the opin- ions, or even convictions, on both sides; their In view of the world-wide issues, the dwindling readjustment needs an exceptional measure of missionary forces, the threatening hindrances, sanctified common sense in an unbiased considera- and the overwhelming tasks to be solved, our con- tion of the common end in view. Even if all fidence is only in the Lord of lords. "younger" churches, which are at present in the It is Thy cause, Lord Jesus Christ, The cause on which we stand, And as Thy cause alone, in the end it cannot fail.
DR. CARROLL'S CODE AT EIGHTY * [EDITOR'S NOTE: In publishing the following "Code" exactly as it has came to us-title and all~t is perhaps necessary to say that "Carroll" is Rev. Charles W. Carroll, D.D., Superintendent Emeritus of the Middle Atlantic Cowference, widely knrYWn u,nd well beloved throughout the Congregu,tional !ellow'ship. The "Code" has worked so well in his case thu,t it may be wisely c01nmended to others.] I. BE PREPARED to live in an imperfect world filled with imperfect people. Never become embittered by any calamity; even the death of your beloved. For these things must come.
II. START OUT to live a victorious life. Like Paul, smile in the face of every disaster. Never whine. III. FIT YOURSELF for an occupation which you love. Then learn to work and play and pray, and live the Jesus way. IV. GIVE YOUR BODY and mind every possible chance to get and to retain their normal vigor. Avoid all enslaving habits. Be a free man, or woman, even in this cigaret age. V. KEEP FIT; Think straight; Get a competence; Found a home; Find a faith. VI. SET OUT TO FIND and to stress the good in the world and in the people. Recognize evil only when you can mend it. Be an inveterate optimist. VII. PLAN TO HELP all needy folk you meet, by helping them into self-mastery. Ask little; give much; and make all the people with whom you come in contact glad they have met you. VIII. FEAR NOTHING but sin. An honest man or woman has nothing to fear, for he or she is guilty of nothing. The worst the world can do with such a person is to hasten his death. Soon or late that comes to everyone. Fear is our most enervating foe. Perfect love casteth out all fear. IX. BEHOLD a personal Father in all nature: His tender love in the sunshine and the flowers; His magnificent power in the tempest. Let His world teach you beauty and strength. X. TRUST GOD in every experience of this life; and fall on eternal sleep assured that the mystery of the future is in the keeping of One who loves you with a perfect love.
"I know not where God's islands lift Their fronded palms in air; I only know I cannot drift Beyond His love and care."
• From The Congregationalist.
Youth Looks at
By the REV. CHAS. A. PLATT, ~, East Orange, New Jersey I Assistant Minister of the Munn Avenue Church A CONFERENCE table! Around it are gath- effect he has upon the personal, social and political ered a group of twenty young people of lives of the people, and what motivating power college age or older. They have come to- sent him there in the first place. 'These are factgether to begin a study of some definite religious finding queries, not argumentative footballs to be topic each week during the winter. What sub- kicked about a conference table. They lead to a ject will best enable us to view Christianity in the greater understanding of the whole enterprise and face of today's problems? Is Christ's faith and are fundamental in determining questions of pol- life being carried along by the momentum it icy after the subject is mastered. To argue gathered in a by-gone age, or has Christianity whether missions are good or bad is to attempt to within itself a power strong enough to face our determine a policy before we know the problem.
materialistic world? Every thinking person will agree, regardless of To answer such questions we must view Chris- his other convictions on the subject, that the mis- tianity on the frontier where it stands or falls on sionary enterprise is the most unselfish activity its own merits. Stripped of local tradition, and in the world. Any man who will bury himself in having been transplanted into a new philosophical the heart of a jungle, or lose himself in the midst and social climate, one could see the workings of of a hostile mining community, without thought the Christian enterprise in its primary stages. of remuneration or recognition, is certainly un- This is just what the group wanted. What better selfish in the true sense of the word. Therefore, vantage point could be found than to look at he must have been spurred on by a great ideal or Christianity through the eyes of the missionary? loyalty which would cause him to make stich a Thus we began a year's course in missions. It sacrifice. What is that ideal? How effectively was not a select group, but one which could be has he been able to realize it? Has that ideal duplicated in a hundred different communities. helped or hindered the people to whom he has There was no common background, except youth gone? These questions point out the path which and new-found friendships, There were eight col- leads to truth.
leges represented by actual students, and a larger Youth is making a valiant attempt to fit the number of institutions by alumni. But from this whole missionary enterprise into the picture of varied background and experience, there arose one international relations. In so doing, he finds one strong common bond-interest in missions. of the strongest arguments in favor of Christian Our first question was, "Do you believe in for- mISSIOns. One glance at the panorama of this eign missions?" Instead of the usual thoughtless modern world reveals how much closer together answer, "There's too much to be done at home," people are living now than in any previous genthe group replied, "How can we know what we eration. The old world of Africa and Asia is believe or do not believe until we know something no longer a month's or year's journey by land and more about the subj ect?" They had found the sea. The peoples and problems of these lands are key to understanding the missionary enterprise. a part of our daily life. We read the news, we Before making up' their minds, either for or see the pictures, we think of them as neighbors. against the great work, they determined to study We recognize the folly of any attempt on the part the subject from an inductive point of view. of America to live a self-contained, self-sufficient When youth looks at missions he does not neces- life. We must approach the other peoples of the sarily argue. In fact, if he does, he is apt to world as_ part of one great family. This implies spend all of his time polishing arguments instead industrial and political intercourse. Should'it not of searching for truth. Therefore, to approach also mean religious fellowship?
the subject from an inductive point of view is the Youth reasons that if we are sufficiently inter- most helpful because it is the most progressive. ested in Africa to develop its natural resources We want to know, says youth, what the mission- and use it as a market for industry, why should ary does for a community, what he teaches, what we not be just as much interested in sharing with [416 ] these people what we believe to be the best phase view of our religion opens the door to a blessed of our civilization, namely, Christ and His teach- faith. ings? Too often the industrialization of a primi- tive land means its exploitation. We too often Then there arises a more batHing problem. send our worst; let us also send our best. The What about missions and Christianity's modern balance of influence must favor righteous living competitors? No ancient religion is encroaching . and the ideals of brotherhood if America is to upon the realm of Christianity, but materialism, build for a better future. rationalism and secularism are its most potent enemies. How does Christianity measure up when Youth is idealistic. He is seeking to adjust his confronted with Communism, Fascism, or ma- thinking and his actions to the ide:;tls which he terialistic humanism? What has the religion of cherishes. And in missions he sees a purely un- Christ to offer a world just awakening socially selfish attempt to help make mankind better. He and industrially? In many a mission land, the sees other religions holding civilizations on the modern trend is away from its established reli- low level of ignorance, hatred, indifference, gion-Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, or Confucian- selfishness, and Christianity raising humanity in ism. Will the people of such a land embrace to- every instance to higher levels. Christ-through talitarianism, a superpatriotism, an aggressive His missionary-must be the answer-the only nationalism, or Christianity?
answer. Is the moderp youth interested in missions? Religion is a complex thing in even its simplest Of course he is! He loves romance, he longs for news from strange places and about strange peo- forms. Yet behind its outward aspects and within pIe; he thrills at courageous adventure; and the its ramifications, there seem to be two funda- fire of his interest is kindled anew by reports that mentals absolutely necessary for effective life and stimulate his imagination. Paint a vivid picture fellowship with God: They are sincerity and of life on the Tibetan frontier or in the wilds of truth. Without the former in the heart of the Africa, or a winter in northern Alaska, or among believer and the latter at the heart of the religion, the Indians in the great southwest, and you have there can be no real progress to higher things. captivated youth. Give him facts, something defi- Youth takes these two principles and uses them nite to cling to; give him a practical, working ap- as a test of all religions. He sees evidences of the plication of the abstract truth in religion. He sincerity of millions who worship a multitude of wants to be definite, he wants to know. Expose gods. He sees some truth in every faith, but him to the Christian missionary enterprise and amid them all, he sees faith in Christ as the reve- you bring his soul closer to the Kingdom of God. lation of God standing far above and beyond the others. He sees in that faith a basis for an THE SCULPTOR OF THE SOUL eternal hope which spurs men on, and a love which is as broad as humanity itself. As the sculptor works in wood and stone I would devote myself to the living soul. Let there be no mistake. Youth also sees many But I face the solemn thought that the sculptor evidences of insincerity, hypocrisy, sham, and in- difference hiding beneath the cloak of Christian- cannot carve either in wood or in stone any- ity. But being idealistic, he recognizes these thing better than himself. faults as evidence of human weakness rather than All the lines of my carving as signs of theological fallacy. Christianity, he Will but reveal my own soul. says, is the true solution of the world's problems, Gazing at my hand, at my chisel, I shudder. and the work of Christian missions is the .method How long will it take for this human sculpture by which its frontiers are advanced. which I can never carve better or finer than my own soul? .Furthermore, the missionary approach to reli- How shall I escape! how escape from my pitiable, gion is the positive approach. It counterbalances limited self, and rise to become a carver of the vast amount of current religious argument. God! In a very real sense this approach is the evan- gelistic approach. It must be. No youth can Happily there is a guide for me, understand Christian missions until he has probed One Who has opened the door of the sanctuary, deeply into the positive statements of faith with One Who in His living flesh which the successful missionary is armed. He Has given us an Image of the living God. must understand and know the importance of hav- ing great convictions about the Sovereignty of -Toyohiko Kagawa. God; the Person of Christ and His Mission; about sin and the needs of men; as to divine power and the place of the Holy Spirit. Such a
Filipino Superstitions
I -&( By MASON LOWE, Mount Vernon, Iowa I)at- ~==============================~ T HE break between the older and younger In the same province an image of the Virgin in generations today is very noticeable in the one of the churches was supposed to have the Philippines. Newspapers, magazines, schools miraculous power of showing approval or disapand churches, travel, and contact with foreigners, proval of the parishioners by a change in its facial have caused the younger, educated young people expression. Generous contributions to the church to discard most of the superstitions harmful to caused the image to assume a benignant expres- progress, but some of these still crop up and oc- sion. Immoral acts brought on an expression of casionally are a positive menace. sadness. The image was reputed to wander Many superstitions are connected with animals around the streets at night, watching over the and nature. The enormous ant hills that one sees village and protecting its inhabitants. In proof when traveling thrpugh the country are objects the people pointed to a small burr which appeared of superstition, and the peasants give them wide on the hem of the virgin's gown on the mornings berth when working in the fields. Owls and but- after her expeditions.
terflies are very much feared, especially if they One older high school student, who was acting come into the house. The tiny house lizard is as a supply pastor in a Protestant church in one regarded as a symbol of longevity, and houses of the isolated districts, went to a town in the are full of them. Their cries are supposed to hills. In the rainy season the town was particuforecast the coming of a visitor or some other larly susceptible to floods and this year the river unusual event. was especially threatening. The Roman Catholic Sneezing is looked upon as a bad omen. A de- priests took advantage of the situation by telling vout woman will always cross herself and mutter the people that the floods were a punishment from a prayer before going down steps. God because some of them had been listening to Everywhere night is considered favorable to a Protestant preacher.
demons. The aswang is an evil spirit that is be- Certain magic is known as anting-anting, and lieved to go abroad at night looking for victims. its medicine men are called arbolarios. Anting- Like the "banshee," he can be heard wailing on anting includes belief in incantations, amulets, windy nights. During the day he may assume and black magic. One of the more harmless forms some familiar shape such as that of a pig, a dog, is the belief that on first entering a new town one or a monkey. This may account for the fact that should taste a handful of earth from that town Filipinos, usually not over humane, are careful so as not to become homesick. In some districts not to harm certain animals. the more ignorant people find it difficult to dis- Just as the ignorant American mothers fright- tinguish between anting-anting and Christianity.
en crying children by telling them that the gypsy A constabulary officer was sent to investigate will get them, so does the ignorant Filipino fright- the activities of a certain young "wonder-healer"
en hers, using the "Bombay" as the bugaboo. The who was attracting hundreds of people with his "Bombays" are big hairy, turbaned Sikhs who cures. The officer, a graduate of the public high travel the countryside carrying packs on their schools and of the academy for the training of backs, the contents of which they peddle about. constabulary officers, took his wife, who suffered Many people, even high school students, attribute from headaches, along to consult the apo before crimes and misdemeanors to "Bombays" or per- proceeding with the investigation.
sons with an evil spirit. The apo, a psychopathic case, began to have Superstitions vary greatly according to locality. visions from God demanding that he cure people, In one place near Manila I found practically none. by touching them and prescribing a bottle of soda In another province my students were contin- water. The vendors of soda water wheeled their ually quoting local taboos. A senior high school carts up to the house and did a thriving business.
girl, who was absent one day, on her return ex- Anting-anting is also used as first aid to jilted plained that the night before she had seen a ghost lovers.
and had to go to bed. A mixture of salt and Many of the beliefs in the Islands have their garlic, rubbed on her body, had made her immune counterparts in other countries. Riding with a from harm! Filipino friend in a district only a few miles from [418 ]
IF I WERE BLACK
Manila, I passed through a rather out-of-the-way adds: "It is hoped that the people can be induced village near Laguna de Bay, which specializes in to eat them as the Tagalogs do. Bulletins describwitchcraft. Many old people can be hired to do ing their preparation can be obtained from the harm to an enemy. They make wax effigies, and Bureau of Agriculture." after mumbling incantations stick pins into the effigy or melt it over a slow fire. The torture that When a typhoon and earthquake almost wiped the enemy undergoes corresponds to the treatment out the town of J 010, a serious outbreak against of the images. the government followed and many soldiers and Moros were killed. The Filipino reporter who The minority races in the Philippines present went to investigate the situation, sent back word their own peculiar problems. For example, some that the Moros were disturbed because they be- Moros in Mindanao caused trouble for Bureau of lieved that the catastrophes came as a punish- Agriculture officials who were sent there to try ment from God because their spiritual and temto control the locust pest. Believing that the lo- poral head, the Sultan of Sulu, had taken to cigacusts are protected by Saint Augustine, the Moros ret smoking and cabaret frequenting while he was were doing their best to prevent the officials from supposed to be attending to his legislative duties exterminating them. The newspaper dispatch in Manila.
If I Were Black* By LEILA AVERY ROTHENBURGER The Wife of the Pastor of 'the Third Christian Church, Indianapolis, Indiana A VERY alert and widely read Pullman porter more," in which he tells of the chilling blight of told me that he would hate to be a white racial hatred as it falls upon the heart of an erst- man. His reason, stated without trace of while happy lad of eight. It is this downright rancor, was that while the Negro has a hard time meanness, passed on to child from parent, that I physically and economically he does not in addi- should not be able to endure unless indeed my soul tion have to battle his own meanness. It was an had wings. evaluation of the relative spiritual calibers of two races. I am the wife of a minister, belong to the so- called middle class, university trained, and I am About four years ago I listened to a Christian rearing a family. Suppose my skin were black? Endeavor group discuss the question, "Would you How would the picture change? As a family we rather be born black or blind?" Concentric circles would sink in the scale of living. We would be of thought produced by that incident are still wid- forced to move into a neighborhood much less deening in my brain. If I were black? Trying to fit sirable. Economically we would sink to the verge into this mood I have read books, searched tables of poverty. If my children were to continue their of statistics, listened to speakers white and black, education I would have to join my husband as a made a seminar journey into the Southland and wage earner. Culturally we would be cut off from repeatedly have found myself submerged in a sea practically every fine feature of advancement and of discouraging facts. entertainment that the city offers, other than the public library. Many of these facts the whites need to know in order that they may understand how underprivi- I begin to list Negro families I know in which leged the Negro is physically, economically and the parents are trained folk – doctors, teachers, culturally. But when all such facts have been religious workers; people whose positions are inpresented, I am inclined to think that, if I were dicative of their character and preparation. black, it would not be these handicaps that would concern me most. They would no doubt worry The first is a dentist who maintains a home me but they would not crush my heart. The thing comparable, in this case even as to location, to that would dishearten me is that which is made mine. Recently during the illness of the little vocal for us in Countee Cullen's poem, "In Balti- child in that home, the mother, unable to leave, telephoned to the nearest grocery, explained the • From World Oall for February. 1935. situation and asked that certain much-needed articles be delivered at her door. The grocer re-
fused. The delivery boy, touched by sympathy, Negro came in and, after purchasing and paying surreptitiously took the things to the mother. for several articles, asked for a soda. In a voice that could be heard by everyone present the clerk Next Miss X comes to mind. She is a univer- said, "If you want a soda you'll have to go outside sity graduate and a high school teacher. When to drink it." "Green Pastures" was booked to appear in my city, the theater sent letters to all high school I am not presenting an argument with reference teachers urging them to see this remarkable play to the policy of the drug store or the above-menby an all-Negro cast. Unable to go herself but tioned theater. We are dealing with this matter thinking the invitation sincere, Miss X notified a of meanness. If commercial concerns are going friend who would want to see the play. This per- to pursue the segregation policy, why are they not son ordered a ticket by mail and on the afternoon decent enough to do it when it means the loss of before the performance made a trip of one hun- money as well as of what they think is social dred twenty-five miles to the theater. At the door status? she was refused admittance because her ticket was for a part of the theater where a Negro might not Could This Happen? venture and the limited section to which they were restricted was sold out. A member of the board Not long ago the Federal Council of Churches of management of a large Y. W. C. A., and an- put out a pamphlet entitled Could This Happen in other high school teacher had the same experi- Your Community? We studied the leaflet and ence. They were free to walk the streets while found it all too easy to duplicate the instances of they meditated upon the land with "liberty and human meanness that the dominant race in our justice for all." land shows to its minority groups.
Do you remember the thrill that was yours as a But why go on? Such a recital always irritates child when you rode on a merry-go-round; how certain groups who either accuse one of being you picked out the particular charger you desired sentimental or fling back with, "Why don't you to ride? The tantalizing music set your toes danc- tell the good things the whites are doing?" The ing. Pictures of lovely ladies whirled by so fast fine things done are blazed forth. If I were black you could not tell which was the loveliest. It was I should try to talk about them more; being white hard to watch both the ladies and the horses. I need to find where I am at fault. When your turn came, how you wished that nickels grew on bushes that you might ride and ride. I am concerned to know what I would do if day My third name is that borne by a little lad who after day such things had to be faced. For a long gazed with shining eyes a long summer through. time I halted between the pronouncements of two Why could not he ride? Rather than tell him his other gentlemen whom I might have quoted in father took him along on a trip to New York. At preference to the Pullman porter. One of them Coney Island the ride went on and on until the is the late Dr. John Hope whose sensitive face pocketbook was cleaned of the last nickel, but comes to mind as he says, when speaking of a rewhether the lad or the watching father enjoyed it buff, "Such things are so common in our lives more only the gods can tell. This father is a that they no longer cause resentment, only fatrained executive, head of an institution that is tigue." The other is Dr. W. E. B. DuBois who, doing a most constructive work in community up- looking us squarely in the eyes, speaks in his beaulift. Judged by his training and what that train- tiful, well-clipped English, "We grant you whites ing is doing for the civic body, his child should superiority in only one thing, the technique of have every right that mine has. If I were black, personal insult." it would be denials of a child's right to happiness that would give me the Pullman porter philosophy. If I were black would I be able to show the world a face beautiful as an etching with suffer- Speaking of the child brings to mind the case ing and weary patience? Or would I, with an asthat runs the closest parallel with mine. It is a surance born of the knowledge that I was right, minister's home. Both parents are college trained hurl the javelins of bitter truth? Or would I goodand shepherding a large church. One of the chil- naturedly give thanks that I was not born into a dren has defective eyesight. I can think of noth- race whose soul is mean? ing that I as a mother would struggle so hard to keep for my child as that bit of precious vision. When I repeated the Pullman porter's sentence When the one class for the conservation of eye- to a well-known Negro writer there came a sudsight was opened this child was rejected because den illumination of the face that told me this eval- her skin is brown. uation of the white race struck a responsive chord.
One intolerably hot day we sat cooling ourselves Is it true? Do I belong to a race whose soul is in one of the well-known chain drug stores. A mean? Carrying in my mind's mirror the faces of a Hope, a DuBois, a Negro poet and a Pullman porter, I am not at ease.
STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL STATISTICS, ISSUED FOR
A blank was sent to the officials of the communions named below and the statistics are from their replies. Gifts reported are from living donors. Interest and legacies are not included. Budget benevolences are those in the denominational national budget. Denominational benevolences include budget benevolences and such other contributions as are made for denominational missionary and beneficent work outside of the budget. The statistics are for the denominational fiscal year.
The column headed "Total Gifts for All Purposes" in some cases contains gifts from living donors which were given either for non-budget denominational benevolences or for non- and interdenominational benevolences, and there is no method of dividing them.
PER CAPITA GIFTS I .,TOTAL GIFTS :IIi , ., gj '§6 1&::>lc'b1 ~1 oo I ..!.6 I Q:,6 r:>.:<I I I '0": >'I r:.:I 13 .. >'I 'E~ 10 Ii'; "'0": .A0.O.,:>f"f'iI ! I i I I … -3 ,,0":0": .0.".. :~- : <il .E <il <il -.3. I ~0§:-oo I <il I .."0: IA>'I ~~0~'"I ! 0: Communion Itl 0: 0: oo "0: ! I I 0: I I p"'"o", '" .>.".'I,I~~ :3~ :3~ ~ & I :3 00 "" I""'" ,s;;1 "'" " '"§"~ ! """00 & do: I0 >."..'I, ~"; I -e:;;;8 0 '":a "0 rgs:lO'J 0"0,1O""l ,"00 I I A I 0~:.,=,0.;: I J"''l"."< 00 ">'I " ""0"10'1" , «Is:l~1 ""oo I ,13 .. '§-3 "" , '" ~.2 ~ ~:3~ i ."'0" '0 '"'" ~~s:l "0":0": , Jl.< """ g 1°0:~ 0'" 0"0,:0"": § ~I :::: "0 00 0: ": _" I 010<:> I :;a 13 "0 Z A Z I 0 I "'1 ">'I I o"Ol 00 ' " :;";: I 01 liZ< !Z ;.< I Baptist, Northern ……………………. $1.55 1 $1.59 . ….. $9.74 $11.341 $2,290,247.00 $65,611.00 , 1,480,231 April 30, 1935 4,277,052 April 30, 1935 $0.04 , $2,355,858.00 ……………. $14,423,290.00 $16,779,148.00 Baptist, Southern ……………………. 0.99 …… I 0.99 …… 4.77 5.76 4,251,668.00 ……………. 4,251,668.00 ……………. 20,401,608.00 24,653,276.00 Brethren, Church of …………………. 1.22 0.63 1.86 $0.44 6.28 8.58 195,376.00 100,000.00 295,376.00 $70,000.00 1,000,000.00 1,365,376.00 159,128 Feb. 28, 1935 Brethren in Christ, United …………… 1.37 3.641 1.73 1.84 8.81 10.72 562,505.00 147,556.00 710,061.00 75,520.00 3,609,181. 00 4,394,762.00 409,874 Oct. I, 1935 1,443,942.00 157,799.00 1,601,761.00 512,816.00 13,305,260.00 15,419,837.00 Congregational and Christian ………… 1.42 0.15 1.57 0.50 13.00 15.00 1,029,002 1934 Disciples of Christ ……………………. 0.86 0.33 1.19 0.06 6.39 6.64 1,899,068.06 529,347.12 1,928,415.18 90,000.00 8,727,830.00 10,746,245.18 1,618,832 June 30, 1935 1,833,651.00 1,608,338.00 Episcopal, Protestant ……………….. 0.90 0.78 1.68 …… 13.31 14.99 3,441,989.00 ……………. 27,134,440.00 30,576,429.00' 2,038,477 1934 Evangelical Church …………………… 1.58 0.92 2.50 0.51 15.23 18.24 370,417.00 214,938.00 585,355.00 118,932.00 3,559,600.00 4,263,887.00 233,792 Aug. 31, 1935 3,310,817.73 3,836,340.63 281,598 Jan. 31, 1935 Evangelical Synod of N. A. ………….. 1.34 0.51 1.85 0.02 11.75 13.62 378,334.08 142,933.37 521,267.45 4,255.45 11,626,185.00 13,834,729.00 1,066,686 Dec. 31, 1934 9,860,727.00 12,093,094.00 994,366 Dec. 31, 1934 Lutheran Church, United …………….. …… …… 2.07 …… 10.90 12.97 ……………. ……….. , …. 2,208,544.00 ……………. 9,974,492.00 12,726,618.00 981,588 Dec. 31, 1934 Lutheran Conference, American ………. …… …… 85,125 Dec. 31, 1934 2.25 …… 9.92 12.17 ……………. ……………. 2,232,367.00 ……………. 583,240.00 737,760.00 Lutheran Conference, Synodical ……… …… …… 2.80 …… 10.16 12.96 ……………. ……………. 2,752,126.00 . …………… Lutheran, Other Synods ……………… …… …… 1.82 …… 6.85 8.67 ……………. ……………. 154,520.00 …………….
Methodist Episcopal ………………….. 1.61 0.12 1.72 0.15 12.27 14.151 5,966,817.00 435,745.00 6,402,562.00 560,805.00 45,560,265.00 52,523,632.00 3,711,702 May 31, 1934 1.64 0.67 2.31 0. 191 6.85 9.36, 18,695,683.00 25,533,820.00 2,727,485 Dec. 31, 1934 Methodist Episcopal, South ………….. 3.70 0. 191 15.90 19.791 4,476,217.00 1,843,420.00 6,319,637.00 518,500.00 3.70 …… 274,940.30 342,247.67 17,294 Dec. 31, 1934 Moravian, North …………………….. 4.52 …… 22.25 26.77 63,970.46 . …………… 63,970.46 3,336.91 2,489,800.00 2,995,572.00 111,905 Dec. 31, 1934 1.78 2.73 2,579,253.00 3,866,908.00 179,338 Mar. 31, 1935 Nazarene, Church of …………………. 4.85 1.85 6.70 0.48 14.88 21.56 199,664.00 806,108.00 505,772.00 ……………. 6,626,358.00 9,086,068.00 477,467 Mar. 31, 1935 Presbyterian, United …………………. 4.26 0.70 29,186,135.00 35,655,536.00 1,920,897 Mar. 31, 1935 Presbyterian, U. S. …………………… 2.55 0.82' 4.96' 0.19 13.88 19.03 868,893.00 333,352.00 1,202,245.00 85,410.00 Presliyterian, U. S. A………………… 3.37 …… 15.19 18.56 2,032,248.00 336,238.00 2,368,486.00 91,224.00 4,899,762.00 1,569,639.00 6,469,401.00 …………….
Reformed In America …………………. 3.15 0.15 3.29 0.59 17.58 21.46 503,902.00 23,351.00 527,253.00 94,048.00 2,814,040.00 5,435,341.00 160,065 April 30, 1935 Reformed in United States ……………. 1 1.52 0.73 2.25 0.14 10.25 12.64 527,986.01 254,968.80 782,954.81 48,118.19 3,568,769.00 4,399,842.00 348,189 Dec. 31, 1934 222,975.00 33,488.52 861,726.21 1,118,189.73 56,600 Sept. 30, 1935 Baptist Convention of Ontario and Quebec 3.95 0.51 4.53 …… 15.20 19.10 488,832.00 88,867.00 256,463.52 ……………. 3,026,704.00 179,548 Jan. 31, 1935 Presbyterian In Canada ………………. 2.73 0.50 3.22 …… 13.51 16. 74 1 2,424,937.00 577,699.00 …………….
United Church of Canada …………….. -3.-57 -0.-11 3.68 0.34 13.92 17.95 2,244,346.00 71,199.00 2,315,545.00 216,734.00 8,748,858.00 11,281,137.00 Ii 628,614 Dec. 31, 1934 $8,262,898.81 $50,831,296.42 — — — 1 $2,489,699.55 $251,347,435.24 i $304,692,499.21 25,174,855 …………….
$1.60 $0.47 $2.02 $0.21 $9.98 $12.10[ $35,220,820.61 Compiled for the United Stewardship Council, HARRY S. MYERS, Secretary, 152 Madison Avenue, New' York City, January. 1936.
l421 J
Notable
JAMES L. BARTON accustomed to say with great emphasis, "The missionaries are the Board in action." The thirty-three years of Dr. James L. Barton's service as Foreign Secretary of the Ameri- This attitude, and his eager interest in the work can Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis- of each individual missionary under his care sions, almost exactly covered the time of the greatly endeared Dr. Barton to the workers on mighty forward surge in missionary giving of the field. A little incident illustrates this attitude. men and of money that came with the growth of Early in my own missionary career I had written the Student Volunteer Movement. He was pe- an article for our missionary paper in India, and culiarly fitted in mind and spirit to enter into and to my surprise and delight I received a letter playa leading part in just such a great epoch of from Dr. Barton expressing appreciation and sug- gesting that I write more. In his busy career he advance as that in which he lived. had found time not only to read this paper from The passing of this great Christian in Brook- India, but to write a friendly note to a young line, Massachusetts, on July 21st calls to mind mIssIOnary. When we missionaries came home this remarkable period of the Christian Church we always found Dr. Barton's door open to us.
in which he was a conspicuous leader. Even though his program of work was so crowded Dr. Barton responded to the missionary call that it meant burning midnight oil, he allowed no missionary to feel that he did not have abundant while a student at Hartford Theological Seminary time to talk with him and share his problems. and went to Turkey as a missionary in 1885. He was of tbe stock and background of Northern He was always a missionary at heart. As foreign New England and had the combination of deep secretary he carried into his work the convictions religious devotion, strong common sense and vig- he had gained as a missionary, and gave effective orous executive ability that the hard soil of New encouragement to the development of strong na- England has sometimes produced. In his delight- tive churches, and of educational institutions ful "Recollections," printed in the Missionary Her- which would be qualified to train native leaderald in 1927, he tells us that he went to the field ship.
without any special missionary preparation, so Another great principle in his program was his that at least there was not a great deal for him emphasis on union efforts. He early discovered to unlearn. the loss that came through division, and he never Evidently he brought to his work the same alert could understand why all Protestant churches on openmindedness that has been an outstanding the field should not be united. He realized the characteristic throughout his entire life. He was associated with strong missionaries and native importance of union in education and was a conleaders and quickly learned that missions must spicuous and effective promoter of union colleges and theological seminaries. '
be a cooperative enterprise between these two Many vigorous and significant higher educa- groups, conducted on terms of complete equality. tional institutions on the field today, some under He also soon became' a convinced believer that a the American Board alone but more under union self-supporting, self-governing and self-propagat- boards of trustees or under independent manage- ing church is at the heart of the missionary pro- ment, owe a great debt to Dr. Barton. These form gram, and, a little later, that higher education is a remarkable and enduring monument. important for the development of leadership in As we would expect from a man of his cath- such a church. olic spirit, cooperative planning among the boards When Dr. Barton was called to be foreign sec- at home found in him a strong supporter. He was retary of the American Board in 1894 he hesi- one of the prominent leaders of the Foreign Mistated a long time before accepting, saying that sions Conference of North America. he regarded his missionary career as primary, Dr. Barton's work as foreign secretary early but the health of Mrs. Barton made it necessary took him on deputations to Japan and to India for them to stay in America and he finally ac- and Ceylon, and later to China. With keen incepted. For the third of a century during which sight and sympathy he entered into the life and he was foreign secretary he gave primary place problems of these lands and in the process himto the mission and the native church, regarding self grew to the stature of a world citizen. Indeed his own function as largely that of advocate and this became one of Dr. Barton's most distinctive promoter of the work for whose policies and con- characteristics. He was a man whose heart and duct they were primarily responsible. He was mind habitually took in the world.
[422 ] The combination of great qualities in Dr. Bar- portant place it held in the interest of the Chris- ton gave him a position of influence with leaders of American life. He was at home with statesmen tian public. and presidents as well as with business men and philanthropists. He awakened in men of large The period of financial depression came after business such a sense of confidence in his wisdom and such a desire to share in the enterprises that Dr. Barton had retired as foreign secretary and he laid before them, that they entrusted to the Board millions of dollars largely to build and en- put his policies to the severest test. I have just dow educational institutions in which he was in- terested. returned from a trip to many of the missions in He also had the art of putting into clear and which Dr. Barton was most deeply interested and DR. JAMES L. BARTON can say with assurance that the principles for convincing form the appeal of the world-wide which he worked have stood this test. The higher Christian enterprise. His first book, "The Mis- sionary and His Critics" was effective in break- educational institutions were so well founded that ing down prejudice and winning support. "The Unfinished Task," written for the Student Vol- they have continued to carryon and some of them unteer Movement was a powerful marshaling of the appeal of missions. "Daybreak in Turkey" even to go forward. The leadership training has and "The Christian Approach to Islam" were careful studies of particular areas of effort. In been done so well that many nationals have taken these and other books and in many articles for a great variety of magazines and for the daily over work formerly carried by missionaries and . press, Dr. Barton played a conspicuous part in giving the missionary enterprise the vitally im- the churches have assumed heavy new duties.
The opening of the War brought a new chal- lenge to Dr. Barton's leadership through the suf- ferings it brought to peoples of the Near East.
With characteristic ability Dr. Barton helped to organize the Near East Relief, of which he was chairman throughout its life. This great under- taking won warm support from Jew, Catholic and Protestant in America as well as from all the governments concerned. It raised and spent tens of millions of dollars and saved the lives of un- counted thousands of suffering people. Dr. Bar- ton was also prominent in organizing and con- ducting the Near East Foundation growing out of the Near East Relief and carrying on perma- nent service in that great area.
Up to the time of his death Dr. Barton was a member of many boards on which he was render- ing service of high order. His mind was alert and resourceful to the end. He was a great op- timist. That was a principal element in his strength. But his optimism was not the result of shallow thinking. It was deep-rooted in the character of God. It was his living faith in the God of Christ that made it possible to face even the hell of war experiences in the Near East and still to believe in the coming of God's Kingdom among men. There is nothing that the Christian Church needs today more than men of such deep- rooted, contagious faith as that of James L. Bar- ALDEN H. CLARK. * ton.
BISHOP LLOYD Arthur Selden Lloyd was a Twentieth Century saint. His saintliness was manifested by aware- ness of God in every phase of human life and by power to help others realize spiritual possibilities.
Born near Alexandria, Virginia, in 1857, his young boyhood was spent amid the anxieties and sacrifices resulting from the war between the North and South. As a youth he shared the physi- cal and spiritual agonies of the reconstruction • Secretary of the American Board.
period. That he came through it all with a loving telling of its successes and failures and calling heart, is sufficient indication of the quality of his upon his fellow churchmen to pray, to give their soul. He intended to study law but the influence children and their money, and to ally themselves of an older brother, who was finding joy in the with God's purpose for the world. He became a minis,try of the Church, led him to enter the Vir- great missionary to the conscience of the church. ginia Theological Seminary instead of the Uni- The old miracle was repeated-the dry bones beversity Law School. gan to live.
After five years service in rural mission In 1906-07 Dr. and Mrs. Lloyd visited the mischurches, he was called, in 1885, to St. Luke's sions in Japan, China, the Philippines and Hawaii, church, one of the smaller parishes of Norfolk, as well as some of the Church of England work Virginia. The fifteen years that followed were a in India. He found little to criticize, but much to period of unconscious preparation for tasks that be thankful for in the spirit of the missionaries, lay ahead. St. Luke's grew into the largest and and in the sound planning of the leaders. On the most active parish in the city, but better still it other hand, his rare gift of understanding, his became a parish whose rector and people were quick sympathy and his self-identification with known throughout the Southland as devoted dis- the workers, won their lasting affection and stimciples of Christ and eager to serve their fellow ulated them to do their best. They realized that men. "Mr. Lloyd," as he was affectionately they had a champion at the Home Base who unknown, became one of Norfolk's first citizens, and derstood them and the cause to which they had his walks through the business districts were con- given their all. Reinforced by first hand knowlstantly interrupted by the men of his congrega- edge, Dr. Lloyd returned enthusiastically to the tion and others who wanted a word with the "Par- work of arousing the church to the greatness of son." His influence with young men especially is her opportunity. evidenced by the number who were led by him to enter the ministry, and who are doing solid work In the period from 1904-1908, Dr. Lloyd was today in various parts of the country. elected successively to the episcopate by the Dio- ceses of Mississippi, Kentucky, Southern Virginia Arthur Selden Lloyd always taught his people and Maryland. Convinced though he was, of the that their church has a world-wide mission to high and important character of the office of bishmake our Lord known, and his intensive work in op in the church, Dr. Lloyd felt it his duty to dethe diocese was stimulated and balanced by a cline these successive calls to the bishopric, in world outlook. In 1899 he was elected to be Gen- order to continue in his missionary post. When, eral Secretary of the Board of Managers of the however, in 1909, his home Diocese of Virginia Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society of the elected him to be Bishop-Coadjutor, he felt Episcopal Church, whose work has been lan- obliged to accept. The following year the Board guishing for lack of spiritual conviction and fi- of Missions recommended a recasting of the adnancial support. There were some rare leaders ministrative machinery and at the triennial Genand faithful workers in the mission fields over- eral Convention of the Church in 1910 Bishop seas and at home. They faced boundless opportu- Lloyd, by a large majority was elected president nities in the field, but when they looked to the of the Board of Missions with increased executive home church they saw but half-hearted concern. authority. The office of General Secretary had been vacant for more than two years, and four men had suc- There followed a decade of notable constructive cessively declined to take up the task. To Arthur work. Bishop Lloyd visited the African mission Lloyd the action of .the Board was the call of the and on his return he devoted himself to two Church and, through it, the call of God. With major projects: one provided for a further addetermination to give himself to the work with- ministrative reorganization of all the general acout reserve, he entered upon his duties at the tivities of the church under one authority, known National Headquarters in New York City. The as "the Presiding Bishop and the National Countechnique of the task was new, but its aim and cil," the other called upon the church as a whole purpose had been the guiding principles of all to move forward to a "Nation-Wide Campaign" his ministry-to win men and women to dis- for the development of all its resources, spiritual cipleship to their Lord and Saviour. That, he and material for the extension of the Kingdom of asserted, is the mission of the Church. What men God. When these two projects were adopted by sometimes slightingly call "missions" are sim- the General Convention of 1919, Bishop Lloyd ply the means by which the mission of the Church retired from full time administration of national is to be realized. work but continued to be an invaluable member of the Department of Missions and of the Ameri- For six years he traveled widely over the United can Church Institute for Negroes. States, interpreting the mission of the Church, As Bishop Manning truly said: "His life was
TWO NOTABLE LEADERS
an inspiration and example to all of us. In the A OHINESE EVANGELIST diocese of New York to which he was elected suffragan bishop in 1921, he was universally beloved, [On page 402 of this issue of THE REVIEW will be found and was one of the most beloved and revered an article by Rev. Andrew Gih, of Shanghai. Quite opbishops in the whole church." portunely there appeared, in China's Millions, this brief account of his work, but it came too late to be given space In his eightieth year, on July 22d, Bishop Lloyd with Mr. Gih's contribution.-EDIToR.] passed into the Life Beyond. It was a great happiness to him that he was able to carryon his Readers of Chiw,'s Millions are familiar with work to the end. Not only the Episcopal Church, the "Bethel Bands"-groups of Chinese evangelbut the whole Christian community is richer for ists who from their headquarters at Bethel in Shanghai have visited nearly every province in BISHOP ARTHUR SELDEN LLO'YD China, including scores of China Inland ~ission stations. We have recently had the privilege of the life of this saintly and very human bishop, welcoming at Newington Green, London, Dr. who had such rare capacity for inspiring all sorts ~ary Stone, the Chinese leader of the work, and of people to desire and to choose the Christian her American colleague, ~iss Hughes, and on Oclife. He was a notable member of interdenom- tober 29th Pastor Andrew Gih hopes to arrive in inational gatherings, not so much because of what England from America. The duration of his stay he said as because of what he was. He was a great is uncertain, but our Deputation Secretary, the missionary leader, a great friend and above all a Rev. T. Gear Willett, has agreed to arrange opengreat interpreter to others of the ~aster he so ings for him in this country. He is a fluent Engfaithfully and joyfully served. lish speaker, and though he is primarily an evan- gelist, he has a message for Christian people also. JOHN W. WOOD.* Pastor Gih entered the Bethel High School in • Executive Secretary of the Department of Missions of the Na- Shanghai as a bitter opponent of Christianity. tional Council of the Protestant Episcopal Church. His primary object was to learn English, but gradually he began to be conscious of spiritual need, and one of the instruments used by God for his conversion was ~iss C. F. Tippet. Now for nearly ten years he has been one of the most prominent leaders of the evangelistic bands. On our visit to China last year we were constantly hearing of souls saved and Christians revived through his ministry. Last year it was arranged that he should visit the United States, not to speak at meetings, but for a rest and change after years of most strenuous work. But there too, both amongst Chinese in California, and at a large number of Bible conferences and other meetings, his time has been fully occupied with work for the ~aster. Pastor Gih specially asks for the prayers of our readers that his visit to this country may be for blessing both to himself and to others through him. We are fully assured that his one desire is to exalt Christ as an all-sufficient Saviour for sinners and for saints.
Roger Babson recently decl!!.red: "I have not been able to find a single useful institution which has not been founded by either an intensely religious man or by the son of a praying father or a praying mother. I have made this statement before the Chamoers of Commerce of all the largest cities of the country, and have asked them to bring forward a case that is an exception to this rule. Thus far, I have not heard of a single one."-The Watchman-Examiner.
Ways of
'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~'==========================~I OUR SUMMER SURVEY its letter is filled in between the·· of the Department of Race Rela- From the vantage point of a dotted outlines with any color tions in the Federal Council of series of summer conferences the Department Editor has come desired. A Grade B auxiliary is Churches, a Lenten Offering to realize that the new missionary plans of the various denomi- one completing eight goals, Service and a mite box demonnations have a sizable "Greatest Common Divisor" ; that Grade A representing all the 10 stration e n tit led "The Last ecclesiastical specifics may be de- goals. With the slogan, "Doing Mite." The May program is on leted without marring some excellent program patterns; that Common Things in an Uncom- "Appreciation of Our Missioneach unit will be enriched by neighborly borrowings, and that mon Way" (a method followed ary Family" (Wesleyan Service on the road to victory we all should heed the admonition of at Tuskegee Institute for Ne- Guild, Young People's and Junthe Negro spiritual, "Walk Togedder, Chillen." groes), the women begin follow- ior societies), incorporating a ing the outline in a 59-page dialogue in which the several in- This year's study themes are practical and inspiring and lend booklet entitled "Appreciation terests are discussed under the themselves particularly well for Year Studies," each program of impersonative conceptions of a general falling into step-and a quickstep at that. It is hoped which gives the actual material Everychild, Mychild and Ourthat the blue prints of plans for its introduction, background, child. This may be adapted for given in this and the October issue may prove helpful to pro- organization of the topic and a Mothers' and Daughters' bangram builders of various theological persuasions. All mate- considerable of the actual sub- quet, although a program esperial sent in to this Department will be given impartial consid- ject matter; this reduces the cially for that use is given, to be eration and the absence of your leader's work to a minimum. illustrated with shadowgraphs. denomination's new material Thus the first program, on "An The June meeting, "Appreciawill simply mean that none has Appreciation of Citizenship," been furnished to the Editor. tion of the Year's Attainments," has a preview-introduction, an Appreciation Year article on "Origin-Background relieves the monotony of its an- nual reports by introducing an Under this unifying theme the Methodist Episcopal w 0 men -Purpose," the digest for a impersonation of the Recording have planned for their society and its affiliated or subsidiary talk on "Christian Citizenship in Angel dressed in white robes, o r g ani z a t ion s. A unique writing in a book of gold the "Achievement Poster" shows the Our Country," and a full text first few measures of the spir- for "The Challenge of the Pres- main points of the several reitual, "Lord, I want to be a ent." "An Appreciation of the ports and closing the service Christian"; but in place of notes with a poem of commendation. there appear in corresponding Value of Organization" follows; "Appreciation of Va cat ion positions on the staff the letters then "Appreciation 0 f 0 u r Days," for July, gives full direc- A, P, P, R, E, C, I, A, T, I, 0, N, Workers in Institutes" culmi- tions for high-class book rein broad outlines, each letter- nates in a monologue by Mrs. note correlated with a goal for the year. As a goal is attained, Greatheart, with a voice off- views. This booklet may be ob- stage entitled Mrs. Weakheart; tained from The Woman's Home Missionary Society, Methodist "Appreciation of the Prince of Episcopal Church, 420 Plum St., Peace" furnishes an original Cincinnati, Ohio, for 50 cents a copy, or booklet, poster and de- Christmas d ram a tic sketch; "Appreciation of Our Leader- ship" incorporates material for votional pamphlet for $1.00. the Leadership Training Course inclusive of a series of heart- The Young Woman's organi- searching questions to be an- zation has a correlated program swered; "Appreciation Studies" entitled "Youth's A Year," covers three successive pro- stressing the A's "that will help grams on the study book, "A us Attain, Achieve and Appre- ciate," even the study of the Preface to Racial Understand- American Negro fitting in. The ing," and incidentally includes a monthly topics are "All Advance true-and-false test, a paper on and Advance Along All Lines,"
"Church Women and Race Rela- "Aroused Action," "Ardent Ap- tions," by Katherine Gardner, preciation," "Adoration of a [426 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
Saviour" (Christmas program), and drawing the name of the gro"-looking toward definite efforts "Achieving Anew," "Adventur- woman with whom she is to to cooperate with others in improving ing in Negro Realms," "Acquir- share it. the conditions under which the Negro ing Appreciation of Neg r 0 lives,. plays and works; "Hindrances Achievements," "Adjusting At- 5. The King's Highway. and Helps in Education"-seeking titudes," "Appreciation of Cul- deepened interest in the education of tural Art," "Able Attainments Autumn report of house parties the Negro in our country and efforts and Accumulated Assets" and and denominational and inter- for an equality in opportunities; "Adventures in Outdoor Atti- denominational summer confer- "His Contribution to America"-the tudes." ences. outcome to be an intelligent grasp of the largeness of the Negro's contribu- The Juniors continue their Stewardship program. tion and an increased respect for the travels on the "Road of the race; "The Negro and the Church"- Loving Heart," becoming this 6. The Path to the Ballot Box. indicating that we shall never attain year "Singing Partners." More to the Christlike spirit of kindness, will be told about these youth Christian Citizenship presentation. justice and brotherliness until we programs later, but each set of Our magazine (Missions). manifest these qualities in our contheir booklets and leaflets for duct toward Negroes in all church restudy, not inclusive of the text- 7. Highways and By-Ways. lations; "Conquest of Racial Prejubook, costs $1.00. With text- dice"-which focuses the whole study book, $1.50. Christian Friendliness (Christian upon the "Golden Rule Resolution," Americanization) . adapted to meet the Negro situation. The Forward. Fund Dedication of White Cross over- These excellent programs are re- This is really a movement on land quotas (missionary sup- plete with practical application and the part of the whole Baptist plies) . activation material and are so neglidenomination to advance spirit- gibly denominational that their appeal ually and financially in a cam- 8. The Road to Bethlehem. is universal. The pamphlet may be paign of intensive education and obtained for 15c from The American inspiration over a period of Christmas gift box opening. Baptist Publication Society, 1701-03 three years. The current year's Chestnut St., Philadelphia, Pa. program in the women's work is 9. Crowded Streets. adaptable for various mission- "Graded Material for Teachers and ary units and age interests. It Christian Centers (social service Leaders in Church Schools" and based is entitled "Roads," from the work). on current mission study themes, corkeynote: "I will make all the related with handwork, story telling hilltops a highway, and lofty January reading of an annual and visualization is covered in a pamroads shall be built" (Kent's field booklet Baptists use daily phlet furnished free by The Baptist translation). A brief resume through the month. Board of Education as cited above. It follows: would be only fair, however, for ap- Play or program put on by chil- plicants from other denominations to Opening poem, "My Path," by Eliza- dren's organization. furnish postage for its mailing. beth Kendrick Holt. 10. Jungle Paths. Baptists have made a new venture 1. Cross Roads. this year outside of denominational. African Trails, using material corrals in issuing their rather lorgs Consecration of officers and mem- from THE REVIEW for October. catalogue of missionary education ma- bers of society. terial for various young people's Marking of Forward Fund poster. gr01lps in three sections, na'Inf.Jly: "For Introduction of new study books. Baptist Groups with Organizational Distribution of gift boxes. ("Mrs. 11. World Roads. Connection," "Independent Baptist Gr01tpS with No Affiliation" and "Bap- Pickett's Missionary Box" as Evening meeting for entire church, tist Gr01lps with Interdenmninational monologue, in costume.) invitations in form of coupons, Relationship," the materials and pro- booths arranged to represent prams built thereon being provided in 2. Country Lanes and Forest Trwils. foreign countries in which the affiliation with the general Missionary denomination has work, also Education Movement. "This coopera- Luncheon with program of Afri- one for the Forward Fund, with tive enterprise representing 36 boards can and Negro stories and Ne- costumed women in each to dis- in 14 denominations produces annu- gro spirituals. distribute literature. Audience ally high grade mission study books progresses according to schedule and teaching materials based on great Assign each woman the name and on tickets. Refreshments. themes and subjects." station of a missionary of whom she is to be a prayer partner Display of White Cross quotas for Let this good work go on among the and to whom she may send mes- overseas. young people even if the older folk sages during the year. cannot think outside of the ruts and Presentation of Every-Member brain-sets of specific theologies and 3. Christmas Street. Canvass plans. ecclesiastical blue prints. .
Porch or lawn party (in July) on 12. Paths of Pleasantness. "Southland Spirituals" contains 64 Christmas in mission lands. Negro songs as arranged by The Foreign gift box opening. Rodeheaver Co., 124 N. 15th St., Bringing of gifts to be sent in Banquet for girls of church Philadelphia, Pa., and sells for 25c. Christmas mission boxes. with program on "Pioneer Mis- sionary Heroines in America" "A Little Leaven," by Elsie Line- 4. Mountain Trails. and "Youth Unafraid" (study weaver and Mary Reed, is an inter- books by Anna Canada Swain). racial play with eight characters and W. W. G. (girls' organization) to two scenes. Order from The Federal plan picnic, inviting members Material for these programs Council of Churches, 105 E. 22d St., of women's society, each girl is cited on the folder, which lat- New York City. Price 15c. putting up two boxes of lunch ter may be obtained free from The Baptist Board of Mission- Brown Birthrights ary Education, 152 Madison Ave., New York City. Specifically this is a series of four programs on the Negro "The Negro in America"-six pro- grams inclusive of dramatic presenta- tions and suggested projects (for adults and older young people's groups) and based on "A Preface to Racial Understanding" has been pre- pared by Augusta Walden Comstock. The topics are: "His Story"-a study to test the assumption of superiority and inferiority relative to Negro and White races; "Odds Against the Ne-
brought out by the Board of Na- national Forward Movement Commis- Study of social standards for Negro tional Missions of the Presby- sion of the Church, is planning to family of the South, as drawn from terian Church, 156 Fifth Ave., make this possib:e on a diocesan scale fiction of the better type. New York City, for groups de- this year, and a national scale next siring to handle the theme in year. There is no reason why the The Negro family as revealed in ficmeetings of the women's and Church should remain in the horse- tion. young people's organizations or and-buggy stage of using lantern the midweek services of the slides and such primitive methods Summarize advantages and disadchurch. Price 10c. Other study when it has at its disposal such a vantages of segregation of Negroes in theme collateral published or great and effective force as the sound- schools. handled by this Board includes: on-film movie. . . . The bishop an- nounces that he is planning to raise Prepare material for denomina- A picture map of the U. S. (50c) sufficient funds to start on an experi- tional use in Negro school, as an exwith insert sheet sketches of Negro mental scale, with the intention of pressional project. life, to be colored, cut out and used broadening it to a national and poswith the map (10c). sibly an international scope next year. Roll call, "Incidents about my N e- Films would be made of prominent gro School Friends." Plays: entitled speakers, and through portable sound movie projectors the members of small Program for general public-ar- "Under the Skin"-l man, 5 women parishes who otherwise would be de- ranged as radio broadcast, dramatic as characters; time, 30 minutes; nied the opportunity of hearing the in part or whole, etc., using material price 10c. speaker could hear the addresses. of study book. Pictures could be made of institutions, "America Grows Up"-third epi- hospitals, schools, missionary projects, The Negro in Literature, illustrated sode of pageant, based on revelation and all the membership might be ac- by one or more readers preferably. that opportunity offered Negro girl in quainted with the work done through North is made possible by white the church, that missions might be A portrait gallery of notable Newoman whose father had asked for personalized. Only a few minutes are groes. the slave grandmother in payment of necessary to set up the sound projector a debt and had taken her North, thus and begin the movie. . . . Bishop Hob- Group singing of spirituals, with breaking up the Negro family. Three son mentions that missions have not stereopticon or printed programs and characters, with chorus of colored been personalized lately, and that the able leadership. children off stage; 15 minutes; 25c. church memJers thought too fre- quently of giving only in terms of Presentation of chapters 7 and 8 as Pictures: "the red side" and "the black side" of an open forum or panel discussion for the church envelope. class members, with or without others "Sepia Tones"-Ten enlarged pic- invited to listen. Discussion must be tures on photograph mounts, with ac- While nearly all denomina- carefully prepared by leaders, incorcompanying descriptive material and porating textual material yet giving worship service, affording full pro- tions are using movies to a opportunity for personal opinion. gram material. Rental 25c, plus post- greater or less extent, this would age both ways. seem to be the first connected Our Illustration movement on a large scale and "Teaching Pictures"-Ten in set, may well serve as a pace setter shows a group of genial Negro with descriptive material. Rental 15c, children in Granville, Ohio, plus double postage. for fellow denominations. where the Baptist Women's so- ciety held its June meeting as a "The Family Goes Traveling"-pic- "Preface to Racial Under- lawn picnic with the little folks, ture story book for children. Price in standing" costumed and drilled to sing in paper, 35c. a native dialect by Mrs. J. E. From the study outlines of Geil-a missionary at home on Stories: Mrs. B. P. Heubner, of Ottawa, furlough from her work in the Kansas, familiar to our readers Belgian Congo. The parents of "The Cow That Went to School" as an instructor at summer the children were guests of (children, 2c); "Little Lost Two schools of missions at Lake Ge- honor at the picnic supper, thus Pigs" (children, 3c); "Maceo Redcap" neva, Wis., and elsewhere, we furnishing a project as well· as (young people, 2c); "The Seventh cull a few of her outstanding a program looking toward racial Turn" (intermediates, 2c); "Trou- topics, questions and devices, as appreciation instead of prejubled Waters Clear" (intermediates, dice. 3c); "Why They Laugh" (young peo- follows: ple, 2c). The Negro worker in my commu- Seven familiar Negro spirituals at 5c per copy, $1.00 per hundred. nity.
Book of spirituals, 25c. Interview a representative Negro from the professions relative to possi- Three motion pictures and two bilities for his people in the professtereopticon lectures are also available in the autumn at moderate sions and business. rental. If you were a Negro with your Movies, both silent and sound, are coming into increasing use present educational and social equipfor missionary meetings, particularly in the annual schools ment, where would you seek and perof missions. The Episcopal Church is to make large use of haps secure employment? – sound movies in its current Forward Movement. The Granville Account of a visit to a Negro sec- Times says: tion of your own city, covering hous- The Rt. Rev. Henry W. Hobson, of ing, sanitation, social and recreational Southern Ohio, and chairman of the facilities, schools, churches, places of business, etc. May include more than one person's inspection.
Talk by Negro doctor or nurse in your community.
~====~='=""=~======,'"
BULLETIN OF The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~'~I~~~~~==~~~~~ Must It Happen Again? "It Must Not Happen Again"
In Arnold Zweig's "Educa- Courtesy 0/ the Sculptor Joseph P. Pollia tion before Verdun" (1936) there is on the front page an ad- "It must not happen again" is ment was dedicated May 30, monition to "Know thy lot, know the theme of the bronze monu- 1935, in Orange, Massachusetts. thine enemies, know thyself." ment, a memorial to War Vet- There are nine so-called "books" erans pictured on this page. Listen to yourself telling chilin the 444 pages. On the very The sculptor, Joseph P. Pollia, dren the meaning of the WorId first page of the story is a de- of New York city, conceived a War! Are we among those who scription of the supposedly green monument in which a strong, "only too willingly forget"? Do fine soldier tells the boy the we go on into the forest, seeking earth as follows: truths about the WorId War in refreshment? "The earth lay like a yellow- which he took part. The monu- Will it all happen again? stained, blood-soaked disk, over [429 ] which arched the mouse trap of the merciless blue sky, caging humanity in with ,the torments of its own brutality."
It must not happen again! In the last chapter called "Envoi," we read: After years of privation, misery, and horror, mankind has indeed the right to be a little mad. The young author, Bertin, and his wife, were on their way to seek refreshment in a country that they knew and loved. But Bertin had resolved that before they disappeared into the mountains, he would go and see the Kraysing parents and tell them how their sons had died, and in how pitiful and futile a fashion; they must be made to understand that it was no deed of heroism or sacrifice, that had robbed them of two young men who would have comforted them in their old age; it was an act of villainy, and a stroke of chance … the poor souls must be left under no illusions, they must be made to reject the current coin of patriotism and the glories of war….
"I can't do it," said Werner Bertin decisively. "Com!! let us go into the forest. Weare not here to open old wounds and then to poison them….
"Besides, there are a few people hereajouts that won't forget, and they'll give the shock of their lives to certain others that would only too willingly forget."
Weare told that the wife "at the bottom of her heart did not quite approve of Werner's refusal. What a man has set himself to do, that he must do, she thought."
Marathon Round Tables, discussion groups. They are For that great day when wars shall cease, and men 1936-37 called "Marathons" because the Shall live as brothers in a unity word itself carries a challenge Of love-live in a world made splen- Announcement has been made by the Marathon Committee of to continue to educate and in- did? plans for the new Marathon form until an enlightened and Round Table Study Course, ma- effective public 0 pin ion is -Studdert Kennedy. terial for which will be ready reached. Closing Note to Reader for distribution by September "The Evolving Foreign Policy Beware of "the Roar Ma- 15th. This project of the Na- of the United States" chine," a contraption used at the tional Committee on the Cause Cleveland political convention to and Cure of War was estab- is the theme for study. The measure the intensity of sound. lished in 1932 and has gained choice of two plans is offered. Dorothy Thompson reported that a witty Frenchman considmomentum year by year until Plan A-Beginners' Marathon ered this contraption "a perfect now it has 'become necessary to for New Groups substitute for the ballot, a means plan for a graded course which will not only present simple and The ABC of world peace ma- of achieving direct democracy, basic material on the essential chinery and the relation of for here was a scientific instrufacts about organization for American foreign policy to ment, etc. . . "
world peace and the part which world organization for peace- The radio listener following the United States plays in the a simplified course which will closely the relation between affairs of the world, but which include an analysis of public ideas expressed by the convenwill also prepare a course of opinion and propaganda. tion speakers, the noise, and the study and discussion for ad- Plan B-Advanced Marathon indication of the roar machine, vanced groups whose members For Groups Already Familiar either laughed at the nonsense have progressed far enough to with the Theme of it all, or wept bitterly that the need a greater challenge to their American people measured their thinking. Three hypothetical cases will political ideas by those among us At the annual conference held be posed in which the United who could yell and howl the in Washington in January, 1936, States might become involved loudest. the Committee was able to re- because of the complications in And Jesus spake a parable which Luke the physician report 740 registrations distrib- different parts of the world. uted throughout 42 states, the Kits of material will be ready cords: Dis t ric t of Columbia, and by September 15th and will con- "Can the blind guide the tain instructions for organizing blind? Shall they not both fall Hawaii.
In answer to the question groups and carrying on discus- into a pit? The disciple is not w h i chi s frequently asked, above his teacher; but everyone "What are marathons and why sions, and subjects for meetings when.he is perfected shall be as are they so called 7"-Marathon and committee activities, in ad- his teacher. … Round Tables are small groups of ten to fifteen persons, prefer- dition to simple pamphlets, study "For each tree is known by its ably both men and women, who outlines, and bibliographies for own fruit. F.or of thorns men agree to study and discuss inter- each subject. The commi,uee do not gather jigs, not of the national issues of the moment as bra m b l e bush gather they they affect the United States. has announced that two Head- grapes. line Books are in preparation by In addition to study and dis- "The good man out of the cussion, these groups are re- the Popular Education Depart- good treasure of his heart bringquired to come to some measure ment of the Foreign Policy As- eth forth that which is g.ood; of agreement before they defi- and the evil man out of the evil nitely leave any subject, as well sociation which are to be used in treasure bringeth forth that as to translate their opinions and the beginners' course. Here is which is evil; for out of the agreements into some form of abundance of the heart his activity. In other words, a a method which will help the mouth speaketh," group tries to find a common de- people to speak so that statesnominator by means of which "The Mission of Peace," a they can act together either to men and governments will heed. service of worship prepared by educate and inform their com- Registration and subscription Mrs. William R. Buchanan, munity or, when they are ready Chairman of the International to do so, to become an effective will be the same for both Relations Committee of the courses. Council of Women for Home Missions, is now in the press. Group registration @ $2.50, Individual subscription @ 75c. Secure material from The Na- tional Committee on the Cause and Cure of War, 70 East 45th St., New York, New York.
