The Missionary Review of the World — December 1897
AND DERWENTWATER
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD: VOL. XX. No. 12.-0ld&Tz'e8.-DECEMBER-VoL. X. No. 12.-New &rie8.
SPIRITUAL MOVEMENTS OF THE HALF CENTURY- KESWICK TEACHING AND METHODS.
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
We are taught in the New Testament that truth and error find their allies in the manner and method of conduct as well as in formal teaching. Mute surroundings are vocal with testimony; the chosen symbols of holy influence are salt and light; the presence of a good man, and many other things beside speech, bear witness to the truth; and the personality of a wicked or worldly man has an influence of its own quite' apart from his utterances.
The "Keswick" movement has already received ample notice in these pages as one of the most conspicuous developments of the last half century. But at the time when the former paper appeared which treated this subject (February, 1897), the writer, tho he had been often in Great Britain, and in close contact with Keswick leaders, had never been present at one of those famous conventions, which have made the· English Lake district more historic than the" Lake School" of poets had already done. lIe acted the part of an impartial but interested observer, watching from without the influence exerted npon the religions thought and condnct of many thonsands who felt and acknowledged the power of Keswick teaching; and having been convinced of the Scriptural character and spiritual wholesomeness of this doctrine, and the practice everywhere found linkt to it, he unhesitatingly gave to it as emphatic an approval as his individual judgment conld carry. Moreover, the writer had been invited, in different quarters, both to address and to conduct meetings "for the deepening of spiritual life," and, as far as other duties allowed, such invitations had always been accepted, as they will be in • This periodical adopts the Orthography of the following Rule, recommended by the joint action of tbe American Pb!lologlcal .Association and the Philological Society of England :-Change d or ed final to t when so pronounced, except when the e deets a preceding aound.-l'uBLIslIBBIl.
8i2 Il'IRITU.A.L MOVEMENTS OF THE IU.LF CENTUBY. [Decemb,er
future. This still further identified him with the Keswick movement, as, in a sense, a witness to its value and power.
Last April an important convention was held in London, England, at which the leading Keswick teachers of the city and vicinity gave careful and candid expositions of the truth which they hold and advocate. Part of the purpose of such convention was to furnish, in the metropolis of the world, an authoritative statement of this teaching, correcting misapprehension, and bringing these precious and vitalizing truths into touch with many who had never been at Keswick itself during the convention week. The way was singularly and providentially opened for the editor of this REVIEW to attend this London convention, and then to remain in England, holding a series of meetings, until the Keswick gathering itself; so that a visit of some four or five months abroad had its beginning and ending in connection with these two memorable weeks, each of which was occupied with the advocacy of these grand truths of grace and godliness. The opportunity referred to was gladly embraced, for there were some doubts that only such personal attendance at Keswick meetings could dissipate, and there was a strong desire" to spy out the land" and find out what weak points, if any, there were in the teaching now inseparable from the name of Keswick.
This recent visit to Britain inspires a second paper upon the Keswick movement, which is written after opportunities of a rare character for close investigation and observation. Not only was the editor-in-chief present at both these larger conventions, but at smaller ones in the interval, at Dublin and other places, where he himself was one of the speakers. The whole period of four months was passed either in public or private contact with men and women who have been most closely linkt with this movement; and the result of careful study, both of the formal teaching and the actual tendencies of the doctrine, was most satisfactory, confirming the opinion, previously affirmed in these pages, that this class of truths furnishes the great corrective remedy for the unspiritual drift of our day, and the great educative force for lifting spiritual life to a higher level. No one could come under the influence of a Keswick convention, in a receptive spirit, without feeling its power, and without an unspeakable yearning to have it essentially reproduced elsewhere, not as a mere adjunct to some already existing conference of Bible students or Christian workers, but transplanted with all its main characteristics, lest there should be lost any of the peculiar features which give it its unique power of impression, and without anyone of which it would cease to be what it is. The object of the present paper is to give the reader a glimpse, if possible an insight, into what it is which makes Keswick such a force in modern spiritual life. The impression left preeminently by the meetings both at London and at Keswick is that the teaching is not to be accurately judged apart from certain conspicuous surroundings which characterize the assemblies, and which give a unique character to the whole convention. Indeed, it may be doubted whether the verbal teaching is even the main feature of the Keswick movement.
This statement is put in this rather startling form partly for the purpose of compelling attention to some matters quite apart from the direct instruction given in the addresses. One may read the whole series of addresses as reproduced verbatim in the" Life of Faith," so ably edited, and yet miss what to us was the most conspicuous c:Qarm of the Keswick assemblies-the very aroma of the flower. It is quite common for persons who have little knowledge d the matter to refer to this teaching as a mere" school" of religious opinion, dismissing it as one of many modern types of doctrine, somewhat akin to some one of the observed tendencies of thought which differentiate one theological school from another. This is a great mistake. Keswick stands for a great deal more than the truth, orally proclaimed from its platform or promulgated through the press, and it is this other side which we wish now to bring to public notice for the comprehensiv;e understanding of the matter, and for the many deeply instructive lessons which are involved.
First of all, it may be well to refute a misconstruction which we can not but account as simply the fruit of misapprehension, and which we find embodied in the following paragraph from a prominent religious newspaper: " The Keswick movement in some localities has run into excesses, has caused divisions in churches, has produced self-righteousness, and caused men and women to say, by their actions, to fellow-Christians, 'Stand aside, for I am holier than thou.' This does not come from the indwelling of the Spirit of God; is the exact opposite of the results of the ministry of the Holy Spirit, for the Spirit Himself has declared through an inspired Apostle that' the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-Buffering, gentleness, meekness.' The people who declare themselves to be of such superior spirituality that they can no longer be associated with the membership of a Christian church are misled and mistaken, and are not led by the Holy Spirit."
It is one remarkable fact in connection with this movement that it has never been, found to cause "divisions in churches," not a man or woman ever being known, through its influence or under its teaching, to leave one communion for another. In fact, one of the conspicuous results has been that those who at Keswick meetings find newness of life, rather incline to stay where they are, ecclesiastically, and seek to infuse new life into dead and formal service. If Keswick teaching "produces self-righteousness and causes men and women to say' Stand aside, I am holier than thou,''' we have not met a single such case. In fact, again, it is one of the most notable fruits of this teaching that it produces humility, and considerate charity for others. As it insists that holiness is the result, not of a prolonged and persistent self-effort, but of a simple appropriation of Ohrist as the victor over evil, the whole tendency is to make men and women humbler, by reason of the conscious inadequacy of their own endeavors, and their entire dependence on the Spirit of God. Those who are most con- spicuous, as both exponents and examples of this teaching, are like the late Dr. A. J. Gordon, the last to assert their own sanctity. None of them would be otherwise than shockt, if any others should ascribe to them holiness or perfection. 'rhey repudiate 8011 such epithets, and are the more lowly in mind as they become the more lofty in aim and pure in heart. , It may seem strange to affirm it, but there are at least a dozen things in regard to which Keswick is a standing protest or witness, or both, and which are entirely aside and apart from the verbal utterances of its platform, but without which those utterances would b,e shorn of their real effectiveness. It may be well to enumerate, tho there are some things which evade analysis and defy description.
The methods and measures inseparable from a true Keswick convention are, we repeat, quite as important as the men who teach, or the truth formally taught; and they bear quite as distinct a stamp of peculiarity and individuality. For example, let us take careful note of the following particulars: 1. Direct dependence on Divine guidance. No step is taken, even in minute matters, without first referring it to God to know His will.
2. Absolute independence of human patronage: no alliance sought with great names, the rich, the nobly born, the leaders of human thought.
3. Singular indifference to mere numbers, no emphasis being placed upon crowds as a sign of success or blessing, or as the measure of encouragement.
4. Oonsequently, no catering to popularity; nothing is done simply to make the meetings "draw." There is no savor of sensationalism, however mild.
5. No reliance on eloquent speaking, as such. No program of speakers or subjects is ever publisht. Even the speaker's program gives no hint of topics to be treated.
6. The platform is one of witness. No speaker is askt to take part because of fame, learning, or eloquence, apart from a definite experience of blessing, which gives him authority to bear a testimony.
7. A definite result is uniformly sought in the practical life of the hearer, toward which all else is directed. Hence a definite type and order of teaching, the truth being presented, not at random, but with reference to its bearing on this result.
8. Immediate, visible, decisive action on the part of the hearer is urgently insisted upon-a surrender to God at once-prompt renun- ciation of known sin and obedience to known duty. Hence, much prominence is given to after-meetings.
9. f3acred song, as an aid to worship and teaching. Perfectly simple and congregational singing, and always chiefly, if not solely, with reference to the impression of the Word; not an independent attraction, but a subordinate adaptat1:on, preparing for, or following up, the truth taught.
10. Confidence in the Holy Spirit's presence and guidance. The pervading impression is that God has control, and hence one is pre- pared for that remarkable emphasis laid upon public and private waiting on God in prayer, which is seldom found elsewhere.
11. NQ appeal for money, even to meet expenses, save through boxes provided for voluntary offerings, it being a fundamental law of Keswick teaching to rest on God for means to carryon His work, rather than to look to monied men and women.
12. All Christiau disciples recognized as one body in Christ, and everyone members one of another; only the essentials of Christian doctrine being made prominent, without regard to minor differences.
The meetings are not controlled by anyone man, but by a com- mittee and council of godly men and women, who ll,re in hearty agree- ment as to all the foregoing positions. Keswick is the main annual center for gatherings in the end of July, but duriug all the weeks of the year, at various points in the United Kingdom, local conventions, for the deepening of spiritual life, are held under the direction of the Keswick leaders and teachers; and men and women go as missionaries both to home and foreign fields to spread the knowledge of these truths, and encourage the simple apostolic methods so blessed of God.
It needs but a glance to see that, however important the teaching at Keswick, these methods of condltct are no less essential to the whole mov61nenf as such, aud the writer's conviction grows daily stronger that, if there is to be a counterpart and not a counterfeit of the Kes- wick movement in America, it must begin from the beginning, upon a basis of its own. The methods in vogue at most of the existing religious gatherings, both in America and elsewhere, however justifi- able, are certainly in markt contrast. For example, we generally find dependence on organization, numerical strength, and secular attractions; every effort is made to draw the crowds, there is an announced program of speakers, if not of subjects; music is a studied attraction, sometimes a performance by professional artists, and singing is ~ultivated as a matter of art; constant effort is made to get famous, prominent, eloquent and popular speakers, and the . element of witness is not emphatic, or generally even essential. Whoever thinks of limiting the choice of speakers to those who have a definite experience, along a certain line of testimony? And how often are parties admitted to the platform of our summer gatherings, who are known as holding doubtful doctrine, if not encouraging questionable practice, but who are popular speakers? Nor do we know of any convention in America, with perhaps two exceptions, which definitely aims at securing an immediate and absolute surrender to the mastersbip of Ohrist, and the entire transformation of both inner and outer life of those who attend.
Ueference has already been made to a definite order in which truth is taught at Keswick. For example, on the first day or two sin is dealt with, and its immediate abandonment, the effort being made to bring one face to face with God as a judge, and to producing conviction of guilt, sin and need. On a succeeding day, such themes as the power of Ohrist, and of a true, vital union with Him, of the Holy Spirit's indwelling, and the proper use of the Word of God, as preventives of sin and promotives of holiness. On another day, the Life in God with its immunities, privileges, possibilities. Then as the convention week closes, service, its conditions, laws and qualificatIons, with special emphasis on the enduement.and the filling of the Holy Spirit, with a final meeting on Saturday, when the mission field and its claims are urged on the assembly.
This general outline is never filled in twice alike, so that it is not a mechanical cast-iron model or pattern, allowing no flexibility or variation. There are many advantages in such order of teaching. It moves onward step by step toward definite results, and it enables speakers wbo at any stage of the meetings make their appearance, to fall in with the purpose and purport of the teaching at that particular stage. And in the arrangement of the speakers' program-which is confidential and only for their own guidance as to the times of their addresses-regard is had to the fitness of particular men to deal with certain lines of truth, as demonstrated by experience.
While thus candidly regarding facts, we have no design of antagonizing methods that may elsewhere prevail, or of disputing the possible uses or advantages of other methods, all of which may have a place in God's plan. But one fact stands out indisputable: Keswick has its own methods, and they are so characteristic and so inseparable from its teaching that, if the teaching is to have its full sway, it mnst not be divorced from all that God has joined with it.
The question is constantly arising, bow can a similar type of teaching and method be given its fullest scope in this and other lands. It is obvious that there are no geographical limits to such nplifting and sanctifying influences. If our American churches and Ohristian life need anything, it is certainly jUl!t such new inspiration to holiness and self-snrrender, as Keswick has I!upplied for a quarter of a century' in Great Britain. While the writer of this paper has no plans of his own, but would be guided in all matters by the Captain of the Host of the Lord, there are some convictions which have become so clear in his own mind, that he ventures to expr(lss them to his indulgent readers and beloved fellow disciples.
If some convenient and central locality-perhaps more-than onecould be chosen under God's guidance, where meetings could be annually held in some tent or tabernacle, commodious and inexpensive; if there could be a right start, with supreme indifference to mere numbers, with careful avoidance of all men and measures not in accord with such simple and scriptural and spiritual aims and methods so conspicuously blest in the British movement; if, in a word, a similiar movement could grow up in this country, stampt from the outset with a certain definite character, and then kept within its original lines, unleavened with sensationalism and secularism, untold blessing might ensue to millions of disciples. And if we can do no more, we can devoutly pray that God would in His own way lead up to such a result.
One impression is especially strong and deep in the writer's own mind, that, wherever it is sought to have the counterpart of the Keswick movement, those who so desire must be prepared to start with a very small number of like-minded people. A large gathering at the outset might be fraught with actual risk. The greatest movements in spiritual life never do start with large numbers. The beginnings of this great reformation in British religious life were so small as to be now hard to trace. A few people, gathering in London at noonday in the Y. M. C. A. hall; then a hundred or so at a private residence, meeting by iuvitation; then, step by step, more and larger gatherings, until no place was found for the throngs. But more marvelous than the growth is the way in which, for twenty-five years, the Keswick platform has been kept free from mere popular oratory, and held its position as a place of witness along a line of definite teaching. What a temptation, as the crowds grew and with the crowds divers people of diverse opinions and preferences, to cater to the popular demand for fine speakers, especially if they were Scriptural teachers, famous orators, or learned expositors! But no. The apostolic succession of testimony has been preserved unbroken.
Keswick teaching is definite and unmistakable. It affirms a possible and practical deliverance from continuance in known sin; a renewal of the spirit of the mind, a dominion of love, an experience of inward peace; it maintains that it is a sin to be anxious, because, where anxiety begins faith ends, and where faith begins anxiety ends; that it is not necessary to be under the domination of any lust of body or mind, to live a life of doubt and despondency, or of interrupted .communion with God. Forfeited joy means broken fellowship. Keswick maintains that to every trusting, obedient soul, who dares take God at His word and count every commandment an enablement, there is an immediate deliverance from the palsied limbs tha.t make impossible a holy walk with God; from the withered hand that prevents a holy work for God, and from the moral deformity that bows one together, so that it is impossible to lift up one's-self to spiritual uprightness aud erectness. To those who are thus bound by Satan, He who is the same yesterday, to-day, and forever, still says, and for evermore says, " Thou art loosed from thine infirmity." Divine hands are ready to be laid upon us, and make us at once straight and strong to glorify God in holy living. These are the truths-none of them new, save in the emphasis laid upon them as real and present and practical truths-for which Keswick stands. Such truth is taught effectively, because it is taught only by those who, whatever else they lack, do not lack the personal experience of deliverance, but who can say, however humbly, boldly, "The Lord hath done great things for us, whereof we are glad;" and the sight of those who are thus healed, as of old, stops the mouth of cavillers, and emboldens the feeble faith of the hesitating and doubtful.
There is nothing to prevent an essential reproduction of this blessiug anywhere, if similar conditions prevail. If even a few who are entirely at agreement concerning these great truths and methods, are earnestly ready to start out on purely Scriptural and spiritual lines, and would meet and simply wait on God for further leading, and then follow step by step as He leads, what results for good might be the ultimate outcome! This vast country may be too broad for one gathering, but is there any reason why there should not be at convenient and accessible points a number of such conventions, where even a few are prepared to claim His promise, who, to the smallest number who can meet-two or three-says, "I am in the midst of them"- that reason does not appear.
One word in conclusion. The editor of this REVIEW, since the first paper on this subject was written, has been approacht by correspondents with the question, " How can a Keswick convention be reproduced in America?" To these numerous inquiries, for which there is not time at command to give individual answer, he thus publicly furnishes such reply as he can, distrustful of his own wisdom, but believing that the conditions of blessing do not vary essentially with change of scene or actors. God seems to be loudly sayiug to His people that He is waiting to bless them anywhere and everywhere, and He puts before us a pattern which has had His seal for a quarter of a century. Why attempt to improve on the pattern? and why attempt to secure like blessing in neglect of the pattern? Keswick has been a ~ountain of spiritual life, because four great scriptural laws have there found singular exemplication: habitual prayerfulness, prominence of the Word of God, unity among all believers, and dependence
ISRAEL'S MISSION TO THE WORLD
on the Holy Spirit. It may Beem an exaggeration to some, but we know of nothing nowadays which so closely reproduces the assemblies of tke primitive apostolic church / Believers meet from day to day to magnify scripture teaching, to sing holy hymns, to know no name but that of Ohrist, to acknowledge no presiding or administrative power but the Holy Spirit, to exhort one another to an essentially heavenly life; they continue steadfastly in apostolic doctrine and fellowship, in breaking of bread and in prayers, and in a peculiar and sacred sense, none say that anything they possess is their own, but they have all things in common, and the I.Jord adds daily to the number of those who are being saved from sin unto holiness. Wherever these words reach responsive eyes and hearts, there let like-minded disciples gather and wait on God in prayer, and be content to go step by step. So far as the writer's time and other duties allow, he will be glad to meet with such brethren, and give such help and encouragement as he may. But God will raise up His own witnesses and helpers if His people meet and are united in the sacred symphony of believing prayer.
ISRAEL'S MISSION TO THE WORLD, AND THE OHUROH'S MISSION TO ISRAEL.
BY THE REV. DAVID BARON, LONDON, ENGLAND.
"Ye are My witnesses, saith the Lord, and My servant whom I have chosen; . that yemay know and believe Me, and understand that I am He; before Me there was no God formed, neither shall there be after Me. I, even I, am the Lord, and beside Me there is no Saviour. I have declared, and have saved, and I have shewed when there was no strange God among you; therefore ye are my witncsses, saith the Lord, that I am God." Is. xliii 10-12.
"Ye shall be witnesses unto Me, both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth." Acts i. ; 8.
As we look at the passage quoted from Acts i, "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me," we can not but be reminded of the very similar words addrest by God, through the prophet Isaiah, to Israel as a nation, and we may well ask how is it, that instead of Israel at the present time witnessing for God among the nations, it is necessary that witness should be borne to Israel about their own God, their own Messiah, and their own Scriptures? The answer is given by the Apostle Paul in Rom. xi. 25, "Blindness in part is happened to Israel." It is true that certain leaders among modern Jews claim still to have amission, even at this present day, in their dispersion among the nations-a. mission~ as they say, to bear witness to the unity of God. But if we examine this supposed witness that the modern Jew gives to the unity of God, we find it very defective; for it is not a testimony to God as He has been pleased to reveal. Himself in His word-that is, as the infinite, yet personal triune, holy, loving God-but a testimony to an abstract formula with regard to the unicity of the Godhead. Of a personal, living God, modern Judaism knows, alas, very little. As a matter of fact, it is not due to the testimony to the unity of God, as given by the synagogue, that Gentiles have been brought to believe in one living and true God, but to the more truly Jewish testimony as given by the Jewish Apostle of the New Covenant, who went about preaching one God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, one Mediator between God and man, Jesus Christ the righteous; and one Holy Spirit, by whom the knowledge of God is communicated to man; and these three, ·one blessed Trinity. But, speaking generally, it is the boast of modern Jews that they are not a missionary people. Thousands of times have I had it thrown in my teeth by Jews in various parts of the world, who have said: "Why do Christians trouble themselves with trying to convert us? We do not try to convert anybody." My reply usually is: "Why don't you? If you boast of the fact that you are not a missionary people, you simply boast in your shame, you simply testify to the fact that you are not now answering to the purpose for which God called Israel into existence. Was not the very purpose of God in creating the Jewish nation, that they might be wit· nesses for Him to make known His name among the nations? The fact that you are not a missionary people is accounted for by the reason that you have no mission. In this respect it is true that the Kingdom of God has been taken from you and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits thereof. If you had a message you could not be silent, even if you tried, for you would find the word of God like a burning fire in your heart shut up in your bones, so that you would weary in forbearing to run and communicate it to others." Israel at the present day has no message. The Jews do not, and can not, bear witness for God, excepting that passive testimony which the diaspora gives to the righteous severity of God – a testimony which, would to God, Ohristendom took to heart, because it contains the solemn lesson to them, that they also, if they continue not in His goodness, shall be cast off.
But has the purpose of God in relation to Israel in this respect, that they should be His witnesses, been frustrated, or has it been already accomplisht in the testimony that the Jews gave in the past? No; the Jew has yet a future of testimony for God on the earth. "Blindnes~ in part," as the Apostle Paul said, "has happened unto Israel," and it is" in part," in a double sense. It is partial in its extent, for there is the remnant, according to the election of grace, who are not blinded, but can behold the glory of God in the face of Jesus Ohrist even now, but I only want to dwell for a moment on the duration of this blindness. There is a great contrast in the Word of God in this respect, between the condition of the Jew now and the condition of the Jew in the future. "Blindness in part has happened unto Israel," says the Apostle Paul in Romans xi.; but we read of a wonderful transformation that is to come over the Jewish people. "Then," says the prophet, Isaiah xxxv. : 5-6, "the eyes of the blind shall be opened." The very nation that has been destined by God to point all the other nations to the Sun of Righteousness has been itself struck blind, but it is only for a time.
The present condition of Israel may be very beautifully illustrated by a touching incident. It was about a child who met with an accident and suddenly lost his eyesight. At first he did not know what had happened to him, and used to follow his mother about the house, crying: "Mother, mother, when will it be day? When will the sun shine?" The poor mother had not the heart to tell the child all at once that it was day, that the sun was shining, but that something had happened to his eyes. This is the condition of the Jews to-day. "We wait for light, but behold obscurity; for brightness, but we walk in darkness." But" the eyes of the blind shall be opened." Soon the cry will go forth, " Arise, shine, for thy light has come; the glory of Jehovah is risen upon thee." And then "the Gentiles shall come to thy light and kings to the brightness of thy rising." The prophet continues: "Then the lame man shall leap as an hart." I never read this verse in Isaiah xxxv. without being reminded of Acts iii., where we have the account of a notable miracle that had been wrought in the name of our Lord Jesus Ohrist. We read there about a poor lame man who was carried every day to the gate of the temple called Beautiful, where he begged for alms of all those who were going into the temple to worship God. One day Peter and John came along, and he askt alms from them also; but Peter, fastening his eyes upon him, with John, said: "Look on us!" expect something different from us than that you would receive from others; and we read that he gave heed to them, expecting something from them. But Peter said: "Silver and gold have I none, but such as I have give I unto thee: in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!" and he took him by the right hand, and the lame man, leaping up, stood and walkt, and entered with them into the temple, walking and leaping and praising God.
My dear friends, that lame man is a type and parable of Israel. Israel is that lame man. Beautiful upon the mountains should be the feet of Jewish evangelists and preachers bearing the glad tidings of Messiah's Gospel to the nations; but Israel is lame now and outside the temple of God; that is, out of communion with God, because the temple was the visible symbol of fellowship with Jehovah. They are like the poor lame man also in this respect, that all their thoughts are fixed on money. Money, money; alms, business. I do not wish to say here, because it would not be true, that the Jew is exceptional in this respect. It is the tendency of the human heart that knows not the treasure that is at the right hand of God, to cleave unto the dust, and the Jew and Gentile are alike in this respect. I am only touching upon the fact that the Jew, like the Gentile, is at present occupied with worldly things, and he will readily deal with Christians in busi- ness. Peter and John have come to Israel and have said, "Look on us"; and, blessed be God, there is a remnant whose eyes have been opened by the Spirit of God to see that power to heal lies only in the name of Jesus, and they are now leaping and rejoicing. But as far as the nation is concerned, Israel is still sitting lame, incapable of going on any errand for God among the nations. For centuries it has been in that condition; but will it always remain so? Oh, no! There is a greater One yet than Peter and John to pass Israel again. We sometimes sing a hymn, "Jesus of Nazareth passeth by." He past by Israel once, and Israel was then already sick; but Israel let Him pass without as much as touching the hem of His garment, and Jesus returned unto His place until they would acknowledge their offence and seek His face. When He departed, He said: "Your house is left unto you desolate, for I say unto you, ye shall not see Me henceforth, until ye shall say, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord." Yes, Jesus will yet pass Israel again, and they will assuredly use the words of the prophecy from the cxviii Psalm, which He quoted. Jesus will say to Israel, "Look on Me," and the spirit of grace and supplication will be poured out upon the Jewish nation, and they shall look on Him, whom they have pierced. Jesus will again take Israel by the hand. "I will build again the tabernacle of David, which has fallen; I will build again .the ruins thereof;" and ·then "shall the lame man leap as an hart," and a tremendous sensation will be created on the earth. This is the hope of missions, and of the evangelization of the world. When this national lame man is healed, all the people of the earth will see this wonderful miracle per; formed by Jesus Christ of Nazareth. We read in the same prophecy that at that time in the wilderness shall waters break out. That is a picture of Israel's present condition-a wilderness, a howling desert, spiritually; but God has said that out of this wilderness rivers will spring up for the refreshing of the whole world.
Now, in the interval between Israel's rejection of Jesus Christ, and Israel's reception of Jesus Christ, when the Jews shall be reinstated as the witnesses of Jehovah on the earth, the Church of Christ, which is made up of Jews and Gentiles, is put into the very position of Israel, both in relation to privilege and of responsibility. (a) In relation to privilege: "Ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people . . . and ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation," was God's word to Israel in Exodus, the Book of Redemption: "Ye are a chosen. generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a purchased possession," says Peter, to all who have been redeemed with precious blood, whether Jew or Gentile. (b) In relation to responsibility: "Ye are my witnesses," saith Jehovah, "and My servants. • • . This people have I formed for Myself; they shall show forth My praise," are God's words to Israel. "Ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth," were the parting words of the ascending Christ to the Church, " that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvellous light."
Yes, one of the chief ends of the Church's existence on earth is, that she may bear witness to the nations; and in her witness she dare not lose sight of the Jew, for, as the late Professor Franz Delitzsch once said, at a great missionary meeting, "Gentlemen, if you speak about the evangelization of the world, and forget the Jew, you are like a bird that tries to fly with one of its wings clipped."
But generally I find that in speaking to Christians about the Jew, it is very easy to carry them with you if you speak of the Jews of the past-the Jew of Bible history-or the prophetic Jew of the future; but when it comes to the actual Jew of the present day, and you want them to enter into the thoughts and mind of God in reference to Israel of the present, that is a most difficult task. Let me illustrate it practically. At the present day there is, perhaps, no country in the world where such a lively interest is taken in the Jew, and where so much is done in proportion for Jewish missions, as in Norway, altho in Norway itself there are scarcely any Jews. The Norwegian friends have missionaries in Budapest, and in Galatz, in Roumania; and they also support, financially, other missions to the Jews in Germany and in Russia. You will ask how this interest in Israel originated in Norway. Well, it originated, for the most part, in the prayers and devotion of a noble-minded Christian lady. About fifty years ago, when the cause of foreign missions was taking hold of Christians in Norway, this lady's heart was moved by the Spirit of God with compassion for Israel. One day, as the pastor of her church was coming down from the pulpit, she said to him: "I am very ~lad to hear you always pray for the heathen, but I wish you would also include poor scattered Israel." The pastor turned around rather hotly, and said: "The Jews I We have nothing to do with them. They have been cast off, and now it is the time of the Gentiles." She tried to reason with him, but it was of no avail. But one day she called on her pastor, and said .to him: "I have a very sad story to relate to you, and I am sure it will draw out your sympathy." He said: "What is it?" She replied: "Not far from here there lives a good man and his wife. They have one son, whom they love as their own lives. They did everything possible for him, but the son turned out most unworthy of his parents; he returned it only with disobedience and ingratitude. After a time, when his conduct beca'tne no longer tolerable, with great grief of heart, they let him go, and he is now a wanderer. Instead of this son of theirs they adopted a poor gypsy boy. They put him in their own son's room, gave him their own son's clothing and books-in fact, they treated him in every possible way as their own child. The boy was very happy, but the parents can not forget their own son. In the evening sometimes a mist steals over the mother's eyes, and a sigh escapes from the heart of the father, and when the boy asks what is the matter, the father answers, 'Oh, our son, our son; would that he would come back; there is room in our hearts for him as well as you.' But this the boy does not like, and every time that the parents mention their son, he gets into a temper. What do you think of that?" The pastor stood up and said: "Oh, the ungrateful youth; if I were the parents, I would let him go; he is not a bit better than the first." The lady paused a minute or two, and theu said: "Dear pastor, forgive me; Israel is that wandering son, and we are the gypsy boy; and altho God was obliged to send the Jews into captivity, and has' given over the dearly beloved of His soul into the hands of her enemies,' His heart has not ceast to yearn for them, and His 'hands are still outstretched all the day long to His disobedient and gainsaying people.' " Hearken! "Is Ephraim my dear son? Is he a pleasant child, for, since I spake against him, I do earnestly remember him still. Therefore my bowels are troubled for him. I will surely have mercy on him, saith Jehovah." The pastor's heart was won, and the result was the first society that was establisht for the conversion of the Jews. The name of the lady was Frau Raguhild Haerm.
May God give us insight, my dear friends, into His thoughts and heart in reference to the Jewish people.
Our testimony to-day to the Jews is with regard to Jesus Christ, that " this Jesus," whom they crucified and think to be dead, is Israel's true Messiah, exalted to the right hand of God, a prince and a Savior. If space permitted, I should like to speak of the peculiar methods which we should adopt in our testimony to the Jew; and also as to the right kind of witnesses who should be sent forth by the Church, because I believe that, to this day, God has His instruments adapted for this work, and for that work, and it is not everyone who is called of God to be a missionary to the Jews.
On this point it will not be out of place if I quote from Professor Gustaf Dalman's last report of the Leipzig Institution Delitzschinnum, which is a seminary for Jewish missionaries, first founded by Franz Delitzsch, and now named after him, as to the necessary qualifications of one who desires to be a missionary to the Jews, with which I most heartily concur.
"(1) The missionary among the Jews must have a thorough knowledge of their language. This comprises not only a knowledge of the languages of Jewish literature, Hebrew, and Aramaic; and, if possible, a good practical acquaintance with the former, which is most extensively used by the Jews in their written communications, but also ability at least to speak German, and to understand Hebrew-German or 'Yiddish,' the vernacular spoken by two-thirds of the Jewish people.
"(2) The missionary must be acquainted with the religion of the Jews. Without this knowledge he will find it impossible to set forth our holy religion to Jews in such a way as to commend it to them, or even to be understood by them, much less to bring it home to heart and conscience. Those who are not cognizant of the world of Jewish religious thought can not conceive how unintelligible the terminology of our holy faith is to the Jew. Even the great scriptural key-words of Christianity: Sin, repentance, faith, righteousness, Redeemer, Christ· Messiah have a different meaning to the Jew, while, of course, all ecclesiastical terms are utterly incomprehensible to him. And thus experience has shown that the plainest and most heartfelt Gospel message coming from an untrained, tho earnest Gentile Christian, will sound as a dark riddle in Jewish ears.
"(3) The missionary should have studied the doctrines and sacred documents of the Christian faith in their bearings on Israel. Tracing the history of Israel through the Old Testament, and viewing their election and future in the light of law and prophecy, and noting the differences between the Jewish and Christian conceptions of Bible doctrine and statement, he should seek to obtain such a grasp of the Scriptures in this aspect as to be able to meet and answer any difficulty or objection that may be propounded by the enquirer or caviller.
"(4) The missionary must be conversant with the history of the mission to Israel, its nature, aims, and methods, and the lines on which the work has hitherto been carried on. Practical knowledge and insight is best obtained by commencing work under the supervision of experienced missionaries.
"Even for the Hebrew-Christian candidate special training is most desirable and necessary. As a rule, his knowledge of Jewish and Hebrew matters is insufficient and incomplete, in spite of his former surroundings, and tho his own faith be firm and clearly evinced, yet in the nature of things his grasp of Scripture truth can not be such as to fit him, without any further training, for the work of an evangelist among his brethren. We can not fix a high enough standard of attainment for those who desire to devote themselves to this work. A training that may fully qualify a man to go out and proclaim the Gospel to the civilized heathen world. is utterly insufficient for a worker among the Jews, altho we would never have ourselves or others forget, that technical qualification and even Scriptural knowledge is worthless, unless accompanied by a living faith and the burning desire to promote the interests of Christ's kingdom among His brethren according to the flesh. Better to send out no missionaries at all, than to send out such as are spiritually and intellectually unfit for their task."
Tremendous injury to the Jewish mission has resulted from two causes: (1) The putting into the work of "workers" both Jews and Gentiles, who were utterly unfit for the holy and delicate task of holding up the banner of Christ before the Jews; sometimes mere novices, whose characters were not sufficiently tested, or even brilliant impos- , ters, with some sensational stories of their previous history, who cap- tivated the hearts of some whose zeal for the Jewish cause is not according to knowledge. Oh! brothers and sisters in the Lord Jesus, believe me, in this part of the Lord's vineyard more particularly, we need not only the spirit of love and of wisdoI!1, but also of a sound mind, a spirit of Scriptural sobriety, not dissociated from a true Holy Ghost enthusiasm, for the salvation of a people in whom is bound up the hope of the world, but in whose midst Satan is entrencht more powerfully at the present day than in any other nation.
" (2) There is also a great lack of knowledge of the peculiar people, and of God's present and future purposes in and through them, which is accountable for certain methods in some Jewish missions, which, however much momentary sensation they may create, and however much interest they may arouse among Gentile Christians, can only work disastrously as far as the Jews themselves are concerned. I am not speaking as a theorist, but from knowledge and experience. After being permitted to serve the Lord in the evangelization of my people for about eighteen years, I am more and more of the conviction that in the Jewish mission, as in the Lord's work generally, it is not sensa- tion, but self-sacrificing hard toil aud patient continuance in well- doiug that will accomplish anything of permanent value for the glory of Christ.
Then, as to the manner of presenting the Gospel to the ~ews, a great deal might very usefully be said. For instance, Jewish opposi- tion is sometimes owing to the fact that Christianity has been pre- sented to them as a system, altogether detacht from, and, to some extent, opposed to Moses and the prophets. Now, in order to remove such impressions, tt is of the utmost importance in dealing with Jews to show them that the New Testament is in historic continuity and"
true order of sequence to the Old Testament, and that there is not a single essential doctrine in the New Testament, the roots of which are not to be found in Moses and the prophets. This will not be suc- cessfullyaccomplisht by always pointing the Jews to a few well-known Messianic passages, but by a methodic unfolding of Scripture as a whole.
Indeed, if there is one need greater than another in the Jewish field at the present day, it is that of men mighty in the Scriptures, who, in the power of the Spirit. shall be able to show to Israel how that, not only an isolated passage here and there, but that in the whole " scroll of the book it is written of Him."
Another thing to be borne in mind by the Church in its efforts for the Jewish people, is that Israel is a Diaspora,. and if we want to evangelize the Jews, we must not be satisfied merely by establishing a station here and there. There should be a return more to the methods of the Lord Jesus Christ at the commencement, when He sent His disciples out two by two from city to city to announce Himself, leaving the word to God and His Spirit to bear fruit.
There is a wonderful opening in the present day for Christian work among the Jews in countries where masses of them are found. It is not a week since I returned from my twelfth mission journey, and it has been my privilege, in the course of my life, to come into contact with more Jews than, perhaps, any other living missionary. I do not claim this as a credit to myself, because I believe there are others who could have done the work much better than I; but, as a matter of fact, in the providence of God, this has, I believe, been the case.
During this last journey, in some towns of Eastern Europe, we have had Jews listening eagerly, from early morning till late at night, to what we had to tell them about Christ. Some of you may wonder how we get at Jews in places where we have never been before. We have an easier task in this respect than our brethren who go among the heathen. All that we need do is to take a handful of suitable literature and a few New Testaments, and go into the Jewish quarter, where we enter into conversation with a few. We tell them: "We are your brethren, men of your own nation, but we have found Jesus, Him of whom Moses in the Law and the prophets have written. We believe that our nation made a tremendous mistake when it rejected Jesus, and when it believes that Jesus is dead, just as the brethren of Joseph believed that Joseph was dead. We have come from a far country to speak to you about Him." We generally mention the place and time when we will be ready to receive them, and before the hour indicated the Jews begin to come to us.
We are usually two missionaries, and we have sometimes been p~ckt in our rooms with Jews, listening eagerly while we unfolded to them the Lord Jesus Christ from Old Testament Scriptures. In some places we hold meetings; for instance, in a principal town of Galicia, this last tour, at two hours' notice, about two hundred Jews gathered together. The second day we were in Cracow we paid a visit to the Bethhammidrash, where Jews, old and young, may be seen doing nothing else, day or night, but occupying themselves with solving the mysteries of the Kaballa, and studying the traditions of men. A few " saints" have no other home, and even sleep there at night. In different parts of this building, which is exceedingly filthy, these Jews, old and young, in groups or singly, were shouting to themselves, in a sing-song way, different parts of the Talmud, swaying themselves violently to and fro- all the time. We sat down and askt one if they had a Bible in the place. After a time he brought us one of the volumes of the Jewish Bible, which is bound together with thirty-two different Rabbinic commentaries. It happened to be the volume containing Ezekiel and the twelve minor prophets, and we opened it at Zech. xii. Reading from verse 12 to the end, we askt him who it conld be whom Israel had pierced, and for whom they will monrn so bitterly.
Meanwhile qnite a group had gathered ronnd us, all in their long· kaftans, reaching from neck to foot, and wearing the Peyoth (side~ curls), which the Galician Jew regards as the most sacred badge of piety. Some had never noticed the passage before, others lookt for explanations to the various commentaries. After disputing a good while among themselves. they all came to the conclusion that it refers to "Messiah Ben Joseph." Most Talmndic Jews believe in two Messiahs, Messiah Ben Joseph, who shall be killed, and Messiah Ben David, who shall reign. Of course, there is nothing about two Messiahs in the Old Testament, but of one Messiah, who, through suffering, enters into glory.
After pointing out that the one who is thus pierced is none other than He who will pour out His Spirit of grace and supplication upon Israel, we told them that there is some truth in what they said. Our Lord was sometimes, on earth, called" the son of Joseph," altho He was truly the Ben David. When He came the first time Israel, in ignorance, pierced Him with the spear of the Romans. Since then, nothing but evil has come on us, but He will yet pour out His spirit of grace and supplication upon us, and we shall see Him; then in this great mourning our long sorrow of centuries will be turned into joy. It was wonderful with what eagerness they listened.
On coming out one Jew, who had first led us to this place, said to us: "This hour has been worth more than 1,000 florins to me, for I could see that your faith is grounded on the Bible, and that these Rabbis, with all their commentaries, could not answer yon." The next day this man came to us, saying that he was determined, with all his family, to become Christians. . There is a wonderful spirit of hearing just now amongst the Jews'in different parts of the world. My.dear Christian friends, it is no light thing that we now get the ear of the Jew to listen as to who this Jesus really was, whom the nation has hated for centuries without knowing who He was, or for what reason they hated Him. But we must sow before we can reap. Pray to God that the seed which is now being sown on a larger scale than ever before, may spring up, and that many Jews may call Jesus blessed. Pray also for "The Hebrew Christian Testimony to Israel." There are difficulties, disappointments, and trials in the Jewish work, which none but a Jewish missionary knows, but,at the same time,I feel convinced that it is the work of God; and I feel, as I have never done before, full of hopefulness and confidence for the conversion of Israel -for the blessing of my people.
May God pour out the spirit of compassion upon Christians, and, 1 am sure, a reflex blessing will come upon the Church.
THE TIn. TO FAVO:a ZION
THE TIME TO FAVOR ZION.
* BY REV. A. C. GAEBELEIN.
.. The set time to favor Zion is at hand. "-Psalms 102: 13.
Thousands of years ago, Moses, the illustrious leader of God's people, who had brought them out of Egypt, and led them through the wilderness, cried out after,having finished his prophetic song and blessing: "Happy art thou, 0 Israel; who is like unto thee, 0 people saved by the Lord?" It was the last recorded word of Moses. Yes, who is like unto thee, 0 Israel? What a wonderful history and exist- ence their's is! What a high place this nation holds in God's calling and eternal purposes. "This people have I formed for myself; they shall show forth my praise." (Isaiah 43: 21.) Israel is God's standing miracle. Look wherever you will in connection with Israel and you see a miracle. A miraculous origin in the birth of Isaac, a miraculous ruin and dispersion, miraculous chastisements, humiliation and preservation-it is all wonderful. Think of their unperishable nationality and ubiquity all over the globe, their great wealth, and the strange desolation of their own land. All this had been foretold by their own law and prophets.
What does the inspired apostle say of them, his own people? He says, "Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and service of God, and the promises." (Romans 9: 4). In his prophetic testimony concerning the future of Israel, Paul states in emphatic terms that "God hath not cast away His people." (Romans 11: 2.) Tho they have stumbled and God's righteous judgments have been their lot for so many generations, yet they are still His people." Furthermore, through their fall salvation came unto the Gentiles, and the divine record gives the glorious assurance that "if the fall of them be the riches of the world and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?" (Romans 11: 12.) Oh what a great blessing will yet come to this miserable, sin-laden world through a saved Israel. "In thy seed all nations of the world shall be blessed." Thus it was promised to Abraham, and has been already partly fulfilled in Christ, the Son of David, the Son of Abraham, the Son of God, but is to be again fulfilled when all the sons of Abraham, according to the flesh, accept their long-rejected brother and lay all their talents, gold and silver at His feet, who is King of the Jews and the Lord of Lords. "Salvation is of the Jews." The casting away of them was the reconciling of the world-the receiving of them will be life from the dead! And is there a future national conversion of • Superintendent of the Hope of Israel Mission, 128 Second St., New York City.
TID '1'0 "AVon ZI01
Israel promised by the true and living God? Yes. Israel is to be saved yet with an everlasting salvation-a nation to be born in a day and wonderfully restored to the land. " I will plant them upon their ,laud and they shall no more be pulled up out of their land which I have given them, saith the Lord." (A.mos 9: 15.) Hundreds and hundreds of passages could be quoted from Holy Writ showing what good things God has promised to Israel to be fulfilled in His own time. Paul reaches the climax in his 11th chapter to the Romans, when he says, "Blindness in part is happened to Israel until the ful- ness of the Gentiles be come in. A.nd so all Israel shall be saved. As it is written, There shall come out of Zion a Deliverer and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: for this is my covenant unto them when I shall take away their sins." (Romans 11: 25 to 27). Here, then, is the time and the means of their national salvation and restoration, the literal fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy so often spiritualized and claimed by the Gentile Church. National blindness of Israel does not cease til] the fulness of the Gentiles is come in, tho individual Jews can be saved, and are being saved, at this time. The Deliverer, even this same Jesus, who will come in all His splendor and majesty at the close of Jacob's greatest trouble, and who will find His brethren in Jerusalem storm-tossed and tried like Joseph's brethren in Egypt-is He who will turn away ungodliness from Jacob and remember their sins no more.
The question at once arises, how soon will God show again His mercy to Zion? Is the set time for Zion's favor at hand? Will the long, dark night of Israel's awful dispersion and misery soon end? There are many signs which justify us to answer these questions hopefully in the affirmative. The nineteenth century has been one of great missionary efforts and triumphs. The Lord has given an open door among the nations of the world; has then His own people been forgotten? No. Israel, the accursed fig tree, barren so long, is budding again, and by the touch of the Holy Spirit is showing signs of returning life. When Ezekiel saw the valley of dry bones representing Israel's awful national and spiritual condition, he was commanded twice to prophesy. First bone came to bone, and flesh was given to the reorganized bodies; then he prophesied again, and the mighty, rushing wind, the Spirit, came, and the once slain but reorganized bodies arose and lived before the Lord. Gradually the Jewish people have been coming to the front and attract the world's attention. In spite of all the bitter persecutions from all nations. they have increased and are now more numerous, wealthier, and more influential than ever before in their history. But what interests every Christian most is the fact that the Israel of to-day is in the midst . of a revival of nationalism, and that a good part of orthodox Judaism is being reacht by the Gospel of the Son of God. Both the national
18!J7.J THE TIME TO FAVOR ZION
and spiritual movements among the Jews are the result of the Holy Spirit.
The writer noticed fifteen months ago, while traveling in those countries of eastern Europe which are largely inhabited by Jews, how the Jewish face is set toward Palestine and Jerusalem. Said one old Jew in Roumania, "No more hope for us in Russia, no rest here in Roumania; the only hope is our land." He voices the sentiment of hundreds of thousands of Jews in eastern Europe. Different societies for colonization in Palestine have started, and are on the increase all over the world. '1any schemes for the repossession of the land have been advanced. Jewish State is the longing cry of even the less orthodox class. Behind the tottering throne of the unspeakable Turk, there looms up the vision of Palestine's destiny and restoration to its rightful owners. Jerusalem is already becoming more and more a Jewish Oity. We have been careful in investigating the different and much varying reports of the number of Jews living in the Holy Oity, and we do not hesitate to give the number of Hebrews living in and outside the city walls as 40,000. These have gathered from nearly all countries of the world. In the land itself there are 40,000 more, so that the total Jewish population of Palestine is about 80,000. It is a remarkable fact that with this restoration, which Itas been going on now for years, there came a return of fruitfulness to the barren land. Many Jews in New York Oity use to-day at festive occasions wines which were made in the Holy Land. What a wonderful sight is this nationai movement of orthodox Judaism I Still more astonishing is the fact that during this century Jesus has been accepted by many of God's ancient people as the true Mes- siah. The New Testament in Hebrew has been circulated in thousands of copies by different societies for Gospel work among the Jews. There can be no longer any doubt that the Holy Spirit is moving among the Jews, and the remnant according to the election of grace (Romans 11: 3), a first fruit of the nation is being gathered out now. Work for Israel started in England, which is yet in the lead by its many societies to acquaint Israel with their coming King. Joseph Rabinowitz, probably the most prominent Ohristian Jew of this cen- tury, has been a wonderful power for over ten years for the truth among his people in southern Russia. He is honored by his brethren, and we shall never forget the days we spent with him last year in Kishineff. Rabbi Lichtenstein, of Hungary, who has not severed his connection with the synagogue, represents another movement in Buda- Pesth. We found no difficulty whatever last year to converse with large numbers of Hebrews in towns and cities in Russia, Roun'lania, and Galicia, and found them open for the truth. Many,seemed to ask themselves, "After all, is not this Jesus of Nazareth our Messiah?" . We have already for several years sent to the East large quantities of
MISSION WORK IN THE BAlUIARY STATES
papers and tracts in jargon, publications of the Hope qf Israel Mission. We ·are therefore much in touch with the Jews in the above mentioned countries, aud know of several interesting and inspiring movements which have sprung up of late among them. In a city in Southern Russia, a Hebrew writes us that a number of Jews hold secret meetiugs for reading the New Testament. They have banded themselves together, and the writer begs for a supply of papers and tracts for his brethren. In Lodz, Poland, where the writer and also Mr. Stroeter preacht a number of times in a German church, a strong Jewish movement is now in progress, and the preaching services are attended by from 200 to 300 Jews. The pastor is asking for large quantities of our jargon monthly, the Hope of israel. In Warsaw, a city of over 200,000 Jews, Mr. Rosenzweig, who was baptized by the writer three years ago in this country, is being used by the Lord, and many inquirers and believers are gathering around him. In this country we experience no difficulty in getting a hearing wherever we go. With headquarters in New York we have reacht out to other cities, and find the Jews in our land willing and ready to listen to the leaders of the Hope of Israel Mission, who are both not converted Jews, but Gentile (German) preachers. Surely, the prayer, "Arise and have mercy upon Zion," is being answered to-day. The time to favor her, yea the set time, is coming nearer and nearer. Mayall those who love the Lord and His people, and especially who love His appearance, may they all pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
MISSION WORK IN THE BARBARY STATES.
BY EDWARD H. GLENNY, BARKING, ENGLAND.
It has often been askt how it was the primitive Church, which appeared to flourish so luxuriantly in the early centuries, was so totally extinguisht in the Barbary States. Several reasons may be given: One, that the churches were so divided and split up, that they were easily overcome by Mohammedanism; another, that they never appeared to have had the Scriptures in the vernacular Berber tongue, and further, the geographical fact that the Barbary States were practically an island, bounded on the north by the Mediterranean, on the west by the Atlantic, on the south by a desert more difficult to cross than the sea, and on the east by another desert across which there were only a few tracks. After the Mohammedan conquest the few professing Christians who were left in the Barbary States, were almost entirely cut off from their fellows in Europe, Asia, and Egypt. A few, however, did struggle on, and we find them writing a letter in 105lJ or 1054 to Pope Leo IX., askini for help. About 1074 Pope Gregory VII. wrote to the Moorish Sultan, interceding for the Christians. Some time further elapsed before the community thus severed from its fellows altogether died out.
In the days of the Crusaders profest Christians were as a rule too lacking in spirituality to attempt to evangelize the Saracens; their thought was to overcome them by the secular sword, rather than by the Sword of the Spirit. There was, however, one remarkable and interesting exception in the person of Raymond Lully. This (''hristian hero was born at Palma, in the island of Majorca, about 1235. He was of a rich and noble family, and held an honorable position in the court of the King of Aragon. He past the first part of his life in dissipation and worldly pleasures, but, when about 30 years of age, and the father of a family, he appears to have been converted, and renouncing the world, became a Franciscan friar. It then seems to have been laid on his heart to seek to convert the Mohammedans by persuasion instead of by force. To this end he studied Arabic and 'Turkish, and all the systems of philosophy, with a view to fitting him- self for his task. He said: "I see many knights who cross the sea on their way to the Holy Land, but come back without effecting their purpose. .It seems to me that the Holy Land can not be won in any other way than that whereby thou,O Lord Jesus Christ, and thy Holy Apostles won it, by love and prayer, and the shedding of tears and blood 1" Having provided for his wife and family, Lully visited Montpelier, Rome, Paris, and London, and altho kings and popes treated his spiritual crusade with mockery, he determined not to give up the effort, and in 1291 started alone for Tunis, when about 56 years of age. The Moslem teachers with whom he reasoned were less moved by his arguments, than by the earnestness of his character, but thinking that it might be dangerous to their faith to allow him to continue teaching Christian doctrines, proposed to put him to death, tho ultimately his sentence was reduced to banishment. In 1307, when over 70, he made a second attempt at Bougie, in Algeria, but was again banisht from the country. He then proposed to the Council at Vienna that missionary colleges should be founded in various places, and that a new order of religious knighthood should be establisht. His representations were so far successful, that Oriental professor- ships were founded at Paris and Oxford, and elsewhere. In 1314, when close upon 80, he went again to Bougie and instructed a little congregation who had become his disciples on his former visit. His favorite subject was, The J…ove of God revealed in Christ. He .urged with earnestness that whatever Moslems and Jews may teach of the love of God, it fell far short of the revelation of Christ's atonement. After a year of private work he made himself known, and as a result was stoned to death on June 30, 1315. Thus ended the first noble effort to re-evangelize North Africa. More than 500 years of Moorish oppression and piracy past before any further effort was made to reach these Moslems with the Gospel. After the French conquest in Algeria in 1830, the thought occurred to the Protestants of France, that they ought to seek to take the Gospel to these dark souls who were now subject to French rule, but the French government, fearing that such an effort might arouse Mohammedan fanaticism, forbade the work, with the result that further workers were sent to the Basutos of South Africa.
The next effort in these lands seems to have been made by Mr. Furness Ogle, a clergyman of the Ohurch of England. Having given up his charge, he went first of all to South America, in connection with the movement inaugurated by Allen Gardiner, but finding the climate too trying, he determined to visit Algeria. His efforts were mainly directed towards the Spaniards, but the Moors were not altogether neglected. He met with numerous difficulties in various directions, including French Roman Catholic rule under the Emperor Napoleon. After. seven years spent partly in Africa, and partly in Spain and England, this devoted man of God was wrecked and drowned on December 18th, 1865, with about 300 others, when crossing the Mediterranean. Few particulars of the last scenes are known, except that he stood with his Bible in his hand, calm in the midst of confusion. A French pastor who knew him said: "He was a man of heaven, a brother, a Ohristian of whom we were not worthy, and whom God has called to give him near to Himself a good and high place! "
The fourth effort to reach these lands was made by a London shipbroker, Mr. Wardlaw Scott, who had business dealings with the Morocco coast. He visited Morocco City, and through his influence a Mr. and Mrs. Hoskins went to Mogador with a view to reaching· the Moslems there. The cruelty and oppressio'n with which they became acquainted influenced Mrs. Hoskins' health, and before long the mission was abandoned.
In 1876 Mr. and Mrs. George Pearse, who had been laboring in France, visited Algeria with a view to circulating Scriptures and tracts amongst the French soldiers there. Whilst there, their attention was attracted by the Mohammedans, especially by the Kabyles, a branch of the aboriginal Berbers, who have peopled these lands for thousands of years. Having concluded the work in which they were engaged in Paris, at the suggestion of Mr. Grattan Guinness, who had himself visited Algeria, they re-visited the country in 1880, and while spending the autumn and following spring there, purchased a plot of land amongst the Kabyles to erect a mission house. At this time, without at all knowing what Mr. Pearse was doing, my own mind was directed to these lands, and, in the course of my inquiries, I was brought into contact with Mr. Pearse, and united with him and Mr. Guinness in establishing the mission to the Kabyles, which has since grown into the North African Mission. At this time there were no missions to the natives of the Barbary States, tho there were several pastors working amongst the French Protestants and missions to the Jews in Tunis, Algiers, and Mogador.
Since then other efforts have been inaugurated for making known the Gospel in these parts of North Africa. The British and Foreign Bible Society has establisht a regular agency in Algeria, and also in Morocco. They have now two agents and about ten colporteurs, but the amount of their sales is not at present very large. The French Wesleyans next began work amongst the Kabyles, and have now two missionaries and their wives at El Matin, not far from Bougie. Sev- eral independent workers, unconnected with any society, also took up work in Algeria.
In 1888, Mr. John Anderson, the editor of The Reaper, and now also the director of the Bible Training Institute, Glasgow, visited Tangier, and seeing something of the operations of the North African Mission, determined to assist in the work of evangelization. Ulti- , mat~ly he establisht the Southern Morocco Mission, which, at the present time, has 18 workers in that region. Several missionaries connected with the Gospel Union, associated with Mr. and Mrs. Bax- ter, of the Christian Herald, have taken up work in the regency of Tunis. Mr. Hermann Harris also entered upon work there, and lastly the World's Gospel Union, of Kansas, U. S. A., have sent out eight workers to Morocco.
The following is a tabular view of the missions in the Barbary States. The classification is not very easy in the less organized efforts: LIST OF MISSIONS, WITH NUMBER OF MISBIONARIBS.
1. E~rftAT:i:I~1!~~~~_~~~~~~: ~~~~~~~~~~__________________ 75 Southern Morocco Mission ___________________________ •__ _______ __ 18 Independent Missionaries ____ . ________ . ______ __ ____ __ ___ _______ __ 12 French Wesleyans______ ______ ____ __ ____ __ ________ ____ ____ ______ 4 World's Gospel Union, Kansas, U. S. A__________________________ 8 117 2. Enga~ mainly in work amongst Jews and Europeans: Var[aonuds msoismsieoDNs,oirnthclAudfrinicganBMibliessiSooncwieotyr'kseargse_n__ts__a_n_d___c_o_lp__o_r_te_u_r_s_, 40 3. Pastors to European Colonists______ ___ ______ _____ __ ______ _____ ____ 12557 182 Most of the pastors referred to are to be found in Algeria, and are supported by the French Government. They do not, as a rule, extend their labors beyond the nominal Protestants whom they represent. Spiritual life generally amongst this community is not flourishing.
Representatives of the Mildmay Mission to the Jews of London have traveled in North Africa, and in some cases resided there for a period. The London Jews Society has, for many years, carried on its operations in Tunis, where it has large schools under the superinten- dence of Mr. Fladd. They have also work in Mogador, Morocco, where they have a native missionary and colporteur.
There is a vigorous Gospel work amongst the Spaniards of Algiers, carried on by a Spanish pastor and some helpers, and supported by an English lady. The North African Mission has also a Spanish Mission in Tangier, under the superintendence of Mr. Patrick, and there are other laborers who are seeking the salvation of the colonists from Spain. The McAll Mission maintained work in Algiers among the French for some time, but has now given it up. It is, however, carried on by Mr. and Mrs. Borel, and is not without encouragement. The Bible Society's colporteurs labor amongst all classes, but their sales are mainly amongst Europeans.
The Mohammedans of the Barbary States number more than 12 millions, as against less than one million Europeans and Jews. It is to these Moslems that most of the missionaries have gone. Considering the difficulties that always prevail in Mohammedan lands, the progress made gives cause for much thankfulness. It is true, we have not here to face the interference of Turkish officials, except in Tripoli, but, on the other hand, the jealousy of the French Government has very considerably hampered the work in Algeria. Especially amongst the Berber hill tribes is there ground for hope. Many of these speak their own tongue, and are imperfectly or totally unacquainted with Arabic, which is the religious language of Mohammedans, as Latin is of Roman Catholics. From amongst them a few in Algeria and Morocco have been led to the Savior. One is now a useful colporteur in the employ of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and in Morocco there is an interesting work going on amongst the natives of the Atlas Mountains, of which it is not deemed expedient at present to give particulars. Amongst the Arabs, also, some have been led to Christ. Satisfactory as are the results, not much can be tabulated, but those who remember the condition of the country 15 years ago, and compare it with what it is now, feel there is great cause for encouragement. The attitude of the people is very much changed, especially in those neighborhoods where they have come in contact with the missionaries. This result has been largely brought about by the influence of the missionaries' lives, and by the kindness shown in the numerous med- ,ical missions. As an instance of this, I remember, years ago, being told by the people of one of the Kabyle villages that they would never give up Mohammedanism, that, tho we labored amongst them all our lives, it would be in vain, and tho our children came after us and labored all their lives, still they would never give up their faith. Ten years later, in the same village, some had been converted, and the older people said: "Yes, Christianity is a very good religion; we are too old to abandon Mohammedanism now, but very probably our chil- dren will become Ohristians." Years ago, we were told, that if ever a Moslem became a Ohristian, he would immediately be killed. To-day, men who were Moslems, but are now Ohristians, walk at large, and it is seen that, even tho they may be persecuted in minor ways, they are not seriously molested. In some parts they know that in centuries past their forefathers profest Ohristianity, and were compelled to become Moslems through fear. These people are specially willing to listen, and we anticipate a glorious harvest in the not far distant future.
The Gospels and the Acts are now publisht in the Kabyle language from translations made by Mons. Ouendet, a Swiss brother laboring in the North Africa Mission. Other portions are translated, and will in due course be printed and publisht. In Algeria it is found best to use the Roman characters; in Morocco, Arabic characters are used so far as the work has been carried on by Mr. Mackintosh.
,The Tuaregs, who inhabit the Sahara, are a most interesting peo- ple, tho so fierce and warlike, that it is very difficult to reach them. They alone of all the ancient Berber races have preserved their written characters. The women as well as the men are reported to read and write, and, strange to say, the women hold a position of respect in their families, which seems unknown in any other Moham- medan land. At present they are quite unreacht by the Gospel, but it is hoped before long to do something for them.
Though only three or four days journey from London, there are still very large regions in all these countries quite untoucht by mis- sionaries. In the province of Oonstantine, in eastern Algeria, for instance, there are one million and a quarter of Mohammedans, with only a missionary and his wife and three other ladies to work among them. In Tripoli, only the city is occupied; the whole of the remainder of the country is untoucht.
The opposition of the French has made it necessary to close some of the mission stations, and in the province of Oran, with nearly one million of natives, there are at present only two ladies working among them. While, therefore~ there is cause for thankfulness on account of the progress that has been made, it is necessary to pray earnestly for an increast number of laborers, increast liberty, and, above all, for more of the power of the Spirit of God in the hearts of His servants and upon the consciences of those who hear.
What hath God wrought? The political power of Mohammedan- ism in North Africa is broken, the political barriers which prevented the Gospel entering have been broken down. It now remains for the Ohurch of Ohrist to go forward, not with carnal weapons, but with spiritual, and gather out from these long-deluded Mohammedans a people for the Lord.
METHODS AND RESULTS OF loIISSION8 IN BGYPT
METHODS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS IN EGYPT.
BY REV. ANDREW WATSON, D.D., CAIRO, EGYPT.
Mission work in Egypt is carried on at the present: (1) By a small Holland society, which has only one foreign missionary, whose work is restricted to two small places about eight miles north of Cairo, in which there are schools and evangelistic meetings. (2) By the North African Mission, which, a few years ago, sent missionaries to labor in the Delta among Moslems. Their labors are confined, for the most part, to Alexandria, and consist in teaching a small girls' school, in reading to and teaching patients, in attending the clinic, in holding conversations with persons in their homes and shops, and in occasional tours to the villages by means of the river and large canals. (3) By the Church Missionary Society, whose missionaries conduct mission work at three points in Cairo and the suburbs. In connection with this society there is a medical department with a new hospital at Old Cairo in a most needy district. There are also schools for boys and girls, and divine service on the Lord's Day and on other days. (4) The American United Presbyterian Mission, with which the writer is connected, commenced work in Cairo about the beginning of December, 1854, and is carrying on, at the present time, educational or evangelistic work, or both, in 197 places. The native Egyptians among whom mission work is carried on are, for the most part, either Moslems or Copts. The proportion of the former to the latter is about ten to one. The local government is Mohammedan. The customs and habits of the people are Mohammedan. Even the so-called Christians and Jews have, to a .large extent, adopted the sociology of the Moslems. Friday is the weekly day of rest, and Moslem holidays are those kept by the government. The treatment of women in the home is practically the same with the Copt and the Moslem. The opinion that they are naturally inferior to the men, and were created for the men's pleasure, ease, or profit is almost universal. Ignorance of the way of salvation is nearly the same among Copts who have not been subject to Protestant influences, as among the Moslems. The former know Christ as the son of Mary, but of salvation by the grace of God, through belief in a crucified Savior, of regeneration by the Holy Spirit, of Christian life in Christ, and the indissoluble connection betwee,u. true faith and a pure life of obedience, they seem as ignorant as the followers of Mohammed. Bearing the name of Christians, and being the lineal descendants of the primitive church of Christ in Egypt, the Copts are dear to us. We look upon them much as Paullookt upon the Jews as the lost sheep of the house of Israel, and it is our heart's desire and prayer to God that they may be saved. They have a zeal, but it is not according to knowledge. They are seeking for righteousness by fasting, by repeating psalms, by keeping feasts~ by building churches, but they do not seek it where it is to be found. They, like the Mohammedans, are sinners needing a Savior. The missionary work is to tell them of Him who is the pro- pitiation for the sins of the whole world-Mohammedan, corrupt Ohristian, heathen-and has issued to the Ohurch the great commis- sion: "Go ye into all the world and preach the Gospel to every crea- ture."
METHoDs.-The methods employed in conducting mission work are various. Itineracy, education, book distribution, Sabbath-schools, house visitation.
ltineracy.-Much was done in this line of work in the carly history of our mission. In those days the railway extended, only as far south as Oairo, and, therefore, the only means of easy communication with places south of Oairo was the Nile. As the Nile valley is compara- tively narrow, only occasionally being more than ten miles wide and often less, it was apparent to the older missionaries that most towns could be reacht with comparative ease from the river. So they pur- chased a Nile boat (the Ibis 'Ie), and made in it annual and often semi- annual visits, either to the north or to the south of Oairo. On these occasions the missionary on board took along with him a supply of Scriptures and other religious books. These books he sold on the boat or hawkt in the towns and villages. A resting-place was often found in the court of a Ooptic church or in a Ooptic school, or in some little shop. At these places books were sold, discussions held, questions askt and answered, and the Scriptures read, while invitations were given to visit the boat and attend the service in the evening, which was short, simple, intended to set forth the sinners' needs, and God's provision to supply them. Hundreds of villages were thus visited year by year, and seed sown, that grew and brought forth fruit to the glory of God. Subsequently, when a system of colportage was establisht for all Egypt, the sale of the Scriptures, etc., by the mission- ary was given up, and he restricted his labors to religious conversa- tions, and preaching with especial reference to the edification of the small nuclei of evangelicals, who, sometimes in spite of excommunica- tion and persecution, and sometimes, in consequence of them, met together at various places for prayer and the reading of the Word. As the number of native workers increast, and the field was appor- tioned between them, the necessity for itineracy by the foreign mis- sionary became less imperative. A system of volunteer visitation was devised by :pro Hogg, and carried out by the regular native workers.
'. By this plan the enlightened young men, and sometimes the middle- • Still doing service for Christ. aged, too, went out to the surrounding villages on Sabbath afternoons and read and talkt with whomsoever they met. In many places this system oontinues to this day, and has been the means of great good to those visiting and those visited. Many places have been opened in this way, and many have been brought to a knowledge of the truth and to a saving trust in the Lord. At the present time there are under the direction of the Egyptian Presbytery about 65 native workers. At the centers, as well as at the other places where they reside, nightly meetings are conducted throughout the year, as well as public worship and Sabbath-sohools on the Lord's day. In the absence of the regular worker at the other villages in his district, services are conducted by the teacher or by some brother recognized as best qualified to profit the hearers. These nightly meetings for singing, praying, and conference are generally held six times every week, and at present in 143 places, with an average attendance of 4,441, which, when we remember that the membership on Dec. 31, 1896, was only 5,355, is not a bad showing. These meetings, I think, form a special feature of religious work in Egypt, and have been one of the chief means of reaching the unbelievers, and edifying believers. I know many centers in which they have been continued for from ten to fifteen years.
Education.-This method of work has been used from the beginning. The reasons for it are various. In some places the opening of a school secured an entrance into a town ltnd a hearing among its inhabitants, when other means failed. Through the children the missionary gets access to the parents and other members of the family. Through the children a copy of the Scriptures finds its way to the homes, and is read, often aloud at first, to show how the son or daughter is learning to read. Through teaching. the children the number of those able to read the Scriptures and other religious books -is increast. The school-house affords a plaoe for a meeting of the adults to study God's Word, to sing God's praise, and to call upon Him for His blessing. Through the schools general knowledge is diffused, superstitions removed, bigoted opposition overcome. No fact is more potent than this, that the children educated in mission schools, whether they are of Mohammedan parentage or Coptic, are generally well-disposed toward the missionaries, often their sincere friends, and though they may not profess publicly their belief in the doctrines of our evangelical faith, they are no longer impelled by bigoted opposition to the truth, and often, in many ways, so conduct themselves toward the missionaries as to convey the impression that they wish them aU success. But the great reason for encouraging' education and employing this method of carrying out in spirit the great commission, is to secure thereby trained, intelligent, and pious workers.
Our veterans, now resting from their labors, saw from the beginning that the evangelization of Egypt could never be accomplisht by foreign missionaries alone, nor by them chiefly. Very early in the history of the American mission they saw the necessity of training natives to be workers for Christ in this land. To secure this end there must be, first, primary schools, where, from the earliest years, the principles and practices of our holy religion would be taught, and where habits and customs so numerous and so utterly inconsistent with the Christianity of God's Word would be rooted up. Then the higher schools, where the elements of the sciences would be learned, seemed also necessary, in order to meet the questions continually arising from contact with resideuts and travelers from the West. Then, too, the theological school for the special training of those young men who, after passing through the primary schools and academy, were moved to consecrate their lives to the service of Christ and the salvation of sinners. The primary schools, numbering now about 156, with an attendance of about 8,000 pupils, have only a nominal connection with the mission, and are, for the most part, parochial schools in connection with the congregations, or under the supervision of intelligent natives, and mostly at the expense of the natives themselves. The others are the higher schools, including the college at Asyut, in which the main object is the superior training of workers for the evangelization of Egypt. Of course, many are trained who seek employment in government and in the various branches of business; but without these training institutions, we could not have the workers whom we so much need.
The distribution of books.-Perhaps more than any other mission in the East we have used this means of reachiug the people with the Gospel. I am certain, too, that it has been greatly blest. The whole of the Nile valley, from Alexandria up to the first cataract, is now divided among 26 colporteurs, who are constantly plying their vocation, carrying along every street, and into every village and town, copies of the Scriptures in the language of the people, and many other books, such as "The Pilgrim's Progress," "Baxter's Call to the Unconverted," "'rhe Work of the Spirit," "The Only Way," and controversial books on "Mohammedanism and Romanism, aud Copticism," etc. This arm of the mission service imposes heavy burdens on the missionary directing the shopmen and colporteurs, and keeping a strict account of their sales, as well as keeping up the stock by purchases from places far and near, but I believe the good result abundantly compensates for all the outlay of time and labor. The number of volumes of Scriptures and parts put in circulation, and, for the most part, sold by the mission since its commencement, is 248,486, and of other books, either religious or educational, a much greater number. Until recently our mission has been the only means of supplying the people throughout the Nile valley with books of an evangelizing and purifying character, and it believes its work in this depart- ment has been a great blessing to many. Much more needful is this department here than our Church Boards of Publication at home. Outside of the two cities of Cairo and Alexandria no one can find a place in Egypt in which to purchase a Bible, or any religious book, except from the book-stores and colporteurs of the mission.
House-to-h01.tse visiting by the lady missionaries is an important method of reaching the women, and is used successfully in several large cities and towns in which foreign missionaries reside. They also employ, and superintend the teaching work of nearly 50 native workers, whose time is spent in giving religious instruction to women in their homes. In no other way can many women be reacht by the Gospel, and, tho this method of seeking opportunities for obeying the great commission is laborious, and attended with much that is hard on human nature to bear, yet it has proved very stimulating to those who have begun the Christian life, and very useful in bringing hearers to the public religious meetings.
REsuLTs.-There are many in Egypt, who, tho they have little sym- I pathy with the evangelistic department of the mission work, do not hesitate to ascribe to the mission the impetus given to the cause of education, and the diffusion of a healthy literature. Excepting Cairo and Alexandria, there were, in 1854, no government schools in the country, and no schools where anything beyond simple reading and writing were taught. Indeed, there was almost no desire for education. When the mission opened schools iu the villages, instruction was given gratuitously, and the parents considered they were doing a favor by sending their children to the mission schools. The missionaries, in their daily contact with the people, urged them to educate their children, and induced them to do so by showing them the advantages to be derived, both moral and material. Gradually schools were establisht throughout the country, more especially in the Upper Country, some of them independent, some by the Oopts and Catholics to oppose the mission schools, until now the provincial towns have their highclass government schools, and the' Copts and Catholics vie with the Protestants in encouraging education. The greater part of the pupils now pay tuition, from 25 cents to $5, a month, according to the number of languages and sciences studied. The number of readers, and the desire for knowledge have greatly increast, as may be seen from the number of daily, weekly, and monthly papers which are issued. In 1854 there was one newspaper in Alexandria and another in Cairo, but no one was seen selling them on the streets. Now there are many dailies, both in Alexandria and Cairo, and the weeklies and monthlies are still more numerous, while ~he hawkers of newspapers seem as numerous and persistent as in the West. Everywhere, in the cafes and shops, at the doors of private houses, at the stations of the railways, and places of public concourse, venders and readers of the newspapers can be seen. I do not pretend that this is the result of the mission alone, but I have no hesitation in saying that it has had a large share in bringing about this state of things, and in carrying on these evidences of growing civilization, as may be proved by looking at the present personnel of those who edit and publish the best papers in the country.
2. Next there are the converts to Christianity, those who have left the faith of their fathers and mothers and joined the mission com- munities by public profession of their faith in a personal Savior. There are at present about 5,500, not counting those who have died in the faith. While we can not assert that all these are true followers of the Lamb, seeking to glorify Him in their daily walk, still we are sure that many of them give good evidence of the reality of their conversion. Some who commenced well have fallen away, and others are tares that can not be rooted up; but enough remain faithful to encourage the workers, and to show that the Gospel is still the power of God and the wisdom of God unto salvation. Comparatively few of these are from among the followers of the false prophet, perhaps sixty all told in the history of our mission, and one or two in the others.
3. The gathering and organization of a native church for the pre- servation and extension of the kingdom of Christ and the salvation of souls. To save souls has not been the only aim of the mission. It has also had in view the establishing of a native evangelical church, having the power of the Spirit for its own preservation and develop- ment. There are at present 40 organized churches, with their bench of elders and deacons and 23 native pastors. These pastors, with an elder, meet in Presbytery with the ordained missionaries, and take an active part in all the business connected with the 143 stations at which religious services are held more or less statedly. There are besides, under the direction of Presbytery already mentioned, 21 licenciates who have finisht their theological studies, 10 local preachers who are employed in religious work all the year, and 9 theological students for 5 months. These, in addition to 272 teachers, the great majority of whom have not made public profession of their faith in Christ as their personal Savior, may be reckoned among the results of the mission work in Egypt. Add to these the contributions of the native churches and communities for religious purposes, amounting to over *16,000 in 1896. These results, altho far from reaching what should have been teacht had the workers always been faithful, and the people realized their duty and acted in accordance therewith, yet they afford reasons for gratitude to Him who has promist that His word shall not return to Him void, and encouragement to the workers to be more, earnest and devoted in the future. THE OUTLOOK.-With the experience of the past, with the large number of foreign and native laborers now on the field, with the occupation of so many central points, with the large number of evangelical books in the hands of the people, and with the beneficent and religious work carried on in Alexandria, Tanta, Benha, Cairo, and Asyut by Christian physicians filled with the Spirit of the Great Physician, we would expect to see the kingdom of God extend rapidly and the number of believers greatly multiplied in the near future, and we have no little assurance and hope that this will be the case. Certainly there is great reason for encouragement to go forward in obedience to the Master's call; but I can not conceal the fact that I do not see a perfectly clear sky before us.
1. The leading Moslems everywhere are against us, and in secret use their influence to prevent the establishment of Protestant institutions, the spread of Christian principles, and the enjoyment of equal rights and privileges. The social proscription of converts from Islam is just as strong as ever. Books and pamphlets against Christianity are openly publisht and circulated, while the" powers that be;" tho nominally Christian, deprecate any attempt to publish replies, ou the plea of fear of disturbing the public peace. The principles of justice and liberty are often disregarded to please the Mohammedan majority. This being seen by them, only strengthens the feeling of their own importance as compared with non-Moslem sects.
2. The large number of Oopts educated in our schools, but unregenerated by the Spirit of God, have united in an effort to enlighten and civilize their own people. While they acknowledge their obligation to the mission for the education they have received, and the stimulus given along the lines of civilization, they have little or no sympathy with us in our desires to lead sinners to the Savior and teach the pure Gospel. They are establishing schools on their own account, and generally at places where there are flourishing mission schools, and by giving higher wages to teachers, and offering better terms to the pupils, and appealing to racial prejudices, they are doing not a little to break np the work of the mission, while they do nothing to evangelize their pupils.
3. Our own work has advanced to the stage of progress when some of the native converts naturally begin to think they can stand alone, and are becoming restive under the direction of the missionaries. We are, indeed, glad to see the spirit of a Christian manhood and independence developing; and if it showed itself in all lawful directions, at least in the more important directions, we would rejoice. But it shows itself more in wishing to control than in contributing, more in material things than in spiritual, and too often by those having the least wisdom and spiritual power.
The missionaries need the spirit of prudence and wisdom to guide
lIISSIONS TO THE JEWS IN PALES'rINE
them in doing their part to develop a vigorous, spiritual, and evangelizing native church in Egypt; for with a people consecrating themselves and their worldly means to the Lord, and a native ministry free from the spirit of the hireling, and burning with the desire to save souls, great results would soon be manifest.
THE GREAT NEED.-The great need at present here as everywhere, is the outpouring ofthe Spirit. Knowledge has been largely diffused, congregations have been organized, schools establisht, mission agencies of various kinds set in motion all through the land. What is wanting is the Spirit in mighty pentecostal power upon all. Lord, open the windows of heaven and give us this blessing I MISSIONS TO THE JEWS IN PALESTINE.
BY ERNEST W. GURNEY MASTERMAN, F.R.C.S., F.R.G.S.
A peculiar romance attaches itself to the idea of trying to bring the knowledge of Ohristianity to the Jews in their ancient land. From the first establishment of English missions to the Jews in the present century the idea of making Jerusalem the point of special aggression filled the minds of the originators, and so we find Jewish mission work begun among the Jews of Jerusalem as early as 1823. But ifromance points to Palestine as a land of special interest, practical work daily shows that it is likewise a land of special difficulties. These difficulties, too, do not in any degree diminish as time goes on. The powers wielded by the rabbis in the large communities, and by the managers of the recently organized" colonies" in the country districts, are bitterly opposed to all Ohristian effort and, it must be admitted, make it exceedingly difficult to carryon evangelistic effort as it should be. lt is scarcely ever possible for a Jew to candidly examine Ohristianity before throwing in his lot with the Ohristian missions. A little visiting of missionaries' homes, an occasional attendance at some service, and he is at once cut off from his community and friends. In European and American communities the Jews can neither watch each other so closely, nor have so many opportunities of persecuting the inquirer. In the Holy Land the community is practically self-governing, the Ohief Rabbi in Jerusalem being directly under the Sultan. The power thus swayed over the individual members of the community is consequently enormous, and were it not for eternal divisions and jealousies between its different sections, they certainly could make Palestine missions to the Jews well-nigh impossible. .
The Jewish population of Palestine proper may be put in round numbers at about 50,000.* Three-fifths of this number live in and around Jerusalem, and the remainder chiefly at Safed, Yebenes, Jaffa, and Hebron. Some 3,000 or so are scattered on the coast towns (Gaza, Acre, Haifa, Tyre, and Sidon) and throughout the country. There are indeed no towns and few large villages without some Jews -it may be one or two families only. Then another 3,000 or so must be settled in the recently started jewish agricultural" colonies."
The Jews in the four sacred cities, Jerusalem, Hebron, Safed, and Tiberias, are largely immigrants, and a considerable proportion receive Haluka, or a pension from their co-religionists .in Europe. As many of these Jews have come to the Holy Land in failing health, to spend on sacred soil their declining years it is only fair they should . have some such source of support. Since the community has so largely increased in the past 15 years, the Haluka has had to be divided among an ever-increasing number, and consequently there has been less for each individual. The Haluka, being left in the hands of the leading rabbis for distribution, affords a good means for bringing to book any. family that has a son or daughter being drawn aside by the "enticers," i. e., the missionaries. A dutiful son must hesitate when he sees that his religious inquiries are about to reduce his family to beggary by causing their pension to be stopped. As may be supposed ~he Haluka is not enough for all, and so we find the poorer Jews in every part of the land in all kinds of trades: watr.hmakers, tailors, bookbinders, carriage drivers, pedlars, etc., and contrasted with the habits of the natives, they are diligent, clever and successful.
In Jerusalem the community has long ago overflowed the narrow limits allowed to them within the ancient walls, and now groups of houses havll sprung up on all sides, so that far more Jews live outside than inside the old city limits. The new groups of houses are usually known as "colonies "-each group being built and administered by a committee. One of the largest of such colonies is that built by Sir Moses Montifiore some years ago. It has come to .be one of the best known from its situation close to the new railway station at Jerusalem. These" colonies" must not be confused with the true agricultural "colonies," which have lately risen in such numbers in the land. These last have a very different purpose. They exist to train Jews to agricn4tural pursuits and to eventually demonstrate to the world the possibility of the Jews successfully living upon the land of their forefathers. They are the outcome of the now much talked of "Zionist" movement and the success which has attended at any rate some of them, has no doubt given a very great impulse to this movement. One of the most extraordinary misstatements about the land of Pales- tine is that recently made in the London Times, t professedly q lOted • Without Beyrout and Damascus, which would add another 15,000.
t Sept., 1897.
