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.

The Missionary Review of the World — October 1892

THE GREEK CHURCH AND THE GOSPEL

MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.

VOL.·XV. No.1O.-0ld Series. –OCTOBER.– VOL. v. No. lO.-New Serie8.

THE GREEK CHURCH AND THE GOSPEL.

BY I. E. BUDGETT MEAKIN, TUNIS, AFRICA.

How few of us realize what is really embraced by the title" The Greek Church"! In using it we speak of a religious orgamzation submitted to by more millions than Romanism and Protestantism can muster together; we speak of a church named by the name of Christ, and styling itself the only orthodox, by the side of which the Pope of Rome is an arch-ProtlOstant;* we speak of a despotism unsurpassed under the Inquisition, and of a heathen darkness great as that of the most vaunted stronghold of idolatry.

To most of us the Church of Rome is the embodiment of evil in the Christian fold-the only Babylon. Day by day we have before our very eyes her human teachings and her superstitious practices, while we arc also enabled from our own experience to gather some idea of her fruits. But of the workings of the Church of Greece we remain in comparative ignorance, and in consequent indifference. Yet the millions under its sway are unnumbered by man, and to everyone of these it is as much our duty to preach the Gospel as to our brethren who sit in darkness by our side. Dean Stanley has aptly written of the Eastern Church: "That figure which seemed 80 imposing when it was the only one that met our view changes all its proportions when we see that it is overtopped by a vaster, loftier, darker figure behind." t He says that the study of it brings about " a two-edged disappointment," for that it is Catholic and Protestant at once, a strange anomaly, a living death. It was at one time the dream of this divine, as it had been of Melanchthon and others before him, that an amalgamation might some day be effected between this Church and Protestantism-that "the Greek face may yet hand back from Europe to Asia the light which in former days it handed on from Asia to Europe;" but the indulgence in such a hope only showed the Dean's acquaintance with * He is indeed so styled by one writer of the Greek Church.

t "The Eastern Ohmch," 1884 (p. 43), to which the writer is indebted for most of the compari· sons of these opening paragraphs. its practice to be as shallow as his knowledge of its theory was deep. Centuries ago the Patriarchs of the East had condemned the Lutheran teachings as heresy, Ilnd their successors are no more inclined to think otherwise now of the teachings of the Church of England.

Even in theory the gulf between them is impassable. The Eastern and the Western churches have developed on almost as distinctly different lines as Islam and Judaism, the one grafted on to the stock of a fallen Grecian idolatry and the other grafted on to that of a Homan system. The writer quoted has pointed out how that the Oriental divine, with his speculative theology-as exemplified in the Athanasian Creed-succeeded to the sophist of Greece, while the Latin divine, with his disciplinatory and logical theology, succeeded to the Roman advocate.

At the same time it must be remembered that just as the civilization of ancient Greece was in many ways the parent of that of Rome, so. have the institutions of the Christian Church of Greece been parent to some of the most typical of Romish institutions. The very name of pope is a Greek word, and by it is called every pastor in the Greek Church to-day, not to speak of other Christian pastors in Greek and Turkish lands. I was assured only a short time ago that I was a " papas," a pope, myself, since in these countries people think no one takes real interest in religion who is not well paid to do so. Fourteen of the Fathers of the ancient Church were Greeks,· and so were many of the early popes themselves, Constantinople having been the first great Christian metropoli!!. To this day it is in this Church alone that the New Testament is read in the original, though even there the changes in the spoken tongue have rendered it as unintelligible to the uneducated as Latin is to the Italians; and, of course, in Russia and other countries whcre Greek is _not spoken there is not even the philological link to recommend it. The Sclavonic alphabet, however, is an adaptation from the Greek. and many Latin words have been imported into the languages using it. On the other hand, Rome, and we through it, have borrowed from the Greek Church some of the commonest religious terms, notably those describing monastic institutions-a development of Asiatic fakirism borrowed via Egypt by the Eastern Church-e.g., hermit, monk, monastery, ascetic, abbey, etc.-all of Greek or Syriac origin.

As the followers of Rome spread to the West, those of Greece spread East, till they to-day stretch from Siberia to the Adriatic, and from the White Sea to Abyssinia. The divisions which have arisen within it almost equal those which have arisen within the Western Church, the only difference being that while in the West more energy has been displayed, those who protested protesting chiefly against departure from biblical teaching, in the East the protesting parties have usually striven against departures from the ordinances of man. Thus, for instance, the introduction of a more rational style of Western painting in the place of the archaic Byzantine style, and the use of Western music, or the use of music at all in worship; the cutting of the beard, and the use of potatoes or tobaccQ have seemed to rend the Russian Church to the core. No details of daily life seemed too minnte for the discussion and decision of <Ecumenical coun- cils, documents of which remain, legislating even for the dressing, cooking, and doing the hair. Such were the points on which dissents arose. The Raskolricks, or dissenters, as those who oppose all progress are called, are an important body in Russia. considering themselves to be the only ortho- dox. Even the return to primitive simplicity, of which an example has been set by our brethren the Stundists and the Molokans, are objected to by them as much as any other sort of reform.

Those who may be considered to pertain to the Orthodox Greek Church are the people of Russia. Georgia, Servia, Greece, and Montenegro. Those of Syria, Egypt, and Abyssinia may be considered as Nonconformists. Of the peculiarities of these last the limits of this article do not permit of any treatment, so that the Church of Russia will be dealt with more especially as typical. Bulgaria also possesses its share of this Church, and so do Wallachia and Moldavia, which, though of Latin origin, follow Greek ritual and doctrine. In Hungary, too, we find districts adhering to this Church, while in Bohemia and Poland is a Sclavonic race with a Latin ritual. But it is in Russia par excellence that we feel an interest in the religions system of which the Czar is there the chief, and in the name of which such bitter persecutions are being carried on.

The history of the introduction of Christianity into Rnssia, and of the various dissensions which have arisen there, is too long even to be epito- mized here, but it is noteworthy that there never seems to have been any llpiritual foundation, no converts from conviction, snch as alone can build up a living church. It was the magnificent display, the solemn music, and the incense of the Byzantine Church which are said to have decided the emissaries of an early heathen monarch of Russia to recommend it to their master in preference to that of Rome or Islam, when the three were com- peting to secure his adherence. From that time, when to the heathen Rus- sians were brought so-called holy pictures for their adoration, they have fallen down before them as to gods ~f wood and stone; and still, in this nineteenth century, they worship their icons (pronounced eekones) with a fervor which we cannot understand unless we see it. "No veneration of relics or images in the West can convey any adequate notion of the vener- . ation for pictures in Russia. It is the main support of their religious faith and practice." Iu watching the reverence paid to them, I have wondered what. advantage this travesty of Christianity had been to the worshippers. No Roman ever adored his Jnpiter and no black African his fetich with more earnestness than they do these curious ancient paintings. As a rule, they are half-length representations of Christ, Mary, or saints, of all sizes possible, covered over with silv~r, with the exceptiou of the hands and the face. These parts are in very yellow oils, the features hardly recogp.izable. Some are richly adorned with pearls aud precious stones. Those which are supposed to have worked miracles are adorned with iilver silhouettes of • limbs and persons, hung around them, just as in the Romish Church wax models are used. Often the picture is protected by glass, which is opened to polish up the silvrr before the great feasts. In war time the icons have served as standards, and have been carried to the fight as was the Ark of old. The virtue attributed to those brought back by a victorious army will be understood, and one or two such have a na~ional reputation. Not- withstanding the use of these icons, statues in the churches are strictly prohibited. As for the ceremonies attendant upon their worship, which cannot now be entered into, they exceed the Roman ceremonies in display and pomp as much as those exceed the average Anglican servipe, yet the Coptic still exceeds this, and the Abyssinian is more showy still if possible.

The churches in which they are performed are more or less of the Byzantine style, with a vast open space in the centre, admirably suited for display and for the use of incense. They are usually very much over- decorated according to our ideas, both outside and inside, but too often the finery is tawdry, and does not in any way bear inspection. The use of gilding is excessive even with so much color. The people are fairly regular church attendants on holy days as well as on Sundays, and as they pass the icons they cross themselves. Exhortation or preaching is rare, the service being confined to ceremonies and to the administration of the sacrament on certain occasions. In this exists a noteworthy difference from the Romish ritual, for only leavened bread is used.

In many points of ritual it is worthy of note that they often adhere more closely to primitive practices than do the Church of Rome and its offshoots, as migM be expected from so conservative a body. " The straws to show us which way the spirit of an institution blows," says Dean Stanley, and he instances the retention of immersion as the only form of baptism: "There can be no question that the original form of baptism (the vcry meaning of the word) was complete immersion in the deep baptismal waters, and that for at least four centuries any other form was unknown, or regarded as an exceptional, almost monstrous case. The Greek Church adheres to this and ignores sprinkling, using a threefold plunge. " Confirmation is simultaneous with this rite, and children are permitted to partake of the Lord's Supper. The elders are still called in to anoint the sick with oil, and to pray for them. Standing is maintained for prayer.

The fasts enjoined by the Greek Church are long and severe, but excessive drinking is permitted during them. Lent is seven weeks long. There are two or three weeks' fast in June, and again from the beginning of November to Christmas. Besides at these times animal food is abstained from every Wednesday and Friday. Pilgrimages. are also often undertaken. Of the Bible a lamentable ignorance prevails, though it is not a prohibited book.

The theology of the Greck Church is not systemat.ized as in the West, and is not dogmatical. He who complies with its forms may hold pretty • much what private opinions he likes. Laymen, too, have their place in the Church in a degree unknown under the pRpacy. The Nicrean Creed is, of course, strictly upheld, but without the addition of the words" Filio- que" in the Latin, made by the Romish Church after the famous council had drawn up the Confession of Faith, and still the great bone of conten- tion between the two churches. But for this it iii probable that a reunion would have been effected centuries ago, at a time when it seemed to be greatly desired on both sides. A patriarch of the Papal Church assured the writer recently in Rome that his Church regarded those who refused this expressiou to be as great heretics as the Protestants, who accepted it, but who repudiated other dogmas. The point at issue is the expression, " I .elieve in the Holy Ghost, which proceedeth from the Father and the Son," the words in italics being rejected by the Greek Church. Probably no more bitter religious controversy ever raged round any point than round this one expression.

Notwithstanding all their ordinances, the greatest indifferenr J to the private lives of their flocks is observed by the Russian clergy, and it is the same with their private opinions if they do not affect their contributions.

"So long as a member refrains from openly attacking the Church, and from passing over to another confession, he may entirely neglect all religious ordinances, and publicly profess scientific theories logically inconsistent with any kind of religious belief, without the slightest danger of incurring ecclesiastical censure." * This is a most important fact to be borne in mind in studying the position of the evangelicals in Russia. If the Church stood without the State we should hear of none of these persecutions.

From the very commencement, however, as the Church became a power in the land, it became practically inseparable from the State, l)otwithstand- ing the strained relations and even serious ruptures which at times have intervened between them. A perusal of the history of these struggles, once or twice exceeding sore and bitter, causes wonder that the two should ever have become reunited as at present. Ivan IV. strangled the famous Metropolitan of his day, and flogged hundreds of priests to death at Nov- gorod, compelling oocumenical councils to sanction his practices and doc- trines. But though the Czars found themselves stronger than the Church.

they found tha.t they were weak without it, and by the adoption of a wiser policy they have secured to themselves the position of its head,. and have found it the grea.test support for their authority, since it invests them with the same sacred power whic~ is the strength of the Sultans of Turkey and of Morocco. The Czars, as earthly monarchs, have assumed heavenly attributes.

" Muscovy," writes Stepniak, "became a veritable theocracy, but theocracy means stagnation." The clergy, "like the odor of rancid oil, penetrated everywhere, soiling everything they pretended to bless." t Peter the Great only succeeded in his reforms by " dragoon- * Sir D. M. Wallace, in his "Russia," 2d ed., vol. 2, p. 193.

t .. RllBsia nnder the Tzars." ing" the Church, replacing obstructionists by members of the orthodox Ukranian Church. For this he was denounced as Antichrist, and indeed the strength of the opposition which he had to overcome, even in making the slightest change, gives one an idea of the strength of his character. Up to the time that he broke loose from all restriction and acted according to bis own discretion, he, like his predecessors, llad been fettered by rounds of religious observances and by the traditions of centuries. He complained that he was compelled to spend half his time in empty ceremonial under the name of religion. The practical influence of the Czar greatly exceeds the theoretical; it really lies in his power to nominate the synod, and to work it through a procurem, dismissing those who do not act in accordance with his policy. In the Eastern Church, out of his own dominions, he has no authority whatever. A striking feature of the coronation service is that the Czar crowns himself, as acknowledging no higher ecclesiastical dignitary within his realm, and then administers the sacrament to the bishop.

As the Church in the Middle Ages began to grow powerful in Russia, so it began to grow exclusive, and to form a class apart from the mass of the people, having its own interests, as distinct from those of the masses as fr6m those of any foreign country. Education was practically confined to the ranks of the clergy,. and they showed no desire to confer this or any other benefit upon the flock in charge of which they were placed. In the seventeenth century they had thus secured a position of commanding influence, political as well as social, and were the ardent supporters of the temporal powers, without which they could not have stood where they were. That they were extremely lax in their moral duties seems clearly proven, and it is to be feared that they have not much improved as a body since those times. As early as the ninth century an wcumenical council declared that they were many of them "clod-hoppers, unfit to graze cattle, much Jess to feed flocks of human souls." By the beginning of the last century a fourth of the people had thus come under the jurisdiction of this body, but since then its lands have been secularized, and it has thus been shorn of very much of its power. There still exist, however, some five hundred monasteries.

The clerical fanaticism of those early days, and their teaching of the great superiority of the Russians, led to the exclusion of everything foreign, thus raising a barrier which prevented progress from contact with the outside world, and it is mainly to be charged with the present backward condition of the empire. It was taught that dealings even with Romans and Protestants were sinful, and those who visited the country were shut up in their own quarters, with guards at their doors. When, in 1563, the first printing-press was introduced, it was closed by the clergy as a device of the devil, while the introduction of the Arabic numerals was not accomplished till five hundred years after they were common in the rest of Europe. The retention of the old style calendar is attributable to the same cause. The usc of gunpowder was retarded there by a couple of centu- ries. * When we come to more modern times we find that wonderfully little change has taken place. Till recently the absolute separation of the priest- craft from the populace was secured by the office being hereditary, and by marriages with other than priestly families being prohibited. Those who were born priests were praetical~y compelled to remain in the clerical ranks all their lives. The celibacy of the clergy is more forcibly repudiated by the Greek Church than by Protestants, for every priest must be married before ordination, though he is not permitted to marry a second time if left a widower. The parish priests, with whom we have more concern, are known as the white clergy, and may engage in manual labor with honor, but not so the monks, styled black clergy, with whom they maintain a constant rivalry. The white priest considers that he works to earn his livelihood, but that his brother of the monastery is a lazy pauper, content to live upon alms which ought to find their way into the pocket of the parish priests. The Russian priest may be a simple peasant, who follows his calling as he would a handicraft, exercising no more influence upon the community than if he were the village carpenter or barber, and enjoying no more respect than they might command. He may be absolntely devoid of general education, perhaps unable even to read the Scriptures. If he has a due acquaintance with the prescribed routine of ceremonies, and can perform the rites demanded by his parishioners, he is considered fully qualified for his post.

In the list of his duties the propugatioll vf even the teaching of the Gospel finds no place. The whole business is as dead a formalism as is to be found, probably, in any religion under the sun. Certainly there are many creeds in which the name of Christ is unknown, in the practice of which very much more fervor is displayed. It is only in the superstitious, conscience-stricken people that earnestness is to be found, but then, alas!

how misdirected! As to the personal characters of these pastors, no evidence could be qnoted with more effect than that given in a secret government report some years ago by an orthodox Russian, "celebrated for his extensive and intimate acquaintance with Russian provincial life. "

He says: "The people do not respect the clergy, but persecute them with derision. and reproaches, and feel them to be a burden. The people shun the clergy, and have recourse to them not from the impulse of conscience, but from necessity. Because it forms a class apart; because, having received a false kind of education, it does not introduce to the life of the people the teaching of the Spirit, but remains in the mere dead forms of outward ceremonial; because the clergy itself continually presents examples of want of respect to religion, and transforms the service of God into a profitable trade. Is it pos- sible for the people to respect priests who spend their time in the gin-shops, * Stepniak. write fraudulent petitions, fight with the cross in their hands, and abuse each other in bad language at the altar ~ Is it possible for the people to respect the clergy when they see that truth has disappeared from it, and that the consistories, guided in their decisions not by rules, but by personal friendship and bribery, destroy in it the last remains of truthfulness ~"

Such an indictment needs no commentary from an outsider. Even though the experience of some in individual cases might be to the con- trary, here we have the words of no opponent of the Church, or of one unacquainted with his theme. What more can be needed? Stepniak, another Russian, after pointing out the evil effects of the combination of this system with the State, remarks, " What more natural than that at the first awakening of political conscience in the instructed classes, their first words were words of malediction against religion ~ What more just than that now, when the first dream of the light of cultnre is reaching the people, they should abandon in thousands the faith of their fathers f"

What, indeed 1 And what is to be expected of such a departure if the Light of the Gospel be not carried to them, that its life-giving rays may do what the light of culture could never do, what the light of culture never did for the most refined of the nations of earth, with the most boasted institutions ~ What is there in Russia to-day to prevent that wholesale relapse into atheism and infidelity which is so noticeable in Roman Catholic countries, when the utter corruptions, the deception of the struc- ture in which they have hitherto placed their faith, is removed 1 It must come, it is inevitable, unless at this moment, when the bitter cry of dis- appointment is going up, when the trusted cisterns are seen to be dry, and no springs to quench their thirst are found, we, in the power of the foun- tain of Life, point them to the Well of Living Waters, whence they and all may drink and never thirst. In all their religion they have not been taught of Christ, they have never heard the simple story of the Gospel, without the embeIlishments and imaginations of man. "How, then, shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed 1 And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher 1"

Some may hope that there is a possibility of an awakening within the pale of this Church, but that is as hopeless as it is within the pale of Rome. Whatever might arise, as, thank God! it has done in the case of the Stundists and others, is at once disowned, and shown to be utterly at variance with the dearest traditions of that Church, and incompatible with any connection with it. One of the greatest authorities on Russian life, Sir Mackenzie Wallace, has expressed his conviction that " anything at all resembling what we understand by a religious revival is in flagrant contra- diction with all her traditions. Immobility and passive resistance to ex- ternal influences have always been, and are still, her fundamental principles of conduct."

It has been stated that "the Eastern Church is not misaionsry or persecuting, "* and though the first part of the assertion will remain undisputed, in the face of what we know to have occurred in Russia, and what is transpiring there still, the second part will be at once denied by many. This, however, will be from an inadequate acquaintance with the facts of the case. It is the opinion of those who know the people best, including that of Sir Mackenzie Wallace, personally expressed to the writer, that the Church in Russia as a body is wholly indifferent to this persecution, which arises from two causes, quite independent of religious zeal. The first is the feeling that loss of followers means loss of income and loss of influence, and the second is the national exclusive feeling which regards everything foreign with a bitter hatred and suspicion, which is shared by all propaganda among members of the national Church. It is these two influences, acting and reacting upon one another, which produce the persecutions at the tale of which the evangelical world weeps to-day.

Take, for instance, the case of the Molokans or the Stundists, between whom there is no great difference. The Molokans answer almost precisely in Russia to those who elsewhere bear the honored name of "Brethren." The Bible is their only guide, and they know it well. Their theology is in. a half-fluid condition, comprising no definite system, so that considerable independence of opinion is possible among the members. Their meetings are held in private houses, .and are directed by three members chosen as overseers-unpaid: Of the Stundists more is known abroad, though their separation is of more recent date-about 1860. These earnest, simple Christians closely resemble the Molokans, and would doubtless have been identical with them had they originated near the same time or place. Their irreproachable life is the admiration even of their foes, and their brotherly love and good deeds are marked by all. As learning to read and write for the study of the Scriptures, they are on a level higher than that of most of their neighbors. An enlightened government would have seen that here was the very pick of its subjectlil, the ideal of a law-abiding community.

But this is a class of people whose Jack of superstition makes them poor contributors to the maintenance of a religious system with which they have no sympathy, even if they consent to employ the priests more often than is absolutely enjoined by law, at all of which times they would have to pay for the services rendered. It is on the fees received for the performance of religious rites that the priests have chiefly to live, and often, regarding it as a mere matter of business, they will bargain over the charge, refusing to baptize an infant, to marry a couple, or bury a corpse, till the price they demand has been paid! They are the first, therefore, to complain against seceders from their church. In many instances complete immunity has been secured by the evangelicals by the simple expedient of contributing to the parish priest the sum he would in due course have received from them had they maintained their allegiance to the Church. But when this has been impossible, or when hiR greed in levying blackmail • Dean Stanley. has exceeded all bounds, though he cared not one snap for their belief or unbelief, he has complained to his bishop, who has handed on the charge to the eivil authorities. Thus has ended the religious side of the question, which has now developed into a State question.

Here comes into play the second cause of persecution. The Church, being inseparable from the State and its interests, those who Recede from the Church are considered rebels and enemies to the State. This is the national feeling which is the real power of the persecution-the quasi- religious feeling being only the ostensible cause. As a result of this, last July the evangelical~ were declared outlaws, and their employment was for- bidden. Those who have attended their meetings have been exiled to Siberia without a trial, and the wives have not even been allowed to follow their husbands as those of criminals could. Preaching or teaching their doctrines is dealt with as high treason-a strictly political, not religious offence-while a family refusing to employ the services of the clergy are declared to be civilly dead. * Here is the secret of the whole affair. If it did not affect the worldly interests of the clergy, they would never trouble about all the heretics in Russia; and though the State would still have its say in the matter; it is not likely that it would act as it does without some one to put its machinery into operation. Jews, Romanists, and Protestants may change their belief as often as they like, but no member of the" Orthodox" creed must leave the Church that supports the State. It is very much the same idea which prevails under the rule of Islam.

This, then, is the key to the religious situation in Russia to-day. It is not the opposition of a lively faith which the messengers of the Gospel have to meet, but the dead weight of a corrupting carcase, the keen defence of vested interests, and the suspicious, backward policy of a medireval government. What are all these in the sight of the King of kings, our Master ~ * E. B. Lanin, Oontemporary Review, January, 1892.

IMPRISONED FOR PROTESTANTISM.

Another case of religious intolerance is reported from Spain. A Catholic priest, the rector of one of the principal parishes in Malaga, published a violent pamphlet against Protestantism. To this a Protestant clergyman, Don Jose Vila, replied in another pamphlet. Thereupon the Catholic priest immediately asked the Public Prosecutor to take proceedings against the Protestant pastor, on the ground that he had criticised and attacked the State religion. This is an offence which the existing penal code punishes severely. The Protestant clergyman was tried in the Criminal Court at Malaga. His counsel in vain cited the Eleventh Article of the Constitution, which says no Spaniard shall be molested for his religious belief. The Court condemned the accused to two years and four months' imprisonment, and to pay a fine of 250 pesetas and costs. The Catholic clergy are so powerful in the town, where the Republicans are, however, very numerous, that only one paper dared to report the case with~ut comment. The Protestant clergyman will appeal to the Supreme Court at Madrid, though the same class of offence has been often visited by heavier sentences against Spanish writers.

LENGTHENED CORDS AND STRENGTHENED STAKES

LENGTHENED CORDS AND STRENGTHENED STAKES.

THE SUBSTANCE OF THE CENTENARY SERMON PREACHED IN HARVEY LANE CHAPEL, LEICESTER, JUNE 1ST, 1892, BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.

When, a hundred years ago, it pleased God to wake from sleep a lethargic Church, from the belfry of the ages there rang out a signal sound, and William Carf)Y's hanJ was on the bell-rope. And these are the words which echoed over the Church of Jesus Christ: "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations; spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited" (Isa. 54 : 2, 3).

Those words have more than once rung out on t.his centenary, and they will more than once ring out again! But God's bell is not cracked yet, and it may be well for us, as the hundred years have brought their hands round on the dial to the even hour of the century, that we should humbly and reverently take hold of the same bell-rope and sound from the same signal hell the same impressive tones: "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations!" for this is the most remarkable missionary text in the Old Testament.

I first want to vindicate this decision, which I make after many years of careful study both of missions and of the Word of God. In the first place, the position of this text in this prophecy of IsaIah is peculiar and unique. The last twenty-seven chapters of this prophecy, from the fortieth to the sixty-sixth inclusive, contain the most remarkable Messianic poem to be found ill the pages of the Old Testament; and it is quite noticeable that the very book that modern critics are seeking to pull to pieces shoul~ contain the sublimest of all Old Testament prophecies about the Messiah. These twenty-seven chapters are, in the original Hebrew, divided into three books, of nine chapters each, as the chapter divisions run in our version, each book signalizing its conclusion by a certain refrain: "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked;" "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked;" and the last book concluding with the same sentiment, couched in more impressive phraseology: "Their worm shall not die and their fire shall not be quenched;" "There is no peace, saith my God, to the wicked." In the exact centre of the middle book of the three comes the fifty-third chapter, occupying thus the precise centre of the entire Messianic poem. That chapter contains twelve verses and fourteen distinct declarations of the doctrine of vicarious sacrifice. It is like a great radiant ruby, set in the front of a coronet with many jewels round about it, but obviously the central gem of them all, and its color is hlood-red. It is a remarkable chapter, so mysterious that even the Jewish Rabbis could make nothing of it, unless they understood it to prophesy two contradictory Messiahs-one a Messiah of conflict, and the other a Messiah of conquest; one a suffering and vicarious Messiah, the other a triumphant lind reigning Messiah. For this chapter opens with the servant of God standing alone, His reports unbelieved, and "the arm of the Lord unrevealed" to an unbelieving people; "despi~ed and rejected of men, a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief ;" persecuted, oppressed, taken from judgment to prison, and from prison to slaughter; dying, a young man without natural generation, which every Jew thought to be a calamity; and yet, as you come to the conclusion of this chapter, you find that this Messiah, who suffered and died for human sin, lived and prolonged His days to all generations; that this childless young man is the parent of a numerous offspring, and sees of the travail of His soul and is satisfied. And that is the reason why, in the fifty-fourth chapter, we find the sentiment so marvellously changing.

It reminds us of Ruth, the widow, bankrupt daughter of Moab, coming into the land of .Tudah, and becoming the wife of Boaz, the lord of the harvest, the dispenser of bread, and becoming the cheerful mother of children in the ancestral line of the Messiah. So the fifty-fourth chapter breaks out, "Sing, 0 barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord." You see this precious, vicarious Saviour, who died without natural offspring, lived, notwithstanding death, and is the parent of an innumerable seed, notwithstanding His physical barrenness; and the Church that is His bride, entering into nuptial relations with Him, becomes the joyful mother of an immortal race. So we may understand the meaning of this text: " Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them tltretch forth the curtains of thine habitations." For this is conformable to the customs of the nomadic tribes in Oriental lands. The tent is the simplest and most primitive form of the human habitation. Wherever a pole can be found, with cords or strips of leather, a little bark or cloth or canvas or skin, a tent can be set up-as easily struck as pitched, and almost as easily enlarged; for when the growing necessities of a family demand larger shelter and room, all you have to do is to get a little longer pole, a little thicker cords, a little more bark or skin or canvas, and you can stretch forth the curtains of your habitation to accommodate the needs of the growing family. And so this is made the type of the enlargement of the canopy of the Church over her growing family of children. "Thou shalt burst forth"-as the grand old Hebrew reads-" Thou shalt burst forth on the right hand and on the left." A symmetrical growth in this direction and that direction alike; not a one-sided tent, not like a family that haR a one-sided development-the Church is going to gather her children from east and west and north and south, and every clime and every tongue and every people; and because her family is to come from all quarters of the earth, her canopy must stretch to every quarter of the earth to cover her increasing family. If a man ever came near being inspired-I never use the word" inspired" except in one peculiar sense-but if a man ever came near being inspired, it was William Carey when he was divinely guided to this very text, from which to preach that very sermon that was the foundation of modern missions; and we could not in the Word of God find another text more appropriate to June 1st, 1892, not less so than it was to May 30th, 1792. I am not ashamed to repeat a good thing: Sydney Smith said that for the purpose of public persuasion in oratory, repetition is the only figure of speech that is worth a farthing. Thank God, we can always use, and all of us use, that figure of speech! so I take this text, for it is the only text to take : " Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations." ..

Let me first call your attention very briefly and simply to the text itself. I would like to have you notice the grammatical and rhetorical structure of it, for all these things help exegesis and exposition. It is formed on the principle of the Hebrew parallelism. You remember how the Hebrew poets, instead of seeking rhyme and rhythm in words, sought rhyme and rhythm in thought, and that is one of the marks of the inspiration of the Word of God. If the poetry of the Hebrew depended upon words, their peculiar collocation and allocation, and rhyme and rhythm, we could not convey into another language, without much circumlocution, the beauty of the Hebrew original. But when the rhyme and rhythm are in the thoughts and not in the language they can be transferred into any other tongue. Now, looking at this as an example, you will find that although this little idyll or epic on missions runs from the first to the eighth verses inclllsive, the portion we are now to consider con- tains several couplets or portions consisting of two numbers each, and yet in parallels as well. I think you can notice this in the reading. There is first a double exhortation : "Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations." Then there comes a single phrase that has its correlative phrase further on-" Spare not." The correlative to that is, " Fear not," in the beginning of the fourth verse.

We shall see the relation of these as we go on. Then there comes a double injunction, showing the means by which the Church is to enlarge her tents, stretch forth her curtains: "Lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes. " Then there comes another couplet., the couplet of Divine prom- ise : " For thou shalt burst forth on the right hand and on the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. "

Now I think no man is competent thoroughly to expound Scripture that does not study its exact structure. There is a reason why this struc- ture is evolved in the very form of the text itself. God is showing us here what the duty of the Church is-to enlarge her canopy and stretch forth her curtains. He is showing the Church how to do this duty-there are to be lengthened cords and strengthened stakes; and He is showing the Church what her great peril is, that, in the first place, she shall spare-the Hebrew word meallS "grudge" -that is to say, that she shall be selfish and so grudging; and the other difficulty and danger is that she shall fear, and this strikes at unbelief as the other strikes at selfishness. And then He gives her the glorious promise to encourage her: "Thou shalt burst forth on the right hand and on the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles"- this was spoken to Jewish hearers, who had no idea of the salvation of the Gentiles; "and they shall make the desolate cities to be inhabited"- habitation in place of desolation 1 I have been somewhat tedious in bringing out the meaning, but the fact is, I havc great confidence in God's thoughts and I have no confidence in my own.

And now, to plunge directly into the heart of the theme, the whole text is vocal with enlargement, expansion: "Enlarge," " Let them stretch forth," " Lengthen," " Strengthen." You can easily see where William Carey got his famous motto: "Attempt great things for ·God 1" "Enlarge," " stretch out," " lengthen," " strengthen" : " Expect great things from God!" " Thou shall burst forth on the right hand and on the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited." Carey may have been a genius, but it did not take a genins to get that motto out of the text, for it lies on the surface of it, though it did take some genius to frame it in such excellent and easily understood English, and in a proverbial form that could easily be carried in the memory and could not easily be dismissed from the memory.

What is the duty of the Church in these days 1 "Lengthen" and " strengthen." See how well the Holy Ghost chooses these words. The word" lengthen" suggests extensity; the word" strengthen" suggests intensity, and there is always danger in extensive lengthening that is not accompanied by intensive strengthening. You are lengthening your cords, but if you do not strengthen your stakes what will happen? Your lengthening your cords will be a disaster to you and the tent itself. How simple is the figure which the Holy Ghost gives us !

How shall we lengthen cords' By sending out our organizations in every direction-a cord here to Europe, another cord to Asia, another to Africa, and another to the islands of the sea. Toward the North Pole and the South Pole; in every direction, from the great centres of Christendom, let your missionary organizations reach! With the enterprise that has dash and push in it let these cords be stretched to the ends of the earth, until the network of missions Qverspreads the whole family of man! And let us understand that, if we are to have this lengthened cord you wust add your own length to it. As, when we rescue a man from a burning building, and the ladder will not reach those that are in peril, the fireman stands on the top rung of the ladder and adds his own length, over which men and women climb down into safety; so, if you are going to have this organization reach over the world in a spirit of hallowed enterprise till the canopy is co-extensive with the family of man, your length has got to be added to the cord. Yall have read of the self-sacrifice of the Carthaginian maidens when they cut off their raven ringlets that they might be braided into bow-strings for Hannibal's archers; or of the Tyrian maidens when they sacrificed their golden hair for cordage for the Tyrian Navy. I tell you solemnly, that the cords of enterprise by wl).ich this Gospel is to be carried to the ends of the earth are woven out of the very fibres of human hearts ! You cannot make them out of gold and silver, or braid them out of commercial interest8, or twist them out of public enthusiasm. They are woven on the loom of personal consecration in the secret place with God. We must not only have lengthened cords, but strength- ened stakes. If there is one weak stake on the circnmference of a tent, and it pnIIs ont or is broken, there is pnt a greater stress on the other tent pegs ronnd it, and one by one they are loosened or pulled out, nntil the whole tent coIIapses. What does that mean ~ It means that any Church within the circumference of Christian effort t,hat does not plant itself firmly to hold up the cord of organization is responsible for the collapse of Chris- tian missions. And it means that any man or woman or child in the Church of God, among God's professed believing children, that does not become a stake down deep into the gronnd and holding on, is responsible for any disaster that comes to the whole work of Christ by lack of personal co- operation. Until we get that truth down into onr hearts, until we get it inscribed as with a pen of iron and the point of a diamond, I have personally no hope for any great enlargement in the work of missions.

Now the question comes, How are you to strengthen the stakes ~ The first way of strengthening the stakes is by faith in Almighty God. This is His work; it is only my work because it is His work. I never would have touched it if in every fibre of my being I had not been convinced that it was God's work j and becanse I am a co-worker with God I am bound to work where and when I know He work;;;. You must have faith in this, that it is God's work. If you hang your faith on the superficial judgment of critics whose ignorance is yery extensive, but whose knowledge is very limited, you very likely will be discouraged. If you hang your faith on what your neighbors do for missions, you will very likely do little more than they, while perhaps they are doing very much less than they ought. If you hang your faith even on missionary boards, the best of them, they are all composed of fallible men. But if you believe this work is God's work, and that God is behind it and before it and round about it, and that the Irian who goes forth to " preach the Gospel to every creature" is buttressed in his work by that glorious declaration that comes before the command, "Lo, all power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth," and by that other promise that comes after it, "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the age"-a man that goes forth in that spirit, or, being compelled to stay at home, nourishes the missionary cause in that spirit, is working with God. I do not care where he is-he may be down on his back, a bedridden cripple-but he is working with God. If he cannot do anything more, he can believe in the work, and believe in the God that carries on the work. And so he can add that second element in the strengthening of the stakes, the power of believing prayer. Oh, my brethren, if this were to be the last sermon I was ever going to preach, I would ask God to give me this privilege, that I might stir up this mis- sionary congregation to-day to determine that, whatever else is done, there shall be for the next hundred years, as far as we can control it, an entirely new baptism of prayer. There has not been a crisis in the missionary work that has not been turned in answer to prayer. You remember how, in 1858, God opened the doors to half the human race in answer to prayer; how again, in 18'78, when the prayers of some of God's saints were turned to increased sanctified giving, there were less than twenty people who in their united gifts gave nearly one million pounds sterling for foreign missions. When God's chosen few began to pray for more laborers, there came a knock froom more than seven thousand young men and women in America Rnd England at the doors of the churches and of our boards, saying: "By the grace of God we will go forth to the foreign field." And when I was speaking on missions in Scotland two years ago, the secretaries begged me not to appeal for laborers, for they said: "We have a great many more people applying than we can posRibly send with the means at our disposal." Every great crisis in the missionary field has been turned in answer to prayer, and yet the Church has not begun to know what the power of prayer is in waiting on Almighty God for a blessing.

Look at the second Psalm. It is not a prophecy of missionary triumph, although it is often quoted as such. "Ask of Me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession." That sounds like a promise of world-conquest. Yes, but read the next verse: "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." It is a promise and a prophecy that when the kings of the earth conspire against the missionary band, and against the Messiah that leads them, He, the King on His throne, will, in the emergencies and exigencies of such conflict, reach out His rod, not the golden end of grace, but the iron end of power, " and dash them in pieces like a potter's vesseL" And, as in the missionary world revivals have come in answer to prayer, so on the other hand the interpositions of God have come in the destruction of His enemies and the defeat of their armies and the overturning of their hostile conncils; and not until the Church believes that God is the answerer of prayer, and that God will interpose by His providence and by His grace, will the Church ever be a triumphant and conquering missionary Church. A beloved Japanese convert and trainer of native teachers, Mr. Neesima, said, with his dying breath, " Advance on your knees." That is the only way to advance in missions. And then I believe the third element by which the stakes are strengthened is a firm confidence in this Gospel as the Gospel of Christ, and in this Word is the Word of God; that i(is emphatically the Word of God, the only inspired and infallible Word of God; that, therefore, when I go forth and carry this Word of God, I have all the energies of the Godhead represented in the message that I am called to deliver. And then I believe there is another way of strengthening the stakes. We must have sanctified giving. We have never had such giving yet in the Church of God, except on the part of a few individuals. I do not hesitate to say this, and I hope that my words may echo round the Church, if not round the world-there has never been, in this last century of mis-" sions, consecrated gi~ing. Think of forty millions of ProteRtant churchmembers scattered throughout the world, with £8,000,000,000 sterling in the coffers of American and, British Christians alone, giving annually £2,500,000 sterling to carry the Gospel to one thousand millions of people! It is an utter absurdity. Why, my friends, more money is spent in drink in Great Britain in one day than has been spent in Chinese missions in five years. If we cannot have the whole Church we must have a band of Christian givers in the Church, that dare to deny themselves for the sake of Jesus Christ, and press their giving to the point of self-denial, which is the only point at which real self-gratification comes in the disposal of our goods. Look at Zacchreus on the day of his conversion! In the' first place, he restored fourfold to all he had wronged, and, in the second place, he gave half of his goods to fee-d the poor; and remember that the other half he had already reserved for restitution. If we could only have such a spirit as the spirit of Zacchreus in the churches, so that the day a man is converted he should restore to every man that he had wrongfully accused or robbed or in any way oppressed, and then beside give one half of what he originally had to feed the poor and carryon the kingdom of God, with what mighty strides would the kingdom advance!

We must also strengthen the stakes by holy living. There is nothing after all like holy living. When the Pharisees and Scribes saw the man healed they could say nothing againflt it. They might scourge the Apostles and cast them into prison and forbid them to speak in the name of Christ, but the sight of that man healed was an argument that could not be overborne by logic or opposition. And whenever you see a man or woman that is absolutely living to God, and has the radiance of God shining in the face and character, you have a walking argument for Christianity that is worth all the apologetics in the world. Stanley says that he owes to the months he spent with Livingstone the transformation of his character; and yet Livingstone never said a word to him directly about his soul's salvation: he lived out his remonstrance against iniquity, and he lived out his appeal for God. That is what we have need of-consecration through and through; consecration that touches our children, our property, our occupation, our influence, our time, our talents, our treasure. That is the way to strengthen the stakes. How would our missionary secretaries like to see the stakes strengthened in that fashion while they are trying to lengthen the cords ~ We of to-day may turn this text round. We have a different point of view from Carey's. He looked forward to a missionary conquest that had not beguu j we look back to a missionary conquest that has been partially accomplished. He could only expect great things from God in the line of missions j we can look back to great things and let what we have !leen behind us be the prophecy of what we shall see b.efore us. Have you studied the history o.f missions ~ It is an encyclopredia in itself. You would better begin soon, or you will scarcely go through the first chapter before you die. I have been studying it for thirty years, and I have not got beyond the middle of the second chapter. Why! these triumphs of missions are perfectly marvellous when we consider how few people have been engaged, and how little money has been spent. God has done exceeding abundantly above all that the Church has asked or even thought. A hundred years ago there were fifty versions of the Holy ~cripture j now there are between two and three hundred, and in all the gre~t langnages of the world. A hundred years ago a little band of Christian laborers essayed to reach a few of the heathen in the South Seas; now between six and seven thousand men and women, representing the Christian 9hurch j and, what is far more remarkable. 35,000 to 40,000 native converts raised up by missions, consecrating their time and their talents to the reclamation and evangelization of their own countrymen. So that the very missions that some people called a failure actually have multiplied the laborers on heathen soil, so that they represent six times as many as the whole Church of Christ sends out to evangelize the world!

Have you noticed what missionaries have wrought in different localities ~ Look at just a few specimens of what the hundred years have accomplished. Take the ninety-five years of mission history from 1797 to 1892 in the South Seas. Fourteen years without a convert! Then two natives in Tahiti that had been impressed in a missionary's family, during the absence of all the missionaries from the island, were found praying for the evangelization of their own countrymen. Those two converts of 1811 were leaders of a host now numbering 850,000 converts, and Western Polynesia is evangelized. Take the seventy-five years of the American Baptist Union. When Judson went to Burmah he was the sole representative of the Baptist Union, and Burmah was the sole field of labor j and he worked for ten years and had but one church of 18 converts to show for all his work. They wrote to him from America: "Well, Judson, how about prospects~" "Prospects! all right," said he, " bright as the promises of God." And now, looking back over those seventy-five years, what do you find ~ Taking into account those first ten years of comparative failure, there has been established a new Baptist church for every three weeks of the entire time, day and night. And there has been a new convert baptized for every three hours of the entire time, day and night. Who of us would not like to see a little of a similar" failure" here in Great Britain ~ Supposing we look at what fifty years have accomplished in various fields. Take the field in Turkey, for instance. The result of those fifty years has been twentyone versions of the Bible in the languages of living peoples. And among other great achievements Charles Wheeler dotted the Euphrates with actually self-supporting cHurches j and how many people do you think it took to constitute a self-supporting church ~ Ten. Can you show any- thiug like. that in Great Britain ~ These ten disciples said, "·We will each give one tenth of our income, and we will call a pastor to serve us who is willing to live on a level with us, and he will have his ten-tenths with one tenth to give away like the rest of us." So they began self-supporting churches with only ten members. Dr. Barnum, of Harpoot, told me that in fourteen years they had established fourteen preaching stations and raised up a native ministry, and the entire cost of the fourteen years scarcely equalled the cost of the church edifice that I then preached in. That was worth about £40,000, so that you know what that mission cost. Then, supposing you look ·at fifty years among the Karena. In 1828 the first Karen convert was baptized. When, in 1878, the jnbilee was kept by the erection of the Kho-Thah-Byu Memorial Hall with its central audienceroom, and its various rooms opening out for teaching and dispensary purposes, 60,000 Karens, either sleeping in Jesus or living to testify of Jesus, were the fruit of those fifty years. Sir Charles Bernard says there are today 200,000 Karens in the Christian community, and 500 self-supporting churches. Take the fifty years in China between 1842 and 1892. A little band of a few converts in 1842 when missionary labors properly began, and in 1892 nearly fifty thousand converts in China, and the ratio of increase during the twenty-five years beginning with 1863 was eighteenfold -mark it! 1800 per cent. Take the fifty years in Fiji from 1835 to 1885. When one of our missionaries, James Calvert, went to the Fiji Islands his first duty was to bury the skulls, hands, and feet of eighty different people ·who had been sacrificed at a cannibal feast. He lived to see the very people who had taken part in that atrocity gather about the Lord's table celebrating His death. In 1885 there were 1300 churcbes in the Fiji group alone, and out of a population of 110,000, 104,000 were habitual attendants at places of worship. Suppose we narrow down the period of time. Look at the twenty-four years of Dr. Geddie in Aneityum from 1848 to 1872. It is recorded on a tablet in the Memorial Chapel there: "When he landed here in 1848 there were no Christians; when he left in 1872 there were no heatheml." Take the twenty-two years of John Williams from 1817 to 1839, when he fell as a martyr, at Erromanga. Hear him when he wrote, in 1834, five years before his death, that the Gospel had been carried over a radius of two thousand miles in every direction from the Island of Tahiti, and not only had every considerable group of islands been evangelized, but every considerable island in the groups and the people had turned from idols and brought them to the missionaries, while the balustrades of pulpits were composed of the spears· that had been used in their former warfare, and Oro, the great war-god, was used as a wooden prop to sustain the roofs of the outhouses. 1 have been shortening the periods that you might see what great things God has done. Take from 1878 to 1892, and I reverently say there was nothing in the original Pentecostal days to exceed what fourteen years have seen among the Telugus. In one day in 1878 there were 2222 baptized. In six weeks there were 5000 baptized, and in ten months 10,000, and in the last current year 10,000 more. The largest church on earth to-day is not the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London; it is the humble church in Ongole, among the Telugus, for that has between 30,000 and 40,000 members, and yet missions are a failure! Go and read the story of tho~e seven years with William Johnson in Sierra Leone, and of the thirty-seven tribes of slaves in that colony rescued from slavery. See him laboring there to preach the Gospel among those people that had no language to converse with each other, unless it was a little bastard English; living in promiscuous concubinage ; warring on each other; committing every crime; having no respectable trade. Johnson died in seven years, but left a model State, with no remains of heathen orgies, with every trade and respectable calling represented; just as William Duncan, among the North American Indians, established his model State, and one of your most accomplished statesmen, a Governor.General of Canada, the ma8ter of eight different languages, went over there, and said he could not, find any terms in any language he knew to describe the greatness and glory of the Gospel triumphs in Metlakahtla. .But we may come down to shorter periods even than these. You can find within one single year in the history of missions triumphs that equal, if they do not transcend, the triumphs of the Day of Pentecost and the days immediately succeeding. Oh, for a believing Church! Oh, for a Church that knows the facts, and is inspired by the knowledge of them!

Now, as I draw this discour~e to a close, I desire only to add that there are two little sentences ill this impressive text that ought to furnish the motto of the new century. Carey did not emphasize them, but I want to emphasize them: "GRUDGE NOT," " FEAR NOT." The two obstacles to the missionary progress and triumph of the Church to-day-I appeal to you that know most about it-are they not these 1-a spirit of unbelief on the one hand, that fears to do great things for God; and a spirit of selfishness on the other hand, that makes it impossible to do great things for God. If God would cast out from us this day the demon of unbelief and the demon of selfishness, and all the other little demons that are their offspring, and like to inhabit the same house with them, what great and mighty things might be done for God! I proclaim my confidence that this Gospel is a supernatural Gospel, and, therefore, it must have a supernatural Spirit, for conversion is a supernatural work. Conversion is not reformation. The Word of God is not inspired as Milton was inspired, or as any other man was inspired, or his writings. The Holy Ghost is not a mere influence, but a person, and when you will give men this supernatural Gospel enforced by the supernatural Spirit, you will have the supernatural work of conversion. And we must have ~bsolute confidence in God, and so cast out unbelief. This world must be reached by the Gospel. Is not God mightier than man 1 Is not the Word of God mightier than the superstition of man ~ If God could make the woman bowed with infirmity stand straight, and restore the maimed limb, cannot He restore even a withered soul; cannot He give back lost faculties, where there is a moral and spiritual atrophy; cannot He give the roundness and symmetry of health, and even life from the dead 1 Faith must dare to do great things for God, and look for supernatural interposition. Weare to bring the five l@aves and two fishes first of all to a supernatural Saviour, and ask Him by a supernatural blessing supernaturally to increase them. Then we shall take up our twelve basketfuls of fragments after all have been satisfied. Oh, would to God we could understand this! If God is with a man He can put a thousand to flight, and two men can put ten thousand to flight; but if God withdraws Himself from the Church, that shall be reversed, and one infernal foe shall put a thousand disciples to flight, and two shall put ten thousand to flight. I thank God for one sweet experience that has made the last few years radiant in my own life. I never knew what it was to cast myself absolutely on God until perhaps the last three years, and I never knew what a God I had until I did it. Let the Church come right up to'this point, that without taking counsel with men, of difficulties and obstacles and embarrassments, she just casts herself with Divine abandonment on her God and says, " This is God's work, and God's power and grace are behind it, and God's commission and commands are in it, and therefore we will undertake this work to give the Gospel to the human race, looking to God for men, and for means," and the Church will do the work, and she will do it possibly before this century closes.

And then as to selfishness. That is the root of all sin. Did you ever think of this, that there is a danger in simple indulgence; that there is a risk in saying to myself, " I want this gratification, and therefore I will have it" f Very bad spiritual logic, by the way! Did you ever read that singular story upon which Balzac has founded one of his tales, that story of the magic skin that invested its wearer with a certain power to obtain whatever he wished, but which with every new gratification shrank in dimensions until by and by it crushed him to death 1 That magic skin is selfishness. You get your wealth, but you shrivel; you gratify your desires, but there is an atrophy takes place in your moral and spiritual faculties. Your eye gets blind to the vision of anything beyond your material interests, and your hand gets paralyzed as to reaching out blessings to other souls, and your heart gets too narrow to understand or sympathize or love. What selfishness is in the Chureh of God! Just think of our houses and lands and equipages, our libraries and works of art, our personal decorations, our ornaments and jewelry, the furniture and the garniture of qUI" homes, and then think that one thousand millions of the human race are yet without even the knowledge of God, and there are eight hundred and fifty millions that never heard that Jesus Christ died for men! "He

'tHE AN'l'I-MISSIONARY CRUSAnE !N TURKl!;Y

that saveth his life shall lose it; and he that loseth his life for My sake and the Gospel's, the same shall save it."

Once more then with reverent hand I peal out from God's belfry: " Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations; fear not, spare not, lengthen thy cords, strengthen thy stakes; for thou shalt burst forth on the right and on the left, and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. " We know God's season, that it is now high time, the very hour when we should awake out of sleep, for the end of the world is drawing nigh, ., And now is our salvation nearer to us than wheu we first believed. ~, Let us, as one man, covenant with Almighty God that from henceforth all we are, and all we have, and all we represent, shall be consecrated to the glory of this Gospel and the salvation of the lost!

THE ANTI-MISSIONARY CRUSADE IN TURKEY.

BY THE REV. JAMES JOHNSTON, BOLTON, ENG.

Expectations that the privileges which the Porte had granted to religious teaching and schools would be consistently maintained are not at present being realized. Throughout the Ottoman Empire there are distinct signs of the decay of religious toleration, as shown in the opposition of the Turkish Government to missionary work of every kind, and by the Sultan's endeavor to throw off the obligations which in past years he has accepted at the hands of the Christian powers of Europe ayd the United States. By different international conventions, such as the French Capitulations of 1740, the British Capitulations of 1809, the Treaty of Berlin, private agreements with America, and notably the Hatti-humayoun of 1856, at the close of the Crimean "Var, the Porte gave to missionaries the right of carrying on their labors in that country. To Roman Catholic clergy, American and English missionaries, every facility was granted in harmony with these treaties, and no ground of complaint had been raised. "Vithin the last three years the atmosphere has changed. Strong pressure in the shape of intolerant regulations, which are supposed to have been prompted from abroad, has provoked consternation in religious circles. Unfortunate as this is for the representatives of mission work, it must eventually, if persisted upon, be more disastrous to Turkey itself. The magnificent services which have been rendered by the Bible and missionary societies, conspicuously the American section, in the Turkish dominions cannot be ignored, and even the Turks are recognizing the power of an enlightened press. No doubt can be entertained of the vexatious and unfair nature of the measures taken agai,nst Christian institutions, otherwise .the officials of the American and English Bible and missionary societies in Constantinople would not have made the protest which is arousing widespread sympathy westward. Much less would most of the time of the United States minister have been occupied for the past two years in attempting to obtain permission to reopen schools :md churches which have been arbitrarily closed. It is said in some quarters that the Turkish officers attribute no little of the discontent and agitation among the Armenians to the teaching they have received in the American mission schools, which they are determined to put down at all hazards. In other directions it is surmised that, as the educated lIindoos are fearful for the futnre of their native religion because of the pervading spirit of Christianity, so th~ Turks are uneasy concerning the assaults of the same faith upon the prestige of Islam.

Turkey's antagonism strikes directly at the literature and church buildings of foreign missions. Of late the most annoying restrictions have been placed on the free circulation of books in the provinces, particularly the Armenian provinces, by the provincial authorities, even after these worb have received the official e,.ensor's stamp at Constantinople warranting their distribution. lIence, the stamp is 110 guarantee against the inquisition of any petty officer in rural districts. As much trouble is caused to travellers, who are perpetually annoyed by the detention or confiscation of their books. They often find a pocket Bible taken from their luggage for the examination of which two days is required, and it is next to impossible to get a book on geography or history through the custom house except it undergoes mutilation. A few facts on this point will illustrate the modus operandi of Turkish injustice and oppression. In December, 1889, at Derezor, seventy-nine copies of the Bible, or parts of it, and one hundred and seventy-nine volumes of other authorized works were confiscated and publicly burnt as "injurious," while Bibles, hymnals, and similar works are constantly described as pernicious and "seditious." Although the calling of colporteurs hali been officially permitted for upward of sixty years, over thirty cases have occurred in the last two years-most of these in 1891-of colporteurs being arrested, their books seized, detained, mutilated, or defaced, and no satisfaction ever offered. An agent of the Bible Society who was arrested in November, 1891, and his" authorized" stock seized is still on bail, and until February of the present year his Bibles remained under examination. It is no exaggeration to say that between 1889 and 1891 thousands of such books have been taken and destroyed. The official authorization of the literature in question by the imprimatur of the Minister of Public Instruction, which makes it a lawful article of commerce, is ignored by the local authorities, who seem to think that in proportion to their zeal in suppressing book circulation they will have the approval of their superiors in Constantinople. The position of the colporteurs is aggravated by a bill now under consideration, which unmistakably gives legal sanction to the restrictions from which the missionary societies are suffering, and prevents them, in common with the Bible depoi;s, frolll selling" authorized" books in any part of Turkey. AnoiLet' serious complaint against the Porte relates to the law of 1891 on the sllbjt·ct of church buildings, confirmed by a general order issued in February this year. It forbids missionaries to use their houses as churches or schools, save a special imperial firman is obtaincd. By such an enactment prayer-meetings and teaching in private houses are prohibited, which means practically the stopping of missionary evangelization altogether in districts where the people are too poor to pay for the erection of a licensed building. The difficulties in securing this permit are so great that friends of education and religion will be deterred from endeavoring to obtain it, and consequently the government's reprehensible procedure will close missionary establishments wholesale. Upon all of an alien faith, and the Armenians in particular, who are divided into many branches, this measure will tell with harsh severity. When means have been procured and plans for building adopted, the obstacles in getting a firman are then almost legion. The application must be approved by thirteen parties or persons il 'Viting, beginning with the neighbors of all- sects, the nearest Mohammedan notables, numerous functionaries, municipalities, courts, and councils, before it can be dispatched to the Council of Ministers who lay it at the feet of His Imperial Majesty. To show how hardly ihis will deal with communities in rural places, it has been pointed out that a rival sect has hindered for ten year!! the wealthy and influential Armenians of Constantinople receiving permission to erect a church. Similarly as regards missionaries, whether they are Catholics or Protestants, anyone acquainted with the Capitulations knows that the interdict is a violation of religious rights, and disabuses the hope that freedom in exercise of religious worship, which was exhibited by the Sultan's predecessors, will be honored by the Sultan and his government to-day. If it be correct that the Sultan, who reconfirmed the right of missionaries according to the Treaty of Berlin, has not been fully apprised of the shameful manner in which provincial authorities are treating some of the most loyal subjects of his empire, it will not be long ere the facts are presented for his consideration.

Rumors are current respecting the influence which France has been exerting at the Porte. So far the negotiations of the French Embassy have been strictly private, and are credited with matters bearing on Catholic missions only. More surprising is it that the American Minister, who-to his honor-has championed the claims of American missions, has been informed that the British Embassy entirely shares the Turkish view, and concedes vital points to the Turks. If this be so, British diplomacy, as it is remarked, has blundered, and, very early, British citizens engaged " in the most humanizing of all labors" will feel the f~ll force of a retrograde step which must soon engage Sir Clare Ford's attention. As the Vienna correspondent of the London Times states, "there is ample room for a little plain speaking on the part of the English Foreign Office," which, as a rule, is disinclined to espouse the cause of foreign missions. Onc thing is clear, the new persecuting measures affecting the subjects of

'l'HE CHURCH OJ!' RUSSIA

many nationalities will make it imperative upon the English, German, and American Governments to remind the Turks of their pledges, and to impress upon the Sultan the justice of defending the interests of missions, irrespective of the community or race with which they may be identified.

THE CHURCH OF RUSSIA.

BY W. ARMITAGE BEARDSLEE, YONKERS, N. Y.

ORIGIN AND EXTENSION.

There is an ancient Russian tradition, preserved by Nestor, which says that when St. Andrew, one of the twelve apostles, was making his mis- sionary tour across the Black Sea and up the Dnieper River into what was afterward to be known as Russia, he planted a cross on the hills when' the city of Kief now stands, and gave utterance to this prophecy, " Behold these heights, for they shall be illuminated by the grace of God! Here a great city shall be built, and God shall have in it many temples to His name !"

Nine hundred years were to pass in the dreary round of savage life on the Russian steppes before that traditionary prophecy shonld fin!i fulfil· ment, and the Russian Church begins its history with the baptism of the Grand Duke Vladimir, A.D. 988.

From that time until the present the Church of Russia has met with almost uninterrupted success, growing as the Sclavonic Empire has grown j first, reaching out beyond the principality of Kief and embracing the Grand Duchy of Muscovy, with its capital at Moscow j then, at the time of Peter the Great, it extended to the Baltic Sea and planted its cloisters and cathedrals in the swamps of St. Petersburg, and iu the present century it has found its way to the far-off cities of Siberia and even to the Aleutian Isles and Alaska.

GOVERNMENT AND MEMBERS.

It is the State Church of Russia, receiving its revenues from the imperial budget j yet in matters of doctrine and religious life it is entirely independent of the State. The final authority, after the Scriptures and the cecumenical councils, is not vested in the Emperor, nor in a pope, but in the Holy Governing Synod, composed of the leading ecclesiastics of the land, receiving their appointment from the Tzar. From those recommended by this synod the Tzar appoints· the bishops of the sixty-seven dioceses into which the empire is at present divided. Each bishop has a consistory, with which he must advise in the management of diocesan affairs. Aside from these officers of the Church, who are always selected from the black clergy-that is, those who live a monastic life-there is the great body of white or secular clergy, in actual charge of the parish churches. Of these there are over thirty-seven thousand, assisted by an almost countless number of minor officials, as deacons, readers, and vergers j while, according to the most recent reliable statistics, the number of communicants is not much less than seventy millions.

Here is an immense organism, extending over an eig~th part of the land of the globe, venerable for its antiquity, closely united to the Church of the Fathers by its lineage, its liturgy, its literature; with ancient cloisters and magni'ficent cathedrals; counting among its adherents many millions of men, some of them the purest and the holiest that ever have graced the Christian Church; yet the condition and the destiny of the Russian Church have received but little attention from Western Christendom.

It has been the custom roughly to divide all Christians into the two great bodies of Protestants and Romanists, and if the existence of the Eastern Christians was recognized at ali, they have been vaguely designated as " a more ignorant and debased species of Roman Catholics." Such a classification is quite false, and, at any rate, it is hardly fair so lightly to condemn the faith of seventy millions of professing Christians.

ITS PRESENT CONDITION.

There are two considerations that are fundamental to an understanding of the present condition of this Church. In the first place, we must not expect to find in Russia a Western church. The old Russian blood is Asiatic, and the spirit of Russian life to-day is more Oriental than Occidental. One of her princes has said that Russia might be compared to a grand building, the exterior of which -the fagade as it appears to the world-is indeed European, but the interior constructed and adorned in an Asiatic style. Again, Russia though territorially in Europe, has been isolated by its language. It was both to the gain and to the loss of the Russian Church that at the very beginning of its history the Greek missionaries, SS. Methodius and Cyril, translated the Scriptures and the liturgy into the Sclavonic tongue. It was well enough for the time that the vernacular shduld be used in public worship; but by that act the Russian Church was separated from th" rest of the religious world, and left to struggle forward as best it might. In the kingdoms of the western part of Europe, though for a time Christianity and civilization may have suffered from the universal use of Latin as the ecclesiastical language, yet in the end it proved a boon of incalculable value, for by it the West was bound together, and became an heir to all the thought and learning of antiquity.

As a result of these two conditions, the Church of Russia to-day is Romething very different not .only from the various Protestant bodies of Europe and America, but also from the Church of Rome, with which in the minds of many it has been confounded. It may seem strange to say so, but there is a more fundamental difference between the Eastern Church and the Roman Catholic Church than there is between the Roman Catholic and the Protestant. for. great as is the difference between these last, they are both Western, both progressive, both adapt themselves to the changes and advancement of civilizatiQn. Action has becn their watchword, strife has been their history, the world has been their field. BOlh have been characterized by great intellectual and artistic achievement, by unflagging missionary zeal, and by vigorous spiritual life, manifesting itself in all manner of benevolent enterprises.

ORIENTALISM OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH.

The East, on the other hand, has had no history. Action and reaction, energy and progressiveness, are there uuknown. Centuries may come and centuries may go, but the Orient is still the same. Round and round in the same paths, the children walk where their fathers have trodden before th()m. Everywhere there is the same hatred of foreign influence, the same dislike of innovation, the same clinging to the venerated past. That which always has been is that which always should be. The earliest Christian basilica is the pattern for almost every church in Russia. The artist of to-day must paint the Virgin or the Saviour as the Byzantines did a thousand years ago, when the Russian Church was planted. That Church takes pride in calling itself the orthodox, the changeless, the immutable, the only one that has been faithful to the traditions once delivered to the saints. The Pope himself is regarded in the East as only the first of Protestants. The controversies, reformations, and revolutions that have disturbed or purified the Western churches have scarcely excited a ripple on the slumbering waters of Eastern thought and life.

EFFECT OF THIS ORIENTAL ISM.

This native Orientalism has fostered a tenacious adherence to every ancient rite and ceremony. It has magnified the importance of liturgical details until they have usurped the chiefest place. It has continued and cultivated the old Sclavonic heathen superstitions. So far has this blind reverence for the letter been carried, that when Nicon attempted, after the invention of printing, to substitute printed liturgies for the old manuscripts, which were full of the errors of ignorant copyists, many of the RU8sian clergy absolutely refused to receive the corrected editions, insisting that the old were better. Thus, contrary to the experience of the Western Church, the sects of Russia are the exponents not of" progressive ideas, but are the most ultra of all conservatives. The Protestants of Russia protest not against the corruptions of the established Church, but against the removal of those corruptions!

FUTURE OF THE RUSSIAN CHURCH.

This Orientalism, which has been so potent in moulding the destiny of the Russian Church in the past, which has left its water-mark on every Fage of Russian Church history, will it forever continue its sway, or is

CAREY'S COVENANT

there hope that some day the spell may be broken ~ It is impossible to foretell. The future of Russia and of ~he Russian Church is one of those fascinating yet elusive enigmas that invite thoughtful inquiry only to mock and evade the inquirer. There are hints and indications that may mean much, or they may mean little. Russia seems slowly to be yielding to the powerful influences of Western civilization. Schools and universities are being gradually improved. The widespread ignorance of both clergy and laity is being dispelled. A nllw ecclesiastical literature is springing up. Within the last twenty years a well-supported missionary society has accomplished wonders for au Eastern church; and, above all else, the Russian Church, though bound by tradition, is not, like the Roman Church, bound by an infallible decree. There is no RU8sian vicar of Christ. The study of the Scriptures in the vernacular, though sadly enough neglected, has never been forbidden; and though many corruptions both of doctrine and of practice were introduced from Constantinople at the time of the founding of the Church, 'lnd have been persistently maintained as of the esscnce of the faith, yet no Council of Trent, no Conclave of the Vatican, no infallible bull, has placed the Russian Church in a position from which it would be impossible to retreat.

" God be praised, " said a devout Russian churchman, " God be praised, it is still in our power to redeem the future I"

CAREY'S COVENANT.

A MISSIONARY MANUAL.

BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF It was October 7th, 1805, thirteen years, almost to a day, from the day when that first mission compact was signed at Kettering, that Carey, Marshman and Ward, at Serampore, drew up thcir famous spiritual " Covenant." It covered twelve printed pages octavo, and was read publicly at every station at least once a year. The fact that this is the centenary year in Baptist missions makes the publication of this Oovenant especially appropriate.

If anyone would see what sort of men God chose to lead the van of His modern missionary host, let him study that" Form of Agreement" respecting the great principles upon which the brethren of the mission thought it their duty to act in the work of instructing the heathen. Dr. George Smith calls it a preparatio evangelica, and well adds that it " embodies the Divine principles of all Protestant scriptural missions, and is still a manual to be daily pondered by every missionary, and by every church and society which may send a missionary forth."

We give its most important parts for personal reflection. It reads as follows: " It is absolutely necessary, " 1. That we set au infinite value upon immortal souTs. " 2. That we gain all information of the snares and delusions in which these heathen are held. " 3. That we abstain from all those things which would increase their prejudices against the Gospel. " 4. That we watch all opportunities for doing good. " 5. That we keep to the example of Paul, and make the great subject of our preaching, Christ the crucified. " 6. That the natives should have an entire confidence in us and feel quite at home in our company. " 7. That we build up and watch over the souls that may be gathered. " 8. That we form our native brethren to usefulness, fostering every kind of genius and cherishing every gift and grace in them, especially advising the native churches to choose their own pastors and deacons from among their own countrymen. " 9. That we labor with all our might in forwarding translations of the sacred Scriptures in the languages of India. " 10. That we establish native free schools, and recommend these establishments to other Europeans. " 11. That we be constant in prayer and the cultivation of PQrsonal religion, to fit us for the discharge of these laborious and unutterably important labors. 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. " 12. That we give ourselves unreservedly to this glorious cause. Let us ne'er think that our time, our gifts, our strength, our families, or even the clothes we wear, are our own. Let us sanctify them all to God and His cause. Oh, that He may sanctify us for His work! No privat.e family ever enjoyed a greater portion of happiness than we have done since we resolved to have all things in common. If we are enabled to persevere we may hope that multitudes of converted souls will have reason to bless God to all eternity for sending His Gospel into this country." In this solemn compact, which sounds like an apostolic document, twelve cardinal principles are carefully set forth: 1. Valuing human souls at an infinite worth. 2. Informing themselves as to their actual needs. 3. Avoiding all putting of stumbling-blocks in their way. 4. Watching opportunity to do good unto all. 5. Preaching Christ crucified as their one theme. 6. Inspiring confidence by a Christ-like life. '1. Establishing schools for Christian education. S. Watching over and training native converts. 9. Raising up a native ministry for service. 10. Translating the holy Scriptures into the vernacular.

ZARATHUSTRA AND THE ZEND-AVESTA

11. Cultivating prayer and self-culture in piety. 12. Surrendering self unreservedly to God and service. To this nothing remains to be added to give completene~s and symmetry. It reads like an inspired paper. The marks of the Holy Ghost are upon it. And we commend it to all friends of missions, and especially to all who have in view, or in thought, the field of missions. It need be no matter of wonder that-although the first Hindoo convert, Krishna Chundra Pal, was not baptized as a Protestant believer until 1800-fifty years after Carey's death the native Protestant community, in 1884, numbered half a million, with ordained native pastors outnumbering the missionaries, and every decade witnessing an increase at the rate of eighty-six per cent. Let this covenant be to the Church of Christ, as we start on a new century of missions, a trumpet peal of God for a new advance.

ZARATHUSTRA AND THE ZEND-AVESTA.

BY ALFRED HILLE BRANDT.

By Avesta or Zend-Avesta is understood the sacred books of the Parsis, who honor Zarathustra, or Zoroaster, as the Greeks cdl him, as the founder of the true faith. The Zoroastrians are no longer numerous. The tide of Mohammedan conquest which swept over Persia in the seventh century of our era uprooted the Mazda religion, and only a few of its devoted followers escaped to India, where they found an asylum among the tolerant Hindus. There they remained unmolested to this day, and the Parsi communities of Bombay, which number about 150,000 souls, constitut~ the bulk of the remnant of the once numerous followers of the Persian prophet. They are mostly merchants, occupying brilliant social positions and distinguiRhed for their liberality.

The religion of Zoroaster has little to commend itself to modern European sentiment, no letter of recommendation to present to us. Neither temple nor monuments bear testimony to its former might. Zoroaster taught men to pray to the Creator j made truth, in thought, and word, and deed, the basis of his ethical system j and taught that agriculture was one of the most honorable pursuits.