unit of public opinion. Each Is It a Dream? The World Day of Prayer magroup, when once formed, is terial for February 12, 1937, is autonomous and the elements of Is it a dream-and nothing more- also ready. The theme: "Thou conference and action distin- this faith guish them from most study and Art the Christ, the Son of the That nerves our brains to thought- Living God." our hands to work
World,wide
A Missionary Newspaper of Current Events EDITED BY MRS. HENRIETTA H. FERGUSON, XENIA, OHIO 1 ~====~=========================~ JAPAN-CHOSEN have sprung into existence. He course. The afternoons are given to says: Christians Speak Their Mind practical work, such as tree-crop cul- For an extended period new reli- Japanese Christians seek a bet- gious cults have applied for recogni- ture, the preparation of ham, bacon, ter way of strengthening the tion at the Government's Bureau of Japanese people than by mili- Religions at the amazing average of and sausages, the making of furnitarism. They believe that the one each week. Some have borrowed way of Christ is the best way to heavily from Christian truth. Others ture, and weaving. In the evenings achieve national solidarity. strike a high nationalistic note. Still others are grossly superstitious, and there are group discussions of prac- The Christians at a mass others have physical healing and meeting in Tokyo recognized material gain as their major motive tical farm problems. . that Christians in the past have and goal. Some of these mushroom fallen far short of fulfilling their cults are sweeping across the nation "Those who finish the work of the great mission, and in deep re- like a forest fire and alreadY count pentance they affirmed in this their followers by the hundreds of schools return to their villages, concrisis their belief that only the thousands. Gospel of Christ can be the safe duct their own farmers' institutes, do guiding star for the people's Because of its strong internationthinking and can bring eternal alism and its high moral standards, experimental work in agriculture, arwelfare to the fatherland. the Christian Church has not shared in this forward run on the part of range lecture courses for the mem- Zealously, therefore, we bestir our- religious organizations. However, it selves, and emphasizing the love of is playing a most important role in Jers of our faculty and engage in God and the grace of Christ we pro- this significant phase of the nation's claim this Gospel to our fellow-na- life. The present phenomenon proves all sorts of village planning. Now tionals. We, the Christians of the that at heart the Japanese are pro- Empire, united and with an unbroken nounced religious. the whole Christian movement has front, propose to launch a great union evangelistic movement and carry for- Lepers in Korea taken over the model evolved from our ward a nation-wide dynamic program of aggressive evangelism. It is reported that there are experimentation and every year near- more than fourteen thousand All the evangelistic efforts of known lepers in Korea. Four ly a hundred short-term Peasant Gosthe various denominations and thousand of these are being Christian organizations through- cared for in the public hospital pel Schools and institutes are being out the country are now being on Little Deer Island, while over unified and inter-related. Among one thousand are being treated held in various parts of the Empire. the types of gatherings contem- in the two Christian leper hosplated are public mass meetings, pitals at Soonchun and Taiku. "These Gospel Schools can also be training conferences for reli- The remaining nine thousand gious leaders, special round ta- more or less, are at large un- adapted to meet the needs of the fishbles for educators and with pub- cared for, homeless beggars. lic-spirited village, town and city ing folk. There are only eleven midleaders, meetings in educational Peasant Gospel Schools institutions, and conferences on dle schools among Japan's 550,000 rural uplift and for furthering In "Christ of Japan," Toyoevangelism in industrial and hiko Kagawa describes the fishing families. In education they commercial areas. schools which are being organ- ized all over the empire. are leagues behind the rest of the -World Call. What isa Peasant Gospel School? population. I pray that the religion One Cult Each Week In my own schools-held during the short leisure season on the farm-the of Christ of the Sea of Galilee, with Writing in Missions on the forenoons are devoted to class work. current revival of religious in- There is a twenty-five hour course on its full-orbed provision for the whole terest in Japan, Dr. William Ax- the Sermon on the Mount; also ling refers to the amazing num- courses on rural sociology and village of life, may be made available to these ber of new religious cults which welfare work. The history of the Christian brotherhood-love movement long-neglected, hard-pressed toilers of is taught, as is also the history of the Christian social-love movement. The the sea. science of agriculture is a part of the Daily Christian Newspaper [431 ] Another factor making for unity among the Christian forces in Japan is the publication of the Daily Christian News, now almost a yearling. Its promoter and editor is Rev. Shoichi Mu- rao, until recently professor in the Episcopal Theological Sem- inary,more widely known per- haps in the field of newspaper evangelism, and now general sec- retary of the Tokyo Y. M. C. A. Not presuming to be a large pub- lication but purporting to be more of a clipsheet of news of religious significance from home and abroad coming daily to the study of the busy minister or layman, the Daily Christian News has brought to realization a dream more than thirty years old among the churches and be- lievers of Japan. Though as yet purely a private undertaking, it is being well received in all quar-
ters and deserves enlarged sup- of the world while as yet they ISLANDS OF THE SEA port from individuals and offi- cannot do it alone. The united cial religious bodies. thank-offering and the daily use The Way of the Shining Face of intercessory prayer are no- -Christian Century. table features." A number of Solomon Island's savages had gathered for a feast JAPAN-KOREA -The Living Church. with their heathen chief, for whom the Christians had been Enthusiasm for Forward A Worth-While Job praying for years. Suddenly the Movement chief stood uPland said, "I want A Y. M. C. A. secretary in you all to pray strong for me. I A Forward Movement is be- Korea describes an unusual hu- want to bring my people to your ing carried on under the aus- man rescue project. A young church to learn of your Master. pices of the Brotherhood of St. Korean Christian picked up I see that you all stop very good. Andrew. from the city streets about 200 I see the faces of you all shining thieves, beggars, outcasts; got as if your hearts were happy, as Ten thousand copies of a Japa- permission for them to sleep in if you were very glad. My peonese version of Discipleship an empty warehouse; extracted ple are not like that. They all have been prepared and distrib- from the mayor and chief of look as if they were sick. They uted throughout the ten dioceses police a small grant for a few look heavy, and their eyes are and 271 parishes and missions necessities, and set up his hostel. dull. They look as if they never making up the Nippon Sei Kok- The boys managed to feed them- swim (wash). They do swim, UJai. Recently, 4,000 additional selves in ways mysterious-per- but they look as if they never copies have been requested by haps nefarious. They told their swim. They look no good. Beclergy and missionaries. The escapades quite frankly to their fore you all live like us and pray enthusiasm and widespread use youthful mentor. No one ran to to our Adaros (devils). But I being made of the movement led tell the police, and somehow pil- see you find a better way. Your to predictions that when the sec- fering is dying down. The ware- way is the way of the shining ond booklet, Disciples of the Liv- house was a little less cold than face! I want very much to come ing Christ, was released during the streets outside; and within and learn of your new Master. Holy Week, more than twenty were classes, Bible stories and You all pray strong for me." thousand copies would be re- evening prayers for those who quired. chose to stay. No equipment, no -Brethren Evangelist. organization, little money. -The Living Church. Aboriginal Religion Temperance Gaining Ground The Woman's Auxiliary Have Australian aborigines Japan has a law which for- any religion? Rev. J. R. B. Love, A retired deaconess of the bids, with penalties, the selling writing for The Bible in the Episcopal Mission in Japan says of liquor or tobacco to any per- World proves that they have. that one of the most remarkable son under twenty years of age. Among the Wororas there are evidences of the success of the A movement is now on foot to sacred possessions of the tribe work of the Church in Japan is secure ,the passage of the same which express their religious the way Japanese Christian law in Korea. Pastor Song Sang strivings after the eternal and women have given their time, Sook is back of the movement. unseen. These are (1) groups their money and their personal He began last fall in Pyengyang, of artificially arranged stones at service in forwarding Christ's had meetings with newspaper various places; (2) collections Kingdom. One great manifesta- editors and other prominent peo- of pictures, crudely painted in tion of this has been the Wom- ple and secured their endorse- red and yellow ochre, white clay an's Auxiliary in the American ment of the movement; then and black charcoal, on the walls dioceses, which celebrated the went to Seoul, with the result of caves in the rocks; and (3) fortieth anniversary of its work that all the newspapers in Seoul a number of objects made of in Japan in 1934. The Auxiliary have swung into line, and com- carved wood. The stones mark is a strong organization and mitted themselves on the matter sacred places, where according well planned, supporting two with editorials. Mr. Song next to Worora belief, the spirit-eswomen workers in Formosa, and appealed to the officials of the sence of man abides in the earth. maintaining a succession of Government-General, and there Should a Worora man be camped short-time w 0 r k e r s in Man- also he found much sympathy. near one of these sacred places churia and also workers in Sag- His third step was to gather to- he may, in a dream, conceive the halein. One of the most notable gether leading Christians in Se- spirit of his future child. The features of the Japanese Aux- oul and some others interested wooden objects are kept stoted iliary is the gift of appreciation in these matters and they have in a cave, which may be visited to the mother church in Amer- agreed to back the movement only by fully initiated men of ica and England. They send heartily. This is an all-Korea the tribe. At certain ceremonies, one-tenth of their thank-offering movement, and signs point to they are brought out, carefully to the home church of the re- its success. handled and looked at by all spective dioceses, that they may grown men. join in the foreign mission work -Korean Echoes.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
The Worora have a name for Indies Mission of the Christian son and vice-president of Baba Supreme Being, but it is sel- and Missionary Alliance, who son's statistical organization, redom heard, never used in song. come from Menado in Northern ported at the annual meeting of In all their crude beliefs there is Celebes, made a tour of evangel- the Association of Statisticians an underlying element of the ism and investigation in the un- of American Religious Bodies eternal truths that the soul of evangelized part of the Celebes. that while in 1921 the Protesman came from God and returns These two young men left Ma- tants gained 1,710,000 new to God, and that man's duty is kassar in November, and visited members by confession of faith, to love and serve God, and to many of the important centers last year they gained only 990,- express his devotion through round the narrow stretch of 000. A recent survey of 1,000 love and service to his neighbor. land, which forms the curve churches made by the Commis- from the city of Donggala, to sion on Church Attendance of Tristan-Isle of Opportunity Menado. Their trip has brought the Congregational and Chris- to light considerable informa- tian Churches showed that only Tristan Da Cunha, an isolated tion concerning this field about twenty-five per cent of regisisland in the South Atlantic which comparatively little is tered members were supporting Ocean, has always been called known. Many places they vis- their churches by personal at- "Isle of Loneliness." Rev. Har- ited are without a witness of the tendance and only thirty per old Wilde thinks it should have Gospel. The expenses of this cent of the seats in United States a new name-"Isle of Oppor- trip were met by the National churches were being used. Mr. tunity." Every child on the Bible Society of Scotland. Their McCullough said: island now possesses a Bible, the sales of the Scriptures were fairgift of the Bible Society, their ly good, but colportage work is Every department of church work only book. But Mr. Wilde reads difficult because of the illiteracy depends on church attendance. If other books to them. "Since last of the people, and the bigotry of church attendance continues to peter year we have finished Alice in the Mohammedans. The Gov- out our mission societies and all our Wonderland, Robinson Crusoe, ernment has given the mission other church organizations will go Robin Hood, Grimm's Fairy permission to carryon regular overboard. To save the church our Tales, and the Christmas Carol. missionary work in this vast un- laymen must go to church. Attend- The children are very keen and occupied area, and as soon as ance at Sunday schools has declined never miss school, whatever the students are sufficiently pre- even faster than church attendance. weather. I have taught them pared, they hope to take up the Between 1931 and 1935 it declined two of my mottoes: 'You never work in this field. eight per cent, whereas church atwin by giving in,' and 'Any old tendance declined one per cent. Sunthing won't do.' In fact the chil- -The Pioneer. day school attendance reached its peak dren are doing so nicely that around 1917. The zenith of church now the older folks are asking to NORTH AMERICA attendance was in 1880. be taught, and they want me to start a night schooL" Population of the United Alert to New Opportunities The older folks have lectures S.tates When the Board of Home Mison Wednesday evenings. "So sions of the Presbyterian far" says Mr. Wilde, "I have The estimated population of Church, U. S. A., learned that talked on First Aid, Egypt, the United States on July 1,1935 the Rural Habilitation Service Shakespeare, War Reminis- was 127,521,000 as compared was planning to move 200 famcences, Coal and Oil, Things to with the official federal census ilies from Minnesota, Wisconsin Make for the Home, Cost of Liv- figures of 122,755,046 on April and Michigan to Alaska, the ing in England. The lectures 1, 1930 according to William L. Board sent the Rev. Bert J. are quite voluntary, but no one Austin, director of the Bureau Bingle from Cardova to Matamisses, and they all say how of Census. This is an increase nuska so that he was on hand to they enjoy these evenings." of 3.9 per cent. The greatest in- welcome the settlers on their ar- crease was one of 22 per cent rival. A community hall has The chaplain is also getting in the District of Columbia, at- now been built with the assistthem to work for themselves, tributed to the influx of federal ance of the settlers, and has and make all kinds of articles employes during the present ad- served not only as a place of for home use. The men and ministration. In Georgia the in- worship for the Community boys are making little things to crease was 15 per cent, in South church which Mr. Bingle has orsell to any visiting ships, and so Carolina 15.7, in Tennessee 11 ganized, but also as a hospital are the women and girls. All and in Florida 9.9. Eleven when an epidemic of scarlet feare learning to share in the work states show a loss in population, ver attacked the camp. of the mission in other fields. Arizona leading with a loss of The people are faithful in keep- 11.4 per cent. -Presbyterian Tribune. ing up private prayer. -Watchman-Examiner. The Southern Baptists -The Mission Field. Protestant Church Today there are 4,389,417 In the Northern Celebes Membership members in the Southern Bap- tist Church. The year 1935 has During the past year two stu- Charles J. McCullough, pri- been one of distinct gains.: 177 dents at the Netherlands East vate secretary .to Roger W. Bab- new churches, 202,047 baptisms; $22,264,052 given to local work,
a net gain of $1,862,444; gifts pIe were not attending any United Church of Canada to missions, education and be- church. Meetings were held, nevolences were $4,624,515, a two a day six days a week, be- During the past ten years the net gain of $372,847; the total ginning on Sunday morning and United Church of Canada has gifts to all causes increased to closing the next Friday night; received 250,378 persons into $26,888,567, a net gain of $2,- moving to a new place on Satur- church membership on profes- 235,291. day and beginning all over sion of faith-an average of a again. Every afternoon a Bible fresh Pentecost of believers The Foreign Mission Board Study group was held in the every six weeks. After deductreports 400 missionaries in the farm homes; every night a ing the losses through death and following countries: Africa, Ar- service in the schoolhouse. One otherwise, communicant memgentina, North and South Bra- district was quite pagan, where bership has increased from 600,- zil, Chile, Central, Interior, for twelve years there had been 668 in 1925 to 687,973 at the North and South China, Hun- no religious work until this Sun- close of 1934. There is also an gary, Italy, Jl:J.pan, Jugo-Slavia, day school was started. The increase in Sunday school enrol- Mexico, Palestine-Syria, Rou- school teacher said that among ment from 579,482 to 638,960, mania and Spain. her pupils only one had known Young People's Society member- the Lord's Pray~r, or had ever ship from 104,607 to 205,979, The total receipts last year seen a Sunday school paper. and families from 369,652 to were $1,294,613 and the total 459,089. The Dominion census disbursements were $1,293,426. Recently a young farmer said of 1931 reports that 2,017,375 to the leader in this work: "My persons in Canada have declared The Woman's Missionary temper has always been al- themselves associated with the Union reports the total number mighty quick, and I used to be United Church. Upwards of of Woman's Missionary Union plenty free with the stick when 1,300 congregations have been organizations in the Southern the children acted contrary, but organized in communities that Baptist Convention is 34,645, we're better pals now. I don't had no Christian service, thus with an aggregate membership know just how or when it began reaching new settlements on the of 593,766. Of this number 11,- but I've been changing the last prairies, in mining camps, pulp- 407 are Woman's Missionary So- two years." His wife, kneading wood towns, and among fishercieties, with a reported member- bread, turned around and looked folk with the Gospel of Jesus in ship of 293,833, and 23,238 are at him. "I know when you a way which the churches, sepayoung people's organizations, started to change," she said. "It rately, could never have equaled. with a membership of 299,883. was when the Sunday school It is of interest to know that These organizations contributed opened here." He is taking an the United Church preaches during the past year to denomi- active leadership in that Sunday the Gospel in Canada in thirty national causes a total of $1,- school now. different languages, while the 972,370. The total number of Bible is distributed in book and tithers reported, 95,292. Pagans in America leaflet in more than fifty dia- lects. More than 1,000 congre- -Henry W. Tiffany, Ph.D. American missionaries have gations, struggling for exist- penetrated the far corners of ence, nearly all receiving grants Crime and Church the earth, yet within our own from Home Mission Boards, borders there are more than 45,- have been united into harmoni- Judge William T. Aggeler of 000 pagans who still worship ous unions, thus destroying re- Los Angeles, for many years de- their tribal gods, according to ligious competitions, and multifender of public order in that Bishop Howden of New Mexico. plying their effectiveness in decity, declares that of the thou- They are the Navajo Indians in voted Christian ministry to their sands of men and women who Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. communities. came before him charged with every conceivable crime, only 2 "Their paganism cannot be -Presbyterian Alliance per cent were active members ascribed to any lack of proselyt- Bulletin. of any church. The other 98 per ing by the Christians," observes cent either had no religion, or the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, LATIN AMERIOA had ceased to attend church. "because since the Spaniards first encountered them in the six- Caguas Church Too Small -Religious Digest. teenth century they have been subjected to systematic cam- It is refreshing to hear from Opening Pioneer Work paigns of conversion. With the Puerto Rico that the Baptist exception of a comparatively church in Caguas is progressing In 1933 the Women Preachers few individuals, other Indians rapidly. Miss Lola Llabres Association appointed a Com- have accepted Christianity, but writes: mittee on Fields and Workers. the Navajos have remained ob- One of the developments that durate. This does not mean that We have little room to accommofollowed was a piece of pioneer they are irreligious, because date the crowds of children and adults work in southern Kansas. With atheism and agnosticism are un- who come to the meetings, and specialthe help of some local women known among them." ly to the Sunday school. Many who five Sunday schools were organ- have made their public profession of ized in regions where the peo-
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
faith are anxious to join the church prison for embezzlement of the he set out to do his duty for his through baptism. Each member does public funds. He promised to his best to help others to know the give the rest of his life to the country. In the battle of Cana- Saviour. The men's society has or- da, Chile, he lost all his possesganized to work in the country dis- service of Jesus Christ in the sions, and among them his Bible.
tricts. Those who can preach help in prison. Yet he had learned from memthis way, and others give invitations ory many of the most important to the meetings. There is great en- -National Bible Society passages, and these continued to thusiasm about this activity, and it .of Scotland. bring him consolation. On July is our hope and prayer that this may be the way to oring many to Christ. Lost in Amazonian Forest 11, 1934, he was wounded, and The women too are not idle. They on September 14th he arrived at Somewhere in Brazil today the hospital in Santa Cruz, hold services in homes where the peo- three pioneers are lost, brave where he remained for several ple sympathize with our work, but men who went out under the Un- months. Following his discharge are not brave enough yet to attend evangelized Fields Missions. from the hospital, he came fairthe services held in the temple. This They are known as the "Three ly regularly to the Gospel meethas proved to be a good means of in- Freds," their names being Fred ings, and knowing of his long teresting people in the Gospel; by Roberts, Fred Dawson, and Fred association with the Gospel, Mr. and by they visit the church and Wright. Mr. Roberts, who is in Horne many times pressed him learn to know the Saviour. Seven charge of the party, is an Au- to decide for Christ. On 17th and even more Sunday schools are stralian, who has been ten years January of this year, being trouheld every Sunday afternoon. in Amazonia, working entirely bled about his sins, he retired to among Indians. His companions his aunt's home. There he found – Watchman-Examiner. are new recruits. They started a disused Bible, and opened it at last May for what would be a passage he had never hitherto In a West Indian Prison called in war an "unhealthy sec- read. As he met the words: "Be tion" in the center of Brazil. not deceived; God is not "In those beautiful islands of They were seeking the un- mocked: for whatsoever a man the West Indies," writes George touched field of the wild Kaya- soweth, that shall he also reap," Herbert of St. Kitts, "where na- pos, of whom very little is a deep conviction penetrated his ture seems to have lavished her known. They are said to shoot soul, and falling on his knees he choicest gifts of vegetation and at sight and to regard white men confessed his sin and accepted romantic scenery, it is sad to as their rightful prey. Jesus Christ as his Saviour. Althink that many must be con- though he has had to endure perdemned for their misdeeds to The three were supplied with secution from his companions, spend many months in prison. an unusual outfit which included he continues to be a joyful Their enforced confinement, a 4% h. p. outboard motor which Christian. however, offers opportunity, can be fixed to a canoe, a docwhich has been eagerly taken tor's microscope and other sci- -National Bible Soc. .of advantage of, for securing their entific instruments, a six-foot Scotland. attention to the things of the cross saw, guns and ammuni- Spirit to which, in their days of tion for use against wild beasts New Life in the Chaco freedom, they were oblivious. and for hunting game, galvan- In confinement many of the pris- ized sheet iron, rivets and tin Last January (midsummer in oners have listened willingly to cutters,-put in that the pio- the Argentine), in the cool of the message of the Gospel, and neers might make themselves the evening a company of Indian in the reading of the Book have steel shields as armor against chiefs were squatting in a circle found the way to God. The Indian arrows. Their last let- in serious conclave. A year or changes that have taken place in ter, sent over a year ago, re- two ago this would have meant the cases of a number have been ported that they had treated either a seance of witch doctors so marked that even the justices over 100 sick people and had or the beginning of a drinking and the officers in charge have held meetings that were crowded feast. But this circle of thirtyborne witness to the power of to overflowing. The Mission has five men, including ex-witch docthe Word to uplift and trans- sent out a rescue party in search tors and warrior chiefs, had met form. for the three missionaries. in the shadow of the trees on the mission compound for prayer, Never before have there been -The Christian. seeking guidance for the evanso many persons in jail for various misdemeanors. Nevertheless, not a few have had the great experience of meeting God face to face in the prison. So Conversion of a Soldier gelistic trips to be undertaken profound was the impression that week end. The universal made by the Holy Spirit during Peter J. Horne of Santa Cruz, week of prayer had just come the preaching at one service that Bolivia, tells the following story to a close.
nearly everyone of the fifty men of a young Bolivian who left It is more than a year since present made profession of his home in 1933 to serve his coun- these evangelistic trips were intention to live a new life. try in the war with Paraguay. first begun. Men and women, Among these there was a high He had received a Bible from a chiefs and their whole villages dignitary in the local govern- Bolivian Indian missionary, and have been so attracted by the ment civil service, who was in with this precious companion, Gospel message that they have
come to live here temporarily to Far East in 1938. The first ses- best to educate the entire memlearn more of Jesus and His sion was given entirely to an ad- bership of the Church in the nawords. A group of over 200 In- dress by Dr. John R. Mott. At ture of the work abroad, and to dians, living fifteen miles down the second session, Rev. William reveal its character as a deeply stream, have been asking for a Paton outlined the plans for the spiritual movement vital to the missionary for several years. proposed meeting in China, the life of the Church at home. Some of the chiefs with their general theme of which is to be They were seeking to lay upon people have been living here for "The Upbuilding and Mainte- the heart of the Church the cona few months-attracted by the nance of the Younger Churches" viction that more missionaries, work of the evangelists-four of as a part of the world-wide men and women, were urgently the chiefs and nearly forty of Christian fellowship. The five needed if the Church of Scottheir people having joined our principal divisions of this theme land was worthily to fulfil its inquirers' class which has passed were discussed in the following function as a missionary church. the 200 mark. The church is sessions. filled nightly to overflowing. Other societies find themselves Witchcraft, drinking and danc- The closing session was a tes- in a simlar position,· and it ing belong to bygone days. The timonial and a farewell to Mr. might be a good thing if once a Holy Spirit is very obviously at Kenneth Maclennan, who has year, in the churches of all dework in their lives, and there is been the secretary of the British nominations, there could be a a genuine desire to become, as Missionary Conference from its Recruiting Sunday, when a defimany so often pray, the "chil- beginning, and who now retires nite appeal should be made to dren of light." because of age limitation. His young men and women to enlist successor, the Rev. J. W. C. Dou- in the service of Christ, whether -The South American Mis- gall, who has been educational at home or abroad. sionary Society Magazine. adviser to the missions in Kenya and Uganda, will assume these -The Life of Faith. EUROPE secretarial duties next January. The conference also authorized Churches and Bibles in Spain British Y. M. C. A. its Standing Committee to call a second secretary to be associ- Thirty-six churches w ere The British Weekly comments ated with Mr. Dougall, thus burned recently in Spain during favorably on the recent conven- making it possible to reorganize the present revolution, within a tion of the Young Men's Chris- the cooperative work of the period of 48 hours and 34 othtian Association held in London British missionary societies so ers were damaged by fire; 160 which devoted itself to a study that the home base activities churches have been destroyed in of the important report on aims may be more fully coordinated, four months and 251 have been and policy drawn up by commit- and so that the work of the damaged, said Jose Maria Gil tee after a three years' survey of United Council for Missionary Robles, leader of the (Roman) Y. M. C. A. work throughout Education may be included with- Catholic Popular Action in the the country. in the responsibilities of the sec- Cortes. retaries of the Conference. There had been a growing doubt On the other hand Bible disas to whether the Y. M. C. A. had not -A. L. Warnshuis. tribution continues: lost sight of its original purpose. Partly this was due to the whole- Need for Missionary Recruits A lady missionary was hurryhearted way in which the Association ing through a crowded street in threw itself into the tasks which thc The recent reports of all the Barcelona when a smiling Spanwar imposed upon it-"serving of ta- leading missionary societies of ish woman accosted her. "Are bles" in the sense of providing social, Great Britain indicate financial you the Senora who gave me a educational and recreational facili- deficits, but, great as is the need little book the other day, in the ties for young men and boys. The of money, there are indications Calle St. Anna?" report recalls it to a renewed empha- that the need of missionaries is sis upon its definitely Christian and even greater. One of the most The missionary had distrib- Christianizing ideal. Y. M. C. A. important discussions of the uted many of these little Scripleaders have almost unequalled op- General Assembly of the Church ture booklets in the wide, busy portunities for bring young men with- of Scotland in Edinburgh was avenues of the great Spanish in the influence of Christ and His devoted to the work of foreign city. Gospel. As a result of the London missions. convention they plan to go to their "May be," she said, "Was it work with a clearer view of their op- Rev. C. W. G. Taylor, in pre- one like this?" portunities and their obligations. senting the foreign mission re- port of the Church of Scotland, The Spanish woman's face lit -Presbyterian Banner. declared that the special effort up as she saw the booklet which which they were making was the missionary held out. "Ah, British Mission Conference not, first and foremost, a finan- yes, that is it. My sons have cial drive. They were seeking, read it, and asked me to get The annual meeting of the rather, to bring all congrega- more for the other members of Missionary Societies in Great tions to the consideration of how the family. And indeed these Britain and Ireland was held at words are true," looking down Swanwick June 10-13), program at the little book with a softened being centered around the pro- expression. posed meeting of the International Missionary Council in the -Scripture Gift Bulletin.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Anti-Semitism in Rumania We have received copies of your year to learn the language be- Gospel of St. John. Understanding fore coming to Urundi, there It has become extremely dan- that 1,000 unbound Gospels are ur- is no man on the field to occupy gerous to be a Jew in Rumania, gently needed for the good of the peo- Kayero. where, out of a population of ple, we have telephoned concerning 18,000,000, 1,000,000 are Jews. them to the Foreign Minister. Our Two others from South Africa Jewish youth are no longer able great desire is that this plan might have been appointed to the to attend certain branches of be carried out, and that the books Congo in 1937, after their furcertain universities, and those might reach our camp for the use of lough. who have already studied several the soldiers. semesters are prevented from Catholicism in Angola passing the i r examinations. -Life Of Faith. Many of the ways to free pro- The Angola press, especially fessions are closed to Jews. Vio- Another Translation in Luanda, has published severlent actions have been taken to al articles lately, setting forth exclude Jewish lawyers from Rev. W. S. Martin of the the necessity of "Catholicizing" leading places at the bar, and French Sudan writes that the the colony. Catholic baptisms in similar measures have been National Bible Society of Scot- 1934 numbered 43,000, and the taken against Jewish doctors, land has now completed the number of adherents in the coldentists and builders. Mer- printing of the whole New Tes- ony is put at 425,000. The anchants are so heavily taxed or so tament in Songoi, or, as it was nual subsidy given by the Anf r e que n t I y fined on bogus formerly called, Sonhrai. golan Government to Roman charges that they are being Catholic missions is about 4,- forced out of business. Anti- This great race differs from the 000,000 angolares, approximate- Semitic propaganda takes two ordinary Negroes of the southerly ly £40,000, as well as privileges, forms: an anti-Jewish press and districts. They belong to the "Sudan" such as exemption from customs anti-Jewish meetings. The fight stock. A little above the average in dues, hut taxes for workers, etc. against the Jews has become the stature, they are well developed, black social, political and economic skinned, have prominent noses and Nevertheless, e van gel i c a I issue in Rumania. The Jews medium coarse features. In mental- work is pushing forward. The are stigmatized as Rumania's ity they are a little above the aver- Dondi church, a comparatively enemy No.1. age African, but centuries of forced recent organization, c 0 u n t s submission to conquering Arabs and 5,000 members and a very large -Alliance Weekly. Touregs have produced something of number of catechumens. The a servile nature. Bailundo church has a member- AFRICA ship of 7,000. Sunday school Songoi is the general trade lan- work is taking on a new inter- Bible Work in Addis Ababa guage for a distance of about one est and the general outlook is thousand miles along the Niger, be- hopeful. A survey by the World The British and Foreign Bi- ginning at Djenne on the Bani River, Dominion Press in 1933 showed ble Society has received news a tributary of the Niger, and extend- the existence of a Protestant from T. P. Bevan, their repre- ing down into the Niger Colony and Christian community of 240,000 sentative in Addis Ababa, con- Dahomey. in a probable native popUlation cerning the looting of the Bible of 4,141,730. There were then House last May. The trouble While the Songoi as a race are still 249 foreign missionaries and began on the morning of May 2, Mohammedan, many individuals are 2,854 national workers. and the same evening Mr. and ready to welcome the Gospel, and the Mrs. Bevan were taken to the former fanaticism is breaking down. "Little Man, What Next?" British Legation. Some men Now, at last, when the Word of God were left in charge, but two days is made available to them in their Nurses at Holy Cross Hospilater they were overpowered. own language, there is little doubt tal, Pondoland, suspected their The day following (May 5) the out that many of these fine people gardener and fac totum of wast- Italians entered the city, and will be brought into the Kingdom, ing his time; and required him that night the Bible House was and the whole tribe will be affected, to write a list of his daily activiset on fire four times, but neigh- as well as many of the neighboring ties. This is what he wrote: bors came and extinguished the tribes. flames. Next morning Mr. Be- To sweep back and front of the dinvan regained possession of the -Alliance Weekly. ing-room every day. To carry water premises, but the Bibles had all for the washer once a week. To cut been taken. Thus he was re- In the Belgian Congo firewood and chop them for the bath lieved of any anxiety concerning and ironing three times a week. To their distribution! Mr. J. W. Haley is superin- empty pig'soin twice a day. To col- tendent of the Mission Libre lect eggs once a day. To collect hens Mr. Alfred Buxton quotes Methodiste at Ruanda-Urundi, into their runs four or five times a the following letter, written by Central Africa, on the water- day, and mend their runs as many the Emperor of Ethiopia as he shed of the Congo-Nile River times a day. To get cream Monday, was starting for the front line: systems. In a news letter he Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. To writes that the government does get vegetables from the garden daily. not wish to grant official status Working flower garden, weeding it, to a mission until they have at manuring it, turning soil, planting least 10 workers on the field; flowers, watering them and tidying it on the other hand, the mission every day. To whitewash Sisters' waits for official sanction before adding to the staff. Eventually, the vice-governor gave permis- sion to occupy a site at Kayero. While the Board expects to send missionaries to Belgium this
rooms twice a month. To cut lawns One day a State official came dred thousand Jews have come to gather taxes. He saw that to settle in Palestine, but the once a week, to sweep them and tidy Bazele was well educated and two races do not get along well much more refined than the men together. Great Britain is standoff. To divide fruits from 'rnseleni of the jungle. Just before the ing by her mandate and declares State official left the village he she will keep order and enforce (store) for nursery and Mrs. Drewe called everybody together and justice at any cost. said, "I want you to know that once a week. To un:oad goods from this is a man of God. He is your Colonial Secretary William friend. He has come to help you. G. A. Ormsby-Gore revealed that Natal, such as boxes, and open them When he beats the drum every over 600 persons have been in- one come and hear him. Divide jured in the recent outbreaks, to be unpacked, twice a month. To your food with him." Because and 84 had been killed. The the white man had given his number increases day by day. carry Sisters' boxes to the Night commands the natives obeyed. Racial Bitterness Nurses' huts and to change beds to At the end of six months three men had accepted Jesus Christ In the political disturbances Mrs. Drewe's and tables twice a as their Saviour. Bazele has between Jews and Arabs, a seri- now been in the village about ous phase has been reached, month. To be a messenger to St. four years. There is a church, which calls for special prayer. and a group of people who come Because of the increase in vio- John's, Cottage, St. Monica's, St. every day to learn the Jesus lence the Jewish and Arab com- Christ way to live. munities are now practically Mary's Hospital, Mrs. Drewe and isolated from one another. The Neighboring villages are send- bitter feeling is also reacting Mrs. Hartley two times a day. To ing to Lotumbe, saying, "White seriously on Christian mission- man, send us someone to tell us ary work, one of the regrettable kill a cock three times a month. To about Jesus like Bazele is telling developments being the hostile to his people."-World Call. attitude taken by many Protesmake up French drains and roads tant Christian Arabs towards WESTERN ASIA both the Jews and the British twice a month. To take one bag of Government. Some Arab pas- Palestine in Turmoil tors are even publicly denouncmealies from hospital for nursery ing the present policy from their All Palestine is in commotion, pulpits. once a month, and grind one tin of with riots breaking out in its cities and towns. It is a highly The Arab community finds it mealies for nursery once a month. To tangled situation with roots run- hard to understand the action of ning back through thousands of the Government in recognizing carry one bag of coal for nursery years. The basal trouble is the the claims of the Jews to a coun- presence of two races and two try in which the Arabs have had once a month. To get fruits from the religions, both claiming Pales- undisputed claims for some cen- tine as their holy land. The turies. They feel that their gardens such as apples, peaches, etc., claim of the Jews goes back to rights have been ignored, and Abraham, and of the Arabs to are clamoring for what they betwice a month. To bury poisoned the invasion of the land by Mo- lieve to be justice. But, Pales- hammed twelve hundred years tine is far from being fully ocdogs, cats and dead hens any day ago. The Jews, without a coun- cupied. The incoming of the try anywhere, have always Jews has been an unquestioned it happens. To clean drains in hen- turned their longing eyes to- benefit economically. The Arabs wards it and cherished their re- have themselves profited very runs, to give meajes to the hens every turn to it as their passionate materially from the improved dream. conditions. But they recognize afternoon. To fill up seed boxes with the initiative and the aggressive- The close of the great War, ness of the newcomers, and are soil, manuring them and watering which left Palestine in the hands afraid lest they be eventually of the British, seemed to open dispossessed. them every day, when hot to put mats the door for them to return. The Zionist movement started up to -Christian and Missionon top of young plants to prevent provide the means for consum- ary Alliance. mation. But at once the difficulheat. W ALTER BUT!. ty arose because the Arabs have Modern Times in Arabia so long occupied the land. It The nurses were satisfied. was proposed to buy them out Pious Moslems in Mesopota- -The Mission Field. and millions of dollars were fur- mia used to spend four or five nished for this purpose by Jews months on camel routes to make A Transformation all over the world. Over a hun- the pilgrimage from Baghdad Bazele Daurdi, an evangelist of the Disciples Mission at Coquilhatville had a burning desire to carry the Gospel to some village where the people had never heard of Christ. The missionary sent word to Lotumbe asking what the mission there thought but before an answer was received Bazele had already started. When he and his wife got to the village they had in mind, they beat the big drum and called all the village people together. He told them of the love of God and of Jesus Christ and his love and mercy. Some of the old men came up and said, "Why are you here? Why did you come?" He told them it was because he loved them and God. They retorted that they had never known of a stranger of one tribe loving people who wore different tribal marks and they accused him of being a spy, or a thief. They refused to divide their food with him.
Bazele and his wife built a little house and started a garden but went hungry many times because the people refused to supply food.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
to Mecca. Now a motor road strongest Christian centers in felt the great challenge of his reduces the time to four or five the Nizam's Dominions. country's need and resolved to days. Last year a party of Mos- do all that lay in his power. lems came by motor all the way -The Christian. to Mecca from Delhi in north- Mr. Devadhar was President ern India. "A great increase in Growth at Ratnagiri of the Servants of India Society missionary mobility is foreshad- and has been referred to as "the owed," observed The Interna- From the West India Presby- intellectual center of Indian poltional Review of Missi.ons. terian Mission comes the report itics, which he regarded as a that the church at Ratnagiri constructive agency for building INDIA AND BURMA shows growth both in member- the India of his dreams. It was ship and in evangelism. There he who created the "Woman's Serf Saves a Village have been ten children baptized Movement" of India, which has and thirteen members received sent out over 1,300 women as Rev. Charles W. Posnett, Ni- into the communion of the trained social workers, over 300 zam's Dominions, relates the church by profession of their being medical and 1,000 nonstory of a young man named faith in Christ. A Women's medical workers. In Poona alone Punnyadass, whose father was Society, a Temperance Society the organization maintains six bound by a debt of five pounds, and the Y. M. C. A. are func- hostels for women, where there for which he had been working tioning as church activities. are 22 workers and 224 resident for thirty years simply to pay There are ten Sunday schools, pupils and 93 who are partly or the interest. Once a year he was two in the town of Ratnagiri wholly supported by the society. given a blanket, and his wife and eight in the district, con- "Lift up the women and the nawas given a cloth, and daily they ducted under the supervision of tion will lift up itself," is the had only enough food for one the church. The Y. M. C. A., slogan. meaL Anxious that his son at its own expense, made an should rise above this miserable evangelistic tour through the The Baptists in India existence, he sent the boy to Mr. district during the months of Posnett 25 years ago. Punnya- April and May. During the Dr. J. H. Rushbrooke, Secredass was trained as an evangel- Christmas holidays, the church tary of the Baptist World Alist, and the villagers of Marelli carried out the week of evan- liance, reported on his visit to begged him to come and teach gelism in Ratnagiri and the India in part as follows: them the Gospel. The village near-by villages. All the men, chief was angry, and said that women and most of the children The Telugu Mission field is the he did not want any Christians took part in this. Twenty vil- largest Baptist field in India. At the in his village. The roof of his lages were visited, many Gospels Assam Centenary celebration in J orshed was pulled down, and sold and tracts distributed. The hat, the conference was attended by everybody who went near him communicant membership is about 5,000 of the 56,000 church memwas persecuted, but the boy won largest in the history of the bers in the province. Twenty-three the love of all. church. languages were represented, though only four or five were officially used. Then plague broke out last A Great Servant It was a strange experience for speakyear, and spread to this village. ers to utter a sentence or two, and Two or three people died, and A writer in Dnyanodaya says wait until the simultaneous translathe whole village was infested that one of his richest experi- tion of the official interpreters and with rats. The chief left the ences was to attend the 60th the murmured rendering by others village and built himself a hut birthday of Mr. Gopal Krishna should cease. A veritable Babel, but two miles away in the jungle; Devadhar-who died last No- also a Pentecost; for the word but Punnyadass obtained medi- vember-and to hear his address reached "every man in his own cine and disinfectants and at- to about two thousand people in tongue." tended to all those who were which he paid tribute to the instricken. He then got the young fluence that missionaries had A Hindu editor, not a Christian, men who were very devoted to upon him in all his life work, was there to express appreciation of him to clean the village and especially the self-forgetting what the Baptist mission had done drive out the plague rats. They spirit shown by missionary for the cultural uplift of the people. whitewashed the houses, inside women. Most moving of all was He spoke of the setting up by the and out, cleaned the roads, and his statement that when he was mission of the first printing press in destroyed everything that they a young man, a missionary in the province, the publication of dicthought would encourage the the Scottish Mission compound tionaries, the circulation of books and rats to stay. Attacks of plague at Jalna pointed out to him how the promotion of education. When he subsided; the people began to the illiterate Indians were wor- had closed his tribute, he raised his feel that as long as Punnyadass shiping the idol Maruti and chal- arm and pointing dramatically to a was there they were safe. The lenged the young Devadhar with group in one corner of the enclosure, chief returned and admitted that the words: "When are you go- he cried, "Who dares to assert that the boy had done a fine work. ing to do something for your Christian missions have failed? This village is now one of the people?" It was in that hour Those men a gene1'ation ago were head that the noble G. K. Devadhar hunters." …
-Canadian Baptist.
Rest Haven in Burma Since January, 1927, when the Peabody-Montgomery Rest Haven was opened in the hills of Taunggyi, Burma, 119 young
women have received treatment al unity, with Nanking's author- Already 18,000 have been settled for tuberculosis. In the entire ity largely recognized; Commu- there and now these 35,000 who province of Burma and the Shan nism almost suppressed in many have signed as being willing to States it has been the only source of the provinces, and the Gov- go are to be transferred there. of help for people suffering from ernment looking forward to a The Provincial Relief Committee this disease. Now word .comes freely elected People's Confer- is contemplating starting emerfrom Miss Lizbeth Hughes: "A ence to adopt a Constitution. gency hospitals there. tubercular clinic has bee n (2) The improvement in means opened in a congested part of of communication in ruined rail- Inspectors in the flooded re- Rangoon. Since this section of ways restored to efficiency; an gion report that the waters are the city is nonresidential, the increased mileage in five years now receding rapidly and over usefulness of the clinic will be of 45,000 miles; and the estab- large areas it will be possible to limited, but it is a good step ishment of airways. (3) The do some sowing this spring. which will lead to a fully expansion of industry whereby However, it is also true that the equipped sanitorium in the hills China manufactures many ar- people who have returned to later on, we hope." The Govern- ticles formerly imported. (4) those parts will be in need of ment is at last realizing this The improved status of women, help for the next three months great need which Christian mis- including the right of daughters as they have no food supplies. sions has been pointing out for to inherit as well as sons; of years. . wives to own and dispose of Y. M. C. A. in Government property; of individuals to free- Schools – Watchman-Examiner. dom of choice in marriage; and the discouraging of concubinage. An immense task has been left Bible Reading in Siam (5) The expansion of improve- behind by the "Youth and Reli- ment of social services as shown gion Movement" campaigns. It The American Bible Society in a national and higher educareports an outstanding growth tional system and a national has been estimated that the toin spiritual interest in eastern health service, at least, in larger tal attendance of the Eddy and Siam. From the reading of the cities. (6) The development of the d e put a t ion meetings Word, with no teacher other a spirit of social service and civ- amounts to 339,595 and the total than the Holy Spirit, hundreds ic responsibility, with the trend number of "decisions" to 12,832. of people in this section of the definitely in the direction of hon- Association secretaries and country have accepted the Gos- esty and efficiency. church workers are simply bepel as the true way of salvation. wildered about the follow-up Whole villages have come to be- All these things are creditea work. Government and nonlieve in Christ as the true Sav- by this journalist, directly or in- Christian private schools iniour of the world, and, with the directly, to Christianity and the creasingly outnumber Christian guidance the Christian workers efforts of missionaries. institutions. This must arrest could give them, a number of the attention of those who are chapels are being built by these -Alliance Weekly. interested in student work in believers. Because of this won- China. According to the latest derful revival movement a Bible Famine and Flood statistics, there are 111 universchool for the training of colo- sities and colleges in the counporteur-evangelists is b e i n g Dr. E. H. Edwards relates try, of which only eighteen are opened in Korat. The plan is to some interesting details concern- Christian. Out of a total of have each village, where there ing the famine and flood relief about 40,000 students in these is a sufficient number of believ- carried on in the Yellow River universities and colleges only ers, select a man, or preferably area of China under the direc- 3,500 are in Christian institua man and wife, send them to tion of Dr. H. R. Williamson, tions. In regard to the middle the Bible training school for a Chairman of the China Interna- schools, only 196 out of a total year, then have them for the tional Famine Relief Commis- of 1,892 are Christian institutraining of colporteur-evangel- sion. tions, and only 30,000 students istic work for a year. This pro- out of 400,000 are in Christian cedure is to continue until each In a recent letter Dr. William- institutions. Roughly we may man has had at least three years son says that the amounts sent say that only one-tenth of our of Bible training. to him have come at exactly the college and middle school stu- right time when Government re- dents are studying in Christian – Watchman-Examiner. lief is failing. "The Provincial institutions and thereby gaining Government has issued an order some kind of knowledge about CHINA that all refugees must leave their Christianity, whereas the other camps by the end of the month. nine-tenths are practically un- Modern China reached by direct Christian in- The Provincial Government, fluences. A journalist, writing in W.orld he goes on to say, contemplates Dominion, lists six outstanding transferring 35,000 of the refu- Christians seem less able ecofeatures in the reconstruction gees to Li-Chin near the mouth nomically to send their sons and taking place in China. These of the Yellow River to help cul- daughters to Christian schools. are (1) The approach to nation- tivate the reclaimed land there.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
They are, therefore, attending Canadian Mission in an obscure neighborhood, where the non-Christian schools in increas- Manchuria people knew my friend and had ing numbers. planned for her to conduct a short- The Canadian Presbyterian term school for two weeks. One stu- -The Chinese Recorder. Mission in South Manchuria has dent would bring a bushel of rice, an- maintained encouraging prog- other vegetables from his garden, and Broadcasting the Bible ress since 1934. There were another oil or a little money. All the nearly 1,000 baptisms in 1935, offerings were pooled and they formed Not by radio but by salesmen. the largest number for any year a committee who should cook, who For many years the Presbyteri- since the inception of the work. should wash dishes, and who should an Mission has engaged colpor- Eleven new centers were opened sweep out the two fairly large mudteurs which were financed by to the Gospel, and other villages floored rooms. the British and Foreign Bible have offered to provide meeting Society in Canton. Under a new houses if the mission will send The next morning we had early arrangement evangelists, Bible them an evangelist. prayer time, communal music and women and other volunteers literacy classes in the morning. I could have taken to selling Bible por- In the southern section of the see peasants and their young children tions on their country trips. field no fewer than 464 memor- as well as their old fathers and moth- They pay the Society a fixed rate ized the golden texts for the en- ers studying out of the same book. per box of portions and are al- tire year. As a reward, those This sort of cooperative school was lowed to keep the proceeds from who could read were given a not an experiment, for the same sort the sales, thus relieving the Chinese translation of Mrs. Go- of thing was going on in many parts strain of economic pressure due forth's stirring book on "Blind of China. to the general depression and Chang." Those unable to read sudden cutting off of the usual were given a Gospel picture. -The Christian Advocate. subsidy from the Board. Al- Ten of the mission's members ready this has resulted in greatly have dedicated their lives to Turning the Other Cheek increased sales during special evangelistic work, and gone for campaigns in cities, market training, at their own expense, A missionary in Linchow towns and at festivals. The to Bible schools and theological sends an account of a young contwenty~ thousand copies ordered seminaries. vert in Pao On who in spite of were soon exhausted and anoth- persecution is steadfast and er order of ten thousand was The vital part of the women's faithful: placed. work is the annual short-term Bible training school, and since Last year he borrowed money to at- Itinerating Among the Loi Manchurian women exercise tend a Christian conference. When he considerable influence over their returned home his father beat him. The Loi people inhabit the men folk, has been the means of His family, especially his uncle, have southwestern part of Hainan equipping many women for been very mean to him because he is Island. A party of 19 which in- fruitful Christian service. a Christian. They have forbidden his cluded missionaries, an evangel- going out with the evangelistic bands, ist, a cook, three Loi school boys -The Life of Faith. but he starts out in another direction and twelve carriers, recently and meets them somewhere on the made a two weeks trip through In Chinese Villages road. He is very helpful in the church, that area. They report that not even helping sweep the floor and light five years ago the number of Muriel Lester of London re- the lamps. One day he reproved his Christians in the Ha Loi area cently completed a trip around uncle's children for mistreating their could almost be counted on the the world. From India she sent dog. His uncle became angry and fingers of one hand. Now the this comment of what she saw threw a large stone at him, injuring entire population of five villages in a Chinese village: him seriously. Despite this fact he worships the Saviour. Not three was put in prison and spent the night years ago, these same villages Among all the villages I saw in there. At first his father took no inwere threatened and their Bi- China one of the most interesting is terest in the matter. He said that his bles, tracts and hymn books pub- a place near Soochow, a city between son was always causing- trouble ever licly burned. Now the chief of Nanking and Shanghai, which is often since he became a Christian. The the whole area is an earnest in- ca'lled the "Venice of China," for there Christians secured his release and quirer. During five days' stay we use canals instead of roads, and talked to the father showing him the in this region, 87 patients were boats instead of buses. The girl whom large stone which had been thrown at treated; many inquirers were we were staying with was a singer, a his son. His heart was finally touched visited, though none were ready lover of children and a Christian. and he was persuaded to send the boy for baptism. For the first time to Linchow to the hospital for treatthe Gospel was taken to the Ha She had given up the foreign house ment. He was especially struck by the Loi tribes themselves. They in the town which was given to her for peaceful manner in which the Chrisseemed genuinely interested and her work, and built a mud cottage in tians settled up the matter. While the asked for more. a quiet village. A low shelf ran round boy was in the hospital the Christians her room, on it all manner of toys, took turns in coming to see him. This picture books, balls, and dolls dear to interested the non-Christians for it the heart of children all the world showed the love of the Christians for over. one another. The father has become interested and has attended a number One day we set out with this friend of meetings. on a little houseboat which was fitted up. most neatly with cooking stove and Fighting Girl Slavery bunks for four people. At the end of the day we arrived in a tiny village in The Methodist Conference of Foochow struck a telling blow at girl slavery. The China Chris- tian Advocate reports: Resolutions were presented on the festering subject of child slavery, pre-
viously adopted by the woman's con- the men's reception room to "dis- educational, (4) cooperative, ference. Dr. Carol Chen of Hwa Nan cuss the doctrine" with Pastor and (5) reorientation. For the College and Mrs. Ling Guong Ing at- David Sung. Mr. Jenness also most part mission hospitals are tacked the evil at every point of its writes of special meetings. still the best and most trusted pU-.Jlic and private implications, de- medical facilities within reasonmanding investigation in the high "Charles Li is thirty-three able reach for millions of people places, and a house cleaning at home. years old, a tall, strongly-built in Asia and Africa. About half man, who five years ago was a the modern hospitals of China The resolutions adopted provide that young salesman in the employ of are still mission hospitals, while all girl slaves shall be freed and shall a British firm in Tsingtao, draw- in Southeastern Asia, parts of be treated as daughters in the family. ing a high salary. He was con- India, Persia, Arabia and equa- This applies to all girls working with- verted, and almost immediately torial Africa, the mission hosout pay, whether or not they have been felt God's call to preach the Gos- pitals are in the preponderance. bought with money. They shall wear pel, resigned his position and Though reasonably classed as the same kind of clothes and eat the went out on faith. His own modern, most of them are small same kind of food as the family, and words are, 'Since then the Lord -not many have over 100 beds receive some education. has never allowed me to suffer -and their equipment varies want. When there has been any considerably. Often they are Included in this action are the lit- lack, it is because I have lacked weak in maintenance funds, labtle daughters-in-law, and provision is here,' and with that he slapped oratories, records and the finer made for their return to their parents' his knees; meaning that when elaborations of hospital adminhomes if for any reason they are not he prayed little he received little. istration and scientific medicine. married at a suitable time. Only a minority, but a rapidly "Several committees were or- growing minority, have X-rays. For The Blind ganized to plan the various phases of the campaign, a the- -Presbyterian Tribune. Mr. Homer S. Wong has an ater was leased for 15 days, the article in the China Critic de- Electric Light Company agreed A Laity Mission scribing work for the blind. He to wire the place for lights, and says there are at least a million when I reached the theater the A church mission by the laity blind Chinese, and probably two first night an electric cross for 1937-38 will be undertaken million partially blind. Fortune- blazed high on the roof. Inside by the evangelism unit· of the telling appears to have been the the ramshackle building were Board of National Missions of traditional occupation of male about 700 people. Banners and the Presbyterian Church. In Chinese blind; and so lucrative Gospel posters decorated the preparation of this mission, has been this profession that dingy old walls, and the whole church Christian fellowships some blind fortune-tellers amass place was flooded with light from will be held to discuss the followconsiderable wealth; and some two huge electric lamps. Smiling ing questions: What Christ who have been educated in ushers with pink badges greeted Means to Me; The World Situa- Braille are tempted to take up all comers at the door and helped tion as It Affects the Christian fortune-telling. Others rely on them to find seats on the narrow Church; the Purpose of the music for a livelihood. saw-horse benches that served as Christian Church; the Present chairs. A large round table near Situation in the Presbyterian Mr. Wong states there are not the rear was presided over by a Church; The Place of the Laity more than three thousand who couple of policemen who occa- in Making the Church Effective; have learned Braille, with about sionally regaled themselves with What Do I Mean to Christ? a thousand still in school learn- tea from a cracked little porceing it. These Braille students are lain pot. The objectives of the mission distributed among thirty-three are: 1. A more definite, vital schools located in fourteen prov- "We are following up the cam- and sacrificial service for Christ inces. Of these, nine are private, paign with Bible classes. We on the part of the ordained offitwenty are missionary and only have special classes in four cers in the churches; 2. A rethree governmental. There are places for the new converts. In affirmation of faith on the part also eight associations and blind all four places over 90 new con- of every member and an accepthomes of which five are mission- verts are enrolled in these Bible ance of Christ's program in ary, two private and one govern- classes." every area of life; 3. Every mental. church member trained to wit- MISCELLANEOUS ness as to his Christian experi- In Shunteh ence; 4. An invitation commit- Century of Medical Missions tee in each local church assum- Rev. Richard E. Jenness, Pres- ing responsibility for winning byterian missionary, writes that Generally speaking, medical others to Jesus Christ as Savanyone who thinks the Gospel of missions may be said to have iour and Lord; 5. A program of Christ has lost its power should had five stages or phases in their evangelism for the laity in every come to Shunteh and attend a one hundred years of history. presbytery. Sunday morning church service. These can be concisely outlined The congregation is made up of as (1) pioneer, (2) hospital, (3) -Presbyterian Tribune. about three-fifths men-farmers, merchants, government school teachers, students and clerks from the district-court. After church service five or six clerks from the court often remain in
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Our Missionary Bookshelf Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information ~=—–=—-=—-=—-===-=——=======I~ Day of Immense Sun. By Blair ment of beauty, simplicity and left! As it is, wild Patagonia Niles. $2.50. Bobbs Merrill, New strength. He adores a little girl York. 1936. of noble birth chosen to become still awaits the Christian mes- a Virgin of the Sun in the con- EI Jimmy, Outlaw of Patag~:mi!l' By vent at Cuzco. From the simple senger. SAMUEL GUY INMAN. Herbert Childs. $3.00. Llppmcott, life of shepherds and peasants Philadelphia. 1936. one is led through the complexi- What Happens After Death! By ties of life in the family of the Rev. William Striker. Cloth, 226 These two volumes are far Inca, on to the invasion of the pp. $1.50. American Tract Soapart, but they' both tell of f?r- empire by the Spaniards, to the ciety, New York City, New York. eigners going to South AmerIca execution of the Son of the Sun, -the Spanish Pizarro in 1539 and finally to the first pulse of In view of the modern tendand the English adventurer, life in that new Inca-Spanish ency of preachers to remain Jimmy Radburne, about the nation-Peru. silent on the great issues of the turn of the last century. future life, one welcomes any El Jimmy is the story of the earnest effort to grapple with Day of Immense Sun is mainly adventures of a rough and re- the really difficult questions, esabout the Inca empire. In these markable Englishman who for pecially when these are considdays of the "New Deal," a forty years lived the life of a ered from the Biblical point of "planned society" and Commu- rancher and outlaw in the wild view. The author of this volnism, Blair Niles has gone to country of Patagonia-one of ume has evidently given much Peru to study the communal life the world's few remaining fron- thoughtful study to the subjects of an ancient people. After two tiers. Jimmy Radburne went which he treats and there IS no years of intense research he has fro m England to Patagonia doubt of his own evangelical brought back to us this beautiful when he was eighteen and first convictions. Perhaps not every story, which along with its pow- got work in Tierra del Fuego in thoughtful evangelical believer erful emotional sweep, gives also the days when the sheep men will be able to follow him in all an accurate historical picture of there were brutally exterminat- of his conclusions. This is due the most remarkable of ancient ing the Fuegian Indians. Cross- to the author's occasional tendcivilizations. Readers will be ing over to the mainland, he ency to enter the realm of specusurprised at the revelations here later became a gaucho on a large lation when discussing such of the perfect organization of sheep ranch. The book tells with topics as paradise and the interthat great socialistic empire gusto of Jimmy's life at the mediate state. Nevertheless, Mr. which extended from Colombia sheep estancias, now and in the Striker is to be commended for on the north down to Chile and early dramatic days. It tells of his courage in attempting to Argentine on the south. It was the sheep industry and of the deal honestly with a very diffiso well organized that there was irresponsible, nomadic life of cult and much neglected subject. practically no want, with little the gauchos. crime, and a remarkable amount F. E. GAEBELEIN. of contentment-to which the As one follows this story he complete absence of money no lives over again in contrast the The Daughter of Abd Salam. By doubt contributed much. The great life of service given by Florence Mary Fitch. 75 pp. Illus. way this life was mercilessly de- Allan Gardner in this same raw Bruce Humphries, Inc. Boston. stroyed by the Spanish conquis- country. If only the missionary tadores, blessed by the Christian forces at home had supported The story of an Arab peasant priest Valverde, in the treacher- Gardner and not allowed him to woman of Palestine interestingly ous murder of the Inca Ata- die of cold and starvation, what pictures the inner life of. t?e peohualpa is told in dramatic terms. a different Patagonia would EI ple of Bible lands. It IS well Jimmy have found! And if written and touches the customs Such information is only inci- Jimmy himself had only used and problems of these people. dental however in a romantic his super-human strength and love story of peculiar beauty and endurance as a "sky pilot" in- H. H.F. chaste idealism. The character stead of a sheep rustler, what a of the shepherd boy Tito is one noble inheritance he might have A Wider World for Women. By that will return to the reader Lucy W. Peabody. 128 pp. Cloth, again and again as an embodi- [443 ] $1.25. Fleming H. Revell Company, New York. 1936.
To many Christian women the name of Mrs. Lucy W. Peabody
suggests an oracle whose every What woman will do with her gon" to the Uni,ted States and word is to be heeded. Her mani- suffered a martyr's death, that fold activities as missionary and present freedom is the question. missionary administrator, as his companion Spalding has founder and patron of the Wom- Despite occasional disappoint- been relegated to a rather oben's Union Christian Colleges in scure background. Dr. Drury, China, India and Japan, as inde- ments Mrs. Peabody is incurafatigable protagonist of the who is pastor of the First Pres- Eighteenth Amendment, as the bly optimistic in her estimate of byterian Church of Moscow, moving spirit in the development of the Florida chain of woman. If too much so it is a Idaho, has now brought him formissionary conferences, as mili- ward as a missionary fully entant Christian always, h a v e venial fault which women readearned for her the right to titled to share the honor which speak with assurance. Hers is ily forgive; and perhaps bethe voice of experience. Her has been showered upon his writings are therefore sure to cause of what it reveals of her better known colleague. This attract a large circle of readers. graphic and well-documented belief in them they love and fol- In her latest book, "A Wider account is not a panegyric. The World for Women," Mrs. Pea- low her. Her highest praise is body undertakes in characteris- picture is painted with the warts tic sprightly fashion to discuss reserved for her friends of the included. It is not surprising some of ,the questions which con- that nerves were sometimes on cern women and their relation missionary enterprise, who m edge and that friction developed to society: "Do women need or among strong,' individualistic want a wider world ?"; "Do they she ranks as the incomparable in America require a greater men in remote and lonely outfield for the i r activities?"; exponents of Christian interna- "How are they using the world posts where hardships and perils they already have? What are tionalism and effective advo- were the daily lot. But Spaldtheir limitations? If the femi- ing, as well as Whitman, was a nine sphere widens will the cates of the peace for which the man's sphere narrow?" big man and he did big things. world is athirst. To the Bible, The Nez Perces among whom he For the answer Mrs. Peabody turns to history; first to the as the Word to which woman labored proved to be more re- Bible and then to other records. sponsive than the refractory Her veneration for the Scrip- owes her high estate, a chap- Cayuses in Whitman's field. He tures finds expression in her thesis, that God in his program ter is devoted—eommemoration was not only a successful evanfor the world assigned to woman gelist who baptized more than a definite place as companion of the 400th anniversary of its and helper to man. A discrimi- 900 Indian converts and foundnating appraisal of notable appearance in English printed women of the Old and New Tes- ed nine churches, but he showed taments indicates how they ful- form. To it she summons re- practical resourcefulness in imfilled ,their mission. Other chap- proving the educational and ecoters call the roll of important newed allegiance, suggesting to women of the middle ages and nomic conditions of the Indians. later centuries down to our own women's organizations that they He taught their children in modern era who have rendered constructive s e r vic e to the "start the movement back to the school, showed them how to irriworld.- The rise of women's organizatfons in the nineteenth Book on whose ideals our na- gate and cultivate land, make tools, build houses and weave century traces a steadily ad- tion was founded." Thus the cloth. He brought in improved vancing interest and participa- keynote of the first chapter is breeds of animals and built the tion with increasing responsi- found in the last. first flour mill, sawmill and bility in public affairs. It is a blacksmith shop and operated fascinating pageant, inclusive of In this little volume, well the first printing press. He the humble cottage and the royal worth reading, Mrs. Peabody studied the flora of the region and made a collection of plants palace, of women as mothers, summons Christian women to and flowers which won the praise of the celebrated botanist, home-makers, teachers, nurses, rededicate themselves to a de- Asa Gray, of Harvard Univerphysicians, writers, speakers, termined effort "To mend and sity. He made records of the weather which the Government missionaries, reformers. make over a world out of re- Wilkes' Expedition of 1841 pair," which "is the major task found so accurate that it incor- of women today." B. G. J. porated them in its official re- Kagawa, An Apostle of Japan. By port. He made the first contri- Margaret Baumann. 12mo. 96 pp. bution to Indian linguistics and 75 cents. The Macmillan Co., New translated Scripture portions York. 1936. into Nez Perce. Much might be The life story of this remark- said, too, of his devoted wife, of able Christian Japanese is al- frail physique but indomitable ready well known, through Dr. Axlipg and other biographers. spirit, enduring, as a woman Miss Baumann has given us a brief but dramatic story of Dr. usually does, even more than her Kagawa and his life of sacri- husband the hardships of fron- ficial service. The book is short, tier life. It is a happy coinci- well written, sympathetic and gripping. It is an excellent in- troduction to the little man who is the subject of discussion and of praise in three continents.
Henry Harmon Spalding. By Clif- ford Merrill Drury. Illustrated. 8vo. 438 pp. $3.00. The Caxton Printers, Caldwell, Idaho. 1936.
So much has been written about Marcus Whitman as the heroic pioneer, who "saved Ore-
OUR MISSIONARY BOOKSHELF
dence that this attractive vol- viated sketch of this learned cob- funds, and his labors have not ume appears in the year that is bler who became a pioneer Bap- been in vain in the Lord. being celebrated as the centen- tist missionary in India in 1793. nial of the arrival of those mis- The book reports most of the Christ and the Indian Church. By A. sionary pioneers in the Pacific main facts and incidents in the J. Appasamy. Paper. 172 pp. S. Northwest. life of this pioneer, but it would, P. C. K., Madras, India. 1935. to our mind, be greatly improved ARTHUR J. BROWN. if it were subdivided into chap- Dr. Appasamy is a well edu- ters or sections. As it is this in- cated Indian Christian and the Christ in the Great Forest. By Felix terpretation of Carey and his substance of this book are ad- Faure. 12mo. 181 pp. $1.00. work is presented in one long, dresses given in Bishop's Col- Friendship Press, New York. 1936. unbroken chapter. In the midst lege and elsewhere in Calcutta, of many difficulties, changes Allahabad and Madras. He Life in the villages of West and discouragements, Car e y seeks in this little volume to ex- Africa is full of romance and stands out as a hero who plain fundamental Christian tragedy, of superstition and achieved marvels-in preaching, doctrines to Indian readers. fear. This collection of true teaching, translating and in There are chapters on God, stories by a missionary of the opening the doors to further Christ, the Holy Spirit, the Paris Evangelical Mission gives evangelism. Church, the Sacraments, Prayer, dramatic glimpses of this life- the Bible, the Missionary Task birth, marriage and death; the Arthington's Millions-The Romance and the Future Life-all illusfetishes, medicine men and their of the Arthington Trust. By A. M. trated from the Bible and from black arts. It is a dark picture Chirgwin. Illus. 8vo. 160 pp. Indian traditions. In the s e but is illuminated by the light of Paper, 2s; cloth, 3s. The Living- chapters Dr. Appasamy at- Christ. Members of. the Nuo stone Press, London. 1936. tempts to explain Christian tribe turn to follow God and the teaching-not altogether satisway of "Yesu." They show the Thirty years ago Robert factorily but with deference to power of God to overcome the Arthington of Leeds, England, Christ and the teachings of the power of taboo and witchcraft· a "millionaire pauper," Ie f t Word of God. To our mind the and the temptations of the flesh nearly $5,000,000 to "spread the author does not make sufficiently and the devil. These stories are Word of God amongst the clear the difference between vivid pictures which help us to heathen" (excluding Moslems). Man as God and Christ as God; see life in French Equatorial Now we have a report of how nor does he make plain the Africa and the power of the this money was expended in Af- atonement of Christ on the Gospel. Mrs. Schwab, of the rica, South America, India, cross. The studies are, how- American Presbyterian Mission, China, Tibet, Manchuria, Japan ever, spiritual and interesting as furnishes illuminating explana- and New Guinea. presenting Christian truth from tory notes. an Indian point of view. Arthington was a Quaker and John and Betty Starn: Martyrs. By the son of a brewer who gave up Daniel Alexander Payne: Christian Lee S. Huizinga, M.D. Illus. Paper. his profitable business for con- Educator. By JosephUS R. Coan. 95 pp. 35 cents. Zondervan Pub. science' sa k e. Arthington's 8vo. 139 pp. A. M. E. Book Con- Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. 1935. mother was a strong influence in cern, Philadelphia, Pa. 1935. his life. He never married and The story of John and Betty lived like a pauper. He gave The story of this remarkable Stam and their "Miracle Baby" largely during his lifetime and American Negro was published, is now well known through left his fortune to trustees who in brief, in our June REVIEW. many periodical accounts of administered it through Baptist, This fuller record of his life is their martyrdom in China in Methodist, Congregational (L. worth reading. Daniel Payne 1934 and through the volume by M. S.) and a dozen other agen- was born in South Carolina in Mrs. Howard Taylor. There is cies. He was a devout believer 1811, of Negro and Indian parnot enough that is new in this in the Premillennial Second ents, and died 1893. After his record to make it of special Coming of Christ and one of his graduation fro m Gettysburg value but it is well to have the objectives was to prepare the Seminary he was pastor, church story circulated as widely as way for that second advent by historian, teacher, bishop, unipossible through many channels. the preaching of the Gospel to versity president and author of The testimony of John and Betty all nations. This story of Chris- several books and pamphlets. is still effective. tian stewardship and its results His life shows what an asset to is stimulating reading-whether civilization an educated Chris- Carey. By S. Pearce Carey. Illus. one had five dollars or $5,000,- tian Negro can be. 12mo. 127 pp. Marshall, Morgan 000 to invest. Robert Arthing- and Scott. London ls., and Zonder- ton was a student of missions, Long Live the King. By Eric Ac- van Pub. Co., Grand Rapids, Mich. not a haphazard giver. He was land and Ernest H. Bartlett. Pp. 40 cents. 1936. devoted to Christ and so was not 373. Price, $1.50. The John C. given to self-indulgence. He Winston Co. 1936. The. name of William Carey was rich in faith as well as in is known and honored wherever This stirring narrative of the the story of the Cross in India reign of George V with a sketch has been proclaimed. Here we have a straightforward, abbre-
of the life of Edward VIII, the od, the most effective use of Students and the Christian World reading, programs of interna- Mission. Report of the Twelfth present King and Emperor, tional fellowship, missions and Quadrennial Convention of the S. worship, making mission study V. M. Edited by Jesse R. Wilson. should be of interest to all those classes mean more, giving and 8vo. 333 pp. $2.00. Student Vol- missions, an interdependent unteer Movement, New York. 1936. who realize the influence and world and missions, responding to human need and building a The Indianapolis convention power of British rule. Mission- new world. marked the fiftieth anniversary of the founding of the S. V. M. aries throughout the world have Best of all, for the untrained at Mount Hermon, Massachu- leader, Mr. Irwin has provided setts. It was the latest and perbeen indebted again and again information in certain chapters haps the last of these student to show ways of organizing a missionary conventions. The adto the kind officers of British group as well as interesting de· dresses varied greatly in value vices to catch the interest of the and only a few of them were officials, and next to the loyalty indifferent and uninterested. marked by missionary fire. Most This is the best source book for of the platform addresses are which they owe to the American leaders in this particular field. reported in full and will repay careful reading. They are by republic, many of them feel MARY E. MOORE. such leaders at home as John A. MacKay, Archbishop Wm. Temgrateful for the British throne The China Christian Year Book- ple, Richard Roberts, Robert E. 1934-35. Edited by Frank Rawlin- Speer and John R. Mott; there and all it has signified during son. 8vo. 458 pp. $2.00. Arthur are also missionaries, such as H. Clark Co., Glendale, Calif. 1936. Wm. M. Vories, Frank C. Lauthe past decades. The book is bach and Ray Phillips; some of To cover a nation with one- the strongest addresses are by popular in character and con- fourth the world's population in the Christian products of mis- one volume is no small feat. sions such as Gonzalo Baez tains thirty-one photographic Here, China, the Chinese and Camargo of Mexico, T. Z. Koo of z. their affairs are reviewed from China, Toyohiko Kagawa of Jaillustrations. a Christian standpoint with the pan, and Mrs. Frank Pak of help of twenty-one Chinese and Chosen. Hearts That Understand. By Louise Anglo-Saxon writers, under ar- Harrison McGraw. 8vo. 292 pp. rangement between the Chris- The convention seminars on $1.00. Moody Press, Chicago. 1936. tian Literature Society and the various important topics are in- National Christian Council of adequately presented. The sub- Here is the story of a young China. As usual the volume jects of discussion are listed woman who sought to find her (now a biennial) includes a rec- with brief notes but as a rule sphere in sacrificial "social serv- ord of principal events for 1934- without adequate "Findings." ice" without sensing and minis- 35 and a consideration of the More space is given to questions tering to the deeper spiritual current trends forward. Na- raised than to adequate replies. needs of human lives. Later the tional life, religious life, misheroine, Meriweather Hamilton, sions, education, social, medical Moody Still Lives: Word Pictures discovered and followed the and literary work make up the of D. L. Moody. By Arthur Percy higher, more inclusive way of seven sections. The seven ap- Fitt. 12mo. 159 pp. $1.50. Flemlife and service. pendices include statistics, bibli- ing H. Revell Co., New York. 1936. ography, obituaries, etc. There It is not a great piece of fic- is great variety of subject and Dwight L. Moody was a truly tion but it is a good story with treatment but no one who wishes great man and left a remarkable a purpose and a message that to keep pace with events and impression on the world. His reveals the different types of in- trends in China can afford to name, his character, his mesdividuals and the ideaIs that overlook this volume. Among sage, his work ought never to be characterize various forms of the striking sections are those forgotten and will be remem- Christian work. on "Present-day Thought Move- bered long after the men and ments," by P. C. Hsu; "Modern- women pass away who came un- The Missionary Education of Young ization of Chinese Women," by der his influence. The one hun- People. By John Irwin. $1.00. Miss Ah-Huna Tong; "Chinese dredth anniversary of his birth Missionary Education Movement. Communists," by Geo. W. Shep- will be celebrated next year in New York. 1936. herd; "The Missionary Situa- America and England by a tion," by Margaret Frame; series of memorial meetings in This is the fifth in a series of "China's Cooperative Move- which former students of the Leaders' Handbooks on the prin- ment," by C. F. Strickland; and educational institutions that he ciples and methods of mission- "Medicine in China," by E. H. founded and others who hold his ary education. The author has Hume. memory dear will participate. had a wide experience in leading young people from fifteen to twenty-five years of age in an understanding of the missionary message of Christ to the presentday world. His writings are the sharing of his own practical experiences and leaders will welcome this very helpful addition for their "work libraries."
The book contains fifteen chapters covering a variety of subjects, including the following interpretation of world events in light of missions-the dramatic method, the visual meth-
While the whole of Mr. pened a few times, he never said ten about this fascinating coun- Moody's sixty-two years is cov- a word." ered in this brief volume, it is try and people. Here we have a chiefly a series of reminiscences As to Mr. Moody's method of by his son-in-law and former preparing sermons, Mr. Fitt scholarly book which should ap- secretary. It has been written says: "Having decided upon a to help commemorate the anni- text or topic, he would take a peal to every student of the Bi- versary. Already six or seven large blue linen envelope, of biographies have been published, which he kept a stock on hand, ble. two by his son William R. and write on it the title or Scrip- Moody, one by J. Wilbur Chap- ture reference – "Sowing and The author presents well man, one by Gamaliel Bradford, Reaping"; "Psalm 23," etc. In two in the Colportage Library these envelopes he stored his thought out evidences to show by A. P. Fitt and Paul Moody, own thoughts, outlines and an- and two brief appreciations by ecdotes, clippings from papers, that not alone is Palestine the Dr. Charles R. Erdman and Dr. extracts copied from other men's John McDowell. These latest sermons and from commentaries land of the Bible dependent for reminiscences by Mr. Fitt con- and other writings, newspaper tain little that is new, omit much reports of a sermon whenever its religious concepts upon the that is important and make no it got into print, anything that pretence to literary merit, but had a bearing on the subject. civilizations of the Nile and they are interesting and entire- When he wished to preach on ly sympathetic with Mr. Moody's that topic he would go through Euphrates Valleys. He shows beliefs, aims and achievements. the contents as an auxiliary to the Bible itself and organize his that in this hitherto unknown Mr. Fitt came into contact address. Then he would take . with Mr. Moody just before the double sheets of writing paper, desert lying back of Palestine- write on these in large script Chicago World's Fair campaign catchwords or phrases that Syria is a third source which would recall his prepared mate- in 1893, six years before Mr. rial and slip these sheets into has contributed much to the Bi- his Bible under elastic bands. Moody's death. He became his Thus, with his open Bible in his ble. He says, "But there is a hand or on the pulpit, he had secretary and son-in-law and so before him the outline of his peculiar color and atmosphere sermon . . . After the ad- knew him intimately. After Mr. dress he would place the notes to the biblical life which giv~s in the envelope and write on the Moody's death Mr. Fitt was for outside the name of the town or it its special tone, so that church where the address was a time closely connected with deli vered." it is not just another "civiliza- Moody Bible Institute. Mr. Fitt shows Mr. Moody to tion," another "culture." "And have been a firm believer in the One of the best contributions inspired truth of the whole Bi- that touch comes from the ex- that Mr. Fitt makes to our ble, a man of prayer, dependent knowledge of Mr. Moody in this on the power of the Spirit, a panses and free-moving life of volume is his testimony to the great-hearted lover of his fellow great evangelist's retiring mod- men, a devoted husband and fa- what we call Arabia." esty and his self-denying atti- ther, and a humble, open-minded tude toward money-a contrast learner. Mr. Moody still lives- Under the desert sands lie to some other evangelists. Mr. for Christ lives in the institu- Fitt says: tions he founded and in the men buried many secrets which alone and women whom he led to "He never once tried to create Christ. excavations reveal. There is a sense of his self-importance, . . . compensation never en- Arabia and the Bible. By James A. therefore being revealed slowly tered into his dealings with a Montgomery. 207 pp. University committee (in his evangelistic of Pennsylvania Press. Philadel- proofs that the three eastern re- work). He would not allow any phia. 1934. sum to be set, nor any collections ligions, Islam, Judaism and to be taken for him. Before he Arabia is increasingly attract- left a town the treasurer of the ing the attention of the world. Christianity certainly had their meetings usually handed him a Many new books are being writ- sealed envelope, which he put in birth within this desert and his pocket without looking at it; no one but his wife, to whom he therefore the history and culture handed all his income, ever knew what compensation he received. of Palestine is closely allied and Even when he received no per- sonal compensation, which hap- connected with the history of this fascinating desert and des- ert people.
From such studies as Philol- ogy, early Arabian letters, trade routes, and secular history he draws his evidences. He cites many quotations from the Bible itself and shows how they agree with the recent discoveries made within the Arabian Desert. One reaches the end of the book feel- ing that Arabia and the Bible are more closely allied than scholars have hitherto admitted.
New and wonderful vistas of truth are opened.
To the missionary worker among Moslems this book adds new lustre to his pearl of hope.
In the light of Dr. Montgomery's studies such passages as Psalm 72 and Isaiah 21 and Isaiah 60 ring out with new fervor and challenge to greater faith and confidence. HAROLD STORM.