"COLONY" OF POOR JEWS, )fEAR
JEWISH "COLONIES" OU'l'SIDE THE WALLS OF JERl;SALEM.
lIlISSIONS TO THE JEWS IN PALESTINE
from the Chief Rabbi of London, viz., that Palestine is a dry, sandy waste, and already overpopulated. Now the colonies have clearly demonstrated, first, that the land in all parts yields a ready harvest to patient toil, and second, that the present unfruitful and sterile condition of this once rich land is due to want of cultivation. Let the land once be replanted with fruit-giving trees, let it be irrigated, let the terraces on the mountain sides and the ancient cisterns on all the hills be repaired, and the land may once again be describad. in Eastern imagery as "flowing with milk and honey." It would be beyond the purposes of this paper to enter into a full description of these colonies, but briefly it may be mentioned that about 150 square miles of territory has now been acquired for colonizing purposes, and that now, after a considerable expenditure of capital in original outlay, some of these are becoming really self-supporting. Upwards of a dozen colonies are now in full working order in Judea-two (includ- ing the largest colony of all Samaria) in Samaria, six in Galilee, and two in the Hauran. The houses are built on European models; exten- sive gardens, including often pleasure grounds, are laid out and when necessary, modern carriage roads have been made. It is possible to drive in carriages to all the colonies, including even the new ones in the Hauran; roads of upwards of 40 miles have only last year been made to connect with the railways and other colonies.
The healthy farm life is developing a race of stalwart agriculturists of very different physique from their ancestors of the European "ghetto." 'l'he sultan, evidently alarmed at the" Zionist" movement, is passing more and more stringent laws excluding Jews, and is making it increasingly difficult to acquire land. On the whole, it is probably much better that what has been done on a small scale should consolidate, and its lessons be learned before further ventures are made. Should, however, the Jews become united in their desire for acquiring Palestine, and should the wealthier ones come to the front with the funds, there is not the slightest doubt as to the feasibility of their repopulating its neglected areas, and transforming in a few years the whole land into a scene of fertility and plenty. All this, however, would, I fear, not make mission work easier~at least along its present lines. The colonies under Rothschild are quite inaccessible to any missionary efforts other than hurried visits, and even medical missions do not find much room for entrance, for good medical men and dis- pensaries are provided in all the larger cities.
The Jews of Palestine, as might be supposed, are from many lands, and speak many languages, but they have a common mode of com- munication among themselves in Hebrew. Judea-German and Judea- ,Spanish are the common languages of the Judean Jewish cities; but both Arabic and French are largely being introduced. Persian, Georgean, Turkish, and Mugleralin Arabic are also much used in Jerusalem. Great efforts are being made in some of the Jewish centres-and notably at Safed-to reintroduce Hebrew as a common daily language. The MISSIONARY SOCIETIES working among the Jews of Palestine are: 1. The London Society f())' the Promotion of CkriBtianitll amwng the J6'/JJ8, a Church of England society, and the tirst Jewish society to work in the country. Their permanent stations are Jerusalem, Safed, Jaffa, and Damascus. They also visit Hebron and other smaller centres by itinerating tours. They employ six ordained and four medical missionaries, and a staff of about thirty lay helpers. Several of the clergy and more than half the lay helpers are proselytes.
2. TlUJ Free Church of Scotland has stations at Tiberias and Safed. The European staff consists of one minister, one ordained and one unordained medical missionary; two lady nurses, and about eight native helpers.
3. The Bilhop of Jerusalem has a small work in Jerusalem and a station at Haifa. The bishop employs his chaplains (generally two or three), one native medical missionary, five or six European ladies, and a few native teachers.
Altho not actually in Palestine proper, yet near enough to be associated with this work, I may mention the station of the Eatooliiht Church of Scotland, in Beyrout, especially noticeable for its large and successful Jewish schools.
There are several small independent missions also, such as that of the Rev. Brother Oliel in Jerusalem, and of Mr. Joseph in Haifa.
The methods employed by all these missions consist of schools (both children's and technical), working meetings, classes in English, medical missions, and services. ~'hese last-mentioned are put last, because apart from some special means of gathering an audiencesuch as those mentioned before-they are not very successful. Openair services in the Turkish dominions are practically impossible. The medical mission hospitals and dispensaries, working meetings, magiclantern entertainments, school treats, etc., all, however, aflord opportunities for preaching the Gospel.
Of the schools, those for boarders, and of the medical missions, those with hospitals, are undoubtedly the most successful in every way. Boarding-schools for Jewish boys and girls exist in Jerusalem, and hospitals for Jewish in-patients in Jerusalem, Haifa, Tiberias, and Safed.
The new medical mission hospital at Jerusalem, under the London society, is a magnificent building, and probably for its size one of the finest medical mission hospitals in the world. It is built in the pavillon system, with every modern appliance. Unfortunately the Jews are making every effort to prevent its usefulness by preventing their co-religionists from attending, and by providing other hospitals and gratuitous medical advice. It is natural that .fanaticism should run highest in Israel's holy city. Indeed, this is the open reason for the present organized opposition.
As regards results, it must be confest there is much to discourage. The amount of temporal good done is great. Direct good by healing
CHURCH AND STATE IN RUSSIA
the sick, educating the ignorant, teaching of trades, the introduction of many Western things and ideas, and indirect good by the stirring up of a spirit of emulation, whereby the Jews of Europe have been shamed into helping their poorer coreligionists in Palestine. More important, too, undoubtedly a widespread knowledge of many of the great ideas of Christianity has now taken the place of utter ignorance and misunderstanding. To many of the Jews from Russia, etc., their old idea of our sacred religion must have been that it was 8 dense superstition, whose leading tenet was persecution of all who did not agree with it. Now thousands have come to understand that the religion of Christ is one of love, and a knowledge of the life of our Lord and of the New Testament is widely diffused.
There are, of course, baptisms yearly-perhaps an average of nearly twenty-and not a few who have learned the truth in this land have been received into the Christian Church in lands where there is greater religious liberty.
It .must be admitted, however, that if the number of baptisms were the only criterion of success, then compared with many other lands, Palestine is not a successful field. We, however, who are working here, believe that that is a false test, and that, in spite of the special difficulties, this, the land of Israel's past and of her future, is a land in which it is well worth while, and in which it is our bounden duty to try to plant the Banner of Israel's Messiah.
OHUROH AND STATE IN RUSSIA.-IL BY VLADIMIR SOLOVIEF.
From the beginning of the Muscovite epoch, Christianity lost its universal quality in the consciousness of the Russian people; it was changed into a religious attribute of the Russian nation. The Church ceast to be an independent social body; it amalgamated itself with the national empire and accommodated itself entirely to its political task and historical nature. Everyone who is acquainted with Russian history and with our present condition will recognize the truth of this.
The late Mr. Katkof often referred to it as to our principle of historical superiority. I allow myself to quote another more competent testimony, not on account of its great authority (which is not even necessary if the fact be clear) but because never before has the original cause of our clerical-imperial polity been shown with such plainness, eloquence, and historical truth. In his work "Ohurch and State, a reply to Count Leo Tolstoi," Nikanor Archbishop of Kherson and Odessa, writes as follows : " It is known why and how the Church and State met in Russia. • • • Our forefathers, freedom-loving nomads, having lived on their broad soil perhaps for thousands of years, decided to renounce their freedom and to call Varagian princes to their country; they told them 'Our soil is broad and habitable, but there is no order in the land; come hither and reign over us.' Thus the empire took its rise. But this first empire had neither a personal nor a local center. Rurik lived in Novgorod, but Oleg prefered Kief, and Sujatoslar set his mind on Bulgaria. The most important fact was that Rurik and his brothers did not bring with them the imperial principle, but the family and hereditary principle; which dismembered rather than united the Russian people. Then began the beneficent mission of the Holy Orthodox Church for the Russian nation and empire. We will not enter into details, but only name the principal traces of this clerical-imperial mission.
" The Orthodox Church brought with it to Russia the idea of , Grand Dukes,' as having been ordered of God; they were to be governors, rulers, and highest judges of the subjugated nations. This idea did away with the Varagian-Slavonic idea of the duke-a bold leader of the yeomen, over whom he reigns with fire, iron, and wood. The Church brought from Byzantium the idea of empire, setting aside the Varagian idea-that soil and people belonged to the dukes, and could be dismembered by them as personal possessions. The Church confirmed the unity of the national self-consciousness/ it bound the people through the one unity of faith to the one heavenly Father, to whom they prayed in one language, which from this time remained for all Slavonic tribes the one native and holy language. The Church created first one and then another sanctuary for the people in Kief and in Moscow; there it fixt the dwelling of the all-1tniting imperial power through their blessings, prayers, and the 'concentration of the clerical state. The Church brought to Russia the civilization, imperial laws and regUlations of the Byzantin Empire concerning rank. The Church alone collected together the small Russian principalities, which were even more divided than the old Slavonic tribes. From the beginning the Church had gathered together the Russian people, princes, towns, countries, crushed under the Mongolian yoke. The Church made out of the weak Muscovite prince a grand duke and more-a Tzar. The Byzantine idea of autocracy was thus transplanted to Russia. The Church bestowed the anointing oil of the old Greek Orthodox monarchs upon the Tzar of Moscow and all Russia. The consequence of this was that the Orthodox Faith united the Russians into a national unity, subject only to the will of the " , Anointed of the Lord.' "
Thus speaks the holy Nikanor. The spiritual powers of the Rus- sian people, represented by the Church, in accordance with this true picture, therefore devoted them to one historical task, the creation and strengthening of the absolute monarchy. We know how necessary this task was. In the Muscovite epoch the national political task demanded such great all-devouring measures, that for the conscious- ness of the people all other aims were shut out; the high principles of Christian universalism were forgotten, and their practical view of the world took on a heathenish character. The process of solidifying the State was a historical necessity, but it was united with deep abnormal events in the life of the people and led to spiritual degeneration. One should look upon the development of our national organism in the Muscovite epoch as on a tedious dangerous illness of growth. For example, one does not see in the reign of Ivan IV. the expression of a sound social life ; nor can. one see in such a God-fearing Tzar, who kills his bishop unhindered, a normal expression of the clerical-imperial circumstances. This illness of growth reacht its climax in the seventeenth century, and then followed the definite change. In the reign of Alexis Michavilvitch the principal aim of this unhealthy proces!:! was attained. Thanks to uniting Ukrania and Little Russia with the Muscovite Empire, both the extremes of the Russian nation were soldered together, and the name of Tzar and Autocrat of all the Rp.ssias was no longer a mere title. At this time also, in Moscow, the absolute monarchy, after a hard struggle, overcame the belated pretensions of a barren clericalism (affair of the patriarch Nikon) as well as an uncultured people's premature strivings after religious liberty (affair of old ritualism).
We know that the creation of the absolute monarchy in Russia was the work of the Church. As Nikanor says: it "brought up" the Muscovite Empire, amI this was its historical task. But how can the foster-father emulate his grown-up fosterchild? Having performed his duty, should he not withdraw? But in the name of the clerical power, the patriarch Nikon sought to destrcy abruptly the very thing npon which that power had workt successfully for many centuries. In Russia, the clericalism which inspired Nikon was but an abstract doctrine, without any historical ground to it. By confirming its spiritual power as an unconditional independent principle, and by placing it apart from and above the State and people, he provoked both State and people. There were in Russia no common elements upon which he could rely for the realization of his idea. Being obliged to look out for a support outside of Russia he applied to Byzantium, the source of our ecclesiastical system. He attackt Russian nationalism and set up against it Greek nationalism. "By birth, I am a Russian, but by education and faith a Greek," says he. These words prove the untenability of his enterprise. The~e was no necessity why the Russian people should change their native heathendom for another-the" Russian faith " for the" Greek faith." "Greek faith" might help Nikon in his work of correcting the errors in the books, but not in that of emancipating the Church from the State. The preponderance of the secular power over the clerical, against which Nikon fought, was but the repetition of what had taken place much earlier in Byzantium. The abstract-minded Nikon could only hope for aid from the Tzar-devoted Greeks against the Tzar himself. Nikon was handed over to his enemies and judged by the eastern hierarchy for conspiracy against the State. Only then Nikon saw in what relation the Greek faith stood to his clerical ideal. The Metro- politan of Kazan, Paissi Ligarid, explained to him that on the imperial armorial bearings, which Moscow had received from Byzantium, are the two heads of the Roman eagle. These are to signify two princip~l powers which in the same measure belong undividably to the autocrat, viz.: the power over the Empire and over the Ohurch, the administra- tion of secular and clerical affairs;-from this follows, that the Ortho- dox Tzar, and he alone possesses the fullness of power on earth, and that above him is none but God.
In this way the fundamental fact of our history was confirmed in a clear and simple formula, and was elevated to the height of an unconditional principle; Greek patriarchs presided over the council in Moscow (1667), and solemnly confirmed the notion of the Ohurch, as a function of the imperial organism. The council had with logical ,inalterability to condemn Nikon as well as the old ritualists, viz., in the one case from the clerical idea of the Ohurch as an independent and supreme spiritual power, and in the other case from the national democratic idea of the Ohurch as bound to the orthodox Russian people, which inalterably guarded the traditions of their homes. One can find sound ideal elements as well in the hierarchic protest of Nikon as in the democratic protest of the old ritualists against an official church. But it is plain that a practical result of this protest was neither possible nor desirable. It is clearly evident under what new arbitrary power the barren clericalism would bring the lives of the people. So far as the old ritualistic movement with its negative truth in relation to the official Ohurch was concerned, it was essentially the extreme expression of the heathen degeneracy into which Russia relapsed during the Muscovite epoch. The acknowleqgment of the unconditional inalterability of the local and temporal tradition, annihilated Ohristian universalism and Ohristian progress. In this, old ritualism showed its practical untenability. It confirmed itself as the national Russian Ohurch; that means the highest religious form of the national unity. But soon it transpired that the Russian people (in an important majority) saw the thing in another light. It chose for its bond not the religious, but the political form of unity; it declared itself not as a church, but as au empire. Who, amongst our people, knows anything about a Russian Ohurch, the patriarchs, etc.? But everybody knows and understands what are the Russiau Empire aud the Tzar. By wishing to represent Russian nationality in its unity, old ritualism became but a religious sect ;-instead of uniting Russia, it became subject to many a subdivision. – Translated by Nr$. A. S. Howe.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Specifio Dona.tions. Do They Help or Dr. Hardie's putting of the argument for specific work by specific persons is Hinder? substantially that which underlies all the attempts of the Student Volunteers In a communication from Dr. Hardie, in the several institutions, to support a whose articles on "Religion in Korea" missionary in whole or in part among will be read with interest, he refers to themselves. How this works may be the matter of specific work in missions. seen in the increast interest among the Dr. Hardie and his wife went to Korea institutions where this policy is purfirst in 1890, under the auspices of the sued. A.t the meeting of the Student Toronto Medical Students' Young Volunteers, in Cleveland, it was ascer- Men's Christian A.ssociation. Dr. Har- tained that colleges and seminaries die says: combined had contributed, during the preceding year, fifteen thousand dollars " In order to the best attainment of to foreign missions over and above the object of the mission, the carrying what they had previously given. Under on of foreign work also is necessary. the influence of this mission the dona- Zeal for any cause can be developt only tions steadily increast, until, in 1897, it in proportion as that zeal finds expres- was found that the colleges'alone, withsion in practice, and nothing else so in- out the seminaries, contributed that terests young people in any work as year over twenty-five thousand dollars having a part in it distinctively their more than they had given before the own. To make the matter personal, movement started. It was declared to to place them in a position where they be a conservative statement that the will think of and work and pray for our colleges and seminaries combined gave own mission and our missionaries is in- over forty thousand dollars that year finitely more effective in arousing in- for foreign missions. Now this stateterest than anything less definite could ment does not stand alone. It is acbe. To meet this need, the Canadian companied with another, which is sig- Colleges' Mission is carrying on medical nificant in this connection. This forty and evangelistic work in Korea." thousand dollars came almost entirely from between eighty and ninety insti- Dr. Hardie explains, however, the tutions, which were in whole or in part limitations of the design thus: "The sustaining representatives of their own foreign work of the Canadian Colleges' on some foreign mission field. The in- Mission stands to the work at home in fluence of this overflowed to a number the relation of means to end, and it is of individual churches, who, inspired not the intention of the mission to send by this example, concluded that they, out, under its own auspices, more than too, could advlillce their contributions to three or four missionaries. Its chief a figure which would enable them to aim is to 80 enthuse students with the support a missionary of their own. spirit of missions, and to so train and practice them in the organization, con- There is an element of this same induct, and support of missionary work, spiration from specific responsibility, that when they leave college to enter which also inheres in the several upon the wider sphere of life-work, it women's missionary organizations., The may be as zealous missionaries or intel- societies were carrying on some work ligent and self-sacrificing supporters of among the women of heathen lands bethe missionary boards of the various fore the women of the Christian denominations to which they may belong." churches took this department on them- class of givers who believe that the selves. There can be no doubt of thein- societies' officers have a much wider and creast impulse that stirred the women juster view of the total needs of the of the churches, when they came to be fields, and who are willing their con- responsible for a special department of tributors should "press the button and the general work. They, in the first let them do the rest." The writer place became far better informed about knows of some of the most widely ihe actual conditions of the women informed and zealous donors and sup- in mission fields, and set themselves porters of missions, who distrust their to a systematic study of foreign con- own judgment, and prefer that the re- ditions, which marks the movement as sponsibility of distribution shall rest one of the phenominal developments with the board with which they are of the century. A. like tendency of affiliated. increast interest displays itself in the adjustment of the societies by which It is only fair to say that most boards individuals are allowed to support indi- are in sympathy with the effort to in- vidual native agents, men or women, or crease the individual or local church specific orphans or Bible-readers. This interest in some specific work, as con- is only stated to indicate the advanced tributing to an extension of the interest interest which some classes of persons and knowledge of persons desiring it. take in something which is to them less It is nevertheless well that donors of vague than the work as It whole. this class shall be made aware of the operations of these special gifts on the It may be that this element inheres in home boards and on the foreign mis- , human nature, as it is certainly present sionaries. in donations to special objects in the bome churches, as well as in those Some time since Dr. Downie, one of abroad. Persons are found who will the editors of The Baptist Mi88ionarll contribute an organ, or a bell, or a Review, publisht in India, writing in memorial window costing far more than that magazine, gave reasons why the the same persons would donate toward entire scheme of specific donations the general church erection, which should be discouraged or even summa- included these same items. There is rily d"nied by the boards, stating at the little use quarreling with this feature same time that the Presbyterian MIs- of human nature. It exists, and it may sionary Society of the United States,and as well be reckoned with. The great several of the European societies, had Church of England Missionary Society abandoned the specific-gift system, recognizes it, and if we are correctly without experiencing the evil results it informed has on its books, accounts was feared would follow this course. with some two hundred or more Dr. Downie calls attention to the fact .that the officers of the societies experi- " Special Funds." Most of the societies ence great embarrassment in making up in one way or another admit a similar the schedules of their appropriations for specification on the part of the donor of the various fields. After canvassing the object which he desires to give. the whole field, and making an equit- Sometimes these lie outside of work able distribution of the funds according which is already included in the scope to the several demands, he says, they of the society, when the society must be must send the specific donations to some allowed to choose whether or not it can fields, increasing the amount to that become the channel of the donor's wish. field without being able to take from Generally, however, the donors of any item already appropriated to it, to special offerings select some object balance the claims. But Dr. Downie has I which the society can readily adopt, if better claim to speak from the stand- it has not already done so. point of the missionary on the field, and he declares that specific gifts often There is always, however, another make a heavy draft on the missionary's cases no great interval intervenes betime, as generally these specific donors tween the adoption of a special object want specific reports concerning their by a patron and the dropping of the special gifts. He thinks, too, that, as same. It is difficult to sustain the inrule, the native assistants who are terest. The donors are of~n disapspecifically supported are not benefited pointed in the person whom they have thereby. They are not selected because undertaken to support. Even a missionthey are better than others, but direct ary may have no special gifts oJ.! thrilling support and direct communication on experiences such as would intensify their part with the home giver often enthusiasm, and he may soon come to leads them to think themselves of be considered dull or inefficient. Dr. special importance, and to demand in- Strong is, however, favorable to a comcreased pay. Dr. Downie also thinks bination of the two forms of giving, if the missionary is sometimes led to happily balanced, provided the special undertake work that he would not donations are within the appropriations attempt, but for the hope of specific already adopted by the board. Even gifts for some specific helper or work, the Church of England Missionary and that this has a tendency to demor- Society, to which reference has been alize the reliable proceedings of the made, as opening a large number of more regular appropriations. Perhaps special accounts, reckons that these the Doctor might have made another " appropriated contributions" are only point in this connection on the disturb- to be recognized when they are in aid ance of the balance between several of work already undertaken by the fields of the same board. Some fields society. The Methodist Episcopal Misoffer far more tempting features for sionary Society has, on several occaspecial giving than do others, and they sions, made appropriations to specific can thus attract a disproportionate objects, contingent on the money amount by special gifts. being given specially for these objects. Dr. Scholl, Secretary of the Gene- It is only proper to say that some mIs- ral Synod of the Evangelical Luthesionaries seem to think they gain by ran Church, told at the Fifth Conthe very demands made for specific re- ference of the officers of the Missionary porting to the special home donor. societies, in an intersting and somewhat When, for instance, they induce a num- amusing strain, his personal experience ber of these specially-supported people in attempting to get special patrons to to write a quarterly letter to the home adopt specific objects on the foreign patrons about themselves, it must come field. By means of photographs of the, to the missionary for rendering into students for the ministry in the mission English that the patrons may be able of his church in India, with a little to understand it, and this gives the biographical sketch of each, he got 130 missionary an insight into their own of these specifically supported by indiputting of their work, or makes a reve- viduals. He then placed 150 of the lation of the character of the native native workers in the same way, and agent or protege, which may be of value, followed this with about 150 prayerand when the whole is reduced to sys- houses. He would present the phototem, they think it does not require much graph or design, and say, "Now there's time at their hands; some even say it an opportunity for some one to support can be done in one day. a worker or erect a chapel," and the response was generally prompt and. Dr. E. E. Strong, editor of the Mis- cordial. Dr. Scholl instances a plain Biona'l"/l Herald, is on record to the effect farmer in a country church as apt to that it is difficult to keep a prolonged say, "I can't comprehend your millions interest in these special objects, and he of heathen and hundreds of thousands is confident that it is the experience of the boards that in the majority of of dollars, but when you come down to But whatever Mr. Davis was to his twenty or thirty dollars for a minister, own church, to the church at large or I can handle that," and so he pledges to the cause of the missions in general, himself to the support of an agent when he will be widely remembered, and his previously he only gave five dollars. death will be widely mourned, by the Dr. Scholl, with all others who have missionaries who from year to year had experience in the matter, realizes have had the pleasure of meeting him that disappointment and disheartening at the annual sessions of the Internais liable to come to the special donor, tional Missionary Union. He was but thinks the time well spent in fend- always actively interested in the success ing off this in the first instance, and of that organization and his executive explaining it in the next. A. little ability and delightful spirit made him patience will, he thinks, put this all exceptionally valuable to it. His right, and the specific donor is all the suavity was charming, his broad more apt to grow to a wider view of charity opened his heart to all of whatmissions than if he attempted to grasp ever communion, while his fidelity in too much at first. The whole field is every duty assigned him, and his unso vast that it is vague in the minds of pretending but profund spiritual expera large proportion of givers. ience marked him as a rare leader of this noble host. Mrs. Davis will have J. T. G. world-wide sympathy extended to her from missionaries who appreciate her Rev. John A. Davis. own services to the" Union." In be- half of them all we venture to utter the The International Missionary Union Apostolic benediction. is again specially bereaved in the death of one of its principal officers-Rev. Religion in Korea. John A. Davis, of Nyack, N. Y. His ancestors were among the Dutch set- * By R. A. HARDIE, M. D., OF THE tlers who originally founded Kingston, CANADIAN COLLEGES' MISSION. N. Y. John A. Davis was graduated at Rutgers College in 1865, and at the Very conflicting statements have New Brunswick Seminary three years been made regarding the religion of the later. Being appointed almost imme- Koreans. Some have concluded that. diatelythereafteras missionary to China, strictly speaking, they have none. he spent some months addressing the Others claim that in addition to Buddchurches, and then sailed, with his wife, hism, which has now comparatively for Amoy. In less than two years after little influence, two distinct religions his arrival his health failed, and in 1870 prevail; the one enjoying the patronage he was obliged to return to America, of the state, and having the Confucian never again to be able to re-enter the code as its ethics, the other, a superfield abroad. But during all his excel- stitious fanaticism, confined to the lent service to the several churches of lower orders. We wish here to point which he was pastor, he maintained his missionary zeal, and his pen was * The Canadian Colleges' Mission is an outdevoted to the exposition of the needs of the heathen. His" Chinese Slave growth of the Student Volunteer Movement, Girl" alone has achieved a wide repu- and had ;ts origin in 1892, when the Young tation as inspiring the intensest interest, Men's Christian Associationof the University especially among young people, in and Medical Colleges of Toronto united prethe foreign mission work. His latest viously existing missionary interests with a production, "The Young Mandarin," view to forming an extended college movea sort of companion volume to the first ment, having for its object the fostering of named, shows the same graphic power. the claims of foreign missions in the minds and hearts of Canadian students. It has now mission circles in sixty different educa- tional institutions in Ontario and Quebec, employs a traveling secretary and publishes a monthly journal, The Canadian College Missionary, which is sent free to all sub- scribers to the funds of the mission. out that while Buddhism, Confucianism, the study of the Chinese classics was and other forms of idolatry exist, there }'evived, and for nearly five hundred lies at the root of all religious belief in years .the books of Mencius and Con- Korea a powerful and evil spiritism, fucius have been as devoutly reverenced which alone constitutes the real worship as in China. Possessing an excellent of all classes. ethical code, Confucianism served to Buddhism originated in India in the establish a measure of law, order arid fifth century, B. C., and was intro morality in Korea, but the inevitable duced into Korea about the year 371 A. tendency of the system to foster pride, D. by the Chinese Emperor, Ham An. selfishness, despotism, polygamy and In many respects superior to Confu- atheism, has probably more than cianism, which had over 300 years counterbalanced this gain. A highly before gained a foothold in the penin- cultured native says: "What Korea sula, Buddhism did much to advance might have been without Confucian the cause of civilization in Korea. teachings nobody can tell. But what About 1,000 A. D. it became, under Korea is with them we know too well.
royal patronage, the popular religion Behold her opprest masses, her gen- of all classes. But on the advent of eral poverty, treacherous and cruel the present dynasty, in 1392, various officers, her dirt and filth, her degraded circumstances brought the system into women, her blighted families-behold disfavor, and it was placed under ban. all this and judge for yourselves what But yet, to-<1ay, in many wild moun- Confucianism has done for Korea."
tainous retreats, hard by some gushing Confucianism is in theory one thing; spring, and overlooking most enchant- in practice, quite another. Eve¥ its ing scenery, may be found groups of much-vaunted filial piety not infre- monasteries, each containing from five quently means but a fearful reverence or six to a hundred or more monks, for the spirits of departed parents. An whose lives are devoted to the worship aged father or mother may be neglected, of the images which adorn the temples. ill-treated, even hurried out of life, but These shaven-headed vegetarians live all this is amply atoned for by a due fat, sleek and lazy lives, and although observance of the prescribed rites at looked upon by all classes as utter out- their graves. Pent up in the body, the casts-the lowest of all the low-yet spirits may be neglected and ignored, every spring-tide throngs of earnest but once set free they become powerful devotees may be seen wending their influences for possible evil, and must way to their sacred retreats, each with then be respected, reverenced, wor- an offerIng of paper, candles, rice, and shipt. Every person is believed to "cash." On the day of their arrival have three spirits. After death one of the pilgrims perform certain required these takes up its abode in the ances- ablutions,and early the following morn- tral tablet-a walnut slab, upon which ing, long before the sun has risen, their the name of the deceased is written- offerings are placed upon the altar, and another accompanies the body to the amid much beating of drums, clanging grave, while the third is said to go of cymbals, weird chanting of the either to the heavens or the "under- .
priests, and frequent bowing and pros- , ground prison," according to the life trations of the silent worshippers, lived in the flesh. For three years after prayers are offered on their behalf. the death of a parent, the eldest son.
But let us not think that this is the only morning and evening, worships before altar at which they bow. They are all the tablet in the room where the dead likewise slaves of ancestral worship, once lived, besides making numerous the only element in Confucianism offerings at the grave. In the cere- which savors of religion. mony before the ancestral tablet, the On the disestablishment of Buddhism, eldest son, robed in sackcloth, is attended by two younger brothers in parted parents, he was less successful, half mourning, and three friends or and to.day the real worship of Confu- relatives, one of whom recalls the good cianism, in Korea, at least, is Shaman- deeds of the departed. The tablet is ism or Demonolatry, a gross mixture of placed on the chair, an article, by the superstition, fetichism, sorcery, and sac- way, which at no other time has II place rificial ceremonies for the propitiation in any Korean household. Aftermuch of evil spirits, which are believed to enforced lamentation, bowing, pros· popUlate the earth, the sea, the air.
trating and calling upon the shade to The worship of the god of the hills, accept their ,. mean sacrifice," all retire the genii of trees and rocks, and in- for a time in order that the spirit may numerable household deities, keeps up in peace regale itself with the savor of a constant round of religious ceremony.
the offering, and then they return to Little temples, built at the summit of feast and wine themselves. After the every mountain pass, trees dedicated at third year the performance of sacrificial the entrance to every village, and in rights is limited to four or five times a every house rude fetiches–a wisp of year, the most important of which is straw, an empty gourd, a piece of old the tenth day of the tenth moon, when pottery – or some more pretentious any Korean absent from his native image, represent or become the shrines district, will travel from the farthest of spirit.demons, powerful and malig- limit of the kingdom, if necessary, to nant. To these they attribute all the be present at the grave on this date. ills of life. Sickness, adversity, mis- The hold that ancestral worship has on fortune, and disaster are but results of all classes-the low as well as the high their displeasiIre, which may be pre· -can not be over·estimated, and it is vented or appeased by offerings of always the hardest and last thing to be prayer and sacrifice. But the spirits given up by those embracing Chris· are not all necessarily l)lalignant, and tianity. To neglect this shrine is to with them is sometimes associated the become a political, social, and family idea of guardianship. A large vene· outcast-" a traitorous dog, unfit to mous serpent, often seen winding in and live." about the roofs of their dwellings, is But in this we are anticipating our lookt upon as the embodiment of the next division, for ancestral worship is gu,ardian spirit of their homes, and in its origin, purely Shamanistic. The therefore held sacred. To their firm primitive religion of China was un· belief in the existence of the dragon, doubtedly a vague monotheism, but the often found figured in their temples, Chinese and Koreans have always be- they bear ample testimony by casting lieved in the existence of evil spirits, into the watery deep food sacrificed to and in their interference in the affairs him. Many other mythical creatures of men, a faith, we believe, directly have their existence in the imagination traceable to traditions of the fall. From of high and low alike. But, over and a belief in the power of the spirits to above aU, they have a very imperfect, cause injury and misfortune arose the yet firm, belief in one supreme being, idea of propitiatory sacrifice, and this, to whom they say all things owe their united with the doctrine of filial piety, existence – Ha·na-nim, th8 Lord of and a belief in the immortality of the • Heaven. They know Him, however, not soul, resulted in ancestral worship. as a kind and loving Father, whom Confucius taught that the right towor· they may approach in worship, but ship heaven was confined to the Em· rather as a being to be feartld, one to peror alone, and in this his teaching has whom, in the last extremity of despair, been observed. But when he went we sometimes hear them cry, but hope- further and attempted to restrict spirit- lessly. Demons alone are the objects ism to the worship of the souls of de- of their worship.. Whether bowing
PRIESTS. THE
KOREAN DEMON WORSHIPPERS.
INTERNATIONAL DEl'ARTM¥N'l'
before Buddhistic images, Confucian last century Roman Catholicism found tablets, the ancestral grave, or the ac- its way into Korea from Pekin, and in knowledged altar of some evil spirit, the 1835, at the request of converts, the Koreans have but one name for it all- first French priest entered the country kwesin '!Jaba, d.smtmolai1"Jj, 0'1' devil-wO'1'- in disguise. Notwithstanding outbreaks sht"p. For the material objects, before of persecution and the martyrdom of which they bow, they profess no rever- both foreigners and natives, believers ence whatever, except as they are the multiplied until 1866, when political embodiment of evil spirits, who de- intrigue brought discredit on the faith, mand, as the price of peace and favor, and the name of Christianity became worship and sacrifice. What better synonymous with treason. In that year comment can we have on the words of two French bishops, nine priests, and Paul, in 1 Cor. 10 : 19, 20: "What say many native converts were cruelly put I then? That the idol is anything, or to death. One priest escaped to China, that which is offered in sacrifice to idols and a French squadron was at once is anything? But I say, that the things despatcht to Korea; but the force landed which the Gentiles sacrificed, they sac- was ignominiously repulsed, and withrificed to devils and not to God: and I drew after burning the city of Kangwould not that ye should have fellow- wha, thus rendering 10,000 people ship with devils." homeless. Gloating over its success, the government resolved to destroy the Is it not an awful thing that those new faith "root and branch," and to whom God made in His own image this end hundreds more, including should ever have fallen so low as to women and children, were martyred worship and serve the emissaries of with revolting cruelty. During the " the dragon, that old serpent, which same year the crew of an American is the Devil and Satan," by whom they schooner was murdered in theTa-Tong are "taken captive at his will?" And River, near the city of Ping-yUng, and yet it is, if possible, more awful that, in 1871 an expedition sent to avenge notwithstanding our Lord's provision this "unprovoked (?) outrage, won a for their deliverance "out of the snare victory of which the American navy of the devil," and His command to may well feel proud I" In 1876 the preach the Gospel that they might be Japanese succeeded in negotiating the turned from darkness to "light and first commercial treaty with Korea, and from the power of Satan unto God," six and seven years later treaties similar they should, for more than eighteen followed with the United States and hundred years, have been left to their Great Britain. But not until 1884 did fate. the Protestant church bestir herself to send the Gospel to this ancient and long NEW CONDITIONS. benighted people.
As early as 1000 A.D., Arab mer- So it has been in nearly every other chants trading in the East, visited and, mission field j commerce and trade, it is said, even settled in the peninsula. conquest and treaties, Roman Catholic During the sixteenth century the Portu- pioneering and martyrs preceding the guese visited Korea, and brought the entrance of our so·called evangelical name to Europe. In 1853 a Dutch Protestantism. vessel was wreckt on the coast, and the crew taken to the capital. Escaping to INTRODUCTION OF PROTESTANT MIS- Japan, after fourteen years imprisonment, they returned to Europe, where SIONS. one of their number recounted their adventures in a boQk, which was shortly To the Rev. John Ross, a Scotch after translated into German, French Presbyterian missionary in Manchuria, and English. Before the close of the belongs the credit of having first intro- duced Protestant missionary effort into Korea. His first visits were made to of these wives, who, on account of ' the Manchurian border in 1873-4. The family cares, are unable to take an Chinese character is the only officially active part in mission work' proper. recognized medium of written language But,if we count the whole 70, it means in Korea, and with his knowledge of but one worker to every 200,000 of the ihis, together with the aid of natives population, which is, for the most part, who could speak Chinese, Mr. Ross was scattered over wide extents of moun- enabled, during the next ten years, to tainous territory, that can be traveled superintend the translation of the whole only by pack-pony or on foot. But, of the New Testament into .Enmoun, an notwithstanding the inadequacy of the exceedingly simple alphabetical system force, and the difficulties of the situaof writing invented about the middle tion, the success of the misionaries has of the fifteenth century, and altho not been most markt. During the last taught in the schools, yet it is read by a year, in one district alone, and by much larger percentage of people than the workers of but one mission, 137 is Chinese. He also baptized a number converts were baptized, and 487 more of converts, some of whom have borne received as catechumens. The total great persecution for the cause of number of converts to-day is probably Christ. In the autumn of 1884, at the not far short of 3,000, nearly one-half solicitation of these same converts, or of whom are probationers received of oihers won by them, the first Pro- since the close of the late war between testant mission to Korea was establisht China and Japan. While many of in the capital by the American Presby- these have given evidence of their terian church. The first representative sincerity by holding fast to the faith, sent was a medical missionary, Dr. notwithstanding family ostracism and Henry Allen, who, on his arrival at public persecutions, perhaps the most Seoul, was given an appointment as encouraging feature of the work in physician to the American Legation- Korea is the large measure 'of self-supat once a guarantee of protection to his port attained, and the readiness with person, and of promise for his favorable which the native churches have underreception. But a few weeks had past taken the preaching of the Gospel in when an anti-conservative conspiracy new districts. Eight or ten churches resulted in an emeute, in which the first have been built with native funds alone, person wounded was Min-yong Ik, a and as many more partly so. Of the nephew of the king. The young noble native helpers, the majority are either was placed under the care of Dr. Allen, self-supporting or paid, entirely or in whose skillful treatment doubtless saved part, by native contributions. Some his life. The gratitude of the king for the congregations, in addition to supporting service rendered his nephew found ex- their own pastors, have sent forth evanpression in the immediate establishment gelists and colporteurs into the "reof a government dispensary and hospi- gions beyond." The total contributal, the confiscated property of one of tions for last year averaged over the conspirators being set apart for this seventy-five cents for each communipurpose. This institution has ever since cant. At first sight this may not seem been under the control of the mission a large sum, ,but when it is known that, of which Dr. Allen was a member. with few exceptions, the Christians be- The example of the American Pres- long to the lower and middle classes, byterians in opening work in Korea who live in straw-thatched mud·huts, was almost immediately followed by seldom costing more than $20 or $30, the Methodist Episcopal church, and and who can not make an average daily there are now nine boards at work in wage of more than ten or twelve cents, the peninsula, with an aggregate, however, of but 70 missionaries, and many in what shall we say? This, at least-that their liberality is much advance of that of many Christians at home. The in Korea, and that the events of the encouragement thus given should be a past two years have served to strengthen wonderful incentive to work for still her position there. It is believed by greater things, and the only way we many that if the country should pass to can truly thank our Lord and Master, Russia's control, the Greek church to whom we owe all past success, is would no longer allow Protestant evan- by making more self-sacrificing efforts gelization. Noone can speak of the in the future. future with certainty, but the present is It would be hard to imagine .a more ours, and judging by the success of the favorable soil upon which to work. past, it seems plain that we have but to The better class Koreans are an intelli- follow up our present opportunities to 'gent, educated and superior people. establish in Korea a Protestant church, Priding themselves particularly upon against which the fire and flood of per- correct deportment, they are always secution will rage in vain. ••The har- self-possest, polite and friendly, both vest truly is plenteous, but the laborers among themselves and to foreigners. are few; pray ye, therefore, the Lord The lower orders are exceedingly super· of the harvest, that He will send forth stitious, it is true, but cheerful, civil, laborers into His harvest."
courteous, and hospitable to a fault.
Kindness to strangers is by all consid- ~erusalem Rabbis Alarmed.
ered a most sacred duty, and one may A missionary working in Jerusalem travel from one end of the country to sends us the following: The Rabbis the other, everywhere receiving the have occasionally issued interdicts • best the homes of the people afford. against all Jews-men or women of Best of all, the country is opening up Jerusalem, boys or girls-who go near to the introduction of Western civiliza- the missionaries to attend their preachtion, and there is no prejudice whatever ing, their schools, or their classes, reagainst Protestant Christianity. Dur- ceiving their books or tracts, also those ing the missionary's stay in any village who accept employment in the missionhis room is always thronged with visit- aries' workshops, and even those who ors, willing to listen to the Word as go to the mission hospitals for treatlong as there is strength to proclaim it. ment when sick. This has been my own experience, at The Rabbis have usually issued such least. interdicts on the eve of the Feast of We say that responsibility is meas- Passover, when it is tlleir duty to.disured by opportunity, and the great tribute amongst the poor large sums responsibility resting upon us in regard received by them from Jews in other to Korea, then, must be apparent to all. lands for this purpose, and, of course, And it is particularly important· that they withhold from all who are found to . the present opportunities be taken ad- disregard their intolerant edicts, such vantage of G.e once. In the light of a share as their poverty would entitle them to from the charitable contribunew civilization, superstition will rap- tions of their brethren abroad. These idly disappear. Shall rationalism and interdicts are publisht in printed plainfidelity take its place? If, when the cards duly stampt to admit of their beland is "empty, swept and garnished " ing posted at the doors of synagogues, and on walls in the Jewish quarters, of its present witchcraft and demono- and even on the houses of suspected latry, Christianity does not enter, the persons, and are read aloud in the serunclean spirit will return, bringing with vices at the' synagogues.
him "seven other spirits more wicked But this year, in their iDtolerant zeal, than himself," and the last state of these blind guides (whose fear towards God is taught by the precepts of men, Korea shall be worse than the first. and therefore brings them under the Again, all are familiar with the fact woe and the doom pronounced in Isaiilh that Russia has long coveted a foothold . 19: 13-16), have outdone themselves. They have publisht three interdicts in Annual Oonvention of the Central Ohina Ohristian Mission <Disciples of Christ). rapid succession, more virulent in lan- guage than heretofore, a sure sign of their alarm and anxiety at the progress REV. JAMES WARE, SHANGHAI.
and growing influence of the Gospel (By request of Convention.) amongst the Jews in this city and land.
To translate these textually would be The Ninth Annual Convention of the tedious work, as each of them covers above mission was held at Nankin, nearly two folio pages, one of which is from May 4th to 9th, inclusive. The following subjects were discussed: in small type and is full of abbrevia- "The Missionary Spirit in the tions and antiquated Aramaic and Churches." "Abiding in Christ the Ohaldaic expressions, incapable of main condition of success." " The accurate expression in English. Let it suffice if I give a summary of each, Holy Spirit in relation to our work."
with literal translations of certain por- "The Bible the Foundation of our tions. work." "The Strength of Unity."
The first, signed and sealed by the The reports from the field were of Chief Rabbi, is mainly against the mis- more than usual interest. Over one sion schools, and IS headed thus: hundred additions were reported from .. This is the Sentence of the Law." the various stations, while the deep in- The Chief Rabbi is known by the title terest reported on every hand, is greater "First in Zion," and no other Rabbi is than anything we have hitherto experi- thus styled. The interdict commences enced. The following were some of in these words: .. 0, my soul, behold the facts reported: I, the First in Zion, decree and order, Dr. W. E. Macklin and his sister, Dr. D. Macklin,~ave treated no less than by the power of the Holy Law, that no son of Israel shall take his sons or 15,845 patients, among whom they had daughters to the filthy school-houses several cataracts and amputations, all belonging to the tempters to evil, and of which were successful. Twent;r persons have been baptized from thlS· particularly to their schools outside work. Received in fees from well·tothe town, for he thereby puts clean souls in a pitfall, and whosoever trans- do patients, $840.22.
gresses against this order, by taking the Rev. F. E. Meigs, president of the souls of Israel into these schools, or Christian College, Nankin, said that a accepting from them the gifts of their great change had taken place in the spiritual tone of the school. He atcharity, behold, he is anathematized tributed this to the absence of heathen with the curse by which Joshua, the teachers, whom he has firmly decided son of Nun, annihilated Jericho, and not to employ. Quite a number of the behold, he is separated and banisht from the congregation of Israel, and students have come out boldly for Christ. . he shall rot in lies, and to Israel shall From Wuhu Brother Molland reports befall no harm. This is done with the a great number of inquirers, among sanction of all the Rabbis and chiefs of them being some Japanese. A special the·city of Jerusalem. He who listens feature of the work is a prayer-meeting, to us shall dwell in quiet, but whoso- after which the doors are thrown open, ever does not, may tremble at evil con- and the native members help in making sequences. Amen." known the Gospel to their heathen The second is headed, "Give glory countrymen. to God," and is in three languages- At Shanghai eleven have been bap- Hebrew, Judreo-Spanish, and Jargon. It is specially against the hospital of tised during the past year. The work the Church of England Mission has been greatly helpt by the conse- London Jews' Society, and is full of crated labors of the Chinese Bible persuasive, and tender expressions of woman, Mrs. Li, who is now sixty-two entreaty to the Jews, and of insulting years of age. Since she became a terms concerning the mission doctors Christian, some thirty-two years ago, and tempters. she had led no less than two hundred women to the Savior. The third is headed: "Thou shalt Most of the work of our mission is put the evil away from among you," on "virgin soil," as far as the preachand like the first is in the Hebrew tongue. It is signed, "In the name of ing of the Gospel is concerned. Alas I our masters, and with the sanction of all altho 1900 years have rolled away since the Rabbis and chiefs, and the courts the great command was given, there of justice, the tribunals of the congre- are still thousands upon thousands gation of Israel in Jerusalem, the Holy , who have never heard the name of ~" Christ.
FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY
III. -FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY.
Syria and Palestine,* The Jews. t BY DELAVAN L. PIERSON.
PRAYER NEEDED FOR SYRIA. Beirut, a well-equipt railway to Damas- cus, and another from Jaffa to J erusa- HENRY H. JESSUP, D.D. lem. The Imperial Ottoman Bank is an Anglo-French institution. But, on 1. Prayer is needed/or the native Sy- the other hand, intemperance, horserian evangelical churches; that they may racing, and gambling have come in on be 'baptized with new spiritual life, the land like a deluge. But the most with a new sense of responsibility in portentous menace to the morals of the support of their own institutions; Syria is the "Casino," now in process that they may become missionaries to of erection at Ain Soofar, one of the their own neighbors, and unite in a com· stations on the Damascus railway,about mon organization for aggressive work. 20 miles from Beirut, at an elevation of 4,500 feet above the sea. Here a 2. Pray for the tens of thousands of French syndicate is building a palace Syrian men and women who have emi- of gambling, designed as a refuge for grated from their native land to North the insane constituency of Monte Carlo, and South America and Australia, in when the license for gambling in Monquest of earthly gain. They are ex- aco shall terminate. It is to be a hotel posed to great temptations. Of those with every European luxury and atwho return, many are a curse to their traction; but the great attraction to native land from habits of drunkenness, the gambling world will be its sumpgambling, and other vices acquired tuous and dazzling g;ambling saloons. abroad. To this place will flock the crazed phalanx of prospective suicides from 3. Pray that the influx of a corrupt southern Europe, northern Africa, and European civilization may not prove western Asia, .hoping to find in Lebathe ruin of Syria. Much of good has non free scope for their passion for been brought here from the United gain. According to Mohammedan law, States and Europe. The colleges, sem- gambling is illegal, and it will be ininaries, common schools, printing- terestingto see whether the Latin-Chrispresses, orphan houses, and hospitals, tian pasha of Mt. Lebanon, who owes have been fountains of "blessing, physi- his appointment to the six great powers cal, intellectual, and moral, to this peo- of Europe, will legalize a gambling ple. The English have supplied Beirut den which is outlawed in every country with crystal cold water from the cav- in Europe. Well may the Syrian peoerns of Mt. Lebanon; the French have ple pray "From European civilization, built a superb harbor in the port of good Lord deliver us!"
* See also pp. 915, 931 (present issue). 4. Pray for the hundreds of young men and young women in our college, RECENT A.RTICLES: H Syrian Massacres," female seminaries, high schools and Contemporary Review (January). industrial training school, and the thousands in Protestant common t See also pp. 138 (Feb.); 299 (April) ; 857 schools. (Nov.); 889,899 (present issue). 5. Pray that we may have–liberty of NEW BOOKS: "Israel, My Glory," John the press. The restrictions on the print- Wilkinson; HMissions to Jews," Rev. W. T. ing of books, tracts and newspapers are Gidney; "Anglo-Israel," Rev. Thos. R. simply intolerable. Our religious books Howlett. are mutilated in the most idiotic and RECENT ARTICLES: "The Mission of Judaism," The Jewish Era (April); "Has JUdaism Been a Failure," North American Review (August).; "The Gilneral Situation of the Jews," Jewish Chronicle (September); "Zion- Ist Congress," Chamber's Journal (Oct,); "The Rejuvenation of the Jew," No. Am. Eeview (Oct.). arbitrary manner; the language of the Bynod began work among Jews in New York in 1895. Bible itself changed; whole chapters III. PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: cut out, and no appeal allowed. The 1. Board of Foreign MiBBions has sustained a mission in Persia since Lord only can change the policy which 1870, and gives special attention to the Jews of that country. has made the newspaper press of the 2. PresOyteru of New York has sup- ported a Jewish miSSionary in the land a mere cipher, and the publication city since 1892. Yearly expendi- ture $1,800. of books a weariness indescribable. IV. SEVENTH DAY BAPTIST began 6. Pray that your missionaries may work in 1887 in Stanislau, Galacia. Publish .A Peculiar People (monthly). have the grace of patience, of patient V. REFORMED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH continuance in well-doing; that they undertook work in Cincinnati and Philadelphia in 1894. Estimated exmay hold on and never abandon their penditure $2,000.
posts, assured that in due time they VI. UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH is represented by the MeB8iah Mission shall reap if they faint not.-Condensed from The New York 008e'l"lJM'. . EinxCpehnicdaigtuorweshtiscOhOw. as opened in 1896.
AMERICAN MISSIONS TO ISRAEL. VII. METHODIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH has, through the (Jhurch Ealtension The most complete list of missions to and Oity MiBBionarll Society, a special mission to Jews and assists the "Hope the Jews carried on by the Christians of of Israel Mission," New York.
America, is that publisht recently in VIII. THE BAPTIST SOCIETY FOR THE EVANGELIZATION OF THE JEWS was Tlte (Jltristian Nation (April 21, 28, founded in 1845, but has since been 1897). It was prepared with great care abandoned.
and accuracy by Rev. Louis Meyer,who IX. NEW YORK CITY MISSION began work for Jews in 1855 and now confor several years has workt earnestly ducts the Hebrew Ohristian Mission (Jacob Freshman). Expenditures for the evangelization of Israel. The $4,000.
following is the list of American socie- X. HOPE OF ISRAEL lfISSION (A. C.. Gaebelein and E. F. 8troeter, New ties, denominational and independent, York), was oJ'lened in 1892. A mis- sionary is supported in Warsaw and conducting missions among the He- large numbers of tracts are dis- tributed in Russia. Income $5,790. brews of this and other lands: Publications: Our Hope and Hope of I. PROTESTANT EPISCOPAL: "The Church !Society for Promoting Chris- Israel (Hebrew). tianity Among the Jews." Work begun 1840, organized 1859, affiliated XI. AMERICAN MISSION TO THE JEWS with board of missions 1878. Missions opened in New York, by Hermann in New York and Philadelphia. Warszawiak in 1895. Publication: Income about $7,000. Work con- Hebrew- 0 hristian. ducted by means of mission and in- dustrial schools and through the dis- XII. BROWNSVILLE MISSION TO JEWS tribution of Scriptures, Messianic, and (Brooklyn, N. Y.), conducted since missionary literature. Official pub- 1894, by Leopold Cohn. Expenses lication: GOBpd of t1te Oircumci8ion. $1,000.
II. LUTHERAN CHURCH. XIII. HEBREW MESSIANIC COUNCIL 1. T1te Zion Society for Israel. Or- (Boston, Mass.). Work begun in ganized 1878, representing the 1888, by Dr. Edward T. Niles. Pub- Norwegian Lutheran Church in lication: Paths Eternal. America. Stations in Merish and Odessa, Russia, and in Baltimore, XIV. HEBREW MISSION (Boston), con- Maryland. Income about $4,000. ducted by Rev. Sam. Frender since 8. T1te Evangelical Syrwd of Missouri, 1895. since 1885, have supported a Jewish missionary in New York City. Ex- XV. MISSION TO JEWS (Rochester, penditure about $1,500. N. Y.) was opened in 1894 but has 8. Joint Syrwd of Ohio began work been closed for the present. for the Jews in 1892, which is con- ducted by local clergy among their Jewish neighbors. 4. GerrTUln Dut1teran IOUJa Syrwd. Mission opened in Chicago in 1894. 5. T1te Swedish Lut1teran Augustana XVI. Work for Jews carried on by Creator, blessed be His name for ever, Rev. J. M. Goldberg in Providence, is not corporeal ; nor can in any man- R. I., since 1894. Expenditure $650. ner whatsoever be conceived to be cor- poreal; and that there is nothing in the XVII. HOPE PRESBYTERIAN CHAPEL world that is like Him. (Minneapolis, Minn.) Work for IV. I firmly believe that: the Jews begun 1896. Creator, blessed be His name for ever, is eternal; and that He is the beginning XVIII. HEBREW MISSION SOCIETY, and the end of all things. (Minneapolis and St. Paul.). Founded 1892. Two Missionaries. Expendi- V. I firmly believe that the Creator, blessed be His holy name for ever, tures $2,000. ought alone to be worsMpt, exclusive of any other being. XIX. SOCIETY FOR THE EVANGELIZA- TION OF THE JEWS (St. Louis, Mo.). VI. I firmly believe that all the Founded 1896. words of the prophets are true.
XX. FIFTH AVENUE METHODIST VII. I firmly believe that all the CHURCH, (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Until prophecies of Moses our master (may recently conducted work among his soul rest in peace!) are true; and neighboring Jews. that he is superior to all the sages who went before or come after him. XXI. THE CmCAGO HEBREW MISSION was started in 1887, and incorporated VIII. I firmly believe that the law in 1891. Income $3,000. which we have now in our hands was given by inspiration to Moses. XXII. THE HEBREW MISSION (Cleve- land, Ohio). Founded 1893. IX. I firmly believe that this law will never be changed; and that the XXIII. MISSION TO ISRAEL (San Creator, blessed be His holy name, will Francisco). Opened in 1896. never give anothor.
XXIV. MISSION TO JEWS (Wilming- X. I firmly believe that the Creator, ton, Delaware). Started in 1897. blessed be His holy name, knows all the actions, and all the thoughts of XXV. MISSION TO JEWS AND GEN- men ; as it is said, "He hath formed TILES (Louisville, Ky.). Carried on the hearts of men, and is not ignorant since 1890. . of any of their works."
XXVI. WORLD'S GOSPEL UNION XI. I firmly believe that the (Kansas City). Supports a missionary Supreme Creator rewards those who to the Jews of Morocco (1894). keep His law; and punishes those who break it. XXVII. PRAYlilR CIRCLE FOR ISRAEL (Toronto, Canada). Was or~anized XII. I firmly believe that the Mes- in 1890 and supports a missIOnary. siah must come, and though His com- Expenditure $800 annually. ing is delayed, I will always expect it, till He d~s appear. XXVIII. MISSION TO JEWS (Montreal, Canada). Opened by Rev. J. Mc- XIII. I firmly believe that the dead will rise at the time appointed by the , Carter in 1896. Creator, whose name be blessed; and His glory magnified throughout all Non-Christian, educational and phil- ages, to all eternity.-Path8 Eternal.
anthropic work is not included in this Rev. W. T. Gidney estimates the Jewish population of the world at list nor are the efforts put forth in 10,000,000 (January, 1897). Of these in Europe, 7,701,298; in Asia, 260,000; connection with the regular Sabbath- in Africa, 336,500; in America, 772,000; in Australia, 15,138; total, 9,084,937. school work of various churches and congregations.
~ The Jewish Oreed.
I. I firmly believe that God, blessed be His name for ever, is the Creator and the Master of all things; and that everything was, is, and will be made for Him alone.
II. I firmlY believe that this Creator of all things, blessed be His name for ever, is One, by an unity peculiar to Himself, and that He alone has been, is, and will be our God.
III. I firmly believe that this
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.
A New Deoade. most suggestive and quickening thought Our readers will be interested to as to the world's needs and evageIiza- know that some important changes are to mark the REVIEW in 1898. tion. This magazine will then enter upon its third decade of years. It was We hope the January number, for originally founded in 1878, by Rev. which special plans are in progress, will Royal G. Wilder. In 1888 it past at his death into the hands of the present of itself prove that the readers of the Editor and Rev. J. M. Sherwood, D. D., the articles of transfer being MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD signed by Mr. Wilder immediately before his death, as tho his life had only are getting a most abundant return for been prolonged to accomplish this last act. At the reception of this trust the their outlay. And we shall always be new editors at once determined to enlarge the plan of the REVIEW, to call glad of helpful suggestions tending to their aid the best help available from different denominations, and to spare to the further improvement of this link no expence in establishing the best missionary periodical in the world. between the churches and the world-' This, with the generous aid of the field. enterprising publishers, they have sought to do. Rev. F. B. Meyer and How the Debt was Paid. Rev. James Douglas act as British editors, and Dr. Gracey, Dr. Leonard, The Editor has askt Dr. Henry C. Rev. D. L. Pierson, the son of the editor-in-chief, and Rev. C. C. Starbuck Mabie to give the readers of the REof Andover. give grand help on this side of the sea, besides a large corps of VIEW an account of the recent successcontributors and editorial correspondents scattered over the world. ful attempt to lift the burden 6f debt And now as we begin a third ten from the American Baptist Missionary years. we hope to still further expand and •• enlarge our borders." A new Union. Here is Dr. Mabie's reply: calendered paper will be used, 80 that illustrations may be inserted upon the FACTS CONCERNING THE DEBT-RAISING same pages with the letterpress and set in the midst of the page. And a new OF THE AMERICAN BAPTIST MISSIONdepartment will be introduced, to be known as the Missionary Digest, which ARY UNION. will be a sort of religious Review of Reviews, comprising the best matter The next year after the Centennial contained in other missionary maga- (1892), when the Union raised $1,000,- zines and printed works bearing on 000, and sent out a large number of new similiar themes. We have long felt missionaries-23 families to the Telugu the need of a department, which, to field alone-in consequence partly of those who have limited access to other the panic the income so fell off, that the periodicals, would be a condensed following year there was a debt of summary of the best information, and $203,000. The next year the debt stood at $198,000, and the next at $163,000, and in 1896-7 it threatened to become $275,000. The Home Mission Society found itself in a similar condition, tho with a debt of less dimensions ($180,- 000 in 1896-7).
At the anniversaries of the societies, in May, 1896, so grave was the situation felt to be that the officials and influen- tial friends of both these societies felt it important to come together in close practical cooperation, and for united and more definite prayer to God that He would come to their deliverance.
Out of this grew the organization of a commission on Systematic Beneficence. This represented all the missionary and benevolent organizations of the deno- mination. Four great representative prayer conferences, of two days each, were held in last year in Boston, New York. Philadelphia, and Chicago. Great spiritual power and deep broth- erly love markt this movement from the first. All the state conventions and and India proper sent offerings, aclocal associations felt the power of the companied by the most touching letters. movement. It might be added that from the be- About November, 1896, certain Boston ginning of the late movement prayer laymen came to consult with the secre- has been increasing-the main reliance. taries of the Missionary Union. The upshot of it was a parlor conference of At the anniversaries in 1896, an enlaymen at the house of one of the Bos- tire session, half-day, was given up to ton brethren. This meeting proposed prayer only. At the last anniversaries. that an effort be at once made to raise in Pittsburg, in lieu of three annual $75,000 for the debt of the two societies, sermons, the whole day was given up in New England alone, and a commit- to prayer-meetings. In several cases, tee was appointed to help raise it. just at the inception of the debt-raising effort, whole nights were given to Meanwhile, Mr. John D. Rockefeller prayer. On one occasion, at the mission was made aware of the movement, and rooms in Boston, about thirty persons a few weeks after another parlor engaged in the service-a ni~ht never conference was called by permission of to be forgotten. This was pnor to Mr. Mr. and Mrs. Rockefeller at their house Rockefeller's offer. in New York. "What hath God wrought!" At this meeting Mr. Rockefeller permitted the secretaries of the societies to -The following extract from the state that if there was a disposition on the part of the denomination generally Baptist Missionary Magaeineis pertinent to rise up and par off the debts of both to the subject on hand: the societies, (WhICh he estimated would be about $486,000, by April 1st, 1897), MISSION CHURCHES AND THE DEBT. he was willing to contribute the sum of One of the most pleasiug circum- $250,000 towards the object. This left stances connected with the raising of the $236,000 for the denomination to raise; debt has been the attitUde of the misbut it must be done right upon the heels sionaries and of many of the mission of the regular annual offerings of about churches toward it. We do not believe $500,000 then being made for the cur- there is any class of people who, accorrent work of the year. Could this be ding to their ability, have contributed so lar~ely toward the debt as the misdone? sionarIeS. Many of them have given Plans were immediately matured, from five to ten per cent. of their sala- ries, not to speak of the large gifts and Secretaries Morehouse, of the Home which they are called upon to make in Mission Society, and Mabie, of the For- the attempt to supply the pressing needs eign Society, took the field. It was of the work, which weighs so heavily through numerous parlor conferences, on their hearts and hands. As the misand the raising of numerous committees, sionarieshave told the churches on that the work was mainly done. their fields of the huge debt, hanging like a pall upon the great missionary New England was askt for $75,(00, society which had sent them the Gospel, the responses of sympathy and even of and raised $82,000. New York City, gifts have often been charming exhibi- Brooklyn, and North New Jersey were tions of the depth of the hold ~bich the askt for $75,000, and raised $76,000. .unselfishness of Christ has taken in the Pennsylvania, South New Jersey, and hearts of these Christians. District of Columbia were askt for $30,- 000, and raised about $31,000. Ohio, Udayagiri is in one of the poorest parts of our Telugu mission field. The for$12,000, and raised $13,000. Indiana poverty of the people is something befor $3,000, and raised about $6,000. yond the comprehension of people in Michiganfor $5,000. and raised about t.his country of plenty. The most of $5,600. Chicago and the Mississippi them live literally from hand to mouth; Valley region for $25,000, and raised earning each day only sufficient to sup- $26,000; the Pacific Coast for $5,000, ply their daily food; yet Rev. W. R. and raised nearly that amout. M.anley writes, "At our last monthly meeting I stated the case in regard to In a word, the amount raised by the debt of the Missionary Union, and the denomination was $253,000, which the Udayagiri Church at once voted to more than covered Mr. Rockefeller's send fifty rupees toward the payment $250,000. There were about 5,000 en- of that debt." We could give many tries on the SUbscription list, represent- other cases of the same readiness of ing all parts of the country and every sympathy and gratitude toward the mission field of the denomination. About $3,000 was contributed by the foreign missionaries, several of them sendin~ $100 each. Several of the native mIssion churches in China, Assam, Union on the part of the native churches, " To the Society in the UnittJd Sta,te8 of but the most affecting instance America, through which we have 'been which has come to our notice is the born again through the word of God letters sent by Rev. M. C. Mason from which liVtJth and alJideth,'from the elders the members of the Garo church at oj the church of Nisangram, .Assam: Nisangi'am. Mr. Mason says: "To the Lord Jesus Christ be praise, "I enclose herewith three letters and honor, and glory, and power for which I have just received from one of evermore. our village churches. I enclose also a " We have heard ofthe debt in which translation which we have carefully you through pity for our souls have be· made of two of them. The third is so come involved, and although our bodies like one of these that I have not thought are separated, our hearts are with you. worth while to translate it; this is from Your sorrows are shared by us, and in the young men of the church. As our petitions to God, the Father of out evidence that the sympathy exprest. Lord Jesus Christ, we always make in these letters is not words only, the mention of your debt, and if it please pastor sends me rupees, 127·9·9, to be Him, He may relieve you of this debt, forwarded to you. He says the money and further help you to extend His own was contributed as follows: from the kingdom to the ends of the earth. As Nisangram church, rupees 30; added by we have a large place in your hearts,'
the elders of the church, 20·14-3; added so, although, to live and to die together, by the young men of the church, 20; we wish you to have no small place in added by the women of the chur~, 31; our hearts, yet we are not ret suffifrom theChatcholjo church, 7·1-6; from ciently enlarged. But at thIS time to brethren of three churches, living at show our fellowship with your sorrows Santipur, 14-7; from the Smjonga and your joys we write this brief letter."
church, 3·3; from the Rongjulichurch, ,. THE SALUTATION80F THE ELDERS OF 1; total rupees, 127-9·9. THE CHURCH OF NISANGRAM.
" I have credited the Missionary Union ,. To the OjJlcer8 of TluJ American BapUst with this amount in our account, and Missionary Union, from the women of trust you will acknowled~e receipt. the churck of Nisangram, .Assam: "I gladly add that thIS thought of ., OUR MOST LOVING BENEFACTORS: sending aid to the society is entirely their own, The subject of the debt While we, like sheep, were astray, and was only mentioned at our association, just when we, being despised by every asking for their prayers. This pastor race, were going to ruin, through miswas not present, but he has evidently sionaries sent by you, we found the heard of it, and believes that true prayer Lord Jesus Christ our Savior. That is accompanied by works, and he has tlIere is anything of greater value than therefore collected this sum and sends it this we do not conceive. on. I wish the churches of our land would do as well as this Nisangram "Having heard from our teachers, the church has-it would do away with all missionaries, that by our receiving such debts. This contribution amounts to inconceivable kindness you have be· nearly four·fifths of a man's days' wages come involved in debt, we sympathize from every member of that church, in your sorrow. For, to save our lives, male and female, large and small-and to enlighten our ignorance you came to our aid. Weare like toddling chilfor the work here they have already dren. Forgive us our inability. Recontributed nearly five times this sum. member us in your prayers. Some will say, 'They must be rich,' " THE SALUTATIONS OF YOUR SISTERS but such would never repeat it if they OF THE NISANGRAH CHURCH."
could once come out and see them. Missionary Allianoe Funds. Nevertheless they are rich in good works, and are laying up stores where moth and rust do not corrupt." The editorial in the October number of the REVIEW, referring to the finan· The letters which follow read like cial methods of the Christian and extracts from the Apostolic Epistles, Missionary Alliance, has elicited the and when we consider that both the giving and the letters are the voluntary following reply from Rev. A. B. action of Christians, many of them formerly heathen, and all yet living in Simpson: the midst of heathenism, we can but wonder at the transforming and uplift· NEW YORK, Oct. 12, 1897. ing power of the blessed Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ As the article contains statements . which are fitted to do some injustice to our work and create a false and unfavorable impression in the public mind tributors have been pUblisht. This official bulletin is sent to our contribuwhich I am persuaded you do not in- tors, and may be had by anyone on application. It covers the receipts sent tend or desire, I feel sure you will out from May 1 to August, 1897, and is issued quarterly, accord me the courtesy and justice of a Yours most truly ir:. Him, reply and explanation in your columns_ A. B. SIlIIPSON, President C. and M. A: With referenlle to your quotation As to the above communication, from the Episcopal Recorder, calling while the editor of this REVIEW would be not only just, but generous to Mr. attention to a letter from some one in Simpson and his work, his letter has cansed us no little surprise, as well as Maine, demanding an account of the gratification.
expenditures of the money we received Our surprise is due to the somewhat apparently equivocal language of his at Old Orchard, I will only say that communication. Of course, the writer would not designedly misrepresent, this is the first time that ml.' attention yet his letter is an explanation that fails to explain. Up to the present has been called to the edItorial you year no complete financial statement of the matters of the Alliance has ever quote, and as we gave the fullest infor- come to our knowledge. There has been, indeed, a so-called cash account, mation possihleat Old Orchard, and cov- or treasurer's report, of which the fol- lowing is one specimen. In connecered all these points in our annual tion with the report of the eighth year of the Alliance, we find on page 22 the reports, which are freely distributed at following our conventions, I thilik we would REPORT OF TIlE TREASURER OF TIlE INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY ALhardly be expected to reply to all the LIANCE_ OCTOBER 9,1896. newspaper criticisms upon our work, Balance on hand Oct. 12, which ap'pear from time to time_ There 1895. _. __ …….. ___ …. $ 5,098.50 certainly was no intentional withhold- Total receipts during the ing of information, but every question year… """ _. _.. """ 107,420.77 brought up in th.ese conventions was .Total cash. _.. _. _. _. .. 112,519.27 Total disbursements ……• 106,576.93 frankly and fully answered. Balance on hand Oct. 9, With respect, in the next place, to 1896… __ '" ….. _… _. _ 5,942.34 your insistence that we should publish Securities and real estate received during the year. 33,000.00 full reports of our receipts and ex- Total receipts of tbe penditures, I need scarcely say both year…. __ . __ .. _. _.. 140,420.77 the Board of the Alliance and myself Securities and real estate formerly reported .. _. _., 49,200.00 are in complete accord with you. It is Total securities and the only proper course for any society or real estate ……. _., 82,000.00 DAVID CREAR, Treasurer. individual entrusted with public funds_ Audited lind found correct, With respect, however, 1.0 your state- Messrs. S. E_ FURRY, E. G. SELCHOW, ment that you have nef'er seen any- Auditing Committee.
such report of our receipts and expendI- tures, permit me to say that we have uniformly presented such a report at all the annual meetings of our society, and afterwards publisht and circulated thousands of copies of it, and sent it to our subscribers and the religious press.
I regret that you have not seen it, for at the request of the editor-in-chief, I had a second copy sent several months ago of the last publisht report and financial statement of our work. I take pleasure in now appending our two last financial reports, the one cover- ing twelve months presented at the fall meeting, October, 1896, the other covering the next six months up to March 31, 1897, when our fiscal year terminated under the new arrangement of the united societies, You will see by these reports that our expenditures are classified so as to show the particu- lar outlay for each field. All the minute details of these various expendi- tures are also entered in our books, which are always open for public inspection. .
I take pleasure also in sending you our last quarterly bulletin, by which you will see that even the numbered receipts sent out to our various con- We think it is very obvious this is no a numb8red receipt, unless that num-' proper financial statement of a great bered receipt is also among the pubpublic benevolent scheme that disburses lisht receipts, so that in the total amount hundreds of thousands of dollars of accounted for, each particuiar gift is other people's money annually. And, recognized as making up the entire inasmuch as in the capacity of a Review sum. Therefore, we repeat, that no we, feel bound to call attention to any such financial statement is worthy of the methods under cover of which dishonest name, and its annual publication does parties may carry on frauds, we can not supply the lack to which we have not avoid the responsibility of candidly called attention. A somewhat fuller criticising such a financial statement. statement of the sums spent on various It accounts for a total cash account of fields, and embracing fiftcen items of $112,519.27, and a disbursement of expenditure, is found on pages 98, 99 $106,576.93. But what assurance can of "Report and Retrospect," but even the public have from such an account here we find the same essential defect. that twice as much money has not been received? And who knows from such Our surprise at Mr. Simpson's letter a statement whether the money received was the greater, inasmuch as we had has been put to the uses intended by never supposed that anyone connected the donors? Let us leave our brother with the Alliance work denied-not Simpson out of the case, for we are not even Mr. Simpson himself-the fact discussing rMn but rMthod8. Grant- that no complete financial statement ing his transparent rectitude and guile- had been publisht in Pltst years. This lessness, we should deprecate in him lack the Editor has frequently spoken any way of conducting a great mission- of to the supporters of the A.:iance, ary scheme under the shelter of which and to Mr. Simpson also. Some have a scamp might perpetrate enormous exprest regret for the absence of snch frauds. And so let us imagine a case. full reports, some have acknowledged it A great alliance scheme like this passes, to be the one lamentably weak point in let us suppose, at Mr. Simpson's the Alliance's methods, and a few have death, into the hands of a thor- apologized for, or even defended it. Mr. oughly corrupt man, of plausibie pre- Simpson, in private conversation, retensions and a mock spirituality. From markt that "his people object to the a too credulous, gullible public he re- publication of the individual amounts ceives in one year $500,000 in money. given," etc., but we repeat, no one- Half of it he uses for his personal pur- not even Rev. Mr. Simpson-ever beposes, and publishes a brief statement fore denied the fact that full financial of ten lines, which accounts, in a gtme- statements had not been rendered to ral way, for $250,000, and is properly the public. Notably Mr. W. N. Conaudited. Does not anyone see that this ley, who recently died at Allegheny, is only a subtle cloak to conceal gigantic Pa., told the Editor that he considered imposture? The very appearance of this the one great defect in the Alliance business honesty and exactness becomes management-and he was one of the only a disguise for dishonest dealing, ablest helpers of the Alliance work. and no careful business :man can be deceived by such a. vain show; it is Again, our surprise at Mr. Simpson's only the untrained, unbusinesslike giver reply is not diminisht when we note or observer who fails to see the unsatis- that he does not say explicitly that the factoriness of this whole method. The "official bulletin," to which he refers, essential defect lies in this that no giver and in which every particular donation can trace his gift, or learn whether is acknowledged and numbered. has it ever found its way to its destination. only been publisht 8ince April last. From Nor will it do simply to send the donor his statement that "even the numbered receipts sent out to our various contrib· utors have been publisht," it would be inferred that such a method was part some friends of Mr. Ben·Oliel severely of the "uniformly presented annual censure the editor. The justice of this reports"; and had been in vogue ever complaint we fail to recognize. In the since the Alliance undertook mission first place the paragraph was a quota- work. But, when we come to look at tion from Dr. Barrows, culled from the the bulletin itself, we find that it is public journals, without comment, for "issued quarterly," but as this is dated what it was worth. Secondly, it was "September, 1897," and is "No.2," the exprest opinion of a man whose the first number must have come out greatest fault, in the opinion of many, not earlier than June last – so that the is his excessive charity, and who was remedying of this serious defect has the last man we would suspect of only been since we began to call the either a hasty or harsh judgment.
attention of Mr. Simpson and his friends Thirdly, as Mr. Ben·Oliel is getting to the unsafe and unsatisfactory finan- money constantly from various sources cial methods of the Alliance. for his ostensibly benevolent work, the Our gratification, however, is very public are entitled to whatever caution • sincere, notwithstanding our surprise. Dr. Barrows feels compelled to utter.
This official bulletin is a full statement, Fourthly, as the author of the para- from April to August 1897, of the num- graph, quoted from the Interior, is well bered receipts from 1 to 1300, with the known, and the charge of fraud was not amount represented by each, so that anonymous, the contention of those every giver can now see that his gift who object is not with us, but with'
enters into the great whole, which is to Dr. Barrows himself.
form the sum total of the annual expen- But, in order that justice might be diture. This is just what we have been fully done, the editor wrote to his life- seeking to secure, and we extend our long friend-than whom he knows no congratulations to Mr. Simpson for the truer gentleman-and called his atten- complete and business-like method tion to the complaints made about his which, though so recently adopted, will charges that the Christian Union serve as an example to those who are Mission in Jerusalem is a fraud, unde· carrying on the Lord's work as the serving of public support, and the fol- agents of His people, and whom it be- lowing is the reply: hooves to do His business in such a way 4812 WOODLAWN AVE., Chicago. as that no possible encouragement shall be afforded to those who are seeking by My DEAR DR. PIERSON: Your letter dishonest means to promote self·in- of Sept. 23, with the enclosures, was terest. We thank God if our candid duly received. and friendly criticisms have helped to promote this result. I do not wish to appear in 'the RE. VIEW as entering into any controversy The Ben"()lie) Mission. over the matter referred to. The in- formation on which I based the opinion During the absence of the editor-in· exprest was perfectly trustworthy. and chief in Britain, Rev. D. L. Leonard, would have been satisfactory to any who edits the department of Gen- fair-minded man.
Faithfully yours, JOHN HENRY BARROWS.
eral Intelligence in the closing pages With this letter we leave the matter, of the REVIEW, quoted a paragraph referring all who are dissatisfied to Dr.
from the Interior containing the words Barrows himself, who will, no doubt, of Dr. John H. Barrows, of Chicago, be quite ready to direct those who wish about the work of Rev. A. Ben- "information" which is •• trustwor- Oliel in Jerusalem. (July issue, page thy" and .. satisfactory to any fair· 003.) For the insertion of this ex- minded man" to the sources from tract from our exchanges, for which which it can be obtained. If Mr.
:Mr. Leonard alone was respoBSible, Ben-Oliel is worthyof public confidence, the more thorough the investigation impracticable, but 'it has nevertheless the more complete the vindication. We awakened much interest. The attitude should for ourselves gladly welcome of the leaders can not be thoroughly from any trustworthy source any evi- approved of, even by Israelites, as when dence of the economy. efficiency. and Dr. Lippe said in his opening address: spirituality of his work. such as would " We would look on his majesty (the set at rest the widespread distrust Sultan), if he would accept us, as our which forsome reason exists and which Messiah. " Such an utterance shows no vindication of Mr. Ben-OUel has clearly how far Israel has wandered thus far been able to allay. from God.
The Zionist Movement. The following is the program of the Zionists adopted by the Congress:- Whatever may be thought of the The aim of Zionism is to create for the ultimate outcome of the Zionist move· f,~~~n ~~~~~in~. publicly, legally assured ment, it is at least indicative of a revival of the Jewish national spirit. The In order to obtain this object, the Congress adoption of a Hebrew flag by the Jews. adopts the following means: of Chicago also points in the same direction. The Zionist Congress, ut 1. To promote the settlement in Palestine which some 250 delegates met at BasIe, of Jewish agriculturists, handicraftsmen, in- • Switzerland, August 29-31, was desig- dustrialists, and men following professions. nated by one of the leaders, " The First 2. Tbe centrallzation of the entire Jewish people by means of general institutions agreeably to the laws of the land.
S. To strengthen Jewish sentiments and national self-conscience.
4. To obtain the sanction of governments to the carrying out of the objects of Zionism.
Jewish National Assembly" for over Baroness de Hirsch has decided to eighteen hundred years.. The object found a colony near Smyrna for the of the movement is " the realization of one hundred and fifty families who the old hopes and aspirations of Israel." some three years ago, on account of This means the ultimate acquisition of the persecution in Russia, fled from Palestine by the Jews, and its conver- their native land. The colony, at the sion into a Jewish state, "a homestead express desire of the community, is to for Judaism, where it 'can develop ac- be ualled "Clara de Hirsch." A school cording to the Jaws of its own being." and a synagogue are to be erected in Resolutions were past to raise a National the center of the settle:nent. Fund of $50,000,000 by voluntary con- tributions. It is proposed to found a Here is another of the .. storm sig- Jewish Bank, to have in charge the nals" : ., The Presbyterian Church is care and investment of this fund. Literature is to be distributed, itinerant hearing from the drastic retrenchment lecturers are to be appointed, and" col- enforced upon its missionaries by reason onies" to be founded and supported in of the Board's diminisht resources. Dr. Palestine. Kellogg, Landour, India; Dr. Henry, It is said that the Pope, alarmed a Canton, China; Dr. Hunter Corbett, this movement, is seeking to influence Chefoo; Dr. Jessup, Syria, and others the Sultan to prohibit the further write of the effects of the policy, and acquisition of property by the Jews in the expression of opinion is unanimously Palestine. The immediate acquisition one of sorrow and dismay. One writer, and settlement of Palestine, by the Dr. Kellogg, writes in despair of 'the Jews does not, however, appear proba- decay, or absence of interest, in mission ble, since at the rate of 10,000 a year, it work in the Church, which is full of would take at least one hundred years for one-tenth the present number of wealth, and ready to spend it in many Jews to settle there. Jewish and ways, but not for missions.' A chief Christian papers for the most part hardship is the necessitated dismissal of speak of the scheme as visionary and many native teachers and helpers, who must now be relegated to secular pur- suits. The situation is certainly an unhappy one, which is not relieved by the fact that some of the denominations are making a more successful fight for missions and against curtailment of the work. And there are some pretty custom. From that time dates his lifeheavy Presbyterian balances still in the long fight for the principle of prohibibanks." tion-a fight in which he won unex- pected success in a state where the rum- The Rev. Dr. Thomas Laurie, who shop was firmly rooted. recently died at Providence, R. I., and whose contributions have not been Book Notices. infrequent in these pages, was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1821, and was, "On the Indian Trail,". by Rev. therefore, seventy·six years old. Edgerton R. Young. Fleming H. He was a Presbyterian missionary to the mountain Nestorians in Kurdistan in Revell Company. This is another book 1842. After the massacre of the Nesto· rians, he joined the Syrian mission in written by this fascinating writer 1844, but ill health drove him to this country two years later. He labored in and speaker, whom we do not often Charlestown, South Hadley, and West Roxbury, Mass., until 1867, when again hear excelled on the platform in all the considerations of health compelled a rest. He traveled abroad for a time, qualities of an instructive and interest· and then returned to the pastorate. He was settled in Providence from October, ing lecturer. He has done much on 1867, to 1885, in active pastoral duty. both sides of the sea to awaken interest in the red man's salvation. If anyone His contributions to missionary liter- will read Chapter V., and learn how ature are well known: "Dr.· Grant the Indians were taught to read the and the !flotmtain Nestorians," "Wo- Book of God by the help of the syllaman and Her Savior in Persia," and bic character, he will need no other especially "The Ely Volume: or, recommendation of this, Mr. Young's, Missions and Science." This last is latest volume. best known, and is one of the best modern presentations of the general "Eye Gate; or, Native Art in the indebtedness of civilization to missions; Evangelization of China," by Wm. it is itself a sufficient crown for Dr. Wilson, M. B. London, S. W. Partridge Laurie's lifework. & Co. This book is wholly unique. It is a collection of native cartoons Neal Dow, the great prohibition lead- designed by the Chinese themselves as er, departed very recently at his home their own illustrations of the sacred in Portland, !fIe. He was born in that narratives. These pictures are parables city on March 20, 1804. He was, there- for the eye. They are conformed to fore, in his ninety-fourth year at the native ideas, usages, images, and custime of his death. The ninetieth anni- toms, and serve to concentrate attenversary of his birth was celebrated in tion on the truth taught, which would 1894 by Prohibitionists in various parts otherwise be dissipated on the novelties and seeming incongruities of the situa· of the country. tion. The book also contains a large amount of interesting matter about General Dow's attention was first at- China. tracted to the liquor question by his connection with the Portland Fire De· Books Received. partment, of which he became chief, with fourteen hundred men under him. HISTORICAL SKETCHES of the Missions On the occasion of an anniversary sup- under the Care of the Board of per of the fire company which he first Foreign Missions of the Presbytejoined, and of which he had been made rian Church, U. S. A. Fourth captain when only twenty-one years edition, revised and enlarged. old, he made a vigorous opposition to Publisht by the Woman's Foreign the providing of liquors, and carried Missionary Society of the Presbyhis point, in the face of a time-honored terian Church, Philadelphia. 75 cents, cloth.