What remains of the Avesta text would hardly fill a large quarto, but the records of classic, as well as of native writers, leave no room to doubt that this is a mere fragment of a once voluminous literature, the greater part of which was probably destroyed at the Mohammedan invasion. The Parsis charge Alexander the Grecian with having burnt the State copy of twenty-one volumes with the palace of Pcrsepolis, but, at any rate, it is agreed on all sides that the Sassanides followed and supported the MazdGl religion throughout their dyna~ty. The fragment that has come down to us is written in the Pahlevi alphabet employed on the coins of the Sassanides. But the Avesta undoubtedly dates from a far earlier period than the Sassanian dynasty. The ideas conveyed in the text were thoroughly developed in the time of Philip of Macedon and earlier, and the account given of the Zoroastrian religion by Theopompus, born B.C. 380, agrees with the Avesta in all essentials.

1£ it had originated in the time of the Sassanides, it wonld naturally have been written in the old Sassanian language and not in an independent language intimately allied with the Old Persian and Sanscrit dialects. The Sassanides must, therefore, have received the text iu a foreign tongue.

From this we may conclude that the prieRts which taught this religion were foreigners. They were called Magi, and both Greek and Persian authors assign their origin to Media. Grecian writers speak of a race of Magi, and originally the term had doubtless a national signification. They differed from. the Persians not only in language, but in customs. Herodotus says that the Persians buried their dead, but that the Magi exposed theirs; a custom which became universal among the Sassanides. The Pushtoo, or language of Afghanistan, has a closer affinity to the language of the Avesta than any other known language. The term Zoroaster, like Christ or Buddha, is rather a title than a name, aud his origin is lost in the myths of, antiquity, in which he is rcpresented as the foe of the demons. All creation waited for his coming to put an end to the dominion of evil. He spoke the words that shattered the dominion of the devils by proclaiming the laws of Ahriman. But although his life is obscured in fable, there is no room to doubt that he was a real existence; the obscurity in which he is enveloped simply indicates the remoteness of his time. The names of his father and daughtcr and his own family name (Spitama) are preserved, and his writing indicates a marked individuality.

These writings are divided into two clearly distinct parts-the Gathas, and the remaining Avesta. The Gathas or songs embrace five. or, according to an internal division, seventeen chapters; they are in metrical verse, and written in an obscure dialect, constituting the most difficult text in the realm of Indo-Germanic philology. They are supposed to be more ancient than the Avesta, in which they are occasionally cited.

The Gathas are nearest to Zoroaster, and were compiled either by himself or his disciples. They represent him as a teacher of great gifts; he is evidently not merely the founder of a religion, but a leader and reformer who delivered his people from great evils. He regarded himself as one of the last of a long series of prophets, and came to restore order among the people of Ascharan the pious.

The Gathas treat of actual realities, free from myth or miracle, but indicate clearly a deep religious movement of which Zoroaster was the leader. The people who listened to his teachings were pastoral and agricultural communities, worshippers of the Devtas, between whom and the worshippers of the Ahuramazda, the Creator, there was a prolonged struggle.

OUIt INDEBTEDNESS TO CHRIST FOR TEMPORAL BLESSINGS

'l'his earlier portion of the writings is distinguished as the Zend. The Avesta is of more reeent origin, but it, too, dates back to a common Indo- Iranian source, while its mythology is far more ancient than even the Zend, carrying us back to the worship of Mithras the sun-god. Some of this old mythology has been treasured up in the Avesta, and in our estimate of this latter it is necessary to bear in mind that it is an importation.

The utmost care is enjoined to guard against the pollution of the three sacred elements, fire, water, and earth, hence it is that the bodies of the dead may be neither burnt, buried nor thrown into the river, but must be exposed on the Towers of Silence to be disposed of by birds of prey.

The Pars! creed includes the doctrine of a judgment day, when the battle between good and evil will be fought to a close, the evil br.nished into darkness, and the world, being renewed as a kingdom of light, will endure in the sunshine of Ahuramazda's presence forever.-Nord und Sud, Breslau.

OUR INDEBTEDNESS TO CHRIST FOR TEMPORAL BLESS~ INGS.-PART II.

BY REV. T. LAURIE, PROVIDENCE, R. I.

We have looked at the dwellings where Christ is not known, but the condition of the house determines the condition of woman, for she is the housekeeper, and when several generations cook, eat, and sleep in one room, such as has been described, and when wood is so searce that dried manure is often the only fuel, the influence of such homes on neatness and morality need not be told. Think of family prayer being observed by one of several families in such an abode! And if such homes are full of discomfort in health, what are they in sickness ~ Woman in her hour of sorrow often has no other sick-room than Mary fonnd in Bethlehem. Many are born, and many mothers die every year among the cattle. If the child is a daughter it is not counted with the family, but is matter for mourning and lamentation. Think of the mother in such circumstances! Then mothers who toil in the fields all day carry home their babes and heavy hoes at night, where they prepare food for their husbands, and wait till he has finished before they think of eating. If in Mosul a missionary had taken his wife's arm in the street a mob would have gathered at once; and when in Buhtan Dr. Grant fonnd a dormitory separated by a curtain from the rest of the apartment for the use of his host and hostess, he entered the fact in his journal as a very rare refinement. In the homes of the wealthy the visitor is entertained in the divan khanch or guest-room not only with coffee, but also with fragrant sherbets and costly perfumes, but no woman is to be seen, and no allusion to the ladies of the household would be tolerated for a moment.

On the country roada the fellah ridQs his donkey ilmoking his pipe, while his wife trudges behind on foot, and sometimes carries either a babe or a burden besides.

It might be unjust to say that this position of woman is wholly the fruit of Mohammedanism, but it is no injustice to affirm that the wrongs of woman are greatly aggravated by that system. 'l'h(l writer once fre~ quented a rnejlis of Moslem gentlemen to improve his Arabic, and he cOl~ld not help noticing that whenever woman was the topic of conversation, there was not one thought for her personal comfort or advantage, but she was viewed only as something available for man's enjoyment, just as a class among ourselves once talked about the slaves.

In 1843 Dr. Grant and the writer were one day busily making up our mail for the post, which then left only once a fortnight, when the wife of a rich Moslem led in her son for medical treatment. As she came frequently, she was without an attendant. She was about thirty years of age, unusually prepossessing in appearance, and her little boy was not far from ten years old. Dr. Grant asked her to wait till he finished his letter, but mistaking thia for a refusal, she began to plead with tears. "He is all I have in the world." "Are you not forgetting your husband Y" said the doctor. " Husband I" she replied; "can a husband love ¥ He is a stranger to me and I to him. The religion of Jesus does not allow such things as ours. " We knew that other wives had been added to the household, and they embittered a life that was already almost insupportable. Even her son had been trained to treat her with contempt, and while she pleaded for him as only a mother could, he mocked her and arrogantly ordered her to be still. After prescribing for the boy she told her own ailments, but they were not such as medicine could reach; only kindness from those who owed her kindness could remove her troubles.

Go through Oriental countries and you will see enough of the condition of women to make the heart ache; but however much is seen, behind those windowless walls is much more that is not seen, and known only to Him who bare our sickness and carried our sorrows; but mere bodily suffering or social distress is not the whole. There are wrongs greater than these.

Among all the Nestorians, whether in the mountains of Kurdistan or' on the plains of Persia, in the year 1835 there was only one woman who could read, and she was the sister of Mar Shimon, the patriarch; afterward her sister and a cousin followed her example. This is a fact whose deep significance few can appreciate. Ask one if she wanted to leal1l, and the answer would be," I am a woman," as though that fact settled the question. It is not strange, then, if in their ignorance they were lacking in those things that are lovely and of good report. As a body they were most unlovely. Their outbursts of passion were terrible. The list of wives who hated their husbands equalled the list of husbands who beat their wives. So said Miss Fisk in Persia; and a lady in Syria who knew them well said to the writer that the beatings were only too well deserved. When they begged Miss Fisk in the name of the Virgin Mary to help th~m, she answered, "I will save you from your husbands by helping you to love them." The writer had no conception how rapidly the tongue could run till he heard one of their outbursts of rage. No wonder they eould drive tax-gatherers from the villages. None who ever listened to those shrill cries and looked on their frenzied motions could ever ask, Why were the Furies described as women ~ It is a type of the nature and extent of the ehange wrought by missions, that at the jubilee in Oroomiah, in 1885, when the women who could read their Bibles were asked to rise, eight hundrerl women responded and were counted, but these were only representatives of a much larger number who had not only learned to read the Gospel, but had felt its power to sanctify.

Wherever the missionary goes in that land men and women learn how Jesus Christ creates blessed homes, filling them with His own peace. Woman there also as with us labors to impart to her sisters the same blessings she herself has received from her Saviour, and the work is much more extensive than appears.

In the year 1885 strangers from the vicinity of Lake Van brought an account of a woman in that region who, unlike others, read her Bible and lived a very blameless life, yet was treated with bitter hate. They told, too, how she wept more over their sins than over the treatment she endured. The missionaries resolved to search her out. So next spring one went to that part of the mountains and found Nazloo, a student who had gone out from Miss Fisk's seminary more than twenty years beforQ, and had long been lost sight of. She had married, and had led her husband also to her Saviour. Then under her inspiration they had gathered a school in their own home, thougb they had only two or three other books besides her Bible. and though they were poor themselves, yet to some who lived at a distance and wanted to attend the school they gave a home, sharing with them their own scanty means. Who can estimate the good wrought by this one woman in her poverty, far from all Christian fellow- Rhip 1 And what an encouragement to support missionary schools that thus reproduce themselves in spite of such discouragements, creating new centres of light amid the darkness! It seems as though woman in such lands, grateful for the priceless blessing Christ brings into her earthly life even before she enters heaven, goes far beyond us in seeking to impart the same to others. How small our benevolence appears by the side of the self-denial of Nazloo !

Signor Prochet, of Rome, mentioned that the very useful Bible wagon of the Waldensian Church in Italy is superintended by a Jew converted to Christ, who is remarkably efficient III the discharge of difficult and important duties.

Plt);I!IENT CONDITION OF TH); P);.A.S.A.NTS IN THJ: RlJlBUN EMPIIU

THE PRESENT CONDITION OF THE PEASANTS IN THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE.

BY VICOMTE COMBES DE LESTRADE.

The emancipation of the Russian serfs by the Emperor Alexander II. was an act which filled Europe with admiration and his people with gratitude. But while no one doubts the liberality and beneficence of the Emperor's intentions, the so-called emancipation has proved only a delusion. True, the seigneurs were stripped of their authority, but, by the terms of the edict of 1861, the authority formerly vested in them was formally transferred to the Mir. This Mir is a village commune-an assemblage of families holding a certain quantity of land in common, bound to pay certain annual revenues on account of it, and in order to satisfy these obligations, invested in its collective capacity with powers over the individual equal to, if not transcending, those exercised by the seigneurs.

Under the old seignorial system the serfs had to render certain services to the seigneur, who was, of course, responsible for their support. To this end each serf had a certain portion of land allotted to him to be cultivated at his discretion. Under the Act of Emancipation the Government stepped between the seigneurs and serfs, paid the former an indemnity to compensate them for lost services, and transferred from them an area of land equal to what had been allotted for the maintenance of their serfs under the old system. The land thus allotted to the serfs was not allotted in severalty, but given in the lump to the Mir, which in its collective capacity exercises a despotic control over its several members, assigning to each family, according to its numbers, the land which it is bound to cultivate, and which may consist of, several parcels far removed from each other. The Government having indemnified the landlords for the loss entailed by the emancipation, arranged to recoup itself by a land tax, which, covering principal and interest, should extend over seventy-nine years. This tribute is exacted from the Mir in a lump, and the Mir apportions it among its several members, according to the extent and value of their several holdings. This division of the land has no permanency. Periodical redistribution was made the rule to provide for allotments to new-comers.

The cultivation of the village lands under the communal system for the equal benefit of all might have its advantages under certain social conditions, but the system of individual holdings, which ordinarily change hands every five years, can only be disastrous. '1'here is no encouragement for the peasant to improve his land, and, exceptio.g in those few districts in which the land yields a revenue over and above its burden of taxation, the peasants resort to a thousand artifices, and even to supplication, that less land be given them. The Mir, however, enforctls its behests rigorously, since lightening the burden on one man's shoulders could only be effected by adding to the burden of others, The Mil' has the power ot banishment to some other village-not a neighboring one-or to Siberia.

The law provides that a debtor peasant may withdraw from the Mil', if he wishes, but on the following impossible conditions: 1. He shall abandon his portion of land. 2. He shall put himself en l'egle as regards his military service. 3. He shall discharge, both he and his family, every debt, whether it be payable to the Mil', to the district, or to the commune, and pay the taxes levied for the current year. 4. He shall have no process pending against him. 5. He shall have no judgment against him unsatisfied. 6. He shall have the consent of his parents, no matter what age he may have attained. 7. If he leave children, he shall provide for their maintenance.

s. He shall pay all undivided claims (l'edevances affel'entes) on the land which he may have received in fee from the seigneur. If the peasant with his individ~al earnings and savings should succeed in paying off his personal share of the seventy-nine years' annuity on the land, he would become free of the Mil', and would still be entitled to take part in its councils. But if the Mil' buys up its own land with common funds, the lands remain communal and the peasants bondslaves of the Mil'.

Another phase of the situation is that the village domaiu is not always equal to the support of all its members, and in places where there are no local manufacturing industries, the peasants are driven to go abroad in search of work. No one may leave his village without the authority, of the Mil', and that authority may be revoked at any time; moreover, the wanderer may not take his family with h1m. The practical consequence is that if an absent member is doing well, he is heavily blackmailed for the continuance of the privilege of absence.

All the 40,000,000 peasants in Russia are not serfs. Some 11,000,000 are freemen, mostly enfranchised before the act of emancipation.

Theoretically the jlfir has much to commend it. Every laborer, whether in town or country, is member of a Mil' in which he can find shelter in sickness, and a piece of land for his support when he grows' old; but all that can be said in favor of this institution may, with equal truth, be said of the institution of serfdom. The act of emancipation did not change the rights and duties of the serfs in any way; it simply substituted the Mil' for the seigneur, and the Mil' has no bowels of compassion; it is as needy as the individ1'.al, and acts under pressure from above.

The commune is a su~vival from earlier ages, and the Russian Mil' i~ probably a close protot,ype of human society; but however charming in its simplicity may be onr ideal of the communal life of our remote Germanic ancestors, therfl is certainly not in th,e institution of the Russian MiT one single point in which liberty and the appropriation of lo"d would not be a thousand times rather to be desired.

AN UNIQUE MISSIONARY MEETING ON THE HIMALAYAS

Russia is a great country with a great people, put she can never enter the sisterhood of European nations until her rulers shall have given to her serfs a liberty that shall be not merely nominal, but real. There is no greater tyranny than that of collectivity.-Annals of the American Acad.

emy, Philadelphia.

AN UNIQUE MISSIONARY MEETING ON THE HIMALAYAS.

BY REV. JACOB CHAMBERLAIN, D.O., M.D., DARJEELING, NORTH INDIA.

Sir Charles Elliott, the Governor of Bengal, and Lady Elliott, last week sent out cards of invitation for a reception to all the missionaries of all societies now on these hills, numbering more than eighty, including those working at Darjeeling, Ghuru and Kalimpong, and those visiting this sanitarium for recuperation. The principal residents of Darjeeling, and tea-planters on the slopes of the mountains, and many officials up here on duty with the Governor, or on leave, were also invited to meet the missionaries.

Sir Charles Elliott has had long experience in India, rising from the bottom of the civil serville ladder up through the different grades by sheer force of character, until he has now attained, by appointment of the Queen- Empress, to his present exalted position. In Government official parlance, he is styled the Lieutenant-Governor of Bengal, because the Governor- General or Viceroy also has his headquarters in Bengal, and of course officially overshadows him; but Sir Charles is de facto Bengal's governor, having his own Legislative Council and his own corps of secretaries, or cabinet entirely different from those of the viceroy.

Darjeeling, on the Himalayas, from which eighty miles of perpetual snow is seen, is the summer capital of Bengal, and during the hottest months Sir Charles and Lady Elliott occupy" The Shrubbery," as the gubernatorial residence here is named, with its beautiful garden-park around it, and Government offices and chief officials' residences adjacent, and from here the affairs of this great Bengal presidency are, for the time, administered.

The cards of invitation read: "To a garden party on Wednesday, June 15th, at 4.30 o'clock, to be followed by a Drawing-Room, at which an account will be given of the progress of missionary work. "

A break had come in the monsoon weather, now upon us, and the clear day, with its view of the highest mountain range in the world, glistening in its mantle of snow, added to the zest with which all parties came together. The Governor and Lady Elliott were exceedingly affable, having pleasant words of cheer for each missionary, as they inquired after their work, and taking special pains to introduce the missionaries and officials, residents and tea-planters who were present. After an hour's very pleasant social intercourse, during which refreshments were served to all, Sir Charles passed through the company, inviting all to come to the H Durbar Jitoom," or reeeption hall used on State occasioDl'l, and the company was soon seated on sofas, divans, and chairs placed in an unconventional man- ner all around the spacious room.

Pleasant conversation ran on for a few minutes, and then order was called, and the Governor, stepping to a table at the head of the room, gave a brief address of welcome, which was so pleasant and so telling that I have wrhten it out briefly, that others, too, may enjoy it and be helped and stimulated by it.

Sir Charles spoke substantially as follows.

" Missionary friends, ladies and gentlemen, I wish, in a few words, to say what a very great pleasure it gives Lady Elliott and myself to welcome so many missionaries here as our chief guests this evening. Coming as they do from all parts of our presidency, as well as from other presidencies and provinces of India, and representing so IDany different missionary societies from so many different countries.

"Ve are very glad that so many missionaries can come up to this delightful climate from the burning plains for a little well-earned rest and recuperation after their soul-absorbing and arduous toil at their stations, for it will fit them the better for the heavy work ever before them.

" It gives us real pleasure to tender to them this small amount of hospitality, with a large amount of sympathy and good-will and of appreciation of the noble and, to India, all-important service that they are rendering.

" My long experience in India, in the different p·residencies and provinces, has taught me that the British Government in India cannot possibly do the work which, in the providence of God, is our only justification for being here, namely, the civilization, enlightenment, and uplifting of the whole people of India, without the aid of the missionaries. For extended observation and careful study of the people have produced in me the profound conviction that nothing can lift these millions of Hindus up to the standard of our Western Christian nations in probity, morality, and nobleness of life but that Gospel of Christ that has lifted us.

" I view, then, the missionary work as an indispensable, unofficial, and voluntary auxiliary of the Government in carrying out its highest aspirations-the ennobling of the whole Hindu people. Always, in our tours in the provinces, Lady Elliott and myself find our greatest pleasure in looking up and trying to help and encourage the missionary work of all societits wherever we go. We are grateful to you missionaries for your self-sacrificing labors, and for the help you thus render the Government, and assure you that you will always find sympathy both in 'The Shrubbery,' where we now are, and in ' Belvidere House,' in Calcutta, so long as we continue to occupy it.

" I wish, further, to say that Lady Elliott and myself have to-day invited you, the leading residellts and visitors at Darjeeling, and tea-planters of the district, that you may meet these missionaries and learn of their work, and learn to know them personally, and so, henceforth; take a much greater interest in their work, &nd render them the more liberal help. If they give their lives to the work, it is only fair that we should aid in furnishing them abundant supplies.

" I congratulate you all that the last census and the signs of the times all point to a very positive and somewhat rapid progress of the missionary work in India. There is unquestionably an undercurrent working among the higher classes in India toward Christianity, in spite of all the open manifestations against it; and we may look forward with confident expectation to the day when all India shall bow at the feet of Christ, who alone can uplift, purify, and save."

At the nomination of the Governor, Bishop Johnson, the Anglican Bishop of Calcutta and Metropolitan of India. then took the chair, and in a brief address, thanking Sir Charles for his outspoken testimony to the missionary work, and him and Lady Elliott for the kind conception and kind action which had assembled this company, went on to say that his duties as Metropolitan of India, taking him from the Himalayas to Cape Comorin, and from Karachi, on the Sea of Arabia, to Burmah and Assam, on the borders of China, gave him the opportunity of gauging any progress made in the missionary work not alone of the Church of England, but, to some extent, of all other societies within those wide limits; that when he first came to India a decade ago he did not at once appreciate the amount of preparatory work that had bflen done. Not to be tabulated in any statistics, not apparent to the eye of the casual observer, but which he now saw to be the chief element of hope for the speedy evangelization of India. He told of the numbers of educated native gentlemen who, to his knowledge, were now privately reading the Bible and endeavoring to conform their lives to its precepts, while still outwardly adhering to Hinduism. who, erelong, when the Spirit of God should mightily move among them, would come over as a mighty host into the Christian Church. He spoke of the wonderful uplifting power which Christianity had already manifested in the Madras Presidency, in those regions where very large numbers of converts had been gathered, and referred to the remarkable declaration of the Director of Public Instruction in Madras, in his last official report on the progress of education, to the effect that, if the percentage of increase during the last twenty years be maintained, the native Christian population of that presidency would, within the next two generations, have surpassed the Brahmin in education, in material prosperity, in influence, and in official position. He intimated that he had come to India interested, indeed, in missions, but practically a pessimist as to their progress; that a decade of close observation had converted him into an optimist, for the well-marked indications now were that India would, in the not very distant future, become an integral part of the kingdom of Christ.

Rev. Archibald Turnbull, B.D., the senior missionary in the Darjeeling district of the Church of Scotland, to w.hich seems to be committed the evangelization of the Eastern Himalayas, gave II terse and interesting account of the work going on among these hill people with their fifteen cate- chists and twenty junior assistants at Darjeeling, and twelve out-stations reaching to the base of the mountains-Nipali catechists for the Nipalis, who ha,-e immigrated in such numbers from the adjacent kingdom of Nipfil in connection with the tea industry; Lepcha catechists for the Lepehas from Sikkini, and a Bhutia catechist working among the Bhutias who have flocked in from Bhutan, and told of the little churches they had already established here with 600 commnnicants and 1700 adherents, with baptisms of new converts every month. He also spoke of the Scotch Ladies' Zenana Mission in Darjeeling, cons:sting of three Scotch ladies and one native woman, who carryon their work in four languages, and meet with much encouragement.

Miss Edith Highton, of the English Church Zenana Mission in Calcutta, followed with an intensely interesting account of their methods of work, their hindrances, and their successes.

Rev. F. B. Gwinn, of the Church Missionary Society, in charge of their Boys' Boarding-School and Training Institution in Calcutta, then told of his work, and instanced remarkable cases of conversion of young men of the higher classes from their study of the Bible in mission schools, who had indeed lost all, of property, position, and friends, but had gained Christ, thus effectually answering the oft-repeated taunt that Hindus only became Christians for worldly gain.

Rev. J. A. Graham, M.A., of the Young Men's Guild Mission of the Church of Scotland at Kalimpong, in British Bhutan, spoke of the exceedingly hopeful work in his mission, with two hundred baptisms of mountaineers last year, and told how the native Church had organized among themselves a Foreign Missionary Society to send the Gospel into the kingdom of Bhutan adjacent, into which no European can yet enter, and how the senior and highest paid native evangelist of the mission, who had commenced the work at Kalimpong twelve years ago, had now resigned his connection with the mission, that he might go forth as the first foreign missionary of the native Church to the turbulent and dangerous regions of Bhutan, receiving only the voluntary contributions of the native Christians to support him in Bhutan and his family in Kalimpong, since they could not accompany him.

He also spoke for the Scottish Universities' Mission in Independent Sikkim, now under the efficient charge of Rev. Robert Kilgour, B.D., of Glasgow University, who, with his fifteen native assistants, is pushing the work up into Eastern, Central, and Western Sikkim, building their little churches almost on the borders of the perpetual snows-for in Sikkim rise those giant mountains twenty-three, twenty-five, and twenty-seven thousand feet high, towered over by their Monarch, Kiuchiu, Janga, the " Golden Horn," 28,177 feet high, the second highest mountain in the world.

With a hearty vote of thanks to the chairman, the speakers, and to Sir Charles and Lady Elliott, and a cheering cup of coffee as we passed again out through the refreshment-room, we scattered with the intensified conviction and determination that from the eternal snows of the Himalayas to the scorching sands of Cape Comorin JESUS SHALL BE KING.

1892.J EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS

EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.

BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.

– " Gloomy clouds are gathering more and more deeply on the firmament of the nations. The time when peace shall be taken from the earth appears to be drawing nearer and nearer. The beast out of the abyss displays his head with ever less disguise; the false and secularized church exalts herself more aIld more proudly; the spirit of the false prophet becomes ever more manifest. Can all these developments turn against the children of God, against the kingdom of our King ~ Oh, no! They have their Master's warning: 'And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. ' All this can but help to hasten their perfection and that of the kingdom of God. "-Mi8sion8- und Heidenbote (Neulcirchen).

THE UNITED KINGDOM.

-The Ninety-eighth Report of the London Missionary Society has some introductory remarks which are worthy of being reported at length.

"The present year marks a point of deep interest in the history of Protestant Christian missions to the heathen. In September next the Baptist Missionary Society will celebrate the centenary of the commencement of their great enterprise. Although before that society was formed the Moravians and Danes had been for many years devoting themselves to work among the inhabitants of Greenland and Labrador, and also in South India, with a heroism characteristic of their whole history, and which has made the story of their missions read like a romance of Christian chivalry; and some earnest attempts had also been made to reach the natives and the slaves in the North American colonies, and in the West Indies, by the Society for the Propagation of the G08pel in Foreign Parts, by John Wesley and by the Countess of Huntingdon; yet, by common consent, the formation of the Baptist Missionary Society has been regarded as the true beginning of the great missionary movement, which has been so marked a feature in the life of this most marvellous century.

" The record of the work of the Baptist Missionary Society, from the first days of the Serampore Mission to the late1;t development of its energy and enthusiasm for Christ in the Congo Mission, has been a splendid history, and the success which has attended .their work in every field is a witness to all the world of God's faithfulness to His promises.

" The London Missionary Society is the oldest of the societies which have been formed under the inspiration of the example l.Iet to the Church of Christ by the Baptists; and the directors rejoice exceedingly in all the blessing which has been bestowed on their brethren, and pray that larger usefulness, richer harvests, more rapid and triumphant progress may be their experience in the days to come.

" It was only fitting that a year of such special interest in the history of missions should be marked by special and enlarged effort for their advancement. The most conspicuous result of the first century of this , great enterprise has been to reveal its vast extent and the urgent nature of the world's need. This society has for years past been learning that the great fields are practically only just opening for serious work, and that the provision made in the past would be utterly inadequate for the new conditions which were being faced in every direction. In the first stage of missions few laborers can be profitably employed, because the peoples are not ready for the message they bring. There will come a third stage when few laborers will be required, because the Church of Christ in every land will be numerous, self-supporting, intelligently aggressive in native strength. Between these two stages comes a time of great responsibility, when the countries are open, when the vast extent of the field becomes fully apparent, and the variety and the power of the forces opposed to the Gospel are clearly recognized, and when by God's blessing the peoples in multitudes, though still in ignorance, are aroused to a sense of new needs, and stretch out their hands to crave a gift the real value of which they know not yet. This is the stage of the work upon which the Christian Church is entering at the beginning of this new century; and at this time practical wisdom suggests the necessity and expediency of reinforcing the staff of workers everywhere, and of occupying every point of vantage, in order that movement may be accelerated, opposition may be overcome, and the multitudes may be brought home to the fold of Christ. "

-We give some extracts from the Annual Report of the Church- Mis- sionary Society.

"The removal by death and sickness and other causes, in rapid suc- cession, of promising young laborers from the African missions has been a sore trial. John Alfred Robinson and Graham Wilmot Brooke, the devoted and gifted pioneers of a fresh effort to reach the Hausa Moham- medans, early called to their rest! The party associated with them broken up! Only two European missionaries at present on the whole Niger, and their stay precarious! In East Africa four young missionaries dead from fever within the year! But the committee cannot doubt that even these solemn providences will work for good. They are confident that many will be stimulated to step in and close the ranks, and if not, God's power to work, whether hy many or by few, will be vindicated.

" India absorbs the largest proportion of the society's men and inter- est. Blessings, if not in showers, at least in drops which promise showers, are vouchsafed here and there. In the city of Calcutta alone there were last year as many as 31 baptisms, chiefly cases of individual reception into the family of Christ, in the course of thirty weeks. The Bishop of Calcutta confirmed 100 candidates at Godda in the Santal Mission in January last. • A native catechist, formerly a Moham·· medan, was invited by a Maulvi to preach in a village mosque, and he preached Christ to 180 Moslems. In thirty-one years the native clergy in the Madras Diocese have increased from 27 to 160. • .

" In the Fuh-kien Province of China the adherents in the year have increased by 993. • . . Among the most hopeful instances of increas- ing interest must be reckoned the tidings which reach the committee from Cambridge and from Oxford. A letter has been received signed by fifty- four Cambridge university men, notifying their readiness, if God should open the way, to go forth to the mission field. The visit of Mr. Wilder, of the American Missionary Students' Volunteer Movllment, which has been fraught with wonderful results in America, gave impulse to the m~s­ sionary cause in both universities. As a fruit of this growing interest, the inquiries regarding personal service received during the year at Salisbury Square were more numerous than ever before. Of these 179 were investigated by the committee; 52 were accepted for training; 66 were accepted for immediate service, in addition to 6 in the field, bringing the number for the year to 72. Of the comparatively large number re- jected, the majority failed to reach the required medical standard.

"The committee deliberately adopted the policy four years ago of sending out all whom they believe to be duly qualified. assured that if God gives the living agents He will supply the means. The experience of the past two years justifies their confidence. Last year, when the staff of missionaries numbered 49 more than in the previous year, they were thankfully able to record a balance of £74 to the credit of the General Fund.

In conclusion, what policy have the committee to submit to the approval of the society in the face of unprecedented opportunities and hopes ~ " 1. God has owned old methods of work. Destroy them not, for there is a blessing in them. In the light of accumulated experience, and under the influence of new environments, the old methods have been and will be improved. God forbid that they should be abandoned.

,. 2. .The call has come for new methods and fresh experiments. That call can neither be lightly disregarded nor lightly obeyed. The committee are not frightened by the outcry against 'new departures.' Rather they thank God that the inereased interest at home and the growth of opportunities abroad necessitate' new departures;' but all such new departures must be jealously safeguarded by rigid adherence to the old unchangeable principles which, from its foundation to the present day, have been the glory and strength of the society.

" 3. In view of the rapidly rising tide of intelligent, self-consecrating interest at home; in view of the marvellous opening out of the field abroad, the committee are determined, God helping them, to be found ready, first for the consolidation and strengthening of existing work; then for further expansion, as God shall provide duly qualified workers_"

JAPAN.

-There are now, says the Spirit ofMissions, forty-eight Buddhist publications in Japan, most of them of recent establishment. Japanese Buddhism has no thought of dying without a vigorous contest for life. It is curious, but the Shin sect, which is fourth in the number of its temples among the Buddhist denominations of Japan, is extremely like Protestantism in its relation to the other Buddhist sects. It teaches justification by faith in Amida Buddha, instead of by works, opposes celi.bacy, monasticism, penances, pilgrimages, and amulets. However, it is no nearer to Christianity than the other sects. Equally with them it appears to be atheistical, and to hold the doctrine of extinction as the highest good. All the sects, however, appear to have adherents who incline more or less to a theistic interpretation. Buddhism seems to be a singularly elusive system, if it can be called a system.

The Shin sect is erecting a temple at Kyoto at a cost of $11,000,000.

-The Rev. T. P. Poate says, in the Baptist Missionary Magazine: " Let no one think that Japan is an easy field. It is far from it. 'l'rials from within and without multiply, and were it not that Christ strengtheneth we should despair."

-The Rev. E. H. Jones (in the Baptist Missionary Magazine) writes: " I have only baptized ten this year, the Union Presbyterian Church has less than half the number of last year, and there are a great many exclusions in all the churches. We ask your sympathy and prayers. We are not inclined to give up, but need great wisdom and readjustment of pl~ns to continue our work." – " The average wages of Japanese do not exceed ten cents a day, yet in the last year Japanese converts have given to mission work nearly $27,000. "-The Kingdom.

– " It is said that for what it costs to fire (IDe shot from one of our . largest cannons a missionary and his family can be supported over two years in Japan. Comment is needless."-Canadian Church Magazine.

-Bishop Hare, in the Spirit of Missions, describes the Synod of the Episcopal Church of Japan. It is modelled after the. American plan, the English and American bishops sitting with the others, but voting as a separate authority, and the two orders of clergy and laity voting separately when desired. "The conservative element is thus well provided for; and this is well, for the boldness with which all sorts of propositions are pre- sented and advocated strikes me almost painfully; but it is to be remem- bered that this is the early summer or late spring of Japanese life, and luxuriant growth of ideas is to be expected. The keen interest with which the laity take part in the debates and in the settlement of the Church in Japan is delightful to see, and I trust will continue when the novelty of the movement has passed away. "

-Mr. Towson, of Japan (quoted in the fllustrated Missionary News), says: "The 40,000 Protestant Christians in Japan of both sexes and all ages are outnumbl1red even by the priests of Buddhism. "

~The Missionary Herald for December, 1890, speaking of the island of Yezo, now called the Hokkaido, says: "This great northern island, which contains about one fourth of the area of Japan, being much larger than Kiushiu and Shikoku combined, though with a much smaller population, claims the attention of the friends of missions. Its resources are ample, and only need development to make it a most prosperous region. Our Japan mission earnestly calls for reinforcements sufficient for it to occupy at least one or two stations in this great territory. The climate of the Hokkaido is much like that of New England, and those who come thither from Southern Japan find it a pleasant health resort."

– " From all sections of Japan and from members of many missionary organizations the report comes that the outlook for evangelical work throughout the empire is much brighter than it was a year or two since. The attitude of the Japanese toward foreigners is more friendly. The native churches are recognizing clearly the fact that they need the counsel and assistance of missionaries from other lands. The theological unrest seems to have measurably passed away, and the apparent movement toward rationalism, which caused many fears, either was not so strong as was SIlPposed or has been checked. The native churches are feeling their responsibility for the propagation of the Gospel, and are entering upon the task with great self-denial and enthusiasm."-Missionary Herald.

– " Having recently visited Japan, I will venture to limit my words to that field. Though small compared with its gigantic neighbors-India and China-it is a l&rge empire in itself. Its area exceeds that of Great Britain and Ireland; its population is more than forty million souls. Now, if you had been asked to sketch an ideal land, most suitable for Christian missions, and when itself Christianized most suitable for evangelistic work among the nations of the far East, what, I ask, would be the special characteristics of the land and people that you would haTe desired 1 Perhaps first, as Englishmen or Irishmen, you would have said, ' Give us islands, inseparably and forever united-give us islands which can hold their sea-girt independence, and yet near enough to the mainland to exercise influence there.' Such is Japan-the Land of the Rising Sun. 'Give us a hardy race, not untrained in war by land and sea j for a nation of soldiers, when won for Christ, fights best under the banner of the Crossfor we are of the Church militant here on earth j give us brave men.' And such are the descendants of the old Daimios and two-sworded Samurai of Japan. ' Give us an industrial race, not idlers nor loungers, enervated by a luxurious climate, but men who delight in toil, laborious husbandmen, persevering craftsmen, shrewd men of business.' And such. are the Japanese agriculturists, who win two harvests a year from their grateful soil j such are the handicraftsmen there, whose work is the envy of Western lands; such are the merchants, who bold their own with us in commerce. ' Give us men of culture, with noble traditions, but not so wedded to the past that they will not grasp the present and salute the future. ' Such, again, are the quick-witted, myriad-minded Japanese, who, with a marvellous power of imitation, ever somehow contrive to engraft their own specialties upon those of Western lands. Witness their Constitution, their Parliament, their 30,000 schools in active operation; witness their museums and hospitals j witness their colleges and universities. ' But,' you would also have said, 'give us a race whose women are homespun and refined, courteous and winsome, not tottering on tortured feet, not immured in zenanas and harems, but who freely mingle in social life, and adorn all they touch.' And such, without controversy, are the women of Japan. Above all, 'Give us a reverent and a religious people, who yet are conscious that the religion of their fathers is unsatisfying and unreal, and who are therefore readv to welcome the Christ of God.' Even such are the thoughtful races of-Japan. "-The BISHOP OF EXETER, in Ohurch Missionary Intelligencer.

– " The faithful are not to suppose that the Indian Shaka was the chief and central manifestation of Buddha. India has no more claim than any other country to the possession of the greatest Buddha. Just as Buddha is known under innumerable names-Being and Not Being, One and Many, Finite and Infinite-so there is one Real Substance of which all Buddhas in all countries are but the local mauifestations. An article on , Nirvana' throws some light on the Japanese understanding of this muchdisputed topic. The basis of the writer's views is plain enough: that the univer~e is dependent on the mind for its existence. Outside phenomena exist only as related to our consciousness. Now when we are forming (as we daily do form) our judgments as to what we like nnd what we dislike. in this external universe, and are seeking happiness in one direction as an escape from hardship in another, let us remember how subjective and unreal is all this externality. For me nothing is; all is mere appearance. There is no such a predicate as • hardship' or ' happiness, ' Let us therefore not degrade ourselves by setting our thoughts on worldly matters, bllt keep from desiring anything greatly. Why desire what is not 1 Let us repress the passions of avarice, gluttony, lust_ Let us shun the five varieties of foolishness-empty conceit, prejudice, envy, obstinacy, and ascetici8m. Let us live in the world, but not of it. Thus shall we attain Nirvana here in this life. Better learn to realize the vanity of self now than seek to be bettered in some far-off future. Rightly understood, it is not happiness to have Nirvana. It is nothingness, and we may enter into it here as well as hereafter." -Baptist Missionary MafJazine.

INTERNATIONAL Di:PARTMENT. [O'teber

II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.

Recognition of Roman Catholic Mis· claim that since the days of Luther it sionaries. has ceased to be a Christian church. The few Christians in its pale are such, BY REV. ROBERT HAMILL NASSAU, M.D., not because of, but in spite of their being there, just as there are children of God D.D., GAnOON, WEST AFRICA. outside of all church organizations.

Shall Roman Catholic priests in (2) I do not recognize his ordination. heathen lands be given religious or so- If he should wish to become a Protestant cial recognition by Protestant mission- clergyman, I would vote for his reordiaries? No. nation.

Of course, everywhere any civilized, (3) I do not recognize his baptismal and especially any Christian man, will, acts as valid. In our mission we always as he has opportunity, do good unto all rebaptize any who come to us from the men. In the limited membership of Roman Catholic Church. Two years white representatives of civilization in ago a young man came before my sesheathen lands, any white man is willing sion and, instead of saying, •• I wish to to aid in distress any other white man. unite with the church," said, " I wish In Africa, however bad a member of to come to the table." I noticed the the dissolute trade community may be, unusual form of application, and said I admit him to my table; and he, how- to him, "But you must first be bapel"er much he may talk against my mis- tized!" "I have been baptized." " By sion work, will aid me financially if I whom P" "By the priest." .. But I do be in straits. Between natives and bad not recognize his baptism." .. It is the foreigners I will help the latter; for I same as yours." " How?" .. He bap. can rely on their aid in return if I tized me in the name of the Trinity." should be in distress, while the former " When he baptized you, did he ask you will take advantage of that distress to anything about repentance?" " No." rob or make exorbitant demands. "Or about change of life?" "No." .. Unto what, then, did he baptize you ?" Of course, also, I would give relief, .. into the church." .. But we baptize medicinal or otherwise, on humanita. into Christ, for repentance unto eternal rian grounds, to anyone, native or for- life. His baptism and ours is not the eigner, even to a Roman Catholic en- same." emy. But, (4) Roman Catholic priests, with us, 1. I have no call or duty to visit the baptize the heathen dead, offering as a Roman Catholio missionary socially, or bribe to the heathen relatives that they to give "nd receive the friendly ex- will provide a coffin and decently inter changes of gifts and favors common the corpse. elsewhere among strangers. The native church.members know that we con· (5) They have gone through It village demn his doctrine, and that he de- with baptismal bowl and asked men, nounces us, even to the slandering of women, and children indiscriminately our private character. Any recognition to receive the rite. Our nltti ves will, of him would be quite understood by as far as they possibly can, try to please the natives, either as uncalled·for in. a white man; and the heathen will consincerity or unwise blindness. sent laughingly in a crowd to the priest's proposition, with little or no under- 2. Least of all can I give any recog- standing of what is proposed. They nition of the Roman Catholic priest as require no change of life. There is a Christian minister. simply a substitution gf a string of (1) I (personally) do not acknowledge his church as a Christian ohurch. I beads with medal of the Virgin instead defence of my several propositions. I of the fetich charm around one's neck. offer this paper simply as an entering The polygamist still keeps his women; wedge for discussion.* a slaveholder his slaves ; the thief and liar are unchallenged. Religious duty Rescue Wark in Western India. is fulfilled by occasional attendance at the 9 A.M. mass of Sabbath (~fter which BY MISS HELEN RICHARDSON, BOMBAY, hour one may hunt, fish, or do any- INDIA. thing in the line of secular work) and by confession at long intervals. In a certain quarter of the beautiful city of Bombay, India, there is a street (6) They slander our private charac- -a public thoroughfare-over which ters; denounce our married mission- hangs the pall of darkness and of death. aries as breakers of the seventh com- Its reputation for evil is almost worldmandment, the while that it is notori- wide, and still the sun rises and sets ous that .some of those very priests live day after day ; the weeks come and go ; in forbidden relations with native years are numbered and roll into eterwomen. nity, and its death-dealing traffic is not checked. (7) Roman Catholicism is the same at heart everywhere. If in civilized lands On one side of this street the houses the priests put on a Jesuitical cloak to are occupied by European girls; on the please weak Protestants, and even pass other mostly by natives of …arious themselves as friendly, I know that in countries, and these poor girls are the spirit they are the same as in the days dupes of men whose profession it is to of Alva and the Inquisition. In heathen amass wealth by the price of immortal lands they uncloak themselves and ap- souls! These houses are rented by pear in their nakedness of purpose. them for the purpose of carrying on their infamous traffic, and here young Under the French Government, which girls are decoyed from their homes unholds the country of the Gaboon and der one plausible pretext or another- Corisco MiSSion, in West Africa, the snitable employment, etc.-to become officials are at least nominal Roman sources of revenue to tbeir inhuman Catholics. I admit that some of them masters. would be impartial as between Roman Catholic priests and Protestant mission. And so the surge of sin goes on. aries; but they are not impartial as be- Nightly these men gather in their club tween Roman Catholic Frenchmen and and pass the hours until the early us Protestant Americans. They are morning, when, at about 3 A.M.-the jealous of us Americaps, as an English- night's dissipation being over-they go speaking nation, imagining that we fa- regularly around and collect from the vor England in her colonial acquisi- women all the money they may have tions. In that suspicion they are cor- obtained. Do you wonder that the rect, for France is a poor colonizing progress of the blessed Gospel is hin. power, doing little for the elevation of dered in the land where such a street her conquered tribes; though it is lies-in full view of the natives-lik& a equally true that England has no desire thoroughfare of blackness in this beauto seize that particular part of Africa. tiful city? And onr sympathies are always with Protestant England, who, with all her And do these deluded ones make no faults, does eventually benefit any struggle when the truth is revealed? country of which she takes possession. Yes, but often, alas, how futile! One, I have not said all on this subject • Read at International Missionary Unioll, that I might, and perhaps should have 1892. said, not having given all my reasons in explanation of, or in support and a Swiss girl. was brought out thus, and the temple-in other words, to a life 011. realizing the situatioll. after her ar· of sin and shame-one cannot but feel rival, threatened to commit suicide the enormity of this soul.destroying rather than submit to such a life, where. evil and cry out against it. upon she was conveyed by her master to Calcutta and there sold. In the year 1886, in response to an appeal describing the terrihle need thbt Another from Rome had been courted existed for Bome helping hand to be and married by one of the gang, who stretched out to tLose who were thus brought her to Bombay and speedily helplessly bonnd in this thraldom of disappeared, leaving her in the hands sin, I was led of the Lord to undertake of a new master, escape from whom was rescue work among these poor, sufferimpossible. This master stated that ing, sinning ones in Bombay. Renting he had paid 300 rupees, or about $120 a house I opened a little home and dedi. for her, and certainly would not readily cated it to the Lord for this purpose, relinquish his prize. One, an Austrian praying that He would make it a safe girl, after five months' detention, refuge for many needy ones. Not being learned the address of the Austrian under the direction of any board of misconsul and fled to him for protection. sions, I entered into and carried on the The recklessness of despair seems work by my own private means, feeling usually to take possession of them, it was a call I could not disregard. The however, after their first futile struggle. first to come for protection was ana· But should they escape, where will they tive girl, and though I had only expected go and who will receive them? to admit the English.speaking-not yet having a grasp of the language-I could Not only does this street stretch its not turn her away, so earnestly com· hideous length as an entrance to Hades, mitted her to the Lord. I asked that, but pitfalls aside from this traffic are as a token of His approval, she might made in all the saloons in the European be led to Himself, and in an almost portion of the city for unwary European miraculous way this was answered girts, where one or more are employed through the imperfect reading of the as bar.maids to draw oustom, and rooms Word and the repeating of a hymn in outside are rented in connection with her own language. the saloons to complete the work of ruin. Then, in the most public thor. From this beginning the work went oughfares of the city, along which run on, not large nor aggressive, but rather the cars to the market and the public tentative in its character. For three buildings, every evening room after years and a half I labored there, look· room is lit up in a peculiar fashion, ing over the ground and becoming betand native girls display themselves in ter acquainted with the need and how the opon doorways unblushingly, and to meet it ; but two years ago the Lord the public sentiment is' such as to permit of laid it upon me to go out and bring the it. Safety there is none. Every girl work and its needs before the people of in the city, Anglo.Indian, Eurasian, or England and America, as I must needs native, who is not thoroughly sur· have not only money, but the sympathy rounded by some wall of protection, is and prayers of all Christians in this 100Red upon as legitimate prey by pri. most difficult trust. It is very neces· vate individuals and as of marketable sary, on account of the excessive heat, value by others in the employ of the that doors and windows should be open, wealthy. and so the seclusion absolutely impera- tive in such a work could not be secured When one thinks of all this and of in a house on a public street in Bom. the fact that there are also thousands bay, as conversations with the girla of poor girls who, in the name of religion. from peraons in neighboring houses are dedicated by their ignorant and could not well be rrevented and were superstitious parents to tbe Ilervice of of a character often to undo much of the home since its opening, lind some the good done. have gone out to lives of Christian use- fulness. Then in such a work the nervous tension and strain upon those holding When God laid it upon my heart that positions of responsibility is great, and He would have me make this work and the opportunity for occasional retire- its needs known more widely in Engment from the observation of the house- land lind America, I obeyed, lellving in hold most necessary. charge my most efficient helper, Miss Walker, who is bravely holding the fort The separation and classification, of until such time as God shllll permit me the inmates is also most imperative- to return, which in His providence I the younger from the older, the native trust may be soon. from the European and Eurasian, and the native Christian from the non .Chris-· Educational Evangelism. tian. llY BEV. DAVID S. SPENCER, TOKYO, JAPAN. The reasons are obvious. As an illustration : An old country.born Eng· The objects of lin education are: lishwoman addictAd to drink and well 1. To develop mlln physically, intelknown in the police courts as personify- lectually, lind morally. ing many evils, was in the home and 2. To inform and enlighten the unbehaved exceedingly well, g,iving seem- derstanding. ing evidence of a change of heart, but 3. To form and regulate the princione day she disappeared, taking with ples of actions; to build character. her a young girl-not a strong charac. To answer intelligently our question, ter, but one for whom we had great we must consider the .material we have hopes-the older woman having been to work upon. We must judge whether influenced by the example of immoral the Japanese are so constituted, intelpersons living opposite. This is only lectually, physically, and morally, as to one of many incidents which might be make it possible to reap here the legitimentioned emphasizing the need for mate results of education. greater retirement and more suitable 1. In intellectual powers the Japanese bUildings. will compare favorably with the citizens of any other country. In general mental Realizing more and more how the make.up they are not unlike the French work was hindered by these preventable people, though differing from them in causes,I bought six acres of ground at some points. But the standings taken Poona, where good air, seclusion, and by Japanese students in the colleges room for the required buildings could and universities of Europe and Ameriall be secured. Besides the worker's ca, as well as in their own land, show bungalo a small hospital is required and that there is in these Japanese youth four buildings-to provide for classifica- good timber to work upon. tion as above specified-in separate dom- 2. The physical condition of the Japapounds, open only to the supervision nese is not what one might wish, and is of the workers. said to be retrograding. The average male Japanese is about five feet tVo It is still proposed to keep up a small inches in height, lind weighs about one house in Bombay for aggressive work hundred and twenty pounds, and has and liS a receiving home from which to not a strong constitution. Between draft into Poona. This home is not to the Japanese male and female is about supply II local need simply, but girls are the same difference as between the sent to us from great distances lind American male and female. But the from all the missions, as it is the only Jllpanelie does not know how to care home of the kind in Southern and Western India, and thus it supplements the work of these missions. Over one hundred women have been received in for his body. The missionary in Japan, Let us now conBider mission schools whatever his special sphere of work as evangelizing agencies. Much has been may be, has a great duty to perform in said pro and con mission BchoolB in teaching the Japanese around him how Japan. Dr. Ashmore, of Swatow, China, to take care of what Btrength thcy have, is responsible for the appearance in the and save further retrograding. The BO- missionary organ of his church of an cial habits of the young are by no means article which seemed to put at a diBcalculated to improve their physical count the educational work being car. condition. ried on in Japan, as compared with the evangelistic. He would have many of 3. The moral condition of the Japa- the educational missionaries here drop nese. On this subject, let the Japanese their school work and take up evangelspeak for themselves. Dr. Nishima istic. I will quote another who haB a was asked what were the prevailing sins world-wide reputation as an authority of his people, and he at once answered, upon these subjects, Dr. Abel Stevens. " Lying and licentiousness." The Jap- He saYB : "The chief missionary work anese are called a very polite people, now going on in all the East is by Chris. but a JapaneBe friend of mine, one of tian education. The old religions canthe most discerning I have known, de- not stand our better light; they are too clares that there is no real politeness legendary, too snperstitious, too conamong his people. Their politeness iB tradictory of science, to endure the ena mere conventional form. and decep- lightenment of the people. There is tive-on the surface, and not of the no end to our opportunities for schools, heart. With thiB Dr. Nishima agreed. especially in India and Japan, and we I could give the names of a number of can everywhere crowd them with eager representative Japanese whom I have pupils, many of whose families will pay heard say that of the JapaneBe young .UB for our labors. This is preaching men and women of the middle and the Gospel in the most practical and lower classeB, comparatively few reach effectual way for the Eastern populathe age of twenty socially pure. The tions. You teach them with the Bible experience of foreigners among the peo- in your hand and theirs. Your Bcience ple will substantiate, to a large degree refutes their legendary tradition withat least, these Japanese opinions. But out a word of allusion to the latter; what does all this argue? Simply this, your chapels are on the premises of that the Japanese need educating, need your schools, and your pupils, now lifting up, need the Gospel of Jesus your friends, throng them to hear your Christ. They are, generally speaking, proclamation of the Gospel." (Chrisno better Bnd no worse than other peo- tian Advocafe, 1889, page 635.) ple without the Gospel. The greater the need, the greater the responsibility And the same writer, regarding Chris. of the Church to help them. And let it tian success in the East, sayB: " We be borne in mind that the needed ref- must promulgate the Gospel there, inormation is not to be wrought in a day. deed, as the primary instrumentality of The people mUBt be educated to better our work; but how promulgate it? things. They must be given good and sufficient reasons for right doing, and " I do not doubt, after considerable this takes time. Reference will again local study of the question, that the be made to the time element. We now Christian school is the most effective desire to show the need. In intellec- method of its promulgation. Its pro. tual ability, in the need of physical mulgation in any way is what in the apostraining, and in the need of moral elA- tolic age was meant by •preaching' it vation, the Japanese offer a most invito (italics ours), and I am convinced that ing field for missionary labor. in India, China, and Japan ChriBtian instruction ill the beBt preaching and the school is the best chapel. We thus time to establish Christian character. This bring the young under our influence, is important. (See article by Dr. C. W. and the young in these three la.nds are Mateer, Shanghai Conference Record, our chief hope. Besides this instru- page 456.) mentality, we should have, and do have, the homiletic or pulpit mode of 4. The mission schools have sent out preaching. The two should be com- over four hundred and fifty Christian bined and are, in all our missions there. workers into all partil of Japan. The It should not be a question among us Doshisha alone has sent out over ninety which is the most dA~irable; both such. These are the men and women should be considered indispensable and who are to do the direct evangelizing, inseparable. But I am convinced that for whatever may be the case in other we could never be thoroughly success- lands, the Japanese must be evangelized by ful without the school." Japanese. The foreign missionary can do no higher work than to prepare the Dr. Abel Stevens has travelled care- leaders and to be their advisers. "It fully through all these Asiatic countries is as much his duty to prepare others to and knows whereof he speaks. Now, preach as it is to preach himself." what are the facts in Japan? 5. The majority of the revivals in 1. Missionary teachers a.re nearly Japan thus far have begun in the mis. everywhere direct preachers. They sion schools. As the work grows the preach as much as their surroundings proportion will probably become less will permit. Those who do not preach in favor of the schools. ought to do so. The missionary teacher who is not an earnest evangelist dis- 6. There is no better agency than the honors his calling. That these teachers schools to disarm prejudice. Many of do not preach to a constantly changing the students come to us for the sake of audience, and thus lose much vantage the English, but full of prejudices ground, should not be reckoned against against the foreign religion. Their them. close contact with foreigners in the school, visiting them in their homes, 2. Missionary teachers are indirect marking their conduct, acquainting preachers. Dr. Stevens states the fact. themselves with foreign thought, sends The teaching of true science is cou- them home disarmed of their old ha. stantly undermining the old faiths in tred, and if not personally Christians Japan. I can name many strong men they are no longer bigoted opponents. in the church in Japan who have been We meet them repeatedly after they brought to accept Christianity, and its have left school, and they are our Christ personally. through the slow and friends, often travelling long distances convincing process of the schools. True to see us, and showing us every mark science has made them true Chris- of friendship. tians. 7. The mission school is to the work 3. That missionary teachers have met in Japan what the hospital and dispenwith some success is shown by the fact sary are to the work in China-an enthat nearly two thousand of their stu- tering wedge. The school is frequently dents have gone out to stand for Chris- the only door by which the Gospel is tianity in Japan. Take this in connec- permitted to come in and reach the tion with the fact that the majority of people. The English language serves these schools have come into existence as a bait, and is in itself, as Dr. Stevens since 1885. There are no more intelli- says, a civilizer. It is furthermore comgent, stable, and earnest Christians in ing to be generally regarded as the best Japan than those who have come out of medium of theological instruction. the mission schools. The time commonly Most of the theological schools now do spent in pursuing a ccrurse oj 6fudy gives their ohief work in the Enilish. Estimating the Population of Ohina. purpose, as a considerable part of it is waste, owing to an old bed of the Yel- BY BEV. ARTHUB H. SMITH, SHANTUNG, low River which has devastated a broad band of land, on which are no villages. CHINA. There is also a canal leading from the Grand Canal to the sea, and a long de- The question of the population of pression much below the general aver- China is an antique, which seems to age, thinly occupied by villages, behave been viewed from almost every cauee it is liable to inundation, as in point of vision, with results extremely 1890. For these reasons it seemed deinharmonious. The reasons for this sirable to make a new count in a better are sufficiently well known, and have spot, and for this purpose a district often been explained at length in these was chosen, situated about ninety Ii columns. It appears to be well settled east of the sub-prefecture of Lin-ch'ing, that no real dependence can be placed to which it belongs. The area taken upon the Chinese official returns, yet was only half the size of the former, that they are the only basis upon which and instead of merely estimating the rational estimates can be based, and average population of the villages, the therefore have a certain value. So far actual number of families in each was as we are aware, all efforts to come at taken, so far as this number is known the real population per square mile to the natives. The man who prepared have proceeded from such extensive the village map of the area is a native units as provinces, or at least prefec- of the central village, and a person of tures, the foundation and superstruc- excellent sense. He put the popUlation ture being alike a mere pagoda of in every case somewhat below the popuguesses. Some years ago an effort was lar estimate, so as to be certainly within made in this district to make a more bounds. The number of persons to a exact computation of the population of " family" was still taken at five, though, a very limited area, as a sort of unit oi as he pointed out, this is a totally inmeasure. For this purpose a circle adequate allowance. Many" families" was taken, the radius of which was. live and have all things in common, and twenty Ii, the foreign residence being are therefore counted as one, although, at the centre. A list was made of every as in the case of this particulA.r indivillage having received famine relief in vidual, the "family" may consist of the year 1878, so that it was not diffi- some twenty persons. To the tr8…e11er cult to make a proximate guess at the in this region, the villages appear to be average number of families. The v~l­ both large and thickly clustered, and lages were 150 in number, and the aver- the enumeration shows this to be the age size was taken as 80 families, which, case. Within a radius of ten li (three allowing five persons to the family, miles) there are 64 villages, the smallest gave a total of 60,000·persons. Allow- having 30 families and the largest more ing six miles to be the equivalent of than a thousand, while the average is twenty Ii, the population of the square 188 families. The total number of mile is 531, or considerably above the families is 12,040, and the total number average of the Kingdom of Belgium (the of persons at five to the family, is 60,- most densely populated country in 200, or more than double the estimate Eu:rope), which had in 1873 an average for the region with twice the diameter. of only 462 to thtl square mile. At a This gives a population of 2129 to the distance of a few miles beyond this cir- square mile. So far as appearances go, cle there is a tract called the " Thir- there are thousands of square miles in teen Villages," because there are that Southern and Central Chihli, Western number within a distance of five Ii! and Southwestern Shantung, and North- This shows that the particular region IIrll H01l811, whllre tl1Q villaielil are as in which this estimate was made happens to be an unfavorable onQ for the thick as in this one tract, the contents eral calls to work in home field~. At a of which we are thus able approximately monthly concert Dr. Hitchcock read a to compute. But for the plain of North letter from Mrs. Lloyd, the daughter of China as a whole, it is probable that it Dr. Willard Parker, in which she narwould be found more reasonable to esti- rated the suhstance of a talk with' Jim,' mate 300 persons to the square mile for who was yet unconverted. To her exthe more sparsely settled districts, and hortations he replied by questions like from 1000 to 1500 for the more thickly these: 'Was you,r father a Christian?' settled regions. In any case a vivid Answer: 'Yes.' • Was his father a impression is thus gained of the enor- Christian?' 'Yes.' 'And his father? ' mous number of human beings crowded 'Yes.' 'Well, my father, and my into these fertile and historic plains, father's father, and my father's grandand also of the almost insuperable diffi- father were heathen, and you say the culties in the way of an exact knowl- heathen are lost. Now, why did not edge of the facts of the true" census." your grandfather come and tell my In the tables published in " Williams' grandfather the way of salvation, if he Middle Kingdom" (vol. i., p. 264), the believed the heathen are lost? ' population of Shantung for 1812 is given as 28,958,764, and that for 1882, from "The letter was altogether a powerthe Almanac de Gotha based upon the ful and striking one. After the reading Chinese Customs returns, as 29,000,000, there was silence in the assembly of or almost the same. The former is students. I rose and said: ' I will go. reckoned on the basis of 65,000 square Were I to refuse, after hearing those miles, and the average is found to be words, the earth would shake under my 4<i,4 persons to the square mile. A feet, and the heavens grow black over large part of Shantung is mountainous, my head.' I wavered no more. It was and much of this is wholly waste territory, but some of the mountain districts Zulu' Jim' that brought me to the dehave a numerous population tucked away in the valleys, and wherever there cision.' ' is a spot of arable soil sufficient to af· ford nutriment. The natives of such -" In order to the IlUccessflll prosecudistricts can with difficulty be persuaded tion of the work in foreign fields we to leave them and go elsewhere. One ought to have a sound policy and wise old man who had done so explained administration and all that, and yet the that when he was down on the plain, one thing more important than all else he felt" all-out-doors" (k'uan te huang), is, the illustration of religion pure and and had to come back! undefiled in the converts. In order to impress the unevangelized, the great -Among the points and sentiments thing is not a wise policy, but a holy at the International Missionary Union church in their midst. Without this, Conference, Clifton Springs, June, 1892, means and instrumentalities, however were the following by Rev. C. C. Tracy, well ohosen and well used, will avail of India: little."

" Father Tyler speaks of James Dube, -" We talk a great deal about apostothe Zulu preacher. That Zulu, 'Jim,' lio methods. Shall we attempt to do exmade me a missionary. Near the end actly as the apostles did? That would of my seminary course, at New York, require us to travel on land with oamels I was wavering in regard to the foreign and donkeys, and on the sea with sailwork. Though almost resolved to go and·oar ships. Is it precise apostolic abroad, I was shaken by what seemed methods that we want, or the apostolic insurmountable difficulties and by aev- spirit in the use of modern methods ?"

-MiBB Ella J. Newton, M.D., of Foochow, China, !lendin~ her congratula- the cemetery. 5he dip,d on the 23d. tions to the I. M. U., said: Her death was quite unexpected, but "It has been my privilege for the past two years to attend the delightful she was ready. iTnheMecxhiiclod.renTahreerehearre~ meetings of the Union, and I know of except the one but one thing better than to be· with you this year, and that is to be just four daughters and two sons-all single. where I am, on the field at work. Brother Mellen had worked so hard " I shall think of you as you meet in that consecrated tabernacle and pray he was broken down ; but we did not that God's special blessing may be upon every session, that you may all be re- expect Mrs. Mellen to follow so soon. freshed by talking together of what God is doing in the wide, wide world. One I have had a long sickness, and have cannot well be narrow minded and think only of his own little corner in suffered very much. Was taken last the vineyard after mingling in such gatherings, and I wish every missionary October 21st. Am about much of the returning to America would plan his vacation so as to spend the second week day-walk, read, write, and work, but in June at Clifton. have a weak and lame back and shat- •, I have been at home for six months and am glad to report myself so weli tered nerves. Hope to improve-am (after ten months at Clifton) that I think it will not be necessary for me to go to gaining strength daily. America again for many years ; and if I may be allowed a word of advice to any Since we met last my son has gone of the missionaries who feel in such a hurry to return to their fields, it is stay to East Central Africa as a medical misat Clifton till you are well, and see if you do not find it the shortest road sionary under A. B. C. F. M. back to your home and work. Your brother, .. One cannot be away from China now very long without noticing changes. GEORGE THOMPSON. In spite of the loud rumors of expulsion, war, and riot with which the air Intercommunioation by Speeoh and was filled last autumn, the attitude of Letters in Ohina. the people is exceedingly friendly, and the results of work are rapidly growing BY BEV. W. H. LINGLI, LIEW CHOW, C:!IINA. larger and more satisfactory. The day of China's redemption draws near. I have just read in the May number !'raise God with us and ask Him to be- of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW a statement stow richer blessings on this great by Professor Kirchoff that ., Chinese is land." the most popular language in the world; that Chinese is spoken by four hun- Note from a Veteran Afrioan M;ssion- dred million persons." If all Chinese ary. spoke one language, the statement of Professor Kirchoff would be very nllarly OBERLm, 0., July 27, 1892. true; but as it is it is very far from the truth. People cannot fairly be said to DEAR BROTHER: Yesterday we took speak one language unless capable of the remains of our dear Mrs. Mellen to being understood among themselves when they do speak. It is exceeding doubtful if there are a hundred million people in China who speak a language or dialect sufficiently similar to be able to be understood among themselves. One might just as well speak of the language of India being spoken by two hundred and eighty-five millions of people as to Bpeak of Chinese being spoken by four hundred million per. sons. Anyone who has travelled any in China knows that there are many languages in China as well as in India. Often the people of one district cannot understand the language of another. ful if one in ten gets anything like a There are provinces which speak their clear idea of the meaning.

own language. I am writing from Liew These are rather lengthy remarks for Chow, near the border of Kwangtung, me to make, but they may give a better Kwongsai, and Hunan Provinces, and idea in regard to the language of China.

a man from either province will not If it is not clear it is not strange, for understand a word spoken by a man the language or languages of China are from either of the other provinces, un. a monstrosity.

less he hll.s heard it before. Our native pastor here is from the Kwangtung Prov· ince, but when he speaks to a brother An Anoient Karen Hymn. from the interior of the Hunan Provo ince he speaks through lin interpreter. Father God is very near, Lives He now among us here; There is a very erroneous view abroad God is not far off, we knowalso in regard to the Wenli or classical Dwells He in our midst below. language of China. Before coming to China I was misled by it myself. I 'Tis because men are not true read in missionary literature and peri. That He is not seen by you; odicals that the Bible was now trans. 'Tis because men turned to sin lated into the WenIi language of China, Now no longer God is seen. and could be read by four hundred millions of people. It is true that it is All upon the earth below translated into that language, but how Is but God's foot.rest, we know; many people are there in China who Heaven in the heights above can read it in that language understand. Is God's sllat of truth and love. ingly? For an answer, I refer you to the report of the Shanghai Missionary -Baptist MiSSionary Magazine Conference of 1890, page 67. A high estimate made by Rev. John C. Gibson, The Prayer League and the witness of Swatow, of the number who can read to the need of a consecrated living and intelligently in China is twelve million giving, which we printed in the Edito three hundred and seventy.five thou· rial Notes of the last November issue, sand. page 862, has had a wide acceptauce, and many friends have sent to us their J nst following this you will find the signatures, in token of a hearty co·oper. estimate by Dr. Martin, of Peking, ation. Among others, F. A. M;cGa.w, which is very much lower-less than six Augusta, Ill.; William C. Conant, New millions in China who can be said to York; D. L. Barackman, Alexander read any language. The Wenli is not Collins, Clara M. Collins, Jennie Col. a spoken language at all in China at lins, M. J. Barackman, Hannah Will. prespnt. It is the language of the an· son, Mrs. E. A. Stewart, John H. C~l. cients ot' this empire, and therefore a lins, James Kelly, W. R. Wilson, Mrs. foreign language to the present gener. W. R. Wilson. ation. Again, if a man from the north of China were to read the Bible in Wenli to a man in the south of China, the southern man would not have any more idea of what was read than if it Bishop Potter, in a recent sermon in had been in Sanscrit or Hebrew, if he behalf of New York City missions, said could not see the characters. The great that the Church he represented was majority in any place are just about preaching the Gospel in that city" not the same. When the Bible is read to only in almost all the tongues of Europe, our congregations in WenIi without but in those of China, Armenia, Turkey, words of eli:planation, it is very doubt· and Persia. "

DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR

I1I.-DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.

CONDUCTED BY PROFESSOR AAfOS 11. WELLS.