Books A Keen Look at the Last Book of the The Roman Empire-Its Coming Re-
Bible. E. Perkins. 128 pp. $1.25. vival and end. W. E. Vine. 18. 94 Apolo of the Pigmy Forest. A. B. Revell. New York. pp. Pickering & Inglis. London. Lloyd. Is. C. M. S. London. Levuka Days of a Parson in Poly- Statement Exhibiting the Moral and African Bridge Builders. Edited by nesia. C. W. Whonsbon Aston. 95 Material Progress and Conditions Williams C. Bell. $1.00 cloth, 60 pp. Is. S. P. G. London. of India, 1933-34. S. F. Stewart. cents paper. 169 pp. Friendship Map. 196 pp. H. M. Stationery Press. New York. New Life the Dead Receive. 1935 Office, London. Report of the China Inland Mission. Across the Years-An Autobiog- 58 pp. London. The Turkish Transformation. A raphy. Charles Stedman Macfar- Study in Social and Religious De- land. $2.75. 367 pp. Macmillan. Night Tragedies of Scripture. R. J. velopment. Henry Elisha Allen. New York. Smithson. 96 pp. Is. Pickering & 251 pp. University Press. Chi- Inglis. London. cago. $2.50. The Bible Triumphant. C. Urquhart. 144 pp. 2s. 6d. Picking & Inglis. Out of Africa. Emory Ross. 216 pp. Anthea's Ambition. Grace Pettman. London. $1.00 cloth, 60 cents paper. Friend- 188 pp. Is. 6d. Pickering and ship Press. New York. Inglis. London. Jacob Burkhard. Mary Yoder Burk- hard. 214 pp. $1.00 cloth, 60 cents The Only Hope of the Church of If you use paper. Published by author. Gosh- God. What Is It? 158 pp. 2s. en, Ind. Pickering & Inglis. London. PRINTING The Customs of the Baganda. Sir A Preface to Racial Understanding. YOU will profit from an ac- Apolo Kagwa. Translated by Er- Charles S. Johnson. 205 pp. $1.00. quaintanceship with us. We nest B. Kalibala. 200 pp. $4.00. Friendship Press. New York. do the job complete in our own Columbia University Press. New plant, whether it be large or York. Annual Report of the Rockefeller small. Foundation. 480 pp. New York. Christianity in Thought and Practice. While our specialty is Books, William Temple. 112 pp. $1.50. Students and the Christian W orId Magadnes and Pamphlets, yet Morehouse Pub. Co. Milwaukee. Mission. Edited by Jesse R. Wil- we have a variety of modern son. 326 pp. $2.00. Student Volun- equipment to meet all the re- A Century of Mission Work in Iran. teer Movement. New York. quirements of your particular A Report of the Presbyterian job. You will find our service Church. 170 pp. American Mission The Soul of Egypt. Allison Douglas prompt, careful and courteous. Press. Beirut, Syria. Bantros. 40 cents. Zondervan Pub. Co. Grand Rapids, Mich. Will you allow us to estimate EI Jimmy, Outlaw of Patagonia. on your next printing? We be- Herbert Childs. $3.00. Lippincott. The Story of the American Negro. lieve you will be delighted with Phila., Pa. Ina Corinne Brown. 208 pp. $1.00. our product, price and service. Friendship Press. New York. Ethiopia. John H. Shaw. 95 pp. The EVANGELICAL PRESS Ethiopian Consulate. New York. The Search for a New Strategy in Protestantism. Ivan Lee Holt. 190 PTinters of For Me to Live. Alice M. Ardagh. 208 pp. $1.50. Cokes,mry Press. Nash- The Missionary Re"iew of the World pp. $1.00. B. 1. C. Assn. Chicago. ville, Tenn. PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE The Gospel We Preach and the Swan Song of Paul. Herber Lockyer. Third Ind Reily Slreets Hlrrlsburl, PL Beauty of the Christian Faith. 93 pp. American Bible Conference George Goodman. Is. 96 pp. Pick- Assn. Philadelphia, Pa. PROMISE ering & Inglis. London. The Three Freds-Martyred Pioneers The Heritage of Saints. Herbert for Christ in Brazil. Wm. J. W. Lockyer. 127 pp. Is. Pickering & Roome. 126 pp. 40 cents. Zonder- Inglis. London. van Pub. Co. Grand Rapids, Mich.
Kowateekay-One Act Folk Play. The Way of Partnership. S. A. Mor- Alice Carter Cook. 16 Pp. 25 cents. rison. 87 pp. Is. C. M. S. London. Bruce Humphries. Boston, Mass. We Sing America. Marion Cuthbert. CALVERT' 117 pp. $1.00 cloth, 50 cents paper. Friendship Press. New York. "The School That Comes To You" With Christ Into Tomorrow. Hunter B. Blakely. 160 pp. 50 cents. Pres- No matter where you live, you can byterian Committee on Publication. give your child a superior education Richmond, Va. from kindergarten to high school with Calvert School home study courses. Moody Still Lives. Arthur Percy Fitt. 160 pp. $1.50. Revell. New Recommended by Mission Boards, York. Educators, State Department and Army and Navy Officials. With the use To Read of this Course, every and Keep Daily lessons, selected books, station- Young People's Society may Circulating ery, special materials and personal be converted into a School for guidance . . . by mail . . . from our Bible Training, Dr. R. A. Torrey's "HOW TO prominent and successful private day PRAY," a notable 128·page school in Baltimore. 1936 STUDIES IN CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE – book, and receive copy for this purpose FREE. Write today for illustrated catalog. Four Parts-52 Lessons, Part I, The Bible-The God 01 the Bible, Part II, The Christ 01 the Bible • Mrs. G. S. Rhoads. ,-The Holy Spirit. Part III, Man-Sin and Redemp- Director 0/ Home Instruction tion. Part IV, The Church-Future Events, BIBLE INSTITUTE COLPORTAGE ASSOCIATION CALVERT SCHOOL Send lSc in stilmps for current issue. 849m N. Wells St., Chicago, Illinois 189 Tuscany Rd., Baltimore, Md. HRISTIAN PUBLICATIONS. INC: 1502 N. Third St., Harrisburg, Pa.
[448 ]
Notes Russia as a representative of his sion in China, died April 19th
church and, in 1931, was decorated Paoting. For years she had the dis- Commissioner Samuel L. Brengle, by President Von Hindenburg with tinction of being the oldest living mis- the Order of the German Red Cross sionary, and quite likely the oldest D.D., a world famous officer of the for his services in European relief living foreigner in all China. Miss Salvation Army, died at his home in after the War. In 1898 he married Andrews was born in Cleveland, Ohio, Scarsdale, N. Y., on May 20th. Com- Hermine E. Ohl who survives him. in 1840, and went to China in 1868. missioner Brengle has had a world- Dr. Benze was for some years asso- ciated with THE MISSIONARY REVIEW *** wide influence as an evangelist and OF THE WORLD as translator of articexponent of personal holiness. He les and news from foreign language Dr. S. D. Gordon, the widely known periodicals. and highly esteemed author of "Quiet originally came from Indiana and was Talks" died in Salem, North Carograduated from DePauw University *** lina, on June 26th after a few weeks' illness. He was born in Philadelphia and the Theological School of Boston James Hudson Edgar, a missionary in 1859 and was converted under D. L. of the China Inland Mission at Tat- Moody. He became a Y. M. C. A. University. He was for a time pastor sienlu, Szechwan, China, and agent of secretary but in 1895 resigned in or- the National Bible Society of Scot- der to devote himself to writing and of the Methodist Episcopal church of land, died last spring after thirty-five speaking on spiritual themes. Hun- South Bend, Ind., but joined the Sal- years of labor in the wild borderland dreds of thousands of his books were between China and Tibet. He was a sold and he conducted conferences in vation Army fifty years ago and was fellow of the Royal Geographical So- many lands. Mrs. Gordon survives ciety and a Fellow of the Royal Asi- him and the influence of his Bible given the unusual honor of being ap- messages will abide. atic Society. pointed to the rank of Commissioner *** in 1926. He retired from active serv- *** ice in 1931 and was decorated with The Rev. S. Parkes Cadman, D.D., The Rt. Rev. Albion Williamson one of the best known and best loved the "Order of the Founder." Although Knight, the first Missionary Bishop Christian preachers and lecturers in of Cuba of the Protestant Episcopal America, died of peritonitis at Platts- 78 years of age at the time of his Church, died June 9th. He was born burg, New York, on JUly 12th. Dr. death, Commissioner Brengle was ac- at White Springs, Florida, August Cadman was born in England seventy- 24, 1859. Bishop Knight served as one years ago and came to America tive till the last as a soul-winner and bishop in charge of Haiti, Puerto in 1895 to take up the pastorate of Rico and the Panama Canal Zone; the Methodist Metropolitan Temple in Bible teacher. His books have been a later he became president of the Uni- New York City. He went to the Cengreat blessing to multitudes. They versity of the South. In 1923 he be- tral Congregational Church in Brook- came bishop coadjutor of New Jersey lyn and was pastor there for thirtyinclude, "Helps to Holiness," "The which position he resigned in 1935 five years. Dr. Cadman was particu- because of ill health. larly famous for his lectures and radio Soul-Winner's Secret," "Resurrection, addresses and was formerly presi- Life and Power." *** dent of the Federal Council of Churches. He was very widely read *** Bishop Arthur S. Lloyd, Senior and was known for his brotherly spir- Suffragan Bishop of the Protestant Dr. John A. Snell, Superintendent Episcopal diocese of New York died it. of Soochow Hospital, Soochow, China, on JUly 22d in his eightieth year. He was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on *** died on March 2d, of pneumonia. May 3, 1857. He was very active in the missionary work of his church Mrs. Edith Fox Norton, the widow The Rev. * H* . * D.D., for- and in 1900 became general secretary of Ralph C. Norton and with him co- of the Board of Missions. He was founder of the Belgian Gospel Mis- John Kerr, elected Bishop-Coadjutor of Virginia sion, died in London on July 21st after but resigned a year later to become an operation. Mrs. Norton was a merly a secretary of the American president of the Board of Missions woman of rare Christian spirit and and for a time was editor of The great ability as a writer and speaker. Tract Society and later pastor of the Spirit of Missions. With her husband she became inter- ested in the Belgians during the War Arlington Avenue Pre s b y tel' ian Dr. James L'". B'" art*on, for thirty- and they were instrumental in found- ing a very successful Gospel mission Church in Brooklyn, died while at- three years the beloved and honored which spread to all parts of Belgium. secretary of the American Board of She and her husband were more than tending the General Assembly in Commissioners for Foreign Missions, once received by Queen Wilhelmina died in Boston on July 21st at eighty Syracuse, N. Y., on June 3. Dr. Kerr years of age. He was born in Char- and the value of their work was rec- lotte, Vermont in 1856, was graduated ognized. The Belgians who have been was 78 years of age and had come to from Middlebury College and Hart- born again may be counted to carry ford Theological Seminary. He went on the work but the great difficulty attend the Assembly and to meet his to Turkey as a missionary in 1885, will be in keeping alive interest and served at Harpoot for seven years financial support in the United States. son, Rev. Wm. C. Kerr of Korea, ex- and for two years was president of Perhaps the time has come when the Euphrates College. Dr. Barton did Belgian work should be self-supportpecting to drive back to California valient service as chairman of the ing. Near East Relief and was a valued with him. A daughter, Miss Marcia member of many other boards. He *** was author of several volumes on Kerr, is a secretary of the Presby- missions and the Near East. Julia Anna Eliza Gulick, one of the famous family of that name, who laterian Board of Foreign Missions in '" * '" bored under the American Board for 35 years in Japan, died recently in the Pacific district. Dr. Kerr retired Elizabeth P. Tenny, widow of Dr. Hawaii. She was an evangelistic mis- Charles B. Tenny, of Japan, died on sionary who did effective work for from the active ministry in 1928 hav- May 13th in Rochester, N. Y. Mrs. Japanese women. She was appointed ing served the cause of Christ for 46 Tenny was born in Okayama, Japan, by the Woman's Board of Missions to years. of missionary parents. Japan in 1873 and in 1908 was called back to Hawaii by the Woman's Board *** '" '" * of Missions of Hawaii to work among the Japanese there. She retired from Mrs. Robert F. Fitch, Presbyterian Miss Mary E. Andrews, a mission- active service 16 years ago. missionary in China since 1898, re- ary under the American Board Miscently died at Hangchow, China. Mrs. Fitch was a graduate of Wooster College and had spent all her married life in China in connection with schools and colleges, Dr. Fitch being president of the Hangchow College from 1923 to 1931.
*** Dr. John Alfred Morehead, for twelve years president of the Luther- an World Convention, died on June 1st.
The Rev. C. T*he*odo*re Benze, D.D., Professor of Theology at the Lutheran Theological Seminary, Mt. Airy, Pa., died at his home on July 3d at the age of 71. Dr. Benze had been ill for some time and had recently undergone an operation. He taught Old Testament theology in the Lutheran Seminary for the past ten years; was a member of the General Council of the Lutheran Foreign Mission Board, and exerted a wide influence in his church. He traveled in India, Germany and
and Reality •In
Viewed by Africans and Missionaries ILLUSTRATED WITH MAPS, CHARTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS PROGRESS AND CHALLENGE IN AFRICA By ALEXANDER McLEISH THE AFRICAN'S VIEW OF AFRICA J. By VARIOUS AUTHORS-PREPARED BY D. TAYLOR THE PRINTED WORD AMONG THE BANTU By ROBERT H. W. SHEPHERD GREAT HINDRANCES TO CHRISTIAN PROGRESS By C. S. JENKINS VICTORIES OF THE GOSPEL AMONG AFRICANS By THOMAS MOODY AND OTHERS AFRICAN VIEWS OF JESUS CHRIST By THE BISHOP OF UGANDA PIONEER WORK IN AFRICA By HERBERT SMITH THE ROMAN CATHOLICISM IN PAGAN AFRICA By KENNETH G. GRUBB REVIVAL IN CENTRAL AFRICA By ANDREW MACBEATH SEND YOUR ORDER NOW ================ 25 Cents a Copy $20.00 a hundred $2.50 a year Special Price in Quantities if ordered before September 10 THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD Third and Reily Streets, Harrisburg, Pa.
Robert E. Speer, President Delavan 1. Pierson, Editor
The Missionary Review of the World — January 1935
1935
Robert Laws of Livingstonia D. R. Mackenzie Problems and Encouragements Robert E. Speer John R. Mott Robert P. Wilder Robert H. Glover Stephen J. Corey C. Darby Fulton A. C. Snead The Present Situation in Missions Julius Richter New Cooperative Advance at Home Charles E. Schaeffer When a Kurd Becomes a Christian Delavan L. Pierson Mrs. E. E. Olcott-An Appreciation Samuel M. Zwemer
to Remember Obituary Notes widow,Mary Wentworth McConaughy
January 2-4-Annual Meeting, For- The Rev. Henry C. Velte, D.D., two brothers, one of whom is Dr. eign Missions Conference, Garden missionary in India for the past fifty4 David McConaughy, expert on stew- City, N. Y. two years, died at Saharanpur on N0- ardship; by a sister, a daughter and vember 19th. He was a highly hon- January 6-12-Universal Wee k of ored missionary of the Presbyterian two sons, one of whom is Dr. James Prayer. Church, U. S. A., and for 20 years was at the head of Saharanpur Theo- McConaughy, President of Wesleyan January 7-ll-Annual Me e tin g s, logical Seminary. Five years ago he Home Missions Council and Council was elected Moderator of the United University, Middletown, Connecticut. of Women for Home Missions, Phil- Church of Northern India. The situa- adelphia, Pa. tion changed greatly during his mis- The Rev. Al*ber*t * Fulton, D.D., sionary career and Dr. Velte was born January 22-February 16-C 0 r nell in Wertheim, Germany, in 1857, and A. School for Missionaries, Cornell, was educated in Hopkinton, Iowa, and N.Y. McCormick and Princeton Theological for 42 years an honored miSSionary of Seminaries. He is survived by his FLORIDA CHAIN OF MISSIONARY wife Charlotte Haduth Velte and a the Presbyterian Board of Foreign ASSEMBLIES son, the Rev. F. Mowbray Velte, who is a missionary in India. Missions, died on December 10th in For further information, write to Miss B. Louise Woodbud, 930 23d *** Pasadena, California. Dr. Fulton was Ave. N, St. Petersburg, Fla. Mrs. Wallace J. Anderson, a mis- born in Ashland, Ohio, in 1849 and January 26-30-0rlando. sionary of the Presbyterian Church, January 27-30-Deland. died in Seoul, Korea, of peritonitis, after being graduated from Princeton January 30-February I-Palm on November 30th. Mrs. Anderson College and Seminary, was appointed (nee Lillian E. Beede) was born in a missionary to Canton, China, in Beaches. Charleston, Nebraska, and was edu- February 2-7-Miami. cated at Occidental College and the 1879. He was preeminently a pioneer February 7-S-Bradenton. University of California. She went February 7-S-Fort Myers. to Korea as a missionary in 1917 and missionary, est a b lis h i n g many February 9-1S-St. Petersburg. was engaged in educational work in February 10-13-Clearwater. the Girls' Academy and Bible Insti- churches and preaching halls in South February 13-1S-Tampa. tute, Seoul. She is survived by her February 17-19-Lakeland. husband and two young daughters. China. When he went to China there February 17-19-Winter Haven. was strong opposition to Christianity February 19-21-Gainesville. *** and almost no railroads, electricity or February 23-26-Jacksonville. other modern improvements. The Dr. David S. Oyler, former mis- Presbyterian Church is almost the II If you use sionary of the United Presbyterian only agency to carry the Gospel to Church in the Egyptian Sudan, died 8,000,000 people of Kwangtung Prov- PRINTING in Monmouth, Illinois, November 19th. ince. Dr. Fulton was honorably re- Dr. Oyler was born in Nortonville, tired in 1922 and returned to America. Y OU will profit from an ac- Kentucky, January 11, 1881, and after quaintanceship with us. We graduation from Sterling College and Mary Halse* Gr*igg*, wife of Rev. do the job complete in our own Xenia Theological Seminary, Ohio, plant, whether it be large or went to the Sudan in 1910. After Ernest Grigg of Burma, died October small. seventeen years of service in Dolieb 15, 1934, after more than 40 years of Hill, he was obliged to return to service in that country under the Bap- While our specialty is Books, America for health reasons and be- tist Foreign Mission Society. Her Magazines and Pamphlets, yet came pastor of the United Presby- work was carried on among Chins, we have a variety of modern terian Church at Cutler, Ill. He is Chinese, Indians and Shans. equipment to meet all the re- survived by his wife, the former Lil- quirements of your particular lian Picken, and four children. *** job. You will find our service prompt, careful and courteous. *** The Rev. and Mrs. John C. Stam, Will you allow us to estimate Rev. James E. East, D.D., formerly American missionaries under the on your next printing? We be- a Negro missionary to Africa from lieve you will be delighted with the National Baptist Church of Amer- China Inland Mission, and their 10- our product, price and service. ica, died in Philadelphia last October. J ames East was born in Alabama, weeks-old daughter, were captured on The EVANGELICAL PRESS fifty-three years ago and in 1906 December 10th by Communist bandits went to South Africa, and was sta- in Southern Anhwei Province, China. Printers of tioned at Ganda, Middlerift, where he The Missionary Review of the World did notable work among the Bantu, Mr. and Mrs. Stam were murdered helping to found over forty native but the baby was allowed to live and PLANT AND MAIN OFFICE Farmer's Associations and coopera- was restored to her grandparents. Third and Reily Sireet. Hlrrlsburg, PI. tive banks. Then Dr. East was called back to America to become secretary Mr. Stam was 27 years old and was of the Foreign Mission Board of the National Baptist Convention, with the son of Rev. Peter Stam, pastor headquarters in Philadelphia. of Star of Hope Mission, Paterson, Dr. James M*cC*ona*ughy. of Phila- N. J. Mrs. Stam was a daughter of delphia, for some years secretary of the Rev. and Mrs. Charles E. Scott, the American Sunday School Union, American Presbyterian missionaries died in his home in Germantown, Pa., on December 6th at the age of seventy- at Tsinan, Shantung, China. seven. Dr. McConaughy was for- merly a teacher of Bible in Mount Her- Mr. Peter Stam and family, in a mon School for Boys and did a notable work as Bible teacher, author, editor telegram to the C. 1. M., give clear and executive. He is survived by his testimony to the victorious spirit in which they received the heart-rending news: "Sacrifice great but not too great for Him who gave Himself for us. Experiencing God's grace. Ro- mans 8: 28." (Concluded on 3d cover.) Sunday School Supplies J'ouoo:, spliiltml ~i1osofk WI'IlJ,JUI'-I"''' I-fIotirlIe/rInII6ktlHiM!tngifnIeflrIsiHMIss
MISSIONARY look well on any library table in the post-war experience. Recently
REVIEW OF THE WORLD country." WILLIS CHURCH LAMOTT. has been a good deal of building and I am not certain that 'eight in a room' DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Editor Tokyo, Japan. would still stand true."
VOL. LVIII JAN., 1935 No.1 *** "As to my own expense fund, I re- ceive $5.00 a month while I am at Publication and Business Office "Each issue of THE REVIEW brings K. H., and it should be added that my Third and Reily Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. a vast amount of very helpful infor- travel in England, postage, phone ma.tion, and I have been enjoying to calls and medical attention are pro- Editorial and Executive Office the fullest extent this splendid mag- vided free, so that I am well cared for. 156 Fifth Avenue, New York City azine." REV. MERLE ApPELGATE. My own annuity fund is operated Entered as second-class matter at solely by the working people of the Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act Christian Church, Los Angeles, locality and provides 'home helps" for of March 3, 1879. California. families where a crisis leaves the 25 cents a copy-$2.50 a year. mother in need of help." Foreign Postage, 50 cents a year. "The October*RE*VIEW* , with its chal- Published monthly, except August. Personal Items All rights reserved. Copyrighted 1934. lenging and informing array of ar- British agents, Marshall, Morgan ticles on Japan, surely ought to be a The Rev. Alex. Harsanyi, Pastor of and Scott, 12 Paternoster Buildings, valuable number for supplementary the Hungarian Presbyterian congrega- London, E. C. 1 shilling per copy, use in the foreign missions study pro- tion of Yonkers, N. Y., a descendant 10 shillings a year. jected for the current year." of a Hungarian Protestant martyr family, was honored and feted re- MISSIONARY REVIEW PUB· WILLIAM B. LIPPHARD, cently by his people and his American Editor of "Missions," New York. friends at the fortieth anniversary of LISHING CO., INC. his ordination to the ministry. As TWO CORRECTIONS organizer of a number of Hungarian BOARD OF DIRECTORS congregations, as author, editor, and RoBERT E. SPEE'R, President Dr. E. W. Koons, of Korea, calls at- pastor he has rendered great services WM. I. CHAMBERLAIN, Vloe-Presldent tention to an error in the September to the cause of Christ among his coun- WALTER MCDOUGALL, Treasurer REVIEW (page 395) where the title to trymen. Mr. Harsanyi is Nestor of DELAVAN L. PIERSON, Seoretary the picture of the "public notice the Hungarian Protestant ministers SAMUEL MCCREA CAVERT against foreigners" should be cor- of this country. MRS. BO.RRLIlNPPHRA. RJUDDD rected to read: WM. *** "This tablet containing public no- ERIC M. NORTH tice warning Koreans against for- Martin L. Harvey, a young Negro MILTON T. STAUFFER eigners was made in 1866 and was set of Hempstead, L. I., has been elected up by the Tai-wun-Kun in the center president of the Christian Youth A. L. W ARNSHUIS of Seoul in 1871. The translation by Council of North America. He is the SAMUEL M. ZWEMER Dr. L. G. Paik, reads: When foreign first of his race to fill that position. barbarians invade the country we Editorial Chat neither wage war nor make peace *** with them. We warn our descendants Have you recommended THE REVIEW for 10,000 years." Dr. Frank C. Laubach expects to to your pastor and friends as an up- visit India some time after March, to-date and delightful way to keep in *. * * 1935, to demonstrate his method of touch with the progress of the work teaching which has been so successful of Christ throughout the world? Some Miss Muriel Lester, of London, in reducing illiteracy in the Philipof your friends would appreciate a writes that there are some slight in- pines. gift subscription and their interest in accuracies in the article on "Voluntary missions would be stimulated. Poverty in Action" which appeared in *** our November number. Miss Lester Here are the recent comments of says: "It was my grandfather, not Samuel Coles, agricultural missionsome of our readers: my father, who went to work as a ary at Galangue, West Africa, under bricklayer at the tender age of 8, the American Board for twelve years, "A friend of mine expressed the con- when his father had been press has been loaned for a period of three viction that if all the magazines in the ganged to fight in the Napoleonic years to the Booker T. Washington country would follow your step in de- wars. Again, overcrowding in the Institute of Katata, Liberia, to supervoting an issue to the cause of Chris- East End of London was much worse vise their building program. He is tian missions among other races, the than 'eight in a single room' in my very enthusiastic over the possibilities problem of racial understanding would in this new field. not be such a difficult one. I agree USED CUTS with him." – Jose G. Deseo, Pastor- *** Director, Filipino House of Friend- Plates and half tone illusship, Stockton, Calif. S. Franklin Mack, Publicity Direc- trations used in THE tor for the Presbyterian Board of * * *. Foreign Missions, is now engaged in MISSIONARY REVIEW making a three-months' tour of Latin "We appreciate the service rendered American countries to take motion through THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF during the past two years pictures and secure other publicity THE WORLD, and are trying to pro- material. The itinerary calls for a mote its circulation." for sale from 25 cents up, visit to Peru, Chile, Argentine, Brazil, Venezuela, Guatemala and Mexico. MRS. S. L. V. TIMMONS. plus postage. The material secured will be widely Director of Educational Dept., used in connection with the mission The Missionary Review study of Latin America, projected for Women's Work, Presbyterian 1935-36. Church, U. S. of the World *** *** THIRD AND REILY STREETS HARRISBURG, PA. Dr. Robert P. Wilder. formerly "The material in the June issue is General Secretary of the Student Volan excellent exposition of American [1 ] unteer Movement and later Secretary Oriental life and I hope the magazine of the Christian Council of Northern will receive wide circulation." Africa and Western Asia, is now in America but plans to go to England GRANT K. LEWIS; Secretary, United Christian Mis- (Concluded on 3d cover.) sionary Society.
*** "Let me congratulate you on the Japan number of THE REVIEW. It covers the field so thoroughly that I am wondering what else mission study classes will have to study! I like the make up of THE REVIEW. It would
FOR PRACTICAL INDUSTRIAL TRAINING IN LIVINGSTONIA
A GThOUP OF AFRICAN PASTORS PREPARElD TO EVANGELIZE THEIR OWN PEOPLE TRAINING CHRISTIANS IN LIVINGSTONIA, CENTRAL AFRICA REVIB ORLD VOLUME LVIII AN INTERDENOMINATIONAL REVIEW OF WORLD-WIDE CHRISTIAN PROGRESS NUMBER ONE JANUARY, 1935 Topics of the Times BEGINNING THE NEW YEAR the direction and help of Almighty God and by A man's character is largely indicated by the men and women filled with the Spirit of Jesus Christ. way he closed the old and begins the New Year. It is fitting then that again, at the first of the While New Year's Eve an'd New Year's Day are year, Christians be called together to observe the "Universal Week of Prayer" (January 6 to 13). widely and variously observed all over the world, This custom was organized by the Evangelical Alli- ance nearly ninety years ago (in 1846) and has some observe them by hilarity, drinking intoxi- been observed annually ever since, not only in America and Europe but now all over the world. cants, by feasts and ente~tainments; others ex- Great things are accomplished through prayer, not only subjectively in those who pray but objectively change friendly greetings, or join in Christian by the working of the Spirit of God to bring har- mony to the "good and acceptable and perfect Will Watchnight services with prayer and song. It is of God."
a time to take account of stock; to settle old debts This year preachers everywhere are asked to co- operate by preaching and leading prayer groups on and complete unfinished tasks; to prepare for new the following topics so that a world-wide circle of joint thinking and prayer may unite Christians undertakings and seek fresh visions for larger everywhere. The world situation at home and abroad calls for this more than ever. There are service. To some the New Year season is one of grave dangers that face church and home and State, but there are also reasons for good cheer and waste and frivolity, while to others it is a time of encouragement. The following are the main topics suggested: sobering thought, prayer and preparation for a new advance.
The old year is gone-irrevocably-and we can- not undo the mistakes we have made or all the harm that has been done. There has been waste and folly; gossip and unfriendly criticisms' self- ishness and greed; thefts, murders, oatdhuerltsemriaes~ blasphemies and other sins. We and suffer because of the mistakes and follies of the past but we can learn valuable lessons from them if we will. With the New Year come new oppor- tunities to learn, to grow, and'to achieve what is Sunday, January 6, 1935. TOPICS FOR SERMONS: worth while. There are new opportunities to pro- Trust in God-John 14: 1; Mark 11: 22, 24; 1 Tim. m?te peace on earth in place of war; to do away WIth race and class prejudice; to develop and ap- 4: 1~ . ply the principles of economic and social justice in place of unfair rivalry and oppression; to estab- Fellowship with Christ and Other Disciples-1 John 1: 3, lish honest politics and the true and equal observance ?~ laws, in place of political chicancery and 7; John 17: 21.
Service of Man in the Name of Christ-Mat. 25: 40; Mat. 28: 19-20; Mat. 24: 14.
Hope and Its Basis-Acts 26: 6; Rom. 8: 18-25; 1 Thess. 1: 3, 9-10.
favorItIsm; to promote education that develops Monday, January 7. NEED FOR REPENTANCE.
character rather than a system of fads and un- Thanksgiving for God's loving provision for all human tried theories; to express religion in deeds not need; that Christ finished the work of man's redempmerely in· words; to furnish the money and life tion and committed to us its proclamation to all men. needed to give the Gospel of Christ to all men without rivalry or prejudice, rather than spend money Confession for our failure to respond to human need' a,nd effort on luxurious church equipment and for our selfishness, pride, indolence, and lack of faith, rItual at home. Here are achievements worthy of for our hardness of our heart that hinders true reour best effort-but they can only be attained by pentance.
Prayer that God may open men's eyes and soften their hearts, bringing repentance and forgiveness. That [8]
the burden of the need of others may be felt by His from the outcastes and primitive peoples of India, children everywhere. Africa and other lands; for a revived interest among Christian statesmen in the cause of minorities. Scripture Readings-Rom. 3: 1-26; Gal. 5: 1-26; Ps.51. Confession of the growth of anti-Semitism in many na- Tuesday, January 8. THE CHURCH AND NEED FOR FAITH. tions; of the slow response to the needs of oppressed and persecuted peoples. Thanksgiving for the Church which includes peoples of every nation; for increasing opportunity and power Prayer for a keener sensitiveness to the needs of the to witness; for evidence that the GQspel is the power oppressed and helpless; for a fresh vision of Christ, of God unto salvation. who, without respect of persons, welcomes men and women of every class and nation. Confession of lack of faith and enterprise in completing the world-wide work; for lack of humility and for Scripture Readings-Rom. 11; 1 Cor. 1: 18-31; Rev. 7: failure to interpret truly Christ's spirit and message. 9-17.
Prayer for a new vision of our spiritual resources in Sunday, January 13. SPECIAL SERMONS ON CHRISTIAN Christ; for a deeper faith in God's power to establish UNITY, WITH C,QMMUNION. "That they all may be one His Kingdom through faith and obedience; for a vital …… that the world may believe that Thou hast sent spiritual quickening of the Church today. Me." John 17: 21.
Scripture Readings-Acts 2: 1-21; Mat. 16: 13-28; Col. THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE SPIRIT* 1; John 17: 9. An interdenominational fellowship of Chris- Wednesday, January 9. THE NATION'S NEED FOR FELLOW- tians has been formed to unite those who seek a spiritual reinvigoration of the Church, with new SHIP. power and enthusiasm; along Apostolic lines. It is similar to the First Century Christian Fellow- Thanksgiving for forces which restrain men's selfish am- ship – or Oxford Group Movement -with em- bitions; for all that nations have to give one another. phasis on Gospel witness, soul-winning, regenera- tion and enduement with power of the Holy Spirit. Confession of national self-seeking, suspicion, and jeal- ousy; of intolerance and suppression of freedom of Dr. William Carter, the Chairman, issues a speech and conscience. challenge to the churches to awake in these days of adversity. He says in substance: Prayer for a new sense of the nature and possibilities of fellowship; for wise leaders in national and inter- Times of prosperity affect us adversely just as much as national affairs. That each nation may contribute its times of adversity. Speaking of the rich, Job says: "They peculiar gifts to build up the Kingdom of God. spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave. Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; Scripture Readings-Rom. 12; Isa. 2; Isa. 52; Micah for we desire not the knowledge of thy way. What is the 4; Rev. 21: 1-7, 23-27. Almighty that we should serve him?"
Thursday, January 10. WORLD EVANGELIZATION. Times of adversity come and wealth is swept away; affluence becomes indigence; assurance becomes despair. Thanksgiving for a world-wide awakening to the pri- Then it is that some "Job's Comforter" comes crying: mary need of evangelism in Christian service; for na- "Dost thou still retain thine integrity? Curse God and tional leaders who are calling their fellow-countrymen die!" Many do both! The whole trouble with the Church to widespread evangelism; for the growth of self- is that we have joined altogether too much with the world support and of extension among native churches. instead of trying to win the world to Christ.
Confession of the narrow outlook of many Christians; Thank God, the material and physical crises cause some of the lack of sensitiveness to the need of the millions to turn to God, and these become the leaders not of a for- who have not yet heard the Gospel; of our reliance on lorn hope, but of a victorious advance. When Pentecost human resources rather than on the power of the had fully come, Peter turned from his cursing and denials Holy Spirit. of his Lord; James and John turned from their seeking for preferment; Thomas turned from his doubting to un- Prayer for a realization that every Christian is called alterable faith and love for his Lord and Master and all to be a missionary everywhere and at all times; for commenced, boldly, to preach the unsearchable riches of the realization that Christ and His Church can meet Jesus Christ their Lord. The cult of cowardice was the spiritual needs of this generation. changed into the cult of courage. These men crossed the seas, braved martyrdom and still preached, even to their Scripture Readings-Mark 16; Isa. 61; Acts 1: 1-11. jailors and persecutors, the unsearchable riches of Jesus Christ, their crucified Redeemer. Friday, January 11. YOUTH MOVEMENTS. No class, no condition, no age is kept from the blessing Thanksgiving for Christian homes, Sunday Schools, and if they watch and pray earnestly for it. Every day may all movements for the spiritual welfare of youth; for be a Pentecost to those fulfilling the conditions. Are we the new earnestness among the youth. looking for Pentecost? Do we want the same blessing? The godly Joseph Neeshima, of Japan, in a time of great Confession of failure to give youth a larger place in Christian enterprise; of neglect of the family as the • The chairman Is Dr. William Carter, a Presbyterian clergyman, chief means of Christian training. formerly of Brooklyn, New York; the secretary Is the Rev. Frank E. Simmons, of Brooklyn, New York, and other members of the gen- Prayer that the youth of this generation may surrender eral committee Include William A. Harbison, Hugh R. Monro, Dr. to God in Christ; that teachers of youth may utilize Don O. Shelton, Dr. Will H. Houghton, President of Moody Bible their opportunities and realize their responsibilities; Institute, and Rev. Daniel A. Poling, President of the World's So- that the enthusiasms of youth may be directed into Ciety of Christian Endeavor. The headquarters are 1421 Madison right channels. Ave., New York.
SC'npture Readings-1 Sam 3; Joel 2: 18-32; 1 John 2: 1-17.
Saturday, January 12. RESPONSIBILITY TO THE JEWS AND TO OUTCASTE AND PRIMITIVE PEOPLES.
Thanksgiving for the increasing response to the call of Christ among Jews; for large accession to the Church
TOPICS OF THE TIMES
stress said to his Christian followers: "Brethren we must This evangelical movement among Italians was advance, but we must advance on our knees." This is a great need of the Church today-to pray. To be effective, not the product of the missionary societies, but prayer must be personal, importunate ….. . came rather from the faith and passion of two The Church is needing another Pentecost. The President, his helpers, governors, mayors, and leaders in gen- Italians converted through American friends. A eral, are urging people to strive to solve these present national and international difficulties by moral and spir- little more than fifty years ago Antonio Arrighi itual means. The phrase most upon their lips is: "The Life more abundant," which means, in ecclesiastical terms, began his work on the lower east side of New the life that is hid with Christ in God. Evangeline Booth in her farewell address urged the nations, that had tried York which has continued in the far reaching everything else in their depression and anxiety, to "Try religion!" The Presbyterians of New York have inaugu- ministry of the Broome Street Tabernacle. Later rated a "Spiritual Crusade" and a "Covenant of Reconsecration." All of these are signs of what is expected of Michele Nardi, a talented young Italian padrone the Church and that the Church is getting a larger view of its duty to the perishing souls of men. in a mining camp, was given a New Testament The Fellowship of the Spirit stands for: (1) A recog- which so gripped him that he gave up his mining nition of the Lordship of the Holy Spirit in lives and hearts of men; (2) A whole Bible as the Word of God; and began the life of a missionary lay preacher. (3) A place for prayer in daily life; (4) A witness for God to others who need Him; (5) Individual sacrificial Italian churches in Pittsburgh, Chicago, New service to save the individual, the nation and the world, from itself, to God. A practical experience of these things York and other important cities trace their origin will revitalize the Church, stabilize society and change the world. to Nardi's flaming evangel. A report made to the This movement is only one of many that reveal Presbytery of New York in 1907 shows his influa hunger in men's hearts today and a sense of need for God and what He alone can supply. It ence by the following report: "During the past is evident not only in America and England but on the continent of Europe and in many parts of year two new Italian missions have been estab- India, China, Africa and other lands. But it is still a very difficult thing for human nature to lished and have been blessed with almost phenommake full surrender and then to follow the Way as revealed by the Spirit of God. enal results. The one in East 106th Street in the EVANGELICAL MOVEMENT AMONG colony known as Little Italy, with the noted evan- ITALIANS gelist, Mr. Nardi, in charge. He labors without compensation. From the first the room which accommodates only 114 has been crowded to over- flowing." Later, the city mission and denomina- tional home missionary societies gave their sup- port to the movement. Christian mission work of a very distinctive sort will be required for many years in the more congested and poorer Italian colonies. The continued need of these people de- mand the continuing interest of the missionary societies, but the responsibility for the conduct of the churches and for the direction of the work must reside in the Italian language churches and their leadership. W. P. SHRIVER.
A national interdenominational conference, SHALL WE ABANDON MEXICO?* which may well mark a new epoch in the evan- gelical movement among Italians in America, was Recent events in Mexico have prompted some held in New York, the first and second days of to question the worthwhileness of carrying the November, at the suggestion of the Italian Evan- Gospel to a people who are promoting education gelical Ministers Association. The conference was along nationalistic lines and seem to want no reconvened under the auspices of the Home Mis- ligion at all. When the liberal Constitution of sions Council and Council of Women for Home 1857 was adopted by Mexico and the Reform Missions, and began with a fellowship dinner, Laws promulgated, a section of the Mexican peowith over four hundred present, to celebrate the ple availed themselves of the privilege of religious contribution of Italian life to America. The ad- liberty and formed an independent evangelical dress was given by the Hon. Eduard Corsi, Di- church. When the Constitution of 1917 was rector of the Department of Public Welfare of adopted, all the provisions of the Juarez Constitu- New York. A united service of the fifty Italian tion were embodied. Church property was nacongregations of greater New York later brought tionalized and religion became a matter of govtogether an audience of nearly two thousand ernmental regulation. Moreover in Article 130 which filled the auditorium of the Fifth Avenue of the Constitution each State was given the right Presbyterian Church-a most unusual gathering. to decide how many clergy are to officiate within A fine spirit of unity prevailed throughout the its borders. Very little effort was made to enconference and the Home Missions Council was force these severe provisions during the years of asked to create a permanent committee to foster continuing cooperation in evangelical work among • Extracts from a statement prepared by the Rt. Rev. Frank W. Creighton, who was Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Mexico from the four and a half million Italians in America. 1926 to 1933.
reconstruction following the active period of the King Dormitory and Gymnasium were destroyed; Revolution. In fact not until 1927 was there any Junka Hall and the Dining Hall were badly dam- enforcement act passed by Congress. aged and other buildings suffered severely. The In spite of difficulties, evangelical Christians in total damage is estimated at Yen 123,578 but for- Mexico are doing an effective and helpful piece of tunately there was no loss of life.
work and are growing stronger in numbers and The Doshisha was started in 1875 with eight in zeal. Two articles of the Constitution of Mex- students. Today it has a total enrollment of 4,456 ico, as well as parts of others, deal with the ques- students (1,184 girls and 3,272 boys), 302 protion of religion. One of those articles grants en- fessors and instructors, with 12,591 alumni. The tire religious freedom under the law and one sec- Doshisha now consists of a Girls' Academy, Boys' tion of the Department of Interior is charged with Middle School, Woman's College, Semmon Gakko the duty of religious administration. Mexico is (a professional school of junior college grade), still very much concerned about religion, but is College of Commerce, Preparatory College, and very insistent as to the kind of religion to be University. It has always maintained the Christaught and how it shall be practiced. Mexico's tian principles of its founder, "for the advanceis a one-party government and any opposition is ment of Christianity, and the furtherance of eduanti-government agitation. When the Roman cation, to train men of living power for the serv- Catholic Church finds itself opposed to practically ice of true freedom and their country." every ideal of the Revolution and says so, the issue becomes clear. Protestants are not antagonistic The typhoon is also said to have greatly affected to the Government but suffer because of the con- Japan's political currents so as to force their actinuous strife. But the followers of Christ can- tivities into new channels to repair the damages. not either run away from difficulties or abandon An extraordinary session of the Diet was called the field because difficulties are acute. Such a sit- to meet the demands of the situation. The rice uation tries our mettle and steels us to go on. crop has been very seriously damaged and imme- Mexican Christians need our prayers and our sup- diate relief was required. The silk industry, on port as they go forward to make the living Christ the other hand, has been suffering from over-proreign in Mexico. We must respond to the crying duction, due to lack of foreign demand. This sit- uation and the need for relief have called for a need for the Gospel. decrease, rather than an increase, in appropria- The editor of World Dominion says: tions for the army and navy.
Mexico is making gigantic efforts to build up an original, THE FEDERAL COUNCIL LOOKS AHEAD genuine and national culture embracing all aspects of human life, without trying to copy or to be dependent upon The annual meeting of the Federal Council of other cultures and countries. The Indians are sharing the Churches of Christ in America was held in Dayresponsibilities of government. ton, Ohio, December 2d to 7th. Dr. Ivan Lee Holt, pastor of St. John's Methodist Episcopal Mexico is emphasizing, more than any other country in Church, South, of St. Louis, was elected president Latin America, the need of a school which will be coherent to succeed Dr. Arthur W. Beaven of Rochester. from the very beginning with the whole life of the Mexican The new vice-president is Dr. George W. Richnation, basing it more on life than on theories, more on ards, President of the Theological Seminary of the doing than on learning, and adapting itself to the daily Reformed Church in the United States, at Lanlife of the average Mexican-particularly the Indianmaking the schools, the text and the teaching to promote more a better life than general knowledge.
EFFECTS OF THE TYPHOON IN JAPAN caster, Pa.
The most terrific typhoon ever experienced in As in many other groups, the need for evan- Japan in modern times swept over the Osaka- gelism-the personal salvation of men through Kyoto district last September and destroyed or the Gospel of Christ-was emphasized, rather damaged many mission schools and churches in than the need for new methods of social service Osaka, Kobe, Kyoto and elsewhere. Approxi- and more money for education. A national mismately 3,000 people were killed and 14,000 in- sion to reach the "unchurched" was proposed, with jured. Eighty thousand houses were demolished, daily open-air evangelistic meetings in as many 350,000 were flooded, and 300 primary and sec- cities of the United States as is possible. Plans are ondary schools collapsed. Of 60,000 factories in being made for a ten-weeks' tour of twenty-five the Osaka district, 22,000 are reported damaged metropolitan -centers, with a team of some ten or or destroyed, causing merchants, artisans and twelve speakers. peasants to call for relief. The Federal Council stood strongly against One of the Christian institutions which severely traffic in alcoholic drink and in favor of all efforts suffered is the Doshisha University, Kyoto, to promote social and economic justice and interfounded by Joseph Hardy Neesima in 1875. The national peace and goodwill.
A VILLAGE ON THE SHORE OF LAKE NYASA – MT. WALLER IN THE
Robert Laws of Livingstonia By the REV. D. R. MACKENZIE, Edinburgh, Scotland IF ONE had to put into a single word his im- years, it is justly regarded as an outstanding ex- pression of Dr. Robert Laws, the first impulse ample of Christian progress in a heathen land. would be to say "massive." He was like a great block of Aberdeen granite, firmly rooted in the Pioneering soil congenial to his soul-the soil of the Kingdom of God. But "massive" after all means little; and David Livingstone died at Ilala in 1873. While Laws meant much over a wide area of human life the great traveler was pursuin,i his epoch-making in Central Africa. He did more for that great discoveries, his almost equally great spiritual sucland than any other man, of whatever rank or cessor was preparing himself for the task soon to occupation. He was a man of wide vision and far be placed in his hands. This was the task of givseeing wisdom; of purposes firmly held in the ing continuity to the work and shape to the asface of difficulties and opposition; of unfailing pirations of the Blantyre lad who had become the skill in the use of whatever materials lay to his world's hero. hand; and of sagacious adaptability in entering doors which either stood open or which, more fre- Robert Laws was born in Aberdeen in 1851 and quently, he was the means of opening. Add to this began to work as an apprentice in his father's a staunch courage, often called upon in those days shop, learning cabinet-making; but he was nursof the beginnings of his work, and always equal ing in his soul higher ambitions. Through the to every emergency. Equally massive are his difficulties and hardships which many another achievements. The Livingstonia Mission, under Scottish lad has overcome, he finally emerged, a his wise guidance, moved from one great success fully qualified physician and minister, a carpenter, to another until today, after a history of sixty with some knowledge of building, and a general handiness that never lost its skill in all the half century he was to spend in Africa. When the [7]
news came that Livingstone had died, Laws was guage had to be learned, houses and other buildready; and prosperous Christian men in the great ings to be erected, communication with the outer cities of Scotland formed a committee and estab- world to be maintained, and the health of the staff lished the Livingstonia Mission, now famous all cared for. It was a task for strong men, and over the Christian world. strong men had it in hand.
One watches in imagination a band of young Lengthened Cords and Strengthened Stakes Scotsmen, with Laws as one of their leaders, start out on the twelfth of October, 1875, to make their The tribes around Lake Nyasa shared to the toilsome way into the heart of Africa. Up the full the superstitions and beliefs of the Bantu great Zambesi River, with its age-long romance, peoples to whom they belonged. Witchcraft spread its baneful influence. The poison ordeal weeded out the enemies of the witch-doctor and the chief. The, spirits of the dead, always of- fended, were believed to send disease and death. Dangers lurked everywhere; for lions and leop- ards, controlled by evil men whose power was never doubted, sought the enemies of those who hired them, and killed or mauled them. Hunters went to the forest, and fishers to the river, guarded and reinforced by charms and magic medicines. Sickness was rampant and knowledge small of how to deal with it. To all this add the horrors of the slave trade, "the open sore of Cen- tral Africa," and inter-tribal warfare with its WHERE MARRIED APPRRiNTICES LIVE IN LIVINGSTONIA INSTITUTE they traveled into the hitherto little known Shire, A PARTLY COMPLETED NATIVE-BUILT CHAPEL its huge tributary. At last, in their tiny steamer, the "Ilala," rebuilt after passing the Muchison terrible toll of human lives and you have the ma- Rapids, they sailed out into the mighty waters of terials for a picture of what Laws and his com- Lake Nyasa, Livingstone's proudest discovery. panions were facing. And one listens, still in imagination, as these young men fling their challenge to the winds of a They faced it with a message of the Love of continent: "All people that on earth do dwell, God, and with a Book in which that story was sing to the Lord, with cheerful voice." Was it a told; but it first had to be translated into the lanchallenge, or was it merely a glad recognition that guage of the people. at last the end of their long journey was in sight? The winds carried the words three hundred and The first five years at Cape Maclear were years sixty miles up the Lake; then over hill and plain of toil and death. It was evident that if real progto what is now Northern Rhodesia; far out east ress was to be made a change must come. In and west to Zanzibar and the mouth of the Con- 1881 the headquarters were moved up the Lake to go; and in all that vast region there was none to Bandawe, in the land of the Tonga people. From join in the song, and none to whom the words, that time the development was rapid. Schools even had they been understood, would have con- were opened and teachers trained; men were veyed any real meaning. taken into the carpenter's shop for instruction; At Cape Maclear, famous as the first station of the Mission, the party settled down to work. Slowly the years passed; men came and went; or they came and stayed until death claimed them, and there they lie, witnesses to the compelling power of Christ, and to the strange tenacity of His servants in every land and every age.
Laws made voyages of discovery in the little "Ilala"; he undertook long overland journeys, establishing contacts with leading chiefs up and down the lake shore. An utterly unfamiliar lan-
ROBERT LAWS OF LIVINGSTONIA
others were taught bricklaying, printing, book tions were formed, with Kirk sessions and minbinding, and agriculture. The whole region was isters and evangelists, and schools were spread explored, and Dr. Laws, in such intervals as he all over the land. The Livingstonia Mission could command, took up his great task of trans- reached out into Northern Rhodesia at Ilala, at lating the· New Testament, preparing school Lubwa, and at Mwenzo; the people thronged to books, a grammar of the language, and dictionary the schools, eager to seize every opportunity for the use of new members of the mission who placed before them. were now coming to his aid. Under the direction of the Rev. A. G. MacAlpine a great mother The mind of the African race was being slowly church was built up, slowly other congregations reformed by many methods. Into the now safe were formed and other stations were opened world they went far from their home to work in throughout the land. Teachers, doctors and nurses the gold mines of Rhodesia, the copper mines of were sent out from Scotland and the Mission The Belgian Congo, and to other enterprises as was fully established.
Reforming the Africans But trouble arose. The wild and warlike Angoni, an offshoot of the fierce Zulus of South Africa, swept down from their high- land plateau and harried the unhappy Tonga people, burning villages, killing the men, and carrying off the women and children. Robert Laws went up into their country where he met the great warrior chief, Mombera, and the two strong men formed a friendship which was never broken. As a result of this conference Dr. Elmslie went to Ngoniland, and, after adventures that would have satis- fied a Knight of the Round Table, he won over the people and Christian progress was assured.
Meanwhile other events were happening.
Laws had long foreseen that the British Gov- ernment must take control of the country and, after a preliminary blunt refusal by Lord Salisbury, this was done in 1889. A great impulse was thus given to the forces of progress; peace was assured; the postal service united the country from end to end; roads everywhere began to be made; magis- trates administered the law, and numerous ancient feuds died out. Other missions were coming in. The Church of Scotland had long had its headquarters at Blantyre; the Church of England Mission established itself on Likoma Island; while the Dutch Reformed Oopyright-MoUat, Edinburgh. ROBERT LAWS OF LIVINGSTONIA Church of South Africa was working in the southern parts of Nyasaland. The Roman Church far as Zanzibar, and Durban. The homecoming also took up work, as well as the Baptists, and of these far traveled individuals brought new others. ideas to the villages, with new clothes, new ameni- The transformation of Africa was proceeding ties of civilization, new sources of wealth.
apace; and Laws, now a recognized authority in All this brought fresh problems to the mission- all matters concerned with mission work, was the aries, but Laws and his colleagues were equal to guide and counsellor of all. His advice was sought the demands made upon them, though often at by government, as well as by the heads of the new great cost to themselves in loss of health, and industries with which the country was being de- occasionally in loss of life. The problems of suc- veloped. Most important of all, the native Church cess took the place of those of failure. The great was growing with amazing rapidity. Congrega- crowds attending church and school had to be or-
ganized and shepherded. In 1894 it was decided In 1908 the Scottish Presbyterian Church be- that a central institution for training and educa- stowed on Dr. Laws, now grown famous, the high- tion must be established, and as a result the Ov- est honor in its power: he was summoned home ertoun Institution was founded, with Dr. Laws as to fill the Moderator's chair of the General As- principal. The Home Committee responded with sembly of the United Free Church. Already uni- funds and men and, as the years passed, this great versities had conferred degrees upon him, D.D., institution came to be regarded as the most im- M.D., LL.D.; the Government bestowed upon him portant educational work between the Zambesi the C.M.G. (Companion of the Order of St.
and the Congo. Students flocked from far and Michael and St. George); The Africa Society near, all keen to seize the unique opportunity pre- gave him the African Medal, which so very few sented to them. The Overtoun Institution trains have received. In the United States, which he teachers, ministers, evangelists, doctors, as well visited more than once during his furloughs, he as carpenters, bricklayers, book printers and bind- made many friends and highly esteemed support- ers, agriculturists, engineers, tailors. Today one ers. There were few to dispute with him the title, can see there, as now elsewhere in Central Africa, from which he himself would have shrunk, of the the sons of men who knew of no implement but greatest living missionary; for the Livingstonia the hoe and the spear, controlling complicated Mission was now, under his inspiring leadership machinery at the mines, on the river steamers, one of the greatest epics of the Church of Christ.
and in motor cars; the fathers knew nothing but But the years took their toll. In 1927 he was war; the sons preach the Gospel. The fathers asked by the Mission Council to meet the Gover- heard the drums beat for vile dances, the sons nor of Nyasaland, along with other leaders, to hear them summoning the people to worship God. discuss the question of Government assistance to An Independent, United Church education which had become of first rate impor- tance. But his health suddenly failed and he The story now runs with great rapidity. The sailed for home where he underwent a severe operchurches of the Presbyterian Missions, Scottish ation. He lingered on, still vigorous, and taking and Dutch, combined their presbyteries to form an active share in the concerns so dear to him, one United Synod of the Church of Central Africa until August, 1934, when he passed to his reward. Presbyterian. The natives wholly supply the funds of this church and draw nothing from Great Brit- Mrs. Laws was the great wife of a great man. She was great in herself; a great linguist; a great hymn writer, whose hymns nourished for a generation the native Church which· her hus- band did so much to establish. Indeed her history is so much the history of her husband, that it is difficult to think of any activity of his in which she was not his efficient and loving helper. She was, too, a woman of wit and wisdom, ready at repartee, a famous housekeeper and hostess, and the willing friend of all her husband's colleagues.
Men are great, not merely in virtue of the great -deeds they did in their own proper persons, but they are great because others have contributed to that greatness. Livingstone had his Laws; and Laws had his great lieutenants: Elmslie and Stuart who brought in the wild Angoni; Mac- Alpine, who built up the great Mother Church at Bandawe; Fraser, beloved at home and abroad; MacMinn, whose linguistic work is bringing fame to .Livingstonia; Chisholm and Moffat, who A CiHll:Ral-IS~T-IA-lN-FA-M-I-L-Y-I;N;"-L.;:aIo"V".I:oN:;;G:;;.;s'-TO-N-I-A—…&. brought in the tribes of the north and west. The history of the Livingstonia Mission will never be ain. There is a native Central Fund Treasurer; fully told until the great deeds of these great men the Clerk of Presbytery is a native minister; and, have had their full count of credit. So long as so far as possible, they are encouraged to manage the Church can find such men, and send them out their own affairs, but always with the mission- and support them, the fame of Robert Laws will aries to guide them where that is necessary. The go on and that for which all great servants of Church in Central Africa is standing on its own Christ stand-the evangelization of the whole feet, subject only to its Divine Head. world-will suffer neither eclipse nor collapse.
Problems and ,Encouragements
As Seen by Some Foreign Mission Executives T HE difficulties of the present hour are so many and so obvious that we are sometimes prone to be discouraged and to overlook the encouragements. In the home and foreign mission work the prob- lems were never more numerous, and sometimes they seem baffling. They clearly call for earnest study as to their causes and solution and they require faith and greater dependence on God rather than on human wisdom and power.
In response to a letter sent to a number of missionary leaders in America replies have been received to the following two questions: 1. As you see it, what are some of the special present-day problems that we face in the foreign mission enterprise? Such problems may relate to finance, changes in policy, difficulties in the field or in the home church.
2. What are some of the encouragements that you note in the hQme church and in the field? Such encouragements may relate to improvement in finances, to increase in interest in the home church, to the attitude of the young people, or they may appear in reports from the field as to the progress and outlook.
The answers received-somewhat condensed-throw much on the present situation. An editorial presentation of the problems and encouragements will appear in the next number of the REVIEW.
EDITOR.
I. SOME PRESENT-DAY PROBLEMS 1. The need for taking the whole subject of cooperation far more seriously than at present is ROBERT E. SPEER being done, judged by the results. There is im- perative need of our Christian forces entering Secretary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions more promptly and thoroughly, having counted the full cost, upon what I call the third stage of Among the problems we face in the foreign mis- cooperation. By this stage I mean not only for sion enterprise today I would name the following: chiefly the pooling of knowledge and experience, but more specially pooling of plans (before they 1. Problems arising from false nationalism. A are made or entered into), personalities, money, true nationalism is inherent in Christianity and names, administration. in the missionary idea. Weare seeking to help each nation to achieve its own true personality 2. In almost every field and in almost every and accomplish its own mission of service in the board there is need of re-stating and revising proworld and we are doing our best to build up in- grams, looking ahead for a period of five years. digenous Christian churches to serve in the fullest I would find it difficult to name a half dozen agenway the true interest of the national life. The cies which have done this and have their program difficulties of the problem lie in the spread of a or plan in a form to be submitted, and have it false and unworthy nationalism. generally understood and accepted by their lead- ers near and far. This is very serious. 2. The problems which secularism and the naturalistic view of the world and of life present to 3. There is need for the creation of a deep and the Christian Gospel. We must have missionaries unshakable conviction on the part of the leaders eqUIpped to deal with these problems both by rea- and other discerning members of the churches son and by love. that the missionary enterprise has by no means attained. It is a shocking, tragic fact that with 3. The problems of devolution as it is called, reference to totally unoccupied mission fields (by meaning thereby the transfer both of control and which I mean those in which there are no misof responsibility from the foreign mission to the sionaries, or almost none), we stand just about national churches. where we did at the time of the Edinburgh Con- ference in 1910. In the partially and even largely 4. The problems arising from confusion and occupied fields we have, in most cases, only encontroversy among the Christian forces, absorbing in internecine conflict the energies which are needed for the work of aggressive evangelism of the New Testament type.
JOHN R. MOTT tered upon the period of high specialization, and, in my judgment, have still to render many of our Chairman of the International Missionary Council most distinctive and critically important services Among the most pressing major problems of in the work of evangelism and the training of the foreign missionary enterprise, as I see them, Christian leaders.
are the following: 4. The catching of the imagination of a new [11 ]
generation with such vividness, with such appeal keener sense of responsibility for the evangelizato the heroic, and with such compelling force as tion of the world in this generation. There is to ensure beyond peradventure a tremendous re- also the problem of finance, which must be solved sponse. In this respect the Church of Rome just if the work is to be carried on adequately.
now is putting us to shame.
Basically these and all other problems that are ROBERT HALL GLOVER pressing upon us will not be solved until we make much more ground than we have been making in Home Director of the China Inland Mission for North America recent years in solving our problem of leadership, 1. As related to the work of the mission in among missionaries, indigenous churches, and China there are the following problems: mission boards and their auxiliary agencies. a. The continued communist menace in several provjnces of Central China. The present situation ROBERT P. WILDER in Kweichow and Szechwan is particularly seri- ous. Two C. I. M. missionaries in Kweichow have Formerly Secretary of the Student Volunteer Movement,. been in the communists' hands since October 1, Recently Secretary of the Near East Christian Council and two others have recently been killed.
1. Some of the present day problems in the for- b. The difficulties confronting the Chinese churches in their efforts toward full self-support eign mission enterprise are the problems due to and taking a larger share in the work of carrying the Gospel further afield. I refer especially to the non-Christian religions, humanism, secular- exhorbitant taxation, burdens imposed by milita- rists, and heavy losses through communist banism, nationalism and the growing power of com- munism. / 2. Among indigenous Christians are the prob- lems due to persecution, especially on the part of ditry and calamities such as flood, famine, and fanatical Moslems and caste-ridden Hindus. pestilence.
There are also the problems of indifference. Often c. The cruel persecution of Christians among among indigenous Christians, the second and third several of the aboriginal tribes of Southwest generations have lost some of the glow and radi- China, notably the Lisu in west Yunnan. Bitter ance which the first generation possessed. This persecution is being meted out there by greedy is sometimes shown in diminished evangelistic and unscrupulous officials, because of the Chriszeal, in less of the prayer spirit, in doubt as to the tians' refusal to grow opium, and because of the full trustworthiness of God's Word, less reliance steady shrinkage of the whiskey trade due to the upon the power of the Holy Spirit, and less time rapid increase in the number of Christians. given to Bible study. 2. As related to the enterprise in general- 3. Among missionaries we find at times it is a problem to establish a firm conviction about the Undoubtedly the greatest problem, far more necessity of maintaining the devotional life serious than the financial depression, is the loss through giving an adequate time each day to Bible or weakening of conviction on the part of so many study for personal spiritual growth and private in the home churches, ministers in particular, reprayer. Work presses in, especially when the mis- garding the great essential truths of the Christian sionary staff is depleted owing to the financial faith. "Modernistic" teaching in seminaries and crisis. preaching in many pulpits are directly responsible for this. The inevitable and obvious results are 4. Some missionaries seem not to realize fully the waning of missionary interest and the dehow essential it is to know how to do personal crease of missionary giving among those thus work with individuals. Some are strong in pre- affected. senting the claims of Jesus Christ to an audience, but weak in helping an individual to take the de- If the missionary work of the Church is really cisive step in definitely accepting Christ as per- a divine enterprise, and not a merely humanistic sonal Saviour and Lord. project, then how can God's blessing be expected upon it, if ~ny are harbored in its ranks who are 5. It is not always easy to warn young mission- disloyal to His Word and reject the truths that aries against an assumed superiority as belonging lie at the very heart of the Gospel which we have to a better race than that to which the people been commanded to take to the whole world, and belong, among whom he labors. The Christian if "another gospel" is substituted? It is idle to a't- Gospel is one of love and should always produce tempt to make the economic depression wholly rein a missionary the right attitude toward other sponsible for the falling off of missionary support races and religions. when at least part of the cause clearly lies else- where. The ,cure cannot be effected until the 6. In the churches in America, we find the prob- cause is acknowledged and removed. lem of how to secure a deeper spirituality and a
PRESENT PROBLEMS AND ENCOURAGEMENTS
STEPHEN ]. COREY during the past three years that there is danger American Secretary of the United Christian Missionary Society lest we lose our capacity to be distressed at the injury to the work. The depression attitude has The problems, as I see them, include: already become a habit with some people, and 1. An exaggerated feeling that personal and lo- while many are in genuine want, others have been cal problems eclipse all else, although this is not too ready to avail themselves of the excuse af- as evident as a year ago. A sort of "pernicious forded by the psychology of the times.
localitis" effects both interest and giving. Anxious to prove to their constituencies that 2. The difficulty of maintaining interest when every economy was being practiced, boards have so many missionaries have returned from the vied with one another in making reductions in fields. We have been too slow in building interest their budgets and it has actually been true that a around Christian nationals and churches. We board which could show the most drastic cutting must press this point hard. They are our children has gained the highest approval of the Church- in the faith and greatly deserve and need our and this at a time when the need of the world for prayer, interest, and our support when necessary. Christ is so desperately apparent!
3. There has been too much dependence upon 3. In certain quarters there has been a relaxa- loyalty to organization and not enough on the tion of those basic Christian convictions that con- inherent necessity of the missionary enterprise stitute the very premises of the missionary enter- as an inevitable and inescapable part of an ade- prise. The nature of sin and its consequences, the quate Christian program. depth of man's need for Christ and the indispen- 4. The ideals of internationalism and world sability of Christ as the Saviour of the world, are brotherhood have received a severe blow. This elements in the missionary imperative that have has slowed down missionary interest in some either been challenged or rendered indistinct by quarters. the humanistic philosophy that has accompanied 5. The ideals of Christian stewardship have modern "liberalism." These basic Christian prem- slipped somewhat in recent years, due ises are essential to a vigorous missionary attitude a. To the excessive burdens taken by American and program.
churches in more prosperous days, with new build- 4. The spiritual condition that we confront in ings and equipment. The churches now find them- the world today is more difficult to reach than selves taxed to the utmost to amortize and stabi- were the simpler forms of paganism of the past.
lize their capital investments. While millions still cry vainly to gods of wood and b. To the tendency to be satisfied with paying stone, other millions have merely exchanged idol- taxes for relief in substitution for church and atry for godlessness. Surfeited with the super- individual efforts of love and mercy. The first stitions of the past from which they feel them- is necessary, but people forget the wider interest selves emancipated, they have turned violently of the church in a Christian program which state against all religions, and have become repudiators and municipal help can never reach. of faith, haters of God. Professing no God of their own, they deny freedom of worship to others, C. DARBY FULTON and are working to bring the world into one united Executive Secretary, Executive Committee of Foreign Missions, blasphemy. The difficulty of reaching these is immeasurably great. Presbyterian Church in the United States First of all, may I share with you some of our A. C. SNEAD problems: Foreign Secretary of the Christian and Missionary Alliance 1. The most obvious problem is due to the fifty per cent decline in financial support, from $1,248,- In the twenty mission fields of The Christian 000 in 1926 to $611,000 last year. Despite these and Missionary Alliance three problems stand out rather desperate figures, we have not had to recall as of major importance. any missionaries, though sickness, age, death and retirement have reduced our missionary personnel 1. In a number of the fields, particularly French from 516 seven years ago to 403 last year. Cuts West Africa, French Indo-China, Netherlands amounting to about thirty per cent in missionary East Indies, southern Philippines, and some provsalaries and stipends, and even heavier reductions inces of China, many' peoples and tribes give eviin appropriations for the work have had to be dence of being moved by the Holy Spirit to a made. Reserves possessed by institutions or by recognition of their need for Jesus Christ as Savmissionaries individually have been used up so iour and Lord when they first hear the Gospel. that we are now face to face with the time when This is so marked in some tribes that the number the work must depend only on its present support. of missionaries and native Christian workers is much too small to properly present the Word of 2. We have become so accustomed to reductions God to interested inquirers.
2. Another problem, met especially in Borneo 5. The widespread interest in evangelization and a French West Africa is that of shepherding and the breaking out of remarkable evangelistic the new converts who have been baptized. For movements in so many parts of the world, also in example, 628 were baptized by one missionary in the raising up of new and mighty evangelists, as one month recently in a district in Borneo, yet to well as apologetic writers and lecturers, within teach these converts and the more than 1500 other the past one or two decades, both among mission- Dyaks baptized during the last three years there aries and nationals. are available only one missionary and two or three native workers. ROBERT P. WILDER 3. A third problem has to do with government Some encouragements, as I see them, are: opposition in some areas, the imposing of an income tax and an increase in property taxes by 1. A growing desire for a religious awakening some governments, thus diverting funds from the missionary work. at home and abroad.
II. PRESENT-DAY ENCOURAGEMENTS 2. A greater spirit of cooperation among re- ROBERT E. SPEER ligious bodies, as seen in the work of the Christian Among the encouragements we see in mission and Missionary Councils and International Miswork today one would suggest: sionary Council; also in the movements which 1. The spirit of the young men and the young women who want to give their lives to foreign look toward church unity, as in Persia and South mISSIOns. A number of first-grade candidates have been earning their way by giving transfu- India and the recent conference of missionaries sions of their own blood. and indigenous Christians on evangelism, Chris- 2. The evidences of the working of God's spirit in individual and collective life, as, for example, tian education and on the production and circulain the baptism of Brahmans in India and the movement in the upper castes. tion of Christian literature. There are also signs 3. The increasing acceptance of the moral au- of closer cooperation between Oriental and Occithority of Christ in non-Christian lands. This is not enough but it is something and it represents dental Christians, as in the Fellowship of Unity a great advance. in Egypt, and in the work of the World's Sunday 4. The reality of the rootage which Christianity has taken all over the world and its indestructibil- School Association. ity by the most hostile forces, even in Russia. 3. The recent growth in the membership of in- 5. The steady growth of the churches on the mission field, in autonomy and self-dependence. digenous churches, as in India where there are 6. The increasing evidence that there is no hope now 6,296,763 Christians; in China' where the for man save in Christ; that the evil forces of the world cannot be conquered except by His Five Year Movement, from 1929 to 1934, has repower. sulted in stimulating the Christians to a deeper JOHN R. MOTT spiritual life and shows a willingness on the part Among the greatest encouragements in foreign missions today I would name: of the Chinese Christians not only to win others 1. The evident growth in conviction among dis- to Christ, but also to shoulder a larger proportion cerning Christian leaders as to our shortcomings and sins of omission. of the financial load carried by missionary soci- 2. The multiplication of fruitful and very re- eties. The Forward Movement in Japan has rewarding pieces of experimentation in missionary methods and practices, covering a wide range in sulted in 50,000 having signed cards, signifying the missionary program. their purpose to follow Jesus Christ. Though all 3. The growing interest in cooperation, notwithstanding failure to take the whole subject of these have not yet joined the Church there is more seriously. increasing evidence that Christians in Japan are 4. The fact that doors are open today, as at no time in the past, to the friendly and constructive recognizing their responsibility to evangelize their ministry of the Christian Gospel. fellow countrymen in Japan and overseas.
4. Another encouragement is found in the work of the Bible Societies. The Bible is still the best seller.
5. It is said that while Latin America has large- ly turned away from organized Christianity a speaker presenting the Christian message, as a new and vital challenge, can always get a sympa- thetic hearing. In Buenos Aires, Santiago and in student centers in Brazil, Colombia and Venezuela there have been eager audiences to hear the Gos- pel. – ROBERT HALL GLOVER 1. We of the C. I. M. are greatly encouraged by the sustained interest of our constituency of friends at home, as evidenced by their many let- ters, and also by our contacts in the autumn con-
ferences in the East and the West. Our Prayer Japan, China, India, and Africa all face great Union membership, composed of those who ex- issues and are in expectancy.
press the desire and purpose to pray regularly for 5. The penetration of Christ's influence, far China and the work of the Mission, is steadily beyond what we can count in statistics or mem- increasing. bership in the churches, is a matter for great 2. There has been a steady succession of appli- encouragement. The New Life Movement in cations for service in China; the number during China, based largely on Christian ideals, is an the past year has been particularly large. We illustration. It would be hard to find among edu- sent twenty-six new recruits to China in 1934, and cated and religious nationals anywhere in the non- we must have dealt with three or four times that Christian world, one who would not hail Jesus as number of applications. the ranking ethical teacher of the ages.
Eighteen new workers have also been sent from Great Britain and twelve from Australasia last C. DARBY FULTON year. Over against the problems and difficulties that 3. There has been a steady and substantial ad- face us today one could set a long list of encour- agements that far outweigh the difficulties. I vance of our Forward Movement on the field, with mention three that seem to stand out strikingly ever increasing visible results in conversions and in the missionary picture: baptisms. The opening of nineteen new main centers of work, and the baptism of 7,221 con- 1. The increasing open-heartedness of the peoverts, during 1933, made that a record year in ples of the world to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. the history of the Mission. This is not inconsistent with the fact that many governments seem to be slowly closing to religion. 4. There has been marked blessing attending In the time of Christ, just when the chief priests the special services on many of our stations for and the rulers of the Jews were seeking to destroy the deepening of the spiritual life of the Chris- Him, the common people were hearing Him gladly. tians, and the stirring of them to increased zeal A missionary writes: and effort in behalf of the salvation of souls here at home and the spreading of the Gospel farther "The doors for Gospel advance are flung wide as never afield. Chinese workers and foreign missionaries, before. The church in Brazil faces an unprecedented op- have conducted such services with blessed results. portunity. Crowds everywhere, as reports come in from Special encouragement has also attended the far and near, are willing to hear with attention and symholding of short-term Bible Schools throughout pathy the call of God to repentance and faith in Christ. our mission field, with the object of increasing The day of march has come!" the knowledge of the Word of God among the Writes another: "God evidently wants Africa, for never was the Holy Spirit more manifestly present there. At rank and file of our Christians, and fitting them Luebo Station alone we baptized this year 2,548 adults, and the church is aflame with zeal for Him." for more effective soul winning, and some among From another missionary comes this message: "There them for full-time preaching. During last year 329 such schools were held with a total of 11,500 is a mighty tide sweeping through China. It is the tide enrolled, in addition to our regular Bible Schools, of God's spirit moving upon the hearts of men." for the fuller training of Chinese pastors, evangelists, and Bible women. Dr. Stanley Jones declares that China presents the greatest evangelistic opportunity in the world. Dr. George Truett, returning from a South Amer- STEPHEN J. COREY ican tour, says the supreme challenge is there. Surely God is at work in all the world!