A CONCISE HISTORY OF MISSIONS, by E. M. Bliss, D. D. Fleming H. Revell Comppny, New York, Chicago aud toronto. 75 cents.
ON THE INDIAN TRAIL, by Rev. Eger- ton R. Young. The Same.· $1.00.
SEVEN YEARS IN SIERRA LEONE, by Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D. D. James Nesbit and Oompany, 3 shillings 6d.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
EDITED BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, D.D., OBERLIN, OIDO.
Extracts and Transla.tions From Foreign President Peirce speaks disparagingly Periodicals. of the American missionaries among the Armenians. A much more eminent BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, person, Professor Bryce, speaks in the warmest terms, not only of the inestim- MASS. able benefits conveyed by the Ameri- cans to the Armenians, but also of their 'rHE ARMENIAN CHURCH. friendly cautiousness and moderation. Of course, they have had their narrow- In a late number of the New W01'ld, nesses and precipitancies. In those President and Mrs. Peirce, of Kenyon stagnant regions these faults, at the College, gave a full and interesting ac- beginning were, perhaps, among their count of the Armenian Church. Only chief excellences. How far they have it rests npon the antiquated theory, been from an essentially intolerant spirit that it is possible to restore the "Holy is shown by the joint Gregorian and Catholic Church" of the earlier Chris- Protestant services at Harpoot, Aintab, tians. It is true the Armenians are real- and various other towns. Of these ly a fragment of this great formation, President Pierce says nothing. When into which prevailing Christianity set- the missionaries preach regularly at tled in the second century. The East- Gregorian High Mass, and when the ern churches still remain on this foun- Gregorians celebrate their vesper serdation, and have become stagnant on it. vices, using their own altars and crosses, Western Catholicism has gradually in Protestant churches, it is plain that transferred itself into Romanism, giving both sides have learned, with St. Paul, to the ancient form another substance. that in Christ Jesus neither circumci- Anglicanism, again, keeping the elder sion availeth anything nor uncircumciframework, entered so deeply into sion, buHaith which worketh by love. Protestantism, that all attempts of reactionaries can never detach it. Such President Peirce querulously asks a high churchman as Charles Gore, we why the Armenians alone should not learn, frankly admits that the Angli- have the right to their own distinctive can movement was only a deeply dif- opinions. One would suppose from ferentiated form of the general Refor- this that the Americans came, like so mation. This was an essentially new many Turks, with revolvers pointed at departure, not from the Gospel, to the Armenians' heads. Undoubtedly which it gave a depth unknown since they oove a light to their distinctive Augustine, and a freedom unknown opinions, but if anyone thinks that he since Paul, but from Catholicism, East- has, in some points, better opinions, he ern and Western alike. . Reactionary certainly has an equal right to propose Anglicans can no more seduce Angli- them to all who care to listen. The one cans or Armenians to the Catholicism right conditions the other. The Board of 'Cyprian than they could seduce and the missionaries do but set their chemistry to alchemy. The future hearts on a revivication and purificachemistry may include many yet ne- tion of the Armenian Church, and such glected suggestions of alchemy, but it authorities as Bryce and Ramsay testify will not be alchemy. Even so the that they have accomplisht great things future Church may reinclude many for this. If, as the Rev. W. N. Champrofound truths and venerable institu- bers of Erzroom has suggested is tions of Catholicism, but it will not be possible, they should some day help to Catholicism. Christ is more than all effect a junction of Anglicanism and the formations of His Church.
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS
Armenianism, it will doubtless be to It appears, by an article of General an Anglicanism which appreciates the George Hutchinson in the C. M. lntelli- value of their previous work. The gencer, that in the early part of the last present writer is an Anglican, but he century the attitude of the British Gov- prays that he may never be given over ernment and of the East India Com- to an Anglicanism which can not heart- pany was notably different from the ily acknowledge the living Gospel of decided hostility into which the com- Christ wherever it is found. We do not pany, at least, afterwards declined. In remember to have seen the term 1717, and previously, the king, the " Anglican" or even the term "Catho- government, and the company all join lic," in the New Testament. in urging the Danish mission-the only Protestant mission then in India-to do INDIA. its best for the conversion of the Hin- "Many of the native gentlemen in dus. "In 1730 the Danish Madras Nasik, Western Indis, cordially wel- Mission received much encouragement come the visits of the missionaries. One and strength from the steady support old Hindu gentleman said: •Tho I am of the English governor; and the Archnot a Christian myself, and do not sup- bishop of Canterbury sent to it £168, pose that I ever shall be, as I am now accompanied by a warm expression of too old to change my religion, yet I his sympathy; and in 1750 the Court of sympathize most heartily with the mis- Directors granted a free passage to India sionaries; no one knows the amount of to the devoted and well-known missiongood they hjlve done in the country. I ary, C. F. Schwartz, and two of his am assured that a great future is before companions. In 1758 the great Clive them, and I wish them well in it.' " received the missionary, Kiernander, "0 Spirit of the living God, who warmly, and he and other members of didst in the beginning brood over the his council fell in with his benevolent face of the darkened deep. bring into plans and were not ashamed to ac- newness of life the hearts of men in the knowledge him as a Christian mission- Bengal Presidency. We pray for India ary."
as represented there, we plead for its JAPAN. simple village folk, untoucht by mod- ern civilization, and for its pundits and Professor Lange, of Berlin, writing learned classes, now in daily contact in the ZeitBehrijt fur Mi8si0n8k'und6, with Western culture. Before such says of the powerful Japanese Chin earthly lore the stately piles of Hindu sect of Buddhism: "A tract expound- faith are tottering to their fall, soon to ing the principles of this sect declares become a crumbled ruin. 0 gracious that men are tQo weak to struggle Spirit, Thou Divine Teacher, lead into through to redemption by their own truth that mass of erring, misguided strength, by religious and moral actions humanity. Purge out the leaven of alone, altho this is the original and all literature alien to Thyself. With essential teaching of Buddhism. To Pentecostal power visit with salvation demand this of men is to ask hens to the cities and the villages, the busy go into the water. A heart that be- marts, and sheltered zenanas. Forth lieves of its own strength is changeable from Calcutta, made alive to GOd, may as an image in the water; a heart that the word proceed, till in every village believes through the power of another Christ shall be preacht. In Burd- is strong as a diamond. He who pos- wan and the Nuddea district let the sesses the first believes in many Budd- truth prevail; and may Santalia lift has; he who possesses the latter, be- up holy hands to God for Jesus lieves in one Buddha, as a faithful Christ's sake."-Prayer sent out by the servant does not serve two masters.
C. M. S. Accordingly, the adherents of this sect
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
honor Amida Buddha as the head of the right of foreign missionaries of any all Buddhas. There comes to view the nation who abide faithfully by the laws remarkable phenomenon that a doctrine, of the land to settle in a French colony, which originally can only be called and work there just as French mission- esthetic, has made its way through aries could settle in a British colony.
·polytheism to monotheism. But we They are trying to save for the Mala- ·must never forget that Amida is to be gasy the open Bible and the free church eS!!entially distinguisht from the God life which they had received at the of the Old Testament, for he is wor- hands of their missionaries. •Why,'
shipt through an image; he is not the asks Mr. Cousins, •should the French creator and upholder of the world; he want to get rid of the British mission- is not eternal, for there has been a time aries who are 10yaltoFrench rule?' In when he was not yet Buddha, he is not a recent examination for admission to a almighty; he does not dircct the desti- high school, started by the French nies of men in this world, and does not government in Antananarivo, out of 800 punish sin; it is only in his great love candidates who sat for a stiff extensive and compassion to men, and in the exa~ination, a youth who had been wish that all may be saved, that he trained in the secular side of the Lon- comes nearest to the idea of God. don Mission College, came out at the Whoever now sets his full trust in the top, even beating in their knowledge of grace of Amida has no occasion to the French language all the pupi1e from leave house and home, and to seek re- Jesuit schools, in which the masters demption in cloistered seclusion far were Frenchmen."
from the tumult of the world. He need not refrain from marriage or from -The Rev. W. Huckett, of Voni- the eating of meat, etc. Accordingly, zongo, Madagascar, says of the Jesuits: this is the only Buddhist sect the priests " They have declared themselves to be of which have from of old been allowed our bitter foes. They wear the garb, to live and dress exactly like laymen. and they possess the spirit, of the me- They are not tonsured, and wear no direval times. All who possest the monastic garb. The office of priest is pieces of paper which they distnouted ·hereditary, and the high priest Atani is a were supposed to be true and loyal citi- descendant of the princely founder of zens, but those who did not were sup- the sect. Shiman belongs to the posed to 'be rebels; the possession of higher nobility; he is the primus inter the paper involving the embracing of pare, the most highly considered of all , Roman Catholicism. The Jesuits also the heads of the Buddhist sects." made use of the services of paid spies, MADAGASCAR. who were present at all Protestant meet- ings." Notwithstanding tpese facts, The Rev. George Cousins says in he sincerely hoped that the English The Chronicle: "The work is still go- missionaries would be ab1e'to live down ing on, tho greatly weakened and cur- the racehatred, lIuspicion and prejudice tailed. The missionaries of the society by steady work, believing in Christ's hold a certain recognized position in words that the meek shall inherit the Madagascar to day, and best of all, earth. He also hoped, as public opin- Protestant France is on their side. ion in France became enlightened, tha~ French Protestants are sending mission- the Jesuits would be "better muzzled,"
aries to join the English missionaries and that espionage would cease with in Madagascar, and their friends are the then state of siege. A large fighting a noble fight on behalf of re- number of the natives were sure to lose ligious liberty in Paris and all the great faith and become practically atheists, cities of France. They are contending and others would become, nominally, not only for religious liberty, but for Roman Catholics, but they would stlll read their Bibles, and follow out Bible are a white Frenchman; I am a Mala- teaching. .•• If the Malagasy love any. gasy Frenchman.' This shows you thing, they love their Bibles." As proof how energetically developt a character of the consistency and heroism of the he was. Thanks to him, the Protes- Malagasy Christians, Mr. Huckett told tants refused to be persuaded over to the stories of the martyrdom of Ratsimi- Catholicism. He was an obstacle, and kotona and his sons by brigands, and they have taken him out of the way. of the" judicial murder," as an English One Saturday evening the famous gentleman of the highest position in governor-general of this circle, R, sum- Antananarivo called it, of Raindriamam- moned him to A. He had him tied up in pedry, sixteen honors next in com- such a way and in such postures that mand to the prime minister, after the the poor man was one bruise. I thought arrival of the French. As Raindria- they were about to try him at once. mampedry was dying, pierced by Not so. As he has been guilty of noth- eleven bullets, in the presence of 50,000 ing except of having stood in the or 60,000 mourning Malagasys. the father's way, they prefer to detain him people said his face shone like the face preventively; he is given over as a spec- of an angel, and the French officers tacle to the curiosity of the passerby, said he died "like a gentleman." A no doubt to inspire them with a salu- priest had offered him baptism ., to save tary fear. As soon as he was in bonds, his soul,' but he replied boldly: "No, the priest precipitated himself upon I will die in the simple faith in which I A., and 1., as an easy prey. The Pro- have lived." testant teacher of the former village, menaced with the fate of R, has fled, It has been surmised that the Queen and is now at Antananarivo. At 1. the was banisht because she would not father has made his way into our school turn Catholic; but this is denied by the and carried off our scholars. The recolonial minister in the French Senate. ligious and school work is totally ruined "Under the French flag," said he, in these two villages." H every one is free to profess what creed he likes." This sanctimonious speech "Th.s procedure having succeeded, was received with explosions of laugh- there has been a relapse into it. Still ter from the senators. Mr. Pecksnift' in the same region, that is neighboring has evidently taken out letters of French to A., at T., the chief of the quarter, naturalization, and has risen to high named R., and the governor R, (both dignity under the RepUblic. Protestants) have been arrested and brought in chains to A. Soon after M. Escande, writing to the Journal came the turn of the pastor and our dell Mi88Wns, remarks that very many teacher at 1. Rumors discreetly spread officers, higher and lower, are scrupu- by the agents of the fathers give us to lously attentive to carry out Gen,eral believe that before long all the Protes- Gallieni's orders in favor of religious tant evangelists, pastors, teachers and liberty. but that from the nature of the governors, will undergo the same lot." , case heis better acquainted with those who, intentionally or not, serve as in- One Malagasy governor was told by struments for the Jesuits. Thus: the Jesuit that if he wished "to save ., The evangelist of Antananarivo has his life," he would have to turn Cathobeen arrested, sent to A., (the new resi- lic. But, like a true Jesuit, if he should dence of the commandant of A.) and be taken to task for this, he will be there bound in chains. It is this evan- sure to declare that he meant to "save gelist, who, at A., had placed himself his life from hell I" at the door of the Protestant church and had hindered the priest of A. from [Erratum.-On page 785 in the Ocentering. It is he also who, at A. had tober REVIEW, for "Gnostic dean" proudly answered the Father: 'You read "Gnostic dream."]
ENGLISH NOTES
English Notes. from day to day-people listen to the earnest addresses given them, but make BY REV. JAMES DOUGLAS, M.A. little actual response. The work has been much aided lly the use of lime- The Ohurch Missionary &ciety.- light views shown on a white·washed Work in Korea is made very difficult wall, illustrating the life of Our Lord because of the gross superstition of the and many parts of the Scriptures. The people; they are in continual terror- people are delighted with this and terror of the living, but most of all of the gather to listen and look wonderingly dead. The fear of demonsand spirits of and attentively. Both the stories and dead ancestors haunts and enslaves the the pictures are new to them,and touch people. They will not move after sun- them wonderfully. set from sheer fright. Mr. W. Reid, at Tripoli, finds his Rev. F. T. Cole writes telling of his time fully occupied in attending to both mission in the Santal Colony at the foot the spiritual and physical needs of the of the Himalayas. Part of his journey- people. Many come to the medical ings had to be taken through very mission, who would not otherwise be rough country on an elephant. The there, but for their bodily needs, and villages were all visited, and in many often in getting help for these troubles instances a hearty welcome was given, they obtain salvation for their souls. there being some Christian villages in this district, Mr. Cole having visited In connection with the medical mis· this colony before. It is hoped that Dot sion is a book-shop, where copies of the only in the Christian villages, but Bible and books helpful because of throughout the route taken, blessing their bearing on the Bible may be had. accompanied the words of testimony This is an interesting branch of work, and experience spoken. The special and is in favour among the more highly mission meetings held at Bhagalpur educated of the people. were most cheering; many stayed to the after.meetings and implored for- The London Missionary &ciety.-The giveness, and others testified to the Rev. W. G. Lawes, of New Guinea, blessing received. The lepers at the writes comparing and contrasting the C. M. Asylum were visited twice during condition of New Guinea twenty-two this mission, and stirring addresses years ago with that of the present time. given to the poor suffering lepers. Then " Darkness covered the land and gross darkness the people." Now, North Africa Mission.-Among the " The people that walked in darkness new workers, who have recently gone have seen a great light; they that dwelt forth to labor in North Africa, are Mr. in the land- of the shadow of death upon Harry Nott and Mr. Herbert Ernest them hath the light shined." Jones, who studied at Harley House and Cliff College, and also went through After twenty-two years, although the usual course of Arabic at Barking. much still remains of heathenism, a Both are young men of considerable great and marvelous cllange is manipromise. Their destination is Casa- fest. From East Cape to the Fly River blanca, Morocco. This mission has in the west, covering a distance of 700 recently received the generous gift of miles, are many centers from which £1,200 from one of the Lord's stewards. light is being-diffused. Ninety churches According to Mr. Morgan, the editor of are dotted like light-houses along the Tlte Cltristian, who has lately been coast. The appearance of the people traveling in Algeria and Tunis, the has changed-the wild look of suspicion work of the above society is showing has gone. The Sabbath is observed encouraging signs of the springing forth even in many heathen villages, while of the seed sown in past years. 1,350 men and women are profest followers of Christ. Seed-sowing in Casablanca continues
GENERAL MISSIONA.RY INTELLIGENCE
Drought has again visited Bechuana- able milestone in the march of the misland and the news from this part is very sion in Formosa. serious. This ill the third year in succession noted by the absence of rain, Aleppo.-Recently the Synod, at the and great distress is the rcsult. request of the Jewish committee, au- thorized the ordination of Mr. Christie Amoy.-Good work is being done in as missionary teacher at Aleppo. The connection with the three missions under field there, so far as its 115,000 Jews the pastoral care of Mr. Sadler. The are concerned, is quite unoccupied, mission in Hui-an district has 23 chur- though the work now being undertaken ches and outstations, while that in the may fairly be looked upon as the re- North River has now assumed a phase sumption of the work begun by Mr. of much interest, the Gospel touching Grant Brown of the United Presbytermen of the literary class, a class of all ian Church over 87 years ago. lIr. others in China the most difficult to Christie instanced, as one of the reasons teach. The third missio~ is that of the which determined his choice of this Teng-Chic, which is still in an initial special field, the feeling that he had stage, but not without tokens of encour- that but few have the care of the Jews agement. Two little chapels have been laid on their hearts. opened and eight persons have been baptized. THE KINGDOM.
Preabyterian Ohurch of England.- – TM Church Mis8ionary Intelligeneer The Hakka churches have at length tells of a woman brought up in the taken the first step toward self-support. highest ranks of society who found her Two churches are uniting for this object income suddenly reduced to what -the central, Wukingfu, and another; might well have seemed the very minithe two together providing a stipend, mum allowance for maintenance under and being allowed to call a minister. tolerable social conditions. She con- This event marks a long desired "for- trived' however, by di£pensing with ward movement" in the Hakka work. servants and by other self-denying " Tell the Church at home," one of the economies, to reduce expenditures to Wakingfu elders said, "that we are about one half of the diminisht income, ashamed of our slowness; we are like saving £70 a year to help missions. children who have been nourished too Then, by numerous means, as ingenious long by their mothers." as laborious, she earned a further sum of £200, assisting missions to the extent The work is extending in the Hakka of $270, nearly twice her own income. region. A new station has been opened And her life-one long act of self-denial at Sinsa; and the people are most ready as some would esteem it-is, by her own to hear the Gospel. At Phai.lIang, in confession "one long song of praise." the south of the Hakka field, desire is exprest for the opening of a place of -The man who finds the pages of worship; while not far from the station the missionary journals dull and unof Upper Sands, there is a place called profitable, simply confesses that his Lower Sands, where it is reported that taste has not yet been refined so as to the people in great numbers are desir- appreciate the surpassing interest that ous of worshiping God and are also attaches to the story of the endeavors eager to open a place of worship for of Christian men and women to extend themselves. the kingdom of God on earth. The man who says he has no time once a Hitherto the Presbytery of South month even to review the record of Formosa has not included any ordained achievement, and to Jtear the report of native pastors, but two groups of chur- the generous munificence of the Church ches are now about to call ministers. at large in behalf of these causes, in The .two ordinations will be a memorthat plea acknowledges that he meas- found, to teach and preach and live the ures values by a false standard, that he Gospel. Second, to equip them just as has never yet learned" what is of most mercantile agenis and explorers are worth" in news, in effort, in human equipt for the new climate and condi- aims and aspirations.-Assembly Herald. tions in which they have to live, and to furnish them, as far as possible, with -No friend of missions can afford the strongest weapons of civilization- to omit from his reading H. M. Stan- the printing press, the school, and the ley's article in the October Atlantic, on hospital. Third, to draw into the work "Twenty-five Years' Progress in Equa- as rapidly as possible an army of native lorial Africa." workers, that the Church in every land may belong to the people of that land, -Mr. Poultney Bigelow says in his and embody the Christ-life in their own book on "White Man's Africa" that forms of thought and speech. Fourth, one locomotive has done more toward to administer the enterprise on sound civilizing Africa than all the missionaries business principles.-Gospel in all Lands. since Livingstone. He says in the same book that civilization in the Portuguese -The Archbishop of Canterbury, possessions is at a standstill on account preaching in St. Paul's Cathedral at the of the dishonesty of the officials. How close of the Lambeth Conference, said: short-sighted of the Portuguese govern- "The Christian who has learned in ment not to import I). few locomotives some degree to understand that marin order to reform those wicked officials. ,velous love beyond all love, he as- Great is the logic of the anti.missionary suredly will find that of all things that traveler.-Advance. – he can do there is one beyond all else that will knit his very heart to God, -The Dial, in reviewing Sir Harry and that is the longing desire and the Johnston's book on Central Africa, and earnest labor to give to others what is especially his charges against the Chris- such It'blessing to himself. He is but ,tian missionaries, comes to their defense half a Christian who is content to rewith the following comment: "The ceive what the Lord will be graciously missionary is not likely to be a univer- pleased to give, and thinks only of the sally popular man in a community grace that shall enter into his own soul, largely made up of "aggressively un- and shall penetrate and purify his own godly" people, to whom his presence is life, and ::asts no thought upon the a restraint and his ways arc a rebuke; many for whom Christ died, and over and to whom, moreover, all profession whom the death of Christ has not yet of piety is "cant," and who would any real power, because they have not naturally resent a decent attitude of offi- heard of His name. That Christian ill not cial aloofness from loose ways and really living the full Christian life who loose company as savoring of "arro- forgets that which the Lord gave the gant demeanor," and the spiritual con- Church to do in the beginning, and ceit of the "unco guid." In point of takes no part in prayer for the converfact, there is, as it seems to us, a fund- sion of the world, and takes no part in amental rivalry between the African sending forth those that shall undertake missionaries and the army of self-seek- the task." ing or merely nomadic adventurers now streaming thither in the wake of the -Talk of bravery! talk of heroism I Rhodeses, Jamesons and Barnatos. The man who leads a folorn hope is a coward in comparison with him who, -The plan of foreign missions is on Tanna, thus alone, without a sussubstantially the same in all churches, taining look or cheering word from one and may be briefly stated: First, to of his oWn race, regards it as his duty send out living men and women, the to hold on in the face of such dangers, best and the best educated that can be We read of the soldier, found after nually imperiled and lost. There is a the lapse of ages among the ruins of close connection between medicine and Herculaneum, who stood firm at his extraordinary superstition and wickedpost amid the fiery rain destroying all ness'; and the sorcerer is summoned on around him, thus manifesting the rigid- almost all occasions, or the wizard, or ity of the discipline among those armies some prophetess, who professes openly of ancient Rome which conquered the to being in league with spirits of the world. Mr. Paton was subjected to no world. Sickness is supposed to be the such iron law. He might, with honor, work of demons, and the sorcerer is when it was offered to him, have called in with his wand. And in comsought a temporary asylum in Auck- parativelyenlightened Japan they beland, where he would have been lieve the power of healing is connected heartily received. But he was moved with a divinity, and thus there is no by higher considerations. He chose to worship more constant and continual, remain.-Bishop Selwyn, of John G. and no power possibly more believed Paton. in, in Japan, than that of Binzuru, the god of medicine." -A striking indication of the progress of Christian missions is seen in the -"You take the Bible to the transfer of emphasis from the early heathen, and they spit upon it, or bum YE'.ars of this century. The annual re_ it, or throw it aside as worthless and port of the Church Missionary Society harmful. You preach the Gospel to him calls attention to the fact that an early and he may regard you as a hireling report congratulated the SOCiety on the who makes preaching a trade. He fact that the work abroad was growing may meet your arguments with sophisso much that the committee had been try, your appeals with a sneer. You able to spend,the entire inco'flUJ! a thing educate him and he may change from a which had been impossible before. heathen to an infidel. But heal his The same interesting situation occurs in bodily ailment in the name of Christ, the early history of the Baptist Mission- and you are sure at least that he will ary Union. In 1885 the income was 80 love you and bless you, and that all you largely in excess of the opportunities say will have to him a meaning and for use on the fields then occupied, that power not conveyed by other lips."- at the annual meeting the Board was lJr. Poet, oj Beirut. instructed "to establish new missions in every unoccupied place where there -First of all, as our societies gather may be a reasonable prospect of suc- in prayer-meetings this month, let us cess, and to employ in some part of the unite in hearty thanks to God that He great field every properly qualified has called an increasing number of missionary whose services the Board medical women into missionary service may be able to obtain." In those days these last years. Has the noble profesthe prayer of God's people was for the sion of medicine ever made a nobler opening of new and wider fields for contribution to the good of our race than missionary effort. Baptist MisBionary through these bands of healing woxnen, MagarnM. gone abroad into lands of darkness 1- Woman'8 Workfor Woman. MEDICAL MISSIONS. -Twelve years ago the representa- -Says Mrs. Isabella Bird Bishop: tion of the London medical schools in .. I think it is not fully recognized that the mission field was close on nz1,but toevery system of medicine prevailing in day the London School of Medicine for the East /ls connected with sorcery, Women has 81 representatives abrpad, demonolatry, and witchcraft, not to the London Hospital Medical School speak of brutal and torturing treat- has 17, St. Bartholomew's 10, St. ment, and the thousands of lives an- Thomas' 5, University College 8, while 6 other London medical schools have colleges, libraries, museums, hospitals, each 1 or 2.-Medical MU8wn8. etc.
-The Church Missiohary Society is -According to the Ertamintll' Rev. sending out 8 medical missionaries this R. S. McArthur figures it out that it year, whose faces appearin the October costs the Baptists, on an average, but Intelligencer, and an exceptionally tine $209.43 for each missionary, natives looking company they are. included; the Methodists, $269; the Presbyterians, $309.50, but the Chris- -The governor-general of Algeria tian Alliance, $499.10, tho Dr. Simpson, has given the charge of a medical mis- the head of the society last named, has sion in the mountains beyond Biskra to been claiming that his work far excelled a'woman graduate of the University of in the matter of economy. Paris, Miss Chellier; her chief work will be the care of the native women -We easily forget that not a few and children, and she has already gained organizations, which are not missionexperience by making two successful ary in name, are indispensable to the journeys into that part of thc country, work abroad; the Bible societies, for placing trained nurses at the various example. It will also be a surprise to stations. many to be told that the American Tract Society, for twenty-five years, -The deaconess movement first took has donated $100 annually to a single hold of American Methodism at the mission, that of the Lutherans (General general conference of 1888, less than 10 Synod) at Guntur, India. years ago, but it has spread like a fiame of holy fire until almost every nook and -Think of it! A. camp meeting of corner of our Zion are affected by it. 2,000 Christian Indians held in South The official duties of a deaconess are: Dakota a few weeks since. That" Mis- " To minister to the poor, care for the sion Conference" consists of represensick, provide for the orphan, comfort tatives from all the Congregational and the sorrowing, seek the wandering, save Presbyterian Churches among the Sioux the sinning. and, relinquishing all other of North and South Dakota and Nepursuits, to devote herself to these and braska, and the membership includes other forms of Christian labor." Was the pastor of each church, its deacons a more Christ-like mission ever design- or elders, the clerk and treasurer, and ated in terser or more expressive and one delegate; also from the woman's winning terms ?-Methodist OhriBtian missionary sewing society in each Ad'DOCate. church, the president, secretary, treas- urer, and a delegate, and from the Y. -The Chicago Deaconess Aid Society M. C. A. and Christian Endeavor Sosupports 20 deaconesses, who give their cietyof each church the same represen-. entire time to what may be termed tation. The questions discust were such practical Christianity, namely, visiting as these: How to increase th!) interest and caring for the sick, caring for of believers in the study of the Bible; homeless little children, and the help- What can be done to decrease the morless aged. The worthy poor are assisted tality of the Indian race? The educain finding work, and food and clothing tion of our children; How the Gospel are given in emergency cases. may be most speedily brought to bear upon the heathen mind; The self-sup- UNITED STATES. port of our Indian churches. The In- dians were very active in these discus- -The N. Y. Ti'lT!ell is authority for sions. The churches represented have the statement that during the" hard their 2 native missionary societies for times," 1893-'96, by certain men of the carrying on of work among the wealth not less than $121,000,000 have more heathen of their own people, esbeen given in the United States to found or endoW' such public institutions as pecially west of the Missouri, and in heart has been greatly rejoiced by the North Dakota and Montana. The 11 conversion of I) Chinamen in our Indian Congregational churches con- Chinese mission school. I baptized 3 tributed $1,056 during last year; and two weeks ago, and will baptize 2 more the 23 Indian Presbyterian churches, to-morrow night. Large crowds wit- $1,041. Besides supporting their own nessed the baptism. These Chinamen native missionaries last year, the Con- belong to the better c1ass-3 are mergregational Indian Native Missionary chants, and they give the most satisfac- Society gave $300 to the A. M. A. All tory evidence of their conversion. In of -which indicates plainly that to the the same letter Dr. Purser alludes to red man genuine goodness is possible, arrangements now being made by which even this side of the grave. 100 Chinese boys are to come from Hong Kong, China, to New Orleans to -The Methodist Church now ex- receive an English education.-Mis.ion pends about $9,000 a year in mission Journal. work among the Indians, among whom it supports in whole orin part 29 mission- -The Disciples are rejoicing that in aries, and has 1,513 Indian members their missionary giving the $100,000 and 436 Indian probationers. There mark has at length been passed. During are 31 missions, of which 18 are in the last four years there has been a gain Michigan, 5 in New York, 2 in Cali- in the receipts of more than $40,000. fornia, 2 in Washington, 1 each in l'Iinnesota, Montana, Oregon, and Wiscon- -While the Methodist church is ensin. The mission among the Navajos deavoring to pay its missionary debt of in New Mexico has been transferred to $100,000 by a subscription in shares of another church. $20 each, Bishop Hartzell writes from Africa that he and his wife will each -Mr. Edward Marsden is a Tsimp- take one, "the Congo mission con~ shean Indian of southern Alaska, and ference, few in numbers, but mighty in is not an Eskimo, as 1 he Outlook lately faith and sacrifice, will take 2,. and stated. He is by trade a steamship en- Liberia, struggling in her poverty to gineer and machinist; and, since he help herself will take 5 shares-9 in all graduated from Marietta College in from Africa." 1895, has been studying theology and law in Cincinnati. Next spring he re- -Recently there arrived in Chattaturns to Alaska as a preacher, educator, nooga 21 Mormon missionaries. It is and adviser to his people. said Chattanooga is the headquarters of about 400 of these emissaries of Mor- -Prof. J. W. E. Bowen, of Gammon monism, whose whole time is occupied University (colored), Atlanta, Ga., has in house to house visits, proselyting lately written an article, full of sparkle among thc mountain people of Tennesand force, in behalf of the higher edu- see, Kentucky, Alabama, North Carocation of the negro, whose burden is lina and Georgia. that we can not settle this question by the color of the skin. Do with Afri- -Be it known to all the saints that cans as with Americans, English, Ger- the Roman Catholic " Non-Catholic mans, French-give them a chance. Mission Work" now has no less than 15 groups, or bands, of priests at work -The Methodist Church has in the night and day, North, South, East and South 18colored conferences, with over West. to capture this land for the Pope. 1,700 preachers and over 260,000 mem- And this is the prayer they are bidden bers and probationers, and expends for to put up: "0 Immaculate Virgin, them this year, $43,545. Mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, Mother of Grace and Queen of the -Rev. John F. Purser, missionary at Kingdom of thy Son, humbly kneeling New Orleans, writes as follows: "My before thee, we beg thee to have a for the past 20 years been rigidly Im- special care of this country in which we posed and cheerfully endured for the live. It Was once dedicated to thee, work's sake in the Uganda Mission.
and it by right belongs to thee; all its The conscientious and persevering children are thy children. Again do patience of the missionaries through we consecrate it to thee, again do we the long years when it was not thought dedicate it to thee as thy own. We safe for women to join them in the place under thy protection all our field have not attracted much attention brethren, those multitudes who know from the outside world, but they have thee 80 little, or who know thee not at been noted by the committee with all. May thy prayers bring back these thankful appreciation. The latter have blinded ones to the light of the true never thought that celibate missions Faith'! May thy intercession lead us all were in themselves preferable either in to a closer union with thy Divine Son!" Africa or elsewhere, and they have de- EUROPE. sired both for the welfare of the mis- Great Britain.-While in the British sionaries, and in order that Christian Isles there is an ordained minister to family life might be exemplified by 1,088 of the population, the proportion Europeans in Uganda, to remove the in hcathcn and Mohammedan lands is restrictions at the earliest possible date. one missionary to about 220,000. Some of the considerations which had weight when the restrictions were im- -By the British and Foreign Bible posed, remain to-day unaltered. Others, Society a staff of 660 colporteurs are on the contrary, have been within the employed in carrying the Scriptures to past few months, and are being every remote districts in France, Belgium, day, greatly modified. On reviewing Germany, Austria, Hungary, Rouma· the question under the new conditions, nia, Servia, Bohemia, Italy, Spain, the committee have decided to relax Portugal, Poland, Russia, Siberia, Cen- their prohibition about a year hence, tral Asia, Turkey, Greece, Crete, Cy- and the special regulations which will prus, Asia Minor, Syria, Palestine, be applied, when the time arrives; have Arabia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, the been sanctioned and communicated to Canaries, South Africa, the Mauritius, the mission.-Intelligencer.
Persia, India, Ceylon, Malaysia, Su- The Continent.-The &ciete de8 Mia- matra, Java, Borneo, Celebes, China, 8Wn8 EvangeliquetJ de Paria had recently Japan, Korea, South and Central Africa, the joy, for the third time, of ending the West Indies and British North its financial year without a deficit. Not America. The greatest work is being only have the resources for the special done in Russia and Japan. Dr. Cust work of the Zambesi and Madagascar . has prepared a most interesting and re- abounded, but the gifts for the general markable table showing the languages work have been increast to 24,000 and dialects addcd to its list of transla- francs above those of the previous tions by this society between 1837 and year. The whole amount received was 1897. The number is 196, viz., 23 629,000 francs. European, 63 Asiatic, 32 of Oceania, 60 Aflican, and 18 American and West -The Belgian Missionary Church has Indian. grown in ten years from 26 churches to /h, from 17 pastors to 30, and the bud- -The Church Missionary Society get from 130,000 francs to 176,000,while sends out this year 85 new representa- 17 new places of worship have been tives to the foreign fields. built.
-The restrictions as to marriage -The year 1896 marks a develpment which Bishop Ingram thinks it would of some importance in the home depart- be w~ tQ impose in West Africa, have ment of the Swiss Romande Mi88ion since the Intercantonal Pact for Mission- -Sin'Ce 1884 the friends of Foreign work, sanctioned in 1895 by the Synod Missions in Protestant Germany have of the Free Vaudois Church and the contributed $1,125,000 towards the Presbytery of the Free Church in maintenance of Christian schools in Geneva, has also been adopted by the heathen lands. Synod of the Independent Church in Neuchlttel. The association therefore, -The German Relief Society reports of a third church with those two already an income of $90,000 in contributions, engaged in foreign work, has necessita- of which $40,000 were at once devoted ted the revision of the Traite d'a88ocia- to the relief work in Armenia, and the tion of 188S and the introduction of a same amount will be used for the estabnew element into the Romande Com- lishment of homes for 700 Armenian mittee; in accordance with a law re- orphans. Female physicians will be cently framed, this is, for the time sent to Oorfa and Van. being, composed of seven delegates from the Vaud canton, six from Neuchatel, -The" Pilger" Mission (St. Chrisand two from Geneva. The foreign chona), whose institutions are located department of the Society's work also on a hill of the Black Forest, near Basle displays evidence of progress. By the on the Rhine, and whose men are fonnd native church in Lorenzo Marques, as preachers, teachers and evangelists which with its annexes numbers nearly all over southern Germany, Austria, 900 converts, there was recently handed Switzerland and America, has again to the Swiss agent a purse of 500 francs, taken up the work of foreign missions or to speak more correctly, a tobacco- by sending two good men t6 northern pouch containing that sum in farthings! China. Others will follow in the near Lorenzo Marques is beginning at length future. to taste the sweets of restored peace; the assertion of Portugnesse power, un- -Luther Johannes, the son of Pera happy in its action, has proved bene- Johannes, the pastor of the Nestorian ficial in its effect, Heathenism in the Lutheran Church at Vasyrabad, in overthrow of Goungounyane has been Persia, will enter the mission college at stript of its prestige, its elements have Hermannsburg, in order to fit hhnself lost their cohesive force; trouble, in this for future work in Persia.. His father wide sphere, has opened many new is a graduate of the college. Some doors and softened many obdurate families in Alsace have been his friends natures. ,.All if an anticipation of such and supporters for years. an emergency, a larger number than usual of candidates have been led to ASIA. offer for foreign service-1S in all.- Islam.-Mr. Gladstone says (and Intelligenu'1'. pity 'tis, 'tis true): "The pain, shame, and mischief of the last two years in -At the end of the last fiscal year the eastern policy transcend entirely the Unity's Elder's Conference, which the powers of any langnage I co~ld use has charge of the foreign missions of concerning them. The sum is this: 1. the Moravian church,found itself facing A hundred thousand Armenians have a deficit of $29,009, though the most been slaughtered, with no security scrupulous economy had been exercised. against a repetition and with greater The missions of these were thus in a profit to the assassins. 2. Turkey is critical condItion, but in the exigency, stronger than at any time since the Mr. J. T. Morton, pfLondon, England, Crimean war. 3. Greece is weaker than a Quaker, offered to pay the entire debt at any time since she became a king. on condition "that no retrenchment be dom. 4. All this is due to the Euromade at any point in the mission field." pean concert-that is, the mutual hatred and distrust of the powers." -The Aintab hospital, bearing the church in Jerusalem. It is reported name of Azariah Smith Memorial, is that the German Emperor will visit the connected with the Central Turkey Col- Holy City for the purpose of opening lege. During the last year the number the church. of free patients at the clinics has been 2,993, while in the clinic for women Dr. India.-Not long since in an address Hamilton has treated 861 cases. In- given in London Mr. James Bryce gave cluding all out-patients and patients his impressions of religious work in within the hospital, 20,964 professional India, and declared that the longer one calls have been made. As indicating stays there the more evidence one has the diverse nationalities that find a that the future well-being of this counhome in Central Turkey, it may be try, and above all the extension, permastated that of the 201 patients in the nence and quality of British influencc wards of the· hospital, 123 have been depend largely upon the progress of Armenians, 60 Turks, 5 Arabs, 5 missions. Koords, 2 Syrians, 2 Jews, and 1 Gregorian. -For eight years in succession the growth of the poppy in India has not -A report received from Pres. prospered. The Indian Government, in Gates, of Euphrates College, Harpoot, the first' instance, fell back upon the Eastern Turkey, says that the total at- reserve stock laid up at Patna and tendance in the departments has been Ghazipur against unfavorable seasons. 646, of whom 64 are in the college A.'l no favorable season appeared, all proper, 81 in the high school and 801 in the reserve was swallowed up in the enthe intermediate, primary and kinder- deavor to put on the market as much as gartens. This is an increase of nearly would keep the sales up to the ordinary 300 over the maximum attendance at standard. Thereafter, the crops still any time previous to the massacres. continuing to be deflcient, a larger For tuition and board of pupils the acreage of cultivation was secured, but collcge has taken $3,307. The girls' without avail. The cultivators were department, with an attendance of 428, stimulated to do their best by an inis carried on in hired buildings, as all of crease of an additional rupee per seer, the .buildings of that department were but all in vain. The deficit this year burned two years ago. amounts, according to the Indian Gov- ernment statement, to Rs. 419,000, and -From Oroomiah, Persia, Mr. a Government estimate for next year is Blackburn reports that as fruit of the that there will be a loss amounting to revival last winter over 400 have been Rs. 1, 130,000. added to the church, and about 200 more would join at the next commun- -Among the 1,000 temples in Brindaion. This is the largest accession in ban there is one built by two rich bankany year since the founding of the ers of Mathra at a cost of $2,250,000. mission. The food of the idol costs $15,000 yearly, lind other expenses amount to -The Boys' School at Teheran closed $12,500. The managers of the temples a prosperous year on June 8. Of its in Brindaban are determined that no 134 enrolled pupils, 70 were Moslems, Christian place of worship shall ever be 50 Armenians, 13 Jews, and 1 Zoroas- built there. They kept out the Mohamtrian. medan mosque during the 800 years of Mussulman rule. Six years ago the -The new German church at Jeru- Methodist Church began work in Brinsalem, which has been in construction daban, and now the presiding elder of for some time, will be completed next Agra district, Dr. J. E. Scott, of which year. It will cost dbout £40,000, and it is a part, has 15 appointments. will be the most imposing Protestant -The Christian Alliance has 18 mis- literature for China, has also decided to sion stations in India, divided among make an annual grant of £100 for the the states as follows: 8 in Berar, 5 in same work, and expresses the hope that Guzerat,4 in Khandesh, 8 in Bombay. other missionary societies will help in a similar manner. -At a recent anniversary meeting of the London Missionary Society the Rev. -" We may safely estimate," says I. H. Hacker of Neyoor, Travancore, the Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, the founder askt his hearers to look at the results of the China Inland Mission, "that not of mission work with the eye of the less than 15,000 to 20,000 souls have prophet, who saw the king's chariot accepted Christ through God's working stopt by the floods of rain, and not with us during the last thirty years." with the eye of his servant, who only saw a cloud like a man's hand. The -In the China Mission of the English promise of ultimate success in India Presbyterian Church there are 18 minwas that "Christ is there." The in- isterial missionaries, 11 medical misfluence of Christ's teaching is sway- sionaries, 4 miSSionary teachers and 22 ing, molding, and guiding the lives of agents of Women's Missionary Associamen, and they are almost unconscious tion. The communion roll has risen of it. In this connection he told of a during the past year from 4,650 to native judge who scorned the idea that 4,946. 'l'he total membership, includthe missionaries could ever convert such ing adults and children, is 8,621. There as he to Christianity. "No," was Mr. are 15 native pastors supported entirely Hacker's reply to him; "I may not get by their own congregations. There are you, but my sons will get your sons, 53 theological students and 47 native and my daughters will get your preachers. daughters." -Mr. Whittemore writes of the -Since last November the Bishop of Whang Hai Doh section of the Pyeng Tinnevelli has been permitted to con- Yang field: "Last October there were firm more than 2,000 native Indian rcported from that province 8 churches, converts. or better, congregations. To.day, there are at least 23; more than all those con- -The experiment of the Leipsic nected with the whole station last Mission in buying large tracts of land year." and settling on them persecuted and impoverished Christian pariahs is imi- -The Wenchow Mission of the' tated by the Basle Mission on the West United Methodist New Oonnection Coast, the Scotch Mission in the Sengel- Church has increased fourfold in five pat province, and the Propagation years, and has now 7 circuits, 100 Society in Trichinopoly. chapels, 1,804 members, and 649 proba- tioners. Last year 200 members were -Ma Hnin Aye, the old Burmese added. lady of Tavoy, who has recently given 5,000 rupees to the Baptist Missionary -In Manchuria the Scottish United Union for the use of the Tavoy Burman Presbyterians and Irish Presbyterians mission, died May 20, aged seventy- join in building up one church. nine years. She had been in feeble Already there are: 1 native pastor, 17 health for It long time, and for nearly elders, 165 deacons, 63 chapels and 41 two months confined to her bed await- other places of worship, 5,802 members ing her release. aud 6,300 inquirers. The contributions were £700 last year. China.-The Baptist :M:issionary Society of London, in addition to main- -Mr. Denby, the United States Mintaining one of its missionaries while en- ister at Peking, has achieved another gaged in the preparation of Christian victory for the cause of missions in China. The Chinese Government has made of silver and, with a silver hair- hitherto maintained that, however will- pin, constitute the chief ornaments ing, it was unable to protect fully those which an average Korean woman pos- foreigners who go far into the intrior sesses; The type of Christianity in of the country. Mr. Denby has Pllrsis- Korea may be judged by the fact that tently claimed that it was able to do so, many wedding rings as well as consid- and was bound to do so; that mission- erable money have been sent from aries, or any other foreigners, have a Christians in the northern field down to right to go where they please in the Seoul to be used for relief in India. Empire, and to expect fuIl support of the Chinese Government wherever they 1apan.-The Japanese are very fond may be. Almost more important than of music, but our Western music is this is the privilege he has secured for most inharmonious to them. However, them of purchasing land. Hitherto as their music is just as unpleasant to this has been denied, and foreign prop- us, we are quits on that question. Some erty has been held in the names of of them have changed their opinions of Chinese. Now they are free to buy late years, but they used to say, "Chil- and hold property in their own names. dren, coolies and women may find Another scarcely less important conces- pleasure in European music; but an sion is the promise that governors who educated Japanese could never tolerate prove themselves careless about the en- it." That is something like the opinion forcement of law shall be adequately of the natives of India, whose mournful punisht, not merely removed from bltajana sound so monotonous to us. office and made to pay a fine often little "The English," they say, "have done more than nominal.-Independent. a great deal for this country; they can do almost everything better than we Korea.-Dr. H. N. Allen, who has can, hut they can never excel us in been nominated for United States min- music-never!" The Japanese ladies, ister to Korea, was one of the first like those you see in pictures, are very missionaries sent to that country. He carefully taught, and greatly enjoy is a graduate of the Ohio Wesleyan singing and playing for their visitors. University, and in 1884 he went as a medical missionary to China under the -Rev. Henry Topping writes in auspices of the Presbyterian Church, Gleaning8: "We have recently adopted and about a year later began work in the envelope system of weekly offer- Korea. During President Harrison's ings. We are much pleased that so administration he was in this country •'foreign' a eustom should be so graci- for two years in charge of the Korean ously adopted; and particularly, that embassy, and later was appointed secre- the regular passing of the collection 'tary of the United States legation in bag should be acquiesced in, for the Korea, which position he has since Japanese shrink from pUblicity in held. He had charge of the Korean giving money as they also do in receiv- exhibit at the World's Fair in Chicago. ing it. They regard such publicity as vulgar, fit only for the shops. Their -The Korean Christians of Gensan, sense of propriety prefel's rather that in response to an account of the suffer- their salary be handed them in a sealed ing in India, brought generous contri- envelope without remark, or, better butions to Mr. Swallen. One man yet, left where they will find it. Therebrought $10-11. very large sum to a fore we rejoice in such evidence of Korean. Another, whose wages are their willingness to become a separate $10 a month, brought $2, and his wife and peculiar people for Christ's sake. II sent her two wedding rings, which in Korea are always worn in pairs, never -The proprietor of a large coal mine, singly. These rings are heavy and where 800 people are employed, has in- vited a Lutheran missionary to visit his mine regularly and preach to his associated with him in the attempt to people. This man is not a Christian, establish industrial missions In Africa. but he furnishes a place for meeting, We would by no means fail to give attends himself, and wants the men them their due meed of praise, tho taught Christianity, because he says it their proposed method of operation will make them honest, obedient and never commended itselt to our judg- virtuous. Thtl uniform testimony of ment. But we have often been told the missionaries is that the people that the scheme on which the good generally are willing to listen to the bishop planned.to prosecute his evangel- preaching of the Gospel, and that there istic work ought to displace the methods is very little open hostility. heretofore adopted and now in use by most missionary boards. Not a few :-Some proprietors of a silk factory individuals and churches liave with- in Yokahama, Japan, where over 100 drawn their support from the older or- girls are employed, desired a Bible ganizations in order to contribute to woman to come to their factory to hold this new effort, which seemed to them religious services, saying they would so economical and effective, and was gladly give one hour morning and prosecuted with such heroic' faith and evening for daily prayer and Bible confidence in God. But experience readings with the girls. must decide as to what is wise and eco- nomical. It is a question of methods. AFRICA. Certainly, in answer to that question, facts should be made known. It is -Whoso would watch the signs of with no desire to discredit what has the times for the Kingdom as touching been done, but solely to aid our friends the Coptic church in Egypt, will do in judging as to the best methods for well to read an article in the Contem- prosecuting the work of evangelizing pora'rll for May, by "A Coptic Lay- the world, that we call attention to man," entitled, The Awakening of the facts recently presented from the most Coptic Church. reliable source in reference to Bishop Taylor's industrial missions in Africa. -Bishop and Mrs. Hartzell left Bishop Hartzell, of the Methodist Liverpool October 2d, for Cape Town, church, the successor of Bishop Tay, -South Africa. After spending some lor, has just made his 11rst tour of these time in the study of the Wesleyan industrial missions, and he reports the mission and educational work in results as he now finds them, 10 years British South Africa, it is their in- from the commencement of Bishop tention to proceed overland to the Taylor's work. Within that period 50 seat of the Methodist missions on stations have been opened and 88 mis- the East Coast at Inhambane, visiting sionaries sent from foreign countries, on the way the Transvaal, and thence most of them from America. Bishop into Portuguese territory, where our Hartzell states that "the results have, missions on Inhambane Bay are situa- as a whole, been disappointing," and ted. It is the plan of the Bishop to be he gives the following facts. The exin Monrovia by February, 1898, in penses of the stations were far beyond order to hold the Liberia annual con- anything anticipated, and many of the ference at that time. After visiting the missionaries sent out proved them- missions of the West Coast again, and selves unfit for their work. Only 13 examining their progress since his for- of the 88 persons sent out 10 years ago mer visit, we hope to hear his report are now in the field-4 preachers, 1 from the field and his plans for future 'layman, and 8 women. Some have work.-PittBburg Christian Advocate. gone to other churches, but most of them have returned home. Of the -The Christian world justly ad- Inires the courage and Christian devotion of Bishop Taylor and the men 50 stations opened, 29 are said to be stroy him, and it is then that recourse occupied, but of the 29 "fully one-half is made to the witch-doctor to discover are doing but little_" As to the out- and to punish the supposed offender.
come of the industrial work, Bishop The wizard who causes the evil is gen- Hartzell states that coffee raising was erally credited with certain agents by depended upon largely as a source of whom he can work vast evils amongst income, but of the 45,000 or 50,000 his fellow-beings. One of these agents coffee trees planted, "scarcely 15,000 is the baboon, who is called at night to have been saved from being choked to perform various errands of mischief in death by grass and bushes," and that the kraal of the offending person. An- after careful inquiry at the 29 stations other is the lightning-bird, through now occupied he finds that the total whom the wizard can control the light- amount of coffee sold will not exceed ning. Another is the Tikoloshe, who $200 worth.-Misswnarll Herald. is a small evil spirit in the form of a -Mr. Charles Reeve, who has ini- dwarf."
tiated a mission upon" faith lines" at ISLANDS OF THE SEA.
Poona, is now traveling through the -The following statement recently Australian colonies, calling for recruits appeared in an English paper: To avert willing to accept service on such terms, the, ruin which threatens, where it has and scores are volunteering. Mr. Reeve not already overtaken, Evangelical returns to India at the end of the year missions in Madagascar under Jesuit with a strong contingent of laborers, intolerance, 5 distinguisht French male and female, accompanying him. Protestant pastors and professors have -The Paris Missionary Society is gone out, and are expected at Antanan- working in South Africa in Basutoland, arivo about this time. The Free east of the Orange Republic. There Churches of France united with extraare there 23 French missionaries, 3 ordinary enthusiasm tosend them forth, native pastors, 250 catechists and teach- pledging themselves at the same time ers, 16 stations, 140 out-stations, 15,000 not to neglect any of their existing adult Chriutians, and 7,500 school chil- missions. M. de Beynes, president of dren. The Bible was translated into the Paris Society for Evangelical Mis- Sesuto by CasaUs, lfabille, and Ellen- sions, declared to a crowded meeting berger, 1849-76. Last year a manual that while the revolt of Fahavalos training school was opened by the mis- showed the risks of civilizing barbarous sion, where young Basuto are taught useful trades. Chief Lerothodi was so natives, a worse insurrection threatened much pleased with this new enterprise that he assest his people $20,000 for Frenchmen in Madagascar-an insurthe building of another such school, rection against justice, the rights of which will be placed in charge of the conscience, and the faith of treaties. missionaries. The outrages of the Jesuits, as reported by MM. Kruger and Lawga, and the -The workers of the Society for the loyalty of the British missionaries to the Propagation of the Gospel experience new French regime in the island, have produced a strong impression on mem- bers of the Senate and the Chamber of Deputies.
much difficulty from the debasing ef- -Aneityum at the South, and Santo fects of the system of witchcraft on the at the North, about 400 miles apart, are people of Kaffraria. From a very in- the poles of the New Hebrides Group.' teresting account of their missions in Work first began on Aneityum fifty that country, we quote ~he following: years ago, and success was great. "Any sickness which is at all persistent Northward, island after island, has the or unusual is, I believe, supposed by mission grown. One of the latest the heathen Kaffir to be the work of stations fouuded is that of North Santo, some individual who is trying to de- where a Mr. McKenzie is settled, and here too the work prospers, and 12 con- verts have recently been baptized.
The Missionary Review of the World — July 1893
THE ISLANDS OF THE SEA. [July
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XVI. No.7.-0ldSerieB.—JULY.—VOL. VI. No. 7.-NewSwiel.
THE ISLANDS OF THE SEA.
BY REY. SAMUEL MCFARLANE, LL.D, F.R.G.S., ETC., FOUNDER OF THE NEW GUINEA MISSION.
Early on a lovely morning in August, 1796, a vessel might have been seen gliding out of the docks of London, from which could be heard the sweet strains of music, so unlike that of the sailors at snch times that you would naturally pause to look and listen. There is nothing in the appearance of the vessel that differs much from the others, but the mnsic is strange and startling. You trace it to a gronp of ladies and gentlemen standing on the deck of the vessel, and as you look and listen the words come floating distinctly over the still water, "Jesus, at Thy command we launch into the deep." What vessel can it be ~ What sort of passengers Itre those ~ You look for the name of the ship, and find that it is called .Duff. You inquire, and find that the passengers are a band of missionari~s. You naturally ask, Where are they going? what is their object ~ and you are told that they are a few humble, faithful followers of the " Captain of our Salvation," who have volunteered to go to the most distant parts of the earth and attack heathenism in its darkest and most dangerous places, and there plant the standard of the cross.
What an army for such a mission ! and such a mission at such a time! It was like an angel of mercy rising amid the scenes of strife and blood and anarchy and crime which burst forth in appalling and destructive violence from the French Revolution, spreading horror and panic through surrounding nations. There were wars in America, ending in the independence of the United States. Wars in the East, leading to the establishment of the supremacy of England in India.
It was also a time of maritime discovery and scientific research. Men like Captain Cook returned from their voyages and gave stirring descriptions of the countries and tribes they discovered; hence the awakening of the Church to obey the last command of the gleat King and Saviour of men. "The revival of religion at home and the universal spread of the Gospel were regarded by many as events which might be expected to flow from existing calamities." To the Christians of that day" the prospects of the fnture triumph of the Church spread a mildness over existing gloom, and cheered them amid the miseries and wickedness which distressed the nations and distracted the world."
This little band were armed for their work with books, tools, medicines, printing apparatus, etc. Among the presents was one somewhat singular in its character. Two ladies presented a brass plate, on which was engraved the following inscription: "See that ye fall not out by the way" (Gen. 45 : 24); "Fear thou not, for I am with thee: be not dismayed, for I am thy God" (Isa. 41 : 10).
Ten ministeis of different denominations took part in the farewell service, showing the catholicity of the society that was sending them out. The missionaries were told plainly that" it was not Calvinism, nor Arminianism, but Christianity that they were to teach. It was not the hierarchy of the Church of England nor the principles of Protestant Dissenters, but the Church universal that they were to serve." They were to be " infinitely more concerned to make men Christians than to make them Church of England men, Dissenters, or Methodists. "
This being the pioneer mission in Polynesia, all subsequent missions have profited by its example, its errors, its failures, and its successes. Its history has effectually exploded the idea that civilization should precede Christianity in the evangelization of a heathen people. This, the greatest of all reforms, must begin within and work o?dwa1·dly.
There was a long dark night of toil in that first mission to the islands of the sea. Deaths, desertions, and martyrdoms reduced the ranks of that little army, but a faithful few held on, hoping, working, praying. The interest awakened in England at the outset had almost died away, and the question was seriously discussed of abandoning the enterprise. There were, however, a few friends of the mission who were determined to persevere and sustain the efforts of the missionaries, and, like all faithful builders of the spiritual kingdom, they had their reward.
Seventeen years after the landing of that brave little band a crowd of savages were assembled in one of the beautiful cocoanut groves of Tahiti. The blending of the feathery tops of the trees protected them from the sun, while the branchless stems allowed the refreshing trade wind to fan the group. Mr. Nott, the missionary, was reading to them a translation of the third chapter of the Gospel according to St. John. It was a strange congregation-a motley group. Tall, well-built, powerful savages, decked in feathers, flowers, and paint, leaning on their spears or squatting with their clubs' between their knees. Some are talking and laughing, others are declaring what is being read to be untrue ; but there is one man in the crowd who is looking earnestly at Mr. Nott, who, when the sixteenth verse is read, calls out in Tahitian, " Will you read that again~" What ~a thrill must have passed through Mr. Nott when that request was made, especially as he looked upon the anxious face of the well-known warrior who made it. Read it again ~ Yes, a hundred times if you like, and with a silent prayer, no doubt, that God would bless it to the poor man's soul. Amid unusual stillness, every eye turned to the missionary j he reads solemnly, emphatically, joyfully: "God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Him should not perish, but have eternal life."
We can easily see what words would be emphasized in this verse- how the last two would echo through the cocoanut grove 1 and before the echoes had died away the savage earnestly asks another question, "Does that mean Tahiti~" Mr. Nott looked steadfastly at the man, and'stretch- ing out his arm, with his finger pointing at him, said, "It means YOU." That man became the first convert in the islands of the sea.
Those who count heads, money, and years in estimating the success of missions, might say, "One convert after all this expenditure of life, labor, and money for seventeen years 1" and then begin to reckon how long it would take to convert the world at this rate. The same might have been said when any of our great reformers and preachers were converted, although the conversion of such an one meant the 'conversion of half the world. Spiritual work cannot be measured by man. How can we measure a thing of which we can only see one end, the other stretching into eternity ~ and who can estimate the influence for good of that first convert of the South Sea Islands ~ He was a trained and noted warrior, who became a valiant soldier of the cross, ready to go anywhere, do and dare anything, and make any sacrifice for his newly found Saviour and King.
The South Sea Islands mission has been pre-eminently distinguished for its noble band of native pioneer evangelists. The European pioneers at Tahiti labored for seventeen years before a native embraced the Gospel j but where native pioneers have gone it has rarely been as many months, and they have gone from island to island and group to group, from Tahiti to New Guinea. The secret of their success is that they are, above all things, consecrated men. From their early days they have been trained as warriors, beginning their education with toy bows and arrows and spears. "'-hen they embrace the Gospel they carry their war-spirit with them. "We have been," as I have often heard them say, "the soldiers of the devil. Weare now the soldiers of Jesus Christ. Tell us what He would like us to do."
The writer has trained over a hundred of these native pastors and pioneer evangelists, and consequently knows them well, and greatly admires the beautiful simplicity of their Christian life and faith. Tell them that Christ would not like them to go to a place, and they say, "Then I won't go j" that He would not like to hear them using such language, and the reply is, " Then I won't say that any more j" that He would not like to see them doing so and so, "Then I won't do it," is the quick response. With consecrated, enthusiastic converts like these it is easy to understand the rapid progress of Christianity among the islands of the sell. How great would the progress of the Redeemer's kingdom be among our own countrymen if professing Christians made the will 0/ Ghrist the rule of their life! That first South Sea Island convert was a true missionary, as all con- verts ought to be. The new light led to a new life. His soul began to throb with new desires and ambitions. It was not enough for him that the Gospel was spreading in his own land, that the idols were being burned, and schools and chapels built; he longed to carry the good news to the regions beyond, and by means of his canoe he became the messenger of peace to the surrounding islands.
The arrival of the celebrated missionary apostle of the South Sea Islands, John Williams, gave a new impetus to the infant mission and to the missionary zeal of some of its converts. At that time the work required just such an ardent, enterprising, and adventurous missionary as the" Martyr of Erromanga. " "For my part," he wrote to the directors, " I cannot content myself within the narrow limits of a single reef, and if means are not afforded of getting to the regions beyond, a continent would be infinitely preferable to me ; for there, if you cannot ride, you can walk ; but to these isolated islands a ship m'H,st carry you." There being no ship at his command and no money to buy one, he set to work and built one. It was seventy or eighty tons burden and proved to be a very good sailer, and was called The Messenger of·Peace. By means of this vessel a noble band of enthusiastic converts, with Mr. Williams at their head, raised the standard of the cross on the Harvey and Samoan islands; and then by means of a larger vessel, supplied by the English people, carried the Gos: pel to the New Hebrides group, where the renowned and lamented leader lost his life, being clubbed to death by the savages of Erromanga, whom he was seeking to save.
The writer has a very vivid recollection of his first contact with real cannibals at Erromanga and Tanna thirty-four years ago, where he first met Mr. (now Dr.) Paton and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, who were beginning their work on those islands. Dr. Paton had recently buried his wife and cliild, and Mr. and Mrs. Gordon, with whom we spent tl:tree days and nights on Erromanga, were murdered by the cannibals soon after our visit. The scene rises before me as I write. It was a lovely, quiet Sabbath evening. We were standing on the small veranda in front of the little welttherboarded house, situated on a hill that rises from the deep blue waters' of Dillon's Bay. The full, clear moon is coming forth" like. a fair shepherdess with her full flock of stars." The mountains, like silent fortresses, raise their heads, tier on tier, in solemn grandeur against the azure sky. All above is peaceful, glorious, godlike. We talk of " dark Erromanga." At the foot of those beautiful mountains are the habitat,ions of cruelty. " Do you see that winding path down the hill?" said Mr. Gordon. Yes, we could !lee it. "That is the path along which John Williams ran with the murderous natives after him, and just where the rays of the moon are dancing upon the rippling waters of the bay is the place where he was killed. " We gazed sadly and silently upon the scene, imagination filling in the boat containing Captain Morgan and crew, waiting for the missionaries; the crowd of yelling savages pursuing ,Williams and Harris; the latter murdered by the roadside, the for.mer rushing into the water toward the boat; the shouts, the confusiol)., the forest of uplifted clubs round Mr. Williams; then the yell of triumph. At that moment there arose from a cannibal village at the foot of the hill the screams of a woman, piercing the stillness of the night. Shriek after shriek rolled along the valleys snd echoed among the hills, sending a thrill of horror to our young hearts. It was a rude reminder that we were among the cannibals. These were the sort of people that we were to live among! Our appointed station was on the island of Lifu, about one hundred miles to the west of Erromanga, and among the first letters that we received in our new home was one informing us that Mr. and Mrs. Gordon were murdered.
We missionaries are often given credit for more than we deserve. The humble native evangelist is generally the man who does the real pioneer work; and the missionary is, as a rule, most successful who trains a good staff of these men, superintends them in their work, and translates Scriptures and prepares books for them.
The Tahitian converts not only carried the Gospel to the islands of their own group, but to the Harvey Islands, which have supplied such a splendid staff of native evangelists to Western Polynesia. One sample will show the character of these Christian soldiers. Lifu, near New Caledonia, was the sphere 'of labor where the writer spent the first twelve years of his missionary life; and the apostle of Lifu was .a native of Raratonga, who, like the first convert at Tahiti, had a burning desire to carry the Gospel to the regions beyond. To qualify himself for the work he was placed in the native seminary, where he had been only six months when the John Williams arrived on its way to the cannibal islands of Western Polynesia. Pao hastened to the mission house and asked to see the missionary on urgent business. Mr. Buzacott listened to the young enthusiast pleading to be allowed to go at once in the mission vessel to tell the cannibals the" good news. " "You have only been here six months," said Mr. Buzacott;'" wait till you have been with us four years, that you may learn more about the GospeL" Pao's reply was characteristic of the man. "Don't I know about the true God ~ Don't I know about Christ being the Saviour of the world? Don't I know about the future after death ~ Let me go and tell the heathen about these things. You can send other young men after me to teach them to read and write and other things that I don't know. Oh, let me go and tell them what I know f"
What missionary would take the responsibility of detaining such a man? He went; was landed at Mare, which is between forty and fifty miles from Lifu. Missionaries had recently settled there, and there being occasional intercourse between the two islands, it was determined that Pao should remain till the next visit of the mission vessel in the following year, and thus have the opportunity of becoming acquainted with the people and their language; but Pao was not the sort of man to spend a year in such quiet preparations almost within sight of the island to which he was appointed. Mixing freely with the people, he was soon able to converse with them, and finding a man who was acquainted with the language of Lifu, he persuaded him to accompany him thither in a canoe that he built for the purpose.
What must have been Pao's thoughts as he sat in the stern of his canoe, guiding it with his paddle as it sped over the waves! and when the tops of the cocoanut-trees of Lifu became visible, how eagerly he would watch them as they appeared to rise from the sea, I can conceive from my own feelings when we first sighted New Guinea. He knew the danger to which he was exposing himself, both from the sea and the savages; but he felt that he was engaged in God's service, and looked to Him for protection. As he neared the island he saw the savages assembling on the beach. They were wild cannibals, governed by a despotic chief whose word was law. Pao knew that if the chief regarded him as an enemy he would be clubbed, cooked, and eaten at once; but that if he received him as an enemu-friend-that fate would happen to any who dared to injure him. He prayed, and believed that God would dispose the mind of the chief to receive him as an enemu,. and believing this, he did not wait in his canoe till a message of welcome was brought from the chief, but dashed over the barrier reef and steered for the crowd on the beach.
Taking his Raratongan Bible and a present for the chief from a little box in the canoe, with a silent prayer for success, he jumped on to the beach among the crowd, requesting his Mare interpreter to say that he had a message from the Great King to the chief of Lifu. Some of the leading men led him at once to the chief's house, where he found the old warrior sitting on a mat waiting to receive him. He was pleased with Pao's present, and listened to his message. Regarding the Bible as the new god that Pao was introducing, and willing to test its power, the oJd chief declared that they would make war upon their enemies on tlie other side of the island; that Pao should accompany them with his god; and that if they were conquerors he should be treated as a friend, but if they were conquered, he should be regarded as an enemy. It was in vain that Pao declared that his was not a fighting god, but the God of peace and love and life. He was obliged to go with the warriors, and fortunately for him they were successful. He was proclaimed the chief's enemu, which not only assured his safety, but secured for him kindly treatment and a respectful hearing throughout the chief's dominions among five thousand people.
For a time all was hopeful. Wherever Pao went the natives crowded to listen. It appeared as though the Gospel would easily and speedily triumph ; but the powers of darkness are not so easily overcome. The native priests-the medicine men-soon perceived the danger to their craft, and rose in their might, leading to civil war and the flight of Pao to Mare for a time. He could not remain long, however, and was soon back in his canoe and visiting among his people. The priests tried to kill him by their incantations, and their failure only increased his power. Natives were sent to kill him, but they declared themselves powerless in his pres- ence to raise an arm against him. A number of braves undertook to throw him down' a cavern which he had to pass, but when he appeared and calmly asked them why they wished to kill him, and what evil he had done, and if he was not their best }riend, the would-be murderers hung their heads in confusion and shame, and instead of their killing him, he preached the Gospel to them.
Not satisfied with preaching among the subjects of the great chief, Bula, he marched intp the camp of their enemies, on the opposite side of the island, as the messenger of peace. Here he met with the most deter- mined opposition from the chiefs and leading people, who indignantly refused to receive the religion of their enemies; but the common people heard him gladly, which led the principal chief to depute one of his orators to follow Pao from village to village and charge the people not to receive the foreigner'S religion. A very remarkable thing now happened. The .orator's tongue became ulcerated, rendering him unable to speak. The effect upon the people was marvellous. They declared this to be the hand of God. This man, they said, has been using his tongue to oppose the spread of the Gospel, and God has silenced him. The result was that whole villages burned their idols and placed themselves under Christian tea.chers. The writer arrived about this time, and so mightily grew the Word of God, that in twelve years afterward the entire popUlation (between nine and ten thousand) had embraced the Gospel. Their language was reduced to writing-a school-book, catechism, hymn-book, and the New Testament and Psalms translatQd into it. Schools and churches were built in almost every village, and filled with eager scholars and congregations. A seminary had been established in which all the native pastors and teachers had been educated, and a missionary society had been formed as an auxiliary to the London Missionary Society, which had sent out native pioneer evangelists filled with Pao's spirit, and urged on by his example to New Caledonia and the New Hebrides j and it was with eight of these men that the writer set out in a chartered vessel in 1871 to establish the mission on the long-neglected yet largest island in the world-New Guinea.
The social and commercial progress of the people advanced side b} side with the religious. The natives built f(lr themselves better houses, made good roads, and surrounded themselves with many of the appliances and comforts of civilized life. The resources of the island were being rapidly developed. Half a dozen Europe8Jl stores had been established,
ELIOT, THE APOSTLE OF THE RED INDIANS
and trading velilsels were frequently visiting the island, so that another market was opened to English ltnd American produce.
While this remarkable and rapid change was going on at Lifu, the same sort of thing was taking place on many of the islands of the sea. In the Sandwich Islands, by the American missionaries; in the Fiji Islands, by the Wesleyans; in the New Hebrides, by the Presbyterians and Episeopalians; and in all these groups men like Pao, the Apostle of Lifu, were prominent as pioneers.
The South Sea Islands' mission has solved the problem as to how the world is to be won for Christ. It must be done chiefly by the converts of the different countries to which the Gospel is introduced by capable mililsionaries who are able to train and superintend these valuable agents.
JOHN ELIOT, THE APOSTLE OF THE RED INDIANS.
~ BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
Though he belongs before the century whose marvels we are witness- ing, no study of modern missions would be complete without a mention of John Eliot, that pioneer of pioueers. His period reaches from 1604 to 1690, aud hence nearly spans the seventeenth century. Southey well said of him that he was " one of the most extraordinary men of any country," and R. Baxter declared that there was no man whom he honored above him. The effect of his life and work upon David Brainerd, James Brainerd Taylor, Jonathan Edwards, and so upon William Carey and Adoniram Judson makes Eliot the father of the fathers and founders of modern mis- sions, and gives him a certain right of pedigree in this apostolic succession.
His godly parentage, his position as usher in Thomas Hooker's gram- mar school, where the godliness of Hooker's family was the means of his conversion, and his subsequent following of Hooker with sixty others to Boston, an exile for nonconformity, were the three great steps which prepared him for the one and only pastorate in Roxbury which he held for sixty years. He had been graduated at Cambridge in 1623, and young as he was, had there acquired a thorough knowledge of the original languages of Scripture, and evinced unusual aptitude as a grammarian and philologist.
As early as 1639, at the age of thirty-five, he was one of a committee ,appointed by the colonial leaders to prepare a new version of t~e Psalms, and this Psalter of 1640 was the first book printed in America, afterward known as the" Bay Psalm Book."
Early in his pastoral life Eliot became so interested in the Red men that through a young Pequot Indian he acquired a hold upon their language, and in 1646 preached in the wigwam of Waban, the chief, the first sermon ever preached in the native tongue on American soil. This service in the camp near Brighton lasted three hours, and aroused much inquiry. At another visit, two weeks later, an old warrior wept lest it should be too late for him to find God, and at a third visit, two weeks later, so deep was the interest exhibited that, notwithstanding the violent opposition of the Indian priests, 'Vaban himself at the camp-fire talked to his people of the wondrous story of redemption which he had heard from the pale-faced missionary.
Eliot was fired with a holy passion both to Christianize and civilize these Indians, and so undertook what William Duncan two hundred years later realized in his Metlakahtla. Nonantum, the Indian name for rejoicing, was the title of the model community five miles west of Boston, and the name of " praying" Indians has clung to these converts as tenaciously as "Roundheads" to Cromwell's soldiers. Here we have the rare instance of a settled pastor acting also as a missionary to a foreign tribe close at hand, and as the virtual organizer of a new State, with civil court and social and industrial improvements, as well as religious institutions.
But such a man could 'not be pent up within the five miles radius from Boston. Neponset, Concord, Pawtucket, Brookfield felt his power, and clamors for Christian teachers, new codes of laws, Bible institutions, poured in from all quarters. Chiefs and their sons become converts and leaders, and in one case, where 1 visit involved peril, the sachem himself with a score of warriors came to escort Eliot. He set out on horseback, and his privations and perils rival those of Paul. Not only did he risk death at the hands of hostile chiefs and treacherous sachems, but his own countrymen, not content to withhold aid and cheer, pelted him with the mud of aspersion, and shot at him with the arrows of jest and ridicule. He was actually charged-this unselfish, heroic man-with being prompted by greed and dealing in fables j but, as Eliot said, "God stepped in and helped." Before the'middle of the century Eliot's work had compelled recognition. In 1649 devout souls in England, stirred by the fame of what the nonconformist exile had done, formed the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel in New England, which thus antedates by over half a century even the S. P. G. This society sent £50 per annum to Eliot, and thus nearly doubled his Roxbury stipend (£60).
In 1650 this heroic missionary general and statesman gathered all his converts except one tribe into one settlement caUed Natick, on a tract of six thousand acres on the Charles River, eighteen miles from Boston. The town was laid out, a house-lot being assigned to each family, and a large building el'ected for church and school, 'and there the governor and other visitors heard praying Indians teach and preach.
This Roxbury pastor could not be content to be a missionary evangelist and statesman j he must also train a native ministry. Converts were formed into a church in 1660, and fourteen years later he had as the fruit of thirty-eight years' labor eleven hundred and ten converts under his immediate care, and scattered over a wider territory, in at least thirteen other settlements of praying Indians, were twenty-five hundred more j and before Eliot died he saw twenty-four converts preaching the Gospel.
THE JAPANESE RELIGIOUS PRESS
This Roxbury pastor was al:;;o a translator. In 1661 the New Testament and in 1663 the Old also was published, and Eliot's Indian Bible, that now has not one living reader, was the first printed west of the Atlantic, and is the pyramid which, no longer used, witnesses to the royalty of the man who against such odds became the Apostle of the Red Indians. Both as a monument of fine scholarship and evangelistic zeal, it deserves what Edward Ev'erett gracefully said of it, that the " history of the Christian Church contains no example of resolute, untiring labor superior" to it. Eliot likewise undertook to create a Christian literature for his praying Indians. He translated Baxter's Call and other practical books, prepared an Indian catechism, Psalter, primer, and Indian grammar, and one brief sentence, written at the end of the grammar, may furnish the key to his whole career and the motto for missions: "PRAYER AND PAINS Through Faith in Jesus Christ Will do anything."
Age and weakness made it no longer possible to go to the Indians as once he had done ; but even then he prevailed on several families to send to him once a week their negro servants that he might teach them the saving truth. The last words on his lips were, " Welcome joy /"
Note that all this life of sanctity and service, that inspired Edwards and Brainerd and Carey and Judson, owed its own great transformation to the power of one life. "When I came in~o this blessed family" (Rev. Thomas Hooker'S) "I saw, as never before, the power of godliness in its lively vigor and efficiency."
THE JAPANESE RELIGIOUS PRESS.
BY REV. JAMES I. SEDER, A.M., TOKYO, JAPAN.
The new religious life is making itself felt in Japan among all classes of people. Of this there is abundant testimony in the ably conducted religious press from month to month. Anyone acquainted with Japan fifteen or even but ten years ago would scarcely have believed a prophecy that to-day so many able editors would be wielding a religious pen.
Nearly every denomination has its organ, either alone or in conjunction with another church. Thus the Methodist Episcopal churches, North and South, and the Canadian Methodist together publish an Advocate. But churches having less than one hundred adherents have their papers; and that the Christian press is a giant of power in this land will not be denied. It is busily engaged in edifying the Church, and is skilfully and effectively refuting errors within and repulsing attacks from without. But that is not all. They are constantly sounding the key-note and carrying the banner of an aggressive Christianity, It living, conquering army into the ranks of the enemy. As these papers give us much valuable news concerning the general progress of mission work in Japan, between the lines we may also read how far real, true Christianity has taken hold of the hearts of these native leaders ; a~d it is gratifying to know that the work done here is, I feel safe to say, as genuine, deep, and thorough as anywhere in the world.
The Christian press reports many revivals from all over the country, and speaks in the most hopeful terms. They believe that the rationalistic wave, which for a time seemed to threaten disaster to the churches, has spent its force. They speak also of moderation of views among the hitheJ;to extreme conservatives, and hope, therefore, for a return of better days.
The Kiristolcyo Shimbun, one of the leaders among the religious papers in ability and variety, has just issued (February 24th) its" No. 500."
President Kozaki, of Doshisha University, Kyoto, in a letter of congratu- lation says the publication was begun ten years ago, when there were but ten thousand Christians in Japan. As the State policy regarding education was then undergoing a change, which gave preference to Con- fucianism over Western ideas, the opposition against Christianity was strong. It was a bold undertaking then, but on account of the spirit of intense union among Christians, without reference to sect, it was possible to successfully launch the paper.
Another writer thinks Christians are laboring diligently against intem- perance, prostitution, and the like, but all efforts should be concentrated upon the evangelization of Japan. The first and most important thing is to gather a strong church, and then reforms of various kinds can be under- taken with a better basis for success. The evangelistic spirit must pervade everything. .
The great question in Japan to-day is, "What means will be most successful in reforming Japanese society~" Unhesitatingly, Christianity; because it is the motive power of social reform. Western civilization is justly called "Christian," because it is the result of Christianity. Its points of superiority are chiefly progress of morality and knowledge, reform of the home, better relation of government and people, and of the people among themselves.
An editorial of another paper sharply criticises the imperfection and partiality of the Japanese Criminal Code concerning adultery. The law in question provides no punishment to the. husband who is guilty of this crime, if only his wife brings complaint; but if the husband of the guilty woman complain, then the adulterers will be punished. It alleges that Article 311 holds the man guiltless if he kill on the spot either his adultero~s wife or the guilty man. He goes free. But as there is no such pro- vision in the law for woman, although the grounds that justify the homi- cide in the one case should do the same in the other, there is strong com- plaint of unfairness.
Other papers are now also taking up this subject, and even Buddhists join in tl1e good work of airing this law. The effect of combined effort can only prove successful, and a satisfactory reform may be confidently looked for.