Probably of no event that ever oc- eties during the first three weeks of Cllrred in the religious world have such July. That does not look as if the de- extensive and so many reports been nominational plan of organizing young given by religious and secular journals people for the Lord's work was to suas of the great New York Christian En- persede the interdenominational plan. deavor Convention. The Christian Endeavor missionary The uniform prayer-meeting topics journey on which Dr. Clark has started of the Christian Endeavor societies have should make this, even more than last for many months run parallel to the year, a missionary twelvemonth in all topics of the International Sunday- Christian Endeavor societies. The walls school Lessons. Notwithstanding the of Christian Endeavor convention halls, many obvious advantages of the plan, of Endeavor prayer-meeting rooms, some have thought that it would be even the Jetter-heads of Endeavor stabetter to have topics wholly distinct. tionery, have long borne such mottoes At the Boston headquarters, 47 Frank- as "Missouri for Christ I" "Brooklyn lin Street, they are taking a postal-card for Christ!" "Our Land for Christ!" vote on this question, in which all who Let those stand; but place above them are interested are invited to join. this, "The World for Christ !" Adopt Mr. Fulton's two-cents·a-week pledge- Dr. Clark's departure from this plan, or any other scheme of d¢nite, country on his around-the-world tour systematic giving. Form live missionary in the interests of the Christian En- committees. Inaugurate some plan of deavor cause was attended with many reading of missionary books. Get into demonstrations of affection and esteem. ~ommunication with the missionary At the Jersey City railroad station h! secretaries of your own denomination. was given warm greeting by a throng Do something, Make a beginning, howuf young people, and presented with a ever little, and it will grow. . beautiful Christian Endeavor monogram badge, set with diamonds and pearls. More petitions for the Sunday closing At Chicago, Denver, and the chief cities of the World's Fair were sent to Conin California, enthusiastic meetings gress from Christian Endeavor societies were held. 'Dr. and Mrs. Clark, with and conventions than from all other their son Eugene, set sail for Australia bodies put together. Surely a large August 19th. Many meetings are al- share of the encouraging result is due ready planned for New Zealand, Aus- to these young people, and to the active tralia, Japan, China, Ceylon, India, head of the National Committee, Rev. Egypt, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Spain, R. V. Hunter, of Terre Haute, Ind. and England. California has already organized a A remarkable proof was lately given committee and raised a large sum of of the self-acting power of the Christian money in order to secure the Interna- Endea vor idea. A missionary in Mada- tional Convention of 1895. gascar, previously unknown to Dr. Clark, wrote him about the growth of the Among the many remarkable tributes movement in that far.distant island_ to the power of the New York Conven- He gave the astonishing information that tion were two made by two prominent thirty societies of Christian Endeavor Hebrew journals, which mourned the already existed there, It was not known lack of such consecrated enthusiasm before that there was a single society among the Jews. Another earne~t trib. on the island. ute along similar lines was made by a Roman Catholic paper. A net gain of over one thousand soci· Under the leadership of Rev. S. E. Young, Christian Endeavorers in all the of wise counsel and the inspiration of seaooast and lake States are organized experienced leadership_ for carrying on religious servioes in lifesaving stations. Rev. W. B. Floyd, who carried to Canada the Christian Endeavor banner J ue Hawk, the eloquent young China- for the greatest gain in societies during man whose address at the New York the year, won from Pennsylvania by On- Convention was received with such tre- tario, was twice delayed by failures of mendous enthusiasm, has been oalled trains, and forced to remain all day Sunby the American Baptist Missionary day in Oswego, as, of course, he could Society to work among the Chinamen not carry that banner on a Sabbathof New York City. breaking train. He thought that the banner was loth to leave the country. One society we know of has been It was given a hearty welcome in a making extensive repairs in its chapel. great meeting at Kingston, Ontario, and Instead of taking a vacation during the was slowly unrolled during the singing period of disturbance, it is visiting the of the hymn," Blest be the tie that other societies of the town in regular binds." order, expeoting to reap a harvest of new ideas. The pastor should be in closest touch with his Endeavor society. Whenever Few facts show more forcibly the a pastor complains of his young pepple, hearty acceptance given the Christian calls them headstrong, conceited, and Endeavor idea by the various denomi. the like, it will be found on investiganations than the following. Over sixty tion that he rarely attends his young religious journals in the United States people's meetings, takes no active part al'.d Canada have regular Christian En. in their work, and merely criticises deavor departments. These are all in. from the outside. There are such tiuential, standard journals. There are " pastors," though they are mercifully in addition a host of bright church pa. few. The pastor should hold occasional pers published by local Christian En. meetings with all the Christian Endeavor societies. These sixty papers deavor committees. Especially to the are quite evenly divided among all prayer-meeting and lookout committees evangelical denominations. is his counsel and encouragement indis- pensable. If the society is nut too At New York the Friends and the large, let the pastor oooasionally invite Methodist Protestants formed denomi- it to hold a prayer-meeting in his national Christian Endeavor unions. house. Let him open his house to The Cumberland Presbyterians have committee meetings of all kinds. If also formally adopted the Christian En. he is the right kind of pastor, neither deavor principles and name for their he nor the young people will feel any young people's societies_ Thus de. embarrassment when he thus presses nominationalism, ardent and wise, and into their counsels. It is his rightful interdenominationalism, cordial and and natural place. helpful, go hand in hand. "The verdure-clad pledge;" that's Many societies allover the land held what they call the '" cast-iron pledge" rousing meetings in which t~e New in the Sandwich Islands. York Convention was reported; and now that great meeting is being still The Review of Reviews calls the Chrisfurther multiplied in hundreds of thou. tian Endeavor sooieties a Salvation sands of young lives stirred to hesh Army, "with the Corybantio qualities endeavor. eliminated. "

The fall Christian Endeavor conven- Let it never be forgotten that no s.otions are now upon us. Let every pas. ciety is properly a Christian Endeavor society if it is undenominational. Here tor attend them, to gain new courage is where the advocates of sectarian and cheer from the fresh-faced youthful host, and to give them the direction young people's religious societies get This gave three hundred of those poor muddled. A Christian Endeavor so- little folks a most delightiul excursion ciety is everything a denominational on the Hudson River. This little inci.

society can possibly be, and more; it is dent is worthy of a place by the side of also interdenominational. the stirring time in the rally of the Dis- Here are some cheering facts. Chris- ciples, when money enough was raised tian Endeavor societies last year con- to finish their Japanese mission house tributed, so far as can be learned, to and insure the building of their mission the Women's Baptist Foreign Mission- church in Salt Lake City.

ary Society, $562.77; to the Cumber- land Presbyterian Board, $495.37; to For several years a Christian Enthe Board of Foreign Missions of the deavor society has existed in the Wis- Reformed Church, about $600 ; to the consin State Prison. For obvious rea- Board of Domestic Missions of the Re- sons, this society is never represented formed Church, $545.03; to the Board of Home Missions of the Presbyterian at Christian Endeavor conventions; and Church, $4621.46 ; to the Board of Foreign Missions of the Presbyterian yet it has a great deal of genuine Chris- Church, $9035.60; to the Woman's tian Endeavor enthusiasm, and is doing Presbyterian Board of Missions of the a good work. When the society voted Northwest, $1702.98 ; to the American Congregational Union, $961.94; to the on the Sunday-closing question, 51 vot- American Missionary Society, $2117.60 ; ed to close the World's Fair on the to the American Baptist Missionary Union, a large amount of money, whose Lord's Day, and only 7 against it. A exact amount Dr. Mabie cannot ascer· good sign for the real usefulness of the tain from the data at hand; to the Congregational Sunday-School and Publish_ society is that during the last half year ing Society, $398.03 ; to the New West its membership has fallen from 191 to Educational Commission, $504 ; to the 77, on account of stricter requirements. Foreign Christian Missionary Society, $1385; to the Woman's Board of Mis- Christian Endeavorers are glad that sions (Congregational), $2738.72; and the New York Convention aroused the to the American Bome Missionary Society, $4300. These figures are only ire of infidel papers. The more such approximate, as in many cases the con- papers rail at the movement, the better. tributions sent by the societies do not One of them scoffed at the great throng indicate their source, and some boards are not heard from. They are delight- of young people as a crowd of " sourful and inspiring figures, and show the faced and one-idead strangers," and young people working ardently and loy- went on to give a caricature of the meetings. As to the Convention's in_ dorsement of the Sunday closing move- ment, the editor remarks, ,. Perpetual ruin and blight has been brought upon many a land by the constricting and im- bruting despotism of just such meddlers as these;" and after reporting the war- cry, raised so often and so vigorously by the Ohio delegation, ally for their own denominations and W" Oe w-honi-'tOg~ the cause of Christ in all the world. To the World's Fair Next year may all these figures be more than doubled! If it's kept open Sunday Or if liquor's sold there," A pleasant incident of the New York Convention was the visit paid by a the editor adds : "The long ears of the crowd of Endeavorers to the children's hearers, as they took in these strains, service of song at the Fhe Points House nodded in approbation; subdued brays of Industry. After the service a brief, of concurrence arose and died away; a impromptu appeal to the Endeavorers smile of confidence diffused itself on present was made by one of them, and their not over-intellectual visages. and more than $168 were raised on the spot. a twinkling in their eyes told of aug- menting hope of gratification of their desire to bully and domineer,"

18112.J EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS

IV.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.

Missionary Lectureships. 10. Providences in missionary his- It may not be known to readers of tory, how difficulties and disasters, etc., the REvmw that, by a singular coinci. have worked good. dence, four of the editorial staff of the REvmw have been called to deliver lec· 11. Specimen heroes and heroines. tures on missions in course. Rev. Dr. Name a number, and dwell upon a few. A. J. Gordon last winter before the Theological Seminary at New Bruns. 12. Summary of successes, the outwick gave a series of six lectures on The look, and the task to which we are Holy Spirit and Missions, of which the called. highest commendation has reached our ears. The editor-in-chief has given a The editor·in·chief is debarred by series at New Brunswick on the Divine numerous duties from attempting Enterprise of 2fIissions, and expects to courses of lectures elsewhere; but he ventures to suggest that if either of the colleagues mentioned can be ob- tained, these lectures may accomplish gi ve another series in Scotch capitals vast good.

in February and March, 1893. Rev. Dr.

J. T. Gracey has likewise been giving Oo-operation Between Missionary Boards a series at Syracuse and elsewhere, and and Oommittees. • has other series in preparation; and For many years we have been deeply now Rev. D. L. Leonard, D.D., our able impressed that, if there could be fre- statistician, is to give at Oberlin a se. quent and frank interchange of views ries of lectures on the following top- between representatives of the various ics. There is no reason why Drs. mission boards, great economy of time, Gracey, Gordon, and Leonard should money, and labor might be secured.

not be invited to give their admirable For example, take the estimates of series in other cities and before other ea'!pense in conducting work on anyone educational institutions. field. Let us suppose that the leading Dr. Leonard's course embraces Lec- societies of the world should confer as tures on History of Modcrn Protestant to the scale of expenditure for build- Missions. ings, salaries, and general cost of mis- 1. Introductory. Christianity a mis- sion labor in Japan, China, India; and sionary religion, and missions before determine a minimum or maximum, to the Reformation. which all might seek to conform. Sup- 2. Missions before Carey, and why so pORe again that the practicability of few and fruitless. employing paid native agency, and to 3. Carey epoch, why so called, and what extent and under what restrictions, causes which combined to produce it. might be discussed and agreed upon.

4. Origin and spread of missionary Suppose, again, that the proportion of zeal in Great Britain and on the Con· salary to be paid to missionaries on tinent. furlough–the mileage allowed for trav- 5. Origin and spread of missionary elling expenses, the amount and kind of zeal in the United States. labor to be expected of them'while at 6. Missions in India, growth and re- home, and the intervals of ordinary ab- sults. sence from their fields, with the limit 7. Missions in Africa, growth and re- of time of such absence-might be de- sults. cided on, etc. Again, suppose that 8. Missions in China, growth and re- modes of sending money and supplies sults. to missionaries in the field might be 9, Missions in islands of sea, growth, adjusted on a uniform system, so that etc. one set of agencies might be used uni· formly. These are merely a few of the are making to add to its attractions and scores of matters requiring comity and resources. Among other new features co.operation in order to economy both will be a department of Christian En- all of labor and of other costs. deavor, edited by Professor Wells, in In fact, we see no reason why in which we hope to see communications matters of general int.erest there might from Rev. F. E. Clark, D.D., now on not be this conference and common his world tour. Dr. Clark, of Bos- basis of operation. Banks have their ton, D. S., the founder and president clearing houses, railroads pool their of the Young People's Society of Chris- earnings, great commercial systems tian Endeavor. is going on a tour round compare results of diverse plans of the world in the interest of the En- working and so come to common agree- deavor movement. He sailed from San ment, abandoning what is found to be Francisco on August 19th. and purposes practically wasteful and adopting what visiting the Sandwich Islands, Australia.

experiment proves to be a saving of ex- New Zealand, Japan, China, India, pense an-i material. Why may not the Palestine, Turkey, Greece, Italy, and great departments of Christ's benevo- Spain, returning home by way of Eng- lent work get a common basis of eco- land about the middle of next June.

nomical business methods ? We are The REVIEW is not a moneymaking unable to see why often several minor project. It is founded and maintained agencies might not be combined at for the dissemination of all missionary least under one treasurer and clerical information and inspiration. No cost system, greatly diminishing cost of ad- is spared to secure the fullest and most ministration, and so commending them- accurate statements of facts from every selves to the business judgment of wise field, and the best contributions to its and thoughtful men. literature from the pens of the most able and gifted men and women through- out the world. We must depend on The effort is now making with re- the reader to help us in this matter.

newed energy to enlarge both the scope One subscriber known personally to the of this REVIEW and its sphere of actual editor sends his REVIEW to a score of service.' Were its number of readers non snhscribers too poor to pay for it, ten times multiplied, the labor of edit- for reading each month, pasting inside ing would be not a whit increased; the cover their names and the order in and even the cost of publication would which it is to be passed from hand to be but little increased, since it is the hand. If that were done by every sub- composition and electrotyping which scriber, the number of readers would at constitute the main expense; and when once be multiplied twentyfold. Ap- once the plates are paid for, the only plications are constantly coming to us cost for an enlarged edition is the out- for gratuitous copies from parties who lay for presswork, paper, binding, and by a trifli ng effort might raise the mailing. If the publishers could secure needed subscription price, even if more a large enough list of subscribers, the than one party shares the expense and cost of the REVIEW would be corre- the benefit. Is there not too much ten- spondingly decreased. They have gen- dency to get our blessings without cost, erously offered to put the REVIEW at and is it altogether a wholesome ten- $1.50 if 50,000 subscribers can be got. dency? In what way can we build up and the editors hope their effort at a real missionary zeal more effectively much increased list of paid subscrip- than by wide dissemination of compact tions may be successful. and carefully edited missionary infor- Meanwhile the editors are seeking to mation and matter pertaining to the make the REVIEW more and more indis- world-wide work? We ask all our pensable to the reading public. Efforts readers for their help. The Petition of the WorId's W. O. T. U. Panjab a normal school or training in- stitution of some kind, at which native for the protection of the home, ad- converts of the various countries which dressed to the governments of the it is desired to evangelize might receive twhoerlsdt~bndeasredecohfetsheealcahw ruler " To raise to that of Chris- s'uch training as would best qualify them on their return to their native tian morals, to strip away the safeguards countries to preach the Gospel to the and sanctions of the State from the people. We might begin with Afghans drink traffic and the opium trade, and ~nd Baluchis and get young men from to protect the homes of the people by among the Brahues, the people of the total prohibition of these curses of Katiristan, Turkistan, etc., as God gave civilization throughout all the territory them to us. The question of the locaover which his or her government ex- tion of the institution would be best fixed tends. " after a consultation with the Panjab This petition has lately received Corresponding Committee and Missionhearty indorsement from the Inter- ary Conference. Perhaps, however, national Missionary Union, composed Peshawar would best fulfil the condi· of missionaries from many lands, and tions required, as it is at thllentrance the YDung People's Society of Christian to passes through which at least Afghan- Endeavor, at their annual meeting held istan, Chitral, and Kafiristan can be in the city of New York. easily reached, and is at the same time These, . with indorsements from connected with the Baluch frontier and churches, missionary societies, peace' the Persian Gulf by the railway to and other moral associations, the Salvation Army, Good Templars, Y. M. C. A., Karachi and the frequent steamers from that port. In this way it might be and other bodies, aggregate millions possible to train converts there for who have thus said, We desire the complete banishment of intoxicants, opium, work in the Arabia, Mesopotamia, and and other narcotics, and with the Persian missions as well, if found desir- Woman's Christian Temperance Union able.

" 2. Students would, of course, need appeal to the rulers of nations to exer· small scholarships for their support cise all power in them invested to ac- during training, but would live in simcomplish this deliverance. ple native style. They should, when We therefore most earnestly request that all these will unite with us in properly trained, be able to gain their prayer; that as leading Christian wom· own support among the people to whom en, in the presentation of this petition, they are sent. Whatever training may stand face to face with rulers, pleading be found necessary to enable them to for the protection of their homes, the do this should be given. The experi- ence of missionaries and travellers- Spirit of the Lord will move upon royal hearts to grant their request. e.g., Mrs, Bishop in her recent journey through Mesopotamia, Persia, etc.- MARy A. WOODBRIDGE, shows that the most useful of all arts in order to gain a welcome is the pos- Secretary World's W. a. T. u.

se!lsion of some knowledge of medicine.

Mrs. Bishop tells us that again and .. Oentral Asia. for Ohrist." again when she asked fanatical tribes – generally Mohammedans – whether In the O. M. Intelligencer for April they would receive a resident mission.

Rev. W. St. Clair Tisdall propounds a ary if sent to them, their invariable an- plan by which he believes Central Asia swer was, 'Yes-if he is a doctor.'

may be won for Christ. We all remember that our Lord sent " 1. The C. M. S. should establish at out His first disciples to heal the sick one of our froutier stationll in the alii well alii to prelch tho Gospel, and than this we can have no better model. The Uganda Troubles, In order to give the students some The following summary of the history knowledge of medicine a fully qualified of the Uganda Mission, sent to The European doctor should form one mem- Manchester Examiner by Rev. C. Sut- ber of the missionary staff of the insti- cliffe, of Holy Trinity Vicarage, Staly- tution. This would also make the in- bridge, deserves to be carefully studied: stitution known far and wide, and "We must go back to the days of would enable the missionaries there to 1875, when Gordon was Governor of enter into friendly relations with many the Soudan, whose efforts to put down distant tribes. the slave trade on the Upper Nile led "3. The language in which lectures him to the very confines of Uganda, would be giTen would be Persian, which and during which year he sent Colonel is known very extensively in the regions Long, one of his officers, to visit King which we qesire to evangelize. It is a Mtesa, of Uganda. That same year most copious and elegant language, and Stanley made his second effort to cross is easily acquired. the great continent, and leaving Zanzi- " 4. The missionaries engaged in the bar, arrived at Mtesa's capital in the work of the institution would naturally month of April. During his stay there endeavor to learn as many as possible he wrote what has now become Itn his- of the languages of those among whom torical letter, which appeared in The they would be laboring. After Per- Daily Telegraph of November 15th, 1875, sian, Pashtu would be needed; then asking in the king's name that Chris- the acquisition of the Baluchi, Brahue, . tian missionaries and teachers might and Kafiristani languages would enable be sent to Uganda. That letter evoked them to translate the Oracles of God such sympathy that a sum of £12,000 into tongues in which they are not yet was offered to the Church Missionary found. A grander sphere of work for Society if that Society would undertake able linguists and devoted Christian the work.

missionaries could not be discovered. "To the honor of its committee " 5. The staff of the institution should (among whom was that eminent states- consist of not less than two thoroughly man, Lord Lawrence), this letter was qualified clerical and one medical mis- answered in the affirmative. Seven sionary. This would be the minimum, suitable men were at once selected, in- and more would be desirable. Those cluding the saintly Alexander Mackay, sent should be in every respect picked and sent out. The reply letter to men. They should be (1) born teachers Mtesa, which was signed for the com- -which, we must remember, every uni- mittee by Arcbbishop Tait, of Canter- versity graduate is not. (2) They ought bury, and the Earl of Chichester, con- to have shown some ability in the ac_ tains a pregnant paragraph: 'We hope quisition of spoken languages. Of the that very soon the Word of God, which higher, spiritual qualifications needed is the foundation of England's throne it is superfluous to speak-the love for and England's greatness, will be trans- souls, the consecration of life and tal- laten into the language of Uganda, and ents to the Master's use. On no ac- that it will be the means of establishing count whatever should the men, when a lasting friendship between the king.

once appointed, be called away to other doms of Uganda and England.'

work. Their number should be aug- "Now, this letter, relln in the light mented, not diminished. of recent events, is very snggestive, for . "6. The work thus undertaken' must it tskes us back to the time when there have a good trial with the right men, was no British East Africa Company and must not be hastily given up when formed, no communication of a politi· the seed has been sown and before it tal charscter between our country and hali appeared above ground.' " Uganda, nnd, what is still more ~ignificant, when the French Jesuits, or (British and American) in their opera- 'White Fathers,' had not even ap- tions, so that if the French Jesuits had proached the Victoria Nyanza. The adopted this course no such trouble as Church missionaries in 1876 went to that before us would have been eXDeri- pe~etrate the East Coast, as others had enced. penetrated the West Coast sixty years before, with no weapon in their hands " From that time to this there have but the Word of God, and with no been constant feuds, the Jesuits at- other motive than that of carrying the tempting to oust the 'heretical teach- Gospel messaae to the benighted people er,' while the latter, with the English- of those far·off lands. man's tenacity and fervor, has held the fort up to now. But it is since the " The history of the mission is full of time that the petition of Africa became pathetic interest, and may be had at an accomplished fact, and Uganda was the C. M. S. House, Salisbury Square, found to be in the sphere of British in- E. C.; but it is to the entry of the fluence, that the spirit of Jesuitical op- French Jesuit priests, in 1879 (two position has been more prominently years after the English Church mission- displayed. They would seem to think aries), that especial attention should be that English authority is synonymous given. Up to that time, notwithstand- with Protestant bigotry and intoler- ing the heavy losses sustained by the ance, as they seize every opportunity of mission, the work at the capital pro- undermining it. What, then, is our gressed with such success as could rea- duty? It is to wait patiently for Cap- sonably be expected. It is quite true tain Lugard's report, which I have no that the king was fickle and trouble- doubt will clearly vindicate his course some; but Mackay and his fellow-mis- of action. If he has deposed Mwanga, sionaries (some of whom were personally the king (Mtesa's son), who is nominally known to me) quietly won their way a Roman Catholic, it is because the amid the fierce and subtle opposition of king has allowed himself to be used as the Arab slave-traders, who ever were a tool in the hands of designing men and must be the natural foes of Chris- who are hostile to British authority, tian teachers. Greater men than Mwanga have had to be removed from their kingly position "But on the arrival of the Jesuits when their weakness or vacillation has another source of trouble presented proved them to be a source of danger . itself to the mission, for although pro- to the State. Certain we are of one fessing to be a Christian body, their thing, that England's authority has al- main aim seems to have been to under- ways been on the side of religious and mine the influence of the Protestant civil freedom; that whether its sub- missionaries, to draw away their con- jects be Mohammedans, Hindoos, Ro- verts, and to set up the Roman system manists, or Protestants, it holds the in the Court of Uganda. Here, than, scales with unflinching equality, only is the 'bone of contention.' Many one condition being imposed – that think that the Jesuits had no right to they shall be loyal and true to the power invade that country as Christian teach- that shields them."-The Christian. ers, since the work had already been undertaken. Moreover, an informal Missionary Dress and Food. conference had been held on the coast near Zanzibar two years before, when In justice to all parties, we publish the English and French missionaries the following : agreed not to trespass on each other's pastures, in the face of the dense heath- HONG-TONG, SHANSI, CHINA, enism of that continent. This has ever in the main been carried out by all the December 30, 189!. lP'eat Protestant missionary societiell DEAR DR. PIERSON: In the March, 1891, iSiue of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW, p. 226, statements by Rev. B. C. Henry, terior Chinese dress. It seems strange regarding the wearing of Ohinese dress, living in Chinese style, etc., might lead that the majority of missionaries would, some readers to believe that mission. aries adopt the native costume at the of their own free will and choice, fol. peril of their health and lives. Obvious reference was made to the China Inland low this example if it was a pernioious Mission in the following words : one. "The statistics of the great society, whose name is synonymous with the As for living in Chinese houses, I highest oonsecration and self.abnegation, show a terrible sacrifioe of preoious have yet to see a mission station not material. It is said that one.half of those who enter China under its aus· fixed up in as cosey, comfortable man· pioes return within two years, either to their homeland on earth or to the ner as could be desired. This is, of home above, and that the average term of service for the whole body is only oourse, a matter which each missionary three and a half years." must decide for himself; but here, as These erroneous statements regarding statistics have been answered by the at home, one could easily run to no end Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, in the Mission· ary Recorder; and that letter quite effec. of extravaganoe if one so desired. It tually deals with the " statistics" state. ment. is, however, sincerely to be hoped a I have met considerably over one standard of living will be maintained hundred missionaries of the C. I. M. and other societies, who wear the that will not put us oompletely beyond Chinese dress, and know only one who wholly confined himself to Chinese oos· the touch of the natives, with their tume and food. He did it because it was more expedient, not that he ob- simpler habits. The native houses, if jected to foreign olothes or food. AI. most invariably the Chinese dress is chosen with proper oare, are better for simply worn as an exterior, underneath being the usually worn foreign gar. all practicable purposes than foreign. ments. This, surely, oould have no ill effect on the health. Again, as a built houses, the latter, as a rule, caus· rule, it has been observed the Chinese olothe more warmly than Amerioans; ing only suspicion and doubt in the this surely would not oause poor health, or, if so, it is ea.sy enough not to follow minds of the people, who look at any de· the example. parture from usually recognized cus· Not only members of the C. I. M., but now of nearly every other society, toms as lacking in respect, to say the realize the great advantage of dressing in the native costume; and to.day there least. is soarcely a society working in interior China, away from treaty ports at least, Regarding food, there is no lack of some members of which do not wear the Chinese costume; and as yet I have good, wholesome, nourishing food, namet none, nor have I heard of any in North China, who do not w~ar an Ill;· tive production, to be rrocured in al- most any place at about one half the home prioes. It is as easy to have it oooked in English as in Chinese fashion.

This oity, at a very high estimation, has only twenty thousand souls; but we can I rooure the following articles, all native, and there is very little differ· ence between this and any other plaoe in North Chinn except that in larger oities the variety is greater: Good wheat flour. . It cents per lb.

" cornmeal. ~ .. !o cent Oll.tmeal. …….. . -I1J "

Pears ……….. . -!rr Grapes………. . It cents Persimmons….. . 15 for 1 cent.

Cabbages ……. . ! cent each.

Arrowroot…….. . -h " per lb.

Potatoes…….. . 32 cents 1001bs.

Sweet potatoes … . 60 Mutton ……… . 4t " lb.

Beef…………. . 2 ""

Chiokens…….. . 3 " each.

Phea.sa.nts…•..•. 2t " Wild geese…….. 4 cents each. Dr. John G. Paton, the well·known missionary to the New Hebrides, was a Hare …………. 4 delegate to the Pan·Presbyterian Coun. Eggs. . . . . . . . . . .. cil, that met in Toronto, Canada, during Turnips. . .. . . . . . 3t .. per doz. September. He was to spend a few weeks yams …………. in the United States, and endeavor to t cent " lb. influence our Government to act in ac· cord with other great nations in pre· ~ " venting the traffic in slaves and rum at the New' Hebrides. The remarkable These are only samples, and by no sale of his autobiography has enabled Dr. Paton to give $25,000 to his mission means exhaust the list of productions. work; and we would be glad if every one of our readers who does not yet own Besides these common articles can be this, the greatest story of modern mis. purchased dried fruits, apples, apricots, sions, would buy one and so help Dr. Paton to give away another $25,OOO! nutmegs, cinnamon, spices, pepper, If that book has its due influence on those who read it, Dr. Paton will not white and brown sugar, candy, cakes, be the only giver.

etc., all very cheap, and all as good as Rev. James Johnston, Bolton, Eng. land, writes as follows about Rev. M. L. similar articles at home. In the shops Gray, Salisbury, Mo., and the Cross. bearer's Missionary Reading Circle: can be purchased foreign cotton cloth "This is an admirable idea. When it enters upon a vigorous stage of activity and calico of almost any grade, clocks, it will become a path of light between the watches, canned milk, thread, needles, home churches and the heathen world. The history of the kingdom of Christ in revolvers (!), etc. So it can be seen modern times is being written on the there is really no necessity of bringing high fields of missionary enterprise in letters of glory, and to the shame of the a thing from home; and the missionary Christian Church, it is largely passed by and unappreciated? To lessen this who depends on what can be purchased reproach the Cross-bearer's Missionary Reading Circle is a feasible course. on the ground is not so very badly off With its speedy adoption both the spiro itual life of the members will be quick. after all. ened and the cause of missions receive It must ever be borne in mind that a grand impetus. The plan is laid on broad, evangelical lines, independent the work of many C. I. M. missionaries of creed, Church, or organization, which in the past has been .. spying out the will secure eventually a larger number of members whose reading will embrace land." While many other societies a wider missionary area than a particu. lar society with which they may be in· have settled down near the coast or in timately acquainted.

the open ports, the missionaries of the Those who desire particular informa. C. 1. M. have felt led to plunge into tion in regard to this course of reading may obtain it by addressing Z. M. Willthe untravelled interior, enduring the iams, A.M., St. Joseph, Mo.

hardships of itinerating work in order to secure foothold for station work. Other societies have as w~ll availed themselves of the advantages afforded by this pioneer work, and to·day settled station work in many places is made possible as the result. This work was necessarily most trying and wearing, but it was absolutely indispensable for the future work; and as the skirmish Hne in an advancing army are the first to fall before the enemy's fire, so those who went boldly forward were neces· sarily under greater trials than those who followed in their wake. It must not be inferred that C. I. M. mission.

aries were the only ones to do this pioneering work; many others from other societies have shared in this grand 'fork, but perhaps in not so great a proportion as the C. I. M.

Most truly in the Lord, E. M. McBRIER.

THE MON'rHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS

v.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.

BY BEV. O. O. STARBUCK, ANDOVEB, MASS.

Mission Work in the Levant. Eastern Church vast masses of her mem- The name Levant (Levante, the bers, and had prostrated her whole do- Sun.rising) is applied by the Italian main under the power of an alien and traders more especially to the coasts of intensely hostile creed. Even earlier Syria and Asia Minor ; but in mission- than that, the vehement disputes re- ary regards it may be extended well specting the relations of nature and enough to the whole of Southeastern personality in Christ had rent away the Europe and Western Asia, in view of a Monophysite and Nestorian churches general unity of religion and civilization from Eastern Catholicism, which, thus in these regions. Here is the main seat weakened, was the less able to resist the of Mohammedanism, and of the most inroads of Islam. These divisions sub· anoient now existing form of Christian- sist to our day, and though perhaps the ity-that is, the Greek Church. doctrinal differences are rather nominal Christianity, after the apostolic age, than real, they still keep Oriental Chris.

rapidly deolined into its secondary form tianity weak before the common foe.

of the Catholic Church, which, as reo Moreover, the jealousy of the two less marked by the late Bishop Ewing, of numerous churches toward the Eastern Argyll, regards the Gospel chiefly as an Catholic or Greek Church inclines them institute, while Protestantism views it strongly to lean upon Rome, who, since chiefly as an experience. In this form, the Crusades especially, has been intent as the Church of the Martyrs, Christian- on securing dominion in the Levant.

ity won the victory over paganism in She offers the Monophysites and Nes· elle Roman Empire (though not without torians liberal terms, on condition of many injurious accommodations to it), acknowledging her supremaoy. They and established itself firmly in the are allowed to retain their own rites, to world. oelebrate them in their own languages, Of the five great bishops of the early and, aooording to the general Eastern Churoh, the patriarohs of Rome, Con- discipline, to have the servioes of a stantinople, Alexandria, Antiooh, and married priesthood, though of an un· Jerusalem, the first, as bishop of the married episcopate. Priests who lose Imperial City and the assumed suocessor their wives arll required to beoome of Peter and Paul, was universally ao- monks. As their ordinations are un- knowledged as the prinoipal. Being disputed, their clergy are reoeived by the only patriaroh in the West, his pre- Rome without any diffioulty as true eminence slowly mounted there into su- priests and bishops. In this way she preme dominion. The East, however, has seoured the accession of large num- whose churches were more anoient, bers of Monophysites, Nestorians, and many of them apostolio, and whose even members of the Greek Church.

theologians were far more numerous Six or seven millions of her two hun· and for the most part more eminent, dred millions of nominal members, or and whioh was the seat of the six great about one thirtieth of the whole, be- Councils, had no thought of allowing long to these various Eastern rites. If her four patriarohs to beoome mere sub- we assume the number of praotioal jeots of the Bishop of Rome. There Roman Catholios as being one hundred were constant jars, frequent interrup- millions, the Eastern adherents would tiona of communion, and at last, in the amount to about one fifteenth How year 1054, the definitive schism which these compare with their neighbors of rent asunder the East and the West. the independent churches in point of Previously to this, however, the rise of Christian experienoe, I cannot undertake Mohammedanism had reft from the to say; put it is allowed that their intercourse with the West has had a very 000 in the states which have been lately favorable effect on the development of set free from it. In Russia, besides the intelligence and character among them. 65,000,000 adhering directly to the Or- The Mohammedan conquests would thodox Church, there are some 10,000,- doubtless have ruined the Greek Church 000 or 12,000,000 Raskolniks, or Old but for the mighty accession received Believers, who, for the most part, differ in the conversion of Russia. This took from the rest only in an intense attach- place about the year 1000. The new ment to old-fashioned usages, and in a religion was imposed upon a passive refusal to acknowledge the established and barbarous nation by the mere com- hierarchy, although, it is true, their iso- mand of its monarch. He had at that lation leaves their doctrinal beliefs ex- time only the centre of Russia under posed to various aberrations.

his control, but as his d9minions spread, Russian Christianity has taken so Christianity spread rapidly with them, faint a hold on the higher thought of or, indeed, before them, being alto- the nation since it began to think, that gether in the line of historical develop- most of the educated, it is said, are sim- ment. The Russian Church has re- ply atheists and materialists. This is mained very much what it was at its perhaps an exaggeration. At all events, first establishment, more a system of Russia as a nation is devoted heart and gorgeous and elaborate ritual than a soul to the maintenance of the Ortho- principle of either individual or Boci,al dox Oriental Church. Her mighty sup- regeneration. And indeed it may be port it is which enables the Patriarch said that the Oriental Church at large of Constantinople and the 10,000,000 of has for a great many ages, relatively at his spiritual subjects in Turkey to bear least to the West, been stagnant. To up against the tyranny of the Moham- call her absolut,eiy stagnant would be medan Caliph and against the purposes uncharitable and unreasonable, as the and pretensions of Rome. Under her acknowledgment of the one Creator, the wide regis we do not know what career righteous and loving God, of the one may yet lie open before the Eastern Saviour, the Holy Jesus, the one Spirit Church after the thousand years of near- of Grace, together with the constant di- ly suspended animation which has suc- rect and indirect influence of the Scrip- ceeded to the greatness of her early cen- tures and of Christian history, and the turies. ~ inculcation for many ages of Chris- The schism of 1054 between the East tian morality, cannot but have had a and West involved no change in the purifying and elevating effect, however Eastern Church. She retains the form it may have come short of its just meas- of Catholicism, in doctrine and rite, ure under the excessive attention given very much in the stage which it had to theoretical disputes and to ritual reached at that time, and has been but observances, and under the great neg- faintly affected by the developments, lect of education, both of the clergy and either for good or evil, of her imperious of the masses of the laity. Still the in- Western sister. On the one hand, she tellectual character of the Greek mind has had no Inquisition, and on the other has never, even down to our own day, she has had no sllch varied activity of altogether belied itself. thought as the West, and no such rich The Greek Church, or, as she calls variety of male and female saints devot- herself, the Holy Orthodox Oriental ed to the spiritual and temporal good of Church, .counts in all about 85,000,000 their fellow-men. Of the two great members, of whom some 65,000,000 are principles of Catholicism, Unity and in Russia, 1,500,000 in the kingdom of Orthodoxy, the East lays chief stress Greece, 3,000,000 in the Austro·Hun- on Orthodoxy and the West on Unity.

garian dominions, some 10,000,000 in The Greeks regard the Roman Catholics the Turkish Empire, and about 6,000,- as heretical in a less degree than the Protestants, but still BS heretical. They rested originally, it is true, on a pro- call the Pope" the first Protestant and found sense of God's ind welling in His father of modern rationalism." They people, who in Christ become partakers doubt both the baptism and the orders of the Divine nature and of the Divine of the Roman Catholics, while these ac- dominion. But it soon reached an exknowledge unhesitatingly both the bap- tent which thrust God and Christ into tism and the orders of the Greeks, and the background, and declined largely do not impeach them of heresy, but only into mere image worship, almost into of schism. fetichism. Against this relapse into semi.paganism, Islam had an immense Mohammedanism, more properly Is- advantage. Though divided into very lam, that is, Resignation, originated, as many sects, yet over against Christianity is known, about 622, and represents these appear as a unity, except that of monotheism in a stern and unfruitful the 200,000,000 Moslems, the Persians, extreme, separating God from man so and some others, about 15,000,000 in utterly as to preclude all sense of His all, reject the Sunnite traditions, accuse Fatherhood, all possibility of His per- the Sunnites of having lost the true sonal union with humanity, all assur- apostolic succession, and have developed ance of His benignity, all belief in a a form of Mohammedanism which is so true free will, and almost all sense of speculative and mystical that the Sunan inward Divine assistance and spir- nites brand it, and not quite without itual regeneration. The Koran pre· ground, as altogether spurious. scribes charity, justice, and benevolence, but says little or nothing as to Islam acknowledges the Scriptures, how we Bre to gain these. It makes lit- and thereby signs its own ultimate tle account of the inwBrd state, and death-warrant. It honors Jesus as Mesgives so sensual a description of para- siah and the Word, and acknowledges dise all to make interior chastity very His sinlessness, but denies Him to be nearly an impossibility within its range, the Son. The Koran teaches that anaggravating this evil by its sanction other was crucified in His stead. and given to slavery, polygamy, concubin. that He was taken up into heaven. It age, and arbitrary divorce. Being agnos- loves the sword, but hates the cross. tic as to the ideas of God in nature and When it loses temporal supremacy (as it history, it is hostile to thought, and is rapidly losing it) its life will be long; even the ,brilliant outburst of Arab but by its own principles, which make genius under its first victories could no distinction between things spiritual not permanently maintain itself. The and temporal, its life will then be a conditions of salvation being purely slowly advancing death. When Eastern arbitrary, can be imposed on men by Christianity under Western Protestant the sword, and although Islam has influence shall have cleared itself of its shown no small missionary energy, yet depressing superabundance of ceremony the sword has been its preferred agent and of its exaggerated veneration of of propagation. All who worship one palpable symbols, it will be prepared in God and have a sacred Book are tolerat· a nobler form to reassume control of ed. but, where possible, reduced to those Eastern regions which have so servitude and tribute, and treated with long gasped under the suffocating pressinfinite scorn. Indeed, Islam is the ure of Mohammedanism. The Eastern most extensive and compact incarna- Christians, though so heavily overlaytion of spiritual pride that has ever ing the Gospel, have never denied it, been seen in the world. nor have they allowed the family to be corrupted by the admission Of poly- The victories of Islam were greatly gamy, concubinage, and arbitrary di. advanced by the internecine conflicts of vorce, while they freed themselves ages Eastern Christianity, and by its exag- ago of slaveholding. gerated veneration of the saints, This The main form of Protestant missions in some parts on cordial termo with the in Turkey and Persia has been that of Protestants, and even more 01' less hold the American Board, whose Persian and joint services with them. UlllJ>11>pily Syrian missions, however, have b6en this good intelligence is not as widely assumed by the Presbyterian Church. extended as we could wish, or as it is The American Board had mainly and hoped it may yet be. Among the Nestoultimately in view the evangelization rians, it is known that a considerable of the Moslems, who number about number of the native clergy-deacons, 16,000,000 out of .the 22,000,000 of priests, and even some bishops-have the Turkish Empire, since the Chris. encouraged the missionary work. The tian principalities have been detached. precise forms of the work in the future Incidentally, however, the missionaries may be left to the wisdom of the Head. aimed at reviving and purifying the It is certain that it will not relapse into Eastern churches. The hostility of the the deadness of the past, and that a government has hitherto confined direct debt of lasting gratitude will be owing operations mainly to the latter object, to the Congregationalists, Presbyterians, though the missionaries have never lost and United Presbyterians of our counthe former out of sight. The Board has try, for Asia Minor, Syria, and Egypt. not had in view, and does not now have in view, the propagation of Protestant- If we should estimate the number of ism as such. So far as spiritual life is Protestant communicants at 50,000 in revived, and superstitions done away, European Turkey, Bulgaria, Asia Minor, and spiritual despotism transformed Syria, Egypt, and Persia, this would be into brotherly service, so far as burden- an exaggeration which the fact is rapidsome observances are abolished and ly moving to overtake. In Bulgaria the faith manifested in charity and pure American Board and the American morals, the intended work is done. The Methodists are at work; in European elder churches are so deeply intertwined Turkey and Asia Minor the American with the Christian memories of their re- Board; in Syria and Persia the Amerispective nations, above all of the Ar- can Presbyterians; in Egypt the United menian nation, which professed the Presbyterians of our country (not to be Gospel the earliest of any people in the confounded with the entirely different world, that we can easily understand Scottish church of the same name), and and sympathize with their desire to the movement proceeding from the admaintain the elder organizations. Un- mirable schools of the Misses Whately, happily, however, most of the Mono- daughters of the former eminent Archphysite and Nestorian bishops, espe- bishop of Dublin. In Palestine all cililly the former, and still more most of Protestant movements are only initial, the Greek bishops, have shown them- the Church Missionary Society leading, selves hostile to any innovations, how- though rather crossed than aided by ever necessary for intellectual and spir- Bishop Blyth, a worthy man, but infatuitual revival, and so persecuting toward ated with a somewhat fantastic dream those of their people who desired a freer of "corporate unity" with the Greek and more living Gospel, that the organi- Church. In other parts of Turkey also, zation of Protestant churches soon and in Persia, there are disintegrating showed itself a matter of necessity, al- interferences, some from England and though the influence of Protestantism some from America, which seem to have is far from being confined within its ritual propagandism more deeply at own avowed limits, but is extending heart than the advancement of living farther and farther within the elder faith. Yet the main work is not very churches, especially within the Armenian Church. The Gregorians, as the greatly put back thereby.* members of this Church are called, from its apostle Gregory the Illuminator, are * The different statistical anthorities are more or less in conflict, which will account for some inconsistencies of statement.

GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE

VI.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

Organized Missionary Work and Statistics. Edited by Rev. D. L. Leonard, Oberlin, O.

-The Statesman's Year·Book is au- vocabulary of 250 languages? Who cre- thority for the statement that the ated the science of anthropology? The densest population of the earth, over 400 mISSIOnaries. Who rendered possible to the square mile, is confined to Java, the deeply important science of com· Ohina, Japan, the northeastern and parative religion? The missionaries.

southwestern portions of India, Eng. Who discovered the great chain of lakes land, parts of France and Belgium, the in Central Africa on which will turn its Nile Valley, Italy, Portugal, a small future destiny? The missionaries.

strip of Germany, and a small section Who have been the chief explorers of in the vicinity of New York and Boston. Oceanica and America and Asia? The The Beginning of the End.-Three missionaries. Who discovered the fa· phases or stages of missionary toil mous Nestorian monument in Singar may easily be distinguished. At first Fu? A missionary. Who discovered and of necessity all the forces, whether the still more famous Moabite stone? personal or financial, originate in Chris. A Church missionary. Who discovered tian lands. But presently native mis. the Hittite inscriptions? A Presbyte. sionaries of every grade begin to take rian missionary."

the place of the foreign supply, and -The 1892 Year.Book of the Young native contributions steadily increase. Men's Christian Associations of North Thus last year of the $11,500,000 con. America gives the following statistics: tributed for foreign missions, upward 1140 secretaries; 268 buildings valued of $1,300,000 were derived from regions at $11,902,520; 814 Associations with lately heathen, while to the 7800 mis. a total membership of 1,763,950; 400 sionaries were joined upward of 37,000 college Associations (64 organized last native helpers, of whom nearly 3000 year), 362 with a total membership of were ordained, and quite a large pro- 24,819; 97 railroad branches with a portion of the 11,000 churches are en· membership of 20,530; 12 Associations tirely self.supporting. As examples of for Germans, membership 2654; 34 for the third and final stage, we see the colored men, chiefly in educational in.

Hawaiian Islands not only sustaining stitutions in the South, membership •• home missions" among the Chinese, 2137 ; and 22 Associations for Indians.

Japanese, and Portuguese, but also In the world are found 4651 Associa- sending their representatives by the tions, of which 83 are in Canada, 627 score to Christianize Micronesia; the in the United Kingdom, 898 in Ger· London Society seeks in Samoa and the many, 641 in Holland, 86 in France, Hervey Group a supply of teachers for 112 in Denmark, 131 in Norway, 67 in pagan New Guinea, while by the Wes. Sweden, 43 in Italy, and 381 in Switzer· leyan Society Fiji and other islands have -land. .

been turned wholly over to the care of -The Young People's Society of the Australasian Conference. Christian Endeavor, with its growth -In setting forth the debt of science since) 881 from 2 local societies to 22,.

to missions, Archdeacon Farrar offers 000, of which 648 are found in foreign these telling interrogatories, with their and missionary lands, and a total memo answers: .. Is it nothing that through bership of nearly 1,250,000, divided their labors in the translation of the Bi. among 30 denominations, must be ble the German philologist in his study counted a phenomenon among Chris· may have before him the grammar and tian institutions; and the possibilities of pow.,r in this a~d other kindred or- was standing by whispered, " It might' ganizations, as touching the world's be too much for a white man to give, eva!lgelization, are just beginning to ap- but not too much for an Indian who pear. Such items as these are fast be· has this year heard for the first time of coming very common : the love of Jesus."

"The Christian Endeavor Societie~ -The American Baptist Missionary sent $3405 to the Presbyterian Board Union reports an income of $589,773 of Foreign Missions for the year end- last year, a total preaching force of ing May, 1891. They increased that 947 in hQathen lands, or 1834 laborers amount so as to make $9036 last year.•. in all, 83,597 church-members, 692 " The Christian Endeavor Society of the churches, of which 351 are self-support- Presbyterian Church of. Watertown, ing, 10,971 baptisms in 1891, 1188 N, Y., has secured $500 for the support schools 'with 22,284 pupils, and the con· of a missionary in the foreign field. tributions were $59,922. Evidently Their missionary is the Rev. Kali Churn missions are not a "failure" among the Chattergee, Hashyarpur. India." "The Telugus with 47,458 in the churches and Endeavorers of the First Congregational 7905 added last year, nor in Burmah Church, Cleveland, raised double the with 30,253 and 1936 baptized last year. usual amount for decorating the church for Easter, and then, instead of using it -The Baptist women have an eastern for church decoration, gave it to the and a western Foreign Missionary So- American Board as an Easter offering… oiety, the first baving its headquarters " At the Baptist Young People's Con- at Boston, and the other at Chicago. vention in Troy, N. Y., a resolution The eastern society last year expended was adopted indorsing the plan to sena $88,476 in Burmah, Assam, the Telugu out 100 new missionaries and raise country, China, Japan, Afrioa, and Eu- $1.000,000, and pledging the support of rope. The society of the west, with a the young people in raising the fund." year's expenditure of $49,290, employed last year 41 missionaries and had work -Says the ]J}xaminer: "Not all the for 13 more ; sustained 30 schools in Chinese carry all their money to China. the mission fields, with 82 native teach The 161 Chinese Christians of California ers and 2234 pupils, and had 53 Bibleraised last year for benevolent purposes women in commission, with 49 other $6290, or $39 for each; for the expenses Christian women under training for of their own Association they raised an- work. other $2029, or $12 for each member. They raised $1913 for home missions -The Methodist Episcopal Church and $2181 for foreign missions. One appropriates $500,000 for home mis- Chinese Sunday-school (30 members) in sions this year, of which sum these are Brooklyn, N. Y., has given, the last the more prominent items: Scandinayear, $150 for foreign missions. A vian missions, $57,950; German miil- Boston Chinese Sunday-school gave sions, $50,250 ; Spanish missions, $14,- $114 for the same work." 000; Chinese missions, $11,400; boo sides some $22,000 for missions among -One day an Indian asked Bishop the Japanese, Welsh, Frenoh, Bohe. Whipple to give him two one-dollar mians, Hungarians, Italians, and Porbills for a two-dollar note. The bishop tugnese. asked: "Why?" He said: .. One dollar for me to give to Jesus and one dol- -The United Brethren Board of Mis. lar for my wife to give." The bishop sions, at its last annual meeting made asked him if it was all the money he appropriations of $89,000 to its African had. He said: "Yes." The bishop missions, $2000 to those in Germany, was about to tell him: "It is too $400 to the Chinese mission in Walla much," when an Indian clergyman who Walla, and liberal sums to various domestic missions. The reports of the -According to the fifty·seventh an- Woman's Board represent it as having nual report of the Society for Promoting had an active and prosperous year. Female Education in the East (in ze- Two young women were appointed mis· nanas, harems, and schools), the income sionaries to China. The Board of last year was $31,435. Its fields are Church Erection received $12,207. found in India, Africa, and the Levant.

-'l'he women of the Canada Presby. A force is maintained of 39 missionterian Church sustain two societies, the aries, 8 assistants engaged in the couneastern and western, the first named try, and 76 other native helpers; and covering the maritime provinces. The in the 74 schools (with the 64 more as· western section had its beginning only sisted) are found 10,112 scholars. In 16 years ago, and has grown rapidly particular the Protestant orphanage for ever since. From 49 auxiliaries, in girls in Nazareth belongs to this society, 1881, the number has now become 519. and 2 day·schools for girls and 5 others The first year's income was but $1005., in neighboring villages. 39 ; in 1890 it had increased to $31,107, and last year passed the $3:),000 mark. -A few weeks since the twenty-sixth anniversary of Dr. Barnardo's Homes was held in London. Exeter Hall hav· EUROPE. ing proved too small for the accommo· dation of the thousands applying for Great Britain.-The late Mr. Doug- tickets, the Royal Albert Hall was se· las Henty, a brewer of Westgate, Chi. cured. Since the beginning of this chester, has left benefactions amounting philanthropic work $656,836 have been in all to £50,000 to the British and received for all purposes, 19,000 boys Foreign :Sible Society, the Church Mis- and girls have been rescued from pov· sionary Society. the London City Mis- erty and moral degradation, and 5015 sions, the Irish Church Missions, and have been placed out in the colonies. the Moravian Missions. Last year 5416 children were wholly maintained and 803 others were par- -During the last four years the tially fed and clothed and placed under Church Missionary Society has accepted training.

267 candidates, more than double the -By the Established Church of Scot· number in the four years preceding. land 7 new parishes were erected and Six hundred clergymen are found among endowed last year, and the whole num· its representatives, of whom 280 are ber created and endowed since the natives. Of its 360 missionaries, in- .. scheme" for that purpose was set in cluding laymen, 153 are university grad- operation has been 397, and the cost uates, no other large English society of this great permanent work has been having a proportion so large. Of its $6,800,000.

missionaries 23 have been made bish- The Continent.-Between 1838 and ops. The baptisms of adults were 3250 1858, or between his sixty.fifth and his last year. eighty.fifth year, Gossner, the founder -The Wesleya:n Missionary Society of the missionary society which fittingly cannot be set down as a" failure," if bears his name, paid from his own reo this statement is true: ,. There can be sources 33,000 marks, and received traced to its work a constituency repre- 300,000 from others. Besides, he sent senting about 2000 circuits, 11,000 out to the heathen world 141 mission· chapels and preaching places, 2592 mis- aries. Surely this was bringing forth sionaries and ministers, and 430,247 fruit in old age. What honorable names members." Its Fiji achievement ranks are his and Pastor Harms's!

among the most notable in the whole -The Rhenish Missionary Society history of missions. (Barmen) had an income last year of 422,580 marks ($105,650), and in South Persia, not a missionary! The great Africa, China, Java, Sumatra, and New oasis of Feraghan, at a height of 7000 Guinea had 65 stations, 118 out-sta- feet, with 680 villages craving medical tions, 92 missionaries, 213 native help- advice, never visited, scarcely mapped! ers with 429 more unpaid assistants, Then Juifa and Hamadan, with their and 43,912 adherents. The additions few workers, almost powerless to itinerby baptism were 5525, and 522 were ate, represent the work of the Church confirmed. The communicants num- for the remainder of Persia! Two ber 11,907, and the catechumens 6869. million nomads never touched !" The additions in Sumatra alone were 3945 from among the heathen and India.-A Hindu and aNew Zealander Mohammedans. In New Guinea 1 mis- met upon the deck of a missionary ship. sionary died, 2 were compelled to leave They had both been converted from on account of sickness, and 2 were heathenism, and were brothers in murdered. This society has a training Christ, but they could not speak to each college at Barmen with about 40 stu· other. They pointed to their Bibles, dents, mostly from humble spheres of shook hands and smiled in each other's life. The course of study covers six faces ; but that was not all. At last a years. happy thought occurred to the Hindu. With sudden joy he exclaimed, " Halle- -Between 1870 /lnd 1888 the Russian lujah!" The New Zealander, in de- (Greek) Church baptized 71,272 heathen, light, cried out" Amen !" 8,597 Jews, and 4294 Mohammedans, 84,163 non-Christians in all. In Japan -India's population (almost 300,- missionary operations are pushed with 000,000) constitutes a sort of social, vigor. political, and religious Babel. The re- cent census was taken in 17 different -By the new census of Spain the languages. The blanks issued numfact appears that out of a population of bered over 80,000,000, and those used 17,500,000, only a little over 5,000,000 weighed 290 tons. If put end to end can read and write. Six millions can they would reach more than half-way only read, leaving 12,000,000 who can round the world. There were 950,000 neither read nor write. Bad as this enumerators, and the whole cost of the showing is, it is a little better than the censutl was about $1,000,000. figures of 1877, when 72 per cent of the population were found to be unable to -This is a strange story to come read or write. from a land so populolIS, and that has been inhabited for thousands of years. -The annual report of the European " Official returns for 1891 show that no Turkey Mission of the American Board less than 24,841 people in British India shows that 117 persons were admitted were killed by wild animals during that to the churches during the year on pro- year. By far the larger portion of these fession of faith, an increase of about 14 (22,134) were killed by snakes; 928 by per cent, and making the whole number tigers, and the remainder by wolves, 940. leopards, elephants, and other animals. It appears, too, that the destruction of ASIA.. life from this cause is on the increase."

-Mrs. Isabella Bird Bishop says: -It is officially stated that last year "Just think: from Karaohi to Bagdad, in 138,054 public and private educaamong the populous cities and villages tional institutions reported, there were of the Persian Gulf, of the Tigris and 3,368,930 boys and 313,717 girls, an in- Euphrates, throughout Arabia, through. crease of girls of nearly 20,000 over th{; out south and sonthwest Persia, not a previous year. Of these 350,000 were missionary! ' From Bagdad to Teheran, studying English. Of the whole 68 per almost the most populons district of cent were Hindus, 23 per cent Moham- has reached 3606, without including many who have emigrated to Borneo, medans, and 2l per cent native Chris- Australia, Honolulu, etc. Fifteen are being trained at the preachers' seminary tians. at LUong for the pastoral or teacher's office. -Last year, when the late Prince Albert Victor was in India, 3000 native Japan.-In 1860 one Murata, a mili- Christians, headed by Bishop Caldwell, tary retainer of the Lord of Saga, in met him some three miles out of Tin- the island of Kiushiu, went to Nagasanevelly, representing 95,000 souls nn- ki, and one evening, as he was crossing der Christian influence, of whom 77,000 the harbor, he picked up a book that were baptized and 113 native clergy. was floating about the water. The The prince expressed his great satisfac- writing ran from side to side, .. like the tion at so substantial a result of Chris· crawling of crabs," and upon sending tian missions. The statement placed it to one of the Dutch settlers, he in his hands showed that since a similar learned that it was the Christian's Bible, demonstration greeted the Prince of then a proscribed book. Curiosity Wales, in 1875, the number of native spurred him on, and he had one of his clergy had increased by 109 per cent, of assistants learn the language, and transnatives under instruction by 57 per late it for him sentence by sentence. cent, and of communicants by 95 per His study was continued in secret with cent. a few friends after his return home. When a difficult pas~age was found, a -In the North India (American messenger was sent to Dr. Verbeck, a Methodist) Conference from January to missionary then in Nagasaki, for its in- May 3500 have been baptized, 800 by terpretation. Murata was afterward Rev. Ibrahim Solomon in the Rampur baptized, and his name now stands first Independency, and he confidently ex- on the roll of Protestant Chnstians in pects 2000 within the next few months. Japan.

-The Sialkot Mission (American AFRICA. United Presbyterian) contains 13 ordained missionaries, 26 women, and 2 -Between the extreme limits of the physicians, a total of 41. There are Dark Continent north and south stretch also 10 ordained natives, 236 native 5000 miles, and almost as !!reat a space helpers in all. Work is done in 554 parts its extreme eastern and western villages, while 6894 church-members confines. The total number of square and 10,632 adherents have been gath- miles embraced within its bounds is ered. To the churches 525 were added about 11,000,000, giving it the second last year. The schools number 143, place among the continents. Europe and the pUI ils 9262. includes 3,800,000 square miles; North America, 7,400,000, and Asia, the only -Rev. H. B. Lapham, of Ceylon, continent that exceeds it in dimensions, states that in that island are found 80,- covers only 13,000,000. 000 Protestants and 220,000 Roman Catholics. This makes one tenth of -It was in 1742, or 150 years ago, the 3,000,OUO Christians. that George Schmidt gained his first convert, and now the Moravian Mission China.-The Basle Missionary So- in South Africa has 3352 communicants, ciety is at work in the province of Can- 650 catechumens, and 13,000 adherents. ton-over against the island of Hong Kong, and partly on that island, with – The "lflssion Field states that the 24 missionaries, with 90 native help- Dutch Reformed Church stands at the ers. The head stations number 13, the head in S'luth Africa, having some 298,- most northerly one being 300 miles 000 adherents, of whom 220,000 are from the coast; there are also many sub-stations. The number of converts Europeans. 'fhe English Church stands been baptized. Last year from 30 to second, with 139,000 adherents, of 40 of the native Christians went out whom one half return themselves as Sunday after Sunday to preach, walk- Europeans; the other half consists of ing for the purpose 8, 10, 12 miles in Kafirs, Fingoeli, and 46,000 of mixed a broiling sun. There are 32 schools blood. The Wesleyans and other Meth- taught by about 150 native teachers. odists number 109,000, of whom 22,000 Several of the 8 languages spoken about are Europeans, 63,000 Kafirs and Fin- the lake have been reduced to writing. goes, and 19,000 of mixed colored blood. There are 66,000 Independents, 32,000 -Miss M. Copping, of Fez, Morocco, Presbyteriant!, and 17,000 Roman Catho- writes of treating 54 women and chillics. dren in one day, some coming as early as five 0' clock, though the dispensary -Rev. Mr. Davidson, a missionary was not open until 7.45. During Janof. the Scotch United Presbyterian uary, February, and March the attend. Church, reports a remarkable occur· ance of patients was of men 856, of rence in connection with a wedding at women and children 1275, or a total of a farm in Adelaide. The bride and 2131. bridegroom were servants on the farm, and after the ceremony the people Australia.-The Moravian Mission suddenly, unitedly, and eagerly called among the aborigines of North Queens. for a religious service, and some 200 land is supported financially by the sat down on the grass, listening while Presbyterians and Lutherans of Austra- Mr. Davidsoll preached. The people lia. Though their numbers have been were deeply stirred. An hour or two so fearfully diminished, the aborigines after he had reached home a messenger are estimated at not less than 150,000. was sent for the evangelist to come and hold another service in the evening. -According to the recent census of the religions of Australia, the Church -It is Rev. B. F. Ousley, fOl' seven of England has by far the most numeryears missionary of the American Board ous following. Of Episcopalians there among the Batswa tribes in East Cen- are 503,084 ; Roman Catholics, 286,917 ; tral Africa, that was owned by Joseph Presbyterians, 109,383 ; Wesleyan Meth. (not Jefferson, but his brother) Davis, odists. 87,489. There are other Methand is now translating the Bible into odists to the number of 22,589, with the Sheetswa, a cognate of the Zulu. 24,113 Congregationalists and 13,118 He is a graduate of Fisk University and Baptists. The greatest gain exhibited of Oberlin Theological Seminary. by any denomination is shown by the Church of England, which has increased -The North German Society has a from 342,359 to 503,084. mission upon the Slave Coast, and adjoining that of the Basle Society upon Madagascar.-In September last a the Gold Coast. At the end of last year Christian Endeavor Society was started the number of converts was 891, as at Ambohipotsy, which now numbers against 800 twelve months before. about 70 members, and in the nearer churches of the district 10 branch soci- -Rev. Dr. Laws, of Livingstonia, eties have been formed. At a united gives these facts concerning the growth service for the 11 societies more than of the Free Church Mission on Lake 300 members were present. Nyassa. The first missionary party arrived in 1875 and found all utterly –Though there are now in this island heathfm. Since then the first station, 1360 self.supporting Christian congre. Cape Maclear, has developed into 6 gations, it must not be inferred that centres occupied by Enropeans, and Madagascar is already Christianized; 165 men, women, and children have for out of the 4,500,000 inhabitants there are prob~bly 3,000,000 still living in heathen darkness. -Now that in this generation Aus- as circumstances will admit. The re- tralia has come to be numbered among turns show a steady increase in the the continents, New Guinea (Papua) is whole number of Japanese church-mem- the largest island in the world, having bers and a slightly increased staff of a length of about 1400 miles, a maximum clergy, the total being now 50, of whom width of 400, and an area of nearly 300,- 13 are Japanese. English lay workers 000 square miles. The population num- number 37, and of these 32 are women.

bers not far from 1,000,000. Bya" par- At least 50 more workers could be profit- tition" the Netherlands rule the western ably employed in strengthening existing portion, Germany the northern half of mlSSlOns. It is stated by it contributor the eastern portion (King William's to the Berlin Das Echo that Buddhism Land), and Great Britain the southern is steadily declining ill Japan, according coast and the adjacent groups of islands. to observations taken in Kyoto, gener- The Utrecht Missionary Society has ally regarded by Japanese the head- occupied the Dutch, and the Rhenish quarters of that faith. The returns of Society the German domain, while the 1877 gave 3737 Buddhist temples, and English is cared for by the London, in 1891 only 3256, a loss of nearly 400 the Propagation, and the Wesleyan so- within the space of fourteen years. Nor cieties, the three having agreed upon a is it possible to judge of conversions to division of territory. Christianity among the Japanese by the German, English, and American reports British Foreign Missions. By Rev. James alone, inasmuch as these are confined Johnston, Bolton, England. to the Roman Catholic, Anglican, and Indian Missions.-A number of various Protestant missions, all of which friends of missions in India recently belong to a Western European type. weloomed home Dr. Pentecost and the Far greater successes are credited to the Hon. Emily Kinnaird, and also bade Russian Church -of an Oriental caste, farewell to Miss Cornelia Sorabji, B.A., which being unaffected by the earlier the first girl graduate of the Indian Em- Western Latin and Teutonic nations is pire, in Cannon Street Hotel, London. supposed to be better qualified than the In speaking of their missionary experi- Latin or Protestants to reach the Asiatic enoes in India both Dr. Pentecost and mind.

Miss Kinnaird agreed that the average Notable MiS!lionary Farewell.-At Anglo-Indian showed considerable op- the end of June good. by was said to 46 position to missions and missionaries. missionaries, male and female, who This position was oontroverted by Sir were proceeding to India, China, and W. Muir, who maintained that the great Africa to take part in the evangelization bulk of the Europeans in India were of the world, on the completion of their friendly disposed toward Christian en- studies at the training colleges under terprise. Miss Sorabji gratefully ac- the presidency of Dr. Grattan Guinness.

knowledged the kindness of the English It is reported that t.he Guinness family during the time that she had been pur- have been instrumental in equipping suing her medioal studies. The collec- 1092 missionaries for the foreign field tioll on behalf of the zenana Bible and ill connection with the noble institu- medical mission realized over £4000. tions of Harley House and "Doric Japan.-Bishop Edward Bickersteth, Lodge." respectively occupied by male of Japan, in addressing a pastoral letter and female students. A hundred misto his clergy, says that the spiritual sionaries and their wives of various sowants of English people residing there cieties are stationed on the Congo.

and of the continually increasing num- Uganda.-Respecting the position in ber of -travellers who Rojourn in that Uganda, an important paper is forth- empire, are as adequately provided for coming from the pen of the Rev. W. J. Smith, an active member of the Church Welsh Churches and Foreign Mis.. Missionary Society's Committee. He sions.-There is every probability that will endeavor to show upon the strong. the Welsh Nonconformists, who have est evidence that French influence has been accustomed to send their contribufor a long time been used in plotting tions for foreign missions through the against the British power in Eastern channels of English societies, will ere- Equatorial Africa, and that the hostili. long arrange to have their distinct orties are due far more to political intrigue ganizations in the Principality. The than to religious strife. There is every Welsh Calvinists have for some time probability tliat the Uganda mission- adopted this procedure, and the Baptists aries will endeavor to remain in the are beginning to follow on the same country even though the British East track. Africa Company resolves to withdraw at the close of the present year. Bequests to Missions_-By the will of Mr. Douglas Henty, a Chichester Missionary Re-enCorcements. – It brewer, who died last February, and has recently been decided by the Board who at one time had several race·horses of Directors of the London Missionary in training, a sum of £50,000 comes to Society to locate the 100 additional mis- five missionary and Bible societies. On sionaries, whom it is proposed to send the settlement of the estate being comout in the course of the next four years, pleted, the executors are to give priority approximately as follows: China and to legacies of £15,000 to the British and India, 35 each; Maaagascar, 10 ; Africa, Foreign Bible Society, £10,000 to the 15; Polynesia and New Guinea, 5. London City Mission, £10,000 to the Late appointments include three Welsh Irish Church missions, £10,000 to the students for work abroad. By the im- Church Missionary Society, and £5000 petus of the "Forward Movement" to the Moravian missions. chiefly, the funds of the Society" have arrived at a condition hitherto unpre- A south of England member of the cedented during its whole history," an Society of Friends has just given the increased income of £35,000 for the large sum of £20,000 to erect and endow year being reported. a home for the training of missionaries.

A feature of the celebration of the The late Mr. Gawin Kirkham.-To hundredth anniversary of the founding this faithful preacher of the Cross, of the Baptist :Nlissionary Society was whose lamented death in May laqt dean international gathering over which prived the Open-Air Mission in England Dr. George Smith, the Foreign lfission- of its director for thirty years, some ary Secretary of the Free Church of form of memorial is contemplated. In Scotland, presided, and America was conjunction with Mr. John Macgregor represented by Dr. Pierson, to whom so (" Rob Roy"), Mr. Kirkham wa~ one of much of the current missionaryawaken- the pioneers of opell..air preaching, and ing in Great Britain is attributed. The scarcely, at one time, was there a race Centenary Fund has reached £85,000. or fair held in any part of Great Britain The Society has accepted for foreign where Mr. Kirkham might not have service Mr. Cannon for South Africa, been found preaching with intense ferand Mr. T. Randall for Balololand, both vor to hundreds and even thousands of students at Regent's Park CoJlege. listeners. He travelled on the same er- rand over the continent and in distant In view of the approaching jubilee of colonies. His journeys in 1891, in pur the Primitive Methodist Missionary So- suit of his all-absorbing vocation, ex· ciety, a special fund for extension work tended over 12,600 miles, during which of £50,000 is to be raised. toward which he addressed at least an aggregate of £14,000 was promised at the conference 43,000 persons. By rare organizing in Norwich during June last. gifts and unwearied devotion, Mr. Kirk- . ham gave prominence to the Society, States has been until recently carried on which to-day has an effective roll of under several independent boru:ds, rep- 1123 members. A man of fervid zeal, resenting as many synods, or in certain he yet always avoided friction with the cases unions of synods. But the proc- authorities, and simil9.rly urged his co- ess of consolidating it into a single workers to adopt the principle of mod- whole, which has been going on for eration. The office of secretary, which several months, was completed April he so ably filled, has been undertaken 19th, when the last of the separate by Sir Robert Phayre, whose services boards closed its accounts, and was in- will be gratuitously rendered. corporated with the general board.

The Rev. James Johnston, Bolton, -Rev. John Mackie, of Kingston, England, has been appointed a member .Ont., has received $10,000 from a genof the Advisory Council by the General tleman of that city for the home and Committee on Religious Congresses, foreign missions of the Presbyterian which will be held in connection with Church of Canada. the World's Columbian Exposition. South America.-Information comes Monthly Bulletin, that a missionary of the American Bible Society, Senor Aristides Castro, has -Miss Emma Bradley, of Chicago, been mobbed in Ayacucho, Peru. He has founded a mission school at her had been sent to that city with six own expense in the slums of that city. boxes of Bibles, which he tried to sell, She makes her home in the rear of the when the inhabitants began to protest.

school building, and shares her food At last he was compelled to seek refuge with a number of poor people, and this in his lodgings. One afternoon the at her own table. house was broken into by an armed· -Wooster University, Ohio, exhib- mob. Senor Castro was not found, but ited its missionary enthusiasm when it the stock of Bibles and his personal gave Dr. S. H. Kellogg, a LL.D., as he property were taken out into the street was about to return to India, and sent and publicly burned.

the honorary reward of toil and scholar- –In Paramaribo the work of the Moship, D.D., to two of its foreign mis- raians continues to be highly blessed. sionary graduates, J. M. Kyle, of Brazil, No fewer than 97 persons were at one and J. N. Wright, of Persia. time recently added to the communi.

-At the Catholic Cathedral in Mil- cants.

waukee, not long since, 110 children, Great Britain.-A most impressive 60 girls and 50 boys, were confirmed by scene was recently witnessed in the Archbishop Katzer. The archbishop committee-room of the Church Misaddressed the children on "The means sionary Society. No fewer than 20 of preserving the grace of confirma. ladies, who had been accepted for ser· tion," and on the following day pledges vice, were introduced to the committee. of abstinence from intoxicating liquor Never before have so many recruits and tobacco were administered to the been welcomed in one body. boys who the day before were con- firmed. -India has sent a missionary to Eng- -The Presbyterian Church, South, land, Miss Soonderbai Powar, a native sends out this year 17 newly appointed high caste Hindu, who comes to point missionaries, distributing them between out the evils of the opium traffic. She Mexico, Brazil, the Congo, Japan, and wears an Oriental costume, but speaks Korea. English fluently.