As to encouragements I see the following: 2. The new fervor for evangelism is one of the 1. An increased wistfulness on the part of min- most encouraging factors in the present mission- isters and others for the realities of religion. ary outlook. Despite the limitations that falling 2. Increased cooperative effort on the mission income have placed upon the work, our mission- fields. aries and their fellow workers are everywhere 3. Humility on the part of Christians in the manifesting an eager desire to extend the work recognition that as a church we have not come into unreached territories. In some fields this abreast of Christ's ideals in America and that centrifugal instinct of our missionaries is quite we must go to others depending upon Him and conspicuous. It is interesting to compare the lat- not on our own superiority. est reports of work in Brazil with those of fifteen 4. The great issues that face us abroad bring years ago and see how the names of stations and stirring challenges. The tides of secularism, na- outstations of former years are being replaced tionalism, and communism, call Christian people, from year to year by new towns and communities.
as never before, to take the message and life of The older ones are not abandoned but they are Christ to the whole world. The distress and dis- being brought to self-support as rapidly as pos- quietude of mankind summons us. Also lands like sible in order to release money and personnel for
the work of extension. It is gratifying to note that remains to be finished; there is even more that in several fields, despite every discourage- that yet remains to be begun. ment of the depression, new work has been opened and is being successfully sustained with most 4. The world has always needed Christ. Her gratifying results. need of Him today in the face of her complexity, bewilderment and sin is more apparent than ever. But it is the native leaders themselves that offer the most conspicuous examples of this evan- 5. In some lands, governments seem determined gelistic fervor. One needs only to mention the to close the doors against Christian missions. Kingdom of God Movement in Japan, the Five Year Plan in China, the evangelistic movement 6. The young life of the Church is ready to go that is sweeping certain sections of the Belgian forward. Applications from volunteers are pour- Congo under the leadership of Tshisungu Daniel ing in to our offices from some of the choicest and others, and the quiet revival of prayer and young men and women in the Church, who are personal work in Korea, as examples of such zeal. prepared to answer the need. The significant thing about these movements is that they have not been born in the initiative and 7. When in ~:very sphere of life the peoples of leadership of missionaries, but are the expression the world are being reminded of their mutual of the evangelistic fervor of native sons who have interdependence and responsibility, shall the set their hearts upon the winning of their own Christian Church forget her responsibility to people for Christ. every man or allow her sense of world mission to be dimmed? Dare we forget that our Lord's 3. Where two such movements as the foregoing, command has never been revoked and still conthe eagerness to hear on the one hand, and the stitutes the marching orders of the Church? eagerness to tell on the other, are found parallel, things are bound to happen. And things have A. C. SNEAD happened. The past year has been the most fruitful results in all the more than 70 years of our In presenting the problems I have already made foreign mission history. Outstanding among the results of the year is the record number of 8,383 mention of some encouragements in the fields. added to the church on profession of their faith 1. The Alliance is privileged to preach the Gosin Christ. It is granted that we cannot always measure spiritual results by statistical standards. pel and to have a share in building the Church However, it is a cause for great joy and thanks- of Christ in more language groups today than giving throughout our Church that last year in our foreign fields the number who stood before ever before in its history. The Church in the fields the world to acknowledge their sins and receive is taking over territory formerly under mission Christ as their Saviour exceeded by more than 2,000 those who took this stand in any previous responsibility and the Mission and the Church year. together are going forward into new tribes and To summarize, it is our feeling that the time new areas where the Gospel is thus being preached has come when a call to advance should be sounded for the first time. among the churches of America. Today the whole world situation is like one vast syllogism every 2. Despite government opposition in Cambodia, premise of which leads to but one inevitable con- the results during 1933 and 1934 are more encourclusion, namely, "Forward again in missions!" aging than at any time since the field was entered 1. The openness of the hearts of men and wom- in 1923. In a few fields the work of translating en around the world to the message of Christian the Bible into tribal languages is being steadily missionaries, attested by the letters that come carried forward and last year one of our mission from every field, constitutes a clear call to renew presses printed over 25,000,000 pages of Scripture our missionary advance. portions and Gospel literature.
2. The unparalleled productivity of mission 3. Both in the home church and on the fields work, yielding richer returns than ever before, there is evidence of the gracious working of the encourages us to move forward. Holy Spirit in causing believers to humble them- 3. Vast untouched areas await a new venture selves before God and definitely seek for a revival. of faith. With national churches gradually taking 4. Twenty-six new missionaries were appointed up the burden of the work we have been doing, it should become more and more our missionary for our Alliance fields in 1934 with the expectation aim and purpose to press out into territories where Christ is not known. There is much work of their sailing during the year or in the early months of 1935.
5. We praise God for increased missionary in- terest evident in many of the home churches and for the missionary zeal shown in the younger churches in -the mission fields. .
I believe that, despite every hindrance that Satan brings, we are facing a day of marvelous opportunity for evangelization in many parts of the world and we are encouraged to press forward in the name and by the enabling of Christ our Lord.
Situation in
As Seen by Dr. Julius Richter of Berlin I N THE Neue Allgemeine Missionszeitschrift, is the well organized propaganda such as that of Dr. Julius Richter of Berlin deals with a num- Agha Khan in the Tanganyika territory and oth- ber of present-day problems which are so im- ers. portant that they deserve close study. The first problem is that presented by the world- The fifth consideration is that to which we are forced by the world-wide propaganda of Bolshewide depression, which demands an adjustment vism. Its soil is amazingly well prepared by the to the shrinking incomes of all mission groups. unworthy and in many instances impossible con- This question in the background of all "recent dis- ditions of obtaining a livelihood among the procussions of missionary problems is "How can the letarians of the earth, as for example the 30,000,- important part of mission work be preserved even 000 unemployed and the abysmal poverty of though many related developments must be cut hundreds of millions of peasants in Imlia, China down ?" Can the present retrenchments of the and Japan. The great strength of this kind of sending bodies be made fruitful by granting the propaganda can hardly be over-estimated. new national churches in the mission field a greater measure of independence, and by urging great- Sixth, there looms the awakening, floodlike and er self-support in view of the diminished income powerful influence of an increasing nationalism. from the home boards?" These efforts of the Hand in hand with it, we observe the awakening younger churches on the mission fields are oc- of the national religions and sometimes the recurcurring at the time when they too are affected by rence, as in Germany, Turkey and Persia, of earlier and forgotten religions, which oppose the world depression. Christianity as being irreconcilable with the new Many factors have altered the position of Prot- ethic.
estant missions since the end of the World War. Changes Since the World War The first factor is the enormous loss of prestige Such conditions are entirely different from the which Christian nations suffered by the disillu- sionments which have befallen the non-Christians. views which prevailed before the war. It was These matters are too well known to need discus- then held that occidental civilization was either sion. identical with Christianity, or at least closely con- Second there is the growing gap between Chris- nected with it. This was the great time for such tianity and some views of modern science. All splendid movements as the Student Volunteers, nations want modern sciences and arts; but they the Missionary Education Movement, the Lay- are very reticent about any desire for Christianity men's Movement and for such slogans as "Evan- or the Christian Church. If we meet within the gelization of the World in this Generation." In body of Christendom such a thing as Bolshevism, Germany, in this period, the great colonial expan- with its radical hatred of all religion, and even in sion gave an impetus to missionary undertakings.
a country like Germany see a decided self-asser- Now, however, many churches are passing tion of a new German paganism on a nationalistic through an era of an ebbing of interest, a reac- basis, need we wonder at a holding back from tion! This reaction is to be deplored. During the Christianity on the part of non-Christian peoples? time referred to there were in most of the fields Third, we should earnestly consider the sur- efforts at work which were to crown the preceding prising progress made by the Roman Catholic efforts, by leading the young churches toward a Church in Africa and the Dutch East India, with complete self-support. But such aims demanded an expenditure of men and money such as the time for maturing. The highly developed conduct combined Protestant missions cannot equal. In of Protestant missions contained within itself an French, Belgian and Portuguese countries this inclination toward institutionalism, such as the Papal church may count on a far-reaching assist- founding of colleges, universities, hospitals, Y. M.
ance from the colonial authorities. C. A. buildings, publication houses. In the case Fourth, in the last few years before the World of even a great lessening of the supply of men War it seemed as if the progress of Islam had and means, there arises a danger of freezing up been retarded. Now we observe that in equatorial the assets of such enterprises. The men and Africa and in Further India, this religion is mak- monies necessary for the work of evangelization ing its power of assimilation felt among the prim- and the growth of the missionary enterprise leave itive peoples within its reach. A decisive factor too few means available for the magnificent enter- [17 ]
prises which have already been called into being. There is the hope that these young churches Dr. Richter thinks that there should be a new will develop a sufficiently large and strong initia- consideration of the work of missions but he de- tive that they will be able to take care of the non- clines such a study on the basis of some sugges- Christian masses surrounding them. We point tions in "Rethinking Missions." There should not with great hopes to the Five Year Plan of Cheng- be any reduction of the Biblical message of salva- chin-yi, the Kingdom-of-God Movement of Kaga- tion. Neither can there be any "moratorium" of wa and can well rejoice in what they have the missionary obligation on account of urgent attained. But as yet, the new churches, notwith- demands at home. The all-obliging missionary standing their excellencies, have not acquired the command, the royal authority and the divine missionary attack that is needed. Besides, we promise are sufficient for all believing Christians. can hardly compute the comparatively enormous What May We Expect? expenditures of effort and means required to carry on such work asthe occidental churches can carry, What may we expect as the fruit of our mission owing to the momentum acquired through the work? Dr. Richter enumerates answers to this centuries.
question, based upon experience gained in many 3. This places us before a great and difficult ages and many countries. task. At present many free missions are hunting 1. There are in Christian history three typical for unoccupied fields for their activity. Most of developments: First, the permeation of the Ro- them fail. The result is that Protestant missions man Empire by the Christian spirit and the Chris- tend to degenerate into aimless guerilla warfare.
tian Church in its competition with Oriental Besides, when we consider the many costly un- mystery cults, then the century of effort to realize dertakings carried by the sending churches, such "One Church-One Empire," and a failure of all as the establishment of such institutions as were these efforts since the rise in the fifth century of mentioned above, how can we expect these young- various separatistic churches. er churches to undertake work of such dimensions, Secondly, in the Germano-Slavic middle ages without abundant assistance from the sending the passing over of entire tribes and peoples under churches?
the leadership of their rulers and then a very slow 4. In the last century the missionary enterprise and very gradual penetration of these peoples with found open doors everywhere. Dr. Richter shows the Christian spirit and ethics. Thirdly, in the by the example of the missions in Africa that, Spanish-Portuguese national or state missions of while then one could be of the opinion that paganthe sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, with ism would soon collapse and what was most Church and State in close alliance, the setting-up needed was to gather the new Christians into of a hierarchy with state subvention. Modern churches, this is far from being true today. Modmissions offer few parallels to such work as the ern civilization is entering Africa by the three christianizing of the South Sea Islanders, largely channels of Protestantism, Catholicism and Islam under the influence of their rulers. and these forms are fighting each other tooth and 2. Nowadays the attention of Protestant mis- nail. However the Protestant churches today face sions is focused on the development of Christian the task of gathering the Negro peoples, so far as groups, with the aim of making them National possible, into Christian churches and train them Churches. It is generally thought that, when this into a real Christian life.
aim is attained, there will be no further need than 5. In Asia the strata first reached by the new to assist such churches in the case of emergencies. influences were the cultured circles. This may be Is such an expectation justified? First of all, in traced most easily in the case of three leading most mission countries the Protestants constitute countries. In Japan, the Samurai were the real only a small percentage of the total population. light bearers of culture. They have also given the For instance, in China two-thirds of a million church some outstanding leaders, such as Neeamong 500 millions, in Japan, 200,000 among 65,- sima, Ouchimura, Kagawa. In India, broader 500,000, in India five millions among 350 millions. areas were more quickly reached, but the caste In none of these countries is the Christian increase system stood in the way. In China the literati less than the increase in the number of births, so that the ratio is constantly shifted. Secondly, in were the on£s who hindered the spread of the all these countries we cannot fail to notice two incoming religious influence, but in more rece'nt peculiar characteristics, the one tending to isolate times there was being prepared a notable change the Christian bodies, the other to absorb them here too. However, since the war, the condition completely. We are not yet advanced to the point of things has changed surprisingly. The greatest where we may be sure that the present day Chris- difficulties today come from the growth of nation- tian groups will escape a similar fate. alism, which in most cases has become a violent
PRESENT SITUATION IN MISSIONS
passion and proves a considerable hindrance to 9. A noteworthy fact is seen in the circumstance the spread of Christian missions. that early Christianity faced a world in the proc- ess of dissolution, while the modern missionary 6. The question arises whether we might not finds that ancient systems are becoming more conhave some other means of reaching the great solidated. This is eminently the case with Hindumasses of Asia, aside from the natural work with ism and Confucianism and only in the case of individuals. In the world of Islam, most mission- Islam in Turkey is it possible to observe a general aries still feel that they must observe a waiting breaking down of the old. attitude before closed doors. But we still have the tried means of entering wedges, such as medical In early mission work in Europe, the bearers of work, schools and colportage. In Japan the work the Gospel found fresh youthful masses that were of Kagawa seems to find access to the masses. In not influenced by any great civilizing movements. India the efforts among those not in the castes We meet such a condition now only in Africa and seem to be gaining in influence. In China we face the South Seas; but in Asia the missionaries have a catastrophe in civilization, and that of colossal had to face ancient cultures, and their initial sucdimensions. Two overpowering influences are at cesses were gained mostly among the lower strata work through the collapse of the ancient Manchu of society. Today the problem is to reach those power. This involves not only the whole ruling who are the possessors of higher culture. In the system with its prestige and its cultural forms, attitude so far observed among such peoples, many but also the break-down of the old Confucian missionaries have had the feeling that all doors system of scholars and men of letters. Three were closed and all seats occupied. Now there are great forces are now entering the country: an indications that catastrophic changes are impendun-religious science, communism and Christianity. ing. Bolshevism is a new force which is present- China and Africa present the greatest missionary ing an aggressive front all over the world and problems in the Christian Church today. people are weighing the claims of Bolshevism against those of Christianity. Here the mission- 7. Christian leaders are sure that foundations ary faces not only a challenge, but an opportunity. have to be dug deeper along three important lines. The first field is the ethical, and spiritual. The 10. Since Lausanne, Christians have come to an problem shows itself most clearly in Africa. There understanding of the definite and essential conpaganism appeared under six forms, ancestor wor- tent of the Christian message. In this there has ship, magic, tyranny of chiefs, polygamy, slavery been a decided gain for the preaching of the and tribalism. Since missionaries were convinced Gospel. that these conditions were impossible among Christians they very properly proceeded to exter- 11. Dr. Richter says that great spiritual moveminate them. However it was frequently over- ments usually pass over peoples like great waves. looked that in the conditions that had matured for He thinks that all countries are at present not on centuries, there might prevail aspects that could the crest of any such waves, but in the depressions be used for the implanting of that which is truly between them. He refers once more to the great Christian. In many cases the African was con- losses which the world has incurred in recent sequently so denationalized that there remained years, such as the collapse of the church in Russia, nothing that could be done, except to ingraft a the liquidation of Panislamism and the Caliphate, life that was really foreign. Now the problem is and the breakdown of Confucianism in China. seen under the aspect of so anchoring the Chris- He mentions also the stop of great Christian movetian church in the native life, that the strength ments in the United States, and similar collapses that actually inheres in it may be used to make its in Germany. powers helpful to the Christian development. A careful study of present-day conditions and Three methods have been held proper in India. resources must give us the conviction for our faith The Roman Catholic Church acted as if paying no and a guidance for our conduct as follows: attention to caste. The Leipzig Mission regarded caste as a social and civil order, which merely That the living God is quietly building His Kingneeded to be purged of non-Christian extrava- dom through all the confusion of the peoples and gances. The Anglo-Saxon missions in the main that this is the end of the ways of God. regarded caste as a satanic perversion that must be utterly exterminated. That the person of Jesus Christ is central for all Christian proclamation and that all mission- 8. A similar problem arises from the conditions of language. At present it is being more fully ary preaching must have its start and goal in it. recognized that the language of a people contains peculiar elements of power that may be fully util- That Jesus Christ and His salvation is the final ized and thus become of great help in the develop- and deepest answer to all questions of human bement of a people. ings and that it is our task to hear the questions that arise from the depths of men and to give the true answer to them.
IF I WERE A MILLIONAIRE* By REV. W. H. Moss, M.A., B.D., HYTHE, ALBERTA, CANADA Do you sometimes plan what you would do if you suddenly became a millionaire? I am do- ing that today after spending two days of pastoral calling in a homesteading part of my parish. I parked my car near the highway and borrowed horse and buggy for the bush trails. Later I parked horse and buggy in the bush and walked more than two miles to visit a lonely bachelor on the far side of a muskeg over which horse and buggy could not travel. Incidentally I got my feet wet. My friend served dinner-fried potatoes, fried eggs, fried meat. (How do their stomachs stand it year after year?) As I was going from place to place, I was wishing I had money. If I were to become a millionaire, I think I should do some of the following things: 1. I should ask for Divine guidance in the discharge of such a responsible mission as the wise handling of so much money.
2. I should give at least one-half to the Missionary and Maintenance Fund.
3. I should continue to be a home missionary.
4. I should, as long as possible, let no one know that I had money, lest I become the prey of those who would besiege me with requests for help and so interfere with my regular work.
5. I should payoff the debt on the local church and relieve my people of the almost intol- erable burden of paying eight per cent interest and thus put new heart into them for complet- ing their place of worship.
6. I should send to Edmonton for a hundred-dollar violin that was sent in by a new settler for repairs two or three years ago and is being held there until the bill of thirteen dollars is settled. Thereby great joy would return to this music-loving homesteader who really needs his beloved instrument for the good of his soul.
7. I should take a pair of shoes to the cobbler and have patches put on the soles.
8. I should accede to the unusual request of one man for certain drugs for the treatment of bedbugs. He says he can't abide them.
9. I should buy school books for a girl. The grade desired is being taught in the local school and all she requires to continue her education is about eight dollars for books.
10. I should send a most promising young man to university in order that he prepare him- self for the Christian ministry.
11. I should buy organs for three log schools where I hold services.
12. I should provide a home in this village under the care of a Christian matron, so that several girls in the surrounding district might go on to school. Their people can supply meat and vegetables; what is needed is a place to stay and that place ought to be under reliable supervision.
13. I should build a hospital here, for the nearest at present is forty-five miles away and difficult to reach when roads are blocked in winter. I should have free medical service for the poor. Then there would need to be no babies born in crude shacks without a doctor in attend- ance.
14. I should give to every minister on a home mission field a year's leave of absence once in seven years and pay all expenses while he and his family visited their friends and he took a term at college.
*** But as I am not a millionaire, I pray that I be not like the Irishman who had a needy friend and said that if he had two cows he would give him one; and yet he did have two pigs and would not give one of those.
• Adapted from the United Ohurch Record and Mi88io,nary Review.
Cooperative Advance at
By the REV. CHARLES E. SCHAEFFER, D.D.
President of the Home Missions Council; Secretary of the Board of Home Missions, Reformed Church in the United States I T SEEMS anomalous under existing conditions These Christian leaders felt that a new social in the Church today to be speaking of an ad- order, new conditions territorially, religiously 1l.nd vance. The organized forces of Christianity ecclesiastically required a new strategy and a new are almost everywhere sounding the note of re- approach to the whole problem. Consequently treat. The slogan along the whole battle line is they launched "The New Cooperative Advance." that of retrenchment. Nearly all the home mis- If the advance of former days had spent its force, sion boards are either marking time or have re- a new advance would have to be made, so that called a large part ·of their forces from the field. home missions might always be true to its real Whole areas which were once missionary ground genius and spirit.
have been given up and the financial pressure has This new advance was to be along three distinct been such that curtailment of effort has become lines.
imperative and has caused grave concern among 1. The old home mission advance was on de- missionary leaders. nominational lines and the early religious history The heart and kernel of the work of home mis- of America was based largely upon denomination- sions has always been the pioneer spirit. The alism. This was practically inevitable when home mission forces have always constituted the America was new and young. Denominationalism advance guard of the Church. They have blazed had its rise in national, social, lingual, creedal, new trails, opened up new highways, discovered new areas and have always marched breast for- and racial peculiarities. I ward at the van of the procession. That is the very genius of this great movement in the bosom Some of these were an importation from the 'old or world, and some grew out of the religious soil ill America itself. But whatever their origin of the Church. A little more than a century ago historical basis, these denominations were per- the religious forces of North America were cen- petuated and extended into other sections of the tered in the eastern part of the continent. Then country. This has resulted in an oversupply of when the various denominations became auton- churches in many communities and has become the omous and indigenous, there followed a wave of chief target of the critics and of the cynics. It missionary expansion such as has never been wit- has resulted in the multiplication of churches of nessed in any age or in any land. Impelled by an many stripes and names, of sects, some of which onward urge the forces of Christianity pressed are so small as to be mere insects. This has been into the virgin lands and into the frontiers of our the scandal of Protestantism in America. Some country. The results were astounding. Churches churches are so small that they have no ability to and schools and colleges sprang up like Jonah's function effectively in Kingdom building. They gourd overnight and dotted the land with religious have a struggle for self-preservation. They be- a,nd educational institutions. All this was accom- come ends in themselves and thus they obscure plished practically within the space of a century the real mission of a church in a community.
and a half. Then suddenly, as though a hand had The new home mission advance now shifts the reached down, this expansive program of the emphasis from denominationalism to interdenom- Church was arrested. It halted along the whole inationalism. It does not advocate undenomina- front until today we are compelled to take an in- tionalism but it espouses interdenominationalism.
ventory of stock and make a fresh 'appraisal of It believes that there are foci points where denom- our task. Noone so keenly sensed this change of inations can join hands and where united effort conditions as did the home mission leaders. About becomes more effective, if not more economical, ten years ago they began to see which way the than single handed denominational activity.
wind was blowing and undertook to set their sails 2. The second new line of advance is that of in the right direction. They who walked late on cooperative effort. The old home mission enter- the deck saw strange lights rise and fall and they prise was inspired largely by the competitive prepared to meet the new situation when once it spirit. Each denomination tried to outrun, out- confronted them. strip, outdo the others. The law of the jungle [21 ]
prevailed. The Nietsche law of the superman in activity. Even this is better than unfriendly rivreligious circles dominated almost every situation. alry and un-Christian competition, but it by no Consequently there was a rivalry for place, pres- means exhausts the meaning of comity. There is tige, power. The rivalry was not always friendly. a positive aspect which involves not merely keep- The Kingdom of God suffered violence and the ing out of each others' way, but also means muviolent took it by force. There was a regular tual support and aid. Comity involves the idea stampede to occupy territory first, to erect the of the "big brother" on the part of denominations. most handsome, most costly edifice, and to secure Thus when a given field is allocated to a denomthe largest possible membership. Proselytism was ination the other denominations should say not practiced beyond measure and the church that had merely "Go to it-God bless you," but they should the pull and had the preacher and had the purse, come forward with their treasures, their money, got the lion's share and the others had to take the their members and pour the same into the allohindmost. Many a poor, discouraged minister had cated field so that the denomination that has asto be satisfied with the gleanings in the corners sumed responsibility for it can meet the situation of the field which had been neglected by the har- adequately. This can be done far more readily in vesters who reaped the full harvest. And all this new than in old communities. In new communitime the established Church in the East kept pour- ties local loyalties and traditions have not yet had ing money into these "mission fields" which were time to take root and develop as is the case in old largely competition centers. and well-established communities.
The wastefulness, the extravagance, the sinful- Certainly such principles of comity could be ness of this sort of ruthless rivalry in due time readily worked out among foreign-speaking comlaid hold upon the consciousness and conscience munities. Already much progress is being made of missionary leaders. They saw what a violation along many lines. I name only a few. There is this was of the spirit of the Christ whom they the matter of Religious Work Directors in Govprofessed to serve. And they said among them- ernment Indian schools. There is the work among selves, "This thing must stop!" There must be a the Mexicans, where nine denominations are cosubstitute for competition. There must be an end operating in work among Mexicans and Spanishto ecclesiastical rivalry. And happily they hit speaking Americans. There are the Summer upon the word cooperative, and declared that the Schools for rural ministers; there is the Chrishome mission advance must be along cooperative tian Approach to the Jews; there are definite lines. They set up committees on Comity; they local projects such as at Radburn, New Jersey; advocated the organization of State and City Boulder City, Nevada; the Tennessee Valley Councils, and projected programs of united action. Project; the work in the West Indies, in Puerto This involved a change of the whole psychology Rico and Santo Domingo. There have been set up of the churches but this cannot be effected over Denominational Community Churches, Federnight. Prejudices and policies are too deep seated ated Churches, Undenominational Community to be immediately supplanted by something else. Churches and Affiliated Churches. It is evident A long process of education is required to change that the home mission forces are on the advance people's mental and moral attitudes. Today no in Comity and Cooperation. one can question the rising tide of interest in comity and cooperation throughout the Protestant 3. The old home mission work centered its ef- Church. This growing interest proceeds in part forts almost exclusively upon individuals. The from practical considerations. Our Home Mis- work of making Americans Christians has been sion and Church extension agencies are financially only a partial success, as statistics sadly reveal. embarrassed and sheer necessity is compelling Out of 125,000,000 people, at least 70,000,000 rethem to pool their forces and resources with main outside of any organized institutions of reothers if the task is to be completed. This interest ligion. The National Home Missions Congress in springs also from spiritual considerations. Minor Washington, 1930, stated the task of home misissues which divide us are being put into the back- sions as involving "the winning of men and women ground and major issues which unite us are thrust to discipleship of Jesus Christ and to unite them into the foreground. The clearer vision of the with other disciples in the fellowship of the Chrismeaning, and the mission of the Church is serv- tian Church." ing as a great unifying and cooperative impetus among all right thinking people. This is only one phase of the task. The Con- gress went on to say that the task is also "to bring But comity has both a negative and a positive the Christian impulse to bear upon the broad, aspect. Negatively, it means not interfering with social and civic questions of our day." In other the plans of my Christian neighbor. It is the easy, words the new cooperative advance includes em- "let alone" policy in the field of denominational phasis on the social application of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the christianization of all of life as
NEW COOPERATIVE ADVANCE AT HOME
well as of every life. It insists that all relation- and unified promotion of all the interests of the ships of life must be brought under the dominant Church. control of Christ. Here we face a task of tremendous proportions. This is a real job and the 2. An Advance in Promotion. This involves: task remains unfinished until every area of life (1) The bringing to the Protestant Church of is thoroughly christianized. Horrie missions today America a new vision of its entire task. (2) A is as nect!ssary and its opportunity is as great as thorough coordination of all the agencies of the ever in the history of our nation. The enterprise Church in an inclusive program in order that their somehow must recover its ancient passion and essential unity may be adequately expressed. (3) power. To the Church there must be restored a Not only to express this essential unity but at the sense of urgency and obligation in christianizing same time to contribute to the efficiency, the econ- America. But this task must be done not in the omy and the goodwill of the total task. haphazard, helter skelter fashion of pioneer and frontier days, but along well planned and defi- In the language of Dr. Henry W. A. Hanson, nitely constructive ways. The program must be President of Gettysburg College and Chairman of along educational and inspirational lines, based the Special Committee on Review and Forecast: upon sound ethical principles involving construc- "If Christianity is to make an impress of any contive methods of comity and cooperation. sequence, it will be done by a cooperating Church. The time has come for suspicions and misunder- The Home Missions Council and the Council of standings, based largely on superficial differences, Women for Home Missions have planned this co- to be put into the background. The great task of operative advance along two fronts: putting Jesus Christ into the life of our age will be achieved only by a cooperating Christian 1. An Advance in Program. (1) This involves Church. Will the Church be equal to the opporan adequate occupancy of every community with tunity of the present hour? If we fail in this the Christian ministry. (2) The avoidance as far as possible of all duplication of effort and of com- hour, the opportunity will be gone and we shall petition. (3) The setting up over the whole field of interdenominational organizations, in regions, stand condemned as unprofitable servants who states and cities, for the purpose of church planning, comity adjustments, cooperative activities have failed in a great crisis."
In the language of Dr. E. Stanley Jones: "We cannot go further unless we go deeper."
Satisfied I do not ask that I may see all of the road But if my groping hand can find Thee close beside My feet must press from day to day. Me, when the darkness closes round; I do not pray that all the burden of my load, If o'er my heart Thy love flows like a tender tide From off my heart be dropped away. When heavy burdens press me down; I do not wish that all the stones that bruise my If I can feel Thine arm about me when I fall feet Because the path is rough and steep; Be flung from off the path I climb. If I can lift my tear-stained face at Thy sweet I do not want the sorrows that my soul must meet, call Changed to some ecstasy sublime. When torn by pain and sorrow deep.
Then will the wounds I bear more precious be than gold, Or any treasure I can gain.
Then sudden shock or conflict fierce will find me bold To stand for Thee, nor heed the pain.
Then with Thy tenderness my brother's head I'll raise, And walk his faltering steps beside; Rejoicing in Thy love and at Thy smile of praise. And .0-1 shall be satisfied. -Don C. Carver, in The Christian Intelligencer.
a Kurd Becomes a
The Remarkable Story of a Moslem Mullah of Kurdistan -~I J; ;I ;;;;;;PI;;;;;;E"""RS_O;;;;;;N=====!.III~ ====B"""Y"""D"""E"""L;;;;;;A;;;;;;V;;;;;;AN=;;;;;;L;;;;;;.
ISLAM is proverbially the impregnable rock or religious dignitaries, and his father, Mullah which defies the advance of Christian mis- Rassul, was a distinguished Moslem theologian. sions. Raymond Lull, the early apostle to Mos- The boy was brilliant in mind and devout in spirit. lems, declared that he would die content if he At six years of age he could read the Koran and could see one follower of Mohammed truly con- soon mastered the Persian classics and Moslem verted to the Christian faith. Of all Moslems theology. When he was thirteen his father died there are probably none more fanatical and bit- and Sa'eed, a student of Moslem law and theology, terly antagonistic to Christianity than the Kurds became a teacher in the mosque school. He ad- of Kurdistan. These people are hardy mountain- vanced rapidly in religious and literary circles, eers, living in the territory of western Asia, a was considered a brilliant theologian, a master of t~rtitory extending from Lake Van and Mount Persian literature and a pious worshipper in the Arttrat to Kermanshah in Persia. They are fierce mosque. He was initiated into the mystic and fighters and many are brigands. Dr. Isaac Yonan powerful Naksh-Bandi order of the Sunni sect of'/(jrumia calls them generally "illiterate, crafty, and was looked upon as the rising star of Senneh.
wild, fanatically religious, warlike, lazy, treacher- While he was still in his teens people came from ous, cruel, hospitable, independent and remorse- far and near to ask him to write prayers, to be less robbers ….. To a Kurd a rifle of any new sewn in their clothes or hung in their houses, to European model is worth more than a wife, and ward off sickness and misfortune.
a good horse is worth more than a wife and two While Sa'eed was still in his early teens, he first concubines!' These people are all blindly fanat- came into contact with Christianity. Two of his ical members of the Sunni sect-those who strict- private pupils were sons of a Roman Catholic ly follow Moslem tradition. merchant and in their family he saw the use of Can one of such a race, and with such inborn strong drink which is very obnoxious to orthodox prejudices and wild ways of life, be persuaded to Moslems. A copy of the New Testament in Per- forsake his people and religion and become a true sian came into his hands through a student but follower of Jesus Christ? It is certainly impos- he could not understand it and a Catholic priest sible through any message or philosophy'recom- whom he ·consulted could not explain passages mended in the Laymen's Missionary report. that puzzled him. So he cast the book away in But that such a transformation is possible disgust. Image and picture worship, both ana- through the Gospel of Jesus Christ, is clearly thema to Moslems, which he saw in Catholic homes proved in the story of Sa'eed the Kurd, of SennElh' .a.nd.:cliurches, jed~himto believe that all Chris- who became Sa'eed, Khan, the Beloved Physician tians were idolaters and gewors (heathen). He of Teheran. His experience is one of the most gave thanks that he was a Moslem and determined remarkable and thrilling in the annals of mission- to do all in his power to bring infidel Christians ary history. The man is today an answerable to the true worship of.Allah as revealed in the argument for the power of Christ and the worth- Koran. .'~ whileness of Christian missions.* Thus he became~till more studious and devout Sa'eed was born seventy years ago in Sen- in his observance' of all the requirements of his neh, a city of some 60,000 inhabitants, with the Islamic faith. – reputation for being the most fanatical in Eastern At about this time an Assyrian Protestant Kurdistan. It has more mosques than any other Christian, Kasha Yohannan (Pastor John) of city of its size. Sa'eed came of a line of mullahs, Urumia came to Senneh, sent by the American –;-;rhls remarkable life-story is told In "The Belo·ved Physician of missionaries as an evangelist. He inquired for bTuerhyeraPnr,e"ssb, yNDasrh. vIisllaea,c TYenonneasnseoef. Pe$r1s.i0a0.. Published by the C<>kes- some one to teach him Persian and was referred [24 ] DR. SA'EED KHAN, THE CHRIST'I'&N KURD, AND HIS SONS to Mullah Mohammed Sa'eed as he was then called. controversy was an eye-opener for Sa'eed and Finally an agreement was reached whereby the created in him a genuine admiration for his mullah would teach the pastor Persian in ex- Christian teacher. change for lessons in Syriac. They used the Psalms and the Gospels in Persian and Syriac as At this time the elder brother, Kaka, the head a basis for their study. At first Sa'eed would not of the family, became disturbed over the growing give a "Salaam" (peace be on you) on entering friendship, and forbade Sa'eed to continue assothe house of this unbeliever so he deceived him by ciating with the gewor. But when the young man saying "Sahham" (may the sword come upon explained that his purpose was to expose the unyou). While the Prophet Mohammed indorsed tenable position of Christians and to lead them to both the Old and New Testament, Moslem tradi- the true faith, Kaka was persuaded to withdraw tion teaches that the Bible of the Christians is a his prohibition. The brilliant youth continued to hopelessly corrupted form of the original text. visit and argue with the older pastor who dis- Pastor John's prayers were not formal but sin- cussed with him patiently the relative merits of cere and included confession of sin and petitions Islam and Christianity, comparing the Bible and for friends and enemies alike-something abso- the Koran, Jesus and Mohammed. Sa'eed began lutely foreign to Islam. The pastor was a man to see that the Pastor understood the Bible and of tact and loving spirit. He did not criticize also the Koran. They read together the Sermon Mohammed or the Koran but lived a Christian on the Mount and the Gospel of John, one prelife before his pupil-teacher and so won his con- senting the social principles of Christianity and fidence and respect. the other presenting the evidence of the deity of Jesus. The Psalms and Isaiah brought to light Christian work among Moslems being pre- the Old Testament prophecies of the Messiah-all scribed in Senneh, Pastor John started his mis- points of controversy between Moslems and Chrissionary work among the Jews. One day a group tians. Sa'eed's interest deepened from day to day. of young Jews challenged him to prove that Jesus He compared the prophecies, the birth and life was the promised Messiah of the Old Testament. and death of Jesus with the history of Moham- Sa'eed happened to be present and, as a neutral, med. The explanations of Sheik Imam J umeh was asked to act as judge. Later Sa'eed wrote: were not satisfactory, while those of Pastor John "Pastor John, throughout the discussion that last- showed knowledge and honest reasonableness. ed three hours, impressed me with his unpreju- Sa'eed had been taught that Old Testament prophdiced honesty and remarkable knowledge of the ecies referred to Mohammed not to Christ but Old Testament. I often had to rebuke the Jews as he read the forty-second chapter of Isaiah and for their stupidity and hardness of heart." This other passages he could not fit them into the his-
tory of the prophet of Mecca. The one was the Finally Christ conquered. Sa'eed says, "In the embodiment of love and purity and peace; the twinkling of an eye the raging sea was hushed, other was the prophet of the law, of compromise and peace flooded my soul. I could not have ex- with the flesh and an advocate of war. Sa'eed plained why I loved Jeesus but I was simply began to study Hebrew so that he might find out charmed." It had taken two years to reach this if the Old Testament had ,been accurately trans- decision and Sa'eed had counted the cost. He knew lated. Later he said: that apostasy was looked up'on among his people "The things that impressed me most and caused as a crime worthy of death.. ,' His bigoted brother the light to come into my soul were the beautiful and uncles and the whole clan would be enraged life of Pastor John, his truthfulness, his wisdom at the thought of one of their number-a mullah- and knowledge of the Scriptures. As I compared becoming a renegade. It was a gigantic battle this with my own life and the lives of great Mos- for a youth of eighteen, but he felt convinced that lem ecclesiastics I said: 'Surely there must be in God was with him. Soon after this Pastor John Christianity something more sweet and powerful was obliged to.1eave Sennah but before leaving he than there is in Islam.' ….. One day I asked the baptized Sa'eed behind closed doors.
pastor plainly: 'What do Christians think of Mo- For some time the young convert continued to hammed?' He hesitated and then said, 'Jesus said teach in the mosque and to perform his duties as that false prophets would come after Him. The a muezzin five times a day. Then one day, as he life and character of Mohammed are such that read the words of Christ, "Ye cannot serve two we do not think he is a worthy prophet to repre- masters," he seemed to hear a voice saying to sent the Holy God.''' him: "Sa'eed, you are trying to serve two mas- But Sa'eed was not ready to yield. He was ters. You do not believe in what you testify in angry and returned Pastor John's Bible, ceased the muezzin call that 'Mohammed is the apostle his visits for a time and devoted himself more of God.''' That evening he compromised and in than ever to the Koran, to his religious duties, to place of calling out, "ashad-inna" (I testify) he his religious teaching and to his work as a muez- used the words "astakh-/er-Allah" (God forbid) zin (giving the daily calls to prayer). But he that Mohammed is the apostle of God. But this could not escape from Christ. One day the thought did not long satisfy his sense of loyalty to his came to him: "What, after all, if Mohammed was Master. One day when he was sitting in a vine- an imposter?" The shock was so terrific that yard, reading the story of the crucifixion and men- Sa'eed began to buffet himself saying, "0, cursed tally picturing Christ's death on the cross for him, fellow. Satan has got hold of your heart." He he had a desire to celebrate the communion.
sought cleansing and peace by ablutions and Opening his handkerchief he took out the bread prayers, but in vain. He was in agony and con- for his luncheon squeezed grapes into the palm tinually sleepless. One night he jumped up de- of his hand and partook of them in memory of termined to atone for his blasphemy against his Christ. "The vineyard became a temple and the prophet. He branded his legs with live coals, common meal a sacrament." New strength came making two deep scars to remind him that he was into his soul and he decided that he must deny a Moslem and that he must never again converse himself, take up his cross and follow Christ. That on religion with a gewor. night there was no muezzin call from the minaret.
Still peace did not come to the soul of Sa'eed. His kinsfolk noted the silence of Sa'eed's voice As the scars on his legs healed the burning in his and feared that he might be ill. When the young heart grew more unbearable. The. more he studied and taught the Koran, the more he discovered its man came home he found members of the clan errors. One night, as he returned from the mosque gathered and he handed his brother a letter which he stumbled and fell. Lifting up his voice he read: cried out, "0 God, make plain to me the right way and I will follow it. Otherwise I will go insane." In the nu'/11./l of one only God My Brother: The dangers to my life grow greater day by day. I am a Christian and confess it to you openly. If you will murder your brother my life is in your hands. I cannot escape-yet death will be gain to me. If you In an instant he says, "I felt lifted up and made spare my life, I will be thankful and will serve you as up my mind as to what I should do." much as I can. My wish is to leave here so that you Again he began to visit Pastor John and spent may be in peace. Your brother, Sa'eed. hours each day in study of the Bible, memorizing the Sermon on the Mount. He was particularly A bomb exploded in the midst of the company impressed by the book of Isaiah, the Gospel of could not have created greater consternation.
John, some of the Psalms, and the narrative of Women pulled their hair, beat their breasts and the suffering, death and resurrection of Christ. the men shouted "Ka/ir" (blasphemy). Kaka, his At the same time he studied and compared the brother, laid his hand on his dagger with the im- Koran and the Moslem commentaries. . pulse to slay the renegade who had become an
WHEN A KURD BECOMES A CHRISTIAN
infidel. The uncles urged delay and suggested that was called to their homes all over the city, night Sa'eed was deranged and that he be given an op- and day. Later he visited England to perfect portunity to recant. That night while the family himself in surgery and in the treatment of eye, were asleep on the roof the young man left his nose and throat. When he returned to Hamadan home determined to flee to Hamadan and there he specialized in eye surgery and word of his won- take refuge with the missionaries. He was over- derful kindness and skill spread to every part of taken and beaten. When his brother threatened Persia.
to kill him Sa'eed calmly said, "My brother, do During an insurrection he was called upon to not kill me-not for my sake but for your own." accompany the army of Ain-Douleh, son-in-law The Moslem's rage subsided before the gentleness to the Shah, to minister to the soldiers. In this of the Christian; the spirit of Christ was vic- campaign his private tent was next to that of the torious over the sword of Mohammed. As the general on whom his humble Christian life and brothers returned home Sa'eed began to tell his unselfish service made a deep impression. In rec- brother why he had determined to follow Christ ognition of his services, Sa'eed was given a yearly but Kaka only cursed him for his blasphemy. allowance for life and the honorary title of Khan.
Murderous threats followed from the fanatical He became for a time private physician to Ain- uncles. Again at night Sa'eed fled and again he Douleh with whom he had many private conversa- was followed and brought back but the third time, tions on spiritual themes. When one of the favor- by avoiding the highways and traveling at night, ite wives of the Shah, Muzaffar-AI-Din, was taken he reached Hamadan weary and famished. Here ill Dr. Sa'eed Khan was chosen, instead of any of Dr. Alexander, the Presbyterian mission surgeon, the foreign doctors, to perform the operation. He gave him food and shelter and after hearing his prayed earnestly to God for strength and the oper- story put him to work at the menial task of ation was successful. Thus Dr. Sa'eed Khan, the stable boy. persecuted and despised apostate Moslem, one- Now began a new period of Sa'eed's life. As time stable-boy in the American Mission, became the young man thought of his Master born in a one of the high dignitaries of the Persian Capital, manger, the stable became a sanctuary where he in great favor at the Shah's court.
could read his Bible and worship God without At one time he was called to the bedside of an fear. His family gave him up for lost but as the influential Moslem ecclesiastic who had been bit- news of his apostasy spread, all Kurdestan was ter in his hatred for the apostate doctor. The case stirred with rage; bazaars hummed with gossip was discovered to be beyond the help of medicine and decrees were issued by leading sheikhs sanc- or surgery. This was explained to the patient and tioning his murder. Dr. Sa'eed asked his consent to carry the case in Another Assyrian Christian from Urumia, Pas- prayer to the Great Physician. Now Sa'eed the tor Simon, who was living in Hamadan, soon dis- doctor became Sa'eed the intercessor. Taking the covered in Sa'eed a true Christian and a scholar cold hand of the mullah he kneeled down by the whose talents and training were too valuable to bedside and prayed, be devoted to caring for horses. He engaged the "0, blessed Jesus, our only hope for the recov- young man as a teacher of Persian language and ery of this Thy sinful creature is in Thee alone.
literature, while in his spare time Sa'eed studied Thy power and mercy are without limit. If it be English and medicine under Dr. Alexander. Be- according to Thy Holy will, wilt thou restore him fore long Kaka came to visit Hamadan, in search to health again."
of his brother, and was so impressed by his joy As he prayed, the tears rolled slown his cheeks. and beauty of character that he too became a The effect was startling-his courage, his sym- Christian. pathy, his honesty and his sincerity made a deep The Christian Doc.tor impression. The patient recovered and became the After a period of preparation Sa'eed became an life-long friend of the doctor.
assistant in the mission hospital and seven years But while friends increased, his enemies were later began his own medical practice. He also still many and bitter. At one time he desired to gave public adresses in Christianity to patients visit Urumia to see his wife's relatives and to meet and students. On all his visits to patients, both again his old friend and spiritual father, Pastor rich and poor, he carried his Bible and never John. His road led through Kurdestan which was missed an opportunity to speak to them of sin, its in turmoil on account of an effort to rescue a girl consequences and its cure and of the Great Physi- who had been taken by force into the harem of a cian of souls. Thus, in a remarkable way, he ef- Kurdish chief. The roads were unsafe and Dr.
fectively combined ministry to the physical and Sa'eed was urged not to pass through Kurdestan, spiritual needs of his patients. His fame spread the stronghold of his enemies who had sworn to so that hundreds crowded his dispensary and he kill him. After prayer, however, he decided to
trust in God's protection and to take the journey. begged to be excused from this liberal hospitality He went through the hostile country, ministering and settled at the home of Shamasha Shumel everywhere to the sick and giving medicines to all (Deacon Samuel), who was the native missionary in need. His courage, courtesy, kindness and from V rumia. An hour later a secretary of the skill disarmed the hostile Kurds and they became Governor appeared with four or five servants his friends. bringing a few cones of sugar, a quantity of tea, But Dr. Sa'eed's heart still yearned to help his some candy, and two young lambs for our supper, own people in Senneh, who were still bitter in as well as a letter of invitation to dine with the their hatred of the apostate who had disgraced Governor the next day. Our visit with the Gov- the family name. Since he himself could not re- ernor was most pleasant. He embraced Dr. Sa'eed turn home, he finally persuaded Dr. Jesse Yonan, very cordially for the two had become acquainted an Assyrian physician who had studied in Amer- when Zafar VI Mulk was Governor-General in ica, to go to Senneh to serve his people as a Chris- Hamadan. After dinner we met several of the tian physician. Dr. Sa'eed accompanied his sub- high dignitaries who all knew Dr. Sa'eed by repu- stitute for some distance on the journey. On the tation, as an apostate from Islam.
way they met a noted brigand who came to consult Many of the mullahs were anxious to meet Dr.
the doctor on prevalent diseases and their treat- Sa'eed for a religious controversy, and they ment. Learning something of the doctor's fluency crowded into the large living room at Shamasha in speaking and writing in Turkish, Kurdish, Shumel's. The doctor met their questions with Arabic, Syriac, Persian, and English, the chieftain such clear, uncompromising statements that Jesus asked him to write something that he could keep. is the only Saviour and gave such evidence of his In response the doctor wrote John 3: 16 and superior knowledge of the Koran and his ac- signed his name. The brigand was astonished to quaintance with the Bible that the audience was find that the name was Kurdish and when the greatly impressed. Instead of challenging him, doctor confessed that he was a Christian a change as had been their intention, they were spellbound came over the visitor and he said: "It is a pity under his earnest exposition of the Bible. After I have accepted your hospitality so that I cannot listening for more than an hour these men were kill you." Without another word he withdrew. changed from enemies to friends. Two "men"
At another time the doctor was waylaid by from Senneh who had vowed to kill him, ap- brigands but when they found that he was a physi- proached Dr. Sa'eed. They had been boyhood cian they only asked about the treatment of cer- classmates in Senneh and everyone expected them tain diseases, received a supply of quinine and to attack him; but as soon as they neared the boric acid and then sent a guard to accompany the doctor they embraced him most affectionately. The "Honorable Doctor" to his next stopping place. occasion was very solemn and made a profound Dr. Yonan, his companion, writes: impression upon all those present and the would- "Monday morning, before starting out, we were be murderers departed with love in their hearts.
warned by the Rev. Benjamin Labaree, not to go When Dr. Sa'eed and Dr. Yonan left Souj- through Souj-Boologh, because he was informed Boologh more than one hundred and fifty people, that two men from Senneh had come to Souj- most of them Kurds, from all walks of life, came Boologh and were waiting there to meet and kill to see them off and the two men, who had come Dr. Sa'eed. We hesitated and then the doctor with murder in their hearts, wer·e the last to say said: 'All of yesterday and today we have been good bye. No miracle could have been greater preaching to the people about the presence of God than the change from assassins to kind, and brothand about His p~otecting power; now we are dis- erly friends.
playing our own lack of faith in that power.' We Some twenty years ago Dr. Sa'eed received a decided at once to take the route through Souj- very urgent appeal to come to the help of a Kurd- Boologh and started out much encouraged. The ish sultan (or great chief) who lived at Awraman, city of Souj-Boologh is the seat of the govern- eight days' journey on horseback from Hamadan.
ment and is situAted on a mountain slope. The The danger was great and the Doctor's friends Governor's palace was in a most commanding strongly opposed his· risking his life among wild position, from which the Governor could observe, and fanatic Kurds many of whom were brigands with his field glasses the movements of the travel- and one of wbose sheikhs had issued a "decree of ers on the main road leading to the city. He evi- sanction" to murder Sa'eed as an apostate from dently saw our caravan long before our arrival Islam. The Kurdish sultan sent an armed escort for we were met by a deputation sent to inform and promised to be responsible for the Doctor's us that the Governor was greatly pleased to know safe return home, so after laying the matter be- of the presence of Dr. Sa'eed, Khan, and desired fore God in prayer, Dr. Sa'eed felt it was his duty us to be his guests at the mansion. Politely we to go. He reached Awraman safely, performed
the operation that successfully restored the sul- Dr. Sa'eed was teaching his regular Bible in his tan's eyesight and ministered to many other pa- home in Teheran, a man entered with a few of tients. The hostile sheikh, realizing that he could his followers. It was Mahmood Khan Sanni, the not kill the doctor while he was under the sultan's notorious Kurdish brigand. He had been capprotection, endeavored to win him back to Islam tured by Government troops and brought to Teby sending a large delegation of the mystical heran as a hostage. Now, conscience-stricken, he Naksh-Bandi, the society to which Sa'eed had fell on his knees and kissed the hem of the docformerly belonged. The doctor describes the tor's robe. Then he sat down and heard the good scene as follows: physician expound the passage from Romans 5: 8-10, "While we were yet sinners, Christ died for The court was packed as I entered and the sheikh wel- us." "If, when we were yet enemies we were comed me in the name of all, and showed me a place to reconciled to God by the death of His Son, much sit by his side. After a~ exchange of formal greetings, more, being reconciled we shall be saved by His everything became very quiet. As I looked around the life." audience, what a sight! Every eye was fixed on me. I could see blood and hatred, violence and vengeance, in At the close of the Bible study, the former brigthose serious and gloomy faces. A feeling of anxiety for and made a humble confession, and received a a moment depressed me and I prayed in my heart, "0 Bible and religious tracts. Since then the peni- God, I am in a lions' den. Be as close to thy servant as tent sinner has been a frequent visitor in the home thou wast to thy servant Daniel." of the doctor and he and his men have received hundreds of dollars worth of medicines and treat- At a sign from the sheikh all the audience at ment free of charge from the one whom he once once began to sing and chant, at first in moderate tried to kill. Once more Christ-like love has and subdued tones, then slowly growing louder proved itself more than conqueror over hatred and wilder. When they were well warmed up, and murder. reason gave way to emotional excitement; they beat their uncovered breasts and faces, shouting The captain of the sultan's band that escorted and howling like madmen. Their mouths were Dr. Sa'eed on his perilous journey was a devout foaming, but they still repeated the word "Allah" Moslem and a descendant of the prophet. On the until they had lost their voices. When they had journey he saw Christ and the Christian religion reached a high pitch of excitement, slowly they so clearly exemplified in the Doctor's life and in began to lapse into a state of hypnotic insensibil- his testimony from the Word of God, that he too ity. Dr. Sa'eed wrote: later confessed Christ as his Saviour and Lord. He visited Hamadan to learn more of Christ and took The sheikh had arranged this performance with the back with him Bibles in Persian and Arabic and idea of warming my cold heart, and to make me return tracts to distribute among his people. to the true faith. But as I listened and observed, how my soul bowed before Him, the Son of God who had sev- Can Moslems be converted? Can a fanatical ered my chains and had set me free from this wild slavery. Kurd become a Christian? Is Christ greater than Tears came to my eyes and I had difficulty in keeping Mohammed? Is the Word of God more powerful them back lest they should fall at the wrong time and than the sword of Islam? Who can doubt it after carry a wrong impression. Did not my soul tell him, reading the history of Dr. Sa'eed, Khan, the Be- "I have more understanding than all my teachers: for loved Physician of Teheran? He is now over thy testimonies are my meditation. I understand more seventy years of age and has been a Christian than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts?" (Psalm for over half a century. He has grown daily in 119: 99, 100.) Christian experience, has reflected Christ in his daily life and in his medical service. Without During the performance, which lasted over two slighting the requirements of his medical prohours, the doctor was a quiet listener and ob- fession he has been a true evangelist. He has server. When the meeting was over, he expressed been a constant student and teacher of the Bible, his thanks and returned to the sultan's house. and his faith and COlll"ag-e and love have never failed. Thousands of Kurds, Persians, Jews, The sheikh, seeing that his "spiritual perform- Turks, Assyrians, Armenians and others of all ance" had accomplished no result, wrote and stations and conditions-high and low, rich and asked for another private interview but the doc- poor, learned and ignorant-rise up to call him tor wrote him a letter, quoting verses from the blessed. Can anyone estimate the result at home Koran and traditions, and concluded by inviting and in the mission fields if ('very Christian would him to become a Christian. so reveal the spirit and power of Christ in char- acter and dailv jifp? What Jesus Christ can do The hostile sheikh, defeated in his purpose, for a converted Kurd, He can do for men and hired a notorious brigand, Khan Sanni, an enemy women of any other race or nation. of the sultan, to waylay the doctor and kill him on the road at night. This plot was discovered and the sultan sent the doctor and his escort by another road. After the brigands had waited in ambush for five days, they returned "like whipped dogs" to report their failure.
Fifteen years later one Sunday afternoon, when
Eben E
.If Devoted Friend of Missions and Missionaries _~I.L.._=R=E=V==.=AS_AnM_AU=EppL_rM_e._ZCiW_aEtM_iEoR_,n_D_b.yD=.t,hP_rei=n=c=et=o=n=,;N;;.!]J.il~~._ W HEN Kate Van Santvoord Olcott, of New ficial benevolence were all to one end, the advance- York City, fell asleep on Thanksgiving ment of the Kingdom of God. Day, November 29, in her eightieth year, Since 1901, Mrs. Olcott was a faithful member the missionary enterprise lost one of its most un- of the Woman's Board of Foreign Missions of the selfish, most loyal, most devoted friends. The Reformed Church in America. She became corworld's needs were always on her heart. Her responding secretary for Arabia the same year practical love and intelligent sympathy stretched and continued in that work until 1930. For all across all frontiers. An those years she carried on earnest Christian from her her heart the burdert of the earliest youth, she walked pioneer work in Arabia (at with God for eighty long that time a land of neglect years. To all who knew her, and darkness, of fanatic opher well-ordered life was a position and hope deferred) constant example of the with the intimacy and tender beauty of holiness and the solicitude of a mother. She calm of a life centered in was friend and counsellor, and source of spiritual en- God. couragement to each worker, U ntH the very day of her always eager to give prac- tical help where opportunity departure, Mrs. Olcott was arose. Every member of the about the King's business. Arabian Mission thinks of Like Moses, faithful in all her with deep affection and her house, she wist not that loyal devotion. To all memher face shone with a light bers of the Mission she was never seen on sea or land. an example of Christian self- At the funeral service held in the Collegiate Church of St. Nicholas no one in the lessness and faithful stew- great gat her i ng of her ardship.
friends needed a reminder When Mrs. Olcott retired that the two hymns rendered KATE VAN SANTVOORD OLCOTT from her secretaryship she by the soloist were an inter- wrote a tribute to the unflag- pretation of her life. Her "walk was close with ging zeal of the women of the Mission with whom God, calm and serene her frame." And Whittier's she had had "the high privilege of close associa- poem on the life "without strain or stress"-like tion for nearly thirty years."
that of the Master's by Lake Galilee-seemed a A nobler band of consecrated Christian women never full-length portrait of her who had fallen asleep. lived, and they have held on in the midst of great discour- Indeed her daughter found her early in the morn- agement-in "persecution often," in sickness, in separaing with the latest issue of the MISSIONARY RE- tion from loved ones and even unto death! VIEW OF THE WORLD turned open at Dr. Latourette's article, "The Evangelization of the World in Great will be their reward in heaven, and even now they are reaping a faint measure of it in the high esteem in which they are held by those among whom they are work- This Generation." It was the last thing she read. ing. Their homes have been veritable Light Houses amidst No student volunteer ever lived out the spirit of the gross darkness of Islam, and their family lives have the watchword more faithfully than Mrs. Olcott. shone out in contrast to those about them!
Her study of the Scriptures, her prayer-life, her "As his part is that goeth down to the battle, so reading, her talents of administration and counsel, shall his share be that tarryeth by the baggage; her indefatigable correspondence, and her sacri- they shall share alike." This is true of all who [SO]
MISSIONARY DOGS AND AIRPLANES
work at home for the foreign field. But great was always eager to send out all the money in the David's Greater Son has a far better promise, ful- treasury to meet urgent needs on the field. Her filled in her life: "Give and it shall be given unto thoughtfulness for others and her self-forgetfulyou; good measure, pressed down and shaken to- ness included long waiting at the steamship piers gether and running over, shall men pour into to welcome returning missionaries or to bid fareyour bosom." well to those who sailed. Her generous hospi- tality was proverbial and genuine. She had a In 1905, on the occasion of the Jubilee of the spirit like Nathaniel in whom there was no guile. Arcot Mission in India, Mrs. Olcott visited the for- Loyal to her own Puritan principles, she was eign field. Not only Arabia, but India, China, and tolerant of those who differed from her and had Japan shared her personal interest. For many a mind open to receive new truth. The center and years she supported her own missionaries, con- goal of her life was Jesus Christ her Lord and tributed to the regular work of her denomination, Saviour. The Bible and the place of prayer were cared for the Jacob Chamberlain Memorial Band the secret of her strength and beauty of character of Evangelists in India, had her share in the es- -a river of influence that made glad the city of tablishment of the Woman's Union Medical Col- God. lege at Vellore, as well as in many other union enterprises and efforts at home and abroad. In Mrs. Olcott's words were few in mission gath- 1911, Mrs. Olcott was one of the delegates to the erings for she was ever modest and retiring, but Edinburgh Missionary Conference and was an en- when she opened her mouth to speak it was with thusiastic supporter of its findings. She was one wisdom, and her tongue was ruled by the law of the charter members of the American Christian of love. All who knew her rise up to call her Literature Society for Moslems and its efficient blessed, and her own works praise her in the gates. Treasurer until the day of her death. No treas- May God raise up many others who will follow in urer was ever more faithful in securing and ad- her footsteps and emulate her character and ministering funds. A generous giver herself, she service.
Missionary Dogs and Airplanes By BISHOP P. T. ROWE, Seattle, Washington Protestant Episcopal Bishop of Alaska W HEN I went to Alaska, in the spring of dogs I pioneered the great interior of Alaska and 1896, the white population was estimated made a journey of 2,000 miles each winter. There to be 2,000. The conditions were much as were no road houses to spend the night in. You they had been under the Russian Government. simply camped for the night in the snow, what- There were no roads and no trails. Having in- ever the temperature, and the temperature went spected the southern coast, which meant Wrangell, as low as 78° below zero at times. Juneau and Sitka, I headed for the interior and crossed the mountains via the Chilkoot Pass. In For thirty-four years my winters were spent in doing so I hauled my own sled. Dogs were not traveling with the dogs. In doing so I not only obtainable. When I reached the interior and traversed the inland of Alaska but reached the winter approached, I got dogs from the Indians. Arctic coast and began work among the Eskimos. These dogs were maImutes and of wolfish descent. I had to train them and while doing so trained The use of dogs and travel, such as I have demyself so that I could meet the severe cold and scribed, is still a demand in Alaska, though not to travel on snowshoes without going lame. the same extent. Having grown old in the service requiring dogs and snowshoes, it is a happy I had also to cook beans, then freeze them, so change to use airplanes and to look down on places that I would have food for months of travel. For where you had terribly hard sledging, and fly in the dogs I had dried fish. The dogs drew the sleds comfort over the same. The airplane in Alaska loaded with my food, sleeping robes, and the dried is a commercial boon. It is also a boon for people fish. It was not possible to ride on the sled as the who are seriously ill or have met with an accident. snow was deep and you had to "break trail" for The airplane has come. I welcome it, and, though the dogs. Were you to ride you had to dress in I did much work by and through the dogs, I am furs, unsuitable for snowshoeing. So with the glad to take the airplane in their place. Effective Ways of Working I 'Tested Methods for Increasing Interest at Home EDITED BY MRS. ESTELLA S. AITCHISON, GRANVILLE, OHIO ~'=I= = = = = = = = = = = =_________'I~ NEW WAYS FOR NINE- sionary activity and study, after meeting to which the missionary careful survey of Sunday school, .. committee, all officers and chair- TEEN THIRTY-FIVE young people's work, etc. Is the men of standing committees, A New Year's greeting to pas- work coordinated or haphazard, Sunday school teachers, etc., are tors and church leaders 1 What advance are you planning over each department on its own?) personally invited, and formuthe means and methods of last 3. Report from the Lookout at late a plan to gear every departyear? Is your church thoroughly aroused, informed and geared the Mast Head; or a Bird's-eye ment of church activity into a for missions? Don't rest back View of What Other Churches comprehensive missionary proupon an active group of women (bless them 1) plus two mission- Are Doing. (Cast your eye over gram. For such an endeavor, ary sermons a year to qualify you under the Great Commis- the Methods Department of THE read carefully the articles on sion and the Crying Need. Start the New Year right by a mission- REVIEW for-say two years past "Plans for Pastors and Church ary "arousement" which will stimulate the life currents in -and give a summary of what Leaders," February, 1933, page every department of church activity. How about devoting an impress you as the best plans 99 in THE REVIEW; also "Plans especially advertised mid-week meeting – or maybe an all- for mission study, children's, for Fresh Beginnings," Septemchurch evening dinner-to some such program as the following, young people's, women's, men's ber, 1933, page 452, these arusing either the plain or the fanciful titles according to con- and Sunday school work; for the ticles indicating the ideal comditions, but remembering that a touch of fancy in the presenta- field has been carefully covered position and functioning of the tion of a theme creates relish and so receptivity? and only such plans as have been basic church missionary commit- tested in reliable use appear. If tee. Abundant suggestions for you have not kept your files of implementing details are scat- THE REVIEW, let this be a lesson tered all through the year.
to you: and if you are not al- ready a subscriber, send in your STEWARDSHIP DECLAMATION subscription at once, as you can- CONTESTS not afford to limit yourself to Mrs. Carter Wright, South- brief surveys of the copy in the wide Stewardship chairman for public library. Articles through- the Woman's Mission Union of out the magazine afford ready- the Southern Baptist Conven- to-hand material for activating tion, and Miss Juliette Mather, many of the plans.) its Young People's Secretary, "Go YE-INTO ALL THE WORLD" 4. The Importance of the Log have brought out plans and ac- Book; or the Prime Place of a 1. Sailing Orders; or the Live Missionary Magazine that tivating material for a series of Place of Missions in the Church Records Daily Progress in the contests which should go far to- Program-Occasional or Perma- Kingdom of God. (Exploit your ward training a generation of nent? (Not as an adjunct to the systematic and proportional givwork but the Church's supreme own denominational organ or endeavor without which it has organs, and THE REVIEW which ers. no justification for considering "Few projects," they say, itself more than a club or fra- gives a world-wide view afforded ternal organization. Missionary by no other missionary publica- "have grown in favor and popuendeavor constitutes a test of the tion. Plan for follow-up work in larity as rapidly as the Stewardreality of our professed faith the way of solicitation of sub- ship Declamation Con t est s, and loyalty, for the very heart of scriptions w hi I e interest is delighting both the young parthe Gospel is missionary. Mis- warm. If you wait to draw the ticipants and the admiring audisions now have a strategic op- net, you may lose many possi- ences attending the contests. portunity, for they must save bilities.) Everywhere people speak of the the world from the tragedy of value of the contest in teaching human selfishness which has al- 5. Setting the Sails to Cateh the Wind; or Seeking the Dy- tithing and developing a real most wrecked it.) namic. (Season of earnest prayer sense of stewardship. The decla- 2. Taking the Reckoning; or mations present stewardship of for the Spirit's motive power What Our Own Church Is Doing. and guidance.) tithes and offerings, that the (Accurate statement of all mis- emphasis be clearly given this At the earliest possible oppor- difficult phase of stewardship.
tunity after this service, hold a The W. M. U. understands that [32 ]
EFFECTIVE WAYS OF WORKING
stewardship includes more than American Life" appeared in part market or bake sale to which tithes and offerings, but in the in our September issue, sends each woman takes a basket of contest this is the theme." the following suggestions in the fruit, vegetables or other food capacity of her position as Mis- whose value equals her annual Sunbeam Band members (the sionary Education Secretary for dues and which, when sold, entiny tots) are asked to memorize Illinois under the Baptist wom- ables her to pay in full at the one of the two series' of Scrip- en's organizations. start. Call this a Dues sale. Use ture verses in a given leaflet, a Blessing Box, each person such as Gen. 1: 1; Psalm 24: 1; 1. Have each member of your young dropping in a penny whenever Job 41: 11; Psalm 50: 10; Hag- people's group read at least two books she has occasion to be thankful. gai 2: 8; Lev. 27: 30; Mal. 3: on the year's themes-Home and For- Or have roll call at each meet- 10, 11 and 2: 2; Lev. 26: 2, 12. eign. "Gold Mountain," by Payne; ing, members coming forward The second test is the Parable of "Lim Yik Choy," by Shepherd; "Ty- to pay, or answering to their the Rich Fool, as given in the phoon Days in Japan," by Spencer, names with "paid" or "unpaid"! twelfth chapter of Luke. and "Japan and Her People," by Hughes, are especially recommended. BUILDING THE NATION Junior organizations each se- BEAUTIFUL lect one of the talks furnished in 2. Present a play or pageant deala leaflet, memorizing and pre- ing with the themes, such as "The A Christian Americanization senting these at the contest, Color Line," "The Cross Triumphant," Pageant memory counting for 50%, enun- or original dramatizations from such ciation for 25%, posture for books as "A Daughter of the Samu- A summer survey of the new 10% and expression and inter- rai" and "A Daughter of the Narikin.' missionary literature revealed, pretation for 15%. among other things, that most 3. Present a debate on a topic ap- denominations are responding to Intermediate age groups select propriate to the year's themes, such the plea for more dramatizations and write upon a topic from a as: "Orientals in the United States as effective vehicles for both given list, some of which are: should have the same citizenship priv- information and inspiration. "Tithing Pays"; "Is the Money ileges as do other foreign-speaking Outstanding in artistry and im- Ours or God's?"; "Non-Tithers' residents"; "J a pan's geographical pressiveness is one arranged and Excuses Answered" ; "Obedi- limitations justify her expansion pol- directed by Mrs. T. J. Hopkins, ence the Master's Test." Essays icy." of Wayne, Pennsylvania, and as delivered are limited to five given at a Christian Americanminutes. 4. Have at least three meetings on ization meeting of the Woman's each of the themes, preferably basing American Baptist Home Mis- The Young Women's organi- them on current study books. Recom- sionary Society, at Washington, zations give original talks not mended for such use are "Out of the D. C. While couched in feminine. exceeding seven minutes in de- Far East" (Hunter) and "WorId terms in adaptation to its immelivery, based on such subjects Tides in the Far East" "Mathews). diate purpose, it is easily transas: "Owners-or Stewards"?; latable into the masculine or "My Partner's Portion"; "In Ac- 5. Have a creditable proportion of mixed terminology to be used in count with God" ; "Giving a Part your membership in a mission study a young people's group as well of Worship"; "The Tithe-God's class, in a school of missions if possi- as among their elders, and would Preventive of Covetousness." A ble. be very effective among pastors speaker exceeding the time lim- for· an evening service. The acit in delivery is penalized by a 6. Service activities: (a) A per- tion, costuming and staging are deduction of five from the sonal friendship with one or more so simple that groups of limited judges' final grade for each min- Oriental Americans; (b) A carefully resources would find it available ute's excess. All contestants are arranged visit to Chinatown; (c) A with a minimum of rehearsal. presented by number only until public program embracing all of your after the judges' decision is an- denominational agencies among Ori- The Master of Ceremonies nounced. entals in the U. S.; (d) A similar pro- states by way of introduction gram for Japan; (e) An international that Christian Americanization Awards (such as missionary forum with representatives or imper- work lends itself to the beautifybooks) are optional, but some sonations of Orientals, to discuss ing of the nation, for it is truly small token to each winner is "What are the next steps in interna- beautiful only as it is Christian. both stimulating and delightful. tional cooperation?" (f) A Japa- -A guest is expected. Here she The contests begin in the local nese festival; (g) Sending of desired comes now! church, progress through their supplies to a mission among Orientals. winners to the association, then Enter a woman called Mrs. the district and end in the state POLICY POINTERS FROM SUMMER Uncle Sam, or Mrs. U. S., competition. Is not this plan dressed in full red skirt with worth trying, either partially or CONFERENCES white stripes and close fitting in its entirety? waist of blue. Accompanying Programs are not the sole end her is a woman dressed as a PRACTICAL PROJECTS FOR and aim of our planning. The scribe and carrying a book made following excerpts from the of heavy 11×14 paper with the YOUNG PEOPLE Methodist women's meetings at Lakeside, Ohio, furnish policies Mrs. B. P. Heubner, whose in a nutshell: Begin the year outline study for "Orientals in with the sketch of a bare tree as a symbol of the local organiza- tion, and paste on a leaf for each new member. This year substi- tute cherry blossoms. Have a demonstration at the opening of the year to show what the mis- sionary dues and other contribu- tions do, using impersonations and dramatics. If commercial methods are unavoidable, hold a
American flag drawn on its cov- the Key Stones in the structure. next speaks to the Guest, hoping er. On the several pages are in- The Master Builder tells of the the purpose of Americanization work has been made clear and scribed in bold lettering the es- foundation in Jesus Christ (see mentioning the rare gifts of the sential points of the program, Isa. 28: 16 and Eph. 2: 20, 21) foreigners themselves: the Ital- and introduces several Ameri- ian love of music; the Armenian "Foundation," "Keystone," etc., canization workers to give brief with his steadfastness of purthese being displayed at the ap- pose; the Japanese-lover of propriate poi n t to reinforce talks on their work. children; the Chinese, devoted through eye-gate the coincident The Master of Ceremonies to the family; the Mexican with his gaiety; the Pole-strong of messages through ear-gate. The next describes the need for Mas- body and willing of spirit; the Master of Ceremonies introduces ter Craftsmen, and introduces Greek with his art, etc. A blend- Mrs. Uncle Sam saying she has one to speak on "Materials for ing of these gifts in the Chris- tianized foreigner will help crebeen invited to the gathering to the Superstructure" – stones ate the Nation Beautiful. record the essential points of the such as human life, men and work and then to carry back to women of varied gifts and a na- Mrs. United States then asks the women of the nation the idea tive love of the beautiful, "ma- permission to speak; and turn- terials of great price; folks with ing the pages of the great book of its worth and magnitude and one by one, she recapitulates the tell them the part it plays in souls as precious as our own, points made (which appear in building our "Nation Beautiful." bought with the blood of Christ." large lettering) and promises The guest responds suitably, She appeals to the Guest of the that this plea for Master Buildpromising to catch the spirit and evening to broadcast a plea for ers, Artisans, Master Craftsmen and Artists shall go from coast have the proceedings faithfully greater interest in the foreign to coast. She bids Godspeed to recorded in the book by her woman, a closer touch with her all the assembled group of mis- longings and needs with a view sionaries and volunteer workers scribe. The two latter are then to transforming her into choice and wishes them success. seated at a table on a platform slightly higher than that of the material for the Master Archi- Thanking the Honored Guest Master of Ceremonies. tect's use. for this promise, the Master of Ceremonies closes with the fol- Three stanzas of "America the The call for Craftsmen's Tools lowing poem and the singing of Beautiful" are then sung, after is next sounded by the Master of the last stanza of "America the which the Master of Ceremonies Beautiful" : makes the opening talk. She Ceremonies-the human materistates that the words just sung al (foreigners) becomes more To each one is given a marble to give inspiration to go out from carve for the wall: the meeting and engage in a beautiful after certain influences are brought to bear through the A stone that is needed to heighten Kingdom enterprise of nation- implements wielded by the Arti- the beauty of all: building; for making the nation sans, one of whom will now And only his soul has magic to give Christian is a vital part of the speak. it grace; 'missionary endeavor because it The Artisan tells of the use And only his hands have the cunning means Christ in the hearts of of the Book as the Rule, English to put it in place. men, women and children. Nehemiah of old, returning to re- lessons as the Mallet to drive Yes, the task that is given to each one build Jerusalem, set the people away ignorance and misunder- no other can do, at their tasks by groups made up standing, Friendliness as the of families, one building by the Level to straighten out the rough So the errand is waiting-it has wait- places for the foreign folk. ed through the ages for you. East Gate, another by the Fountain Gate and still another by One thing more is called for And now you appear: and the hushed the Sepulcher of David. We do by the Master of Ceremonies- ones are turning their gaze our missionary work by groups, Cement to hold all portions of the building together firmly- To see what you do with your chance one by the Good Citizenship and the speaker impersonating in the chamber of days. Gate, one by the White Cross Gate (hospital supplies, gar- this element makes a strong plea -Edwin MU1·khum. ments for the needy, etc.), an- for more Prayer to make the weak efforts of man into a USING SCREEN PICTURES other by the Literature Gate, mighty power and force. while Christian Americanization Harry S. Myers, of the Baptist workers build the portion by the "A building becomes beauti- Stereopticon Bureau, writes: Foreign Gate. The Master Architect-God Himself – supply- ful," says the Master of Cere- "The Religious Motion Picture monies, "through the skill of Foundation, 140 Nassau St., ing plans for the Nation Beauti- Artists who m a k e possible New York City, is an invaluable ful : under Him a Master aid in arousing interest in mis- Builder to carry out the plans. stained glass windows, frescoes, sions. The School of Missions in blended colors in tapestries and past years has been a consider- The first concern of the Master walls. Mrs. B-, who is one of able user of this material. The Builder, to have a secure founda- these Artists, will reveal the pos- missionary offering of 0 n e tion. Mrs. A- (Christian sibilities of music among our church was increased many Americanization superintend- times by its utilization." ent) will now give a glimpse of foreign friends." This Artist sings, "Come Ye Blessed of My Father." The Master of Ceremonies The Council of Women for Home Missions ANNE SEESHOLTZ, EXECUTIVE SECRETARY, 105 EAST TWENTY-SECOND STREET, NEW YORK ~=~==~===============~ EPIPHANY OR "REVELATION Church, Honolulu, the editor guese Evangelica, Mr. Talmage FESTIVAL" learned that churches, once be- longing to the foreign mission writes: -Chinese Christian. enterprise, have under the direc- tion of the Board of the Hawaii- In 1891 it was felt necessary to or- "They offered him gifts" an Evangelical Association ad- ganize work among the Portuguese of vanced into the cooperating, Honolulu. The Portuguese group, at "Praise the Eternal, 0 families of the coordinating stage of Christian that time, as now, was largely Roman nations fellowship. Catholic, but there were many children who were being entirely neglected by praise the Eternal for his glory and After many years of leadership in any church. his might! the missionary work of the Hawaiian Islands, during which time the Board A young man, Mr. A. V. Soares, praise the Eternal for his open glory organized its work by committees, was called to the Islands from the enter into his courts with an offer- representatives of Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese colony in Illinois. After Portuguese, Hawaiian, Filipino, and some years of constructive work, Mr. ing." English-speaking races, the Board in Soares and his assistants built up a "Let the skies be glad, let earth re- 1933 made what was felt to be a for- substantial small church. ward step, by placing all of the work joice of these various committees under one In 1926, Mr. Soares became ill, and let the sea and all within it thunder interracial group. it seemed an opportunity to make some Let the land and all it holds exult, radical adjustments for the church. let all the trees of the forest sing Up to that date each one of these The older people, all of whom spoke committees had been composed of the their mother language, decided that for joy, Anglo-Saxons and representatives of it should be an English-speaking at the Eternal's presence-for he the particular language group. church as soon as possible. After some months of supply preachers comes, Beginning 1933 these various races from the Hawaiian Board, the present he comes to rule the earth, were combined with the Anglo-Saxons pastor was called. Since that time, to rule the world with justice for the conduct of the church work aside from one Sunday School class and the nations faithfully." of the Board. for elderly people, and the rare use From Psalm 96-Moffatt translation. of a Portuguese hymn, the work has Whereas, in the past, the individual been carried on almost entirely in MODERN MISSIONS IN committees meeting once a month, had English. HAWAII been tending toward isolation, now it is impossible for any race to consider The encouraging thing in the From Rev. T. Markham Tal- itself alone. change from a foreign – speaking mage, pastor of the Pilgrim church to English was the fact that Of necessity our agenda is appall- the old people, who dearly loved their ing in length and often concerns in- church in their mother-tongue, made tricate situations, but there is a very the decision for the change to English. great gain in having our various races sit as advisers to determine the poli- When it was realized that this cies of all. Further, authoritative ac- meant for many of them, giving up tion is cumulative, as the races are the services of worship that they forced to act upon each others' prob- could understand, and around which lems. had been built their whole life, it seems to be one of the most beautiful This committee has now been work- and sacrificial offerings growing out ing for a little over a year, with some of our mission in the islands. This definite gain. It is exceedingly diffi- change was made because of the real- cult, but those who worked with the ization on the part of the older people committees in their old form, know that the church worship could not be that that plan also had its difficulties. vital to the younger people if carried on in a language which they could not Under the old arrangement, the understand. The older people took present chairman of the Churches upon themselves the situation usually Committee was the chairman of the demanded of the younger. Japanese Committee, and a member of the Portuguese-English-speaking Com- A YOUTH COUNCIL AT THE mittee. He can see no lessening of friendly interest from the Japanese ANNUAL MEETING OF group, due to the change. THE HAWAIIAN EVAN- This committee has under its leader- ship 91 churches, of which there are GELICAL ASSOCIATION 62 Hawaiian, 16 Japanese, 6 Chinese, 6 Filinipo, 1 Portuguese. Our church gatherings in Ha- waii, like our political cam- Concerning the church for- paigns, are very colorful. The merly known as Egreja Portu- Annual Meeting of the Hawaiian [ 35 ] Evangelical Association is a big event in the lives of the delegates. It means travel between So we had a conference and we them, customs have grown up the Islands, a week of splendid called it a "youth council." When and have been unchallenged for meetings, excellent Hawaiian it was all over, we found that years, and here as elsewhere we food, meeting of friends and 204 persons had registered and must keep gilding the monu- relatives, flower leis, music and attended at least one of the three ments of the past. Something lots of aloha. morning sessions, and 42 church- happens to the religious interest This year the 112th Annual es had been represented by them. of young people when they enter Meeting of the Association was The choirs were from Hawaiian high school age. It does not held in Hilo, Hawaii, June 23-27, churches only. Hence the major- seem to be a loss of religion.