THE N.ATIVE BUDD~IST PRESS.
What we said with reference to the Christian press applies in a some- what different sense also to the non-Christian. The new religious life we mentioned there is also making itself felt in Buddhist circles; though while there is joy in the Christian camp over the fact, the harps are hang- ing on the willows in the temple yards. The new missionary enterprise to France, now under contemplation, is called upon to dry a few of the tears shed over the gloomy situation. Almost everyone exclaims: "We must do something else," but of the " something else" really accomplished for the good of the. nation, and in regard to any consequent jubilant feeling or hopefulness, all are profoundly silent.
Buddhists are seeking to enforce the claim that their religion has a most intimate historical relation to the country and its former civilization, and ought therefore to be officially recognized by the Government as the religion of the nation, though not the national religion. They further petition that priests may be excused from military duty, that the moral training of the youth of the land be entrusted to their care, and that the preservation of the temples be provided for by law.
Against this it is argued by those of a different religious persuasion that if Buddhism has not sufficient inherent str~ngth to sustain itself with- out in this manner leaning on the State, it cannot long survive, as it must finally still depend upon the people themselves, whom they hereby acknowledge to be disaffected toward the religion of old Japan.
The papers and leaders of the old religions seem driven by the very force of circumstances to constantly invent some plausible argument to hinder the spread of Christianity. But they also constantly acknowledge themselves behind the times, and unable to cope with the healthy, strong, aggressive Western religion. Then the defectiveness of the moral state is freely acknowledged on nearly all sides, and each professes it his duty to find a remedy.
In its antipathy to the " Jesus religion," one of the stronger Buddhist papers, discoursing on the question, "Have our citizens a right to believe Christianity?" delivers the following: "Christians will answer this question by quoting the 28th article of the Japanese Constitution, which guarantees them religious freedom. But if this doctrine conflicts with their duties as citizens, then they are not free to adhere to it. In the fourth year of Keiwo (1867), the Government put up a sign openly prohibiting Christianity, which was removed in the 2ixth year of Meiji. The Government said, the people being fully aware of this prohibition, it is unnecessary longer to keep up this public notification. And, as it was not taken down in consequence of the former law being rescinded, it is stilI in full force. And, al-though the Constitution was promulgated later, it did not abrogate the former decrees. People have, therefore, neither moral nor legal right to believe Christianity.
Buddhists are also rejoicing because they are about to send a Buddhist preacher to France. They say this is treating Christianity as Scipio did the Carthaginians when the army of Hannibal was pouring into Italy over the Alps, and the Roman ,general attacked Carthage. Christianity ha~ obtained its present stronghold in Japan because it came in upon us while we were unprepared and took advantage of our defenceless condition. We also learn that a Buddhist hospital is to be built in Tokyo and finished by spring.
An article which is calling forth much criticism from the Christian press is that by Professor Inouye, of the Imperial University, on the "Conflict of Religion and Education." Many Christians, he thinks, grow up under the care of foreigners, and thus lose their true patriotism in time. Christianity is in a numher of ways disadvantageous to Japan. Don't you see that great building on the top of Surugadai, Kanda, Tokyo ~ It is the Greek Church. In the Roman Catholic Church the Pope is the head, but in this Greek Church the Czar is the head. Thus if a Japanese becomes a member. of this church it is as though he became a Russian subject. If ten join, we lose ten of our citizens.
Of course as not all churches are like this, we cannot judge Christianity by this alone; but all the Christian sects together make up the religious system which prevails in the West. Therefore, if Japanese subjects believe this religion they will soon come to regard foreign countries as their real native land. Then, too, Christians believe in only one God, to whom there is no distinction of persons, no difference between emperor and eta, or persons of the lowest social position in Japan. Therefore often things are done which are disrespectful to our emperor.
Last year's papers contained notices, referred to by Dr. Inouye,~ saying that until recently only Buddhist priests had been permitted to officiate in the prisons of Hokkaido, but that they have now been supplanted by Christian teachers. Hitherto prisoners have always worshipped the emperor's picture on New Year's day, but this year it was stowed in the warehouse instead of being displayed for worship, all the result of Christian teaching. Such is the wail of the dying forms of religion in Japan.
The Shinto papers also complain. During the immediate past they have been lamenting that while Hokkaido is rich in mineral and agricultural, as well as marine products, and is destined to be the future granary of Japan, -the patriotism of the inhabitants is cold. They regret to know that many Christian preachers are laboring in Hokkaido, as also many Christian grammar-school teachers, bycause they are slaves of a foreign religion; but they have one comfort in' this, that Shinto is also sending forth some able preachers.
Thus, while the Christian press is jubilant and hopeful because of the
TWO mNDOO REFORMERS
progresS of the Lord's work in Japan, the Buddhist press also lends its convincing though unwilling testimony to the fact that the "Western religion" is marching grandly on to victory.. The Christian papers rejoice because of a new life and power, a mighty Saviour in the heart. The others weep, conscious of the utter absence of such life and power, and because of their consequent infinite disadvautage and hastening doom.
TWO HINDOO REFORMERS.
BY REV. JAMES MUDGE, D.D., CLINTON, MASS.
Notwithstanding the supposed changelessness of the East, there have been many chauges, and in spite of their assumed indifference to moral and religious reform there have been many reformers. Among the many, two, whose careers have influenced many millions of the people of India, and whose personal traits were very interesting, ought to be better known than they are to the students of the West. As it happens they were contemporaries, although in such different parts of the country that very likely neither knew of the existence of the other. They were also contemporaries of Luther, one being born two years after him, and the other dying seven years before him. Hence, while the great Reformation was going on in Europe, other reformations, if not of so much consequence to the world, yet of great intrinsic importance, were proceeding in Asia. It is time that they were more fully understood in America.
NANAK.
The Sikh nation, planted in the Punjab or country of five rivers, has played no insignificant part in the history of modern India. Culminating in power under Runjeet Singh, the Lion of the Punjab, who ruled from 1805 to 1839, it crossed swords for a time successfully with the best British armies, but was finally conquered in 1846, and then, in turn, when the Mutiny arose became the main strength of the empire. The Sikhs, who are still one of the most interesting people in India religiously, and number according to the recent census about two millions, were founded by N{mak, who was born in Sirhind, not far from Lahore. in the year 1469. His father, of the Kshatriya caste, was the village accountant, and considered his son a scapegrace, unlikely to make anything in life. When set to watch cattle he lost himself in meditation. Money given him to trade with lie distributed to mendicants.
After a while he married and had two sons, but he found it impossible to settle down into quiet village life. The preaching instinct was strong within him; he felt that he had a mission, and, against the remonstrances of all his relations, he cast off all family ties and set forth on his wanderings. They are said to have extended over all India, and also into Central Asia. A visit to Mecca is also ascribed to him.
Just what he preached it is not easy now with certainty to say. Some good stories are told of him. Going into a Mohammedan mosque, while all around knelt down, he stood up in silence. On being remonstrated with by the Nawab with whom he went, he said, "0 Nawab, you were not praying j your thoughts were wandering, and you were at Kandahar buying a horse." The Mohammedan, struck with awe, confessed that it was so. When the Emperor Baber, at a friendly interview, offered him bhang, he declined, stating that his bhang was to take the name of God, with the drinking of which he was always in a state of intoxication. He protested at all times against the untruth and folly of the age, and the hypocrisy and formalism of the Brahmans. He told these latter that all ritual observances were vain so long as the heart was not pure. When they stood up and looked toward the east and poured out water to their ancestors, he mockingly stood up and poured out water to the west. When they asked him his reason, he remarked that he was watering his field in the Punjab. When they urged that the water would not reach so far, he asked how, then, they expected that their water would reach to the other world. A thief met him, and the Guru (teacher) remonstrated with him on his way of living. He pleaded the necessity of supporting his family. " 'Vill they," said the Guru, "agree to share the penalty of your misdeeds in a future state~" They all declined, and assured the thief that he alone would be responsible, upon which he abandoned his dishonest profession, and became a disciple of the Guru. On one occasion he found himself with his disciples in a jungle, and they stumbled upon a corpse. " Whoever is my disciple," said the Guru, "let him eat of that body." All drew back in horror except Angad, who, lifting the sheet to obey the order, found only sweet provisions. Nanak blessed him, and told him that he should be his successor.
Nanak's character seems to have been without reproach. He was peaceful and benevolent. He had much piety and truth and common-sense. Beholding and pitying the miseries produced by fanaticism and religious strife, his object was to blend the Hindoo and Mohammedan faiths into one strifeless compound, making a harmonious brotherhood who should worship the one invisible Being. In this, of course, he failed, and it would seem that he could not have had any clear or deep conceptions of the irreconcilable differences between the two systems. He appears to have adopted in general the philosophical syst6m of his countrymen, and regarded bliss as the dwelling of the soul with God after its primitive transmigrations should have ceased. "Life," he said, "is as the shadow of the passing bird, but the soul of man is as the potter's wheel, ever circling on its pivot." He asserted no special divinity, declaring himself to be but the slave, the humble messenger of the Almighty, making use of universal truth as his sole instrument. He did not claim for his writings, replete as they were with wisdom and devotion, the merit of a direct transcription of the words of God; nor did he say that his own preaching required or would be sanctioned by miracles. He taught that asoetiClsm or abandonment of the world was unnecessary, the pious hflrmit and the devout householder being equal in the eyes of the Almighty. He disengaged his little society of worshippers from Hindoo idolatry and Mohammedan superstition, and placed them free on a broad basis of religious and moral purity.
At length, when old age had dimmed his eye and whitened his hair, N{mak settled down in the midst of his disciples at Kirtarpore, on the banks of the Ravee, as poor, as simple, and as benevolent as when, fifty years before, he had abandoned his home and the ordinary ways of men. To avoid the snare of a hereditary priesthood, he excluded his sons from the succession, and named as his successor Angad. He died peacefully at the age of seventy, in the midst of his followers.
CHAITANYA.
Shri Krishna Chaitanya, founder of the Vaishnavas of Bengal, a religious sect whose numbers are estimated at from ten to twelve millions, was born in the year 1485 in the village of Nadiya, on the banks of the Bhagirathi, seventy miles from Calcutta. In his childhood he was by no means a model of gentleness and modesty, but performed many wild, boisterous, and imprudent pranks.
After the death of his father he was married and commenced life as a schoolmaster, attracting many pupils by the fame of his learning. His wife soon dying, he was married a second time with great pomp. He made a pilgrimage to Gaya, a place of great sanctity in Behar, and read with deep attention the Purana called Shri Bhagavat. This more than any other book moulded his soul and tinctured his fancy. By incessant meditation on Krishna he acquired an unbounded affection for him, and repeated his name day and night with highly-wrought enthusiasm. He soon started out as a reformer to proclaim" the riches of Krishna's love" to the world. This was his one idea. He devoted all his powers and energies to the contemplation of this object, the furtherance of this thought. He boldly proclaimed the name of Hari or Krishna as the only deliverer of mankind. He easily gained over some of the respectable Brahmans of Nadiya, and the number of the disciples speedily grew. Devotional dances, ecstatic singing and vociferations, and sensational processions through the streets attracted great attention, stimulated the zeal of the faithful, and spread the excitement.
Chaitanya was now twenty-four years old. He resolved to become an ascetic. So, having been taught the formulas ct Vairagism by a holy sage in a neighboring village, he received his new name (Nimar was his youthful name), and amid the lamentation of his devoted followers set. out on his travels. He went first to Orissa to see the far-famed Jagannath. At the sight he was filled with ineffable delight, and so ardent were his emotions that he fell insensible to the ground. He made many proselytes, and divine honors were ascribed to him. He next went southward through the Deccan, repeating everywhere incessantly the name of Krishna, and calling on others to do so. He visited all the places celebrated in the Ramayan, and at length returned to Orissa. He became the chief leader of the celebrations there around the great idol. He propagated his doctrines vigorously, and proselytized multitudes. He spent four years in this way, and then returned to Bengal for a season. He visited Benares, Allahabad, Muthea, and the other sacred places of the north, but soon went back to Orissa. Twelve more years were spent in this vicinity, instructing his followers, receiving visits and adorations, and performing severe devotions. He soon fell into fits of insanity. His mind, early tinctured with no small degree of fanaticism, now showed unmistakable signs of imbecility. His day dreams and night visions were incessant and full of wild hallucinations. In one of his insane fits he threw himself into the sea, fancying it to be the sacred Jumna, and was drowned. He was then about forty-three years of age.
To the doctrines that he taught we can give but a brief space. The theology of the Vaishnavas is thoroughly pantheistic, like that of the other Hindoo sects. Krishna is the supreme object of adoration, and the earth with all it contains is but a modification of this divinity. The peculiarity of this Bengal sect is the identification of Krishna with the mendicant of Nadiya; and Chaitanya's most distinctive doctrine was that of bhakti, or faith. According to him the way of salvation was not by knowledge or by works, as others had taught, but by faith. Sinners have now only to believe in Krishna-that is, Chaitanya. But the faith inculcated is a blind one, discarding knowledge, without rational basis, and divorced from all practical religion. Anything whatever-a water-pot, a plant, a log of wood-believed by the devotee to be Krishna or Chaitanya becomes to him such, and insures to him happiness in the realm of Vaikantha. Faith is divided into five stages: Slinta, or quietism, a cold, merely intellectual belief; Dlisya, or servitude, the more active devotion of an attached slave; Slikhya, or friendship, the allegiance and intimacy of personal companionship; Blitsalya, or filial affection, the closer communion of true sonship; and Mlidhurya, or sweetness, the enthusiastic, passionate attach. ment of a lover. The similarity between this and some aspects of Christian faith is very striking; but in the hands of theVaishnavas, who are universally idolaters, the degradation of it to formalism and licentiousness is swift and sure.
The Gurus, or religious teachers, receive a reverence almost divine, no matter what moral turpitude they are guilty of, and have a power over their deluded votaries compared with which that of the worst priestcraft in the Church of Rome is mild and reasonable. The worship abounds in Kirtans and Sankirtans-that is, repeating the names of Krishna by a
A LETTER TO THE STUDENT VOLUNTEERS
rosary of beads, or singing and vociferating them aloud in company with instrumental music. There are also many 1Yahatsabs, or feasts of great joy, and gatherings to listen to the reading or repeating of the Bhagavat.
The system of Chaitanya is an interesting development of the religious consciousness of India, an important innovation on orthodox Hindooism, an index to some extent of the march of liberal ideas. It contains the germs of certain great truths. It is simple, it elevates faith, it lays great stress on the affections and sensibilities. It is in some respects a slight advance toward that Christian system which alone contains the full development of what was good in Chaitanya's doctrines, and which in time must supplant them.
A LETTER TO THE STUDENT VOLUNTEERS.
BY REV. WILLIAM JESSUP, SYRIA.
My DEAR FRIENDS: It has occurred to me that you who are still in America preparing yourselves for the work of foreign missions would like to hear from one of the first and original members of the great movement that has since affected you. The writer signed his name to the list when there were only about six members one Sunday afternoon in Mr. Wilder's parlor in Princeton. He has now been a little over two years on the field in Zahleh, Mt. Lebanon, Syria. In this mission, at the end of two years, the young missionary is supposed to have acquired enough Arabic to pass a final examination in grammar before the mission, and also to preach an Arabic sermon in Beirut church, beside mastering the difficulties of pronouncing the gutturals in regular conversation. Having weathered this part of the voyage, your fellow-volunteer now stands ready for the regular routine work of missionary life, and at last at the end of all examinations. You know what that means. Three years at least reckoned for preparing for college, four for the college course, three for theological seminary, and two for study of Arabic make up a round twelve years of preparation before a man stands ready for work. To those of you who are still in process of preparation, the writer offers a few hints that may be useful to you before the last step is taken on American soil.
Some of you may already be thinking about what to bring with you to your foreign home. If so, then be careful to ascertain accurately what can be obtained at your destination, and then take all the comfortable durable furniture not obtainable there that is consistent with your means. You have no idea how much you will have to depend upon the cheerfulness of your home in your outpost work to give you courage and power to work. If these comforts are not taken at the start, you are not apt to get them afterward. Few Oriental lands abound in things to furnish an American's home.
Do not be alarmed about " luxury in missions" that some people talk so much about. The man who has the small salary of a mIssIOnary is entitled to use it as he sees fit. If he also has property, the fact of his being a missionary should not hamper his use of it. Let your missionary home have every reasonable comfort within your reach.
Once on the field and engrossed in frontier work, you will find it diffi- cult to ascertain what are the best books for your library, should you have money to invest in them. Therefore one good plan would be to make an extended list of books that your taste would select, buy what you can, and preserve the list for future reference.
Upon arriving at your post resolve to live on terms of peace and har- mony with your fellow-workers at any cost to your personal feelings.
You cannot afford to let the Lord's work suffer for a difference of opinion.
Respect the experience and advice of your seniors in service.
Learn the language during the first two or three years if possible.
Postponing this is perilous. You will hear the cries of practical hard work every day calling you away from s~udy. You can heed but few of them at first, although everywhere you will feel that you must relieve your colleagues of some of their burden as soon as possible; but you must learn to speak the language first of all. There are plenty of things that must be done whether or no. One of them is making a habitable house for yourself in which to work. Either a native house must be made habitable or a new house built. In most countries you must fight a war of extermi- nation against vermin. The articles of food obtainable will be different from what you have known. Perhaps at first you can eat but few of them.
You must learn to eat some distatseful things, however, or you will fare poorly. It is expensive getting canned goods from America. Foreign countries also levy import duties.
Th.e currency in some places is very complex and the values of the different denominations apt to be variable. It will take you a long time to realize how much you are expending, unless you 'study your table of equivalents constantly.
You will find it requires humility for the college and seminary grad- uate, who comes to his field as a "leader and reformer," to sit down patiently at his ABC book and be condescendingly patronized by his neighbors because of that. .
The natural disposition does not love people who need foreign mission- aries. Children of the devil and followers of the False Prophet are WICKED through and through. They cheat, and so will cheat you. They lie, and will deceive you. You are as apt as anyone to be cursed by them. Be- cause they persecute you, you must not cease to work for their good.
These things are all signs that they need salvation. A mere sentiment of love for sinners in general does not make you love such people. Nothing but the Spirit of Christ dwelling in you will make you really LOVE linneTs.
Expect to meet the Jesuits. They follow the Protestant around the world trying to subvert and hinder his success. They seem to be inspired by the devil. As yet Americans have not realized what they are. In America they keep hidden. On the foreign mission field they bribe people unblushingly to misuse all the means available to oppose the reading of the Bible, the establishment of good schools, and the preaching of the Gospel. Very recently the French Jesuits have been taking up collections in Paris, from house to house, saying that they wanted the money to use in "extirpating Protestantism from Mt. Lebanon." They bribe Government officials to persecute Protestants, and when they gain any slight success, publish most enormous falsehoods about it in the French papers.
When my father came to Syria, more than thirty years ago, Dr. De Forest gave h~m a list of maxims concerning a young missionary's life in Syria. My father handed them down to me and I offer them to you, for although they are particularly applicable to a SYrian missionary, they are general enough to help all. They are these: " Don't ascend hill Difficulty till you get to it. "Don't build too many "ridges of sighs, expecting to cross deep waters on such fabri~s. Follow the Great Shepherd right through the floods. " Don't expect American-built air.castles to stand Syrian siroccos. Build solidly upon the Rock. Don't expect to find Lebanon all levelled to your hand on arriving. If you get fatigued in your work, don't get tired of it. " Don't count upon too much fragrance in bouquets of Sharon roses until the roses have had time to blossom. " Don't expect to convert a soul by talking a foreign language badly when you could not convert one by speaking English ever 80 glibly j but remember that abroad, as here, sufficiency is of God. " Let not the juvenile expect t,o be eloquent in Arabic in three months. Juveniles do not learn their English so quickly. Stammer, trip, blunder, but keep talking. " Don't expect natives to be aware of your superiority all in a day, and don't believe them if they profess to be. "Remember it is human, not merely American, to believe that one's own peculiar race is the best ever fashioned. " Remember that you go to win, not to browbeat or ridicule nor yet to fail, but to win sorrls. " Remember how many years passed before you could consent to love God. " Don't be more careful to keep fleas out of your house than to get Arabs in. " Don't condemn every building which is not of American shape, nor all costumes and cnstoms not fashionable in New York. " Prove ail things. Hold fast the good. Fret not thyself because of evildoers. " Remember that you dwell in houses of clay, and that it is an nnwise zeal that kills the missionar" l}efore he can save a single soul.
EVANGELIZATION OF THE ISLANDS
, , Walk in the way you point out to others. Tricks of ventriloquism, throwing Jour voice where you do not go, will not deceive those before whose eyes you are evidently standing still.
" Asiatics will detect your weak side sooner than recognize good and godly characteristics.
" Envy is one of the oldest inhabitants of Asia, but Master 'God's peace' is a stranger, and must not expect to be recognized.
" You will have need of patience, that after you have done the will of God you may receive the promise.
" Remember in prayer those whom you expect to remember you." In closing, one word more. The general course of instruction now given in most of our colleges and theological seminaries does not give a man a complete practical mastery of his English Bible. He is expected to make the acquaintance of that friend in private. If you have not made a prayerful and systematic study of your English Bible already, so as to use it in leading souls to Christ, don't expect that transplanting you among heathen will superinduce it. Get Mr. Moody to show you how if you cau, The vital power of your Bible in your hands is more necessary to you than a college education when you get on the mission field.
With warmest regards to you all, I remain sincerely yours, WILLIAM JESSUP.
EVANGELIZATION OF THE ISLANDS. * BY REV. EUGENE DUNLAP, PETCHABURI, SIAM.
One of the most intensely interesting studies of our time is the fulfilment of the prophecies concerning the evangelizing of the islands.. These prophecies are very explicit, as, for example, Isa. 42 : 4, "And the isles shall wait for His law i" Isa. 51 : 5, "The isles shall wait upon Me, and on Mine arm shall they trust;" Isa. 60 : 9, "Surely the isles shall wait for Me i" Isa. 66 : 19, "To the islands afar off, that have not heard My fame, neither have seen My glory." The student of the progress of the Gospel in the islands cannot fail to see that these prophecies have been almost entirely fulfilled, largely in our own time. God seems to have chosen the people of very small islands in a great measure to carry out His purposes in evangelizing and civilizing the world. Undoubtedly man would have chosen people of a huge continent. But God, evidently to glorify Himself, for a large part of the work chose the people of the British Isles.
We too often forget that the people of these islands were once as in. tensely heathen as the people of the Pacific islands were one half century • An addre." given in the Sanitarinm Chapel, rlifton Springs, N. Y., Novemher 20th, 1892, and publlsh.,1 by request. ago. And too many of us so magnify the blots on English rule in the East -namely, the shameful liquor and opium traffic-that we lose sight of her beneficent work for the multitudes of India, and the isl~nds under her power.
Come with me into Hong Kong, a British city. Behold the asylum, the hospital, the home of the friendless, the chapels, the churches, and see as pure a municipal government as may be found in any city in our own coun- try. Christianity has stamped itself upon the public institutions of the city, for over the door of the post-office building we see carved in granite words from Holy Writ: "As cool water to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country." You will then be glad that Christian England has placed this model city, an object lesson to the 400,000,000 of that great empire, China.
Then come with me to that beautiful city, Singapore; First of all you notice the rooms of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which has brought the Word of God to that city in the thirty-two languages spoken by the people on its streets. You will hear earnest laymen, business men of the city, publishing the Gospel on the esplanades of the city. In yonder fort on the hill you will hear the British officers in charge pleading with the soldiers to sign the total abstinence pledge. Here, too, you will find as cleanly a city and as pure municipal government and as just courts as in any Christian land-a model city for the people not only of the Malay Peninsula, but of the entire Archipelago.
Not long since an Indian prince visited England and viewed with pleasure the great institutions of the country. When afterward privileged to an audience with the Queen, he expressed his gratification with all that he had seen, and inquired the cause of all this greatness. The Christian Queen, pointing to a Bible on the table, said: "That Book is the foundation of all our greatness." Wherever England places a diplomat or soldier, she there plants the Christian Church. All are familiar with her beneficent rule in India-abolishing the cruel, murderous rites of heathenism, and giving it the common schools and humane institutions. The vantage points of the East are in the hands of the people of the British Isles, and 67 per cent of the ships of the world fly the British flag.. Truly it was a wonderful Provideuce that chose these once heathen islands to be the centre from which to so great an extent the purposes of God concerning this world should be carried out.
Leaving these islands, let us go down through the seas to Madagascar. The early missionary of Madagascar was greeted by the French diplomat upon the island after this fashion: "You make the people of Madagascar Christians? Impossible! They are mere brutes, and have not as much sense as irrational cattle." The missionary was not chilled by this wel- comc U), but labored faithfully on until banished from the island by a cruel queen. His heart was sad over having to forsake the infant Church, but God did not forsake that little Church ; cruel persecutions came upon it, they were endured with faithfulness not surpassed by the Christians of apostolic times. These poor Christians were sold into slavery, banished to fever districts to die, were stoned, dashed over precipices, burned at the stake. More than 1600 died in persecutions, and yet when the missionanes were permitted to return to the island after long banishment, they found a stronger Church than when they left it. To-day the London Missionary Society alone has 1200 Christiau congregations in Madagascar, and in all, on the island, there are 1000 native pastors. The missionaries were the pioneers in educational work in Madagascar; they reduced the language of the people to writing, and now have 1300 schools, and lived to see the time when the Government requires every child between eight and sixteen years of age to learn to read and write. Through the influence of Christianity idol worship, polygamy, and other glaring forms of heathenism are prohibited by law. There are some interesting statements concerning the success of missions on this island from diplomats and soldiers. General J. W. Phelps says that" during the present century, Madagascar has passed from a state of pagan barbarism to one of Christian civilization." The prophecy concerning this island is fulfilled. She has taken her stand among the Christian nations of the world : "The ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the Lord."
Leaving this island, let us cross the sea to Ceylon, the Mecca of the Buddhists, for here is a favorite shrine to which Buddhists from all parts of the world come to worship the supposed tooth of Buddha. The selfrighteousness of the Pharisees of Christ's time did not excel that of the Buddha priests of Ceylon. A leading priest was asked by a traveller: " Do you worship the gods 1" He replied: "No, the gods worship me." The progress of the Gospel iu this island has been encouraging; the work is marked by strong educational institutions. The Jafl'na Mission has nine self-supporting churches and 135 mission schools. Self-support is a marked feature of the native Church. A traveller, accompanying a missionary on his pastoral visits, noticed as they walked through the garden of the parishioner every now and then a cocoanut-tree marked" X." He inquired why these trees were thus marked. The native Christian humbly answered, " Because every X tree is devoted to the Lord." Noticing the wife as she cooked the noonday meal throw a handful of rice into the pot for each member of the family, and then two handfuls into a pot near by the fireplace, the traveller inquired, Why two handfuls into this pot 1 She said, " That is the Lord's rice pot, and I remember 'Him when cooking each meal." Surely we can learn some lessons from the Christians of that island.
Let us now go to Sumatra. You will notice a monument erected to the memory of the first missionaries to this island, who were cruelly murdered and devoured by the cannibals. You will be glad to learn that thr~)Ugh the power of Christianity cannibalism has been wholly abolished, and the Netherland missionaries rejoice over 12,000 Christians upon the island. We have ('ntered the Netherland India. Our next island of this group is Java. A gratifying change has taken place in the attitude of the Holland Government in these islands. Formerly she smiled upon Mohammedanism and frowned upon Christian missions. Recently her Minister for the Colonies recommended "the establishment of missions as a sure method of securing loyalty of subjects. " Well do I remember the day that I entered the beautiful city of Batavia. I learned with joy that there were two Americans in the city, and sought them at once. We had a pleasant talk regarding our native land; but when I inquired about the missionaries in this region of Java, one replied, "Why, they are not accomplishing anything; the natives don't take to them." I sought a venerable Hollander, forty years resident on the island, and deeply interested in all Christian work for the islanders. He at once invited me to accompany him to a Christian colony at Depok, ten miles from the city. It was his custom, although a busy banker in the city, to spend two hours in Christian work in this colony every morning before he went to business. It was a delight to witness the great contrast between these Christian homes and the homes of the heathen islanders. We visited a strong native church in the colony, ~ school having its 230 children. Above all, we were delighted with the theological seminary of the colony; for there we looked into the faces of ~O students earnestly at work in preparation for the ministry. These students are sons of the cruel head-hunters of Borneo, sons of the fierce islanders of Celebes, descendants of the cannibals of Sumatra, and 150ns of Java. All this we found within ten miles of the spot where the coffee merchant had said, " Missionaries are not accomplishing anything in" this part of Java; the natives don't take to them." He was looking for coffee plantations; I, for mission stations; each found just the thing he was looking for. In all Java there are 25 stations, 26 missionaries, and 12,000 converts. Let us not forget there are 23,000,000 of people upon that small island. Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, send more workers into Java. Brahmanism, Buddhism, and now Mohammedanism have all been at work on the Javanese, but have not routed the worship of the aborigines. While the religion of the people is supposed to" be Mohammedanism, spirit, fetich, and devil worship prevail throughout the country.
We cross to Borneo, once called the " Nation of head-hunters," because skulls of enemies garnished their rude huts and were their fttvorite offerings to the gods. In some portions of the islands no one was allowed to marry who could not show a certain number of human heads which he had struck off. Imagine a father returning after a day's exploit, and his daughter running out to meet him with the inquiry, " Well, papa, how many heads did you cut off to-day~" It is a certain proof of the divinity of the Gospel that it can tame, yea, elevate such people. In the southern part of the island the Netherland Missionary Society has 4000 churchmembers, ll;nd among the various tribes may be found 3000 members in the English Church. A traveller, in speaking of the change wrought on this island by the Gospel, says: "We can no longer call them head-hunt- ers ; their deadly instruments, which could easily cut off a man's head at a single sweep, have become rusty heirlooms. Nowhere in the world, so far as I know, is life and property more secure than among the once fierce head-hunters of Borneo." "Surely the isles shall wait for Him."
And what as to Celebes, so near Borneo ~ Alfred Russell Wallace, in his book called" The Studies of Man and Nature in the Malay Archi- pelago," says : "The missionaries have much to be proud of in this country. They have aided the Government in changing a savage into a civilized community. Forty years ago the country was a wilderness, the people naked savages, garnishing their rude huts with human heads. Now it is a garden." There are 200 Christian congregations and 125 schools upon the island. "To the isles afar off that have not heard of My fame nor seen My glory, they shall declare My name."
As we leave Dutch India, let us not forget the 27,000,000 of people there, and only 79 missionaries working for them; in all Malaysia only one American missionary.
New Guinea has not yet yielded much fruit, but it is ready for the seed. Holland missionaries are in the northwest of the island, London missionaries in the southeast. The island has 1,500,000 people. There are some 70 stations on the mainland, and baptized converts number some 5000. One of the most interesting features of missionary work on this island is the devoted, self-sacrificing labors of the native missionaries. The converts from other islands sent there by the native church, the first native evangelists to reach New Guinea, were Polynesians, and they were massacred-12 in all. But did this chill the missionary spirit of the young native Church ~ No; for volunteers came from Loyalty, Samoan, and Savage islands. These Christians of these islands offered to go to the heathen in New Guinea until the missionaries decided by lot who should stay home. Fifteen were asked for-40 volunteered to go. Surely our missionary zeal has not surpassed theirs.
Before leaving this hemisphere, let us make our way up to Formosa, and as we do so we pass by the Philippine Islands with their 7,000,000 of people. Have you thought of these 7,000,000 ~ Has your heart ever yearned for their salvation ~ It is gratifying to know as we pass by that almost all so unjustly taken from the missionaries by the Spauish Government has been returned to them.
Reaching Formosa, we find the English Presbyterian missionaries very much encouraged in their work in the south of the island, and the Canadian Presbyterians hard at work in the north. There is a thrilling history concerning the introduction of Christianity in northern Formosa, and it centres largely in the life of one man, the devoted McKay. His first home was an abandoned stable, which, during a tour, was torn down and the stones scattered. Once while seeking to preach the Gospel in the marketplace, he was confronted by a native with a long drawn sword, intending to sweep off his head. He faced him, and the native's arm seemed to drop as if paralyzed. Afterward that very native presented him with the sword, saying, " Christ has subdued me." After patient labors we have the report that during a recent revival more than 500 people have cleared their homes of idols and converted their heathen temple into a house of worship for the true God.
Crossing over to Japan, our hearts are thrilled with the wonderful progress of Christianity on that island. The Japanese Christians may be making some mistakes, but there is much in the native Church that is commendable. It might be characterized by three terms: Self-governing, self-supporting, self-extending; these are essential to a live church. It has been asserted that there are more self-supporting churches, in proportion, in Japan, than in Kansas or Nebraska. The Church of Christ in Japan reports 50 ordained native ministers, 87 licentiates, 70 students of the ministry, 11,622 communicants. This has been rated as one third the force of the native Church.
Now let us glance at the other hemisphere. In New Zealand there have been wonderful strides in the work of missions. The missionaries of the church societies waited eleven years for their first convert, and five years longer for the second. We now read of 1197 churches and chapels in New Zealand, and 241 schoolhouses used for Sahbath services. One third of the population attend the churches. In the Presbyterian churches of the island there are 40,000 church-goers. Even Mr. Darwin, the scientist, was so impressed by what he saw of the influence of the Gospel upon this island that he said: "The lesson of the missionary is the enchanter's wand. When I looked at the whole scene I thought it admirable. I took leave of the missionaries with thankfulness for their welcome and high respect for their upright and useful characters." He afterward made substantial contributions for the support of Christian work upon the island.
Our hearts are glad over the grand fulfilment of the prophecies concerning the islands, when we glance at Polynesia. Seventy years ago this great region was entirely heathen, its peoples most cruel. Now more than 300 of the islands are Christianized, so that we can say of them, not only that they shall wait for His law, but have received His law. On the New Hebrides islands there is a suggestive memorial slab over the grave of Rev. John Geddie: "When he came here in 1848 there were no Christians, and when he left in 1872 there were no heathen." If you would have your heart thrilled with the triumphs of the Gospel among such people as the cannibals of the New Hebrides, read the biography of that venerable miSSionary, John Paton. The people of these islands, once gloating over human flesh, have within a few years given $3500 for the printing of God's Word. The native Christians in Samoa have contributed $6000 annually to the London Missionary Society.
The man who first entered the Friendly Islands as a missionary told me that the people were so ignorant that they aidn't know of fire; they ate
INDIAN MISSIONS IN THE CANADIAN NORTHWEST
everything raw. Neither did they know that water would boil: "When I kindled a fire and boiled some water I could scarcely restrain them from worshipping me as a god. You can imagine how they marvelled when myself and wife reduced their language to writing, and printed the Word on our little printing-press." Although this venerable servant has gone up higher, he lived to see more than 30,000 church-members in the Friendly Islands.
The late Rev. James Calvert said: "When I arrived at the Fiji group, my first duty was to bury the hands, feet, and heads of eighty victims whose bodies had been roasted and eaten in a cannibal feast." Can the Gospel do anything for such people? Is it within the power of Christianity to tame and elevate them? Let the same missionary answer: "I lived to see those very cannibals who had taken part in that human feast gathered about the Lord's table, members of His Church." Cannibalism on these islands is wholly given up. Fifty years ago not a Christian in Fiji. Now, with only 9 white missionaries, we have 1468 native preachers, 1268 chapels, 1735 day and Sunday-schools, and 2526 native teachers. Surely, instead of the brier there has sprung up the myrtle-tree.
All are so familiar with the story of the Hawaiian Islands that I need hardly relate it. Within fifty years this people, saved from extinction, have entered the great family of Christian nations. Years ago their hearts went out to Japan, and they gave $1000 to aid in establishing the first Christian Church there. Besides supporting the work among themselves, they have carried on mission work in other islands. One of the most striking facts indicating the missionary spirit of the native Church is that" 30 per cent of the native ministry are foreign missionaries, and 22 per cent of the Christian giving in the islands goes to support mission work in other islands." Thus their missionary zeal and liberality in supporting foreign missionary work is not surpassed even by the Christian Church in America.
INDIAN MISSIONS IN THE CANADIAN NORTHWEST.
BY A. G. MCKITRICK, RIVER QUI BARRE, ALBERTA, CANADA.
The most of the Indians in this vast extent of country may be divided into four great nations : First, the Ojibways or 80tos (Saulteaux) of the east and northeast, around Lake Superior, Hudson's Bay, and Lake Vinnipeg, and the country between, together with some on the prairies in and west of Manitoba.
Second, the Crees, found all along both sides of the great Saskat9hewan River. Those eastward at Lake Winnipeg are called the Muskeg or Swampy Crees j those in the timbered region north of the Saskatchewan, Woody Crees j while those on the prairies south of it are called the Plain Crees. Third, the Blackfeet, who are found in Southern Alberta, east of the Rocky Mountains and north of Montana, in the United States. The Bloods, Peigans, and Sarcees are branches of this nation, speaking different dialects of the Blackfoot language.
Fourth, the Sioux or Dakota nation, of which many are found in Canada, although the bulk of them are in the United States. There are Sioux outlaws who escaped to Canada after the Custer and other massacres who have made themselves at home in Manitoba and Assiniboia. The Assiniboines, or Stony Sioux, are a numerous branch of the Sioux found in Assiniboia and Alberta, of whom the Mountain Stonies, living in the foot-hills of the Rockies, on the Bow River, compose the greater part.
The languages of the Crees and Ojibways have so many words similar and in common that they may be called sister languages ; but those of the Blackfeet and Sioux are very different.
Time fails us to speak also of the Beavers, Chippewayans, Esquimaux, and others of the far Northwest along the Mackenzie River basin. And the many tribes of British Columbia would make another subject, on which I hope some of the missionaries on that side of the Rockies will write to the REVIEW.
What has been done for all these tribes and nations 1 Four churches have undertaken mission work among them. Perhaps the first to go to them was the Roman Catholic, though the Church of England and the Methodists were not far behind, and later the Presbyterians came to the help of the Lord against the mighty pagan strongholds of ignorance and superstition.
Of the Roman Catholics we have nothing to say, except that while we have often admired their earnest self-denial in going back among the heathen where others had not gone, even into the very cold regions of the far north; still they have improved their Indians very little if any, simply giving them another form of idolatry and superstition, which is often only added to the old paganism. At the writer's home we can hear the heathen drum and dance going all night long, even by those who have just been to the Roman Catholic church for morning mass, and often the men go off to work or shoot as soon as they return from church. The Sabbath is just the same as other days except while they are in church, even after many years of mission work, or rather want of real true Christian work. This mission is no exception. "By their fruits ye shall know them."
The English Church has done some splendid work, for they have many earnest missionaries who have also gone into the very coldest regions of Canada, around Hudson's Bay, and in the Mackenzie River basin. They have also missions in Manitoba and among the savage Blackfeet and Bloods of Alberta. Among the latter they have made little progress, though they have many converts in the far Northwest and NorthQast.
The Methodists not only sent out a few missionaries direct from England via Hudson's Bay, along with those of the English Church, hut have also sent a few northward from Ontario to the Ojibways along the great lakes. Much success has accompanied them. Then the Canadian Pacific Railroad was being built north of Lake Superior a contractor employed Indians as well as whites, and when Sunday came he tried to induce them to work that day as other days. But although he could hire the whites, not one of the Indians could be either persuaded, hired, or forced to do so, but went to hear their missionary as usual. Methodist missionaries pushed on northward along Lake Winnipeg and westward to the Crees on both sides of the Saskatchewan and even to the Stonies at the foot of the Rockies. Here by their earnest devotion, attendance at religious services, and observance of the Sabbath, some of these Crees and Stonies would put to shame many far more highly favored church-members in Eastern churches, who perhaps look down on the poor Indians. The names of missionaries George McDougall, Henry Steinhaur, Rundle, and Woolsey will long be remembered as pioneers in this work among the Crees and Stonies, while to-day it is still carried on by Revs. German, Glass, J. McDougall, R. and E. Steinhaur, Nelson, Summerset, and Adamson.
Although the Presbyterians only began a few years ago to spend much on Indian missions, still their work is not without success. Missionaries Nisbet and John McKay have gone to their reward, leaving Revs. Fleet, Hugh McKay, Moore, and others still plodding on. Industrial boarding mission schools, partly supported by the Government, are being preferred to day schools by all these denominations, and the hope is principally in the children.
Very many of the Indians of the Northwest are still pagan, especially among such tribes as the Blackfeet, where the sun dance and other heathen dances and practices are scarcely surpassed for cruelty and dense darkness by any in Africa or India.
In the sun dance they build a circular tabernacle of poles covered with green branches and worship the sun, when the leaves are opening out in the spring. Here, in part of the worship, those who have made sacred vows to the Great Spirit during the year come forward to pay their vows in the presence of the assembled crowds. For instance, a man's child has been at death's door, and he promised the Kitche-manito that if He would restore the loved one to health he would give himself to be tortured at the next sun dance. The child recovers, and the Indian, with a faithfulness to his god that should make many of us Christians hang our heads in shame, comes forward and stretches himself on his back on the grassy floor of the large green worshipping place. Indians then come up with knives and make two cuts on each side of his breast, so as to leave a strip of flesh between. Through this wooden skivers are thrust. Then one end of a long rawhide thong is attached to each, and the other end is fastened to the top of the centre pole of the leafy tent. In olden times often this was not enough, but cuts were made in the arms near the shoulders and skivers put in these also, and by thelie a heavy gun was hung on each side. Others
1i10 HOME MISMONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA
were put in his back and buffalo heads attached to them. This done, the music of the drums and dance song grew loud and rapid, and the tears trickled down his cheeks as he danced and jerked till the flesh broke out at each skiver and he was at last free.
What terrible suffering! Which one of us Christians would do as much to pay our vows to our God ~ Surely we should be willing to go to the ends of the earth to carry the Gospel message for our Master when an ignorant, pagan Indian will do so much in his religion.
These sun dances are still carried on every year, though with less severe cruelty than in bygone days. The Government is discouraging them to some extent, but more stringent measures should be taken to put a stop to all this torture and cruelty.
When visiting a sick Indian one day, the writer stopped to see a" dog feast" dance. The drums were beating at a lively rate, and about half a dozen young men, almost naked, and with their skin painted in several colors and adorned with many eagle feathers, were dancing around a pot of meat, singing as they danced, " Hi-yi, hi-yi, hi-yi-yi," etc. The meat was that of a dog which they had killed. The skull was on top, with the teeth showing in anything but a pleasant fashion. The drums beat faster, the song grew louder and more earnest, until finally it ended with a short, quick yell. This was repeated over and over again for some time. Then a long, slender, carefully made stick was inserted in a small piece of the meat and this was waved around in a mysterious way over the eagle feathers several times, as if it were offering to the spirits before the feast. Then they dished out the meat and broth and ate it with a relish.. They offered the writer some, but of course he replied, " Nin kawin bakete" (I am not hungry). We might describe other dances and customs, but these will suffice to show that we have still heathen in America who should call forth on the part of those who have been favored by being born in Christian homes a desire to support missionaries and teachers in sufficient numbers to teach them the better way of serving and worshipping their Creatc;>r.
HOME MISSIONS IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA.
BY REV. A. SUTHERLAND, D.D., TORONTO, CANADA.
" Home missions" is a term of comprehensive import, and its meaning widens with each decade. Half a century ago home missions meant, in popular estimation, only those scattered frontier settlements where Christian ordinances were maintained by aid from wealthier communities. Today the term means that, of course, but it means much more. It includes all those forms of organized Christian effort whereby the Church seeks to carry the Gospel message to all who need it in our own land; to the lapsed masses in the great cities, and to the wandering Indian of the mountain or plain j to the votaries of false or perverted religions, and to those whose Christianity is but a lifeless form; to the adventurous miner and the hardy settler, those pioneers of civilization who on this continent have more than once laid the foundations of empire ; and last, but by no means feast, to the polyglot millions from beyond the seas who come to seek homes in a land where poverty is no bar to advancement, but who bring with them cus- toms, belief!!, and inherited tendencies which are not favorable to a healthy social or religious development, and may prove-indeed, have already proved-to be a standing menace to national freedom and stability. In a word, the object of home missions is to evangelize the heterogeneous peoples that compose the population of this continent, and to solve, by the application of Gospel principles, the difficult problems presented by diversi- ties of race, language, religion, and national life.
While treating this subject in relation to the Continent of America, it will be necessary to keep in view its two great political divisions, the United States and Canada; for although there are some religious problems common to both countries, each has some problems peculiar to itself. To these two nations is committed, in the providence of God, the destiny, social, educational, political, religious, of a vast continent, that in less than another century will contain a majority of the English-speaking people of the globe, and will exert a more potent influence upon the world's religious future than perhaps all other nations combined. In the accomplishment of a great providential mission by these two nations, home missions will be a powerful factor, and it is most important that the question should be understood in all its bearings. The object of this article is not to present an array of statistics showing what each denomination has accomplished by means of its home missions-that would require a volume-but rather to outline such facts and principles as will give a general view of the whole situation, and perhaps afford some hints as to lines of action in the future. With this object in view various departments of home mission work will be considered Reparately.
1. Oity .ilfissions.-The streams of humanity flow toward the centres. The cities are congested, the country parts are depleted. In large centres of popUlation the conditions of life change for the worse. Home life, in any healthy sense, becomes for all difficult, and for the poor impossible. The result is a state of society that is inimical to health, morals, and religious advancement. City populations have increased, are increasing, far more rapidly than are the necessary accommodations for home life. Out of this has grown the tenement system. To take a single instance, more than three fourths of the population of New York dwell in tenement houses, in an atmosphere that is for the most part physically, morally, and religiously unwholesome. Nor is this all. Many of the great cities of the United States are peopled largely by foreigners and their immediate descendants, and civic government has passed, in some instances, into hands least qualified for its wise and honest administration. In such great centres the problems presented are vast and complicated, while the appliances for solving them seem to be very inadequate. Nevertheless, there are some hopeful signs. City mission work has largely increased its scope in recent years, and methods and agencies for reaching the masses are now freely employed that were undreamed of a generation ago. Among the hopeful signs are: 1. The consecration of wealth, time, and social influence to the task of reaching and' uplifting the lapsed classes. 2. A thorough study of great social questions-labor, poverty, pauperism, crime -and a sustained effort to solve the problems they present by the application of Gospel principles. 3. Co-operation among churches and charitable organizations, whereby waste is prevented, imposture detected, and the deserving are promptly relieved. 4. The building of large and comfortable " people's churches," instead of small and dingy mission chapels, which latter only emphasize the contrast between the rich and poor. 5. The multiplication of agencies, so as to reach all cla€ses and conditions of people. And, 6, a more general recognition of the fact that " man shall not live by bread alone j" that he has needs on the spiritual as well as the temporal side, and that it becomes the Church to adapt her methods and agencies so as to meet these various needs. A glance at the religious organization and work of such cities as New York, Boston, and Toronto will be sufficient to show that city mission work is well to the front, and that resolute and sustained efforts are being made to solve the problems presented by the rapidly growing urban populations of this continent.
At the same time, it may not be out of place to aay that the Christian activities of our cities must further widen their scope and turn their efforts in some new directions before the desired results can be achieved. There is little profit in lopping off a few twigs and branches while the great roots of social and civic evils remain untouched. It is of little use that we attempt to check wickedness in low places as long as we tolerate it in high places. The Gospel so faithfully preached in the slums has a mcssage to the parks, and boulevards, and avenues. Christians who support Sunday street cars and patronize Sunday newspapers cannot protest, with a good grace, against other forms of Sabbath desecration j and they whose votes legalize and protect the saloon have little right to complain if wholesale drunkenness and prostitution neutralize their best efforts to reach and uplift the masses.
2. Missions among the Immigrants, etc.-There are two circumstances which render missions of this class highly important, namely, the enormous extent of territory open to those who come as immigrants from abroad' or who move westward from the older States and provinces j and the diversified character of these new settlers in regard to nationality, intelligence, religion, and knowledge of municipal and public affairs. Notwithstanding the vast numbers who have spread themselves over the States and Territories west of the Mississippi, there is room still for the population of an empire to be added j while in the Canadian northwest there is fertile territory larger in extent than the whole of Europe excepting Russia, and capable f'Jf sustaining a population equal to that of the United States. Into these two countries the bulk of Europe's surplus population will pour for many years to come. The Dark Continent may get a share, and Australia has still room for millions more i but the mighty Gulf Su-eam of immigration that has been flowing westward for three decades cannot easily be checked or turned aside. Once this great influx of strangers was hailed with joy by the people of the United States; to-day it is regarded by many as the gravest danger that threatens the cherished institutions of the rcpublic. In Canada the rush has not been felt to any great extent, but it is coming, and all the more because of repressive legislation by the American Congress, intended to prevent the introduction of undesirable immigrants into that country.
But whether these unevangelized millions find homes north or south of the international boundary, the problem will be the same, the dangers the same, the remedy the same. If Christian civilization is to survive on this continent, the incoming millions of Germans, Scandinavians, Russians, Jews, Italians, et hoc genus omne, with their Old-World ideas, socialistic tendencies, religious skepticism, and atrophied power of self-government, must in some way be fused at white heat and cast into the mould of a new national life. In this colossal undertaking minor forces will play their part -education, intercourse, commcrce, political discussion, and a hundred things beside-but no one of these, nor all of them combined, can save American civilization from ignominious failure or disastrous eclipse. There is but one factor that can completely solve the problem, and that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. But if even this is to succeed, the home mission work of the churches must be done with a zeal, a wisdom, a thoroughness, and on a l'!cale far exceeding the best work of the past. In the sudden rush of population into the Western States and Territories during the past few decades, it is scarcely to be wondered at that the churches were bewildered hy the rapid and enormous dcmands made upon their resources, and found it literally impossible to keep pace with the requirements of the work.
There is no use in shutting our eyes to the truth. America, including Canada, is not yet completely evangelized. Other forces than that of the Gospel hold sway. To-day Chicago is, for a time, the cynosure not only of " neighboring eyes," but of the eyes of all the world_ She stands before the nations in a fiercer light than that" which beats upon a throne," the representative of all that is best in American civilization j but to the shame of many, and to the bewilderment of more, she dishonors her white shield with the "bar sinister" of a continental Sunday, defies alike the national law and the national conscience, and proclaims as openly as if inscribed in characters of fire upon every dome and archway that the Christian's God is dead and buried and that Mammon reigns in His stead. The home mission work of the churches cannot be regan1ed as finished until tbe thought and conscience of the people is so aroused and the law of God so recognized as to make the repetition of this huge blunder an impol!lSibility.
To what extent have the churches kept pace with the growtk and needs of the population 1 Some will say they have kept fully abreast j and statistics, read in a certain way, seem to support the claim. Thus it has been shown that during the century the percentage increase of church members has been far greater than the percentage increase of population, the latter having increased fifteenfold (say 4,000,000 to 60,000,000), w!J.ile the former has increased over thirty-sevenfold (360,000 to 13,000,000). It is also claimed that there is, at the present time, in the United States, one evangelical minister for every 560 people, and 01l.e evangelical church organization for every 370, while the ratio of church membe~hip is one for every 4.70. Taken at their face value, these figures seem to prove that the aggregate results of Christian effort, through home missions and otherwise, have been all that could be desired. But when we place the figures of the census alongside the facts as revealed in the present state of society and the tendencies of the times, it becomes at once apparent that some important factors were not included in the census returns-indeed, they could not be-and that this has vitiated the result. To guard against misapprehension, the writer wishes it to be understood that he is by no means disposed to take a pessimistic view of the situation-quite the contrary. The work of the century has been a grand one, almost justifying the remark of a recent writer that "we are living to-day in the midst of an evangelical conquest without a precedent and without a parallel." But still there is need to emphasize the thought that, for the thorough evangelization of this continent, the churches must push their home mission work on broader lines, with greater energy, and in a spirit of co-operation beyond what the past has witnessed.
Taking the figures already quoted as correct-namely, that there are in the United States one evangelical minister to every 560 people, and yet remembering that there are vast numbers almost untouched by any evangelizing agency, the conviction comes that there must be a very unequal distribution of forces, and that this, in turn, has arisen from the endless divisions and consequent rivalries of our common Protestantism. That very many localities, towns and villages especially, are overstocked with feeble churches and underpaid ministers is a circumstance too notorious to require proof. Time and again has the writer found viIlages of from 400 to 1000 of a population with as many as three, four, five, and in one case eight, Protestant churches, where one was ample for the needs of the people, each struggling for an existence, and in many cases eking out its slender resources by drafts on the home mission fund of its denomination. In Canada this source of weakness has been eliminated to some extent by the various union movements. Previous to 1874 there were six branches of Methodism and four of Presbyterianism j now there is one Methodism and O1Ie Presbyterianism throughout the entire dominion. Suppose it were
THE HEART OF BUDDHISM AND THE HEART OF CHRISTIANITY
and six Methodist churches were competing for a foothold among the spares communities of the Northwest, and the absurdity of the situation becomes at once apparent. I trust it may be said without offence that in the matter of consolidation and more equal distribution of forces, Canada has shown an example that the churches of the republic would do well to imitate. It is said there are in the United States some sixty-seven distinct denominations, not a few of these maintaining substantially the same doctrines and usages. While such a state of affairs continues we must expect, in regard to home missions, the maximum of expenditure and the minimum of results.
Other branches of home mission work will be considered in another article.
THE HEART OF BUDDHISM AND THE HEART OF CHRIS- ~IANITY.
BY REV. W. C. DODD, LAMPOON, LAOS MISSION, SIAM.
It is not going too far to say that the heart of Buddhism is selfishness, even as distinguished from self-interest. There is a Buddhist sacred book in this land called the thirty virtues or merits. And of the thirty, the one which puts its possessor nearest Nirvana is a state of supreme indifference to the fate of others. The teaching of the book is in the form of a parable, which- has a shadow of resemblance to the parable of the good Samaritan. A merchant fell into the hands of thieves, who killed him and robbed him of even his clothing. Ten fellow-merchants came upon this poor fellow in succession. One bathed his body j another set food and drink before him for his journey into the spirit world j another merely pitied him j another, seeing him lying dead, was afraid, and ran for his own life. This one exhibited the virtue of wisdom, according to the author of the parable. Each of the ten merchants showed one kind of virtue, but all ten of them together did not do half as much as did the good Samaritan. All that they did do had more reference to themselves than to their fellow-merchant. But the one of the ten who exhibited the highest form of virtue and received the highest praise was the one who looked on with the merest indifference, and whose only remark was, " Let his own merit determine for him." And why was this such high form of virtue? Because desire and emotion are the causes of all sorrow. Existence itself is an evil. The goal of the soul is the extinction of all that characterizes individual existence. This is Nippan. The road thither is the extinction, through discipline, of all emotions-pleasure as well as pain, joy equally with sorrow, pity and compassion as thoroughly as contempt and hatred. The true disciple must trample upon everything and everybody else. Why? In order to escape personal sorrow.
Centuries of such teaching have borne their legitimate fruit. The most otherwise ; suppose the old divisions remained, and that four Presbyterian common thought among the people here, and one as frequently heard as any other religious (1) sentiment, is this: "Every man for himself. "
People do everything of a ceremonial and religious nature only in order to make merit for themselves. Disinterested actions are foreign to their thought and experience. Hence they cannot understand them when they see them in Christians. No matter how great a kindness you show to a Buddhist, he does not usually consider it as occasion for gratitude. It is owing to merit on his part, aud to desire to make merit on your part. Even famine relief is so spoken of sometimes: "YO'l are making more merit than anybody else in the country," not" You are showing kindness or doing good."
The heart of Christianity is love. And the highest expression of love, according to Christ, is service-service even going to the point of laying down life for another. And the innermost core of service is foreign missions. Home missions and city evangelization may involve as much hard work, and they are as truly service. Not one word of "ven seeming rivalry, not a breath of disparagement of these or of the Salvation Army, or any and aU philanthropic or even humanitarian efforts! One needs only a short residence in a heathen lltnd in order to realize how barren of these and of common morality-even the kind that will not confess its Christian pedigree-is the land that is without Jesus Christ. No disparagement, but a comparison. Foreign missions is service, not only to other individuals, but to other peoples living in another land, speaking another language. Motives perfectly justifiable in the highest Christian ethical code are urging on home missions and city evangelization. Patriotism, selfdefence against vice and ignorance, commercial advantage, and the interests of civilization are all here. None of these is in missions to Siam. Siam has nothing to give America except what brought Christ down from heaven -souls lost in darkness and sin. All service to Siam is purely disinterested. It is the core of Christianity.
The heart of Buddhism and the heart of Christianity are as far apart as the poles. Does anyone suppose that the same soul may at different times heartily embrace and strikingly exhibit each 1 Not six months ago the author became acquainted with a lady nearly ninety years old. ,On his first visit she told how since her early youth she had been an earnest seeker after truth. So long as she was able to visit the temples she had been the leader in merit·making in her neighborhood. But she had become disgusted with the puerility and the self-contradictions of the Buddhist books and the universal immorality of the day. Having heard of Christianity. she began to hope that in it she might find the true religion of her lifelong search. Some of the workers in our training school had visited her, and she had listened with joy. At the next visit she told us she had not slept any the night following our visit-could not sleep for very joy. Soon after she received baptism in her own house.
But the infirmities of age soon began to prostrate her. It was as if
THE PRESENT ASPECT OF MISSIONS IN INDIA
God had preserved her in an nnusual degree of vigor of body and mind only until she should find Him. She is now failing fast.
At a recent visit she said: "My son, are you very busy every day!" " Yes, mother." After a long pause, "It sometimes seems to mother as if a primal mistake had been made." " Why ~" " Because there are so few of us." "You mean, mother, that if you were still a Buddhist, priesti and head-priests would be in here to see you every day; but I can't come ?" ,• Yes, that is it." Who can blame her ~ Who would not have felt the same in the circumstances ~ It was not wholly the old spirit of Buddhism that spoke in her. It was" the cry of the human;" but it was not yet the spirit of Christ. " But, mother, the priests are in every village of the land ; but there is only one minister of the Gospel in this province. Besides, the Holy Spirit is more to you than ten, or twenty, or one hundred priests. " "Y~s, yes." She was silenced, but did her heart give hearty assent?
The next Sabbath we went again to hold services at her house in the afternoon; spoke of the blessedness of those who hunger and thirst after righteousness. After service this conversation occurred: "Mother, your son wishes to go away off to the south and hunt out other hungry souls who have not been filled as you have. I shall expect to be gone more than a month if I go, and may never see mother again in this world. What do you say?" In her reply it was as if the Spirit of Christ Himself spoke. Knowing that it might be our last meeting on earth, she replied quickly, " Go, go. Mother has not aword of objection. I am glad to have you go." Then she added a form of blessing as she held my hand in parting. With generations of Buddhist ancestry behind her, and after nearly ninety years of unusually hearty following of Buddhist teaching herself, she had within less than six months gotten at the very core of the Gospel-the heart of Christianity.
THE PRESENT ASPECT OF MISSIONS IN INDIA.-I.
lIY JAMES KENNEDY, HAMPSTEAD, LONDON, ENGLAND.
Scientists tell us that the great depths of ocean are unaffected by the severest storms, the agitation seldom extending beyond forty feet from the surface. To terrified voyagers the wild waves look as if the whole ocean was in turmoil, while in fact only a small part of it is moved. Frequently the great ocean of human life is regarded with similar illusion. We see only a little way into its depths, and we conclude that all below accords with all we see above. The result is a mistaken and misleading inference.
This tendency to illusion ought to be carefully guarded against when we look at India. The remark has been made about the late John Bright that he had fallen into many mistakes wheu discussing Indian questions, but that he had discovered two things-that there is no Indian country and no Indian nation-in other words, that India is a continent., not a country, and that its inhabitants are not a nation, but a congeries of nations and distinct races.
On the eve of Lord Dufferin's departure from India, in 1889, he deliv- ered a speech which in the strongest manner corroborates these great facts, which need to be again and again presented to the minds of God's people, if they would have any just conception of the work before them when gird- ing themselves for the evangelization of India. It is to be hoped the read- ers of this REVIEW have carefully read that speech as placed before them in substance in the April, 1889, number. When we consider this skilful array of well-attested facts, we are almost dismayed at the magnitude and difficulty of missionary work in India. If success depended on human energy and resources, it would be folly to advance. With the assurance that the work is God's, it would be folly, nay, it would be craven cowardice, to retire. As believers in Christ we are optimists, and our optimism is strong in proportion to our faith. This Christian optimism does not require us to confine our view to pleasing facts, to bright appearances. When we have facts before us of a promising nature, let us be thankful for them and cheered by them, but let us look full in the face, so far as we can, the real state of things, and try to have some just conception of the enormous difficulties that the Gospel in India must overcome in order to triumph. This resolute faithfulness to fact should strengthen us by leading us to cast ourselves more unreservedly on our Master's strength. When we are weak, then we are strong. In this spirit let us ponder facts presented to us in the India of to-day.
Few things will surprise many readers of Lord Dufferin's speech so much as the statements he makes about the illiteracy of India. Some time ago the following statement appeared in one of our most widely circulated Christian papers: "India waits a vast extension of colportage agency. All the men are educated more or less j so, now, are many of the women. Native colporteurs, male and female, mighL be ranging the land, entering zenanas, and casting seed into many a furrow at small cost to immense result. " Lord Dufferin, with full and accurate knowledge, makes a very different statement. Speaking of the peoples of India under the direct government of England, he says: "Of these two hundred millions not more than five or six per cent can read and write, while less than one per cent has any knowledge of English. Of the ten or twelve millions who have acquired an education, three fourths, or perhaps less, have not attained to more than the most elementary knowledge." A large number of the trading class can write business letters and keep accounts, but cannot read a page of a printed book. In the April, 1889, REVIEW it is stated that" of the forty-two millions of childreH. who ought to be at school, only three millions and a half are receiving auy education, and less than two hundred thousand of this numher are learning the truths of Christianity." For ages there have been educated classcs in India j our government has an educational department, officials are instructed to encourage educational effort, and now on the highest authority we learn that the vast majority are utterly illite~ate. Among certain classes there is a strong desire for the acquisition of our language, but apart from these educational progress is very slow. The Bengalese have been called, the Greeks of India. They have wandered far beyond their own country, and fill many responsible and lucrative offices. Many are excellent English scholars. Their great city, Calcutta, has been called " the centre of Western learning and culture in the East." Education ought wisely to bc advancing rapidly in Bengal, so populous, so wealthy, deemed so intelligent. The expectation is not fulfilled. We are startled to find from a review of the report published by the Director of Public Instruction for 1887 that the people generally have no desire for knowledge. "The pupils in secondary schools have increased slightly in numbers, but the numbers cannot but appear smallviz., one hundred and ninety thousand out of a population of sixty millions. It is significantly pointed out that these schools, which are to some extent aided by Government, are not supported by the people." "Primary education has reached a stationary stage. There is said to be no spontaneous tendency to the spread of elementary instruction beyond the classes which it at present reaches. As a matter of fact, less than one fourth of the school-going male popUlation is touched by the educational system, and this is said to be a sanguine estimate. Of this one fourt.h it appears that little more than one tenth passed the very elementary tests prescribed, and thus only about two per cent of the male popUlation of Lower Bengal are gaining any benefit from the wide-reaching system of state education." When we consider the illiteracy of the masses in India, the sad but certain fact ought to be frankly acknowledged, that the vast majority of the inhabitants scattered in millions over the vast spaces of that continent, away for the greater part from the cities, toiling for their daily food, are to the present day steeped in ignorance and superstition, worshipping the gods of their fathers, following their ancient customs, fast bound by caste fetters, and averse to change. Can we speak of these millions as ripe for the Gospel ~ We must sorrowfully confess that, so far as the vast major:ty are concerned, the work of the Christian Church has yet to begin.
Among the classes of society brought within the cognizance of Europeans there is more movement, we have every reason to believe, than at any previous period. The stagnancy of ages has been thoroughly disturbed. Questions affecting religion, morals, politics, and social life are keenly discussed in conversation, newspapers, periodicals, public meetings, and books. The press is free, and often uses its freedom to the extent of license. Residents in India have been for years watching this awakening with increasing interest. Visitors to India who stay a few days in its cities, and whose knowledge of the vast regions through which they travel does not extend beyond the look obtained from a railway carriage, are often delighted with what they see and hear. If of an inquiring mind, they come into contact with persons who speak English well, and 3re ready freely to express their views. These visitors see a new tide setting i.. with apparently irresistible force, and go away with the idea that the p,alilt in thought, feeling, habit, and act has no resisting power, and will be speedily swept away. Those who are cognizant of the real state of things know that the old, though greatly shaken, continlIeIil fearfully strong, and Pl"esents no appearance of immediate collapse.
Let us look for a little at some of the manifestations of old India. 'If a traveller from Europe had landed in Calcutta at the end of December, 1887, and proceeded at once to Allahabad, the capital of the Northwestern Provinces, he would have seen a sight which would have astounded and disgusted him. At that season there is an immense gathering from all parts of India to bathe in the sacred Ganges. The festival lasts fOf a month, but there are certain high days, when vast crowds assemble for WOfship, for traffic, and for amusement. At the festival of 188'7-88, on one of the principal days, four hundred naked ascetics walked in procession to the river, an English official on horseback going before them to keep order, with thousands of men and women on either side looking on with apparent approval-many, we suppose, with reverence. Among these, we Are told, there were not a few who were the alumni of our collegiate schools. What more striking proof could be furnished of the power of superstition in its most disgusting forms ~ At this very festival I have seen women bowing down to the ground before naked ascetics.
Another instance of the power of superstition was furnished some time ago by the excitement caused by the discovery that ghee-clarified butter, largely used by natives in their food and also in offerings to their godshad been adulterated by lard. The offence had been committed by Hindu traders. There was an outcry of horror at the discovery. Injury to health was not to be named beside the inj ury done to their caste purity and the insult to their gods, whose wrath might bring down on them fearful calamities. In the enlightened city of Calcutta the native newspapers called on the Government to enact a law by which this impious conduct might be declared penal.
The horrid shrine of Kalee, at Calcutta, continues to be frequented by all classes.
The contest between the Hindus and Mohammedans about the slaughter of kine never ceases, and at times it breaks out into furious fighting, to the disturbance of the public peace. Beef-eating Englishmen, to whom the Mohammedan butchers minister, come in for a large share of odium. Some time ago a cow preservation society was formed, and has received large and enthusiastic support. One native gentleman, well versed in our language, who has held office under our government for many years, has received signal benefits from it, and has been raised to the rank of Raja, proposed to his brethren at Benares to go to England, to fall down before the Queen with straw in his mouth, to implore her to forbid the slaughter of kine. The one condition he laid down was that his visit to England should not impair his caste position; but his caste people refused the condition. A Pundit addressed a crowded meeting in the town hall of Calcutta, and maintained that the killing of kine was as wasteful as it was wicked. One of the great feudatory princes of India, on his return from London after the Queen's jubilee, in order to restoration to caste, was obliged, along with the Maharanee and suite, to take the unutterably horrible penitential pill, the product of the cow, prescribed by the modest Hindu law. There was great rejoicing over the Raja's submission. Three thousand caste people were feasted on the occasion.
The facts we have mentioned-many similar ones down to the present day might be easily adduced-are in accordance with what may be seen all over India in the daily and occasional conduct of the vast body of the people in attendance at temples, in great religious gatherings-the people in thousands availing themselves of the facilities afforded by railway trains-in clinging to caste, in steady purpose to maintain at all cost their position of orthodox Hindus.
Notwithstanding the patent facts which seem to prove that Hinduism retains its ancient strength, and can defy every assault, there are facti equally patent which assure us that a breach has been made in its walls, and that the entire structure is undermined by influences which will bring it certainly, though not perhaps speedily, to the ground. Page after page might be given of statements made by Europeans and natives, by English officials who have seen much of the people and are deeply interested in their welfare, by missionaries of large experience, by natives of caste, rank, and intelligence, some of the number hailing a new order of things, others discarding it : to show that Hinduism is undermined.
Let us refer to native opinion. In the January, 1889, number of the Madras Ohristian Oollege Magazine there is an article by a graduat9 of the Calcutta University entitled" Are there Hindus Now~" The writer informs us that at a public meeting in Calcutta, composed of the elite of native society, a gentleman of the foremost rank in position, intelligence, and general esteem, himself still a member of the Hindu community, propounded the question, "Are there true Hindus to-day in Bengal~" He said: "In name they might be Hindus, but they had in almost every particular departed from the teachings. traditions, and customs of their forefathers, and drunk in deep draughts of foreign thought. " Those present were a little startled at first, but came, after a little searching of heart, to the conclusion that a right answer had been given. A Brahmin writer in a Madras paper says: "Hinduism It a corpse out of which the life has fled, and yet it is a living force. The moribund in expensive creed is still able to perform ceremonial functions." The cries of alarmed Hinduism attest its decadence. At Madras a Hindu tract society has been formed, and is prosecuting its work vigorously. In its first tract it says: "How many hundreds of thousands have these Padrees turned to Christianity, and keep on turning? How many hundrerlH of thousands of dear children have they swallowed up? Oh, over how many more havc thcy cast their nets ?" We may exclaim, when we read these words, " Would that the success achieved corroborated the statements drawn by Hindu fears !" The success falls far behind. The following words are very characteristic: " Is there no learned Pundit to be securfJd for money who will crush the Christians ?"
Many are the influences which tend to the disintcgrati(}n of Hinduism. Among these the spread of the English language and of Western knowledge deserves a prominent place. More than half a century has passed since a great impulse was given to the study by Duff, Lord Macaulay, and Sir Charles Trevelyan. Since that period every year has witnessed a large increase to the number of students, and during the last few years the zeal for the acquisition of our langnage has risen to fever heat. It is regarded as the direct road to mental culture and still more as the avenue to a place of honor. The rising, ambitious youth of our cities, and, indeed, of the higher class generally, are eager in the prosecution of this study. One result is that even in seminaries instituted for the purpose of cultivating Eastern along with Western languages and literature, Eng- 1ish and English literature are in such favor that the other department receives scant attention. It is not uncommon to find native gentlemen in middle life who cannot speak a sentence of our language whose sons speak it with ease and accuracy. Many pupils, however, have neither the application nor the leisure required. They attain to the merest smattering, which enables them to talk in a broken fashion, but is insufficient for the understanding of an ordinary book. These are often fond of appearing where an address or discourse in English is delivered, and English visitors are thus often misled as to the degree in which our language is known by the large audiences they see. Still it is certain that many natives know our language well. A striking proof has been furnished by its having been chiefly used at the sessions of what has been called the Indian National Congress, composed of persons of the different nationalities of the Indian continent. On a few occasions members spoke in Hindustanee, a language unknown to the greater number. English-taught persons are of all Indian religions, but the great majority are Hindus, and they come from government, missionary, and private institutions, in what proportion we cannot say.
What is the character of the educated class? To what extent are they intellectually and morally elevated? What is their bearing to their own and other religions? These are questions of the greatest importance, and most difficult to answer. In a class so large and brought up under such varied influences there must be marked differences, and any attempt to describe them under one generalization must be misleading.
One thing is obvious. The whole tone of the Western mind, of its religion, literature, and science is so antagonistic to the legends, superstition, and idolatry of the Hindus that English education cannot fail to have a disintegrating cffect. The Hindu stndent, as hc pursnes his studies in our higher seminarics, feels himsclf in a ncw atmosphere, breathing a purer and more invigorating air, with nobler views of man and nature, more worthy of God, and more accordant with truth t,han those which havc come down to him from his fathers. He may still practise the rites of his religion to please his family and maintain his place in society, he may follow the customs of his conntry, superstitions notions may linger in his mind, but he has ceased to believe in his ancestral religion. It is acknowledged on all hands that this is to a great cxtent the effect of English education. It must be so in normal minds, where contradictory views cannot dwell together. There are, however, in India abnormal minds which manage to reconcile what we deem irreconcilable.
A minority of highly educated persons, larger than is gen-!rally supposed, contend strongly for their hereditary religion, and cling tenaciously to it. I have before me a lecture in clear, manly English, in which a native professor of the government college, Benares, contends that modern Hinduism is the development of the great phIlosophic principles of the ancient Rishees in the form best adapted to the popular mind. He has a great regard for Christianity, but in its principles, philosophy, and working deems it far inferior to Hinduism. The Nineteenth Oentury for May, 1889, contains a brightly written article by the Countess of Jersey on " The Hindu at Home," in which she gives us the views of a highly educated native in words evidently supplied by himself. He tells us that the few natives of high caste who have become Christians have been deteriorated by the change, while the lower classes, Hindus and non-Hindus, are greatly benefited by it, are raised to a measure of civilization, and are freed from degrading habits. "Brahmins who know their own religion have in the Vedas and Upanishads such a profound philosophy and lofty religion that they can never embrace the Gospel." This gentleman acknowledges there is nothing in the Vedas for the millions outside the high-caste pale. They are to a large extent devil-worshippers, and there is a variety of hells where there is room for them all. The countess was so impressed with the proofs of the strength of Hindui&m, of the zeal and liberality of its adherents, that she gives no credit to the report of its decay, and thinks that personal observation in India would induce Canon Taylor to write still more strongly than he has done. This lady has an observant eye, but has no conception of India's need of the Gospel, has no faith in its Divine power, and is ignorant of or misrepresents the facts of Indian missions. Yet it is from articles of this kind that thousands of our people gather their views of what is being done in India to promote the cause of Christ. When we compare her impressions with those of a visitor like Dr. Jesse Blake, and of eminent officials who have spent a large part of their life in India, we see the contrast in the observation and estimate of facts between persons who come to them with entirely different sentiments.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTlDI:NT
II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND OONDUCTED BY BEV. J. T. GBAOEY, D.D.
The World's Oongress of Missions, sions. The committee having in charge RY REV. E. M. WHERRY, D.D., CORRE- the management of this congress is as SPONDING SECRETARY OF THE CON- follows: Rev. Walter Manning Bar- GRESS. rows, D.D., Chairman; William E. Blackstone, Vice-Chairman; Rev. AI- The opening ceremonies connected virus N. Hitchcock, Ph.D., Secretary; with the World's Columbian Exposition Rev. Eo M. Wherry, D.D., Correspond- presented a pageant of uori valled splen- ing Secretary; Rt. Rev. Samuel Fal- dor. The beautiful Park, the lake and lows, D.D., Rev. Frank M. Bristol, islands, the lagoons covered with elec- D.D., Rev. Theodore N. Morrison, tric boats and Italian gondolas, the pa- D.D., Rev. O. P. Gifford, D.D., Rev.
latial buildings adorned by beautiful J. J_ Keller, President William R. Har- works of art, the procession of great per, LL.D., Rev. A. J. Canfield, Rev.
men from this and other lands, and a Moses Smith, Rev. George E. Young- vast multitude of men and women in dahl, Rev. E. C. Ray, D.D., W_ B. Ja- holiday dress from every nation, pre- cobs, Esq., Peter Sinclair, Esq., Rev.
sented a scene of grandeur and beauty L. G. Abrahamson, Rev. R. Blomendal, never before witnessed in the New Rev. John Schneider, Rev. H. W. Roth, World, and rarely if ever surpassed D.D., Rev. William T. Meloy, D.D., in the Old. The touch of an electric Rev. W. F. Black, Rev. Charles M.
button at once signalling the close of Morton. .
the Presidential address and the unveil- This committee represents thirteen ing of the magnificent statue of Liberty, Protestant denominations. •• Every set in motion the great electric motor known Christian missionary society"
and the varied machinery of the Expo- has been invited to send representatives.
sition. Every spectator was filled with A number of these have already ap- wonder, and the delight of the assembly pointed delegates. It is expected that was voiced in the shouts of the vast missionaries and converts from various multitude. All were more than satis- mission fields will be present. It will fied. The scenes of this great day have comprehend the whole mission field, and been photographed, and already the will therefore include city, home, and eyes of myriads in every land have foreign missions. "No such mission- gazed upon them. ary assembly has ever before been pos- There are, however, other things In sible." The" address" sent to the va- store for those who can appreciate them, rious mission societies of the world, of no less interest and of far more lasting from which we have quoted above, influence than the material exhibit on goes on to say: "A broad and compre- the Exposition grounds. Connected hensive programme has been prepared; with the Columbian Exposition is the vital principles of missionary policy; World's Congress Auxiliary, which has burning questions of missionary'rela- sought for the first time in human his- tions, aims, and methods; the whole tory to gather up what is best in the field in the light of past successes and thought of the world, and so present disappointments; the limitless possi- through a series of congresses what is bilities and responsibilities of to-day- best in the spheres of science, philoso- these and similar themes will be pre- phy, and religion. sented by representative men and wom- Among these congresses there is none en from different denominations of of so much interest to the Christian Christians, as well as from diverse parts world as the World's Congress of Mis- of the world." The programme adopted by the com· 2. Problems and Methods, The Scat- mittee seems to fully justify the expec· tered Populations, etc.
tations created by this letter. From Co-operative Agencies: this programme we learn that the Con- 3. Bible Societies.
gress is to be held during the eight days 4. Tract and Book Societies.
beginning September 28th. Meetings 5. Sunday-schools.
will be held from 10 A.M. to 12 M., from 6. The Demand for a Larger Co-oper- 2 P.M. to 4 P.M., and in the evening ation. By the essential spirit of Chris- from 7.30 P.M. to 9.30 P.M. All meet- tianity; by the urgent needs of the ings will be held in the auditorium pre- field, etc.
pared for the auxiliary congresses in 7. Co-operation Applied, Practicable the new Art Palace on the lake front at Methods.
the foot of Adams Street. SEPT. 30TH, TilE UNEVANGELIZED NA- All sessions of the Congress will be TIONS.
introduced with devotional exercises. 1. A Geographical Survey, especially Besides the papers and addresses pre- the Totally Unreached Fields.
sented by those chosen to address the 2. Ethnic Religions: Hold on the Congress on the various topics. volun- People, Attitude of the Missionary, Re- tary addresses will be made by mem- sults upon Social and Moral Life.
bers of the Congress. "It is expected 3. Special Fields.
that the entire proceedings, including 4. Obstacles to Foreign Missionary stenographic reports of the addresses Success: Language, Customs, Perni- and discussions, will be publisbed by cious Influence of Nominal Christians, the Congress Auxiliary… etc.
"The Women's Congress of Missions 5. Environments of the Native Con- will be in session simultaneously in the vert: Caste, Polygamy, and other He- same building during Monday, Tues- reditary Customs.
day, and Wednesday, October 2d-4th, 6. The Inaccessible Fields of Islam: with two sessions each day. Other mis- How Shall we Reach Them?
sionary services, as many as may be de- 7. The Jews and their Land.
sired, may be held in the same building 8. The Jews and the Gospel.
during any of these days." SUNDAY, OCT. 1ST, WORLD'S MISSION- The subjects of the programme are ARY DAY.
8S follows: Morning.
SEPT. 28TH, CITY MISSIONS. Missionary services will be held 1. The City of To-day: Its Place, throughout the world. All churches and congregations are invited to unite. Perils, and Possibilities. 2. The City the Storm-centre of Law- 1. General Sul!ject: The World's Speedy Evangelization. lessness and Immorality. 3. City Missions-Past Progress; Les· .Afternoon.
sons. 2. The Century of Modern Missions 4. Denominational Comity and Co- a Prophecy of Final Triumph.
operation.
5. Independent Missions. Evening.
6. Woman's Work in City Evangeli- 3. Special Responsibility of Young zation, Bible Women; Nurse and Visit- People and their Societies. ing Deaconesses. 4. The Church's Responsibility for· 7. The Salvation Army and its Meth- the Speedy Evangelization of the ods. World. SEP'l'. 29TH, HOME MISSIONS. OCT. 2D, FOREIGN MISSIONARY AGEN- 1. The Field, The Unevangelized in CIES.
Christian Lands. 1. Missionary Societies: Their Place and Function in the Work of the fered and formally passed upon by the Church. Congress in relation to these subjects.) 2. Missionaries: The True Aim of OCT. 5TH, FORWARD TO VICTORY. their Work, Witness Bearing, Evangeli. zation, Development of Native Church· 1. Consecration of Property, Propores, National Reformation. tionate Giving.