-The missionary work of the (Ger- -Gospel meetings at the races. A man) Reformed Church in the United strange combination, but it is what a band of English Methodists, under the comes that a scheme will soon be inlead of Josiah Nix, are holding. The augurated to annihilate this form of band is composed of young men who Christian teaching and practice from dress in the latest style, but are devoted the empire. Christians. They camp on the Derby racing grounds, distribute Gospel tracts, -The Rev. George S. Davis, Superand during the intervals between races intendent of the Methodist Episcopal sing hymns and give talks. They have church in Bulgaria, states that he has done this for several years with good received from an elderly and friendly results. Four young men of Chicago Bulgarian, for the Missionary Society, have undertaken a similar work. the equivalent in property and cash of 16,000 francs. This witl net in Ameri- -Again has the Salvation Army been can gold $3112.84. under deadly fire, but has come forth unscathed. Arnold White, a man thor- Palestine. -A great sensation has been oughly competent, and with eyes only caused in Jerusalem by the introducfor the facts, has made searching in- tion of the electric light into a new and vestigation and finds only the strictest flourishing flour-mill lately started close business integrity in the handling of to the Damascus Gate. The Arabs and funds, and scaTcely any lack of busi- Jews are much puzzled to a.ccount for a ness sagacity. In particular he finds light in 'a lamp in which there is no that the Booth family either bestow oil, and while gazing with wonder, keep their services without a penny of pay, at a respectable distance. or receive but the most meagre of salaries. India.-Mr. J. N. Farquhar, of the Lon- don Society, states that" since December The Oontinent.-The French Govern- last there have been 11 baptisms from ment has conferred on the Rev. Mr. Hinduism and Mohammedanism in con- McAll the decoration of the Legion of nection with the two Bengali churches Honor. His twenty years' work for in the centre of Calcutta. Among them the evangelization of the masses in are a man, his wife, and their son, who France is expressly given as the ground were devil.worshippers, two Hindu for the distinction. widows, and a medical student. Nearly all were led to Christ by natives of the -The Rev. Max Christlieb, son of country." the late Professor Christlieb, of Bonn, expects to sail next year for Japan as a -Is it mixing politics and religion missionary. when regularly that native minister connected with the Madura Mission in -Dr. Baedeker recently gave a report his morning service brings before the in London of his travels among the per- throne of grace" the Empress of India secuted Stundists in Russia. Many of and her Parliament, the American these have been exiled to Siberia simply Board and its officers, the President of because they hold the truths of the the United States and his Cabinet, and Bible. One man, who had been in ex- all the children of the missionaries ile for four years, on returning to his throughout the world" ? native town was required to sign a paper, pledging himself not to teach, or -Rev. Abraham William, one of the preach the Gospel. The man took the oldest native pastors in the Arcot Mispaper and commenced to write, but sion, who died suddenly May 27th, ~as this was what was found on the paper: born a high.caste Hindu and became a "I, –, cannot pledge myself." He most devoted Christian. He was an was immediately marched off to Siberia untiring worker, and a preacher of for four years more. And the report power. Seldom anywhere does a man fall whose plaee it is so difficult to. fill. -It is stated that at Hyderabad, -In the Camermlns District of the a photographic studio has been opened, Basle Society 13 chapels and 2 teachers' in which the operators are all wom- houses were built last year, largely by en. The Koran forbids the making the natives, and 80 persons were bapof portraits, but the muftis have de- tized. At one dedication a chief anclared that photography cannot be in- nounced his determination to become a cluded in the prohibition, since the Christian, and straightway gave up his prophet knew nothing about it. idols and fetich objects to be burned.

-During the winter of 1891 a band -It is pleasant to read in the Pacific of 35 to 40 Ceylon Christians went at Baptist that on the Congo the deaththeir own expense on a tour to the vil- rate is less than one per cent higher lage of Liyanwala and the surrounding than in the other tropical fields occudistrict, teaching, singing, and preach· pied by the Missionary Union, Japan ing the Gospel. included. The conclusion is based on th e figures for the last seven years. -One of the latest applicants for baptism in the Wesleyan Mission in Bur- -A missionary steamer has lately mah is a niece of the late King Theebaw, been launched in Scotland for use on a bright girl of seventeen, a pupil in the Zambesi and Shire rivers_ the mission school. Ocean Realms.-A young English mis- Africa. – Thirty-six English mis- sionary to the New Hebrides, Mr. Sawer, sionaries are threatened immediate ex- who had been only two days married pulsion from Algeria by the French to a. lady who went out to become his Government. This is in order to pre- wife, was killed by cannibals. They vent trouble with the Mohammedan shot him through the heart, and murpopulation. The French Government dered and feasted on the bodies of two declares in a dispatch to Lord Salis- natives who were with him. His body bury, that they hold their own people was recovered and brought to Tungoa. (French Catholics) to the same rule, and they cannot allow of an exception -Mrs. Allan, of the Allan Steamship in favor of strangers. Line, has given $2500 to begin a Chris- tian mission in the Loo Choo Islands. -The French are pushing ahead their railroad across the Sahara. Two hun- -In 1863 the American Board retired dred and fifty miles tliwe been laid, and from the Hawaiian Islands with the the trains are running regularly from EI thought that self-support and self·man- Guerrah, on the Atlas Mountains, to the agement would be best for the Chris- Oasis of Biscara. It is proposed to end tians there. Some years since it was the line near Lake Tchad. concluded that that step was premature, and aid was once more bestowed; and -A railway which is to traverse the all along of latA in certain quarters, both African continent from east to weBt has high and low, a. reaction has been at been opened as far as a point near Ca- work toward idolatry and superstition, zengo, 140 miles from the starting. showing itself, among other ways, in point, St. Paul de Loand.a. resorting to native doctors-that is, to sorcery and the aid of demons. -King Hodge, at Bigtown, his head place, near Cape Palmas, has built a -Among the foreign contributions church, and in it personally conducts which came for the new Moravian the services. Several years ago this church at Springfield, Jamaica, was the ruler and three of his chiefs were con- sum of £6 128. 2d from the little island verted, and soon after bis wife and many of Ramah, off the Moskito Coast. It of hi~ leading people also accepted the was the result of a collection, when the Gospel; and now the whole tribe is Ramah Indians willingly contributed practically Christian. according to their ability.

The Missionary Review of the World — January 1890

IS THERE TO BE A NEW DEPARTURE IN MISSIONS?

MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.

VOL. xm. No. 1.-0ldSeries.—JANUARY.—VoL. m. No. I.-New Seriu.

I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.

IS THERE TO BE A NEW DEPARTURE IN MISSIONS?

[EDlTORIAL.-A. T. P.] Our Lord rebuked those in his day who were more observing and discerning as to the face of the sky and the forecast of the weather than as to the signs 'of the times and the signals of coming trials and triumphs.

The question is not what would we like to have as signs of the near to-morrow, but what are the actual indications of the approaching future. What we may not be able to shape according to our mind or will, we may be able to accommodate ourselves to and prepare ourselves for. Possibly what we cannot prevent we may direct and control, as sagacious farmers in the valleys of the Vaudois sometimes guide and bank in the current of a mountain stream swollen by heavy rams.

There are some startling-to some, alarming-signs in the horizon which betoken some new movement in the direction of missions. Ultra-conservatism may complain and criticise, and even seek to arrest these developments, but this may be found to be only a new attempt to sweep back ocean tides. Why not calmly survey the situation and prepare to take our part in giving a wise and winning guidance even to an excessive and inconsiderate impulse of enthusiasm? Some movements that seem purely human have God back of them; and in seeking to "overthrow" them we may "haply be found to fight even against God."

1_ The first sign on the horizon to which we call attention is the infusion of a nett) .~pirit of enterprise into missionary work.

Enterprise is the characteristic feature o'f our modern civilization. The world in this nineteenth century no longer moves on its axis, or through its orbit, at its former rate and pace. Travd and transportation, postal and telegraphic communication, the rapid rate of livingyes, and of dying, too; the speed of making and marring great fortunes; the sweep of thought to the bounds of the earth and the bounds of the visible universe; the quickened. pulse of physical, intellectual and social life; the intensity and extensity of scholarly research and scientific investigation-these, and a thousand other similar signals, fly, like flags in the wind, to show both the direction and the rapidity of this social cyclone. Where everything else is moving as with lightning pace, the cause of missions must yoke a sanctified enterprise to its car or be hopelessly left behind. God means that the church shall quicken her march, and catch up with the times. Why should the world, the flesh and the devil monopolize all the enterprise of the age? Because Christ said that the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light, we are not to infer that he meant they should be. It will no longer do to act and talk as though we had countless years and even centuries before us wherein to evangelize this world. We have often said, what now we calmly :and deliberately repeat with emphasis, that with one tithe of the '" dash" and" push" with which all worldly enterprises are carried forward, the thirty millions of Protestant church members now on earth would not let ten years pass without belting the globe with ~issionary effort and bearing the good tidings of the gospel to every family of man! We yearn to see the church of God take up this work as though she felt that the time is short and eternity only is long; that millions of unsaved souls die every year, and a whole generation in less than forty years; as though she saw that God has given her opportunities and facilities that multiply her responsibilities a hundred fold. There must be an apathy and lethargy that are next to criminal, if the children of light stand still, or move so slowly as to allow the children of this world to outrun them in this race, and not only to carryall modern inventions, but all modern devices for destroying bodies and souls, into the regions beyond, ahead of the gospelmessage! The Prince of Darkness is pushing his missions and publishing his message fast enough, however sluggish may be the messengers of the Prince of Peace!

II. We mention next, as a sign of the times, the unparalleled uprising of our young men and women. Nothing like this has been seen before in the centuries of church history. It reminds the student of the middle ages of the enthusiasm kindled by Peter the Hermit, and has give~ to this movement the name of the" modern cr·usade."

This uprising is by no means in a solitary quarter or a single direction. It began nearly fifty years ago in the formation of that first Young Men's Christian Association in London, under George Williams, whose seed was in itself after its kind, and which has so rapidly multiplied that it now covers the earth with its shadow. Countries that then were hopeless heathen and pagan are now dotted over with these associations and sending native representatives to the great international conventions. Before the Y.M.C.A. began to be, young men, and especially young women, were comparatively scarce awakened to activity in the service of Christ. The denominations stood apart, as ~ects, eyeing each other with jealousy and envy, quarelling over minor differences which were practically divisions; the rigid line between" clergy" and" laity," drawn not in apostolic days but in the dark ages, practically separated the ministry and the lay-membership in the matter of soul-saving. 'l'here was but little general training in Bible knowledge or personal work for souls. We have seen all these conditions changed within forty years. No doubt the movement has at times swept beyond legitimate lines and bounds, .and even threatened to obscure, if not obliterate, important distinctions. But, on the whole, the Y.M.C.A. has done a wonderful work for God in uniting all disciples upon the fundamental truths of .our holy faith, in increasing knowledge of the Bible and power in using it, in developing general activity in Christian work, and expanding capacity for it. The Young Men's Associations naturally suggested the Young Women's, and the consequence has been that now all our Christian youth find new avenues open before them for both training and serving.

Then who can look on these ." Societies of Christian Endeavor" that, with incredible rapidity, are enclosing the round world in the network of their organization-inside of ten years increasing to thous3nds of societies-and hundreds of thousands of members-with- ·out feeling that God means to infuse new and young blood into our Christian work? If those that are older are not on the alert, they will find themselves hopelessly in the rear, if not left high and dry on the shore, like some old battered hulk when the ocean surges recede.

'Vhat shall we adequately say also of that" Students' Uprising," which, taking definite form at the Summer School in Mount Hermon, Mass., a few years ago, has now enrolled nearly 4,000 volunteers for the foreign field? The critical, cynical sneer that this is "all gush," and that when time has" sifted this bushel of wheat it will be found that the biggest part of it is all chaff," may do for a sneer, but this movement cannot be laughed down. It has shown too much vitality for the arrow of ridicule or the dart of denunciation to destroy it. No doubt time will liberally deduct from this number of volunteers; many now willing will be found reluctant and unready in the crisis; and Divine Providence will block the way of many who will be both ready and willing. But, from present appearances, it is far more likely that the great practical hindrance in the path of these volunteer3 will be that the church is so fettered by conservative methods, or so hampered by illiberal giving and lack of holy enterprise, that no way can be found to send volunteers to the field and support them on the field.

Even now, as we write, a circular has just come to our hand announcing what is perhaps the most significant sign of the times, of them all, in this direction. It tells us that the Sons of Kansas have heard the Macedonian cry, and the missionary spirit is abroad in the land; and tnat since the organization of the State work no movement, has ever grown with a rapidity so amazing, and none has arisen so replete with prophecies of good and opportunities of service. A number of the most active workers in the Y. M. C. A. in Kansas, Nebraska and Minnesota have already decided to be the pioneers, in preparing the way of the I.ord, for the carrying of the gospel tidings to densely populated and benighted Africa. These men propose to enter by way of Liberia and the Kong Mountains, the Soudan of the Niger and Lake Chad, where are nearly 100,000,000 of people without a missionary, and to form a living tie between the African field and the home churches and associations. Think-of young men leaving secretaryships of the Y. M. C. A. in our northwest, and pioneering the way into the almost unknown and forbidding region of the Soudan!

There are those who deprecate this whole movement, and think Dr. Henry Grattan Guinness showed little judgment in his appeals to' the Kansas young men, and still less judgment in giving direction to the enthusiasm which his appeals aroused. But there is a wiser way than to stand off and criticise. The herdsmen on Western prairies, never try to stop or turn back a stampede among their cattle. Those thousands of hoofs would soon trample them into a bleeding mass of lifeless flesh. No, they spur their broll(~os into the very midst of the flying herds, and by degrees turn them about and guide them so that they swing round a circle and return to their pastures. When great movements take place, in which youth and enthusiasm need the guidance of mature judgment, let wise counsellors get into the current and sympathetically give it direction. God be thanked in this age of apathy for anything that breaks up stagnation! If this world is to be evangelized, it must be young men and young women that take up the work and put into it a consecrated spil'it of enterprise and enthusiastic endeavor. Surely the Holy Spirit must be moving, whQl'e men leave positions of honor and trust as well as of comfort, and go as pioneers into the depths of the Dark Continent simply to prepar; the way of the Lord! There is a sublimity in such consecration.

III. We think we see also, among the signs of the times, a markea tendency to establish a more direct tie between the churches and the mt88zonaries. This drift has been strongly resisted by the Boards, and not without reason. They say it tends to narrow instead of to broaden sympathy; to foster favoritism in the choice of certain attractive fields and the neglect of others; to cripple the general work in attention to local fields, etc. We see !lound sense in all this. Yet is it worth while to reflist a growing demand of the day? The churches say that to have a worker located somewhere who is immediately supported by the particular church, and from whom letters come from time to time, feeds the flame of missionary interest; that, it makes the appetite for missionary intelligence more keen, cultivates intelligent sympathy, and renders the whole work more fascinating. Those who have tried it say that money can be more easily raised for three missionaries, than for one on the old plan of putting money indiscriminately into the missionary treasury to be disbursed generally. 'Vide-awake pastors affirm that the trial of this method proves that the church will not only contribute cheerfully to support the missionary, but to supplement his salary by such additional sums as help his ,schoolwork, hospital work, and out-stations. And why not? The moment a church comes thus into sympathetic contact with a particular field, there is aroused a feeling of identification with that field, which makes giving easy and natural; and there is a sense of responsibility for such field as under the care of that particular church. Why can- , not the Boards assign particular fields, still remaining the channels of ,communication, and put the church at home into vital union with the ,needy multitudes abroad? What reason is there why every church «)f average numbers and resources may not have its missionary abroad as well as its pastor at home? Why may not church finances be so controlled as that provision shall be regularly made for the one as well as the other? What more practicable way can be found for distributing, the wide-world field than to assign a definite work to each ,congregation, and encourage every church to work in its foreign parish as systematically, liberally, prayerfully as in the best cultivated ,city parish at home? In many a church enough money is spent on a quartette choir to sustain three missionaries in the centers of heathenism!

IV. 'fhere is also an undeniable tendency to independent effort .on missionary fields. It is natural and almost inevitable. Not to speak of the singular success of that man of God, Rev. J. Hudson 'Taylor, in placing over 300 missionaries in Inland China without dependence on boards, committees 01' collections, and in supporting them upon funds received in answer to prayer, there is an obvious reason why independent movements are becoming more and more inevitable. There are many volunteers offering whom the Boards have not means to send out and support. Several young men now in the senior year ()f a prominent theological seminary visited the writer to ask advice. They wish to go out together, like the monks of the middle ages, as a band, electing one of their number captain, and to take possession of some unoccupied territory, say in China, Siam, Arabia, Africa; and, after acquiring under missionaries adequate knowledge of the language, etc., disperse within a limited area and undertake to evangelize it, acting in co-operation. The Board of their own church declines to send them: first, as not having funds; secondly, as unwilling to place them together in anyone field. This is no hasty impulse: they have been considering the matter for two 01' three years, and came to ask advice as to undertaking the work independently, getting support direct from the local churches to which they belong. They propose no antagonism to the Missionary Boards as such; but simply t() undertake what their policy does not permit them to do as missionary organizations. 'l'his may be another instance of enthusiasm run mad. But the question is, what shall be done with such cases? 'Shall we leave such independent movements to spring up in every direction, or shall the churches and Boards so modify their existing policy as t() throw about these movements a sheltering and guiding arm? At the same time there is a tendency to organize colonies of men and women~ representing different trades and callings, to go into destitute fields after the manner of Pastor Harms' Colonies from Hermannsburgh, to settle as germinal communities and even to undertake self-support. Is it wise to shut our eyes to the signs of the times and be either in- different or inactive in view of these developments?

~ human history moves forward methods must be modified. A growing boy cannot be kept in last ,year's breeches: he will extend beyond them in more ways than one. It is worth while considering at least whether we are not trying to wear outgrown garments.

V. The demand for a shorter course of preparation for mission- . ary fields is an open secret-it is now heard without concealment in our great ecclesiastical meetings and assemblies. One of the con- spicuous professors of theology in our land says he not only deprecates this movement, which he denominates a "short cut to the ministry," but that, if he could control ministerial education, he would compel a young man to double rather than halve the time spent in getting ready. We can understand this sentiment, and can even sympathize with it. Having spent nearly fourtElen years in preparation for the sacred calling, and having found even then that our resources were taxed to the utmost to do the work of the pulpit and pastorate, we can see why it is perilous to rush into such a sacred office with its daily demands on time, strength and learning. But at the same time we can all see that, as an army does not need to have all its soldiers trained at West Point, aud that, while leaders of the highest sort are needful, the private soldier can do effective fighting without this elaborate train- ing; so, in the work of preaching the gospel, there are fields where a very common man may, with a very ordinary education, tell the gospel story effectively without being qualified to be a translator, a college professor, or a great leader of missionary enterprise. The question is whether or not this great mass of common disciples cannot be adequately trained for evangelistic work at home and abroad without such a tax upon time, .money, and prolonged study as may put such preparation out of the power of hundreds of willing workers.

Rev. David Allen Reed in Springfield, Rev. M. R. Deming in Boston, Rev. H. C. Mabie in St. Paul, Rev. Geo. C. Needham in Kansas, Dwight L. Moody in Chicago, and others are establishing training institutes for the laity, and they are successfully doing this work. It fell to the writer to conduct the studies of a class number- ing from 150 to 800 during the month of October in connection with Mr. Moody's Institute, and the conviction grows upon us that there is a legitimate work to be done by these persons ·of ordinary educa- tion, and that therefore a special course of training for such work is legitimate.

The power of the early church in evangelism has never yet been equalled; l;lnd there was then scarce one in a hundred who had any pretensions to scholarship. Some of them were not only ignorant but had not even the advantage of training in the school of Christ. The woman of Samaria had never been to college or received a license even as an " exhorter," bnt what an earnest, evangelical, experimental and successful preacher! " They that were scattered abroad" and "went everywhere preaching the Word" had not an apostle or ordained preacher among them; yet the" hand of the Lord was with them, and many believed and turned to the Lord." We believe in a highly educated ministry. There is more room than there ever was for such profound thinkers as John or such close reasoners as Paul; but if we can get publicans to leave their benches, and fishermen to leave their nets, and farmers to forsake their ploughs, and carpenters to lay down their saw and plane; or better still, perhaps, hold fast their honest and honorable callings and make them handmaids to the preaching of the gospel, is there less room for such workmen now than in apostolic days?

How is this world ever to be reached with the gospel if we insist on limiting the work to the graduates of colleges and theological seminaries? The whole drift of New Testament teaching is toward constituting every believing hearer a herald.

VI. There is likewise a tendency to the critical investigation of the actual work of missions and Mission Boards, which is another conspicuous sign of the times.

Never before, since the days of apostolic evangelism, have so many assaults been made on missions by professed friends. We regard this as unavoidable. In the first place, the work of missions has challenged universal interest, and perhaps critical comment, by its just claims to a most marvellous success. And, in the second place, such vast sums of money are now controlled and disbursed by missionary societies that it is inevitable that they shall be called to account where the disbnrsement seems to be lacking in economy 01' in efficiency. For ourselves we welcome the criticisms of professed friend or open foe. There is nothing to be feared. Even misrepresentation will only lead to investigation and correction; and if anything be designedly hidden as needing concealment, that is just what we want brought to light.

But one thing must be remembered: while independent investigation-untrammelled by any official connection with boards and societies-is to be welcomed, it is not every investigator who can either elicit or perceive the real state of things. To no one who is not manifestly a spiritually minded observer will the most devout laborers uncover their real work, nor will any other sort of observer be able to enter into the secret heart of missions, even were it unfolded. There is a natural reserve and reticence in speaking of what is peculiarly sacred until we are drawn to do so by the perception of a right mind and heart in others. To some visitors a true missionary will be unconsciously indisposed to be confidential, and some visitors lack that magnetic touch that opens the inner doors within which lies what is, after all, the divinest part of the work of missions. When a man goes to explore mission fields he must go filled with the spirit of mISSIOns. If he has a spidt of criticism it will close the very mouth that would gladly 0pen to speak of the sacred things, and such a spirit even veils the observer's eye so that he sees only what he is disposed to see. The trouble with many independent investi~ators is that they have not only a warped judgment, but go through the central fields of missions without seeing the fruit which only a vision cleared by sweet charity, sympathy, and spirituality can detect. The visit of Dr. William Fleming Stevenson and his wife to the Oriental fields will never be forgotten by the missionaries. That great heart, now still in death, beat so grandly in sympathy with 'their trials and triumphs; so magnanimous was his bearing, so tender his cautions, so wise his counsels, so acute his perceptions, so appreciative his comments,so affectionate his spirit, so fraternal his interest, that all felt moved to lean on him and tell him every secret joy and sorrow of the missionary life. He would stand in a school and watch the dusky boys and girls in silence, big tears rolling down his face as he heard them recite the words of scripture or sing the songs of the new life. His questions were keys that unlocked at once the secret chambers of the missionaries' experience; his suggestions were the fruit of a wisdom that was paternal and a gentleness that was like that of a mother.

Let us not give up the visiting of mission fields to the professional tourist or the mercenary self-seeker, to the curious traveler or the self-constituted critic. Let our great-hearted, spiritually minded men and women visit the homes of lonely exiles, who for Jesus' sake bury themselves in these far off lands, and yearn for the benediction of a loving smile and sympathetic touch as for the ministry of angels.

1890.J EDUCATION AS AN EVANGELISTIC AGENCY

EDUCATION AS AN EVANGELISTIC AGENCY.

BY JAMES JOHNSTON, F.S.S., LONDON, ENGLAND.

As secretary of the late Conference on Foreign Missions in London, and editor of the report of its proceedings, I tl'llst that I shall not be considered presumptuous if I offer to the Christian public, through your pages, the conclusions which I have arrived at on I>ome disputed points in missionary operations-opinions which have been formed, not under the brief excitement of missionary meetings, or the study of papers and speeches, though much assisted by them, but on practical experience as a missionary and a lifelong study of mis- -sionary operations.

In choosing the subject of Education as an evangelistic agen~y I am influenced by two considerations. :First, it is a burning question in England at present. It is discussed in missionary magazines, in the columns of newspapers, in the pages of our reviews, and forms the subject of hot dispntes in ecclesiastical courts and public meetings. Second, because my first impulse to missionary service was given by the founder of Educational missions-Dr. Duff; and my first study of that kind of work was under the guidance of Mr. Anderson of Madras-as great an educationist as Dr. Duff, and a man who "agonized for the conversion of souls" with an intensity greater than I ever met with in the mission field. But, though going to China under such influences, and with full powers to establish a mission on the same lines in that country, I abandoned the cherished idea on discovering that, at that time, there was neither a call nor opening for an educational mission; which is not the normal form of missionary agency and is only justifiable in exceptional conditions of society, of which India is the most typical example. * After this personal introduction, which will, I trust, be pardoned as my apologia and before we discuss the question on its merits, let us get rid of some misconceptions which have prejudiced many earnest students, and in the hands of controversialists have given the appearance of victory to the opponents of educational institutions for mis- .sionary purposes.

First of all, it is said that Dr. Duff revolutionized the whole system of missionary effort by the introduction of his system. As one boldly puts it: "After six weeks' investigation, Duff, a young man, revolutionized the whole system of missions in India." There are two gross misstatements in this brief senteace. First, the scheme was not Dr. Duff's at all. It was the outcome of the mature mind of Dr. Inglis, an ecclesiastical statesman of the Church of Scotland, and Duff was only the fitting instrument chosen by him for carrying it out. The only point on which he deviated from the plan laid down for him * The question of education, as an essential condition for the development and effiCiency of ,a native church. is not touched on or alluded to in this article, was in choosing Calcutta as the sphere of his operations instead of some rural district, as Dr. Inglis proposed; and second, the statement that Duff at once revolutionized missionary methods in India is entirely unfounded. It was forty-five years before it was approved by any great body of missionaries, and Duff never wished, and never did materially alter or affect the methods of former missions.

Nothing could be mOl'e erroneous and mischievous than the mis~ representations on this point. One writer, to whose statements great, prominence has been given, has the boldness to say that "mission schools and colleges have been diverting from evangelistic work the energies and talents of at least th1'ee-fmtrths of the ablest men sent out by all the Protestant Missionary Societies." Leaving out that invidious and unmeasurable quantity, by which the writer guards 'himself, but which only reveals the fact that some of the ablest men do choose this method of evangelizing India, what do we find to be the real state of the case? I have before me two estimates from the statistics of missions in that country made by two independent authorities. The one says: "According to the Asylum Press Almanac there are 264 European and American missionaries in southern India, Of these exactly forty devote the main portion of their time and strength to 'mission high schools and colleges.'" That is only fifteen per cent., or less than one in seven, in the most educational region of India.

The other says: "Taking the latest reports of sixteen missions in different parts of the country, including the Panjab and Madura, Calcutta and Bombay, we went through the names of all foreign missionaries and found that between a seventh and an eighth of the total number is devoted to educational wOI'k-in many cases very partially" in others more fully." Both these witnesses give the estimate for the great educational centres, including the capital cities of the principal provinces. If they had taken the whole of India there would have' been found one in ten of the foreign missionaries, and if we include the native ministers and evangelists there would not be one in twenty or thirty engaged in this higher education, and of both classes it may be said that, of those engaged in teaching, many give only a part of their time to mere teaching; mnch of it is devoted to directlyevangelistic work. Dr. Duff never meant his system to form more than a. fractional part of the missionary work of the church even in India. As for the rapid revolution, no system of missionary effort has ever been more stoutly opposed both at home and in India. It wa~ not. until the year 1879, forty-five years after its introductioIl, that it received in Bangalore allYthing like an unanimous approval from any missionary conference. But there and then a resolution was· passed, proposed by the most ardent evangelistic missionaries iu southern India, expressing the most unqualified approbation of the higher education as one most important form of missionary work. It took forty~five years to win this entire approval from the missionaries of India, and it is the greatest proof of the value of Duff's method that it has fought its way to such universal acceptance by reluctant but the most competent witnesses. We may call the tlystem Duff's because but for his devoted and persistent perseverance and advocacy it would not have accomplished the great .results it has.

The Rationale and Results of Educational Missions. The true grounds on which Duff's system of operations can be fully justified are such as the following: First of all it is strictly evangelistic in its aim and methods. This is a feature overlooked by some and denied by others, but from the first this has been its characteristic. Duff in Calcutta, Wilson in Bombay, and Anderson in Madras, were all of them ardent evangelists, and openly declared to both parents and pupils that their great object was the conversion of every youth under their influence, from the day they entered their schools or colleges; and anyone who saw these men. at their work would have felt that no missionaries in India were more ardent and devoted than they. On the occasion of a visit which I paid to Madras, I accompanied the missionaries engaged in all kinds of work to their varied spheres of labor, and have no hesitation in saying that not one of them had snch audiences and opportunities for preaching the gospel as the missionaries in the great educational institutions, and none were more faithful and zealous in pressing the truth on their hearers than they were. To have a thousand of the most intelligent youth at the most critical and hopeful period of life under their daily influence, with the direct teaching of Scripture iu every class every day~ besides the frequent opportunities at other times, was the highest privilege a missionary could well desire; while the fact that they were cheerfully teaching their young hearers that secular truth which would fit them for taking their part in the life on which they were about to enter, and to rise to the highest positions open to their countrymen~ tended to secure their respect and affection. Many have the impression that Duff only aimed at the education of the youth of India as a means to prepare them for the reception of the gospel. In dealing with individuals he had no such idea. He knew human nature better, and had too firm a faith in the adaptation of the gospel to all men, and to all conditions of life, to trust to secular education as a preparation for repentan~e and faith. He might use science and geography or history to show the folly of the old creeds and idolatries, but the missionary in the bazaar did the same. In seeking the conversion of the individual he went straight to the conscience; but he did regard education as a preparation for the eventual overthrow of idolatry and the destruction of caste, and the final emancipation of the Indian empire from its social, moral, and religious degradation. It is true that (lonversions in our schools and colleges have been few, but this, as we shall show, is owing to social and religious conditions with which Christianity had never before come into conflict.

The System of Caste and" Book Religions." In calling on the church, as many are now doing, to conduc~ her missions on exactly the same lines and in the very furms in which they were carried on in Apostolic times, it is forgotten that the Apostolic Church never had to contend in the Gentile world with a state of .society and with a religion at all like those which exist in India. The early church never came in contact with a system of caste, nor with a religion based on the sacred teaching of religious books of great antiquity and authority. No parallel can be drawn between the books which had a kind of sacred character among the Greeks and Romans, and amongst the German and Scandinavian tribes, when they were brought under the powel' of the Christian religion, and the sacred books of the Hindoo and Mohammedan races in India. The Jews were the only appar.ent exception-an exception which confirms our rule, for the Apostolic Church had never conquered them as a people, and as a nation they stand as stubbornly oppo~ed to Christianity as the Pharisees in the days of Peter and Paul. It is true they made many converts; but, apart from the sovereignty and power of the grace of God, there were conditions at that time which explain the success of the early evangelists among the scattered tribes of Israel. The best 1)art of the nation were in a state of chastened expectancy. Under the long oppression of their enemies, they were longing for a deliverer, and Jews and Gentiles alike were prepared for the advent of the l'Ies- ,siah, who came "in the fulness of the times" as the "desire of all nations." The Aryan races of the West were prepared by the Greek language and philosophy, which had shaken the foundations of their faith in the gods of their fathers-the same work which is now being done by our educational system for the Aryans of India. In this work the mission schools do onlv a fractional part. They educate only about 200,000 out of the 4,000,000 now under instruction in government and native schools. I well remember an illustrative example. When in Madras I visited a school which was started by the heathen for the purpose of giving the culture of the West, free from all taint of or tendency towards Christianity. The first lesson that was proposed for an examination was the elementary parts of geography. Finding that they were quite familiar with the usual proofs of the earth's form and motions, and knowing that their sacred books taught a very different theory on divine authority, I asked the head teacher what effect this teaching had on their faith in their old religions. His reply was: "These boys laugh at the religion of their parents." Secular teaching is doing this work in India, under British rule, as surely as the same work was done for the Roman Empire by the C011quests of Alexander and the Greek language and literature which he introduced.

The Aryan Races and the Oities of India. Almost the only conquests of Christianity in India have been among the Dravidian races of the South and aboriginal tribes scattered throughout India-races which have never been brought fully underthe power of the Hindoo system of caste and religion, and who have no sacred books in their own tongues, while the aboriginal tribes have scarcely anything of a definite or formulated system of religion of any kind. It is admitted on all hands that almost the only casesof conversion among the Ayran races have been th.e fruit of educational missions. It is equally certain, and fully admitted, that in the great cities of India very few converts have been made except through the schools and colleges. Even in the Dravidian city of Madras~ where the Aryan race is present and their religious system exerts its. crushing power, there are almost no converts made by preaching in the bazaars. The few churches which have been formed are almost entil'ely the fruit of educational missions. 'rhere were, when I visited India more than thirty years ago, three missionaries of the most pronounced evangelistic character-men who would have nothing to do with education, but spent their whole time in preaching in the bazaars, all of them men far above the average in talent, devotion and piety-Lacroise in Calcutta, Scudder in Madras and Bowen in Bombay. These men spent a lifetime, much above the average duration~ in untiring efforts to convert the natives, without succeeding in getting two or three converts to form the nucleus of a church in these towns. It is not our aim to explain the causes of this state of matters; we only call attention to the notorious fact that, if the Aryan race is not to be hopelessly aband.med to idolatry, we must employ the educational methods; and if the cities of India are to be made the citadels of Christianity as those of the Roman Empire were in apostolic times, we cannot dispense with our Christian schools and colleges as missionary agencies. Abandon our educational missions, and we declare that the church has no gospel to reach the dominant races of India as represented by the Hindoos and Mohammedans, and that Christianity must hide itself among the rural population and savage tribes-unlike the early church, which subdued the cities, while the name for a village remains as the equivalent for heathenism. Educational Missions and National Education. The educational system as now in force in India is comparatively satisfactory and progressive. It is assuming proportions which may be called national. Neal'ly four millions of boys are now in schools, less or more under the inspection of government, and the education of girls is fairly begun. But to whom does India owe this western culture? Its origin and development may be directly traced to the example and influence of Dr. Duff and his educatiOnal missions. When engaged as Secretary of the" Council on Education in India" it was my privilege to come into frequent and intimate intercourse with the late Lord Halifax, the author of the Education Despatch of 1854, well called the Magna Charta of Indian education. He repeatedly told me that, but for the practical demonstration of the possibil- ity and the advantages of the education given in Duff's schools and colleges, they could not have attempted the introduction of such a scheme as that which he, as head of the then Board of Control, sanctioned, and which Lord Northbrook, then his private secretary, so admirably drew ~p.

In the report of the recent commission on education in India it is frankly admitted that in almost every province of India it was the missionary college which prepared the way for the Government Institution; and as for female education, it could not have been attempted but for the preparation of the way by the missionary. The influence of government education, with all its faults, is unquestionably of great importance in elevating the standard of morality, however far the pupils may come short of it. Associated as it is and influenced by missionary colleges, it gives a higher ideal of character and helps in the formation of a national conscience-India's greatest need.

Educational Missions and the Moral Elevation of India. Some make light of this moral effect of Missions, and look at nothing but the conversions which can be expressed in arithmetical numbers, or recorded in official reports. It is not thus we understand the commission of Christ, and the duty of His Church. Although conversion is the highest and primary aim of all Missions, it is not to be thought a small matter, if right views of man's duty to God and his fellow men are successfully implanted in the youthful mind. At the time Educational Missions were begun, the teaching in native schools was not only erroneous and defective, it was positively pernicious and corrupting to the entire youth of the country. '1'he books taught in Hindoo schools were most injurious to morals. They chiefly consisted of stories of acts of injustice, lies, cruelty and lusts of their gods. These were taught in the most literal and gross way. The apologetic and idealistic schools had not then got beyond the very limited class of the illuminati. It was the influence of Christian teaching which brought these to the front. These were not like similar stories in the Latin and Greek classics in an English school. These are known by every boy to be mere myths. To the child and teacher in the schools of India, they were the most sacred and living realities, which it was impiety to doubt and no discredit to imitate.

To have got these books banished from the schools of India, and books teaching a pure morality substituted, was of itself a great work, and is due to our Educational Missions. Government tolerated school books teaching both idolatry and vice, until the agent of the Christian Vernacular Education Society called attention to the evil and got the offending passages expunged. It is possible that the passages, being in the Vernacular languages, escaped the notic;e of the English members of the" Education Department," until forced upon their re- luctant attention by Dr. Mudoch.

In this work of moral elevation, we give full credit to the secular schools and colleges of the Government, only in a less degree than to those of .the Mis- sionary Institutions. The professors, it is true, were not unfrequently sceptical, or broad in their religious views, but they were, as a rule, moral and upright men; and the ingenuous youth of India, who looked up to them for their scholarship and character, could not come into daily contact with honorable and cultivated English gentlemen without being influenced for good. They learned to look upon uprightness and truth and manhood in a new light, and unconsciously acquired a new sense of honor and self-respect. In many im- portant respects, there is no doubt that the men trained in secular colleges are morally superior to the corresponding class among their own countrymen. It is true that, with their new intellectual acquirements, which raised them so far above the common level of the men, even in their own grade in society, they were apt to be vain and supercilious; and being newly emancipated from the degrading superstitions of their fathers, they lost not only reverence for the gods, but respect for man; and too often fell into the dissolute and vicious habits of which they find many examples among the European population. We trust, however, that these evils wilL diminish as the increase of the educated class lessens the rare distinction of these new accomplishments, and the sober- ing influence of the discovery of new truths counterbalances the frivolity arising from the sense of emancipation from old errors. Weare also hopeful of good results from the greater importance which Government now attaches to moral and religious teaching, and the means to be taken to supply it. The powerful influence of the teaching of English language and literature was brought out in a little incident which occurred in a Government college in Calcutta. One of the students came, in a towering rage, to his professor, charging one of his fellow-students with having called him a liar. The professor, with a sardonic smile, said, "I thought that you Bengalis did not care about being called liars," using the Bengali word for liar. " No," said the indignant youth, " if he had called me a liar in Bengali, I would have laughed at it; but, sir, he called me a liar in English, and I won't stand it." We hope that this elevating influence of the English language will yet impart new moral significance to the words of the native tongues of India, as many words in Greek were ennobled by the moral and spiritual ideas infused into them by the spread of the Christian religion.

But this influence of the literature of. England in secular ilchools extends beyond the teaching of morality. The most careles-s profess- ors in Government colleges cannot teach the English language with- out teaching Christianity. I shall never forget the impression made upon me by an incident which occurred in a Government college, when I was in Madras. I had been invited by the principal to ex- amine some of the classes, and before I reached the senior class in English literature, it was time for dismissal. The whole class, how- ever, enthusiastical"ly volunteered to stay in an hour, if needful; and a finer body of young men, no one could well wish to examine. More than fifty of the first youth of Madras, in point of intellect and position, were before me. After putting to them some questions in general literature, I asked them to recite some of their favorite pieces in prose or verse. The finest in the form stood up, and gave with the greatest accuracy and ex- pression the opening passage of Milton's Paradise Lost: " Of man's first disobedience and the fruit Of that forbidden tree, whose mortal taste Brought death into the world, and all our woe, " etc., etc.

The following questions and answers came in quick succession. More like what I had been accustomed to in a Sunday-school at home than a secular college in India.

.. What act of disobedience is here referred to?" " The disobedience of Adam." "Who was he?" "The first man." "Whom did he disobey?" "God." " In what did he disobey God?" "In eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." "What does the poet say was the effect of eating of that forbidden fruit?" "It brought death into the world, and all our woe." After some more questions I asked another tQ stand up, and without the slightest hint or prompting, he gave that passage in Shakespeare in which the words occur: " Over whose acres walked those blessed feet, Which, eighteen hundred years ago, were nailed For our advantage, to the bitter tree."

Such questions and answers as the following were put and answered with the greatest promptness : " What land is here referred to?" "Palestine." " Whose feet are said to have walked there?" "The feet of Christ." "And who was Christ." "The Son of God." "What was done to those feet?" " They were nailed to the cross for our advantage." "What advantage did we derive from Christ being nailed to the cross? " " He died that our sins might be forgiven."

After a few more questions I turIlf~d to the Professor and said, " I thought that religion was not taught in Government colleges in India, and here we have had both the fall and the recovery of om'

race clearly brought out by your pupils." The answer was ready and conclusive: "How can I teach the English language without teach- ing Christianity? I am not teaching parrots to repeat words by rote.

These youths have minds and will get the meaning of what they repeat whether you will or no. I must teach them to understand the meaning of the references of the authors they read." I could not but express my acquiescence and satisfaction; and by this time the class was entering into the enjoyment of the dilemma of the English GQv- ernment in requiring that religion should not be taught, while they at the same time put the English classics into the hands of the pupils.

One of them said quietly, "We have a Christian teacher:" "and,"

added another, " this is a Christian school." It is a well known fact, that of the scholars who are converted after leaving school, a fair proportion can be traced to the Government colleges. On the evening of the following Sunday, it being known that I was to preach, there were more than a hundred of the highest Braman youth in Madras amongst my hearers, who listened with thorough intelligence and unflagging attention to a discourse, which, I am ashamed to say, was more than an hour in length; and at its close most of them remained another half hour to talk over what they had heard. They frankly admitted the supreme claims of Christianity on their allegiance. They felt that, logically, they were bound to accept it. But between that logical conviction and the open profes- sion there is a wide gulf, which cannot be passed without a supreme act of self sacrifice on their part, and a superhuman influence on God's; and while caste and custom demand the youth of India to forsake literally everything they love in the world and hold sacred in their family, we cannot wonder that they shrink from openly embracing Christianity.

It is often said that these youths leave college with an aversion, if not a positive hatred, to Christianity. For such assertions there is no sufficient proof. We have the best evidence that the opposite is the case. That a good many talk loud in opposition to Christianity, is no matter of surprise. That some have a positive feeling of hatred to it is to be expected. Those who have most strongly felt the claims of truth on their conscience are the most likely to be of the latter number; and when we see how many Europeans are the leaders in Iilcepticism we need not be surprised that youths in a country like India, who have been rudely driven from their old religions by the frigid logic of science, should be found in the popular ranks of the enemies of Christianity. But it is the general experience of mission- aries that, when they enter a village where a youth trained in a Christian college resides, they find in him a friend, and often a helper in securing a favorable hearing for his message.

Educational Missions and Caste. Our mode-:n visitor to India in the cold Reason has little conception of what caste was fifty years ago, and still less conception of the influence by which it has been so greatly modified, and in many cases broken down. Many influences have been at work to modify the severity of caste rule, and to the visitor it will probably appear that railways and English manufactures have done more than anything else to bring about the present anomalies in the system of caste, which are such a source of uneasiness to the orthodox Hindoo and are rapidly rendering it ridiculous in the eyes of the masses. There is no doubt that these are the chief agents which are now disintegrating the system, but to those familiar with the progress of opinion in the country, it is known that but for the preparatory processes that had been going on for a generation before English railways and manufactures were introduced, it would have been impossible to get the people to submit to these modern innovations. Education was the great factor in this preparatory work, and it was the schools and colleges of the missionaries which prepared the way for the national system of education which has for the last thirty-five years been breaking down the prejudices and moulding the minds of the population of India. 'Ve have treated this questi<'ln of the value and importance of Edllcational Missions as if the present form in which they are cop.- ducted were the best or only way in which they could be carried on.

THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS

This we regard as far from being the case. There is great room for improvement in many ways, by which far greater moral and spiritual results might be secured; Lut on the consideration of these I cannot enter. I am prepared to leave the settlement of the question to be d.ecided on the work and the results to which we have called attention. Taking into account the difficulties with which these institutions have llad to contend; the prejudices and antipathies of the natives on the one hand, and the crushing competition with the secular education of the Government on the other, it is a marvel that so much has beeu accomplished. This is felt by every great missionary agency in India of the present day that has any experience to look back upon. The outcry at home is a mere revival of old prejudices, with which the system was assailed at the first, and will soon disappear when facts and reflection have had time to have their due effect upon the minds fired with zeal, but not sufficiently tempered with knowledge.

So long as Educational Missions only divert one in ten of the foreign missionaries from the purely evangelistic work, which must ever be the great characteristic feature, no man who really knows India will call in question the wist10m of setting apart this tithe for education. No reasonable man a8k8 for more. Duff diverted nearly all the missionaries of the Church of Scotland and of the Free Church to this form of service, but that was when no other churches made it a specialty, and even he never meant it to be more than a fractional part of missionary enterprise, and ollly in exceptional circumstances would we set apart even a tenth for purely educational work.

We are glad of these recent discussions; they will clear the atmosphere and lead to some improvements which will place our Educational Missions on a higher platform and give them greater power for promoting the future well-being of the youth of India and setting up the Kingdom of God in that great country.* THE MIRACLES OF lIISSIONS.-No. XV.

t THE BISHOP OF THE NIGER.

[EDlTORIAL.-A. T. P.] WHEN Bishop W-eeks, of Africa-at that time not having been promoted to weal' the mitre-was traveling in England, a gentleman who was in the same railway carriage with him began to attack him as a friend of missions. " What," said he, " are the missionaries doing abroad ? We do not heal' much about their movements. We * The strictly religious results of Educational Missions we could not estimate without extending our remarks far beyond the limits of this article. If weighed, not counted, they will be found of far greater value and amount than is generally supposed. In one sentence I may say that the secular education by Government is doing for India what the Greek culture did to prepare the nations for the preaching of the Apostles; while that of our Christian colleges is commending Christ and Christianity to the hearts and consciences of the young of India in the form best fitted to their nature and conditions.

t Samuel Crowther. By Jesse Page. F. H. Revell & Co.

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THE MIRACLES OF MISSIONS

pay them pretty well, but hear nothing from them. I suppose they are sitting down quietly and making themselves comfortable."

There sat beside :Mr. Weeks another traveler, as black as any of the natives of the Dark Continent, and himself an unmistakable negro. He quietly waited until the stranger had exhausted his tirade against missions, and then, making a sign of silence to :Mr. Weeks, begged to be permitted to reply to the strictures of the critic. " Sir," said he, " allow me to present myself to you as a result of the labor of the missionaries whose work you have been depreciating." Pointing to :Mr. Weeks, he continued, "I am an African, and this man is the means of my having become a Christian and of my coming to this country in the capacity of a Christian minister."

The man who had thus impulsively assaulted Christian missions looked upon the black man beside him with a look of mingled embarrassment and amazement. He could not be mistaken: there was a genuine typical African, flat-nosed, thick-lipped, with retreating forehead, and short curly hair; yet that man had addressed him in the elegant language of an educated and accomplished Englishman. He had felt all the refining power of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, and there were in the very tones of his voice, and his whole manner, the unmistakable signs of a Christian gentleman.

The accuser of missions sank into a reverie. He had no more to bay as an objector. That one man was both a compensation for, and a vindication of, Christian missions. And soon he resumed conversation, but in a different tone: he began to talk with :Mr. Weeks upon missionary topics as an interested and engrossed listener.

That black man was none other than Samuel Adjai Crowther, afterwards consecrated as the first native Bishop of the Niger! We propose sketching his remarkable history as one of the p~oofs that the gospel has not lost its wonder-working power, even upon the most unlettered and degraded races of men. No face or figure that appeared on the platform of the great :Missionary Conference of 1888 in Exeter Hall, in London, proved a more powerful magnet to draw all eyes to itself than that of the venerable white-haired Bishop, who was born in 1808, and is consequently over four-score years of age.

Early in the year 1821, in the midst of the Yoruba country, the :Mohammedan Foulahs were ravaging the land to seize and enslave all whom they could secure even at the price of bloodshed. They pursued those who took refuge in flight and flung lassoes over their heads, bringing them to the ground half suffocated, like a bison on the praines. Among the captives was Adjai, then a boy of twelve and a half years. His father died in the defence of his wife and children, but the boy was dragged away tied with ropes to other victims.

He was traded away for a horse, and afterward, separated from his mother, was sold to a Mohammedan woman, with whom he went to the Popo country on the coast where the Portuguese purchase slaves. On the road he passed the smoking villages that marked the track of those who traffic in the" souls of men," and saw the human heads nailed to the trees as a warning to all who would not yield to their fate.

So great was Adjai's horror of slavery that he tried to strangle himself with his waistband. At Lagos he saw the first white man~ and it was not calculated to draw him to the white man's God, for the Portuguese who afterwards bought him scrutinized his" points" as he would examine a horse; and then, chained with other captives, the boy was packed in a barracoon, where the heat was intolerable, and on the , least provocation was cruelly beaten with long whips. Early one morning he was hurried, with a hundred and eighty-six others, on board a slaver, where they were all crowded into the hold and compelled to remain, the dead, the dying and the living all in horrible contact.

Two English men-of-war gave chase to the slaveship and merci- fully liberated these prisoners, and Adjai was taken to Bathurst. Sierra Leone had been colonized in 1787. Mr. Granville Sharp took some 400 negroes and formed a settlement on a sort of peninsula whose fancied resemblance to a lion gave it this romantic name; and this col- ony became the refuge of the refuse of slaveships. No one but an eye- witness could have believed what a degraded and destitute community this was, and how like one of the mouths of hell, until 1816. Mission- aries were then sent to Sierra I.eone by the Church Missionary Society -notably William A. B. Johnson, whose apostolic career has been already outlined in these pages. Six years after, the Lord Chief Jus- tice publicly testified that'in a population of 10,000 there were but six cases for trial and not one of them from any village where there was a school!

Adjai made g~od progress in study, and, best of all, it was here that the little slave boy found the liberty of a child of God, and in 1825, at seventeen years of age, was baptized, taking the name of Samuel Adjai Crowther. He was taught a trade as a carpenter, and often u~ed in his mission work the skill he acquired.

In 1826 Mr. and Mrs. Davey took him on a visit to England, where he became a pupil in the school at Islington. During his year's sojourn he kept his eyes .and ears open and learned much by observation. Then returT)ing to Sierra Leone he became the first native stu- . dent enrolled ill the new Y om'ah Bay College i::l 1827, where he soon became assistant teacher, and where he formed the definite purpose, hencdorth to devote his life to work for the elevation and salvation of his own people. The little girl, Asano, who, like himself, was rescued from a slaveship, and had grown up in his society, baptized as Susanna, became his wife and the mother. of his six children. 'Ve may anticipate here, and say that two of his daughters became wives of native ministers, two of his sons have wielded a noble influence as Christian laymen, and one is the Archdeacon of his father's diocese; so that we have, not to look outside of Bishop Crowther's family, a little church of eight godly souls, all the fruit of the converting grace of God.

To follow step by step the career of this marvellous man would consume ten times our available spaee; we can only touch the salient points of his useful life. In 1830 he is in charge of the school at Regent1s Town; two years later at Wellington, with a more important trust; finally, back in the college, training students for high positions of service in Africa.

His natural aptitude for linguistic study fitted him for noble usefulness in translating and in editing books. During his life he translated the Scriptures into the Y oruba dialect and tongue of the inland tribes, and prepared a valuable dictionary of the Y orul;>a tongue, a. primer, the prayer book, etc.

Samuel Crowther was too gifted a man to be remanded to obscurity. There was no province of serviceable labor in which he was not in demand. In 1841 he was appointed to accompany the exploring party who ascended the Niger, and in the Soudan sailed for the heart of Africa, with no weapons but those of peaceful conquest.

Owing, as it was thought, to the green wood stowed away in the bunkers, this expedition was marked by one awful word,failu'i'e. At one time fifty-five persons lay helpless on the decks, and even the doctors succumbed to fever and death. For twelve years public opinion in England forbade another exploring tour of the deadly Niger. But one thing llad been demonstrated amid this failure: that. Crowther had in him the mettle of a true man and missionary; and that such :i. dangerous field must be worked by native agency, mainly by suc4 as were acclimated to the risks of the African country.

In 1842 Crowther was again in England, and in 1843 was ordained deacon in the English Church, and a little later priest. rChis marks a new era in African missions, in the emphasis laid on a native a.qency for the evangelization of the Dark Continent.

In 1843 he is again at Sierra Leone preaching his first sermon in English to a crowd of native Christians, and administering the sacrament to a large number of negroes.

Several refugees from the violence of the Foulahs founded a new ~ity, Abeokuta, "under the stone "-called from the great rock that uplifts its head like a sentinel above the town. Here in 1846 the missionaries came, hailed with joy; and here Crowther had the joy, after over twenty-five years' separation, of meeting his old mother! They were both dumb with joy, and could only look into each other's streaming eyes with the mute language of mingled rapture and amazement; and here in Abeokuta his mother became the first fruits of the new mission. In 1849 the mission, only three years old, could show 500 attend- ants, eighty of whom were communicants, and 200 more of whom were candidates for full membership, while many more outside the mission circle had flung away already their idol gods.

He found the Ibo people offering human sacrifices, dragging the victim about by the legs till he died and then flinging the body into the river, or tying human beings to trees beside the stream till they died of hunger; killing infants who first cut their upper teeth, asamong the Onitsha people all children are slain which are born twins.

It was about this time also that the Egba chiefs sent by Mr. Townsend their memorable letter to Queen Victoria, saying: " We have seen your servants the missionaries; what they have done is what we approve. They have built a house of God; they have beside taught the people and our children the word of God. We begin to understand them." And yet" missions are a failure !" Not so evidently thought the Egba chiefs. In reply came the Queen's gracious message, with two elegant Bibles, respectively in English and Arabic, and a steel corn-mill from Prince Albert. Crowther not only taught the people in the Word, but encouraged among them all manner of handicrafts.

Again Crowther was in England, arousing sympathy for the natives. of Africa. Then in 1854 he went on a second expedition up the Niger, planned partly in hopes to rescue Dr. Barth, who was believed to be lost in the interior. While at Lagos Crowther observed another fruit of missions-plantations of cassava and maize, with tillers of the soil, where before slave barracoons used to be with huma~ beings in chains and agonies.

When the Pleiad anchored off Ibo it was found that the promises made thirteen years before, that the white man would return, had been remembered by the King. But so long a time had elapsed that he began to believe that the promise had been forgotten by the white man. Obi himself was now dead, but his son and rightful successor, Tshukuma, was found 3; ready listener to the gospel message.

Along the Niger's banks the explorers encountered constant proofs of the ravages of the Filatas, that, like the Youlahs, aim not so much to slay as to enslave. The whole right bank of the river was cleared of its towns and villages to the number of about one hundred, and all who survived the strife of war were sold as slaves! Oftentimes they found the natives fleeing in terror or preparing to resist violence, but as soon as the peaceful purpose of the explorers waRmade known they were kindly received everywhere. This expedition was as successful as the former was disastrous. The Niger was proved navigable, and, better still, it was proven that the people of the Niger valley were accessible to the gospel.

On Mr. Golefimer's return to Europe, Crowther took his place at Lagos, and attempted oversight of missions on the coast. When in 1857 the Niger Christian Mission was organized, Crowther sailed on the Dayspring, planting the first stations of the Niger Mission. Some of the main obstacles confronted in this work were those which were owing to previous familiarity of the natives with Europeans! Oftentimes the missionaries would have been thankful had no shuttle of commerce or contact woven acquaintance between the degraded Africans and the enlightened Europeans.

The wreck of the Dayspring compelled Crowther and his party to tarry awhile at and about Rabbah. He found the Niger worshipped by the people as mother of all rivers, very much as the Egyptians held the Nile in veneration. 'l'he basis was laid for mission work in Onitsha, 140 mil~s up the river and on Ibo territory. Everywhere the people were found not only willing but eager to hear the gospel. One morning a woman came to Mr. Taylor, begging him to follow her, and she led him two miles away to a company of twenty-four persons, one of whom rose up and said, ""Ve have sent for you to come and speak to us the word of God: we thirst to hear it; please do help us ! "

We come now to the closing period of Samuel Crowther's life. The slave boy becomes a bishop.

In 1859, with Mr. Taylor he established a mission at Akassa, at the mouth of the Nun river, the navigable entrance to the Nigel'. He visited Onitsha, where he found twenty-eight waiting for baptism; he went again to Ghebe, where he 'found similar evidences of the grace of God, and gathered the first fruits of the new Niger mission. He passed along the Niger's banks and here and there set up the cruss amid the "wastes of many generations." At Ghebe he led around the mission buildings the messengers of King Masaba, of Nupe, and sent by them this memorable message to the king: "We are Nazarenes: in our schoolroom we teach the Christian religion; our only guns are our cotton-gins, and our powder is the cotton puffing out of them; the cowrie shells (the currency of the country) are our shots, which England, the warmest friend of Africa, desires to receive largely."

Crowther is once more in England pleading in Exeter Hall the cause of missions, and the main attraction of the anniversary exercises of the Church MIssionary Society. A converted and educated negro was telling his own tale of missions; and it was an illustrated lecture, the speaker himself being the living illustration.

In 1864, in Canterbury Cathedral, Samuel Adjai Crowther was consecrated first Bishop of the Niger, and there were not in that vast audience many eyes that were tearless as that negro knelt to receive the typical investiture of the overseer of Christ's flock. Mrs. Weeks was there, the wife of the missionary who first taught him the way of salvation. Bishop Crowther at onGe returned to the Niger valley and at once sought to form a Christian Church at the Delta, where even the awful practice of cannibalism was not yet wholly abandoned, and the people were trodden under foot by the Juju priests. The New Year, 1872, opened with a little mission church.daring to utter its testimony to the Lord, and becoming a church of the martyrs. Isaiah Bara and Jonathan Apiafe, persons of distinction, were among the converts, and when bound and doomed to die by slow starvation, they simply declared their "minds made up to remain in chains till the Judgment Day," if need there be, rather than bow to idols; and quaintly affirming that "Jesus had taken charge of their heart ana padloclced it, and the key is with Him." For twelve months they en- dured the painful bondage, and would have died but for food secretly conveyed to them by their brethren. '

Three years passed, and the wife of a chief k~own as Capt. Hart died. She had been the Bloody Mary of the persecution, but her husband would not be comforted; and seeing his fetish idol had failed to save her, he heard the word of the Lord from Bishop Crowther, and as he came to die renounced his faith in his idols and ordered them thrown intQ the river. On the day after his funeral this was done: the people, in a rage, executing wrath on the J ujus, breaking them in pieces and flinging them into the stream.

The era of persecution passed away with the decease of Hart and his wife, and "Bonny became a Bethel." A woman of high position and large influence became nursing mother to the infant church, and her own house became a place of assembly. Another house of worship was built, and both were thronged; and Archdeacon Crowther was put in charge of this mission. Meanwhile the titular king of Bonny, George Pepple, visited England, and when with renewed health he was about to return, he sent a letter in advance declaring himself a convert and asking for a special service of praise to be prepared that he might on arrival at Bonny offer up thanks t.o God. Led on by this converted king, Bonny became one of the centres of godly influence in the lower Niger district.

Those who depreciate missions should have visited Bonny when Bishop Crowther preached; should have seen an orderly congregation of over 500 gathered attentively listening, and King George and his sister among them. Again in the afternoon the audience gathered, many of them walking through the tide, which was over knee deep in the beach path. Such cavillers should have been in the mission house when those converts came to buy books from the village Ayambo, which they aptly entitled the" Land of Israel," because there was no more to be found in it a single idol! In Hl83 persecution broke out in Bonny; but it only brought out the martyr spirit. Even timid women would not recant at peril of life.

In the Kingdom of Brass, which is one outlet of the Niger, other marked victories ha'e been won. The King, Ockiya, in his latter years, publicly confessed Christ. In spite of his Juju men he re- nounced idolatry; and we saw his cast-off idols in the mission house in Salisbury Square. King Ockiya not only gave up idolatry, but polygamy, and thus not only showed how r€al was his change, but set a' beautiful example to his people. In that same land where Bishop Crowther himself a few years ago found horrid cannibalism, and superstitions whose name was Legion, he has since found praying rooms where chiefs gather twice a day with their families for worship.

Bishop Crowther maintains that, on account of the prevalence of Mohammedanism in Africa, the Arabic should be taught to the native {latechists as the sacred language of the Koran, and so be a means of reaching intelligent natives through the Arabic bibles and testaments. He found on the friendly waters of the Galadima an avidity for the books printed in Arabic, and gave presents of Bibles in that tongue to the Galadima himself and others. When Crowther explained to the Mohammedans he met, the difference between the formality of the fast of Ramadan and the fasting of the Christian unto God, the {lommon reply was: " Yes, you are true persons; your religion is superior to ours." He found the WOl'k and influence of Islam such that whenever he referred to Adam, Noah, Abraham, etc., and even .Jesus, the natives recognized these names as common to the faith of Mahomet as well. He advises that Mohammedanism be wisely dealt with, that missionaries and native preachers and teachers be prepared to utilize all that is common between the teachings of the Koran and the word of God, and at the same time resist and expose the folly, superstition and immorality fostered by Islam.

In 1875 Bishop Crowther's mother died, at the age of 97, the .death of a saint, and passed into the unseen glory.

This really great man has left on all the mission work the impress of his ability and piety. He started the Preparandi Institution at Lokoja for the training of native catechists and school teachers, and it is a ·centre of spiritual light and influence for the whole west coast. Wherever he goes blessing comes, and no living man is doing more than he for the elevation and salvation of his degraded fellow countrymen.

Paul wrote to the Colossians that his aim and object in preaching were to "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus." When the great day of Presentation comes, with what joy will Mr. Weeks present to the Lord, Samuel Adjai Crowther as the fruits of his ministry in the Lord! And then for the first time will he realize what ulti~ mate blessing hung on the leading to Christ of a humble slave boy of Yoruba land.

The negro has been described as" God's image carved in ebony."

THE mSTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH

"I don't care much as to what I am carved in," said one of the colored speakers at the late Baptist Anniversaries in this city, "so long as I am ' in the image of God.'''

THE HISTORICAL GEOGRAPHY OF THE CHRISTIAN CHURCH.

BY PROF. HENRY WOODWARD HULBERT, MARIETTA, o.

I-Introduction. The Purpose and Plan. The last few years have seen great advances in the study of historical geography. Germany has taken the lead, and trained minds in many lands have gone more and more into this line of investigation. Professor Bryce's epoch-making book, "The Holy Roman Empire," gave a decided impetus to researches dealing with the great movements of events within the limits of Europe, and that impetus received an added momentum from a still more elaborate treatise in two volumes from the workshop of Professor E. A. Freeman, of Oxford, entitled," The Historical Geography of Europe." Masses of facts are marshalled in this latter treatise with a master hand, which in another place };las shown its power in the most minute researches of apecial study. Professor Freeman embodies in himself the two tendencies in historical studies prominent in our day-the tendency to extreme specialization, which builds up from the foundation on the inductive plan, and the tendency to deal with facts from a broad outlook, and which brings into play the profoundest philosophical grasp of events, and gives us wide generalizations in the departments of the philosophy of history and the history of civilization. These two tendencies are rarely found successfully developed in one man, and when they are found they mark him as a leader in the department of history. Neither of these tendencies should be allowed to exclude the other. The specialist does elementary work. He extracts the crude ore from the mines (often abandoned ones) and gets it into shape for higher treatment. 'l'he work at this stage is but just begun. It is stating a truism to say that history cannot be cut into isolated fragments. It would be history no longer. The unity of human life and events becomes more and more evident. History unrolls itself to the eye of the intelligent observer as one grand plan. Our age is peculiarly fitted to grasp such an idea. The great object lesson of unity-material, commercial, political and religious-is ever before our eyes. Space and time are dwindling. The world is growing more and more into one comprehensive family of nations. The time is hastening apace when what Professor Freeman has done for Europe must be done for the world. It is true that the pursuit of studies in historical geography is in a certain sense a superficial one, for it deals mainly with results and immediate causes. Yet it paves the way for a line of investigation which deals with profoundest questions as well as with some very practical ones. Most of the international quarrels to-day are over questions of historical geography, and the proper treatment of the great race movements will tax the genius of our best statesmen.

It is the purpose of this paper to call attention to a subject matter far better fitted in many important respects for treatment at the hands of the historical geographer than are the conglomerate and often conflicting elements of a purely secular and national life. What Professor Freeman has done for the historical geography of the political affairs of one continent should be done for the Christian Church throughout the world. The ideal unity of the Christian Church as outlined by the solemn, prayerful words of its Master would point it out as a theme of magnificent proportions, and of entrancing interest. At its very inception it was made universal, and its whole progress and expansion lie in the white light of history. It was a divine force left in the world by Christ which, under the special guidance of the Holy Spirit, was to carry out His divine plans for and in the world. It was to go up to the conquest of a kingdom that should be limited only by the extent of the human race. The globe was made a magnificent battlefield-the theatre of a campaign. The forces of Truth and Error are joined. There are two lines of conquest -horizontal and perpendicular-(l} the surface of the world and its multitudes; (2) the depths of human nature, the subsoil, the experience, the individual life. The historical geograploty of the Christian Church deals with the spread of Christendom, and has to do largely with acreage and numbers-in one sense the superficial items in the struggle. The history of a Christian civilization tells how deep down into the subsoil of human nature and national life the benign doctrines of Christianity have penetrated. When the Christian Church shall have reached every remotest region of habitable earth, and the gospel is proclaimed in every tongue, the work will have been just begun. It is a mighty task to reach fourteen hundred million human beings; it is a mightier task to bring them out into the full liberty of the gospel. As the late Dr. Roswell D. Hitchcock was accustomed to say, " We must rechristianize Christianity."

But despite its seeming superficiality the Historical Geography of the Christian Church demands thorough treatment. Our century is especially interested. We have found that the best way to rechristianize Christianity at home is to enlist its sympathies in carrying out the last command of the blessed Master. The door is open to-day for truth or error to enter in. Truth must not hesitate a moment. "Te must prevent untruth even at the risk of superficiality. We must plant good seed at least. It is a strangely interesting and almost universal fact that, wherever evangelical truth has been preached and the Bible has been translated into the vernacular, no forces of opposition-physical, intellectual, or moral-have been powerful enough to wholly eradicate the gospel truth. Extreme cases of this fact are found in Abyssinia and in Persia, and the only exception now in mind is in North Africa.

The science of missions looms up in grand proportions. We are leaving the realm of experiments and establishing ourselves on a more and more scientific basis. We are learning the la11!8 that must be obeyed. The science of war becomes strategic. The universal in- quiry now is-as it was when the cannons of Gettysburg were boom- ing-How goes the battle? vVhat progress has been made in winning the ground of the enemy? And that we may fully understand the answers that come flashing across the wires to us, we ask again, How has the battle been going from the first? The Historical Geography <>f the Christian Church attempts to tell us the story of the campaign -the manmuvres, the advances, the retreats and the general progress -" beginning at Jerusalem," under the divine leadership of the" Cap- tain of our salvation," only to stop at the" ends of the earth."

The story of this march should be prefaced by astatement of the geographical conditions under which the Pentecostal Church found itself-(l) the conditions imposed by the Roman civilization, and the commercial and military relations of this civilization to outlying barbarism; (2) the conditions imposed by the spread of languages; and (3) the conditions resulting from the scattering broadcast of the Hebrew race, which was so largely to be the recipient of the new truth and the promoter of its rapid expansion. A map of the known world of that period will display before our eyes a sketch of land and sea a few thousand miles east and west, and Atillless from north to south, with a great cloudland of unknown territories and unnumbered millions still awaiting the discoverer.

We shall then see how, with the point of our finger, we cau on the largest map cover up all the territory occupied by the centripetal Pentecostal Church. 'fhe Apostolic Church, with a mighty centrifugal force, went forth to service and to martyrdom. By the year 100, A. D., men, women and children were ready all around the Mediterranean to die for the Christian faith. 'fhe church of the second and third centuries, although in hiding from the most malignant persecutions, betrays itself at thousands of points all over the known world; and the year 312, A. D., with its imperial decree of amnesty to Christians, reveals that for a century the Roman Empire had been honeycombed with Christian churches. The politic Constantine did not cast in his lot with the minority when he adopted the Cross as his standard in war and peace. Under the founder of Constantinople and his successors paganism went slowly to pieces by a sort of spontaneous combustion; getting a new lease of life now and then, it is to be regretted, through the persecuting ardor of the church, which still felt the old Bores of three centuries of wounds inflicted by a dominant paganism.

But immediately in the new light of imperial favor, not waiting for the last gasp of expiring paganism within the pale of civilization, the church, true to its divine misson, went forth to convert the bar- baric world, and the era of foreign missions proper began. Imperial legates and humble missionaries worked hand in hand at the centres of national life. Christians captured in frontier wars gloried in their opportunity to bring their rude barbarian captors to the foot of the Cross. The Armenian nation submitted to the new doctrine; the Abyssinians, under the fervent preaching of Frumentius, became Christians. Ulfila did pioneer work among the Goths on the lower Danube, and left the Gothic Bible' to be the foundation of all Teutonic literature.

Thus the campaign was carried into the three continents of the known world. Then followed the rapid expansion in the days of Theodosius the Great and Justinian, in which, behind the veil of the Alps and the Carpathians, that work was progressing which acquainted the rude northmen with the abc's of-Christianity, largely under its Arian' form, so that when the Western Empire fell, a reverence for the Christian symbols controlled to some degree the barbaric ruthlessness of her conquerors. N estorianism, under fearful embarrassments, pushed eastward through Persia into India, across the steppes of Central Asia, and Ret up its Christian monuments in China. From the Pacific to the Atlantic Christian prayer was heard.