1934. Hilo is the home of the ity of the young people were of Rather is it a change of values.
boarding school founded by Gen- that race. Yet we had Japanese, The reevaluation process goes eral Armstrong, who 1ate r Portuguese, Chinese, and Fili- on in relation to all of youth's founded Hampton Institute. Ha- pino representatives also. beliefs at that time. He becomes waii is the "Big" Island with its The Association gave official an explorer, and sometimes he two mountains Mauna Kea and recognition to the council and al~ seems to explore too boldly in Mauna Loa, both over 13,000 feet lotted two and a half hours each the sacred areas of religion. He high. On this island is the vol- morning for a meeting. becomes critical of the church's cano which has been very active It was the first major attempt program, its preaching, its mem- recently, always in a friendly of the great gathering of dele- bership. But he still expects the manner. The churches on four gates to give a real place on the church to be an institution deal- of the five main islands of the program to young people and ing with religion. The Christian group sent delegates by steamer. their problems. The meetings be- way of life, the unselfish and One whole ship was devoted to gan with a worship planned and gracious Christ, the ideals of them and they overflowed into conducted by the young people. Christian living, all make their another one-a happy, singing, They found Augustine Smith's appeal to him. Unless the church friendly crowd, most of them "New Hymnal for American meets him at this age and goes wearing wreaths of flowers Youth" very helpful for this with him into adult life, he tends called "leis." purpose. to become material-minded.
Hilo provided a royal welcome. They were very much inter- So the practical question More than 500 delegates partook ested in the discussion groups, arises, how to bring the church of three meals a day, cooked and which had about one and a half nearer to this group and this served by the volunteer helpers hours each day, to consider the group nearer to the church? of the entertaining church. They needs of their own churches. Our council decided that the were provided with beds and They asked and answered the first thing is to create clear unblankets and linen. They were question, "What does the church derstanding in this area, and the entertained at evening parties expect of the young people ?" second thing is that th€y should attended by over 700 people. and summed it up in the word choose their own representatives to sit as full voting members on And a notable choir contest was "Loyalty."
held the first night. In this con- They tried to determine what the official board of the church. test seven choirs ranging in num- young people expect of the Upon the s e representatives ber of members between twenty church. It may surprise us that should rest the responsibility to and sixty competed before a they decided that the church explain the attitude of the young great audience, singing in Ha- should be primarily concerned people, to see that the young peowaiian words Mozart's "Twelfth with religion. There was clear ple and their organizations are Mass," arranged by the leader of thinking on this subject. They given adequate consideration and the Hilo church choir. There is knew the church felt called upon to carryover to the young people probably nothing like this choir to develop activities. But they the high and broad principles contest. Memorized music, with- felt that there were enough ac- upon which the church operates, out instrumental accompani- tivities in school and community to see that the church calendar ment, a little pitch pipe in the life. They expected the church of activities is free from conhands of the leader to start them to be "a flaming torch leading us flicts in dates and plans. In fact off, and yet – and yet – music on to greater and higher things, they are to be ambassadors of whose chords and timing, timbre but today the church is like an goodwill. and phrasing and balance are so ambulance travelling behind, perfect that listeners tingle with Some of us who were privileged to appreciation and excitement. picking up the wounded." work with this group throughout the Then they spent some time sessions, felt that a very important It was this choir contest which with both feet on the ground try- step has been taken. made the conference of young The Association has officially rec.ogpeople possible. Many of the ing to devise practical ways nized its obligation to its own children. whereby the church might serve It is not starting a new organization. choir members are under 30 the youth of these Islands. They It is welcoming them, and acknowledgyears of age. The contest was felt that there is too great a dis- ing them as sons and daughters in held at the very beginning of the tance between the young people the Christian Church.- NORMAN C. meeting. After that the choir SCHENCK, Associate Secretary of the members had very little to do. and the older people at present. Board of Hawaiian Evangelical Asso- Language barriers separate ciation.
NEWS William Martin, well known as student cannot busy
editor of the Journal de Geneva, with his books in the face of Future of Christianity says in a recent article: "Never present threats of war…. It is Dr. Cleland B. McAfee of New speak of the 'next war'-for in this world of mass influence York, secretary of the Presby- nothing is more dangerous. Wars terian Board of Foreign Mis- become fatal at the moment and mass movements that the sions, says that if Christianity when people believe in them; keeps on its present rate it will that is, when they begin to per- claims of Christ have to be become the world's majority re- suade themselves that war is in- -Far Horizons. ligion within fifty years. This evitable. There is no such thing made." opinion was expressed recently as an inevitable war! There will in an article in the Portland, be no next war if the people do Russian Asks Christian Unity Oregon, Journal. Dr. McAfee not want it." who has given 46 years of his A plea for united, universal life to active Christian service, If "the people" want peace Christianity was given by Serobserved that he had seen the enough to work for it, to take as gius Bulgakoff, dean of the facbottom fall out of things several their slogan, in place of "War is ulty of the Russian Orthodox times before in his long life, and atrocious and futile, but," "War Theological Academy, Paris, at finds nothing in the present is atrocious and futile and-it the New York Cathedral of St. world economic upheaval to wor- shall not be!"-then we may see John the Divine, Sunday, Octory him in so far as the Christian fulfilled the prophecy, "From ber 7. religion is concerned. He is now on, war by governments equally positive that the Church shall be changed to peace by "Both spirits, that of the Tower of must supply the leadership in peoples." -World Outlook. Babel and that of Pentecost, have this time of need. He is confi- influenced the life of the Church durdent that: "We have reached Handicaps to Study ing her history," Fr. Bulgakoff dethe day when we are going to clared, "but the prevailing spirit have to have a better spirit in Dr. Visser 't Hooft, Secretary until now has been the schismatic the world, because we are living of the World's Student Chris- one. Fortunately, we are now able closer together than ever before. tian Federation, in a recent to notice a remarkable change. A We must learn how to live to- speech in England mentioned an new message sounds through the gether and the Christian Church Indian professor who said that world, a new spirit is breathing, the is the one institution able to give twenty-five per cent of his stu- spirit of Pentecost, the message of this message and program to the dents were in prison, twenty-five universal Christianity. world." per cent were engaged in politi- cal propaganda, twenty-five per This ecumenic spirit is now awak- Promoting Peace cent were spying on the others, ened as a first realization of the and the rest were doing a little Church's catholicity in our days. In- studying. He referred also to a stead of mutual exclusiveness and thousand Shanghai students haughtiness there comes a desire for mutual acquaintance and understand- ing in the spirit of peace and love. This change has already begun, as the representatives of many different confessions meet now with one an- other without feeling their own orth- odoxy endangered.
Fr. Bulgakoff pointed to two Dr. Mary E. Woolley tells us who asked for a special train to causes of separation between what we can do to promote Nanking in order that they Christian bodies-differences in peace. 1. Assure the President might express to the President creed which should not be evaded that you will support in every their views on the Manchurian in the effort for reunion, and difpossible way a program for situation. Their request re- ferences caused by provincialism "practical pea c e, permanent fused, they sat down in a body and narrow-mindedness which peace, real peace throughout the on the tracks so that no train should easily be overcome. -The Living Church. world." 2. Do not hide your light was able to enter or leave the under a bushel as far as your station. They got their train! EfTective Preparation senators and representatives are In Nanking they stood in a concerned. Rather, set it upon a freezing temperature before the In Basil Matthew's biography hill-that they may not fail to palace for forty-eight hours of John R. Mott, he gives the see where their constituencies until a deputation was received notes made for Dr. Mott's per- stand on this momentous ques- and promises of action given sonal guidance in preparation tion of international cooperation, them. for conferences.
versus national isolation. 3. Do Dr. 't Hooft, continuing his Personal: not join the "defeatist group." address, said: "The European Keep the Morning Watch.
[37 ]
Spend eight hours in bed; also The Elyria League has already of New York City by the Times take nap in afternoon. undertaken a specific work-the Square Mission. The record for support of a native evangelist in September indicated that more Take drive each afternoon. India. The Women's Missionary than 23,000 attended the open- Take time for preparation before Society has also taken on new air meetings. This only included all public work. life as a result. persons who stayed as long as Plan each day. twenty minutes. Many raised Before each address and confer- A College Student Church their hands for prayer and many ence remind oneself of the need of remained for interviews. Forty the Holy Spirit and definitely claim Last October Dr. Hutchison, thousand tracts and Gospels His help for the work at hand. President of Washington and were distributed, and 95 hours Be mindful of the things of others Jefferson College, Pennsylvania, were filled during the month -especially associates. presented to presbytery the with these outdoor meetings on Avoid: church letters of 44 students, one of the busiest corners of Sins of the tongue. with a request that these men be Broadway. The mechanical versus sense of vo- made the nucleus of a fully accation. credited Presbyterian Church on The Cost of Crime Content with small results versus the college campus. Dr. Hutchivery great, i. e. real spiritual results. son explained that none of the Not every one knows that Expect large results: present methods of providing re- Remember that there has been an ligion for students has proved crime costs us 25 % of the naadequate cause from which great re- successful, because the students sults may be expected, namely, the have had no responsibility for tion's income. Here are some long preparation, the self-denial, the the form or expression of their figures that came recently from prayers of many all over the world, religion. Under this new plan a Senator Copeland: the working of the Living, Almighty church will be organized entirely God. of students. Not even professors Losses through frauds. $1,270,000,000 of the college may belong. Elders Property losses and eco- "Spirit of Missions" will be ordained, all other church offices will be filled by students. nomic value of 12,500 Centenary The pastor will be Rev. Cameron m u r d e r s (annual Ralston, director of religious ac- toll) ………….. $1,160,000,000 At the end of 1934 The Spirit tivities for the college. Law Enforcement …. $4,000,000,000 of Missions begins its one hun- Waste involved in dealdredth year of continuous serv- Signs of Church Life ing with crime …. $6,503,000,000 ice. One can read in almost any In the first three months of The Protestant Episcopal paper that the Church is about 1934, four-fifths of all those ar- Church's only official periodical to die, but Dr. Herman Weber, rested were under 30 years of is entering its second century editor of the Year Book of age and many were only 19. Of with confidence and enthusiasm. American Churches has a differ- 12,000 murders during the last It will continue to depict the ent opinion. He says: few years, 4,000 were caught mission fields in America and and sentenced; only 153 paid the her possessions, afar in the Ori- More than 30,000,000 Americans, extreme penalty. It seems that ent, in Africa, in India. More attend services in Protestant and one may murder with a 3 to 1 than 4,000 missionary workers Catholic churches, and Jewish syna- chance of not being punished at have spoken through its pages. gogues every week. The churches all, or a 1 to 80 chance of paying are gaining members at the rate of the death penalty-a little less -Circular. 750,000 a year. Church buildings risky than going swimming! have increased sevenfold in number NORTH AMERICA in the last 75 years. The last census Hartford Mission Fellowship showed 232,154 houses of worship in A Men's Missionary League the country, and the church debts What do the young people of amount to only 11 per cent of the this decade think of foreign mis- A "Men's Missionary League" value of church property." We are sions? Are they responsive to has come into being in the First also told by Dr. Kieffer, president of the world's need of Christ? A United Presbyterian Church of the Association of Statisticians of group representing six denomi- Elyria, Ohio. The League began American Religious Bodies, that ap- nations has been formed in the with 16 men, including the pas- proximately one half of the popula- Hartford Seminary Foundation. tor, Rev. George A. Brown, on tion of the United States is definitely Twelve mission boards were con- October 20, 1933. The present related to some church. While the sulted, and the outcome was the membership is 37. After a full population of the country increased appointment of a Committee of year of experience the men and 22 fold between 1800 and 1934, church Nine to guide the training and their pastor, have a deep con- membership in the same period -in- activities of the group. This viction that they should give creased 80 fold. Hartford Mission Fellowship their testimony to the Church. has presented its message at A leaflet entitled "An Adventure -Presbyterian Banner. twelve student conferences and in Masculine Missions" has been several churches, and it is hoped sent out to leading men through- Times Square Mission to continue to reach colleges and out the denomination. The leaf- preparatory schools as far as let contains the Constitution and A notable piece of evangelistic possible. By-Laws, and, condensed, a ser- work is being done in the heart mon preached by the pastor on Men and Missions Sunday, "Missions-A Man's Job."
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
The group is seeking to go as 3. To stimulate older Christians in courses offered are training prayer and service. graduates to meet these needs. a unit, without stated salaries, 4. To instruct Christian workers to A religious education club, orand take up work in some unoc- ganized by students, is studying cupied mission field like Tibet, make their ministry more effectual. 5. To combat the error and evil problems of rural churches, con- centrating on methods, materi- Mongolia, India, Africa, Japan and deliver those who are being en- als, organization and equipment or China. Recently the group snared. for all ages which can be used has decided to concentrate its study on China and surrounding 6. To provide worth-while employ- ment for those who wish to serve Christ. 7. To furnish Gospel sermons and successfully. territories. Bible teaching to those communities which do not have a resident minister. The Farm School, N. C., has a New England's Student Gospel Team, numbering 35, Movement Nearly 400 different titles, with a waiting list. The team covering a wide range of sub- visits mountain communities On October 19, 20 and 21 students from all over New Eng- jects, are published today, and within a radius of 125 miles but land gathered at Northfield to 57,692,350 books, booklets and has concentrated in four near-by form a new united Student tracts have been distributed. settlements as an entering wedge for an intensive study to see Christian Movement, made up of representatives from 41 colleges, A Notable Work whether Farm school can put on an all around extension program and including both adults and Many useful organizations are there. Agricultural aid, health students from Y. M. C. A., Y. almost unknown and receive lit- work and recreational leader- W. C. A., S. V. M., and church tle recognition. A century ago ship, in addition to religious acyoung peoples' societies. the "Female Moral Reform So- tivities are possibilities under The"Aim and Purpose" are as ciety"-later the "American Fe- consideration. follows: male Guardian Society" was -Presbyterian Banner.
The Student Christian Movement founded in New York by a group Methodists Celebrate is a fellowship of students, men and women, who are challenged by the of women, who after years of More than 1,200 delegates replife and teachings of Jesus to seek enduring ridicule, secured legis- resenting the various branches for themselves the sources of His lation to punish abduction, and of Methodism and coming from power and to manifest, in all the re- by other laws to protect young all parts of the United States, lationships of their lives, His rever- boys and girls. The society later ence for personality and truth. started nine industrial schools Canada England and Australia A committee of 22 adults and for poor children, and initiated gathered recently in Baltimore 30 students was appointed to fresh air work. It provided a for the principal celebration of carry out the purposes of the sewing machine fund, which admovement. One of the aims is vanced money to poor women so the sesquicentennial of Amerito merge activities of church that they might pay for them in can Methodism. Practically groups, the Y. M. C. A., the Y. installments, and pioneered oth- everyone of importance in Meth- W. C. A., and the Student Volun- er forms of relief. Its various odism was present, as well as teer Movement in New England. orphan homes are doing effective various leaders in other denom- A similar movement was organ- work and 37,000 children have inations. An oratorio, "The gone through its institutions. At Evangel of the New World," and ized in the Middle Atlantic re- a pageant, "The Spreading gion last summer, and a national least one well known Presbytericommittee is studying the possi- an minister and editor, John Flame," were presented. bilities of cooperation through- Bancroft Devins, was brought up in a home of the Society and An interesting historical sumout the nation. the manager of the Tribune mary of the beginnings of. Meth- odism in this country was Issued, Forty Years Colportage Work Fresh Air Fund. with a message especially pre- -So S. Times. pared for the book by E. Stanley The Bible Institute Colportage Studying Mountain Needs Jones. Society of Chicago, founded by -The Christian Century.
D. L. Moody, celebrated its 40th At the Asheville, N. C., Nor- Lutheran Anniversary anniversary on November 15. mal and Teachers' College the This agency was started for the junior class is studying a typical Observing the 200th anniverpurpose of publishing and dis- sary of the landing of the Luseminating, evangelical books mountain community, to discov- therans in America at Savannah, er the number of regular church Ga., and also the 400th anniverand booklets, Scripture portions, attendants, standards and re- sary of Martin Luther's tran!'la- sources of religious, sodal and tion of the Bible, the Umted and Gospel tracts. economic life, number and type Lutheran Church in America The Association has kept sev- of schools, distribution of wealth en objectives in mind: 1. The salvation of lost souls who as shown by types of homes, and held its biennial session in Saotherwise might never be reached vannah early in November. The with the Gospel. manner of living. The students convention moved to bring about then turn to the school's curric- a union of all Lutheran bodies in 2. To establish young Christians in ulum to see how concretely the the faith and to develop fruitful lives.
America and created a commit- ard of the Indian Bureau, fed- After Sixteen Years ~ee to work out a plan for mergmg. eral policy toward the aboriginal "Mission Folks and Facts," a leaflet on Baptist home mission There are seventeen branches Americans was such that more work, says: In 1918 the Baptist of Lutheranism in the United Home Mission Society sent out States and Canada. Replies to a than 50 per cent of them "ceased its first missionary to Nicaragua. questionnaire sen t to every Beginning with a small group of clergyman of all these branches to be Indians and failed to be- less than fifty believers, he built up a Sunday school, trained show that 89 % favor a merger come whites." The Indian's en- teachers, and opened out-sta- tions. At the same time the into one Lutheran Church. If tire life was organized on a woman's society sent out its first this union should take place, it missionary teacher and founded would form a church of 4,381,- group basis. He could not suc- a primary school. The primary 094 members, with 15,469 con- school has developed into an ingregations. The L u the ran cessfully compete in white soci- stitution embracing all grades Church is now the third largest through high school, and now en- Protestant communion in the ety which is based on the indi- rolls over 400 boys and girls. The country, following closely upon church of 400 members has the Methodists and Baptists. vidual. In half Shaepacredn,tutrhy~ grown to be one of the largest according to Mr. in all Latin America, with a Sun- American Lutherans, with day.school of 425 and an evening Lutherans and evangelicals Indians lost 91,000,000 of the audIence of 600. The pastor is a throughout the world, oppose the native Nicaraguan. A Christian efforts of the German reich- 138,000,000 acres of land in the community has grown up, and skirche to force pastors of Ger- ~rained .l~aders in the ministry, man Evangelical Churches to original allotments. A few, the m medicme and teaching have support a political program at been sent out. the expense of their fidelity to Pueblos among them, which conthe historic confessions of the Church. tinued their communal traditions Large Home Mission Field lost little or none. Under the old In a block comprising all of order, the majority of the red Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, Arizona and New Mexico, and part men saw their own culture deof Colorado, Idaho and California, there is but one Protestant generate and were unable to ac- Christian colI e g e-Westminster, in Salt Lake City. quire that of the white man.
Westminister College has a Hence grew the unfair assumpthreefold task: to maintain a high standard of scholarship in tion that they are lazy and a Christian atmosphere; to provide college courses for Protes- worthless. tant young people in the Mormon are~;. and to offer this type of One of the Bureau's innovatrammg to young Mormons. Ten years of enlarging buildings tions is the training of Indian and equipment, followed by five years of depression, have left a teachers to work among their deficit of $75,000, which the management is now seeking to own tribesmen. secure in a three-year campaign. LATIN AMERICA EUROPE New Chance for the Indian Bitterness Toward Religion Salva..tion Army Work The Government is giving up the attempt to make the Indian A law was passed in Mexico On November 1st a great farea white man. Instead, he is be- two years ago forbidding the well was held in Royal Albert ing encouraged in self-govern- teaching of religion in all Hall, London, for General Edment, in his own native arts and schools, and since then there has ward J. and Mrs. Higgins. The is being provided with modern been a gradual increase in the sanitation and the comforts of rigor of enforcement. Control Duke of York, who acted as civilization. of education and the press is an- chairman, said: other government policy. Since 1887, says Ward Shep- The Salvation Army makes a great The present situation is one of bitterness, suspicion and confu- claim upon the regard not only of sion. An amendment to Article III of the Constitution, which members of the Royal Family but on has been passed by congress but not yet submitted to the states, all sincere and thoughtful people …. I requires that all education shall be socialistic, excluding all reli- believe there is today more mutual gious doctrines. Teachers in pri- vate schools must agree with sympathy and understanding, nation- these requirements. Religious all~ and internationally, and the Sal- corporations, ministers of reli- vatIOn Army, among other religious gion, and societies connected di- rectly or indirectly with the and philanthropic bodies, has had a propaganda of a religious creed, are forbidden to take part in pri- full share in bringing that about. mary, secondary or normal schools, or to give them economic Men of many faiths, some of them support. leading representatives of those faiths It is impossible to foresee the -Angli~an, non-conformist, Catholic, full effect of all this on Protes- tant mission work. Jew, Hmdu, Mohammedan-meet in glad accord to show their apprecia- tion of the retiring general, and thus pay ther tribute to the work of the Salvation Army. .
General Higgins reviewed the widespread activities of the a.rmy, which include the opera- tIon of 89 main hospitals, seven for lepers only; 18 separate col- onies for placing poor families on the land; 120 homes for de- tsheertperdovaisnidonoorfp3h4a,n0e0d0,0c0h0ilmderaeln~' in a year for the hungry poor;
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
139 labor bureaus, and 224 Russia; while the American under the Italian law and coop- workshops; work in 172 slum Christian Committee for Ger- erating with the Foreign Mis- areas in the large cities of the man Refugees, which is endeav- sion Board of the Southern world; the preaching of the Gos- oring under the chairmanship of Convention. The new president pel in nearly 17,000 mission Dr. Cadman to aid in caring for of this Italian Convention is Rev. halls, of which over 6,000 are in the non-Jewish refugees from Ignatius Rivera, pastor of the non-Christian countries; and Germany, is finding great diffi- church in Florence, who finished the direction and control of 45 culty in arousing any general his education in Glasgow, Scot- training colleges for officers. land, and is a well trained realization of the situation. It preacher. The Boys' Brigade is said that one in five of these refugees is a Christian. De- – Watchman-Examiner. In 1883, William A. Smith, a scendants of the Huguenots in Sunday-school superintendent of France have shown, perhaps, the Gipsies in Austria Glasgow, was faced with the problem of holding boys past 11 most concern. Jewish generosity There is still in Europe one years of age with two other men, toward Christian refugees has people who know almost nothing 'and 30 boys, he formed the been remarkable. -Advance. of God, and of His salvation "Boys' Brigade," a movement through Jesus Christ. This is which has spread throughout the Jews Turn to Christ the small nation of gipsies, rov- world. Within three years there ing, despised, often persecuted. were 61 companies in and The Maranos of Portugal are Many who formerly lived in the around Glasgow and later the Hungarian territory known as movement reached such propor- Jews who were forced into Ro- Biirgenland, have now* through tions that Mr. Smith gave up his the Treaty of Versailles, been business to devote all his time to man Catholicism by the Inquisi- transferred to Austria. Thou- the Boys' Brigade, until his sands of them are living in death in 1914. In 1909, King tion. They have retained Jewish closed settlements of miserable Edward made him a knight. mud houses. Isolated settle- customs and forms of prayer, ments are also found in Carin- There are now companies of thia and Upper Austria. To the Brigade in Canada, India, and have kept themselves from bring the Gospel to these gipsies Australia, New Zealand, Africa, is a task undertaken by a lay West Indies, Ceylon, Newfound- intermarriage with Catholics. worker, Walter Miiller, a former land, U. S. A., China, Latvia, student at the Bible School for Denmark, and now in Malaya. Orthodox Jews have been at- southeast Europe in St. Andrae, The object is, "The advancement near Villach. He reports: of Christ's Kingdom among boys tempting to win them back to and the promotion of habits of A gipsy invited me to come to his Obedience, Reverence, Disci- Judaism, but they are unwilling house, telling me that the thirty New pline, Self-Respect and all that Testaments I had forwarded to him tends towards a true Christian to return to a Christless syna- had arrived, and that they had been Manliness," and the motto "Sure reading them till 10 p. m. In that and Stedfast." gogue. So a Hebrew Christian room I found thirty gipsies assem- bled, and I was asked to speak of Relief for Evangelical Alliance of Portugal has been Christ. The gipsies sat with crossed legs on the floor listening devoutly Churches formed by a number of Portu- and eagerly, while the audience stead- ily increased. Thus I found that An important meeting of the guese Christians of Hebrew these despised people are open to the Central Bureau for Relief of the Gospel, and it has been. a joy to me Evangelical Churches of Europe, race,-teachers, ministers and to see their eager response to the now identified with the Ameri- message of Salvation. I am finding can Section of the Universal business men, to bring them into many open doors and many new coun- Christian Council, was held re- try places which up till now have cently under the chairmanship evangelical Christianity. On the been visited by no one with the pur- of Dr. William H. Foulkes. pose of circulating the Word of God. Plans were made for continuing badge of the new organization the important services which An Anti-Christmas Campaign this agency has been rendering are the letters XN. In the six- under the leadership of Dr. According to the New York Adolf Keller in Geneva. As teenth century Maranos, when Times, anti-religious efforts have fast as tthe situation improves so slackened and Christian or- in one European country, new signing official documents, were ganizations are so increasing problems arise in one or two their strength in Russia that the others. Many challenging situ- obliged to append these initial executive committee of the ations confront the churches of League of Militant Atheists have letters with their names. They issued a call for a "Christmas campaign" against religion, to stand for Christao Novo ("New begin November 25 and continue two months. The whole Soviet Christians"), in contradistinc- tion to Christao Vetno ("Old Christians," that is, Roman Catholics) . Mr. Pereira, the vice-president of the new Alli- ance says: "we are not ashamed to own that we are New Chris- tians of Jewish descent who have accepted Christ as Lord and Master." -So S. Times.
Italian Baptists There are in Italy about 3,000 Baptists organized into fifty-one churches and sixty out-stations, under the supervision of South- ern Baptists. Now the Italian National Baptist Convention has been organized with a board of directors legally incorporated
network-the Young Communist Mission, gave some pertinent sionary thinks he is sharpening organization, trade unions, agri- facts about that part of Africa his bush knife on the Lord's Day, cultural advisers, village teach- which are perhaps not generally but finds that the little hut is a ers and the movies, radio, press known. The Sudan is almost as Christian prayer house where and clubs is asked to mobilize to large as Europe, with an esti- the Ndali people hold evening push back the rising tide of wor- mated population of 32,000,000. services. Some people are passship. The northern portion is chiefly ing with hymn books and Testa- Mohammedan, the southern ments. Striking the stones was Reports to the central head- mainly pagan. There are over in imitation of church bells. quarters of the militant atheists 600 distinct tribes. For many indicate that there is some rea- hundred years it was closed to Inside the church were several son for the atheist league's dis- evangelism; now it is practical- little seats, consisting of forked quietude. In many villages not ly open throughout. limbs stuck in the ground and only are there no actively pro- supported in the fork a limb on fessing atheists but Communist Twenty-one missions are at which the people could sit. The party members are winking at work, with 180 stations and 672 speaker had a little stand conthe practice of religion or even missionaries, whereas thirty- sisting of a board resting on engaging in it. Most churches three years ago there was but three sticks of wood and behind that have not been turned into one station in occupation. Only it a firm, little bench. The movie theaters, warehouses, or about 50 per cent of the people church measured only six feet demolished, are f r e que n t I y have been reached so far. Some by twelve and the windows were crowded with worshipers. sixty-three languages have been mere openings in the walls. The reduced to writing sufficiently gardener made a short prayer, AFRICA for some portion of Scripture to the people then revently sang a be issued therein. There is no hymn; the gardener read Luke Covering Large Areas overlapping of missionary effort. 14, with much stuttering, giving his own original explanation. Nearly 30 years ago, Lord -The Life of Faith. He said: Cromer, then High Commissioner for Egypt, invited the C. M. S. Leper Work in Nigeria "The banquet which the King to enter the southern Sudan. In Himself cooked, and offers to us, 1905 the first party went in. The work of the Mission to that is the word which we hear Owing to climatic and other dif- Lepers at Garkida is beginning every day." ficulties all but one of that party to solve the tremendous leprosy had to retire, the present arch- problem in Northen Nigeria, Donald Fraser Hospital deacon who is still at work there. where there are at least 3,000 The C. M. S. has sole responsi- cases. There are 500 under August 16 the Donald Fraser bility for a vast area, compris- treatment at the Garkida colony. Hospital was opened at Sibasa. ing many tribes and tongues, Aid from the Nigerian govern- This event marks a further stage and it is in order to occupy the ment is promised in increasing in the development of the mediwhole territory that the eleven measure; gifts from the Ameri- cal mission established at Gooldstations are spaced about 100 can Mission to Lepers are ville in 1930 by the Church of miles apart. At each station ex- matched by the government. It Scotland. The hospital has been cept the newest, Ler, there is a is hoped that this whole area built and equipped from funds native church growing up. At may be rid of leprosy. raised in South Africa, and is Yei, the growth has attained the the first and only hospital in an proportions of a mass movement. -Without the Camp. area with a population of 150,- During the past year, between 000. At present, there are only 2,000 and 4,000 people have as- Small East Africa Church twelve beds, but it is hoped to sembled monthly for special add an additional ward very gatherings for the deepening of From time to time mention is soon. spiritual life. One of the leaders made of very small houses of here is a young chief from Yam- worship in which the spirit of The appreciation of the native bio, who secured leave of absence God is at work, and where men people was shown by the large frbm his small chieftainship for are led to Christ. European mis- numbers who gathered at Gooldtwo years and volunteered for sion journals give a description ville on the day of the official this service. This young church of a small church in East Africa opening. Early in the morning at Yambio contributes toward which shows under what varied the church was filled with those the work in other sections. circumstances the Spirit of God who had come to give thanks to is at work. Moravian Missions God, and to seek His blessing on -C. M. S. Gleaner. gives us the following account: the new hospital.
In the Sudan Missionary Gemuseus, comIng -South African Outlook.' to a congregation in the little vil- At the World's Evangelical Al- lage of Ndali, East Africa, hears Revival in South Africa liance reunion in London last a clear sound. On approaching, October, Mr. Gilbert Dawson, he finds a gardener crouching Under direction of the Move- Secretary of the Sudan United before a little hut, striking one ment for World Evangelization, stone upon another. The mis- Rev. Lionel B. Fletcher, who has
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
been conducting a six months' ing in some weeks more than understood by all he must exevangelistic campaign in South Africa, reports a spiritual awak- 2,000 people in Beirut and neigh- press himself in no less than ening which amounts to a sweeping revival. He was greatly boring parts of Syria. Last four or five languages – Arabic, pleased to find that converts won during his campaign twelve year's eleven graduates are scat- Turkish, Armenian, Kurdish and years ago have made marked progress in the Christian life. tered in Bulgaria, T u r key, Assyrian.
One man had deliberately com- Greece, Syria, Lebanon, Cyprus A pastor-at-Iarge is greatly pacted to sell himself to the devil, and had actually served the and Palestine. Students conduct needed to cover the entire field devil for sixteen years. By what some people would call coinci- a Sunday service each week at until organized churches can be dence, his saintly parents came from a distant part of Africa to Lebanon Hospital for Mental established. attend one of the evangelistic -Syria News Quarterly. meetings, not dreaming that Diseases, attended by all who are their wayward son, for whom they had prayed through the well enough to be there. It is one years, would be there. Their joy was unbounded as they saw this of the things to which patients New Ideas in Sidon son and his wife walk up and testify that God had saved them. look forward, and seems to bring Teaching in Sidon Girls' solace to their troubled minds. School is not in vain. One class -Life of Faith. studying "Home and Commu- -Syria News Quarterly. Opportunity in Near East American Press Centenary nity" was asked to write on the Dr. Charles R. Watson, Pres- topic: "What Have I the Right ident of the American University at Cairo, says that the Last year the American Press to Expect from My Commudegree to which old ideas in the in Beirut celebrated its hun- nity?" Here is a composite of Near East have yielded to sci- dredth anniversary of Arabic eight papers: ence is almost unbelievable. The changes have affected profound- publication in the city of Beirut. "I have a right to expect from my ly intellectual life, social life and The Press is actually 112 years community safety, clean streets, pure even political life. The auto, the movie, travel to Europe and the old, but the first twelve years water, good roads, electric lights, ice modern newspaper have been were spent in Malta and Smyrna. made from pure water, clean markets, factors in widening the horizon Several hundred million pages of of the rising generation. Educa- meat screened from flies, and the tion is advancing by leaps and religious literature have issued examination of milk and meat. bounds. Feminism is another movement of unusual signifi- "I expect the community to collect cance to lands that have hitherto kept women veiled and secluded. from it in half a dozen different garbage, care for sewage, isolate peo- In Egypt, unlike Turkey, the fez languages, and have been scat- ple who have infectious diseases, and is still worn by men and the veil tered all over the Near East and to punish dirty people; to pass laws by women, but many free social to keep the health of the people in relations between the sexes are even in China, India, South good condition, to open schools so that permitted. Africa and the Americas. the people may be educated, to use the Dr. Watson believes that with money I pay in taxes in the right way. this new day that has dawned To help defray expenses, all comes an opportunity for serv- sorts of commercial printing is "I expect the community to drive ing these people such as Chris- turned out. The present equip- out child labor. I also look for a good tianity has never had before. position and respect for women as WESTERN ASIA ment has been running contin- well as for men. These things will uously for 30 years. cost me a great deal, they will cost me Near East School of Theology courage and ability to work, for it is -Caravan Trails. not enough to see and say, and not to A glance at the field work program of the Near East School do anything. They also cost me time, of Theology indicates that its influence is very extensive, reach- Al Jazireh and this time, energy and money I should save by planning everything at Al J azireh is an island-like home. I should follow the laws of the community, pay my taxes on time and portion of Syria, lying between . be a good example." the two rivers of ancient history -the Euphrates and the Tigris. These ideas were put into Its missionary interest centers practice in a preliminary sani- in five villages, each having a tary survey of Sidon community. small, but earnest group of Under impressive police escort Christians. In Haseecha there groups 'of girls inspected the is a church building, and the men's p r is 0 n, the women's twelve Protestant families are prison, the public bath, the anxious for a school. Am- slaughter house, the meat, vege- moudah is a thriving wheat table and milk markets.
market, seemingly oblivious of When the girls were ready to the depression. The town's present their report they invited most distinguished citizen is a the honorary members of their Protestant. Kamishlie has 81 club, a group of Sidon women, Protestant Christians; they have and a representative of the purchased a site for church and Women's Club in Beirut. With- school. Aleppo station is help- in two weeks the Sidon Women's ing to supply a preacher-teacher. Club came into existence, stat- There are about fifty Protestants ing as its purpose: "The Im- in Ain Diwar, the most hetero- provement of Family and Com- geneous group to be encountered munity Life." Three committees anywhere. If one would be have been organized, the prison
committee, health committee and ing its influence felt in India suIts will be made, and plans outa committee to help the poor. also. Under the influence of lined for future work. INDIA some of the Roman Catholic pre- The initial expense is covered Evangelistic Week in Dornakal lates in India branches of this by a gift received through Dr. The Bishop of Dornakal believes that rural India is ready, league have been formed in cities E. Stanley Jones, whose work as never before, to receive the Gospel. Nearly 12,000 baptized like Calcutta, Madras and Bang- with the higher classes in India Christians were voluntary witness bearers during evangelistic alore. A public meeting was makes him appreciate the possiweek last May in Dornakal diocese. During the campaign held· in Madras under the aus- bilities of reaching in this way in the Kistna area nearly 5,000 people definitely decided to be- pices of the Catholic Social Guild large numbers of educated, but come Christians, and 21,000, of whom 12,000 were caste people, to protest against the unwhole- heart-hungry men who have stated that they wanted to know more about Christ. some cinema films shown in that little direct touch with Chris- -C. M. S. Outlook. city. Protestants and some non- tians.
What About Ceylon? Christians took a prominent A changed viewpoint has be- part in this meeting. In India, . Missionary Coordination come rather prevalent in Ceylon, expressed concretely in a book it is very rarely that Catholics Representatives of ten misby an English professor, "A and Protestants cooperate. sions met in Bombay September Buddhist Pilgrimage." The idea is that when a backward people -The Christian Century. 5 to discuss the question of eshave been lifted by a degree of western civilization they should tablishing a joint business office be left to work out their own des- Appeals for the Colleges in Bombay. The views expressed tiny. All religions are good, but for the Singhalese none is better Advisory committees on Chris- indicate that there will be many than Buddhism. tian higher education in India advantages arising from a joint office. The sale of American The C. M. S. has a large share have been set up in Great Britain in upholding a belief in Christ in and in North America, and in drafts will be facilitated and Ceylon, but there are only 30,000 India a Central Board of Chris- other items of business, par- Christians of the Anglican ticularly those that have to do Church in a population of over tian Higher Education has come with transit and shipping, will 5,000,000. The Anglican Church into existence. The object of has been renamed "The Church these bodies is to see that the be handled much easier from a of Ceylon"; it is the first fruits recommendations of the Lindsay central office. There will also be of 100 years' work. In nearly a a considerable saving in office hundred villages schools are Commission are carried out by staff· and equipment when the staffed with Christian teachers· the colleges, and to help the oran urgent need is that of,keeping ganizations connected with these work of ten or more societies can the faith of these teachers at a colleges to give effect to the be carried on through one office. high level, since even they are in It is recognized that at least two danger of succumbing to the recommendations. An appeal missionaries will be required, axiom "Buddhism for Ceylon." for £130,000 for Indian colleges and possibly a third to make At least a third of the 147 teachers are Christians of ten years' was launched last March; and provision for necessary furstanding, or less. However, in the colleges which are run by loughs. There would be one or many villages there is real prog- American missionary societies more permanent office assistants ress, and a steady flow of those have asked the American Ad- in addition. If this experiment who are "added to the faith." visory Committee to appeal for is made and proves successful, it -C. M. S. Outlook. Rs. 1,500,000 for helping the de- is quite possible that other mis- velopment of colleges like For- sions will wish to share in the Legion of Decency advantages of such a joint. office. man College, Lahore; the Chris- The Legion of Decency started tian College, Allahabad; the -The Indian Witness. in America on the initiative of Christian College, Lucknow; the Roman Catholic bishops is mak- American College, Madura; the CHINA Isabella Thoburn College for Women, Lucknow, and the Chris- New Broadcasting Station tian College, Indore. The largest broadcasting sta- Experiment in Press tion in Asia, and the third Evangelism largest in the world, has recently been opened by the Chinese Gov- Newspaper evangelism, al- ernment in Nanking. A circle ready a tested and successful with its wavelength as a radius means of Christian work in and Nanking as the center in- Japan, is being introduced in cludes Irkutsk, Chita, Delhi, Cal- India. Dr. James E. Manry, of cutta, Burma, Sumatra, New Allahabad, writes that during Guinea and the Caroline Islands. the coming winter it is planned Just what are we likely to hear? to insert articles on Christianity The program from 8: 00 a. m.
in a number of the best Indian till 9: 00 p. m. includes the news dailies, both English and ver- (broadcast in Mandarin spoken nacular. After a four-months' with a South China accent), lec- experiment, a check-up on re- tures and musical numbers.
OUR WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Both Ginling College girls glee from the God of its fathers! It is the literature, and forming personal faith of the Pilgrim Fathers that club and the girls of Methodist made America great." contacts with men and women in Hui Wen High School have pro- the towns and villages in their -The. King's Business. districts. -Chinese Recorder. grams. A Professor of Nanking Theological Seminary has spoken A Model Parish Government Aid for Colleges on the topic "Educational Foun- dations of World Peace." At Pastor Tien Li Kung has made There are encouraging signs the invitation of the Chinese Government, messages from sev- his parish a model for the whole of cooperation between Chriseral Christian institutions are country. This out-of-the-way tian conferences and governbeing sent far and wide. church had been going down hill ment schools. A youth workers' -Woman's Missionary Friend. until only five members were conference, for instance, was held on the campus of the pro- Press Literature Prizes left, but Pastor Tien threw his whole energy into his task and vincial college at Wusih. A Two prizes were offered by the preached for 50 nights in the young people's conference in Presbyterian Chi n a Council, with a view to stimulating the street, organized two day schools Honan was held on the campus production of Chinese Christian and four night classes, all taught of a provincial rural normal literature. One prize of $300 by volunteers. In each of these school. Mutual understanding was awarded to the author of the centers he conducts a weekly best original production of preaching service. Difficulties and appreciation was one result. Christian literature in Chinese This is one aspect of the very published during the year 1934. which fill others with consterna- Another prize of $150 was tion only rouse him to action. cordial relations now existing awarded for the most effective between Christian and other intranslation of Christian litera- Pastor Tien's example has pro- stitutions in China. The Univerture into Chinese published dur- voked both the county normal sity of Nanking has during the ing the year 1934. The name school and the higher boarding "Press Literature Prizes" has last year received more than a been given in recognition of the school to zeal for the under- quarter of a million dollars service rendered by the Presby- privileged. For the first tim~ in (silver) from various public orterian Mission Press. their history they are conductmg ganizations, among them the na- tional government. Yenching -Chinese Recorder. classes for those who cannot read or write. Twice recently University, also, received about students from the latter institu- $60,000 (silver) from the minis- tion have paraded the city ex- try of education.
horting the illiterate to enroll in -The Christian Century. night classes. The results have Oriental Views America been commendable. New Mohammedan State -Christian Advocate. Chinese Turkestan is a poten- A distinguished Chi n e s e Friends' Work Strengthened tially rich land commanding the leader, Mr. Leland Wang, of Honkong, who paid a visit to A real strengthening of the trade routes that connect India, America recently, was educated Russia, Mongolia, Tibet and in three Chinese Naval colleges, Friends' forces in China has China. It has a large Chinese and at the time of his conversion Mohammedan population. Genin 1918 held a high position in been made by the return of five the Chinese Navy. Later, he re- eral Ma has now declared the signed his position to devote his missionaries from furlough, and state independent of China and time to evangelism. He has wit- given it the name of Islamistan nessed to his profession in al- the sending of two new ones. most every province of China, (the realm of Islam). Accordand in other lands as well. Re- Friends in England have made ing to reliable private informaturning from his visit to Amer- tion, "no Christian will be tolica, he has made various obser- this possible. In the two la~ge vations: erated in the State of Islamistan, cities of Szechwan, Chungkmg and Christian refugees are be- "We have traveled over eleven thou- ginning to trickle down through sand miles in three months, besides and Chengtu, each with over taking about one hundred meetings in the Northwest frontier into different places. One of my impres- 5s0ha0~0e00wiinthhaboitthaenrts,chFurrchi eesn ds India." There have been murder, sions of America is that there are too in imprisonment and torture in the many automobiles here. It is a nation on wheels." evangelistic and educational ef- small Christian community, and the reports declare that there With keen spiritual insight, forts. At the city of Chungking, will be exile for all survivors. Mr. Wang views America's real need as well as that of the whole Chinese Friends maintain the This son of an English manu- work unassisted. In Central facturer in London, a convert to Mohammedanism has assumed Szechwan, a large district with the title "King of Islamistan."
Tungchwan as its center, Friends are the only Christian represen- tatives. Further south, there has been a successful year in hospital work at Suining; while in the Tungchwan and Suining districts the workers have de- world, when he says: voted much time to what one of Inaccessible Turkestan them terms "old fashioned evan- "How sad it is to see this country, gelical work," h?ldin~ m~eti~gs, About the most inaccessible which puts the inscription 'In God preaching, teachmg, dlstrlbutmg spot in the world is that strip of We Trust' on its dollar, departing
territory stretching along the Pan-Pacific Buddhist has appointed pastor F. L. Ching northern side of Tibet through Conference and his wife to open work in which runs the age-long caravan A Pan-Pacific Buddhist Con- these islands. They are the first route from the Mediterranean ference was held in Kyoto last missionaries to enter this field. to the Pacific. Last year a com- July, attended by nearly 700 del- The prevailing religion among pany of six young men under the the island tribes is a mixture of egates representing Buddhism Mohammedanism and animism. direction of a veteran mission- all over the world. A message -The Evangelical Christian. ary entered the territory via the was sent to the Conference by Gobi Desert on two motor trucks. Mr. Gandhi, from which the fol- Jubilee in Malaysia One of the group writes of the lowing is taken: way this large, unevangelized It is impossible for Hindu India to- Malaya Methodists celebrate district is being reached. this month the fiftieth anniver- day to retrace her steps and go be- sary of the opening of the work On Sundays we hold services in our guest room, singing simple hymns and hind the great reformation that Gau- in Malaysia by William F. Oldgiving out gospel message to those tama effected in Hinduism. By his immense sacrifice, by his great re- who come. Quite a number of men nunciation and by the immaculate ham, now Bishop, who is planand school boys have come to listen, purity of his life he left an indelible ning to be present with Mrs. and a goodly number of people, both impress upon Hinduism, and Hinduold and young, just stroll in to see ism owes an eternal debt of gratitude Oldham. They will be guests of what is going on, attracted usually by to that great teacher. . . . .. Wherever the conference. Miss Sophie the sound of my little organ. We have the Budha went, he was followed by Blackmore, who opened the had many visitors from the various Woman's Foreign Missionary peoples that live here–dhinese, Tun- and surrounded not by non-Hindus gans, Turki, and others – and have but by Hindus who were saturated Society work in 1887, comes had opportunities to talk with them from Australia as guest of the about the things of God. . with the Hindu law. But the Bud- As there are many sick and suffer- dha's teaching, like his heart, was alling people here without proper medical aid, the traveling missionary expanding and all-embracing, and so Woman's Foreign Missionary always carries his medicine case, as it has survived his own body and Society. Bishop Badley will rep- swept across the face Qf the earth. resent the Board of Bishops. well as Bibles, gospels and tracts. Buddha never rejected Hinduism but Thus we have found it helpful to do he broadened its base. He gave it a A pageant entitled "The Morna little dispensary work for two hours new life and a new interpretation. every morning. During the last month Gautama was a Hindu of Hindus. ing Light," prepared by Mrs. E. or so we have seen some three hundred sick people, and have been able -The Christian Century. F. Lee, will be presented in Victo relieve much suffering. We hope toria Hall, Singapore. The hisin this way to show forth something ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC tory is given in a book entitled Religious Education Library Malaya Rejoices.
-The Christian Advocate.
of the love of God in Christ, and win In response to an appeal made Fijian Friends the confidence of the people. by Secretary Enrique C. Sob- repefia of the Philippine Com- It seems to be characteristic of -Moody Bible Institute the Fijians that when a new Monthly. mittee of Christian Education JAPAN -CHOSEN that the Philippine Islands be thing takes their fancy they put made one of the religious educa- amazing enthusiasm into it. The Professor Becomes Evangelist tion library centers, one hundred observance of Mothers' Day is choice books on religious educa- one instance; children do all the Here is a bit of early Chris- tion have been shipped to Manila work on that day to give their by the World's Sunday School mothers a rest. Sons send gifts, tianity in modern Japan. Mr. Association. These books will Suzuki, formerly teacher of form the nucleus of a circulating and students go home for the Physics in the Imperial Univer- library for use by religious edu- week end. Fijian women have cators in the Philippines and in linked up with the rest of the sity, has taken up a small farm Malaysia. in a mountainous region of world in the celebration of the northwest Japan, and built for Advance in Dutch East Indies Women's World Day of Prayer, himself a home from which, as a West Borneo, South Sumatra and attach tremendous imporbase, he engages in evangelism. and the 200 islands lying be- tance to it. They conduct their tween, a field comprising from He was once an agnostic, but his seven to eight million people, meetings in a fine, devotional contacts with the Omi Mission brought him to Christ. He fin- spirit. -The Missionary Review ished his scientific studies and (Australia). then mastered Greek and Hebrew in order to search the must be classed as unreached Scriptures in the original. Even- territory. These islands are in" WHY DO YOU GO?
tually, he felt called to give his habited by Chinese and Malay- Some go to church just for a walk, whole time to Christian work, speaking people in a proportion Some go there just to laugh and talk, and chose.this remote and unat- of about fifty-fifty. The Chinese Some go there the time to spend, Foreign Missionary U n ion, Some go there to meet a friend, tractive region. He has an as- Some go there for speculation, sembly hall in his own house which has seven Chinese mis- Some go there for observation, where he holds meetings and sionaries working in pioneer Some go there to doze and nod, Sunday school. -So S. Times. areas of the Dutch East Indies, Some–how few-to worship God.
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1 Our Missionary Bookshelf j Books Briefly Reviewed for the Readers' Information ~,=====–==============~=,~ The Living Religions of the Indian carried on its great work result- able. The pages, too, show an ing from Stanley's call and the enthusiastic admiration for People. By Nicol Macnicol. Pp. beginnings by Hannington and China. The illustrations are Mackay. The book is a careful vivid and most attractively done. 323, 10 shillings, 6 pence. The study of the social and economic No child can read the book with- structure of the Baganda people out coming away with a warm Southern Christian Movement Press, as affected by European in- appreciation of the Chinese and fluences which have pressed in with something of a knowledge London, 1934. upon them. The writer is sym- of the sweep of Chinese history pathetic with the ethical prin- -and it is to be hoped with a The six chapters of this book ciples of Christianity and in the desire to know more. In what main with its social influence. appears to be its primary purwere presented in connection He thinks that missionary effort pose the book has been very suc- "would be infinitely more val- cessful. with the Wilde Lectureship in uable if its emphasis was trans- ferred from its present objects It is, however, easy for the Natural and Comparative Reli- to the advocacy of ethical ideals." To him it is conceivable that specialist to criticize a book of gions at the University of Ox- "ideals of altruism in which the this kind. Obviously it is writ- strength of Christianity has al- ten by one with no particularly ford (1932-34). They deal with ways lain might come to be re- garded as not necessarily insep- expert knowledge of China. The Hinduism, India Islam, J ainism, arable from a code of sexual morality which no European so- literature on which the book is the religions of the Sikhs and the ciety has in fact ever followed." based is good but does not in- clude enough modern works on Parsees, and with Indian Chris- In other words, he thinks that history to incorporate the re- Christian missions should lay sults of the best recent scholartianity. They are a temperate less emphasis on theology and be ship. The author apparently satisfied with their social and knows nothing of the fascinatand restrained study both of the moral influence, with an adapta- ing glimpses which within the tion of moral ideals to the old past two or three decades archrehistorical background and of the African social organization. The ology has given of the begin- evidence is complete that west- nings of Chinese culture, and present situation in the case of ern civilization is going to mod- still narrates simply the time- ify radically the life of the honored story of early monarchs each of the religions of India. African people whether for good who at best are probably only or for evil. The problem for myths. Lao Tzu is spoken of as They represent an attitude of Christian missions is as to how an historical personage, and no much they can contribute to the doubt seems to have troubled the great fairness, not to say of change for good and how little author's mind concerning his au- to the change for evil. thorship of the Tao Te Ching. tenderness, in dealing with the S 0 m e noteworthy characters ROBERT E. SPEER. who might well have been made non-Christian religions of India, very attractive, such as Wang The Pageant of Chine.s,e History. By Mang, Wang An-shih, and Chu but there is no question with Dr. Elizabeth Seeger. Illustrated by Hsi, are not even mentioned. Bernard Watkins. New York, Long- The romanization is frequently Macnicol as to the place of mans, Greene and Company, 1934. Pp. xvii, 386. $3.00. of the type which is not in ac- Christ and no equation of Him cord with the most generally ac- The author has avowedly writ- cepted usage. Moreover, the with any other. Dr. Macnicol is, ten for children, and most de- modern period is dealt with en- lightfully she has done it. The tirely too sketchily to introduce of course, thoroughly equipped style is vivid and eminently read- even children in any adequate fashion to the stirring events of with knowledge and understand- ing for his task and this is a good book like others which he has written. There is a slight slip in the footnote on page 160 in placing Kerbela in Persia in- stead of in Iraq. R. E. S.
An African People in the Twentieth Century. By L. P. Mair. Pp. 300, 12s., 6d. George Routledge & Sons, London. 1934.
This thesis, by a lecturer in Colonial Administration in the London School of Economics, is "A study of the influence of European civilization on the structure of African society and of the practical lessons to be learned in the shaping of colonial policy."
The people studied are the Baganda of East Central Africa -the people among whom the Church Missionary Society has Any of the books noted in these columns will be sent by the REVIEW publishers on receipt of price.
r 47]
the late decades or to an under- A History of Religion. By Herbert observe the distinction between standing of the China of to-day. H. Gowen. 8vo. 698 pp. $3.50. facts and the author's opinions. Nor does the author seem to Morehouse Publishing Co. Mil- Noone can prudently challenge know much about missions; the waukee. 1934. the authority of the professor of only mention of them in the nine- history in Harvard University teenth and twentieth centuries is Dr. Gowen, Professor of Ori- when he makes statements of by way of semi-disparagement. ental Studies in the University fact, but his opinions are in a of Washington, and the author more debatable category. For It is, therefore, a pity that a of several volumes on the sub- example, the fact that Mark bebook which in many ways is ex- ject, writes as an historian lieved that Jesus claimed to be cellent should not before going rather than as a theologian or the Son of Man is coupled with to press have been perused by missionary but his viewpoint is the opinion: "I do not think that experts and so have been able to avowedly Christian. His pur- Jesus can have meant Himself" avoid some of the defects which pose is to trace God's purpose (pp. 42-43). Anyone with the now are obvious. and method of leading men from New Testament in his hands can darkness to light and from judge of that. K. S. LATOURETTE. death to life. The untranslated quotations do not tend to make There is much in the book that A Bosporus Adventure. Istanbul the book suited to popular use. is fine but throughout the Bible (Constantinople) Woman's College, and Jesus (the term Christ is 1871-1924. By Mary Mills Patrick, Dr. Gowen begins with primi- avoided) are discussed from a Stanford University Press, 1934. tive religion, discusses ancient thoroughly rationalistic view- Pp. 284. Price, $2.25. and modern religions, and closes point. He frankly declares: "I with an attempt to look into the do not believe in the existence of Here is the story of a great future. He finds some difficulty any creator, and when I use the adventure in education for the in defining religion; "Man's word God, I mean the totality of womanhood of the Near East by faith in an ideal beyond him- values, not a person or a personal the president emeritus of Istan- self" is too broad a definition being" (p. 85). The reader is bul Woman's College. Dr. Pat- for it would include those who told that "Paul's teaching difrick went to Constantinople as a have no religion. The same ob- fered seriously from the teachteacher in 1875, four years after jection holds with regard to the ing of Jesus" (p. 75), and that the founding of the school. She author's treatment of Judaism the Christianity which will surretired in 1924. During this pe- and other religions, which he de- vive is neither St. Paul's teachriod the college grew from a scribes as "designed to prepare ing about Jesus, nor that of any girl's school of forty pupils to an men's minds for the dawning of one else, not even of Jesus himinstitution with several hundred a new spiritual day." If this self, but that which is freshly students, in modern buildings was the design, all except the evoked in each generation by the and on a campus of seventy Hebrew religion have failed to spirit which animated Jesus and acres. fulfil their purpose. He accepts Paul in theirs." We wonder the historicity of the Old and whether the students who heard The story is told in accordance New Testament but does not these lectures realized that what with the periods of Turkish rule, seem to recognize the Old Testa- they were getting as "modern before and after the Revolution. ment as a special divine revela- scholarship" was simply old in- Conditions under the reaction- tion to prepare the way for fidelity in a new dress. ary Sultan Abdul Hamid and un- Christ. He accepts Christ as dider the new republic are strong- vine Lord and Saviour but does ARTHUR J. BROWN. ly contrasted. The aut h 0 r not pronounce on such matters sketches the dark days of op- as virgin birth, the miracles and Ein Christ auf den Strasen der Welt. pression, the struggle for free- the resurrection. Das Leben des Dr. John R. Mott. dom, and the atmosphere of old By Basil Mathews. Herausgegeben Turkey as the background for The book has an immense von Professor Julius Richter (Berthe new day in modern Turkey, amount of information on the lin). Berlin: 1m Furche-Verlag. which she believes is one of the different r e Ii g ion s and is Price, R. M. 4,80. Pp. 347. most progressive of republics. adapted to discerning students She pays tribute to the noble rather than to the general read- Dr. Mott and his world-wide women who were her colleagues er. There are numerous refer- circle of friends are to be conon the field, and not less those ences to source material. gratulated on t his excellent who contributed of their substance so liberally for the build- translation of his life-story through the indefatigable pen of ing of the College and its endow- Paul, His Heritage and Legacy. By Prof. Julius Richter of Berlin. ment. We are surprised that Kirsopp Lake. The Mary Flexner there is almost no reference to Lectures on the Humanities at Bryn Islam, until recently the state Mawr College. 153 pp. $2.00. Ox- The original work by Ba'sil ford University Press, New York. Mathews was reviewed at length religion of Turkey.
An excellent bibliography, a This is not a biography of in this Magazine. It will suffice list of publications by the Amer- Paul but a general discussion of therefore to note that the trans- ican members of the faculty, and Jewish and Gentile Christianity, lation is unabridged, except for a good index add to the value of with Paul viewed as a "bridge" the omission of the maps and il- the book. S. M. ZWEMER. between them. Readers need to lustrations. S. M. ZWEMER.
and the Cosmos. By Theodore Missionary Facts from W orId Fields. Apolo, the Apostle to the
Graebner. pp. 352. $3.00. Wil- 18 pp. 15 cents. Baptist Board of Wm. J. W. Roome. 95 pp. 1s. liam B. Erdman Pub. Co., Grand Education. New York. Marshall, Morgan & Scott. London. Rapids, Michigan. 1934. The Omi Brotherhood in Japan. Wm. Church and State in Latin America: This author, a professor of Merrell Vories. Illus. 180 pp. A History of Politico-Ecclesiastical $1.00. Omi Brotherhood. Omi- Relations. J. Lloyd Mecham. 550 plIilosophy in the Concordia Hachiman, Japan. pp. $4.50. University Press. Chapel Hill, N. C. Theological Seminary in St. The Responsibility of Success. W. Wilson Cash. 92 pp. 1s. C. M. S. Shintoism: The Indigenous Religion Louis, calls his book "a critical London. of Japan. A. C. Underwood. 126 pp. 2s. 6d. Epworth Press. Lonanalysis of atheism." This is a The Re-Discovery of the Spirit. Wm. don. Owen Carver. 160 pp. $1.50. Retrue characterization. The vol- vell. New York. Zoroastrianism. J. W. Waterhouse. 134 pp. 28. 6d. Epworth Press. ume is a cogent and vigorous Something Happened. Mildred Cable London. and Francesca French. $2.00. 320 and, to the unprepossessed mind, pp. C. I. M. Philadelphia. Jesus Christ and Primitive Need: A Missionary Study in the Chrisa convincing statement of the in- Southern Baptists in the Great Ad- tian Message. C. P. Groves. 260 venture. T. B. Ray. $1.25. 201 pp. pp. 6s. Epworth Press. London. validity of any theory of life and Baptist Sunday School Board. Nashville. Problems of the Pacific, 1933. Prothe world based on materialism, ceedings of the 5th Conference of Stories of Hymns We Love. Cecilia the Institute of Pacific Relations. mechanism or atheism. There is M. Rudin. $1.00. 50 pp. John Edited by Bruno Lasker and W. L. Rudin & Co. Chicago. Holland. 490 pp. $5.00. Universa great wealth of quotation from ity Press. Chicago. Stories of Indian Saints. The Late an immense mass of reading and Justin E. Abbott. Rs. 3. 500 pp. Personal Items United Theological College of Westthe material is presented so ern India. Poona, India. (Concluded from page 1.) clearly and simply that any Peace by Revolution: An Interpreta- in January to conduct meetings under tion of Mexico. Frank Tannen- the auspices of the Inter-Varsity Stuthoughtful person can follow the baum. Illus. 317 pp. $3.50. Co- dent Christian Fellowship. lumbia University Press. New argument. There are some ty- York. *** pographical errors which should Sixty Years of Service on Behalf of Dr. Ju Sam Ryang, general super- Lepers and Their Children. 94 pp. intendent of the Korea Methodist be corrected in another edition. Mission to Lepers. London. Church since 1930, has been reelected for a second term of four years. Dr. It would be well if the authori- A History of the Church in Vene- Ryang is a graduate of Vanderbilt zuela-1810-1930. Mary Watters. and Yale Universities. ties quoted were more fully 260 pp. $3.00. University Press. Chapel Hill, N. C. *** dated as some of them also are Rebel Destiny: Among the Bush Ne- Rev. John W. Nichols, D.D., was perhaps outdistanced and sev- groes of Dutch Guiana. Melville J. consecrated Suffragan Bishop of and Frances S. Herskovitz. Illus. Shanghai, November 1st. eral authorities still living are 366 pp. $3.00. McGraw-Hill. New York and London. •*• quoted in terms to which they Malekula: A Vanishing People in Sir Wilfred Grenfell, who is nearmight justly take exception. But the New Hebrides. A. Bernard ing three score years and ten, plans to Deacon. Illus. 789. 42s. Rout- retire from active work in Labrador no such mass of material as this ledge. London. and Newfoundland but will continue to promote the work for people to could be assembled without some The World Wide Church-1934-5. whom he has devoted his life by help- 130 pp. 1s. Church House, Press ing promote the work of the Internaqualification, and the book can and Publications Boards. London. tional Grenfell Association. He has 1934. been for more than forty years a big be heartily recommended as a Christian brother to the people of The Case for Missions in Modern Labrador and the Newfoundland coast. straight out, plain spoken, well India. E. C. Dewick. 25 pp. 3 as. Palghat Mission. Palghat, South informed statement of a positive India.