3. Educational Agencies. 2. The Call for Laborers, Personal 4. Concessions to Native Customs and and Parental Responsibility. Ideas. 5. Medical Agencies and Relief Work: 3. Native Agencies the Chief Hope of Physicians, Hospitals, Dispensaries, etc. National Evangelization. 6. Denominational Comity and Co· operation on the Foreign Field. 4. Thy Kingdom Come. 5. Divine Assurances of the World's OCT. 3D, WHAT THE WORLD OWES TO Evangelization, Scriptural and Provi- dential. MISSIONS. 6. The Power of the Spirit. Among those who are expected to 1. Reflex Influence of Foreign Mis· speak on these subjects are the followsions upon Christendom: Commerce, ing distinguished persons: Rev. Alex- Science, Spiritual Life. ander Mackay-Smith, D.D., the Rev. Graham Taylor, D.D.,* the Rev. J. 2. Direct Influence upon Native Peo· Spurgeon.* of London. the Rev. Fredpies: Industrial, Social, :Moral, Spirit- erick Charington* (England), Miss ual. Frances Willard,* General llooth* (Sal- vation Army), Bishop Ethelbert Tal- 3. Beacon Lights from the World's bot,* the Rev. William C. Roberts, Mission Fields, Conspicuous Examples D.D.• the Rev. John Hall, D.D.,* the of the Gospel's Triumph, Aboriginal Rev. Dr. Hillis, the Rev. Eugene Americans. Stock,* Sir Monier Williams,* the Rev. H. C. Hayden, D.D., the Rev. Dennis 4. The Island World. Osborne* (India), Rev. Thomas P. 5. The Dark Continent. Hughes, B.D.,* Professor H. M. Scott, 6. Eastern Asia. D.D., the Rev. F. W. Clark, D.D.•* 7. The Ottoman Empire. Rev. A. B. Leonard, D.D.• Rev. George 8. India. Washburn, D.D. (Robert College. Con- stantinople), Rev. Dr. Miller* (India), OCT. 4TH, RESPONSIBILITY OF CHRIS- Rev. S. Slater* (Bangalore, India). Rev. Dr. Post (Beirut, Syria). Rev. George TIAN GOVERNMENTS. W. Knox. D.D. (Tokyo, Japan), Pro- fessor Henry Drummond* (Glasgow), 1. As to International and Treaty Rev. H. C. Mabie, D.D., Rev. Edgerton Rights of Unevangelized Peoples. R. Young,* Rev. Hudson Taylor, Rev. G. F. Pentecost, D.D.. Rev. W. Elliott 2. As to the Citizen Rights of Mis· Griffis, D.D., Sir Richard Temple. sionaries. G.C.S.I.* (London), Judge E. S. PheJps,* Bishop Charles H. Fowler, 3. Responsibility of Christian Govern- D.D.,* Rev. A. A. Miner, D.D., Rev.. ments as to Human Slavery. A. J. Gordon, D.D., Rev. H. Grattan Guinness (London), Rev. J. 1'. Gracey, 4. The Bearings of International Law D.D., Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D.D.,* on Religious Toleration. and Mr. D. L. Moody. * It is the confident expectations of the Evening. * The namel marked with a star have not y~t WORLD'S CONCERT OF PRAYER ]'OR lIlIS- signified their acceptance of invitation to apeak. eIONS.
All Christian churches and congregations throughout the world are invited to unite in prayer for missions in their mid-week services.
5. Christian Governments and the Opium Traffic.
6. Christian Governments aud the num Traffic. (Resolutions will be ofcommittee that the Congress of Missions welcome to them: and if, therefore, will not only prove a most interesting worth anything, they need only the assembly, affording instruction and form-skeleton-in which they come to profit to all who shall attend upon you. You can clothe them with flesh, these meetings, but also a source of per- blood, nerve, and make the dry bones manent influence for good to Christ's live. You speak of "Plans and Polikingdom on earth. Ministers and others cies. " How will some of these do ? able to do so should plan to visit Chicago during the sessions of this Con- 1. All mission boards in locating a gress. Mission societies which have field new to them should be careful to not sent representatives and yet purpose observe interdenominational comity. to do so should forward the names to This some have not always been carethe corresponding secretary. ful about.
Seats will be reserved for all repre- 2. In locating the workers on the field, sentatives of missionary societies. Ad- place them at least two and two. (1) If mittance to all the meetings will of there are cranky and incompatible peocourse be free. The prayers of all ple, who prefer to be alone, well-better Christians are earnestly desired that not send out cranky people. (2) If a this Congress may, under the Divine question of precedence is to be settled blessing, be made an era in mission his- at anyone station, the missions in epistory, and that a new impetus may be copal governments readily settle that given to missionary work throughout by their very constitution; and the the world. missions with independency or Pres- byterian equality can preserve ,those If Points" on Plans and Policies. principles in the per80nality and ojJice of the two (or more) associated workers, BY REV. ROBERT H. NASSAU, M.D., D.D. and yet by division of work give room for an (inevitable) precedence. [Some of the best things that come t() us come in private correspondence, S. Let the missionary workers be marwhich we do not feel at liberty to print. ried, for the sake of their personal com- We wanted a paper from Dr. Nassau, fort and also for the removal of unjust the oldest representative of medical mis- but still possible cause of scandal besions in West Africa-perhaps in all fore impure-minded heathen; but Africa-and incidentally in writing to him asked for some " Points on Plans 4. Let both men and women go to the and Policies" for our personal use. We field unmarried. If they can stand the received the following in reply, which climate let them return in two or three we esteemed too personal for us to ap- years for marriage, or better, marry on propriate, and" too good to keep" to the field. It is unwise to add the care ourselves. We solicited the privilege and strain of maternity immediately on of passing on to others, with proper ex- arrival on the field, at a time when all planations of their having been written the strength is needed for meeting and currente calamo, and he graciously con· adapting one's self to the many and sented.-J. T. G.] strange new environments of a new climate, etc. The (admitted) objection Yours of the 14th inst. was received that the married man or woman is hamon the 20th. In the pressure of my pered in their mission work by family closing weeks of furlough in this coun- and personal cares is counterbalanced try I am making no more engagements, by (1) advantage of marriage for perand can answer no more requests for sonal comfort, (2) immense advantage written articles. My last will be at the for an ohject lesson of the Christian International Missionary Union at Clif- family to the heathen, (S) the preventon Springs; but your jocular appeal tion of a growth of selfishness in the fOf a few "points" is too good to be man or woman who lives alone. put off. I will simply name some points that occur to me this morning. 5. Let missionary parents retain thei~ If they are worth anything, you are young children on the field with them, 14. Employ native aid on the field, until they need to send them, at about using it to the farthest extreme in all twelve years of age, home for educa- departments of the work.
tion. In some countries, like Syria and 15. Let missionaries on the field lift India, educate them themselves or in natives, by admitting them into their advanced mission schools. Do this (1) lives, even into social life-e.g.• inviting to save pain of parting. How many them to their tables and to their par- missionaries have given up their field lors; not "keeping them at arm's rather than take that pain! (2) Keep length," nor requiring them" to keep the child for the sake of the family ob· their place."
ject-Iesson. (3) All countries, even 16. Push all missions and Chriatian Africa, are now under improved mis- responsibility as rapidly as possible into sionary environments, safe for keeping native hands. Yes, I know they will infants there. (4) If they should die, so make mistakes and even prove unfaith- do infants die here; and that separation ful. So do ministers and bank cashiers by death is no harder than some separa- in this country. They will have to be· tions some missionaries have known, to gin some time; better begin at once.
see their children grow up, trained Even missionaries themselves make away from them, and even for the child egregious mistakes.
to forget them. 17. Encourage the formation of an 6. Make large use of iti'TUJrant work indigenous native church, free from the on the field. minute denominational divisions of 7. Make very large use of education America.
on industrial lines, to give natives safe means of self-support. The Zulu and his Language. * 8. Give a medical education to all mis- The study of the construction of lansionaries, male and female, if for the guages has a great fascination for the sake alone of putting them on their writer. The" crude base" of Sanskrit guard against disease. is more interesting than the plot of the most powerful novel. Grout's Revised 9. Let those who have the special Grammar of the Zulu Language held taste and adaptation take the medical us till we had gone clear through it. degree, and carryon the medical work of foreign misions, which is very im- 1. It illustrates the great indebtedness portant, and which should be developed of the world to missionaries for origall along the lines of the present grow- inal philological investigation. The au· ing interest on that subject. thor began to give his thoughts to this work even before he left this country 10. Control of mission plans should for his Zulu field in 1846. Reaching be in the hands of the workers on the the field of his labors, finding no book, field, but not. indeed, a single line of genuine vernacular in printed form, he saw at 11. Missionaries on home furlough once that if he would ever get a corshould not be permitted to make special rect knowledge of the Zulu language, appeals for their pet objects, except on he must begin by catching it 8S best he endorsement of their respective boards. could from living lips of the best speak· ers. In this way, and by repeatedly 12. Bring no natives for education to testing his attainments by referring this country, and give no aid or encour· agement to the native tramps who find their own way here, to appeal to foreign missionary interest for their own personal ends. * The" Islznlu," a reviled edition 01 a Gram- 13. Let the missionaries on the field mar of the Zulu language, by Rev. Lewis Grout use, as far as possible, native food and (339 pp., 8vo, solid), Irom the Yale University custom, and even a modification of dress Press. Published by the American Board. Bosto suit the climate. ton: Trlibuer & Co., London, 1898. them to the· people, and by putting the interesting characteristics of this them in daily use in his labors of teach· race. Wherever else the evolutionists ing, preaching, and translating, he may turn to find the data concerning gradua.1ly made himself familiar with primitive man, they must pass by these the idioms, forms, and principles of the Bantu races. The Bantu is not a language. Being soon asked by the " primitive" race.
American mission, and afterward by S. There is much interesting and in- the local (English) government of Natal, structive matter in this grammar aside to prepare a grammar of the language, from its linguistic design and worth.
he took every opportunity to enlarge We gather much about the mental his literary store of sentences, narra- capacity of the Zulu, as well as his tives, Zulu histor.y, native songs and religious and social nature and notions.
folk-lore, all as before from the living We learn much of him from his saws lips of the best speakers he could find and proverbs, such as the following: among the tribes, which the Zulu mon- (1) Of his mental method or philo- arch, Chaka, had subdued, unified, sophical way of putting things: .. If "welded" into one now great homo- we don't know, let us stop and be still."
geneous nation. .. Two kinds of money may look alike, 2. The grsmmar throws light on the while one is good and the other not intellectual character of the Bantu races. good. " "The child cannot be too "The author has found full play for ex- young to obey its mother." " Did actness and clearness in illustrating the you ever see a cloud of dust? our sins principles and rules of the remarkably are quite like it." "Each man has unique yet philosophic character of the some peculiarity in his mind as well as BAntu languages, so different from in his face." "Working does not help every other great family, and yet so us if we waste what we obtain." " The perfectly adapted to all the ends of lan- hands are the servants of the soul."
guage in expressing the thoughts and "Men bind the body only; the heart sentiments of men. The author not they cannot bind."
only traces the resemblance of the Zulu (2) Of his religious notions, practices, to other members of the Bantu family, and divinities: "I was restored to health but to the Aryan and other families as by a ghost of yours." " Let the pater- w"U. The Zulu, for instance, resembles nal shades eat and grant us great wealth, the Hebrew and Greek in the conjuga- so that our children may be saved with tions of the verb. From the root form us. " ., Let your cow bellow on and tanda, love, we get tandisa, cause to bring out the ev{l that is in me." The love; tandela, love for; tandana, love doctor (medical priest) says, " The pa- one another . tandeka, be lovable; zitan- ternal shades requires that particular da, love self. The great power of the cow." "Why is it that cattle are not Zulu language evidently centres in the still offered to me as usual? with me verb; its compass and facility for ex- how is it that I offer my cow-it is sald pressing the nicest shades of meaning, it is required by my paternal shade- in respect to the manner, state, and and yet I never recover 1"
timc of the acting, being, or suffering (3) Of his mode of life: "He who denoted by the essential verb are re- hates, hates himself. " •• Diligence is the markable. The author points out the mother of gain." "There is no profit resemblance of the Zulu to the Greek where there is no care." "If we are in some of these respects. The great industrious we shall never see famine. "
love which the Zulu has for euphony, " At the house of the industrious famine the "melody of ordered wordR," and casts a wistful look, passes on, and goes the rigid regard he pays to the physio- to that of the sluggard." .. Don't be logical laws of phonetics in the changes afraid of perspiration." " We help made to promote euphony, are among those who help themselves." " The women do the digging." "To err is time the Congregationalists had Bent the character of man." "The believers their contributions to foreign missions have begun to buy wagons." "Faith through the London Missionary Society has need of care." "He that does not and the American Board of Commisrise early shall say, Heigh.ho; and not sioners for Foreign Mi!80ns. It was overtake his work at night." "A per- felt that a more direct and personal conson who believes walks like a man walk- nection between the foreign field and ing in a thorny place, for a man walk- the churches at home would be muing among thorns looks carefully where tually beneficial. Africa, to which the he puts his feet." eyes of Christendom were turned, was chosen as the field of labor. The Ameri- 4. There is much in the introduction can Board had recently opened a misof this grammar which is of popular in- sion in West Central Africa; about eight terest, such as the theoretical views of hundred and sixty miles south of the able African philologists on the origin equator, and offered to share the field and import of the" prefix" in the Zulu with their brethren in Canada. In 1886 and other Bantu languages; and in the the Rev. W. T. Currie, B.A.• with his interesting statements of their general wife left for Africa. He had been there principles, as well as the inquiry as to but a few months when Mrs. Currie the origin and early migrations of the was laid to rest in an African grave. Bantu race. Henceforth Mr. Currie labored alone. Two years were spent in learning the 5. The book is rich in material for language and exploration; as a site had comparative uses, and thus well fitted to be found for the Canadian station, to be of great service to any who would Chisamba, where the chiefs were friendanalyze or learn any other member of ly, in the midst of a large population, the Bantu languages. This extends to a great many villages being within easy different members of the Aryan families, reach, was chosen. This station is and includes sample sketches of a dozen about two hundred miles from the of the leading Bantu languages. coast, and thirty·five miles from Kamon- dongo, the nearest mission station. Mr. 6. We feel particularly grateful tQ Currie spent a year at Chisamba. alone, the author for striking a blow, which laying the foundations for future work, we would might be a demolishing one, and gathered around him a number of at the absurd method of Romanizing boys, who are proving their attachment the Bantu languages which has till now to the cause of Christ amid a good deal obtained, in the capitalizing of root let- of persecution. In 1889 Mr. Lee went ters in the midst of words. There is no to Chisamba, but had to return for a. more reason for doing this in Bantu year to take charge of the station at the than in Arabic. There is no more coast. On the arriva.l of Mrs. Lee .he propriety in writing U·Ganda, than returned to Chisamba, where he remains there would be in writing muHaMmaD. in cha.rge of the mission. In 1890 Misa We are glad to be assured by Mr. Grout Clark left for Africa, and after remainthat a great many competent authors ing one year at Bailunda she went to discard this fanciful and bewildering, Chisamba. to open a school for girls, and as used, unexact method, using and do what she could for the women. only one capital in all these proper In 1892 Mr. Currie came home to renames, and putting that at the begin- cruit his health and report to the ning, as Uganda, Waganda. [J. T. G.] churches .. what great things the Lord had wrought through him. " The same THE CANADA CONGREGATIONALISTS year Mr. and Mrs. Reid left Canada, and IN FOREIGN FIELDs.-In June, 1881, a are now settled at Cbisamba. Two foreign missionary society was formed other missionaries are expected to leave in connection with the Congregational. churches in Canada. Previous to that this !lummer with Mr. Currie, who re- anywhere else is marching to the grave turns to resnme his labors with, we or to misery."
trust, still greater results. The mission This statement is unwarrantably has been thoroughly established. The strong and exclusive. Instead of re- influence of the missionaries is felt garding all that portion of Angola north throughout all the surrounding- coun- of the 140 south latitude as unflt for try. The people are realizing that the white colonists, I speak from six years missionaries are their friends, and con- of personal experience, when I confi- sult them in all the difficulties of life. dently affirm that the line might with A great many attend the Sunday ser- all safety be extended two degrees far- vices. A few, including some of the ther north-namely, to 12° south lati- old men, are anxious about their per- tude.
sonal salvation. The Christian lads- In making this recommendation, I wlll compare favorably in their Chris- have but one reason-namely, that the tian life with the most promising in our soil in the northern district is so much home churches, and are anxious to more productive for generalagricultnre teach their fellow-countrymen the way than in the south. Neither at Mossa- of life. One is about to leave the mis- medes (150 south latitude) nor at Ben- sion to go and make known to his own guella (120 30') are the immediate coast people the Gospel of salvation. Thus districts to be taken into consideration; the work goes steadily on. Our rela- these are notoriously unproductive and tions to the American Board have al- barren, having little or no rain all the ways been most cordial. They have al- year, and when it does rain. the region ways rendered and still render every becomes more or less unhealthy, for possible assistance. J. MCADIE. want of proper natural drainage. Be- ginning, however, say, twenty miles from the coast and thence eastward for Another Word About a Ohristian Oolony five hundred miles, there Is as choice in Afrioa. pasture and agricultural land as in any portion of the United States. That BY FRANK A. WALTER, UNIVERSITY whole plateau being at an altitude of PARK, COL. over five thousand feet above the Atlan- In THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF' THE tic renders the climate as bracing and WORLD for May, 1893, pp. 370 and 371, as exhilarating as is this famous climate in an article entitled " A Christian Col· of Colorado. Since the establishment ony in Africa," are noted some practi- of the West Central A1rican Mission of cal conditions of success by H~li Chate- the A. B. C. F. M., in 1881, at Bailunda lain, an old-time personal friend of and Bihi (east of Benguella), out of a ours, wI om my wife and I had the large force of missionaries of both sexes, privilege to entertain for some weeks in only three adults have died till the our home at Benguella, Africa. I de- present time; and neither of these sire for the sake of the success of any deaths is directly attributable to the cli- Ohri8tian colony who may go to the mate. No better general health report province of Angola to make a correction. can be shown by any similar mission in In the last half of the last paragraph Central Africa (east or west) than this occurs this statement: "As everything mission of the American Board in 12· depends on the climate, do not forget south latitude.
that nowhere north of 14° south latitude has the white man a chance in the strug- Union of PreBbyterian Missions in Korea. gle for life. In the district of Mossamedes (Angola) alone of all West BY REV. W. M. BAIRD, F'UBAN, KOREA.
Africa can sites be found which are There are three Presbyterian missions suited for white colonization. Going in Korea, the Northern, the Southern, and the Australian Presbyterians. press its judgment that it is best for us These churches began mission work to carryon all our native work with a here respectively in 1884, 1891, and view to the organization of but one na- 1892. The Northern Presbyterians tive Presbyterian church in Korea."
have the largest force, being represented Steps have now been taken by which by ten gentlemen and eleven ladies. the Presbyterian workers will be fairly The Southern Presbyterians have three distributed throughout all the prov- gentlemen and four ladies. The Aus· inces, though still in very insufficient tralians have one gentleman and four numbers. The call is especially em- lady workers. Besides these, there are phatic just now for some Christian phy- two gentlemen working on more or less sicians to 'consecrate themselves for independent lines, one being a member Korea. The Southern Presbyterians of the Canadian Presbyterian Church, have no physicians here yet, the Aus- the other belonging to the Southern tralians have none, and the Northern Presbyterian Church. Since the ar- Presbyterians have not nearly enough rival of the last comers there has been to thoroughly man the fields. Is it pos- a mutual feeling that our work is too sible that there are not men of God closely allied to admit our working among the Christian physicians of along on separate lines in the same ter- America who are willing to come to ritory, and thus helping to perpetuate Korea ?
differences which had their origin half- way around the world. A common de- sire for some sort of working union led Our Government and Protection ic. the the Northern Presbyterian mission New Hebrides.
(which held its sessions in Seoul, Jan- It is an interesting matter to know uary 16th, 1893) to issue 'a call for the meeting of a council which should have just what is the position of the United States Government in the case of the advisory powers on all mission SUbjects. proposed international treaty looking to The council held its first session in the effective prohibition of the sale of Seoul, January 28th, 1893. The fol- opium, intoxicants, and fire-arms in the lowing resolution constituting the coun- New Hebrides islands. A Washington cil was adopted: .. Re8olved, That we correspondent of the Philadelphia Evenhereby constitute ourselves the Presby- ing Telegraph wrote to that paper on terian Mission Council of Korea, said April 10th last, making the following council to consist of all male Presbyte- statements, which if correct relieves the rian missionaries in Korea, and said Government of any apparent hostility council to have advisory powers only." to the project: Besides the discussion of other ques- tions the council decided upon two im- " The subject of an international dec- laration for the protection of natives in portant measures. One of these re- the islands of the Pacific by prohibiting garded the location of the Southern the sale of fire-arms and liquors was brethren in Korea. They requested first broached to the Government in a the council to advise them which part note of August 11th, 1884. from Minis- ter West to Secretary Frelinghuysen. of Korea to select as their own individ- who responded on the 22d of the same ual field. It seemed unnecessary for month that 'this Government looks us all to distribute our workers side by with favor upon any humanitarian work, and would like more information side over each province. Consequently as to the scope and form of the prothey were advised to enter the two un- posed agreement. '
occupied southern provinces of Chylllla .. In a note of October 11th, 1892, to Do and Chyoong Chyung Do. Secretary Herbert. of the British Lega- tion. and then (,'harge d'Affairs, Secre- The other question relates to the na- tary Foster, referring to his predecestive church. It was adopted as fol- sor's statement, said: 'In this concur- lows: " Resolved, ,That the council ex- rence in principle I cheerfully acquiesce, and welcome with pleasure the oppor- but we forgot our weariness, and detunity now afforded to consider the for- voured it all before laying it down.
mulated plan, ' and announced the Presi- We have a number of copies. but they dent's assent to the general scope of the have all been "keeping lent," till we proposed convention, suggesting some have none at hand now that we wish to !ninor changes in the draft submitted wIite about it. They are "Six lecby Mr. Herbert. ' tures" which were delivered at the Re· " At about the same date a circular formed Theological Se!ninary, New note was forwarded from the Depart- Brunswick, N. J., in 1892, on the ment to the representatives of the Gov- "Graves" Lectureship. They deal ernment at the principal courts in Eu- with the Programme, Preparation, Adrope, inclosing a copy of the note to ministration, Fruits, Prophecies and Mr. Herbert for the purpose of setting Present Help of the Holy Ghost in Modthe United States right on the record, ern Missions. They read, as they ought there being a misunderstanding of the to, "like a romance." Ministers will find here suggestive material for many position of this Government. " Secretary Foster, in his note of Oc· a missionary address. Dr. A. J. Gor· tober 11th, stated to Mr. Herbert that don is the pastor of the Clarendon Street , this Government will be glad to be ad- Church, Boston, and since Bishop vised in due time of the views upon this Brooks's death the oldest pastor in Bos· project of other Governments, whose ton. He is resI;>0nsibly connected with adhesion to it has been solicited, and to the administratIOn of the Baptist Misgive attentive consideration to the exact sionary Union. The first chapter on form which it is eventually proposed to the Holy Ghost's Programme of Mishave it take,' but no further communi- sions will command the respect of even cation indicating progress or otherwise those who dissent from the author's in the consideration of the Convention view. The readers of this REVIEW are by the other Powers interested has been familiar with Dr. Gordon's style of ex- pression and his attractive and well·orreceived. " dered thought, and need not be told that this book is luminous, thought-pro· Rev. Caleb Frank Gates, of Mardin, voking, and inspiring. If twenty thou- Turkey, sends a line saying: "One sand copies were sold at once, it would problem in Turkey is this, Persecutions mean more than $20,000 to the missioncompelled the organization of Protes- ary exchequer. (Fleming H. Revell tant civil communities, thus adding one Company, Chicago and New York.) more to the Christian sects in Turkey. All Christian sects are more or less hos- -The Gospel of the Kingdom (Bakel', tile toward other Christian sects and Taylor Company, New York) is a popu- Jealous of them. Government relations lar exposition of the Gospel according mcrease this hostility. How, then, can to Matthew, by C. H. Spurgeon, late we ~et outside of the Protestant com· pastor of the Tabernacle in London. mumties and reach the other Christian Dr. Pierson writes an introduction to the American edition, calls this commen· communities? "I do not know, but am trying an taryon Matthew" the latest and ripest" experiment in the line of Christian so· of Mr. Spurgeon's life labors•• ciology. We have organized a Young Men's Society to do good in the name of Christ. The nei~hborhood in which -C. Hachiro Hajiwara. a Japanese he lives is the field III which each mem- student at Princeton, N. J., has preber ill to work. He is to report to the pared a reliable cyclopredic map of Society the poor, the sick. the erring Japan. It is a large. boldly printed ones in his neighborhood. The Society and colored wall-map. The popUlation is to investigate all cases and devise re- of cities, post-offices, roads, railroads, lief if possible. I t will also distribute Buddhist and Shinto temples, location Bibles and useful books, and try to do of organized churches, numerical all the good it can without regard to strength of Buddhist and Shinto priests denominational lines, only , in His and students; the comparative strength of Christian denominations in the whole name.'" Empire; the position of the coal·fields of the country; diagrams, tables, and a vast deal besides are shown on this reo markable map. It ought to be studied Book Mention, by all missionary workers, and might -We were very weary when we first well be placed iu every public library. chanced to take up Dr. Gordon's new It costs, elegantly mounted, $6; adbook, " The Holy Spirit in Missions," dress author. DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. [July III.-DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
CONDUCTED BY PROFESSOR AMOS R. WELLS.
The society of Christian Endeavor in and churches to be built, teachers to be Arabic is "Nedwat el Ijtehad Mes~ supported, colporteurs and Bible-women seahy." Dr. Clark found two of these to be adopted. mission stations to be societies in Syria. manned and strengthened, missionaries to be paid-something for every one and In Beirut Dr. Clark found a school every society." supported by the Presbyterian Christian Endeavor society of Rome, N. Y. He The Mexican mission paper, El l'e8- thus describes his visit: "In the room ti{/o, supports a regular Christian En- are about forty little girls from six to deavor department. sixteen years of age. They are attired in their best; and very pretty and at- Rev. W. 1. Chamberlain, the mission- tractive many of them are in their red ary of Chittoor, India, who is support- and blue dresses, their white clocked ed by the Christian Endeavorers of the stockings, and their wooden clogs, very Reformed churches, under the direction much, after all. like many little Ameri- of their denominational board, has been can girls that I have seen. They sing appointed Christian Endeavor superin- their Arabic songs, and repeat the ~fty tendent in that great empire, and he third chapter of Isaiah in English, and will look after the interests of the some other Scripture passages in Ara- Christian Endeavor movement until the bic. and go through with their pretty societies shall become numerous enough motion songs. Then two rows of them to hold a convention and choose their stand up facing each other, and one girl own officers. repeats a Bible prayer, and the girl op- posite to her responds with a promise Chester, England, has successfully that contains the answer to the prayer. carried out the first English united Gos- Then another prayer and another an- pel mission under Christian Endeavor swering promise, until all have recited. auspices. The meetings were continued This school, this teacher, these forty for ten days, and were held in Baptist, girls, all this instruction, all these good Methodist, Presbyterian, and Congrega· influences, all the streams of blessing tional churches. that flow out. from this school, are de- pendent, for the time, on a little elIort, The contributions of Reformed a little self-denial, a little uuselfish fore- Church Christian Endeavorers to their thought on the part of one Christian denominational mission boards were, Endeavor society in Rome, N. Y. Mul. during the single month 6f March this tiply this school by twenty-five thou- year, over five hundred dollars-half to saud, and you will know what the Chris· go for the support of their" Christian tian Endeavor movement throughout Endeavor missionary" and half toward the world might accomplish. Some the building of their second" Christian could do more; some must <10 less; but Endeavor church." By the way, a I am confident that, on the average, all worthy clergyman, who "had always our societies might do as much as this, had his suspicions of the Endeavor in addition to what they would natu- movement," seeing an item in this rally give in other directions. In all magazine similar to the above a few the mission lands that I have visited I months ago, jumped to the conclusion .have found all kinds of special work to that Christian Endeavorers had organbe done, costing from ten dollars to ten ized a new denomination that was buildhundred dollars. There are boys to be ing churches and ordaining and sending educated in schools, little schoolhouses out missionaries. Forthwith this watch- man on the walls of Zion rushes into print in a series of long articles setting forth the baleful elIects of Christian
189A.] DEPARTMENT OF CHRIS'I'IAN ENDEAVOR
Endeavor, which he had prophesied the past year." And so the noble list from the very first. Unfortunately for runs on, and similar records may be Utose articles, this" Christian Endeavor found in nearly all the denominational missionary" and these" Christian En- papers of the land. Truly Christian deavor churches" are the creations sim- Endeavor is a missionary movement. ply of the home and foreign missionary boards of the Reformed Church in In the last week in April the Christian America, who have chosen to apply in Endeavorers of Reformed churches these two directions Ute money received held in Dr. Burrell's church, New YOlk from their Endeavor societies. City, their first denominational mission- ary convention. It was a notable con- A recent writer finds a singular provi- vention, and addresses were made by dence in the fact of the simultaneous many missionaries-Rev. C. A. S. uprising of the Student Volunteer and Dwight (Turkey), Rev. P. W. Pitcher Christian Endeavor movements. "Thou- (China), Rev. E. R. Miller (Japan), and sands of young missionaries going into Dr. J. W. Scudder (India)-as well as all the world to preach the Gospel to by the missionary secretaries. every creature; and thousands of Christian Endeavor societies, in all parts of In Concepcion, Chile, a Spanish Chris- Ute world, with millions of members, tian Endeavor society has been formed ready to encourage, give, pray, and aid -the first Spanish society, probably, in in every way-what does it mean 1 Is South America. So far three Christian God at the same time raising up the Endeavor societies have been formed in commissioners for this chief work, and ChUe. Ohio Endeavorers are support· the constituency that is to send and sup- ing a missionary in Santiago. port them 1" Rev. James H. Pettee, of Okayama, The Hindoo Endeavorers of the girls' Japan, reports a decided growth of school at Madura, India, have organ- Christian Endeavor societies in Japan ized a little Sunday-school of their own, since Dr. Clark's visit to the Sunrise into which, every Sabbath. they gather Kingdom. In his own field are now some twenty or thirty little children. four wide-awake societies as against one when Dr. Clark was there. The same A Turkish Endeavorer of Harpoothas is true in many other places. In the lately started a new Christian Endeavor orphan asylum at Okayama is a Chrissociety, in which Protestants and Grego- tian Endeavor society of twenty-eight rians serve together on the committees. members, each pledged to give at least one tenth of their earnings to Christian Here are a few samples from a recent work, and many of them give more than column of Christian Endeavor items. that. What would have been thought of such items ten years ago? "The Delaware The Presbyterian societies of Phila- (N. J.) Endeavorers are supporting a delphia have set in operation a method native missionary at Ningpo, China.- of "missionary extension" somewhat The Spokane (Wash.) Union ia taking similar to the "missionary extension" steps toward the organization of a Chi- course of lectures inaugurated by the nese mission in thatcity.-The Fletcher Illinois union. There is a committee (Oat.) Presbyterian society will support of ten, divided into three sub-commit· a home miSSionary this summer.-The tees. The committee on organization is Courtland Street Congregational En- ready to organize missionary effort in deavorers of Chicago educate an Arme- any Presbyterian society that desires nian boy at Yozgat.-The Hennepin their assistance, or strengthen plans al- Avenue Methodist Endeavorers of Min- ready in operation. The committee on neapolis undertake the support of a for- information furnishes missionary ineign missionary.-The Lehigh Avenue formation, or directs societies to the Baptist Endeavorers of Philadelphia proper sources. One member will tell raised over eighty dollars for missions about the mission boards, their publication8, returned missionaries with whom midday meetings throughout the colo· appointments may be made. and the nies simultaneously with the final con- like. Another will answer questions secratiou meeting at the Montreal Con- about missionary periodicals and books, vention, July 10th.
and courses of missionary study. A Several new societies have sprung up third publishes announcements, mission· in China sInce Dr. Clark's visit.
ary letters, and so on, and suggests In one Junior society of Christian En- methods for creating an interest in mis· deavor that we know of, each cllild is sions. The committee on meetings assigned a missionary to think about, provides missionary lectures, and rents read about, and pray for. Not only a fine oxyhydrogen stereopticon or 9 fine would this be a good plan for all Junior oil lantern and sets of slides to societies societies, but why should not the older that wish to gain a knowledge of mis- Endeavorers adopt it ?
sionary lands in this pleasant way. On Only a few months ago delegations the whole, this is a very practical and from four German Christian Endeavor admirable plan, and has a.lready proved societies met in Detroit. By the last of itself very useful. April so many new societies had been Policemen are decidedly neglected by formed among the Germans in this Christian workers, and there are some country that it was thought necessary signs that Christian Endeavor may take to hold a second convention, which as- up this neglected work. At any rate, sembled in Chicago. Nineteen societies the first police society of Christian En- sent delegations, and a German Chris- deavor has been formed. It is in New tian Endeavor union was formed. This York City, and has a membership of union starts out with forty-nine socie- about twenty.five, about half of whom ties. Though these are chiefly found in are police officers. It is planned to or· the German Evangelical Synod of North ganize a Junior Police Christian En· America, some of them are from the deavor society, to be composed of po· German Presbyterian Church, the Ger· licemen's children. man Reformed Church, the Evangelical Dr. Farnham, of Shanghai, has pub. Association, and the Society of Friends.
llshed articles on Christian Endeavor This German union has its German methods of work in every number of Christian Endeavor organ, De'/" Nitar- the Chinese Illustrated News since Dr. beiter, which was established at the be- Clark's visit. ginning of the year.
The Presbyterian Board of Home In Clinton, Ia., the Presbyterian and Missions received during March from Congregational Endeavorers have en- Presbyterian societies of Christian En· tered into a home missionary combina- deavor nearly a thousand dollars. Under tion. They watch the police records, the guidance of the young people's and whenever they see that a woman secretary, Mr. Thornton B. Penfield, the has been arrested, they see her and plead societies are taking up special work in with her, trying, if possible, to get her Alaska, the Indian Territory, New Mex- to live a better life. Why could not all ico, Minnesota, Colorado, and Utah. Endeavor societies take up some such The Christian Endeavor society in work as this? Especially if it were done Allahabad, India, is a union society, with the advice and assistanee of older made up of Baptists, Presbyterians, and and experienced workers, it might be- Episcopalians. Catholics visit the meet· come a wonderfully blessed work.
ings, but do not join.
The Christian Endeavor society at Sir Monier WilliaIDS, in his work on Baraka, Libreville, Gaboon, Africa, has "Buddhism," says: "Christianity degrown to a membership of forty, and mands the suppression of selfishness. their meetings are exceedingly helpful. Buddha demands the suppression ot It is the plan in Australia to hold self. In the one the true self is ele· vated. In the other it is annihilated."
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.
The death of Dr. Arthur Mitchell and who but kp.ows Christ must love Him ; Dr. R. W. McAll, following close on he who loves Him must adore Him; that of Dr. Kendall, takes away two and he who adores Him understands more of the missionary generals. Each when He says, "I and the Father are of these three men was, in his way, one." , His little tract, 'Das Blut without a rival. Dr. Kendall was the Christi,' will show you how clear he is most marvellous organizer home mis- on the point of the atoning nature of sions ever had in America. He was the work of our blessed Lord Jesus. the Wellington of home missions, and I have not seen the article mentioned, in many things resembled the Iron but Dr. Schodde evidently does not Duke. In all the advocates of foreign know very much of Rabbi Lichtenstein missions I have known no man the or his teaching. He perhaps only saw equal of Dr. Mitchell for scope, fluency, his first one or two pamphlets, in which, graphic power, and pathos; and as to however, although Christ's divinity is Dr. McAll, no student of missions can not particularly dwelt on, it is not defail to see that his work was absolutely nied." unique. Twenty years ago he went to the worst quarter of Paris, and began in [The editors are not responsible for the simplest way to work among the the statements of their contributors, and Communists of Belleville. He was therefore gladly give place to any such God's man at God's set hour, and the correction.-A. T. P.] results are surpassingly grand. In due time we hope to have fuller papers in Bible Institute Workers in Foreign these pages, more fitly commemorating Lands. these two marvellous men. A large percentage of the ladies who A.T.P. have attended Mr. Moody's institute in Chicago have devoted their lives to Rabbi Lichtenstein. work in the foreign field. Twenty-five of the two hundred and twenty ladies Rev. David Baron, himself a convert- who have attended the Institute are now ed Jew, of Mildmay Mission to the in foreign lands; six more are under Jews, writes May 3d, 1893, to Rev. appointment, and still others are volun- John Wilkinson: "The statement of teers. No mission field of prominence Dr. Schodde in THE MISSIONARY RE. is without one of these workers. China, VIEW OF THE WORLD in reference to India, Japan, Africa, Persia, South Rabbi Lichtenstein is most erroneous America, and other lands have received and contrary to fact. At least two of most effective missionaries from those the Rabbi's addresses at the Central who have attended the Institute. Hall during the past month were devoted by him to the special purpose of My DEAR DR. PIERSON: In correctproving that Jesus is indeed the Christ, ing an error in the article of Dr. Nevius the Son of the living God; and in one (in your May issue) about the .J Volunaddress he spoke most touchingly on teers," I do so, not to criticise Dr. the Trinity of God, as being the essence Nevius's article, but to place my beof Old Testament teaching in relation loved seminary-McCormick, of Chicato the character of the God of Israel. go-in her true light. In my conversations with him he has more than once told me that he regards The article reads, "From Princeton Jesus as none other than the Jehovah there went out to the foreign field last of the Old Testament. In his J Juden. year three men-only about seven per thum is Christenthum' he says: 'He cent of the graduating class. Union and Chicago sent out about tTl£, same num· most useful of the series. In it we find ber, if I am rightly informed. while Au- given the pronunciation of geographi. burn, Allegheny. Lane, and Danville cal and proper names, money values, furnished none." The italics indicate weights and measures, distances, words the error. McCormick's class of '92, found in missionary literature, and samcontaining 46 men, has 10 men accept· ples of Bible texts given in the language ed, and all but two, who are making of the country. The book is carefully final preparation in Europe, now in the prepared, and all interested in missions foreign field. This is over 21 per cent will find it helpful. of the graduating class. Fourteen others of the class decided to offer themselves, The "Stories from Indian Wigbut some were rejected for worthy rca- wams," by our friend, Rev. Edgerton sons, some pray that they may yet go, Young, is one of the best, most fasciand I am sure aU are more earnest to" as nating, instructive, and stimulating of BUrne, emphasize, and reiterate that every modern books on missions. I have minister of the Gospel is by his being brought it to the attention of many sucb necessarily pledged to the cause of friends, several of whom have bought foreign mis.sions." it, and no one has been disappointed.- A.T.P. Sincerely, BURTON A. KONKLE. English Notes.
A declaration bas just reached us BY REV. JAMES DOUGLAS. from Madras, signed by twenty-nine missionaries, representing sixteen soci- Exeter Hall Breakfast Meeting-Emeties, in which they state that, "re- phatic Protest.-It is evident that Chris· gretting the misapprehension occasion- tians in the home country are deeply ed by the action of the Decennial Mis- stirred by the action, or rather inacsionary Conference of 1892-93, in with- tion, of the Bombay Decennial Confer· drawing the resolution relating to legal. ence in respect of the social evils to the ized impurity, and desiring to allay support of which the Indian Govern· anxiety caused thereby in the minds of ment has been for 80 long committed. Christian people," they declare their The Exeter Hall Breakfast meetillg, c< abhorrence of any system which pro- held on March 21st, was large, repre· vides for or sanctions the practice of sentative, and entirely consentient ; and. vice. " A similar declaration from the while not to be interprcted as a protest lady missionaries of Madras will follow. against Indian missionaries, cmphasized all the more on that account the gen- Our heartfelt sympathy is extended eral grief felt at tlleir unfortunate sito Dr. Clough, of India, whose wife lence, or worse, when in conference as· was killed in a folding bed at Evans- sembled. The Rev. W. F. Moulton, ton, TIL, on May 19th. Mrs. Clough D.D., presided, aud introduced the was in America to superintend the edu- painful business in an address of studied cation of her children, and her husband moderation. The speaking took a much bad recently returned to bis field of warmer turn under tIle Rev. H. W. labor. . There will be much sorroW Webb.Peploe, who moved a. threefold everywhere at the news of this sad acci- resolution condemnatory (1) of thc dent, for Mrs. Clough was beloved by opium trade; (2) of the eucouragement all who knew her. given to the liquor traffic by the Indian Government for the sake of revenue; How They Say it in Mi88wnary Landa, and (3) the provision made for licentiousthe latest booklet from the hands of the ness. Dr. James L. Maxwell confined Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of himself to one point, which, like a nail. the Presbyterian Church, is one of the he drove home and clinched-the fact that ever since there had been a church sionary work had all passed: and they in China (for fifty years) the voice of that church had been absolutely unani- now knew the needs of the world anu n:ous in the condemnation of opium- smoking. Mr. George Gillett expound- how to lUeet those needs. ed the iniquity catered for in connection with the Indian military cantonments; Dr. E. E. Jenkins, speaking of the and the Rev. H. Price Hughes traversed the whole ground, and in a speech of prescience of Carey, remarked that it great fire and force showed that the questions dealt with were not disputable was no poetical exaggeration to say that among Christian men and could not be. , , 'Ve demand, then," said he, "that the main foundations of the enormous these three deadly evils shall curse our Indian Empire no more." structural work of missionary India to- The resolution, on being put to the day were laid by that man, who, one meeting, was enthusiastically and unani- mously carried. hundred years ago that day, was set Baptist lrJissionary Olosing Oentenary apart in the Baptist meeting in Leicester OelelirationB.-Northampton, " the Mec- ca," as Mr. Baynes observed, " of Bap- for the labors to which the Holy Spirit tist foreign missions," has recently been the scene of animated closing services had called him. • in connection with the celebration of the Baptist missionary centenary. The Great interest was taken in these fund in cash and promises has now reached the sum of £110,800. Of that meetings, which were varied in char- amount only about £13,000 in promises is outstanding. According to Mr. Rick- acter and fraught with stimulus ett, the treasurer, the aim of the com- , mittee is to reserve, if possible, £100,000 throughout. of the sum collected for aggressive work, and, further. to raise the annual income The Bahamas and Ouba.-According to the same level. to the Rev. George Lester, Nassau, Bahamas, there is a good sphere in the Dr. Swanson, a Presbyterian mission- Bahamas for some young, efficient local ary, described China as the greatest field preachers as lay evangelists. One ad- for Christian missions in the wurld. and vantage is that there are no difficulties as containing 380,000,000 people domi- of language to be struggled with; and nated by the same civilization which another is that even on new stations the existed before that of Assyria, or Per- people are sufficiently acquainted with sia, or Greece, or Rome had even begun. the order of Christian worship to be Dr. Swanson also alluded to the aggres- able at once to enter upon our public sive character of the Chinese. .. I have services. never been to a place where I have not met with a Chinaman and a Scotchman. Speaking of Cuba, which lies within You cannot say that of any other hea- two days' sail of the port of Nassau, then people." Mr. Lester observes: " As far back as 1839 the Bahamian missionaries looked Rev. R. Wardlaw Thompson, who longingly toward Cuba, and desired to next spoke, pointed out that the work enter it with the message of a full, free, of missions by the lleginning of the and present salvation. But Cuba has new century had developed into a sys- been jealously closed for generations to tem. The experimental phases of mis· the Protestant preacher. Now, how- ever, it is open to him by reason of re- ligious toleration granted under the Spanish constitution." Who will be the first to carry into Cuba the banner of the Church of the :Reformation?
The Om'e of the Ohurcltes.-In Wes- leyan Missionary Notices for March, 1893, a thoughtful paper appears from the pen of the Rev. W. H. Findlay, M.A., on "Phases of Mission 'Work in South India." In this article the view is earnestly maintained that more im- portant than the number of accessions from heathenism is the growth in grace tion in many other fields of missionary of those who have been received. The effort. " unit that stands for a man just out of heathenism is one thing; that same State Regulation of Vice.-Much re- unit, invested with the gift of spiritual gret is expressed that, through an un- understanding, and in whom the graces fortunate error of management, the of the Christian character are developed, Bumbay Decennial Conference has put is another. Mr. Findlay holds that itself into a very false position as re- .. there is no more occasion to be anx- gards the State regulation of vice. ious about the numerical advance of Bishop Thoburn has done much to clear Christianity in India than about the away the bad and misleading impres- spreading of light when dawn has ap- sions created by the action taken. It peared in the east. " The main business would be a mistake to conclude either now is to see to the gradual transforma- that the missionaries present at the con- tion of the members and churches that ference did not know their own mind or are. The point is an important one. that they were callous on the subject. The evangelism that is insufficiently When presented, the motion was" pass- supported by pastoral oversight and ed by an :Jverwhelming vote, and amid spiritual nurture is certainly not in tumultuous applause." Its withdrawal keeping with the analogy of faith. was due, not to the merits of the case, but to the feeling of some that the reso- The Hill T1'ibeIJOf .A88am.-The Welsh lution in question exceeded the powers mission to the Khasi Hills, in Assam, is of a body constituted as theirs was. taking firm hold. Dr. Macphail, a The incident is none the less to be re- medical missionary who himself labors gretted that it is not so black as at first among the Santals, reports, concerning painted. the above mission, that .. the fields are white already to harvest." Tangible Japanese Women.-Madame Tel Sono, results have already accrued. .. Out of of Tokio, Japan, has been endeavoring, a population of 200,000 about 8000 are not without success, to interest British now Christians;" and the prospects are Christians in her projected training bright. The chapel at Shillong, which school for the educating and uplifting holds a thousand people with comfort, of Japanese women. Her. story is a is often well filled. strange one, as, indeed, so often hap- pens in the case of elect souls. In early A feature of great interest in this life there was the groping after God, if mission is that the Welsh missionaries haply one might find Him. Her . have brought with them their peculiar father must have been another such dim institution, the Wel8h Sundall- 8chool. seeker, for at the age of thirteen she "It is attended," says Dr. Macphail, was taught by him to worship the one "by the entire congregation, some living and true God. How true it is classes consisting of gray-headed men that there are the brooding influences and women. Two advantages are that of the Spirit before the sovereign word it affords a good field for voluntary mis- of command, "Let there be light, and sion workers, and of these there is no light was;" and in heathen lands this lack; and it insures that the great bulk period of incubation is often very pro- of the people, old as well as young, non- longed. But the light, when it does readers as well as readers, are thorough- arise, is all the more precious and wel- ly well drilled in the Scriptures." The come. Savinglyenlightened in Ameri· Oh1'istian, commenting on the above, ca, :M:adame Tel Sono is on ber home- observes: " We should not be sur- ward journey by way of England, and prised if the Welsh Sunday-school sys- hopes, on her retuI'D, to devote the re- tem became a favorite means of instruc- mainder of her days to a scheme fo.r the raising of the mental and spiritual Duta, who told him that the" English" status of Japanese women of the higher Europeans taught their people to read; social ranks. We are a little doubtful so Mika determined, on his return home, of the qualification •• higher social to seek out the" English" Europeans ranks," when we remember that" not with this object in view. Thus Mika many noble are called." Howbeit, we became a constant visitor to Mackay, by trust she may have much cause to bless whom he was baptized in 1884; and' God for the letter m. After all, not was chosen, some two years after, as many means 801ne, and the some would one of the" church elders" to carryon not appear were the mfrom ,. the many" the work of preaching the Word should crossed out. the Europeans be compelled to leave the country. Heathenism Renounced.-The Olt1'onide, organ of the London Missionary So- Recently (March 7th) a meeting was ciety, reports that two villages in the held at the Guildhall, Cambridge, for Madras Principality, within six miles of the purpose of hearing an account of Tripassur, have renounced heathenism the Church Missionary Society'S work and placed themselves under Christian in Uganda. The master of Trinity Colinstruction. These villages number 54 lege presided, and both Mr. Walker and families and contain 238 souls. The M.ika Sematimba spoke. The audience Rev. M. Phillips says that among these was large and appreciative. " Mr. people, who are pariah cultivators, Walker graphically enforced the diffithere seems to be a general mOM toward culties and the reality of the work, and Christianity. God grant that it may be the great need and importance of preso. The 'lTW'/)e in question has stirred paring native Christians for evangelup the rancor of the higher castes, istic labors. Mika, who met with an who are wroth because the villagers are enthusiastic reception, especially emembracing the religion of Christ. Mean- phasized the oneness of the Uganda and while a teacher has been d6puted to English Christians in the Lord, and the teach them; and the people themselves, deep thirst among his fellow-country. acting on Mr. Phillips's advice, have men for Christian instruction." built a mud-and-thatched school-room for divine service. Mi8sionaries for South America.-Dr. Grattan Guinness and those who labor Mika Sematimba, Ohillfin Uganda.- with him at the East London Institute The Rev. R. H. Walker, of the Church for Home and Foreign Missions have Missionary Society, has brought over felt a great concern for the unevangelwith him to England Mika Sematimba, ized masses of South America. The a Uganda chief. The chief is now badly neglected condition of Peru has twenty-eight years of age. He has been especially laid to heart. In the spent in that time an exceedingly event- September number of Regions Beyond, ful life, having been" in deaths oft," for 1891, the needs of Peru were set but the Lord, in presenting goodness, forth in one of the articles. Referring has safeguarded him, and, according to to this, Dr. Grattan Guinness remarks: His eternal purpose, brought him into "We are glad to say that some hearts the Good Shepherd's fold. Having have already been stirred by our article noted, in the first instance, how far on Peru to feel for its needs, and that superior the Europeans were to the several of our students have volunteered Arabs, Mika went to the Roman Catho- for missionary work in that country lic priests for instruction, and first heard and in the neighboring State of Bolivia." from them, by word of mouth, the The names of these students are R. facts of the Gospel. Later on, when Stark, F. Peters, J. Jarrett, T. Joyce, Mika was about fifteen years of age, he and T. Berkeley. May they each refell in, at Zanzibar, with Henry Wright ceive a full reward I
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
Islands of the Sea;* Greenland, Labrador, and Alaska; Amerioan Indians;t Ohinese in Amerioa;t Mormonism.§ CIRCIDoG'OLAR EVANGELIZATION, OR musty chronicles told. The Danish court had given countenance to his THE MORAVIAN MISSIONS IN GREEN· plans, and in 1721 three ships' compa· nies, colonists and soldiers, had set out. LAND, LABRADOR, AND ALASKA. Disappointed in his quest of Norsemen, Egede had begun to work for the na· BY REV. J. TAYLOR HAMILTON, D.D., tives, but had been baffled by a dread· ful visitation of small·pox. Just when SEC. S. P. G., BETHLEHEM, PA. he was thinking of returning to Europe, the Danish Government having with· GREENLAND. drawn from the project of colonization, assistance had come to him in the per· One hundred and forty.four years sons of three Moravian laymen from ago there met in the town of Bethle· Herrnhut in 1733, Matthew and Chris· hem, at the forks of the Delaware, in tian Stach, two cousins, and Christian Pennsylvania, founded less than a David, utterly ignorant of the condl· decade before, men who might have tions of life in Greenland, but enthusi· been regarded as a pledge of the future astic for Christ. Egede had welcomed of Protestant missions. They greeted them at Godhaab, the most northern of one another as brethren in Christ, the Danish colonies, and about a mile though some were negroes of the Dan· away they erected their modest sod ish West Indies, others Indians from hut, calling it New Herrnhut. Berbice in South America, others Mo· hicans or Delawares, and yet others, Awful hardships followed. Scurvy Greenlanders I and small·pox broke out, and within a year carried off about two thousand na· The last were three in number-two tives. Meantime the kind offices of the young men and a young woman, one of missionaries to the sick and dying and the former being a son of the first con· dead made no impression. Christian vert of the Moravians in Greenland, David returned to Europe in 1735, and Samuel Kajarnak, baptized in 1739. his place was taken by Frederick With a married Christian couple, Si· Boenisch and John Beck. The sup· mon Arbalik and wife, they had visit· plies failed to reach them from Europe. ed Europe in 1747 in the missionary ship Starvation was fought off only by hav· Irene, whose captain and crew had dedi· ing recourse to shellfish and seaweed. cated their pursuit of the sea to the Egede's wife having died, he returned service of Christ and of their church. in 1736. The missionaries' boat was The married people had succumbed to destroyed. An attempt was made to the climate of Europe, and the young murder them. It seemed as if the dull people were now returning home by natives had no capacity for the Gospel. way of the American colonies. Their language, with its gutturals re- sembling the growls of a polar bear and The story of the mission in Greenland the crunching of drift ice against a berg, is a story of patient self·denial and per· was a terrible barrier. But at last Ka· severing victorious faith. jarnak was touched by the story of the suffering Saviour, and in time was bap· Hans Egede, a Danish Lutheran pas· tized with all his family. In spite of tor, had been the pioneer, fascinated the angekoks (medicine·men) the good with a hope of finding the descendants work went on, and when the first church of Eric the Red and his Norsemen, of whose ventures centuries before the • See pp. 62 (Jannary), 188, 211 (March), 481, 50!, 5112 (present issne).
t See pp. 488, 507 (pre.ent issue).
1: See p. 443 (June). I See p. 266 (April). was built, having been framed in HoI- with the missionaries at Frederiksdal, land and brought thither in 1747, the and a number have been won for Christ. baptized numbered 147 souls, and native assistants began to be trained. A sec- On the whole, the outlook of. the ond station followed in 1758, Lichten- Greenlanders as a race does not seem fels, about ninety miles south of New bright. The introduction of European Herrnhut. A third, Lichtenau, was luxuries by the trading company {to its founded ·in 1774, in a comparatively credit be it said that the sale of intoxisheltered position, so that a little flock cants to natives is prohibited) and the of goats and a few cows could vary the gradual extinction of the natural food diet of fish In this inhospitable region, supply by the superior weapons of where for more than half the year the civilization are reducing the Eskimos to land is shrouded in ice and snow, and a dependent position. Terrible epiintense cold confining vegetation to a demics have been only too frequent_ few stunted eyergreens and birches Their only capital is their young manand willows, lowly Alpine plants, and hood. When one male is lost at seacoarse grass, the food of the natives and the frail skin boat easily proves his must be taken from the sea. From an coffin amid the tempests and the ice-a early day a very serious hindrance to whole family is deprived of its breadeffective evangelization has been the winner. Poor at best, the membership half nomadic life of the people in pur- find it impossible to bring the mission suit of the seals and other means of sub- to a condition of self-dependence. Yet sistence, a life fostered by the policy of the contrast of their lives with those of the Royal Danish Trading Company, a their kinsmen on the east coast strikingmonopoly which insisted and still insists ly shows that even for them the Gospel upon the scattering of the people in has been the power of God unto civilizasmall companies along the coast. Hence tion as well as salvation. As· far back continuous Christian influence cannot be as 1823, through the agency of the Britbrought to bear on the people. To coun- ish and Foreign Bible Society, the printteract this, steady endeavors have long ed New Testament was placed in their been made to train reliable native assist- hands. ants, and with measurable success, two training institutions being maintained. LABRADOR. In 1824 Frederiksdal, near Cape Farewell, was added to the list of the sta- In some respects the counterpart of tions. Umanak was begun forty miles that In the twin land across Davis' from New Herrnhut in 1861, and three Strait, the mission in Labrador has had years later Igdlorpait, south of Lich- distinctive features of its own. Its tenau. founder, John Christian Erhardt, had been converted while a sailor through Years have elapsed since there was a the agency of a Moravian missionary In single professed heathen family on the the Danish West Indies. Soon after west coast, and ever since 1843 repeated selecting the site of the first station in expeditions have been made to explore 1752, he and the captain of the ship the superlatively desolate east coast. that brought him from London and five In 1881 the missionary Brodbeck man- of tho crew were treacherously muraged to reach Narssak, where he dis- dered by the savages. But the project covered the ruins of a Norse house did not die with him. Jens Haven preabout lat. 60° 30' Lieutenants Holm pared himself by a two years' stay in and Garde, as a result of their explora- Greenland, where he learned the lantion from 1883-85, estimated the popula- guage, and in 1764 reaching the coast tion of the east coast at only from 500 via Newfoundland, by donning the to 600 souls, savage beathen. Since Eskimo costume and using the Eskimo tben some of these have come into touch speech won a welcome. It was not till 1771, after intermediate visits, that a missionary colony, among whom were of the system is that Intoxicants are ex- Haven and Lawrence Drachart, a former cluded. Lutheran and later Moravian mission· ary in Greenland, founded the first sta- The Eskimos of Labrador seem to tion, Nain (N.lat. 56° 55', W.long. 62°). possess more sturdy independence of From the first the Brethren's Society character than their kinsmen in Greenfor the Furtherance of the Gospel among land, even as in their heathen condition the Heathen, organized in 1741, with they were more fierce. Visitors speak headquarters in London, has taken spe- of their talent for music, both vocal and cial charge of this mission, and year instrumental. We read of the singing after year has sent its own ship with in the church at Hopedale as being acsupplies. During the whole period no companied by a cabinet organ, a clarioserious ac()ident ever befell this mission- net, five violins, and a violoncello, the ary ship, though navigating a long musicians being natives, and of the effecchartless Arctic coast, nor has the com- tive rendering of difficult anthems both munication between the missionaries there and at Nain. In the southern staand their brethren in Europe in a single tions there are some neat log houses, instance been completely interrupted. where one would not need to hesitate to The present bark, the Harmony, the sit down at table with Christian Eskifourth of that name, was built in 1861. mos, and where the old habit of taking the meat between the teeth and cutting The first Eskimo convert in Labrador it off near the lips bas been abandoned. was baptized at Nain in 1776, and in the same year a second station was com- ALASKA. menced at Okak, about 150 miles to the north_ The third, Hopedale, a similar In its inception the third circumpolar distance to the south, followed in 1782. mission of the Moravian Church, that The first decade of the present century in Alaska, illustrates strikingly the exwas marked by wonderful revivals of pansive element in Protestant evanreligion, promoted largely by letters gelization. One of its pioneers, and its from the native assistants in Greenland, most eminent missionary ever since, so that the membership was doubled. the Rev. John H. Kilbuck, a full-blood- Hebron, between Okakand Cape Chud- ed Indian, is a great-grandson of Geleleigh, commenced in 1830, and Zoar, lemend, who was baptized by one of between Nain and Hopedale, begun in the Moravian missionaries among the 1865, -and Ramah, the most northern, Delawares of Pennsylvania in the midundertaken in 1871, to reach the few re- dle of .last century. After receiving a maining semi·nomadic heathen Eskimos thorough classical and theological eduwho rove in the region of Cape Chud- cation and for a brief time serving leigh, complete the list of the stations. among his own countrymen in Canada, in 1885 he sailed to the mouth of the Aside from the terrible rigor of the Kuskoquim River, together with his climate and the natural depravity of the wife, and the Rev. William Weinland human heart, the chief difficulties of and wife, and Hans Torgersen, a practhe mission in Labrador are connected tical carpenter, who accompanied the with the trade carried on by the mission missionaries as a lay assistant. In the stores, In the absence of other avenues, previous year tbe second-named, tofor the disposal of the furs and fish and gether with the Rev. A. Hartman, a cod-liver oil procured by the natives. veteran Moravian missionary, formerly Though those who labor among them of Australia, then and now laboring in spiritual things are distinct from the among the Indians of Canada, had been managers of the trade, annoyance and sent on an exploratory tour by the Soperplexity are caused by the tendency ciety of the United Brethren for Propaof the natives to run up large debts in gating the Gospel among the Heathen, seasons of scarcity. The one advantage an organization at Bethlehem, Pa., dating back to 1787, in response to the in- In the very nature of the case these Esvitation of the Rev. Dr. Sheldon Jack- kimos are tending to extinction, their Bon, of Presbyterian missionary fame. food supply disappearing, and will be- As in the explorations which led to the come extinct unless saved by the propacommencement of Okak, in Labrador, gation of the domesticated reindeer two missionaries lost their lives by ship- which Dr. Jackson is seeking to have wreck, so also before Bethel, on the Kus- Congress systematically introduce from koquim, was begun, Hans Torgersen Siberia. Yet there is a value in miswas snatched from his companions, sionary work among these polar tribes. being drowned in the river. But the When successful among them, the young couples persevered, though ut- Church of Christ will not only convey terly umcquainted with carpenter to them an unspeakable boon, and have work, and erected their house, where- •• the blessing of Him that was ready to in to face the rigors of an Arctic win- perish come upon" her, but thereby ter, the thermometer once registering also testify to the Christless in civilized 50.6° below zero. Weinland's health lands, that there are higher motives in gave out, and he had to return in 1887. this world than those which well up A second station was meanwhile begun from the fountain of selfishness, and at Carmel, on the Nushegak River, by that there is an unquenchable and limitthe Rev. Frank Wolff in 1886. In Sep- less power in "the glorious Gospel of tember, 1888, eight souls were gathered the blessed God." in as the first-fruits of the work at Bethel. Schools have been established Ohinese, Japanese, and Indians in the at both places. Several of the missiona- United States. ries-who will number thirteen with the reinforcements now on the way- The census of 18110 gave the number have acquired fluency in the Eskimo of of Chinese in the United States as 107,- Alaska, a dialect decidedly different 475, of whom over 70 per cent are in from that of Greenland and Labrador. California. Congregations are being built up. A number of filial stations are connected The Japanese number 2039, of whom with Bethel. The power of the over one half are in California. shaInans, or witch doctors, has been stayed, is beginning to wane. Terrible The same census gives the number conflicts have, indeed, been experienced, of civilized Indians among the general and life has been in danger from more population and not under tribal relathan one cause; but God has preserved tions as 58,806. Of these over 19,000 His servants. Two most valuable and are residing in the Atlantic States. faithful native assistants have been for- The total Indian popUlation of the mally set apart for their office by Bishop United States exclusive of Alaska is BachInan during an official visitation. 249,273. Of these 66,289 are in Indian Family life is being introduced in Chris- Territory, 8278 in New Mexico, 5304 in tian fashion. Cleanliness is being pro- New York, and 2885 in North Caromoted. The women as well as the men lina. are being made acq~ainted with the amenities of life. It is being proven The population of Alaska is 31,795, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can and is classified as follows; Whites, reach and eventually remove even the 4303; mixed (Russian and native), lowest type of savagery. 1819; Indians, 23,274; Mongolians, 'None of these circumpolar missions 2287 ; and others, 112. possess special strategic significance like those among the higher races of heathen. (We hope to have an article from Dr. Sutherland on work among the Indians, Chinese, and Japanese in the United States, in our next number of the RE- VIEW.)
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
VI.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
EDITED lIY BEV. D. L. LlIIOl(ABD.
Extracts and Translations from Foreign of great value in their own way, might P eriodioals. as well have been delivered at the an- niversary of any other society. so little BY REV. c. c. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, had they to do directly with the cause of missions. Perhaps the first man- MASS. certainly one of the first men-to realize this fact was Canon Miller, Rector of THE UNITED KINGDOM. Greenwich. I well remember dear Samuel Hasell telling me. with intense -" The policy. recently adopted, of delight, that Canon MUler had asked to be put in possession of the most imgiving to the world before the anniver- portant incidents in the recent history of the Society, because he wished not sary the financial statement, robs the to make a great speech, but to impress on his audience facts which would annual meeting of what used at one stimulate missionary zeal. Perhaps to- day the danger is lest men should fortime to be an element of surprise. get that eloquence is a mighty power, and also lest some, at any rate, should Those who have attended the meetings look upon the platform as a pulpit. In a meeting which lasts from eleven to for many years will remember occa- two there is absolute need of variety, and in my humble opinion those to sions on which ringing cheers greeted whom God has given the gift of humor, though they must keep it well within the announcement that a dreaded deficit bounds, are doing good service to re- ligion when they allow its pleasant inhad given place to a handsome balance fluence to relieve the tension of mind which is the inevitable result of speeches in hands. Sometimes the reverse has that tax the mind, the memory, and the feelings. Of appeals to the eye, none, been the case. A soleIun, subdued, but perhaps, was more telling than that of the three chiefs from Uganda. I, for by no means unwholesome sensation one, have aways felt that I know more of the physical and mental characterishas passed through many hearts when tics of the Waganda, than I would ever have done had I not seen those fine, tall it has seemed as if the Lord's work men, beside whom most Englishmen looked small."-HENRY SUTTON, in must languish because the Lord's peo- Ohurch Mi88ionary IntelligencM".
ple had failed to give, or stir up others -" The triennial return compiled for the Society of Friends shows that the to give, what was needful to sustain membership of that body has appre- ciably increased in the London andand extend the work. But I for one Middlesex district, which is numerically the largest denominational district in. entirely approve the present plan. The the country."-Bombay Guardian.
Society's friends ought not to be kept in the dark a day longer than necessary as to its poSition in a p'ecuniary point of view. There have been speeches de- livered on the Church Missionary plat- form winhtieclhlefcotur ailmrpaansgsieo,neadn delowquheantcef~ wide still better, profound spiritual power, could not be surpassed. Hugh Mc- Neile, Hugh Stowell, and Francis Close were wont in their day to rouse their hearers to a. fever-heat of enthusiasm; but not always were such speeches cal- culated to inform the mind on the mat- ter in hand or to give practical direc- tion to missionary zeal. It is interest- ing to notice how gradually there grew a desire on the part of the audience to hear speeches which should keep well in view the special work of the Church ~Ilssionary Society rather than those which, able, interesting, and sometimes
EXTRACTS AND. T~ANSLATI.ONI!. li47
-" On November 19th, 1891, took call the scriptural admonitions as to the place the one hundred and fiftieth anni- deceitfulness I)f riches, the fragility of versary of the Society for the Further- power, the weakness of everything that ance of the Gospel. Since 1771 this is only human? And unless we are in- Society has dedicated itself exclu- curably frivolous and ~rjfiing, how can sively, infact, to the temporal Aupport we but look for some fixed poin~ in the of our Labrador Mission, which was general convulsion, and seek beneath then established. It has likewise de- these tossing waves for an immovable served the warmest thanks by securing ground in which to cast anchor?
the sale of the Eskimo products and the .. The will of God, which he that importation to them of the necessaries doeth endureth forever, when the judges of life. A business undertaking set on and princes of the earth are scattered foot by Christian people, whose pro- and dissipated like chaff, this is the ceeds have been and are entirely de- fixed point, this is the solid Rock I"
voted, without any by-ends of private' advantage, exclusively to the extension -" Grindelwald Conferences have of the Gospel, this Society, we may be- turned' out very much what was exlieve, is unique in the history of the pected. There have been delightful, kingdom of God. And as the Lord hllll and we believe profitable reunion8 j recognIzed and blessed its whole activ- but a reunion of the churches, in the ity, In the most palpable way, He will English sense of the word, has been doubtless also remember with a gracious plainly declared to be meanwhile prac· reward all those who, as members of tically impossible. Not the less is it a this Society, in all secluded stillness, hope which should govern their reciphave exercised this activity out of love rocal attitude and conduct. The dito Him. "-Jahre8hericht 01 the Unita8 visions of the Church are really a leg- acy from its self-centred, non-expansive Fratrum. periods; and the key to reunion is to THE CONTINENT. be found not at Grindelwllld, but on -The J(YI/,rnal d-e8 NiBsiona for De- the mission field. "-Minionary Record cember remarks: "The dolorous cir- (U. P.).
cumstances in the midst of which we -The admirable HerIDannsburg Mis- are bringing to a close the year 1892 sion, resting on so pronounced and po· have nothing to do with missions. Are lemic a basis of intense Lutheranism, there not, however, in the spectacle had from the beginning difficulty in which is unfolding before our eyes les- maintaining accord with the established sons by which we can profit? church of Hanover, although this is " A sort of earthquake has come to Lutheran. However, during the life pass in the world which surrounds us; of Louis Harms himself unity was col08sal enterprises, which have laid maintained. After his death his brother, under contribution the savings of a Theodore Harms, assumed the direction whole country, appear destined to a of the mission. The latter, in 1878, wretched I'.ollapse ; reputations hitherto with some other pastors seceded from intact are dissolving in an hour; men the Establishment, and formed the Free hitherto powerful are falling from the Church of Hanover. However, the Es· summit of power; and these shocks ap- tablishment continued to have a voice pear to forebode others, profounder still. in the .mission; but now the Free "How shall we not be shaken in Church has declared that so long as the view of such an overturning? How Hermannsburg missionaries shall con- can we but be struck with the vanity tinue in communion with the Establish· of all that which in the eyes of the ment, they shall be shut out from the world is brilliant, wealthy, powerful, altars and pulpits of the Free Church, well assured? Ifow can we fail to reo and the pupils of the Mission House
MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
shall not be allowed to hold any meet- can tolerate, can listen while the claims ings in the Free Church places of wor- of Christ are presented, and, as our misship_ The grounds of dispute are cer- sionaries are able to tell us, in many tain formulas so subtle that Dr_ War- cases do more."- The Ohurch Month.ly. neck declares tJlat even a German theologian cannot understand what possible , –".It is significant of the violence of occasian they can give why a body con- the popular prejudice against the Jews, cerned with the conversion of Caffres which the anti-Semitic agitation has should divide into two hostile camps. succeeded in reviving, that Dr. Noel- deke, Professor of Semitic Languages TIlE JEWS. at the Strasburg University, has been called as a witness to state that neither -" Nowhere have we more reason the Talmud nor any Jewish law-book to expect great things than in Constan- contains a single passage capable of tinople. The ,Tew there is a different being construed into connection with man somewhat from what he is in many ritual murder, or of warranting the baseother parts of Europe. If kindness can less charge that Jews require the blood soften tbe human heart-and the Jew is of Christians for the practices of their human, although there are those who ritual."-Jewi8h Herald. seem to deny him that quality-and make it more susceptible of impression, -This charge against the Jews Is we shall expect the Jew of Constantino- singularly like the wild charges brought ple to be most susceptible. It is only against the Christian missionaries in to toleration we refer when we speak of China, especially against the Roman kindness; but to a hungry man even a Catholics. dry crust is acceptable. We question very much if the treatment to which he -The Jewi8h Herald, speaking of the has been SUbjected for centuries at the sufferings of the Russian Jews, says: hands of so-called Christian nations has " What evil thing have these people not done much to steel him against done to suffer such humanity? They Christian influence. We deplore the only refuse to enter the Greek Church. perversity of the Jew, when we ought The Christianity they are accustomed to deplore and repent of that spirit of to Is to see a rude, ignorant Russian intolerance which, to a great extent, has kneeling before a wooden cross on the made him what he is. But while in roadside and kissing an Image, and then Western Europe-alas! now in Eastern rising up to spit on the first Jew he Europe also-the Jew has had to experi- meets and to curse him. " ence the harshest Intolerance, in Turkey he has had liberty and toleration extend- -The Rev. Dr. Ellis, missionary of ed to him. When, four hundred years the London Society for the Conversion ago, some 160,000 Jews were driven of the Jews, has baptized in Warsaw, from Spain by Christian jealousy, and, within a few months, fourteen adult after years of wandering. found no Jews and Jewesses of good condition. place to rest in, the Sultan of Turkey extended to them his hospitality; we THE SAILORS.' use the word advisedly, for while the Greeks were termed yeshir (slaves), the -" The origin of the best-known sailhaughty Padisha condescended to treat ors' hymns is interesting, most of them the Jews as rTl()7UJaphir (visitors). From being produced after perilous experithat time till now they have dwelt se- ences at sea. Perhaps no hymn is more curely under the Crescent. The result sung on the water than Charles Wesof four hundred years of toleration upon ley's, beginning their minds is just what we might expect: those who have been tolerated " 'Jesus, lover of my soal.'
It was written in 1740,. shortly after Wesley's re1;urn from America to Eng- land, and during the first stormy scenes
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATrONS
of his itinerant preaching. Whether ter Christian and firmer believer for it the figures in the first stanza were sug- during the forty years following. The gested by the storms of the Atlantic, Christianity of most of us does not rate which the writer had but recentlyen- high enough to know how to dispense countered, or by the storms of human with occasional contact with a class of passion, we cannot say; but most of men whose vision of God, where they the sea hymns of Charles Wesley were do have it, seems almost like the vision but the unfolding of actual experiences. of Moses, " face to face."