In the struggle of nations there were occasional disasters by which whole lands we~e suddenly lost to the faith. The Saxons seemed to efface for a while Christianity in southern ahd eastern Britain. But in the days of Gregory the Great new vigor was aroused. The broken columns were re-formed and the march began again in earnest. Ireland from her island retreat 'gave Chl'istendom an electric charge, and Rome herself for a while felt the tingle in her veins. The Franks, the Frisians and other Teutonic tribe~ yielded to the piety of devoted missionaries. Slavs and Picts and Huns and Norsemen and eveh the relentless invaders of Britain learned the truth about Christ.

Then came the sudden apparition from the Arabian desert to scourge an idolatrous and decaying church. The Saracens, more respectful at fil'st toward" the religion of the book" than were the rude northmen, or even at times more than were the Christian coreligionists towards each other, swept over the faires.t gardens of the church- Palestine, Syria, Mesopotamia, Egypt, North Africa and Spain fell in rapid succession before the iconoclastic followers of the prophet. Leo the Third at Constantinople saved eastern Europe from the first serious onslaught. The whole North African Church was swept out of existence, but Charles Martel rolled back the Muslim tide at Tours, and Europe had a respite.

Then followed the gloom of the middle ages, lit up at points by flickering lights among the Mozarabes of Spain, the Abassides of Bagdad, the lnxurious and corrupt court at Constantinople and the schools of Charles the Grcat and Alfred of England. The Saxons in Germany tardily submitted to the Cross forced upon them by the gleaming argument of Charles the Great. The Wends, the Danes and the Swedes received Christian missionaries. The Moravians and Bulgarians were converted. Bohemia, Franconia, Bavaria and Belgium were won over, and the gospel was preached among the Tartars of the Crimea. Even the darkest days of the tenth century were relieved by progress in some directions. Rollo, the Norman, became a Christian. The colonial principle was used in Sleswig to propagate Christianity. The German emperors zealously used their swords to spread the faith. The bat'baric Prussians were the objects of missionary activity. Poland was reached, and Hungary saw her patron saint. In 988, A. D., Wladimil' the Great and all his immediate subjects went down together into the Dnieper at Kiev to a Christian baptism, and Russia abolished her idols.

During the eleventh, twelfth and thirteenth centuries the vigor of Christendom was turned into the useless and hopeless task of recovering and keeping the" Holy Land" from the Saracen and Turk. Mission work was greatly obscured, yet it went on with faltering step. Far-off Iceland and Greenland were converted. The Finns and'Pomeranians were brought under Christian influence. The good work went on in the vast spaces of northern and eastern Russia. A Tartar prince, the mysterious Prester John, was won 9ver by the N estorians, and their missions flourished in Central Asia. The" Order of Christ" (Sword-brothers) and the" Order of Mary" (Teutonic order) carried the gospel with their swords up along the Baltic shores.

The fourteenth and fifteenth centuries saw a decay in missionary zeal. Disasters came thick and fast. What was lost at one part of the field was gained at other points; still the Christian Church has not yet recovered entirely from the heavy advei-se blows of those centuries. The little light of Christianity in China seems to have gone entirely out. The ruthless Tamerlane destroyed the larger part of the Nestorian Church and sapped its vitality to such a degree that it has never since been aggressive. Islam penetrated further and further into Central Asia. The faltering Christian Churches in Arabia were lost in the Muslim sirocco. Russia fell under the sway of Mongol hordes. The Ottoman 'rurk appeared upon the scene and marched steadily westward, engulfing the Byzantine Empire, sweeping up to the walls of Vienna and laying desolate the Christian churches of the entire Levant. As an offset to all this, at the very close of the period, we see the armies of the Catholic Ferdinand and Isabella free Spain forever from Muslim domination. Russia, after weary centuries, comes out from under the sway of the" Golden Horde" and becomes the champion of the Greek Orthodox Church. Franciscan monks made headway in northwestern Persia. The west coast of Africa received missionaries, as did also the newly discovered islands off the coast. Just at the close of the century a new world, with its teeming possibilites and grave responsibilities, dawned upon the vision of man, and the Christian Church began to grasp the full geographical scope of the kingdom committed to its care.

The inevitable internal struggle between the monarchical and the constitutional or republican principle in the Christian Church came to a head in the sixteenth century. The contest between reformer and ultramontanist for a time obscured all other subjects in church life. During the Reformation era the Protestant world was so fully occupied with its fight for life itself that little foreign missionary work could be expected from it. Gustavus Adolphus and Gustavus Vasa carried on missions among the Laplanders, and Coligny and Calvin attempted a mission at Rio Janeiro. Natives of Virginia were converted through English missionaries. With these exceptions the aggressive work of the church was mainly done by the Roman Catholics. Canada, with the vast interior regions of North America, Florida, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, India, China and Japan, were reached. The devoted Xavier set an example of heroic service for the whole Christian world.

The seventeenth century was also essentially a century of Roman Catholic missions. The Dutch carried a formal Protestantism with their merchant fleets to the East. John Eliot and his fellow-missionaries iu New England counted their Indian converts by the thousand. But the great territorial conquests for the Cross during this and the following century were made by Franciscans, Dominicans, Jesuits and other L:1tin orders. A mere list of the names of the countries they entered and which received permanently their presentation of the Cross is too long to be quoted here. They poured out their treasure of human life with unstinted hand. Whatever else we might be prompted to say we must accord to these zealous propagandists the honor of having extended" widely tue superficies of Christendom.

The eighteenth century saw the work of evangelical missions well under way, and the nineteenth century has thrown itself into the thick of the conflict; so that in spite of the material wonders of our day that have changed the looks of the world, our century will, in the long future, be pointed out as the age whose most prominent characteristic was not the steam engine, the telegraph or the railroad, but the missionary of a Christian civilization, bringing new life to nations

ASCETICISM IN MISSIONS

buried in heathen darkness or living in the twilight of an eclipsed faith. Before our century shall have co·me to a close there will not be a land or a nation or a language uninfluenced by the gospel of Christ. The expansive march of the church will have then reached its limit. It will not find time to weep for new worlds to conquer~ for its work here will have been only begun. The true test of a faith is not its expansive power, but its penetrative power.

This, in brief, is the scope of an historical geography of the Christian Church. It involves the historical geography of every religion with which the Christian Church has come in contact.· It involves to a large degree the political growth of the world as well as the commercial expansion, for the church has penetrated into every department of human life. This whole investigation will show how vitally the Cross of Christ has affected the history of mankind. The true dividing line between ancient and modern histOl'y is the line traced by the Cross. Modern history in any nation begins when Christianity begins to be the power that shapes its life. This line historically appears like a zigzag isothermal line running across the chart of history, beginning low down where the first centres of civilization in the Roman Empire became Christian, in the fourth century, and ending close upon the year 1900, when the last nation shall have heard the Master's name and shall have felt His transforming power.

ASCETICISM IN :MISSIONS.

BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., NEW YORK.

It is a sign of progress in the work of missions that it has awakened a surprising amount of discussion as to ways and means. It is no longer looked upon as a harmless scheme of a few visionary people; it is marshalling the great forces of the Christian Church. Accordingly, it finds a conspicuous place in the monthly magazine and the daily newspaper, and even in the official correspondence of statesmen and diplomatists. It has not only stirred up the old Oriental systems of error-it has attracted the attention of infidel writers in Christian lands and called forth their efforts to thwart its purposes and prevent its success. And it has awakened still another class of critics who have no special interest in the subject further than that it affords topics for speculation or ridicule. Particular attention has been given to questions of economy, and to romantic ideals of what a missionary ought to be. It would be difficult to say why it is that the idea of self-immolation has always been somehow connected with this particular enterprise-why one who enters upon it should be supposed to be indifferent to comfort and to all those things which ninetenths of the activities of mankind are busied with seeking.

There is not the same idea in the popular estimate of the ministry at home, though that also abandons the pursuit ot wealth and seeks as a life work the moral and spiritual edification of men. It is nnder- Htood that the average pastor ought to be at least comfortable, and no congregation is quite willing to allow any special degree of hardship or privation on the part of its minister. Oftentimes there is a degree of care which amounts to coddling. This is supposed to be generous and praiseworthy.

But with the foreign missionary it is very different. He forsakes home and friends and fatherland. He renounces all prospect of gain beyond his bare support, casts in his lot with poor and despised races of men, submits to the influence of unfriendly climates for his work's sake. But this is not deemed sufficient. The more barren his lot of all comfort, the greater the degree of self-denial and privation that can be encountered, the better. What he has really undertaken is to carry the Gospel to the destitute, and so to live as to secure the longest, fullest and most complete career of usefulness along that line. But this is not the view of the malcontents. They regard him as a spectacle, an ascetic, an object lesson in self denial. It is not so much what he does, as what he suffers. The chief end is the impres- sion which he makes on men's minds by his self-mortification. Such is the logic of Canon 'raylor's teachings, and of U. S. Minister Denby's recent official despatch on the death of Rev. J. Fisher Crossette. MI'. Crossette, once a most useful and devoted missionary, had for a long time been laboring under serious mental aberration.

He suffered the lashings of a morbid conscience and took upon him- self a degree of privation which no civilized man ought to aflsume, and by which his life was doubtless brought to an untimely end.

His sincerity and devotion to suffering humanity were worthy of all praise, but there are scores of missionaries in China whose real use- fulness has excelled his fifty fold, but who call forth no special tributes, because lacking that morbid element which always impresses the uninformed and sympathetic. The fact that he drew no regular salary, "taught no creed, and did not strive to proselyte "-though this is an error-but fed perishing beggars, sharing with them his last crust,-this is the ideal.

Is it then more important to feed here and there a poor beggar than to establish Christian churches, schools, colleges and hospitals, and to proclaim to an entire nation those great principles which bring all reforms and all benevolence in their train?

A few weeks since a farewell reception was given in New York to a veteran missionary and his wife just returning to Japan, where many years ago they had the honor of being the very first Protestant missionaries to that Empire. They had watched the progress of the whole marvellous work wrought in that land, and had had a large part in it from first to last.

This able missionary, Dr. J. C. Hepburn, had given to Japan a massive and complete dictionary, which did more than almost any other one thing to open up communication between the Japanese and the English speaking world. He had accomplished much also in Bible translation-thus helping to place the Scriptures in the hands of all the people. Moreover, he had constantly maintained a dispensary, and in his medical work alone had done a work worthy of a lifetime. He had maintained a high spiritual influence over the lowliest, whom he was always ready to succor, while at the same time winning the esteem of all the better classes, both native and foreign. How had all this been accomplished? Simply by a rare combination of piety and common sense. Simply by living plainly, but comfortably, and in such a way as to make the most of his life and labor for the glory of the Master and the lasting good of the people.

He had refused offers of educational service under the government which would have increased his small salary many fold. He had r~sisted the temptations to-engage in a general medical practice which might have secured a fortune, but he had been no ascetic; he had taught and exemplified, not a morbid, but a healthy Christianity -just precisely that which was needed to regenerate Japan. Would the supporters of missions have had it otherwise ? Would they have preferred a cloistered ascetic, fed only from his beggar's bowl?

Canon Taylor has found his ideal in a half-dozen unsalaried mis- 'V. sionaries from Oxford who are laboring in Calcutta. Sir. VV.

Hunter has also accorded t~ them the highest praise, as models. They are, no doubt, under the influence of a most sincere piety, and ever cherish only the most thorough respect for their self-denying devotion; but how many such men is the worldly and easy-going church of this age likely to In'oduce? Has the Christianity of proud and wealthy Britain any fair prospect of impressing itself deeply upon the Indian Empire by delegating here and there a handful of men to perform a duty which the whole church should unite in performing?

It may be true, as both Canon Taylor and Sir W. W. Hunter assert, that such persons represent the common idea which Hindus associate with the religious life, but one might suppose that asceticism, with all its forms of self mortification, had been tried long enough in India and throughout the East. 'Yhat have the tens of thousands of Indian saints and mendicants ever accomplished? The moral and religious life of the nation has gone to corruption and decay in spite of hoards of beggars and fakirs. We must take issue with all such ideas of missionary methods.

We may go still fart.her, and ask what has been the result of those many historic instances in which the 'church has, in fact, copied the asceticism of the East? What have the monasteries of Sinai and of Lebanon done for the regeneration of the Holy I~and ? What did a celebate and cloistered priesthood accomplish for Mexico through three hundred years of undisputed sway?

That the example of the Calcutta brotherhood, so far as it promotes consecration of spirit, will be useful, no one will question; but that India,or any country, is to be reclaimed by su'ch agencies, is more than doubtful. There 'is need of a healthy and aggressive movement which shall subsidize the gifts and prayers and efforts of the whole church. Not the touch of a small separated class, but the spiritual sympathy and life of all Christendom must be applied to the dead faiths and effete civilizations of the East. Asceticism would fail. As well might the old prophet have attempted to raise the dead child with the tip of his finger, instead of overlaying him with his· whole pulsing life, mouth to mouth, hand to hand, and heart to heart.

H the church is to exchange her own regular methods for any other agency, let it be the armies of the Young Men's Christian Associations. Let there be fellowship and activity and the massed influence of numbers. Let there be a constituency at home that is abreast with the representatives at the front, and therefore in the fullest sympathy with them.

But, while welcoming every agency and means of good, the church cannot lay aside or delegate to others her own direct work for the evangelization of the world. It is acknowledged by all that the success thus far accomplished in the modern missionary movement has been the work of the regular organized missionary agencies. The great Christian denominations have sent forth chosen representatives,as Barnabas' and Saul were sent from Antioch. Guided by the providence of God, in the choice of fields, they have rais!ld the common standard of the cross in many lands, till already the headlands of the continents and the chief islands of the sea are occupied. They have translated the Scriptures into hundreds of languages and dialects, trained native preachers and teachers, organized churches, established schools and colleges, multiplied religious books and tracts, :ounded hospitals and dispensaries.

The missionaries of these boards and societies have generally been married men, and not the least among their elevating influences has been the object lesson of a Christian home. It is impossible to measure, still less to tabulate, the subtle influences which have gradually changed the Oriental idea of woman's place and influence, until now in India Zenana doors are wide open, and both Hindus and Mohammedans are beginning to emulate Christianity in the higher female education. Even the fanatical Moslems of the Turkish Empire are seeking the benefits of Protestant schools for their daughters. But these immeasurable results have attended the organized methods of modern Protestant missions. They are no longer experiments.

Celebate missions had been carried on for at least two centuries by missionaries of the Roman Catholic Church-many of them devoted men. Scores and hundreds of lives were spent in self-denying labor, in Congo, among the American Indians, in Japan and China, in India and the islands of the Indian Archipelago; but in all these lands they failed to regenerate heathen society. The Greek and Latin churches of the Levant, following similar methods and lacking the domestic element, have scarcely held their ground; they have received from Islam a deeper impress than they have given. Why, then, should Protestant Christendom yield to the cry of those who, in the very midst of in- creasing success, would turn to the effete agencies of the past?

But still it may be claimed that whatever may be said of mission- ary methods, the labor should be cheaper, the salary should be only sufficient for a bare subsistence, if not waived altogether; the work should be one of faith.

In reply to all such claims, it may be asked, first, whether any special providence is supposed to attend foreign missionaries, as compared with the Gospel ministry at home? If not, can any greaterrisks be assumed in a heathen land, where the people are out of all sympathy with the truth and where no means of employment and selfhelp are offered, than in the prosperous communities of our own lann. Or is a comfortable and homelike dwelling less necessary to a missionary's wife in a dreary heathen community, where she finds perhaps no white woman besides herself, than to a pastor's wife in an American village? Of all women in the world, those who are weighed down with the sense of loneliness and the depressing cont.act of degradation and misery which are incident to missionary life need most the sanctuary of a home to which they may resort after t}le wearisome labors of the day-a bright little spot where they may find not merely comfort but the nameless objects of taste which shall remind them of the old home far away. Depression of spirits is often a more fatal cause of ill health and of failure than either the work or the climate.

An article in the Gotemporary Review of July, 1889, by Meredith Townsend, presents these very sensible thoughts on "Cheap Missionaries. "

The writer discredits the idea that merely living poorly produces any favorable impression on the natives. "They understand real asceticism perfectly well, and reverence it as a subjugation of the flesh, and if the missionary and his wife carried out the ascetic life as Hindus understand it, and lived in a hut half or wholly naked, sought no food but what was given them, and suffered daily some physical pain, they might stir up the reverence which the Hindu pays to those who are palpably superior to' human needs. But in their eyes there is no asceticism in the life of the mean white, the Eurasian writer or the PortngueRe clerk, but only a squalor unbecoming a teacher and

TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES

-one who professes, and must profess, scholarly cultivation. Even if the cheap missionary could induce a fitting wife to share such a lot, he will think of the children to come, and he perceives, from examples all around him, what, on such an income, their fate must be. They will be boys and girls, with the white energy, who have been bred up as natives-that is, they will, unless exceptional persous, belong to the most hopeless class existing in the world."

But there is a new standpoint from which to consider the question of ascetic missionaries, and of cheap missionaries; it is the standpoint of the church itself. Never before was so great wealth placed in the hands of Christians. N ever before was there so much danger to spirituality from superabundance and luxury and mammon worship. On the other hand, never were there so many opportunities and facilities for the united effort of all good people in reclaiming the world as now. So far as home interests are concerned, there was never so much actually done by the rank and file of laymen and of women for the cause of truth and humanity. Is this then an age for delegating the work of the distant waste places to an exceptional few? Or is it quite becoming to the tens of thousands of professing Christians who are imperilling- the bodies and souls of themselves and their children by the very surfeit of self-indulgence, to turn the last screw of impoverishment on the ambassadors to heathen lands? Would the hollowness and insincerity of such a policy be likely to impress heathen nations with the moral earnestness of our propagandism, or even of the divine reality of our Christian faith?

TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY MAGAZINES.

BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.

-The Lund Missions-Tidning describes the Gallas, in Northeastern Africa, as probably the people among whom the Swedes will principally labor in time to come. This tribe extends from Abyssinia southward, and some of its superior families have established themselves as royal lines of other tribes as far south as the Victoria Nyanza. The royal family of Uganda are Gallas. The Swedes, of course, only think of laboring among the Galla tribes, not of following these transplanted dynasties.

-The Neukirchen Mission in Germany has three missionaries on the island of Java, with seventeen congregations. The statistics of 1888 were: Helpers, 5; elders, 2; communicants, 88 ; catechumens, 27 ; scholars, 30; attendants, 283.

-In the Allgemeine Missions-Zeitschrijt for April, 1889, there is an article by Herr A. Merensky on "Opinions of Travellers Respecting Christian Missions among Native Africans," from which we give some extracts. The author remarks that, in colonies where the natives form a large percentage of the population, the value of the missionary work is often very cordially acknowl- .edged by the authorities, but that as yet the accounts of travellers are so subjectively colored that they vary according as the traveller looks upon the natives as men, or as only a higher species of animal. If the former, he is apt to judge missions favorably; if the latter, he will esteem them absurd. We train a horse or dog, but we do not endeavor to convert them. Such travellers look upon missionaries as amiable lunatics. Some, however, are more bitter. Thus Mr. J. S. Little declares that some of the missionaries in South Africa are of evil lives, and says that" the scandalous proceedings at the Moravian station of Caledon are alone enough to prove this." Of course it would be strange if, of so many missionaries, some did not turn out unworthy. But his proof is a broken reed, for there is no Moravian station at Caledon, and there is not even a German station there. Mr. Little, therefore, has been catching up a report without knowing either the nation or the denomination to which it has reference. Such a man's unfavorable testimony cannot be worth much; yet even he acknowledges that the missionaries, as a whole, are an excellent and self-denying body of men. But of their converts he judges most unfavorably. However, he is good enough to add that it is not the missionaries that are to blame, but the contact with civilization. However, he knows very little about the missionaries, as appears from his accusing them of having burdened the Zulus with a perfectly arbitrary orthography-the contrary, says Herr Merensky, being demonstrably the fact. He adduces" Cetewayo" as an instance of perverse spelling. It is that; only it does not happen to be the missionary spelling. Yet after all he breaks out with, "The much-abused missionaries, as well as, the Boers, have been the pioneers of civilization in South Africa, and even on this ground are entitled to be regarded with all honor! "

-Mr. J. Nixon judges very differently. He declares of Magata, a chief near Pretoria, where the Hermannsburg missionaries are working, that not even in England has he met with a more perfect gentleman, in the best acceptation of the word. Speaking also of the chief Kchama, he declares that he is a chief whose word can be depended on. " He is a noble example of successful missionary work. His Christianity is nothing nominal, like that of so many other blacks, as well as whites, but is life, which exerts a pronouncedly good influence upon him and his people. He has' abolished drinking in his land, and is always intent on some reform. His word is always trusted, not only by the missionaries, but also by traders and hunters, who are mistrustful of everything accomplished by missions. He is sincere, e<mrageous, and manly, and if all Caffre chieftains were like him, Caffreland would have a very different look from its present one."

-Comparing the poorer white Boers in the west of the Transvaal with the Christian Barotsis, Mr. Nixon says that, while many of the former cannot write, a number of the latter, taught by the missionaries, can read and write well. Their fruitful fields also are in strong contrast with the dry Boer places, without gardens or any sign of cultivation. The Barotsi, Mr. Nixon says, owe their happier circumstances to the zeal and pains of a German missionary, Herr Jensen, who had taught them how they might sow and reap and dispose of their produce to advantage. The Barotsi, he says, were prosperous for natives and had ploughs and wagons in plenty.

-Mr. Nixon also spent some months in Bechuanaland, and remarks that many of the so-called savages were as well educated as their Boer neighbors, t and had quite as good claim to be respected. The labors of Moffat, Mackenzie, Livingstone, Price and other missionaries, though with many a failure, had exerted christianizing and civilizing influences on the masses. Dr. Holub also, the eminent German traveller, who is understood to be a Catholic, gives the following glowing description of Kchama: "What I mentioned even in my first work, I can to-day, some years later, do nothing but re-attest, namely, that King Kchama does his best to civilize his Bamangwatas. Happily he has only accepted the good of civilization from the white man, and it is this with which he seeks to inoculate his people. His success is acknowledged by every stranger, and is especially visible to whoever had previously visited his capital of Shoshong, whether it were when the heathen l'egime of super- stition yet prevailed under Sekchomo or Matscheng, or later, during the early reign of Kchama. The difference between now and then proves itself to be a mighty bne, in which the good falls altogether on Kchama's side. Kchama has the fullest right to have his government described at length in an historical work, on account of its good success and the iron energy of the ruler. What he has accomplished in Southeastern Africa may well be esteemed something unique in the history of Southeastern Africa, and must never be passed over when the general capacity of the blacks for culture is in question. The advancement of prosperity and progress among his people is Kchama's most ardent wish, an aim which he has pursued for years with ever increasing zeal and success. His subjects are more and more abandoning the heathen customs; it is only some of the very old people that murmur at having to comply with the innovations, with which, nevertheless, they do comply. The amulets of lions, leopards and ralis teeth, etc., which used to be worn around people's necks, are no more to be seen. The orgies have ceased, especially the corrupting orgies of circumcision, formerly a national rite, a momentous solemnity, from which everything was dated, a man's age and fitness to serve in war, and the regiment to which he should belong. The power of the rain doctors is forever broken in this tribe; the beer-carousals and their attendant orgies have come to an end. The spirituous drinks of the Europeans are forbidden in the whole land, and even to Europeans the use of them is only permitted within their own four walls. A drunken white in the open street must look to be banished from the country. Ten years ago visitors prophesied that Kchama would not be long able to enforce this prohibitory law, but would be absolutely powerless to oppose 3;ny permanent resistance to this curse of civilization. Well, these prophets, thank God, have turned out false prophets. Kchama's laws stand fast, and we will hope that they have already so thoroughly naturalized themselves that Kchama's future successors will also be constrained to conform themselves to them." Dr. Holub declares, in conclusion, that he wishes thus to secure to this " noble man" a monument in writing which shall perpetuate his memory. And, as the editors of the Zeitschrijt remark, Kchama is not alone in these endeavors among the chieftains of South Africa, though he far overtops other Christian chiefs.

-In De Macedonier Herr E. Haan, who has been ten years a missionary in Java, gives an extended report of the reasons for the comparative unfruitfulness of the missionary work in that great island. Besides that most of the people are Mohammedans, he brings the very severest indictment against his countrymen as respects their treatment of the Javanese. The Dutch have always been noted for the cold severity and extortionateness of their rule over subject races, and they seem to be as bad as ever. Herr Haan says: "The Javanese is viewed by the European as a thing with which he can deal at his pleasure, and which only exists for the convenience of Europeans, in order to secure to these a comfortable, easy and wealthy living." As an instance: Every Javanese, if he occupies land set apart by the government or by individuals for coffee culture, is compelled to set out a certain number of coffee trees, to tend them, and to deliver all the coffee they yield at 14 francs for 125 lbs., while the same amount in the market brings 45 francs, 55 centimes. "Does the Javanese even receive for his coffee money enough to live on? Hardly. Indeed, it not seldom happens that in place of rice he is reduced to eating the leaves of trees." "Nowonder, then. when the Javanese are dealt with after this step-motherly fashion by the intruding European lords, that they are filled with bitter hatred towards the Europeans. They have experienced neither love from them nor benefit from their religion, and in requital they hunger for the moment when everything that is white shall be put to the sword." Again: " The Javanese hate the Europeans with a deadly hatred, they thirst for their destruction, and the many insurrections of later years, as yet fortunately discovered by craft and suppressed by force, prove only too clearly how the fingers of the Javanese itch for the extirpation of the white man."

-Herr Haan is convinced that it is hopeless to convert the Javanese by means of Europeans. Only native Christians can do the work. "For, to speak plain, a European missionary in Java can accomplish absolutely nothing with the gospel. All the missionaries, without exception, confess this by word and writing, and it is proverbial among them that, being unable to reach a single Mohammedan, they bestow their time in the translation of Christian works, yet with so wrongheaded a lack of concurrence, so absolutely without a plan of campaign, that it sometimes is the case that two missionaries are translating the same work at the same time, of course each in the hope of seeing his own translation printed."

-No white nation has much occasion to boast itself as to its treatment of inferior races: but among Protestant nations Holland, and among Catholic nations Spain and Portugal, enjoy a peculiarly bad eminence in this respect. There is this difference, however, according to Mr. Mackenzie, in his history of Spanish America: the Spanish Government and the Spanish Church, in the prime of the{r dominion, were unwearied in their efforts to restrain the harshness and rapacity of covetous adventurers, who had a long way the start of them, and very slowly did prevail against them: whereas the Dutch Government itself is still the main extortioner. Weare glad to see that sections of the Dutch Church are beginning to bear a faithful witness against this iniquitous tyranny.

"The native helpers," says Herr Haan, "must be the pathbreakers of missions, and can be so, because they can converse with Mohammedans without arousing prejudice against themselves, and without awakening suspicion can bring the gospel into the hearts and houses of their brethren according to the flesh." "Facts show that wherever they come they find souls eager for the Word that speaks of atonement and grace "-ideas wholly foreign to Mohammedanism, which makes absolutely no provision for the inner wants of the soul.

-The Rev. C. J. Sandegren, of the Leipsic Mission, in South India, who attended the great Mula-Linga festival, says: "The demeanor of the templepriest towards us was very noteworthy. For although we had come in the avowed design of preaching the gospel and testifying against heathenism and idolatry, yet this exceedingly liberal and large-minded heathen priest conducted himself in the most friendly manner towards us. Indeed, he even came to us and himself urged us to preach to the people, assisting us personally to maintain order and attention. He also sometimes stayed with us at our quarters, listening to our singing and conversation. But yet we could discover in him no real longing after salvation. It is true, he mocked at the people's idolatry, but imagined he must put a good face on the mummery, and fulfil his office as priest, because he had his living by it, and because it brought in to him and his family no small profit. As temple-priest, moreover, he not only enjoyed a good revenue from this festival, but also has in his possession the extensive templeestates, from which he and his kindred derive an ample income, and enjoy an eminent and respected position in the land. And how is it easily possible to renounce all these things? thinks the good-natured man. Our preaching and

LATEST FACTS ABOUT MICRONESIA

Christianity doubtless are good, true and useful, but self-denial, the surrender of earthly advantage-that, he fancies, would be very foolish, not at all after his taste; for riches, enjoyment and voluptuous pleasure formed the real god of this heathen priest."

-" Speaking generally, a mission-period falls into three stages, which, it is true, are neither sharply distinguished from each other nor have everywhere the same length of duration. The first stage is that of sending forth, strictly speaking, of the slow foundation work of the foreign missionaries. of individual conversion, of the initiation of a process of fermentation, of the impregnation of the intellectual and moral atmosphere with new views and elements of life. The second stage is that of the erection of a first story on the foundation laid, of the extended co-operation of the natives, of the organization of the growing congregations, of the leavening of the popular life with the forces of the gospel. The third stage is that of national Christianization in the stricter sense, the collapse of a heathenism already undermined, the winning of the masses. This mostly comes to pass as a result of important historical events, e. g., the acceptance of Christianity by reigning personages," etc.-Allgemeine Missiol1S- ZeitshriJt, September, 1889.

-The Macedonier gives some extracts from the South African German Missionary Merensky, "Erinnerungenaus dem Missionsleben," which are interesting, as distinguishing more sharply the various native tribes from each other. We are accustomed to call them all, except the Hottentots and Bushmen, Caffres, or Kaffirs. And, indeed, they do in a general way belong together; but while the Zulus are Caffres proper, the Bassutos and Betchuanas, who are very closely related to each other in appearance and language, are but remotely related to the Zulus. Herr Merensky, therefore, informs us that we {)ught not to call the former Caffres. "As respects their bodily build, among the Bassutos we find many tall and powerful forms, but also many weak people-far more than among the Zulus." Merensky attributes this in part to the greater wealth of the latter, which enables them to use meat more freely, in part to the privations to which the Bassutos were exposed at the tinie of their oppression by the Zulus, but in part to the fact that an unchaste life has already, among the Bassutos, made its way even into the world of childhood.

-" Young people may often be called handsome, especially among the girls: the finely formed ears and small hands draw the eye. Old people, how- €over, are, as a whole, very ugly. This, however, is far from being true of the Christians." Merensky, even in unfamiliar mission-stations, recognized the Christians by their faces. At a station of the South Bassutos he was astonished at the sight of handsome old men and venerable old women. The missionaries had already been there thirty years, and these people had grown old as Christians. Merensky wishes, therefore, that in popular works, when portraits are given, it should be indicated whether they represent Christians or heathen; and it would be of much interest, from lands where heathenism and Christianityare wrestling, to be able to compare portraits of both.

LATEST FACTS ABOUT MICRONESIA.

Rev. Frank E. Rand, of Ponape, of Caroline Group, Micronesia, being interviewed by Dr. Pierson, says: The whole group-Caroline Group-extends nearly 2,000 miles east to west, and embraces a hundred or more islands; this is the only group where there are high mountainous islands. Ponape island is the largest in the group, rising in centre about 3,000. All of the group, save from six to ten, are low and coraline, with large lagoons. The Ruk lagoon is a hundred miles by about forty.

About 5,000 inhabitants on Ponape, missions established about thirty-seven years ago, and the island is now semi-christianized; thirteen churches on the island, and about half the people attend, and two missionaries and families were there eight years before the first three converts; but twelve years after the Ponapeans were carrying on foreign missions among the neighboring islands.

Pinglap, 150 miles east, was approached in 1872 by the Ponapeans, but repulsed; two young men, however, of the Pinglapers were found on Ponape on the re- turn of the missionaries, and became converted, and one of them ultimately became pastor of the present church on Pinglap. Some of that church are now helping the Ponapeans to carry the gospel afar. Two years after, in 1874, three young men and their wives, Ponapeans, landed at Mortlock Islands, about 300 miles west, a group of six coral islands, population of 4,000, found the people in primitive paganism, having had little or no cOiltact with foreign- ers; language differed from Ponape, and hence conversation was impossible.

They were left there, and communication began through a man and wife who had lived on Ponape. They were left there, knowing the Morning Star would not return for twelve months, the chiefs promising to protect them, and hav- ing supplies only for a few months. Their houses were comparatively hovels.

In a year they were visited again by the Morning Star, and found each of the families living in a good house, having also three large churches, the largest holding 600 to 700; all had acquired the language; one of these native teachers, the wife of one of the missionaries, had translated a portion of the gospels and hymns from Ponape into Mortlock tongue, and each family had a large school in which pupils read and wrote in their own language and beginning to cipher, and some twenty-five in each parish awaiting baptism.

At the present time there are in one of those churches from 300 to 400 members, and instead of three churches, nine. .

Since then there has been a greater work done on the island of Ruk, where the first missionaries went in 1880. It has always been called the Terror of the Pacific, from cruelty shown to crews of vessels. The coral reef encloses about 15,000, or more, speaking the Mortlock language. One missionary was left there in 1880, " Moses" by name, from the Mortlock Islands. He was landed at his own request on one island in this lagoon, with a population of abou1; 4,000. Mr. Rand visited this island a year after, and found Moses, within two months after landing, had been in great risk of life, but saved his life by singular tact and courage. Mr. Rand found him likewise living in his own large house, having built a large church with some twenty-five ready for bap- tism, with day school and Sunday school; but with marvellous influence over the nation in restraining war among themselves. Now there are some eight or nine chur~hes, and a prosperous community. Chiefs now send to Moses for teachers to come to them to instruct them not to fight.

The principal work on Ponape is Training Schools for young unmarried men and the married men and wives, to prepare them for Christian work.

In 1888-9 they had forty-five boarding pupils; twenty of them have gone into the work in the beginning of 1889, and there is a girls' boarding school with thirty-eight pupils. There are two more training schools at Island of Kusaie- one for·Marshall Group and the other for the Caroline Group, and at the same place a girls' boarding school.

GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE

II.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.

Aftica.-A correspondent of the lish a protectorate over Tunis, where ..i'lfanchester Guardian writes encour- the Italians outnumber the French ten agingly of the development of com- to one. They add that at the Berlin merce which is checking the slave congress Mr. Waddington disavowed trade on the Congo river. Steamers any claim to the Regency. The French from Liverpool are now plying direct answer that Tunis was offered to them to Boma and Matadi, stations on the at the congress by Bismarck and river. These are becoming the chief Beaconsfield as a counterweight 1;() ports from which produce is being Cyprus, which was acquired by Engshipped, and are gradually drawing land, but that they should not have the ivory trade away from Zanzibar. availed themselves of the offer, had A regular ivory market exists at Stan- not the Italians made surreptitious ley Falls, and here the Arab traders efforts to supplant them in the good can now sell their ivory instead of graces of the Bey. Meanwhile they kidnapping slaves to carry it to the desire to know why Italy has not laid east coast. Under the old method of hands on Tripoli, a section of north slave labor it often took one or two Africa uncoveted by any other Euro- years for the ivory to reach the coast, pean power. To this latter suggestion and the former slave dealers are now the astute Italians make no reply. settling down into a peaceful colony They know a trick worth two of that.

near Stanley Falls, evidently appre- The possible outcome of their protect- ciating the advantages of modern orate over Abyssinia, and of their facilities for trade. When the Congo assertion of authority over the whole· railway is complete, the Congo route sea-coast' of East Africa from Warwill be more used than at present. sheckh, near the second degree of The railway will start from Matadi. north latitude up to and including A further blessing both to the traders IVfassowah, may be found to have some and the natives is the discovery of the day a weighty bearing on the status of river Lomami, which runs parallel Italy in the Mediterranean. For few with and to the left of the Congo. It things are more certain than that the is navigable and of good depth, and advent of the Gladstonians to power will be a great benefit in facilitating in England would be followed by the communication between Niangwe, the recall of the British army of occupation chief Arab settlement in the high from Egypt. To what power would Congo, and Stanley Falls. The fre- England then be more likely to turn quent falls and rapids on the Congo over the duty of protecting the Nile in this part have rendered communi- country than to Italy? It has been cation by it almost impossible between largely through the moral support of the two places. The ultimate benefit, the British Government that the Italhowever, of thus opening up Africa ians have gradually acquired control for trade will depend upon the number of the southern part of the Red Sea of Christian men engaged therein. and of the Straits of Bab-el-Mandeb. Between heathenism and civilization We may rather say that they alone without God, there is little to choose. divide control with Great Britain. Owing to the weakness of their navy, -Italy and Africa.-There has been they could never be dangerous to Brit. of late an acrimonious dispute between ish commerce, and they could be the journalistsand politicians ofFrance trusted to shut the Suez Canal against on the one hand and Italy on the other touching the claims of their respectiye a French or Russian fleet. Apropos of countries to possessions on the north this suggestion, it is well to remember coast of Africa. The Italians main- that the Italians took possession of tain that France had no right to e~tab- Massowah under an understanding with the Gladstone Ministry, and for tic volume as it enters that country.

the purpose of effecting a diversion But, fortunately, when it is most against the Mahdi. Co-operation with wanted for irrigation-during the dry England, with regard to Egyptian in- season-it gives the greatest volume; terests, was, in other words, the motive for then it is the rainy season in the of their first important demonstration Nile sources.

in East Africa, and it will probably What would Egypt be without the turn out to be the ultinlate result of Nile? The country knows no rains, or their Abyssinian protectorate. The at least so seldom that a shower is Italians constitute a much larger pro- a marvel; and though, during some portion of the European residents in months, the parched earth is relieved Egypt than do the French. Of Lev- by heavy dews, its dry season would antine countries generally the same be intolerable without the overflowing thing may be said. In this respect of this grand river.-African News.

they are the natural heirs of the Vene- -The Sultan of Zanzibar has de- tians. Candia, for instance, should creed that all slaves entering his the Porte be constrained to surrender dominions are henceforth to be free.

it to any European power, ought to go Also that the children of slaves born to Italy in her capacity of the heir of in his dominions after January 1 are Vellice, from which the Turks wrested to be free. These are great steps for- it, after it had been the property of ward, and lead us to hope that the the Republic for many centuries. The entire suppression of slavery in East island is of too great strategic import- Africa may be looked for in the near ance for England to suffer it to fall future. Another important mark of into the hands of Greece, which woulU progress is the establishment of a new practically make of it a Russian naval direct line of mail steamers from Lon- station. On the other hand, if the don to Mombasa and Zanzibar, which, Italian flag were planted in Candia with those now running, will make a and Alexandria, the Mediterranean fortnightly service.

would be as truly a British lake as it – The Abyssinians and their Chris- is now.-The Sun (New York). tianity.-The change of rulers in Abys- -The Nile has Three Peculiarities. sinia promises to inaugurate a new 1. It has a constantly diminishing departure in the public policy of that volume of water as it flows to its historic country by opening it to West- mouth for more than 1,000 miles. 2. ern influence, and thus preparing the It floods during the dry season. 3. It way for the rejuvenation of its stereo- has no tributaries for 1,100 miles from typed and formalistic Christianity.

its mouth. In the great expanse of The new king, Menelik, formerly sov- the Soudan there are few rivers, and ereign of the southern province, Shoa, the Nile is the only one worthy the and then nominally, but scarcely in name in aU Egypt. Up in the heart fact, vassal of the late Negus, or King of Africa it has many feeders, and John, has all along been favorable rushes down into the sandy plain of to the representatives of Western civil- Egypt a mighty torrent; but it hardly ization and Evangelical Christianity.

fonus its great trunk by the junction King John was a typical Semitic, con- ofthe White and Blue Niles before it servative to the core, and naturally begins to diminish in volume. Liter- hostile to aU new and progressive ideas.

ally, the thirsty sand licks it up. And He not only expelled the Christian mis- though the junction with it of the sionaries, sent there by the London and great Atbara gives it a new supply Basel societies, from his domains, but some hundreds of miles below, it soon attempted to come to an understanding again loses volume. It is a large river with that larger branch of the Chris- in Egypt, but far inferior to its majes- tian Church which, in its character and kind, agreed most with the sterile physite Church as a natural con- faith of his own people, namely, the sequence followed.

Greek Orthodox of the East. Menelik This isolation, voluntary at first, be- has already made a decided move in came one of necessity soon after, when the opposite direction. He has assum- the Mohammedan invader overran the ed friendly relations to the Italians; Eastand devastated Oriental Christian- his ambassadors were recently the sen- ity. It is the great distinction of the sation in Rome; and his land is being Abyssinians that they, in their moun- re-opened for Christ~':'"l} mission work. tain fastnesses, were the only people The veteran Flad, who for two decades who did not bend their necks to the of years has been in vain waiting for Moslem conqueror, nor yield their an opportunity to continue his gospel faith to Islam. The struggle against mission, so auspiciously begun under Arabic aggression, which is now the his leadership thirty or more years ago, question of life and death for the has, notwithstanding his years, deter- future of the Dark Continent; is really mined to return to Abyssinia and work one of more than a thousand years'

while it is day. standing. Against fearful odds the As matters now stand, the Church Abyssinians have maintained their of Abyssinia is a ruin, in its way as struggle for existence, and, though instructive as the pyramids of Egypt often wounded and bleeding, have re- and the tablets and bricks of Assyria. tained their national and ecclesiastical Practically, it represents, in stereo- existence and organization.-Pro!.

typed form, the Greek Christianity of Geo. H. Schodde.

the fifth century. The shape and form Belgium.-The French Protest- have been retained, while the spirit has ants are divided into two sections; been lost; the hull is there but the one, represented by the Protestant kernel is gone. Abyssinia was con- Evangelical Churches, which are verted to Christianity early in the State churches; and the other, by fourth century, and viewed its first the Belgium Missionary Christian bishop from Athanasius. It is the Churches, whose name admirably sets only Semetic people that ever as such forth their spirit. The latter have embraced the Christian faith and es- 27 churches and stations, with 59 an- tablished a national Christian Church. nexes or places that are regularly It is one of the anomalies of history evangelized; 50 temples and halls; 38 that Christianity, although springing Sabbath schools, 17 day schools, 22 from Semitic soil and developed in a pastors, 4 evangelists, 7 Bible read!lrs, Semitic people, was, on the whole, re- 5 colporteurs, 47 laymen, who take jected by them, and the spiritual in- direct' part in the work; 7,850 meet- heritance of Shem passed into the tent ings took place last year; 215,500 of Japhet. The Abyssinians, too, were tracts have been distributed. The converted under Greek or Aryan in- churches have a membership of 4,647, fluence, and for a century and more and their Sabbath-schools are attended constituted a not unimportant ele- by 2,366 children. More than 500 ment of the Oriental Church. In 451 members have been added to the came the separation. Together with church during the year; and not- the Church of Egypt, with which it withstanding the deaths and emi- was then and is now yet organically gration, the increase has been 275 connected, that of Abyssinia embraced adults and 171 children. A station the Monophysite faith. The condem- has been founded, two churches nation of this heresy by the synod at built, services begun in several new Chalcedon led to the withdrawal from localities, 70 villages where the Gos- an connection with the Church gen- pel is not regularly preached have eral, and the isolation of the Mono- been visited by the missionaries; while the colporteurs have worked in account of Christian work at the 200 villages. Hawaiian Islands. The 56 native The expenses of the year have churches report a membership of reached 139,714 francs, and the con- 5,747, besides other churches for Eng- tributions of these churches have lish-speaking residents and Chinese, amounted to 63,000 francs.-Rev. J. having a membership of 679. These C. Bracq.' native churches contributed for pas- Hawaii.-The last report of the toralsupport $9,531, and for home and Hawaiian Board of Health shows that foreign missionary work, if we rightly there were, March 31st, 1888. 749 lep- understand the treasurer's report, ers in the district of Molokai set apart something over $20,000. Eight pastors for them. These are provided for re- have been installed during the year, ligiously by two Protestant and two seven of whom were ordained. The Catholic churches. The report of the Chinese mission, under the care of Mr.

Hawaiian Evangelical Association for F. W. Damon, has been prosecuted 1887 shows that one of the Protestant with success. Daily evening schools churches has 225 members. The mem- have been well attended. Four new bership of the other is not given; but Sabbath-schools for the Chinese have as it reports more than half as many been opened in different parts of deaths as the former church, we may Honolulu. There are 22,000 Chinese be sure it has over 100 members, and now residing in the Hawaiian Islands. that it is perfectly ridiculous to speak . The Japanese work, begun so recently, of the lepers of the Sandwich Islands as has had a remarkable development, not cared for now or before Father both in Honolulu and in other parts Damien came to them. The idea of of the islands. The North Pacific Mis- giving him credit for revolutionizing sionary Institute, under the care of the care of lepers is laughed at in Dr. Hyde, has graduated eleven stu- Hawaii. It is clear that the lepers dents and received ten in their place. have been so well cared for that many These graduates are all at work in have sought admission just to get the different localities.-Miss. Herald.

generous support given by the State. India.-Writing of the Mission The last report of the Board of Health Sunday-schools in Jubbulpore, Bishop makes no mention of Father Damien, Thoburn says: but they "cannot say enough of the inestimable and disinterested services "They are so many in number and are of the siCK rendered them by Mr. J. attended by so many pupils of all ages that an impression has gone abroad that no real work is done in them.. It has been alleged Dutton, who is a trained nurse, and that no real teaching is done, that the same came to the Settlement on his own ac- persons do not attend two days in succession, count, for the purpose of living with and that inasmuch as nothing is taught noththe lepers and devoting his life and ing is learned, but these boys disprove all such entire time to their benefit; and who assertions. They had evidently attended often, and had learned both hymns and catechism.

may be seen busied from morning to I took occasion to examine the register of night cleaning and healin~ the many attendance, and was surprised to find that the sores of the lepers, and administering attendance varied but little from week to to the many ailments of the sick, and week, the total number for the week preced- ing my visit having been 3,268. Of these 1,300 very much to the satisfaction and had been boys, 639 girls, 920 men, and 409 comfort of the sick." It is made clear women. Perhaps the most hopeful feature of that the contagion of leprosy comes these schools is the fact that so many women from violation of laws of cleanliness are in this way bronght within the sound of the gospel. Many who could not be tempted or morality.-The Independent. to join an ordinary audience of men, have no -The 26th annual report of the Ha- hesitation in doing SO when they see that the waiian Evangelical Association gives crowd is chiefly composed of children. The a full, and on the whole encouraging, attendance of girls also is remarkable. Many of these 'Sunday-schools' meet on week days, and hence they are sometimes called prose tale of a demon with a thousand Bible-schools. 'Whatever name they may bear heads. Among the works published it is evident that they can be s1j.ccessfully in the year 1886 are the following: A used in giving large numbers of the people a book on architecture, containing notes clear outline of the blessed truths of Christ's on the lucky and unlucky times for gospe."

-The Current Literature of India. beginning a building, a biography of -The latest official returns of the Faraday, adaptation of Shakespeare's issues of the Indian press are for the "Comedy of Errors,"" Winter's Tale,"

year 1886. The total number of books and" Merchant of Venice," Milton's and periodicals published in that one " Paradise Lost," "The Diseases of the year is 8,961. In the Indian vernacu- Elephant," "Cholera and Its Cure," a lars alone there are published annually Marhatti version of Glodsmith's " Her- about 200 newspapers, the most of them mit," the" Perils of Youth," a work being dailies. The variety of subjects telling young men not to run off to treated in Indian literature is astound- Christianity or any other religion be- ing. It reflects not only the polyglot fore examining their own, and annota- character of the race-stems, but also ted editions of Goldsmith's comedies, the mixture of faiths. Among the " The Good Natured Man" and "She books issued in 1888, in the Punjab we Stoops to Conquer." There is a large find such a heterogeneous compound increase of important missionary pub- as the following: "The Little Office lications, of works by the Hindu re- of the Immaculate Conception of the formatory associations, and of native Blessed Virgin," " Praises of Moham- attacks.on infant marriages and other med by His Followers," "Attacks on lingering abuses. Another important the Prophet by the Christians," "Stories triumph must be added to the long of Krishna," and" Talismans from the catalogue of philological achievements Koran." In the same region, the North- of missionaries. In Bhamo, Burma, a west Provinces, there is one treatise on Kachin spelling-book has been pub- astrology and another on electroplat- lished by two missionaries. It is the ing. In Burma the list of books includes first attempt to reduce the savage a volume of songsin praiseof the " New' Kachin dialect to grammar. Many of Umbrella for the Dregen Pagoda." In the native publications classed as relig- the Central Provinces a collection of ious are purely controversial. They astrological calculations was publish· are attacks on Christianity. Both ed in an edition of 500 copies. The Hindus and Mohammedans are quite Bengali publications comprise works willing to attack Christianity in print.

on polygamy, the Brahmo discourses, From the first, missionaries have in- and songs on the loves of the Krishna. dulged pretty freely in controversy.

A gratuitous edition of 1,059 copies of This spirit has been latterly on the a work on astrology, in the Tamil, decline, as if the missionaries were appears on the list of issues for 1882. now thinking the game hardly worth Several other books on the subject are the chase. In some sections Hindus published for general sale, among them and Mohammedans have taken up the one in an edition of 400 copies. It is cudgel against one another. On the claimed to be an ancient work 2,000 other hand, controversial works have years old. Another Tamil work de- been written, in a very hostile spirit, nounces Christianity, animal food, by rival sects within the same religious and intoxicating drinks. An edition fold.-Bishop Hurst, in the Chatau- of 500 copies of this work appeared in quan.

1882. In the same language appear -A Writer in The Bombay Guar- two other books of antagonistic ten- dian, on Jesuit missions in India, dencies, one a book of verses in favor shows that it is a mistake to assert that of the Virgin Mary, and another a Protestant missions have not prospered as have those of the Jesuits. The latter Syria. – An Assyrian Library entered India about 350 years ago, and their educational institutions are nu- Thirty – five Hundred Years Old.- merous and ably manned, but their adherents, who are now estimated at Prof. Sayce gives an interesting ac- 1,000,000, have not increased at anything like the ratio seen in the Protes- count of the recent discovery of tant missions. For instance, in the long buried tablets and inscriptions, decade from 1862 to 1872, the Roman which have an important bearing Catholics increased twelve per cent. on certain test questions in Biblical against fifty-one per cent. among the criticism: Protestants. The Jesuits do not preach to the heathen, one of them saying, From them we learn that in the fifteenth cen- "This is not my work, which is to tury before our era-a century before the look after my people, not the heathen." Exodus-active literary intercourse was going But the chief point of difference be- on throughout the civilized world of Western tween the methods of Jesuits and Pro- Asia, between Babylon and Egypt, and the testants is in regard to the Scriptures, smaller states of Palestine, of Syria, of Mesoconcerning which the writer in The potamia, and even of Eastern Kappadokia. Bombay Guardian says: "For 350 And this intercourse was carried on by means years the Jesuits have had a succession of the Babylonian language and the compliof learned men in India, yet they have cated Babylonian script. This implies that, never translated the Scriptures in all over the civilized East, there were libraries whole or part, so far as we know, into and schools where the Babylonian language any of its many languages. On the and literature were taught and learned. Babyother hand, the Protestant missions lonian appears to have been as much the have, in 90 years, translated the Scrip- language of diplomacy and cultivated society tures, in whole or part, into over forty as French has become in modern times, with Indian languages and dialects, includ- the difference that, whereas it does not take ing the Gondi. By the one method long to learn to read French, the cuneiform the Indian peoples can read the Word syllabary required years of hard labor and atof God for themselves in their own tention before it could be acquired. We can tongues; by the Jesuit method they now understand the meaning of the name of have been, and are, deprived of it as the Canaanitish city which stood near Hebron, rigorously as the Sudras are of their and which seems to have been one of the most sacred books by the Brahmans." important of the towns of Southern Palestine. Kirjath-Sepher, or "Book town," must have Japan.-Dr. Griffis, author of been the seat of a famous library, consisting "The Mikado's Empire," says: mainly, if not altogether, as the Tel-el-Amar- na tablets informs us, of clay tablets inscribed "It is of interest to all who want to see with cuneiform characters. As the city also Japan a Christian nation to know that the bore the name of Debir, or "Sanctuary," we •reformed' Buddhists expect to furnish their may conclude that the tablets were stored in countrymen and all inquirers with a religion. its chief temple, like the libraries of Assyria Alert, keen, not over-scrupulous, they will and Babylonia. It may be that they are still doubtless have a neo-Buddhism all ready. They lying under the soil, awaiting the day when are already patrons of Western learning; have the spade of the excavator shall restore them studied at home, in India, at Oxford, and in to the light. The literary influence of Babylo- America, the situation; have introduced phy- nia in the age before the Israelitish conquest sical science in their splendid, new, brick-built of Palestine explains the occurrence of the colleges at Kioto; make the New Testament a names of Babylonian deities among the inhabtext-book,and the Bible and its learning subject itants of the West. Moses died on the summit of lectures. They will Buddhaize Christianity, of Mount Nebo, which received its name froIQ if they have power and' opportunity. Let the Babylonian god of literature, to whom the Christians study the past and take warning." great temple of Borsippa was dedicated; an<1 Sinai itself, the mountain" of Sin," testifies t<l a worship of the Babylonian Moon-god, Sin, amid the solitudes of the desert. Moloch or Malik, was a Babylonian divinity like Rimmon the Air-god, after whom more than one local- ity in Palestine was named, and Anat, the wife of Anu, the Sky-god, gave her name to the Pal- estinian Annah, as well as to Anathoh, the city of "the Anat-goddesses."

lIIISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS

IlL-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.

Brazil. pleteness of our foreign mission reports that they have no way of knowing what becomes [While we do not fully sympathize of their gifts after they are once absorbed into ""-ith the writer in all he says, yet we the general fund, and so prefer givipg in a deem the following communication way which will enable them to judge for them- selves if their money has been economically worthy of consideration by all mission- and wisely employed. ary societies. It is desirable that full and explicit reports be made of all The largest givers are usually the most con- expenditures. There is not sufficient scientious. They give from principle, and for that'reason feel a responsibility for the way fulness and skill shown in many of in which their gifts are used. If then there is these reports. Our own effort to the slightest ground for suspicion that the analyze and give a scientific and in- money which they have given, with the sole motive of building up the Kingdom of their telligent account of the" Statistics of Lord and Saviour, is uselessly dissipated in Missions" has already demonstrated to ill-digested schemes of inexperienced workers, us the necessity of a great reform all or is used in such a way as to pauperize the along that line, and we urge the duty new converts, or simply promote general civilization or secular education, they cannot upon the attention of all whom it con- but feel that their accountability to Him whose stewards they are requires them to withhold, cerns.-EDs. ] or at least to limit, their gifts. It is quite pos- sible that we have here'the true explanation SOLIDARITY IN FOREIGN MISSIONS. of the undeniable fact that our foreign mis- sion work is not receiving that whole-hearted LETTER FROM REV. J. BEATTY HOWELL. and enthusiastic support on the part of many large givers which it deserves, and in former JAHU, Sept. 20, 1889. times received. A significant sign of the times, of profound interest to all engaged in foreign mission work Something must be done to bring the contrib- or connected wibh it, is the undoubted fact utors into closer relations with the work, and that the mechanical benevolence of former to lead them to feel that they have a voice in days is being largely replaced by an intelli- the application of the funds contributed. The gent interest, on the part of contributors to solidarity of home givers and foreign workers every good work, in the final destination and must be recognized and emphasized. A practical results of their gifts. practical application must be made of the During the past year several missionary principle that the givers have at least an equal Rocieties have found themselves seriously em- voice in the application of the funds with bal'I'assed by a considerable diminution of those who are entrusted with the distribution. their regular income, due to the falling off in Missionaries and secretaries have a right to legacies. It is becoming increasingly the cus- advise, plead, urge, but nothing can deprive tom on the part of churches, Sunday-schools the givers of the right to determine where and and individual contributors, to forward their how their gifts shall be applied. contributions directly to some friend on the field, to be used for certain definite and desig- The first and most important step in this nated objects. Our secretaries are constantly direction must be a change in the method of bewailing the discouraging fact that funds giving mission information, especially in the contributed by our church members are department of statistics. Some plan must be diverted from denominational channels to out- devised for enabling contributors to know just side enterprises conducted by irresponsible what is being done with the mission funds, parties. and what each department of the work costs. A single explanation covers all these facts. At present the church is only given the general There is a growing desire on the part of con- totals of so much expended upon mission tribntors to follow up their gifts, and a grow- work in China, so much in India, etc., with no ing sense of responsibility for the way in means of ascertainingthe proportion of funds which these are employed. Those whom ODd expended upon different departments, the has entrusted with means, and into whose comparative cost of each, or the part of the heart he has put the desire to use them for burden borne by the native Christians. his glory, are, to a very noticeable extent, planning and carrying out the distribution of these It would be a new departure in missionary consecrated funds in their own lifetime. matters for most of our societies, and would, The criticism of mission methods, and the no doubt, at the beginning involve some extra doubts tIu'own upon their results, of which work, but we respectfnlly suggest that the their has been so much lately, has naturally attempt be made to give the church topical had the effect of rendering contributors sus- reports of the work, instead of by countries, as picious and inquisitive; but such is the incomheretofore. In the annual reports of the the will of the Great Head of the Church as to societies let all accessible information from all the way in which His work is to be carried on parts of the field be grouped under the heads than the judgment of the consecrated givers of common school education, higher educa- at home. Both of these factors must have tion, publication) medical missions, itinerant their due weight in our calculations an'd plans and evangelistic work, Sunday-school work, for work. The foreign workers have made theological seminaries, native pastoral work, many mistakes and learned much by experi- lay laborers, including Zennana visitors, ence; it would not be wonderful nor alarming Bible readers, colporteurs, etc., buildings, if home givers should do the same. self support, indirect influence of missions, religiously, politically and socially. The fact that the amount available for any department of work would depend largely Let the persons best qualified and best in- upon the interest which the home churches formed write up tbese subjects for the differ- took in it, would furnish the strongest incenent fields, giving, along with general informa- tive for the special writers to make the fullest tion and practical reasons for carrying on and plainest exposition of the facts in regard each department of the work, full statistics to the different departments, and the motives showing what has been done, the part of the for carrying on each branch of work; and expense borne by the mission, and the part thus tend to the general instruction of the borne by the native church. This would cer- people in regard to the whole work. The caretainly make a report more readable and more ful study of the various departments of the instructive than the one now sent out annually. work, for the sake of deciding to which funds If the material for the l1onthly Concert of should be contributed, would have a powerful lIIissions were arranged in the same way, it educating influence, while enlarging the symmigbt help revive the interest in these meet- pathies of the givers. ings, which pastors agree in saying has been on the decline for some time past. An incidental result of the clear recognition of the different departments of the work, Having taken this preliminary step, it would might be the appointment, in ihe different then be possible to invite contributors to fields, of Superintendents Of Departments, to designate the department, or departments, of whom should be entrusted the collection and work to which they wished their contributions preparation of information in regard to the to be applied. If it were thus possible for con- needs and possibilities of his special departtributors to use their fnnds for the promotion ment, thus leading to a more systematic, of the kind of work which seemed to them thorough, and symmetrical development of the most important or promising, money would work than would otherwise be the caSe. doubtless flow into the treasury which is now withheld. Ohina.

There are invincible practical objections to FIRST HIPRESSIONS IN A CHINA JlIISSION. a scheme of mission operations based upon contributions for special objects, such as the LETTER FROM REV. JOHN G. FAGG. support of individual preachers, teachers, schools, pupils, etc., which do not hold against CHANGCHEW, 30 miles inland from Amoy. contributing for general departments of work. I am a missionary prophet of ouly a year's The very furthest that specialization can be standing. I question whether my vision is carried without injury to the cause, is indicat- sufficiently adjusted to give a reliable foreing, along with the department of work, the cast. I will, however, cite a few facts. The field in which it is to be done, e.g., Publication notable feature of missionary effort, in this in Syria, lIledical Work in China, etc. 'part of China, has been a strong movement inland. It may be objected that to leave the propor· The southern half of the province of Fuhtion of funds to be expended upon any depart- kien is worked by three .societies, London, ment of the work to be determined by the English Presbyterian, and Reformed. Amoy wishes of the donors, would have the effect of is the natural headquarters. Until last year causing some needful departments, but which no missionary family had ever lived inland are not specially interesting, to be neglected, from Amoy. lIlissionary work was carried and others to be disproportionally developed. on by constant touring. It is possible that this might be so at the Since lIlarch, 1888, four missionary families beginning, but in this respect we must trust to have moved inland. Two families are at the enlightened interest of the givers, in- Changchew, thirty miles from Amoy; two structed by the missionaries or other compe- families at Giokhe, sixty miles from Amoy; tent persons. There will always be a large two gentlemen have settled forty miles south amount of undesignated fund, which could be from Amoy, at Changpoo; three hospitals applied to supplement the special contribu- have been opened, one at each of the places tions in those departments where it might be f1entioned. The hospitals have been largely necessary. Besides, there is no reason to patronized. suppose that the judgment of the consecrated Another feature of encouragement has been workers on the field is any surer indication of the increased willingness to hear the gospel. Native preachers have frequently remarked recently, that the past year was the best in $10,000 for that purpose. It only needs to their experience. Years ago they were scolded, have two years added to the conrse. It will a bused, stoned. To-day they go into villages not aim to be a 'University,' like the Methowhere chairs are brought out to rest them. dist Institution in Peking, but will be content 'They are entertained to tea and sweet-meats. with the field of general education and the- 'They are invited to come again. Gamblers ology. Although our mission has been in are. requested to leave their seats and the existence nearly thirty years, we have never preacher is invited to declare the doctrine. yet seen our way to the ordination of any men to the ministry, but this year we have decided These are rifts in the clouds. The darkness to take that step in the case of six graduates is still deep. Idolatry is most powerfully in- of the theological school whose record for trenched. In this city of 150,000 inhabitants three years has been such as to make it apalone, there are over 300 temples. Thousands pear to be the right thing. " of dollars are spent every month on theatricals and other demonstrations in honor of the France. gods. Even small, poor villages have several thousands of dollars filched from them every FRENCH FOREIGN MISSIONARY SOCIETY year. Idolatry is a gigantic system of robbery. FOR 1889. BY REV. J. c. BRACQ, SECRETARY AMERICAN Our religion has formidable opposition yet to overcome. The foreigner is hated, sus- MCALL ASSOCIATION. pected. The opium curse, the cruelties of East Indian coolie traffic, Chinese expnision in The annual meeting of the Socitftt des Mis- America and Australia, are associated with the sions Evangeliques gathered, not only the white-faced foreigner. His doctrine may be numerous friends of missions, but, also, some good, but it seems most improbable that he is Tahitian converts, brought to Paris by the heralding it from pure motives. All this prej- French government, for the Exposition. udice and suspicion can only be lived down. It cannot be talked down.' We are under per- M. Beugner, the distinguished Secretary of petual surveillance. the Society, read a repon, as remarkable for its form as it was interesting for its contents. However, we already have two thousaud It is interesting to see, in the city of Paris, a converts; we have a hundred stations at man devoting such talents to the cause of strategic points; we have five hospitals; we missions. We give a summary of his report, have an efficient native ministry. There is a though it must necessarily mar it. "If there Christian conscience bearing testimony against is," he says, "an imperious necessity for an the rottenness of heathenism. There are liv- army, it is to feel that its actions are haring examples of Christianity's transforming monious with the will of the general, and power. There is a native foreign missionary correspond exactly to his plans. So it is with society to the Hokkas, to the south and west the army of Jesus Christ. To do one's duty among the hills. Statistical tables are no with joy and courage, the least of his soldiers gauge of what is being done, of the influence must have the assurance that he is in the place, that is exerted. .Thousands hear the gospel and at the work, appointed. message every year. Unseen, nnheard, the day of China's redemption hastens. For the "What, in this respect, is the situation of this coming of that day we continue to labor and detachment of Christ's army known as the to pray. Societe des l.fissions Evangeliques? How are its present plans connected with the general In a note from Rev. Arthur H. advance of God's work in the world? Smith,date.d P'ang Chia Chuang Shantung, June 29, he says: "Thenew impnlse given to the evangelization of the world forces itself, as a great fact, upon " We have just held the meeting of our mis- the mind of all careful observers. The represion for the year, and have planned for en- sentatives of all missionary societies, gathlargement in many directions. We are asking ered in London, last year, were unanimous for twenty-six new people, to fill up the old upon that point. The 'Signs of the Times' stations and to open three new ones. Doubt- have spoken. The 'Pillar of Cloud and of less we shall get some, bnt Japan is so clamor- Fire' is advancing. Everywhere, under the ous, and seems to many so attractive a field, combined action of explorers, commerce, and that we do not at all compete with that mis- colonization, the doors are opening-the apsion, to say nothing of other fields, such as peals are heard. It is, for the Church, the those in India and in Africa, which are really hour marked of God, to take possession of the worse off than ours. We have for many years desolated Inheritance of the Lord. had a high school and theological seminary at Tlung Chou, and we are now unanimous "This call of God, our Society has heard. in the conviction that the time has come to ,Ve have come into possession, first of all, of make it into a college, and we have asked for an indispensable instrument of progress, the Maison des Missions. The construction of this much needed missioqary school, and the abundance of pupils that have come to us since, are the chief factors in onr increase of activities during these last years. From the month of December, 1888, to the month of which M. Collaird seems to have exercised June, 1889, we put eight new missionaries in upon the mind of King Lewanika. It is piti- the field. These facts show that the present ful, indeed, that, when M. Collaird has made· year might be called the year of departures- such efforts to open that country, and when better still, the year of envoi8; in other words, he calls, in a most soul-stirring way, for rein- a year of missions, in the truest sense. Last forcements, the SocUte des Missions Evan- year, at one time, we had eighteen missionary gtliques is able to send him but one man.

students; after the departure, we had but After a review of the work in Senegal, he re- twelve; yet we doubt not, that, next autumn, ferred to the attempts made by this Society the number will be larger than ever. " to evangelize the French Congo. Two mis- He then gives a review of the French work sionaries have been sent to study this field.

at Tahiti, pointing out the progress made by The great sacrifice of lives, made by the Eng- the converts; their profound attachment to lish Baptist Society in that part of the world, the Word of God; the general observance of has taught lessons that the French could not the Sabbath; the regular attendance of wor- fail to heed. There are already three French ship; their Christian liberality, etc. But he school-teachers and one missionary artisan deplored the fact, that, with the missionaries, working there, with an American Presbyterian their religion still localizes itself too much in missionary society. The presence of the lat- the Church, and does not radiate in good ter has led the French authorities to feel works and wholesome influences. There, as in more kindly toward the American mission- Africa, the converts and missionaries have aries. It is well known that the Society en- to cope with the hydra of intemperance. tered this field at the request of some of the The French missionary work in the Lessouto French government officers. The adminis- Land is probably the most interesting of all trators of several French colonies are now ask- the fields worked by the French Protestants. ing them to send missionaries, and to estab- There, their great difflcnlties are the increas- lish Protestant schools in the territories under ing hostility of reviving Paganism, and the their jurisdiction. The London Missionary competition of Ritualistic and Roman Catha' SOCiety has offered to surrender to them the· lic missionaries who are untiring in their ef- _ English work in the entire Society Islands.

forts to ruin the Protestant work. Altogether, But the French Protestants have contributed, the Church of the Lessouto Land received, during the past year, 313,g62 francs for thek last year, 514 new members, which makes the own work; and that sum, though large com- total present membership 6,54.3. The class of pared with the resources of the French Pro- catechumens has naturally lost what the testants, scarcely justifies them in undertak- Church has gained, but these losses have been ing new work, espeCially as the Society closes.

soon compensated for by the numerous ad- the year with a deficit of 29,000 francs.

missions, making their present number 3,332, In the light of these facts it is interesting to or 80 less than last year. By adding the num- listen to M. Beugner's conclusion: "This ber of catechumens to the number of com- situation compels us to ask once more if our municants, we reach the number of 9,875 churches bave come to understand the extent Christians. These results have been fOllowed of their duty towards missions; and if their by an increase of horne missionary work. The divine Chief, whose approval, alone, is of im- number of Annexes has risen from 94 to 110; portance, can be satisfied? What He expects and the number of native workers, catechists, of us, brethren, is easy to ascertain. Is it not and school-teachers, from 176 to 194. The clearly expressed in the sketch of the work missions of the Lessouto Land contributed, just unfolded before us? Does not the mag- last year, for home missions, 19,984 francs; nificent impetus of our mission in Lessouto which sum represents the aggregate pay of Land show the triumphs that God can achieve 194 evangelists and school-teachers. through our feeble churches? Is not Tahiti The French efforts to evangelize the Zam- there to show that, in missionary lands, as bezi have so far entailed the greatest sacri- well as at .home, French Protestants-ar- fices: "The seed which our missionaries deut patriots like their Fathers-know, also, are planting, and which they water with their like them, how to defend the sacred trust oe tears, is not the gospel that they preach, but the Word of God? Have we not seen, by the it is their very life, which they carry in their work of the Zambezi, that the old Huguenot hands and spend in detail. Ready are they to blood is not degenerated, and that it has been give it entireJy if the Master· demands it." reserved for our missions in Pagan lands, now, Among the sacrifices already made are the when the heroism of martyrdom can no longer children of M. Coillard's two colleagues, and be exercised at home, to restore to us the- the death of Dr. H. T. Dardier. One can heroism of Apostleship; necessary, inasmuch hardly realize the greatness of the dangers to as the Church cannot exist without heroism; which these noble pioneers of the gospel are let us say, rather, without devotion unto exposed. Htwever, their courage is begin- death? Does not the mission in Senegal, in ning to be rewarded; and among other favor- spite of its failures and its difficulties, speak t<> able signs, may be mentioned the influence your consciences? And these doors that are open before you; these appeals that are ad- must be erected at central points. Association dressed to you; here, by tribes and their literature must be t~anslated and published_ ehiefs, and there, by a government that form- To a limited extent native general secretaries erly viewed us as adversaries-do not all these may require partial support for awhile. The facts unite to tell uS that God has reserved, in work may suffer serious delay if the associa- .the conquest of the Pagan world, a great and tions defer their' contributions until such beautiful place for French Protestantism! secretaryships are offered them. I do not He has endowed it for that task. He has en- believe we can improve upon the well-matured couraged it in its first efforts. He calls it now financial methods of the church missionary .to accomplish its mission in all its fulness. " boards.