Christian view of God and the Africa and the Making of Books: Being a Survey of Africa's Need of world. R. E. S. Literature. Margaret Wrong. 56 pp. 6d. International Committee New Books on Christian Literature for Africa. Obituary Notes Donald Fraser of Livingstonia. By China's First Preacher, Liang A-Fa, (Concluded from 2d cover.) Agnes R. Fraser. 7s. 6d. Hodder 1789-1855. G. H. McNeur. Illus. & Stoughton. London. 128 pp. Mex. $1.50. Kwang Hsueh The Archbishop of Rupert's Land, Pub. House. Shanghai. Jesus Christ and Primitive Need. By Rt. Rev. I. O. Stringer, D.D., died Charles Pelham Groves. 6s. Ep- Builders of the Indian Church. worth Press. London. Stephen Neill. 159 pp. 3s. 6d. suddenly in Winnipeg, Manitoba, on Hodder & Stoughton. London. Das Buch Der Deutschen Weltmis- his way to take part in a parish meet- sionen. Julius Richter. Illus. 332 Sadhu Sundar Singh: A Personal Mem- pp. Leopold Klotz. Gotha. oir. C. F. Andrews. 256 pp. 3s. ing. Since 1892, Bishop Stringer had 6d. Hodder & Stoughton. London. China's Problems and Their Solution. ministered to dwellers in the Arctic Wang Ching Wei. $2.50. China Aggrey the African Teacher. Wm. J. United Press. Shanghai. W. Roome. 94 pp. 1s. Marshall, wastes. *• * Morgan & Scott. London. Christianity Tested. Oscar Macmil- Dr. Marcus C. Mason, a retired lan Buck. 255 pp. $2. Abingdon Press. New York. pioneer missionary to Assam, died in The Daughter of Abd Salam. Flor- East Aurora, N. Y., October 15, 1934. ence Mary Fitch. Reprint. Illus. For fifty years he worked among the 75 pp. $1.50. Bruce Humphries. Boston. savage tribes of the Garo Hills. His Ein Christ Auf Den Strassen Der first task was to reduce the Garo lan- Welt-Dr. John R. Mott. Basil Matthews. 348 pp. Rm. 4.80. guage to writing, and it is due to him Furche-Verlag. Berlin. and to Dr. E. G. Phillips that the The Faiths of Mankind. William Pa- Garos have the Bible in their own ton. Second Edition. 156 pp. 2s. 6d. S. C. M. P. London. vernacular. THE MOSLEM WORLD SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, Editor SOME ARTICLES IN THE JANUARY NUMBER: Unitarianism and the Gospel …………………………… Archbishop of York The Study of the Koran Text ……….•……………………… Arthur Jeffery Does the Bible Speak of Mohammed? ………………………. James Robson A Baha'i Pontiff in the Making ………………..•………… Albert E. Suthers AI Madina: Arabic or Aramaic ….•…….•…..•………….. Eric F. F. Bishop Moslems in the United States ……••.•….••..••…………•… G. H. Bousquet Christianity and Islam in Lanao ……..•..•.•.•…………….. Frank C. Laubach To Whom Will Ye Liken God? ……………………….. Laurence E. Browne A Moslem Shrine in Buda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . " …….. Ladislaus Draskoay The Moslem Doctrine of Revelation ……………………………"Orientalist"
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The Missionary Review of the World — February 1929
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C…. NON W. H: '1'. GAIRDNER OF CAIRO …………………… 8AMUEL M. ZWEMER 91 A pen picture 01 Qne of the most gifted and dC1)oted Ohristian. WOrkfYI'8 among Mo- hmn1Judans oj the Near East.
THE SUPREM~] PERSON AND '[HE SUPRE~m '1'ES'1' …………•. ROBERT A. HUME 97 The story of how a m·i8Simtary' in Iildin for half a century presented the Gospel of Christ to his Indian hearers.
A CRISIS-HOUR IN HISTORY •…•………………………… W. REMFRY Hm'T 104 WIlY I BECAME A CHRISTIAN ………………………. , …… JOH" A. SUBHAN 105 A f1WBt impressive account of the steps that led a Mohammedan in. India to accept Christ us his Lord and Sat,i01tr.
A NEW ERA IN HOME MISSIONS …………………………. CHAUES L. WHITE 114 A cZI'ar~ cOt/eiRe statement aR to the progress in Home ~i1Iissions) and the prescnt Qut· look, by the President of tTiC Horne J/issions Catt-neil.
CHRISTIAN KRUS WHO HAVE STOOD THJiJ TEST . _.. WALTER AND MAUDE WILY,IA"" 116 LAYing C'tl'idenCic of the PQWC1r of Christ to trronsjornt and strengthen crude West Ajrlcans.
THE FEDERAL COUNCIL ANNIVRRSARY ••………………… CHARLES L. STELZLE 125 The outstanding fea,tures oj the recent twentieth anni1'ersary meeting of the Federal OotttlcH of OhtwcheB of Cht'iBt in AmcricaJ its achievements alld its program.
:>IETHODS FOR WORKERS .•…•………… ' …… ,EDITED BY JIbs. F. r. JOHNSON 12~ WO:>IAN"S FOREIGN MISSION BULLETIN ………… EDITED BY ELLA D. MACLAURIN 136 WO;;IAN'S HO:IE MISSION BUJ,I,ETIlS' …………. EDITED BY FLORENCE E. QUINLAN 139 WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK ………………………… EDITED BY HARLAN P. BEACH 142 BOOKS WORTH READING . _…….. , …. . 15S TERMS: $2.50 a year. ($2.00 in clubs of five.) Foreign postage, 50 cents. Single copies, 25 cents. Published monthly. Copyrighted, 1928, by MISSIONARY REVIEW PUBLISHING COMPANY, INC. All rights reserved.
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ROBERT E. SnEB. President W:r..r. I. CHAMBERLAIN, Vice-Pre8ident DELAVAN L. PIERSON, liIeoretMY WALTER McDOUGALL, Treasurer Publication Office, 3d & Relly Sts., Harrisburg, Pa. 20c 11 copy. $2.00 a year, Editorial and Bus;n ••• Office, 156 F;fth Avenue, New York City Eutered as second·cIass matter at the Post Office, Harrisburg, Pa., under Act of March 3, 1879. SECRETARY W. R. WHEELER of the ARE I Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions and Rev. Robert M. Russell of Larch- SAFE, POPULAR, PROFITABLE mont, N. Y., returned in November from West Africa. They traveled more than THEIR VALUE IS NOT INFLUENCED BY 18,000 miles in their five months' tour and addressed more than 30,000 converts in Cameroun.
COUNCILOR RAILTON YUAN is one of Crop Failure three Chinese first to be elected to the Bank Failure position of Councilor of the Municipal Shift in Real Estate Value Council of the International Settlement Stock Market Fluctuation of Shanghai, ranking in every respect Rise or Fall in Commercial Values as equals with the foreign members. He is also a director of the Chinese Y. M. THERE IS NO C. A., Vice-Principal of the Ningpo Methodist College, and holds office in Need for Reinvestment civic and commercial organizations. He Changing of Tenants is an earnest Christian and delights in Necessity for Repairs preaching, whenever he returns to his Need for Improvements Ningpo home. He is a generous supporter of his mission. A missionary For further in/ormation addr",. : friend writes that Councilor Yuan is the W. J. Elliott, Treasurer, Board of Home Mission. type of man who makes one glad that one ever came to China to proclaim the I and Church Extension of the Methodist Episcopal Gospel. He is fair and just in his judgments not an extremist, but one who is Church, I70 I Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa., or conciliatory in hIs dealings with all Morri.W. Ehnel, Trea.urer, Board of Foreign classes of men. MissioD& of the Methodist Episcopal Church. 150 _II Filth Avenue, New York City. THE REV. J. STUART HOLDEN, D.D., of London, resigned his position of Home SONS OF AFRICA Director of the China Inland Mission in October. He says: "My responsibilities I By G. A. GOLLOCK I in other directions, chiefly in respect of the work to which I believe myself Lively and arresting hiographical primarily called-the ministry of God's sketches of outstanding Negro Afri- Word-have made it impossible to de- cans, including kings and chiefs vote more time or closer thought to ad- back to the 15th century. Nowhere ministrative service to the Mission than have these ageless people heen so I have given. . . . Recently the state of vigorously portrayed. my health, and the urgency of my doctors have made me review my tale of A unique book of vivid work and concentrate my limited powers interest. Decorative upon the.t ministry which is my first cover, head pieces, and responsibility." a map. $1.50 at book. stores. OBITUARIES Missionary Education Movement REV. CHARLES INWOOD, D.D., Home Director of the Ceylon and India Gen- 150 Fifth Avenue New York eral Mission since 1918, died on October 12th at the age of seventy-seven. He began preaching at fourteen years of age. Few men of his generation had exercised so broad and fruitful a ministry as he in Great Britain and in other parts of the world. His influence was most marked, at Keswick and in other meetings for the deepening of the spiritual life. He was also a Director of the Evangelical Union of South America and he made a tour of the Neglected Continent in 1912. What he saw convinced him that the Abbe Dominic spoke the truth of neglected Catholics, that their religion was a "baptized heathenism," while most of the Indians were in an even worse condition.
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PRESIDENT CHIANG KAI-SHEK AND VICE-PHESIDENT FENG YU-HSIAXG OF CHINA
LII, No.2 February
LOOKING FORWARD IN CHINA BY REV. ROWLAND M. CROSS, B.D., Peking, China Mt83iO?ta.f'Y oj the A1nedcan BOllird O. F . .ill! .. 1917- T HE sixth annual meeting of Conference, the findings of which the NaHonal Christian Coun- were discussed, and are being cil of China (October 11-18) printed in both Chinese and Engbrought to Shanghai nearly one lish for the Chinese Church. hundred delegates, from all over China, from Java to Manchuria Under the leadership of Dr. C. and Szechwan to Hongkong.. They Y. Cheng, one group discussed represented a Christian church "The Christian Life and Message and the Central Emphasis of the membership of 300,000 – repre- Church," and called for emphasis senting many branches of the upon retreats and for the right kind of Christian literature. The Protestant Church. Two-thirds of report closed with this special the Council were Chinese and the recommendation: leaders included the General Secretary, Dr. Cheng Ching-yi; the We believe that a limited number Chairman, Dr. David Yui; the of carefully selected visitors from Chairman of the Business Com- abroad should be invited to China for mittee, Dr. T. C. Bau, the Chair- periods of from six months to two man of one of the Commissions; years each to render .specialized serv- Dr. T. T. Lew, Dr. H. H. K'ung, ice; such as, a study of actual con- of Nanking, Dr. Wu-i Fang, the ditions, help in analyzing problems, new head of Ginling College; Dr. evaluation of present methods, guid- Y. C. Yang, president of Soochow ance in research, information regard- University, Mrs. C. C. Chen, Miss ing experience in other countries and Ting Shu-ching, General Secretary giving encouragement and inspiration of the Y. W. C. A. and many to Christians in China.
others. The Chinese Church is Another commission led by Dr.
rapidly becoming indigenous in its T. T. Lew, of Yenching University, leadership. expressed its expectation that the It was distinctly a forward-Iook- leaders of the government would ing conference with evidence of an endeavor to uphold religious lib- eagerness to go ahead on a new erty, promote moral education and program with hope and enthu- eliminate military warfare. The siasm. Church, in addition to its distinctly Eight members of the China religious activities should give spe- group had attended the Jerusalem cial attention to the creation of a 81)
healthy, constructive public opin- recruited in response to requests ion, to the assistance of the govern- of agencies in China that are com- ment in policies of social reform posed of or include Chinese in their and the preparation of men and membership and that request be women for public service. for people with proper spiritual Christians of other nations in qualities and who are especially China and elsewhere were exhorted fitted for specific tasks for which to be of real service to China by persons are sought."
spreading knowledge of the real "Cooperation and Unity," was facts regarding China, by support- the subject of a two-day delibera- ing a fair policy in dealing with tion by Commission IV, H. C. Tsao, China and by practical cooperation leader. They expressed apprecia- in China's reconstruction. tion of the assurance given at The following telegram was sent Jerusalem, that the older churches to President Chiang Kai-shek and do not desire "to impose beliefs the government in Nanking: and practices" upon the younger The nation being now united, the churches nor to bind up the Gosera of political tutelage has begun, pel with fixed ecclesiastical forms reconstruction is under way and the but desire to leave the younger nation is rejoicing …. churches free to express the Gos- We look to the Government to up- pel through their own genius and hold religious liberty, promote moral through forms suitable to their education, reduce military establishments, suppress banditry and work for racial heritage." It expressed permanent peace. thankfulness that the Jerusalem Conference saw the "urgent neces- This humble organization desires sity to eliminate the complexity of with its fellow Christians in the en- the missionary enterprise due to tire country activity to propagate the the great number of denominations religious teaching of universal love and the diversity and even compeaccording to Christ and thereby to try tition of the missionary agencies." to complete the great work started by Dr. Sun, of building a new nation. It urged that consideration be In the work of the coming year we given to the possibility of re- shall devote special effort in support moving hindrances to the mutual of the government in such movements recognition by one church of the as the suppression of opium and pros- members of the other churches and titution, the improvement of family that there be an interchange of life, the amelioration of the conditions delegates at meetings of church of agricultural and industrial workers. bodies.
Dr. Luella Miner was chairman It expressed its gratification at of a third commission on "Leader- the recognition by the Interna- ship." The need for a careful tional Missionary Council that "the study of the whole problem of relation of the Church and mission recruiting and training church should be 'church-centric' and that workers was emphasized. This this conception of foreign missions training should be planned and makes it necessary'to revise the supervised "under conditions sim- functions of the mission, where it ilar to those which will be met in is an administrative agency, so actual service." that the indigenous church will be- A recommendation was made come the center from which the that "hereafter missionaries be whole missionary enterprise of the
LOOKING FORWARD IN CHINA
area will be directed." In coop- "holding" bodies for church properation with the I. M. C. a thor- erty, which a number of the misough scientific study of the whole sions are prepared to lease to the problem of self-support is to be Chinese Church. undertaken. The Council is to be reorganized The council passed important and the delegates next spring are recommendations regarding the Christian program in rural dis- to be elected by the churches and tricts as follows: not by missions. 1. That the Council, in cooperation Dr. T. C. Bau was chosen chairwith other national Christian organizations and church bodies, assist the man of the National Christian College of Agriculture and Forestry Council to succeed Dr. Z. T. Yui, of Nanking University to plan for the whose efficient and devoted service reorganization of the Summer Insti- during six difficult years are highly tute of the University more adequately appreciated. Mr. C. I. Cio and to meet the needs of rural pastors, Miss T. C. Kuan were appointed to evangelists, teachers and lay leaders, the secretarial staff during the both men and women. past year.
2. That the Rural Life Committee There was much inspiration reselect a rural church in which a cor- ceived at the meetings of the Counrelated program will be carried out cil. Rev. Li Shih-men, of Canton, as an experiment, using local leader- told how in spite of communist upship assisted by experienced workers. risings the church had made prog- ress during the past year as seen 3. That the Council secure as soon in education, in extensive evangelas practicable a member of its staff ism-one meeting being attended to give special attention to rural by 5,OOO-and in the organization work. of a Chinese Bible Society which had already sold 80,000 copies of 4. That the Council earnestly com- the Scriptures. Rev. C. T. Chang. mend the findings of the Jerusalem of Hunan, said that street preachmeeting on Rural Problems to the ing is possible again in Changsha Churches and Missions in China as "the Moscow of China." Rev. E. a basis for study in seeking to form- S. Yu, of Kaifeng felt that Hunan ulate a comprehensive program for is to be congratulated that in Gen. rural work of the Church in China. Feng YU-hsiang "Christian prin- ciples have been woven into his During the coming year, the personality and his works even if Council is to investigate the ques- he should deny connection with the tion of the registration of the movement." Churches with the Government and the method of creating Chinese THE CALL TO PREACH AND PRACTICE All simple is the work to preach the Cross; To practice it puts life where death has been; To seek for gains but fills the earth with loss, And ease in saviours keeps earth full of sin.
o valiant warriors of our conquering Lord, Receive the call again that sends men out; Take to the field, and with your battle sword Fight till the world shall hear the victory shout 1 -Otto H. Houser.
EVANGELISTS-REV. C. K. LEE. 1IIR. LELAND WANG. REV. MARCUS
NEW HOPE FOR CHINA BY GEORGE T. B. DAVIS T HERE are signs of a new Another indication of the new day in China. One of the order of things lies in the desire rays of the approaching dawn of the Christians for ecclesiastical is the change of attitude of Chi- independence. This is the very nese leaders with regard to com- goal for which the missionaries munism. A year or two ago have been longing and praying for Bolshevism was sweeping over decades. One missionary society China like a prairie fire. Today is turning their churches entirely both civil and military leaders are over to the Chinese; and the misdoing their utmost to stamp it out. sionaries, accompanied by' Chinese This constitutes a remarkable an- evangelists, will do pioneer work swer to the prayer of God's chil- in preaching the Gospel in undren in many lands. Let us pray reached towns and villages. that those in authority may realize that the Lord Jesus Christ and the Another augury of the new day Word of God are the only hope of is the widespread dissatisfaction China. with intellectual sermons and so- cial service; and a returning to Another encouraging sign lies in the simple preaching of the Cross the fact that persecution has not as the only thing that will satisfy wrecked the church in China, but the soul, and lead sinners into the has purified the true followers of Light. A group of Chinese pas- Christ, and has prepared the way tors and evangelists returned to for a great work of the Spirit of Shanghai after a tour of several God. In some cases the churches weeks in South China and the have grown while passing through leader of the party, Mr. C. K. Lee, persecution. tells how both pastors and people 88
NEW HOPE FOR CHINA
are turning away from the husks the life-giving Books have been of subterfuge, and are hungry for sent to missionaries, pastors, and other workers for wise and careful the Gospel. distribution. This great victory Rev. T. Darlington, of the Mil- has been wrought by a great vol- ume of believing prayer on the ton Stewart Evangelistic Fund, part of God's children in many tells of three pastors in North lands. From far and near come China who were about to give up tidings of the glorious blessing their churches and go into secular work. All three gained a new vi- A CHINESE POLICEMAN WITH HIS sion of Christ, and have gone back to· preach the Gospel in the power POCKET TESTAMENT of the Spirit. Far and near come encouraging reports of open and that is following the presentation receptive hearts following the re- of the Testaments. cent turmoil. The first 1,000 Testaments have Another hopeful sign is the been given away in this city. The readines5 of the people to hear the blessing received far exceeds our Gospel message. One of the Chi- expectations. The Christians are nese evangelists, Mr. Leland Wang more than ever reading their was converted while serving in the Bibles. Our meetings are full of Chinese Navy, and later resigned souls who are wanting to learn to devote his entire time to preach- more about Christ. Many have ing Christ. Recently in Hongkong decided for Christ, and have given the largest theatre in the city was their names as inquirers. When crowded, with hundreds standing, to hear him preach the Gospel of salvation through Christ. Mr. Wang and his associates have used thousands of the pocket' Testaments, and recently he sent for 2,000 more for use in Foochow, his home city.
Another auspicious event is the bold testimony for Christ given by General Chang Chih chiang in high governmental and other circles. He unflinchingly proclaims the Gospel to high and low and rich and poor. In an address to Shanghai bankers, he told them that Christianity and the Christians are the hope of China. General Chang loves the Word of God so much that he has purchased thousands of Bibles and Testaments for distribution.
Another harbinger of the new day in China is the success attending the nation-wide distribution of New Testaments. Over 600,000 of
we have received more Testaments, the distribution of the Testaments we will start at our eleven out- is Mr. T. H. Lin, one of the staff stations. of the American Bible Society.
Mr. Wang, a Chinese worker, re- During a recent visit to Central ceived such blessing from giving China he sent urgent requests for the Word to others that he has 4,000 of the pocket Testaments.
decided to distribute Testaments In Shanghai, last spring, Mar- as long as he lives. Another Chi- shall Feng welcomed back Mr. and nese, Mr. Yen, tells of the remark- Mrs. Sallee and their party of mis- sionaries to the province of Honan.
They arrived safely in Kaifeng, the capital, and found no trace of anti-foreign feeling. The mission school compound was occupied by about a thousand wounded soldiers.
The missionaries began preaching to them and on the second Sunday memorable scenes were witnessed.
The church, which seats about six hundred, was packed with men who filled the aisles, the pulpit platform, and the window sills. At the close of the service so few left that a second sermon was de- livered. Then the men were re- quested to go, and the building was filled again with women.
In spite of all the missionary ef- fort in China for decades past, many believe that probably three hundred million people in China have never yet clearly heard the Gospel message. In apostolk days it was in a time of great affliction that the Gospel spread. This may be true today.
GENERAl, CHANG CHIH CHIANG Not the least of all the signs of hope for a new day in China, is able results that came from giving the fact that the Holy Spirit is lay- copies of the Testament to those ing a burden of intercessory prayer who were opposed to Christianity. for a great spiritual awakening He says: "I received twenty copies upon the hearts of His children in of the Pocket Testament, and dis- many lands.
tributed them to twenty men who Shall we continue to pray earn- were anti-Christian. We followed estly and fervently for the mis- up the work, and fourteen of these sionaries and pastors and Chinese have become Christians." Christians, for the spread of the One of the most enthusiastic of Word of God, and for spiritual the hundreds of Chinese pastors awakening, so that a new day of and workers who have helped in spiritual life wiII dawn in China?
W. H. T. GAIRDNER OF CAIRO*
A Many Talented Missionary to Moslems BY REV. SAMUEL M. ZWEMER, D.D., Cairo, Egypt O N MAY 22, 1928, there en- habits _. . . .. Why should Christians tered into rest and the glori- have narrow minds? What grace is ous Life of the triumphant there in them? None whatever. In faithful, one of the most distin- fact, the very reverse. Have you never guished leaders of missionary work heard real unfairness in argument-a in the Near East. From Cairo, as total want of sympathy with any point the centre of his life-activities, that of view save the speaker's own-an wonderful spirit influenced wide circles far beyond Egypt, while in WILLIAM H. 'l'ElMPLEl GAIRDNER the great capital of the Moslem world his soul burned with the ardor of a star of the first magnitude in its · intellectual brilliancy and the versatility of his genius.
Gairdner from his youth up had the best educational advantages, not only in a Christian home of culture and refinement, but in his preparatory studies and at Oxford. There he was soon distinguished as a scholar and he remained one all his life. He loved books and .devoured them but always with discrimination. The best Book of all books was therefore worthy of his most earnest study and most rigid spiritual discipline. While still an undergraduate he gave an address on "The First Duty of Students" which is a key to his own life: If once a man goes down from ungracious intolerance, which makes college without having acquired the one feel inclined to take sides against habit of study, he will never acquire what one really believes? These are it. These years at college are our one characteristics of the warped mind. chance. Often enough even studious And such minds are often produced men, who get caught into the busy by failure to study while at college. whirl of a practical life, have perforce Let us be broad-minded in the true to drop this habit of study. But they sense of that much misused, muchcan never lose the benefit of past abused word.
• As a fuli biography of Canon Guirdner is One can judge how wide the Boon to appear from the pres8 written by his range of his scholarship was by an incident that took place during the ;~~&ago~1y i~tt~~~~' t~1i::et~h 1f·er~a:o~~ki~~: world war. There were more than {If the portrait and give a few reminiscenses of his many-sided ilfe–a life of four dimensions toward GOd and maIl.-S. M. Z.
91
a score of Y. M. C. A. centres and conventionalities. He was too busy camps for the armies in Egypt. about men's souls to spend much Gairdner among many others was time on dress; his versatile mind, expected to lecture at Kantara for ever ready to turn its attention in some days to the soldiers. In a new and unexplored quarter, answer to a question about sub- could not fix itself on the trivial jects, he sent the following list of things of life and sometimes topics from which to select: seemed to wander far from the "Mohammed; Mohammedanism; obviously close at hand. This ex- The History of Egypt, Ancient, plains his frequent absent-minded- Middle, or Modern; Modern Novel- ness. He was a good story-teller, ists and H. G. Wells; Ancient and an excellent companion, a skillful Modern Cosmogonies (early sys- musician (on the piano and the tems of Astronomy and the latest) ; organ which he often played simul- The Causes of the War from Cresar taneously); he was also an artist to Kaiser (race movements and in temperament, a dramatist and European history): Some Shakes-' poet. All of these gifts of genius peare plays; Robert Louis Steven- he laid on the altar of service for son; The Development and the King. His dramatic entertain- Structure of 'Music; How the Hier- ments and musical evenings (when oglyphics were Deciphered." Such Mrs. Gairdner added her talents) was the list on that half sheet of were a delight to the whole mis- paper and he asked for half a day's sionary community in Cairo and to notice before giving a lecture! a wide circle of other friends. Once Judge from this the force, the a year he might play "Charlie grace, the versatility of the man Chaplin" to the uproarious amusewho proposed, mid the flies and ment of children and their elders, tobacco smoke of a Y. M. C. A. hut, but all through the year he was the to talk to newly-enlisted men and warm and welcome friend of chilveteran officers on such themes and dren in his own home, of unfortuyet hold their attention. Gairdner, nate children in the hospitals and however, was not a naturally easy of the Egyptian children with speaker. His manner of speech was whom he came in contact. often hesitating and his bodily presence was sometimes against Here was a missionary who gave him. A friend at Oxford described one short life-time of service, in him as "active, vigorous, athletic, one place to one great idea-the with a well-built figure but which evangelization of Moslems. He he generally covered with unat- found his lever and fulcrum in tractive and ill-fitting clothes." Cairo and set out to move a world. Who can forget seeing him minus collar and necktie on a bicycle read- His call to special service in ing a newspaper and pushing the Egypt came through a godly wopedals to be on time at a Com- man, Miss Annie Van Sommer, at mittee! a summer conference, and this word spoken in faith had results far beyond all expectation.
One Great Purpose Before he sailed for Egypt to work under the Church Mission- With one great purpose in life, ary Society he gave unstinted serv- to exalt and preach Christ Cruci- ice to the Christian Student fied, Gairdner was careless of many Movement in Great Britain. He
CANON W. H. T. GAIRDNER OF CAIRO
CANON GAIRDNER. BISHOP McINNES (NOW IN JERUSALEM) AND SIX MOSLEM CONVERTS WHO RECEIVED BAPTISM I~ CAIRO wrote three study textbooks on still are, and not reaching much of the Prayer and on the Gospel of St. strongest and best material at all; John; he won recruits for service while men are not being won-and abroad; he deepened spiritual life how few men are being won!-while in the universities, for he had al- the very desire to win them, instead ready come under the influence of of burning like a fire within the bones men such as John R. Mott, Robert of those who profess Christ, is often P. Wilder and Robert E. Speer. No cold, or sometimes positively does not wonder that he wrote: exist-is our ideal realised?
Our purpose must be, then, to enter Gairdner's missionary ideals every college in the Kingdom, and hav- were lofty but sober. No one ing entered it, win it wholly for realised as keenly as he that the Christ. Or, to put it into a phrase, evangelization of Egypt was humust not our aims be to win the col- manly an impossible task. He did leges for Christ, each of all and all not underestimate the strength of of each? …. " While our Unions are Islam, nor was he ignorant of the touching a mere set, as many of them tremendous under-tow in the surf
for those who tried to save the world, is today forestalling and lost. If ever a man travailed and gaining on Christianity."
toiled to bring a rescued man Face to face with such a problem through the breakers it was Gaird- in the presentation of Christ, nero At his funeral some of these Gairdner was not only an earnest trophies of God's saving grace missionary but an able apologist broke down in tears when they re- and theologian. All of us in Cairo membered what their salvation had turned to him for inspiration and cost him. In July 1919 he wrote to guidance in the inevitable Moslem Dr. Mott: controversy forced upon us through The great thing, I think, to realize their press and their champions. is, that in coming to the Levant, you In his paper for the Jerusalem are coming to Mission fields entirely Council Meeting he said: different from India, China and Japan, Contact with Unitarian, deistic so that it might be expected, a priori Islam forces the Christian to work out that the plan and the conduct d your his theology experientially. Consider inter-mission conferences will also be the Eastern Churches which so lament- ably failed to stay or stem Islam. different.
The chief differences which I note What is their key-note? It is "ortho- are :-there, . old mission-fields, here doxy." To the average Eastern Chris- young ones: there organized churches tian "orthodoxy" conveys a purely of converts and their descendants, here intellectual and metaphysical signifi- almost none of such, but onJy old cance. If there be any ethical reality oriental churches and churches recent- underlying the jilioque controversy, it ly formed at their expense; conse- may reside just here, that the Eastern quently, there, comparatively little Churches thought only of the trans- sectarian feeling, here sectarian feel- cendental origin of the Holy Ghost, and ing, which in some cases is almost co- left out of their creed the fact that, extensive with religious feeling; there dispensationally, He is mediated to us governments largely friends, and ever, always, and only by the glorified publics ready to be well-disposed, here Jesus Christ. The "Catholic" Churches governments intensely unfriendly, and of the West have shared this danger public in a present state of savage ill- of considering the Trinity first and disposition. foremost transcendentally, and equally so have those Churches which vow al- The Impossible-l'ossible l'roblem legiance to Calvin and Luther. Such In his little book "The Rebuke of an attitude is helpless against Islam. Islam" he stated truly that Islam Who can teIl what moral results will was "the impossible-possible problem. For it is the only one of the accrue, when we allow the Trinity to dominate the devotional life of the heart, as well as our theology? Who great religions to come after Chris- shall gauge the debt we may yet have tianity; the only one that definitely co confess to Islam, if that great an- claims to correct, complete and tagonist prove finally to have comsupersede Christianity; the only pelled us to explore unknown depths one that categorically denies the of the riches of the revelation of the truth of Christianity; the only one Triune God?
that has in the past signally de- We have quoted these words at feated Christianity; the only one length because they express Gaird- that seriously disputes the world ner's theology and the theology with Christianity; the only one which we believe will yet win the which, in several parts of the Moslem world.
All through his quarter of a cen- from his pen "The Life of D. L. tury of service in Egypt, preach- Thornton," "Edinburgh 1910," ing, organizing, and dealing with "The Rebuke of Islam," "Notes on many inquirers-the missionary the Epistle to the Romans," and found time (nay took the golden three important works on the hours) to write. He struggled to Arabic language, its grammar, free himself from routine. Apolo- prosody and phonetics. In addition gizing for long silence he writes in to all this he founded a monthly May, 1927: Christian Magazine in Arabic and English and was its chief editor for My dear old Sam,-Peccavi-mea twenty-one years. Its circulation maxima Culpa-al haqq 'alayya, and and support was his constant care, if there be any other expression con- and, before his death, his pen was ceive it said. I expect you have de- able to extend its influence in spaired of me. Let me say just this: widening circles, from Alexandria from July to January I was at home on to Khartoum. The magazine' Orileave, and I wrote no letters, for I ent and Occident has a great numhad more going on than I could really ber of Moslem readers, also outside manage or do justice to: and from of Egypt, and has become the open February to date it has been one un- forum for intelligent discussion of successful attempt to catch up the lost religious problems for the young first-half of the year :-. . . . . . Life Egyptian. in Cairo is the usual pressed-bullybeef tub of conferences and com- It is, however, not the quantity, mittees. How to escape from these but the quality of Gairdner's literthings I know not. And yet I have ary work that is astonishing. His got clear of the A. C. L. S. M., the "What Happened Before the He- N. M. P. and the standing Committee gira 1" is one of the most telling of the Egypt Intermission Council. approaches to the Moslem mind But there remains the Fellowship of ever written. The same is true of Unity, the Western Asia and N. A. his "Death of the Perfect Man" as Council, the Standing Committee of an interpretation of the very heart the C. M. S., and the Native-Church of the Atonement. And what can Committee, the Bulac Church Com- one say of his remarkable Bible mittee, and the School of Oriental dramas and Miracle-plays? Those Studies and as all these are thriving who were present at the first presinstitutions, and all make their chief entation of "Joseph" by Egyptians efforts in the spring you can imagine to an Egyptian audience will never how it is. forget the genius of its production and the reverence of the listeners. As An Author Boys from the Old Cairo Mission School were the actors. The The list of Gairdner's Arabic church was filled to the doors; the publications cover many fields of scenery was simplicity itself but literature. Eleven tracts and books the acting superb under Gairdner's on Islam and Christianity came leadership and its moving climax from his fertile pen and some of was Joseph as type of Christ. One them were often reprinted and who knew what took place behind translated; all of them are in- the scenes says: creasingly valuable. Twelve books on Bible Study and Bible biog- At the close, as the church emptied, raphy; six on prayer and the de- and the spell cast by the play gradually votional life for Oriental Christians.
In the English language we have
lifted, a figure in a black cassock was and methods." The book, there- left kneeling by the stage, his features fore, in a sense, is an auto-biogmotionless in prayer. It was the author-producer. The drama in Cairo raphy, although never so intended had been consecrated at last, and by the author. During the last steeped in the spirit of prayer. months of Gairdner's severe ill- ness, the circle of friends sur- It will illustrate Gairdner's power of concentration when I tell you that rounded him was composed of men, one at least of those scriptural plays women and children, Syrians, was written as he sat on the third Egyptians, Americans, Germans, class deck of a Mediterranean steamer Swedes, British of every church between Alexandria and Brindisi, and from among Moslems. At the writing, writing, writing, oblivious to funeral all Christian Cairo was passing meals, and dancing sailors,. represented-it was a common sor- and playing children, as hour after row for the loss of a friend that hour the characters came to life under brought so heterogeneous a comhis pen. A thread was tied round the manuscript at Brindisi,-to his wife pany to the church and around the for typing, and so to the publisher. grave. Like Daniel, he was "a man This in the hours of furlough after greatly beloved." The secret and the stresses of·a Cairo year. strength of that love was well ex- pressed by one of his closest Most of all, this man of ten talents, was a friend. He had the friends, the Rev. Maurice Richgenius and the passion for making mond, at the conclusion of his and holding friendships regardless memorial address in St. Mary's of racial, social, or language dis- Church, Cairo. It is a true picture tinctions. His mind Was inter- of a great missionary and great national; he loved to bridge lover of Christ: differences, he had a passion for Christian unity and felt personally The fruit of the spirit is love, joy, humiliated when missionary peace. And we thank God for the life groups or individuals failed to in which this fruit was so varied and understand each other. Early in so pure. Love-joy-peace. May we his missionary career David found paraphrase those words? Friendshiphis Jonathan. In a close alliance zest in life–and that free inward he and Douglas Thornton worked harmony of all his powers in the heartas brothers for eight years, al- loyal service of Christ and of his though both were twins in genius Kingdom. Yes, we thank God for the and education, they were strongly life of such a friend: contrasted in temperament and gifts. When Gairdner lost Thorn- "One who never turned his baCK but ton it well-nigh broke his heart. marched breast forward, When he wrote his biography it Never doubted clouds would break, was to him not the story of a life Never dreamed, though right were worsted, wrong would triumph, Held we fall to rise, are baffled to fight better, but "a study in missionary ideals Sleep to wake."
The glory of life is to love, not to be loved; to give, not to get; to serve, not to be served.-Hugh Black. (Congregationalist, Dec. 6.)
SUPREME PERSON AND
SUPREME QUEST"
BY REV. ROBERT A. HUME, D.D., Auburndale, Mass.
For Fifty Year8 a Missionary oj the American Board in India Dr. Hume, who first went out to India as a missionary in 1874, exerted a widf' and blessed influence there. He was the means of leading many to follow Christ and was honored by the Indian Government. He says: .
"My great desire and chief effort is to bring every one into personal contact with the Lord Jesus Christ, in the conviction that He will draw the soul into accepting His help. I first gave this address in the hall of the College of a Hindu Prince, the Maharaja of Kolhapur. It was printed, at the request of Hindus and Christians, went through several editions in English, translated and printed in four Indian languages and was also translated into Telugu by an unbaptized Hindu prince, the Raja Bhujaugrao of Ellore, whom I had never met. This condensed report shows how the Christian message is sometimes given by a missionary in India."
BROTHERS, let me share with Jesus Christ Is the Supreme Thinker you the highest privilege of One reason why I consider Jesus my life. Only life produces Christ the Supreme Person is that life. Every one's chief values He is the greatest thinker that ever come not from "things," but from lived. What constitutes anyone a intimacy with good persons. Is great thinker? It is, first, his hav- ing true and thorough understandthe possession of wealth or political ing of fundamental principles; or social preeminence a great per- second, his power to express his manent satisfaction? There is a thoughts in lucid, virile, penetratproverb, "Uneasy lies the head ing language; so that, third, all that wears a crown." The poet sorts of people can understand his Cowper says, "Knowledge and wis- thought; and, fourth, so that they dom, far from being one, have oft can and will pass those thoughts times no connection." Byron on to others, and thus his thoughts wrote, "The tree of knowledge is will become the thoughts of more not that of life." No "thing" gives and still more men. Is Jesus genuine or permanent satisfaction. Christ such a thinker? Only the possession of a worthy character gives solid satisfaction What Is God Like 1 to a spirit. You and I are spirits, though at present living in bodies. Most people would say that prob- The main aid to developing a noble ably the most difficult subject on character is association with which one can think clearly and worthy persons. The worthier helpfully is about the infinite God.
they are, the greater the gain. Here is a specimen of Jesus The greatest gain will come from Christ's teaching on this subject: the supreme person. To me the "He that hath seen me hath seen supreme person is Jesus Christ. the Father"; i. e., God being in- Let me tell you how Jesus Christ visible, illimitable, undefinable, no has helped me. mere words can give an adequate * Dr. Hurne, from his rich experience, is conception of Him. Therefore for us the best workable, vital way of available for missionary addresses. The above understanding God is to see and message shows bow a Christian missionary interpret Him through that revelasometimes presents Christ and the Gc>spel, but it Is not the whole message or the whole Go"pel.-EDITOR.
97 2
Lion of Himself which Jesus Christ started for home. "While he was was. In this brief sentence of afar off his father saw him, and eight words of one syllable and a was moved with compassion, and ninth of two syllables Jesus Christ mn and fell on his neck and kissed condensed His thought and teach- him." Then in joy at the repentant ing about the infinite God, viz., "In boy's return, he ordered his servcharacter God is like me." Does ants to make a feast, and to put this meet the above four tests? Is the best clothes on the returned it simple, ludd, understandable by prodigal to show how inexpressibly plain people, and can and will such glad the father was. According to people pass it on to others? Jesus Christ this is an illustration of how God feels toward His err- How God Feels About All Men ing children. Is this teaching on a vital subject lucid, easy to under- An important particular aspect stand and easy to pass on to others? of helpful thought about God is a true, lucid, forceful statement of A really great thinker apprehow He feels toward all men. This hends and teaches universal prinis how Jesus Christ put this: ciples. There is no more marked "What man is there of you who, characteristic of Christ than His if his son'shall ask him for bread, absolute freedom from and supewill give him a stone? If ye then, riority to traditionalism. And the being evil, know how to give good largeness of His thinking is seen gifts unto your children, how much from the fact that He never more shall your Father who is in criticized imperfect conceptions heaven give good things to them without also unfolding the obscure that ask Him"; that is, God thinks, core of truth in beliefs and pracfeels and acts toward all men as tices which seemed imperfect and good fathers think, feel and act to- limited. Thus He said, "Think not ward their children. Only because that I am come to destroy, but to human fathers are imperfect, while fulfil," i. e., to fill thought and God is a perfect Father, our Fa- habit and life fuller and still fuller. ther God is sure always to do His very best for every child of His. The Aim of Jesus Christ Is this brief figurative teaching lucid, understandable, easy to pass His one and only aim was origon to others? inal, majestic, universal. An un- tutored young man, brought up in Important as it is to know what a little village of a small subject God thinks and feels about all men, country, what did He say that He it is more urgent to appreciate how aimed at, and felt sure He could He feels about His erring children, do? Nothing less than to establish because that is what you and I in the whole world for all time the are. The characteristic teaching universal Kingdom of God on the of .Tesus Christ on this vital subject principles of truth! No one else is His story which might be called ever conceived and proclaimed "A Father's joy over the return such a program. And His vision home of an erring son." A wilful included the expectation that He, son had grieved his father and one man, without a single ordinary wasted the father's property in asset of any kind, was to establish riotous living. After a while the this Kingdom by gradually drawson began to realize his sin and ing all men to Himself, even when
THE SUPREME PERSON AND THE SUPREME QUEST
He should be invisible. "If I be them through special means. Also lifted up, I will draw all men unto it had its ebb and flow. The con- myself." And He is doing it. stant, controlling spiritual experi- Men rightly quote the words of ence of Jesus Christ was that He great thinkers and writers. Plato, was ever in the Father and the Fa- Shakespeare, Emerson and Shan- ther in Him. His first recorded karacharya were representative utterance was when at twelve writers among Greeks, English- years of age He had gone to a re- men, Americans and Indians. Let ligious gathering in Jerusalem.
us judge of their greatness by the The other boys of His company extent to which men everywhere were watching the crowds and quote from them. In the English sights. Jesus was constantly in language a good many quotations the temple. . After a three-day from Shakespeare occur. This is search when His parents found evidence that he was a virile Him there, His mother mildly writer. Can you quote any of chided Him, saying, "Son, why Plato's words? You may be able hast thou thus dealt with us?" He to recall some sententious expres- replied, "How is it that ye sought sion of Emerson. Possibly you can me? Knew ye not that I must be repeat a few words of Shankara- in the things of my Father?" In charya. Yet probably a larger adult life some of His character- proportion of well-educated In- istic words were: "All things have dians use more quotations from been delivered unto me of my Fa- Jesus Christ than from Plato, ther"; "I am not alone, because the Shakespeare, Emerson and Shan- Father is with me"; "The Father karacharya. In the world at large hath not left me alone."
direct or indirect quotations from No human being ever made such Jesus Christ would probably ex- claims to moral perfection as the ceed quotations from all other Lord Jesus Christ made. Yet no thinkers put together. In the Eng- one seems to feel that in this He lish language how many of the made an unworthy or excessive thoughts of the greatest writers claim. He often said that His like Browning, Tennyson and work was to help others to over- others are the thoughts of Christ come their sin. Yet He calmly in somewhat changed words. It claimed that He himself was sin- would hardly be amiss to say that less, e. g., He said, "I do always Jesus Christ is the only thinker the things that are pleasing to who is recognized in every land by Him" (i. e., to God). The holiest the most intelligent persons as the men are the most sensitive to their Supreme Thinker. own defects. Jesus Christ never repented. On the contrary, He Jesus Christ Is the Supreme Person said calmly to the religious leaders As holiness is a higher attribute of His day, "Which of you con- of God than knowledge or power, victeth me of sin?"
so is it a higher attribute of the Another spiritual characteristic supreme person. E. g., JESUS of Jesus Christ was His respect CHRIST HAD AN EVER-PRESENT CON- for and sympathy with men. No SCIOUSNESS OF GOD. Some holy one ever had so much respect for men have had some God-vision. men as Christ. His favorite This was gradually acquired by designation for Himself was "The
son of man," thereby meaning praised, the smallest kind deed that, as a dutiful son feels for his done without thought of reward, father the profoundest respect, joy even a cup of water given to any thirsty person, will be counted by in association with him, and in Him as done to Himself. Jesus service for him, so Jesus Christ Christ was the greatest apprefelt respect for all men as men, joy ciator. in association with them, even when erring, and intense satisfac- The Authority Claimed by Jesus tion in sacrificing Himself for those whose son He was. It was No one ever lived Who made one this appreciation of the worth of hundredth part of the claim to aumankind which led Him to live thority which Jesus Christ made. among them and to sacrifice Him- He plainly and always claimed that self for the moral regeneration of He was introducing into the world the race. Therefore, of all per- a new spiritual order through sons who ever lived He is unques- which the old order would be fultionably supreme in sympathy and filled and then superseded. It was compassion. It is astonishing on this astounding claim that He based His authority 10 command. how much of the time and strength "All authority hath been given of this great thinker and moral unto me, in heaven and on earth. leader was given to alleviating Go, therefore, and make disciples physical troubles. Even more was of all the nations." "Heaven and He moved by the knowledge of earth shall pass away, but my spiritual need. When others were words shall not pass away." in perplexity, "He groaned in spirit The decisive mark and test of and was troubled." the highest type of person is his Fineness in quickly and ade- capacity for pain and his way of accepting it. "Love's strength quately appreciating what is standeth in love's sacrifice, and worthy, especially when this is whoso suffers most hath most to give." In our India, renunciation largely concealed, is one of the is the hall-mark of noble character. noblest traits of character. An indication of Christ's attitute toward The Supreme Person must be men is the minuteness and delicacy the supreme sufferer; one who of His appreciation of their littlest undergoes suffering for a supreme services and excellencies. Jesus purpose in a supreme spirit. Is saw a very poor widow glide into there a moment's question as to whether or not Jesus Christ is the the temple, and unostentatiously supreme sufferer of all time? drop two of the smallest coins into Through Him the cross has become the box for offerings. This, which a symbol not only of His own selfno one else noticed, Jesus not only sacrifice for the regeneration of observed, but so appreciated that mankind, but in literature "the He said to His disciples, Did you cross" has become the synonym see what that widow did? In it- for all noble endurance of sufferself hers was a tiny offering. But ing for the good of others. What because, despite her poverty, in a world of suggestiveness is in the gratitude she gave God her all it fact that, because the Lord Jesus excelled in value all the gifts of all Christ endured in His matchless the rich. At another time the Lord Jesus said that when at the last the characters of men shall be ap-
THE SUPREME PERSON AND THE SUPREME QUEST
way His shameful end on a par- our wills. Honestly is not the folticular kind of wood, "The Cross" lowing poem applicable to you? has become practically the only figure to express the noblest self- "We know the path wherein our feet sacrifice. The influence of the suf- should pass, fering Christ upon the hearts of men is such as to awaken in them Across our hearts are written Thy degratitude and devotion strong crees, enough to change their characters and their lives. A recognition of Yet now, 0 Lord, be merciful to bless His personal relation to them in with steel, to strike the blow. His great sacrifice has made the wicked penitent, has made the self- Grant us the will to fashion as we feel, satisfied conscious of deep un- Grant us the strength to labor as we worthiness. A consciousness of Christ's sufferings for men is the know, highest moral dynamic among Grant us the purpose, ribbed and edged men. with steel, to strike the blow. First I showed that Christ is the Knowledge we ask not-knowledge Thou supreme thinker; next that spir- hast lent, itually He is the Supreme Person, But Lord, the will-there lies our bitter most worthy of your reverence and need, love. But there is a third even Give us to build above the deep intent, stronger reason why the Lord The deed, the deed."
Jesus is the Supreme Person. He Brothers, very briefly and inadeis the supreme strengthener of the quately, I have tried to show how Jesus Christ is the Supreme Per- 'Will. And man's chief defect is not son because He is the Supreme lack of knowledge, but weakness of Thinker, the Supreme Spiritual Person, and the Supreme Strengthwill. This is true of men in every ener of the Will. This is my percountry. But in our beloved India sonal experience. This has been the experience of millions of this weakness of will has been others. Now let us speak a little upon the vital importance of makfearfully increased by the caste ing a sincere, a persistent quest system. through which individual- for personal relations to Him. ity and personal responsibility have been sadly repressed. In the The Supreme Quest caste system men are not permitted to decide for themselves what is If Jesus Christ is the Supreme right or best for them to do. They Person, then everyone's supreme must follow what caste and custom desire and quest should be how decide, whatever the individual soonest and best to get into intithinks or feels or wishes. Caste mate association with Him. One has worked fearful economic and of the most helpful proverbs is social harm to our country. But this: "The good is the worst its worst injury has been to our enemy of the best." Nothing mora~ faculty. It has dulled con- shows the normal weakness of men science, and has emasculated the so much as their astonishing willwill-power of millions. Therefore ingness to be satisfied with less no country so much as India needs than the best possible for themsome great Person to strengthen selves in many matters when a de- termined effort requires one to struggle for the best, and to face more or less obloquy from those with whom we are associated. Let me show you how in a simple, prac- tical manner you can and should
make a persistent and ceaseless easily obtained than any other quest for intimacy with the Su- writings and are more inspiring preme Person. than the biographies of any other Jesus Christ won His first dis- person. I do not ask you to read ciples by saying two simple words, those writings in order to accept "Follow me." Once any earnest the interpretation of them which man responded to Christ's call in I or anyone else would give. I those two words he received as the trust God's Spirit to help you to reward of the loyal quest a grow- understand much of their signifi- ing likeness to that Master through cance. But try to read without association with Him. Take a few bias and with a teachable spirit.
illustrations from His biography. Second, ask God's guidance that A man of very fickle character, you may understand and reach the whose name Simon meant "the right attitude toward the Supreme fickle one," became a disciple of Person. This is what men usually Jesus. That relation to Jesus call "prayer." Prayer is not say- changed that man's character, and ing some good words to God at even his name was changed to regular times. There is hardly Peter, meaning "firm as a rock." any more helpful definition of A hot-tempered, fiery disciple, prayer than the following simple John, became one of the gentlest of lines: men. Simply by associating with "Prayer is the soul's sincere desire, Him an adulteress became a pure Unuttered or expressed, woman, about whom thereafter no The motion of a hidden fire one could have a suspicion. A hard-hearted man, Zaccheus, who That trembles in the breast." had dishonestly amassed wealth, Prayer is the attitude of one's sou] toward His Father.
received Jesus as a casual visitor. Often Think of Jesus Christ Even this short interview with the Third, associate 'With Christ in Supreme Person changed that thought. Innumerable sons and avaricious man into an honest, and daughters have mental and spir- even a generous man. itual association with absent "Lord, what a change within us one short parents; thousands of grateful hour pupils have mental and spiritual association with revered teachers, Spent in Thy presence will avail to some of whom have left this world. make!" Such mental association with the Read the Life of Christ In India, as the world over, invisible Christ was the way by many, many things make it hard which Paul followed Him. Paul to follow Jesus Christ. However, was thinking of Him so much that I mention four simple and practical it was the simple truth for Paul suggestions. to say, "For me to live is Christ"; First, often and· thoughtfully "I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth read the four short biographies of in me." Such thinking and think- Jesus Christ which are the very ing and thinking about 'Christ, and first writings in the New Testa- longing and longing to become like ment. How can you get into close Him, is the principal way by relations with the Supreme Person which most strong Indian Chris- unless you at least often read the tians have become Christ's fol- records of His life which are more lowers.
THE SUPREME PERSON AND THE SUPREME QUEST
Finally, associate with Christ by that He was invisibly with them, honestly doing what by His ex- and was Himself doing the service, ample, by His teaching, or by some only He was doing it through them.
inspiration you think that He Is not that how every teacher of wishes you to do. What Christ science or of any trade associates most desires is not some profession with his pupils? Such a teacher by words, but single-minded fol- puts his pupils into a laboratory or lowing of truth, of purity, of self- shop, and tells them actually to do sacrifice, and of service of brother with their own hands what they men. With solemn irony He still have learned from him in theory.
says, "Not everyone that saith unto This is the only way by which me Lord, Lord, shall enter into the pupils can actualiy become what a kingdom of heaven; but he that teacher wants them to become.
doeth the will of my Father." That is, pupils associate with Christ and Particular Duties teachers and masters, when they actually carry into practice what Christ wisely recognizes the im- they saw their masters do, or what mense differences in men's circum- they told their pupils to do. stances and environment, and so Not much difficulty will come to never specifies in detail what any you from quietly reading biogone should do. What He empha- raphies of Christ in the New Testasizes is the desire to serve and the ment or elsewhere, or from often spirit in which one serves. One of lifting your heart to your heavenly His disciples accurately described Father for His guidance. But it Christ's life by simply saying, "He may be very hard for you to comply went about doing good." In order with another earnest request. that no one could ever imagine that Since the Lord Jesus is the Suhe would have difficulty in imitat- preme Person it is for your highest ing Christ in service He said, for interest also to have helpful inter- substance, "I so identify myself course with those who really are with'every human being that what- His followers, and not to be ever you do or fail to do for any ashamed to let others know that one–be he good or bad–I count you too are His disciple.
that service or failure to serve as Noone can adequately describe actually done to me," How won- this, the Supreme Person, or the derful! The Lord Jesus was the method and the value of making founder and first member of "The intimacy with Him, our supreme Servants of the World Society." quest. Christ suggests what a man When He was in visible form in should do to secure the Kingdom of Palestine with His pupils He was God. "The kingdom of heaven is doing various kinds of service for like unto a man that is a merchant the physical and spiritual welfare, seeking goodly pearls; and having of all kinds of people. Then, after found one pearl of great price, he letting them see what He did, and went and sold all that he had and how He did it, gradually He sent bought it."
them out without visibly accom- Brothers, intimacy with the Lord panying them, and told them that Jesus Christ is the spiritual pearl in such service they would be His of countless worth. Seek Him, witnesses; yet while thus serving whatever it may cost. I am very, they were all the time to realize very glad that He is seeking you.
A CRISIS-HOUR IN HISTORY REV. W. REMFRY HUNT, F.R.G.S., BREA, CALIFORNIA (Thirty years in Centra! China.) C RISES are revealing. They mark epochs. No history is secular when the divine is in it. No religion is divine that does not touch the human. There are deep and sublime lessons in this thought. Students in the fields of comparative religious science find themselves in the range of theo-poetic rather than theological vision. Here are divergent tracks of Oriental and Occidental erudition. The founding of the Indian Institute side by side with the Bodlein Library in Oxford University, England, is noted by a famous Hindu reformer as "the broadening of the Western mind." It bridges racial chasms and turns controversies into con- ferences. One seems to muse·in the climate of other spheres. Max Milller symbolizes the syntheses of other gospels in the parable of twilight, moonlight and dawn revelations. Time and place and circumstances are and ever must be determinative factors. "God, who at sundry times …" is an arresting and disturbing phrase: it has retrospect and perspective. Read the third chapter of Ephesians and the fifth verse. In the great procession of the cen- turies it gives successive light on new and whitening horizons. I call you to focus the range and in it discover THE CHRIST as "the center of the center." The chart shows the sixth century as a strategic era. In Greece Pythagoras, the father of ancient phi- losophy, arose. In China arose Confucius to immortalize a code of ethics. In India arose S'akya-mouni Gautama Buddha to reform Brahmanism. In Judea came the reverses to the religions of Jehovah and the destruction of Jerusalem. These times were illuminated by the lives and voices of Zoroaster, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, by the work of Cyrus and the light of the prophets of the exile. It was an era of epoch-marking time.
—- – – – – – – – – – , – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – . – – – – – – Confucianism Buddhism Taoism CONFUCIUS, born BUDDHA, born in LAOTZU, born in in China, B. C. 551, India, B. C. 630, died China, B. C. 604, died B. C. 478. B. C. 543. disappeared B. C. 524. Emblem of State Symbol of rever- Church: DRAGON. ence: IMAGE OF Emblem of altars: BUDDHA. DEMON. Has had 2,400 years of propagation. H a B had 2,500 2,500 yea r s of years of propagation. propaganda. Has influenced 75 generations of men Has influenced 80 Has mesmerized 80 now in the tomb. generations. of men generations of men now in the tomb. now in the tomb. Represents AGNOSTICISM. Represents Represents IDOLATRY. SUPERSTITION.
"… and a false faith lingers still, As shades do: tho' the morning stars be out."
I BECAME A CHRISTIAN*
JOHN A. SUBHAN, Bareilly, India An Indian Who Was Formerly a Mohammedan I WAS born in Calcutta thirty hammedan laws. I could hardly years ago. According to the tolerate the Moslems who did not Moslem rite the words mean- 'observe the prayers and fastings, ing the greatness of God and the or who were not good Moham- Apostleship of Mohammed were medans, and my indignation a- pronounced in my ears, and thus gainst non – Moslems knew no I was received not only into this bounds. Indeed I was growing in- world but also into the fold of to a fanatic. The little reading of Islam. As I grew up these two books about the early conquests of great principles of Islam – the Islam so influenced my thoughts, greatness of Allah and the Apostle- that I would delight in imagining ship of Mohammed – began to another jehad (holy war) and mould my life and govern my drawing the sword against all un- thoughts. It was in the atmos- believers, and then dying a martyr phere of these principles I received in a glorious fight for Islam. The my early education. From my guiding principle, or the motive youth I was religiously inclined behind my religious zeal and the and thus began to observe the nec- tenacity with which I followed the essary religious exercises, prayers, practice of Islam lay in my blind fasting and other Islamic devotion faith in the truth of Islam. To at an earlier age than generally a me every other religion was an in- Moslem youth is expected. My vention of the devil, and all non- parents noticing my religious tend- Moslems, as followers of false ency, planned to make me a Hafiz religions, had no right to exist.
and a Moulvie. During the period of my early At a very early age, I had fin- education in Islam, my attitude to- ished the whole of Koran and un- ward God was as of a Great and der an Arab Hafiz I ,had begun Almighty Being, not only morally to memorize it. I also acquired but also physically. When saying knowledge of my vernacular Urdu my prayers, I used to imagine this and at the age of ten I knew how Allah with a terrible appearance to say the prayers prescribed by sitting on a very high throne, sup- Islam. Under the guidance of a ported by angels, and I could im- professor of Moslem Theology I agine Him looking down upon me, acquired some knowledge of Is- sometimes smiling and often get- lamic Theology and of the laws ting angry, especially when I used regulating prayers and fastings. to allow my thoughts to wander or Thus armed with the necessary when I was late for the appointed knowledge of Islam, I turned out prayers. He was merciful in over- to be a strict observant of Mo- looking the sins of His prophets • This f'xtrernely interesting narrative of a who were His favorites. He was vital religious experience, is given, as it reached an absolute monarch. He could do what He pleased. Mohammed was the Editor, in the author's somewhat quaint the ideal of my life. Islam was English, Our diction would have been much less correct had we attempted to write in his mother tongue !-EDITOR.
105
the only religion I loved, and out- Allah as presented in Islam, and side of the fold of Islam there was felt satisfied with religious experi- no salvation. Hindus and Chris- ence gained through the practice tians all were living under the of Mohammedanism. Yet I always wrath of God. Allah had allowed had a sense of something lacking Christians to be exalted nations in my inner experience. The con- in this world only to punish them ception of God as an absolute more severely in the next world, Power, and of Mohammed as an and on the other hand Muslims ideal were both inadequate. To were poor only to have a better satisfy the inner longing I tried to and greater reward in the world follow Islam more strictly. To my to come. regular prayers I added extra My parents intended me to be hours, prescribed as pious practice entirely educated on religious lines for believers. The greater part of and to take up a religious profes- my life was spent in mosques and sion. Now it was thought espe- in the cemetery. There was a rest- cially by my brother, that I was lessness in my heart and I wanted going too far in my religious zeal tQ have it satisfied.
and fanaticism, and that it was a At this stage I made acquaint- right time that a limit should be ance of certain Mohammedan mys- put to it. To counteract my re- tics and learned from them that ligious mania it was decided that through Sufism only can one attain I should be educated on modern perfection, and meet Adam, Moses, lines and must give up the mem- Jesus and Mohammed, and be in orizing of Koran. Thus in 1910 communication with the spiritual I was sent first to Woodburn world. I went through the life and School and then to Calcutta Mad- teachings of two great founders of arsah to study English, mystic schools, Sheikh Abdul Qadir "The Search" Jilani, the founder of the Quadirite fraternity, and known as the saint What Plato said of philosophy, of all saints among Moslems, and that it begins in wonder, is also of Khawajah Moimuddin Chishti, true of one's religious experience. who is buried in Ajmere and whose My wonders at the early dawn of shrine is a place of pilgrimage of my reasoning were first, the men- Indian Moslems. I learned that tion of Jorah, Zabur and Qujil in through Sufism one hot only can Koran; and the second was the know God but be absorbed in the irlea of God. I was too young or Divine Oneness. Here I was shown short-sighted to notice the other the way of not only knowing but wonders of Islam. All through my experiencing in life all the truths Islamic study I had often won- of the sacred prophets, Angels, dered that where could Jorah, Za- spiritual beings, even God, the ab- bur and Qujil be. Again and again solute Allah! I longed to be initi- I would read the references to ated in one of these orders of Mys- Moses, David and Jesus and to ticism, but I was invariably told their books. I had a great curi- that I was too young.
osity to know more of these proph- At length I had an opportunity ets and to read their books. As of visiting my grandfather at for the idea of God, for long I was Benares. He belonged to the or- reconciled to the conception of der of Qadiya, founded by Abdul
1929J WHY I BECAME A CHRISTIAN
Qadir Jilani. My persistent effort ceptor I was to travel upon the was rewarded by his promise of Path, and pass from stage to stage, speaking to his preceptor on my meeting Adam, Noah, Abraham, behalf. He kept his promise, and Moses, Jesus and Mohammed, and his superior consented to accept finally to reach and enjoy Oneness me as a mere postulant, and to give with Allah. Before joining the me the initiation, known in mysti- mystic order God was to me a ter- cal technique as "Tawajjoh." The rible King, the negligence of whose ceremony took place in strict se- command was to be punished very clusion. I squatted down in front seriously. I had to take great pre- of the superior, who first gave me cautions to prevent my thoughts a brief exhortation to the strict ob- from wondering in prayers, and so servance of Islamic laws, and on to create a sense of fear during detaching my heart from the love prayer I used to imagine a sword of the world, which really has no (the sword of Damocles) hanging existence, the real existence being over me. After my initiation, this that of Allah alone. Then the Mighty Avenger was my Beloved, promise of secrecy being extracted, Whom I was seeking.
he, touching his tongue with one As a mystic I acquired the de- of his fingers, placed it at the left sire for the purification of my soul, side of my chest under the ribs, and a thirst after God. The re- which he pointed out to me to be ligious exercises called ziki helped the place where heart is located me a good deal to keep my mind and at the same time explained the free from evil thoughts. The first shape of the heart. With my eyes exercise which J. had learned at my closed and bent toward that spot initiation, was a great help to I was asked to imagine the word ward off the lust of the flesh.
Allah in Arabic character engraved I Come to Know in golden letters upon my heart, spreading its bright rays all over. All was going on well; the With this fixed in my mind, I was traveler was on his way to meet asked to draw breath inhaling the his God, when one day a copy of name Allah, and at the last syllable the Gospel was given to me by a to hold the breath and then to Moslem friend. On previous oc- exhale the last syllable Hu. This casions I had torn it into pieces, I was asked to do several times a as a book of Satan. This time I day. The more I practiced it, the was prompted to read it again and greater was my sanctity. Accord- studied it carefully and tried to ing to the instructions of my pre- discover something satanic, but ceptor I used to sit down with there was nothing which I could closed eyes and picture the name discard as a lie or corruption. The Allah engraved upon my heart in simplicity of the life of Christ im- luminous letters. This used to pressed me. The story of the cru- throw me sometimes into a state cifixion was something new and of ecstacy or of profound sleep. contrary to what I was taught, yet After the ceremony of the initi- it seemed to be the natural develop- ation into the mystic orders of ment of the whole thing. My faith Qadriya, I became-to speak in in Islamic interpretation was sufi term-a Salik, or traveller, shaken. The Gospel story, either and under the guidance of my pre- right or wrong, was not at least
satanic. The moulvies had told a and English spoke to me on the lie. I managed to obtain a copy of Koranic text, "Show me the the Bible and started reading it straight path." It was the first every day. Then came difficulties, occasion that the Christian mesthere were so many questions to be sage in its absolute purity free solved. I wanted some one to from polemics was presented to guide me. me. I had found the existing Bible to be the real Torah, Zabur and Then I made acquaintance with Injil, mentioned in the Koran and Canon E. F. Brown, of Oxford because the God of Christian Mission, Calcutta, whom every seemed to me to be superior to street urchin knew. Hardly real- Allah of Islam. Now within those izing the necessity of further in- few minutes, I learned that Christ struction I offered myself to be and only Christ, is the way. and received in the church. On the that I must become a Christian not plea of my minority he advised me only for the intellectual satisfacto wait and study further. He tion in order to be saved, saved could not speak my language and from the hell and judgment with could not understand my thoughts, which I was familiarized in Islam. and so I was on the look out for I learned that I must accept Christ someone who could advise me how as my living murshid (spiritual to become a Christian. My search guide) and follow Him with unended in finding an Indian preach- hesitating steps to the end of my er, who tried to answer Moslem life. It became clear to me that objections, and thus gave me in- Christ is the Tarigat or Path leadtellectual satisfaction. But my soul ing to God for He is the way bewas on fire for something higher, tween God and Man, for He came not the satisfaction of the intellect from God and has returned to God. but of the spirit. My longing was The path was clear and straight, to become a disciple of Christ, and and my soul cried out in exultant even this preacher could not tell joy. It was the joy of a man who me how I could do that. had lost his way, and then found it again, and recognizing it as his My Search for the Truth path leading to his home, would feel happy and relieved. I continued my search for some one who would show me the way My acquaintance with Rev. F. to become Christian. Close to my W. Steinthal opened a new chapter house was the Y. M. C. A. College in my religious experience. It was Branch, and learning that it had the result of my fellowship with something to do with the mission this friend that I came to know of Christ, I dropped a post card Christianity as a religion of exdesiring an interview with the sec- perience. So far to me religion retary. A few days after I got a was a matter of intellect and pracreply asking me to see Rev. F. W. tice of certain ceremonial laws but Steinthal. The year was 1911 and my friend, with no great destruc- Dr. Zwemer was to preach the first tive arguments against Islam, led of his series that evening. I could me on and on from one experience hardly follow his preaching, but to another. Week after week he after the lecture I was introduced would read from the sacred to Dr. Zwemer who, this time us- scripture and after brief devoing a mixture of Arabic, Persian
WHY 1 BECAME A CHRISTIAN
tional remarks would kneel, and I ning any of my friends for Christ, by his side. and offer prayer. In I talked of Him, because I must, his reading and expounding scrip- but soon I had to learn a new lesture and in his prayer I would find son. what I had missed all through in my previous religious experience One day during my regular visit as a Moslem and a Sufi. No mosque, no Islamic devotion could create to Rev. F. W. Steinthal I was inthat atmosphere of the presence of troduced to a European gentleman some unseen spiritual Being that who had come from the Continent I used to experience in that little or Mrica, I do not remember, and office in the upper story of Y. M. that day the usual hour of devotion C. A., facing Harrison Road. When was to be spent with him. We read St. John 1: 35-51, my attention Mr. Steinthal, blind with the eyes was directed to Andrew bringing of his flesh, would kneel, and with an uplifted face begin his prayer his brother, Simon, and to Philip with the invocation, "Our Heavenly bringing Nathanael to Christ. My Father I" it would seem that from duty was clear, I was to do some his internal eyes he could see some definite personal work, I must try one who to my eyes was still hid- to bring friends to Christ. My den. At his every word of prayer talk of Christ so far was purely my whole being would thrill, a selfish, I have spoken of Him to longing to possess Him whom he relieve my feelings, and perhaps to was addressing and through Whom show that I was spiritually in a he was asking would get hold of better state than they. This guest me. of my friend whom I never met again, whose name and face are The Fight both obliterated from my mind, has awakened a new feeling within The new experience and the new the depth of my soul. It was my revelation of my Saviour were first lesson in the theory of evanhard for me to keep as a secret to gelism which I was to put in pracmyself. I began to detest the new idea of my being known as a tice very soon. Muslim. Every mQment I would feel to cry out and say, "I am a Next day I began my practical Christian I" Oh, how hard it is to be a secret disciple. It is almost evangelism. I spoke of Christ in impossible to know Him and not a pleading and persuasive tone to to tell people of Him. I was in- a little group of young Muslims of sistent on declaring my faith and my own class. The news spread, receiving my baptism, but my "Subhan is a Christian." It spread Christian friends persisted that I and spread till in an hour's time must wait. I could not wait, bap- almost 700 students of the Madtism could be waited but my dec- rasah came to know of it. Some laration of faith was not to be were filled with rage, some were postponed. I began to speak of Christ to my class fellows and astonished and some horrified. friends. They showed their keen- Many refused to believe it, how ness to listen to what I had to tell can a Muslim turn a Christian inthem of Christ and His Gospel. So fidel. At midday when the students far I had no definite idea of win- in schools are generally released for half an hour's interval, a crowd of boys surrounded me. In a mixed attitude of horror and curiosity they were pointing me out to each
other. I at once realized that there "Take no thought how or what yo was Romething in the air. Two Rhall speak, for it shall be given big boys, and there was wicked- you in that same hour what yc ness in their eyes, and they :were shall speak," Matthew 10: 19. I armed with sticks confronted me was no master in the art of con- with a question, and then there troversy, but I could not be per- was a hush in the crowd, and the suaded to deny my Saviour. How ears were ready to catch the words could I say no, to that which I of my reply. "Are you a Chris- have known and experienced to be tian ?" I was asked. Could I say true. The scholars of the Madrasah yes, I was not baptized, the Church were baffled, the arguments of the has refused to receive me within witness to the experience of my the fold. nor was I a Muslim for life were too strong to be refuted.