.. Bishop Heber's matchless hymn be- -" Our Lord was sensitive to the roginning mance of the fisher!Dan's life. So, too, He felt deeply, as we do, the interest of … When through the tom sail the fisherman's character, that sim- The wild $empest I. streaming,' plicity, that sensitiveness to external impressions, that natural delicacy, that was written after similar experiences. spiritual touch which are what we to- The bishop took an affectionate interest day love in Him. Our Lord's heart in the humblest sailors during his voy- turned toward him with peculiar force. ages. 'Only to think,' said a grateful Here was the trnest and purest type of seaman, • of such a great man as the the man He wanted. Here He found bishop coming between decks to pray His special friends. Whether it was with such poor fellows as we.' "-Sail· Andrew with his straightforward modorB' Magaeine. The Magazine then re- esty, or Peter with his eager simplicity, fers to similar hymns of John Newton, or James with his rush of zeal, or John P. P. Bliss, and others. with his mystical passion, it was still in fishermen that He sought and won His -" The King of Sweden, incog., has four chief supporters, with whom He been visiting the Sailors' Home in trusted His whole secret. Something Stockholm. Besides inspecting the there was in the characteristics bred Home he dined with the sailors, and among boats and nets, in the companwon their hearts by his free and easy ionship of this mobile and exquisite converSation with them and by listen- water, which tuned them to the key in ing to their sailors' yams. Of course which the music of His voice spoke they had no less loyalty to the king home. These were the men who best when they subsequently discovered his felt and understood Him. These were identity. Why not drop in at the Sail- they who could bring Him the fairest ors' Home at 190 Cherry Street, or at harvest. "-Canon HOLLAND (S. M.). the Reading Room at 46 Catherine Street, or at 128 Charlton Street, or at -" Christian men and women going 31 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn"–{)r at to sea have an opportunity to make the corresponding sites in other cities- mention of the Name, which is often " why not, good men and good women, allowed to slip by unimproved. Plausl· and cheer them up? King Oscar went ble reasons can be given for the failure, away from his interview with them say- all of which are best answered by the ing that he had never spent a pleasanter example of those who embrace it and afternoon. Your experience will be are made a blessing. 'What God hath like his if you can unbend like him, and Wrought' is the title of a book de- • give and take' like him. By the scribing a mission tour made by Rev. way, he left a substantial reminder of G. C. Grubb M.A., and his companions, his visit, which doubtless helps to ac- whose experience is an answer to all count for his enjoyment of it."-Bail- who assume there is ' no use' in attempt-, ora' Magaeine. ing religious work among the motley body of passengers and crew that -The present writer" dropped in" throng our modern steamers. Mr. once to a prayer-meeting in Cherry Street, and he has been noticeably a bet-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
Grubb and his friends had tact for pub· ing this high moral principle, our fiery lic address or private talk, were able to London contemporary sees only that sing, above all, were truly consecrated moral degradation which comes from and self-sacrificing regarding the hum- exercise of despotic power. He close~ blest service to anybody-a great busi· his criticism by saying that 'Nothing ness, for the proper doing of which they but ceaseless watchfulness and prayer had need of the immediate help of the can save an Englishman in India from Divine Spirit. With this equipment becoming an irrational tyrant.' There they had success with officers and crews again we have the conclusions of mere and with passengers from every rank of theorists raising themsel ves in helpless society, and the record of their converts opposition to incontrovertible facts. on every ship they sailed on is a mod- From viceroy and lieutenant governor ern postcript to the Acts of the Apos- down to the district magistrate, the tles."-S. M. Englishmen who rule over the millions of India manifest a degree of consider· -" Now when old Gloucester is cele- ation and patience and solicitude for brating its two hundred and fiftieth an- the welfare of the people, that is the niversary, it is fit time to note that even amazement of all who see it. The pe· a thing so fiat and dry as a salt cod has culiar helplessness of the people of India its romance. Its very alias, • Cape Cod so appeals to all the noble and generous turkey,' tells of a world of deprivation sentiments of the foreign rulers that, and struggle. It is the harvest of won- taken as a class, they exhibit more of derful fields. A potato patch may be the virtues and fewer of the vices of commonplace, a wheat-field monoto- power than are shown by any other nous, the ocean never. The beauty. ruling class in the world."-Indian mystery, pathos of the sea, fioat around Witnea, (Am. M. E., Feb. 4th). the Gloucester dory to-day rather than about the Venetian gondola. • •. Mrs. ,–" It has been said, 'Man may pos- Ward has been pre-eminently the poet sess the authority, but woman has the of Gloucester life, making her summer power;' and this is in a measure true home here for years, and entering in India as elsewhere. Religious sancdeeply by sympathy and service into its tion and social custom have combined fascinations, its: sorrows, its tempta- to make our Indian sister's nominal potions and tragedies, as her striking sition little better than that of slavery, stories and exquisite poems bear wit- and yet her influence is real and powerness."-Rev. C. M. SOUTHGATE, in ful. Uncrowned, she yet often rules, Oongregationaliat (S. M.). and is destined to play an important part in the fashioning of the future re- INDIA. ligious history of India."-The Oltrqni- -" The Methodist TifMB calls the ac- cleo tion of the Bengal Government on the jury question a bit of reactionary bar- -" The Maharajah of Travancore barism. If the writer knew hi!! ground called at Nagercoil on .his way back to better he would simply say that the his capital after visiting the Governor Bengal Government has had the moral of Mackas. It may be remembered courage to risk temporary unpopUlarity that in our September Ohronicle we for the sake of protecting the people gave an excellent portrait of His Highfrom injustice. Few men, and still less ness, with a biographical notice. ' }lao few governments, have nerve to ac· harajahs have sometiJn.es been in these knowledge their own mistakes. The parts when princes,' writes the Rev. J. Bengal Government frankly acknowl- Duthie, 'but for a very long time no edges that in granting trial by jury it reigning king had visited this town. made a mistake. Instead of recogniz- The royal visit was, therefore, an event of very great importance, and the preparations for the reception were on the Orient shall be redeemed to Christ the grandest scale. The Christian streets King!
were decorated after a fashion nevel' -Not only the London Timuj but seen before; and we had three thou· sand children on the spot from the va· the New York Trillune also, beglliil to rious schools of the Nagercoil district to have faith in Christian missions, and welcOme the Maharajah. Just before admiration for the heroes who push I left for my last furlough His High. them forward, as this good confe8i!ion ness requested me to purchase a clock will show: .. The Protestant evangel for the town, very kindly offering to on Lake Nyassa or the Catholic mispay the whole cost. The clock was ac· sionary on Victoria Nyanza takes his cordingly bought, and has been placed life in his hand and buries himself in in a beautiful tower, also provided by barbarous countries. He does not go the Maharajah. Advantage was taken to the Dark Continent in search of adof the Maharajah's visit to formally venture, nor does he return to write open the clock tower. His Highness, books and deliver lectures. Whether too, I must not omit to say, did the he dies of fever the first summer, or is mission the honor of calling upon us massacred at his station, or works year personally, as also subsequently did the after year among the natives. his heroprime.minister, who was in attendance; ism passes without observation_ It is and though the reception of an Oriental his mission to teach degraded races the prince and suite at a mission bungalow elements of civilization and Christiancould not be in any but a very humble ity. He suffers and grows strong. He style, yet much satisfaction was ex· communes with his own heart and is pressed at what we and our people had still. He does the work in a sublime done to show our loyalty on the occa· spirit of self-sacrifice, unclouded with sion. His HIghness received his Prot· premonitions of notoriety and publishestant Christian subjects in the kindest ers' bargains. That is moral heroism manner. What a contrast to the old of the finest fibre. The men of action days of darkness, when poor people of the Stanley campaign of adventure dared not have approached their king I have noble and commanding traits, but The elevating power of Christianity is they are not types of the highest qualicertainly evidenced in a remarkable way ties of heroism and self-sacrifice."
in our mission here. Thanks be to -What testimony to the value of God I' "-TIM Ohronicle. missions can be more trustworthy than that of Sir Bartle Frere, late governor THE WORLD AT LARGE. of Bombay, and he writes: .. I speak simplyas to matters of observation and -It is said that in the great Moham· not of opinion. and assure you that the medan mosque of Damascus, on the teaching of Christianity among 100,000,- lintel beam of an ancient portal, in 000 of civilized and industrious Hindus dimmed letters of Greek, is the inscrip. and Mohammedans is effecting changes, tion, "Thy kingdom, 0 Christ, is the moral, social, and polltical. which for kingdom of the ages, and Thy domin- extent and rapidity of effects are far ion is throughout all generations. " For more extraordinary' than anything you more than a thousand years the follow- or your fathers have witnessed In mod- ers of the false prophet have passed be· em Europe. Presented for the first neath that word, carved there when the time to most of the teeming Indian mosque was a Christian church; but, communities within the memory of men though even yet the glad day may be yet alive-preached only by a few score distant, who that has faith in the Gos· of Europeans-Christianity has never- pel fa not well assured that not only theless in the course of fifty years made Damascus and Jerusalem but the entire its way to every part of the vast mass of Indian civilized humanity, and is take the vacant place." In November now an active, operative, aggressive one of the party died; two more were power in everv branch of social and po- killed the following year; and in a very litical life on that continent." few years, of the eight who went out, Mackay, who lived unti11890, was the -There is hope for the enslaved even sale survivor. Yet there were plenty in Africa, for behold what God hath of volunteers for the posts of those who wrought within a period of only sixty had fallen. years. In 1833 the British Government paid $100,000,000 to liberate 1,000,000 Then further, Dr. Mabie, of the Bapbondmen; in 1844 in India 9,000,000 tist Missionary Union, has recently were set free; in 1846 the Bey of Tunis stated that .. notwithstanding the lIlorgave liberty to all who entered his ter- tality among our missionaries on the ritory ; in 1848 the French Republic Congo, yet three out of every four canforbade the further entrance of slaves; didates for the field express preference in 1861 the Czar emancipated 20,000,000 for Africa. " Surely the age of heroism serfs; in 1863 by the stroke of a pen has not gone, or if it hall, the era of a 6,000,000 in the South became free better heroism has dawned. men; and in 1889 Brazil wiped out the last vestige of slavery on the Western -There be honors and honors. When Continent. William Carey learned that his mission- ary son had accepted a diplomatic ap- -According to Dr. Josiah Strong we pointment in the British service, he said have not yet attained, and the Divine regretfully, " He has shrivelled up into call is clear and imperative to press on : an ambassador." And Mr. Spurgeon "Noble as has been the work of modern may have had that remark in mind missions, it must be regarded chiefly when he once affirmed that he didn't as one of preparation. The languages want anyone who could be a missionof savage peoples have been reduced to ary to drivel down into a king, nor one writing, the Bible and a Christian liter- who was:fit to be a missionary to die a ature have been translated into tongues millionaire. spoken by hundreds of millions. A foothold has been secured, a fulcrum -Not many years since the officers found, the Gospel lever put in place. of one of our societies were surprised . ., The world is about to enter on a by a visit from a man who brought his new era, for which the nineteenth cen- check for $1000 as his offering to misturY has been the John the Baptist." sions. When the question arose whether this was not a large gift for him, he .. -In spite of disgusted Brutus to the said, ., It is! It is one quarter of what contrary, "Rome" (that is, Christian- I own. I found that as I was prospered ity) has not "lost the breed of noble my money engrossed more and more of bloods. " Listen to Mackay of Uganda, my thought. I am not going to be a as he and his party took leave of the slave to the money God may give me, Church Missionary Society's committee and I am going to conquer the love of on April 25th, 1876 : "I want to remind money by giving it away." Some such the committee," he said, "that' within heroic course of treatment is required six months they will probably hear that in desperate cases. one of ns is dead. Yes; is it at all likely that eight Englishmen should Another man of wealth tells how start for Central Africa and all be alive the scales have fallen from his eyes in six months after? One of us, at least- these words: "I used to give as I felt it may be I, will surely fall before that. inclined; now I intend to give of that But what I want to say is this: When which God blesses. I have bank stocks, the news comes, do not be cast down, railroad stocks, United States bonds, but send some one else immediately to etc. These draw interest seven days in the week. But the :first day of the week is the Lord's day, and all that per- ply give the Bible and say, 'Read tains to it belongs to Him. So one sev· that.'" Bishop Thoburn, after years enth of my income from investments is of experience in India, takes the same saved to the Lord. Then I manage to view. secure an income during the six days of the week, and I will set apart to re- -In New York City are found over ligious purposes a certain part of that." 3000 physicians'to minister to 1,500,000 persons, while in the foreign field for -One of the teachers in the Doshisha 1,000,000,000 there are only about 350 considers it In many cases a disadvan- medical missionaries, or one to 3,000,000 tage for Japanese students to attend col- -that is, one to the combined popula· leges in England and America. He tion of New York, Brooklyn, and Jer· says it is quite a common remark among sey jity. missionaries, "Oh, he has come back spoiled." A brilliant graduate of one WOMAN'S WORK. of the great American universities made the remark on his return that "the -The first zenana teaching ever atmembers of a certain mission did not tempted in the East was in Siam in come from the best society In America. " 1851, as zenana work in India did not Another young man, who had spent begin until 1858. Twenty·one of the many years in this country and had 30 young wives of the king composed taken a course in theology, was offered the class. And the beginning in India a position in the Doshisha on his return, was on this wise : A certain missionbut refused because the salary was not ary's wife in Calcutta sat in her parlor high enough; and it often happens that embroidering a pair of slippers for her missionaries in other lands are pierced husband. A Brahman gentleman adthrough with the same sorrow. mired them. Mrs. Mullen asked him if he would not like to have his wife -The Chinese RermdfJr concludes taught to make them. He answered, that the popular theory which inspires yes. "That was a fatal word to those the call for large reinforcements in who wished to cling to idolatry. but a China and India is not wholly based in. joyous 'Ilea it has proved to be to them. reason. To attempt the evangelization As this lady was teaching the woman of the masses in the heathen world by of India to twine the gold and purple force of numbers would be a folly like into the slippers, she was twining into that of the Crusaders. Comparatively her heart the fibres of the sufferings few men and women of the right char· and love of our Lord and Saviour." acter, well sustained by the prayers and After one home was opened to the mispractical sympathy of the Church at sionary it was easy to gain access to home, would do more than thrice as others. many ill-supported, poorly equipped, though sincere and earnest missionary -In Mexico there are many saints to toilers. The true missionary policy be worshipped, from those who bring comes to us in this lesson of the past. rain to prevent famine to those who No country was ever yet evangelized keep food from burning while cooking. but by its own sons. Yes, a tug hard Woman', Work tells of a poor woman and long is before the disciples of Christ who was a cook in a family and who in the world-fight with ignorance, su- did not succeed well, although a devout perstition and sin, while wisdom and per- worshipper of the kitchen saint. One severance rank highest among the qual- day she appealed to God Himself, and ities required. one of her friends coming to visit her about that time taught her many of the -" I would never argue, if I were a secrets of the culiJlary art. so that her missionary," said a Brahman graduate path was much smoother. Her faith of MadraS University. "I would sim- in the saints was shaken, and she be- came a Protestant. -Helping Hand tells of Rebecca Cox, an's Executive Committee of the Pres- of Galway, N. Y., who has left to the byteriau Church, with 67 teachers. Baptist Woman's Missionary Society a The first one was opened in Salt Lake legacy of $800, earned by weaving rag- City in 1875, and others followed in carpets! And reading, who is not af- rapid succession along a line which fectingly reminded of Dorcas, and the stretches north and south from Idaho widow's two mites, and the alabaster almost to Arizona; and in the fierce box of precious ointment? Therefore struggle with the abominations set up is it not written in the Book of Life: in Utah no weapon has been found By faith, Rebecca Cox, etc.? more potent than these same Christian schools. -In the foreign field woman has had an ever-widening work ever since the -The Presbyterian women of the condition of her sisters in the seclusion Dominion of Canada are joined in a soof the harems and zenanas was made ciety which has 543 auxiliaries wilh known to the Christian world. She is 12,517 members, and 221 bands with not only a teacher of schools, guardian 5998 members. The cash income for of orphans, Bible reader, helping evan- the last year was $41,793, and this gelist, but by force of circumstances a after seventeen years from the beginfellow-minister with ordained mission- ning. Work is done in China, the New aries to bring the Gospel light to the Hebrides, Trinidad, and among the Indignorant. She has not been sent out as ians of British Columbia. The Letter ordained to this work, but as one has Leaflet has a circulation of 11,205, and said often foreordained to it. In not a last year paid expenses with $382 in few countries the women preach ; they addition. preach by the way-side, from the boat, in the home, on the street-everywhere, -The Baptist Zenana Society (Eng. indeed, but in the pulpit. To describe land) had an income in 1892 of $42,015, their work in medical and evangelistic if $3650 be included for work in China lines would be an endless story. not yet begun. Four missionaries were sent out last year and 3 others are un- -The Baptist women of the North der appointment for India, with others have 103 representatives at work in the to be dispatched to China as soon as arunevangelized world, and mainly in rangements can be made. Medical Burmah and China. work has a prominent place. Over 200 women are now in the field. -In 1871 the women of the Protestant Episcopal Church organized the UNITED STATES. Woman's Auxiliary to the Board of Missions, whose object was: to increase -Probably not all the readers of THill the funds; to circulate missionary publications: to educate missionaries; to MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD distribute clothing for the families of missionaries, and to educate the chil- know that humble, poverty-stricken dren of missionaries. At the close of Mrs. Phebe Brown, who in 1818 wrote the. twenty-first year, they lately re- the familiar hymn, "I love to steal ported for the year: Raised for home awhile away," has a double title to imand for foreign missions, in money, mortal fame, 'and because she was $154,323; in boxes for the missionaries, mother to the first American missionary $197,724. In the twenty-one Yflars they to Japan, tho Rev. Samuel R. Brown, have raised $3,623,505, an average of D.D. $172,548. -In the decease, May 12th, of General -There are 31 schools among' the S. C. Armstrong, Founder and Princi- Mormons under the care of the Wom- pal of Hampton Normal and Agricul. tural Institute, near Fortress Monroe, Va., the negro and the Indian have lost one of their truest and most valuable friends. He was of missionary birth in a native workers in the foreign field. the Hawaiian Islands, and of Massachusetts Scotch-Irish descent, a fine soldier Two of these ale young men under the in the War of the Rebellion, and at the direction of Dr. Hunter Corbett, of call of the Government one of the first Chefoo, China. The third is a native to undertake to look after the well being ordained minister of the Gospel in India. of the freedmen. In 1868 the school The support of the first two costs $30 was opened, and ten years later Indian each. The salary of the latter is $120. boys were also received. To the ordi- So for a total cost of $180 per year the nary studies technical and industrial Gospel is preached and taught by 3 eartraining was joined, and his burdens in- nest men in two of the largest mission cluded not only those of instruction and fields of the world. discipline, but the heavier one of secur· ing funds for current expenses, build· -Five services were held on one Sunings, and endowment. The institute day in a certain church in Albuquer. now has some 200 Indian and 560 negro que, N. M. In the morning the Presyouth in training for citizenship and byterian pastor preached in English; usefulness. at half-past two a Lutheran missionary preached in German; at four o'clock a -In New York City 4300 Jews, all Chinese service was held ; and in the men between the ages of eighteen and evening and between these two afterforty-five, have recently signified in noon services two other English services writing their determination to become occurred. Doubtless Spanish services members of .. Christ's Synagogue." also are held each week.
-It is a Hebrew merchant in the -The last page of the Bible in the same city, Mr. Nathan Straus, who last Gilbert Island tongue, upon which Rev. winter opened a coal-yard where the Hiram Bingham has been at work for poor could purchase fuel in small quan- thirty·four years, was read a few weeks tities at cost, or at about one third of since in the composing and press-rooms what they otherwise would have been of the American Bible Society in New compelled to pay. The value of this York. After the last verse of the last exquisite benefaction appears in this chapter of Revelation was set up In table. The total number of tiCkets sold type and a proof taken, Mr. Bingham was nearly 54,000, and divided as fol- read the words aloud, his voice trem· lows: bling with emotion. The superintend. ent of printing then led the way to the. 20,501 five-ceut tickets procuring 20 snd 25 lb•. press-room, the type was placed in the form, and the last page of the first Bible 18,933 ten.cent u " 4 0 H 50 u in the Gilbert Island language was com· pleted and the missionary's long task 7,799Arteen-cent " 60 " 75 " was ended. Mr. Bingham is the only man who has ever reduced a language i,93S twenty·cent " 80 "100 " to writing, completed a vocabulary, constructed a grammar, and translated 8,121 twenty-Ave-cent tickets 100" 125 " the entire Bible and then revised all the proofs. And be it further noted that, Hebrew though he be, this same Good Samari· -The American Tract Society during tan has secured permission to erect on its career of sixty-six years has issued one of the East River piers a building over 12,400 distinct pUblications in 150 where during the hot weather will be sold sterilized milk for sick children. languages. or these 30,000,000 vol· -The Student Volunteer for March urnes have been circulated, besides more and April contained an excellent article than 415,000,000 tracts and 220,000,000 from Robert E. Speer on" The Possi- copies of .periodicals. On an average ble Perils of the Volunteer Movement." 175 missionaries have been annually The same capital monthly states that a student in one of our Western theological seminaries is personally supporting employed, who have ma~e more than 386, and the church-members number 14,150,000 family visits, and circulated 2923. Besides there are 12.961 commuabout 15,700,000 volumes among the nicants in the Indian Territory. scattered and most needy spiritually of our population, including immigrants -The American Friends sustain misand Indians. sions in Mexico, Jamaica, Japan, China, Syria, and Alaska, and also assist in the -The Society for the Prevention of support of various others controlled by Cruelty to Children, in New York, dedi- other denominations-e.g., 4 women cated recently its new building, erected went out last year under the care of at a cost of $475,000. The structure is Bishop Thoburn. 50 X 100 feet, on Twenty.third Street and Fourth Avenue, and is 8 stories -The United Presbyterians are at high. The second story is taken up by work in India and Egypt, where they the offices of the society ; the third by have of foreign missionaries, 28 ; female the living rooms of the Superintendent missionaries, 51 ; medical, 3-total, 82. and his family ; the fourth by a play- Native ordained ministers, 24; licentiroom, a dining-room, and a reception- ates and theological students, 32; other room; the fifth by a girls' dormitory; native workers, 522-total, 580; total the sixth by a boys' dormitory; the foreign and native laborers, 662. Naseventh by kitchen, laundry, and ser- tive churches, 41; communicants, 10,- vants' rooms; and the eighth is an 641; increaSe during the yeaI', 929. open-air playground so arranged that Schools, 264; male scholars. 9472; feit can be enclosed in stormy weather. males, 2577-total, 12,049. Books dis- tributed: Scriptures, 12,747 copies; re- -Since it was opened by Dr. Muhlen- ligious books, 6482; educational, 19,226 berg, in 1858, St. Luke's Hospital has -total volumes, 38,455, or nearly 4 volreceived for treatment more than 36,000 umes for each communicant. Moneys patients, and contains 152 endowed raised : The total in the two missions beds. A new building is erelong to be for all purposes from the churches, constructed upon lots already secured. Sabbath-schools, and missionary sociconsisting of 10 semi-detached portions, eties, and for school salaries and buildand which will afford facilities scarcely ings and for books, $37,496, or an aver' second to those of any other similar in- age of over $3.50 for every churchstitution in the country. member.
-A marvel almost unheard of since EUROPE. the world began has really come to pass; for the famous Anti-Mission Great Britain.-One day in February (" Hard-Shell") Baptists-at least a sec- last Dr. Barnardoreceived 1413 separate tion of them-after fighting Sunday- letters containing gifts for his Homes, schools, missionary societies, et al., for the total amounting to $9750. On an- fifty years, and nearly dying out in con- other day, more recently, the 1651 gifts sequence thereof, have come to them- that came to hand reached the goodly selves at last, and for the future pro- sum of $12,500. But every day he pose to bestir themselves looking after needs $750 for food alone. their children and sending messengers to bear the glad tidings to the heathen. -It was a fine example of Christian fraternity when the other day the Soci- -The Southern Baptist Convention ety of Friends sent a check for $8930 . has representatives in Italy, Brazil, to the Salvation Army for use in its so- cial scheme. Mexico, China, Japan, and Africa; re- ceived last year $154,686, and sent out -The Zenana Bible and Medical Mis- 19 new men with their wives, and 6 sion publishes in The Zenana a table unmarried women. The baptisms were exhibiting its progress during the last ten years. Since 1882 the number of to What an alarming extent few are stations occupied has risen from 17 to aware. It seeIns the drinking places in 30, European missionaries and assistants that country have ikons-images-set from 40 to 78, native teachers, Bible- up in them. The rulers of thc Church women, and nurseS from 93 to 210, are not shocked at that incongruity.
schools from 31 to 68, pupils from 1862 What troubles them is that the men to 5000, dispensaries from 1 to 5, at- who frequent the saloons may not al· tendances at dispensaries from 2000 to ways take off their caps or hats in the 24,500. presence of the holy emblems. So an The Continent.-The King of Bel- ordinance is formulated which obliges gium has been foremost in efforts to do placards to be hung up enjoining the good in Africa, especially to bring the removal of the head coverings when the civilized nations to agree that no rum drinkers enter the holy places.
shall go from their ports to that conti. – The Bible Society has a colporteur ntmt. He was asked why he took such in Siberia, Golubeff by name, who sent an interest in Africa,. and replied: the following despatch from Irkootsk : "When my only son and heir died, " Returned to-day from my four weeks'
leaving me alone, I determined to do journeys. Circulated in December, for the orphan and friendless. God 2151 copies; in all, during this expedi- seemed to say, adopt Africa. Hence I tion, since February last, 11,120 copies.
have devoted my private revenue to the Mercury, 32t Reaumur (about 30° below interests of Africa, and when I die zero, Fahrenheit)_ Am suffering from Africa shall be my heir." All which is the cold; face frost-bitten; rheumatism kingly in the highest Sense. in the feet; more work to be done in -The London Ohronicle is authority Irkootsk terntory. Start for Baikal in for the statement that a certain priest, February. Eight thousand volume8 one Arnold Janssen, with the full con- have reached me here ; am forwarding sent of the Propaganda in Rome, has to Chita and Blagovetschemsk."
founded 3 institutions-1 in Holland, ASIA.
1 in Austria, and 1 in Silesia-which, Turkish Empire.-The Ohurch Mialike the great missionary school in sionary Gleaner alleges that the authori· Lyons, founded by the late Cardinal ties in Constantinople recently made a Lavigerie, have for their express object curious blunder. The Bible Depot is· the training of priests and others to sued a Turkish translation of St. Paul's work ,. in places where Protestant mis- Epistle to the Galatians. The authori· sions wist, and in order to destroy ties got hold of a copy, and thought the them!" Galatians were the people of Galata (a -Days of sorrow and suffering seem part of Constantinople), and conseto be in store for the Jews and Stundists quently imprisoned the colporteur, and of Russia, who must conform to the when the matter was explained said ideas and ways of the Holy Church, or they would only grant the man's reflee with the loss of all their goods, or lease on St. Paul's death certificate perish in Siberian exile. As an ex- being produced I change suggests in righteous indigna- -In the Church of Scotland's mission tion: "The' Orthodox' Church thinks at Smyrna 21 Russian Jews were bapit is verily doing God service in crush- tized not long since, of whom 12 were ing our eVangelical brethren, but such adults. .intolerance is one of the blackest her. esies above hell." -A native of Damascus has been trying to get permission to establish a -The Russian Church is well under- brewery in Jerusalem. But the Gov- stood to be nothing if not orthodox, but. ernor of Syria has thus far declined to grant permission-" in deference," visions of caste. It seems that there he says, "to the scruples of the Jewish are 1354 divisions of caste, tribe, and and Christian residents." race, specified by name, while there are 7109 similar divisions not so specified in -Pastor Faber, a German who is en- the printed lists, but noted in the manudeavoring to found a mission in the script returns. The census gives specific Kurdish district, has just recorded some names to 521 kinds of Brahmans who experiences which testify to the ad- are priests. The varieties of the cultivancing light. In his journey in Kur- vator caste, called Marathas or Kunabis distan he visited one of the most noted indifferently, number 957. The carpenof the Kurd sheiks. The sheik re- ter caste has 94 divisions; the blackceived him kindly. A sheep was slain smiths, 76; the goldsmiths, 86; and and prepared, and before beginning to the coppersmiths, 108. A single dieat he said, "We will remember your vision of the merchant caste, the Wani- Jesus, of whom I have read, that He al- as, has 411 subdivisions. Even the outways thanked God before eating… pastes have their classes, for the census And when the meal was over he took notes 244 kinds of Mahars and 154 kinds out of his pocket a well·worn Persian of Mangs. New Testament, and showed that he knew it better than many a Christian. -Formerly few high-caste people be- came Christians, but now it is other- India.-A wealthy Hindu has given wise. The Rev. A. Clifford, a missionfunds for a proposed "snake labora- ary of the English Church at Calcutta. tory" in Calcutta. The scientific inves- says that recent converts are of all tigation of the poison of different snakes, classes and of greater numbers than and the investigation of present reme· ever before. Of 31 recently baptized dies for snake bites, will be the labora- he says: "These included a Kulin tory's work. In such a country as Brahman, headmaster of an important India, where 20,000 die annually from Hindu school, with his wife and famsnake bites, such an institution ought to ily; a wealthy Hindu gentleman of pobe of great value. The wonder is it sition and culture, and an honorary was not established before. magist.rate, with hiB wife; a Bengail doctor, with wife and family; a young -In the India of to-day, to be able Inan, the son of the civil surgeon of a to add mediMl to missionary is like Mofussil station; a young educated placing a cipher after other figures-it Brahman; a Brahman lady of wealthy gives a tenfold value, says a writer in family; a Hindu fakir; a leper man the India Female }!}oangeli8t. and leper woman; a respectable young Mohammedan and others." -Bishop Thoburn thinks that the converts in India during the next eight Siam.-Probably the largest idol in years will outnumber those of the last the world is the "Sleeping Idol" in ninety-two years. Bangkok. It is at least 160 feet long, and is made of brick, and heavily gild- -The Indian Witneaa contains the ed. The feet are 5 feet long. and the statement that one missionary in North soles are beautifully inlaid with mother- India has raised up 170 preachers. of-pearl. This man has not been at any time in charge of an orphanage or theological -The success of the Laos mission is seminary, but during a ministry of seen in this urgent request for enlargesome twenty-six years he has sought ment:: "We ask for 3 ministers, 5 phyout and led into active work this large sicians, their wives and 2 young womnumber of assistants. en, in all 18 new laborers. We ask for the establishment of 3 new stations and -The census for 1891 reveals some the building of 5 residences, besides the astonishing facts in regard to the dienlargement of the boys' school build- most liberal contributor to the Methodist ing." The cost is set at $28,000. Episcopal Mission in Singapore is· & Chinese banker, Mr. Tan Jiakkim. He -The most common practice as a gave $1500, and collected from his Chipreventive of cholera is wearing a few nese friends nearly $5000 more. " strands of cotton yam about the neck or waist to keep off the evil spirits, -In 1890 there were in the Empire which bring disease. They also place 61 hospitals, 44 dispensaries, 100 medilittle rude straws containing offerings cal students; patients treated in one to the spirits, on the sides of the street, or year, 348,439. These figures represent float them down the stream. And the fol- the medical work as a whole. In 1891, lowing Siamese prescription for a snake in Shanghai alone, the number of pabite will show the great need for medi- tients treated by medical missionaries cal missionaries: "A portion of the was 56,1133. And Dr. John G. Kerr, of jaw of a wild hog; a portion of the the Presbyterian Board, in Canton, has jaw of a tame hog; a portion of the during his forty years of service personjaw of a goat; a portion of a goose- ally given over 1,000,000 of attendances bone; a portion of a peacock-bone; a to the sick and suffering; performed portion of the tail of a fish; a portion over 35,000 operationil, and trained 100 of the head of a snake." or more of the 'native Chinese in sur- gery and medicine. China:-" It is very strange," says a Chinese scholar who believes in Christ, -The Presbyterian Church, South, .. foreign ships came here; everybody has 6 missions, manned by 36 represaid they are better than ours. Foreign sentatives, and all are located in cities steamships came; all are glad to travel standing upon the line of the Grand in them. Fire-oil (kerosene) came; Canal. everybody said, • This light is better.' Foreign cotton came; people every- -The Chinese Christians in Canton where began to use it for clothing; not have joined in a book-lending associamuch market now for native white tion, and send out a staff of book·lendcloth. Foreign needles came; every- ers to distribute and gather good literbody agrees they surpass our own. But ature. the foreign doctrine came and nobody wants it. Very strange 1" Japan.-" J. H. P." writes to the Congregationali8t that "the Christia.ns -The Chinese have no term corre- of Japan are somewhat aroused just sponding to our amen. The translation now over the subject of church indeof their word means, " The heart wishes pendence. Some of the leaders are exactly so." stung by the taunt of Buddhists and others that Christianity tends to make -Says Morris, in his .. Winter in men disloyal. They long by some strik- China," "While the Chinese excel in ing act to convince these opponents of intellectual ability, patience, practica- the Western religion that the Church bility and cheerfulness, what they lack of Japan, like its government and its is character and conscience. And noth- schools, while borrowing ideas and ing less than the Gospel will meet methods from the outside world, is a China's need." Japanese institution thoroughly adapted to Oriental tastes and ambitions." And -Of the 1670 persons received into a missionary writes in a semi-discour- Christian fellowship in the Swatow aged strain to the ChriBtian Observer of Mission of the Baptist Missionary Union, the disposition manifest in all quarters nearly one half were baptized after they on the part of .Tapanese saints to were fifty years of age, and no less than take the management of things, creeds, .361 after they were sixty. and church order included, into their -Says the Chinese Recorder: "The own hands. In all of which not only Mendi and Sherbro Mission, on the West is there ground for grave fears, but also Coast, have discovered an immense de· for grandest bopes. posit of plumbago of the richest qual· tty, and an extraordinary deposit of AFRICA. quicksilver, and some pearl and shell fisheries. A London mining engineer -Dr. Field, of the New York Evan- has gone to report on these properties, gelist, writes from Africa: "But it is and if the statements should be corroupon the women that falls the extreme borated a syndicate will found a comof poverty and all that it brings. How· pany to work these mines. ever pretty they may be wben young, they have to carry burdens that soon ISLANDS OF THE SEA. break their backs and their spirits, till they fade and at last wither up into -That Fiji, a crown colony, has no the hags that we saw to.day, sitting by British troops, the only armed force the road and stretching out their hands being a bandful of native police, speaks in utter want and misery. Such is the volumes for the value of Christianity, curse of Islam upon manhood and which, sixty years ago, was not known womanhood and childhood." And he by name in the islands. closes his letter with these ominous words: "To-night, I must confess that -The Wesleyan returns from New Africa sits heavy on my soul. It is the Guinea are as follows: Churches, 8; Dark Continent, indeed. And is this missionaries, 4; lay missionary, 1 ; misall to which it has come in the thou- sionary sisters, 2; teachers, 26; local sands of years of its history-to be given preachers, 1; native members, 44; up to the most brutal despotisms that schools, 8; scholars, 240; attendants ever trampled upon human beings, and on public worship, 5790. to know even religion only in its lowest and most cruel forms, in fetichism and -It is impossible but that occasions witchcraft, in devil worship and human of stumbling should come; but woe sacrifices 1" unto him through whom they come! That is, even the weakest of converts -The Mission Record of the Church from heathenism must needs meet fierce of Scotland refers to the fact that Alex- temptations, but how dreadful beyond andria is rapidly becoming a great centre expression it is that their most deadly for miS!!ionary and educational effort. foes are transported from Cbristian .. The Italian College is well known. lands! As an illustration, Dr. Paton, The Greek schools are splendid build- in an address on .. Rum in the South ings, and there is soon to be added to Seas," said that the Christian natives them a new school for girls, at a cost of voluntarily gave up their native drinks, about £10,000. The mission to the pipes, and tobacco, and have nothing Jews has been developed in many direc- to do with the liquors brought to the tions. A neat new Episcopalian church islands. But traders in great numbers has recently risen in Ramleh. The came with liquors, and murders and Wesleyan pastor, Mr. Elliott, has a very suicides are the consequence. IImall congregation and no church, but he ministers to a large number of the -Recent disciples on Futuna, New soldiers of the army of occupation. Tbe Hebrides, were sacred men who proold-established American Mission finds fessed to be able to make rain, and by its work chiefly among the Copts. sorcery to bring diseaso and death. Evangelistic work is carried -on by other When they joined tbe class for Chrisagencies among Europeans of various tian instruction they willingly brought nationalities. " their sacred stones, held as dear as life itself, and burned them in the public -The missionaries attached to the square.
The Missionary Review of the World — November 1892
METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE AS A MISSIONARY CENTRE
MiSSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XV. No.n.-Old series.–NOVEMBER.–voL. V. No. n.-New Series.
THE METROPOLITAN TABERNACLE AS A MISSIONARY CENTRE.
BY THE EDITOR-IN-OHIEF.
On the southeast side of the Thames, in London, stands a great church building, for more than thirty years linked with the name of Charles Haddon Spurgeon. The church organization which finds there a home is not only foremost among Baptists, but is, in a certain sense, "mater et caput omnium ecclesiarum, urbis et orbis." .
" See," said God to Moses, " that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed thee in the mount." This principle has been at the basis of the construction and conduct of this noble enterprise. The providence of God, having brought me into intimate personal contact with the Metropolitan Tabernacle during a period of eight months, rare opportunity has been given for the study of the interior workings of this colossal organiz!rt.ion j and it is both duty and privilege to give to the Christian public, some- what more completely than has ever yet appeared in print, an outline of its autonomy and autocracy, its theoretical and practical administration, its spiritual machinery and world-wide usefulness. .
Comprehensively speaking, this brotherhood of disciples, over which C. H. Spurgeon so long presided, is not so much a church as a radiating centre for all city evangelization, public philanthropy, and home and foreign mlSSlOns. The methods here pursued are so silliple yet so complete, so concentrated and yet so comprehensive, so uniform and yet so multiform, so convergent and yet so far-reaching, that they provide and present in some sort a pattern or model for the organization and administration of church life in other parts of the world, and especially in great cities. The basis of the success here attained is laid in principles so scriptural and spiritual, that it challenges instead of defying imitation, and suggests pos- sible reasons for the failure, elsewhere so common.
The church-membership now embraces nearly six thousand, a fact which is the more remarkable, since the drift of the better classes of population has for years been away from the vicinily of the Tabernacle toward the more delightful and healthful residential suburbs. The most conspicuous feature of this great church is not, however, its numerical force, bllt the promi- nence here given for forty years to the preaching of the pllre Gospel of Christ, and to the advocacy and illustration of a simple and apostolic form of worship and Christian life. There is noticeable also an absence of all attempt at worldly art. There is no magnifying of the resthetic acce&- sories; the only beauty cultivated is the beauty of holiness.
The building is almost excessively, though not repulsively, plain; there has certainly been no constructing of ornament, and but little ornamenting of construction. The main objects in view have evidently been commodiousness, convenience, and comfort. The building has been so planned that everyone in the vast audience may both see and hear the preacher, and probably no other building in the world combines such large accommodations with such freedom from acoustic defects. When all available sittings are occupied, in the aisles as well as pews, five thousand persons may be seated; and on a few occasions it is said that more than seven thousand have been crowded into the house.
The area or ground floor furnishes the main seating capacity, but two galleries run entirely around, elliptical in effect, and very convenient and capacious. A portion of the lower gallery, extending forward, provides the platform for the preacher. The actual point where the speaker stands is near to one of the foci of the ellipse formed by the gallery front, and is therefore the best point from which to be well heard. Immediately below this is the baptistery platform, elevated about four feet, and extending still further toward the centre of the area; and here on ordinary occasions are seated children from the orphanage and elderly women from the almshouses, those whose hearing is imperfect, etc.
Mr. Spurgeon's great law in preaching was to combine simplicity with evangelicity. He believed thoroughly in the inexhaustible beauty and power of the old Gospel, when its native Divine attractiveness and effectiveness are unhindered by the vain trimmings and trappings of this world; and he honestly and persistently sought to make every sermon not only a means of edification to saints, but of conversion to sinners. Lest anything should divert attention from Christ as the centre of the message, and God as the centre of worship, he gave no encouragement to organ or choir, and the vast aS3emblage has always been led by a precentor. The service opens with prayer and song; the Scripture reading and exposition are followed by another hymn and prayer, and the benediction immediately succeeds the sermon. So great was Mr. Spurgeon's dependence on the power of the simple Word, accompanied by the Holy Spirit, that he was Dot wont to hold" after meetings," except for prayer; nor did he use the methods so common with modern evangelists of "bringing hearers to an immediate dt'cision." Yet, to the honor ·of God be it noted that the average accession of members for the last thirty-eight years has been three hundred and ninetv per year, and in 1874 and 1875 exceeded five hundred. No presentation of the Metropolitan Tabernacle and its work could be complete without indicating both the departments of activity and the apparatus by which it is carried on. The building itself is very large, embracing twenty or more rooms, large and small, the main space being occupied by the great aS5embly hall. Back of this are some twelve rooms: four of these are in the uppermost story, and mainly used for storage; on the middle floor is the pastor's study or vestry, with rooms for the deacons' and elders' courts, which together constitute a communicating suite, available for pastor's receptions, etc. From the hall leading from the elder's room to the deacon's room a door opens to the pulpit platform. Below this story and on the level of the baptistery are the secretaries' offices, robing rooms for candidates for baptism, etc., and the ladies' room; and in the ,basement, which extends beneath the entire building, are found the large Sunday-school room, the lecture-room, with capacity for about eight hundred persons, and other apartments for all the numerous and various purposes made necessary by such a Christian household.
There is scarce a room among all these that is not sanctified by multiplied forms of service. In the elders' room meets a Bible class of young women ; in the secretaries' 'office are kept church records, lists of members, pewholders, etc.; and here communion tickets and pew tickets are distributed. In the ladies' room meet the Ladies' Benevolent Society, Loan Tract Society, orphanage, working, colportage, clothing, and Dorcas societies, and here adult Bible class and prayer services are conducted. In another room assemble a men's Bible class and Mother's Working Meeting. In the lecture-room a Sabbath afternoon preaching service and a Thursday evening prayer-meeting are held. Near by, the Tract Society has its repository, whence to three hundred homes every week go forth visitors with loan tracts, to be collected and redistributed when the week expires. This building is also a centre for other forms of Christian service-the Flower Mission, Evangelistic Association, Bands of Hope, Total Abstinence Society, Benevolent Society, etc.
Immediately back of the Tabernacle is the college building, with large library, conference hall for five hundred, lecture-rooms, president's offices, etc. Here are the "common room," where the body of the departed pastor was first laid after its arrival from Mentone, the colporteurs' room and bookstore, whence eighty distributers go forth to disseminate Christian literature. etc.
As to the college itself, the aim is to train up a generation of preachers and pastors who hold and teach the precious old truths of the blessed Word; and the main support of this institution, with its seventy or more students, is found in the voluntary offerings, for the gathering of which some sixty boxes are placed in and about the church building. These offerings average from forty to sixty pounds sterling each Lord's day.
Much care is taken as to the choice of students. Applicants are divided into three classes: First, the accepted; secondly, the rejected; and thirdly, the doubtful, whose cases are to be considered and decided more carefully. Each applicant sends his photograph, recommendations from pastor and others, with evidence that he has already been successfully engaged in work for souls j and, if there be further question about him, he is invited to a personal interview, his travelling expenses and entertainment being provided, so that the college authorities may make his acquaintance. If found worthy and needy, his food, clothing, text-books, and lodging in some home round about, will be furnished, so far and so long as he requires; and the homes of students are visited each quarter by an elder, who thus keeps track of the student's peIsonallife. The average time spent in the college is three years, but the students are set at work for Christ meanwhile, and many of them act as pastors in mission halls and chapels, while others go out to preach as occasion and opportunity offer. Having often had occasion to address theological stndents in American seminaries, I have never found among an equal number so many intelligent, earnest, and consecrated men. At least four evangelists are employed and paid by the Pastor's College, and above eight hundred students have been trained here.
The Sunday-schools of the Tal:iernacle entoll about twelve hundred members, and the classes meet both in the Tabernacle !milding and college building, but all under one superintendent. Linked on to the Tabernacle are not a few chapels and missions, such as the Richmond Street Mission j Haddon Hall, with its full complement of Sabbath preaching, Sundayschool and week-night services j Surrey Grove Chapel, Surrey Garden's Memorial Hall, Almshouse meetings, and the Sunday-school, and evangelistic service!! and like meetings at the Orphanage. Converts gathered at these halls join the Tabernacle.
Some forty officers·-elders and deacons-with the pastors, have constituted the governing and directing force of this Metropolitan Tabernacle, the elders having charge of the spiritual interests, and the deacons mostly of the temporalities, but both working unitedly to secure efficiency in all things. The method of election has been very. simple j the pastor has been wont to nominate to each body additional members j and if there were no dissent, these names were reported for the confirmatory vote of the church at large. Then the right hand of fellowship was extended by the pastor, and prayer offered, without laying on of hands, to which Mr. Spurgeon was opposed. Superintendents of the Sunday-school were likewise commonly nominated by Mr. Spurgeon, who thus became the real and proper head of the entire administration. Three elders are set apart to special spiritual oversight, and are so employed by the church, as also are two most competent secretaries, who give up their time to the management of its clerical and business affairs. Two families act as caretakers, one of them living in the college, the other in the Jubilee House adjoining the Tabernacle, and built in Mr. Spurgeon's jubilee year, 1884, from offerings given in commemoration of his fiftieth birthday. Rev. James A. Spurgeon, although himself having a large and influential chapel in West Croydon, has long been associate. pastor with his now deceased brother, and remains the actual and capable head of this great church and its various institutions. He is a man of marked ability and singular fitness for his great administrative trust; and Colgate University has just honored him with the degree of Doctor of Divinity, as also Olivet College has voted him the first Doctorate of Laws ever given in its history. What the Tabernacle, the Pastor's College, and the Orphanage would have done without Doctor James Spurgeon at this crisis it is difficult to say. We may all bless God that so strong a hand was on the helm in such troublous times.
The brief statement here given suffices to show that the Tabernacle is a great missionary centre. First there is the constant and faithful preaching of the Gospel to vast audiences on the Lord's day and during the week. The prayer-meeting on Monday nights is often attended by upward of two thousand people; the Thursday night's preaching service by as many more; and these, with the Lord's day, make the aggregate audience weekly not far from seven or eight thousand different people, of whom one seventh are strangers from every quarter, who from this great centre carry to their distant homes the report of what they hear. In this great house of worship is thus repeated every week some such influence as that exerted by Pentecost, through those who, temporarily dwelling at Jerusalem, went back to every nation under heaven to bear the good tidings. This vast outreach of the Gospel there preached constitutes the Tabernacle a great centre of missions. Moreover, the continued publication of Mr. Spurgeon's sermons, week by week, at a penny each, their translation into twenty-five living tongues, and their perusal by hundreds of thousands constitutes a second distinct branch of missionary influence.
Then there is the dispersion of the members in every direction for the evangelization of the city,for in this church perhaps a larger proportion of Christian workers may be fonnd than in any other church in Christendom ; and here is a third form of mission work. The college, including the present body of students, is training or has sent forth nearly a thousand young men, to engage in either home or foreign missionary work, and they are scattered throughout the world, and this constitutes a fourth branch of missionary influence traceable to this central stock. The Evangelistic Association, which supplies temporary or permanent evangelistic labor to churches and communities in need of such help; the Colportage Association, sending out Bibles and religious books in every direction; the Tract Loan Society, visiting families every week and leaving tracts; the Sunday-schools of the Tabernacle and its connected missions, with their thousands of youth; the various other societies for aiding mothers, poor ministers, orphans; the Total Abstinence Society, and Band of Hope and Flower Mission-these are but a part of this many-branching tree of life. The Stockwell Orphanage has now over four hundred inmates, and has sent out more than one thousand children, and is a missionary centre in itself. Beside these, there are private forms and methods of benefaction, in visiting and relieving the poor, the sick, and the outcast, good works whose history bas never yet been written, because the data have never been supplied ; and all these must be included before a true conception is formed of the multitudinous ramifications which proceed from this one centre of spiritual f<;>rce and impulse.
Mr. Spurgeon was not known peculiarly as an advocate of foreign missions j but the Gospel he preached was so full of the spirit of missions that it kindled zeal in many hearts which impelled them to take up work among the heathen j and Hudson Taylor's recruits always love to come to the Monday evening prayer service to say their farewells and get, as from a mother, a parting blessing before leaving for China's inland regions.
No reference has yet been made to that famous "Book Fund," whose special manager-shall we not say mother ?-was and is the beloved wife of the departed pastor, and of which we need to write a separate paper, if justice is to be done to this noble work. In 1890 £836 sterling (upward of $4000) were spent in books and sermons donated to various parties in home and foreign lands. No one but God knows how many private contributions of money, love, sympathy, and prayer go forth from this congregation every day ; and the gap that would be made not only in the metropolis of the world, but in the world itself, if this church should cease to be, only God can measure. The fact is, the members of this great church and Pastor's College, like the Moravian Brethren, are trained to expect work for God as a necessary part of Christian life j and when the pastor lays his hand on a man or woman, and appoints such to a certain post of responsibility, he feels sure the appointment will be accepted and the workers will do their best.
It will be seen that Charles H. Spurgeon occupied a throne and wielded a sceptre the like of which the world furnishes nowhere else. Yet he was a leader rather than an autocrat. He was so highly esteemed and dearly loved, and such was the confidence reposed in his piety and judgment, that there was conceded to him almost unlimited and undisputed control j but he was a fine example, how safe it is to be guided by a single will, when that will is itself guided by knowledge and love. An archbishop of the Anglican Church is credited with saying that Spurgeon was " the most influential ecclesiastic in the world;" but if he was an absolute monarch inside of his church realm, it is safe to say that he never abused the sceptre held by his hands. He said jocosely to me, that if you want a thing done you must do it yourself, and that the best possible committee is a committee of three, two of whose members are sick or out of town!
~othing impressed me during months of labor here more than the atmosphere of prayer pervading the entire institution. Not only all day Sunday, but all through the week, there is scarce half a day not more or less occupied with religious services of some sort, and at almost all hours the voice of prayer may be heard; and when, at Florence, an American visitor asked Spurgeon the secret of his success, his quiet, hum ble, reverent, truthful answer was, "r have a people who pray much for me."
Never have I seen a people so willing, generous, considerate, affectionate, nor an activity so widespread and universal; never a church so primitive and apostolic. Beyond baptism by immersion, there is nothing which might not be common to the most devout evangelical believers everywhere. If anything could be suggested as an improvement in the administration of this church-any change which would make it seem nearer the apostolic pattern, it would be to throw all pews absolutely open to all comers and trust to voluntary offerings for the support of the minister and the supply of current expenses. This matter has been considered, but many fear that" free pews" would be appropriated by so many now attending other places of worship that non-churchgoer~ would be practically excluded, and such think that a moderate rental secures a more miscellaneous attendance. Upon this I prefer not to retreat from opinions long held, that the only right and best way is God's way, and that there is no foundation in the Acts of the Apostles for any pew-sale or pew-rental. Yet fairness compels me to concede and to confess that strangers have always a cordial welcome and do feel at home, and that the" atmosphere" of the Tabernacle repels no one and makes no worshipper conscious of restraint or constraint.
At the time of Mr. Spurgeon's decease, in January last, it was prophesied by many that the whole church, like a sheaf whose bond is removed, would fall apart; but up to this time the audiences continue as large as ever, and there is no decline of interest apparent; while the contributions for current expenses and the offcrings for benevolent work have rather increased than diminished-a practical proof that when the Gospel is faithfully preached and the Christian life is sedulously cultivated, there is created an esprit du corps that rtlmains as a permanent bond of union and is the abiding secret of vitality and activity, even when so great a preacber and pastor is forever withdrawn.
To conclude, if it be asked what is the secret of the success attained in this church, which makes it pre-eminent perhaps above all others, it seems to me that this secret lies mainly in two things: First, that there has never been anything countenanced here but the simple preaching of the Gospel, unheralded by sensational announcements and advertisements, and nnmixed with worldly leaven; and, secondly, that from the first there has been set up and held up here the simplest, purest type of apostolic worship. Hindrances either to the Gospel's power or the Spirit's working have been practically reduced to a minimum. No needless rites or ceremonies have here surrounded the administration of ordinances and sacraments. Beyond the decency and decorum of the service of worship, art has no place, and there is nothing to interfere with the exaltation of the Lord alone in the eyes of all men, in His house.
Why may not all that is essential in this church life be repeated in any
SAMOAN MISSION OF THE LONDON MISSlONARY SOCIETY
part of the world ~ The same uplifting of Christ, the same magnifying of the Spirit, the same zeal for simplicity of worship and fervency in prayer, the same adherence to a biblical pattern of church order and conduct, with the same renunciation of mere worldly art and attractions, might in any of the centres of Christendom give us other churches which, like the Metropolitan Tabernacle, should be at once witnesses to the power of the truth and centres of all missionary operations at home and abroad.
Charles H. Spurgeon being dead yet speaketh. A monument more lasting than brass and more precious than gold stands to his memory iI} the heart of the world's metropolis, and lifts high the flaming light of a testimony that flashes its beams over the entire civilized globe. May many other churches find in the Metropolitan Tabernacle the suggestion and the impulse of a nobler career of service, and, like it, send forth into dark and desert regions beyond both living rays of truth and living streams of grace!
THE SAMOAN MISSION OF THE LONDON MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
BY REV. J. E. NEWELL, D.D., MANCHESTER, ENG.
The Samoan Mission is the link of connection between the two great divisions of the South Pacific-Eastern and 'Western Polynesia. It was the first link of a chain which now embraces all the principal islands and groups of Western Polynesia, and connects them with the vast island of N"w Guinea.
The man who first carried the Gospel to the ,Samoan Islands lost his life while engaged in the work of introducing Christian teachers to the New Hebrides. As the Tahitian teachers taken by Williams and BarlI carried the torch of life to Samoa, so the Samoans in turn went forth to Western Polynesia-to the New Hebrides, the Loyalty Islands, New Caledonia, and the Isle of Pines. And how Christian teachers from both Eastern and Western Polynesia are united in one grand crusade against the powers of darkness in New Guinea.
Having witnessed the transforming power of the Gospel in his own group, and seen it take root in the Hervey Islands-the principal island of which (Rarotonga) John Williams himself discovered-that man of daring and heroic enterprises conceived the idea of taking the good news of God's love to the Samoans living in islands lying from fourteen to eighteen hundred miles distant. How his ship, the Messenger of Peace, was built and launched; how those bold pioneers-Williams and BarlI-crossed that trackess waste of ocean, and how in August, 1830, they landed in Samoa and located those first eight Tahitian teachers, John 'Williams himself has told us.
The jubilee of that event was celebrated by the Samoans during the year in which the writer of this sketch began his work among that interest- ing and lovable people.
With what thrilling interest did one just entering on his work listen to native reminiscences of that event!
Standing on the spot where John Williams first landed, an old man- one of the first Samoan Christians-recalled the portly presence of the missionary; the grateful and courteous way in which he had received the food which the kindly, hospitable Samoans had taken to the strangers; above all, that first giving of thanks to the Father of all mercies as " Uiliamu" took the food presented to them.
Again, an ever-memorable speech was that made at another of those jubilee meetings by one who had been a priest of that olden time. A priest, and therefore according to the very remarkable belief of the Samoans an incarnation, or at least a representative of the unseen God to men. Said he : "I was supposed to possess supernatural power, and men were ever afraid of me ; and yet I was in my own personal relation to the God even as others. I could provoke the wrath of the deity, and I must pro- pitiate him even as others must. I had a beloved sister who was sick unto death. When naught availed for her recovery, and hope was well- nigh gone, I determined to make a propitiatory sacrifice." And so he had taken the bamboo knife and severed the third finger at the joint from his left hand; and when that did not avail he took off the next, the little finger. Then the sister recovered !
With what a sympathetic thrill one witnessed that old man tottering on the verge of the grave, as he raised his left hand in confirmation of that beautiful story of self· sacrificing love.
Appropriately enough most of the speeches given during that interesting series of meeti~gs were from native missionaries, who had gone forth in the fervor of their self.consecration to preach God's glad news to perishing men in other islands; for Samoa was ever a missionary church. Natives from Samoa were employed in introducing the Gospel into Savage Island, and into the Tokelan, the Ellice, ,and Gilbert Islands (those south of the Equator), and some of these natives were there to tell how the Gospel was· the power of God unto salvation, not only to the Samoans, but also to peoples whom Samoans considered to be much more degraded than themselves. Some, too, who had labored in the islands in Western Polynesia, already mentioned, were present to tell of sorrows and privations endured for the Gospel's sake in the West.
Before John Williams went that last fatal voyage to the New Hebrides he had the joy of seeing the establishment of the Samoan Mission. In 1836 six British missionaries arrived in Samoa. One of the six, the Rev. A. W. Murray-in many ways the most successful and remarkable of the six-has recently passed away. He was the historian of the Samoan Mission, ana has well told the story of the forty years subsequent to his arrival in Samoa. Two or three features of the wOlk of the mission during that period are all that can be touched upon: 1. The education of a native ministry. 2. Bible translation. 3. The extension of the mission by native agency.
1. An event of deep importance to the mission was the establishment of the Malua Institution for the training of native pastors and teachers. This institution was established in September, 1844, by the late Revs. Charles Hardie and the late Dr. George Turner. Mr. Hardie's place was subsequently filled by the late Rev. Henry Nisbet, LL.D. While recog- nizing the extraordinary talents of the latter, especially as the author of valuable commentaries in Samoan on several books of the Bible, and as seen in the multifarious work of the institution, there can be no doubt that the honor of having created one of the most efficient of mission institutions is mainly due to Dr. Turner.
To have laid the foundation of such a trllining institution so securely and so wisely, that for all essentials there should be nothing hereafter to undo or to modify ; to have solved the problem of how to educate the native Christian without robbing him of the faith of his heart; of how to Christianize without Anglicizing the native, was largely the work of Dr. Turner. Under him it was proved that a South Sea college could be reared on the lines ef the communal life of a Polynesian village. The Malua Institution is, in fact, such a village consisting of some twenty· six " families." The heads of each household are the married student and his wife, whose position in the institution entitle them to the dignity. With these young unmarried men are placed, and each family receives a member of the Boys' Boarders' Class.
There are at present in the institution 108 students, of whom 56 are married, and boy boarders to the number of 26, Reckoning all three classes as students for whom the institution has provided education since the college was established, exclusive of those who are still under training. there ha'e been 940 students for the native ministry, 589 women (wives of students), and 307 boy boarders, making an aggregate of 1836 who have passed through the institution.
The students cultivate-the food necessary for their own support and that of those dependent upon them. As this can be done in such a country without much labor, it allows ample time for the strictly educational part of a student's training.
Certainly the training needed by a native pastor or missionary is unique. Every pastor in Samoa must be also village schoolmaster, and for that normal training is needed. To meet that need a normal school has been established. The villages in Samoa are small, and there is very little of the wealth we reckon by money to pay for skilled labor in the erection of village churches, and the pastor who can direct such work is greatly valued; hence an important part of his training as a student must be industrial.
And what a pastor needs, that a missionary in an isolated out8tation in the Ellice or Gilbert group needs still more. The fact that pur village churches and our outstations are locally independent of outside help is proof of the training of the pastor. The native village church may be rude and simple in construction, but at least it was built by the people themselves, and mission funds have in no case been used in erecting it.
With regard to that singular feature of the college-the Boys' Boarders'
Class-it is noticeable that our most successful pastors in Samoa and the most efficient missionaries in the outstations and in New Guinea are those who first entered the institution as boys, and who afterward returned for a further four years' course as theological students.
And with reference to the association in families of peoples as dis- .
similar as Samoans and Gilbert Islanders, it may be safely affirmed that nothing but Christianity could have made such a thing not only possible, but entirely satisfactory in experience.
2. The Samoans possess an excellent version of the Bible. The present edition is the result of more than thirty years' study of the Samoan lan- guage, and is as faithful to the original as it is idiomatic and pure in the vernacular. Both as to knowledge of the original and for Samoan scholar- ship the Rev. George Pratt (now of Sydney, N. S. W.) has been facile princeps; but the work is the result of the combined knowledge of the whole of the mission staff. '
The New Testament was first printed in 1847, and at the close of 1855 the Old Telltament was completed. Ten thousand copies of the Bible were sold at cost price to the Samoans in six years, and each edition of the great Book has been successively paid for by the people.
3. By means of native Samoan missionaries alone sixteen islands to the northwest of Samoa have been evangelized. These islands are in the Tokelau and Ellice groups, together with five islands in the Gilbert group.
The first step in this extension of the Samoan Mission was taken in 1865, when native missionaries were located in the Ellice group. The way in which the missioll was led to take the Word of God to those islands forms, perhaps, the most romantic story of modern missions; the result, however, is all that can now be referred to.
So far as statistics can give that result, we have the fact that 11,000 adherents have been added to the mission; and of these 1916 are profess- ing Christians. The children in Sunday and day schools number 2268.
The people of each island support their own pastor, and for this purpose contribute an average of over $2000. In addition to this, they have built their own churches and pastors' houses, and sent to the foreign missionary fund the sum of something like £300 sterling annually. Si~ce 1883 the Samoans have joined the rest of their Polynesian brethren in the work of evangelizing New Guinea. There are thirteen Samoan native missionaries with their wives in New Guinea, all of them are in heathen districts, and are making full proof of their ministry.
The London Missionary Society keeps up a staff of seven English missionaries in Samoa, and two lady missionaries have been recently added to the number for the work of female education.
The statistics for 1890 show that there are in the whole of the Samoan Mission (Samoa and outstations) 204 native ordained pastors, 173 native preachers; the adherents of the London Missionary Society number 36,459 (out of a population of 46,000) ; church-members, 7943 ; Sunday and day scholars, 11,827. The average annual contributions for the past ten years have been £2010 sterling, of which a little more than half was given for the support of the native pastors, and the rest was contributed to the funds of the London Missionary Society.
Apart from stati8tics, the present condition of the Samoan Church is causing grave anxiety. While numerically as strong as ever, there is only too much reason to fear that there is more formalism and less life than at any previous period of the church. There is a manifest tendency to escape the dominion of the motives which operated even ten years ago to quicken conscience and arouse to spiritual activity. It is. probable that a large proportion of professing Christians have passed from the dominion of spiritual impulse to the formal and lethargic condition which was so disastrous to the Post-Apostolic Church; and yet there is a core of earnest Christian life in the church. Some of the older pastors and many of the Christians in the church are manifestly alive to the dangers and perils of this age of transition. Especially in this connection it is right to mention the Christian heroism of a truly noble band of men and women who have gone forth from the institution to service for Christ in the high places of the field.
Never in the history of the mission have there been better and more efficient native missionaries than those who in recent years have gone to New Guinea; and it seems as if yet again it would be seen that the missionary zeal of the native church, while it can only come as the expression of the loyalty and love of living Christians to their Divine Master, may also be the salvation of the church at large.
As John vVilliams himself felt, Samoa is only the first link of a chain; and the chain is not yet complete. The islands of the South Pacific have been connected with New Guinea as John Williams prayed they might be; but in the South Seas itself, the largest and most populous of all the South Sea Islands is still entirely heathen. The great Solomon group is stilI almost untouched by the Gospel. Can it be that Papua itself is to be the chief agent in the evangelization of that portion of the race to be found in the Solomon Islands ~ However that may be, we ought not in our missionary forward movements to forget our older missions, but" hold fast that which we have t.hat no man take our crown." As it was when the Messenger of Peace first landed native teachers in Samoa, so is it still. God has owned these natives as pioneers of the Gospel, but the vessels that take them and the men that train them and lead them will still for some time to come be European.
1892·1 NATIVE INSTRUMENTALITY IN FOREIGN MISSIONS
NATIVE INS,TRUMENTALITY IN FOREIGN MISSIONS.
BY REV. A. BUNKER, D.D., TOUNGOO, BURMA.
Modern missions have now largely passed their formative stage, and are calling for new or modified methods. As Paul was the model missionary, we do well to study his methods for our own guidance. In this study we find that there were two stages in his work-the formative stage and the orgamzmg stage. In his early missionary life he wrought alone or with some chosen companion, preaching from place to place when able to travel. When converts had been gathered he changed his method. and went about organizing and confirming the churches and appointing pastors. He called into the work native helpers who had been instructed by him, and ordained them in the churches. He also commissioned them, as in the case of Timothy, to do the same work he had done. He thus laid upon the converts he had gathered the work he had formerly carded.
In this example set us by Paul we find a guide in our missionary enterprise. With us the first stage has been passed in many missions. Countries, nations, and tribes have been explored; written languages learned; the unwritten, in many cases, learned and reduced to writing; the Bible translated into many tongues; other useful books prepared; mission plant gathered, and a vast amount of preliminary work completed.
The Gospel message has been proclaimed far and wide, and native converts gathered in many missious by the hundreds and thousands. The calls for men and money are pressing and incessant, and missionary societies are having increased difficulty to find how to meet these calls.
The development of a native instrumentality on the mission fields is one way of meeting these demands, and asks for our consideration.
It is manifest ·that on many mission fields work has reached that stage where it must be done by native agency or not at all. It then becomes all important to know how best to develop that instrumentality.
It will be readily seen that such a development will not decrease the necessity of sending missionaries from Christian to heathen lands. In fact, this demand has been, and is likely to be always in excess of the supply. The necessity of prayer for laborers in the harvest is not likely to pass away. When home churches have done what they can for foreign work, there will still remain a vast deal of work uncompleted, which must be done by native workers, if done at all.
In this stage of mission progress there is an increasing caIJ for peculiar gifts in missionaries. In preliminary and pioneer work among the heathen, men of the highest ability have been required. They were men knowing no fear save the fear of God-men of resources, indefatigable, invincible in Christ.
In the second stage of missionary progress men of no less distinguished ability, though perhaps of a different kind are demanded. The work needs men of large execntive and organizing ability, who can multiply themselves in the native workers whom they find gathered to their hand j men apt to teach, and full of zeal, faith, and the Holy Ghost, like the heroes of the past.
The saying that men of small talent are good enough for the heathen, while those of large endowments are too valuable to be sent abroad, the future is likely to reverse. The mighty works of the Lord are yet to be wrought largely among the Gentiles who know not God, and who are as the sand of the sea-shore for number j and if so, there is to be scope for the activity of the great men of God in the future.
One reason why great importance should be given to the formation of a native ministry, is that the character of foreign mission work is better fitted to native than foreign talent. It requires long experience and much humility for a missionary to learn all he can from the natives in order to enable him to get down to the every-day life and thought of the beathen, and it is only in that low place that he can do his best work and reach the common people. It is often said that few churches in Christian lands really reach the masses. The reason of this does not come within the scope of this paper, but the missionary knows well that he can reach the heathen only as he comes into close touch with them. He cannot deal with them at arm's length. Moreover, he finds himself hedged about, as with a wall, by his ignorance of the language, manners, and customs of the people, and especially of their modes of thought. Through this wall he must work his way, requiring time and much patient labor. His own habits of life, thought, and sometimes even dress must be changed to accomplish his object. The native workers, however, have inherited this knowledge from their birth, and are at once in that place where they can best reach their countrymen after they themselves have found the truth. Best of all, they are in full and intelligent sympathy with their needs. Again, these workers can be more easily lifted into higher thought and life, and equipped for missionary work, than the foreign missionary can learn to adapt himself to these new conditions in which he finds himself. He clln reach his native helper much more easily than he can the masses about him, and thus instead of one, if he has the talent and .grace, he becomes many, multiplying himself in the native converts under his instruction.
This will go a long way in solving the question of how to meet these calls for help from mission fields. This brings us directly to the question before us-namely, how best to train np a native instrumentality on mission fields.
Doubtless one of the most important means at our disposal for this purpose is the training school. This raises the question of mi.ssion schools, much discussed in our day. It is a wide question, and must be settled largely by individual missions on local grounds. In general, however, ,mh'siQn schools have their use as well as abuse. In countries where the government is willing to aid schools, passing prescribed standards in examination, and where mission funds are small and the people poor, there is great temptation to secularize the school in order to retain the pupils under mission influence on the one hand, and to secure the government aid on the other. This is a very insidious temptation, and without doubt has led astray some missionaries and societies even. This temptation should be resisted most strenuously. It should be the aim to leave to the secular powers as much as possible all secular instruction. The preaching of the Gospel is pre-eminently the work of the missionary; but he sometimes finds the necessity of schools laid upon him, and it must not be forgotten that there are many ways of proclaiming the Gospel message. Even Paul had a school in his own hired house for two years.
It may be necessary, in training a body of native helpers, to establish even high schools and colleges, as well as theological seminaries, but such calls should be most carefully studied before being acceded to. We say it may be necessary, but only so, as such schools can be used in training a native instrumentality for mission work. If it is not possible to bend all school work in this direction, be it in primary or higher schools, then the sooner one drops secular instruction and reverts to direct missionary work, the better it will be for the cause of Christ.
Schools, then, which can be controlled in the direction of raising up trained native workers, are a powerful means to the end in view. Here the pupils are constantly under the eye and influence of the missionary, and having been brought to believe in Christ with a saving faith, are in the very best conditions to be prepared for the work before them.
In such school work there is the largest scope for the missionary talent. It has been said that" the method is the man." It is emphatically true that native converts will take very readily the stamp of their much-loved teachers, too readily copying their faults. How often can they be picked out as belonging to this or that known missionary by their mannerisms even, which they have copied from their teachers; but all-important will be the missionary's ability to impart zeal and enthusiasm to his pupils. He needs not only great faith, but Divine enthusiasm for souls, like Jesus and His servant Paul.
A second important method of instruction is by example. If there is any place where an example of Christian living is required, it is in that of the missionary teacher. As an evangeli~t he indeed needs to live the Christ-life daily, or his teachings are lifeless; but as a teacher who must impress his own character and individuality on the' learner, he, above all others, needs to live the Christ-life. It has been said that the heathen need not so much men and money as the Christ.life lived before them as an example. " The heathen shall know that I am the Lord, saith the Lord God, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes." Experienced missionaries know very well how sharp·eyed the native converts are, when they have learned to compare Christian living with God's Word. Not only in daily living will example be powerful, but in work also. The missionary must not only teach his pupils to work, but show them how by his own example. He must lead them in teaching from house to house, and from town to town, and in exploring and opening new fields. He must show them what patient endurance means. We have a beautiful type of this kind of teaching in our Lord's training of His disciples, as He travelled and taught and wrought His mighty works before them. Often the missionary is called in like manner to lead a band of native workers, which frequently involves the mission of healing as well, as with Christ. Here is an almost unlimited field for practical training.
A third means for the development of a native ministry, and not the least, is found, first, in impressing upon the converts the fact that the duty of evangelizing the heathen about them is theirs, and not the work of the missionary alone j and, secondly, in laying upon them the responsibility of that duty. The missionary will be often pained to find that the converts are inclined to put him in the place of Christ j that they are ~eek ing how they may please him rather than their Redeemer. They seem to regard the building up of the kingdom of Christ as belonging to their missionary, while they are at most only helpers. This is a great mistake in instruction, if allowed to continue. The missionary 8hould impress upon his people, at all times, that this work is theirs, and that he is their helper only. They must realize, if possible, that the Divine commission comes to them directly, and not through man. In order to this end, all possible responsibility must be thrown upon them as they are able to bear it. It has been said justly that a wise missionary will never do what a native can do. It will often be easier for him to perform the work himself than to teach tho native worker how to do it, yet for the sake of the end in view this rule is safe to follow. It is true that he may need to " keep his hands on the lines," but he can do so "out of sight." He may, if he has tact, lead and not seem to lead. These are the best leaders of men, and the missionary cannot cultivate this talent too highly.
There has been too little of this putting of responsibility on the native Christians, and too much interference with the churches among them in past time. One can easily see how this comes about. After much labor and anxiety some are led to Christ. How dear these first converts become to the weary worker, and how solicitous he is for their spiritual welfare! He is too apt to judge them from his own standard and try to raise them to it; but it is better to imitate Paul, and leave the native converts largely to work out their own salvation. To try is to learn. Fail? Yes, they will make mistakes, but leave them to the guidance of the Holy Spirit to learn by their failures, as the children of God have done in all ages, but always with wise care and help when needed.
Just here comes in the question of self-help. It has been the custom of most missionaries to pay a stipulated stipend to native preachers and others. This plan, unless carefully guarded, is likely to work weakness in, instead of being a help to the native worker. One may leach him never so diligently that he is responsible to Christ alone, but 80 long as he feels that he is dependent on the will of his teacher for his monthly wages, he will with difficnlty learn the lesson of dependence on Christ. He is a child, and, like a child, feels obligation to him from w.hom his support visibly comes. There are many ways of helping native workers and not leading them under obligation to the helper. The practice of standing in the place of helper, instead of principal has, in the hands of tlie writer, wrought wonders in developing a self-reliant native ministry.
What is said here of individuals is also true of churches. These singly or associated, however, form a wider field for instruction, as they have special duties assigned them by the Head of the Church. One of the first lessons to be taught them is the power of organized effort. Heathenism disorganizes. Christianity reorganizes. Hence the missionary will be obliged to teach the new body of converts everything in church work. He will meet prejudices which it may take years of patient effort to overthrow. He cannot lay his plans to be consummated in a day or year even. Faithful, persistent, patient teaching, while throwing all possible responsibility upon the native churches, to enable them 10 work out and digest his instruction, will accomplish wonders in time.
Finally, there remains the dignity of the calling of the worker with Christ, and the glorious mission of the Church, to be impressed upon the native mind. 'Without a due sense of these, no corps of workers is duly equipped for their calling. Here is a call for the highest talent God has bestowed on man. Only Divine wisdom can meet the case. Here the missionary may well pause and tremble, for he is entering the Holy of Holies in his mission as a messenger of God to earth. It is here as nowhere else that the native converts take the stamp of their teacher.
When the native worker has come to realize that the work of the ministry of Christ is the best, the most honorable, and the best paid service on earth, and that the Church is engaged in a warfare with evil and darkness, which will, beyond doubt, result in a most glorious victory; when he can, by faith, rejoice in the midst of trials, as those who have already won the crown, a fire has been kindled on heathen soil which, by the grace of God, all the powers of darkness cannot put out. 'That but Divine wisdom can lead the native churches to such faith! Who but the Holy Spirit can enthuse them with the glory of their mission on earth and reward in heaven, and thus incite them to holy endeavor! The missionary, however, is the ordained channel of this grace, and only as he has fellowship with Christ, can he do the work laid upon him. Only as the workers in the kingdom of Christ in any land realize their high calling can they do their best work. This is the work for the missionary of the future. Using all means for the development of a corps of native workers in mission fields, by the blessing of the Holy Spirit, we shall see the Gospel proclaimed in all lands, and the kingdom prepared for the enthronement of our Lord.
IN OUR MISSIONARY MEETING!!
HOW SHALL THE INTEREST IN OUR MISSIONARY MEETINGS BE INCREASED 1 * BY MRS. ETHAN CURTIS, SYRACUSE, N. Y.
In our larger cities are literary clubs, meeting weekly or semi-monthly, for which papers are most carefully prepared; attendance at them is regular, and many now outside are waiting and wishing to become members. Y,et our missionary societies, in spite of the large number of women in our church-membership, have discouragingly few at their monthly meetings.
Why this difference 1 Is America, Italy, or England preferable to the kingdom of heaven? Is the inspiration of Browning superior to that of St. John, or Shakespeare loftier in thought than Moses, Job, Isaiah, or David 1 Great as are all these, God's direct word to man is greater. Dear is our own country, the land of freedom j precious is Italy, the mother of art; grand is old England, the realm of thought; but the kingdom of heaven, the home of the soul, is better than all other regions.
These literary clubs are fashionable. If we may not make our mis. sionary meetings fashionable, let us at least make them attractive, even if wc borrow from our literary friends some of their methods.
First, let us, like them, make our appointments months beforehand, so that work be carefully prepared. Is not the story of our heroic and selfsacrificing missionary ministry worthy of as much study as poetry, literature, and art?
Let the main feature of the meeting be a strong, vigorous, well-prepared paper, or still better, talk. The subject may be the life of some missionary-biography is always interesting and inspiring. The deeds of the heroes of history make us long to be heroic. There was Carey, educated at the shoemaker's bench, yet becoming the finest lingui8t of India; Judson, a careless, reckless boy, rising to noblest manhood in Christ j Hannington, always human, but always heroic j Paton, working and waiting on the Lord; John Coleridge Patterson, gifted by nature and by race, offering himself to the rudest and roughest people with a supreme joy, because such was the Christ-life ; that other martyr of the South Seas, John Williams, brave in death as in life, giving himself always to forsaken souls; the Moffats in South Africa living there a half century for the Lord. One cannot name or number the biographies that will interest an audience if properly prepared. Then there are romances of missions: our own Oregon story; the Jesuit heroism in North America j the Madagascar mission; the New Zealand transformations; such tales make our best magazine stories pale in comparison. Even the degradation of these human brothers of ours and the dire needs of our fellow-men help us to lose self in longings to help others.
Some such paper should be the central point of the meeting, and there *MN. Cnrtis ill the Vice-President of the N. Y. Woman's Home Missionary Union. is no reason why a missionary paper should not have as much gl"ace of language and vigor of thought as the papers in the literary clubs. Never lose unity or "central radiance," as the old artists called it. The old st.ory is told of Leonardo da Vinci, that while painting the Last Supper, he thought how much" the cup" meant to man, and so lavished his love of detail upon that. When the picture was exhibited many called out, " How beautiful is the cup /" Next day he painted it over, and replaced it by the plainest piece of pottery, saying, " If in a single beholder's mind the cup distracts attention from the face of the Christ, it should have no place in my picture." Such a principle of art we do well to make our creed in missionary meetings.
Singing brightens and belongs to mission work, but be sure that the songs relate to the subject. One sings with peculiar tenderness, "I am coming to the cross" or "Jesus, lover of my soul," after a paper on Hannington. " My country, 'tis of thee" comes with an accompaniment of heart throbs when the story is Whitman's ride.
Instead of always taking Scripture by chapters, it is well to select passages having special application to the subject. A few words at the opening, with responsive sentences, given to individuals to be recited at appropriate intervals, are often very effective. A few phrases learned are better than many chapters read; better to have each member bring home an especial meaning from these Bible words than to have them suggest many and diverting thoughts.
A sacred feature of the meeting is prayer, a knowledge of the needs of the hour expressed with truth and with tendernes~, a right attitude of soul helping to right words and thoughts toward God. "Who can make us comprehend the grandeur, the majesty, the might of prayer~" It is the highest worship earth can show ; it includes the entire relation between man and God; it contains in itself all the longings of humanity fo'r heaven; it changes aspiration to inspiration; it completes all truth, all sentiment, all knowledge. Let our souls be prayerful, our minds earnest our hearts ardent with good wishes, and prayer, like the mist of the morning, will mount heavenward, because that is its natural pathway. Let us think and feel and long earnestly for this meeting, and prayer will be tho simplest, the sweetest, the most sacred portion of the programme. " We do not say prayer; prayer forms within us." Let our souls be wholly absorbed in God's cause, then the prayers of the hour will be a blessing and a benediction.
A map is almost essential to every missionary meeting. A simple outline map may be obtained from the missionary rooms. One can mark with pencil' the route needful to be traced, and pin small pieces of red paper on for missionary stations. If some one says that it looks as if " geography had a sudden attack of the measles," we must not be afraid of such criticisms; we are sending forth messengers of healing, and there may be appropriateness in such appearance. Mention the bound!lories of the chosen country; it is well to know the neighbors of any selected portion of the earth. Let Bome one else give population, that we may know how many hungry, helpless human beings call for us in their awful despair, or are settling into despondency that is worse than despair. Another may give the present material resources of the country, that we may know their outlook for an earthly future, and be stimulated to hasten our slowmoving missionary labors. Shall we allow Japan to grow and gain in everything but the Gospel? or our own West to unearth gold and silver while the heavens overhead are lead and brass? Shall we allow the mountain highlander to grow rich in mines and mills while body and soul are starving? Our missionary countries are not necessarily pauper lands. Some are natural Edens, fragrant with fruit and flower, but morally poisoned by sin. Shall we not seize these riches for the Lord?
What is the intellectual calibre of heathen peoples? Look at the litt;rature of the Orient, where man was first made and where the sun first dawns; some of these are reverent rhapsodies, when man was groping for God with his benighted brain. A sentence may show what they have done and thought, what they are capable of doing. Ages ago were the Vedas written, but still there are sharp wits and sentimental souls in the Orient, and these demand our best and brightest minds to teach them. The Indians of America have spoken many stirring words, well worth recalling. In our Congressional reports is a plea for the Bible from the lips of an Indian as thrilling and as pathetic as Lincoln's funeral oration, and as deserving to be held in memory.
Decorate the meeting-room with the handiwork of these people. Japan has taught pottery to the world. India and Persia and Turkey have almost translated beauty into a beatitude. Religion has been wrought, even by these heathens, in color and harmony exquisite to behold, and rich in suggestions of thought. Can they not also see the beauty of the true faith? If we are studying Africa, a bit of ivory may mean very much when it is known that the first missionaries in Africa lived upon a pittance, built their church and school without aid from the home society, the tusks of ivory larglly paying their expenses; or when we remember that the dead elephants did more than the living men and women of England toward opening the Dark Continent to the Gospel. Dolls dressed after the fashion of these pagan peoples may help us to know more about them and may teach us something of grace and comfort. An artistic lady once said, " I wish the heathen would send us some missionaries and teach us how to dress."
If we are studying home lands, some of the products of the soil, specimens of the ores, grains, special workmanship of the people, picture. of the scenery, may help. Photography may aid much, as the telescope does with the planets in diminishing distances. The nearer we get to these people in space, the closer our hearts will come to theirs.
·Whatever the country, let us have its flag. It is easily made from the dictionary illustrations. Nothing shows the soul of nationality like that country's banner with its device. Many spiritual meanings may be gained from the national emblem. A Japanese flag was used in a missionary con- cert. It was just a red circle sewed on a white ground, and cost only a few cents, and was the work of only a few moments. At the close a Japanesll told us something of the feeling of his nation for that flag. It preceded all processions, was hung before them on all grand occasions, and signified the rising sun. When he expressed a wish that his country should love the Sun of Righteousness as she loved her flag, keep Christ ever before her, the entire audience was stirred to aid Japan in her noble struggle.
Suppose some one writes a letter, imagining herself in some field at work as a missionary. She can give her life, its longings, its joys, its discouragements, and its blessings. This will help her and her audience to be interested in real missionaries; perhaps to do something beyond imagination for those whom she is representing.
Suppose some one brings up the objections to missionary work; a dozen will rise up in answer to them, and they will set Borne one to studying the real value of missions. Hawthorne found a cabin boy on the wharves reading a commentary on the Bible. He asked why he studied t/tat book in that place. The boy looked up with a knowing wink as he replied, "Ther's consid'rable her'sy in our place, and I'm studying up fur 'em." Honest doubts have led to the highest knowledge. Was not Thomas the doubter first of all to cry out, "My Lord and my God"? Strauss published his Life of Christ in 1835, and it looked for a time as if the best of the Bible was to be turned into a myth; but men greater than he set to work to answer him, and an entire literature arose on the one sinless and sacred life that has been given to humanity. After Strauss, the ministry everywhere took up the subject in pulpit and in press. All these have helped to bring the highest humanity into closer and more vital relations with common humanity until the first and the nineteenth centuries have joined hands in fervor and in faith. Thus doubt has become the stepping-stone to surest belief. Thill task of expressing doubts upon missions is good work for the women who neither attend the meetings nor give to the cause. Let a discussion follow. Doubtless even the doubter will be convinced. A sluggish spirit on this great subject is most to be feared. The surging waters are pure; but the stagnant pool gathers poison.
It is good to use the conversational method, even if the questions and answers are all arranged beforehand; but spontaneity is preferable. The greatest power of the leader is not in imposing silence, but in arousing speech.
Appoint watchmen, heralds, messenger girls, telegraph lads, to bring in the latest news from the field. Delivered during the session and in the regular telegraph form, they will awaken special interest and enthusiasm. Children, coming home from school, will be delighted with some such errand, and will not soon forget the message they have brought.
JOHANN LUDWIG KRAPF, A PIONEER OF .A.FRICAN MISSIONS
Vary missionary meetings as much as possible. No garment is so strong as to stand constant wear. No good method is always and everywhere successful. The best thing is for each to expect something new every time. When Joshua Reynolds began portrait painting, he adopted the style of his teacher, and painted all his men with their hats in their hands. It was easier to dispose of hats than of hands. One day he found a subject who had ideas of his own. He wished to wear his hat on the top of his head. The portrait was finished, the original came to claim it, when he found himself possessed of two hats, one on his head, the other in his hand. This cured Sir Joshua forever of fixed and forced attitudes. Repetition may be ridiculous elsewhere than in hats. It is well to find something new each time not only in subject, but in method and manner and in means. Children always call for new things, and we "children of a larger growth" must keep fresh and fervent all the longings of our lives, all the ways of working for the Master, if we would pass the bread of life from soul to soul. Fixed and forced forms are forever fatal to life. Growth is everywhere the law of greatness and of goodness.
These are only hints and suggestions. The use of the inventive powers will add much that will be of vital interest. The attendance in these monthly gatherings might be brought up to the hundreds, instead of standing below the score; and with a greater interest in the missionary meetings the contributions to missionary work would greatly increase.
JOHANN LUDWIG KRAPF, A PIONEER OF AFRICAN MISSIONS.* BY REV. F. WILKINSON, LIVERPOOL, ENG.
Johann Ludwig Krapf was born in 1810, near Tubingen. He would have followed farming, the occupation of his father, had not circumstances induced his parents to give him a superior education. During his school course the future explorer revealed himself in a special inclination to geography ; and at fourteen yearf he expressed a decided wish to be a captain and visit foreign countries. His father was desirous to carry out the boy's wish, if pOSSIble, but the cost was found to be beyond the resources of the family, and the idea was relinquished. A novel incident turned young Krapf's thoughts to the work of the mISSIOnary. The principal of the school one day read before his scholars a pamphlet on missionary work and the spread of Christianity among the heathen, desiring them afterward to embody the substance of the pamphlet in an essay. Ludwig had never before heard anything of missions, but what he now heard was enough, and he asked himself the question, "Shall I be a missionary, and go to the heathen~" This thought never left him, and at the age of seventeen he travelled to Basle to offer himself as a mis- • The pre.ent article is based npon the life of Dr. Krapf by W. Claus (in German). sionary student. The principal of the institution advised him, on account of his youth, to return home for a time, to continue his studies, and to endeavor to grow in the knowledge of Scripture and of his own character, and wait for God's guidance.
The following year found him in the institution at Basle, but the intellectual and spiritual condition of the place did not entirely satisfy .his expectations, while the reading of the mystical writings of Madame Guion and Jacob Bohn so unsettlecl his mind, that he could not with a good conscience remain longer in the institution at the expense of tbe mission. He laid before the committee the grounds of his decision, and left the institution two years after he entered it. Returning home, he continued his studies, passed the university examination, and p.,ished in 1834 the theological course.
His heart had often turned to the mission house at Basle, especially when his cousin-a namesake-entered the institution, but he determined to enter the ministry at home, arguing that thus he could carry on ~ork similar to that which his cousin would prosecute in non-Christian lands. Be accordingly settled at vVolf~nhausen, where the neglected condition of his parish and the work he had to do became the means of bringing more vividly to his mind the needi of the heathen world.