Japan. The financial obligation of the associations is, of course, to work for young men on the LETTER FROM SECRETARY L. D. WISHARD. foreign mission field. The associations will have as large demands upon their treasuries TOKIO, September, 1889. in this line as they can supply. If they The Young Men's Ohristian Associations are assume financial obligations to general misan established fact in the East. Eight months sionary work, either of a denominational personal study' of the situation in Japan or undenominational character, they go un- -assures me that this is eminently true in this warrantably outside their distinctive province country. While the association has only effect- and field, and so far deprive themselves of the ed a beginning here, it has secured such a firm privilege of aiding this special work for young foothold and has been so heartily welcomed by men which they exist to carry on. Their missionaries and Japanese Ohristians as to foreign mission work will suffer in proportion. fully justify the belief that the application of the same general methods of work which have _ Do not misunderstand me as reflecting upon 'succeeded in the United States will accomplish the privilege and duty of individuals to subat ieast as great comparative results in Japan. scribe liberally to general foreign work, denominational or undenominational. I The hearty call for a national secretary, ex- simply suggest that the foreign mission contended by sixty-five missionaries and leading Hindoo Ohristians in the presidency of Madras, tributions of the associations should be applied India, and the endorsement of the movement to work for young men, the support of which by Bishop Thoburn of Oalcutta, and other must come from the associations if it come at prominent missionaries throughout India, all. I maintain, as I have ever done, that so justifies the expectation that the association far from allowing the contributions to our has a definite and important career before it special work for young men to diminish the in that Empire. The acceptance by Mr. David present church missionary contributions, it :lIrcOonaughy, of Philadelphia, of the call to should be the rule and aim of everyone of our India, confirms this expectation. I have members to increase his present church con- talked with leading missionaries from Ohina tribution by a sum at least as large as that during the past summer, and am encouraged which he gives to foreign work for young men.

by them to visit that country with the expecta- There should be one medium of communica- tion of finding a wide and permanent field for tion with the foreign mission WOl:k. It is very the association. important that this work be conducted in Surely the favorable situation in Japan, and harmony with the fundamental principles and the hopeful outlook in India, and even in methods of the work at home. Many perplex- China, to say nothing of promising openings ing questions will be encountered in opening in Syria and Turkey, warrant the associations the work in the different countries. In every in expecting a great work in the East and in new field we must be in a position to avail our- preparing for it. selves of the best judgment afforded by the The present expectation is that a large force experience of fields already opened. Inde- of foreign secretaries will not be called for. pendent movements by individual associations, It is very probable that not more than one or states, or sections, will be attended with the leader will be located in each of the different same danger which would defeat our work at ·countries to develop the native yonng men. home, if such movements were instituted in The financial system or plan which in my extending it. The best results can be attained judgment should be adopted, is suggested by only by such harmonious development of the the policy of the churches. Let every associa- work as can be secured through the over- tion, as far as possihle, contribute regularly sight and direction of a central head, which is -monthly-to the foreign work, through the guided by the settled principles and methods American International Oommittee, thus fur- of association work. The American associa- nishing theeommittee with a fund with which tions have acted wisely in entrusting this im- to meet the demands for aid that are sure to portant responsibility to their international increase with the extension of the work. committee by their unanimous action at the There may he cities on the foreign mission International Oonvention in Philadelphia.

field whose current expenses may demand Their co-operation with the committee in .some help, at least temporarily. Buildings financial support, and the location of foreign

I~TERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT

mission secretaries, will, it is hoped, be fol- now doing, mission work among the Indians. lowed "ith as satisfactory results as have been within our bounds; and whereas, the importattained in the American work itself by the ance of the work among the families is insame system of co-operation. creasing as the children return from the The relation of the association to mission- schools~therefore: aries and native churches is the same as its relation to pastors and churches at home. Resolved, that the Presbyteries and the The missionaries and native pastors welcome Board of Home Missions be earnestly recomthe work with the understanding that it is mended to press this work at once. auxiliary to the denominational work; that we propose to work beside them, not to go for- Resolved, that in the opinion of this Synod ward as pioneers into fields unoccupied by the proper method of reaching the masses of churches, or to carry on a work which cannot Indians and protecting and encouraging the be immediately conserved by the churches. school children on their return to their homes, Any departure from this principle will be is, by the sending of consecrated married attended with the same disasters which have young men who will devote their lives to the already followed similar undenominational work, and preach the Gospel of Christ, in their" work at home and abroad. Our work is inter- native tongue, to the Indians. denominational rather than undenominational, and as such can only have a healthy It was the testimony of three men, intiexistence where denominations are estab- mately connected with this work, that the lished. majority of the Pueblo Indians can be reached by the Spanish language. This is true, also, We are in the very beginning of this foreign of the Navajo tribe. As the Spanish language mission enterprise. Other principles and is fully developed, it can be learned much methods will be suggested as the work pro- more easily than any of the tribal languages; gresses. The recognition of the above seems and so the people can be reached more quickly to me indispensable to the permanent success • and with better results. Some time ago I read of our work. If we will plan and work in a very sentimental article on giving the Inharmony in the Orient, as we have in the dians the gospel in the vernacular language, Occident, I believe we will establish the but the bald facts of the case are that the· association so finnly that it will stand for majority of the Indians of Mexico and New centuries in these slowly changing nations, Mexico, especially those living in Pueblos and win its greatest victories for Christ in (towns), speak Spanish like their neighbors, Asia and Africa, which contain the vast the Mexicans; and as they now, in their" majority of the young men in the world. Roman Catholic worship, hear Spanish ser- mons, can be most readily reached in that SYNOD OF NEW MEXICO. language. As rapidly as possible the mis- DEAR EDITORS: The following action of the sionary should learn the tribal language, but Synod of New Mexico may be of interest to that will require long years. In some cases you, coming, as it does, from the very centre there is no alternative; the language must be of the work among the Pueblos and the so- mastered before the gospel can be preached. called wild tribes of Indians. In its meeting A notable successful example of this is our at Albuquerque, New Mexico, the Synod Rev. Chas. Cook, of Sacaton, Arizona, who readopted this paper: cently reported a church of sixteen members, 'Yhereas, this Synod is deeply interested in gathered in spite of the hostility of a governthe work of Indian evangelization, and, where- ment agent. Yours truly, as, for many years our Church has done, and is J. J. GILCHRIST, Director of "EI Anciano.~' EAST Los VEGAS, New Mexico, Oct. 14, 188}.

IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D_ Health in the Tropics. the area of reenforcement is being ex~ There is still need for education in tended amongst thousands of our besi the matter of the physical adaptation young men and women in our col- for enduring hot climates, by persons leges; and, if added emphasis can be born outside the hot belt of the earth. put on the need, it is to be found in There is more need now than hitherto the increased tendency to proceed on of popular information concerning it, individual responsibility to foreign when scores of missionaries go to such service, without the quarantine of climates where one went a score of Boards and Committees, who are at years ago. There is yet intenser need least supposed to have given the subof wide instruction in the matter when ject some special attention, however careless or incompetent experience when the lack of ozone may demand it. may show them often to be. Some persons are peculiarly subject to bowel complaints, from mental lt scarcely seems necessary to write causes, thus predisposing them to of the simplest facts, in this connec- cholera or similar complaints, when tion. Yet, the sacred trust of a human others, not so predisposed, have an career is not to be thrown away with- immunity from it, under the same exout culpability, from la~k of inquiry posure. Intense fear of disease, or of concerning the alphabet of hygienic snake bites, in a country where poisor hereditary conditions of the indi- onous snakes often select the bedroom vidual. It is because of the convic- or the ottoman as a retreat; or ove1'- tion of the increasing need for popular fondness for taking medicines, or instruction and caution concerning some constitutional make-up by which some of the simplest of these condi- the person" cannot bear" the natives tions, that we turn aside from so much of the country, are among the items else that presses for consideration to which, at least, increase the chances summarize portions of an admirable of a physical break-down in a tropical article in the October Asiatic Quarterly climate. Review on "The Constitutional Requirements for Tropical Climates." Age is a most important factor in The article, it is true, was not written considering whether to attempt a to furnish hints for intending mission- tropical life. The Sanitary Commisaries, but as physical laws are not held sion of Great Britain advises that no in suspense for saints, what the writer, one be sent to the tropics not twentywhom we propose to follow, has to five years of age. Young persons in say of those venturing into tropical India are said to be specially subject climates for commerce or for a civil to enteric fever, and, at best, are liable or military" career," is-the necessary to remain "weak and weedy," as a conchanges being made-equally of force sequence of exposure to continued to the missionary candidate. It seems, heat. This is of special force in the therefore, that young persons, looking case of women, and twenty-three is a forward to missionary service, might minimum of age which presents fa- Wisely, first of all, give themselves vorable conditions for women enduring pause to ask whether the preparation these climates. Nor is it well, as a is a useless one for them, under their rule, that persons attempt a residence physicial conditions. "'IVe now refer in the tropics who have passed their only to those physical conditions of fiftieth year. This does not apply to which they are as competent to judge visiting the tropics, nor to persons before starting for a foreign field, as who, residing there, pass this" mileafter arrival there, and, possibly, even stone" in life. before the first step is taken in preparatory mental equipment. Temperament is to be considered. " It is usually noticed that Europeans The writer, whom we shall follow of a bilious temperament, or, still too loosely to admit of quotation, better, of a bilio-sanguine temperapoints to the fact of what he calls ment, have enjoyed the best health in "idiosyncrasy" of constitution. Some India." persons are unfitted for sustaining heat and will be a nuisance to others "But," the writer says, "there who feel cool and comfortable in the must be no predominance of the same temperature. Smue persons can- nervous temperament, which has long not take quinine without such dis- been regarded as the basis of nervousagreeable accidental results as practi- ness, hypochondriasis and hysteria." cally preclude the use of this medicine, vVe yenture to quote the writer's deand that in conditions of climate scription of the infelicities awaiting " nervous" people in India: "A sensitive and sympathetic nature is not of diabetes, which is a common dis- most conducive to health and happiness when ease of the tropics, 01' of asthma, submitted to the daily, and even hourly, ills which is excited by the malarious inand irritations inseparable from life in the fluences of hot climates, or to insomnia, tropics. " . . " There is the irritation caused should be very carefully weighed be- by tbe prickly heat, and ,the noise made by fore seeking a residence in these cawing crows, cooing pigeons, chirping ~par­ climates. rows, squeaking squirrels, and creaking wells about the house in the day time. At night We do not say that all such persons there are animals gamboling on the roof, bark- are absolutely precluded from entering pariah dogs, bleating goats, more creak- ing these fields. We do say they must ing wells, native tom-toms, singing, 'lights expect, other things being equal, inand country music.' . . creased risk, an hindered service, and probably an early retirement from the "Then there are irritating things that do field. not make a noise, the mosquito in battalions, the ubiquitous fly at some seasons in legions; Chinese Characteristics. in the rains the hosts of various other winged insects, frogs, rats, scorpions, centipedes and INABILITY TO CONSERVE TANGIBLE snakes. If in camp, there is probably the MEMORIALS OF THE PAST. roaring of the camels, the howling of the jackals, and the clapper of the irrigation BY REV. ARTHUR H. SMITH. wells. If a dust storm blows, ink-pot and ears are filled with sand, every object in the room There is no nation existing on th!:) or tent is covered with it, and food is rendered planet which has a greater regard for gritty by it. Now all such matters may be antiquity, and with more reason, than regarded as minor ills, and not worthy serious the Chinese. But there is no country attention; bnt by their very perpetuity they in which it is possible to find so few rarely fail to make an impression on the material relics of the distant past as typical nervous temperament. Work is per- in China. We have already spoken of formed with difficulty by the nervous man the Chinese hunger for fame, as well when he is subjected to the periodical bite of as of the "disregard of foundations." a mosquito on his finger, the frequent visit of vVe have now to notice the relation a fly to his nose, the harsh and sudden caw of which these two characteristics bear a crow looking in at his window, and a couple to one another, and their connection of sparrows chirping and fluttering over his with the instinct of conservatism_ head in the persistent endeaVOl' to find a hole The Chinese are very desirous ~f in the ceiling wherein to build a nest. Then, transmitting to those who come after, worse still, owing to the nuisances mentioned, as well as of making known to conthe typical nervous individual passes sleepless temporaries, a knowledge of whatever nights; and not to sleep well in the tropics is tends to make themselves, their famto prepare the system for disease. In short, ilies, or their dynasty great or notable. the numerons disagreeables of tropic life act This is an impulse which they share as a metaphorical shirt of Nessus over the with the rest of the human race. The whole moral epidermis of the nervous tempera- means by which they seek to accomment, which is least of all unfitted for a hot plish this end are the erection of climate." memorial temples, memorial portals, " P'ai-fang," stone 01' wooden tablets, If this long quotation serves no pur- and, in the Ming dynasty, the use of pose of instruction as to adaptation to stone figures of men and animals lin~ endure the tropics, we are sure it will ing the avenues to cemeteries. Of the at least be recognized by every" old swift ruin which overtakes every form Indian" as a most graphic and not of building constructed on a Chinese overdrawn picture_ plan, and of the ruin of the public roads, we have already spoken. Strict- Constitutional tendencies and hered- ly speaking, there are no old temples itary predisposition to disease come in China, because no Chinese temple next in our author's catalogue. No can withstand the elements more than person in whose family there are any traces of insanity should go to reside in the tropics. Heat alone tends to excite the mind, and the accident of a sunstroke would render it still more imminent_ So of "fits," epilepsy and hysteria. An hereditary history a few score years at most, when it more impressive scale. Although gives way to a new and revised edi- built of materials which ought to en- tion, if it does not totally disappear. dure for centuries, and although put Temples, like fruit trees, have a defin- up at great expense, it is rare to find ite period of life, and if that is to be specimens which are thirty years old prolonged, they must be perpetually and yet in good repair. The founda- grafted, or else new scions must be~ tions sink, the strong iron clamps give raised from the seed. The wooden way, the heavy transverse blocks of lacquered tablets, which are so highly stone are wrenched from their mor- ornamental when new, and so dismal tises, and crack. Every projection when old, and which play so import- appears to be starting from its socket, ant a part in gratifying the Chinese and however interested the traveler desire for "face" and "fame," have but may be to ascertain the age of the a limited duration, and then disappear work, or to study the curious carving for ever. More permanent by far are which it displays, his first and in- the portals which are erected to the stinctive anxiety is to get out from great scholars, famous officers, virtu- under it, before it falls. It is impossi- {Jus widows and maidens who may be ble to refrain from speculating as to so honored as to have the right to the length of time ere the crazy frame- them conferred by imperial favor. work will come down, and whether When these structures are made of the law of chances will admit of its well cut stone, are of the most advan- fall without killing anyone. If com- tageous size and well situated, they parative brevity of existence is true are the finest representation of Chinese of such massive structures as the por- architecture to be met with in the tals, it is much more the case as re- Empire. A wealthy citizen of Paris, gards stone tablets, which constitute London or New York, who wished to the ordinary vehicle for the con- confer upon these cities a gift which veyance of fame to posterity. If should convey an accurate and attrac- erected on a large scale, they stand on tive view of what the Chinese can the back of a gigantic tortoise, em- achieve in ornamentation, could not blem of longevity, and appear at first do better than to order one of these adapted to execute the commission P'ai-fangs, and have itset up in a with which they are charged, to per- public park, where it would be ad- petuate fame for "an hundred gen- mired for many generations. The erations," if not for "ten thousand Chinese lavish great sums on these antiquities." But the same vicious structures, which are to be seen in mode of construction, or rather de- immense numbers, just in proportion struction, rules the tablet, the portal to the proximity of a supply of stones. and the temple. The foundation is If stones are not to be had, the portals inadequate, and sooner or later they are made of wood, as in Peking, and all go down. The tortoise is decapi- very much less than one generation is tated by the attrition of ages, and required to reduce them to a condition buried up to the stump of his neck in of ruin. Like all other Chinese erec- the soil, while the precious fame-beartions, they give way at the bottom, ing tablet lies prone on the earth, or the tall posts begin to lean in different shattered into many pieces, the fame. directions, the lacquer scales off as if being thus administered in what the they had the leprosy in an exaggerated physicians call" divided doses." Or form, and large sections of the com- if the tablet, as a whole, holds toplicated ornamental woodwork at the gether, it may form the seat at a waytop are seen to be on the point of fall- side restaurant, a door-step, or even ing. The same thing occurs in the the pavement to a bridge. In any .case of the stone portals, but on a case the inscription has been cut so shallow that it is almost or quite illeg- it cannot be entrusted to temples, por- ible. The traveler may penetrate half tals, or tablets, for the reasons which of the provinces in China, may ex- we have already given, might be ex- amine every venerable tablet which pected in the form of carefully pre- he sees, and yet not find one which pared maps showing the old, the in- dates as far back as the Mongol termediate, and the new designations dynasty (500 years ago), except in of places which for two or three mil- some "Forest of Tablets" in a large lenniums have been historic. Works city, under special care. of this sort certainly do exist. One of them rejoices in the formidable title We began by remarking that no na- of Li Tai Yii Ti Yen Ko Hsien Yao tion has a greater regard for antiquity T'u, or Map of the Imperial territory than the Chinese, but contrast this under successive Dynasties, with their wretched poverty of memorials of the changes. This appears to be exactly past, with the overflowing wealth of what is wanted by the student who the citie.8 of the ancient empires, now wishes to revive the mighty past, and extinct, at the other end' of the Asi- he sits down to an examination of the atic continent, Babylon, Nineveh and sixty or seventy maps, with a 'confi- Baalbek. Instead of lofty columns of dence that now at last the darkness of porphyry, the ruins of an ancient the bygone ages is to roll away, and Chinese city consist of an unlimited light is to break forth in its place. supply of bits of tiles and brickbats. We have spoken elsewhere of the The only way to identify the site of Chinese" disregard of accuracy," and such an ancient city, as, for example, these maps furnish fresh illustrations the Khanbalik of Kublai Khan, near of this characteristic, whatever they Peking, is to trace the mounds of may furnish in the line of ancient geearth, which give the mere outline of ography. They are drawn with the what was once one of the world's purpose of exhibiting both the ancient great capitals. Khanbalik was a com- and the modern names at the same paratively modern city. What was time, the former in black ink, and the the situation of the ancient capitals of latter in red. As the scale of the the Yin, the T'ang and the Sung dy- maps is not a large one, one result of nasties, as compared with the cities this plan is to crowd out altogether a now to be found in the neighborhood, great many ancient names which. the traveler finds it very hard to as- ought to be noted, and as Chinese certain, for in China there is most characters take up considerable room, literally no continuing city. That the another incidental result is to lead to Chinese wish to keep in remembrance the printing of the black characters the situation of ancient places, is evi- immediately over the red, to the dent from the fact that in the historic obliteration of the latter. Not only so, parts of the empire it is common to but extensive notes and explanations, find inscriptions over city gates, certi- instead of being put at the edges of fying that this was the" ancient" such the maps, where there is always about and such a chou. In some instances one-third of the space vacant, are' this tradition is kept alive simply by printed wherever it suited the fancy the pasting of a strip of red paper over or convenience of the block cutter, enthe gate of a small market town, tirely covering up hundreds of squaTe with characters conveying the an- miles of territory, and in several cases nouncement, although it is impossible literally stamping out of existence to find a single person who can give such important cities as Si Ngan Fu the exact location of the ancient city. and Peking, with all the country ad- joining. These infelicities, however, The preservation of that historical are trifling compared with another, knowledge of the past, for which the Chinese have so great a respect, while which defeats the very object for direction. But it must have been which a map is made, to wit, to ex- some time before even this erratiC' hibit the relative situation of places orbit was adopted, for in one of the on the earth's surface. For example, earlier maps Yu Chou has gone eastunder the map of the Contending ward about seven degrees, and is dis- Kingdoms, it is impossible to deter- covered calmly seated at the edge of mine either how many kingdoms are what is now the barrier between Corea represented or what were their and Shingking ! boundaries. It is, we repeat, a singularly sugges- Let us suppose, for example, that tive circumstance, that a people so exwe wish to ascertain the situation of ceptionally conservative of the past as the state called Yen, the ,. Kingdom of the Chinese, should have so few endur- Swallows," and of its capital, the ing monuments or public works. All Khanbalik of Kublai, the modern that can be said to come under this Peking. Not far from the ancient head are the Great Wall, the Grand Yen, was the ancient Yu Chou, the Canal, the walls of cities, and river modern Tungchow, which is about embankments. The Great Wall is twelve miles east of the capital. Now doubtless a wonderful monument of by a minute inspection of some forty- human energy, and it has been refive of these maps, we discover that in marl;:ed that it is the only artificial eighteen of them neither of the cities structure which would arrest attention Yen and Yu is marked at all. In eight in a hasty survey of the surface of of the remaining maps Yen is noted, the globe. But the Great Wall has but not Yu, in others Yu but not Yen, been subject to constant renewals, so· and in only nine are both to be found. that it is impossible to deterinine the Judging then from these phenomena real age of any particular part, and only, one 'would suppose these ancient throughout a large portion of its cities to have been like a modern re- course it is reduced to a mere heap of volving lighthouse, visible only at rubble. The same questions of identity intervals, and at intervals of great of structure which occur in regard to irregularity. But this is not all. the Great Wall, are constantly sug- Sometimes Yen is called Yen Kuo gested by the many hundred city walls (the State of Yen), and sometimes it all over the empire. Few of them can appears to be m.erely the city. In the be proved to be of any great age, all map representing the "Seven King- of them .are subject to constant redoms," Yen has gone east about one newal of the external facings, and geographical degree, and is perched many of them have been moved bodily on the Great Wall, while some from one place to another at irregular centuries later it went as 'much to the intervals. northwest, though still adhering to the Great Wall, and is called "East- The Proper Attitude of Foreign Misern Yen," fully justifying by its sionaries toward Conflicting Faiths. rapid flight its name of the" Swallow Capital." But if Yen was peripatetic, BY REV. JAMES HERRICK, BRATTLEBORO, VT. Yu Chou was not less so, and in the ten times in which it emerges, it con- The great object to be aimed at by trives to make a complete circuit of missionaries is the salvation of the the modern Peking, appearing now on present generation of the people to the east, then south, south-west, north- whom they are sent. west, and north, its movement bearing some resemblance to the revolution of Their attitude toward conflicting the constellation Ursa Major about faiths should be that of persons the Polar Star, though in a reverse thoroughly cominced that the Bible is the word of God. That in accord- ance with its teachings "there is one God, and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, who 'what they might do for themselves.

gave himself a ransom for all." That As a general rule, they should be ;, in none other is there salvation," and expected to pay, according to their that opportunity for salvation is con- ability, for articles or services costing fined to the present life. money, the value of which they appre- Missionaries should feel a warm ciate and which they wish to receive.

sympathy for people of other faiths, It is desirable that missionaries as members of the human family, and should mingle with the people, hold- show a disposition to meet them, not ing as free and familiar intercourse as enemies, but friends desiring to do with them as circumstances will them good. They should be more allow. The difference in manner of ready to make known the excellence liying, etc., should not be greater than of their own religion than to attack necessary. .Much must, however, the religion of others. Though pre- depend upon climate and the condi- pared to show that other religions are tion, habits, and character of the not true, they should avoid giving people. It cannot be expected that unnecessary offense. While carefully missionaries from England or America teaching the principles of Christianity will pursue the same course among and the duties it enjoins, they should savages in Africa, that might be pur- insist upon doctrines and practices that sued by Mohammedan missionaries are essential, rather than those which, from Egypt or Arabia. Nor, that in .though not essential, seem difficult such a country as India, foreigners will and burdensome to people newly em- adopt the habits of the natives in bracing Christianity. regard to food and dress, or live in In his efforts to convert people, the houses of the same kind, and as desti- missionary should depend chiefly upon tute of furniture as the houses occupied the force of Divine Truth, made known by most of them. Civilization is one to them in the vernacular language, ac- of the things incident to the spread of companied by the Spirit of God. In his Christianity not to be disregarded, intercourse with the people, and his though of secondary importance. As work among them, he must show that respects matters of this kind, no he loves them. He must treat all with general rule can be given. Let the kindness, especially those in trouble. missionary, mindful of the fact that Sympathy shown, and favors given foreigners are often disposed to hold in the time of need, will do much, not the natives at too great a distance, be only to incline people to listen to the careful to avoid extremes, and follow gospel message, but to teach them the the guidance of his own best judg- nature of the Christian religion. It ment.

must not be supposed, however, that Though preaching the gospel to kind treatment or secular help will people in their own tongue is the alone make people Christians. They special instrumentality to be relied must not be left to believe that a pro- upon, teaching must not be neglected.

fessed desire to become Christians From the first, those professing a will entitle them tO,receive such help. desire to embrace Christianity must Under all circumstances people should be taught, adults as well as children, be treated with kindness, but not with the leading doctrines and precepts of too much indulgence, either before 01' the Bible. So far as practicable, after becoming Christians. So far as children of both sexes should be'

may be, the missionary should help gathered into schools open to persons them by teaching them to help them- of other religions as well as to Chris- selves. He should strive to promote tians. In some cases, missionaries in self-reliance, and not allow people to India have established schools in which depend upon others to do for them the English language is taught for the special purpose of teaching the Bible germ the secret of the new intellectual, to heathen of high caste, and have met moral and spiritual renewal of China. with a good degree of success. The The Protestant religion, during the advisability of such a course will past.twenty years, in China, has spread depend much upon circumstances. into 'every province of China; it has Where the middle and lower classes, found its way into hundreds and who generally constitute a large thousands of the little villages. It has majority of all, and many of the its secure seats and large interest in higher classes, may be reached through each of the open ports, and in the in- the vernacular, it cannot be the duty terior it has spread its educational and of most missionaries to spend much benevolent institutions. .It has gone time teaching English. everywhere spreading the Word. No longer an illicit religion, at the centres Missionaries should be inclined to of influence, it has commanded the teach native converts, and place re- respect of the government, while in sponsibility upon them. Steps should the interior it has gone to the call of early be taken to fit promising persons sorrow and need, and allying itself of both sexes to take part in the work with the people in famine and flood, as school teachers, and young men as in destitution and fever, it has dis- preachers and pastors. Candidates armed prejudice among the peasantry, for such services should not be encour- and won its way by all human sym- aged to go abroad for education. pathies to an assured position of dig- Most, at the present day, can find nity, influence and prospective perample opportunities for needed educa- suasive power. The young thinking tion in their native countries. If they men and the wise progressive leaders go abroad for their education they will have awakened to the discoveries that be in danger of losiNg interest in their the multitude of missionary colleges own people, for whose good they and schools are sources of intellectual should expect to labor in the future. hope for China. They have dis- They will also be in danger of form- covered a large literature already ing habits which, though not increas- wrought out for them, and they are ing their ability to be useful, will in_ seeking the wide outlook of knowledge crease the cost of their future support, which the missionary has quietly and interfere with the object greatly to placed in their way. Theyhavefound be desired-that mission churches early in the scores of hospitals and dispenbecome independent of foreign aid. saries, planted in multitudes of mis- sionary centres, the signs of a true Having introduced native converts sympathy with men. And the half into employment as helpers, the mis- million of natives, from the imperial sionary should cherish toward them family down, who have been helped such feelings as Paul entertained for and comforted when sick and dis" Timothy, and be ready to help them, eased, carry henceforth only gratitude as need may be, by words of admoni- to the men whose doctrines they may tion to those in the earlier stages of once have despised. the work, and of counsel and encour- When the children of the great agement to all. Viceroy are taught the English lan- guage daily by a missionary, and the Ohanges in Ohina Affecting Its Progress. principles of Christianity therewith; when they are healed by the mission- BY REV. H. D. PARKER,.M. D., CHINA. ary physician, and thus realize the purpose of his coming, we may (Concluded from last number of the REVIEW.) measure the severance with the past and the outlook for the future. Coincident with all these changes has been the changing aspect of the government toward the Christian re- ligion. The toleration of that religion, Protestant and Catholic, held in its This changed aspect of people and Protestantism in China rejoices in government may be seen in the greater this change. She sees large results readiness to settle the disputes which in the near future. Conscious of her so frequently have arisen as to the own intellectual and moral supremacy purchase of property in the interior. and leadership in the race toward The government has undoubtedly un- spiritual enlargement in China, she dertaken to withdraw all possible com- rejoices in whatever enlightens the plaint and to act fairly in dealing minds of the officials, or points to the with difficult cases. allaying of fears, hostilities and enmi- Not only is this true respecting Pro- ties among the people.

testant, but respecting Roman Catho- Let us ask then, in conclusion, what lic missions as well. In fact, the re- bearing have these changes upon the habilitation of the Catholic churches future of work in China, and what is in China is one of the most significant the immediate outlook. Weare re- signs of the times. By treaty in 1861, minded that in everyone of the all lands, once the gift of an Imperial twenty-two open ports in China, in Hand, but confiscated, were returned. all her great centres of influence, in In Peking they built over against scores of cities and interior towns, are the palace a model church. It was a to be found, well started, some of them source of long hostility and scandal. with large equipment, fertile of great But two years ago a truce was made, a resources, missionary organizations.

commission went to Rome to effect an Ve recall that God has placed in exchange. The wise diplomats of China, at this hopeful stage of pro- Rome made due concession. The gress, no less than 1,100 men and North Church in Peking, with all its women as consecrated, energetic, en- fine surroundings, was exchanged for thusiastic missionary workers. Halt a larger and better site. The offensive of these are women. Surrounding cathedral was pulled down, and a new this small army of Christian workers one built in the new position. are about 190 ordained native minis- On the first of December last, this ters and 1,400 unordained native new and magnificent cathedral, whose workers. That more than 35,000 na- value in our money would be no less tive communicants represent the r~ than $300,000, with all the additional sults gathered in. That this numbet and completed enclosures of schools, represents about 140,000 persons large, hospital, nunnery, museum, printing ly interested and believing in Protest- press, with a value even greater than ant Christianity.

the cathedral, were dedicated and -Weare to recall the long series of newly instituted. The ceremonial was colleges, schools, theological semina- unique and magnificent. Every for- ries, girls' schools and day schools, eign ambassador and minister was reaching from Peking to Canton, from present. All departments of the Shanghai toSchung Ching, into which Chinese government were present. are gathered 15,000 young men and It was the sign of amnity between women, in whose intellectual moral Rome and China. It was the imperial and spiritual progress so much of the seal of rejoicing in the reinstatement future depends.

of the Christian Religion in the capital We are to be reminded that a band of of China. seventy medical missionaries, increas- In this outward display the Protest- ing every year there their well-founded ant Church takes no other part or hospitals, dispensaries and general share than to note the fact and the as- philanthropies, meet personally half a pect of glad change in the relations be- million of the native population every tween the imperial and official power year and pour into willing ears the and the Christian religion. sweet stories of the gospel. Weare

THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS

to notice that missionary literature, in spiritual outlook, we see the Divine a vast variety of forms, is receiving an Hand preparing the way for the reever increasing interest. Weare to demption of this great and noble emobserve that great floods and terrible pire in the East. Let us stimulate our famine have brought the missionary, efforts with the largeness of the hope with his pitiful heart and helping now set before the Church, and ere we hand and gospel of redemption, into are aware of it the vast and sorrowful hundreds and thousands of homes, and mass of men in China will be girdled the way is prepared for the pouring in with an awakened thought and interof vast comfort, vast intelligence, vast penetrated with the silverlinesofspiritgpirituallight, into this the once celes- ual energy and hope. In every aspect tialland. the hope for thefuturein Chinaisgreat. Weare in the battle. Let men toil in In all these converging lines, the hope of assured success, and the whether of diplomacy or commerce, generations that are coming will send or industrial energy, or intellectual up the shouts of joyful victory. awakening and opportunity, or of V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.

BY REV. F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.

THE LAST DECADE OF THE CENTURY. group themselves about the opening "Watchman, what of'the night?" of the New Year and of the closing It was a cherished habit of President decade? Edwards to keep a lookout in the secu- First of all there are some things lar papers for every event, every promisingindication,every mere suggestion, which interest alike all intelligent men which seemed related to the advance- of whatever faith. That an empire'of ment of the Redeemer's Kingdom in South America should enter upon the year 1890 as a republic, and thus com- the Earth; and these were the matters plete that revolutionary movement of his chief satisfaction. which began in Mexico nearly eighty years ago, and by which every trace Very meagre must have been his sources of information in the last half of Spanish and Portugese dominion of the eighteenth century, compared is now swept from Central and South with the thickly crowding and often America, is an event stupendous in marvelous changes which pass before itself, and far-reaching in its influence.

us at the opening of the year of our In more respects than one, it is a step Lord eighteen hundred and ninety. in advance. The character of this Every morning the daily press bloodless revolution,as contrasted with preselilts us a new moving panorama. the dark scenes of the French Reign To the Christian, the march of con- of Terror, a ceniu:ry ago, or with the temporary civilizations toward one countless struggles of Mexico, marks common goal- the well being of all a marvelous change in the spirit and humanity-is the movement and un- quality of statesmanship, a great ad- folding of a Divine plan. It is the vance in wise moderation and hu- coming of a kingdom of righteousness mane sentiment. In its religious, as in the earth. While others look upon well as its political aspects, it seems it as an evolution, according to an ill- auspicious.

defined and blind law, the servant of It is a harbinger and a guaranty of Christ finds that which cheers his religious liberty. It removes the dark courage, strengthens his faith, calls shadows of the threatened reign of a forth his gratitude, and gives him new fanatical empress and an ignorant encouragement to pray "Thy King- subserviency to the priesthood and the dom Come." Pope of Rome. Considering the temper What are some of the facts which of the people, and the certainty that such a reign would have led to con- montanism in the Church cannot coflict with the liberal sentiment of the exist with civil liberty in the State. country, it is a matter of rejoicing It required a half century for Mexic<> that the change was made while an to learn this fact; all will learn it emperor was still in power who more readily now. could temperately view the situation and gracefully yield to the wish and The year 1890 will mark, as it is the interest of the nation. confidently hoped, the era of constitu- tional government in Japan. The It was only as a result of peculiar chief danger is that the sordid and circumstances, such as the temporary unjust demands of foreign diplomacy exile of the royal family of Portugal may interpose such barriers to the rein America, and the moderation ex- form of oppressive treaties as to balk ercised toward the party of liberty the purpose of Japan to place herself and advancement, that Brazil was pre- in the great family of civilized nations. vented from joining the Republican to which equal rights are accorded. movement of the other South Ameri- National policy is not yet so far sanccan States long ago. tified as to prevent the interests of trade from sometimes overriding the But what a stride has been made most sacred rights of feebler governsince the days when the theory every- ments and races. The year 1890, so where prevailed that the people were important and so crucial to Japan, created for the ambition and glory of should therefore be one of earnest kings; when only a century ago the prayer. It should begin with sup- " Man of Destiny "on the one hand and plication to Him in whose hands are successive Bourbons on the other,could the hearts of all men, and who can plan campaigns without the slightest turn them as the rivers of water are reference to the sufferings or welfare turned. There is just now no little of their subjects, but only as subserv- anxiety in the minds of missionaries ing the interests of their dynasties. in Japan, since a favorable issue of the .And now it is a Bourbon and a Haps- treaty questions may throw open the burg that so nobly proclaims to this doors to . Christian evangelization new generation that emperors are to more widely than ever, while a rebuff retire when the peace and prosperity from Christian nations might cast a of a nation demand it. Surely the disastrous blight upon the great misworld moves: The kingdom of right- sionary work which hitherto has been eousness is advancing. so successful.

The new decada will open with a The outlook in China, at the best, closer fellowship among the Ameri- can only be considered niixed, like the can republics, as a result of the recent alternate sunshine and cloud of an International Congress. Whatever re- April day. There is advancement. sults of other kinds may follow, The new sensation of riding upon a political and commercial, the new de- railroad train is coming to be appreparture cannot fail to stimulate the ciated. It is seen that the funshuay advancement of general intelligence, is, after all, not so badly upset; the freedom of opinion, and moral eleva- sleeping ancestors do not rise in protion. What the best have attained, test from the trembling earth; the all will come to emulate. course of the world continues, and China bids fair to experience an m- The Bible, the school, the news- crease of general prosperity, and to be paper, the Christian home, all of which prepared in due tinle for the defense have done so much for the great of her coasts from the outrages of Protestant republic of the North will Western powers. be welcomed by the Roman Catholic republics of the South, in spite of The work of the Chinese missions priestly protest and opposition. Ultrahas been greatly prospered of late, on ble when considering the extreme all hands. A new demonstration has conservatism which has· marked the been made of Christ-like charity in sup- past.

plying the needs of thousands who Caution is yet observed by the gov- were perishing from famine, and the ernment, and great prudence is essen- people, rendered impressible by suffer- tial to the missionary; but, looking at ing and grateful by timely relief, are the whole situation as it is, there is ready to receive the truth, and yet reason to hope that, with God's bless- there are dark shadows in the picture. ing, the closing decade of the ce;ntury, The people are preplexed by contra- the second only ~f Protestant mis- dictions in their Christian neighbors. sions in Korea, will be crowned with " How is it," they say, " that those noble successes. It is a worthy topic who are ready to give us thousands of of prayer.

dollars for the starving, and to send In the missions of Siam and the scores of missionaries to spend their Laos country the membership of the lives in faithful labor among us, are native churches has increased in the yet so intolerant to our citizens who last decade just about 500 per cent.

land upon their shores-so utterly This a good keynote for the next ten recreant to solemn treaty obligations, years. The ratio should be main- and so unjust in all their legislation tained.

respecting us? Why are we, to whom The government, so far from re- such cordial and even gushing over- ceding from its favorable attitude to- tures were made in the treaties of wards missionaries, has of late given twenty-five years ago, the only people increased encouragement to their on the globe who are so cruelly ex- labors. They are suppliedgratuitously cluded'/ What is it to be a Christian with buildings and other facilities nation? " for medical work, and one of their To us these questions are easy of number has recently been called to answer; but how long may it be before the superintendency of the govern- the great Chinese nation, or even the ment hospitals. In some instances government,shall be able to distinguish royal gifts have been made to Chris- between a so-called Christian nation tian schools. Everywhere there is as and the real friends of Christ, to whom great freedom accorded to the preach- His cause is greater than the balance ing of the Gospel as in any State of of political power. the American Union.

Of Corea it would hardly be safe to The "Dark Continent" is still dark venture a prophecy. The government as the closing decade opens; but one is still young in its foreigu policy; it only needs to recall what the last ten is not free from opposition and dan- years have accomplished, to gather ger; it is ever open to foreign as well great encouragement for the ten years as domestic intrigue; it has difficult to come.

financial problems before it; but when As the crowning achievement of we reflect that not a decade has yet his remarkable career, Henry M.

passed since the new regime began,we Stanley has solved at last the problem are filled with wonder at the progress of the Nile, while others have found a that has been made, and we must, on more available route to the country of the whole, admire the prudence and the upper Zambezi.

sagacity which the young king has The work so bravely inaugurated by shown in his administration of affairs. the African Inland Mission has grown The advancement of commerce, of into greater proportions under the education, of missions-especially of American Baptist Missionary Union, medical missions-has been far greater and the feasibility of established and than would have been thought possi- successful missionary enterprise in the

'1'[1/<: 1[()"THL¥ CU"ClmT OF lIIISSIONS

illt.t'rior of E<luatorial Africa has bl't'll The ob8tacles are sueh as these: dplllonstrated. (1) The fact that more or less of The missionary enterprises, under- taken by Bishop Taylor ami his heroic agnosticism, hesitancy, or indifference followers, on the branches of the Congo, whatever may be the final appears in the churches. . verdict on their feasibility and suc- cess, have certainly traced a high (2) There is less of certainty in refer- watermark of moral earnestness in the midst of this easy-going age-have ence to creeds, and luany even extend given new assurance that the apos- tolic spirit is not dead, nor the faith their questionings to the Word of that can endure hardness an obsolete grace. God.

But, in the African outlook, as a (3) There is an open alliance be- whole, there is no ground for the un- reflecting optimist. The conquest of tween the scepticism of Christian such a continent is not an easy one. Noble martyrs still fall victims to the lands and the heathen systems of the caprice of heathen rulers, or to the deadly influences of climate. mission fields.

Fanatical Mohammedanism is still (4) Tourists, newspaper correspond- triumphant and defiant on the upper Nile, and Mohammedan tyrants still ents, naval officers, and even dis- spread devastation on the borders of "Vestem Soudan. The horrors of the couraged or disaffected clergymen, are slave trade still continue, and the hlUllane sentiment of Europe and discrediting the work of missions on America has been to prevent it. That twin enormity, the liquor traffic, the fields and advocating the false sys- deluges still the west coast, and finds its way up the rivers, spreading dis- tems as better adapted to their envi- ease and death to soul and body. ronments than the Christian faith. Has the new decade any remedy in store for these terrible evils? But, on the other hand, there are Two auspicious facts, however, are many cheering elements in the outnow before us : look. (1) The Sultan of Zanzibar has deo creed freedom to all slaves brought vVe have always the promise of the into his dominion, and has promised freedom to all children of slaves born Master that He will be in the midst of after January 1, 1890. His own work, always, even unto the (2) A Congress of European powers is to be held in Brussels to devise end of the world. measures for the suppression of the slave traffic. We have already seen how His If we turn from the contemplation Providence is working for the general of the mission fields and consider the general outlook of the cause at home, advance of His kingdom, in the great we find also both light and shade. movements of the nations. It is a time of transitions, especially as to methods and departments of o Over against all the misrepresenta- Christian effort. tions of the enemies of the cause, scores of disinterested statesmen and ad- ministrators of colonial governments, as a result of careful and protracted observation, are commending the work of missions in strong terms.

Our educational methods, our medi- cal work, our general efforts to raise the sphere of woman,-to some ex- tent our preaching,-is copied by the devotees of error, who see the mani- fest power and blessing of the Chris- tian faith.

.Notwithstanding the doubt and in- difference of many, there is more of Bible study than ever before, more of the missionary spirit, more of organ- ized effort, more of generous giving, for the spread of the Gospel.

The great increase of interest and of activity, among the young, is one of the very brightest auspices of the time. In this view, these coming Wishard has been sent abroad for a years are full of promise. labor of two or three years along these lines. He has thus far met with The work on the field is owned of marked success, not only in organiz- God in the manifest power of His ing associations but in quickening the spirit. An examination of the actual spirit of the young men, especially of statistics of growth for ten years, or Japan. for five, always fills us with new sur- prises. May we not also regard the rapid and remarkable development of the IS IT AN ANSWER TO PRAYER ? work of Christian Endeavor Societies in the churches as a part of this gen- All branches of the Church have eral movement and as due largely to been taken more or less by surprise by the same causes? The young of both the uprising of a very large number sexes who are soon to assume the great of Christian young men and women, work of the world's evangelization mostly students, who have volun- are quickened in zeal throughout this teered under a partial pledge to give country and in other Christian lands. themselves to the work of Foreign Mission~. This striking movement has What are the causes of this general been explained by one and another movement among the young? Has on such theories as seem to each most the Church any right to look with plausible, the theories, however, differ- surprise as if something strange had ing widely from each other. Whether happened, something not to be acit was an impulse borrowed from a counted for on ordinary Christian similar movement in the Universi- principles? We dare not speak posities of Great Britain, whether it was tively, but there are some things which mainly due to the great influence of are worthy of notice by way of sugthat earnest and devoted man, Dwight gestion. L. Moody, of Northfield, or whether it was a response to the stirring ap- Twenty or twenty-five years ago the peals of young men sent out from Christian women of the churches of Princeton to labor in the colleges and this country as well as of Great Britseminaries, are questions which ha'Ve ain were moved by the Spirit of God been discussed but never settled. to undertake the work of enlighten- ing and reclaiming the benighted wo- In sympathy with the volunteer men of heathen lands. It was one of movement, there has appeared a gen- the most remarkable movements of eral enkindling of the spirit of missions our time in its depth, its extent, and in colleges, and where, but a few years its moral elevation. It appeared to be ago, the merest trifle was contributed so divinely guided as to avoid exfor the cause of Foreign Missions by travagances, and it worked with the students, large sums are now an- utmost loyalty_ to the instituted aunually raised. thorities of the Church of Christ. It disclosed great ability and organizing Coupled with this movement is a power, but what was most noteworthy new departure in the Young Men's was the fact that everything was done Christian Associations of the country. in the spirit of prayer and supplica- There is a widening out of their plans. tion. Prayer for missions had de- They are looking across the sea and clined. The Monthly Concert had asking themselves, "·Why may not fallen into disuse or had ceased to emthe globe be belted with similar or- phasize the wants of the heathen. 'The ganizations, embracing the young con- week of prayer had become almost· verts on the mission fields, training wholly subsidized for interests nearer them and organizing them for work home. Prayers for missions in the among their countrymen?" Vith pulpit were, for the most part, conthis great end in view, Rev. Mr.

EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS

fined to set phrases when not omitted The Church of Christ proceeds upon altogether. the assumption that the whole work must be diviuely guided and inspIred. But the Woman's Boards bore the "Without faith it is impossible to work of missions to the mercy seat. please God." He that cometh to Him Many of their committee rooms be- must believe that He is, and that He came Bethels. The great work was is the rewarder of all them that dilitaken to their homes and their closets. gently seek Him, and he must not There was coupled with the prayer be overtaken with awkward surprise not only the consecration of their when his prayers are answered. means but of their children. The work of missions became a topic of On this principle it ought not to be conversation at the fireside as it had throught strange, after twenty years never been before. To the children of prayer, that multitudes of the young it became a household word. At the are rising up and saying, "Here are same time they were organized into we, send us. " It is the very thing missionary bands and furnished with that should have been looked for with facts, maps, and catechetical exercises, earnest expectation, and if now the until in a few years they really pos- blessing has come, there is reason to sessed greater knowledge of the mis- ask that God will enlarge the faith of sion fields and of the mission work than His people in another direction-in many adults had possessed before, and one word, that the wealth, as well as greater than some had been able to the children of the Church, may be boast who were pastors of churches. consecrated to missions.

VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES O~ CURRENT TOPICS.

Oollege Missionary Lectureships. Fellowship with God; 4. The Spirit of Through the generosity of W. F. Missions an Inbreathing; 5. The Field Graves, Esq., of Syracuse, N. Y., a Lectureship of this kiud was recently of Missions an Assignment; 6. The endowed in Rutgers College. It was begun last year, provision being made Success of Missions the Seal of God. for six lectures, which were given by A grand outline surely! And in such six different persons as follows: 1. hands the execution will be worthy of Mr. Stout on the Unique Features of the theme and the subjects. We ven- Mission Work in Japan; 2. Dr. Wherry ture to promise that no pains will be on Islam in India; 3. Dr. Kip on spared to make the course a brilliant China as a Stronghold of Heathenism; and eminently useful one, and we also 4. Dr. Hamlin on Fifty Years of Chris- venture the suggestion that other coltian Education iu Turkey; 5. Dr. leges might avail themselves of this Ellinwood on the Testimony of Hea- course of lectures to great advantage. then Religions to Christianity; 6. Rev. Dr. Pierson, doubtless, would be will- J. H. Wyckoff on the Philosophy of ing to repeat it. The growth and de- India. velopment of the missionary spirit in the colleges of this country and Can- Our associate, Dr. Pierson, has ac- ada during the last three years are cepted the entire Lectureship for 1890, among the marvels of the age. We can and we feel at liberty to announce the conceive of no human means more theme and the subjects, viz.: Chris- likely to increase and intensify this tian Missions as a Divine Enterprise. movement and set these colleges 1. The Idea of Missions a Thought of aflame with holy enthusiasm, than a God; 2. The Plan of Missions a Scheme course of lectures on these topics by of God; 3. The Work of Missions a such a master in the realm of Missions.

J. M. S. Mr. Moody's Training SchooV' sued in your training-school ?" asked the re4 porter. As much misapprehension exists in "Mainly three. First, I shall aim to have reference to the purpose and character given a sufficient knowledge of the English Bible; as far as may be, a practical mastery of this institution, our readers will be of it. Second, I would have the workers trained in everything that will give them acglad to have the following statements cess practically to the souls of the people, es- pecially the neglected classes. Third, I would of Mr. Moody himself, made to our as- give great prominence to the study of music, both vocal and instrumental. I believe that sociate and written down by him for music is one of the most powerful agent« either for good or for evil. " publication. J. M. S. " How are these workers to be maintained Mr. Dwight L. Moody, speaking of while they are in the school ?" the recently published article over the signature of the Rev. D. R. Breed, says "There are few people who have developed it is in the same line as a number of any fitness for Christian service who have not other criticisms by representatives of either some means of their own or some friends various denominations, and that Dr. who would be glad to assist them in obtaining Breed is laboring under a misappre- higher fitness, or whom the churches to which hension. Concerning his plan for they belong would not willingly assist for a Christian work Mr. Moody continued: time by their gifts, in qualifying themselves for a life of service. I see no practical difficul- " I found hundreds of families in cities like ty in the way of their support any more than this never coming in contact with churches or in the way of trained nurses." their representatives. The bulk of our church members are taken up with their own house- "What is your idea of affording women hold and business cares, and unless some per- equal facilities with men for this work 1" sons are set apart and trained for this work I do not see how it can be done. It seems "I have found women to be equally effective tQ me that we ought to have a corps of workers as men. Women only can reach men and women who shall make this their women in many cases. Besides this, a great business, as is already done in the Church of many of these women will become the wives of England. Christian men and be mothers of children, and can be, in their way, better helps to their hus- " My idea is not to originate new church en- bands and better trainers of their children by terprises, but rather to fill up the present tbe education for Christian work which they churches. Men who frequent saloons and such received in this school. " places will never be reached by Sunday meetings. Even if they stray into such meetings, "What did you mean by saying that the any impression which is made is all dissipated 'ministers are often educated away from the before uext Sunday. If we are going to reach people '?" these classes we must have some places open every day in the week. There is a class of "That there is a large class of the commupeople that practically have no homes, and nity whom the ordinarily educated ministe.r they go out in the evening into some places does not and cannot reach. For instance, where they have genial companions and there is a large class of mechaniCS; they are amusements. This is a source of vice and busy through the day and cannot be seen excrime. My thought has been to establish cept at their shops. In the evening they go to places of meeting open every night for these the saloons and places of amusement. None people, where they might find some up-lifting of the churches reach them. Since they will influences. Then they will find their way to not go into the churches, let us go into the the churches. highways and hedges, and so compel them to come in. Again, there is a large class of .. There is far more demaud for trained lay mothers in such a city as this, who, if they workers than is commonly apprehended. This are to be reached at all, it mnst be by carrymorning's mail brought me eight applicatious ing the Gospel to them and by cottage meetfor such workers, and I could place fifty if I ings in their homes." had the proper persons to recommend." "Did you mean any assault upon the edu- "What studies do you propose shall be pur- cated ministers, as such?l1 "Not at all. I believe they have their place *Appropriate to these sentiments is the following note from one of the foremost men of this country, just received by the editor: "These upstart training schools are catching it all along the line, especially jnst now from Ba~nd Presbyterian papers. But I see clearly that we must have a lar~e reinforcemerit'ofcommon men-knowing only the Bible, and being filled with the Spirit-m order to do the work in foreign fields Every man of this sort whom we have sent out has done well-I speak f!II. those employed in our A. B. 11. U. So I am going to do my utmost to receive such. A. J. G." and are necessary to church life and growth. ties of immediate work and ample compensa- But there is a class of people whom no man tion." can reach successfully except one of their own number. Let'me give you a matter of my "Have you any assurance that competent own experience. When I was in London I teachers will come to your aid? " went by invitation, one Sunday, to what is known as the Bird Market. I had never been "Abundant. For instance, Dr. Gordon, a. there before. When I was down there I was leading Baptist of Boston; Prof. Weidner, a asked to preach. I found a great company leading Lutheran; Dr. Moorehead, United of people with almost every kind of animal Presbyterian of Xenia; such men as Mark for sale. Men were there in hopes to get up Guy Pierce and Price Hughes of England, a cock fight and bet on the result. I spoke and others." as best I could. I told thp,m a lot of interesting stories. Men would stand there with their "'Yhat provision have you in buildings?" fighting cocks right under their arms, and they "'We have already three good houses for and the roosters would look up at me as I women workers on La Salle avenue. The preached, but I found it was hard to hold buildings for men will be done by December 1, them. Men might start the cock-fight right in and in the two we can then accommodatEl front of me while I was preaching. After I about 150." got through, one of their own number, who .. Is it true that the bUlk of your funds have had been converted, took the stand, and be- come from Presbyterians? " gan to address them. He was familiar with uYes,R large share; but we have had no, their own dialect; he knew their habits; he opposition from business-men of any denomihad the inside track to their hearts. They nation on denominational grounds." stood there and shed tears while he spoke in " Has it been your experience that this kind his simple fashion." of work alienates from the churches? " "No. On the contrary, I believe I am my- "Did you say you hoped to fit ministers for self a proof th!t such work rather draws men their work in three months?" to the churches. I believe I am of more value to them, as I have more experience in this, "I said nothing of the kind. I am not seek- kind of work. " ing to make any short cut to the ministry. I do not consider this work to be in conflict with Oonference in Behalf of the Jews.. the work of the theological seminari..s." At lfilumay, in October last, a " Are you trying to establish what is practi- grand conference was held in behalf cally a new denomination?" of the Jews. To us, as to those wh(} called this assembly, the time seems "No. On the other hand, I think we have very opportune for holding a special too many denominations already, and my only convention concerning God's ancient effort has been rather to nnite existing de- and beloved people, Israel, 'Yho " connominations than to make any new ones. I tinue to be the perplexity of the unsee no reason why the Presbyterian and COll- believer, the unaswerable and miracugregational, to which I belong, should not 1>e lous proof of the truth of God, a united; they hold the same doctrines and are byword among the nations of the separated only by a trifling matter of church earth, and, alas! neglected and ignored government. " by large sections of the Church of Christ. "Why did you make t11is Chicago Awn"e Church undenominational?" ,, The careful reader of history and observer of the times sees that the " All the leading denominations had Jews cannot much longer remain unchurches between here and the river, and noticed. Nations and statesmen who moved away because they could not be self- uo not take them into account will supporting. My own desire is to help qualify find their reckonings delusiye. The honest, yearning, Christian men and women national life of the Jewish people is to be the means of saving souls and to supple- stirring now as it has not stirred for ment the present work of the churches. I many centuries; they are conscious have no personal ambition to gratify." of their increasing influence; their wealth and natural abilities are indis- .. Have you seen any workers actually de- putable; they can stand e~<1and unveloped by such methods as you are here put- abashed in all the great capitals of ting in operation?" Europe. 'Whether there. much long- " Yes; but not as if they had had such opportunities as are now proposed to furnish. For instance, in my school at Mount Hermon, about forty or fifty efficient young men have been trained for service, and our great difficulty has been that there is such demand for such workers in the chnrches, that they are all tempted away from our training school before finishing their course, by the opportunjing for a return to their own land, we Psa. xcviii. 3. Isa. Ix. 1, 2. Isa. Ix. 20-22. Isa. need not now inquire. Our concern Ixi. 9.. Isa. Ixii. 12. "God's Plan Realized "- is with their spiritual condition,which is lamentably low and saddening; and David's throne reoccupied; the Millennial the question for every Christian heart Kingdom; Israel a blessing to the world. is, how can we help in awakening them from the sleep of unbelief; how Psa. Ixxxix. 3, 4, 29. Isa. ix. 7. Luke i. 32. press home the truth concerning Jesus Dan. vii. 13, 14. Zech. xiv. 9. Psa. !xvii. 1, 2, of Nazareth as their true Messiah and 7. Zech. viii. 23. King? " For this end we need to turn to the A verbatim report will be issued by Inspired Record, and review the pur- J. F. Shaw & Co., 48 Paternoster pose and promises of Jehovah concerning His chosen nation, His present Row, E. C., London. A. T P. dealings with them, and His glorious future assured to them. Unless we We call the attention of our readers see clearly in God's light, our plan8 to the BfYltnd Volumes of the Missionwill miscarry, and we shall only be ary Review of the World for 1888 and hinderers of His work." 1889. Substantially bound in crimson cloth, with gilt back, imperial in size, In such words as these, Sir Arthur thoroughly indexed, so that every arti- Stevenson Blackwood, Mr. James E. cle, every report, every item or fact Mathieson and others affectionately can be instantly found – they are a invited all lovers of Israel, within Library of JJ.fissionary Literat1tre, each reach of Mildmay, to gather on 1st, containing 150 full articles from the 2d and 3d of October last for con- pens of the ablest missionary writers sideration of the announced topics, in the world. At the same time they the Monday previous being occupied are an invaluable Cyclopedia of Miswith preliminary prayer-meetings for sions, containing a vast amount of the the Lord's special guidance and bless- latest and most authentic information ings on the work of the three days of on every subject connected with Chris- Conference. tian missions, and the Statistics of the World-Field, collated, tabulated, and The programme embraced the fol- scientifically arranged, as they can be lowing themes. found so complete in no other book or periodical. These volumes will be an They present a fine model for sim- ornament and a treasury of knowledge ilar conferences elsewhere. in any library. For constant reference, they are indispensable to every student Tuesday, Oct. 1st, 1889. The Past. " God's of missions. Rev. Dr. Schauffier of Purpose in Israel," as illustrated in History, New York, said a year ago in refer:nce Type, and Prophecy. lsa. xliii. 21. Gen. xii. to the first volume: "The bound 3. lsa. xliii. 7. Isa. xliii. 10-12. Psa. cxlvii. volume, which I have also, is a very 19-20. Rom. iii. 1, 2. Rom. ix. 5. "God's encyclopedia of grand and useful Promises to Israel. 1, Their nature, security, knowledge, and has already been used and guaranteed fulfillment. Gen. xii. 2. Gen. by me in my work many times." The xvii. 7, 8. Amos. ix. 15. Isa. xlv. 17. Ps. matt!'r in the two volumes would fill a Ixxxix. 34-37. Rom. xv. 8. Rom. ix. 4. dozen ordinary volumes.

Wednesday, October 2d. The Present. " Honor to Whom Honor." "God's Dealings with Israel." Between the first and second Advents of our Lord. lsa. In justice and as a matter of courxliii. 28. Hosea ix. 7. Jer. xii. 7. lIfatt. xxiii. tesy acknowledgment is due where a 38, 39. Rom. xi. 5. Rom. xi. 28. Rom. x. 12, writer or paper quotes at considerable 13. " The Church's Duty to Israel." Between length an author or from another pathe first and second Advents of our Lord. P!'l'. 'Ye are always glad to have our Mark xvi. 15. Acts i. 8. Rom. i. 16. Rom. ii. Reyicw quoted, as it is, extensively, 10. Rom. xi. 23. Rom. xi. 30, 31. Rom. xv. and, as a rule, with due credit. But 27. there are a few exceptions, anu Thursday, Oct. 3d. The Future. "God's Plan Realized" in IsraePs restoration and salvation. Ezek. xxxix. 28, 29. Psa. Ixxxv. 1,2. some of them are such gross eva- fill two such magazines with firstsions or violations of the recognized class material. Our pigeon-holes are rule as, after long forbearance, to call full of grand articles waiting their for friendly protest. Thus one of our turn. We have added a score of leading weeklies, month after month, home and foreign writers, of the first would make up its missionary column order, to our corps of regular confrom items taken verbatim from our tributors. Among them that prince REVIEW, without any hint of their of Missionary Literature, the secretary source. Another reputable paper divi- of the late London Missionary Conferded one of our leading and thrilling ence, whose grand article in this articles into a half dozen papers, giv< number will be read with profound ing each a separate heading, and so interest. While Dr. Pierson has been gave the entire paper to their readers taken from us for a brief season, to as original, none suspecting that every plead the cause of missions in Scotword, save the headings, was stolen land, our beloved Dr. Ellinwood, in from our columns. And another still. addition to his monthly article during with absolute meanness, as well as the year, has kindly consented to coninjustice, gives a weekly column of duct our Monthly Concert Depart- "Missionary Items," "Prepared by ment,which means work of the highest — –." By great ingenuity the character. Dr. Gracey will magnify choicest of our month's items of in- the" International" feature; and Rev. terest are gleaned verbatim and credit Edwin M. Bliss, editor of the Encyclogiven for a single item only. From paJdia of Missions (in preparation), the November issue, the substance of will carry out his wise and far-reach- Dr. Chamberlain's paper on Brazil is ing plans in our Statistical section, for quoted, filling a whole column, and so which difficult work he has special adroitly is it arranged that, while the qualifications. writer, in connection with Prof. Agassiz, is named in one of the paragraphs, We therefore enter upon our third no reader would infer that either Dr. year with renewed hope, and, with C. wrote the article or that it was God's blessing, mean to make this copied from our REVIEW, which is not year one of decided advance all along even alluded to. This may be smart, the line. We invoke the generous but is it fair or honest? J. M. S. sympathy and earnest prayers of all who are laboring with us in the Our New Departure. grandest cause that ever enlisted the sympathies and efforts of men or We hope our readers will be pleased angels. Our friends also will kindly with the mechanical appearance of remember that we have no society, no this number of the REVIEW. While organization, no resources of wealth we were tolerably satisfied with our behind us in this enterprise. Two original cover, some of our friends lone men, with busy hands and not were not; and more still complained deep purses, bear the mental and the of the use of so much small type. pecuniary responsibility of the task Our only excuse for that was the to which we have pledged life and superabundance of our material. We heart and work, and all that God has shall henceforth use less of the small given us; not for reputation or money, type. We have now one of the best but for our common Master's glory printers in the city, which insures in the evangelization of the world for good proof reading and greater clear- which He gave Himself. Help us, ness and perfection of the letter press. Brethren! Help us to make this So much for the mechanical side. agency a mighty power in all the earth! Help us by bringing the RE- As to the matter, we only fear a VIEW to the notice of your friends, s1lperfluity of good things. We could

ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS

and to widen the circle of its read- lation. vVe do not wish or aim to ers, and broaden the channel of its supplant the denominational periodiinfluence. cals, with which we are in cordial re- lation, only to supplement the invalua- As this number begins a new volume ble service which they render each in -the third of the series-the present their particular sphere. J. M. S. is a favorable time to extend its ch'cu- VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.

foreign Mission Work of Women's Societies.

§ .,c"..i" ''" '" ~"""" " " """ " .1 § "" ~ E % " ""– ''"" 3 .;Icl.; il< 1 0·'c" ~ ~ tl .8 00 t'"l 00 .g.., '000 lIi "00 '0 a; UNITED STATES. '" 0 ~'00 ..- b£ ;0:: 0 ~ '0 .S.~ :;l "00 – -E-< – Ei ;;: ~ '" ;;: -Z 0 '0 0 A – -il< -E-< – – -.".s – – 1861 .. Woman's Union Missionary Society….. 58 3 109 139 1,743 178 $ 41,562 85 1868 . Woman's Boards (3) CongregationalCh. 178 7 32638 968 36,500 3,303 1870.. Woman's Boards (6) Pres. Ch., North … 296 10 186 39…. 20,387 5,136 160,381 04 ::io '1':. r:: …. Woman's Societies, Pres. Church, South 600 7X1 294,267 85 1883 .. Woman's Board, United Pres. Church" 13 1 22,832 71 1 .. ' . . . .. , 16,704 00 10,6144lJ 1880 .. Woman's Board, Cumberland Pres. Ch.. 8 . . . . .. 2 .. …….. 939 1869.. Woman's Board, M. E. Church, North.. 92 10 4081261 245 …….. 5,4.49 225,000 ()() 1878 .. Woman's Board, M. E. Church, South.. 25 ••• 1..• 5.41 9 .33 … "8'0 2,74.2 68,729 65 1879 .. Woman's Board, Meth. Protestant Ch… 4 3 380 7,500 00 1871.. Woman's Bapt. For. Miss. Societies (4). 75 7 170·20 150 …… " 4,315 108,000 00 Woman's Baptist Miss. Societies Conv.. .. ………………. 1,259 18,71628 1873 .. Woman's Miss. Society, Free Baptists… 14 1 …….. :: ..•.••.. …… ……. 250 7,279 27 1871.. Woman's Auxiliary, Protest. Epis. Ch.*. 32 1,361 119,380 58 1875 .. Woman'sBoard,ChristianChurch….. 4 2…. .. ……… 1,421 1875 .. Woman's Board, Ref'd (Dutch) Church. 30.. .. 6.. 36,27917 263 17,4375G '1' " …….. 1875 .• Woman's lliiss. Assoc'n United Brethren 7 .••. 7 .. 5 10,798 6~ 'Voman's SocietY', Evangel. Association. 1 .••..• 192 464 2,352 06 116 32,33135 1879 .. Woman's Societles, Evangel. Lutheran' 4 I .. ""…. ……. 507 1881 .. Woman's For. Miss. Societies, Friends.. 0:01 "43" -t-:"'-t' ~t' ~t'" 250 15,465 30 Totals………………………. au 29,670 $1,157,03.2 90 CANADA.

1871 .. Canadian Woman's Board For. Missions….. ".. ….. $ 95842 1876•• Pres. Ch., Woman's For. Miss. Socs. (3). 30 2…… 670 34,398 17 1876•. Bapt. Ch., Woman's For. Miss. Socs. (3) 10………. 11,111 22 355 1881.. Methodist Ch., Woman's Miss. Societyt. 16 …. … .. ……….. 244 19,07038 CCohnugrcrehgoaftiEonngallaCnhdu, rWcho,mWano'ms Aanu'xs .Btd….t.· 39 1886 . . 1 ……… ".. …….. 200 1,28156 1886 .. 2 1…… … • ••• .••. 18,67581 – – – – – – – –1—– Totals.. … .. .. .. .. …… .. .. .. 59 3 t 1,508 $85.395 56 ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND.