I had ceased to believe in Islam. The resort was taken to threats, then what should I reply. How- but I could hardly follow them, for ever, on their insisting to know my my mind was full of such words religion I told them, "I have no re- of my Saviour "fear them not ligion at present but I believe in which kill the body …. The very Jesus Christ whom the Christians hairs of your head are all num- worship.'" Then passed several bered. Fear ye not therefore, ye words of threats, and at the sound are of more value than many spar- of the gong, announcing the hour rows. Whosoever therefore shall of class, I was left alone. In the confess me before men, him will I class a young man sat behind me confess also before my father chewing "pan" (beetlo) and he which is in heaven," Matthew 10: started painting my white clothes 28-32. The final decision was at at the back with his red spit. The last pronounced. I was to be ex- class teacher happened to notice pelled and within three days I was the mischievous young man, but a to arrange to receive my transfer voice addressed him. "Sir, Subhan certificate. As I was led back out is a Christian." He asked me of the teachers' room the boys whether I really was a Christian. rushed towards me in a threaten- My Confession in School ing attitude, but they were sent back to their classes. However the Once again I had to face the di- suffering and the insults were lemma, but I replied, "I am not a nothing as compared to the peace Christian but I believe in Jesus and joy which filled my heart. It Christ as my Saviour and my was my day of triumph, and the Lord." The teacher, an old Mus- hour was the hour of victory. I lim, seemed no less horrified than left for home before the school was the boys. There was a confusion, over, and on my way I saw Rev.
the boys were in the spirit of riot- F. W. Steinthal, and told him all ing. A short meeting of the teach- that had taken place. He reminded ers was held. and I was taken in me that it was Wednesday in Holy their midst. The door of the Week, the week of the suffering of teacher's room was besieged, there our Saviour, and with a prayer was a rush, the door was to be and words of encouragement he locked. Questions followed one sent me back to my home to face after another in quick succession, the situation. The news of my and the Lord fulfilled His promise, expulsion from school had already
WHY I BECAME A CHRISTIAN
reached my people. Angry words are his judgments, and his ways from my brother, words of affec- )last fillding out! (Rom. 11: :):).
tion from my mother, and absolute My Baptism silence from my father awaited me there. My future was uncertain, The appointment of Mr. J. H.
but I was told that my school Hickinbotham as principal of the career was to be closed. I had C. M. S. High School proved to be some Brahmo Samaji friends who an unexpected blessing for me.
were watching the religious events This apostle of Nadia District in of my life with keen interest. They Bengal, had returned from a fur- came to my rescue, and promised lough which he had taken after his to show me the better way of satis- recovery from the bullet wound fying my soul and mind. They which he had received from cer- tried to show me how I could re- tain non-Christian youth because main a Muslim and also be a fol- of his evangelistic zea1 and untir- lower of Christ. They took me to ing labor to spread the Gospel in their religious teachers, to their Bengal. He became a divine in- meetings and to their prayers. strument in goiding me further to They offered me free education in the love and fellowship of God.
their school.' But their whole thing Though misjudged, persecuted and was disappointing. Noone could often slandered, he has always be satisfied with half of Christ. been a noble example of the true With Christ there is no compro- and faithful soldier of Jesus mise. He is the Way. I could not Christ. lowe a great deal to his tolerate their system, and at last Christian virtues for my stability • I bade my Brahma friends good- in Christian faith and for the deep- bye, and have not seen any of them ening of my Christian life. Very since then. soon after his appointment he Through the efforts of Rev. F. gained my confidence. i poured W. Steinthal I was admitted to the my whole story into his ears, C. M. S. High School, Calcutta, and I opened my heart and let him see whatever I had in my mind. (now known as St. Paul's High Never had I experienced sympathy School) . so natural and spontaneous as from this missionary, who without In the beginning of the year any hesitation gave me an assur- 1912 I was left without any Chris- ance of my baptism at an earIy tian friend. Rev. F. W. Steinthal date. So far the missionaries were was away on furlough to his coun- afraid to give me any shelter, and try, Denmark, and my Principal, so I had continued to remain with Rev. S. D. Hinde, had left for Eng- my people. His first move was to land on account of his health. I was passing through a period of ask me to leave my home and be- trial. It was a time when my faith come a boarder. The evening I was being tested, tried and puri- was leaving home, my mother was fied. I had no friend for human too shocked to tell me anything or protection. But the day of my de- stop me from the step that I had liverance was nearer than I be- told her I was to take. The day lieved. Oh, the depth of the riches after I left home, my mother with of both of the wisdom and knowl- my young brother came to the edge of God! how unsearchable school to persuade me to return
home with her. As a strict Mus- treacherously towards her, make lim lady she had never been out her cry and break her heart. The before and had never stepped in- storm was surging and the tempest side any Christian building or a was slowly rising in my mind, I stranger's house. I met her, she was deeply agitated, and I felt that was all in tears. My brother told I must get up, take her hand, wipe me that she had not touched any her tears and follow her home. food since the evening I had left Now I can go with her and remain her. She had brought some food with her till I have explained along, which she would see me eat things to her, and then I can come and be satisfied. Our Western back and be baptized with her confriends realize very little the depth sent. Go with her, go with her of the love of an Oriental mother was the constant urging of my for her child. The idea of sending heart. Then suddenly above the the children to boarding house is tumult and storms the words of unbearable for the majority of In- Him who once has calmed the temdian mothers. A sick child would pestuous sea in Galilee came to my rather be allowed to die in her mind, "He that loveth father or mother's arms, than be taken to mother more than me is not a hospital and be treated properly. worthy of me," Matthew 10: 37. I gave my quiet and final reply, No wonder that many of the re- "Mother, I cannot come, I am a ligious sects in India have found Christian." an ideal conception of God in maternal qualities, and have found "You can remain a Christian at satisfaction in addressing Him as home, only do not let others know a great Mother. No wonder that of it." "I cannot do that for Jesus • Jesus Christ chose an eastern says "Whosoever shall deny me woman to be His mother, and who before men, him will I also deny can fathom the depth of her sor- before my Father which is in row at the sight of the great agony heaven." and death of her son when she stood beneath the Cross. It must Mr. J. H. Hickinbotham who so have made a sword pierce her far has been watching the struggle heart, and would have rendered from outside, with her permission the agony of her Son greater at the suffering of His mother. When- came in and joined the conversaever I think of that memorable tion. The Lord used him wonderevening when I met her, the whole fully and so guided his talk that picture of that great conflict which at last she yielded, and allowed me was to decide the battle finally, to remain in the boarding and be comes to my mind. Pleading tears baptized. It was a miracle and a of an affectionate mother are not clear case of divine intervention. to be easily forgotten, and after the lapse of 16 years I can recall, On July 18, 1912, I was received this evening, every single detail of as a catechumen in the Trinity her visit. She loved all her sons, Church in a public service, and the but she has always loved me most. following Sunday, July 7th, was No one of her sons has ever been fixed for baptism. The day before allowed to be separated from her my baptism I was to receive a leseven for a day, and I was to act son in divine confidence and trust. Since I had entered the boarding, I was carefully guarded from out- siders and was not allowed to go
even as far as the school gates. witness the ceremony. Meantime On the evening of my baptism I Mr. J. H. Hickinbotham hearing of was introduced to a Christian my absence was much upset, and preacher, his name was Babu as he with others was praying for Gyanandra Nath Biswas. He my safety, I returned and stood in highly impressed me with his ven- their midst rejoicing for the new erable appearance, wearing long experience and praising the Lord beard, and scrutinizing me with his for the new lesson in God's loving large and flaming eyes, he asked protection. The very persons who me whether I have been to my peo- were waiting for an opportunity to pIe and friends and have invited persecute me listened to my talk them to witness the baptismal and let me go unmolested. On ceremony. When I told him that July 7, 1912, at 4 p. m. I was bap- I could not do that as it was not tized in the Trinity Church, Calsafe for me to go to my Muslim cutta, by the Rev. P. N. Biswas, friends, he turned round and told and Mr. J. H. Hickinbotham and me that in his honest opinion I Babu H. C. Bhattacharya stood as was not fit to become a Christian, Godfathers. The text of the serfor I have trusted the four walls mon preached was "And when of the school, and the principal . he had received meat, he was more than God. If I really trusted, strengthened" (Acts 9: 19). God and had confidence in His The real facts of the fuller exfatherly protection why was I periences of Christian life begin afraid to face my people. Was it just where this chapter of my life because God only could save and closes. Many are the blessings protect me inside the mission which have followed me in my school, or was I afraid to seal my journey, and many are the lessons testimony by dying a martyr's which I am taught by my Master death. However, I was so much in various ways, though many have impressed that I at once left school been my disappointments, but and went to see my friends. I met great has been His favors. I still them some at school, and some at find myself very imperfect and their homes, and then I went to my weak, and so I am glad that I own people. I talked to everyone found Him for He and He alone is of them of my Saviour and the in- able to keep me to the end. How ward joy that I have received from wonderfully He has …… but that Him. I informed them of my bap- belongs to the other part of my life tism, and asked them to come and story.
KING HASSAN'S PROVERB King Hassan, well beloved, was wont to God wipes the stain of life-old battlefields say, From every morning that he brings to pass. When aught went wrong or any project failed: New day, new hope, new courage! Let this be, "Tomorrow, friends will be another day!" o soul, thy cheerful creed! What's And in that faith he slept and so pre- yesterday, vailed. With all its shards and wrack and grief, ****** * ** to thee? Forget it, then-here lies the victor's Noone, I say, is conquered till he yields; And yield he need not, while, like mist way. from glass, -Jame8 Buckham in Indian Witness.
3
NEW ERA IN HOME MISSIONS·
By REV. CHARLES L. WHITE, D.D., New York President oj the lIorne Missions Council DURING the past year the thirty- atmo:lphere of racial conflicts and sec- eight missionary soc i e tie s tional jealousies, that call for con- which unite in the Home Mis- stant adjustments and patient persesions Council, have measurably ad- verence. If we spend our time in vanced the spiritual conquest of the idealizing, we shall not reach our spirpeoples who dwell in the American itual goals. This one thing we do, for- Continent. Only the angels of God getting the missionary rivalries and can tabulate the lives redeemed, the duplications of yesterday, for which homes sanctified, and the human in- we have been often criticised, we are stitutions vitalized, by the service of concentrating our efforts on discover- our devoted missionaries. ing the exact missionary situation in Our missionary task in America is each area, and we have set ourselves as clear as crystal. One thing we do. to do our multiform mission work We are fortunate in not having a mul- without duplication, with mutual intiplicity of activities to allure us by terest, with the least number of hutheir retreating mirages. We have man agents and with the minimum nothing to do with, and no responsi- expenditure of time and money. bility for, either advocating or bringing about the organic or any other The Home Missions Council is a type of unity of the various denomina- voluntary association of American tions. Our work is Apostolic in spirit. home mission agencies. It began its cooperative studies and labors about We live in a country all of whose twenty years ago, when the repreinhabitants can be at one time on sentatives 'of our numerous Protestant wheels and may unite in Christian worship under the spiritual guidance home mission agencies for the first of their favorite ministers, speaking time looked into each other's faces. a thousand miles away. Under these Twenty years after we meet to thank conditions it is increasingly difficult God for the holy fellowship of the to go into the highways and hedges years. The Christian musketeers of and compel the people to come and join that early day have passed on. Hardly us. We are students, however, of the one of us remembers officially "that most complex piece of missionary work famous day and year." However diffiin the world, in a continent filled with cult it may be in the East to bring peoples. from all lands with social, the Eastern and Western churches toeconomIC and civic activities still gether, ir. America we have brought evolving, in a country with the great- not only Eastern and Western, but est wealth in hand, and still greater Northern, Canadian and Southern wealth in prospect, of any nation in churches together in our widespread the world. We devise ways and means unified continental missionary labors: for reaching with the Gospel the peoples of new and neglected areas in the The progress made in the last two United States and in Canada. In this decades has been at express speed. continent, with such an admixture of Home Missions Councils have been set peoples, we go straight forward with up in several states and under some our Christian labors, but always in the name will doubtless be established in many other parts of the continent.
Areas have been allocated, over- churched communities have been • Part of the president's opening address Q.t standardized, and many thousands of tl~e Annual Home Missions Conference AtlantIc communities in the nation that are CIty, January 8, 1929. I 114 spiritually guided by a single church, of each; each working for the success are cared for with a new spirit and of all; progress by reciprocity, and with a finer wisdom. Denominations spiritual conquest through missionarlJ that twenty years ago found it diffi- cooperation. cult to care for the spiritual interests of an entire community in a single We can resolve until we dissolve and church organization have, in many never solve America's mISSIOnary places, learned a way of doing so. problems. We must carry out the Great Many over-churched communities are Commission, be resourceful, be brave, themselves adjusting their difficulties constrained by the love of Christ. as the tides of population recede or change in character, and are report- If such ideals dominate our national ing to their denominations their de- missionary labors, a new day will be CISlOns. Certain racial groups have ushered in, whose sun, please God, organized for mutual improvement will not set until the Kingdom of and .stimulation, and other racial Heaven comes in our beloved America. groups closely allied have made new The missionary pace makers of today coordinations that promise a richer will be the spiritual peace makers of fellowship. tomorrow.
Mission leaders long in service, out The peoples of the nations have not of their rich experience, have set up come to us by accident, but through a standards for city planning and for divine urge. All the world is in Amerrural church arrangements. The vo- ica. For example, we may meet more luminous data, gathered so indus- Jews, while passing today from triously, and so brilliantly interpreted Brooklyn Bridge to Fourteenth Street by the leaders of the Institute pf So- in New York City, than Jesus met in cial and Religious Research, has made all His journeys from Nazareth to easier our mission work in rural, Jerusalem. Do we not see in this town, urban and suburban areas. God's hand and His challenge? So far as our missionary forces can do Primarily our task is to do our so, let us unite in a radiant spiritual complicated mission work in a con- fellowship and join the crusade for a tinent seething with social and eco- peaceful conquest of the many millions nomic changes and to do it always of unchurched Americans, both new without duplication of agencies and and old, and win. them lovingly and with a united Protestant front. We patiently to the service of our Lord have not yet attained, but we follow and Master. May God keep our ears after to apprehend. Weare, there- open to the divine command, make our fore, not only undertaking the gather- hands strong for mission service, ing of data, the surveying of fields and cause our feet to be shod with the the disposing of our various denom- preparation of the gospel of peace, inational missionary forces in a sen- both denominational and interdenomsible· and Christian manner, but we inational, both national and internaare trying also so to vitalize our work tional and our hearts to throb with that the peoples in our missionary a love for each other, for God and for areas shall be thrilled with our spirit all men. and catch the vision of God for their lives. We must do this for the sake Today we toil apart; tomorrow we of the peoples of America. They can triumph together. The spiritual bankbe saved only through missionaries ruptcy of millions in this continent who do not collide with each other, .calls us to fresh missionary endeavor, but clasp hands in a new followship. and as we are striving in America to Our key-words may well be: reach the goals set before us by our Lord, American Christians will cross No missionary effort dupZicated; no the seas in a new exodus to win the community neglected; no missionary peoples of all nations to accept the lunds wasted; all studying the work Saviour and to make every land a holy land for Him.
KRVS WHO HAVE
THE TEST BY REV. WALTER B. AND MAUDE WILLIAMS, Liberia, West Africa TOOK upon some results of body performing all sorts of gym- L Christian i n v est men t of nastic stunts as he tried to keep prayer and money in West right-side up while holding to the Africa's corner of Christ's Kingdom. Just a few, staunch Kru rope around the hind legs of the rearing, kicking bull.
Christians! There are many waBs eafno roeut-hains d-coount vheerastiohne~ Sakey others equally as interesting as a bold these; like them, "called to be and resourceful opposer to the Gos- saints," bearing faithful testimony pel being planted upon the Kru to the saving and keeping power of Coast. Those were the days of our Lord. * hitter hatred and persecution of all We introduce, first of all, Broth- native Christians. And what a er Paul Sakey of Niffoo, licensed leader Sakey was! He has told us exhorter in the Martha Nah Meth- how he would watch his chance, odist Episcopal Church. His age locate the tree under whose pro- is unknown but his physical tecting shade the native evangelist strength is tremendous and well and his followers would gather for balanced by his spiritual power. service, climb into it-and lie low.
Tirelessly he will preach all night While the preacher would warm to throughout the town, warning the his subject, Sakey would watch- people to forsake their sins and fully wait. At the moment of turn to God. He knows no fear, pressing home the sacred truth, this devout Christian, always in Sakey would suddenly let go the church, always forceful in purpose. branch that held him and delib- Yet in manner he is as humble as a erately fall from that height onto child. Though he can thunder the preacher below, knocking him from the pulpit, he will not dis- down and sending the audience in- dain the lowliest work for the to peals of laughter. It was not Master. Last District Conference, only the evangelist who suffered.
when husky men were needed to Sometimes Sakey himself was pilot the conference bull from the hurt; nearly all his front teeth Mission to the seat of Conference were knocked out this way. But eighteen miles away, Sakey took he was willing to suffer to drive the lead, his white robes flying out God-palaver.
wildly in the breeze and his tall At other times he would content himself with simply dropping us:J~~ishai~a~es;{:gsa~i tE;SI~~~'st:~~~g!m:~g down a ten-pound ripe breadfruit abe~~~sa~~ L~~lerii~' er.:n~~~n~le<;:~~n K:::;o~~ upon the preacher's head. When ripe fruit mashes on a preacher's strain. 'l'his atmosphere of dissent, suspicion and personal animosities in the tribps is so easy head and Sunday clothes, there is to arouse, so dJJllcult to allay. It hnmpers some mess and smell.
~~;'I,:~~si~~~r;,,:o::e s~~n~it~~~t a~ls~l~iia~~ ~~%~'ii' ~~ ~~~: ~~~ne:o u~~~~~~r t&~~! ~t!~~ All kind of tricks the fertile ~~~I:i: ~~7~{r.y~'~rJ..ayers and cooperation brain of Sakey evolved to disturb 116
CHRISTIAN KRUS WHO HAVE STOOD THE TEST
preaching. But the silent leaven In a business sense he is one of of the Gospel was at work, and on our most valuable men.
this Kru Coast as on a certain For over twenty-five years he Damascus road long ago, Christ has been preaching, and for a large arrested the disturber of His on- part of that time without pay. His ward march. Rightly was Sakey life is above reproach. He is spir- baptized in the name of Paul. He, itually-minded and of sterling too, is a miracle of grace. When character, and has much of Peter I see him sitting in church, so Cartwright's ruggedness in his quiet, so reverent, so devout, I make-up and method of preaching.
often wonder what would have be- He is wonderfully gifted in speech, come of such a forceful personality and a powerful evangelist. We had not the magnet of Christ's look at him, praise God for him- Gospel drawn him with irresistible and we ponder the road of his pil- power to the Cross of Christ, grimage before he stood steady on where his restless nature found its higher ground.
outlet in Christian service. When In the early years of our ac- the Lord Jesus captured Paul quaintance I built Ben a large Sakey, He got a real man, with the house in Bethany, which has grace of an angel, the humanity of grown to be the largest Christian Moses, the earnestness of the mission town on the coast. To it Apostle Paul and the loving, loyal he brought his wife and babies.
heart of John. His wife, however, fell ill with a An Adventure in Patience disease we did not understand and could not help. As she failed to Ben Cofa Nua, another Kru con- improve Ben carried her back to vert, represents, to us missionaries, the native village from which they an adventure into the kingdom of had come. To our surprisepatience, long suffering and en- though we were strangers to Kru durance-on our side as well as psychology – Ben changed from his. After fourteen years' close that day from a mission worker to intercourse with him, we find him a secret, and then an open enemy. one of Methodism's outstanding He let the house at Bethany decay, Kru evangelists, poorly educated refusing to look after it, though but possessing great power in we had gone to much trouble and preaching and marked ability in raising money to build churches expense in building it for him. He allied himself with an element in his village who were opposing our wherever he is stationed as pastor. work, and as he was a powerful He receives $80 a year salary and fighter, he gave us much heartache during 1926 he brought in $260 for and trouble. But in this lonely the new church at Niffoo, besides outpost on the Kru Coast, God raising the usual collections there. fought hard for His work and This year, 1927, he is at Sobobo, workers and the Mission won out.
endeavoring to build an iron Finally Ben came; begged us to church. He walks the thirty miles forgive him for the wrong he had to this station. His month's salary done; wept like a child. He had is £1. 7. 9 (almost $7.00) and he lost almost everything. His child brings with him from $12 to $15 had died. His wife had not im- a week in church building funds. proved in health. The prodigal re-
turned, and like the prodigal of old cassava farms, and saved the heads received pardon and restoration. of the town and the chiefs from For awhile he ran well. His being hanged as traitors. Ben had wife improved somewhat. Another a second fit of repentance, again baby was born. Then we saw plead with tears for pardon and that he was changing again. Again restoration to favor, and for the Ben started on the war path. It second time moved back to the mis- proved to be a long, bitter struggle. sion.
He put the Noreh Church which we During the war the idol or ju-ju had recently dedicated, against us houses had been burned, but their and drove us out of our church in beautiful brass bells were saved.
that village. The fight lasted for These bells had been dedicated to several years; then the Kru Re- the idols, but the red flower of fire bellion against the Liberian Gov- had devoured the idols and there ernment broke out. We did every- was no place left to put the bells.
thing to stop this unwise course of So a chief said: "Why not give the tribes but without avail. Men them to the Methodist Mission?
told us they had been planning this The Mission saved us and fed us war for forty years. Ben used to and got our land back again; give walk up and down outside the mis- the bells to the Mission." So one sion fence, brandishing a cutlass in fine bell was turned over to us and the air and shouting: "Any Amer- we put it outside our church, and ican man live on this place? Let a second bell was placed in the him come out and I will kill him." church at Kah.
The threats were directed, not Then Ben started a tempest for against us mISSIOnaries, but the third time and he fought the against a Liberian student. Ben Mission for receiving and holding was trying to terrify the students this brass bell. The ju-ju wor- and to break up our school. shipers struggled, too, to get these Then the Frontier soldiers came. bells back. We refused to return Ben's town was burned and his them and to allow them to be put people were driven into the forest back in rebuilt ju-ju houses, since where, for weeks. the Mission fed they had been used in our Meth- them. Ben, himself, barely escaped odist churches. Then a hard, stub- with his life, having to crawl on born fight ensued.
all fours along the ground with his Ben went to the County Superin- sick wife upon his back. Before tendent in Greenville and sued to the soldiers left the Coast, he with recover the bell. We won the case.
many another was a "man without Ben was beaten ? Not he. He a country." took the case to Monrovia. I fol- When the war was over the Mis- lowed him and employed legal help.
sion helped Ben's tribe to get back The case was taken to President from the Government the land they Daniel E. Howard and our church had forfeited by rebelling. The won again. Ben was threatened Mission protected the cocoanut wit h imprisonment. He was trees of that town which neighbor- warned that if he did not stop fight- ing people were trying to destroy. ing the Mission his town should be The Mission also helped that tribe burned all over again by the Gov- get settled again on its old site, ernment. He returned, defeated.
made possible the replanting of its But not wholly cast down.
CHRISTIAN KRUS WHO HAVE STOOD THE TEST
He went to his village and shut three are in the church and all up the church there against us and three have been taught in our mis- for two years held possession until sion school. "Do your converts the town people grew tired of his stay converted?" is sometimes foolishness and asked me to send asked. Mary Tallah is one of our them a proper preacher. They answers in the affirmative. She persisted until I sent them a man has led a good life and has kept who held the Sunday morning serv- close to the church for over twenty ice there. When church was out, years.
along came Ben with a crowd be- Next to Mary Tallah stands hind him. Said the chief: "Where Martha Nah of Niffoo; she built are you going?" the new Methodist church in Nif- "To hold church," said Ben. foo which bears her name. A "We've had church once," re- strong woman in more ways than plied the chief, "and one time is one! She was fearless in fighting enough; we don't want it again." all the town chiefs about breaking Then, as Ben tried to pass him and the Lord's Day, and she has suf- go into the church, the chief took fered much persecution for her his stand at the church door and faith and loyalty. Not long ago said: "If you put your foot again her husband, stimulated by a visit in this church I will break your to a bush devil doctor, emphasized head open with this stick." He his remarks to his wife by a blow meant it. Ben's power was broken with his fist, which knocked out a forever in that direction. That front tooth. The loss of the tooth same night a wild storm of wind was followed by the loss of a hus- swept over the town and blew a band, for he discarded Christian large breadfruit tree down on the Martha Nah and took another church, smashing that palaver- woman, a heathen. Martha has church to fragments. No other suffered, but she walks with un- trees fell. faltering tread the "straight and Ben came back once more to the narrow way."
Mission, and this time to stay. He The tall lady in black velvet robe did not weep puddles of repentance from "down Coast" is Martha Gib- as before. He said very little be- belu, the faithful class leader and yond stating that he had "finished steward in our mission church.
fighting the Mission." Today he is This strong, dignified, elderly one of the most faithful, useful and woman is a constant delight. Full efficient native evangelists on the of humor, always industrious, see- Kru Coast. But great patience ing to it that her own children and and long-suffering were needed be- grandchildren are in the church fore this position was attained! and school, she pursues the even We introduce next our good Kru tenor of her way, supporting her- sisters, three Marthas and one self by her cassava farm and mak- Mary-good Kru Christians all. ing a steady income of fifty cents At the extreme left stands Mary a week by washing and ironing Tal1ah, Ben Cofa Nua's sister, who clothes. It was her daughter who lives in Bethany Town. She is a at the time of the eclipse rushed up widow, who has struggled to give to the Mission, crying: "Do-wy, a Christian education to her three Konyo" ("Good morning, Lord").
daughters, with the result that all Martha Gibbelu is looked up to by
all the Kru women in our section. she lives today. She is a steward She teaches the Adult Bible Class and is faithful to her church duties in our church, and is a steady-go- and daily living. No other woman ing Christian one can depend on. on the Coast has been so signally Last stands Martha Konweh. used of God to open up the road for Those who remember how the Gos- the gospel message to reach a pel made the first break in the whole tribe, and a ruling tribe at Nana Kru tribe after three years that, and a stronghold of devil of fruitless preaching, and eigh- doctors. When the fire burns, teen months of daily prayer in the Martha Konweh becomes a flaming Mission, will recall how God used torch for the Master.
Martha Konweh, who at that A Christian Kru Family period was a devil-woman, trained in witchcraft and idolatry, one of After meeting Martha Konweh the five wives of Webah, the Nana you will like to see what her Kru War Chief. former war-chief husband and his It was Martha Konweh, back in family look like today. Isaac the Nana Kru Plantation Town, Webah in white coat and American who got up from her bed that shirt does not look quite so pic- memorable' night, aroused from turesque as in the native robe he sleep, she affirms, by "God Who told sometimes wears on special occa- her to go through the town and sions. This is the man who cleaned shout to the people to turn from all the jU-jU8 out of his interior ju-jus and devil worship and be- town and burned them. He dug gin to follow God," at the hour up all the devil medicine from the when the missionary, miles away, ground at the threshold of each rose from his knees with the as- house in his village and threw it surance that his prayer of eighteen away – medicine that had been months was answered and he need bought from devil doctors as a sure pray no longer for God to make a preventive against evil persons or break for the Gospel in the Nana spirits entering the houses to bring Kru tribe. sickness or death on the inmates.
Martha Konweh's faithful and He had made and set up in front persistent (and annoying) be- of his own house a tall cross-a havior drove her husband, Webah, lonely Cross back there in the to send down to our mission for jungle – as a sign that he had the missionary to go to the planta- finished with ju-jus and was fol- tion and "talk God-palaver" to lowing God. Webah, former war them. A revival followed. Webah chief, on his baptism chose the put away his many wives, Martha peaceable name of Isaac. Webah Konweh among the rest (and she legally married Mary, who stands didn't want to lose Webah), legally beside him, and has put all his married the wife he retained, was children into our mission school.
baptized, and these many years has Little Mary is in the First Reader; been living a consistent Christian Jacob in the Second; and David life. Manneh, a fourth grade student, Deprived of a husband, Martha is on our staff of teachers. Last Konweh made her home on this May, Manneh married one of our station. We built her a comfort- mission girls and lives in Bethany.
able little house in Bethany, where A valuable set of young people,
CHRISTIAN KRUS WHO HAVE STOOD THE TEST
these, training for efficient service. a message up to this mission; was Manneh is also a licensed local cut with a knife, hidden away in preacher; Isaac Webah is an ex- the bush under a cotton tree by horter. Where whole families are day and brought into the Cabor saved for the Lord and are receiv- Fish Town by night for food; was ing Christian training for effective finally killed and eaten by the service in the Kingdom, there is Cabor people in their town not special reason for rejoicing. Some three minutes' walk from our sta- Cleveland Methodists are putting tion. Part of the child's body was these three young Webahs through put over the fire and the fat caught school. J in a bottle and carried down to Amos Wrubu-Tried and True Sanpropo for war medicine. The murderer confessed to the crime Vividly interesting, too, is the and died of the sasswood test on story of this old, old friend, Amos the beach.
Wrubu of Wissipo, who was for Prior to the murder of his little years such a help and such a boy, Wrubu had driven away one hindrance to our work. A help, of his wives who was, it is said, a for he was always present at very wicked woman. She stole her church, always ready to render any baby girl, Jitueh, and carried the service asked of him save one! A child far into the interior. Wrubu hindrance, because he would not sought in vain for his little daugh- break away from polygamy and ter, but could not discover where by his example held all the young she was. The child was carried men of his tribe from breaking many days' walk from the beach, this chain which keeps so many and grew up in new surroundings, Kru men out of the Kingdom. A wild and heathen. The mother, heart-to-heart talk with the mis- being in want one day, sold the sionary one day led Wrubu, with little girl to a man for some rice tears in his eyes, to declare: to eat, and in time this man took "Teacher, I will hear what you the child and carried her still say; I will give up my other farther away. It seemed as though woman." she was lost forever to her father, "When, Wrubu?" flashed out the Wrubu.
question. Stranger than any fiction are the HI fit to do it now," came the facts that follow. Jitueh's mother solemn assurance, and it was done. came under the influence of Pente- So Amos Wrubu was baptized and costal missionaries. She fell ill with him came his wife and all his and very close to death. Hovering children, another entire Christian on the borderland, her dying la- family. All the years we have ment was always the same: "Oh, known and loved this man, so in- if only I could see my little girl be- fluential in his tribe, we have never fore I die!" The kind-hearted mis- heard a word against his moral sionary, Mr. Garlick, soothed her character, never a suspicion of with the promise: "I will go and tarnish on his good name. But he try and get your child for you."
has suffered for the faith! Taking some native boys with Thirteen years ago his little boy him, he started in search of the was seized by witchcraft followers girl who was known to be three or on the public road while bringing four days' walk in the jungle.
Arriving at the village he was ened their knives on big stones, bound for, he was told that Jitueh yelling: "Bring her. Bring her."
was not there. Too tired to move Mr. Garlick was quite cool, out- he sat resting and watching the wardly at least. "No," he an- women pass with their water jars swered, "take your money. I will on their heads. Suddenly one of never give up the girl." When his boys touched him and whis- they realized he meant to take the pered: "Look, here is Jitueh girl at any cost and could not be Wrubu coming." frightened out of doing it, they He asked them to let him have capitulated. "Give us the money," the girl. He produced money to they demanded and received it, redeem her. He spoke of the dying shouted, cursed, but turned back mother's plea. But the tribe home~ turned a deaf ear. They obsti- The missionary reached the misnately insisted: "We no fit to give sion house in time for the dying mother to see her daughter. her to you. Go away." No less iirmly the intrepid mis- "Thank God," cried the woman, sionary declared: "I will not leave and the same night she died. The until I get her to carry to her dy- little girl was afterwards baptized ing mother:" His own boys said Ruth after the missionary's wife.
earnestly: "Teacher, go easy. When the work in that part of the These are wild people. They no interior was abandoned and the care about killing man out here. Pentecostal mIssIOnaries went The soldiers never come here. home, Mr. Garlick's brother-in-law Don't stir these people up. One brought the girl to our Mission and time they caught an officer and left her with us for a Christian killed him and hung his head across education. So was she reunited to this street on a big rope. We beg her father, Amos Wrubu. She is you, come away." in the Nana Kru Mission today, For several days the palaver growing into attractive Christian lasted. The missionary prayed womanhood.
and prayed. Then, tired out with As though Wrubu had not suf- their delays, he said to the bush fered enough, a testing of peculiar people: "Tomorrow I take her to difficulty for a Kru man to bear her mother." They replied: "We was visited upon him for his loyal- will kill you if you do." ty to this Mission. For two years Next morning at cock crow the he and his family, who had been dauntless missionary walked boldly the leading family in Wissipo, were to the house where Jitueh was and ostracized by the tribe. Noone took her. A shout went through visited them. No one spoke to the town. A mass of black hu- them. They were left absolutely manity with drawn knives surged alone. To a people who do every- towards him, shouting: "Take thing in companies, ostracism is her, and you die." On went the well-nigh unbearable. But Wrubu missionary until at a small village stood the test and came forth vic- a few miles away he was sur- torious.
rounded by the mob. Inside a hut An unscrupulous native man, he prayed, for he was quite uncer- Paul Nikkeh, had been driven from tain as to the outcome. Outside Settra Kru for stealing govern- that hut the fierce wild men sharp- ment property. He ran to Wis-
CHRISTIAN KRUS WHO HAVE STOOD THE TEST
sipo, announcing that he was a They declared they would hold Nik- Wissipo man. He went to the keh, and so we withdrew.
Methodist church-the whole town To protect the church we ap- at that time was a Methodist com- pealed to the authorities in Sinoe.
munity-and Wrubu, our steward, The Superintendent called the allowed him to speak from the plat- chief, told him to be quiet and stop form. It is one of the failings of fighting and let the Methodist the Kru people, letting any stran- church alone. The chief and peo- ger that comes along preach to ple said they would agree if the them in their churches. That is Mission would drive out Wrubu one reason the Christian work for he had caused this trouble by needs such constant oversight. letting the stranger speak in the The man greatly stirred the Wis- Methodist church. We refused to sipo people by promising to be drive from the church a man who had stood so faithfully for it these their preacher and to teach school many years. So the town ostrain their town, and he dwelt upon cized Wrubu and his family. his being a Wissipo man. For years this town had asked us to For two years we patiently have a missionary put there. Each waited. Nikkeh held the fort.
Kru village, no matter how small, With a band of his followers he wants the prestige of a missionary would come singing past the Misof its own. That, too, is character- sion to show us that he was in istic of the clannishness of the control. One day, having taken Krus. One town will not join with possession of all the church collecanother in any good work. The tions, he went away on pretense next Sunday when our preacher of buying school books for the Wiswent to his Wissipo appointment sipo children-and he never went back. He went to Monrovia and as usual he was met by the church then to America with the avowed people with the statement that he purpose of getting money from the need come no more as they had churches there. their own country boy to preach and teach their school. We had a warning against this unscrupulous native printed in our Wrubu came to see us. In such church papers, for we learned he cases two roads are open to us- intended to pass off as a Methodist either to continue to send our man and make the round of Methodist and, quietly go on with our work, churches. Money given to such ignoring the opposing element; or men does not go into missionary to leave the people alone to have work. Yet, from a charge in the their fill of the man of their choice, West, a woman Sunday-school suknowing that in the end their eyes perintendent who had read the will be opened and they will return warning in the Advocate wrote to the fold. We chose the latter course. that the young man had spoken in her church to the great interest We forbade Nikkeh to use the and benefit of the people and they Methodist church for we knew him had gladly given him money. She to be a dishonest man. We called thought that we mi!;;sionaries were a council of the Wissipo people, very narrow and unjust to write asked them what they wanted, such things against such a fine warned them against this stranger., young man.
In the long months of his ab- members. It was a glad day for sence the Wissipo people had a the Wrubu family, as well as for chance to consider. They did not Wissipo. Through all the testing enjoy being cut off from church the Wrubus had never faltered. privileges and fellowships. While Nikkeh waS in charge in Wissipo You have looked into the faces he let devil doctors and ju-jus come of these Kru Christians who are back again. The people followed in the Kingdom and carrying forthe advice of devil doctors as to ward the work of the Church of the time of cutting their farms, today and tomorrow, because you and they lost everything. They at home have thought it worth began to be hungry, and to talk while to support the Nana Kru over the "old times" when the Mis- Mission, the only Protestant mission was their friend and they al- sion operating now on the Kru ways had plenty to eat. Then one Coast of Liberia, a section a hunor two began to say "Good morn- dred miles in length, reaching far ing" to Wrubu. One of their boys back to the interior boundary. -for some time a student in our These are only a few of the many mISSIOn school-returned from who have benefited by the self-decoast and, set himself to bring nial, prayers and money of Ameriabout peace. In the end the church can Christians. While all this people built a bamboo and thatch Christian training has been going church to replace the Methodist on, the church at home has cut us church which had rotted and fallen, down the budget for this mission and last Christmas a delegation fifty per cent. In spite of that, how came to make peace and be re- wonderfully God has wrought with stored to the privileges of church the gifts sent for His use on the Kru Coast!
MANY Ah'RICAN WOMEN, WHO ATTEND CHRISTIAN SCHOOLS, WISH THEIR FRIENDS TO HAVE A CHANCE TO LEARN ALSO, so THEY FORM CLASSES AMONG THEIR NEIGHBORS AND TEACH THE!l-I WHAT '.rHEY THEMSELVES HAVE LEARNED
FEDERAL COUNCIL
BY CHARLES STELZLE, New York T WENTY years ago the Fed- in the future the various denomi- eral Council of the Churches nations could work together more of Christ in America con~ effectively in certain fields which had to do purely with propaganda sisted of a "Corresponding Sec- retary" and a Secretary. True and the creation of opinion than if enough there were several commis- each group worked independently, sions, but none of them was par- as for example, in the field of soticularly active. .Today there are cial service, international justice about eighty on the staff of the and good will, the race problem, Federal Council in its New York Christian education, the Church office. There are fifteen commis- and the drama.
sions and committees, with execu- The morning discussions at the tive secretaries in charge, all of Rochester meeting were based them putting out material that is upon a Data Book prepared by the challenging the churches of Ameri- Research Department, each theme ca. Instead ·of a $15,000 budget of having to do with certain fields twenty years ago, the Federal covered in the Church's activities.
Council last year had a budget of Calling attention to the "World $375,000. Community," it was stated: At the sixth quadrennial meet- Applied science has reduced the ing of the Council in Rochester, world to the dimensions of a single in December, the twentieth anni- neighborhood. No people today is isoversary of its organization was lated from the others. The consular celebrated. The four hundred dele- representative, the motion picture pro- moter, the tourist, the business agent gates, represented twenty – eight of the West are found all over the denominations with a constituency world. And the East, in turn, comes of about twenty million members. to the West. Nearly ten thousand They discussed the problems fac- foreign students are in the United ing the Church today in the city, States. For good or for ill the nathe country, the nation and the tions now share a common life. world, and listened to reports of progress presented by various com- The way in which the United States missions and committees. influences the rest of the world can be The Federal Council has made simply illustrated by the motion picno specific attempts to bring the ture. Today the American film goes churches together in organic un- everywhere. In Paris, in Vienna, in ion; the chief aim has been to Calcutta and Shanghai millions every unite them in service, thus making day get impressions of American life them better acquainted with each by what they see on the screen. The other and bringing about a more American trade representatives is likeharmonious spirit and a clearer wise found everywhere. Where once the missionary was almost the sole understanding which will eventu- interpreter of the West to the East, ally result in greater unity in ec- today the motion picture and the clesiastical relationships. At the business interests are everywhere con- Rochester meeting it was felt that spicuous, if not always accurate, ex- ponents of American standards and ideals.
125
The total merchandise exports and ing Quadrennium." During this imports of the United States for the period the commissions of the calendar year 1927 are reported at Council made their reports. At the $4,864,806,000 and $4,184,378,~00, re- evening public meetings national spectively. It is estimated that m 1927 and international topics were dis- Americans abroad expended $770,000,- cussed by such speakers as Dr. 000 and that the total investments of Robert E. Speer, who spoke on Americans in foreign lands at present "The World's Need and the Gospel are approximately $12,000,000,000, ex- to Meet It"; Dr. S. Parkes Cadcluding war debts owed to the Uni~ed man, on "The Genius of the States Treasury. Thus are our m- Protestant Movement and Its Conterests and prosperity intimately in- tribution to the Life of Mankind" ; Dr. A. L. Warnshuis, on "Cooperatertwined with those of other lands. tion"; and the Rev. E. Stanley One of the most conspicuous phases Jones, of India, on "The Christ of the Final Word." of the world's life today is the great tide of nationalistic spirit that is Dr. Warnshuis, secretary of the sweeping across many nations. II Es- International Missionary Council, pecially in the Near East and Far spoke on "Cooperation in the East is this a dominant factor, af- World-Wide Christian Movement" fecting all other interests. Turkey and said in part: struggling to be master of her own fuonritfuiendes~ovCehrinnmaensttriavnidngtotoseactutraeinrea- The facts of the extent to which lease from unequal treaties, India, cooperation has developed in the for- Egypt and the Philippines demanding eign missionary work of the churches ought to be better known. Union self-determination, are only the more institutions are some of the most conobvious manifestations of a temper crete evidences of missionary cooperathat is well-nigh universal. tion. A list prepared in January, 1928, gives the names of 113 union The foreign missionary enterprise, educational institutions supported by which is the most direct assertion of foreign missionary boards. Seventy the world-character of Christianity, different boards representing almost takes on an immensely enhanced sig- every Protestant communion, coopernificance in the light of the new eco- ate in these union institutions. These nomic interdependence of the nations institutions include all grades of and the growth of international re- schools from the kindergarten to the university, but it is noteworthy that lationships in the political realm. there are more union theological sem- The missionary enterprise has re- inaries and Bible schools than any other kind of schools. Where it might sulted in the rise of a Christian have been supposed that it was most movement which has become really difficult to bring the teaching forces conscious of a world-wide character together, just there it has been most and able to express itself on a world practical. Why can we do this in Asia scale. While it would be easy to point and not in America? Who can be out many conditions which limit this surprised that church union is so far statement and many factors which are advanced in Asia, Africa and Latin standing in the way of the develop- America, when the preachers and pasment of an indigenous church in many tors receive their training in union lands it is clear that a Christian colleges and seminaries? churdh increasingly expressive of the genius of its own people is coming Another form of cooperation is that into being in practically all the fields by which the missions by mutual where the missionary movement has agreement delimit the territory in become well rooted.
The general theme for the after- noon sessions was "Programs of Cooperative Service for the Com-
THE FEDERAL COUNCIL ANNIVERSARY
which each will work. In this' way a The Reformation period which pro- group of missions occupy a province duced the Protestants was so crowded and the whole number endeavor to with major personalities and events bring their message to all the people. that the numerous volumes written There is very little overlapping. upon it have ill sufficed to do it justice. People who talk of that simply exhibit A political and religious upheaval then their ignorance. The criticism, if any occurred which ushered in modern is to be made, should tackle the other democracy, the freedom of learning, side of the question. In some respects scientific progress, and the liberty of there is not enough overlapping. The conscience which men enjoy. The sesituation is such that a person who cession of European states from Papal lives in one country, if he becomes a control was the final and most notable Christian, is foreordained to be a phase of the decline of the majestic Methodist, because there is no other church of the Middle Ages.
church there; and another person liv- This epoch making transfer was ac- ing in another country, on becoming complished to the lasting advantage of a Christian has no free choice to be civil and religious liberty, but it also anything but a Presbyterian; and an- involved the 108s of Christian oneness other person in another country if he and ecclesiastical uniformity. The is converted to Christianity cannot be great name of John Calvin suggests a other than a Congregationalist, or an all that was most formidable and most Anglican, or Quaker, or a Lutheran, victorious in Protestantism as the as the case may be, depending upon parent of the Modern State. Upon the mission to which that country is this solitary Frenchman of Picardy assigned in the division of territory. rested the gigantic burdens of the new We cannot do better than that with movement. In a controversy which the small forces available to cover drove even sensible and cautious men such immense areas contained in the to the last extremity, he had to uphold continents of Asia, Africa and Latin and forward the inspiring but more America. emotional onset of Luther. Through- Moreover, there is much real coop- out the negotiations and conflicts of a eration between these missions in that stormy time one perceives the curate, while working in different territories, they are not founding each a separate the strategy, the psychic force of the Genevan giant.
church. On the contrary, the results Divisiveness is not congenital to of their work are gathered in united Protestantism. Quite otherwise, its churches or churches that from the central stronghold is neither a Creed beginning have been an organic unity. nor a Book, but a Person and a Life.
In China we have recently seen a We, as disciples of one Master, cannot nation-wide church organized, with forever cooperate in a guilty partner- which the missions of sixteen de- ship of limited liability with political nominations cooperate, including Pres- bodies organized, regardless of the byterians from the U. S., Canada, honor of God. We cannot countenance England, Scotland, Ireland, Australia, what He annuls nor consent that feuds Congregationalists from England and which have lost interest for thinking America; United Brethren and Eng- men and women shall always separate lish Baptists. the holy brotherhood. For all thus Dr. Cadman, the retiring presi- convinced, the Federal Council is at dent of the Federal Council of once a clearing house and a fortress. Churches, spoke on "The Genius of In cooperative service rendered by the Protestant Movement and Its Christians who surmount denomina- Contribution to the Life of Man- tional lines is the secret of future suc- cess, and the assurance of Heaven's kind." He said: guidance.
One of the inspiring addresses Jews and Christians working hand- was delivered by Rabbi Philip S. in-hand. Every effort to improve the social and economic, the political an(l Bernstein of Temple B'rith Kodesh spiritual conditions in our community of Rochester. It was the first time should meet with our common support. that a Rabbi had spoken at a meeting of the Council, and this young There is a common element in exponent of Judaism was listened our religions which transcends our to with rapt attention. Discussing churches and our rituals-a vision of the causes of misunderstanding be- a better world that is to be, and of tween Jews and Christians, he a humanity loftier and finer than has been known; a vision that takes us said: out of ourselves and lifts us to high The worst crimes committed against endeavor and heroic sacrifice, in order my people in the course of their long, that we may speed the coming of the bloody, tear-stained history were often day when humanity shall be freed in His name whom you revere as from disease and poverty, exploitation Christ. I was in Poland three years and tyranny, war and famine.
ago and visited, one day, a little vil- In a report presented by Dr. lage called Gura, Kalvarya, where a Charles S. Macfarland, General famous rabbi ministered to an old con- Secretary of the Federal Council, gregation. ,I talked with the young entitled "Twenty Years in Retromen in that synagogue about many things. I remember asking one of spect," after reviewing the work them whether the attitude toward of the Council during this period, Jesus had changed. He said, "Jesus?" he emphasized the importance of and spat upon the ground. It was a the spiritual element in any proterrible thing for him to have done. It was obvious that he who was more gram for the future, and said: enlightened felt no ·differently toward Jesus than many of his ancestors. I We have sought group and consultried to learn the reason and dis- tative, rather than personal leadercovered finally that this boy's family ship. So far as this is true is it not had been done to death before his eyes because, to quote our constitution, we by Russian Cossacks who came to have sought to manifest our. "essential them with the name of Christ up.on oneness in Jesus Christ as Divine their lips. Lord and Saviour?" Where Christ is leader all are followers.
It is well to keep in mind that the The Federal Council must ever seek unJewish attitude of many Jews to- to lead the churches to the Mountain ward Jesus is owing primarily to the of Transfiguration and if it does, there unchristian acts of many Christians to will be found One who will Himself Jews. You have made it difficult for lead them to the plain below of hu- Jews to understand and love Jesus. I man life and service.
speak not only of eastern Europe The demons that we seek to cast where Eastertime is still an occasion out, of social wrong, of prejudice, of when many Jews live in trembling race, of ignorance and of brutal warand fear; I speak also of what has this kind cometh out only by fasting happened and is happening in America. and by prayer.
We have much to do in common. And if, in this spirit, we sit to- We are citizens of a great republic. gether during these days, just as our Let us together try to keep that re- brethren of twenty years ago were public true to the loftiest teachings of clearly led of God, so we shall find both our faiths. In our community His will, for the days and years ahead, there is much of God's work that we as we now turn our faces from the can do together. Every effort, for ex- past and seek His guidance for a ample, to better Rochester should find larger, fuller future. EDITED BY MRS. F. 1. JOHNSON, 150 Fifth Avenue, New York The following materials and methods The two flew at each other as the passhould be helpful to those missionary sengers responded to the "All On educationists, whether pastors, Sunday- Board." The boys rolled over and over school missionary department super- in each other's embrace in an attempt visors, or program chairmen of women's to settle that "Guinea, guinea goo" groups, who are trying to make the question which today stands facing United States segment of the missionary the Christian Church. enterprise live in the hearts and minds of their groups. It is not what the eye Those who, during the past years, sees, but what the mind comprehends have been studying this problem, state that stirs folks, both old and young, to by state, city by city, countryside by action. Arrest attention through the countryside, know that it is now neceye; drive the truth home with facts essary for all Christians to put themthat compel the mind to think con- selves to the task of finding a way cretely; present immediately produc- to bring the entire mass of all races tive channels through which this deposit living in the United States to the place of thought may operate. where we unite those whose vision is skyward, thus forcing more rapidly the ABOUT a quarter of a century ago upward trend toward the Christ, the the brilliant Mary Anton, who had Redeemer of all peoples. Let us not come to "The Promised Land" as an shun the use of the name of the Christ immigrant, while standing on one of in talking with others concerning Pittsburgh's bridges and looking down moral and general uplift pr(lblems; it on the "Hell with the lid off" steel has power in it. mills, with their surrounding huts, wrote on a scrap of paper the follow- "The butcher, the baker, the candleing: stick maker" is thinking of religion Down yonder she sits in the half-<>pen and of GC'd more than we guess. door; 'Tis plain she has never had time to Illustrations: After taking an X- before. ray of her teeth which was so much But all is so stl"ange cares. to her! nobody more speedily done than she had ex- pected, the doctor, an eminent one, They all pass her by with wondering was almost shrinkingly asked if he stares. knew what the X-ray machine com- pelled her to think of; when he in- Twenty-five years ago a passenger sisted upon hearing and she had told was waiting at a New York dock for him: "The eyes of the Lord are in a Fall River boat. He heard this bit every place," to her amazement he unof United States history in the mak- hesitatingly replied: "As I have been ing, which took the form of a quarrel experimenting with this machine that between two little bootblacks, one of same thought has come to me over and whom spoke United States English, over again. Truly, I am wondering the other, broken Italian. The little if it ·is not about time for another United Stateser said tauntingly, great prophet-or something."
"Guinea, guinea goo, shine my shoe, A butcher in a busy shop in Harlem, Have it done by half past two." one of New York's mission fields, was Quickly came the retort, cutting pork chops for a customer. As "Americaner, you-eel shine shoe, Me no wait ha-past-two."
129 .4 he worked he anathematized nations used by us to illustrate God's workand individuals who are constantly on ing in the hearts and doings of folks the fighting margin. The customer have been worn threadbare; let us finally gathered courage to ask: hunt for up-to-the-minute illustra- "What would happen if the things tions. God is working today as po- Christ stood for were put into prac- tently as He ever did. tice?" He stopped, wiped his bloody hands on his butcher's apron, leaned . CHAPEL IN A HOTEL back against the smoked-meat shelf and said: "Right ye are-let Him "Meditation Chapel" in the Hotel rule and this old hell world would be Biltmore, New York City, will open heaven." He had lost two boys in the to guests and employes, it was an- "World Slaughter." nounced by John McEntee Bowman, president of the Bowman Biltmore A highly educated and traveled Hotels Corporation. Eventually a young Jewel:s who is actively inter- meditation chapel will be installed in ested in "The New Palestine" move- all the Bowman Hotels. ment was engaged in conversation on a New York, New Haven and Hart- "The simple little sanctuary for the ford Railroad train. After she had use of all who worship God, irrespecgiven valuable information as to the tive of creed or of denomination, will progress of this movement, the help- be found on the third floor," said a ful attitude of the British Government statement from Mr. Bowman. in this connection, the work of Sir John Chancellor, she said: "Shakes- "As its name implies, 'Meditation peare came at the peak of the decades Chapel,' is not for set services, but of interest in the writing of poetry. for meditation only-a place wher!! For some time the novel has been the anyone may sit in silence and hear literary hobby of the literate world. his own thoughts. Is it not possible that a great novelist may be in the offing? I am wonder- "There are times in the lives of ing, as I watch the nations planning all of us, in the day and in the night, for their greatest self-development, if when we want to get away from the some great consummating event is not world and commune alone with God, ahead. It seems to me that this ac- to kneel before His altar. The church tivity an the part of the nations is is not always available. Many find similar to the purifying of elements their rooms adequate for all purposes; in the laboratory in order that they others may find comfort in the little may be fused when the proper uniting Chapel in the Inn. substance is at hand." As she hesitated, the question was asked: "Where "The presence of one spot in the do you think the uniting substance hotel, dissociated from the worldly will be found?" With surprising things of life and dedicated and con- secrated to the God we profess to quickness she replied, "Is a second serve, is now recognized by this act as a spiritual necessity in any hotel coming impossible? May not a Christ with which I am connected and as soon as practicable a meditation chapel -or a Moses be given?" Yes, He will be installed in all our hotels.
is in the minds of many thinking folks "Flowers will always be found on this altar and above the altar the whom we Pass every day. Now is adopted inscription: 'Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden the time to be frank witnesses for and I will give you rest.' Him in all sincerity. We have to live it or we dare not witness. "It is an invitation to all.
The experiences and incidents con- "The consecration of this chapel is the use for which it has been set nected with William Carey, David apart forever."
Livingstone, General Booth, Sam Jones, Dwight L. Moody and others
METHODS FOR WORKERS
THE WORK-BENCH AND TOOLS TOOL H.-If possible secure a pro- fessional designer to put the follow- TOOL I.-What would be the effect ing idea on an upson-board which may on your group if to greet them at be used at several meetings. By your next meeting you were to have means of your picture make an inthe following picture beautifully done tensive study of your own city, town, in black and white on a large black- or countryside. This picture illusboard or drawing paper? Try it and trates how the study was made by a see. Have one member give the group in Cleveland, Ohio. Use a pichistory of The Statue of Liberty and ture of your own town-hall, old hotel another the story of The Stars and business section, or a group of farms: Stripes. Have a talk by the widest twenty-five years ago. If you have a read and best informed person in your local problem of any kind which the church on the topic, "Changes, racial Christian people should take the inand commercial since 1777." itiative in solving, and of course you have, this method wiII bring it before your very eyes, a most desirable aid to action.
Doctor Shriver's What Next in Home Missions and Doctor Oxnam's Youth and the New America are in- dispensable tools for your analysis.* YE OLD INN Was the caetnYt eurleotifdeh. o sRpoi tmaal int~ye warmth and cheer held its swa~ and we often hear regrets for the passmg of the 0Ilen hearth, the blazing logs, the savory vIands, and the intimate THE STATUE OF LIBERTY stands upon greetings of the host. . Bedloe's Island about two miles from the, Battery, New York City. It was Cleveland's Population designed by Bartholdi and presented by France in 1884. The statue is one Austria ………… 116,000 hundred and fifty-one feet high; its (Comments) pedestal, one hundred and fifty-five feet. It symbolizes Liberty Enlighten- Hungary ……. . … 101.000 ing the World. It weighs 225 tons. (Comments) Forty persons can stand in the head and the torch has room for twelve Russia ………….. 80,000 people. (Comments) For the story of The Stars and England ……….. . 30,000 Stripes send to John Hancock Mutual (Comments) Life Insurance Company, Boston, Mass., for their fine pamphlet, "The Germany ………. 112,000 Flag of the United States." (Comments) Ireland …………. 30,000 (Comments) Italy …………… 52,000 (Comments) Canada …………. 30,000 United States born … 80,000 ·Missionary Education Movement 150 Fifth Ave., New York City. :SO cents. '
Conditions precious, and in the presence of one and another certain inhibitions invariably arise. It is these inhibitions which Solutions are so difficult to break down. Spiritual After years of experiment we are Moral convinced that the social approach, Labor that is approach through parties and Law Enforcement get-together affairs, is not as helpful Schools or as effective as our services of wor- ship in the church. The fellowship First Use of Picture which grows up in prayer to one God, singing hymns in unison, and the (a) Have picture explained with spiritual work of the church, becomes local color; tell what the buildings a more powerful cementing tie than were used for, who lived in the houses the companionship of parties and soand such items of heart interest. Ask cial intercourse. the group to tell what they know about the history of your local situation The church should furnish an attwenty-five years ago. You may un- mosphere in which social differences earth some helpful history. can be disregarded, a medium in which disparities in rank, language, (b) Assign to those who will work class and financial position can be at it, the task of analyzing the changes reconciled, and it should be a place of that have taken place in the past supreme dedication to which all, no twenty-five years. matter what their rank or outlook on life, can give the best in them, re- Second Use of Picture gardless of any prior allegiance.
(a) Begin to put down the results As a result of our crowded life in of your analysis as shown on the metropolitan centers, men and women Cleveland picture. of means or varied interests are hard- pressed for time, especially in the (b) Assign such vital and pertinent evening hours, which is the leisure topics as the following: Our Immi- period of those doing manual work. gration Laws. Should the Number This fact alone makes it very difficult in Our Electoral College Depend on to effect an approach through parties Population or Citizenship? and social admixture. On the other hand the hours of worship are com- As the study of your local problems mon to nearly an walks of life, for progresses the leader should direct the both foreign and native born, and in trend of thought toward the whole this period all who are free can meet United States as the unit of the Home along spiritual lines and gradually Missionary Enterprise. What is be- grow to know the aims, ambitions, ing done may then be answered by ideals and life of one another. a specific study of your own Board work in the United States. Every MAKE THE CITY CHRISTIAN Home Mission Board has rich material which no worker can afford to DR. M. P. BURNS be without. Just in proportion as the religious FOREIGN AND NATIVE BORN life and thought of the people is pagan or Christian, so also is the civilization One Method of Bringing About an developed by that people pagan or Understanding Between Foreign Christian. The institutions of our and Native Born so-called Christian civilization are Christian just in proportion as the GEORGE STEWART, PH.D. people who developed them are Chris- tian in their living and thinking. One of the most important problems before city churches today is an apparent impossibility of mixing foreign and native born within the same congregation. Each side has prejudices which are difficult to overcome, each has associations which are very
Christian institutions and all clean- well-devised program, launched and cut moral agencies have been con- carried forward by the church, along ceived, born, and developed, directly lines of a thoroughgoing brotherhood, or indirectly, under the influence of would soon dispel the criticism of the Christianity. Confucianism of China, centuries. It would soon force the Mohammedanism of Egypt, and Shin- issue of the gospel, and ultimately toism of Japan, are each, in its own compel the kingdoms of this world country, almost entirely responsible to become the Kingdom of our Lord for the kind of civilization that pre- and of His Christ. vails. The task, therefore, of the Church, The church has more or less boldly in the face of unparalleled difficulties, professed, through the years, to be charged with tremendous responsia thoroughly democratic institution. bilities, and in view of the splendid But, let me ask, is it essentially and opportunities stretching out ahead, is fundamentally democratic? to adjust herself in approach, pro- gram and message, reinforce herself Ministers in the Monday morning with the mind and passion of Christ, preachers' meeting have proclaimed, and address herself to the task. through all the years, with magnifi· cent and convincing rhetoric, the fact UNCLE SAM'S MERRY-GO-ROUND of the universal Fatherhood of God and the universal brotherhood of man. A Delightful and Productive Method But, to her great discredit and con- With Children fusion on the other hand, the church for which they spoke has not only BY MRS. J. W. DOWDS tolerated, but, in some cases, actually As a basis for teaching children the generated class distinction, and drawn spirit of sympathy and love for all lines of social demarcation over which other children, regardless of race, men have never been able to cross. creed, or color use the miniature merry-go-round on which meeting by My soul has been distressed and meeting are placed dolls dressed in tremendously humiliated by a church Dennison paper to represent races and professing to love God with all the nationalities living in the United heart, might, mind, and strength, and States. its neighbor as itself, and at the same Make base out of a circle of beavertime absolutely refusing to allow peo- board forty-two inches in diameter; ple of a different social group or over this place a Japanese umbrella speaking a different language to bow covered with red, white and blue bunat her altars and weep their way to ting; fill the border with stars; be- God. What would be the result if tween canopy and base suspend in true the doors of the church were thrown merry-go-round fashion small celluloid wide open, and the Italians, the Bo- animals so placed as to leave a 5-inch hemians, and the Russians, and all space around the edge of board base; the rest, together with their wives and little ones, would be freely permitted to come and worship therein, with the consciousness that the church membership would meet them on the platform of a sympathetic fellowship, born of the spirit of Jesus Christ? With such an exhibition of good fellowship by the Christian Church, the last vestige of unbelief on the part of the unbelievers would be swept away forever, and the kingdom of God would come with great power in that community. I am suggesting that a
underneath the base place at intervals, The educative value of the stories small spool wheels upon which the en- told by leaders will depend on the tire structure may revolve. judgment and thoroughness with which they are prepared. Uncle Sam is the owner and occupies a place of prominence on inner Review the stories many times until side of circle. He must be dignified they live in the precious little hearts and of fine countenance. On his right to the end that the seed which you stands a man who is a Home Mission- have planted may sprout and produce. ary; on his left, a deaconess. Urge children to tell the stories at home at the dinner table or at bed At each meeting stories are told of time. the people whom the dolls represent and of the needs of the work. The following devotional service was built by Miss Charlotte Anderson The merry-go-round is set in mo- of Parl;:ersburg, W. Va., under the tion while near by stand all of the guidance of the editor of this departdolls awaiting their chance to "ride." ment and for use in the School of Missions, Mountain Lake Park, Md. The first day the Indians and Alas- Miss Anderson is an Ohio Wesleyan kans are allowed to mount as the chil- University senior. dren sing as if singing for the dolls: Method :-Have the members of (Tune–uJesus Loves me, This I Know") Sunday-school classes or other groups enter a wholesome contest. Give Merry-go-round please stop for me, out themes and set day when copies I want Uncle Sam to see must be in hands of a committee; use What a good American I can be. all usable ones. The method is dis- Juniors-O, make room for me. tinctively educative. The young folks will in this work reveal their degree Chm'us of spiritual development and the kind 0, yes he needs us, of song they enjoy. It might not· be 0, yes he needs us, a bad idea for the pastor to try the 0, yes he needs us, use of such a service some Sunday He needs us everyone. morning. (There is but one difference between a ditch and a grave and that After the Indian and Alaskan stories is in the depth.) are told ask: "Shall we let them ride 7" To which the children respond Suggested Themes :-"Character in by singing: Scripture and Song"; "Nations in Scripture and Song"; "War and Peace Come little Indian ride with me, in Scripture and Song." Uncle Sam our guide will be; He has work that we can do, He needs Indians to help him too.
Chorus 0, yes he needs them, 0, yes he needs them, 0, yes he needs them, He needs them everyone.
They are placed on the merry-go- AN EFFEOTIVE DEVOTIONAL round and others await their turn at SERVIOE another study period; Japanese, Chinese, Mexicans, Spanish, Hawaiians, Nature in Scripture and Song Porto Ricans, Negroes, Highlanders, migrants, immigrants, city slums and I. ROCK: The Lord is my rock and my others that you may see fit to select. Fortress and my Deliverer; my God and my Strength; in whom I will Close the series with a lesson on trust; my buckler and the horn of Christian Citizenship. my salvation, and my high tower. (Psalm 18: 2.) Ask the children each time to bring Song-"Jesus is a Rock in a Weary to the next meeting dolls which they Land." themselves have dressed and stories which they have gotten their parents II. HILLS: I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my to tell them. help. (Psalm 121: 1.) Song-"The Ninety and Nine."
1929J METHODS FOR WORKERS
III. WAVES: Oh that thou hadst heark- XIV. RAIN: He shall come down like ened to my commandments: Then rain upon the mown grass; as had thy peace been as a river and showers that water the earth. thy righteousness as the waves of (Psalm 72: 6.) the sea. (Isaiah 49: 18.) Song-"Showers of Blessings." Song-"The Cleansing Wave." This program should be carefully pre- IV. STARS: And they that be wise shall pared. Sing but one stanza of each shine as the brightness of the firm- song. ament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars forever. TO-THE-MINUTE MATERIAL (Daniel 12: 3.) Song-"O Little Town of Bethle- "The Glowing Ember of Prayer," Pres- byterian Board, 156 Fifth Ave., New hem." York, N. Y. (Fine to use in a devotional service. 5c.) V. ROSE: I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys. (Song of "Your Flag and My Flag," Woman's Solomon 2: 1.) Home Missionary Society, 420 Plum St., Song-"Rose-Rose-Rose." Cincinnati, Ohio. (An unusual demon- stration. 2c.) VI. GARDEN: And the Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul "Hands Across the Sea," The Com- in drought and make ~t thy bones; mittee on Friendly Relations Among and thou shalt be like a watered Foreign Students, 34'1 Madison Avenue, garden and like a spring of waters New York, N. Y. (Send 5c. for post- whose waters fail not. (Isaiah 58: age.) 11.) "The Negro Background," Woman's Song-"In the Garden." Home Missionary Society, 420 Plum St., Cincinnati, Ohio. (You will not regret VII. FOUNTAIN:' I will give unto him sending for it. 15c.) that is athirst of the fountain of life freely. (Revelation 21: 6.) A set of really usable slides on Mi- Song-"Come Thou Fount." grant Work, Council of Women for Home Missions. (Rental $2.00.) VIII. LIGHT: I am the Light of the world; he that followeth me shall 105 E. 22nd St., New York, N. Y. not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. (John 8: 12.) PRAYER AND POWER Song-"BrightIy Beams Our Fa- ther's Mercy." "No answer comes to those who pray, Then idly stand, IX. GRAIN: He will thoroughly purge his floor and gather his wheat into And wait for stones to roll away the garner; but he will burn up the At God's command. chaff with unquenchable fire. (Mat- thew 3: 12.) He will not break the binding cords Song-"Beulah Land." Upon us laid X. GALILEE: They see Jesus walking on If we depend on pleading words, the sea and drawing nigh unto the And will not aid. ship; and they were afraid. But he said unto them, It is I; be not When hands are idle, words are vain afraid. (John 6: 19-20.) To move the stone; Song-"O Galilee." An aiding angel would disdain XI. LILY: And why take ye thought for To work alone; raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, But he who prayeth and is strong neither do they spin; and yet I say In faith and deed, unto you, that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one And toileth earnestly, ere long of these. (Matthew 6: 28-29.) He will succeed." S0?tg-"Lily of the Valley." Something like criminal negligence XII. STORM: He maketh the storm a has marked the attitude of the Church toward the matchless power of prayer calm, so that the waves thereof are for the world. Shall it be so longer or shall a change come over the Church? still. (Psalm 107: 29.) For generations great calls have been Song-"Master the Tempest Is Rag- issued, leagues have been proposed, emo- tions have been aroused, and yet the days ing." 'I continue evil. Prayer is an echo on men's lips rather than a passion from XIII. SUN: Then shall the righteous their hearts. But if fifty men of our shine forth as the sun, in the King- generation will enter the holy place of dom of their Father. (Matthew prayer, and become benceforth men whose hearts God has touched with the 13: 43.) prayer-passion, the history of His Song-"How Tedious and Tasteless Church will be changed.-Robert E. the Hour." Speer.
WOMAN'S FOREIGN MISSION
EDITED BY ELLA D. MACLAURIN, 419 Fourth Avenue, New York A SIGNIFIOANT EVENT IN CHINA Wu Yi-fang as president. A colorful procession it was with the various Every lover of missions will be thrilled hoods and gowns. One, Dr. Hsia, with the report by Miss Abby Shaw graduated from Edinburgh, had a Mayhew of the inauguration of Dr. Wu scarlet gown and black tam. The pres- Yi-fang as President of Ginling Union idents of Medhurst, Shanghai, Hang- Christian College. At the annual meet- chow, Nanking and Soochow Colleges ing of the Federation of Woman's or Universities were present, also the Boards of Foreign Missions of North Dean of St. John's, and they were all America last year Dr. Wu was present. Chinese except the president of Hang- She was then taking her Ph.D. at Mich- chow. Madaom Chiang Kai-shek was igan University. on the program. Mrs. Bristol, the Admiral's wife, went up for the oc- Miss Mayhew was the principal of the casion and was the guest of Madam School for Physical Education in China, Chiang. which now is merged with Ginling College. This is the goal of our missionaries, to train leaders who will carry on the great work which they began.
So Hoover' is elected! There's Mrs. Thurston made a most perfect surely one thing in his favor from our address in turning over the governpoint of view. He has lived in China! ment to Dr. Wu, so suited to the oc- Of course we know many things are casion. To the retiring president and in his favor and I can with safety say the one who from the first has made that all of you voted for him. and built Ginling, it was a most happy time, the fulfilling of her hope and While you have been electing a pres- ideal. Mrs. New, president of the ident in America we have been in- Board of Control, presided. There augurating one in China. We think were five graduates in the first class that ours is a more wonderful occasion in 1919-Mrs. New, Dr. Wu and Dr. than yours, and about the most im- Liu on the platform and all three of portant event in the history of the them filling places of honor and rewomen of China. Now don't you sponsibility. To see and hear the agree with me? To inaugurate a Chi- alumnre on that day was sufficient nese woman president of the highest proof of the great value of Ginling women's college in China? College.
I went to Nanking to attend the an- I was invited to lunch at Mrs. Chu's nual Board of Control meeting. Upon arriving we took a carriage (yes, in with Madam Chiang and Mrs. Bristol. spite of there being 1,000 motor cars in Nanking) for the five-mile drive Madam Chiang asked several of us to to Ginling College. The first person I saw was Miss Chen Mei-yu, just re- come to her home for tea that afterturned from America. We were in noon. We went, after driving out to meeting from nine to six for two days, and among the many things we de- Sun Yat Sen's tomb, which is not cided the one which will interest you nearly completed. They plan to have most is that we decided to give a one it finished in March and have the inyear course next year in Recreation terment then. The situation is wonand Hygiene for teachers and stu- derful, cut right out of the side of dents .. Purple Mountain. It was most in- teresting to see Madam Chiang in her On Saturday morning came the own home and to meet the General. great event-the inauguration of Dr. As he is President of the Council they are really the first people of the land.
After tea they took us through the 136 gardens which are very extensive and revolutionary manner. It has come to were lovely in the soft twilight. them with more steady and compelling force than political ideas. Whereas We had to hurry back for the the fall of Manchu dynasty-an em- Founder's Day banquet at seven o'- pire during three centuries-and the clock. It was lovely. It was more founding of a republic have not intimate than in the morning. There changed the Chinese, with the excepwere many speeches and greetings tion of the 'returned students' and read which had been received during others with modern education, a small the day. Many lovely things were handful as compared with the stolid said about Mrs. Thurston and I am mass of four hundred million people, sure she must have been gratified and the spread of industrialism is swiftly happy. changing them. The whole of the Far East is being transformed. A new Dr. Hodgkin preached the Founder's social fabric is being woven, and it Day sermon and it was very, very is affecting the rest of the world. good. The Physical Education majors gave a tea for me in the afternoon so "The rise of modern textile mills in I missed the tea the alumnre gave to Japan has already radically altered the the Board of Control and Faculty. outlook of the British cotton trade in There are ten majors and several of India. The night work conducted in them are going to be fine leaders. the mills on remote hillsides in Japan is causing business depression in Lan- I think I nave never enjoyed being cashire, and the cheap labor employed in Ginling more, and felt as much the in China is pulling down the price of lovely spirit of the place. European goods in Asiatic markets. Thus the significance of the spread of ABBY SHAW MAYHEW. industrialism in the East cannot be overrated. The world is watching the INDUSTRIALISM IN THE FAR phenomenon with keen concern.