He wrote: "The inducements to mission work appeared to me in a new light. In the needs of my congregation I recognized those of non-Christians in a measure that affected me very deeply; in their sorrow I recognized the wretchedness of the heathen; the cry for help from my own congregation seemed an echo from heathen lands. The grace which I myself enjoyed, and which I commended to my own people. was, I felt, for the heathen as well, but there might be no one to proclaim it to them. Here, everyone may without difficulty find the way of life; in those lands there lliay be no one to show the way. Bere, in almost every house the Holy Scriptures may be found; there, the Scriptures are only scantily distributed. This seems to me a powerful incentive to think seriously of missionary work."
An event soon occurred which left him free to follow his inclinations. Some incautious pulpit utterances gave offence to the ecclesiastical authorities, and he was deprived of the living at Wolfenhausen. A few months afterward he once more offered himself for missionary work, stronger in every respect and better equipped for the work. .Being willing to go wherever his services were needed, and the Abyssinian Mission requiIing another worker, he left for that country in February, 1837, arriving in Alexandria in April, and travelling up the Nile to Cairo, where he had his first glimpse of Africa's greatest curse-the slave trade. In the 1Ihive market he found the poor creatures lying on the bare earth, by day fainting in the burning rays of the sun, at night placed in a stable without any covering except, at the most, a few rags around their loins. There they lay -young and old of either sex-to be examined by buyers, like cattle. This first experience of slavery gave him a new impulse to do his utmost for the sprEad of the Gospel in Afriea, as the most effectual remedy for the miseries of its people. From Suez and Massowa he travelled, with difficulty and danger, to the highlands of Abyssinia, and joined Isenberg and Blumhardt at Adoa, in the hope that their united labora would bring such life into the Abyssinian Church as would make it a missionary church; but soon after priestly jealousy so worked upon the fears of the ruling prince as to induce him to issue a peremptory order to the missionaries to leave his territory and go to their own land. Repulsed in Northern Abyssinia, Krapf resolved to find his way to Shoa in the south. A sudden illness, however, compelled him to return to Cairo. After a time he made a second attempt to reach Shoa, arriving there in June, 1839, in company with Isenberg, who in a few months returned to Egypt, and left Krapf alone. Notwithstanding the geod-will of the king, the work in Shoa was slow and discouraging, and Krapf regarded the neighboring heathen tribe (the Gallas) as offering more hope of successful work than the nominal Christians of Abyssinia.
In 1842 he left Shoa for a short while, partly to meet his flture wife in Egypt, and partly to help on their way two new brethren-Mllhleisen and MUller-who, he was told, had arrived on the Abyssinian coast. Setting out on foot, after considerable difficulty and suffering from robbery, hunger, and the fatigues of travel, he arrived at his destination only to learn that the missionaries he expected to meet had returned to Egypt. It was thus necessary, apart from his private concerns, to visit Egypt to bring back the two brethren who had fled from the difficulties of their position.
While in Egypt he married Rosine Dietrich, that loving, faithful, and steady helpmeet in the difficulties and dangers of his career. With his wife, Isenberg, and Miihleisen Krapf set out to return to Shoa; but on arriving at Tajurrah he receiTed the astounding intelligence that the king forbade him to enter his dominions, an act which, like the expulsion from Adoa, was due to priestly interference.
Isenberg and Miihleisen travelled back to Massowa, in order to reach Gondar, while Krapf betook him8elf, with his wife, to Aden, desirous to gct into Gallaland by the south; but finding this impracticable, he determined to follow his two fellow-laborers, taking with him a number of Ethiopic and Amharic Scriptures, so that he might at least, by the circulation of the Scriptures, do what he could for the spiritual welfare of Abyssinia.
He landed at Massowa, and began the journey to the interior in company with a trading caravan. While passing through the Shoho desert, his wife, who in spite of her state of health had accompanied him, prematurely gave birth to a daughter, having no medical aid, or even the assistance of one of her own sex. The child lived but an hour, yet long enough to be baptized, receiving from its parents the name of Gneba (tears). In the evening they buried the little one at the foot of a tree, the father conducting a funeral service in Amharic. It was only by great e1Iort that Krapf succeeded in obtaining three days rest for the young mother, at the end of which she was obliged to set out again with the caravan.
On reaching the boundary of Tigre, Isenberg and Miihleisen met them with the distressing intelligence that the Prince of Tigre would not allow them to enter his territory. Thus every attempt to establish themselves in Abyssinia was frustrated. The door was closed at Adoa in the north, and at Ankober and Shoa in the south, and Gondar, in the centre of the country, they could not reach. Even then Krapf did not lose heart j his faith rose above present discouragement, as is evident from what he says when writing home: " Abyssinia will not soon again enjoy the time of grace she has so shamefully slighted. Meanwhile we will not cease to pray fof that unfortunate land, especially commending to the Lord the many copies of His precious Word, that He would bless them and make them witnesses of His truth. It is a consolation to us and to dear friends of the mission to know that over eight thousand copies of the Scriptures have found their way into Abyssinia. These will not all be lost or remain without a blessing.
Faith speaks thus: Though every mission should disappear in a single day and leave not a trace behind, I would still cleave to mission work with my prayers, my labors, my gifts, with my body and soul j for there is the command of the Lord .Tesus Christ, and where that is there is also His promise and His final victory."
Krapf determined to atte~pt to gain a footing on the East Coast of Africa, in order from there to reach the Gallas, whose language he already understood. With this object in view, he sailed, with his wife, in an Arab vessel from Aden in November, 1843. Strong headwinds and a heavy sea compelled them to return to Aden. In spite of their exertions, the water gained upon them in their leaky boat, and on reaching the entrance to the harbor of Aden the land wind drove back the vessel toward the open ocean. There was indeed a ship's boat, but it could not carry twenty-five persons in a rough sea. Just then a bumboat coming within hearing, Krapf asked its captain to take them on board. This he at first declined to do, and only by promises and threats Krapf at last succeeded in inducing him to take them off the sinking vessel, which in half an hour after they left it sank. Eight days later Krapf sailed again. and after four or five weeks' journey arrived at Takaungu, north of the island of Mombas. He then went on to Zanzibar, and after a favorable reception from the Sultan sailed northward again to fix upon a favorable position for a mission station. As the result of his inquiries and observation he decided upon Mombas.
Scarcely, however, had he begun work at Mombas when he was called to pass through another sorrow, in the loss of his wife. She was attacked with fever, which was the more serious a<; she was daily expecting to become a mother. A daughter was born, and a renewed attack of fever brought her very low. In prospect of death, she felt for a time disquieted regard- ing her spiritual state; but her husband's words about the grace of God and the completeness of Christ's work had such a consoling effect upon her that she said: "I have obtained grace and mercy from the Lord; He has looked upon me ; I feel His presence as I have never felt it before." She then prayed for relatives, for the mission, and for East Africa, and for the Sultan, that God would incline his heart to promote the eternal welfare of his subjects. The next day she appeared much better, but the day follow- ing much worse, while her husband himself was so weakened by fever as to be obliged to leave the care of her almost entirely to servants. The next day she breathed her last, and on the following morning-Sundaythey buried her, according to her wish, on the mainland in the territory of the Wanika. During the night the little daughter also passed away, and was laid by the mother's side. Krapf, even amid all these trials, writes, in a letter to the secretary of the missionary society : "Tell the committee that in East Africa there is the lonely grave of one member of the mission connected with your society. This is an indication that you have begun the conflict in this part of the world; and since the conquests of the Church are won over the graves of many of its members, you may be all the more assured that the time has come when you are called to work for the conversion of Africa. Think not of the victims who in this glorious warfare may suffer or fall ; only press forward until East and West Africa are united in Christ."
Recovering strength, he continued his work, occasionally making short journeys from Mombas to the mainland among the Wanika, anxious to establish a mission station among this people, especially to open the way into the interior of Africa-al ways a prominent idea with him.
In 1846 he had thc joy of welcoming as a fellow-laborer Rebmann, who was jn one respect the very opposite of Krapf. The latter, restless and energetic, entertained far-reaching plans, and even saw in imagination a chain of mission stations stretching from Mombas to the Niger, and thus connecting East and West Africa; Rebmann, on the contrary, had determined to settle in one place and work there. In spite of this dissimilarity, they were at once drawn to each other, and Krapf, after two years of loneliness, could well appreciate the presence and help of a fellow-laborer. They decided on Rabbai Mpia, a Wanika village not far from the seacoast, as the mission site. In October of the same year they finished a house so far as to aIIow of their living in it, and Krapf remarks, " Every true friend of Christ's kingdom must rejoice over this mission, for it is the first step in the way to the heart of Africa. We have secured a position whence the unexplored regions of the interior can be reached and the ancient bulwarks of Satan assailed by the messengers of Christ."
The people, though keenly alive to the material advantage of having Europeans among them, were perfectly indifferent to the truths they taught. They showed themselves inveterate beggars; the mission house looked like a shop with a crowd of customers, who, however, had no intention to pay. The missionaries naturally felt a difficulty in dealing with the requests of the people. To give them everything they asked for would increase their avarice, and seem like bribing them to become Christians, while to refuse every request would lead the heathen to conclude that, though the white teachers spoke much of love and self-denial, they did not practise these virtues. Krapf was inclined to be liberal in his gifts, arguing that though the missionary cannot heal the sick and raise the dead, he can at least perform the miracles of love, humility, patience, and self-sacrifice, leading the heathen to say among themselves, ""How is it that the missionary submits to so much on our account, and does us so much kindness ~"
Like many other missionaries, in the early period of his work he thought it incumbent upon him to spend much time in attacking the beliefs and practices of the people, in .:onsequence of which the simple presentation of Christian truth fell somewhat into the background. Upon this point he says: "I have a conviction that for some time past I have argued too much against the heathen customs and practices of the Wanika, for their abominations excited my indignation; but I ought to preach to them more of the love of Jesus to the lost erring slaves of Satan. I must pity them more, and speak to them more pitifully and sympathizingly." Still some encouraging signs did appear, for one convert was made, who gave evidence that Christian truth was a power in his life; this man, too, was the means of bringing to the missionaries another, who eventually became a true Christian worker among his countrymen.
Krapf was not tho man to rest long contented with work at one station. His fixed idea was a chain of stations stretching across Africa, and he attempted several times to penetrate farther into the interior, visiting Usambara, to the southwest, in 1848, and the land of the Wakamba in the following year. In both places he received a friendly welcome from chiefs and people, and" everything seemed favorable for the extension of the mission.
Twelve years of unremitting labor in Africa had now passed away, and Krapf thought the time was come to visit Europe for rest and change, and to arouse a greater interest in African missions. During his stay in Europe he secured the promise of three missionaries and three artisans to strengthen the African mission. With the former he hoped to place two stations farther in the interior, and by the aid of the latter to carry out a plan long in contemplation-the establishment of a Christian colony. On his departure from Europe the outlook for the East African Mission was at its brightest. With him were two missionaries, Pfefferle and Dihlmann, and three mechanics. On reaching Aden, Dihlmann, who had scruples about connecting himself with the English Church, remained at Aden. Further, on arriving at Rabbai, Rebmann and Erhardt, who previously had fully agreed to his plans, were found to be opposed to farther extension, without first laying a firm base of operations on the coast. In theory they were perhaps right, but Krapf thought that a disinclination to encounter hard- ships had not a little to do with their opposition to his forward movement.
There grew up also an unbrotherly estrangement between Rebmann and Erhardt, on the one side, and the three mechanics, on the other, resulting in much trouble to Krapf, who had a difficult task in dealing with both parties. Again, the three artisans and Pfefferle were stricken with fever, of which the latter died after a few weeks' illness; thus trouble after trouble seemed to fall upon Krapf. Yet he wrote to Dr. Barth in June, 1851, the following noble, even prophetic words: "And now let me look backward and forward. In the past what do I see ~ Scarcely IU6re than the ren:.nant of a defeated army. You know I had the task of strengthen- ing the East African Mission with three missionaries and three handicrafts- men ; but where are the missionaries ~ One remained in London, as he did not consider himself appointed to East Africa; the second remained at Aden, in doubt about the English Church; the third, Pfefferle, died on May lOth of nervous fever, into which the country fever had developed.
As to the three mechanics, they are ill of fever, lying between life and death, and instead of being a help to me and to Brothers Rebmann and Erhardt, look to us for help and attention; and yet I stand by my asser- tion that Africa must be conquered by missionaries; ther9 must be a chain of mission stations between the east and west, though thousands of the combatants fall upon the left hand and ten thousand on the right.
From the sanctuary of God a voice says to me, , Fear not; life comel!
through death, resurrection through decay, the establishment of Christ's kingdom through the discomfiture of human undertakings Instead of allowing yourself to be discouraged at the defeat of your force, go to work yourself. Do not rely on human help, but on the living God, to whom it is all the same to save by little or much. Do what you can in the strength of God, and leave the result in His hands. Believe, love, fight, be not weary for His name's sake, and you will see the glory of God.'
" Now when I heard this voice I could accompany my departed brother to the grave in the conviction that in spite of this the Lord's work in Africa must and will advance. It does not matter if I fail entirely; the Lord is King, and will carry out His purpose in His own time."
Soon after his coadjutor's death Krapf made a journey to Ukambani, about one hundred miles from Rabbai, to establish a station; but the journey ended disastrously. While travelling in company with a friendly chief, a superior force attacked the chief's party, the chief himself was slain, his followers scattered, and the missionary abandoned by friend and foe. There was nothing left but to retrace his steps, and after much suffer- ing from hunger and thirst, he at last reached one of the villages of the vVakamba completely exhausted. Suspicious that the villagers had designs upon his life, he stole away at night to travel to Yata, but the difficulties of the way-in which he advanced only six miles in three nights-determined him to return to the Wakamba village and surrender at discretion. •, Kill me if you will," he said, "but you must take the consequences." On the other hand, if they allowed bim to leave in peace, he promised them a portion of the property he had left behind at Yata. To this they agreed, and after reaching Yata and fulfilling his promise, he returned to the coast with some Wanika, arriving at Rabbai after nine days' travelling, to the joy of his fellow. laborers, who had heard reports of his death, The following year he. paid another visit to U sambara ; but war having broken out, he was compelled to return without accomplishing anything toward the settlement of a mission.
And now his health making another visit to Europe necessary, he left in 1853 for his native land, in the following year setting out again for East Africa, taking Abyssinia on his way, to endeavor, by an interview with the king, to revive the mission in that country. On leaving Abyssinia, instead of returning to Egypt via the Red Sea, he chose the route by the Nile Valley; but the journey so told upon his weak health that, on arrival in Egypt, he had to embark for Europe-a return to East Africa was not to be thought of, Passing over his life in Europe, we now come to his last visit to his old field of labor. Wishing to open up a mission in East Africa, the Methodist Free Churches requested Krapf to accompany their missionaries-W oolner and Wakefield-to Africa, and to assist them in commencing a mission. He consented, and after seeing Wakefield settled at Ribe, the new station (illness had already driven Woolner back to Europe). he returned home, his health not allowing a prolonged stay. Of the new station he remarked: "The station Ribe will in due time celebrate the triumph of the mission in the conversion of the Wanika, though I may be in the grave. The Lord does not allow His Word to return to Him void, although often our own desponding hearts and the unbelieving opponents of missions will say, You are laboring in vain."
With these hopeful words his life as an African missionary came to an end; he only entered the Dark Continent once more, and that was as interpreter to the British expedition to Abyssinia in 1867, though even then ill-health compelled him to leave the army before the expedition had reached its destination.
From tbis time onward he passed a quietly active life in taking his Oriental manuscripts through the press, and in unostentatious efforts for the spiritual good of others. Africa was still dear to him ; he had the joy of hearing from time to time of the progress of missions in that continent, and especially that the work he began in East Africa had not proved unfruitful.
The closing scene came on November 26th, 1881. In the afternoon of that day Krapf said to a friend: "I am so penetrated by the feeling of the nearness of 'the Lord's coming that I cannot describe it. He is indeed near; oh ! we ought to redeem the time, and hold ourselves in
PRAYER AND MISSIONARY WORK
readiness, that we may be able to say with a good conscience, • Yea, come, Lord Jesus.' It will be glorious when our Saviour appears as a conqueror and His enemies have become His footstool. Then shall we both be permitted to see that our work for the Lord has not been in vain." He spent the evening until 9 o'clock in correcting proofs, and then, after family prayer, visited his sick wife, leaving her with the words, "Good-night, dear mamma; the dear Saviour be thy pillow, thy canopy, and thy nightwatch." Then with a loving "good-night" to his daughter, he retired to his room and, as was his custom, locked the door. Not appearing at his usual hour in the morning, his daughter called him, but receiving no answer, the fears of the household were aroused, and on making their way into the room they found he had " gone home" while kneeling at the bedside.
PRAYER AND MISSIONARY WORK.
BY W. D. mIDLAND, TAl-CHOW, CHINA.
The China Inland Mission was begun and is carried on by prayer. Ea~h member, on being received, is told that he is to look to the Lord to' supply his need, and not to the mission. Mr. Hudson Taylor said to me, when accepted for China, " The mission might become bankrupt, but the Lord never could; difficulties might occur which would hinder funds being sent inland, but the Lord would be inland."
These remarks came with double force to me. I had been lIome months in London, and my stock of savings was exhausted. I was to pay a farewell visit to my mother, some two hundred miles distant, but I had not a penny to buy. a stamp for a letter saying I was coming, and of course I had no money for my railway fare. I had only to mention my need, and friends would have supplied it at once; but we were to look to the Lord in China, and if I could not look to Him now, at home with friends around me, what would I do perhaps alone in a heathen land! I went alone and pleaded with God as perhaps never before. Two days passed; I expected money by letter, but none came. It was Saturday, and I was at the usual prayer-meeting. After the meeting Mr. Taylor asked me to carry his bag to the station, as he was to spend Sunday in the West End. I gladly did so ; and just as the train was starting he said to me that, perhaps, I might need money for travelling expenses, and put a sovereign in my hand. This 80 took me by surprise that I nearly dropped it. How I inwardly praised the Lord for a direct answer to prayer just when I was not expecting it ! My letter was already written and shortly was in the post. The battle was fought, the victory won, and my faith strengthened for service in China.
The next day I was introduced to a gentleman, who on shaking hands lI.nd wishing me Godspeed left a half sovereign in it. Two days later another gave me two pounds, and so, time after time, the Lord supplied all my need until we left for China. Only the Lord knew my need, and it was years before I told anyone of it but my godly mother.
I remember, too, Mr. Taylor telling us that we must join him in prayer for the fundd needed for outfit and passages, if we were to leave in May, as proposed. We had daily united prayer for this object, and the results are told by Mr. Taylor himself in the" Occasional Paper," No.2. "On this day [March 12th] I again examined my mission cash book, and the comparison of the results of the two similar periods of one month and six days eachone before and one after special prayer for £1500 to £2000-was very striking: Receipts from December 30th to February 6th, £170 8s. 3d.
" "February 6th to March 12th, 1774 58. lld. Funds advised since received 200 0 0 Total receipts since February 6th, £1974 58. lld.
This was previous to the circulation of the' Occasional Paper,' and conse- quently could not be the result of it. It was the response of a faithful God to the united prayers of those whom He had called to serve Him in the Gospel of His dear Son. We can now compare with these two periods a third of the same extent. From March 12th to April 18th the receipts were £529, showing that when God had supplied the special need, the special supply had also ceased. Truly there is a LIVING GOD, and He is the hearer and answerer of prayer."
Such direct answers to prayer and supply of all need furnished great encouragement to young workers just beginning their life work to go forward, believing that He who had thus shown His faithfulness would supply all further need when in a heathen land. He had already shown us that we had only to ask and receive.
Twenty-six years have passed, and the Lord has continued to provide in many ways, showing that He is not limited to anyone line of action.
In one case our need was supplied by a heathen prefect. In China all foreigners are supposed to know something about medicine, especially missionaries j so I was sent for to visit the private secretary of the prefect of the city, who was very ill, aud whom the native doctors could not cure. This was rather a trying ordeal, as I was quite ignorant of medicine j but this they would not believe, so that I could hardly refuse to go. After prayer for guidance, I went, taking a native helper with me. We found the patient suffering from fever and ague, while his knee joints were both set fast. After leaving him, I sent a quinine mixture such as I had taken myself for ague and some camphorated oil to rub on his knee joints. Two days after I went again to see him, and found he could move one leg and that the fever was less. He soon got well, and came to thank me mr for kindness. Nearly two months after this, when our funds were so exhausted that we had only 3 cash in the house (less than a farthing), we had a little rice, and were making that go as far as we could. Just after a very frugal dinner there came a sharp rap at the door, two men came in with half a goat, a piece of beef, a large fish, and some sweetmeats. According to the usual custom, I was going to take a part and return the rest, but the men said that they were under strict orders not to take anything back; that the prefect was sorry he could not get a better present to send j but there was still a difficulty. It is the custom to give something to those who bring a present j but the Lord knew we had nothing to give, and had provided for that, too, for they themselves were told not to accept any- thing on any account. This is the first and last time I have had such a present, or 8Qnt without the bearer expecting to be well paid. It being cold weather, the food kept and lasted us till supplies came to hand.
Again our need was supplied for enlarging the house. The native house we were living in-the only one to be had at the time -was very small, and the matting ceiling so low that one could touch it with the hand. This with the thermometer from 96 0 to 1000 in the house in the summer was not conducive to health or calculated to fit one for work. Knowing that mission fnnds were low, we set apart a day for fasting and prayer, that the Lord would enable us to add one or two larger and more airy rooms before another summer. Other difficulties besides lack of money were to be overcome. The house was a rented one, and to add to it without some new agreement was to have our rent raised, nor could we remove the addition if leaving for a more suitable house. We also needed a small piece of ground joining the house, which belonged to anothAr man. We made a note of the date of our prayer, and waited for the Lord to work. Shortly after the landlord came to terms, the needed agreement was drawn up, and the piece of ground was bought. These difficulties being removed, we had not long to wait for funds, as a check came from a friend in England, outside the mission, who knew nothing about our need, which nearly covered the expense of the addition. After thanking God for it I looked at my note-book, and found that the check was drawn on the day we had spent in fasting and prayer-a fnlfilment of the promise, "Before. they call I will answer, and while they are yet speaking I will hear." A prisoner was released in answer to prayer. Our native Christians often go to God in their simple, childlike faith, and ask for things which at times to us seem strange. Some eighteen years ago an aged woman came to one of our chapels in a newly opened station, and asked if this was a Roman Catholic place of worship, but was told that our worship was very different from that. The Gospel was put plainly before her, and sounded very strange to her. She was a devout Buddhist, had visited all the noted shrines and temples year by year, in order to obtain merit. She had already gone to the Roman Catholics, and thought that their religion was a little better than. her own j but now shew as told that her merit was useless j that she niU8t come to Jesus as a poor, helpless, lost sinner j that she could have eternal life as a free gift by putting her trust in the Lord J e~ms Christ. She left, promising to come again erelong.
She came again, but this time bowed down with sorrow. Her husband was constable of the village, and consequently responsible for the conduct of the people. A murder had been committed in the village, and news of it had reached the ears of the magistrate. The murderer had escaped, the magistrate was very angry, and said he would punish the constable instead of the murderer, as is often done in some parts of China j but he was an old man, so the magistrate took his son instead, and everybody said that unless the murderer could be found he would lose his head. So she had come with her heart almost breaking to know if Ah-kying, the native helper, could assist her. lIe told her that to go and plead with the magistrate for her son would be useless j but he could pray to God for her j that God would hear and answer prayer, and help her if they prayed to Him. The mother said she would gladly pray to God if she knew how. So they knelt down together. Ah-kying told the Lord all her trouble, asked God to deliver her son, and also that both mother and son might be saved from eternal death.
She returned to her home, told her husband and neighbors how this Christian had prayed to God, and how confident he was of his prayer being speedily answered. Day after day passed, and still no news of the poor prisoner j but one afternoon, just as hope was beginning to die away, she saw coming toward the house her son, alive, set f~ee from prison. He could not understand it himself, for he had not the least _ expectation of being released. That morning the magistrate had sent for him, had him beaten, then set him at liberty. Great was the joy at his return.
The mother told him about Ah-kying's prayer, and for weeks they walked about eight miles to the chapel to worship the God who had answered prayer, and saved the son from death.
Some weeks after, she, her son, and a neighbor came to see me, and told me the whole .tory. They begged me to send some one to their village with them, as many of their neighbors wished to hear more of this prayerhearing God j but I had no one to send, and when I went that way again no trace of them could be found. I heard afterward that they left the place, and did not wish their whereabouts to be known, lest, after all, they should get into trouble.
We have now an outstation within a mile of this village, and a family of native Christians in the village itself. Had we been able to follow up that case at once a whole Christian village might have been the result.
OUR INDEBTEDNESS TO CHRIST FOR TEMPORAL BLESSINUS
OUR INDEBTEDNESS TO CHRIST FOR TEMPORAL BLESS. INGS.-Ill.
BY REV. T. LAURIE, PROVIDENCE, R. I.
We are SO accustomed to the large measure of our freedom that we seldom thiuk how few nations are so favored. Among them all England approaches tbe nearest to onr liberty, but even there the battles for the rights of the people are not all fought yet. It was at a great cost that our fathers purchased our privileges, not only on the battle-fields of the Revolution, but during that first winter at Plymouth; yea, in the dungeons and even on the scaffolds of England under Queen Elizabeth and her successors.
There is hardly a greater contrast to our institutions than that afforded by the theocratic, absolute monarchy of Turkey. Time and again Ratti sherifs (honored edicts) have been issued promising the speedy enactment of laws to secure life and property with a regular mode of collecting taxes, and time and again have things gone on precisely as before. In Turkey the only limit to oppression is the impossibility of carrying extortion further; and however far it is carried, few of the sufferers think of an infringement of their rights; they are only conscious of greater misery, and passively submit to the inevitable.
It may be said that it is not wise to expose oppression so long as our missionaries are in the empire; but the story of Turkish oppression has already gone forth ou the wings of the wind. It is too late to cover it up. Every traveller adds to the list of facts already published; and standard bo~ks of reference embody the results. From a broad induction of facts the Encyclopr:edia Britannica concludes (xxiii., 654, 9th ed.) : "All its officials unite in their own persons the judicial and executive functions, and are, as a rule, thoroughly corrupt, venal in the dispensation of justice, oppressors of the subject, and emblezzlers of the public re'enues, and wholly absorbed in amassing wealth during their generaIly brief and precarious term of office." A note on the same page gives a specimen of the facts as follows: " Mr. G. P. Devey, Consul at Erzrum, reports that in one place in that province the sheep-tax for 1885 was collected three times over. At first the number was underestimated, only 9000 piastres being paid. So the collector came again, and instead of the difference between that and the correct amount, made the villagers pay the entire 14,000 piastres. Then he came a third time, and because he knew they had no receipt-for he had given them none-he collected the 14,000 piastres again." Row many governments are there whose officials would have dared to do that !
Such extracts might be multiplied, but we hasten to add that the Turkish Government has no truer fflends than our missionaries, or any who do more to promote its prosperity. Though they suffer in the suffering of tbeir people, they suffer in silence. Or if they speak, they exhort to submit to the higher powers, "for there is no power but of God" (Rom. 13 : 1), and while they weep with them that weep, they bid them "humble themselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt them in due time" (1 Pet. 5 : 6), " being in subjection with all fear not only to the good and gentle, but also to the froward" (1 Pet. 2 : 18).
They also inculcate that patient industry and thrift, also that truthful. ness in daily life which Turkey needs so much to make her truly prosperous. Turkish officials know that however the prison and the bastinado are prominent factors in the collection of the taxes of other communities, they are never needed to collect those of evangelical Christians. The only fear is lest the enormity of their oppressions prove too strong for the teaching of the missionaries, for we have it on good authority that "extortion maketh a wise man foolish" (Eccles. 7: 7), or, as the old version reads~ " oppression maketha wise man mad."
In 1882 the debt of the Turkish Empire was more than $532,000,000. The annual expense of the seraglio is from one to two millions more. The original cost of the steamers and ironclad vessels in the navy with the annual outlay for their maintenance is immense. The army is a still heavier burden, and is distributed over the whole empire. Though the pay of a private is only 90 cents a month, yet some provinces cannot do much more than support their own soldiery. The government then must have money. Whence does it come? Commerce is mostly in the hands of foreigners. Manufactures hardly exist, and what there are cannot compete with imports from abroad, which are much cheaper. Agriculture is carried on in most primitive methods, and the peasant is so ground down by taxation that every year he has Jess money to pay with than he had the year before. Tax-gathering seems to be the one business of the government. If it sought to develop the natural resources of the country, a much larger revenue might be collected with less trouble both to the people and the tax-gatherer, but so far from doing this it pounces on everyone who seeks to better his estate, and demands more additional taxes sometimes than the improvement produces. So while, on the one hand, it represses all enterprise, on the other, it extorts to the very uttermost all that it can lay hands on.
The Pashaliks of the empire are generally sold to the mghesG bidder, and the buyer must hasten to get back his investment before anothAr offers a larger sum and takes his place. Then, if while hurrying ~~ reimburse himself, he does not keep up large remittances to the capital, he is liable at any moment to lose his place. Money thus flows constantly from the circumference to the centre, leaving provinces continually more impoverished to supply the stream. In such a state of things who expects a pasha to seek the good of his people? I knew one who tried to lighten their burdens, and sought nothing for himself; but as his remittances were small, he was set aside for another who would be a better sponge.
It is a necessary part of this process, that so long as the purses move toward Constantinople there shall be no questions asked as to the manner in which they were filled. Every petty official may add to the sum he is expected to collect-whatever in his modesty he thinks will remunerate him for his trouble-so that by the time the demand reaches the tax-payer it has grown to several times its original amount. I was sitting one day in the salaam luk of the commander of a garrison in Kurdistan, shortly after the massacre of the mountain Nestorians, when one of them brought in the tribute of his small hamlet to pay to the Turk. He began to I:ndo the numerous fastenings of a bag that had heen patched so often. it was impossible to tell its original material. Snatching it from him, the Tnrk ripped it open with his dagger, tore out a gold coin that had been wrapped in many coverings and sewed into one corner of the bag, hastily tossed the remaining coins over, and pronounced the 300 Tcherkies only 277, and thus addressed the astonished tribute· bearer: "Either bring the lacking 23 in two days, adding another 50 to pay me for my trouble, or flee, if your people have a place to flee to, for I will come and take what I want at the mouth of my cannon." What could the man do ~ I presume there was hardly a coin left in the village, and many of those he brought had been pierced, as if the women had given up the ornaments of their head-dresses to pay the taxes-ornaments which they never part with save under the direst necessity.
This oppression is not visited on Christians only; Mohammedans also suffer. On our way to Tiyary, in 1843, Dr. Grant and the writer passed several villages in succession empty and desolate. The climate was delightful, the soil fertile, and water abundant, but the houses Were roofless and the fields generally untilled. One of them was Bastawa, the home of the chief of Mezury, whose wife was there with a few attendants securing the rice crop. Totally different from her coarse companions, her appearance at once awakened our interest. The tassels of a fine silk shawl depended gracefully from the lower border of her head-dress. A green silk saltah (jacket), lined with fur, but. evidently well worn, covered a dress of coarse blue cotton, suggestive at once of former wealth and present poverty. Her face, still beautiful, showed a spirit roused rather than crushed by misfortune. Dr. Grant asked if she could furnish us lodgings for the night. At the question the smouldering fire kindled up. Rising to her full height, while one hand threw back her braided hair, she pointed with the other to the roofless houses and the ruined castle. " Look around; you have stripped us of everything and driven us forth to beg, and now do you ask our hospitality 1 Go to those with whom you have still left something, and God be judge between us." She said more, but this was the substance of her address in Kurdish, as translated by our servant. She did not rave. Gesture, look, and tone were faultless. She seemed to scorn to yield to the violence of passion. There was a dignity of sorrow about her that moved us even more than her words, and made thelll understood eveII Pllfore they were translated. We stood ashamed of our Turkish dress, that led her so to mistake US, and though as !loon as she learned who we were she offered to share with us the food she had brought from her pre~ent home, we had to move on, a<I there was absolutely nothing for our horses, thinkiag as we went much more of her than of our own discomforts.
A Kurdish chief, whom Dr. Grant had visited at his home in Akra on his first entrance into Tiyary, claimed descent from the Abasside caliphs of Baghdad, and was lord of many villages along the valleys and on the hill-tops, but he could not satiate the cravings of the Pasha of Mosul, who, without even a trial, imprisoned him three months, and set another over his estates. He then was ordered to remove his family to Mosul. Long after he had done this he told his old friend, the doctor, "I have been here three years, my means are nearly exhausted, and what I am to do I cannot tell." From sources like these we learned how the Turkish taxgatherer, claiming that a field will yield ten times what it does, demands most of the actual product for the pasha, and enforces the demand without mercy. How, then, are the peasants induced to sow their fields 1 The publican of last year is imprisoned till he disgorges what he had retained for himself, and his successor swears by the prophet to deal justly, only to do the same things over again, till the people either rebel or fiee. It is a righteous retribution that sometimes when a pasha is known to have grown rich, he, too, is thrown into prison till he gives up his ill-gotten gains; but that gives no relief to the taxpayer, .for. his successor follows on in the same steps j but take it all in all, it is a fearful round of sorrow and suffering. When Sherif Pasha sent to collect the taxes of SQIlle villages in the plain of Mesopotamia the poor people, who had hoped that a change of rulers would bring relief, implored some alleviation of their burdens, but in vain ; then placing their household goods on the backs of their cattle they set fire to their fields white for the harvest, saying that that was easier than to reap and thresh it for the Turk, and fled to Kurdistan. The only remark at Mosul was that in the days of Mohammed Pasha they could only have fled singly and at night.
But how do pashas dare to go to such extremes? At that time, whatever may be true to-day, they were a law unto themselves. A firman (royal edict) was sent to the Mohammed Pasha just referred to, reserving to the Sultan the right of inflicting capital punishment. He assembled his subordinates to hear it read, and then remarking that if anyone thought Mosul could be governed without cutting off heads, he knew nothing about the matter, made a sign to an attendant, who threw down before the assembly the heads of those then in the prison, and so allowed them to retire, glad to find their own heads still on their shoulders. Before he came several of his predecessors had Leen assassinated soon after their arrival, and the city was a camp of warring factions j but he not only defied his assailants, he also kil!ed them one after another by his secret agents and confiscated their estates, for his rapacity was fully equal to his energy. The Pasha of Diarbekir had long struggled with a rebellion in Mardin, but he quelled it at once. The Kurds who, instead of robbing others, as had been their custom, were themselves being stripped of their plunder rebelled, and their leaders were soon seated each on a sharp stake just outside the gate by which their friends entered the city, while their shrieks, curses, and groans were heard day and night till death ended the torture. The plundering Arabs were put down no less effectually, likewise the Yezidees, who had been robbers for ages, but the poor people soon found the pasha's tax-gatherers worse than all the robbers.
The city suffered no less than the country. To make his powder he wrought a sulphur mine, and though no one wanted it, the SUI plus sulphur had to be bought by the citizens at an extra price. The same was true of taxes that had been paid in kind; whether men needed the article or not, they had to buy and pay more than current rates.
Then he sold the monopoly of such things as everybody wanted. A Moslem patient told Dr. Grant that he paid more for the right to sell coffee than the cash he received. "How, then, can you live 7" "Last year I made money in building rafts. The pasha heard of it, and this is what follows. "
If the reader counts these as exaggerations, let him study the figures which follow. In 1835 the imports of European cloths amounted to 966 bales. In 1841 they had dwindled to 95 bales. Why 1 The explanation may appear in the fact that the pasha collected in 1841, 3,195,500 piastres -i.e., so much was published as collected. I might add that that sum is equal to $138,935, but it gives a more truthful idea of the case to add that the wages of a groom arc 30 piastres a month ($1.20), and of upper servants, 100 piastres ($4). A Nestorian from the mountains once told me with great gusto that besides his food he got one tenth of a Tcherkie a day (2 cents !), and yet where wages were at that rate the taxes were $138,935. In summer, when the drought leaves the plain of Assyria bare and verdureless, it is refreshing to look across to the dark green of the olive groves of Baashaika. Streams of water are led in turn to every tree, so that the foliage is fresh all summer long, but its owners may not pluck one olive from the loaded hranches, and the villagers must cultivate the whole for the pasha.
Looking day after day on such a state of things, is it strange that I longed for the day when Christians at home should appreciate the debt they owe to Christ for temporal as well as spiritual blessings 1 Ever since my return I have been hoping that a suffering people had reached the lowest point of mlsery, and that their next step would be upward out of the depths, but year after year I have looked and longed in vain. Instead of that, the wanton cruelties and terrible extortions of Moussa Bey have called forth thc remonstrances of united Europe, till the Sultan, who had sided with the robber a!.ld murderer, was compelled, from
FORERUNNERS OF CABEY. 8S9
a regard for his own interest, to banish the offender. Even the dark deeds of Moussa Bey do not seem to be the extreme of trouble.
In the Independent for January 29th, 1891, a missionary says: "I regret to be obliged to report that the condition of the people is daily becoming more pitiable, and our hearts constantly bleed at the tales of rapine and plunder that reach us from every side." As I read that I am grateful that the Holy Spirit furnishes the following language of dl'votion: "My spirit made diligent search. Will the Lord cast off forever 1 and will He be favorable no more 1 Is His mercy clean gone forever 1 Hath God forgotten to be gracious 1" (Psalm 77 : 6-9.) Another missionary adds: "The ministerial office in the increasing stress of poverty reqUIres no ordinary self~denial. Salaries are inadequate and irregularly paid. Not only does the number able to contribute diminish, but there is a corresponding increase of those dependent on the charities of the churches. After the wany taxes are all paid, I always wonder where the money is to come from for even this meagre support of churches and schools, in addition to the support of their own families. ,.
I have heard another more familiar with the capital say that there workingmen cannot buy more than one suit of clothes for the year, and that the material of that grows coarser year by year. In food also they have to restrict themselves to one or two articles, and even of these they have to buy what is less nutritious.
So one land at least has not outgrown the comfort provided in the seventy-second Psalm, which says of the Christ that" He shall judge" (i.e., in behalf of) " the poor of the people. He shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor, for He shall deliver the needy when he crieth, and the poor that hath no helper. He shall redeem their soul from oppression and violence, and precious shall their blood be in His sight."
FORERUNNERS OF CAREY.
BY REV. A. J. GORDON, D.D.
As there were reformers before the Reformation-men who sounded out all the essential notes of the coming revival-so there were Careys before Carey-men who foreshadowed all the main principles of the coming age of missions.
What if the Church had not listened to Carey 1 We have often asked ourselves the question. What if the sarcasm of Sidney Smith against the " consecrated cobbler" had suppressed him and put out the candle of his enthusiasm 1 What if Dr. Ryland's peremptory, " Sit down, young man I" had silenced him so that he had ceased to plead with the Church to " expect great things from God and attempt great things for God"? We need not now conjecture " what if r' but rather rejoice that, bavini won a hearing, first by a few, and then by an ever-widening circle of British Christians, it has come to pass that the English-speaking races are now honored to be the missionary army of the world.
William Carey was the pioneer of modern missions indeed; but let us – honor for a moment some of the forerunners of this eminent pioneer.
A writer of high authority on the subject heads a chapter of his book thus: " William Carey, the first Englishman who was a foreign mis- sionary." But our thoughts instantly run from Paulerspury, in Northamp- tonshire, where the great man was born, to another English hamlet, Nasing, in Essex, where, more than a hundred and fifty years before the birth of Carey, John Eliot first saw the light. In missions, as in other enterprises, there is rarely an effect without a cause or a stream without a fountain. .As Pietism has repeatedly proved itself to be the mother of missions, so, in this instance, did Puritanism give birth to a new evangelistic revival. "Godly parents, by whom my first years were seasoned with the fear of God, the Word, and prayer," is Eliot's simple allusion to his Puritan father and mother. .And the eminent Rev. Thomas Hooker says: " When I came to this blessed family I saw, as never before, the power of gOdli- ness in its lively vigor and efficiency." Out of such a home came the first Protestant Englishman who went forth to the heathen as a herald of the cross; and thus a century and a half before Carey became a missionary to the Indians of .Asia did John Eliot become a missionary to the Indians of .America.
From Old England Eliot came to New England in 1631 ; he was settled as pastor in Roxbury, and almost immediately began to be moved with concern for the benighted red men of the neighboring country. With prodigious toil he leamed their language and reduced it to a grammar, closing this difficult work with an inscription which has already passed into a proverb: "Prayer and pains, through faith in Jesus Christ, will do anything. "
As Eliot was the first Englishman to go as a foreign missionary, so he was probably the first to translate the entire Bible into a heathen language. Considering the exceeding difficulty of mastering the Indian tongue and the lack of helps for accomplishing the task, the work is to be regarded as perhaps the greatest achievement, as it was the beginning of efforts in biblical translation. Edward Everett has said, without exaggeration: " The history of the Christian Church does not contain an example of resolute, untiring, and successful labor superior. "
As for Hliot's missionary labors, they were most devoted and unwearying. -By toil an-' hardship, by nunger and peril, by exposure and privation, he proved himself indeed an " apostle." as he is invariably called. He writes concerning his evangelizing tours: "I have not been dry day nor night, although I pull off my boots, wring my stockings, on with them again, and so continue." .And so he did continue until savage chiefs were transformed into childlike disciples, who, gathering their warriurA about their camp-fires at night, rehearsed to them the wondrous story that the white teacher had brought to them; communities of " praying Indians" were established, and Indian preachers were raised up to become missionaries in turn to their neighbors.
It will be interesting for us to take a brief glance at the remarkable life as it has been sketched for us by Cotton Mather. Why did he pour out such prodigious pains and toil npon these miserable Indians? Because he believed them lost, and without Christ destined to eternal perdition. Instead of speculating on their possible chance of salvation while ignorant of the Saviour, he set himself resolutely to make known to them this Saviour. •, It powerfully moved his holy bowels," says Mather, "to hear the thunder-claps of imprecation on the heads of. our naked Indians. 'Pour out Thy fury upon the heathen that know Thee not,' and he thought, ' What shall I do to rescue these heathen from that all-devouring fury 1 ' "
In his daily toil he so sanctified the meanest work, and so " made drudgery divine," that he constantly said, " Were I to go to heaven tomorrow I sh01.tld do what I do to-day. " Working for God and walking with God were wonderfully conjoined in his life; prayer and pains were never unyoked from each other. If the burdens were heavy, and discouragements pressed, then so much the more time did he devote to prayer, "being of the mind," says Mather, " that when he had any great thing to accomplish, the best policy was to work by an Engine which the world saw nothing of." And what a tribute this writer pays to his heavenly mindcdness! Who would not crave such an encomium: " We cannot say that we ever saw him walking any whither, but he was therein walking with God"? His closing days and peaceful end remind one of the departure of venerable Bede or of Colomba of Iona-he was so transfigured by his own work, so glorified by that in whieh he had striven with utmost strength to glorify his Master. Did ever a consecrated career have a more lovely close ~ His body was now bent with the weight of years, his hairs were white as driven snow, yet his zeal was unabated. To his friend and patron, Robert Boyle, he writes: " My understanding leaves me, my strength fails me, but thank God, my charity holds out."
Like most of his Puritan co-religionists in ~arly New England, Eliot was an ardent milIcnnarian, and the hope of the Saviour's glorious appearing seemed wonderfully to cheer and stimulate him in Ilis work; and Dot, as it is often slanderously reported concerning this expectation, to cut the neIVe of missionary zeal.
Cotton Mather says on this point: " While he was thus making his retreat out of this world, his discourses ran from time to time on the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ; it was the theme unto which he still had recourse, and whatever other subject he was upon, we were sure to hear something of this. On this he talked; of this he prayed; for this he longed. . When any bad news arrived, his usual reflection thereon would be: Behold some of the clouds in which we must look for the coming of the Son of Man.' "
Thus he prayed and studied and wrought, declining, though' much urged to do so, to take his hands from the plough, or to look back with self-congratulation on the furrows already turned.
" His last breath," says Mather, " smelled strong of heaven, and was articled unto none but very gracious notes, one of the last whereof was , welcome Joy! ,,, Thus he passed away May 20th, 1690, aged 86.
Eliot preached to a decaying race, and translated the Scriptures into a dying language. His Indian Bible remains as an archreological curiositythere is none to read it now; and his communities of praying Indians have long since disappeared. Therefore we hear the constant lament among the historians of his mission that no permanent result of his work remains. But let us think a moment. Who were the co-laborers and successors of Eliot in this mission to the American Indians ~ There was the noble family of Mayhews-father, son, and grandsons. Governor Thomas Mayhew" devoted his own profits and his son's and grandsons' lives to the conversion of the red Indians." Experience Mayhew, the great-grandson of the governor, was hardly behind Eliot in the devotion and success of his work. Dr. Cotton Mather, in his" Magnalia, " says of him: "A hopeful and worthy young man, Mr. Experience Mayhew, must now have the justice done of him, of this character, that in the evangelical service among the Indians there is no man that exceeds this Mr. Mayhew, if there be any that equals him." Of the fruits of his labor, Mather mentions "more than thirty hundred Christian Indians" and " thirty Indian assemblies."
In this family there was a succession of missionaries to the Indians, extending over a century and a half, the last of the house dying in 1806, at the age of 81. A noble line, who at the appearing and kingdom of our Lord will present such a company of redeemed heathen as to prove that their labor was not in vain in the Lord.
In the same fellowship of New England missionaries to the Indians stands David Brainerd, whom we count one of the very greatest that any age has produced. Wonderful man 1 Who has read his journal without tears and humiliation of heart ~ Those prayers in the depth of the forest so intense that his garments were saturated with the sweat of his intercession ; that insatiable hunger for the souls of these poor savages; those scenes of Gospel triumph where the Indians fell before his preaching like grass before the mower's scythe! What wonder that Murray McCheyne, as he read this life, should have made this entry in his journal: "Most wonderful man: What conflicts, what depressions, desertions, struggles, advancements, victories within thy torn bosom! I cannot express what I think when I think of thee. To-night more set on missionary enterprise than ever." And last and greatest of all in seraphic piety and intellectual power stands..Tonathan Edwards, who joined to his attainments as theolo-
18'2.J FItOM CANNmALISM '1'0
gian, philosopher, lind preacher, the distinction which he counted not the least of laboring as a missionary among the Stockbridge Indians.
Now consider how great were these men as the forerunners and prophets of the coming missionary era! Brainerd was the true successor of Eliot j and Brainerd's" Memoirs," edited and sent forth by Edwards, powerfully influenced William Carey and Henry Martyn to give themselves to missionary service. Not only in the beginning, but continuously was Carey influenced by this wonderful life. In the spiritual covenant into which the Serampore missionaries entered, setting forth the things upon which they thought it right to "fix their serious and abiding attention," this clause occurs: " Let us often look at Brainerd in the woods of America, pouring out his very soul before God for the perishing heathen, without whose salvation nothing could make him happy." Thus did Carey seek to draw perpetual inspiration from this devoted life. Edwards was principally instrumental, as the world knows, in instituting concerted prayer for the outpouring of the Spirit in all lands. His writings and appeals on the subject fell into the hands of Carey, and so a second .fdctor in the making of Carey came from the Indian missionaries of New England.
Thus it is unquestionably true that one of the deepest and most abiding springs of nineteenth century missions is to be found in the Indian missions of America of the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries.
FROM CANNIBALISM TO CHRIST.
Twelve years ago, the Rev. Oscar Michelson landed on the island of Tonga, in the New Hebrides, alone among cannibals. He was broken up with fever. At first he had many perilous adventures, and again and again fled into hiding to save his life. Once a savage, now one of his best teachers, levelled a rifle to kill him, but was stopped by a look. He persevered amid many threatenings and dangers. His house became known as " the Sunday House," and Christian hymns were often heard mingling with heathen !Songs. From heart to heart, home to home, village to village, the Gospel won its way, until now thirty Christian teachers are laboring in as many different villages. Mr. Michelson's field now includes, he writes, four whole islands. The people speak three languages. During the week of prayer he held meetings simultaneously in all the villages. At one meeting 300 rose for prayer. Ten years ago they proposed to eat him. Now he lives in perfect safety. The rifles are rarely used for the purpose for which they were made, but Mr. Michelson often sees them used in pairs over the fire to hold the saucepan. If a coin or some such object is lost on the road, the owner is almost sure to find it stuck up on a post, the next time he passes that way. Peace, love, honesty, prevail in the stead of savagery. Similar transformations were reported by Mr. Richards, of our Congo Mission, and by many another missionary. The Gospel is still the power of God unto salvation.
'844 EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.
BY REY. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
EAST INDIES.
– " The Christian Patriot (Madras), in a highly eulogistic article on Dr. Pentecost's work, says: 'The most enthusiastic interest continues to be evinced by the public of Madras, Christian and non-Christian, in Dr. Pentecost's tlervices. The very first question asked wheu one meets another is, "Have you heard Dr. Pentecost?" Never before has Madras been stirred to such a longing to hear the Gospel of Christ as during the past few weeks. The popularity of this servant of God who has come in our midst at considerable personal sacrifice is evinced by the crowds that flock to hear him evening after evening at the Esplanade. The audience is by no means confined to the religious set alone. It is thoroughly representative of all classes, and during the past few days in particular the meetings have been attended largely by those who do not care ordinarily to have anything to do with religion. "I must go and hear Dr" Pentecost," said a European gentleman who had never set foot in a church for the past five.or six years; "I hear he has something to say worth listening to." What is most encouraging to us is the appreciative audiences of educated Hindus that Dr. Pentecost has at his daily services. To those who know how difficult it is to attract Hindus to purely religious meetings, this is indeed a marvel. "'What is it that you were struck with in Dr. Pentecost's address f' we asked a most cultured Hindu gentleman the other day, and he replied: "It is hIS earnestness more than his eloquence. " There is something convincing in his utterances. As we said last week, he does not appeal to the emotions III the least. He is no doubt eloquent, but there is nothing studIed about his eloquence. 1t is spontaneous, and is the outcome of his earnestness and zeal in the Master's cause.' " – The Reaper.
-" The Hindus are a people wholly given to idolatry, which, with its endless round of rites and ceremonies, possesses a fascination over the human mind which those accustomed to Christian ideas cannot understand. • •. In the case of women, religion is interwoven with eyery minute particular of daily life. In a word, religion is her own peculiar sphere. After the household work is done she has plenty of time hanging heavy on her hands, which she spends in sleeping, gossiping, or in the performance of some one or other of her endless religious ceremonies. A Hindu lady has no visiting or shopping to do as understood by the Europeans; she has no fancy or plain sewing on hand; and anything like reading is out of the question. Almost every second or third day there is some fast, feast, or ceremony to observe; and on such days she must have some light dish or cake, for each feast has its own peculiar dish. She thus finds something to do to kill time, and has become subject to the' ordinances of touGhing, tasting, handling.' She also gives alms to the Brahmans and the poor in a manner somewhat ostentatious; she must have her adviser by her side to tell her which is the propitious hour of the day to buy, sell, etc. Being thus incrusted in her shell of fancied good works, she does not feel the need of a Saviour's cleansing blood. She is clean and made pure by her rites and deeds of charity; and a sense of sin being absent, the message of a Saviour has no meaning for her. . " Among the Hindus, whatever may be the case with most of the men, there is no denying the fact that most of the women are in dead earnest in their superstition ; and we must take advantage of their strong religious instincts and give them a right direction and turn them into a Dew channel, by giving them an education leavened with the Christian leaven. This will create in them a habit of reflection, help them to think rationally on religion, and to read the Bible with profit to their souls under wise and sympathetic guidance. " -The Helpmeet.
-" Stand with me for a moment in a Hindu village. We are in the centre, and have come to the Hindu temple. The priest comes out and says, 'Stay here, sir; don't go further. I will provide mats and seats for you.' We sit down, and there gather near us 150 or 200 Brahmans and educated natives. In the distance we see women in the verandas. Then a Bengali stands up. I shall never forget that scene. Behind is the Hindu temple. Above is a clear, tropical moon; and as the Bengali teacher tells in flowing, fervent Bengali the life of Christ, and as he comes to the part ",here they were driving nails into His hands, and Christ cried out, ' Father, forgive them; they know not what they do ! ' you can feel the thrill going through the audience. And as the preacher goes on to tell of the death and resurrection, you can see the tears running down the faces of the people. When this man closed, another Bengali started a soft, wild Bengali air, telling how man had wandered away from God, and God had sent His Son to bring him back. When he stopped there was dead silence. You see before you the picture of Bengali Christians convincing by their eloquence and zeal their fellow-countrymen. In another village some of our Bengalis ",ere alone, and by their preaching they converted a rich young man. He, won by them, came forth and confessed Christ in baptism, even though it meant to him giving up a fortune of £20,000 and never looking on his mother's face again. In another village, where one of our old students lived, he, by his learning, was able to convince an English-speaking schoolmaster of the divinity of Christ. By hiR love and zeal he won him so that he and hi;; wife and four children were baptized. You can be proud of your native workers. You may thank God for them, for I believe that, as a whole, they are a band of truly converted men. They are men who know Him in whom they beliel'e. They are men of wonderful eloquence; and I make bold to say that 90 per cent of the baptisms are won first by the natives themselves. They'are the feelers, the outposts of the army of European missionaries behind, by which they are guided and controlled, but they are the real workers among their own people."- Rev. W. II. BALL, in Church Missionary Intelligencer.
– " Come with me to Madras, where there is a great university. You will see four or five great colleges, where they are teaching thousands of students for the university examinations. And the best of all these institutions is a missionary college-the Christian College. Come with me to the Mofussil towns, to the provinces, to Masulipatam, Madura, and Tinnevelly, for example, and what do you see ¥ Large colleges and hi/rh schools, some of them conducted by natives, some of them by missionary agencies. You can go lower down still to the large villages, and you will see middle schools, and still lower and you will see sIIlall primary schools started. What is the meaning of all this intellectual activity? It is this: There is a perfect craze among the upper classes in India to have an English education. The first thing you have to seek, from a missionary point of view, is to use this craving for the spread of Christ's kingdom. You know India is I'ltratified by caste. At the bottom of the social scale you have the outcastes, then the Jaw castes, gradually rising to the high castes, and these are the leaders among the 270,000,000 of people among whom the Queen rules in India. They are not the feet, they are the head-the leaders in Indiathe men who are now crymg out aloud from the national Congress for representative government for themselves, and for many things for which they are not fit just yet, and thcrefore cannot have at present. But these men are, after all, the brain of India, and they come from the highest castes and are being educated in these schools and colleges of which I have told you. You remember that the Lord Jesus, when He was upon earth, made use of a great want that He round among the people. They wanted healIng, and thousands and thousands of them came to Him just for nothing else than to get their bodies healed. Do you think the Lord Jesus does not value the mind as much as He values the body ~ Do you think that these Brahmans-these leaders of the people, who become the judges, and the rulers, and the magistrates, and the barristers-do you think these men, who are saying, 'Give us English education; give it us with Jesus Christ if you like, but we must have it in any case! '-do you thmk Jesus Himself would not have pitied them 1 I believe He would have come to us educational missionaries and said, 'Go on, my brethren, go on lU this great work and win the brain of India for God. ' Yes, India is ripe for this work of Christian university education. "-Rev. C. W. A. CLARKE, in Church Missionary lntelligencer.
– " What wonder that we hear out of the mouth of missionaries in India the severest judgments respecting caste! 'It is our greatest enemy.' , This it is, which hinders the Christianization of India.' 'The might of caste is as unintelligible as unbounded, and its fruits are almost pure evil,' writes J. Murray Mitchell. In fact, India will never become Christian without an adequate solution of the caste question. 'I.'he religious declamations of the Hindus, which often, indeed, are not seriously intended, have not a tithe of the resisting power against Christianity w.b.ich inheres in the wordless tenacity of the sense of caste.
" What now if Christianity in India itself became a caste ~ Nothing would be more fatal to our missionary hopes. And yet there is among the Christians of India a tendency, perhaps not sufiiciently noted, to constitute themselves into a caste. Nothing would be more grateful to the heathen; for with this the claim of Christianity on the conversion of all would be broken. Caste is tolerant, because intrinsically exclusive. We should then share the fate of the Syrian Christians (Thomas Christians) in Travancore, who have attained to the rank of a high caste, not eating with the heathen, but, by the very fact of being a caste, having lost all efficacy toward the rectmstitution of the spiritual life of India. "-GEORGE SToseH, in Allgemeine Missions-Zeitschrift.
– " Under the guidance of a well-known social reformer of Madras, a society has been formed to enjoy and maintain a brotherhood of all persons professing the Hindu religion; to promote the study and knowledge of Vedic and Shastraic literature and religion; to inculcate and practise toleration toward all other religions; to worship God; to be loyal to the sovereign, and to love Bharata Varsha (India).
, " This movement is probably the next stage in India's religious history on the part of the orthodox Hindus, and may be regarded as the last despairing effort to save an ancient and honored institution. Its members are not necessarily opposed to Christianity. Some, no doubt, resent the intrusion of an alien religion, and patriotically defend the ancestral faith; 1>ut others are quite friendly toward Christianity, and admit that it has done much for the country. In many parts of South India there exists a strong feeling, however, that something ought to be done to restore the past. Letters are written to the papers, schemes are elaborated for preaching Hinduism. occasionally a lecture is delivered, but no one loves the past so well as to gIve himself heart and soul to its revival. Spasmodic attempts there doubtless will be here and there, but they are not likely to be either widespread or lasting. We believe there is not sufficient enthusiasm among the Hindus to maintain for any length of time such an organized revival and reeonstrnction of Hinduism. It may be clung to as an historic possession for some time to come, but the national faith cannot satisfy the deflpest spiritual longings of the human heart, and this movement will ultimately lead ou to the reception of Christianity as the fulfiller of all ancient faiths and the satisfier of all human aspuations. "-Rev. HENRY RICE, in Mission Record of the Church of Scotland.
– " Some thoughtful observers believe that the battle of the future will not be so much with Hinduism or with Islam aR with Western scepticism modified by Oriental metaphysics. That such a struggle will take place in the near future is not improbable, but the Hindu nature is far too deeply religious for atheism to take root in the land. The Hindus banished Buddhism because of its atheistic character, and they will never endure a negation of God and faith. When we bear in mind the deep religiousness of the Hindu nation j their instinctive passion for tranRcendental ideas j their spiritual searches after the Divine Essence; and, what is of greater significance, that all modern revivals of Hinduism have tended toward biblical monotheism, we may believe that the present opposition to Christianity proceeds rather from the pride of national inheritance than from any hostility to spiritual truth as such j and that India's best minds will yet surmount their superstitions and prejudices, and turn adoringly to the Light of Life."-Ibid.
– " There is the class of earnest, thoughtful men whom every missionary meets, who are already confessedly Christians at heart. They are far more familiar with the facts of ' Christianity' than they are with their own religion. They admire Christ's characttr and delight in His teaching. Within the visible pille both of Brahmoism and Hinduism there are those who recognize the claims of Christ and His right to their allegiance. There is many Ii Cornelian Hindu who would embrace Christianity at once if an open profession by baptism were not demanded with it_ But so long as the open acceptance of Christ's religion mealls the sharp severance of family ties, social disgrace, and isolation, so long must we 'De thankful for this growing number of secret disciples. The heroic in daring is absent from the Hindu. He dares not' be a Daniel.' Bring him to a crisis and his courage fails. He sees, but stands still. He knows, but will not do. He needs arousal. He stands shivering on the brink, waiting for the leadership of a more venturesome spirit. But may we not claim these timid, silent ones for Christ, and wait patiently ana hopefully for the day when the enormous difficulties created by caste and the power of unenlightened female influence shall have passed away ~ " What is wanted is that a man shall arise among the Hindus themselves, fired with the moral courage and splendid fervor of a Martin Luther, who shall possess the instinct to comprehend the blind outreaching!! of the native mind and the genius to give expression to its common longings. The success of such a leader will be greater than that of any Vishnavite rdormer, because he will appHal to a people waiting for a change, !md because the tolerance of British rule will secure him unrestrained freedom of preaching. The appearance of such a personality is but a question of time j and when he appears, who will deny that his success will be greater than that of Chaitanya, and might equal that of Gautama Buddha himself. " – I b i d .
-Dr. Grundemann decidedly objects to the closed churches of the European style iu India. He found them bad enough in the cooler time, and he does not know how they can be endured at all in the hotter months.
– " With the exception of the United States of America, there is no spot of earth beyond the boundaries of the British Empire where individual liberty and opportunity for personal advancement equals that enjoyed by the people of India. There may be, it is true, greater poverty and ignorance here, and the environment may be unfavorable, but these things are, in the main, beyond the control of governments, and do not vitiate the statement that the native of India has large opportunity for making the roost and the best of the life that is given him."-Indian Witness.
:..-" Dr. Grundemann concludes, in the April number of the Allgemeine Missions Zeit~chrift, his interesting and valuable observations on mission work as he saw it in India. He takes up the questions of architecture, sculpture, painting, and music in their relation to the spread of Christianity. In regard to church building, he regrets that in the large towns and at head stations European styles of architecture are employed. On the score of coolness, so desirable in a hot climate, he doubts the wisdom of putting up Gothic churches, while he thinks it would not be easy to make Hindus enter into the symbolic significance of spires pointing heavenward. As he says. it is exceedingly difficult to arrive at a knowledge of the real thought and feeling of natives with regard to such matters, they are so accustomed to give replies suited, as they hope, to the wishes of foreign questioners. But Dr. Grundemann quotes the words of a Tamil, who expressed that when any of his fellow-countrymen accepted Christianity, they ceased to be regarded as Tamils by the rest. And this may arise in no small degree from the foreign character of the church buildings and church arrangements with which they are henceforth connected. Dr. Grundemann thinks that the attempt should be made to follow, in regard to building and other matters, the Indian ideal of beauty, and so avoid that marked departure from national idiosyncrasies which tends to produce the conviction that native Christians become members of a foreign race. Indian notions of beauty may be distasteful to us, but our ideas are probably equally distasteful to them. On the far more difficult subject of music and singing, Dr. Grundemann throws out some notions worthy of consideration. There is, he says, a Christian Indian national music, and at Ahmednuggur he heard three men, one an aged pastor, sing and play, the subject being prayer-Christian as compared with heathen prayer. He says he could not share the pleasure evidently felt by the crowd in the music and singing j yet the whole scene made a deep impression on his mind. He expresses the wish that, in addition to Christian hymns, harmless and pretty songs could be written, especially for children. In an orphanage he found girls joining in a dance and singing a song on the sufferings of our Lord. Another remark he makes is, and with this we conclude: 'Above all, children should be taught to sing after the manner of their people, and not according to our melodies! "-The Chronicle (L. M. S.).
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY BEV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Afrioa. in a. World's Oongress. formulated could scarcely be better out· lined in part than in Mr. Cust's lan- BY J. T. G. guage : •• (1) To develop the self-gov- erning aptitudes of African nationali- In former years Europeans used to ties either as kingdoms or republics. steal Africans from Africa; now they (~) The European powers should be just are trying to steal Africa from the Afri- and unselfish to the populations, which cans. " This, from Dr. Robert N. Cust. have by violence and by brute force been brought like a flock of helpless " How could we combine to become sheep under their influence. (3) The unprovoked aggressors, to imitate, in resources of the region should be de· Africa, the partition of Poland by the veloped by methods not calculated to conquest of Morocco for France, of Tunis destroy the indigenous popUlation. for Italy, of Egypt for England, and (4) The introduction of legitimate comhow could England and France, who merce, exclusive of spirituous liquors have guaranteed the integrity of the and lethal arms, and the gentler virtues Turkish Empire, turn round and wrest of education and social culture." Egypt from the Sultan?" This, from Lord Palmerston, writing to Napoleon Of courso it will be impossible to lay III. the foundation of a true policy without considering Africa past and present, It is impossible to arrest this political the African at home and abroad, Africa's and commercial drift. The only ques- influence on letters and language, comtion in practical politics is, Can this be merce and politics, and the influence regulated-dominated-bya benevolent of the outer world on Africa. What intent? Who shall attempt it, Ameri- Africans have done and can do as manuca who received the stolen goods, the facturers and tradespeople, as agricul- Africans, or Europe, who is stealing turists, in medicine, mechanics or the Africa? fine arts, we judge, are to find promi· nent place and able presentation in the The splendid diplomacy of holding a proposed African Congress at Chicago, great council on this newly revealed and there are some Africans who can Africa is to be tried in connection with forcibly treat these topics. Rev. James the World's Fair in July, 1893. Would Johnson, a member of the Legislature that it might create sentiment that of Lagos, and Bishop B. T. Tanner, of would thunder as a moral army and America, are well furnished to discuss navy, force crowned contestants to ac- the sociology of Africa and the Africans. cept it as a mighty umpire, or create a concordat, not of text, but of a one- African philology is of much wider inhearted master passion, which should terest than the limits of Africa. Dr. hold the nations in leash from greed of Robert N. Cust has already catalogued might and greed of gain, and oblige a upward of five hundred of these Afriregenerated Europe and America to ac- can languages, and if he should present cept the task and seize the opportunity, a paper on the subject in general, it to concentrate all the accumulated ex- will be the rich result of years of special perience, intelligence, and benevolence study of African philology. Then our of the Christian centuries in one gigan- own American, Lewis Grout, the autic effort, to make the noblest and lofti- thor of a Zulu grammar, a man who has est experiment of the race, the creation devoted strength and time to the whole of another ,. New World." The twenti- subject of the relative place and power e~h century should see this experiment of these several families of Afric::n far toward a successful issue.
Perhaps the policy that ought to be speech, Bantu, Swahali, and all the rest, The AdVisory Council of this, which can ably discourse on the relation of is technically termed " an African Eththese severally to the development of nological Congress," numbers a strong Africa. Others eminently qualified to host of able men in America, Europe, discuss allied themes will surely take and Africa. The administrator of part. Bechuanaland, the commissioner for Basutoland, and a large list of other The history .and geography of Africa, important fu'tlCtionaries in South, West, ancient history as well as modern, the North, and East Africa, at Zanzibar, influence of Madagascar on Southeast Natal, the Gold Coast, Algeria, Tunis, Africa, Egypt and the Soudan, the prog. Zambesia, and every other important ress of the modern unveiling of the con· point, are members. of this Advisory tinent, are fruitful parts of the general Board; De Brazza, Wissman, Schweinsubject, and men specially adapted and furth, Du Chaillu, Carl Peters, Sir Samwilling to treat them can be found. It uel Baker, and other eminent explorers is given out as probable that such offi- of the continent, members of the Royal cials as the Premier of Cape Colony, Geographical Society, Capella and Ivens, James Stevenson, of the African Lakes Ministers of Foreign Affairs Rome, Sul- Company, Dr. Ward of the Independent, tans and military men, with many foreand even H. M. Stanley, are to be in- most ministers of America and of Euvited or have already' consented to dis. rope, have all pledged their patronage to cuss important matters of African civili- this council and become members of it. zation, colonization, and commerce; It ought to arrest attention even amid and' that Hon. John A. Kasson, ex- the whirl of the Columbian Exposition. United States Minister to Germany at The anticipation is that t.he papers will the Berlin Conference, may write of the be published hereafter, in full text, function and power of the Congo Free even should the twenty-five minutes or State in the redemption of Africa. so allotted to their reading be too re- Other great sub.departments of the po- stricted for the entire essay. litical and social sphere will challenge the ablest thought of eminent special- Africa is a vast continent. Lay its ists. western edge on our Pacific Coast and it would cover land and sea to the coast The department of religion in Africa of Ireland. It has perhaps four times is quite extensive enough to have a the population of the United States; week to itself, for the African religions it is the coming continent! Great opare of great varieties and marked by portunities are offered the Christian strong characteristics. The ancient Church for its evangelization. Mis- Egyptian religion with its .. Book of sions, and, as it now seems, missions the Dead ;" the ancient Christianity of only can ameliorate the condition of Egypt, Abyssinia, and Nubia; the Mo- the barbarous races of three fourths of hammedanism of the north half of the this vast continent. The African probcontinent; the work of the modern lem is a perplexing one, but its resolumissions of the Roman Catholic and tion is hopeful and assured. Protestant churches in the Dark Continent, are of foremost ·interest. We are Lay Missionaries for the Foreign Field. given to understand that archbishops, biIlhops, and secretaries are among BY REV. C. A. NICHOLS, BASSEIN, BURMA. those likely to present papers on the great subject of the evangelization of Foreign missions are unmistakably Africa; while ex·governors and sena- passing out of the emotional into the tors, jurists and statesmen will present practical stage. Many of the most devarious phases of Afro-American cul- voted among our pastors and laymen ture, opportunity, responsibility, and are diligently studying the problem progress. how most rapidly and effectively the in the very highest state of efficiency Church may fulfil her mission to the while on the field. After arriving, he naVons. All are agreed that a greatly will have to acquire a language as di- increased force of laborers are needed verse from his vernacular as well can for this purpose, and by Bome it is be, and that, too, under very untoward argued that an adequate force can never circumstances. If he has not already be available until recruits are drawn gained fixed habits of study and con- from all worthy sources, lay as well as centration, in nine cases out of ten he clerical, from our Christian artisans, will fail in gaining such a thorough business men, and farmers, as well as mastery of the language as he must from those liberally educated and or- have in order to gain the respect of the dained to the special work of the min- people to whom he is sent. Moreover istry. if he does not have such habits of con, A little over thirteen years of experi- centration and sustained mental effort, ence and observation in the foreign he will be apt to yield to the temptation field, however, have convinced me that, to magnify trifles and chafe in the har- while Carey and quite a number of ness, to. a far greater extent than he others successful in foreign fields have would had he been subject to the severe been men who did not go out thus mental discipline that should be the trained for the special work of the min- result of any training that is contem- istry, still the same success may be pred- plated in what we commonly under- icated of many evangelists and pastors stand by a "liberal course of study."
in the history of the Church at home; Under the new and trying surrDund- and, notwithstanding that fact, the ings amid which his work must be done, great bulk of the most successful work he will in every respect find his re- in the ministry of the Word has been sources tried t'o the utmost, and thus done by men specially chosen of the will on every hand find a ,need for the Spirit, set apart by the Church for that very best discipline available, and with- special work. and educated for that out which so many have failed who work as liberally as possible. By some might have otherwise achieved success.
it is thought that the foreign work It, will be said that failures have not would not call for so thorough an edu- been wholly among the undisciplined; cation as the home, from the fact that but the same may be said with equal the people to whom the worker will be truth of pastors at home, notwithstand- sent are presumably less intelligent than ing which fact, very few people will be those to whom he would minister if at found to-day who would urge our going home; but there are other factors in back to an uneducated ministry for the the problem that are not always taken home churches.
into account_ There is, then, the need of still more One of the exceptional conditions to care in gaining the highest possible be taken into account is that most of efficiency in those whom the Church our foreign missionary operations are sends abroad, because there is involved necessarily carried on among peoples so great an outlay in sending out and who Jive in climates inimical to Euro- returning those who fail; while their pean races, with the result that not only failure will be sure to work so much must the work be prosecuted there with more disastrous results abroad than much less bodily vigor, but that it will here, where the worker is far less con- necessarily be subject to stilI further spicuous, lost as he is among so great hindrance by absences from the field an army of other workers.
on the part of the worker. in order to Some of the friends of missions are regain health and vigor. Hence it is es- almost overjoyed over the fact that some sential that the missionary should come of our farmers, artisans, and business to the work so disciplined that he will be men have begun to go to the foreilln field, many of whom have gone at their gain money. This would be merely to own charges, hoping to be able to live gain subsistence for himself and family, by the exercise of their secular calling without speaking of the time and and preach the Gospel meanwhile. We strength necessary for evangelistic work could only wish that the whole heathen among the people, or to gain a mastery world might be leavened by such ; and, of their language; a task requiring, of on the face of it, the plan would seem itself, several years even for one who to be the most reasonable and easy of has the maximum of his time and the many experiments yet tried in the strength at his command. In the opin- world's evangelization. Still, there are ion of some who have advocated an ex- many things to be fully considered be- tension of this principle upon which to fore any family determines to sell out conduct our foreign missions, the relaand undertake the actual experiment. tion of such lay workers to the ordained 'God will not interpose to save us from men in the field would be that of "asthe exercise of reasonable forethought sistants" or .. helpers," and so under any more than He did in the days of their direction, while reference is frethe crusades, even though the apirit quently made to the example of some and intention of the effort may be solely of the English and continental socithe furtherance of His glory. Those eties ; but it may be said that this sysof us who have b~en many years on the tem is the outgrowth of the social and field have seen some very disappointed class distinctions which enter so largely people, nor have the home boards been into the European habit of thinking, less disappointed, in many cases where and results do not show their organithey have been called on to pay the zation to be superior to ours. On the round trip expenses of some who have other hand, I have often heard the memstarted out with undoubtedly a sincere bers of their missions express their recimpulse, but nevertheless from an im- ognition of the greater fruitfulness of pulse without forethought. Happily our American missions, employing, as such cases are in the minority. but still most of our societies do, chiefly orthey have been frequent enough to dained ministers of the Gospel. serve as a warning. It may be understood, at the outset, that in most cases One of the chief objections that I a European, with his hereditary habits have to this plan of lay .. assistants" and constitution, will find it a hopeless or " helpers" is, that the most valuable task to provide for the support of him- helpers will always be found in the naself and family in an uncivilized or tive converts, who need the benefit of partially civilized tropical country, in the relation in training for their own competition with the natives of the future work. If foreigners do this work country, who can endure exposure and for them, they will never take the relabor there far better than himself, sponsibility upon themselves, and we and who can live on what to him shall only perpetuate a dependent body would mean the ruin of health or loss of converts. of life, ~his is true of any form of manual labor; while, if he engage in Lay workers of a certain kind, howtrade, the habits of mutual distrust and ever, afe called for on the field in greatunreliability, which obtain among all ly increased numbers. Well-qualified heathen people, stand in the way of medical missionaries and teachers are his success, unless he shall descend to still imperatively demanded, and even habits of trickery that are far too com- these will do far better if educated for mon among European traders in such the ministry and ordained to its work lands; nor will the people ever give him as well. their confidence as a religious teacher "'<.1.1 leader, if they think he is there to As to lay workers going out at their own charges, I may say that the above opinions are not brnught forward as speculations as to what might be the case, but from personal observation of substance, which sacrifice will, accord- cases where the experiment has been ing to the Divine law, certainly not tried, under as favorable conditions as only gain the direct end for which she would fall to the lot, on the average, of labors, but will also bring her in return anyone attempting this method. Some a rich fruitage of blessings at hOlDe.
such have been dependent for months together upon the families of those sen~ out and supported by mission boards, Affairs in Japan. and who all'eady had more demands upon their resources than they could BY REV. H. LOOMIS, YOKOHAMA, JAPAN.
supply; some suffered from actual want Few, if any, more auspicious changes and disappointment, to the limit of have occurred in politics than the re- mental derangement; and numbers cent reorganization of the Cabinet and have afterward gladly gone to work un· the return of well,known and honored der appointment from l'egular mission leaders to power.
boards, doing work in the regions to When Count Inouye and Count Ito which they have gone. resigned their positions and retired to There is always a certain fascination private life, the control of affairs fell about the idea of thus going out, inde. into the hands of new and untried pendent of all controlling boards and men, and it seemed inevitable that agencies, which is very apt to captivate, serious and irreparable loss must b"
not only those contemplating the work the result, and all the bright hopes of for themselves, but others, so that they the past were to be disappointed.
can be assured they will get a hearty But greatly to our surprise and relief, amen and Godspeed from pastors and there has been accomplished a happy churches, already burdened by ever-in- change in affairs, and the outlook for creasing avenues for expenditure on ob. Japan to-day is brighter than ever.
jects nearer home, even though the bulk What is evidently needed at this time of that expenditure may be for more is the presence of the best and ablest luxurious services and imposing edi- men at the head of the government.
fices of worship. Constitutional government is an experi- Hence, while we gladly welcome all ment thus far ; and it is inevitable that those devoted men who have" sold all tor years to come there must be a strong they hRd" and laid it at their Master's and wise administrative power to check feet, and have given not only it bu' what is wrong and enforce the right.
themselves to the work of reclaiming a So we have now most happily in the lost world, believing that their sacrifice new ministry the ablest and most popu- will meet its reward, yet it is to be de- lar statesmen that the country can fur- voutly hoped that those contemplating nish. At the head is Count Ito once going out will "count the cost" before more, and associated with him is Count they begin to build, lest they reap for Inouye as Minister of Home Affairs.
themselves disappointment and cha- To these two men more than to any "grin. Such advice will not injure the others does Japan owe her present posi- work any more than similar solemn in- tion and progress; and with years of junctions on the part of Christ Himself experience in the administration, they to those who would follow Him in His are without question the two men to bf missionary ministrations while He was at the head of the Cabinet and the chief yet in the body. advisers of the Emperor.
On the other hand, the Church at The Minister of Foreign Affairs is home must not expect that she will be Mr. Mutsll, who was for several years relieved of her part, as a whole, in car- the Japanese Minister at Washington, rying on the work ; and that at a sacri- and who has thus the experience that fice of her hest taleIJ.t as well aa of her especially fits him for such a position. It is not too much to expect that under sive revivals are reported from many his administration there will be some quarters, and a most hopeful state of better adjustment of the present ques· things has taken the place of the dead- . tion of extra territoriality and the re- ness and indifference of the past. The lations of foreign residents to the gov- greatness of the difficulties and the in- ernment. The recent attempt to force adequacy of human means are being concessions from the foreign powers, felt everywhere, and so there is a turn- by limiting the privileges of the foreign ing to the true source of success in all residents here, and making the situa- mission work, and that is the help of tion more uncomfortable, has not been God. helpful to Japan, and is making the question of coming under Japanese con- Some think that there are enough trol still more serious and questionable. missionaries in Japan to accomplish all' that is needed to make this a Christian The question that will especially in- nation. Others think differently. But terest the Ohristian people in the United one thing is certain, that it is not by States is the probable attitude of the an increase of numbers alone that these present and new ministry toward- mis- hard hearts are to be subdued and won sionaries aIrd their work. I think that to Christ. God chose only three hun. it is the general opinion that we owe to dred to overthrow the Midianite host; the men now in power the liberty that and with His help we shall have suc- we now enjoy; and more than that, cess, whether the helpers be multiplied they have shown a sincere and intelli- or not. gent sympathy with what has been done, No doubt there is still room for many As proof of this I need only mention more good men, and in some places the liberal donation of 1000 yen (about they seem to be sadly needed, but we .$800) toward the Doshisha at Kyoto by need even more_ than all, such a bap- Oount Inouye. Count Ito signified his tism of the Spirit as will make the truth approval of the work and promised his effective in the convincing men of sin aid. No institution in the country hall and their need of a Saviour. That God been more decidedly Ohristian in its is showing His power and willingness character, to save should call forth the gratitude of all hearts. The erection at Yamaguchi, by Oount Inouye, of a suitable building for the The Rev. 1. H. Corrl'll, of the Methuse of Rev. Dr. Beck in teaching his ~dist Episcopal Mission, reports that he Bible class, and his liberal construction has recently been through a large part of the restrictions contained in the pass- of Kiushiu, and the work is in a very ports, are direct and tangible proofs prosperous condition. The people are that missions will not suffer from any very attentive to preaching and the conaction on the part of those now at the gregations are quite large. He has rehead of the government. cently visited the Loochoo Islands, and brings back a glowing account of the The discussion of theological ques- reception given him. He preached sevtions is becoming less prominent, and eral times. At the first service he had the pastors and other Christian workers about one hundred present, two hunare settling down to more steady and dred at the second, and four hundred effective work for the-salvation of souls. at the third. Everywhere he went he It has become e,:ident to many that was most kindly received, and 1'as. there is no new and better method for urged to commence work on the islands. the conversion of sinful men than the The Baptists have a native worker there old theories of redemption through now. Christ, and the necessity of the work of the Holy Spirit in sanctifying the The school for boys connected with heart. the Southern Methodist church at Kobe is soon to be cnlarged, It has shown a And the happy result is that extenconstant growth since its organization pressed with the direct interposition three years ago. In a recent letter of God in the present progress of mis- from the Rev. Mr. Wainwright, he says sions. From his vantage-ground he that" We have been havfng a very gra· discovers secret growth as well as prog.
cious work of the Holy Spirit in our ress that is more tangible. The mix- school. It has been a glorious season ture of evil with good (to be truthfully with us, and we believe there will be recognized) is no more than is going on much fruit unto the salvation of souls all over the world, and the wonder is as a consequence of this blessing." The that from the overwhelming mass of Southern Presbyterian Mission bas re- evil so much of good is forthcoming.
cently opened work in Takamatsu, on "A Divine purpose is being clearly the island of Shikoku, and are meeting evolved." These things are to him ab- with much success. solute fact.s of experience, and in his The conference of the missionaries of farewell address we found enlarged the American Missionary Union (Bap- consolation fitted to fire the heart with tist) has recently been in session at that confidence in God which is the Yokohama. The report says: "The result of a generation of proofs of His work of the year shows progress. About faithfulness. .
twice the number that were received It may not be sufficiently realized the previous year have been baptized that in this distant Eastern land there into the Church." Rev. J. H. Pettee is reason to look for exceptional devel- writes that the late annual meeting of opments of good. So far there have the representatives of the Congrega- been grinding toil, sapping and mining, tional churches at Osaka was the best seed·sowing. If a touch of life is all-round meeting ever held. Kbout granted from above, what is just now eighteen months ago a native pastor feared politically, of any spark setti~g was first stationed by the mission of this province in a blaze, may take place the Evangelical Association at Togane, in a happier sense.
near Tokyo. The work has steadily in- Multitudes of Chinese Christians are creased, so that the present church- praying for the conversion of the Em- membership is forty-five, and ten more peror. Whatever views may be held in are ready to be baptized. Quite are· the West as to the good or evil of rulers vival spirit has appeared in the schools being mixed up with the spi-ead of the of the Methodist church at Nagasaki. faith of Christ, here it seems to be gen- The two churches at Hachoji have re- erally felt among Chinese Christians cently united in holding special or re- that the will of God cannot be fully ac- vival meetings, which have been at- complished while the leaders of the tended with good results. New inter- country are unaffected by the truth.
est has been awakened, the attendance At present Christianity is not even re- at the churches has gradually been in- garded as a legal system of faith and creasing, and a number of applicants conduct, much less understood. It is for baptism are reported. time for the Lord to work to discounte- nance heathen and immoral proceed- ings, which are often tolerated all round Things Ohinese that are Promising. by the great of this world, if not even BY REV. J. SADLER, AMOY, CHINA. engaged in. Christ was weak as re- Dr. Cobb, whom you may soon see- gards the things of this world, but He back in the States, * is profoundly im- never lacked the p~wer of the Spirit.