1834.. Society for Prom. Fern. Ed. in East. · … 1 40…. … .. 275 19,976 …… $35,000 00 1837 .. Ladies' Society for Female Education in India and South Africa. ….. …… 34 2 '181 6 …. 7,108 627 £11,892 10 10 1837.. Ladies' Association for For. Missions… 26 1 106 …• , 2,500 …… £7,657 11 0 1845•. Ladies' Associatiou for Christian Edu· cation of Jewish Females ……….. . 6 ………. 5 673 …. £414 18 6 1852 .. Indian Female Normal School and In- struction Society, or Zenana Bible and Medical Missions………………….. 63 4 175. 66 4,340 …… £11,577 ()() 0 1859.. Ladies' Aux. Wesleyan Miss. Society. " 29 5 … 18 268 12,704 87 £7,000 13 6 1867•. Ladies' Association (Baptist) for Zenana "I Work and Bible Women in India ….. 42… 114.. 50 2,900 £9641 2 7 1873.. W. Assoc. for Prom. Christianity in East§ 8 1 56 14 1,000 154 $14,000 00 1875.. Ladies' Corom. L. M. S …………… 36… 288 15 130 9,870 …… £6471 4 2 1878 .. Woman's Missionary Association…….. 15.. 12 5 9…….. 139 $11,000 00 880 .. Ch of England Zenana Mis'y Society…. 105 8 507 4 192 10,157…. £24,866 5 11 880 .. U. P. Ch. of Scot. Zenana Mis'y Soc'y… 21 1 56. 11 …….. …… £3,752 0 4 Ladies' Soc'y in Connection with S. P. G'I~:":':':' 105 ~ ~ ~~ ~ £6,351_0_~ Totals…… .. …… .. ……….. , 488 26 t t t t t $488,556 70 * Home and foreign. + t Not complete. Organized for both home and foreign missions. § Ireland. I. Woman's Union Missionary So- 3. Tronton's Board of the Pacific. ciety.* Mrs. J. H. Warren, 1316 lI1ason Street, San Francisco, Cal. Periodical: Life and Light. Corresponding Secretary, ;Iiss S. D. Dore- AuxiJiaries, 5,.'3. ].fissionaries, 6. Income, mus, 54 East 21st Street, New York. Publica- $4,400. Duri)lg the year the work of this tion: The Missionary Link. 41, Bible House. Board has been divided, and a secretary ap- pointed for Oregon and Washington Territo- This Society is now in the 29th year of its ries. existence. 4. TVoman's Board of the Pacific L.land.•. ~lrs. Geo. P. Castle, Honolulu, Sandwich Fields and Force.-It sustains missions in Islands. India at Calcutta, Allahabad and Cawnpore ; This Board has raised over $1,000 during the in China at Shanghai; in Japan at Yokohama. year, but we have no detailed report at hand. In Calcutta it has 1,000 pupils in 50 schools, and a suburban work of 14 schools. It issues III. Presbyterian Societies (North). in Calcutta The Child'8 Friend, The Christian Bandab, and The illahila Bandab, besides has 1. W01nan'8 Foreign Missionary SOCiety, circulated 10,000 pages of tracts. Its orphan- Presbyterian Church. age has 140 pupils. At Allahabad it has 3D8 pupils, 320 of whom are in Zenanas. At Cawn- Office: 1384 Chestnut Street, Philudel phia. pore it has 968 pupils, 184 of whom are in Periodicals: 'Woman's Work for Woman and Zenanas. At Shanghai it conducts medical Our Mission Field, and Children's Work for' missions, with hospital, and the Bridgman Children. Circulation of the former, 16,000; IIIemorial Home, with 40 girls. subscribers to Children's 'Work, 20,000. Both self-supporting. These are the only foreign At Yokohama it sustains schools and medi- magazines of the Presbyterian church, and the cal work, with 21 Bible women an,l 134 schol- organs of the various Boards. ars. Over 1,500 patients were treated last year. Fields.-This Society has work in India, Japan, China, Syria, Mexico, Africa, Korea, n contributes to other Dlissions in Burmah, Persia, Siam and Laos, South America, North American Indians, Chinese in California and India and Paris. It has 58 missionaries, with Japanese in San Francisco. Number of mis- 97 other salaried workers. Its income last Sionaries, 136; at home on furlough, 17; misyear was $6i,765. The report contains no sum- sionaries sent out during the year, 14; native mary of its home auxiliaries. helpers and Bible women, 84; missionary teachers and visitors, 8; bOUl:ding-schools, 34; 11. The Woman's Board of Mis- day-schools, 140. Income for past year, sions (Congregational). $143,488. Miss Abbie B. Child, Congregational House, 2. TVoman's Board of the Northwest. Boston, illass. Periodicals: Life and Light for Room, 48 lIIcCormick Block, Chicago, Ill. 'Voman, circulation 15,2-22; The Mission Day Occupies the same fields, and reports 1.760 Spring for Children, circulation 18,195. auxiliaries; 687 of these are young people's Fields and Force.-Africa, East, Central bands. and West Central; European Turkey, }lonustir, Philippolis, Samakov; 1Vestern Turkpy, Number of missionaries supported, 74; Bible Constantinople, Marsovan; Central Turkey, women,28; native teachers and pastors' 'wives, Aintab and Marash; East.~rn Turkey, Har- 21 ; boarding-schools, 26; day-schools, 104. poot, etc.; India, Bombay, lI1adura and Cey- Ion; China, Foochow, North China; Japan, Income, $80,236. Kioto, Osaka, etc,., Northern Japan, Seudai, 3. lV01nan'8 Board of Foreign .J[issions. etc.; Micronesian l1ission, Western and North- Office, No. 53 Fifth Avenue, New York. ern lIIexico, Spain and Austria. It supports a Its home force, 501 auxiliary societies; 97 total of 107 missionaries, 148 Bible women, and young people's societies and 3aS bands. Sup- 2i boarding schools. This work is of great im- ports 52 missionaries. Income, $,;'5,000. portance and interest. The receipts amounted The Society works in India, Siam, Africa, last year to $124,801. Of this amount, $13,668 Japan, Korea, Persia, Syria, China, Mexico was from legacies. Auxiliaries and bands, and South America. 1,500. 4. Wontan"s Foreign .l.'lfissionanJ Sodety, Northern New York. 2. ~Voman'8 Boo.rd of the Interior. II1rs. H. B. Nason, 10 Washington Place, Troy, Jlirs. E. ,V. Blatchford. Rooms, 53 Dearborn N.Y. Street, Chicago, Ill. Periodical: Life and Home Statistics: Nunlber of organizations, Light. Income, $48,373.44. This Board sup- 211 ; of these 112 are bands. Income for year, ports about 60 missionaries, 10 boarding- $10,065. schools and 36 Bible women. Auxiliaries, This Society supports 4 missionaries, 5native 1629; and has missions in connection with pastors, and 51 schools and scholarships. and A. B. C. F. M. as the Woman's Board of )fis- contribute to the work in Africa, China, Guatesions.

• We are indebted to Mrs. Dr. J. T. Gracey, Buffalo, N. Y., for this account of woman's work in the foreign field. lIlrs. Gracey writes: "I have found great difficulty in getting the reports, and, when I do get them, I find there is no uniformity in methods of reporting."

ORGAXIZED lVn:>:>WX.U{Y WUHK A:-iD :>TATI:>TICS

mala, India, Japan, Korea, Laos, liexico, foreign missionaries sent out by the Board, Persia, Siam, Syria, and the North American the women support five. Work is carried on Indians. in seven stations in Japan, also in Mexico and the Indian Territory. 5. TVoman's Bow'd of .lfissions of the Southwest. VII. Woman's Board of Foreign Mis- sions Reformed Church in America. Miss B. Burnett, 1107 Olive Street, St. Louis, Mo. Organized for home and foreign work. 1IIrs.J. P. Oumming, Yonkers. N. Y. Periodi- cal: Mission Gleaner. 26 Reade St.. New York. This Board supports 12 missionaries in the foreign field, and 12 in home field. Its foreign Total number of auxiliary societies, 26:3. work is in Chili, S. A. ; Korea, SiaIH, China, Income for the year, $17,487. Persia, and Dehra Doon, India. 'Work is sup· ported in Utah, Alaska, etc. Income, $15,82•. The Society has work in Japan, at Nagasaki It has 376 auxiliary societies and bands. and Yokohama. The Ferris Seminary has 144 pupils. In China, at Amoy, is a success- 6. Woman's Board of the North Pncific. ful children's home, girls' boarding school, Presbyterian Mission Rooms, Portland, Ore Bible school for women and medical work. In gon. President, Mrs. W. S. Ladd. India work is carried on at Vellore, Tindi- This Board was organized in 1888. Have no ranam, Coonoo!', PalnlRwairand Madanapalle. particulars of work. 7. The Occidental Board. VIII. Woman's Baptist Foreign Mis- Headquarters, 93:3 Sacramento Street, San sionary Society. Francisco, OaL This Board has been organized only a year, Oorresponding Secretary, IIIrs. 0: W. Gates, but, while we have no details, it is reported as Xewton Centre, lIlass. Publication: The growing very fast. Helping Hand, with 22,~29 subscribers, and a children'S paper, The King's Messengers, with IV. Ladies' Foreign Missionary So- 19,~77 subscribers.

ciety Presbyterian Church in the Fields. -In Burmah it has separate missions to the Karens, Burmese, Shaus, Ohins. In United States (South). India, among the Telugus, Eurasians, and As- samase. In Ohina, at Swatow, I:lhaohnig and This is not a separate Society, but con' Kinhwa-Fu. In Japan, at Yokohama and tributes to the general Board. There are 5:36 Tokyo. In Africa; on the Oongo; also in France, societies, which raised last year $24,H22. Germany, Sweden and Spain. Their missions are in Brazil, China, Mexico, Greece, Italy, Japan, and among the Indians. The Society supports 154 schools, 5,256 They snpport 39 female missionaries. They pupils, of whom 2,089 are boys; also 56 Bible have a woman's department in "The lIission· WOlnen. It has 74 missionaries in the field. ary, ., the magazine of the Board. HOIne FUJ'(;".-Mission circles and contribut- V. Woman's Board of Missions of ing churches, 1,377, with 29,187 contributors; ().l..! bands, with 12,358 members. the United Presbyterian Church. Its income for year '89 was $70,6(8, an in- Miss Margaret Shaw, Secretary, Pittsburgh, ('rease of $4,000. Pa. 2. ~Voman's Baptist Foreign .1l1issioJ1r.try This Society does home and foreign work, Society of the West. and has about 18.000 contributing members. Its foreign work is mainly in Egypt and India, Oorresponding Secretary, Dr. O. H. Daniels, where there is a large and interesting work 122 Wabash Ave., Chicago, III. among the women. Twenty-one unmarried missionaries are supported, three of whom The same general fields are occupied by this are medicaL They publish "The Woman's Society as the Baptist Society in the East; Missionary Magazine." Income about $20,000. also the same periodicals are circulated. Dur- Have not separate report. ing the year just closed the Society has sup- ported ;3() missionaries: 14 in Africa, 7 in India, VI. Woman's Board of Foreign Mis- 5 in Ohina, 2 in Japan, and 3 in Africa. They sions of the Cumberland Presby- have 23 schools, with nearly 1,700 pupils, and terian Church. 44 Bible women.

1I1rs. J. O. lIlcOlenkin, 1105 Ohestnut St., The Home Force–l,321 circles, 209 young Evansville, Indiana. Periodical: Woman's De- ladies' societies or guilds, 294 boards. Mempartment of Missionary Record; published in bers not given. Total cash receipts for year, St; Louis, Mo. $33,72'~. Force.-Auxiliary societies, 793, withamem· bershipof7,900; young ladies' societies, 8, with 3. Woman's Fm'pign Missionary Society of membership, 130; children's bands, 1:38, with California (Baptist). 1,741 members; making total organizations, 932, and total memberships, 9,771. Amount Office, San Francisco. contributed last year, $10,614–an increase of This branch of the Baptists raised over $2,956 over previous year. This has been $1,000 last year, but no report is at hand of raised in the regular channels. Of the 12 their work. 4. Woman's Fm'eign Missiona1'Y Society of Oregon (Baptist). Headquarters, Oregon Oity. Thisraised about the same amount of money fully in Korea, China and India. Ten mission- as the above Society, but no report has come aries have been sent out the past year. of its work. XIII. Woman's Missionary Society IX. Woman's Missionary Societies- Auxiliary to Southern Baptist Con- of the Methodist Episcopal Church vention. (South). Corresponding Secretary, Miss Annie N. Armstrong, 10 E. FayettB St., Baltimore, Md. Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. H. D. Me- Garack, Nashville, Tenn. Periodical: Woman's These societies are auxiliary to the Conven- Missionary Advocate. Published at Nashville. tion, and their funds aid their Board in work Subscribers, 11,500. in China, West Africa, Italy, Brazil and Mex- ico. The treasurer's report shows for the Fields.-China, Brazil, Indian Territory and year: foreign missions, $17,882, an advance of Mexican Border. $3,500, and for home missions, $11,810, an ad· vance of $5,000; making $30,000 for both The Society supports 25 missionaries, 54 Boards. 'The Journal says, "Never has such teachers and assistants, 9·boarding schools, a showing been made in onr history." and 24 day-schools.

Publication: The Baptist Basket, Louisville, Home Force.-Auxiliary societies, 1,852; Ky. members, 38,203. Young people and children's societies, 890; members, 27,263; making total X. Free Baptist Woman's Missionary societies, 2,742, and total membership, 65,466. Society. Corresponding Secrerary, Miss K. J. An- Receipts for year, $68,729. Home work represented as follows: thony, 40 Summer Street, Providence, R. 1. Auxiliary societies, 4,305 ; members, 111,623; Periodical: The Missionary Helper. Published young ladies' societies, 632; members, 13,366; in Boston. children's bands,' 594; members, 10,240. Total organizations, 5,531. Total members, The annual meeting of this Society has just 135,229. Increase of 82 auxIliaries during yea~, been held, and statistics are not yet at hand; and members, 8,051. only the amount of money raised, both for Receipts for year, $226,496; an advance of home and foreign work, amounts to $38,000, of $20,187. which $25,000 was for foreign work. The Woman'8 Home Mi8sionw'Y Society works in Alaska, among the Indians, Chinese, A successful work is carried on in India, and and foreign classes in this country. with the reinforcements sent out this year, 20 missionaries are in that field. Their principal XIV. Woman's Foreign Missionary stations are Midnapore, J ellasore and Balasore. Society of the Methodist Protest- ant Church. XI. Woman's Board of the Seventh Day MisSionary Society. Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. M. A. Miller, Pittsburgh, Pa. Publication: Woman's IIlig- Corresponding Secretary, Miss Bailey Milton, sionary Record, Pittsburgh, Pa. 1Yisconsin. This Society has 20 branch societies, 320 This Society works in connection with the auxiliaries, 60 mission bands, 3,200 members, Church Board. They have missions in China, and have raised $30,000. Holland, and among the Jews at Galica. One young lady has just been appointed to China They conduct work in Japan, but report to take charge of a girls' school in Shanghai. difficulty in finding competent Christian One medical woman is in Shanghai, who, dur- teachers. They say their school at Yoko· ing the past year, has attended 2,822 patients. hama has met with disconragement because of poor and unhealthy location, and the Receipts for year, $12,238. system of supporting girls on scholarships does not work well. The school at Nagoya XII. Woman's Foreign Missionary " is increasing and its prospects are encourag· Society of the Methodist Episcopal ing." Income, $3,!83, from 16 branches arid 1 Church. " conference. "

Mrs. H. B. Skidmore,230 West 59th Street, XV. Woman's Home and Foreign New York. Periodicals: Heathen Woman's Missionary Society-General Synod Friend, subscribers, 19,834; Heiden Frauen of the Evangelical Lutheran Church. Frend, subscribers, 2,829. Published at 36 Bromfield Street, Boston. Miss Mary H. Morris, Corresponding Secre- tary, 406 North Greene Street, Baltimore, Md. Fie/d8.-Japan, Korea, China, India, Burmah, Straits Settlements, Bulgaria, Italy, This Society has 423 auxiliaries, with 84 lIIexico and South America. young people's bands, making a total of 507; membership, 13,000. The number of synodical The Society now has 98 missionaries in active societies, 20. Income last year, $32,431. service. Ten of these are medical. Three hundred Bible women, and 100 assistants and There is a woman's department in the teachers are employed. Over 200 day-schools Lutheran Missionary Journal, published at are supported. There are 500 pupils in orphan- York, Pa. ages. Medical work is carried on most success- This Society has work in India and Africa.

Itl90.] PROGRESS OF }llSSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN

Twelve schools, with 800 pupils, are supported is carried on at Wuchang, China, and 33 misin India; 14 Zenana helpers are employed. Three missionaries are in the field, 1 a physi- sionaries are supported in the different fields, cian, who, in 2 years, treated at home and dispensary, 4,772 patients. At home, work is done in 48 dioceses, and 12 XVI. Woma~'s Missionary Society missionary jurisdictions, by 53 diocesan and of the Evangelical Association of North America. parish branches and individual members of Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. C. F. Rass- the Woman's Auxiliary. weiler, Napierville, Indiana. Periodical: Department in lIfissionary Messenger, pub- Domestic Missions, inlished in Cleveland, Ohio. cluding Indian and Home Force.-Auxiliaries, 115; with 2,398 members. Bands, 39, with 1,067 members. Colored Work …… $18.388 72 Income, $2,187. Foreign….. _…….. 23,034 29 The Society has work in Japan and Ger- – – – $ 41,423 01 many. Specials sent through XVII. Woman's Foreign Missionary Union of Friends. Treasury.. _………. $21,25034 The various societies of friends have become Specials not sent consolidated and independent in their missionary work. through Treasury ..•.. 56,706 6H 77,956 97 Pnblication: Friends' Missionary Advocate, 341 Dearborn St., Chicago, Ill. Total.. ……. . $119,379 98 Missionary work is supported in Mexico, 3,456 boxes, value ….. . $184,593 15 Syria, China, and Japan, and among the Indians. 'rotal for 1888-S9… $303,97313 Missionaries supported, 18; native helpers XIX. Woman's Missionary Associaand Bible women, 5; number of schools, 4; tion of the United Brethren in number of pupils, 305. Christ.

Total receipts for the year, $16,348; a gain of Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. L. R. Keister, over $2,000 for the year. A church has been Dayton, Ohio. organized in Tokio, with 22 members, and a boarding school there has 20 pupils. In Mexico Periodical: Woman's Evangel, published at there is a prosperous school, with 150 girls. In Dayton, O. Subscribers, 12,900. Palestine is a training home, with 18 pupils. Two missionaries have been sent to Palestine This society has work in Africa, at Coburg, this year, one of them medical. At Rasel Germany, and among the Chinese of the Pacific Metu, Syria, is a school with an attendance of Coast. 120. Horne Force – Auxiliary societies, 367; XVIII. Woman's Auxiliary to the members, 5,412; young ladies bands, 24, with 2,173 members. The society supports 7 Ameri- Board of Missions, Protestant Epis- can missionaries, 14 native assistants. Re- copal Church. ceipts for year, $9,162.

Corresponding Secretary, Miss Julia C. Em- XX. Woman's Missionary Work of ery, 21 Bible House, New York. the Christian Church (Disciples).

This Society does both home and foreign Corresponding Secretary, ]llrs. S. E. Shortwork. Foreign work is supported in China, ridge, 358 Home Ave., Indianapolis, Ind. Japan, and Africa. Woman's medical work Publication: Missionary Tidings. Pnblished at Indianapolis.

This Society does both home and foreign work. Its foreign work is in Turkey, India, Japan, and China.

They r~port about 900 auxiliary societies for last year. Have failed to get their report for this year. Amount of money raised, $25,000, [The limitations of space compel us to defer the reports from Canada and the European Societies, though in type, until February.-En.) VII I.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.

Af'rlca.-jesuits Expelled. The London that the Jesuit missionartes at Unyanyembe Missionary Society has heard from their have been expelled from their station. A agents at Zanzibar that the East Coast co=unication dated June 25 reached London route was still blocked, and that although at the same time from the Rev. D. P. Jones, of letters from Urambo and further inland are be- Twambos, via Nyassa, reporting that all at lieved to be on the way between Mpwapwa that station, and also those at the south end of and the Coast, there is danger of the mail Lake Tanganyika, were well, and, considering men being waylaid, as a prominent Arab is their trying position, in fairly good spirits. known to be on the lookout for them. A letter received by the agents from Kisskwe reports -Mr. F. S. Selous, the South African trav- eler, in his recent expedition, visited the French mISSIOn on the Zambesi, where he seventeen ladies and twelve gentlemen. Of found the families of Messrs. Jeanmairet and these only three-Mrs. Stott, and Mr. and 1I1rs. Jalla at Sesheke. He says that the mission Nicoll-are returning; all the others are fresh has passed through the greatest difficulties. recruits. They are shut out from communication with the outward world, the receipt of letters de- -No mission in the world, perhaps, can pending upon chance travelers or merchants. show a more notable record than that of the The crocodiles devour all their domestic ani· Canadian Presbyterian Church in China. At mals. The kindness of the missionaries is the end of 16 years' work, and with a small having great effect upon the people, but Mr. staff of laborers, it reports 2,650 baptized ,Selous says that the Barotse valley is in a de- members, 2 native pastors, 64 elders, 60 dea- plorable condition on account of the periodical cons, and 37 native preachers. It maintains 2 inundations of the Zambesi, and the fevers mission honses, 50 chapels, a girls' school, and which result therefrom. a training college. The credit of these results is due, under God, to Dr. ThIackay, one of those – Wiliam Taylor has done more to turn remarkable men who are born missionaries. the eye of the Church toward Africa than any other man. Others have called the attention -The Chinese Religious Tract Society, of 0{ political governments to the Dark Conti, which A. P. Happel', D. D., is president, is a nent, but no man ever turned the Church to- society formed for the dissemination of Chris- ward it as 'WiIliam Taylor.-Dr. Leonard. tian and scientific literature in the Chinese language throughout China. This society – East Africa has of late engrossed so much pnblishes in Shanghai The Child's Paper attention that readers may be in danger of (illustrated), and The Chinese Illustrated forgetting the claims of missions and the News, in addition to numerous books and progress of the Gospel in other parts of that tracts.-Chinese Evangelist (New York). vast continent. The venerable Bishop Crow, ther, who has recently arrived in England, Egypt. -Along the valley of the Nile speaks highly of the immense strides which from Alexandria to the first cataract are 70 Christianity is making among the West Afri· mission stations and 70 Sunday,schools, num· can natives; a very encouraging feature being bering 4,017 scholars, while the day and the self,denying enthusiasm which converts boarding-schools have over 5,200 pupils. There display in helping on the good work For in· has been an increasing demand for Bibles, 6,651 stance, on the river Bonny they have them- having been sold the last year, with 8,933 vol- selves built an iron church to accommodate umes of religious literature, and 17,179 educa, 1,500, but which has frequently a congregation tional books. of 2,000, and they have built three churches in the interior for their use when attending 'the England.-The second anniversary of oil markets. Enropean Christians may learn the West London Mission, in charge of Mark a lesson of self-help from their brethren of Guy Pearse and Hugh Price Hughes, was held the Dark Continent. in the last week of October. This remarkable enterprise, inaugurated only two years ago, -If Stanley has succeeded in obtaining the in the wealthiest part of the city of London, control of all the country about the upper Nile ha; accompli~hed results worthy of the men for England, as is reported, he must be credited wllohave taken it in hand. Not only have with the founding of a second African Empire thousands been attracted to the religious servwhich will rival the Congo Free State in im- ices, but many of the poor and ",retched have portance and promise. been relieved and rescued, and branches of the work established in several parts of the city. -The Sultan of Zanzibar has granted the The movement has been imitated in other British East African Company the control of large cities, and other denominations have 700 miles of coast. been stirred np to follow the example of these zealons Wesleyans. The' Lord Mayor of Lon· -The Italian Government has declared a don, who presided at the anniversary meeting protectorate over Abyssinia. in St. James Hall, said, after hearing the financial statement of the treasurer, that in ~In the midst of serious dangers, says the the whole course of his experience he had Presbyterian Me.isenget, the missions are never heard an abler financial statement or prospering at Nyassa. The Free Church of one which made so small a demand when the Scotland has opened a new station at Malindu, great interests involved were taken inb con· on a high plain at the north of the lake. Ma- sideration. He also subscribed £50 to the en- Hndu is surronnd'ld by 17 villages, embosomed terprise, and then proceeded to make a brilin gardellS of magnificent bananas. liant speech, in which he commended the various branches of work undertaken by the Cbina.-Exeter Hall was the scene, on mission in most enthusiastic terms.-Chris Monday evening, of one of those intensely in- fian Advocate (New York). teresting missionary farewells, to which the Miss Janet Hunter, M. D., of Ayr, sailed China Inland ThIission has, of late years, made for India last week, with several other ladies, us happily accustomed. There were on the to engage in medical miSSionary work at platform twenty-nine friends on the eve of setting ont for the far East, to swell the ranks of the workers in that vast mIssion field- Madras, in connection with the Ladies' Society Mr. Richardson was It'd to interest himself in -<Jf the Free Church of Scotland for Female its welfare.-The Ch,·isiian.

.,. Education in India. Miss Hunter is a dis· Japan.-Dr. and Mrs. H. M. Scudder tinguished student of the London School of bave been compelled, on account of the illness Medicine for Women, and has taken the of their daughter, Miss Scudder, and their own double qualificatiou from the Royal Colleges age and infirmities, to retire from their 1m of Physicians and Surgeons, Edinburgh, and portant station at Niigata. This makes a sad the degree of Doctor of Medicine at the Uni· breach, as their son, Dr. Doremus Scudder, Yersity of Brussels. She has recently spent and wife are obliged to accompany them.

some months in further medical study in the -2,129 converts were received into the hospitals of Vienna and Prague. During her churches of the American Board in Japan residence in London Miss Hunter was a memo during the year ending April 30, an Iiverage bel' of Regent·square Presbyterian Church. of more than 4.3 to each church. 43 of the 49 HawaU.-The Rev W. H. Barnes, churches are self-supporting.

Honolulu, says that there are 20,000 Chinese – The Board of Foreign Missions of the in the Sandwich Islands; that two congrega· Reformed Church have resolved that in the tions of them are connected with the English Japan Mission the main strength shall be ex- ·Church Mission, and that they make good pended in the development of the 8endai Thea· Christians. logical Training School and the Miyagi Girls· J.nctia.-Dr. Parker reports of the lUeth- School. Rev. J. P. Moore has been appointee!

-odist Episcopal mission work in the Rohilund the permanent evangelist of the mis~ion. Rev province: "In this province there are 26 sep- A. D. Gring is no longer connected with the arate circuits, which include 160 centers of nlissioll.

work, in which a teacher or preacher resides, -According to the new constitution of -or a school is taught by a Christian evangelist, Japan neither Christian ministers nor Buddhist and about 600 villages in which persons have priests are allowed to hold seats in the Im- been baptized, and in which they now reside. perial Diet.

There are in the province 1 high school, 8 -The missionaries of the American Board middle-grade Anglo-vernacular schools, 11 in Japan have sent a memorial to the Pru· upper primary Anglo-vernacular schools, 153 dential Committee" asking for new mission- v"rnacular schools, and over 5,000 pupils in aries." This large reinforcement is requested, attendance in all the grades. This work is says one of the missionaries, "not with the "arried on by a force consisting of 7 American view to extend our present limits or for experi- missionaries, 75 regularly licensed native ments, but simply to occupy eight more large preachers, and 226 native teachers and evan- cities that are centres for about five million gelists in the regular work. This calculation people, which fields God has opened to us, and does not include the work or schools of the in which our churches have already begun Woman's Society, nor the pastors supported work. " And yet, "the American Board has by the churches. The expense of thiswork to its largest single mission in Japan. It num- the Missionary Society and to the friends who bers 85 adults, and costs annually $75,000."

personally support schools is $27,000 per year." Fifteen years ago there were only two little -·The Intelligencer shows remarkable prog- churches, with about a dozen members each; ress in the Telugu mission of the English now fifty churches and 8,000 Christians, con- Church Missionary Society. The total num- tributing annually about $30,000.

ber of Christian adherents within this mission JeWS.-From the Record of the Free in 1849 was 65; in 1859, 177; in 1869, 1,726; in Church of Scotland we learn there are 47 18i9, 3,998. It thus appears that from 1869 to Protestant Jewish missionary societies labor- 1879 the Christians had multiplied at the rate ing among the Jews. They employ 377 mission- of about 131 per cent. From 1879 to 1888 the aries, with a total expenditure of about increase has been at the rate of 121 per cent., $500,000. It has been estimated that during a yearly average of 475. This record suggests the century fully 100,000 Jews have been Call· what may be done in India in the coming verted to the Church of Christ.

years. -Dr.·John Dixon, of the Mildmay Medical -A Brahman in Calcutta told Dr. Baumann lIlission to the Jews, reports 11,121 visits of old that he had read through the New Testament and new patients to the dispensary in 1888, eighty-three times and the Old Testament and 2,489 visits of doctors to the patiE'nts in twenty-seven times. their own homes, besides the work of thn :ltaly.-Protestant Mission in Elba. This d('aconesses in connection with the mission.

little island has for some years been the sta- In this way over 5,000 Jews and Jewesses have tion of a Protestant Mission, carried on under not only received medical help, but have heard the auspices of the Vaudois Church, but sup- the Gospel each time they visited the missioll.

ported by private contributions, collected by -Friend of Missions.

Mr. Jonathan Richardson, Killeaton, Dim· Jews In Palestlne.-Russia can· murry, Country Antrim, Ireland. It was on tinues to expel the Jews wholesale. This IS a hearing how this mission was established that (]t'plorable state of things, though not in the least surprIsmg. Mrs. Finn, Secretary of the prospering. A liberal friend of the cause in Society for the Relief of Persecuted Jews, Scotland has promised $6,500 to build another writes; "The Shaftesbury Memorial Fund has house for the missionaries at Tiberias. This been applied each year since Lord Shaftes- is chiefly a medical mission. bury's death to the employment of Jews at Abraham's Vineyard, Jerusalem, where a few Vntted 8tateS.-Missionary Statis- are trained in cultivating the ground and tics. We areglad to notice that The Missionary other industries. But there are tens of thou- Reyiew of the World proposes to tabulate each sands destitnte in Palestine. We are ready to year the statistics of all missionary societies give them the work without which they perish in the world. The work of the former editor. of starvation. We last year aided abont 300 ~Ir. Wilder, though imperfect, was exceedcases of urgent need in London, and this year ingly useful; and every missionary editor has as many in proportion, many of them in find- undoubtedly greatly missed these annual ing homes in America and elsewhere." tables since Mr. 'Wilder's death. It can hardly be tbe case that any editor of a denomina- ltIadagascar~The Drink Traffic. A tional miSSionary magazine would have the conference has been held of all the missions time to prepare these annual tables. But this working in Madagascar, except the Roman Re,;ew is the place where they ought to ap- Catholic, on the subject of the Drink Traffic. pear, and we offer the editors our hearty en- It took place in the committee-room of the couragement in their effort to give every year London Missionary Society on the 2d of a summary of ihe missionary statistics of the August, and resulted in the appointment of a world, which is promised to be the most comrepresentative committee, of which the Rev. plete and satisfactory ever published. It will B. Briggs is convener, to collect information be a strong feature of their already exceedand frame proposals for a memorial or peti- ingly valuable pubJication.-Baptist Missiontion to be addressed to the Queen and the al71 Magazine.

Prime Minister. ltalscellaneouS.-Colonel Olcott, the -The young native preachers in Antana- traveling theosophist, has touched at Bel- fast, and lectured in that fine city at a shilling rivo, the capital of Madagascar, have banded a head. He is cheaper than a blaspheming together for the purpose of sending some of ., Colonel" who remains on this side of the their number to the heathen in the outlying water. Colonel Olcott did not secure a large districts of the island. audience in the old Presbyterian town, and the indifference with which he was listened to New Gulnea.-A telegram to London appeared in the fact that when he closed no reports the killing of Rev. E. B. Savage, a one was found ready to move the customary missionary of the L. M. S., on Murray Island. yote of thanks. The Colonel's lecture, semi- It is also reported that some of the native Buddhistic, and wholly infidel, does not seem teachers were also murdered. Mr. S. went out to have been very luminous, especially in the in 1885, and the work of the Society in Eastern statement of his theosophic vagaries. In New Guinea of late years has been encourag- Dublin a gentleman rose in the audience, ing. The natives of Murray Island are can- after listening intently to the lecturer, and nibals, and yet the Christians recently sent asked the Colonel to state in brief what $150 to aid the L. M. S. in its work. he had been talking about, as he had utterly failed to understand him. There was no re- 8cotland.-Dr. George Smith, in the sponse. Free Church of Scotland Monthly, reviews the last ten years of the foreign missions of -In heathen countries Protestants occnpy that Church. In 1878 the adults baptized were 500 separate mission fields, containing 20,000 277; in 1888, 815; in 1878 the native communi- mission stations, supplied by 40,000 mission· cants were, 3,317; in 1888 they were, 6,272; the aries. In these 20,000 mission stations there pupils had also doubled, and the contributions are 500,000 Sunday-school scholars-an average from native churches and the number of naJ of 25 to each station. In the 20,000 Protestant tive Christian agents. The revenue has also mission stations there are one million of native increased in the same proportion. It was communicants, or an average of 50 to each £48,775 from all sources, in 1878, and £97,542 station. There are also 2,000,000 of adherents in 1888; the home donations being £31,263, as who are friendS of the evangelical faith and against £64,999, and the foreigu £17,512, as hearers of the Gospel preached from the Bible against £32,543. Starting now on the next dec- -an average of 100 to each station. ade with what is practically £100,000 a year, it is to be hoped they may again double it. -The Star of India says that among the This little church has a missionary record of countries barred to Protestant missionaries which it may well be proud. should be named Nepaul, between India and Thibet, a most interesting country. 8::vrla.-The population of Syria and Palestine, together, is estimated at about -Dr. Abel Stevens says that the old Asiatic 2,000,000. The prevailing language is Arabic, heathendom is generally giving way before though many languages are spoken. the continually increaSing power of Western thought and Christian civilization. -The mission of the Free Church of Scotland on the Lake of Galilee, in Palestine, is

The Missionary Review of the World — January 1888

PROSPECTUS OF THE REVIEW FOR 1888

JOINT EDITORS: J. M. SHERWOOD, A. T. PIERSON, NEW YORK. PHILADELPHIA.

VOL. XI. No. 1.—Old Series.—JANUARY, 1888.—VOL. I. No. 1.—New Series.

TEN years ago the Rev. Royal G. Wilder, who had spent 30 years in missionary work in India, unable longer to continue in that field, established this REVIEW at Princeton, N. J., on an independent basis, and has conducted it until now with remarkable energy and ability and won for it a very high character in all missionary circles. Failing health constrained him a few months since (he has since been called to his rest) to relinquish, with great reluctance but entire acquiescence in God's will, the further conduct of it; and at his earnest request Rev. A. T. Pierson and Rev. J. M. Sherwood consented to assume the editorship and regular issue of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW, beginning with January, 1888. In accepting the sacred trust, we realize the responsibility connected with it, and are anxious not only to carry on the work, so happily begun, but to enlarge the scope of the magazine, and broaden the field of its influence. Hence we propose at the start greatly to enlarge it, making it a monthly of 80 pages, give it a fine mechanical appearance, enlarge its scope, increase its literary and intellectual attractions, and bring it into harmonious relations with all the great missionary agents and movements of the age-in a word, to make it THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD in fact 'as well as in name-a Review truly Representative of the Spirit, Policy and Work of Modern Missions in their Unity, Entirety, and Universality.

THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD will embrace the following departments and features : I. LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. We shall studiously aim to give to the REVIEW a high literary and intellectual character, putting it in this respect on a par with our best Quarterlies and Literary Monthlies. The Missionary literature of the world is already rich in materials, and is rapidly increasing in breadth and in the power of inspiration and instruction. The annals of the past, and all new materials in this department, will be laid under generous contribution to impart value and interest to the pages of the magazine. The ablest pens available, and from all parts of the wide field, will be enlisted in this service. Essays, addresses, biographies, missionary sermons, travels, discoveries, missionary life, and discussions of the vital themes and questions relating to the policies and methods,

which will arise from time to time in the broad field of the world's missions, will combine to inform, interest and inspire the friends of the cause.

A sharp eye will also be kept on the current issues of the press, at home and abroad, and whatever appears in books and periodicals of special interest to missionary readers will be brought to the attention of our patrons. Each month will present a resume of current discussion and press contributions to the Literature of the missionary work.

II. MISSIONARY ORGANIZATIONS. As far as space will permit, a detailed account will be given in each number of some specific part of the general field and of the particular societies operating on it, so arranged and apportioned as that the entire missionary field of the world shall be embraced in our report of each year, and due attention given to all important missionary organizations and agencies known to exist. Thus a bird's eye view of the universal life and operations of the grand missionary cause will be given in each volume. It will be a yearly Epitome of the History of Modern Missions.

III. CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE. The editors will put themselves en rapport with all the chief Missionary Societies, Missions, and workers in all lands; they will establish Editorial Correspondents in every part of the field, so as to insure the latest and most reliable intelligence from every available quarter, and co-operate with the friends of missions everywhere in pushing the Missionary Cause to the front, and in imparting increased power and efficiency to the vast machinery of missions. They will strive to make THE MISSIONARY REVIEW a focal light and guide to "the whole sacramental host of God's elect." moving in concert for the subjugation of the world to Christ.

IV. PROGRESS AND FRUITS OF MISSIONARY WORK. This department will contain a comprehensive account of the leading missionary events of the month, embracing the receipts, disbursements and operations of the various societies; items of special interest from the various fields; facts, statements, experiences and appeals bearing direct on the missionary cause, and whatever else will be of special interest to all engaged in the work. This will furnish a practical Summary of what has been attempted and accomplished during each month throughout the entire field of operations.

v. STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS This department will be emphasized and made of the utmost interest and value to the friends of missions everywhere, and especially to pastors and those who conduct the Monthly Concert. It will be a unique and leading feature of the REVIEW. No pains or reasonable expense will be spared to obtain the fullest, and latest, and most reliable figures and statistics of the world's entire missionary operations, both in the Home and Foreign fields, and so to classify, arrange and tabulate them as to make them of the highest practical value. The labor in this department will be immense, but the result will be worth more than the price of a year's subscription to every pastor, every public library, every missionary society, and every intelligent friend of the cause of Missions. We mean to make the REVIEW an authority on this subject.

VI. THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS will be under the special charge of Dr. Pierson, who, in addition to being the pastor of a large and efficient church, possesses special qualifications for this service. His best endeavors will be put forth to make this important service increasingly attractive and profitable, and to suggest topics and methods in aid of pastors and others in the conduct of it that will make the REVIEW an indispensable aid to them, and to every church which observes the «Monthly Concert of Prayer for Missions."

VII. INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT. This will be under the editorial charge of Rev. J. T. Gracey, D.D., of the « International Missionary Union," who will be able to make it highly conducive to the general purpose and scope of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.

VIII. EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS of special interest to missionary circles. These will be brief, condensed, and on a great variety of topics, which we have not space to discuss at length and yet shall wish to express an opinion upon.

If this ideal of the editors can be realized-and we believe it can be -THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, with God's blessing- for whose glory this work is undertaken by them-may become a great power for good. World-wide in its field and scope; independent of local and ecclesiastical boundaries and prejudices; fearless and independent in its expression of opinion and in its advocacy of methods and policies; consulting the highest interest of the Cause in its widest relations; having an eye on the entire field, and lending a helping hand wherever needed; and presenting a current history of that work, which is «the glory of the age," in all its departments and agencies and results, it must possess an interest and a value far above that of any other missionary magazine of the world.

We congratulate the friends of missions that we have been able to secure as Publishers of this Review, Messrs. Funk & Wagnalls, 18 and 20 Astor Place, New York, by whom it will hereafter be published.

This enterprising House is too well known in the book world, and in religious circles, to need any introduction or indorsement from us.

We expect to issue the January number at an early date, and succeeding numbers on or before the middle of each month in advance, to be in ample time for the Missionary Ooncert.

NEW YORK, OCTOBER, 1887.
J. M. SHERWOOD.
A. T. PIERSON.

SALUTATORY

I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.

SALUTATORY.

[EDITORIAL.] CICERO says that the orator, in the exordium of his address, should establish between himself and his hearers a mutual understanding, and get with them upon a common ground.

The same law applies to the editor and author. It is highly important, that, at the very outset, the writer and reader should understand each other; and therefore we give these opening pages of this Review to a word of salutation and explanation addressed to all our readers.

Led, as we believe, by the Providence of God, we undertake to carry on a good work which originated ten years ago in the mind and heart of a beloved returned missionary from India, *and which has, by his hand, amid much physical suffering, been carried to its present stage of growth and success. God's workmen are constantly changing but His work goes on. We have yielded to what seemed a providential pressure thrusting us unexpectedly into the gap left by the necessary retirement of the previous editor from the control of the Review, and we shall seek to perpetuate and perfect what was originally designed and has been so far, and so well, developed under his care.

It does not always follow that even a good work needs to be carried on : sometimes it reaches completion, and addition is superfluous. In this case we conceive that to discontinue this Review would be disaster. So far is it from a finished structure, that thus far only the cornerstone has been laid and the foundation built; the scaffolding is not yet ready to be removed, and we are beginning a new story with such modifications as the building demands as it advances.

There is now room for more of the literary, the æsthetic, the intellectual; a demand, as circulation increases and a firm financial basis is secured, for the best labor properly compensated. We have no less aim than to make this Review the commanding Missionary Magazine of the World, sparing neither labor nor money to make it one of the foremost agencies for the evangelization of the world and the information, organization and co-operation of disciples in the direction of world-wide missions.

That such a Review is needed, we should be ashamed to argue. There are two great, potent factors which must enter into the solution of the problem of missions-the tongue and pen. The printing-press multiplies them both a thousandfold. It gives volume and compass to the voice, like the trumpet of a Titan, and it scatters the products of the pen, as though it had at command the hundred-handed giants that helped the Titans. Great is the power of type and of printers' ink! Surely we should leave out a whole division in mustering our forces, if, in going forth to a world's conquest for Christ, we should neglect the printed page.

Facts are the fingers of God. There is no logic like the logic of events; no demonstration like the demonstration of the Spirit. Apathy, and even antipathy, toward the work of missions, are turned into positive and powerful sympathy, when a true disciple learns how mightily God has wrought and is working with the little missionary band. Men, like James Hannington, who once were indifferent to foreign missions because they were ignorant of them, have, like the martyr bishop of Africa, found that a simple knowledge of the wonderful work of God's Providence and Spirit, even among the most depraved and degraded tribes, has lit a flame in their souls that could neither be quenched nor confined; a flame that has grown into a fire, a conflagration-consum- ing selfishness and worldliness; displacing the carnal lusts-appetite, avarice and ambition, by a divine ardor and fervor, passion for souls, and zeal for the glory of God.

To put such facts before the reader, in the most truthful and telling form, comprehensively and attractively, is one of the foremost objects of this Review. We shall aim to exhibit the miracles of missions, which are at once signs of Christ's messiahship, manifestations of the Power of God, wonders of the Spirit, and works possible only to Deity.

To secure a proper and perpetual stream of such information, we shall seek to secure a large number of tributaries. First, we shall, as fast as we are able, select a large and competent corps of editorial correspondents, who shall sustain a close relation to the Review, and by whose contributions these columns will be enriched. Next, we purpose to find at least one commanding personality in every great missionary territory, and especially at great strategic centers, who shall be as a living link between the Review and the various fields of Christian effort. Furthermore, we hope to secure able contributions from men and women of learning, piety and consecrated spirit, whose opinions compel respect, whose statements are accurate and authoritative, and whose suggestions are sagacious and practical.

The need of such a Review of missions is pressing. The demand is immediate and imperative. With all the existing channels for conveyance of information and the exchange of views, there is yet a wide gap to be filled. The work of missions is world-wide, and we need a missionary Review of the World; the need of man is universal, and so must be our survey; the whole church is called to this grand crusade, and the Review must be unsectarian and undenominational, gathering the whole army, with all its tribal standards, closely about the Tabernacle and Ark of God; the Christian nations are all united in the work, and hence the Review will be international; and as even the best methods are liable to be defective, and custom is often, as Cyprian says, only the" Antiquity of Error," a true Review will be critical though not controversial, and will aim, not only at a wide view, but at a close, careful, candid review.

The time is now especially ripe for such an undenominational, international, independent missionary organ, as a means of expression and impression, communication and co-operation, education and evangelization. Missions are comparatively modern. The Church slept for more than a thousand years; then slowly awoke to the sense of a world's destitution and her own obligation. Let us remember that it yet lacks five years of a full century since in Widow Wallis' humble cottage at Kettering, that first Missionary Society was organized in England, that was the pioneer of the whole host now numbering over one hundred organizations. And already, and within the lifetime of some veterans still living, the network of missions has overspread the globe. Surely it is time that in this special department there should be abundant and adequate agencies to put and keep before the reading public the entire progress and prospects of the grand campaign which is now conducted by all Christendom against the strongholds of the Pagan, Moslem and Papal world!

Such is our word of Salutation. The primary object of this Review is not money-making, but the informing of disciples, and the quickening of our whole church-life, the promotion of an intelligent interest in the work of missions everywhere and the inspiring of an unreserved personal consecration to the work. We desire the fullest support of a large constituency of readers, in what we undertake as an unselfish labor of love for the sake of Christ and His Church. As the circulation of the Review increases and its income allows, more and more will be expended upon the periodical itself, that we may give back to the reader and subscriber the largest returns for his investment; and it is our fond hope that by the abundant blessing of God upon our labor, direct and indirect results may follow, on the largest scale, in furthering and hastening a world's evangelization.

Gladstone says that eloquence in the orator is "receiving from the audience in a vapor what he pours back upon them in a flood. " We shall depend largely upon our readers for the inspiration in our work; and we hope that whatever is received from the subscribers to this Review by way of its support, they may find comes back to them in abundance; that, like the water poured on the roots of the cocoanut tree, which returns in the sweet milk of the cocoanut itself that falls from the top, there may be not only an equivalent rendered but something sweeter and richer by way of recompense.

IN MEMORIAM: REV. ROYAL GOULD WILDER

IN MEMORIAM: REV. ROYAL GOULD WILDER.

Born Oct. 27, 1816, Bridport, Vt. Died Oct. 10, 1887, New York City.

THIS heroic man, the originator and for ten years the editor of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW, closed a life of service and suffering by a blessed entrance into glory, on the very day on which, to his successors in the editorial work, the REVIEW was formally transferred. He only tarried long enough to see the transfer completed and to bestow his blessing on the new administration, and then took his departure for the better country.

It is no mere tribute to a predecessor, however, that impels us to erect to him, in this first number of the new series, a memorial tablet. Though his kingdom came not with observation, and no trumpet was sounded before him, the veteran who, having passed his allotted three score and ten, has been honorably retired from earthly service and gloriously promoted to a heavenly sphere, was no common man. His name belongs high up on the roll of missionary heroes, among the "King's mighty men" and valiant ones, and we gladly open our series of missionary biographies with a pen profile of Royal Gould Wilder.

Few there be that find their way to their sphere of service through such a strait and narrow path. His was no "royal road to learning." He was one of twelve children, and the family knew what it was to struggle against poverty. The father's name was Abel, and he was born in Maine, near Portland, and by trade a ship-carpenter, but was also a shoemaker and farmer, ready to turn his hand to any employment to get bread for his wife and children, but unable to provide luxuries-even those of an education. His mother, Hannah Payne, descended from Robert Treat Paine, was of a high family and of rare ability. Her father was a school teacher until he was sixty, and she grew up amid education and refinement. Shortly after marriage she with her husband removed to Vermont, and during the year in which Royal was born there was a great revival, and his father and mother joined the church that same year. Afterward they moved again to Franklin County, New York, then regarded as somewhat "far west." It is certain that the family endured great hardships and were very poor for a long period of years-during the entire boyhood of Royal. In course of time the natural increase in the value of property, hundreds of acres of which were cleared by his father and brothers, bettered their circumstances, and to-day the three brothers and three sisters who survive him are living in comfortable homes, showing those elements of character which insure worldly success.

Royal went to district school in winter, and was the first to enter an "academy," as he was the only one to enter a college. With a keen relish for reading, before he was ten years old he devoured every religious book that came in his way, and even the papers of whatever date. His father's library was very small, but what it contained was not trash, and the young lad grew strong on such books as the "Pilgrim's Progress" and the "Saint's Rest."

When he determined to seek an education, his father could give him no help. His time and a cow composed the curious capital which was Royal's only dependence; and in the academy at Malone it was the beef from that cow that kept him at school the first term. Many a time he cut in one day two cords of wood, to relieve his father's financial distress or his own.

His first money he earned by selling melons at Malone, and the half dollar he got he kept his hand on, even in his pocket as he ran home, till a stumble compelled him suddenly to withdraw his hand, and away went the precious coin down a hole. Royal was not a boy to give up easily, and down he went on hands and knees, and dug away till he recovered his lost half-dollar. The incident was typical and prophetical of his future; only what he digged for was not silver or gold.

At thirteen years, began his religious life as an intelligent, conscious experience. He had been brought up to pray, and on one occasion, at least, had found the value of prayer. Going through the woods to find his brothers, and carry them dinner, he got lost and wandered about dazed and bewildered, coming back continually upon his old track. Then he knelt down and prayed for guidance; rose and determined to trust in God and go straightforward, following one direction; presently he emerged from the thicket, coming out into the very field where his brothers were at work. Here was another typical and prophetical incident. He got into many a tangled thicket afterward; but never did he forget Him who had led him out into light and safety, and in answer to prayer he was guided in every new experience of darkness and danger into a larger liberty and success.

Though he first consciously found Christ as a Saviour in time of revival, his religious life was singularly free from emotionalism. He had no sudden transitions nor violent revulsions of feeling. Mainly through an awakened conscience, a calm but quick sense of duty, and the study of the Word of God, he came to accept Jesus as Saviour and Lord. At that time his sister Hannah joined the Baptists, as that sect prevailed in the neighborhood where the family lived; but he preferred the Presbyterian fold, and at sixteen united with Dr. Parmelee's church at Malone. Never but once had he uttered an oath, and he never forgot it. His religious frame though always calm, was never cold; he was moved more by love and less by fear, more by deliberate judgment and choice than by sudden impulse or glowing enthusiasm. He knew he must found his whole Christian hopes upon the new nature regenerate in Christ; and believing that God had wrought in him the new creation, he enjoyed a quiet assurance seldom disturbed by doubts.

He studied by night by the light of pine knots, and worked by day to get the pine knots for his fire and the books for his study, until he entered Middlebury College in his twentieth year.

When he left home, his capital in life was less than ten dollars, most of which he had saved, and a dollar of which his mother gave him the morning he left home for college. He walked the entire distance, working his way over the lake by helping in the loading and unloading of the boat, and going barefoot part of the way to save his shoes. The same habits of frugality and economy and bodily exertion followed him through life.

From first to last he was a patient plodder. So desirous was he of a training for a useful life that he was willing to work from five o'clock in the morning till breakfast, and from noon till school again opened; that he might pay his board, cutting hay in summer, and splitting wood in winter, to earn the right to be a full-grown and well-equipped man. In college it was the hand on the axe-handle and the bell-rope that helped him through. When he was graduated in 1839 he had worked his passage; but he had won deserved honors, for, with his classmate, Foote, he stood-they two at the head of the class, and, strangely enough, they two had been born on the same day.

When he turned from the flattering prospects of a high position at home to spend his life among the pagans of Asia, he left a path that might have led him where one of his schoolmates, Mr. Wheeler, afterward came-to the Vice-Presidency of the nation. Foote, his twin honor-man, said to him: "Wilder, why bury yourself among the heathen?" Mr. Wilder was singularly attached to Mr. Foote, and for years they corresponded. Foote rose rapidly in his profession; very successful as a lawyer, he amassed wealth, and married a woman of unusual beauty. But death, in the midst of his prosperity, smote wife and daughter, and poor Foote blew out his own brains!

Mr. Wilder taught in Mississippi and Vermont; and then went to Andover for a theological course. There he found a missionary band, like the famous "Haystack band" of Williams, with the same constitution and covenant. Only twelve belonged to it, and even the professors seemed to feel little interest in it, but Royal Wilder became a member, heard Dr. Grant of Persia and Dr. Scudder of India, and others, speak on the great needs of a lost world, and so the missionary was preparing and maturing for his work. Here he had his first and last period of doubts about the Divinity of Christ. They were incident to the transition period when the mind was budding into full independence. Henceforth he was to feel too much of the Divine life of Christ in himself and see too much of the Divine power of Christ in others, to doubt that He was the Son of God. He was graduated from Andover in 1845. At the last, R. S. Storrs, Jr., was his classmate-and when he with five others of his class became missionaries, they all went to India, leaving Storrs to remain behind and become the Corinthian column of the Congregational Church in this country, while they departed for the regions beyond.

His missionary life was the final flowering of a gradual growth. No sooner did he believe himself to be a disciple than, like Dr. Duff, he began to feel the value of other souls and a yearning to save them. The idea of a mission to the heathen world was slowly and steadily taking form within him; first consciously turned toward the lost in other lands by reading Jonathan Edwards on Redemption, the story of "Henry and his Bearer" especially interested him in India.

During his college days Mr. Wilder became acquainted with a family living near West Rutland Village, Vt. In this family he found deep piety and a love for missions. The aged grandfather said, he thought he had not missed reading a page of The Missionary Herald for twenty years.

At the time of the departure of missionaries for the Sandwich Islands a collector visited this home to solicit funds. The devoted mother gave something, but her sad countenance that day showed her deep disappointment that the gift was not larger. As she gathered, with her nine children, for family prayers, she asked God to accept of one or more of her children for missionary work. A daughter in that group says of this incident-"that prayer struck me." This daughter was the one chosen to help cheer Mr. Wilder in his great work. For some five years the two were many a time alone at communion services. She shared with him the anxiety of the first months at Kolapoor when almost in despair of striking rock for the foundation of his church. She suffered with him the violence of the people who one night hurled a large stone through the window pane across the cradle of their little girl. She was his companion in such experiences as meeting a snake in the parlor, finding a scorpion on her son's coat, seeing a panther while on her morning walk, living for weeks in the mountains without seeing a white face. But she had also the joy of starting the first girls' school in a kingdom where not a respectable woman or girl could read, and of welcoming to the communion table, as the first native convert in Kolapoor, a woman.

Mr. Wilder's intention was to go to the Walled Kingdom. But Dr. Anderson, then Secretary of the A. B. C. F. M., wanted him for Ahmednuggur. The greater need was to Mr. Wilder always the louder voice, and so he went to India. From the day of his connection with the Andover Band he had no hesitation in promptly, cheerfully following the leading of God.

When his vessel was ready to sail, he departed from Malone, and his departure was the means of a revival in which many were added to the Church. His father rejoiced to give up his son to such a great work as was before him. His mother, to whom he had been particularly devoted, and for whose sake he had walked from Middlebury to Malone to spend vacations, was dead.

The vessel rounded the Cape of Good Hope and consumed 121 days in the passage to Bombay. Mr. Wilder had given three months, at Newark, Delaware, to the study of Mahratta, and, after another three months in India, Mr. Ballantine, being called away, asked him to preach. The invitation was a joke, but Mr. Wilder actually accepted it and did preach. The native Christians were astonished and said, "We prayed for him."

In Ahmednuggur Mr. Wilder spent six years. The day he reached there, he found a seminary with from fifty to eighty boys. Very soon after his arrival, this seminary was put under his care by a vote of the mission. Within a year there were six city schools, and, within three years, twenty more village schools. Fees had been given to induce attendance; he did away with fees, and had a larger and better school.

He went to Kolapoor in 1852. This city was especially holy in Brahmin eyes, and never had been contaminated by the presence of missionaries. The day he got there the leading Brahmins petitioned for his banishment. But, undismayed, he got a foothold and worked five years for his first convert. His school was the entering wedge of all his success. At the time of his coming he found in Kolapoor 44,000 inhabitants, and only one school, in a back street, with twelve boys in it. When he left, a college building, at Government expense, costing $200,000, had been built, and «Father Wilder" was asked to make the address at the opening. He was too busy to comply, but his associate, Mr. Seiler, made the address, and took as his theme, "The Evidences of Christianity."

The cholera drove him from India in 1857, and by a remarkable Providence, he sailed the very day after the breaking out of the great mutiny of the Punjaub. Some of his nearest European neighbors were killed in that massacre.

To this period belongs his well-known disagreement with the American Board. He was an ardent advocate of schools and edncation, and next to actual conversion he placed the education of the Hindoos. He zealously urged the hiring of pundits and native teachers where Christian teachers could not be obtained, and refused to curtail his schools and school-work because he could not get just such teachers as he wished. This got him into a difficulty with Dr. Anderson, and resulted in the abandonment of his mission and his dismissal from the Board. Backed by his Presbytery and friends in this country, he returned to India in 1861, and went back to conduct his work on an independent basis. For twelve years he labored, supported by no Board or Society. However low the funds ebbed, he would never give up. At one time, in distress for means to carry on his work, he and his devoted wife covenanted to commit all to God anew in prayer; and the next morning's mail brought eleven hundred rupees from an unknown donor in Calcutta; and to this day the source of that benefaction is a secret. The mission received cordial support from Sir Bartle Frere, Governor of Bombay; Col. Phayre, Robert Arthington of Leeds, and others. But it was sustained wholly by voluntary gifts. These years of simple trust, leaning on God, were the happiest years of Mr. Wilder's life, and became the basis for his subsequent and enthusiastic .advocacy of the voluntary principle in missions.

In this enterprise he was largely aided by the English, because they thoroughly respected him, and also by the natives themselves. Sir Bartle Frere and other prominent Indo-Europeans have said that Royal G. Wilder did more for the present system of national education in India than any other man. From 1861 to 1869 he was a constant contributor to the Bombay Times and Gazette on that subject, and wrote the editorials for the former paper relating to educational matters. He was prominent in memorializing Parliament and inducing the Indian government to establish the present system of national education. The money obtained from his contributions to the Indian press aided, in no small measure, in the support of the mission that he conducted for so many years at Kolapoor.

At the date of suspension of schools by Dr. Anderson, Mr. Wilder's scholars numbered some 500 boys and 100 girls. He writes of this: "Our deepest conviction from all past experience assures us that the loss of these schools involves the sacrifice of our most effective agency for prosecuting our missionary labors. If our Deputation could exchange places and labor with us for a twelvemonth, we cannot, for a moment, doubt that they would advocate these schools with all the persistency and authority with which they now oppose them. Our friends in India have manifested a very kind interest in these schools from the first, and it may gratify them to know that their generous contributions have wholly supported them. Not a farthing of their expense has come from the home funds of the Board, since their origin." Before Mr. Wilder came home in 1857 the schools were reopened. While at home the mission was abandoned. His appeal, published at the time, gives the reason for his returning as an independent missionary. Upon reaching India he found that his beautiful church, the only one among 252 heathen temples, had been sold and turned into a Mohammedan mosque.* He was remarkably helped in getting the site for his second church. He closed the year 1863-the second after his return as an independent missionary-with a native church of eight communicants and four baptized children.

In 1855 an intelligent man visited him from the Putwardhun States, and showed so much interest in the truth, that he gave him a Bible, hymn-book, catechism and the creed. He returned to his country and was lost sight of for nine years. In a report of 1864 Mr. Wilder writes: "On our recent tour he was the first man to visit us at Sanglee, brought all the books carefully preserved, and read and repeated from memory portions of Scripture, the creed, a tract of eight pages, and the entire cathecism of forty pages; avowing his faith in the truths and doctrines thus learned."

After building a home and church Mr. Wilder devoted himself with renewed energy to village work. The report of 1872 speaks of the interference of the S. P. G. His characteristic firmness was shown in this experience. This was a sore trial to him, and in the Appendix to the Report of 1871, his reasons are fully stated for his course.

Mr. Wilder was very anxious to stimulate in native Christians a desire to work for souls, not because paid for doing so but from love to Christ. In 1873 he writes: "Only four of all our converts receive any support from the mission, and these, small monthly sums of Rs. 8, 7, 5 and 3 as Christian teachers. "

The property of the Kolapoor Mission he gave in 1871 to the Presbyterian Board, and in 1875 left the field of his labor, partly from considerations of health, and partly to educate Robert and Grace in this country. The time between his sailing for India and his resignation from the Board covered a period of nearly thirty-two years.

During those thirty years he had preached in more than 3,000 cities, towns and villages, had scattered over 3,000,000 pages of tracts, had gathered in schools over 3,300 pupils, 300 of whom were girls. In a parish of 4,000,000 of people he and his wife were the only persons to take care of their souls. Beside all this work he had been on committee for translation and revision of the Bible; and was one of the committee in the Mahratta language, spoken by 16,000,000 people. Up to the time he left India he had already written and published commentaries on three gospels, and had edited and translated many books.

His hand was not forgetful of its cunning, even as his tongue did not cleave to the roof of his mouth. Every nail in the roof of his church building at Kolapoor he drove with his own hammer, and when the houses went up to shelter converts' families he led in the work. In the early years of the mission, he wrote many articles for the press, chiefly on educational subjects; and it is said by those in high official position, that his anonymous letters in The Times of India influenced Parliament in adopting measures for the education of the masses. He was offered a very influential position in the educational department.

His whole policy in India was to watch for the opportunities to plant and support indigenous primary schools. He cared for no high colleges. His ruling passion was to lift up the masses. He graduated salaries of teachers according to the number and progress of their pupils, thus indirectly striking a blow at caste by setting a premium on numbers and proficiency, without reference to the class from which pupils came. He encouraged only a moderate allowance to helpers, on the ground that natives could not support men who received large salaries. Like Wheeler on the Euphrates, he felt that by the tithe system ten believers might support a teacher or preacher who was willing to live on their level as to expense.

Whereas when he first went to Kolapoor there was not in the kingdom one respectable woman who could write or read, only recently they have sent to this country for a governess to go to the palace itself.

Of incidents, this one may illustrate the power of direct prayer. One day he had preached in some eight villages. Disputations and popular indifference had made him feel discouraged, and thus wearied he sat under a tree to rest. While here a coolie came from his home, bringing provisions, bread, etc., and also the overland mail. The mail was the most welcome. Among other letters was one from a dear friend in Philadelphia. It contained words of warm sympathy and encouragement, and more than all, this assurance: "Brother Wilder, we are praying for you by name every Wednesday evening." The effect of this letter and the blessing which came with it were immediate. He rose from under that "juniper tree" with fresh realization of nearness to God. He walked two miles to a large town. He went, as was his custom, directly to the Pahtil-the head man of the town. He was in his court-room, surrounded by some fifty clerks, but received him in a polite, cordial way, and upon learning his errand ordered all the clerks to drop their work and listen. After Mr. Wilder had talked about an hour they urged him to continue, and before he closed those learned men were wiping the tears from their eyes. This is one of the choicest experiences in his life, showing the power of the simple story of Christ's love. No wonder he believed in special objects for prayer and gifts. His convictions of Missionary methods, both at home and on the field, seem to have been rooted into his very nature by deep personal experience. This was so of his conviction that native churches should have native pastors; that native churches should be self-supporting; that native Christians should be trained to responsibility, and taught to keep on a level with their neighbors, that they might win them, and show them that they had not become Christians to better their temporal condition. The prayer-meetings were largely reporters' meetings. From the Christians were expected accounts of services, interviews, discussions, etc. Sometimes he would call on them by name for their report of the week. These reports suggested very definite subjects for prayer. This was true also of the women's prayer-meetings conducted by Mrs. Wilder. Praying in meeting was a part of their Christian life.

Mr. Wilder was, so far as known, but once in peril of his life. On the outskirts of a village a mob gathered around him, and demanded money. Though mou:p.ted on his horse, the leader of the gang had hold of the bridle; so, for a few minutes, the missionary seemed completely in the power of the fierce men. With seeming Cf'mposure he entered into a conversation with them. Their interest increased; he held their attention until he noticed the grasp on the bridle gradually loosening. Watching a favorable moment he spurred his horse and with a boun~ was out of their reach.

On his return, in 1875, he himself crossed the Continent and left his luggage and property to come by sea. Rounding the Cape of Good Hope, his goods were lost in the vessel's wreck. But among those lost effects was his whole manuscript on the Kolapoor kingdom, with full diary of his missionary work.

During later years his home has been in Princeton. There his parlor has been the Sabbath afternoon gathering place for the students, and the training school for missions.

In 1877, he started THE MISSIONARY REVIEW. The readers of that Review will not need to be reminded of the causes which led to its establishment. Even before he went to the General Assembly and presented his vigorous, incisive criticisms of the methods and expenditures of the Presbyterian Board, he felt there was need of a periodical that would review missions from a point of prospect more elevated than any denominational one, and the REVIEW became the channel for the expression of his personal convictions founded on a long and large experience, and a means of presenting the status of all missions of all denominations throughout all heathendom and nominal Christendom.

He yearned to return and die in India, and nothing held him back but his waning strength and the REVIEW. But so soon as he felt that the REVIEW was provided for, he determined, notwithstanding his keen bodily suffering, to sail for Kolapoor. "My whole soul," he said, "would leap, could I go back. Could I not place twenty missionaries there at once?" That humble Presbyterian Church at Kolapoor was very dear to him, for in its construction his own hands as well as heart were engaged for months. When the church first built by him, was sold to the Mohammedans, and a mosque built on the old site, it is characteristic of his quiet persistence to have bought ground and placed the new church as near as he possibly could to the site of the old one, and his efforts to obtain that site make a very interesting story in themselves.

To the last his heart went out to Kolapoor, and he charged his son Robert to settle about fifty miles from there, in a district peculiarly destitute, where, when he once told the story of the cross, the people with weeping followed him quite a distance, yearning to hear more.

His dying eyes were fixed on Jesus. When the death of his daughter, in 1861, was referred to, and he was asked: "Do you expect to meet her in heaven?" he said, "Yes; but it is my Saviour about whom I think most."

In looking over Mr. Wilder's life, we are impressed with the singular appropriateness of the motto he chose for the REVIEW: "Nil desperandum, Christo sub duce," as applied to his experience.

As a young man, he was extremely retiring and bashful and painfully sensitive; and at times he has, to very intimate friends, expressed his amazement that God had used him, and accomplished through such material His work. It seemed almost incongruous to him that one so timid and shrinking should be thrust into such severe fighting in the forefront of battle.

Of the tender side of his nature few can form a true estimate. These things do not appear in any public reports.

His life closed very beautifully and appropriately when his work was done. The last Saturday, Oct. 8, he sent proof to the printers to complete the closing number of the last volume of his REVIEW, and on the very day when the final arrangements were completed for its transfer to other hands, "he was not: for God took him."

MISSIONARY PROBLEMS IN INDIA

MISSIONARY PROBLEMS IN INDIA. [EDITORIAL.-J. M. s.] IN the Andover Review for September, the Rev. Edward A. Lawrence gives an elaborate and valuable article on this subject, the gist of which we condense and reproduce, for the benefit of our readers. Written by one on the ground, and in an intelligent, and impartial spirit, his views and statements are entitled to respectful consideration. The "Problems" he considers have a world-wide interest and application, and to solve them for India, is, in effect, to solve them for the whole missionary world.

The Problems here discussed are I. Mission Oo-operation; II. What shall be the Treatment of Oonverted Polygamists? III. Who shall be Employed as Teachers in Mission Schools? IV. Instantaneous Baptism.

I.-MISSION CO-OPERATION. The organized union of different mission societies, which happily exists in Japan, and in Amoy, China, has not yet extended to India. Still there is no division or bitterness of feeling. In the main, the field of the several societies is well defined and generally respected. 'fhe Irish Presbyterians occupy Rajputana, the American Methodists, Oudh and Rohilcund; the American Presbyterians labor in the Punjab side by side, and on friendly terms with the Church Missionary Society; while the American United Presbyterians, alike in Egypt and the Punjab north of the Lahore, are fortunate in being almost without competitors. In the south, the Lutheran Missionary Society in Trevancore, and the Church Missionary Society in Tinnevelly, amiably divide the end of the Oape. The bounds of the Madura Mission of the American Board have been settled by agreement with the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, dividing the field between them. In Madras, Oalcutta, and Bombay, and in a few other places, there are Monthly Mission Oonfederacies, where members of most of the missions gather for paternal intercourse and discussion. While the general Mission Conferences, like that of the Punjab, or of the whole country, held decennially-the last at Calcutta, 1883-have gone far to prove to the heathen world that Protestants are really united in spirit and aim.

The Presbyterian family take the lead in the movement for organic union. For years past, the Dutch Reformed, the American, Scotch and Irish Presbyterians, have met in a general alliance, seeking to accomplish in India what has been done in Japan. At their last meeting in Bombay, committees were appointed to press forward the work of union, and it was decided to establish a periodical for that purpose.

The evils of sectarianism are nowhere so serious as in great heathen cities, where missions compete, and sometimes conflict, one with another. The natives fancy the divisions greater than they are, and the converts sigh for a national church, and complain of the burdens imposed by reason of differences.

The City Evangelization problem, which astounds and confounds the Church at home, is pressing heavily on the Church in heathen cities. Says Mr. Lawrence: "It is difficult and painful to express my disappointment with most features of mission operations in the Presidency cities of India. The educational work, indeed, is excellent; in some cases, unequalled. The Christian College in Madras, at the head of which is Dr. Miller of the Scotch Presbyterian Church, may well rank as the best institution of learning in India. But other forms of work languish. Not only that: in many cases the fat school-kine have swallowed up the lean evangelistic kine, and there is an actual famine of God's preached Word for the heathen. One great reason for this neglect of important branches of work, one explanation of the weakness or restlessness of the native churches in these cities, and of the fact that in the three where so many societies concentrate there is but one native church which is strictly self-supporting-the Congregational Church in Bombay-is to be found in the rivalries and confusions of sectarianism.

In Calcutta, matters are still worse. The Bengali Christians have able and fluent leaders among them, some of whom show their sincerity by great labors and self-denial. Several are successful lawyers or government officials, who devote their spare time to gospel work, or even take charge of some church. One of these laymen has just been ordained to the preaching office by the Presbytery of the Scotch Free Church Mission."

But the question of lay baptism is exciting earnest attention. A test case has been brought for trial before the Presbytery of the Free Church of Scotland, but not yet decided. Even such men as Ram Chandra Bose, well known in this country, favor lay administration of the sacraments.

"It is plain that some change in these city missions is needed before these great centres will become centres of Christianity. It is equally plain that we cannot expect to stereotype and perpetuate in the Eastern church the divisions which mark the Western church. The selfish desire of any mission board to keep its work intact and not to be swallowed up in a great union movement should be rebuked by Christians of every denomination, and the dangers of disorder and license should be checked by earnest sympathy with the aspirations of the native Christians on one side, and by earnest co-operation between all mission bodies on the other."