EAST "Mr. France skilfully presents pic- tures which arouse one's attention. Not least important of the subjects We commend his sincere attempt to be discussed at the Jerusalem Council fair in describing labor conditions in Meeting, and reviewed at the annual Japan. His book is well worth reading. meetings of the Federation of Wom- It has two chapters, the first of which an's Boards and the Foreign Missions describes the appalling situation pre- Conference in Detroit in January, is vailing in Japanese workshops, mines "Chrif;tianity and the Growth of In- and so on, while the second argues at dustrialism in Asia, Africa, and South length the need of the Christian re- America." To bring Christian ideals ligion for the removal of the evils. into practi5!e in the field of industry is a great and urgent task not only in "It would be unjust to say, though Asia, Africa and South America but the impression remains after reading in North America and Europe. through the book, that the statement of facts in Chapter I is too short, A thoughtful review appears in the while the arguments in Chapter II are October number of the International too long. A Japanese, however, spe- Review of Missions by an oriental, I. cially interested in and following the F. Ayusawa, a representative of Japan social progress of his country, will in the International Labor Office in inevitably find flaws here and there Geneva. in the observations of a foreigner. Thus, a book published in 1928 treat- Mr. Ayusawa says in reviewing "In- ing the labor problem in Japan would dustrialism in Japan" by Walter F. have done well at least to mention the France: great advance made in labor legisla- tion and also in trade unionism in the "A GREAT movement in the Far past three or four years. East, with effects more far-reaching than those of the World War, is the spread of industrialism. It has affected the peoples of those remote lands with ancient traditions in a
"No student of the labor problem "An important point, however, on in Japan, to our mind, can ignore the which we are not fully satisfied with epoch-making steps taken by Japan Mr. France's book, is his assumption in labor legislation in 1926, by bring- that 'the West'-a broad term he uses ing into force the Health Insurance -is Christian while Japan is not. In Act, covering some two million work- one place, for instance; he says: ers; by repealing the obnoxious arti- It is here that the East and West sepcles in the police law to give larger arate, for in the handling of the indus- freedom to trade unions, by enforcing trial problem in England, either by ex- the Labor Disputes Conciliation Act perts or by the street-corner orator, in order to bring about industrial there is the whole background—often peace, by bringing into force the Min- quite unrecognized-of Christian experiimum Age Act to suppress child labor ence. The western conception of "jus- tice," "right," "truth," "compassion"
entirely. All this happened simul- "love" and the like is not only, as is taneously on July 1, 1926, together often reiterated, "saturated with Chriswith the bringing into operation of tianity," it is Christian in origin, and the Factory Amendment Act, which Christian only. This is often overlooked and ignored. Justice and truth, as we alone was a great event, worth receiv- know these graces, have little foothold ing mention. in uninfluenced oriental life. Compas- sion and love, as we know them, have "Perhaps it may be said that the none. mention of, so many laws would be to make the book too technical, and "But is that really so? How about it was obviously not intended for Plato, Marcus Aurelius, Marx, Lenin, specialists. But in any case we should who have taught the West about like the writer to know the facts con- 'Justice,' 'Truth' and so on? Were cerning what he calls the Geneva Con- they all Christians? And is the writer ference in labor, where he says Japan prepared to say that Confucius is de- 'was represented,' as though it hap- void of the graces of justice or truth, pened only once. At this conference, or that in Gautama's precepts one"does which is an annual event, the Japanese not find compassion? Space does not Government does not, as he says, permit any lengthy argument. Let us 'reserve the right of postponing or only say that these unfortunate as- modifying the application of any reso- sertions do not convince and do not lution passed at these gatherings.' greatly help. Let the writer remem- ber that the West, which he calls "However, these remarks are severe, Christian, has its abundant evils of and coming from a Japanese they industrialism. He need not think that might seem ungrateful, whereas we his' book has not been worth writing do sincerely appreciate the sympa- if it has not made cleat that the inthetic attitude with which the book is dustrial problem in Japan is essentially written. The somber pictures drawn religious, but he must not overlook there are, alas, true to a large extent, the fact that industrial and social and no Japanese who loves his country problems are universal and rife even can afford to be content with a few in the so-called Christian countries. labor laws copied from the West. Industrialism in the East is of western When long hours are worked, women origin and comes from what the writer are toiling through the night in dingy calls 'the Christian West.' " mills, and awful inhumane conditions still prevail in the dormitories at- "I believe that all our offerings-of strength or time or money-have their tached to factories, no Japanese can virtue conditioned by the sacrifice that refute the accusation that his country gave them birth…… We begin to has no religion. Japan has to awaken, if she has not as yet, to the terrible operate with vital forces When we cross the border in the land of sacrifice ….. . reality of the present situation, and If the Church of the living God were we are grateful to the writer for sacrificial, she would thrill the world."- pointing out our failures. J. H. Jowett.
WOMAN'S HOME MISSION
EDITED BY FLORENCE E. QUINLAN, 105 East 22nd Street, New York PAN-PACIFIC WOMEN'S CONFERENCE The Pan-Pacific Union located in Education, Voting 34, Associate 14; Honolulu, Territory of Hawaii, is "an Industry and Professions, Voting 23, organization directed by representa- Associate 9; Government, Voting 25, tives of all Pacific races, supported in Associate 9; Social Service, Voting part by government appropriations, 30, Associate 11; total, 183. They cooperating with chambers of com- came from: Australia 16; Canada 1; merce, scientific organizations, boards China 5, two being Chinese; Dutch of education and kindred bodies work- East Indies 1; Fiji 1; Hawaii 91; ing for the advancement of Pacific in- India 1; Japan 18, all Japanese; New terests. It brings together through Zealand 17; Philippine Islands 2, both frequent conferences at the ocean's native; Samoa 3, two being Samoan; crossroads leaders in all lines of United States mainland 27.
thought and action in Pacific lands, Miss Jane Addams was honorary organizing them into friendly coop- international chairman, Dr. Valeria erative effort." Parker chairman of U. S. mainland Under auspices of this Union the delegation. Miss Mary Anderson, di- first Pan-Pacific Women's Conference rector, 'Vomen's Bureau, U. S. De- was held in Honolulu, August 9-19, partment of Labor, was there, and 1928. When first conceived in 1924 it President Coolidge appointed a special was termed a "Motherhood and Child representative, Dr. Louise Stanley, Welfare Conference." After the first Chief, Department of Home Economcommittee meeting, however, its scope ics, U. S. Department of Agriculture.
was widened to include five divisions The following will serve as samples of Health, Education, Women in In- of topics presented: "The Legal and dustry and Professions, Women in Political Relationships of Women in Government, and Social Service. Japan," by Kikue Ide, an outstanding The quota for each country was leader in the woman suffrage move- twenty-five voting delegates and two ment of Japan and head of the Wom- non-voting associate delegates from en's Problems' Institute of Osaka; important women's organizations, Ha- "Social Welfare Work in the PhilipwaH and the Philippines having sep- pines," by Mrs. Jaime C. de Veyra, arate quotas from the mainland. President, Federation of Women's Attendance was: Health, Voting 24, Clubs of the Philippines; "The Status 14 being physicians, Associate 5; of Preventive Medicine in China," by 139
Dr. Ting Mei-yung, Superintendent, numbers of voluntary or untrained workers who are rendering unselfish and Pei Yang Women's Hospital, Tien- effective service in many places, but en- ablin~ those deserving to secure special tsin, "China's Industrial Women," by trainmg in social service to receive it without the expense of travel to another Kyong Bae-tsung; "Industrial Hy- country, and enabling them to acquire field experience in those countries in giene in the Philippine Islands," by which their services are to be rendered.
Dr. Paz Mendoza-Guazon; "The Trade (b) That this Conference urges all women to draw the attention of official Union Woman," by Elizabeth Christ- agencies to the findings of the Child Wel- fare Committee of the League of Nations man. appointed to investigate the Cinema question and the report of the Royal Official voting delegates were gra- Commission appointed by the Australian Federal Government to inquire into the ciously entertained free of charge at Film Industry in Australia.
Punahou School a little distance out (c) That this Conference urges wom- en of the Pacific Basin to do all in their of the city proper, though a few pre- power to influence their Governments to carry out the recommendations of the ferred to stay at hotels at Waikiki League of Nations report on the Traffic in Women and Children, including those Beach half an hour away by trolley. urging the employment of women police and the abolition of state regulation and Naturally one of the greatest benefits of licensed houses.
of the conference was the interming- (d) That the Pan-Pacific Conference of Women is of the opinion that it ling and informal conversation be- would be of great value to the countries of the Pacific Basin if the body of extween sessions. Social functions had perts on Traffic in Women and Children of the League of Nations would conan important place in the program. tinue to investigate thoroughly condi- tions in those countries within this area ltesolutions which have not already been examined.
The following were unanimously (e) In view of the fact that there has been serious criticism at this Conference adopted: of the films sent to several countries of the Pacific Basin, the Pan-Pacific Con- 1. That the following projects be pro- ference of Women requests Will H. Hays, moted: director of motion picture industry in the United States, to contine the distri- (a) A correlated inquiry into costs bution of films in the Pacific countries to and standards of living in Pacific coun- those that reflect the best and not the tries with special reference to diet con- worst in life. That a resolution from tent. the Pan-Pacific Women's Conference be sent to the director of the British Film (b) A study of standards of living Industry asking that no films which and wages in Pacific countries which will would bring discredit to the moral standmake comparison possible. ard of Great Britain be sent to other countries. (c) A survey of the health of women in industry in Pacific countries through Recommendations from Sections an expert committee with Pan-Pacific links forged through this conference. The following is full text of findings (d) Formation of a committee of ex- of Sections as submitted to the Conperts for the initiation of health research projects of value to Pacific women. ference Forum.
(e) Research regarding electoral sys- These constitute a basis for contems, woman's place in political parties, tinuation work in the sections named, effect of compulsory votings, and legis- amplifying- the general terms of the resolation relating to women and children. lutions. The paragraph marked X in Gov- ernment Section was inadvertently not 2. That the interest of existing re- submitted to the Conference in resolution search bodies in Pacific countries be en- form. It remains, however. a record of listed, in consultation with national one of the most significant discussions of groups, toward best policies to be pur- the section. sued toward improvement of industrial standards in Pacific countries.
3. That committees be set up in accordance with the desires of the sections of Industry and Education for the purpose of acting as clearing house.
4. That the following resolutions be adopted: (a) Women in countries of the Pacific should work toward an educational program which will help to prepare social workers for more effective service, such recommendation in no way reflecting upon the valuable work of large
WOMAN'S HOME MISSION BULLETIN
GOVe1"nment Section It, therefore, recommends that the per- manent committee of the Pan-Pacific The women in Government Section Women's Conference make arrangements during its deliberations have come to the with research bodies for making the necconclusion that in the enfranchised coun- essary studies, in consultation with the tries, there is a great deal of latent National committees of the countries in power .in the political machinery which which such studies are to be made. women have not yet fully learned to use. Political consciousness needs to be The following subjects are suggested: fostered in these countries, so as to 1. A study of the standards of living arouse a sense of public responsibility and wages in Pacific countries which will both in national and world affairs. We make comparison possible. stress the need for educative means of 2. The best policies to be pursued tobringing this about. ward improvement of industrial stand- ards in Pacific countries. This Conference desires to uphold the women in Pacific countries who are seek- Education Section ing enfranchisement, and trusts that their efforts will speedily be crowned Inasmuch as the vital problems of with success. health, social service, industry and gov- ernments are fundamentally problems of Every means should be used to pro- education in its broadest outlook, and in mote the responsible participation of order that those sections may profit by women in government. the most efficient and progressively up- to-date educational methods (X) The Women in Government Section who belong to countries which are The Education Section recommends trustees for the welfare of the Pacific the formation of a committee, composed recognize the duty of doing their part of representatives from each country, to see that the principles underlying the which will undertake: League of Nations mandates are applied in the letter and the spirit over the 1. To list educational agencies, formal whole area. and informal, and indicate their function.
The Government Section suggests that 2. To pool information as to national in the interval between this and a next problems and methods in education. Women's Pan-Pacific Conference, research be made regarding electoral sys- 3. To suggest problems for research tems, women's place in political parties, in order of urgency in relation to Pacific and the possible effect of compulsory countries: e. g., training by life activivoting, as well as upon other matters ties in character formation and in leaderthat need changes in legislation to pro- ship; economics; vocational education mote the welfare of women and children, and guidance, and leisure-time activities; carrying out any recommendations sug- and to promote international exchange gested by the other sections of this Con- of teachers and educational leaders. ference. Continuation Committee Industry Section Miss Eleanor M. Hinder, Executive The Industry Section submits the following for the consideration of the Con- Secretary of the Pan-Pacific Associaference Forum: tion of China, was Executive Secre- 1. In case a permanent organization tary of the conference and is serving be effected, an industrial committee be appointed consisting of three represent- for continuation work. The Continuatives in each country whose functions would be: ation Committee has drawn up a tentative plan looking toward a per- (a) To accumulate, and through the permanent secretariat, circulate among manent Pan-Pacific Women's organithe countries represented existing information on industrial conditions. zation. The executive secretary will (b) To be on the lookout in each coun- seek to determine what, if any pertry for effects of economic relations with manent Pacific Women's organizations some other country, reporting any findings to the secretariat. should be set up by the Second Pan- (c) Through the secretariat, to coop- Pacific Women's Conference which erate with the Labor Office of the League will be held in 1930. A Joint Standing of Nations in its attempts to improve conditions by international legislation. Pacific Committee may be formed 2. The Industrial Section recognizes along the lines of the Joint Standing the need of research before an adequate discussion of Pacific industrial conditions International Committee now existing is possible. at Geneva. However, no plans for permanent organization will be for- mulated until thorough study of pos- sible relationships to national and international groupings can be made.
"mu,D-WIDf
EDITED BY PROF. HARLAN P. BEACH, D.D., Madison, N. J.
CHINA at its November meeting it was re- ported that 3,100,000 Scripture por- National Christian Council tions, including entire Bibles and New Testaments, had been issued for China THE Council (October 11th-18th) last year. In the absence of mission- in Shanghai, took for its motto aries, these portions have been sold principle: "The Establishment of the mostly by the Chinese themselves, de- Nation Rests on Moral Principles." spite the confusion of the civil war. Its deliverance upon the relation of One native pastor wrote that he had' the Church to the State reads: visited some of the most notorious bandits, in their hiding places, and he A new nation needs new citizens; a told of how eagerly they welcomed new culture rests upon new personalities. these Scriptures. Now that war has Reconstruction of any kind, diplomatic, ceased, even the foreign agents, not political, educational, has one object—to excluding the especially hated British, uplift and develop the life of each citi- go about the country freely. The Sozen. This is what we understand by ciety has sent a consignment of 2,000 Christ's phrase, "The abundant life." Mandarin Gospels to Tibet for the Koko-Nor area, and 3,000 have been License, extravagance and error will despatched to Turkestan. be the result of the new outburst of life, if it be not guided by moral principles. Three Million on Trek This is the point of Dr. Sun's saying: "The natural side is transient. The moral side is permanent."
After mentioning items which the Church may expect from the Government, the Council states its hope for T the Church in relation to the Govern- HESE millions are famine-stricken Shantungese on their way to Manment: Over and above its distinctly religious churia, 600 miles to the north. The activities, we hope that the Church will terrible famine and the devastation by give special attention to: contending armies and local bandits are the causes of this exodus to the 1. The creation of a healthy construc- land of promise. The migrants have tive public opinion. sold their land and cattle for a mere trifle and with their wives, children 2. The assistance of the Government and old folk, some of the latter blind in policies of social reform, such as the and lame, are walking or trundling on suppression of opium and prostitution, wheelbarrows their scanty goods and the improvement of living conditions for feeble members. Many would not farmers and laborers, and so forth. think of finding in such an army any opportunities for missionary useful- 3. The preparation of men and women ness, but when all things have been for public service, especially through education for citizenship, and the study of the "San Min Chu I" [Dr. Sun's three principles for the. people's guidance.] 3,100,000 Scriptures in China!
MANY know of the great work done against them, it is a consolation to by the American Bible Society Jearn from kind Christians and misand by the equally marvelous issues of sionaries that God cares and even the British and Foreign Bible Society, loves them!
but relatively few ever hear of the Na- When they reached Harbin, one of tional BibJe Society of Scotland. Yet the Manchurian capitals, the Chinese 142
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officials realized that special effort teachers are working with the Chinese must be made if these ill-nourished in full harmony.
folk were not to be a menace. Bar- C. A. NELSON, racks were erected and soup-kitchens American-Chinese Educational Com- were opened for the straggling mission.
crowds. A Gospel and two or three tracts were distributed to them, with A Chinese General and Preacher M a list of the Christian churches in RS. OLIVE LIPSCOMB ANDER- SON writes of General Chang as North Manchuria and an invitation to visit them. They were asked to read one of the two Christian leaders in the them and to take them to their desti- Nationalist Movement who offered in nation for others to read. Setting forth Nanking a resolution on religious into a new land with their idols and liberty. She also quotes from a letter temples left behind, these trekkers are to a professor' of Soochow University being brought in touch with mes- the following: "General Chiang Tzusengers of the Cross. Is it surprising chiang, General Feng Yii hsiang's that the Religious Tract Society agent representative in Nanking, preached received this appeal : "We certainly in St. John's Church today before a appreciate the 82,500 tracts which you large and enthusiastic congregation." have sent us. Can you send us an- This is an indication as to the sort of other grant of 100,000? I will person- men whom General Feng had about ally see that they are properly dis- him as aides.
tributed." English Baptist Uj!.ion in China Self-Support in South China ECENT information comes that R HE work in the Canton district the churches of the English Bap- Tthat was opened by the American tists in Shantung had voted to unite Board in 1867, later was given up with the Church of Christ in China.
and reopened in 1892, is to be turned This means that 128 organized over by the Board this year to the churches, including 23 which are self- native churches. From the first the supporting, with their 7,000 communi- missionaries endeavored to train na- cants have entered the union. Church tive Christians in self-support and of Christ. But the decision to unite work for others. Other churches with other Christians is much more have, from time to time, been es- important to Chinese Christianity tablished in outstations and have be- than the matter of mere numbers.
come independent of the mother church in Canton. Lutherans in China T The Chinese Christians have built HE Lutheran Church in China is officially known as the "Church of their own churches and schools, with their own money. Now foreign sup- Justification by Faith." The Luther- port is being entirely withdrawn by an Missions of America belong to this the American Board and as a result indigenous church. Recently the the Lo Tak School will be closed. The Chinese Church of the Berlin Mission Chinese Christians have organized to was received in the General Synod of continue the evangelistic work in the Chinese Lutherans. At this conven- outstations and are endeavoring to tion the majority of the delegates raise $50,000 for this purpose. Of were Chinese. .
this amount $30,000 has already been secured in China and Hawaii and the What Mrs. Feng Knows and Doe.
W committee is seeking the remainder in HAT the January MISSIONARY REVIEW had to say of Marshal America from Chinese and their friends. Feng Yu-hsiang, China's vice-presi- This work in China is eminently dent, was written by a man who strong and successful. American knows the general personally and who
impartially refuted the many slurring and actively promoted by J ames Yen, references to the "so-called Christian of West China, a B. A. and M. A., of general." But even Mr. Goforth had not a tithe of the knowledge of the Yale University. As a zealous assomaligned warrior statesman possessed by his wife. In the latest direct news ciation worker for the labor battalion concerning him, Mrs. Fling says: "I know that people wonder about me sent to France by China during the and my husband a great deal. We want nothing for our country so much Great War, he faced the problem of as fair treatment by other nations. enabling his illiterate countrymen to We have found many things to admire in Russia. We may be misunderstood. read and communicate with their home They may even put me out of the Church. But I want you to know that friends. His problem Dr. Cairns thus I am trying to live in the spirit of Jesus Christ." describes: Dean Luella Miner, Litt.D., whose One of the greatest of all educational student Mrs. Fling was for some years, difficulties is that of the enormously visited in her home when the general elaborate and complicated Chinese script and his army were stationed at Kal- and vocabulary. I believe it takes a gan on the' Great Wall, and testifies European many months before he can to the Christian character and good begin to be "literate" in the most eledeeds both of Mrs. F€mg and her hus- mentary sense. There are several thouband. Before her marriage, she had sand elaborate characters to learn acted as pastor's assistant of the Con- by heart. Now there are, let us say, gregational church in Peking, and she 350,000,000 Chinese who do not even was also a Y. W. C. A. secretary in know how to read or write the characters the city, both of which offices she of the popular or common, Chinese, filled to satisfaction. The latest good which is likely to become the common deed of Mrs. Fling is told by Presi- language of China. Most of these are dent Li of Yen Ching University, who adults already busy with the cares of was seeking funds for his institution daily life. How can these possibly bein Peking. His fiancee, a fellow stu- come able intelligently to take part in a dent of Mrs. Fling, urged him to se- Republic? This matter of illiteracy is cure a contribution from her, but he one of the almost insoluble problems hesitated as she was busy and was before the new Nationalist Government." just about leaving Peking. Finally he sought an interview, and she in- Mr. Yen hit upon the happy vited him to breakfast. With little suggestion from him, she placed in thought of counting the characters his hands fifty brand new fifty-dollar bills ($250 gold) and said that if he that constitute nine-tenths of the vohad come two or three days earlier it cabulary of common life. Later the might have been twice as much-her benevolence money being almost used count showed that about a thousand up. Remember in prayer Mrs. Fling, characters are used. So a series of the second lady in the land, and her husband. little books were prepared giving in pictorial lessons half a dozen or more "Watch Jimmy Yenl" new characters for each lesson. Then UNDER this title, Principal D. S. he went into key cities and enlisted Cairns, of Aberdeen, explains the greatness and significance of the edu- scholars, especially Christians, who cational "Mass Movement" initiated taught nights in scores ,of groups to adults and children alike these lessons.
The thousand characters could be learned in three months by the aver- age group, using only their spare time, usually at night. So eager are the people to learn these revered charac- ters, that the old are as anxious to learn them as are the children. Then in addition to the set of primers, Yen has published a periodical mainly for farmers, and others will follow. Dr.
Cairns further says: Yen may mean a great deal more for the future of China and mankind than nine-tenths of the Chinese leaders whose names are most before the public today. Various phonetic systems have
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been tried, and are in successful use by The military instructors are all Rus- sian officers, and Mongolian officers missionary workers. But the Chinese attend military conferences at imporare irrevocably attached to their historic tant centers. Russian funds cover decharacters, and so Mr. Yen's scheme ficits not only for military schools, but for the whole educational system. seems to be the only one with a nation- Sanitary conditions are entrusted to wide future before it. If it succeeds, it a commission sent to Urga from the will throw the whole world of religious sanitary office at Irkutsk. literature open to the Christian Church in quite a new way. Imagine what it JAPAN-OHOSEN would mean to our own Churches if Bolshevism a.nd Ohristianity four-fifths of our masses could not read, and we may be able to reali"e the potentialities of a scheme like Mr. Yen's for the whole spiritual future of the people.
TIBET }"7"-AeGvAanWgeAli,stosn, elaobfoJr alpeaande'srsfoarnedmloist-t New Hope for Tibet T HIS is a note concerning the West erary men, in this wise, warns mis- China-Tibet contingent of the sionaries against lessening their efforts Christian and Missionary Alliance: for Japanese evangelization: "The work in China and on the "Bolshevism has a special enmity Tibetan border was hindered by the against Christianity; yet it is spread- withdrawal of the missionaries a year ing daily in Japan, and I fear that ago. We praise God that twelve mis- after this materialism has acquired sionaries for West China and the Ti- some foothold here, it will be very betan border are now in Central China difficult to do evangelistic work among on their way back to the field. We the laborers and pl!asants. I fear that cabled these missionaries in response within a decade Japan may have many to their cabled reqllest, granting them more young men inclined to material- permission to travel to West China, ism unless Christian idealists will even though the American Consul does stand and fight against it. If we do not feel free to give them official au- not endeavor at this crisis to empha- thorization. We expect that half of size evangelism the propagation of the these missionaries, and probably the Gospel must be delayed at least fifty twelve, will reach their field within a years. There has been no period in few months. Eight of these mission- Japanese history of thought so criti- aries are especially assigned to Ti- cal as the present. Yet at the same betan work, in which they were moment the missionaries seem inclined engaged during their past term of to withdraw their forces and the service. Two of them will enter a churches are diminishing in size ….. .
new area among the Tebbu Tibetans. If the missions withdraw their forces There is no more rugged work re- now, there will remain in Japan about quired in the mission fields of the 380 independent churches for 70,000,- world than among the Tibetan tribes, 000 people, and their future will be and we shall be glad for fellowship in like that of Zoroastrianism in India, prayer ministry on the part of God's affecting only an area about Bombay.
children for thiswork."-A. C. Snead, The factory workers, the fishermen, Foreign Secretarlj, C. and M. A. the farmers are still wholly outside the Christian Church. This is the Reds Gain in Mongolia great unfinished task of Christian T RAVELERS returning from Urga, evangelism." capital of Outer Mongolia, report educational advance in that new Re- Tokyo's Interna.tional Hospital public which now boasts of two mili- AMERICAN Episcopalians have long tary schools, a university, three small .tl. been the leading medical workers colleges, seven middle schools and more among Japanese missionaries-prac- than 100 grammar schools. Commu- tically the only ones in recent years- nist theories are taught in all schools. and now they have a building scheme 5
calling for $2,656,500, of which the working in Chosen, including the recent general convention underwrote Salvation Army, the Y. M. C. A., a million. Its head is Dr. Teusler, who the Holiness Mission and the eight has given twenty-seven years' service older missions, have their workers loto the reproduction of an American cated here. I know that twenty-five hospital in Japan, securing treatment services are being held in Korean toequal to that in America. The forty day, in the city and its suburbs, in- Japanese doctors on his staff are equal cluding the Roman Catholic and Episin the science of medicine and medi- copal cathedrals; but doubtless I have cal research to any physicians else- omitted some. Services in Japanese where, it is claimed. number six or more, and in Chinese and Russian, one each." Devolution in Japan Relatively speaking, Seoul's 320,- T HE Rev. Harvey Brokaw sends 000 are well churched, but yet-. news of the giving over of part of the Presbyterian work to the J ap- Intem.perance in Korea. anese Presybterians, a long step toward the giving over to the indigenous MISS ERWIN in The Korean Mischurch of its proper work. He lists sion Field discusses this topic these pieces of work as follows. with these illustrations. "I find a market town every five or ten miles Our Foreign Board through its where commerce is carried on by bar- Japan Mission has turned over some- ter and trade. Every house on Main thing like the following: Street in many of these towns either makes or sells alcoholic drinks. Almost In Naniwa Pre;bytery, 34 aided without exception all cash goes for churches, with all the mission appropri- drink. Nor is the traffic run on a cash ation. The latter this year is Yen 21,- basis. The writer knows of many in- stances where fathers have sold their 269. daughters to pay their drink bills or turned their daughters over to the In Sanyo Presbytery, 8 aided churches, drink shop keeper as a settlement for with the appropriation of Yen 16,313. their bills."
In Hokkaido Presbytery, about 8 aided After telling of how happy women churches, with the appropriation of Yen were in anticipation of clothing for' 1,841. their children which their husbands were going to buy with money en- In Tokyo Presbytery, 6 aided churches, trusted to them, she adds: "As we with an appropriation of Yen 5,382. were returning home, we met these same men coming back from town to This totals about 56 churches with an their country villages. Almost withannual appropriation of Yen 34,805 out exception all were so intoxicated [$17,402]. This annual appropriation that they could not walk straight. is to decrease at a rate not yet fully de- Those who were at all sober were trycided. ing to prevent the rest from fighting, for they were like wild beasts clawing While the Mission has started well at each others' throats. Not a few on a policy of self-support among the were down in the road mauling each rural and neglected population, the other in the dust and dirt. Some had missionaries will still require funds their clothing mostly torn off; some for literature, assistants and. even were calling one another's ancestors motor cars and tenting outfits for every vile term that their muddled itineration. brain could recall. A few had bought some provisions; here was a piece of Seoul as a Christian Center beef in the dust, there two dried fish had been trampled on until they were REV. E. W. KOONS enumerates these facts, among others, which show the importance of SeouL After enumerating schools and colleges, missionary and otherwise, with their nearly 15,000 students, he adds the following: "Seoul is naturally a center for missionary work. Each of the missions
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like pancakes. The Bible woman said day of thanksgiving. How differently that not only had these men squan- we look upon the hospital site now dered their wives' hard earned money, when we realize how the Lord is bringbut that these same men beat their ing to pass the plans that He so long women and children when they reached has laid upon our hearts."-New home." Guinea Tidings.
ISLANDS OF THE PACIFIC Fiji Work in Danger Vasabolo! "Good News!" MR. R. M. BRASTED, General Sec- retary of the New Zealand Asso- WTHERE? In Kwato almost at the ciations, has recently informed the National Council of the Associations W eastern tip of New Guinea. And in India that the New Zealand Asso- ciations will probably be obliged to this is how it exhibited itself, as well as the cause of jubilation. The islanders greatly needed a hospital and ap- pealed for the money from the London give up all the work which they have Society. Mr. Abel, their missionary, been carrying on in Fiji, both among had been sailing about to see the vari- the whites and the Indians. The India ous stations and take snapshots of National Council is considering the them. On his return to Kwato, about possibility of sending a secretary cap- 8: 45 in a drenching rain and Egyp- able of carrying on the work for the tian darkness, as he approached the Indians at least.
shore the channel and town looked Spiritual Need of Dutch B"rneo fast asleep. Then he tells what happened, "Suddenly and as if by magic R A. JAFFRAY, who has been a chain of bonfires burst into light all • journeying among South Sea down the hill and simultaneously a Islands to examine the religious con- line of flaming torches and fires ran dition of the races, shows Dutch along the beach and was reflected wild- Borneo to be an important section of ly in the still black waters of the the unoccupied fields. It has a popu- passage. We were bewildered and lation of about 1,800,000 who live in speechless, as added to this was the the ports along the coast, with a large deafening notes of conch shells and unreached population of Dyaks, often kerosene tins and every sort of drum called "the wild men of Borneo," who and gong you can imagine. Then, formerly were cannibals and head- silhouetted against the blaze of bon- hunters. Our Methodists have done a fires, were crowds of people all cheer- little work in the ports, as have two ing and banging kerosene tins and other Missions, including the Dutch blowing conch shells. It was most State Church. The interior dwellers impressive and extraordinary beyond are unreached. The Dutch Missionary words. In a flash this thundering din Consul urged that work be undertaken of noise and blaze of light had burst in unoccupied sections on the east loose upon us and I began to wonder' coast, and on the west coast with a whether I was in my right mind. The center from which to go inland and noise was deafening-a pandemonium reach the Dyaks. There are a number ·of joy. The captain of my boat shouted of language groups that would prove to me, 'They must be mad.' And I an obstacle, but need is greater than :shouted back, 'They wouldn't all go linguistic difficulties.
mad at once; I think it is good news (vasabolo.), Then came the news- Chinese Mission in Ma.nila.
B 'The contract has been signed in Lon- EFORE Bishop Mosher of the Philippines started for the Protdon.' I felt like collapsing, but instead threw up my hands and cheered with estant Episcopal Convention in Wash- the rest of them. The whole popula- ington he signed a check for $30,000 tion seemed to be on the wharf ….. . for the purchase of grounds in the Tomorrow, Sunday, is to be a special center of Manila, to make possible
the accommodation of Chinese work wide interdenominational missionary which was begun by one of the Epis- conferences, 1a y men's mISSIOnary copal missionaries twenty-five years movement conventions and city-wide ago. Rev. H. Studley had acquired missionary institutes. Normal train- the Amoy dialect and as soon as he ing institutes in missions will follow reached Manila he began the only work the city-wide missionary conferences.
being done for the Chinese. It is said Each church in the city will be asked that the city has half the ·Chinese to send one or two registered dele- population of the entire United States, gates. In this institute expert train- and it is of the utmost importance ing will be given in the best methods that such a work as is now made pos- of missionary education and in the sible should be vigorously prosecuted. use of literature to Sunday school teachers, leaders of young people's so- NORTH AMERICA cieties, presidents of women's mission- Census of Federated Churches ary societies and leaders of men's Bi- ble classes. The Committee on Home T HE report of the Federal Census Cultivation is cooperating with the of 1926 says that there were 361 Missionary Education Movement in federated churches in the United developing the program of this new States with a membership of 59,977 department.
at that date. A federated church in their usage is one made up of two or Methodist Mission Budget more denominations, organizations, or units, each mairi.taining a separate ON NOVEMBER 21st the Methodmembership, yet acting as one body ist Board of Foreign Missions in the holding of religious services adopted a budget of $3,383,196 for and usually in maintaining a Sunday its foreign 'work for 1929. Of this school and in most or all social ac- large total $1,783,196 was a direct aptivities. How the denominations unit- propriation for foreign mission work, ed is shown by these figures: There and an additional $1,600,000 was "conwere 86 churches made up of a Con- tingent upon receipts." Out of the gregational and a Methodist Episcopal "direct fund," $584,000 is for China, unit; 40 Congregational and Bap- Japan and Korea, $406,000 for India tist units; 27 Presbyterian and and Burma, $111,000 for the Philip- Methodist Episcopal units; 22 Con- pine Islands and Malaysia, $136,000 gregational and Presbyterian units; for Central and South Africa, $253,- and 17 Methodist Episcopal and North- 000 for Mexico, Central America and ern Baptist units. Many of the re- South America and $291,000 for North maining churches were made up of Africa and Europe. To authorize this more than two units. Of these, 354 large expenditure twenty-four of the reported contributions of $1,272,455, thirty-two bishops were present.
of which $189,725 were for missions McAuley Mission's "Who's Who?" and other benevolences. SUPERINTENDENT BRITT of the Cooperation in Missiona.ry Cultiva.tion Jerry McAuley Cremorne Mission gives an informal classification of the T HE organization of a Department many who owe their salvation and of Leadership Training and Pro- bodily welfare to this famous mission motion under the Missionary Educa- in New York City.
tion Movement, with Rev. Walter "Are all the men who come to this Getty as Secretary, promises much mission uneducated? Perhaps sixty needed help to boards and local per cent of those who come are of churches. Plans are on foot whereby the laboring class; twenty per cent the Missionary Education Movement are of a class who have been roving through this new department will at- around, sinful and dirty, for many tempt to conserve the values of city- years. All men are given a definite
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time to show evidence of cleaning their ity which our pupils and former stu- lives with the help of God, and if dents are taking in church and we see that they seek only material community life. Their influence marks things, we take the proper action as a noticeable improvement in moral the Lord may direct. Another twenty standards, industry and economic per cent are men who have had the life."
advantages of an education and a high position in life, but who have lost Harmonious Cooperation S . out because of sin. Many of these ECRETARY LEIPER gives an interesting illustration of coopera- men are now back in their former status in life, holding executive posi- tive work out in California. He tions, and others are preparing to re- writes: "Miss A. J. Ballard of the turn. The laboring class is directed Committee on Migrant Work for the to employment, and the twenty per Council of Women for Home Missions cent who do not work are told what was recently in the Sacramento Val- is expected of them, and, if they do ley. She reports from Walnut Grove not respond, they are released from the impressions gained on· visiting a the care of this mission." "Aggres- clinic set up in the interests of mi- sive evangelism every day of the year" grant workers. 'We have an unusually is the motto of this mission where interesting group working together Jerry McAuley was converted. here,' she says, 'a Confucian dentist, (Chinese); a Japanese Buddhist doc- Indians BecoJlliug "School-Minded" tor; an American Catholic doctor; a MR. MARTIN L. GIRTON, super- Presbyterian registered nurse and intendent of the Presbyterian Baptist and Methodist religious work- Tucson Indian Training School of Es- ers. We are all working harmoniously cuela, Arizona, writes: "Indians are together to touch the lives of children becoming school-minded-and with a and bring out the best influences in vengeance. Not many years ago, par- their lives.'''
ents thought that they were doing the school a great favor by allowing their A Doctor's Work in an Igloo A children to attend. But that day has W. NEWHALL, pastor and doctor • of the Presbyterian Board within gone forever. Now parents are ready to make large sacrifices that their chil- the Arctic Circle, lets a trader, who dren may have the privilege of an was present, tell of his doings in an education. F:ahers who can scarcely Eskimo igloo-house usually made of speak a word of English talk of their snow. He writes: "A trader who children going through high school; had been sitting with his back against and many of the pupils, too, are catch- the wall, and now, stretching his legs ing a vision of what such opportunities preparatory to rising, burst into a will mean. loud laugh and said, 'Wal, doctor, this "Under these circumstances, it is here has been quite a meetin'. I think not surprising that the schools are full you've done enough for today. You've to overflowing. We endeavored to re- done the preachin' and singin' and duce our enrollment to capacity this the prayin'; you've baptized the babies year but the attempt proved a failure. and took some folks into the church.
Today, with a capacity of 175, we have You've given the communion and mar- an attendance of 193, and this num- ried them folks and given medicine ber will doubtless be increased to 200 to the sick. You've taught the chil- before this year's session is in full dren to sing some songs for Christ- swing. Fully fifty have been turned mas and you've pulled teeth. I dunno away already……. During the past what more you can do tonight, so you summer I visited many Indian com- might as well close this meetin' so we munities and returned gladdened in can lie down on this floor and git to heart to see the places of responsibil- sleep.' "
Dr. Newhall concludes thus: "So in the Mexican population, that is, a short prayer was made and the meet- seventy-five per cent, is as great as ing closed. Most of the people went in any other Latin American country, out but some tarried to see the mis- and presumably their attachment to sionary and the trader undress and the faith is as great. The inevitable get to bed. The trader stretched him- conclusion, therefore, is that Latin self out by the stove, while the doctor Americans are not willing to fight for laid his sleeping bag along the wall their religion. The old, uncompromisand crawled into it. The atmosphere ing, crusading zeal of the Spaniard' in the room was dense, but it was has disappeared from America." He warm and a shelter from the wind adds this quotation from Davalos y and cold. All floor space was taken Lisson: "The sacred word in the pulup by other sleepers." pit no longer moves hearts to contri- tion. The Christian people are content LATIN AMERICA to hear mass and oblige their children to confess."-Current History. Y. W. C. A. in the Canal Zone In Five Republics OUR young women are doing a very helpful work in the Canal Zone T HE Inland South America Union for thirty-two nationalities of that was founded in 1902 to carry the section. The latest report informs us Gospel to the unreached Indians and that their work is having its influence others in the interior of South Ameriupon the lives of Spanish-speaking ca. Throughout all these years prayer Panamanian girls, and that boy and has been answered and faith rewarded, girl parties for the two sexes are be- and in the last six years the work on ing considered for them, though hith- the field has been increased fourfold. erto unheard of in the zone. Many The fields are in Paraguay, Brazil, of the "Y" members are daughters of Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Natofficials and employees in Canal Zone urally the work is hampered by lack service, though clubs for 300 colored of missionaries and trained Indian asgirls are also a feature of their work. sistants. Travel is also an impediment in those wildernesses, though they Latin ADiericans and Religion have a motor launch which enables missionaries on the upper Paraguay lLOYD MECHAM, Professor of Lat- and its branches to reach many who Lin American History, in discussing otherwise would nevephear the Gos- "Latin America's Fight Against Cleri- pel. Millions of Indians are as yet cal Domination," says of the common unreached. attitude on religion: "Notwithstanding the popular conception that the Catholic Argentina and the Bible Latin American is fanatically devoted to the Catholic faith, we generally find THE British Weekly contains a lethim supinely acquiescing, while am- ter from Rev. Robert F. Elder, a bitious caudillos make use of the Baptist missionary, in which he gives Church for political purposes. There an interesting movement in Argentina, were many prophecies in 1926, when albeit one against Protestantism. An the drastic anti-clerical legislation was Argentinian organization somewhat enforced in Mexico, that there would like the Y. M. C. A. has published be a popular uprising. It is true that 100,000 Gospels, and groups of young isolated revolts have taken place and ladies have been selling them in the that the situation today is charged streets of Buenos Aires. June 24th with uncertainty; but one would have was celebrated as "Gospel Day," and expected that, if the Mexicans are as a great meeting, attended by governdevoted to the faith as they are gen- ment and civil authorities, was held erally believed to be, they would have in the Colon Theater, when addresses forcibly opposed the religious laws were given and broadcast. Senor Ricci long ago. The percentage of Catholics
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in the introductory address is reported appearing from their Griiningen Disto have said: "This meeting has a trict owing to a plague of rats that clearly defined end in view which is have eaten their rice which is their to arouse a general movement for the main support. It is one of the hardest study and propagation of the great places in that region for earning a code of Christian civilization in order support, and hence their field is alto counteract with the Divine power most depopulated. If they ha(l a that emanates from the inspired book motor boat visitation, rather than the menacing problem of a cunning resident work, the mission might be demagogy and heresy which would kept up. Maintaining "congregaexpose to danger the beautiful tradi- tions," so essential in Moravian Mistions of the Latin peoples and the sions, is practically impossible. In settled order of the Argentine people, that country, the educational work of which never has wished and never the mission which was formerly queswill desire to serve other doctrines tionable, is now regarded as one of which in other countries have sown the most encouraging features. As hatred and sin." Government is not conducting higher education, the Moravians must carry Desiring to learn whether this was it on unless they leave that work to the true import of it all, an Argen- the Roman Catholics. tinian Baptist pastor wrote asking the price of the Gospels, and received this Eastern Amazonia Superstition in reply in part: "Weare pleased to tell you that, being desirous of giving THE Heart of Amazonia Mission the Gospel the widest possible circula- of Brazil asks prayer for the retion to counteract the Protestant prop- moval of an obstacle not often menaganda, we have published the four tioned in reports. The editor writes in one volume, pocket size, cloth bind- of Messrs. Roberts and Symes: ing, which also contains the preparation for confession and the commun- "It is evident that they are face ion and the ordinary for holy mass. to face with several difficulties. One The price is 0.50 pesos." of these arises from the superstitions of the Indians among whom they are The Japanese iu Brazil working. Sickness has seized many of them and deaths have resulted. I T IS reported that in the state of These are attributed by the Indians Para in northern Brazil, 2,500,000 to our brethren. They have the imacres of land iIi Acara have been pression that they have so exposed the granted to the South American De- evil designs of the Prince of Darkvelopment Company, a Japanese con- ness, that he has retaliated by afflictcern, formed for the exploitation of ing them and causing death. So strong the cotton possibilities in that state. is this superstition that some of them The company proposes to bring, with- will no longer join in the singing of in the next ten years, 40,000 persons the hymns they used to enjoy so much, to settle on the property. If this hap- or will they attend the meetings, nor pens, our mission boards are facing pray, lEst the enemy of their souls another opening akin to that among should lay his evil hand upon them." the Japanese in Hawaii. EUROPE Ra.ts and Mora.vian Missions Scots Back Church Fusion THE Moravians, who have always chosen the difficult fields of the AN OVERWHELMING approval was world, are facing obstacles in their section of South America which make 1"1 given by their General Assemblies them question the advisability of continuing. The Creoles, who have on November 21st to union of the constituted their main charge, are dis- Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland. The plan of union will need to be considered and approved by the presbyteries of
both Churches, which will convene tenary of the Rhenish Missions. As next May; and if approved the two in the case of the Basel Mission the churches will become one in the Au- year before, the many missionary sotumn. So unanimous was this action cieties of the continent in their pubthat of several hundreds of delegates lications bear tribute to the work done of the Church of Scotland only seven by the magnificent society in the hunmembers objected, while only forty- dred years of its existence. eight members of the United Free Church disagreed. Dr. Julius Richter, in the Neue All- gem e in e Missionsz13itschrijt, de- MeAll Mission Project scribes the Rhenish Society first of all as the teacher of primitive peoples. T HE latest one is the pUblication In Asia the adoption of Islam and of a periodical to be called L13 Buddhism have led to the deterioration Bat13li13r (The Bargeman) to be cir- of vigorous healthy masses of humanculated among the large number of ity while Christianity has helped to men and women, with their children, make the European nations the ruling who live on the canals and rivers of races of the world. France. There are said to be 8,700 miles of these waterways and upon Today Dr. Richter sees a twofold them ply more than 2,000 barges oc- task looming before world missions. cupied by nl) less than 50,000 people. The first part concerns the cultured The mission has this new approach nations of Asia, and the second reto another class unto whom the lates to the more neglected and backchurches have not ministered. ward races. He thinks that German missions have found their objective Evangelizing by Wireless in Iceland mainly among such uncivilized peoples whom it is of utmost importance to T HE Icelanders are noted for their bring under the influence of Chris- educational system, so that reading tianity. is almost universal. As this island, one-fifth larger than Ireland, has no The Rhenish mission has led three railroads and few motor roads except in the southwest, with bogs and extension fields of this kind; viz. in mountain ranges to limit communica- former Kaiser Wilhelm Land, in Bortions, Mr. Arthur Gook, who has been neo and among the natives of South a missionary there for twenty-three and Southwest Africa. The Papuas years, spends much of his time in of New Guinea belong to the great preparing literature, which is distrib- circle of Melanesian and Papuan peouted by post. This literature has ples. This field was taken over during resulted in many converts, most of the war by the Lutherans of Australia whom have never seen Mr. Gook. In and the Iowa Synod in America. Even- 1927 it occurred to him that broad- tually the Barmen Society will resume casting would serve the purpose even its work there. In Dutch East Indies better, and it has proved successful. the work is among the Botaks where Unfortunately the electrical power a primitive heathenism has maintained was not always to be depended upon itself. In southern Africa there is a and the broadcasting has been given varied mixture of races, that are up until a generating plant for his among the lowest beings in the scale northern station is secured. of humanity. For nearly one hundred years the Rhenish Mission has worked Centenary of the Rhenish Mission here with indescribable faith and pa- tience. A110NG the great jubilee celebrafitions of the past year, none has The results of this centenary of laassumed such prominence as the Cen- bor are shown in the indigenous Botak Churches in Sumatra with 250,000 Christians, the greatest indigenous church in existence.
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Swedish Mission's Semi-Centenial has been found for all these girls in various millinery, dressmaking, or ,HE Free Church Missionary So- other establishments where they will 1 ciety of Sweden, which works in soon learn a trade and become self- supporting. The home can accommo- Central China, Chinese Turkestan and date seventy-five at one time. The the Congo, recently celebrated its fif- girls do practically all the work. tieth anniversary in Stockholm. The services were attended by 15,000 par- Moscow Urges War on Religion ticipants and a gift of 900,000 crowns was presented by friends of the so- AWIRELESS despatch from the ciety. A minister of state participated New Y Qrk Times' Moscow corand Archbishop SOderblom sent a cor- respondent, sent on Christmas Day, dial letter of congratulations. enlarges upon this topic, saying among other things, that among the anti- Czechoslovakian Churches Soviet forces are members of the old Greek Church, Methodists, Baptists DR. HROMADAA of Prague writes and others whose total may number in the December Federal Council from twenty to thirty million, as Buk- BuUetin as follows: "In 1927 the harin, the Kremlin's chief spokesman Czechoslovakian churches for m e d estimates. The Pravda gives the folthemselves into a Federation …… A lowing list in the twelfth year of strong religious movement arose aft- Soviet power: er the Great War all over the Czech country and drew a great number of 1. Fifty thousand establishments occuformer Catholics to the Protestant pied without payment by 250,000 "acchurches. Especially in the west of tives" of the various faiths, including· Bohemia, many new congregations Mohammedans, Buddhists and Jews. have been built up of those converts who left the Roman and joined Czech 2. A hundred thousand religious Protestant churches. The number of groups transformed from cooperative the members of Czech Brethren in- associations, cartels, communal farms, creased from 160,000 to 255,000. Up etc. to the present time the effort toward union has not met with complete suc- 3. Fifty thousand church councils. cess …… Nevertheless the Federation of Czechoslovakian Protestant 4. From forty to fifty per cent of the Churches brings together about 700,- children of the Soviet Union still under 000 out of a total of one million Prot- the influence of the Church. And then estants in Czechoslovakia. (The total the conclusion follows: population of this country was 13,-· 600,000 in 1921.)" What is the use of boasting of the suc- cess of the anti-religious propaganda. Home for Working Girls in Athena when despite its prohibition, the sale of Christmas trees has gone on openly in T HROUGH the gift of $1,000 from the center of the city on the very spot the Anglican Churches of Vic- where the church was torn down? toria. British Columbia, Near East Relief was able to open a Working The Pravda devotes a four-column Girls' Home in Athens. A fine old leading editorial to proving from the residence near the Arch of Hadrian, works of Lenin and Marx that antion the road to the Acropolis, was se- religious propaganda is not only imcured for the girls. This home was po r tan t from the ideological greatly needed to provide an outlet viewpoint, but that it is actually a for some eighty to ninety older girls, phase of the class warfare which is almost all of whom are physically the keystone of the Marxist faith. handicapped and could not be placed That this is partly shared by the peoin homes as servants. Already work ple is seen in a cartoon which shows a "comrade" as asking a friend, "How can you have a Christmas tree like this?" He receives the answer, "It's all right-don't you see that all the lamps are red?"
AFRICA them …… They have seen to it that his progress about the British Isles A New Egyptian Sphinx has been attended with all the pomp and publicity that would be accorded T HIS is a statue unveiled in Cairo any important potentate. The less early in October. It represents a prepared, therefore, were they for the peasant woman standing beside a speech which the African chief made sphinx and pushing back the veil- before the Liverpool Chamber of Comand Islam's symbol par excellence has merce just before he sailed for home. always been the veil! May it be a Finding himself in such a place, he true omen that Islamic womanhood seemed to feel it natural to speak of is awakening to see her rights and is the form of commerce that was most soon going to obtain them in Christ. upon his mind. And that turned out Mission Director George Swan writes: to be the white man's importation of "We are fighting for the freedom of liquor into the Gold Coast. No less the young womanhood of Egypt, for than 1,300,000 gallons of spirits were the sake of all present and coming sent from Great Britain to the Gold young converts and enquirers. Ex- Coast last year. He told of what it traordinary difficulties are being en- was doing to the people of the Gold countered at every turn, but we Coast-of the physical and social misbelieve that the Lord has given us this ery that followed in its train. He told commission to see through, and that of the way in which it militated the result will be a step forward to- against the success of legitimate trade, ward true freedom." since the people who had been infected with a craving for drink soon had no Baptism of an Arab money left wherewith to buy useful articles. He appealed for help from DR. ZWEMER writes from Cairo the West-the Christian West !-in as follows: "Last June it was protecting his people against the our privilege to baptize here in Cairo Vest's own greed." an Arab from Nejd. His story is of deep interest. He was engaged in the Bed Rock Economy war at Taif; the bloodshed was terrific and the cruelty, as he stated, in- T HE Heart of Africa Mission, esdescribable. At that time he lost faith tablished by a wealthy English in Islam, and looked for a religion of Christian, C. T. Studd, who gave up love. Someone gave him a Bible. The his entire fortune to further worldrest of the story is that by the study wide evangelization, was recently visof the Book, he determined to become ited by an English Christian who gives a Christian, found his way to Damas- us illustrations of how extreme is the cus and then to Cairo. Through some economy practiced by these missiontracts of the Nile Mission Press he aries almost at the heart of Africa. found his way to our home, joined a "There are no buildings," he says, class of our mission here and was "that cost over £2 and only a few of baptized. He has now gone to Aden these. Generally £1 will cover the to work under the Scotch Mission and cost of a house of worship or for a is doing very well." missionary. Not a little money goes into expensive buildings. Not so here; "The Heathen Loses His Blindness" only bamboo or mud walls. As to mis- sionary allowances, these are down to ONCE more a dweller in the be- bed rock; there must be no reduction. nighted portions of the earth When they fall short-well, there is has arisen to tell the West of its sins. such self-denial that if we knew it And once more the West has no ade- at home we should hang our heads in quate reply to make. For reasons of shame." Strange to say, this visitor State the Paramount Chief of the tells us that the health of the workers Akim Abuakua on the Gold Coast, Sir Ofori Atta, has been entertained by
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK 155-
is as good as in other missions. Of of water, so that the filings will fall Mr. Studd's headquarters, he says that into the water. Give this to the patient it also is of bamboo, with earth floor to drink. Then take the half crown pounded hard and with very ordinary and place it over the various parts of things in it, Mr. Studd joking about the body. When the half crown ishis "desk" and other furnishing for placed over a certain spot and the patheir lack of "finish." tient experiences a sharp pain, then that place is the root of the trouble." But with it all, our witness informs -Edinburgh Medical Mission Report.. us of an amazing four days' conference with 2,000 Negroes present with Gerltlans Return to Bukoba the missionaries, and that of the former about 1,000 gave up their sips and WEST of Lake Victoria in what dedicated their lives to God and his was formerly German East Afri-· service. From village to village, our ca, the Bethel Mission was located in informant went and found in all of Ruanda and it is now Belgian territhem an earnest spirit and of the mis- tory. Before the war the Germans. sionaries he says: "In all these weeks conducted there a very successful one never heard a word of criticism work. South African Methodist misby anyone of our missionaries of sionaries have looked after this terrianother. How refreshing it was to tory ever since that time, but have· get out of the homeland atmosphere gradually withdrawn and now have into such a one of love!" handed back the entire field to the German missionaries who have reen- African Notes for Doctors tered with a considerable staff.
DR. TILL of Swaziland writes from WESTERN ASIA his own observation the following notes and others. The Anti-missionary Near East "A baby a few weeks old was suf- I N THE Near East, the former tolfering from bronchial pneumonia; the eration of Christianity has been treatment was as follows: A large broken up by unreasoning outbursts· sheet was soaked in varnish and the of opposition. Dr. Robert P. Wilder baby was wrapped in it. A small space accounts for it mainly on five grounds. was left around the baby's mouth and 1. Recent happenings in Turkey, such nose, but otherwise it was completely as the abolition of the Khalifate, have covered by this sheet. Needless to say shaken to its foundations Islam among the baby was dead within twenty-four thinking Moslems throughout thehours. world. 2. This would naturally stiffen and put on their guard the Ulema and "Another treatment I came across official Islam everywhere. 3. The infor enteritis was this: A field mouse filtration of Christian ideas through was caught, killed and skinned. The the war and especially through Chrisskin was then placed on the fire and tian literature, medical, educational boiled for three days. At the end of and evangelistic missions is felt to be that time the poor, unfortunate pa- a real danger to Islam. 4. Agnostitient was made to drink the whole of cism, which one of the highest official the concoction in one dose. Moslems in Egypt affirms possesses the bulk of educated youth, is another "One man gave his son, a boy of foe. 5. There are other watchers who about fifteen, half a pound of red lead believe firmly that the sinister influto eat. This was to cure colic. It ence underlying these symptoms is did, and they had the funeral the next Russia's Soviet government, which day. though violently anti-religious, is yet doing its utmost through large sub- "I have also discovered a new method of diagnosis. Take a half-crown and file a small piece of it over a cup
sidies and other propaganda to attack INDIA AND SIAM the Mandatory Powers operating in Moslem countries of the Levant. These Second Stage of Missions ideas are also those of Bishop Gwynne of Egypt and the Sudan. F ROM the November issue of the National Christian Council Review Robert Wilder's Tours we quote the following item, reported from the Abbottabad Conference. I N "NEWS from the Area of the Council for Western Asia and In the development of the Church con- Northern Africa" Robert Wilder gives sciousness in India, we are now entering an account of many journeys in South- a second stage. About a quarter of a eastern Europe, Northern Africa, and century ago the Church in India began Western Asia. During these months to realize its responsibility in the evanhe has made valuable investigations gelization of "The Motherland." The in Greece, Bulgaria, Rumania, Con- National Missionary Societies and the stantinople, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, home missionary societies, connected Algiers and Tunis. His account with various denominations, were organabounds in statistics of the various ized. For the last few years, however, religions and briefly tells of meetings a new call is being heard by the Church held at various points. The longest and it is groping to find its way to take intensive touch with missions was at a forward step. The Church in India Constantinople, where the American can no longer content itself with the Board missionaries were at their an- needs of its own people, but it is being nual meeting. Their delegates num- prepared to launch forth in a bigger efbered sixty, and for them he conducted fort to carry the Gospel to adjacent a retreat and at the annual meeting lands. The doors to Afghanistan and he addressed them daily. He reports Central Asia may not be wide open yet, a great movement in the Gregorian but there are many indications that the Church, especially in Aleppo, where day is not far distant when the Christian one of the Gregorian pastors preaches soldiers will hear the bugle call to march each week to audiences of between 800 onward. God is preparing the Indian and 1,500 on the need of repentance. Church to take its legitimate share in this "push" when it comes. Neglected Jews Gandhi and Christian School Girls T HE "Chosen People," children of Abraham, heirs of the Covenant, MAHATMA GANDHI recently viscustodians of the oracles of God, are ited the Uduvil Girls School of still a neglected people, largely over- Northern Ceylon. He had been told looked by those who take the Gospel that half the students were Hindus of Christ to the unevangelized. Rev. and half Christians-some 600 in all S. B. Rohold of Haifa, Palestine, -and that no distinction was made writes: between high and low castes.
"The following fields are without Addressing the girls, he said that any definite Christian missionary to he was glad to find Christians and the Jews-(l) The whole of Mesopo- Hindus working together, and living tamia, (2) large cities of Syria, like together without caste distinction; Beirut, Tripoli, Damascus (since the that it mattered not what sort of departure of Rev. Elias Newman) and clothes a girl wore-she might be Aleppo." dressed in silks and look very beauti- ful; those things did not count. But The same is true of many cities of it did matter how her heart looked: Europe, Africa and North America how she felt in her heart toward othwhere the only contacts with Jews are ers. If she was proud and looked commercial and political, and are not down on other girls in the school, or always Christian. felt no sympathy for the poor or un- fortunate, she was not really beauti- ful. He then spoke of the Khaddar movement [home-made cloth] and the need of the poor of India for help from their Singhalese sisters, and urged them to support it.
WORLD-WIDE OUTLOOK
Tommies Evangelizing in India consideration by the British Govern- ment and by Parliament. The effect METHODIST missionaries laboring of carrying out this veiled threat in Cawnpore not only report that would sorely hamper all missionary hundreds of British soldiers attend operations except possibly the medical services, but that they have become so work. enthusiastic about the work that many of them are assisting in village evan- Centennial of Ko Tha Byu gelization. They do not speak Hindustani, but they go out and sell gospels, THE first Protestant convert to be and then later they find some Indian baptized among Burma's millions, who speaks English and with him as has been remembered by a vast multiinterpreter, they add their testimonies tude, missionaries and foreigners, and explanations of Christianity to who had been drawn together from the printed Word. Going alone or by India and Burma and even from twos, their ringing testimonies as to America, to celebrate the historic what Christ is in their lives, have led event of this humble Karen's baptism. to conversions. They reach the Mos- The principal celebration took place lems, also, and one story is given as beside the dhobe pond where the rite an illustration. A Tommy and his was originally administered. One interpreter were walking along near feature of it was the immersion of a Mohammedan and his wife. The ten Indian, six Karen, four Burman, man .was reading an unclean book and three Chinese candidates, with aloud and laughing over it. The evan- from 1,200 to 1,400 spectators standgelizers joined them and asked the ing by the same tank in which the first Moslem what he was reading. This convert was baptized a century ago. led to an exchange of books, there was prayer and in due season both Among many important items of husband and wife were converted. the Conference which accompanied the celebration, was a discussion of the Another story is as follows: The devolution of responsibility and drummer of the regiment on his first leadership from foreign to local vacation after years of service, spent bodies. A feature that was accomit with his interpreter in this way and plished only through the cooperation attracted good sized groups, so that he of many friendly autos was when the returned to the church to report a 1,702 delegates went on a sight-seeing wonderful vacation, and to tell of the tour of Tavoy. success of his plan. Work for Chinese in Siam A Threat for India T HOUGH the first convert to Prot- ON DECEMBER 28th a compromise estant Christianity in Siam was a resolution framed by the two Chinese, and though they are numerwings of the All-Indian and Moslem ous in Bangkok, the work for the race League was adopted by a vote of 118 was neglected for various reasons. to 45. It was sponsored by Mahatma Since 1920, however, it has been stead- Gandhi and declares that if the Brit- ily growing. At first the Cantonese ish Government, by the end of 1929, and Swatow groups worshiped todoes not accept in its entirety the gether, but as the two dialects are Dominion Status Commission for In- widely different, services were begun dia, drafted by the Nehru Committee, for: the Cantonese, and in a few years the Congress would organize a non- the Cantonese church members have cooperation movement, including the increased to nearly a hundred. Today non-payment of taxes. Gandhi said the church has a regular pastor and that the Nehru report was not meant is practically self-supporting, selffor the Simon Commission, which is governing and self-propagating. Presthere from England investigating con- byterian missionaries are greatly ditions, but it was intended for the encouraged in this work.
WORTH
Any books mentioned in these columns will be forwarded by us on receipt of price.-THE REVIEW.
Ancient Chinese Political Theories. Kuo- have the Light. In the light of these cheng Wu. 340 pp. Shanghai. 1928. facts, ordinary excuses seem selfish While this volume does not bear di- and small. The mass of well-chosen rectly upon missions, it is of impor- material, the warmth of a passion tance to those who would understand born of Love Divine, the quotations the Chinese outlook on life. It deals and stories should melt a heart of with the great philosophers of the first stone.
miUenium before Christ, who have The author is the Executive Secre- molded the Chinese thought of all suc- tary of the Presbyterian Church ceeding generations. The author has (South) and his whole life-work has not utilized .recent critical studies by given him the right to speak; his soul Chinese and foreigners on the authen- is afire with love and he voices a loud ticity of the texts he uses, and at times call from the Risen Redeemer to this omission weakens his conclusions, all Christians to follow Him in sacri- but he has brought together in Eng- fice and to carry the Word of Life to lish translation a large number of the millions dying in sin and misery.
pertinent passages from the ancient There are chapters for the preacher, philosophers and has let them speak for the Sunday-school, for the critic.
for themselves with a minimum of One deals with "The Bible and Mis- necessary interpretation. Many of his sions," and another with "The Penny quotations, particularly from the and Missions." It enlarges one's faith Legalists, have not before appeared in the power of Christ to save all na- in English. K. S. LATOURETTE. tions and to meet needs. It is accu- The Desire of All Nations. Egbert W. rately described as "a rebuke and in- Smith. 193 pp. $1.50. New York. 1928. spiration to preachers, an acid test of This is one of the strongest apolo- the Church's vitality, an exposure of getics for missions that has appeared in recent years. If any real believer the perils of the world, and a book of in Jesus Christ has no interest in stimulating devotion aiming to pro- mote likeness to the Lord Jesus Christ." FRANK LUKENS.
missions, here is the book that will Farmer Wu, the Man who Baptized Himtouch him. It comes out of a fervent heart, full of the true missionary spir- self. C. N. Lack. Illustrated. 53 pp. 6d. London. 1927. it of Christ Himself, and out of a This charming little story of Chimind plentifully informed on the great nese village life, tells how a farmer theme. It is not cold reasoning; it is was converted by having the Bible filled with facts and incidents from read to him. For years he walked humanity itself and reaches the heart miles to a Christian chapel. Mr. Wu with compelling power. If it should was disappointed when the missionbe published in cheaper form and aries were driven away by the Boxers spread by thousands, it would help before he had been baptised, but one to awaken pastors and people alike to day he fell into the water and instead the awful need of the unsaved and the of being angry took this for his bapinescapable obligation of those who tism, and so plunged in again with a 158
BOOKS WORTH READING
prayer for the gift of the Holy Spirit. to keep abreast of evangelical Chris- tian progress and to have an intelli- When the missionaries returned he gent view of the outlook before the Church of Christ in its campaign to was publicly baptised before some evangelize the world in His Name and Power. A more extended review of thousands of his countrymen, and be- these volumes will appear later.
came a preacher. He suffered for his Across the World of Islam. Samuel M. Zwemer. lIlus. 8 vo. 382 pp. $4. faith, but rejoiced in the conversion New York. 1929. Dr. Zwemer is one of the foremost of his family and relatives. The read- Christian authorities on modern er's heart warms with a desire to thought, life and work among Mos- lems. He has been a missionary to bring Christ to the millions that wait them for forty years and has traveled in all their lands. He is the honored in darkness. FRANK LUKENS. Editor of the The Moslem World and the author of a large number of books China Christian Year Book for 1928. on Islam. The present volume is a Edited by Frank Rawlinson. 12 mo. view of the Mohammedan World as 446 pp. $1.80. Shanghai. 1928. he has seen it and studied conditions in Arabia, Turkey, Mesopotamia, In- We welcome this fifteenth volume dia, Egypt, North Africa, the Sudan, of a valuable series after one year of South Africa, Dutch East Indies, omission due to disturbances in China. China and Europe. The picture is The contents are rich and varied, in- graphic, stimulating and informing. cluding surveys of political events and The author has a wonderful undertheir effect on the Christian Church, standing both of Mohammed and of the status of women in China, re- Christ and it is worth while to see ligious liberty in China, movements with his eyes and to have the reaction for Christian unity, and the present of his mind and heart. On the side outlook for religious education, as well Dr. Zwemer discusses such topics as as sections on social life, health work "Could Mohammed Read and Write," and literature. The authors are mis- "Women in the Koran and Traditions," sionary authorities such as Prof. Har- "The Mosque as a Place of Worship," old Balme, Dr. Henry T. Hodgkin and "Mecca the Mysterious" and "The New Bishop Roots, but especially note- World of Islam." worthy are the thirteen Chinese Christian contributors. These include the Youth and the New America. G. Bromley national secretary of the Anti-Opium Oxnam. 167 pp. Cloth $1, paper 60c. Association, the secretary of the China New York. 1928. Christian Educational Movement, a member of the Village Education The quality of a house is determined Movement, the Commissioner of Edu- very largely by the builder, and the cation for Kwangtung and several quality of a book depends very largely members of the China Christian Coun- upon the character of the author. Dr. cil. The volume is worthy of close Oxnam, now president of De Pauw study. University, has one of the keenest minds and one of the most stimulat- Report of the Jerusalem Meeting of the ing personalities to be found among International Missionary Council. 8 our younger generation of religious volumes. 12 mo. $6. New York and leaders. In addition to what the London. 1928. schools can offer, Dr. Oxnam has had the advantage of world-wide travel, The Jerusalem gathering last Spring and he brings to his interpretation of was notable for the personnel that national problems, in terms adapted met from all lands, for the importance of the topics discussed, the spirit manifested, and the program outlined. These eight volumes give the reports of the various commissions, the discus~ion on them and the general addresses and conclusions. They are an unusually rich source of information and are necessary to those who wish
to youth, a preparation for his task The themes include: "How We May be which is of the very best. He ana- Sure," "Christianity a Unique Reli- lyzes the characteristics of modern gion," "The Everlasting Arms,"
American life and then measures our "Things that Cannot be Shaken,"
present standards of conduct with the "What it is to Be a Christian," "A measuring rod of the principles laid Soul-Winning Church," etc. They are down by Jesus. Questions of social good for any church and any denom- justice, peace and war, race relations ination. FRANK LUKENS.
and human brotherhood are played Joy Rides. A Picture-Making Book. 20 pp. 18. London. 1927. up in a most challenging fashion, and A story, a suggestion and a space the book concludes with a most effec- in which to cut out, color and paste a picture, are the means used here to intive appeal to help make America terest and instruct children in mis- sions. The six "Joy Rides" are excelthe Beautiful." J. T. S lent educational alld inspirational journeys into Egypt, India, West Af- Three Boys on the Yangtse. B. M. Mc- rica, Japan, China and Palestine. Kinley. Illus. 8 vo. 252 pp. $2. New York. 1928. Deeds Done for Christ. Sir James Mar- China is a great land for novelty chant. 8 vo. 335 pp. $2.50. New York. 1928. and adventure. The boys found both and much more. Other boys and girls Christians today know too little of will be delighted to share their ex- the great heroes of the Church. The periences trlj.veling through the heart Christian biographical sketches in of China by houseboat and other this volume deal not only with some strange modes of travel, passing well-known saints, martyrs and piothrough whirlpools, encountering neers but introduce us to othel' worthy bandits, seeing the Chinese at home, characters less famous. Among the martyrs, whose lives and characters at work and at worship. It is not Ii are pictured are Polycarp, Origen, Cyprian and the unfamiliar names of missionary tale but one full of inter- women-St. Perpetua, St. Blandina and St. Telemachus. There are also est. described such pioneers as Robert Raikes, Thomas Chalmers, Mrs. The Southern Presbyterian Pulpit. Ad- Josephine Butler and John Howard. dresses by ministers of the Presby- Among the missionary heroes are not terian Church in the U. S. Edited by only William Carey and Hudson Charles H. Nabers. 295 pp. New Taylor but Dr. Torrance, Sadhu Sun- York. 1928. dar Singh, F. S. Arnot, David Jones and Edward Steere. In all forty-five Dr. Charles L. Goodell says: "These heroes are introduced; they are men sermons have in them the grip on the and women worth knowing. The chapeternal verities. While they are thor- ters offer much material for instructoughly up-to-date, they· advocate a ing young Christians in the elements dateless religion, a Gospel which will of noble character and true service. find the soul when the stars have gone The biographical material is not preout." The preachers are among the sented in as attractive popular style most distinguished men of the South- as we wish or as might be done with ern Presbyterian pulpit. The sermons the material at hand. There is too much quotation from heavy bi6gare arranged in alphabetical order raphies. Some of the chapters give with biographical notes which, we stirring incidents and inspiring exthink, might better have been collected amples of self-sacrifice. in an appendix. Seldom are sermons so uniformly good. The themes are vital and timely. The Saviour is pre- sented in everyone. The language is of a high order, the structures are simple and direct, and the style is devout and with the personal appeal of hearts filled with the love of God. They call for a pure Church and individual Christians of spiritual power.