It transpires that there may be more • Dr. Cobb, the Secretary of the Missionary of indirect success than is imagined_ Board of the Reformed Church in America, com- Tbe Chinese are now known to be keen pleted his tour around the world and resumed on our newspapers (in Chinese), and his dutie. at his desk early in September.- IlOt a little interested in seeing what ill J.T. G. thought of them. They cannot shut Church in Canada, for in that week themselves up any longer. One paper, three missionaries were ordained and called The Ten Thousand (Jouniries' News- designated for service. Our Trinidatl paper, is, we believe, read in high quar- Mission has now reached an important ters. We know of a Mandarin, not era in its history. Twenty-five years mean in degree, who considers it greatly have passed away since the pioneer to his interest to have honorable men- missionary, Dr. Morton, left Nova Sco- tion in this paper. What suggestions tia and commenced work among the grow out of such a fact as to good coolie population. The general work though silent influence. We need not of the mission has been very much en- expect that the turning of this people larged of late, adding very greatly to to God may come about in just our its cost. The Government of Trinidad methods of church life and discipline. passed a new school ordinance which If, as we know to be the case, con- had to be accepted by our staff of mis- sciences are aroused, a moral sense sionaries. The law, on the whole, is deepened and vivified, vigorous sym- favorable to the mission. A number of pathy. however hidden, be called out new buildings had to be erected, which for many kinds of reform, this all is cost the ChUl'ch $10,000. In conse- good. Individual conversions are ever quence of the government's action a taking place. Prayer is constantly debt of over $7000 now rests on the going up for such wot:k of the H01y Foreign Mission Fund, and steps are Spirit. There is nothing too hard for being taken to wipe it out. A Presby- God in regard to turning the tremen- terian college has also been opened on dous forces of heathenism to His ser- the island, with a staff of three profes- vice; and, in answer to prayer, ever sors and an assistant and forty -six stu- being offered, raising up such effective dents in attendance. Several of our native apostles as may, like Moses and Young People's Societies of Christian Paul, lead multitudes into the kingdom Endeavor have contributed nobly tow- of heaven. ard the support of these students, and I have made a suggestion to Dr. the institution will eventually prove a Cobb, as to whether he could have it feeder to the wide heathen field of arranged for important news from your India.
valuable REVIEW bearing on China, to be Forty-seven years ago mission work translated into the Chinese newspaper in heathen lands was first commenced above referred to, and vice versa. by one branch of the present United Presbyterian Church in Canada, The 'Presbyterian Church in Nova Scotia' in Oanada Notes. 1846, Qomprising scarcely thirty con- gregations, sent forth their first mis- BY REV. W. B. DlCKIE, MILFORD, NOVA sionary. Now there are not less than SCOTIA. eight different fields occupied-viz., The Presbyterian Church in Canada New Hebrides, Trinidad, Honan, India, has sent out this year eleven new mis- Formosa, Jerusalem, Indians North- sionaries. Four young ladies, two of west, and Chinese British Columbia.
whom are M.D. 's, are now under ap- Three presbyteries have also been pointment anel have gone to India. formed – viz., Trinidad, India, and Two others have left for Honan and Honan.
Formosa, and Rev. C. Webster, this Upward of $8000 was on hand to Church's first missionary to Palestine, commence operations among the Jews is now on the way to Jerusalem. The in Palestine, and the young man who last week in July was then a most e~ent has gone forth as the first missionary is ful week in the history of the foreign eminently qualified for the work. Tha mission enterprise in the Presbyterian matter of establishing this mission has been under consideration for some its watch-cry: The evangelization of the years. and has lain very close to the hearts of not a few Canadian Presbyte- world in this generation. rian people. The mission has been inaugurated under most favorable aus- Regarding the observance of the day, pices, and it is probable that in a short time another missionary will follow. we further suggest : A Gall for Prayer. 1. That the volunteers be called to- To the Membe:rs of the Student Volunteer gether at t,he earliest possible date, to Movementfor Foreign Missions: hear the reading of this call, and to de- The Student Volunteer Movement has reached a time of crisis. Its mem- termine definite plans. bers include thousands. It has the confidence of the churches and mis· 2. That early in the day a meeting sionary societies, as never before. The missionaries are looking t'o it anxiously for special prayer be held, limited to and expectantly. Never in the history of missions have the calls for laborers volunteers and all oLhers deeply interbeen clearer, louder, or more imperative than those which ring in our ears to- ested in this object. day ; for it is the unanimous testimony of missionaries at the front, that during 3. That a publie meeting be held later the closing years of this century the issue of the conflict will be determined in the day, when there will be given for generations among a vast majority of the unevangelized inhabitants of the brief, carefully prepared addresses perworld. As far as responsibility rests upon the United States and Canada, if taining to the purpose and significance these calls are responded to at all, humanly speaking, they must be answered of the Student Volunteer Movement, largely by the student volunteers. The movement is now over six years old, the crisis in missions, and the individand a great many of the volunteers have completed their courses of study. It is ual responsibility of Christian students. time, therefore, to look for and con· fidently expect larger numbers to hasten 4. That a thank.offering to God be to the fields. To make this possible one thing is pre-eminently necessary. made at the public meeting, which shall It is that which Jesus Christ explicitly commanded: "Pray ye, therefore, the go toward the extension and develop- Lord of the harvest, that He send forth laborers into His harvest. " ment of the Student Volunteer Move- In view of the crisis on the one hand ment. and this command on the other, we, your Executive Committee, most ear- A vast Hindu conference has recently nestly recommend that the volunteers in each institution set apart Sunday, been held at Benares, India, to take October 30th, as a DAY OF PRAYER for the Stndent Volunteer Movement, and steps toward the saving of Hinduism for that greater object wrapped up in from the encroachments of Christian- ity. Among other things the confer- ence recommended that October 30th be set apart as the special day of prayer for the preservation of the Hindu re- ligion. Should not this mighty faet 'attach peculiar significance to our ob- .servance of this day? Let us recall the experience of Elijah with the proph- 'ets of Baal (1 Kings 18 : 19-39); and before a witnessing world, let the day demonstrate in some new measure that, " The Lord, He is God. "
JOHN R. MOTT, Inter-Collegiate Y. M_ C. A., MISS CORABEL TARR, Inter-Collegiate Y. W_ C.A., D. WILLARD LYON, luter-Seminary Miss_ Alliance, Executive Committee.
Book Mention.
-Serampore Letters, being the unpub- lished correspondence of William Carey and others with .Tohn Williams, 1800- 1816, edited by Leighton and Mornay on" and strong, and the rhetoric is Williams, has been issued by G. P. strong. It is an inspiring pamphlet. Putnam's Sons. There is incidental The Heart of the Gospel (Baker, Taylor & information here, which shows New Co., New York). This is twelve ser- York to have had a large share in the mons, delivered at the Metropolitan initiation of the Baptist Missionary Tabernacle in London, by Dr. Pierson. Union. A Baptist society in New York Many thousands of people will be curiantedated Judson's departure, and ear· ous to know what Dr. Pierson preached lier still they had sent Elkanah Holmes under the circumstances. 'rhes.e are to the Indians. plain, helpful, vigorous Gospel sermons; in many respects not unlike Mr. Spur- -Do not Say (F. H. Revell Co., New geon's own sermons in this great Taber- York) is a book of about 100 pages, nacle. They will be widely read, as containing brief answers to the Church's they ought to be. They treat of themes excuses for neglecting the heathen, by which are the" heart of the Gospel," a missionary of the Church of England for they are clear.cut expositions of ex· in mid·China. Price, 10 cents. The perimental Christianity. same publishers send forth Indian Gems for the Master's Crown, a true narrative, -Bishop Tucker, in writing from intended for native Christians in India, Uganda, uses the following language: but helpful to an insight into the way " How shall I find langnage to describe Christianity spreads in India. It is little the wonderful work of God's grace which wonder that it has been translated into has been going on in this land? Truly, many European languages. The diffi- the half was not told me. Exaggeration culties of the men of the East who de- about the eagerness of the people here sire to become Christians are here made to be taught there has been none. No real to the foreign Christian. words can describe the !lmotion which filled my heart as, on Sunday, Decem- -Our Life Among the Iroquois Indians ber 28th, I stood up to speak to fully (Congregational Publishing Society, 1000 men and women who crowded the Boston), by Mrs. Caswell, is a record of church of Uganda. It was a wonderful fifty years of service among that portion sight! There, close beside me, was the of the well-known Six Nations on the Katikiro-the second man in the king- Cattaraugus Reservation near Buffalo, dom. There. on every hand, were N. Y. It is illustrated. The student chiefs of various degrees, all Christian of the red races and those interested men, and all in their demeanor devout in mission work among them will de- and earnest to a degree. There was a light in this book. second service in the afternoon, at which there must have been fully 800 -A really great work is Bibliography present. The same earnest attention of the Algonquian Languages, by James was apparent, and the same spirit of Constantine Pilling, a Smithsonian In- devotion. I can never be sufficiently stitute volume of the Bureau of Ethnol- thankful to God for the glorious privogy. It is full of missionary intelligenc'e, ilege of being permitted to preach to and ought to be largely drawn on for these dear members of Christ's flock." material on the missionary advance of this country.
– The King's Business, speech by Dr. -In 1888 the great Japnnese version A. T. Pierson, at the annnal meeting of of the Holy Scriptures was completed. the China Inland Mission (Morgan & On this monumental work, forty-six: Scott, London), is in Dr. Pierson's best missionaries, under the leadership of style. The facts are strongly grouped, Dr. Hepburn, were engaged for sixteen the movement of thought is " straight years.
DEPARTMENT ·OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
III.-DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
CONDUCTED BY PROFESSOR AMOS B. WELLS.
The cable has announced Dr. Clark's published by The Golden Rule. The safe arrival in Australia. He made stops first follows Dr. Clark across this con- at Hawaii, the Samoan Islands, and at tinent, dealing with such topics as the Auckland, New Zealand. Misappre- Moody work in Chicago, the Utah prob- hension exists in some quarters regard- lem, the money-power of the nation as ing the purposes of Dr. Clark's around- a national peril (this in connection with the-world Christian Endeavor tour. It California), and suggesting books to be is not .intended to start new societies. read and essays to be written. This is Dr. Clark is glad to be able to say that only a sample of the ways in which this he has organized only two societies, and journey of Dr. Clark's will be utilized those in ch urches over which he was for the increase of missionary enthusi- pastor. He believes that societies asm throughout the great army of En- should be organized by no one but the deavorers.
pastors of their churches. He goes Mr. John Willis Baer, the General with two aims-one is to study the Secretary of the United Society, has re- foreign fi elds, and see their peculiar turned from his voyage to Scotland de- needs, that he may be able to judge cidedly improved in health, and able to· what modifications in Christian En- devote himself energetically to his office deavor methods, if any, would better work. He narrowly escaped a twenty- adapt them to changed conditions. He days' quarantine.
will become acquainted with zealous At a recent meeting of the United So- Christian Endeavor workers every- ciety, held in Boston, the By-laws were where. He will give them of his own so amended as to provide for the elec- abounding zeal, and will gain fresh tion of thirty-nine instead of thirty-one courage and good cheer from them. trustees, the present number. The While he will himself organize no new membership of the board of trustees is societies, nor set in motion agencies now quite evenly divided among the for their organization, undoubtedly evangelical denominations, but there many new societies will spring up in are two or three which have zealously all these foreign lands all the result of adopted the Christian Endeavor move- his visit. The second aim is to inspire ment, and yet have had no representa- the societies at home with fresh mis- tion on the board. This body has al- sionary zeal. These societies are watch- ways been a fairly representative one, ing his trip with especial care. By and it is always to remain such. In ac- means of it their interest in missions cordance with this action there have and knowledge of them will be increased been added to the board Rev. J. F.
many fold. Cowan, of the Methodist Protestants, One instance of how this will be done. 'and Rev. William Patterson, of the In many societies it is already proposed Canadian Presbyterians-two denom- to hold regular meetings, keeping pace inations in which Endeavor socie- with Dr. Clark's progress, for the sole ties are now multiplying with great purpose of studying Christian missions rapidity.
in the lands he visits. These are to be Few things done at the New York apart from the regular prayer-meetings. Christian Endeavor Convention have Mr. S. L. Mershon, one of the Christian been productive of more good than Mr.
Endeavorers most prominent and sug- Robert E. Speer's call for a vote show- gestive in tbisline of work, has outlined ing who had read ten representative- a very capital course of study for such books on missions. The eyes of the meetings. The programmes are being thousands of Endeavorers there were opened to their lack, and not in vain. as found in the — Church '-but it From all over the land comes news of a wasn't," Endeavorers are true to their more ardent reading of missionary lit- church, and to Christ wherever He ill erature than ever before. If Mr. Speer found. asks that question at Montreal next year he will get a far better showing. One fruitful work for which Endeavor To aid this increased study, Rev. S. W. societies are especially well fitted is the Pratt gives in the New York Evangelist establishment of Sunday-schools in several lists of the best twenty mission- neglected places. These Sunday-schools ary books, prepared for him by Dr. are sure, if well kept up, to grow into Pierson, Dr. Ellinwood, and Mr. Speer churches. It is pleasing to notice that himself. These authorities recommend here and there, all over the country. the lives of Carey. Burns, Paton, Mills, the young people banded together" For Judson, Williams, Neesima, Brainerd, Christ and the Church" are undel-takini Mackay, Moffat, Livingstone, Hanning_ this gracious task. ton, Duff, Patteson, Martyn, and Morrison. Among the other books they One society in California has pledged recommend are Pierson's "Crisis of itself to labor against the opium traffio Missions" and "Miracles of Missions," and against cigarette-smoking. Of a Strong's" Our Country," Funk & Wag- special train sent to a recent California naH's Encyclopredia of Missions, ., Co- county convention, crowded with Enrea, the Hermit Nation," and" The Mi- deavorers, it was said that it was the kado's Empire," by Griffis, "China and first train ever sent over that road withthe Chinese," by Nevins, and" Mora_ out a smoking-car. The same remark vian Missions," by Thompson. This was made of the train of ten cars that list will make an excellent guide for pulled out of Boston for the New York thousands of young readers. Convention, Probably not one of the thirty thousand Endeavorers at New In many ways Canada is showing a York used tobacco in any form. most vigorous interest in the Endeavor movement, and especially in the organi- A special effort-but only a slight one zation of large and vigorous county -was made among the Congregational unions. The fact that Montreal is to Endeavor societies of the western part have next year's' International Conven- of Connecticut last year, and forty-seven tion is one cause of this access of en- societies contributed to the Woman's thusiasm, and another is the capture of Board of Missions $1800. This sum the two banners' by Ontario and Mani- supported missionaries in India, China, toba-the banners that represent the Turkey, and other heathen lands. greatest aggregate and the greatest pro- Equally good results could doubtless be portionate increase in the number of gained by equally faithful work among societies. the young everywhere. And what rev- enues for missions that would mean! In a large Christian Endeavor Convention held recently in Chicago, Dr. The Methodist Protestants are wisely P. S. Henson said emphatically, .. I adopting a plan of conference unions would not be a Baptist if I could not of the Methodist Protestant Endeavor be a Christian Endeavorer, and I would societies, like the plan of presbyterial not be a Christian Endeavorer if I could unions adopted quite largely b~ the not be a Baptist." Presbyterians. Such unions bind the societies to their denominations, While At the successful convention lately the State and national gatherings give held by the Endeavorers of the maritime them broad outlooks and the blessprovinces of Canada, one speaker sig- ings of interdenominational fellownificantly said, "The motto of the so- ship. ciety, instead of • For Christ and the Church,' might have been, • FOl' Christ The Christian Endeavor pledge has been translated into the Mpongwe lan- guage, of the western coast of Africa. The name of the society literally reo committees obtain and distribute.liter- translated is, .. The Party of Christian ature, get up public meetings to en- Zeal. " force the duty of tithe·giving, and form leagues of those who are willing thus There are Christian Endeavor soci. to share their possessions with the Lord eties in Syria, and some of these carry who gave them. Such committees are on their services in Arabic. very effective.
Sunday.school committees of En· The same young people that gave deavor societies have planned some very Whitelaw Rei-l such a rousing reception shrewd ways of increasing the numbers at the New York Convention have sent and interest of their Sunday.schools. him a petition asking him to stop the Here is one of the best. The commit· publication of a Sunday newspaper. tee gets one class each week to act as a .. recruiting squad" to bring in new Twenty State, Territorial, and Proscholars. The Endeavorers in that class vincial Christian Endeavor Conventions will naturally act as leaders in the occur during the fall and early winter week's campaign. The superintendent months,-Maine, the mother·State of announces publicly the result of the Christian Endeavor, leading the list, as work, and after each class has had its is proper. For these conventions the turn the Endeavor Sunday.school com- greatest preparations are being made. mittee gives a pleasant party in honor Most eloquent and earnest men and of the class that has done the best. women will address them, and many projects for the advancement of the The young people of Lawrence, Kan., kingdom will be set in motion at these have enjoyed, during the summer, the meetings. The splendid fervor of the advantages of the Christian Endeavor New York Convention bids fair to aniinterdenominational fellowship in this mate them all. way. During one week a meeting would be held of the lookout commit- Compared with some denominations tees of all societies belonging to the the Reformed churches have few Chrisunion; during the next week, of the tian Endeavor societies, but here is prayer.meeting committees belonging their record: In 1890 twenty.three soto these diverse societills, and so on. cieties gave to their mission boards The interchange of ideas and the mu- $117; in 1891, twenty. nine societies tual inspiration were very helpful. gave $231; in 1892, eighty-five soci- eties gave $545. Recently a .Christian Endeavor so- ,ciety has been organized among the In Australia, where Dr. Clark is now Chinese in San Francisco by the Con· at work, the first Christian Endeavor gregational Chinese Mission there. society was formed about four years This is probably the first Chinese Chris- ago. In South Australia there are altian Endeavor st>ciety in the country, ready seventy-seven societies, in New if not in the world. South Wales thirty, in Victoria one hundred and thirty, and mauy more in In the Hawaiian Islands, Dr. Clark's other divisions of the continent. first foreign stopping·place in his around-the·world tour, a Christian En- Two significant bits of news come to deavor society was organized early in us from a Christian Endeavor society 1884. Three others have since been among the Sioux Indians. They are formed. All are engaged in aggressive actually running a Sunday.school for Christian work. the benefit of the poor white children who are brought upon the reservation Systematic giving is one of the most by Caucasian settlers, and the other day prominent subjects before the Endeavor they gave $50, as a society, to help plant world, and deservedly so. Committees Sunday.schools among the white chilo on systematic giving are appointed by dren of South Dakota. the societies in some places. These
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
IV.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
The Improvement of the "Review." to omit altogether notice of current events, or else to abandon all such com- Now and then letters are received petition with the daily press. This REcriticising the editing of the REVIEW, or VIEW goes to the heart of Asia and Afrithe nature of the material here gath- ca as well as of Europe. It may be of ered, or both; though it is but candor consequence to make it a compendium to acknowledge that for one letter of of recent intelligence, even though complaint we have a score in com- months have elapsed; otherwise, to mendation. All such criticisms, and some who are out of commullication especially suggestions aiming at im- with the world, the tread of events will provement, will have an honest and not be known. But we aIe seeking by hearty hearing; for no reader can desire every available means to shorten the inthe increa~ed accuracy, value, and ser- terval between events and their report viceableness of these pages more than in these pages, by arranging for advance those who give so much labor to their sheets of great missionary magazines, preparation. We welcome our readers etc. to a share in the untiring endeavor to make the MrssIONABY _REVIEW OF THE We are annoyed at times by discover- WORLD a storehouse of both exact in. ing inaccuracy. We employ trustworthy formation and spiritual inspiration. parties to send us reports of various matters; but it is not always in our At times the same sort of items have power to verify their statements. appeared in the different departments; Whenever any error is found it is recand as it has seemed best to put these tified, and when we find a correspondsubordinate departments under care of ent careless we get the best man we different members of the editorial ~taff, can to take his place. on account of the extent of the world field and the vastness of the matter requiring The obvious improvement of the Au. to be passed upon, it has been found dif- gust "Monthly Bulletin" over that of ficult to avoid such seeming repetitions. July is to be accounted for by the new But arrangements are now making to arrangement, by which all matter emhave all the pages pass under the final braced in the intelligence department is revision of the managing editor, Mr. submitted to Dr. Leonard, and re-edited Delavan L. Pierson, before electrotyp- by him before appearing in type. ing. One criticism made on the material in One of our esteemed correspondents the REVIEW is that while" good, it is not complains that" the editing is not up timely nor the best." Our correspondent to date," and mstances the outbreaks thinks that most articleB would" suit in the Pirreus, which occurred in Feb- one month as well as another," and ruary, but were referred to as " recent" that only" missionaries on the ground on page 622. can furnish accurate statements of mis- This is an electrotyped periodical; and sions and mission work. " the time needful for preparing each In reply we would say that the REnumber, even with utmost speed, makes impracticable all competition with daily, VIEW is adjusted on a principle of divior even weekly, religious papers that are sion oj the world field. Each number is issued at short notice and with such fre- principally given to a certain country or quency. Even' in the weekly religious grouping of countries, as, for instance, journals the news is often stale, having February is mainly assigned to China, had the eyes of the reading public for a and December mainly to Syria. 'fhis ar_ week previous. But our choice is _either rangement makes certain articles pecul- iarly suitable to certain months. But when any paper reaches UB. which should from its nature have imme- so absolutely without a basis, tl act, that diate insertion, we put it in the next it casts a shadow over whatever else the available issue. writer may have to say in condemna- tion or even commendation. It betrays And as to missionaries furnishing a squmt, a defect of clear vision, or a the only trustworthy statements, it is total misunderstanding of the truth he remarkable that the great body of com- assails. plaints have come from those who have criticised the papers furnished by mis- He says: sionaries themselves. Often a man sees .' Dr. Pierson's views on mISSIons little beyond his own field, denomina. are utterly at variance with those of altion, or peculiar work. For example, most all missionaries. More than once the statements of missionaries in China, it has been said to me that there was etc., as to the China Inland Mission; danger lest he do the cause of missions the statements of parties in India as to !Dore harm than good. The reason for the work of Bishop Thoburn and the this is that he is a strong premillena- " S. P. G." ; the strictures of African rian, and believes that the sole duty of missionaries as to Bisbop Taylor and missionaries is to preach, without any his self supporting missions; the severe reference to conversion or the establishanimadversions upon the articles of Mr. ment of churches. He is opposed to Baldwin, of Tangiers, etc., have made missions having anything to do with the editors hesitate to admit some education, the development of literapapers from the missionaries them. ture, etc. This was brought out last selves; while articles furnisbed by week at Northfield, and every foreign such men as Drs. Ellinwood, Mitchell, missionary that spoke attacked his posi- George Sinith, Mabie, etc., have elicited tion most earnestly. In this opinion he almost universal approval. We have has the strong support of Dr. A. J. Gortherefore chosen to give every article a don, his co-editor. That particular view place upon its own merits as the only safe has, as a rule. been kept in the backrule. ground in the REVIEW. but it modifies its whole tone, and is, I suspect, the One correspondent thinks the REVIEW true explanation of the selection of should furnish " a field for the discus- some articles. Dr. Sherwood kept it sion of missionary problems," and that out entirely; but it is scarcely possible in this" it fails absolutely." This seems that it should not control more and to us a strange indictment. If anyone more. I hear it spoken of constantly will take up any bound volume and go with regret and disappointment." over its contents, he will find the relation of education to evangelism, the The editor can speak confidently, position .of native churches, native pas- both for himself and Dr. Gordon, in tors, etc.• and the demands for a ver- saying that no more complete travesty nacular literature discussed by no less of their views could well be put into distinguished men than Drs. Knox, of language. Japan, Gracey and his coadjutors in the " International Department," and Mur- ]. The view we entertain as to the reray Mitchell. If our readers will send lation of the Lord's coming to missions to us or procure for us first-class articles is stated by Mr. W. E. Blackstone to be on these and kindred topics, the editors in accord with those of the majority of the will welcome each on its own merits, most devoted missionaries, as ascerand gladly pay for such as are used the tained byactaal investigation. highest rates in our power. 2. The so-called " premillenarian One criticism which has reacbed the view" does not hold that it is th., .. sole editor is so absolutely unfounded it duty of missionaries to preach," without should have full space and a distinct reference to conversion or the establish. emphatic rejoinder. This criticism iii ment of churches. If any sensible man, who accepts the Scripture teaching that our Lord's coming is an imminent concentrate our forces there until the event, holds such a preposterous theory, nation is converted, is to disobey our we have not yet met that man. What Lord's command and abandon His ob- we do maintain is just what Dr. George vious plan, while it is to set up a false Smith so compactly writes in· his and illusive standard of success. Wher "Short History of Missions." Refer. ever, as Dr. Smith says-whom we have ring to Constantine's so·called "con· supposed to be one of the post-millenaversion," he says (p. 57) that" from a rian brethren-nationalism displaces inpurely missionary point of view, it be· dividualism in conversion, and concengan a system of compromise with error tration on limited fields displaces diffu. -of nationalism instead of individualism sion over the whole world field, we com· in conversion-which in the East made promise with error, and risk the real the Church an easy prey to Mohamme. success of missions. danism, and in the West produced J eauit missions." The editor-in. chief presided at North- field on the Mission Day, and if " every Dr. Gordon and myself firmly believe foreign missionary that spoke attacked that " preaching the Gospel as a witness his position most earnestly," he failed among all nations" means setting up to recognize the opposition. In fact, all churches, sohools, a sanctified press, that he said on Mission Day was to premedical missions, and, in fact, all the sent a fllw of the marvellous results of institutions which are the fruit of Chris- missions in the hundred years; and tianity and constitute part of its witness; whatever was said on the bearing of the but that our Lord's purpose and plan Lord's coming on missions was said the are that we should not wait in anyone day bifore, when only a few of the speakfield for the full results of our sowing ers had yet arrived! to appear in a thoroughly converted community before we press on to re- As to Dr. Sherwood's" keeping out gions beyond, where as yet the name of such matter entirely," he never inter- Christ has not been spoken; and that fered with the province of the editorour duty is to ROW everywhere and as in-chief. who from the first controlled shortly as possible .the simple message by explicit arrangement the character of the kingdom, that it may everywhere of the articles appearing. Dr. Sherwood's be followed up with every other agency department was the arrangement of dethat helps to transform a community. tails and the make-up of the REVIEW; Missions begin in evangelization, but and only in the absence of the other have everything to do with Christian editor did he control the literature of education, and the printing press, and the REVIEW. But from the first no arti· the organization of churches, and the cle has ever been e>ccluded because it pre. training of a native pastorate. Not at sented a view contrary to the private and Northfield, or anywhere else, "last personal views of any of the editorial week," or any other time, has the editor staff. The question has never been asked of this REVIEW affirmed anything else of any contributor, or even of any sub· than what he here boldly reaffirms, that editor, whether he held a premillennial our duty is to go into.all the world and or a postmillennial view of the Lord's within the limitS'of our own generation advent; nor does the editor know, save preach the Gospel to every creature; in the case of Dr. Gordon. Each writer that our first duty is contact. and that is alone responsible for the view he conversion is something we cannot com- takes; and all we ask is that no grea mand, but must leave to God. To give essential truth of the Christian system every man the Gospel, this furnishes a shall be questioned in these pages. basis for all other work which helps to make a true Christian community. But Now that we have given thus much to lay siege to a nation like Japan and space to the subject of the improvement of the REVIEW, it may be well to add that we desire the best available papers, from whatever authorized and compe- human, with a pathetic love note. There tent sources, upon all phases of mis- is so much new mat!'lrial, that, as Dr.
sionary work at home and abroad, and Smith says, his Life has yet to be written, upon all questions pertaining to the outside of his own precious journals; philosophy and economy and history of and -he proposes to put him and Carey missions. For such articles we shall, side by side, both men of the people; whether personally solicited by us or but one a self-educated shoemaker, and not, whenever we can make use of them, the other an academic scholar. This pay the writer whatever the pecuniary hint of the coming feast will serve to resources of the REVIEW make possible. whet the appetite of our readers for Weare specially desirous of accurate re- Dr. Smith's promised book.
ports of recent intelligence from every fieJd.
If any reader knows of a work, II mission, or a field of labor which has po ade- Nothing unfriendly to Dr. Pentecost quate representation in these pages, we was intended in publishing the stricask his help in furnishing or securing tures of Rev. C. M. Wherry, D.D., on such matter as remedies the lack. The his public addresses about India (May, editors desire to have every intelligent 1891, page 387). Dr. Wherry was for reader share in the editorial care of the twenty years a missionary in India, and REVIEW by thus making it a fuller and . one of the founders of the theological more trustworthy magazine of informa. seminary at Lodiana, and author of a tion. Various changes which experi- noted work on Mohammedanism. Such ence seems to dictate will be made with an authority deserved to be heard on the opening of a new- volume in 1893. questions pertaining to the Orient.
Meanwhile, we welcome any friendly suggestions which may help us in a field where we have had none to precede us A Hint to Oontributors of Artioles and pioneer the way. This is, so far a8 The editor finds it absolutely necessary we know, the only REVIEW that has un- to reject or return many articles because dertaken to cover the world-wide field of they are not in shape to be used in missions, and it is not strange if we these pages without toil in editing, to should have found no small obstacles in which the editor is not equal. A care- ollr path. We invoke Divine help in a less letter is sometimes written which most arduous toil.-A. T. P. cannot all be published, and is not in condition for the printer, and perhaps a report or newspaper article accom- A new contribution to mIssIOnary panies it, and the editor is told biography is forthcoming from the that he may make such extracts as he golden pen of George Smith, LL.D., of chooses. This is no way to insure in- Edinburgh, Foreign Secretary of the sertion of matter. If a paper is worth Free Church. It is to be a life of Henry anything for readers, it is worth being Martyn, and will be II valuable addition carefully written before it reaches this to the marvellous biographies of Duff, office, and should be ready to go into Carey, Wilson of Bombay, Summerville, the printer's hands with as little change etc., from the same gifted author. as possible. If writers will themselves Dr. Smith spares no pains to prepare kindly take pains to send us brief, these masterly volumes. He went last pithy, well-written and legible manu- year to Land's End to get up the" lo- scripts, they will seldom be disappoint- cal color" for Henry Martyn's life, amid ed by finding them returned as rejected the surroundings of Truro, in Cornwall, MSS.
where Martyn was born. That story of the Cornish boy who died at Tokat has Madame Hyacinthe Loyson is now in splendid possibilities in it, divine and this country on a mission for the National Society for the Evangelization of "We receive both boys and girls from France. She comes with the strong their earliest days, keep the boys until endorsement of a Committee, among they are between fourteen and fifteen whom we find such conspicuollS names years of age, when they are apprenas those of Pastors Mettetal, Monod, ticed, and the girls till they are about Lalot, Gout, Duchemin, Prunier, Sail- seventeen years old, when both boys lens, etc.; and such men as Reveillaud, and girls are provided with an outfit, Rougement, CourUa! and Passy. Dr. and with suitable situations also. Up McAll adds a warm personal letter of to the time that our orphans are sent sympathy and commendation. We be- away from the institution, they are speak for her and her caU3e a cordial boarded, lodged. clothed, and educated hearing. There is a wide and effectual entirely free of all expense to their reladoor open in France; but there are tives, and have a most comfortable and many adversaries. happy home_ Mrs. E. L. Ryland Jacques, grand- "When I began the orphan work daughter of the late Dr. Ryland, of fifty-seven years ago, there was accom- Northampton, afterward of Broadmead, modation in this country for 3600 or- Bristol, and President of the Baptist phans only; but since that time, through College, has some manuscript outlines of her famous grandsire's sermons. the blessing of God, which has rested They are written with crow·s quill on so abundantly upon my-labors, such an narrow slips of paper convenient for slipping over the leaf of his pocket Bi- impetus has been given to orphan work, ble, and he being very near-sighted that institutions have sprung up in vacould read them, though the writing is rious parts of Great Britain, by means so fine as to be legible only because so of which more than 100,000 orphans exquisitely neat. Mrs. Jacques offers these for sale at $2 each, the proceeds can now be provided for; and for this reason.it is that we have so many va- cancies at the present time, and find it so difficult to fill them up.
., I repeat, therefore, that I shall con- sider it an especial kindness if Christian friends will take the trouble to seek out destitute orphans, and advise the rela- tives of such to apply to me for their admission, as we have good and abun- dant accommodation for them, and a large number of efficient helpers."
to go to missions. There are only a few The editor regrets to add that in the left, and if any of our readers desire fifty-third annual report of these insti- such a curiosity, it would be well to tutions there appears a d~cit of £3663, write to her at once, at Merrickville, or about $18,000, nearly one half of Ontario, Canada.. which is salaries due to teachers, who voluntarily and nobly relinquish pay Mr. George Miiller's Orphanages at until relief comes. We cannot but Bristol. believe the exigency is only one more trial of faith and incentive to prayer. With no little surprise do we find a For nearly sixty years the work of public appeal from this distinguished George Miiller has stood before the advocate of faith work, stating that world as an example and proof of mighty there are now a great number of vacan- works still possible to believing souls. cies for girls in the Bristol orphan Surely some to whom God has given houses, erected to receive 2050 orphans means will be glad to share in such a both whose parents are dead. Mr. Millier work by relieving the present pressure. says: " 1 earnestly request Christian friends The Woman's Foreign Missionary Sokindly to assist me in filling up these ciety of the Presbyterian Church has vacancies, by seeking out suitable cases published in a revised form the" Hisfor admission into our institution, by torical Sketches of Presbyterian Misletting the relatives or friends of orphan sions," 1334 Chestnut Street, Philadelgirls know that they can be received at phia. We haTe often said that this the Ashley Down Orphan Houses, and by advising them to write to me for their admi6!!iQn. little compendium is one of the very has been known as one of the most reo best books on missions that has come under the editor's eyes; ahd will be markable organizers ever conducting found most helpful to all who study missions in the fields here treated- the work of home missions. A more viz., Africa, China, India, Japan, Korea, extended notice will, we hope, appear Mexico, Guatemala, North American soon. A. T. P. Indians, Chinese and Japanese in America, Persia, Siam and Laos, South By some accident the following letter America, and Syria. Each is treated by a specialist on the particular field. failed to appear earlier. We publish it While referring to recent books we now, with apology for delay.-A. T. P. call attention to four new issues of our TREMONT TEMPLE. BOSTON, MAss., enterprising friend, F. H. Revell, 30 June 15, 1892. East Union Square, New York: "Everyday Life in South India," $1; "Chil- Rev. A. T. Pierson, D.D.: dren of India," $1.40; "Gospel Eth- DEAR SIR: On page 464 of June nology; or, the Gospel for the Race," number of the REVIEW, deaths in Africa $1 ; ., On the Congo," 50 cents. These are wrongly stated as being 60 per cen· tum. are a very useful addition to that cheap Careful statistics show the death-rate and comprehensive missionary library in the Congo missions up to April, 1890. which Mr. Revell seems determined to Since that date the death-rate has been furnish to all willing readers at a merely lower than the average, {or owing to our better houses, improved transport nominal cost. We are also glad to see service, our accumulated experience, that the African News is published in etc., some of the old causes of sickness volume form embracing the year just . have been removed. These figures in- clude all the societies then at work on passed. the Congo-six in number. Percentage of deaths in the Baptist Missionary So. I am told that at Springfield and J ack- ciety (English): Arrivals, 66; deaths, sonville, Ill., about thirty miles apart, 25-percentage, say, 38. Percentage are to be found colonies of Portuguese, in all the missions: Total arrivals, 204 ; driven out from Madeira in 1849, and total deaths, 54-percentage, 26-!- The taking refuge in these cities. The death-rate is higher in the English Bapstreets are wholly given up to these set- tist Society than the average rate, but tlers. They have at least four churches the English Society began work in 1878, of their own. In the Sandwich Islands when the country had not been explored, 12,000 are to be found, where amid a and the missionaries of the English total population of perhaps 80,000,20,- Baptist Society and ours of the American 000 are Chinese, and a few thousand Baptist Missionary Union had the hard more Japanese. To such an extent, task and exposure of exploring for themnot only in our own land, but through- selves the country now pierced by their out the world, the peoples are mixing. chain of mission stations, which now stretches fully a thousand miles into Two deaths, such as not often are the interior of Africa. chronicled, have recently occurredone that of Rev. John Van Nest Tal- Six years of this preliminary work mage, D.D., of Amoy, China, who died had been done, and the two missions August 19th, and the other that of named had already established them- Rev. Henry Kendall, D.D., who died selves far beyond Stanley Pool, ere any September 9th. Both were veterans. of the Qther societies entered. Then Dr. Talmage being seventy-three and came the first attempt made by Mr. Dr. Kendall seventy-seven, and both Simpson. of New York, in 1884. Two very remarkable men. We can in these years later Bishop William Taylor's pages, and at present writing, do no mission was started, and the same year more than record this great loss to the the Swedish Missionary Society (two Church, one in the foreign and the members of which had already done other in the home field, both leaders good service in the A. B. M. U. mis. lind generals. Dr. Kendall particularly sion) was organized (1886). Following those came the Congo Balolo Mission.
The old established missions had al- ready bought a good deal of experience, and some lives were laid down in the learning of the lessons; thosA that fol- lowed had an easier task, and a lower death-rate in consequence.
Yours, JOSEPH CLAllX.
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
V:-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY THE EDITOR·IN·OHIEF.
South Amerioa.-Brazil. ties for inland navigation exceeding that of the combined Afrioan rivers; and the This being the four hundredth anni· 'Orinooo, though smaller than either of versary of the discovery of America by the others, has a length of 1800 miles, Christopher Columbus, and South and with its branohes supplies 8000 America having been the actual conti- miles of navigable waters. The oom· nent to whose shores he found his way, bined lengths of these three streams is there is a special reason for giving this 8200 miles; the total of their navigable portion of the globe a conspicuous plaoe waters nearly 80,000 miles, and the in our thought; and there is a provi. areas of' their basins cover 3,700,000 dentiallesson of great signifioanoe whioh square miles! is suggested by the history of its disoov. ery and settlement. It is, however, still more remarkable that these rivers are so iocated as to fur. South Amerioa is a vast triangular nish a natural highway everywhere to peninsula; Hs extreme length, 4550 the heart of the continent. A resident miles, and its greatest breadth, 3200 at the eastern foot of the Andes may miles; of its area of 6,500,000 square transport himself and his property in English miles, three fourths lie between less than seven weeks 2000 miles to the the tropios and the other fourth in the Atlantic by floating with the current; temperate zone. and the eastern breeze whioh blows perennially up stream will convey him This superfioial area may be conven· back almost without effort if he spreads iently divided into five physioal regions: sail; nor is the navigation interrupted the low country skirting the Paoifio; by one cataract or even rapid from the the Orinoco basin, espeoially linked Atlantio to Jaen. A glance at the map with Columbus; the Amazon basin; reveals that the great river system con· the great southern plain of the Plata stitutes a natural roadway, with two and other rivers; and the country of main trunks, making it unnecessary for Brazil. From the extreme south to the the poor people to build roads, and Isthmus of Panama runs the Andes affording facility for an extensive inland range, with an average height of 11,000 communioation and commerce, elsewhere to 12,000 feet, and a breadth of from 20 unrivalled on the globe, save in the com· to 400 miles. The vast plains or steppes panion continent of North America. Is of the Orinoco basin are called llanos, not this God's providential provision for intensely hot, and having little wood· the rapid oocupation of South America land; and the open steppes of the La with the Gospel and its institutions? Plata region are known as pampas, with a prodigious 'growth of grass and weeds, The population of South America furon which great herds feed. nishes a study for the ethnologist. As at the northern extremity of this new The Andes have three transverse world we meet the Esquimaux, four and chains or branches nearly at right angles a half feet high, so at the southern cape to the main range, and forming the natu· we find the six·foot Patagoniano The ral boundaries of the three great ri~er tribes ocoupying territory north of Pata· basins. The river system is among the gonia and east of the Andes, St. Vincent wonders of the world. The Amazon classifies as American, and the Neptuniu.n alone pours a flood into the sea that ex· on the west coast he identifies with the ceeds the united disoharge of the eight inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula and prinoipal rivers of Asia, the Indus, the Indian Archipelago. Humboldt Ganges, Yenesei, Oby, Lena, Amoor, thinks that from Cape Horn to Behring's Hoang ho, and Yang.tse. The Plata Straits and the St. Lawrence baain we probably ofIe~ij wit4 ite brllnches facili· have a people from a common stock, ring that nothing less than a continent notwithstanding diverse tongues. Of could furnish such a stream. Dying, the total population of the globe, South still in ignorance of the extent and im- America has about thirty. five parts out portance of his discovery, the name of one hundred and' fifty, or between " West Indies" crystallizes and fossilizes one fourth and one fifth, about as large the impression that the countries he a proportion as Europe, but of course had made known to Europeans were a much less dense. part of the outskirts of India.
From these physical features, etc., we Before leaving this wonderful history, turn to consider the providential history we must place side by side with it the of this great peninsula. Columbus, equally significant fact that John Cabot, with three small vessels and 120 men to whom, with his sons, Sabastian and sailed from Palos, August 3d, 1492. Santius, God gave the immediate suc. From the Canary Isles he entered upon cession in this career of discovery, was a realm of oceanic mystery, borne on by an Italian by birth. John Cabot was the trade winds toward what he believed not only the contemporary of Columto be the coast of Asia. What trifling bus, but a Venetian merchant, but reevents are the hinges of destiny and his- sided in England, and Sebastian was tory! Pinzon's counsel led the great born in Bristol. The discoveries of the Genoese to steer toward t11e southwest. Genoese navigator fired a like zeal in Had Columbus kept to his original young Sebastian; and as Henry VII.. route, he would have met the warm was ambitious to enter the field of mari- Gulf Stream and have touched at Flori- time discovery, when the Cabots proda, and thence, perhaps, gone up to posed to the king the project of shorten- Cape Hatteras and Virginia; and as he ing the route to India by a western represented a Roman Catholic power, course, the king fell in with their prothe result would have been that the con- posal, and on March 6th, 1496, the first tinent of North America would have patent was granted. From all we can fallen under the awful blight now rest- gather, it appears that before any other, ing on the twin continent of the south the Cabols saw the mainland of America, -a semi·pagan Romanism. A Roman the term Terra primum visa being used Catholic Spanish population would have to distinguish the continent. This was spread over this land of ours instead of seen June 24th, 1497, and was probably a Protestant English people! And as Nova Scotia. A second patent, issued Martin Alonzo Pinzon himself formed to John Cabot, February 3d, 1498, led his opinion as to the direction of the to another voyage, but not until after land by observing a flight oj parroquets the father's death. This issued in the toward the southwest, we m.ay say that discovery of 1800 miles of North Ameri- God used the trackless pathway of birds can seacoast; and so-does anything through the air to determine the equally merely happen 1-a Venetian navigator, trackless pathway of Columbus' ships employed by the British Government, through the sea, and to fix the distribu- appropriated for Protestantism the vast tion of this Western world between the territory of North America. Had the Latin and Germanic races! Cabots been in the employ of Ferdinand the whole of the Americas might have As it was, on October 12th, 1492, Co- been to-day under the rule of a civilizalumbus first touched at Guanahani, or tion little above barbarism, and a re- Watling Island; and after about three ligion little above paganism! months in Cuba, Hispaniola and other isles, he returned to Spain. He made Arnold Guyot" in his book on" The three other voyages; on the second, Earth and Man," treats the contour and coasting along the northwest shore of relief of the continents of the earth, the South America, and from the vast vol- shape of the dry land, etc., as a physiume of the Orinoco at its estuary, infer- cal prophecy of a divine providential !'
purpose in the working out of human a fairer land. . .. And now that Brazil history and destiny. has entered into the sisterhood of reo Rev. G. W. Chamberlain, D.D., of publics, now that education has received Br~zil, finely says that the physical a great stimulus, now that slavery has geography of that great land forecasts been abolished, and religious bigotry the acts in the great drama of its fu- has given place to religious liberty, we ture ; and shows that the land shall be are drawing nearer to the realization (1) one and indivisible; (2) a healthy of the possibilities portrayed by the habitation, and (3) a theatre for congre- great naturalist."
gating tbe families of the earth. Dr. We must content ourselves with this Chamberlain's words are so forceful mere outline, not daring to touch upon that we embody their substance. The the history of missions in South Ameri- topography, hydrography, prefiguration ca, which must be reserved for separate of Brazil leave no chance for a division. treatment. We are content to suggest You cannot divide the country-by the philosophy of history found in the eternal forecast it is to be one. A very strange and marvellous facts here slight depression of the earth's surface brought to notice.
would have left the river systems, whose broad arms embrace Brazil, to have made it a vast island. He whose hands formed the dry land raised Brazil high The story of the mission to the Pata- toward heaven, so that even in the inter- gonians and Fuegians, as connected tropical regions it is among the habit. with the name of Captain Allen F. Gar- able parts of the earth. And as the con, diner, has few rivals even among the tour and configuration of the old hemi- most pathetic tales of missionary hero· sphere forecast the separation and seg- ism. Darwin recorded his verdict that regation of the family of man, the new in this extreme part of South America, hemisphere hints concentration and man existed in a lower state of improve- congregation. In the southern half of ment than in any other part of the this new world, in the United States world. Yet just here Captain Gardi- of Brazil, a theatre for history is pre- ner went. Failure could not disap- pared similar to that. where the United point nor disaster dismay him. When States is working out its historic future. the natives drove him from the shore, Vast area, healthfulness, individuality he said, ., the mission establishment must all point to a vast concourse of human- be for the present afloat." Accordingly ity and a vast development in the near two large decked boats were fitted out, future. In pursuance of the Divine and in December, 1850, they bore the plan, this great fertile territory was mission party to Banner Cove. A year committed to the Portuguese in order from that time the letter of Samuel La.
that for a time it should lie j ealou81y fone brought the sad tidings of the guarded and hermetically sealed even to deat.h of these devoted men. Captain all foreign commerce. And now, as the Gardiner's journal was found at Span- northern civilization begins to overflow iard's Harbor. He appears to have died and demand new outlets and a wider September 6th, of starvation; but over area, Brazil, reserved for such a time as his remains was the rude inscription, this, throws open her doors and reaches " Wait, my soul, upon God; for all my out after the means for developing her expectation is from Him." What won- territorial resources. And as Dr. Cham- der that Mr. Despard published far and berlain adds, " should her moral and wide the resolve: WITH GOD'S HELP THE intellectual endowments grow into har. MISSION SHALL BE MAINTAINED! And it mony with her wonderful natural beauty was maintained, and even Darwin con- and wealth, the world will not have seen fessed its grand success.
GENERAL MII!SIONARY INTELI.IGENCE. 871'
VI.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Organized Missionary Work a.nd Statistios. Edited ,by Rev. D. L. Leonard, Oberlin, O.
-The usual carefully prepared tables "that now it is the most important of statistics, which many readers of the work for Jews in the whole world… MISSIONARY REVIEW have found so valu- able, may be expected, though at the -Though indifference and guilty beginning of next year, instead of at the withholding are so oommon in the end of this. churches, yet many also are the exam- ples of self-denying consecration. As -Of the 139 missionary societies Dr. A. J. Gordon suggests: "On the represented at th" General Conference staff of the China Inland Mission there of Protestant Foreign Missions in Lon- are 60 men and women who are work- don, in 1888, while only 18 represented ing in the foreign field just as they all other races. 121 represented the would work in their churches at home, Anglo-Saxon race. entirely supporting themselves. A Western farmer has recently sold his -Among the most significant signs house and lands, and with his wife and of increased zeal for missions is to be children-all consecrated to the workset the fact that almost all the leading has gone to Africa to constitute 8 self- religious papers. and not a few of the supporting missionary household. A great dailies, gi ve regularly large space lady of wealth, within the last month, to news from the field. In some cases sailed from New York, taking with her once a month whole pages are covered 8 other missionaries, she providing for with letters from missionaries, or col- the perpetual support of all the party. umns are filled with interesting bits of The widow of one of our honored misintelligence; in others something is sure sionaries is carrying on a work in Japan to appear every week, and in a few cases of the same kind, she providing fcr the the secretaries of the societies use the entire support of herself and her copress to reach the Christian public. laborers."
-Rev. A. F. SchaufHer, of the New The same spirit is found in Britain. York City Mission and Tract Society, For James E. Mathieson, Esq., the forhas recently published a special report mer secretary of the MiIdmay Mission, on the Jewish work, which for two years has renounced his banking business enhas been carried on in that city with tirely to engage in religious work. Lord such remarkable results by the convert- Radstock and his family spend their .od Polish Jew, Mr. Hermann Warsza- lives as evangelists in the slums. A wiak. He visits irom house to house wholesale butcher, one of the Taberamong his brethren, and holds frequent nacle congregation, went to his business services, which are attended by 600 to at half-past five in the morning, that 800. Some 16,000 copies of the New he might come to. the Tabernacle at Testament have been distributed, most- half-past nine to see that the visitors ly in Hebrew. It is estimated that to the pastor's conference were properly 50,000 of the 200,000 Jews in New York housed and taken care of. Another man, have attended the services held in the worth $500,000, adjusts all his busi- DeWitt Memorial Church, Rivington ness so as to act as usher at the Taber- Street. Mr. Schaufll.er says: ., The nacle door. Such consecration to largest male audiences that this city God's work is not very rare in Britain. affords are now to be seen listening to Also, when the Mongolian heart is touchhim." and affirms that, .. not for a thou- ed by the Spirit of God, the same divine sand years has God shown such favor to longing to minister begins to stir within. one preaching to Jews;" and further. For Mr. Lum Foon, a member of the Chinese Mission church, of San Francisco, 1890 there were 142,256, a.n increase of has lately given up a prosperous business 272 per cent. The total value of church and gone to China as a self-supporting property in 1850 wBlf $87,446,371, and missionary. He has bought land and in 1890, $631,221,303, an increase of 621 erected a fine chapel and school at his per cent. The five leading denomina- own expense. tions had communicants as follows, -There are 12 memorial kindergar- viz.: The Methodists, 4,255,377 ; Cathotens at work in San Francisco, and 6 of lics, 6,250,045 ; Presbyterian, 1,278,815 ; them were started by Mrs. Leland Stan- Lutheran, 1,199,514; Congregational, ford. To put them on a permauent 512,771. The increase in the value of basis, she has now set aside $100,000 as Catholic church property since 1850 an endowment fund. She had given has been 1178 per cent, and that of the $60,000 for these schools previously. Lutheran, 1098 per cent.
The one opened in 1884 by Mrs. Stan- -A recent census bulletin states that ford was the first memorial kindergar- of the 7,470,000 colored persons in the ten in the world, it is said. United States, 2,371,100 are church- -A Grand Army mission is conducted members. More than one half of them by Colonel H. H. Hadley, under the are Baptists -1,230,516. Different pension agency on Canal Street, New branches of the Methodists claim 722,- York City, where pensioners' checks are 964. There are 110,000 Roman Cathocashed and remittances made to friends lics, and the rest are divided among without cost. Free breakfasts, lunch several sects.
and coffee are furnished to the pension- -The International Missionary Alliers, 10,000 of whom come to the agency ance publishes the names of upward of every three months to receive their 90 men and women who have gone to checks. A Gospel meeting is held every the foreign field under its auspices, and evening. Major-GeneralO. O. Howard, are found laboring in Africa, Turkey, General Wager Swayne, and other men India, China, Japan, the West Indies, of note serve on the committee of man- Alaska, etc. agement. -The Reformed Presbyterian Church -The Cross Bearers' Missionary Read- (Covenanter) numbers only about 10,000, ing Circle is well worthy of notice by but sustains missions in Syria and Asia all who would inform themselves con- Minor, as well as among the freedmen, cerning the growth of the kingdom. Indians and Chinese in the United The idea of the organization is for each States. The contributions for foreign member to read a certain amount on missions from all sources in 1891, not missionary or kindred subjects each day including a bequest of $8500, were $19,- as designated, to pass a yearly exami- 614, or an average of $1.74 per member. nation, and to recei ve a certificate of graduation. Such books will be read -The Evangelical Association has a ae these: biographies of missionaries; mission in Japan which was established books describing the countries, customs, in 1875, and now contains 18 itinerant and peoples; works treating of God's and 5 local preachers, and a number of purpose a.nd the adaptability of the . Bible women and other native helpers.
heathen to that purpose ; and a periodi- The number of communicants is 488.
cal giving the latest missionary informa- There are 6 church edifices, 2 parson- tion. Further particulars may be had ages, and 6 mission homes. At Tokio by addressing Rev. Z. M. Williams, Sec- is a prosperous theological seminary.
retary, St. Joseph, Mo. -The experience is not uncommon -In 1850 there were 38,183 church with secretaries of the societies, but is edifices in the United States, while in it not strange that even in a church so substantial as the (Dutch) Reformed, so offered for service, as against 179 now. inspiring an announcement as the fol. Thirty.four were accepted then, 118 lowing should need to be introduced by now." a phrase so lugubrious: "If we can get money to send them, 5 missionaries -The Universities'Mission includes expect to sail per steamer Ohina from 21 English clergy, 3 African clergy, 27 San Francisco September 27th; the laymen, 23 women, and 84 native teach. Rev. and Mrs. Harris, Miss Brokaw, ar.d ers and readers. There are 1300 adult Miss Couch go to Japan, and Miss Mor· baptized catechumens, 1071 communi. rison to China" ? cants, and 3000 day scholars.
-The United Brethren have a mis· -The Church of Scotland is repre. sion in West Africa known as the Sher. sented in the foreign field by 77 Euro.
bro·Mendi, whose beginning dates from pean missionaries, women included, 1855. Upon it $225,000 have been ex· and 314 native helpers. In 1891 the pended, and $8725 last year. The mis· baptisms numbered 1129, more than sionaries visit some 350 villages and double those of the year before, and the towns, and upward of 7000 natives have total income-was £46,124 ($230,620), the been gathered into the churches. A largest sum ever reported.
theological training school is doing -This is the jubilee year of the Free good work. Church, and in an appeal for special EUROPE. thankofferings these statements are Great Britain.-The twenty.seventh made: "Our Church has never had anniversary of the Salvation Army was such a year of ingathering in our foreign held in Exeter Hall, London, July 25th. mission work. We have seen the fields General Booth stated that they had ri pening to the harvest for many a year, nearly 11,000 officers, 6000 abroad and but in this year we have been bringing 5000 at home; that since August last in the sheaves. In Central Africa, in there had been an increase of nearly South Africa, and in the New Hebrides 1000 societies; that they had 32 weekly our mission work has been blessed and papers and 6 monthly magazines with a owned of God as it never was before; circulation of over 17,000,000 ; the num· While in India we have been able to ber of languages in which there was count our converts by the hundreds, preaching done by the officers was 24. when formerly we rejoiced in the tens. This is surely a cause for devout thank.
-Only recently John Horniman, of fulness. Nor are we alone in this har.
Croydon, made the munificent gift of a vesting. God is blessing the mission convalescent home to Worthing, Sussex, work of the whole Christian Church in England, for the public benefit; and India as it never was blessed before.
now the same generous donor has put The past year has been one of almost $100,000 in the hands of trustees, who universal rejoicing in the mission field." .
are arranging for the building and open· The Continent.-Besides their 12 ing of a Friends' Missionary Training stations in the Moskito Indian Territory, Home, more particularly for the foreign Central America, the Moravians have missionary students and prospective 14 stations among the Esquimaux of workers abroad. Greenland, Labrador, and Alaska•. 6 -Sir J. H. Kennaway, M.P., Presi. among the North American Indians in dent of the Church Missionary Society, Canada and the States, 50 among the said at the annual meeting: •• Onr or· colored population of 9 West Indian dinary income this year is £23,100 in Islands. 26 among the negroes of Brit.
excess of the year 1887, when I first ish and Dutch Guiana, 24 Ilmong the took office. In that year 82 candidates Hottentots and Kaffirs of South Africa, 3 am ong the Aborigines of Australia, and lem is urgent and alarming, but in India 3 among the Tibetans of the Himalayas. the perplexing question relates rather to They have a hospital for lepers close to the agricultural districts, with their 90 Jerusalem, and their latest enterprise is or even 95 per cent of the population.
a mission to the north of Lake Nyassa. ' The masses are found not crowded into At these 139 stations they have 31,380 cities, and not scattered upon farms, communicants and a total membership but collected in almost countless vil- of 90,544. Their home churches in lages.
Germany, the United I:!tates, and Great -An idea of the vast numbers inhab- Britain number about 21,000 communi· iting the whole of this huge peninsula cants and 30,000 members, including may be gained by considering the fact children. that in Bengal alone the census staff ASIA. employed exceeded 309,000, and the population of this single province is Turkey.-No friend of missions can 9,000,000 in excess of those inhabiting read withont deep solicitude "f the fre· the United States at the last census, quent attempts made of late by Turkish for an area oHess than one twenty-third officials to cripple and fetter the work that of the United States! of the Gospel. And so it was pleasant to read that the Secretary of State, on -The widows of India number four the receipt of a telegram from the Unit· times as many as the entire popUlation ed States Charge d'Affaires at Constan· of London. tinople, stating that the house of Dr. Bartlett, an American missionary in -In the single province of Behar there Konich, Asia Minor, had been burned, are 30,000,000 of people untouched by and that the lives of the missionaries missionary effort, and if 40,000 missionawere in danger, cabled instructions to ries were to be sent to India there would still be only one to every 50,000.
the legation to demand of Turkey effec- -An American missionary, speaking tive protection, indemnity, punishment of the unsanitary conditions in which the of the guilty parties, and reprimand of people dwell, resulting from bad water, the authorities found remiss, and also foul air, filthy food, ignorant quacks, that the cruisers Newark and Benning- etc., does not wonder that" there are ton, now on the way to Genoa, would be 500,000 lepers, that cholera carries off ordered to the vicinity of the outrage to 417,000 in a single year, that in the same support this demand. time 125,453 die of small-pox and 3,486,- -A native Albanian, Rev. G. D. 448 of fever," but thinks the marvel is Kyrias, the first man who ever pro_ that all are not smitten by deadly pesticlaimed the Gospel in the Albanian lan- lence. The British Government is guage, is preaching to his people in doing its best to mend matters by 0. Kortcha, Turkey. vast system of hospitals, dispensaries (1641), medical schools (18), etc. There -The Syrian mission of the American are 25 lunatic asylums, and 23 for Presbyterian Church has a force of 16 lepers. Vaccination is compulsory, men and 24 women; and of natives, 4 much to the horror of all devotees of ordained pastors, 41 preachers or evan- caste, and last year 5,709,462 children gelists, 172 teachers, male and female, 5 were vaccinated.
other helpers-a total of 222. Regular -The need of female education in services are held in 88 localities. In In(lia is shown by the fact that while the 89 Sunday-schools are 5433 children, there are about 18,000,000 girls of a while 192 young women are in training school-going age, a recent return made for teachers. From the mission press by the Government shows that not more 65,300 volumes issued in 1891. than 294,457 are attending school.
India.-In this country the city prob- From this it will be seen that there ill only one in ~very 61 receiving education (of whom some 575 are ordained) 58 are of any kind. The rest are simply left Germans. who also have about 1000 of to grow up in ignorance, heathenism, the 17,000 in the schools, and 2500 of and superstition. the 40,000 communicants.
-In the Marathi mission of the -The Basle mission at the end of American Board, retrenchment in some the first decade had 1 station and 2 mis- form became necessary last year, and sionaries ; at the end of the second, 4 the native preachers and teachers gave stations and 5 missionaries ; ten years up two months' salary, leaving their later, 5 stations and 14 missionaries; vork through the week for that time and fifteen years later still, 13 stations and taking whatever employment they and 5 out-stations, 37 missionaries and could find to keep out of debt. Some 90 native helpers. In twenty years the of them went into the harvest fields as Christians have increased from 668 to laborers, in order to supply their neces- 3600.
sities. Japan.-Reports from Japan indicate -In the Sialkot district (punjab) be- that about 400 people are baptized in tween 1881-91 the number of Christians the Protestant churches every month.
rose from 412 to 9711, and mostly by -The Council of Missions of the baptisms. The Scottish and American Church of Christ in Japan, composed of Presbyterians occupy this field. missionaries representing 6 Presbyte- -A. L. O. E .. the well·known writer, rian and Reformed churches-the Re- is a missionary in India, doing Zenana . formed (Dutch), German Reformed, mission work. Although more than Presbyterian. Presbyterian South, Unit..
threescore'years and ten, she goes out ed Presbyterian, and Cumberland Pres- daily to teach India's degraded and pov- byterian, and the Woman's Union Mis- erty.stricken women. sionary Society-in its fifteenth 'annual -Two Brahmans, father and son, report gives statistius which show 54 were recently received into the Baptist missionaries, 49 wives, and 51 other Church at Rangoon by Rev. F. T. women, a total of 154, aud 10,961 Whitman, who writes that Rangoon is a church-members. There are 70 theomost favorable place for work among logical students in the 5 schools for the caste people of India. There are boys and young men, and of the 120 thousands of them there, and the power pupils in the Meiji Gakuin 87 are Chrisof their caste is greatly weakened. Four tians. There are also 26 schools for have been received into the English girls, young women, and children, with Church by Mr. Whitman. J774 pupils, of whom 315 are Christians.
-According to the statistics in the China.-'I'he Rev. H. C. Knox says annual report of the Japanese mission that Chinese converts are governed by (American Board), there are 109 Congre- the law of self-sacrifice. In illustration gational churches in Japan, with a total he refers to a native bookseller, who had membership of 10,760. The number of been taken up and beaten for reading additions by confession last year was Christian books, and who, when he 1096, an increase of 56 over the precedheard that the Rev. H. S. Phillips was ing year. There are 129 preachers and alone and iu danger, walked forty miles 22 Bible women. The contributions for in order to stand by him. He had church purposes were $25,706, a gain of heard this bookseiIer, after a weary nearly $5000 over the year before.
day's labor, pleading with souls for hours until near morning. -In Korea, the" Hermit Kingdom,"
which is one of the newest of fields, -Of the 1300 missionaries in China with its 80,000 square miles and 13,000,- 000 of population, 8 societies are at work a half was represented by five genera· -the Methodist Episcopal, the Presby. tions, and during that time forty.one terian North, and South, and of Aus. congregations had been established in tralia, S. P. G., and 2 Canadian societies England, of which twenty.one-includ. -in all with 59 missionaries, of whom 22 ing the chief town congregations and are ordained, 17 are wives, 11 unmarried the settlements-were begun before women, and 5 are physicians. 1770.
AFRICA. Association for Promoting Female Education in India. – This society, -In the mission churches established which is wholly sustained by ladies, along the Congo by English and Ameri- was started in 1866 in connection witb can missionaries there are already 1500 the Society for the Propagation of the communicants. Gospel, and seeks to provide teachers -Rev. Taylor Smith, of the Church for the instruction of native women and Missionary Society and canon mis. cbildren, as well as to assist female mis· sioner of the diocese of Sierra Leone, sion schools by providing suitable in describing the changes wrought clothing and a maintenance for board. within seventy.five years, says: "There ers. Funds are raised by establishing has risen a flourishing, self.~upporting branch associations throughout the church-a church, moreover, which country and by sales of ladies' work. maintains its own missionary society. The first teacher was sent out to Mada. We have full churches. It is no uncom· gascar in 1867, which is now the centre mon thing to see from 1000 to 1400 peo· of a large and important work. Zenana ple-English.speaking Africans-in the missions have also been opened all over cathedral at Sierra Leone, and in an· India, and schools in South Africa, Ja. other church at Freetown, in which pan, and China. Lack of funds has pre. place there are !l churches. In another vented speoial medical work being at· tempted, but the teacher who has been i have counted 1000 worshippers on a stationed in Madagascar for twenty.
week.day morning; and in holy week last year there were over 1000 worship. three years spent her last holiday of a pers (everyone African) at seven o'clock. year training in a hospital, with the reo in the morning." suIt that many of the natives for miles round the station come to her for ad.
British Foreign Missions. By Rev. James vice and remedies.
Johnston, Bolton, England. Society for the Propagation of the English Moravian Synod.-At the Gospel.-There are now on tbe society's annual synod in August last at Fairfield list 672 ordained missionaries, includ· the Rev. W. Taylor, bishop of the ing 6 bishops ; in Asia, 225 ; in Africa, church and president, stated that as the 153 ; in Australia and the Pacific, 16 ; London congregation, the oldest in the in North America, 211; in the West Eritish I~les, was about to celebrate the Indies, 36; and 31 in Europe. Of third jubilee of the settlement as a con- these 127 are natives laboring in Asia gregation, the present synod might be and 35 in Africa. The various missions considered to have a jubilee character. have about 2300 lay teachers, 2600 stu· They had reason to praise God for His dents in the society's colleges, and goodness to them, especially in view 38,000 children in the mission schools of the fact that they had enjoyed the in Asia and Africa. The funds in. blessing of spiritual life and union, trusted to its stewardship for the main. and that none of their congregations tenance of this vast work amounted in had severed their connection with the the year 1891 to £116,520.
Unitas liratrum-the church of their Niger Bishopric.-It is announced spiritual forefathers, The century and from reliable quarters that the Rev. Joseph Sidney Hill is the bishop desig- and evangelists, increase, 55 per cent; nate of the Niger to succeed the late 2057 local preachers, increase, 57 per Bishop Crowther. Mr. Hill was trained cent; 33,523 church-members, increase, at the Church Missionary College, 611 per cent; on trial, 12,231, increase, Islington, and served as a missionary 36* per cent; 337 day schools, increase, at Lagos from 1876 to 1878; was sta- 29 per cent; 20,845 day scholars, in- tioned at Wairoa, New Zealand, from crease, 42t per cent; 380 Sunday- 1878 to 1883 ; acted as prison chaplain schools, increase, 50 per cent; 24,959 at Auckland from 1883 to 1890, and for Sunday scholars, increase, 42 per cent.
the last two years has been engaged at The adherents number 135,000, and home on the staff of the Church Paro- the missionary income has grown from chial Mission. Mr. Hill had previously £1500 to between £5000 to £6000.
been enrolled by the society for work At the English Wesleyan Conference on the Niger, and will now at .the arch- last July it was resolved that one of bishop's request proceed immediately the secretaries should visit and spend to the Niger as his commissary to make several months in India during the en- inquiry, to the fullest extent, as to the suing autumn and winter, when the attitude of the native pastors, and on Decennial General Conference of Indian the basis of his report an arrangement missionaries of all Protestant Churches will be made which will satisfy, it is will be held, and also the triennial meet- hoped, the aspirations of the native ing of the society's missionaries. The church. To the difficulties which so financial statement showed that the long beset the Niger Mission the arch- total income was £125.129, and the ex- bishop has given great attention, and it cess of expenditure over income, £4068.
is believed that he will be able to effect To the foreign stations the principal a solution. payments for the past year ",ere: Sierra Leone.-According to custom, Europe, £26,848; Ceylon and Contithe bishop (Dr. Ingham) has arrived in nental India, £34,005; China, £6320; England for his six months' furlough, South Africa, £15,681 ; Western Africa, and is seeking opportunities to plead £6529 ; and West Indies, £7462.
for the pressing needs of the Diocesan Uganda.-The latest letters from Fund. The ordinary departments of Uganda, of date January 31st, come from church organization are actively at the Rev. G. K. Baskerville, an intrepid work, and lately a technical school has young missionary who went out to been established with a view of bene- Africa in 1890. He was in the capital fiting the natives of West Africa. The of Uganda all through the recent fighttask is admittedly a hard one, but a ing, and his communications give the good beginning has been made. Re- first detailed accounts of the unhappy cently the bishop's wife has founded a feuds. It seems that Mwanga has escottage hospital, and these two efforts caped from the Catholic party and atwill tax his resources for some time to tached himself to the Protestants. AIcome. If the bishop carries success in , though the fighting has ceased, private the former department of service he sources of information state that there will have done something toward solv- is much anxiety in official circles as to ing one of the trying problems of Afri- the events of the next four months.
can missionary work. Bishop Tucker, who had been in the South African Wesleyan Metho- neighborhood of Chagga, has now Bet dist Church.-Formally organized on out for Uganda in order that he may its separation from the British mis- advise the missionaries and share with sionary society ten years ago, it has to- them the difficulties of the situation.
day 493 churches, an increase of 60 per Very strongly does the bishop deny the cent on the ten years; 274 ministers charges of the German press, which aeouses British missionaries in Kilima necessary result there has been neither Njaro of selling rifles and ammunition uniformity in practice nor in prin.
to the Moshi. The bishop declares ciple.
that no arms have been sent either to London Missionary Society.-At the mission or to the Moshi from the the request of the directors the Rev. British sphere, whereas the sale of am- R. Wardlaw Thompson, foreign seoremunition in German territory, notwith- tary, will shortly sail for Capetown to standing the Government monopoly, is visit the South African churches and praotically unlimited. stations in the oapacity of special com· Nyassaland.-Commissioner John- missioner. Fresh offers of service for ston's di.spatches touching the suppres. foreign work oontinue to be made by sion of slave-raiding in that region re- English Congregational ministers.
late the oircumstanoes attending the Among the latest names are those of death of Captain Maguire, who wall in Horace H. Theobald, of Kirkham, Lan.
command of the Indian contingent of cashire, and W. Thomas, of Waterhead, the British Central African polioe force, Oldham. Both ministers have relin.
and was shot after leading a gallant at- quished successful pastorates. The tack on a number of slave dhows, and Rev. G. W. Watson, of Wollerton, of Dr. Boyoe and Mr. MacEwan, the Salop, who has completed a ten years'
engineer, while negotiating with the ministry, has been accepted by the enemy for the recovery of Captain Ma- directors, and will prooeed to his ap· guire's body. On April 8th Mr. John- pointment as a teacher in the High ston reported that things were very School at Madras.
satisfaotory on Lake Nyassa, and asks Bishop .Tohn Selwyn's See of Mela.
that the German and Portuguese Gov- nesia, which he has vaoated through ernments be requested to take such ill-health after fifteen years' servioe.
ilteps as to prevent the slave·hunters has been offered to the Rev. Alfred from obtaining supplies of ammunition Penny, vicar of Tunstall, Staffordshire.
from German or Portuguese souroes; -Bishop Smythies of the Universities and such steps have been promptly Mission is regaining strength by his taken. furlough to England, and has reoently occupied one of the cathedral pulpits. An African Council.-In British official quarters there are rumors of the establishment of an African Council on Monthly Bulletin.
lines somewhat similar to that of the -The Divinity School of Yale Uniexisting Indian Council. In recent versity has set on foot a scheme to esyears African affairs have assumed tablish a library of modern missions, to growing importance, requiring the Eng- embrace history, biography, annual relish Government to devote more atten. ports and periodicals, as well as books tion to questions respeoting the" Dark prepared by missionaries for the use of Continent." So enormously have ques. the natives. Professor Day has this tions of civilization and rule oome to important matter in hand. the front, it is felt that the time has arrived when the whole question of -The M'!'ssionary Herald oalls on the England's relations with the native children to supply another and much.
raoes and vast areas, especially those needed Morning Star for work in the under her own influence, demands reo Pacific Ocean, to be called the Hiram oonsideration. It is well known that Bingham, after the missionary who is hitherto British policy in Africa has said to be the first man to reduce to been dictated by the exigencies of the writing a language before unknown, moment and the supposed special reo and then to translate into iit the entire 9,uirements of each sphere j and as a Bible. The call is for $5000. -The punishment of iniquity at India.-It is Dr. Pentecost who de- home is helpful to the Gospel in heathen clares : "You can pick out the children lands. So it is fitting to note that the of the Christian native from those of last of the ballot box stuffers in Jersey the heathen while they are playing to- City have been sentenced. Originally gether in the flame village street. The there were sixty-seven persons indicted Christian children are better clothed, for this crime. All but seven have been better fed, brighter in face, and cheerier tried. Two of these are dead, one is in in manner than those of the heathen."
the insane asylum, one fled to foreign -Ah, the curse of caste! A missionparts, and three the district attorney did ary at Lodiana was preaching to a quiet not think should be tried. audience of Hindus, when a fakir came upon the scene, and became noisy and -Max Limon, until lately a rich abusive. Standing close to the misbanker of Kiev, Russia, recently exiled sionary and gesticulating, by an acciby the Czar's edict against Hebrews, is dent he happened to touch the missionworking in the stock-room of a Chicago ary, when he suddenly stopped, spat clothing house for a weekly salary of on the ground, and with a look of the $7. At one time his fortune amounted utmost disgust, as if he had touched to almost $500,000.
-Mr. Joseph Arbely, a native of some loathsome thing, stooped down Syria, and a graduate of tile Syrian and rubbed his finger in the dust. Then Protestant College at Beirut, has started turning to the crowd he said, " These in New York City a weekly paper in people eat pigs and cows, and they are the Arabic language for the thousands not fit to preach." Then he walked of Arabic·speaking people now in the away, most of the audience following, United States. The title of the paper with exclamations of horror at such de- is the Kankob America (or Slar of Ameri- pravity.
ca). -Whose heart is not touched by the story of the blind man who walked all -Mr. Mellin, a Portuguese lay mis- the way from Lhassa, at least 1000 sionary at Madeira, was arrested and miles, in the hope that Dr. Marx could tried for expounding the Scriptures and remove the cataract and give him sight! singing a hymn at a Protestant funeral When he arrived within a day or two in the Portuguese cemetery on All Souls' of Leh, he heard that the medical mis- Day, when it was crowded with Roman sionary was dead. Sorrowfully he Catholics. A clever lawyer succeeded turned and travelled home again, all in obtaining his acquittal on the ground those thousand miles, over mountain that the service was not an act of public passes and plateaux; averaging 15,000 worship, inasmuoh as Mr. Mellin was feet above the sea. not an ordained pastor. Twelve years' banishment from the islands would have -Mr. Dadabhai Naoroji, lately electbeen the punishment. ed to a seat in Parliament, is a native Indian, and was born in Bombay, 'the Palestine.-The number of blind per- son of a Parsee priest, and was edu. sons in the East is large. There are cated at the Elphinstone Institution, mission schools for them at Beirut, later becoming It professor of mathe- Damascus and Tyre. Blind Scripture- matics and natural philosophy. He readers have the entree of Moslem homes, went to England in 1855, and since was a privilege which blindness confers.
-The Presbyterian reports that Jeru- for years prime minister in the native salem has 135 places where liquor is State of Baroda.
sold, and the license fees, which last -The Gaekwar of Baroda, now trav- year amounted to $2,292, are sent to elling in Europe, before leaving his own constantinople, dominions, gave orders to his dewan to open ten boarding-schools for the sons work extends nearly seventy miles of low-caste people in his territory. northward into the province of Chihli, -The Methodist Episcopal Church is and nearly as far west, and the patients reported as preaching and teaching the who are treated in the hospital have Gospel in India and other parts of Asia come from no less than 1031 villages. in thirteen different languages, and as During the past year 5116 persons have having 29,000 native pupils in India. It been treated, and during ten years no has also established missionary publish- less than 38,306.
ing houses, and from its own presses is -Dr. Hunter Corbett writes from sending out missionary pamphlets and Chufoo, China, that ten men of fine periodicals in nine different languages. education and much promise will soon -There are 330 Bible women taking have completed the course of study in the Scriptures into the Zenanas of the normal school. They will go out, India. t~o by two, to preach at markets and from village to village, on salaries of -At a public meeting in Edinburgh about $50 per year each. Thousands in connection with the Zenana Mission, hear the Gospel at the markets and inns it was stated by Miss Hogg, of Old Cala- and by the wayside. Sometimes 8S bar, that one of the difficulties in her many as five or six men preach at the mission was the love of dress on the same large market. part of the converts, and their insubordination to their Christian husbands. -The Rev. Dr. Mackay writes from The women wanted silks, satins, and vel- Formosa of a wholesale turning from vets, and instead of doing as they were idolatry. By unanimous vote the peobid, as they formerly had to do in the ple of Ka-le-oan handed over a heathen harems, they now had their say in temple for Christian service, and nearly everything. 500 cleared their houses of idols, and a great bonfire was made of the rejected Ohina.-At a banquet recently given gods.
by Li Hung Chang, at which many for- -Dr. Griffith John writes from Haneigners were present, the statesman's kow, China, to the Ohristian World, givson, speaking in English for his father, ing the welcome news that Chan Han, praised Western civilization, and espe- the leader of the recent anti-foreign and cially Western medical science, stating anti-Christian movement in Hunan, that a foreign physician had recently has been deposed from his government saved his life. position by an imperial edict, cashiered, -The Norwegian Evangelical Lu- sent to his home and placed under the theran China Missil:m Society was organ- surveillance of local officials.
ized June 11th, 1890, and already has Japan.-The chapel of the Doshisha twelve missionaries in China. It works College of the American Board's Kyoto in association with the China Inland Mission is filled every Sunday morning Mission. Its headquarters are at Han- by from 500 to 700 young men and kow, on the Yangtse River. women, students in the college and -Rev. David Hill, missionary in girls' schools. This college graduated China, though born to wealth, has this year 83 students, the laq;est num- cheerfully supported himself for twenty- ber on record_ eight years. His brother, a magistrate -Rev. C. S. Eby, a Canadian Methin York, has contributed nobly to the odist missionary, recently gave an exwork, and now his son has gone to labor hibition of stereopticon views at the in the same field. palace in Tokyo, and received in ac· -The report of the Williams Hospital, knowledgment therefor a choice silver at Pang-Chuang, for 1890, states that its cup from His Majesty the Emperor.