II.-THE TREATMENT OF CONVERTED POLYGAMISTS.

To us in the home field, this question seems very simple, but in India, and on other mission fields, it is a complicated and knotty problem.

"The opinion of missionaries on this subject is much divided, and the matter has been discussed at various conferences. An excellent statement of both sides of the question is made in the 'Indian Evangelical Review' of April, 1886, by Rev. J. J. Lucas, who has taken pains to inform himself of the opinions of many leading missionaries. My own impression, formed from conversation with a large number is, that a majority of the missionaries in India, especially of those longest in the field, would decline to advise a man to dismiss one of two wives, and that many of them would baptize him, in that state, while protesting against polygamy as unchristian. The Madura Mission not long ago decided to baptize converted polygamists who had acted in ignorance of Christian ideas, in cases where there was no way of separation without injustice. Of this decision the American Board has expressed its disapproval. But Mr. Jones, of that mission, avows the belief that the policy of refusing baptism to such candidates must in time be reversed."

To over sixty representatives of different missions, Mr. Lucas sent the following question: "Would you, under any circumstances, baptize a convert with more than one wife, allowing him to retain his wives ?" And an affirmative answer was received from the great majority.

Yet, Mr. Lucas himself opposes baptism in such a case, because of the apparent sanction given to polygamy, the temptation laid in the way of inquirers, the formation of two classes of Christians within the church, and the injury done to the church itself. Yet he would not ask the husband to put away either wife, but he would say, "Wait. Your first outward step towards Christ must not be marred by a cruel wrong and flagrant injustice. Wait, holding fast your faith, and time will bring a change." And still he admits that the majority of missionaries, if left free to act, would go further than this, though leaving much to be determined by the circumstances of each case. Mr. Lawrence was assured by old missionaries, that their opinions in this regard had been changed by long experience on the field.

III.-WHO SHALL BE EMPLOYED AS TEACHERS IN MISSION SCHOOLS.

Great trouble and perplexity are experienced in this matter. Hindus are hostile to the work of missions, actively so less perhaps than formerly, but have still to be carefully watched. Mr. Lawrence relates his experience in addressing a school of boys and girls in Bombay. He was obliged to use a Hindu teacher as interpreter. He spoke of the evils of idolatry, of the position of women, and of what each member of the school should do in opposing these evils. To his surprise he afterward found that the interpreter had added his own comments: to his words about idolatry he had added the remark that these were the sentiments of the speaker, not his own. The teacher had to interpose and say emphatically that they were the sentiments of the mission, and should be those of the scholars.

"It is supposed that a Hindu or a Mohammedan, secretly, perhaps, inclined to Christianity, will not do much harm while teaching mathematics or the languages from text-books chosen by the mission. It frequently happens, indeed, that the heathen teacher is himself converted while connected with the school. A Mohammedan boy in a school in Bombay came recently under the favorable notice of a government inspector, who, in commending him, expressed his purpose to find a place for him to teach. The boy left the school and was not seen there again. On being questioned as to the cause of his leaving, he said that he was afraid he should be made a teacher, and if he became a teacher, that meant becoming a Christian. But it is gratifying to find that the number of Christian teachers is constantly increasing, while that of non-Christian is constantly decreasing. In 1871, of 4,201 native male teachers in the mission schools, 2,206 were Hindus or Mohammedans. In 1887, of 5,943, but 2,462 were non-Christians. A much greater reduction may be expected during the present decade."

If only Christian teachers are employed, many schools must close, and the instruction given in others be far less efficient than now. The aim therefore is to secure at least a Christian head master or mistress, and Christians for religious instruction, while other positions are filled with Christian teachers as fast as practicable.

But for the present, Hindu teachers in part are inevitable. None desire more than the missionaries themselves to supersede them entirely, and none will so rejoice when a sufficiency of competent Christian teachers can be had. And to this end, says Mr. Lawrence: "Nothing can serve better than the Normal schools in charge of the Society for Vernacular Christian Education. In its excellent institutions which I visited in Dindigul, in South India, and in Ahmednagar, in West India, it receives to be trained as teachers Christian young men sent by any mission. And to the missions of the American Board it has furnished many of the best teachers in their employ. One of the greatest needs of India is devoted, well-trained Christian teachers, and anything which can increased their number is worthy of all the aid that can be given."

IV. INSTANTANEOUS BAPTISM.

This question has assumed prominence and importance largely by the remarkable conversions attending the preaching of Rev. Mr. Knowles, an English missionary, and his colleagues of the North India M. E. Conference, at the Hindu festivals. Mr. Knowles holds some peculiar views as to the gift of the Holy Spirit, on condition of faith, which leads him to press an immediate decision upon his hearers at these great religious gatherings of the Hindus. All who come forward and publicly declare their belief in Jesus Christ as their Saviour, he will baptize at once, taking their names and homes, and seeking to follow up the work thus begun. Hence the number of baptisms made of those who up to that hour were Hindus in full caste relations, is very large.

The same question is pressed in the Punjab, where the American United Presbyterian Mission has been very successful. Whole villages have come to Christ, and called for immediate baptism, and the United Presbyterian missionaries have granted it, with full admission to the church. The Methodists defer such admission, and the Church Missionary Society prefers, as a rule, not to grant immediate baptism.

There are serious objections against this policy. Many hearing the gospel for the first time get no just idea of its requirements. Their conversion to Christianity is liable to be so only in name and form. The danger is of getting into the mission churches a mass of Hinduism in reality, under the outward rites of Christianity, to say nothing of the scandal which their relapse into their old faith would bring upon the Christian life and faith. The evils of such a hasty admission into the church-membership without due consideration and teaching, are serious and damaging, even in Christian lands, and where public sentiment is comparatively strong and on the right side. What must they be in heathen lands, and even in India, where the church is feeble, and public sentiment for the most part hostile?

"In reply, it is urged that Christ has made distinct promises to those who are not ashamed to confess Him; that when this is done publicly, and with public explanation of the preacher, the church may claim the fulfillment of the promise. It is true, moreover, that Hindus universally attach great importance to Christian baptism, regarding it as a decisive act, which involves the breaking of caste and excommunication. If anyone goes so far as to take this step, so important in his own eyes, why should he not be baptized, followed up, instructed, and, at the proper time, received into the church? And is not this the way, after all, in which the bulk of the people of India are to be brought to Christ-not by preliminary education, which can reach but a few at a time, and may draw men away from Christ instead of towards Him, but by conversion, with instantaneous baptism to seal the act, followed by subsequent training in Christ? If the conversion of Indians occurs by masses, instead of as individuals, must it not be in some such manner, the old barriers giving way suddenly, and great bodies of the people becoming disciples of Christ while ignorant of Him except as their Saviour?"

There is great force and pertinence in these questions. Experience must, in the main, settle the matter in India, and in other mission fields. It is admitted, by the best informed, that very many of the Hindus acknowledge the truth of Christianity, and are looking for a widespread movement among their people. Immense and rapid changes are the order of Providence all over the Heathen, Pagan and Mohammedan world. It seems morally certain that only by some grand mass rising can India ever be brought to Christ. "For, of the majority of Hindus, even more than of other peoples, it is true that, like Wadsworth's clouds, 'they must move all together, if they move at all.' "

We have thus condensed and given the substance of this valuable article, largely in the words of its author. In reviewing it we are impressed with the fact that the Problems which press on the mission church in India, press also, with more or less modification, on the Christian church of America, and of other Christian lands. It is our firm conviction that the great lesson of the day of Pentecost has yet to be learned by the modern Church of Christ. While that glorious manifestation of Divine power was largely supernatural, yet there was a general expectation on the part of the mass of disciples-there was united, continuous, and importunate prayer on the part of the infant church, and a believing waiting for the fulfillment of the Master's promise given on the eve of his departure. Hence it was no surprise. They were "endued with power from on high" in answer to prayer, and thereby fitted for the emergency and the work it laid upon them. And they did not hesitate, in reliance on Christ's promise, to baptize on the same day the thousands of professed converts, though among them were some of the very murderers of our Lord.

And what did the disciples do when driven from Jerusalem and scattered abroad, but go straight into the great cities of the Roman world—into the very centres of idolatry, and heathen superstition, and philosophy, and corruption, and wickedness-and boldly plant in the midst of them the banner of the cross, and preach "Jesus and the Resurrection," to Gentile and Jew, to philosophers and peasants, to the high and the low, and straightway gather converts into Christian churches, and push on from city to city, and from province to province, till they entered Rome itself, and even invaded "Cæsar's household." Their simple reliance was "the gospel of the grace of God," which they carried in their hearts, and preached in demonstration of the Spirit, and of power, confident that Christ would verify his ascension promise, and that the Cross in the hands of the Eternal Spirit was, of itself, without circumlocution, or previous training, or litany, or visible machinery, able to convert the soul to Jesus Christ. It was the policy of faith-the policy of simple trust in God and the power of the gospel-and it wrought wonders. It went everywhere, "conquering and to conquer." And the nearer the church of our day, both at home and in the missionary work abroad, approaches this apostolic method, the more will God honor and bless her instrumentality. In no other way-on no other principle-can the mountains of unbelief and difficulty be removed; the infinite masses of vice, ignorance, irreligion, and

BIOGRAPHY OF MOFFAT

indifference, which now lie and fester in the great cities of the world, be reached and penetrated by the light and influence of the gospel, and the world of guilt, ungodliness, hostility, infidelity and agnostic materialism, be shaken, upheaved, cleaved assunder, and the Son of Righteousness find entrance. If this world shall ever be won to Christ, it will be by Pentecostal seasons of power and ingathering; by tidal waves of grace that shall sweep the earth from pole to pole, by sudden simultaneous movements and forces in the moral and spiritual world, that shall be irresistible and general in their majestic sweep, challenging the faith of the Church, overawing a guilty world, and "converting a nation in a day," in fulfillment of prophetic promise.

BIOGRAPHY OF MOFFAT.

The Lives of Robert and Mary Moffat, by their son, John S. Moffat. With Portraits and Illustrations. New edition with Preface and Supplementary Chapter. New York: A. C. Armstrong & Son. 8 vo, pp. 484.

[EDITORIAL.-J. M. S.] THE name of Robert Moffat has been dear to us ever since we read his thrilling "Southern Africa," more than forty years ago. The leading facts of his life have long been familiar to missionary readers; but in this Life we have the outlines fitly filled up by the hand of filial love. The picture, as now completed, only enhances our estimate of the man and of the importance and enduring value of his work.

Dr. Wm. M. Taylor, in his brief Preface to this new edition, which has just issued from the press of the Armstrongs, well says: "The name of Robert Moffat deserves a high place on the honor roll of modern missionaries. It is not so well known, indeed, as that of his son-in-law, David Livingstone, but it may well be held in reputation as that of the pioneer, without whose labors those of Livingstone and others would have been far otherwise than they were. When he went to South Africa in 1817, he found tribes of idolaters and savages, constantly at war with each other and with the white men, utterly ignorant and degraded. When he left it in 1870, churches had been called into existence, a permanent body of native pastors had been reared from among the Bechwanas, and the whole region had become largely civilized and Christianized."

On the day after his funeral, which occurred in August, 1883, the following leader appeared in the London Times, which is so remarkable, coming from such a source, that we venture to reproduce the substance of it. It is not always that the secular press bestows such just, discriminating, and lofty praise on our heroic missionaries and their achievements.

"Dr. Robert Moffat, who was yesterday laid in the grave, has left an abiding name as a pioneer of modern missionary work in South Africa. He was born in 1795, a year memorable as that of the foundation of the London Missionary Society, and in 1816 he entered on his career as one of the Society's missionaries. His first purpose was to proceed to the South Seas, but his final choice was the vast and yet unexplored field of the central region of South Africa. His chief work was among the Bechwanas. His picture of what they were when he first knew them would hardly now be recognized, so entirely have they changed under the new influences which Moffat was among the first to bring to bear on them. He found them mere savages, idol-worshipers, constantly at war among themselves and with their neighbors, ignorant of the arts of agriculture, and in the utterly degraded state for which we must seek a counterpart now in the more distant tribes whom the message of civilization has not yet reached. It was Moffat's mission to civilize as well as instruct, to free those with whom he was brought in contact from the curse under which they seemed to lie, to raise them to a higher life, and so to fit them to become recipients of the sacred message of good tidings which it was his main ultimate purpose to announce. His success within the limited field to which he confined himself-a field which has been now far overpassed by the subsequent labors of other devoted men, most notably by those of his own son-in-law, David Livingstone—was very marked. His first care was to make himself thoroughly master of the language of those to whom he was sent. For fifty years, he has declared, he had been accustomed to speak the Bechwana tongue; he reduced it to written characters, and, as an agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, translated the Scriptures into it. The Bechwanas, under Moffat's guidance, became new men. Mission work grew and spread among them; what Moffat had begun to do was taken up by other hands; a permanent body of native pastors was created from among the Bechwanas themselves, and the whole region was raised out of the savage state in which Moffat had found it, and became in no small degree civilized as well as Christianized. To effect this, and to make it possible for others to effect it, was the chief business of Moffat's working life. He went out to South Africa in 1816. He left it finally in 1870. During that long interval the dark continent was attacked and explored in all directions. Scientific travelers and missionary travelers were busy pushing their way into regions to which Moffat never penetrated. It is Moffat's honor to have been the first in the field, to have laid, as it were, the stepping-stones by which his successors have been able to outstrip him; to have borne the burden and heat of the day in early missionary work, and at once to have given an example of devotion to his noble cause and to have furnished proof that the ground was not barren, and that even in South Africa the good seed might be trusted to spring up and to bring forth abundant fruit.

"It is the fashion in some quarters to scoff at missionaries, to receive their reports with incredulity, to look at them at best as no more than harmless enthusiasts, proper subjects for pity, if not for ridicule. The records of missionary work in South Africa must be a blank page to those by whom such ideas are entertained. We owe it to our missionaries that the whole region has been opened up. Apart from their special service as preachers, they have done important work as pioneers of civilization, as geographers, as contributors to philological research. Of those who have taken part in this, Moffat's name is not the best known. Moffat, it may be said, has labored, and other men have entered into his labor. Livingstone has come after him, and has gone beyond him, and has linked his memory for ever with the records of the South African Church. Speke and Stanley have become household names where Moffat has been unknown or has been forgotten. In his own simple words, it never occurred to him, while working among the Bechwanas, that he should obtain the applause of men. His one care was for those among whom he had cast his lot. He was an enthusiast, of course-a man would be worth little for missionary enterprise if he were not this at all events. But he was an enthusiast with a clear sense of the right means to employ for the accomplishment of his unselfish task. He had a message to deliver of love and of peace, and he must prepare men to receive it by instructing them in the arts of peace. The progress of South Africa has been mainly due to men of Moffat's stamp. In him, as in David Livingstone, it is hard to say which character has predominated, that of the missionary proper, or that of the teacher and guide. Certain it is that apart from the special stimulus they felt as proclaimers of the gospel message, they would never have thrown themselves as they did into the work to which their lives were consecrated. It was by no zeal for the spread of civilization on its own account that they passed weary years laboring and teaching among savage tribes, amid dangers of every kind, amid privations of which they themselves made light, but which only a sense of their high spiritual mission could have prompted them to face and undergo. One part of Moffat's work has been to prepare the way for others. He has given, so far, what promises to be a lasting stimulus. It is another question whether his own work will endure. . . . It is the missionary alone who seeks nothing for himself. He has chosen an unselfish life. If honor comes to him, it is by no choice of his own, but as the unsought tribute which others, as it were, force upon him. Robert Moffat has died in the fullness both of years and of honors. His work has been to lay the foundation of the Church in the central regions of South Africa. As far as his influence and that of his coadjutors and successors has extended, it has brought with it unmixed good. His name will be remembered while the South African Church endures, and his example will remain with us as a stimulus to others and as an abiding proof of what a Christian missionary can be and can do."

How this life work was performed; what a world of difficulty and opposition he encountered; with what tireless and persistent energy he wrought for more than half a century; amid what perils, hardships, discouragements and heroic endurances he stood at his post, this intensely interesting volume sets forth, modestly and lovingly, in fuller detail. Mrs. Moffat shared in her husband's work, and spirit, and missionary career. "Both," says Dr. Taylor, "were of such stuff as heroes are made of, and their names are worthy of a place in the peerage of faith, beside those which the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews has ennobled by his praise."

Robert Moffat was the child of poor, hard-working, and pious parents in Scotland, to whom he owed much of his shrewd sense, industry, frugality and ability to turn his hands to anything. He learned to be a gardener, but at 16 left home for a situation in Cheshire, where he speedily attracted the notice and sympathy of his employers. He was soon after converted and joined the Wesleyan Methodists, and quickly thereafter resolved to be a missionary. But parents, employers, and others, tried to dissuade him from his purpose. But he persevered at the cost of his place, but soon found employment with a Mr. Smith, a Scotchman of Covenanting descent, who entered heartily into young Moffat's plans. So likewise did their daughter Mary, some months Moffat's senior. She had been carefully and religiously brought up and schooled at the Moravian Seminary at Fairfield, whose traditions are so full of missionary romance. Here she spent some happy years, and had engaged in home-mission work. She was strongly drawn to Moffat, as he to her; and both earnestly devoted themselves to work among the heathen. This union of heart and work at home was subsequently renewed in Africa, where, for a long and eventful period they worked together as husband and wife.

As the biographer says, Moffat did not become a great missionary by virtue of his collegiate opportunities. He valued learning highly, but he had no chance to become a great scholar. But he had a knack of seizing what was essential to him, and a gift for forgetting what was useless or secondary. His studies, in face of the greatest difficulties, completed, he was accepted by the London Missionary Society, and would have been designated for the South Pacific with the venerated Williams, had it not been for his youth-he was only twenty years of age. Says the biographer: "During the discussions in the Missionary Committee as to how the present band of men was to be distributed, it had been first proposed that Williams and Moffat should both go to Polynesia; but this was overruled at the suggestion of Dr. Waugh, who deemed that 'thae twa lads were ower young to gang thegither;' so they were separated. On these small links hang our lives."

Moffat was not long in South Africa before he gave proof that years are not the only gauge of wisdom and self-reliance and tact in management. His first difficulty arose from the caprice of the Governor, who refused, on account of disturbances, to allow the party to proceed beyond the limits of Cape Colony. Moffat at once set himself to learning Dutch, that he might the more efficiently do his work when he did reach Namaqualand. At last the Governor gave his consent; and for more than a year in Namaqualand, and for more than five-and-forty in Bechwanaland, his life was one ceaseless labor and difficulty and danger, fearlessly faced. He was builder, blacksmith, carpenter, thatcher, ditcher-for he dug canal after canal to bring water to his garden and field-gardener and dairyman by turns-and everything to which he set his hand he did well-even down to darning and sewing, which he was thankful that his mother had taught him how to do.

His life at the Oape, and in Namaqualand, however, was but a preparation; his real work began at Kuruman, where he was assisted by his wife (Miss Mary Smith having joined him at Cape Colony, where they were married), whose noble character and remarkable gifts are brought out in the volume by means of her letters. She was helper, inspirer, and a strong supporter.

Soon after their settlement at Kuruman, Mrs. Moffat writes to her parents: " At present Moffat is applying himself with all diligence to the language, as the particular object of his destination here. He finds immense difficulties from the barrenness of the language and imperfect interpreters, but he is naturally too persevering soon to lose courage. This is his sole motive for undertaking a journey at present, in order to become familiar with it by being for a time out of the habit of speaking Dutch with our own people here.

I think it will also be of advantage to me in that respect; having so much to employ my time with at home I have little chance of learning much of it. You beg of us to pay particular attention to the instruction of the rising generation, but alas, we have no opportunities of doing this: the people instead of desiring that their children should be instructed, are afraid of their becoming 'Dutchmen,' so tenacious are they of their old customs and habits, and if a boy and a girl venture to come they are soon laughed out of it. Perhaps if we gave them a meal of meat every day or a few beads, we might have the place crowded-but on no other condition. Oh! how we were affected on reading an account of Madagascar, when we thought of the difference between that people and this; they so desirous and these such despisers of instruction. As to some of these people having correct notions of God and of heaven, death and hell, as has been asserted, you must not believe it; for daily conversations convince us that the wisest of them have most corrupt notions on these subjects. We are astonished at their dreadful stupidity about these things. My beloved parents, we have much need of your sympathy and prayers, and those of all other Christians. Could we but see the smallest fruit we could rejoice amidst the privations and toil which we bear; but as it is, our hands do often hang down."

Their faith was put to a very severe test. They toiled for years without any visible fruit. But though disappointed, neither were disheartened.

" 'Mary,' he said one day to his wife, 'this is hard work.' 'It is hard work, my love,' she replied; 'but take courage, our lives shall be given us for a prey!' 'But think, my dear,' he replied, 'how long we have been preaching to this people, and no fruits yet appear.' Mrs. Moffat rejoined in this manner: 'The gospel has not yet been preached to them in their own tongue wherein they were born. They have heard it only through interpreters, and interpreters who have themselves no just understanding, no real love of the truth. We must not expect the blessing till you be able from your own lips and in their own language to bring it through their ears into their hearts.' 'From that hour,' said Mr. Moffat, in relating the conversation, 'I gave myself with untiring diligence to the acquisition of the language.'''

At the close of the year 1822 Moffat wrote his brother: "I shall now give some particulars of our present situation. The most important is the cause of Christ. Alas! we still hang our harp on the willows, and mourn over the destiny of thousands hastening with heedless but impetuous strides to the regions of woe. They turn a deaf ear to the voice of love, and treat with scorn the glorious doctrines of redemption. This often causes our hearts to languish, while our eyes fail with looking upward.

"It is, however, pleasing to reflect that affairs in general wear a more hopeful aspect than when we came here. Several instances have proved the people determined to relinquish the barbarous system of commandoes for stealing cattle. They have also dispensed with a rainmaker this season. We rejoice in this, because his services and presence must ever form a strong barrier to the spread of the gospel. "We prayed and hoped that a good season would thoroughly convince them that the power of giving rain belonged only to God, but He whose footsteps are in the sea has been pleased to order it otherwise. The season has been so dry as to destroy their corn, except a little which happened to be sown on ground a little marshy. Nothing, however, has been said as to the cause of the drought. We continue on friendly terms with them, though we have also much to suffer, especially from thieves, who pester us on all sides."

God chose his own methods of bringing his servant into favor with this people and giving him a powerful influence in their affairs. The Niantatees, a terrible horde of marauders, came pouring down upon the western Bechwanas, who, if driven back, would have no option but to perish in the foodless and waterless wastes of the Kalahari. The people were panic-stricken. The dreaded enemy drew nearer every day. And still nothing definite was known of their purpose or strength. Moffat, choosing a few companions, plunged into the wilderness, and after perils innumerable (seeing nine lions in one day) accomplished his purpose and hastened back and warned the people, and roused them to action, and gave such advice, and exercised such strategy and commanding ability as resulted in saving the people from destruction. His forethought, coolness, courage, and sagacity excited the admiration even of these savages, and led the grateful people almost to worship him.

From this time on the mission brightened and the influence of the Moffats widened and deepened. Mrs. Moffat writes home to her father about this time: "To hear of the steady and growing piety of these sable children of Adam, together with the increase of Divine knowledge in the minds of others, must be reviving to the hearts of all who love the cause, but especially to such as are so nearly connected with this mission as yourself. Our gracious God has been very condescending to spare the lives of His unworthy servants to witness some fruits of missionary labor-a felicity we frequently despaired of enjoying in this lower world, where crosses and disappointments seemed to form so large a proportion in our cup. We now often wish you could be with us, to witness for yourself what we see. . . . The converts are going on well, and though the general commotion in the minds of the people has in a great measure subsided, we have solid reason to believe that there are many persons who are the subjects of an abiding conviction of their position as sinners before God, and are in the constant and diligent use of the means of grace, which we doubt not will be effectual through the Spirit in leading them to the Saviour of sinners. The Spirit of God has commenced His operations, and surely He will go on."

We have not space to follow Moffat through the long and fruitful years of his toil and sacrifice among this people, nor to describe his manifold labors in the wide field of Southern Africa exploration, civilization and Christianization; nor his intercourse with and influence on the career of David Livingstone, who married his daughter Mary; nor yet his great work in the matter of Bible translation and the circulation of the Scriptures as agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, laying the foundation of a Bechwana literature; nor his visit to England in 1838, and the wonderful interest he awakened in his native land; nor of his return to Africa and subsequent career there, till in a ripe old age, he returned to his native shores in 1870, and until the day of his death, worked on unceasingly in behalf of the cause to which his life had been devoted.

A single parting glimpse we give the reader.

"On Sunday, the twentieth of March, 1870, Robert Moffat preached for the last time in the Kuruman church. In all that great congregation there were few of his own contemporaries. The older people were for the most part children at the time when they had first seen the missionaries. With a pathetic grace peculiarly his own, he pleaded with those who still remained unbelieving amid the gospel privileges they had now enjoyed so many years. With a fatherly benediction he commended to the grace of God those who had been to him a joy and crown. It was an impressive close to an impressive career. Many years must pass before that service can be forgotten in Bechwanaland."

We note a single trait of Moffat's character. He was not a man of one idea; was not wedded to a system or preconceived methods, but studied to adapt himself to the existing condition of things. While he insisted that no civilizing processes were of any effect without conversion, he despised no means of gaining influence in order to lead the heathen to better modes of living, to improved methods of agricul- ture, and to thrift and settled habits.

" He was first a missionary; but he was also a great' captain of industry,' a man who, if he had devoted himself to any form of worldly enterprise, would probably have made a colossal fortune. He could govern men. He knew how to attach them to him, and could gauge their capacity with the eye of a master. He could direct each to the exact task suited to him, and, what is more, keep him heartily at it. Impulse and will went together, and he seldom missed his aim. A mere stripling of twenty-one, he tamed the redoubtable Africaner, and made him a humble follower and helper; he subdued Moselikatze, the warlike Matebele, and made him feel that the missionary was essential to him. His simple manhood and fearlessness, with great natural tact and independence, enabled him always to appeal to that side of their nature which was most open to him. And he could wait. It has been well said that the courage necessary to face indefinite perils, such as those to which Moffat was constantly exposed-especially in the first portion of his career-is greater than that which supports the soldier in the midst of excitement of battle. What a probation was that of the long years in the dry and waterless Kuruman, without the token of a single impression being made on any human creature! Shamelessly the people stole; neither grain could grow to ripeness, nor cattle or sheep be left in the fold, or a tool allowed to lie where a bit of work was being done, or a canal made, without the risk of the water being diverted before it reached the mission station. Many a time on returning from their out-door labors, or from a service, they found a stone in the pot instead of the meat they had left to cook. But all undismayed, Robert Moffat and his heroic wife toiled on, assured that their reward would come."* And come it did. He lived to see great changes wrought in South Africa and to lay the foundations of the South African Church with his own hands. The progress of South Africa has been mainly due to Moffat and men of his stamp. In him, as in Livingstone, it is hard to say which character has predominated, that of the missionary proper, or that of the teacher and guide. His mission largely was to prepare the way for others. He has given a great and apparently lasting stimulus, and laid Africa and the whole missionary world under great obligations.

On one point we think Mr. Moffat's testimony bearing on the policy of missions is entitled to serious consideration. We quote from an admirable paper in the Leisure Hour for November, 1883: "Much might be added in illustration of Dr. Moffat's extreme versatilIty in acquiring every industry or art which the exigencies of the place might demand of him. His treatment of the bodily ailments of the natives who came to him was almost prophetic of the medical missionaries, of whom so much has happily been heard in later days. Enough, perhaps, has been said to indicate the manifold resource and adaptiveness which helped to establish the memorable mission to Bechwanaland.

" The question of the bearing of civilization in such circumstances upon the work of evangelization is a weighty one, and the testimony of such a veteran missionary as Dr. Moffat would not fail to be of the greatest value. It is one, also, on which he has spoken with no uncertain sound, for the facts were pressed upon him at an early period of his work among the Becnwanas. After twenty-six years of missionary work he writes: 'Much has been. said about civilizing savages before attempting to evangelize them. This is a theory which has obtained an extensive prevalence among the wise men of this world, but we have never yet seen a practical demonstration of its truth. We, ourselves, are convinced that evangelization must precede civilization. It is very easy in a country of high refinement to speculate on what might be done among rude and savage men, but the Christian missionary, the only experimentalist, has invariably found that to make the fruit good the tree must first be made good. Nothing less than the power of Divine grace can reform the hearts of savages, after which the mind is susceptible of those instructions which teach them to adol'n the gospel they profess."–Leisure Hour.

"One of the great attractions of this biography is, that it faithfully presents Mrs. Moffat alongside her husband-a heroine in every sense of the word. There was no work in which she did not share-no enterprise or adventure however perilous-in which she did not take her part. For years she made it her work to accompany him in the wagon, when he meant to be absent for more than a couple of days, for the double purpose of insuring that he should have ordinary comforts (which in bachelorhood in Namaqualand he had been apt to overlook), and that she should learn what she could of everything. Moffat had laid it down as the result of his three-year-long single-life experience that, 'A missionary without a wife in South Africa was like a boat with only one oar. A good missionary's wife can be as useful as her husband in the Lord's vineyard.' She over and over again undertook journeys to the Cape without Moffat (whom she would not permit, for her sake, to leave his work for a moment), and with faithful Bechwanas and Hottentots only for attendants, who never failed her. She combined missionary help with attention to family matters, and conveyed back printing materials or other goods, which were needed and waited for. Once, when she was ordered to the coast for her health, she persisted in going alone.

Unfortunately this time they found the Orange River in flood, and could not get across. For a whole month in ill-health she had to wait on the bank in the hot weather. But she never got disconsolate or even depressed, and her power of taking the best and most hopeful view of things amounted almost to an art. This is how she tells of her suffering: " 'I was in company with Mr. Hume, who rendered me every possible assistance, but my health being in such a delicate state, I could not but suffer much from the extreme heat and exposed situation, and was severely tried. Frequently were we tantalized with the prospect of being able to ride through "to-morrow," but as sure as to-morrow came the river rose again, till all hope was gone, and we came at last to the conclusion to cross on a raft. . . . There were eighteen wagons altogether, and with hard labor we got everything over that dreadful river in less than three days without a single accident. How much have we to be thankful for! And it was gratifying to find that, for all I had endured, I was no worse, but rather better. Perhaps being obliged to take it easily was in my favor.'

"This so entirely expresses the character of the woman as she appears to us throughout these pages-patient, courageous, equal to any emergency, gifted with power of command such as few men have, and yet tender and true to every claim of womanhood-that we can only praise her sufficiently by saying that she rose to the same heights of unconscious heroism as her husband. To read of her must prove an inspiration in many a home."*

THE CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS

THE CHRISTIAN AND NON-CHRISTIAN RELIGIONS. SIR MONIER-WILLIAMS, Professor of Sanskrit in Oxford University, is universally recognized as an authority in all questions relating to the literature and faiths of the Orient. At the late anniversary of the Church Misssionary Society in London, he delivered an address which is so remarkable, that notwithstanding its appearance in other forms, we desire to give extracts from it a permanent place in this REVIEW. He says: "An old friend, a valued missionary of this society, founder of the James Long Lectures on the Non-Christian Religions, said to me a few days before his death: 'You are to speak at the anniversary of the Church Missionary Society; urge upon our missionaries the importance of studying the non- Christian religious systems.' Unusual facilities for this study are now at our disposal; for in this Jubilee year of the Queen, the University of Oxford has completed the publication of about thirty stately volumes of the socalled Sacred Books of the East, comprising the Veda, the Zend-Avesta of the Zoroastrians, the Confucian Texts, the Buddhist Tripitaka, and the Muhammadan Kuran-all translated by well-known translators. Our mIssionaries are already convinced of the necessity of studying these works, and of making themselves conversant with the false creeds they have to fight. How could an army of invaders have any chance of success in an enemy's country without a knowledge of the position and strength of its fortress, and without knowing how to turn the batteries they may capture against the foe? Instead of dwelling on so manifest a duty, I venture a few words of warning as to the subtle danger that lurks beneath the duty.

"In my youth I had been accustomed to hear all non-Christian religions described as 'inventions of the devil.' And when I began investigating Hinduism and Buddhism, some well-meaning Christian friends expressed their surprise that I should waste my time by grubbing in the dirty gutters of heathendom. After a little examination, I found many beautiful gems glittering there; nay, I met with bright coruscations of true light flashing here and there amid the surrounding darkness. Now, fairness in fightmg one's opponents is ingrained in every Englishman'S nature, and, as I prosecuted my researches into these non-Christian systems, I began to foster a fancy that they had been unjustly treated. I began to observe and trace out curious coincidences and comparisons with our own Sacred Book of the East. I began, in short, to be a believer in what is called the evolution and growth of religious thought. 'These imperfect systems,' I said to myself, 'are clearly steps in the development of man's religious instincts and aspirations-interesting efforts of the human mind struggling upwards towards Christianity. Nay, it is probable that they were all intended to lead up to the one true religion, and that Christianity is, after all, merely the climax, the complement, the fulfillment of them all.'

"Now there is unquestionably a delightful fascination about such a theory, and, what is more, there are really elements of truth in it. But I am glad of the opportunity of stating publicly that I am persuaded I was misled by its attractiveness, and that its main idea is quite erroneous. The charm and danger of it, I think, lie in its apparent liberality, breadth of view, and toleration. In The Times of last October 14, you will find recorded a remarkable conversation between a Lama priest and a Christian traveler, in the course of which the Lama says that 'Christians describe their religion as the best of all religions; whereas, among the nine rules of conduct for the Buddhist, there is one that directs him never either to think or to say that his own religion is the best, considering that sincere men of other religions are deeply attached to them.' Now to express sympathy with this kind of liberality is sure to win applause among a certain class of thinkers in these days of universal toleration and religious free trade. We must not forget, too, that our Bible tells us that God has not left himself without witness, and that in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness is accepted with him. Yet I contend, notwithstanding, that flabby, jelly-fish kind of tolerance is utterly incompatible with the nerve, fibre, and backbone that ought to characterize a manly Christian. A Christian's character ought to be exactly what the Christian's Bible intends it to be. Take that Sacred Book of ours; handle reverently the whole volume; search it through and through, from the first chapter to the last, and mark well the spirit that pervades the whole. You will find no limpness, no flabbiness about its utterances. Even skeptics who dispute Its divinity are ready to admit that it is a thoroughly manly book. Vigor and manhood breathe in every page. It is downward and straightforward, bold and fearless, rigid and uncompromising. It tells you and me to be either hot or cold. If God be god, serve him. If Baal be God, serve him. We cannot serve both. We cannot love both. Only one name is given among men whereby we may be saved. No other name, no other Saviour, more suited to India, to Persia, to China, to Arabia, is ever mentioned-is ever hinted at.

"What! says the enthusiastic student of the science of religion, do you seriously mean to sweep away as so much worthless waste paper all these thirty stately volumes of Sacred Books of the East just published by the University of Oxford? "No-not at all-nothing of the kind. On the contrary, we welcome these books. We ask every missionary to study their contents and thankfully lay hold of whatsoever things are true and of good report in them. But we warn him that there can be no greater mistake than to force these non-Christian bibles into conformity with some scientific theory of development, and then point to the Christian's Holy Bible as the crowning product of religious evolution. So far from this, these non-Christian bibles are all developments in the wrong direction. They all begin with some flashes of true light and end in utter darkness. Pile them, if you will, on the left side of your study table, but place your own Holy Bible on the right side-all by itself-aU alone-and with a wide gap between.

"And now, I crave permission at least to give two good reasons for ventur- ing to contravene, in so plain-spoken a manner, the favorite philosophy of the day. Listen to me, ye youthful students of the so-called Sacred Books of the East, search them through and through, and tell me, do they affirm of Vyasa, of Zoroaster, of Confucius, of Buddha, of Mohammed, what our Bible affirms of the Founder of Christianity-that He, a sinless Man, was made Sin! Not merely that he is the eradicator of sin, but that He, the sinless Son of man, was himself made sin. Vyasa and the other founders of Hinduism enjoined severe penances, endless lustral washings, incessant purifications, infinite repetitions of prayer, painful pilgrimages, arduous ritual, and sacrificial observances, all with the one idea of getting rid of sin. AU their books say so. But do they say that the very men who exhausted every invention for the eradication of sin were themselves sinless men made sin. Zoroaster, too, and Confucius, and Buddha, and Mohammed, one and all, bade men strain every nerve to get rid of sin, or at least of the misery of sin, but do their sacred books say that they themselves were sinless men made sin! I do not presume, as a layman, to interpret the apparently contradic. tory proposition put forth in our Bible that a sinless Man was made Sin. All I now contend for is that it stands alone; that it is wholly unparalleled; that it is not to be matched by the shade of a shadow of a similar declaration in any other book claiming to be the exponent of the doctrine of any other religion in the world.

" Once again, ye youthful students of the so-called Sacred Books of the East, search them through and through, and tell me, do they affirm of Vyasa, of Zoroaster, of Confucius, of Buddha, of Mohammed, what our Bible affirms of the Founder of Christianity-that He, a dead and buried Man, was made Life? not merely that he is the Giver of life, but that he, the dead and buried Man, is Life. 'I am the Life.' 'When Christ, who is our Life, shall appear.' 'He that hath the Son, hath Life.' Let me remind you, too, that the blood is the Life, and that our Sacred Book adds this matchless, this unparalleled, this astounding assertion: 'Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.' Again, I say, I am not now presuming to interpret so marvelous, so stupendous a statement. All I contend for is that it is absolutely unique; and I defy you to produce the shade of the shadow of a similar declaration in any other sacred book of the world. And bear in mind that these two matchless, these two unparalleled declarations, are closely, are intimately, are indissolubly connected with the great central facts and doctrines of our religion: the incarnation, the crucifixion, the resurrection, the ascension of Christ. Vyasa, Zoroaster, Confucius, Buddha, Mohammed, are all dead and buried; and mark this-their flesh is dissolved; their bones have crumbled into dust; their bodies are extinct. Even their followers admit this. Christianity alone commemorates the passing into the heavens of its divine Founder, not merely in the spirit, but in the body, and 'with flesh, bones, and all things appertaining to the perfection of man's nature,' to be the eternal source of life and holiness to his people.

"The two unparalleled declarations quoted by me from our Holy Bible make a gulf between it and the so-called Sacred Books of the East which sever the one from the other utterly, hopelessly, and forever-not a mere rift which may be easily closed up, not a mere rift across which the Christian and the non-Christian may shake hands and interchange similar ideas in regard to essential truths, but a veritable gulf which cannot be bridged over by any science of religious thought; yes, a bridgeless chasm which no theory of evolution can ever span. Go forth, then, ye missionaries, in your Master's name; go forth into all the world, and, after studying all its false religions and philosophies, go forth and fearlessly proclaim to suffering humanity the plain, the unchangeable, the eternal facts of the gospel-nay, I might al- most say, the stubborn, the unyielding, the inexorable facts of the gospel. Dare to be downright with all the uncompromising courage of your own Bible, while with it your watchwords are love, joy, peace, reconciliation. Be fair, be charitable, be Christ-like, but let there be no mistake. Let it be made absolutely clear that Christianity can not, must not, be watered down to suit the palate of either Hindu, Parsee, Confucianist, Buddhist, or Mo. hammedan, and that whosoever wishes to pass from the false religion to the true can never hope to do so by the rickety planks of compromise, or by help of faltering hands held out by half-hearted Christians. He must leap the gulf in faith, and the living Christ will spread his everlasting arms be- neath and land him safely on the Eternal Rock."

To this remarkable testimony, we add that of Professor Max Müller, who, in addressing the British and Foreign Bible Society, said: "In the discharge of my duties for forty years, as Professor of Sanskrit in the University of Oxford, I have devoted as much time as any man living to the study of the Sacred Books of the East, and I have found the one key-note -the one diapason, so to speak-of all these so-called sacred books, whether it be the Veda of the Brahmans, the Puranas of Siva and Vishnu, the Koran of the Mohammedans, the Zend-Avesta of the Parsees, the Tripitaka of the Buddhists-the one refrain through all-salvation by works. They all say that salvation must be purchased, must be bought with a price ; and that the sole price, the sole purchase-money, must be our own works and deservings. Our own holy Bible, our sacred Book of the East, is from beginning to end a protest against this doctrine. Good works are, indeed, enjoined upon us in that sacred Book of the East far more strongly than in any other sacred book of the East; but they are only the outcome of a grateful heart -they are only a thank-offering, the fruits of our faith. They are never the ransom-money of the true disciples of Christ. Let us not shut our eyes to what is excellent and true and of good report in these sacred books, but let us teach Hindoos, Buddhists, Mohammedans, that there is only one sacred Book of the East that can be their mainstay in that awful hour when they pass all alone into the unseen world. It is the sacred Book which contains that faithful saying, worthy to be received of all men, women and children, and not merely of us Christians-that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners."

THE LIVING AND THE DEAD

THE LIVING AND THE DEAD. [EDITORIAL.-A. T. P.] "Let the dead bury their dead! Follow thou ME.

Go thou and preach the kingdom of God." -Matt. viii: 21, 22; Luke ix: 60.

WORDS of deep meaning are those words, "life" and "death." The difference between them is the difference between holiness and sin; the distance between them is the distance between Heaven and Hell.

We are in a world of Death. It is full of the dead-those who have neither spiritual vitality nor sensibility; who lack all true spiritual life and all proper sense of the powers of the world to come.

God made man, like an ideal house, in successive stories. On the earthward side, the body, identified with matter; next above it, the intellectual, affectional and moral nature, higher up and nearer God; then above all, and crowning all, that which constituted the very "image of God," -the spiritual nature, the oratory and observatory, nearest to Heaven.

The fall of man shattered the whole house, but it left the upper story in absolute ruin. The spiritual image of God was effaced, while the whole man was defaced. That observatory that looked out upon the celestial scenery, became at best "a death chamber." The noblest, highest, divinest affections, affinities, and capacities of man were left in a state of decay; and so this world became the abode of the dead.

Yes; and the dead are burying the dead. All human history, without God, is one long burial. What is burial? It is the magnifying of the material and mortal; it is lavishing care and cost upon the body, when the invisible spirit has departed, and putting it out of sight and contact of the living. So are the ways of the world. That unseen reality and personality which we call soul, is habitually neglected, while lavish attention is given to the body; and selfishness, that it may revel in ease and indulgence, seeks to bury out of sight and touch of the living, the want and woe, sorrow and suffering of humanity.

The sayings of our Lord, which introduce these paragraphs, are far more comprehensive than may at first appear. Christ is not denying to a son the privilege of fulfilling the last sad offices of filial love to a deceased father. A soul has reached the crisis of history and destiny, and stands trembling and wavering upon the verge of a decision upon which hang eternal issues. To go just now, even to a father's funeral, with its elaborate ceremonial and tedious period of formal mourning, would prove a diversion that might prevent conversion, dissipating serious impressions and convictions. What if that son, drawn back into worldly associations, should lose all interest in things divine; and going to bury his father, should end in being buried himself ! But let us mark the grandeur of the scope of those two words of command: "Follow thou me !" "Go thou and preach the kingdom of God!"

Christ is the Lord of life. He came to give life and to give it more abundantly-not to bury but to revive; not to commit to the sepulchre but to call the dead from their tombs. "Follow thou Me !"

and so get life; then, "Go thou and preach the kingdom of God," and so give life.

We have intelligently chosen these words as the motto of this MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD. Taking the two accounts as presenting the whole incident in its spherical completeness, we find here the entire duty of every human being, comprehensively expressed: first to be a follower of Christ, and then a preacher of Christ; receiving life from the dead, to go forth bearing the potent message of salvation, and so imparting life to the dead.

Our Lord thus sounds, in these sayings of His, the silver trumpet of evangelization, and down through the aisles of the ages, with growing clearness, rings the clarion peal. It is time that it had reached and rallied the whole church of God to the universal assembling of the Lord's hosts, and the universal onset of the army against the foe.

Evangelization is the one word that deserves to be emblazoned on the banners of the believing host. The one immediate, imperative duty of every follower is to become a "herald." To bring this gospel of life into contact with every living, human soul in the shortest possible time and the best possible way-that is evangelization.

The scheme is so grandly colossal that it fills the whole word of God, and reaches round the whole world of the dead. Like the wheel of Ezekiel's vision, it is so high that it is dreadful. Its rim rests upon the earth, but reaches to heaven.

God's gigantic plan of evangelization embraces the whole family of man. That family consists at this time of fifteen hundred millions of souls now living upon earth. More than one-half of this vast number have never yet had a copy of the Word, heard the sound of the good tidings, or even seen the face of a missionary. There are some thirty millions of evangelical Christians within the territory of a nominal Christendom; and the problem is how to bring those thirty millions into contact with the seven hundred and fifty millions who have not the gospel within the space of a generation's lifetime!

How can it be done? That is the absorbing question. We should utterly despair of doing it but for one fact: The Captain of our salvation has commanded it, and the existence of the order is the warrant for obedience, and the assurance of success. Let the whole church but take the attitude of obedience, and we should see wonders of achievement that would astonish us.

It is, nevertheless, very plain that the methods now employed by the church of God are inadequate to this great work. All Christendom sends to the foreign field to-day less than seven thousand workmen, of whom more than half are unordained laymen and women. The native Christian churches contribute some thirty-three thousand more, of whom nine-tenths are laymen. We have, therefore, a total of forty thousand Christian disciples scattered among the millions of Pagan, Papal, and Moslem communities. Were these evenly and equally distributed, it would still give every worker, male or female, native and foreign, ordained and unordained, a parish of 18,750 souls to reach with the gospel in the space of about thirty years, the lifetime of a generation.

"What are these among so many?" And with all the obstacles of foreign language and hoary superstitions to surmount before there could be even an approach or access to them. Our missionary workers-nay, even our missionary stations-are like stars set in the centres of vast vacancies. And, therefore, it is that with over 100 missionary organizations belting the globe, the unevangelized population of the world grows faster than the church; population strides more rapidly than evangelization can keep up with it; and there is to-day a larger number of unsaved souls on earth than during any previous decade of years.

Where lies the core of this difficulty? We have forsaken the standard set up for us by our Lord and adopted by the primitive church. To every human being our Lord's double message is "Follow me, and preach me." The command is representative. The only qualification necessary for preaching the kingdom is to be a subject in it; and every follower of Christ must be a fisher of men.

This is the doctrine of the New Testament, and this was the practice of the New Testament church. Our Lord laid down the law of evangelization: ALL ARE TO GO, AND TO GO TO ALL. The occasion on which, upon that Galilean mountain, He said: "Go make disciples of all nations," was, without doubt, the occasion on which he "was seen of above five hundred brethren at once," commissioning all disciples to make disciples.

And they accepted the commission. The persecution that followed Stephen's martyrdom scattered the disciples abroad, and they went everywhere, preaching the word.* Observe!-not the apostles, for they are expressly excepted, as remaining at Jerusalem. Philip, though only a deacon, not only evangelized but baptized. The careful reader of the" Acts of the Apostles" finds there the acts of a great many beside the Apostles. He finds there a vital truth of Scripture side by side with a vital fact of history. The obvious intent of our Lord was that every follower should be also a witness, warrior, worker, winner of souls. The so-called "ministry" properly exists in the interests of law and order, sound doctrine and safe polity; but does not properly exist as a clerical caste, drawing a line of division between the followers of Christ in the matter of work for souls. Neither the world nor the church can afford to confine or entrust this work of evangelization to a class. The world needs all disciples as heralds, if all men are to hear the gospel; and the church needs all her members to be workers if she is to fulfil her great commission, or even escape the dry rot of indolence and inaction. Growth there must be where life is, and action there must be where growth is. What we do not use we lose. Current alone keeps the stream from stagnating and freezing.

Go thou, whoever thou art, if thou followest the Lord, and preach the kingdom of God. This is a universal duty, an individual responsibility. It is not necessary to change our sphere, but only to pervade our sphere with a new spirit of life. "In whatsoever calling he is found, let every man therein abide with God."* Let him use the shoemaker's shop, the carpenter's bench, the merchant's desk, the artist's studio, the market stall, the senator's chair, the kitchen or nursery, the throne or palace, as the pulpit from which to preach Jesus. If, like Wesley and Whitefield, Moody and McAll, you can reach the multitudes with your voice, thank God for the privilege. But if not, perhaps, like John Pounds of Portsmouth, you can win the confidence of street gamins by a hot roast potato, or, like Maria Millis in the humble nursery, teach infant lips to pray, and sow in a child's heart the seeds of a mighty passion for souls that shall yet sway, with resistless persuasion, the Lords and Commons in Parliament! These opening words of salutation from the editors to the reader, are not the result of any sudden, transient outburst of feeling. Here are crystallized the solemn convictions reached or wrought by a quarter of a century of study and thought upon this great theme. Before the church stands a great problem, for which the Scriptures furnish the only practical, possible solution. The whole church must accept the duty of telling the old, old story. Each of us is his brother's keeper. Every hearer must become a herald. This is the theory of evangelization in a nutshell; and we have only to put this principle into practice, and the wisdom of our Lord's words will be demonstrated; we may thus bring the gospel to the ears of every living member of our ruined race before the bells of God's great clock of the ages shall ring in the natal hour of a new century.

"Go THOU, AND PREACH THE KINGDOM OF GOD."

A VIOLENT thunder storm once preserved the town of Basle from the shells of the Russians and Hungarians, who were besieging the place. The pious people, in gratitude, founded a training-school for Christian Missionaries. This was the origin of the Basle Missionary Society, which has sent out over five hundred devoted men to the heathen.

*1 Cor. vii.

MISSION WORK IN PAPAL EUROPE

MISSION WORK IN PAPAL EUROPE.

By WILLIAM CLARK, D.D., FLORENCE, ITALY.

[Dr. Clark has a right to speak on the subject which he here briefly intro- duces to the notice of our readers. During the past twenty-five years he has resided in Papal Europe and made its institutions, especially those of an educational character, a matter of special study. The female college which he has established at Florence is an important mission agency and deserves the sympathy and aid of American Christians, and especially of the friends of female Christian education. Previous to this-from 1850 to 1860-he was in the service of the A. B. C. F. M. in Turkey, having charge of the Bebek Theological Seminary, out of which grew Robert College.-EDs.) THE moral and spiritual transformation of Central and Southern Europe must be done for women and by women. Establishing evangeli- cal schools of higher female education is the great mission agency to be employed, and the agency the most successful of all others. It is not by any denominational propaganda arrayed against Popery, or by Protestant Mission Boards of England and the United States sending their forces into these countries with their agencies of sect. I have been intimately conversant with mission work in foreign and Papal lands for nearly forty years, and, with all my experience and observation during this long period, I am fully convinced that true and successful mission work can never be accomplished, especially in Papal Europe, by a strictly denominational agency. I speak what I know when I say that the greatest obstacle to the work of a true religious reform in Papal Europe for the last twenty-five years has been the introduction of different religious denominations, and the sectarian spirit that has characterized them. To do true Christian work in Europe, churches must leave sect at home, and carry alone the essentials of Christian salvation and Christian character.

In 1866, Hon. George P. Marsh, our honored Minister in Italy for thirty years, wrote me thus: "Garibaldi is right in saying that Italy must owe her salvation to her women. No country has produced, and none now produces, nobler women than this, and there never was a crisis when such could render greater service to the cause of humanity and truth than now." The union and independence of Italy, that have taken place since that time, have proved a powerful incentive in ennobling and quickening the life of woman. Nowhere is the regeneration of Italy more marked than in Italian female life. They now ask earnestly for a new and improved system of higher female education. They wish schools and colleges for women similar to those in America. Our system of higher female education has been made known in all these countries by the Expositions at Vienna and Paris. My classmate, Hon. John D. Philbrick of Boston, our Educational Commissioner at those expositions, made such a beautiful exhibit of our female schools and colleges as to make our system of female culture so popular that it is everywhere desired in all these countries, and desired as a system to take the place of the Convent system, with which from year to year they are more and more dissatisfied.

Establishing evangelical schools of higher female education would be setting up a great agency that would be attended with immense results, an agency having no sectarian taint to poison it, and most cordially welcomed by the people. In Italy, for instance, this agency affords us a rare opportunity of doing a most noble work for Italian young women of the higher classes, in bringing a high and ennobling religious influence, as well as a high culture among those who really have the destinies of their country in their hands.

The great obstacle to the regeneration of Italy, is woman. Educate woman, and bring her under a true religious influence, and Italy will quickly become a truly enlightened and a truly evangelized country. And this work is feasible, if means and lady teachers can be obtained among Christians of America. The present is a time so favorable for instituting a great enterprise and an undenominational mission agency, that I cannot but urge it upon the attention of Christian women in America. I have heard many Italians express deep regret that, in all Catholic Europe, there was not one superior college where they might send their daughters for a higher culture. Is not this fact a sad one, especially when we consider how much high Christian culture there is among the women of America and England? Is it true that this culture is really Christian and benevolent in its character? Why, then, are not greater efforts made to extend it among other nations? Establish, for instance, schools in Italy bearing the stamp of our culture and our religion. This would be the noblest possible way of doing mission work. It is not enough that we boast of our higher female education at home; we must consecrate it to the good of other nations.

We want $10,000 to make a college, already established in Florence, Italy, an agency of great good to all the Papal States of Europe. Similar schools we wish to establish in all the principal cities of Italy, Austria, France and Spain; and such schools will bring these countries into the kingdom of Christ. To the importance of this work we have the testimony and endorsement of the best men of all Christian nations. Lord Shaftsbury, J. B. Braithwaite of England, Sir William Muir, Prof. Calderwood of Scotland, Mark Hopkins, Dr. Roswell D. Hitchcock, Mrs. ex-President Garfield, and many others in our own land-all these speak of this agency as mission work of the highest importance.

Many years ago Mrs. Emma Willard, of Troy Female Seminary, gave $3,000 to establish a school for young women in Greece. This school, nobly sustained by Mr. and Mrs. Hill, has educated more than 20,000 Greek young women.

BRIEF NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER

BRIEF NOTES ON NEW BOOKS OF A MISSIONARY CHARACTER.

James Hannington. By F. C. Dawson, M. A. A. D. F. Randolph & Co., N. Y.

This is a graphic story of the life and work of the first Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Africa. It has already gone through six editions in England, 'and two here. It is a thrilling narrative. There are many incidents of great interest in the volume; but the central figure is the manly, unselfish, heroic Hannington, whose martyrdom so shocked the Christian world. The reading of the book has suggested so many useful and instructive thoughts that it is the purpose of the editors to give hereafter a special article on the subject of this memoir.

The Cross and the Dragon. Rev. B. C. Henry of Canton. A. D. F. Randolph & Co.

Few books of 500 pages contain more interesting and useful matter. Mr. Henry is an acute observer. He has eyes and ears and knows how to use them: and he has the rare quality of being able, both by his tongue and pen, to reproduce in vivid, graphic style, those matters which are most apt to enchain the attention of the hearer or reader. This book will be one of the standard books on Missions.

Siam, or The Heart of Farther India. By Mary L. Cort. Published by Randolph.

This book, in size and style, corresponds to The Cross and the Dragon, and is not unlike it in value and power to interest and instruct. Few people know what a unique country and people are presented in this book, about which so little has been known until of late. The supreme king, Chulalangkorn, is a wise, intelligent, charitable monarch: like his father before him a patron of art, science and literature. In this empire all practical hindrances seem removed to missionary work. There have been no marked results which can be expressed in figures and statistics, but the gospel seems to be slowly but surely preparing for a great conquest. We advise everybody to read Miss Cort's book.

The Dragon, Image, and Demon: or, the Three Religions of China, Confucianism, Buddhism, and Iaoism, giving an account of the Mythology, Idolatry, and Demonolatry of the Chinese. By Rev. Hampden C. DuBose, fourteen years a missionary at Loochow. New York: A. C. Armstrong & Son. 12mo, pp. 468. 1887.

We give the full title of this book as explanatory of its contents. The work is profusely illustrated, and is gotten up in gorgeous yet appropriate style. Written by one who knows whereof he writes; who is familiar, from study and observation on the ground, with the system of religion and philosophy which he describes; and who has taken pains to gather information on a great variety of points little understood by the Christian world, it will prove a valuable addition to our missionary literature. The work is of interest to the general reader, as well as in all missionary circles. Even the London Saturday Review says of it: "It is a book likely to be widely read. Of the author's minute description of popular and household deities, and the mass of legend connected with them, the book and its curious illustrations can alone speak. Mr. DuBose has much to say that is fresh and suggestive, and he says it with force and conviction."

The Crisis of Missions: or, The Voice out of the Cloud. By Rev. Arthur T. Pierson, D. D. New York: Robert Carter & Brothers. 12 mo, pp. 370.

Like all their issues, the publishers have given this little book an attractive dress, befitting the character of the work. It is a marvelous book, in its power to inform, impress, and electrify the reader. The grouping of inspiring facts; the rapid action of the discussion; the intense glow of missionary feeling; and the irresistible array of motives and argume~ts and

ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK

Providential movements, all conspire to challenge the reader's attention, thrill his soul, and cause him to hear "the voice out of the cloud," as he never heard it before. If our beloved associate had not written the book, I should use still stronger language. I am not surprised that the reading public are showing their appreciation of it by exhausting six editions of it in one year!

Woman and the Gospel in Persia. By Rev. Thomas Laurie, D. D. Adoniram Judson. By Julia H. Johnston.

The Woman's Presbyterian Board of Missions of the Northwest, located at Chicago, is publishing a series of brief works entitled" Missionary Annals." The first in the series was a Memoir of Robert Moffat. The two, whose titles are given above, form Nos. 2 and 3. Others are in preparation. They are neatly produced, and sold at a small price, only 30 cents in cloth. .

The plan is an excellent one. Its execution will greatly widen the circle of missionary readers and create a demand for larger works. The materials for the sketch of Dr. Judson were drawn from Dr. Wayland's memoir of him, from Dr. EdwardJudson's "Life" of his father, and from "The History of Baptist Missions." "Woman and the Gospel in Persia," is an abridgment of "Woman and her Saviour in Persia," by Dr. Laurie, and was generously prepared by him and presented to the Board which publishes it.

n.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK.

American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions.

THE seventh annual meeting of the Board was held at Springfield, Mass., Oct. 5-8, 1887. It was a remarkable assemblage, both as to number and character—one hundred and sixty-five corporate members and over 800 ministers. The discussion of two reports from the Prudential Committee was long and earnest, and resulted in an overwhelming vote sustaining the policy of the Board. Still it was not unanimous, and the outcome of the trouble it is impossible to predict.

The editor of The Independent, who was present, gives the following as the substance of the action of the Board:

"1. That the Board, acting through its Prudential Committee, will hereafter as heretofore assume and exercise the right to judge and determine upon the qualifications of all persons applying to it for appointment and support as foreign missionaries. 2. That, in the judgment of the Board, the Word of God teaches that the moral conduct of men in this life, whether living and dying in heathen or Christian lands, is determinative of their condition and destiny in the life to come, and hence that this Word excludes the hypothesis that any persons who in this life have failed to secure the great salvation through Christ will, after death, have another probation in which salvation will be offered to them, and by them may be obtained. 3. That all persons applying to the Board for appointment and support as foreign missionaries, if holding as a positive faith or a probable hypothesis the doctrine of a second probation or that of this life continued into the next life, are to be regarded as not possessing the proper qualifications for such appointment and support, since, in either case, their position is contrary to the Word of God, and is calculated in its natural effects to impair the power of that Word over human hearts."

The report of the year's missionary operations was highly encouraging, and the several papers submitted by the Secretaries, particularly "The Appeal of the Hour," by Secretary Smith, and "The Message and Messenger," by Secretary Clark, were inspiring in the highest degree. We regret that our space will allow but a bird's-eye view of the year's results.

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES.

From churches, individual donors, and Sunday-schools, $218,427.58. From the four Woman's Boards, $148,530.82 (from Woman's Board of Missions, $89,304.60; from Woman's Board of Missions of the Interior, $55,248.12; from the Woman's Board of Missions for the Pacific, $3,678.10; from the Woman's Board of Missions for the Pacific Isles, $300); a total of donations of $366,958.40. From legacies, $98,414.59, and from the income of the permanent funds, $11,071.28; making the total receipts from these sources, $476,444.27.

From the Swett bequest, set apart to meet special calls for a brief period of years in the evangelistic and educational departments of our missionary work abroad, $154,319.96 has been appropriated for the purposes named, including, for Japan, $43,745, and for China, $34,762.83.

From the Otis bequest, set apart for new missions, $48,808.31 has been devoted to work in West Central and East Central Africa, in Shanse, in Northern Japan, and in Northern Mexico.

These amounts, added to receipts from ordinary sources, with balance in the treasury at the beginning of the year, $1,381.49, make the total $680,954.03. The expenditures of the year amounted to $679,376.90, leaving a balance in the treasury of $1,577.13.

GENERAL SUMMARY. 1886-87.

CONCLUSION.

Such is the brief record of that great work which the Board sustains in twenty-two missions among unevangelized people in all parts of the earth. In almost 1,000 populous centres a force of 2,500 laborers, foreign and native, is preaching the gospel in twenty-five different languages, and conducting a great evangelistic and educational work. Fifteen new churches have been organized, and out of a total membership of 28,000, nearly 3,000 have made profession of faith this year. In ninety-six high schools and colleges 6,000 picked youths of both sexes are in training to reinforce the native agency, besides 34,000 pupils under Christian instruction and influence in common schools. And above all, the Christian character of the native converts is assuming greater depth and earnestness, and their share in evangelistic work is steadily increasing in value as well as in amount.

THE FIRST MONTH.—The financial beginning of the new year is favorable, the receipts being more than double those of the first month of the preceding year; amounting to $30,668.57, of which over $22,000 is from donations.

American Baptist Union.

THIS Union represents some 600,000 or 700,000 Baptists in the Northern and Western States, and is the second oldest foreign missionary society in the country. Its 73d annual meeting was held in Minneapolis, Minn., May 27-28. We give an abstract of its annual report.

Its first field was Burmah, where it has planted a vigorous and self-supporting Christianity, which, with its admirable system of schools and its missionary spirit, is making constant inroads on heathenism. Since Upper Burmah was opened to the world by the overthrow of King Thebaw, the Union has been sending missionaries into that kingdom. It has also a strong mission in India, among the Telugus, thousands of whom were gathered in during the remarkable awakening in South India some years ago. Besides these missions the Union has others in Assam and Siam, China, Japan, Africa (in Liberia and on the Congo), and in Europe.

The European missions are in Sweden, Germany, France, Spain, and Greece, where their membership foots up more than the Asiatic and African missions. In Sweden and Germany the work may be said to have passed the missionary stage. There are regular churches, ordained ministers, and associations of churches and ministers. In Sweden alone there are 460 churches, a gain of 26 the past year, 483 preachers, and 31,064 members. In Germany there are more members (33,451), but fewer churches and ministers. The latter number 450, of whom 300 are unordained, and the churches count up to 168 only. The work of the year was very successful, if we may judge from the fact that there were 3,473 baptisms in Sweden, and 2,530 in Germany. An effort is being made to reach the Finns, of whom there are about two millions, who are said to be in a state of dense spiritual darkness. They seem anxious to know the truth and be saved. The amount of contributions in Sweden last year was $79,187.

Germany received $5,628 from the Union, raising among its own churches $98,900. The German Baptist Union, consisting of 13 associations, embraces missions in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Holland, Russia, Roumania, Bulgaria, Denmark, and Africa. The mission was begun by Johan Gerhard Oncken, a German who married and settled in England and became an Independent. Traveling in Lower Saxony, as an agent of a Bible and a tract society, he organized a Baptist church in that kingdom and became its pastor. This was in 1834. Next year he was appointed missionary of what is now the American Baptist Missionary Union, and he went all over Germany and Denmark preaching and baptizing. From this beginning have sprung all the churches and missions in connection with the German Baptist Union. There is an association in Austria embracing 5 churches, 62 stations, and 930 members; one among the Poles, with 8 churches, 52 stations, and 2,624 members; two in Russia, with a total of 18 churches, 183 stations, and 5,026 members; one on the Baltic with 4 churches, 9 stations, and 1,206 members; one in Denmark, with 22 churches, 101 stations, and 2,181 members; and one in South Africa, with 3 churches, 16 stations, and 676 members. Of the 58,108 members which are returned from the Asiatic and African missions 26,574 are in Burmah and Siam, showing an increase for the year of over 700. A special difficulty in the work in Burmah is the fact of the division of the population in language and race characteristics, requiring distinct missions to the Burmans, the Karens, the Shans, the Kachins, and the Chins. And these separate missions are to be found in the same territory, in the same towns and cities. In Henthada, for example, there is a Burman, a Karen, and a Chin department; and the Karens are sometimes divided into the Red-Karen, Bghai-Karen, and Paku-Karen departments, and there are still other varieties of Karens. The majority of the members in Burmah are Karens, who are an inferior people and were formerly slaves to the Burmans. The total of baptisms in Burmah last year was 1,794. The appropriations from the Union aggregated about $100,000, to which the mission added about $35,000 for churches, schools, and general benevolence. The missionary force is 107, and the number of ordained and unordained ministers 513. Of the 510 churches, 310 are self-supporting. In the 7 stations in Assam are 1,922 members, gathered in 30 churches, of which four are self-sustaining. The field in India is among the Telugus. This was for many years a fruitless mission, but it now reports more members than the Burmah mission, and was the most fruitful mission last year in the list of the Union, returning 1,000 of the 1,668 net gain of all the missions.

The mission in China reports 1,516 members in 18 churches, of which 4 are self-supporting. There are 519 members in Japan, with 13 churches, only one of which pays its own expenses.

The African mission is yet in its infancy. A few years ago the mission received the Congo mission from the Livingstone Inland Mission, an undenominational organization, which had its headquarters in Cardiff, Wales. There are now seven stations on the Congo, one being at Stanley Pool and one at the equator, above the Pool.

The following is a summary of results for the seventy-three years of the Union's operations:

The American Missionary Association

HELD its 41st Annual Meeting in Portland, Me., Oct. 25-27, 1887. Items from its Annual Report: The receipts of the year cover all the expenses of the year, wipe out the debt of $5,000 with which the year began, and leave $2,193.80 with which to start out on the coming year.

EDUCATIONAL WORK IN THE SOUTH.

Total number of schools planted in the Southern States is fifty-four. Six of these are chartered institutions, fairly entitled to the rank of Colleges. Sixteen are Normal and Training Schools. Thirty-two are common schools, scattered throughout nine different States. In these schools are 246 instructors and 8,616 pupils.

CHURCH WORK.

These statistics show a substantial gain over last year. Seven new churches were organized.

There has been during the year a quiet Christian work throughout the South, which has borne gratifying fruits, over 1,000 having confessed Christ for the first time. The Sunday-school enrollment has increased by nearly 2,000. They contributed this year for benevolence, outside of their own work, $2,322.51, and for their own church purposes, $16,014.50, making a grand total of $18,337.01. This was an increase over the previous year of $610.96 in their benevolences, and $3,075.61 in the total. This is an average contribution of $2.32 per member for every man, woman and child in these churches.

INDIAN WORK, chiefly in Nebraska and Dakota. The following is the summary:

CHINESE WORK.

RECEIPTS.

The total disbursements for the year have been $298,783.80, a decrease in the expenditures of last year of $13,467.

Foreign Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church.

FROM 52d Annual Report, closing Sept 1st, we glean the following facts and figures:

In Japan the advance is rapid. In Africa, notwithstanding the political disturbance at the lower end of the Missionary Jurisdiction of Cape Palmas, the workers are brave and true and the work is being systematically prosecuted; not only in the localities with which the Church has been familiar for years, but also in the regions beyond. In China, the evangelistic work, largely conducted by the native clergy, as well as the parochial work among the converts, and that of the day and boarding-schools and St. John's College, and the medical mission, each has its own story to tell of diligence and encouragement, notwithstanding the publications during the year which have given the impression that the work in China is suffering. Bishop Holly makes his own report of the labors of himself and of his little band of clergy in Haiti. It is a story of energetic labor amid discouraging conditions and with limited resources. All of these statements will be fully borne out by the particulars that will be submitted. Still the call is for more workers. The fields are indeed white unto the harvest. We thank God that the whole Church is praying, in the Litany, that the Lord of the harvest will send forth laborers into his harvest.

*From Church Almanac. †Including $4,250, specifically contributed toward paying off the Mexican Loan. ‡Including a single gift of $13,200, and also $2,000 for Mexican Loan. §Including $2,481.50 for Mexican Loan.

This table shows the exact resources for Foreign Missions of the Board of Managers since its organization in 1877. During the decade there have been but three years in which the contributions for the general work have exceeded those of the past year, and in two instances that excess is accounted for in the table. At the same time the amount received from legacies available for the work of the Society in Foreign Lands is much less than in any other of the ten years named.

The total receipts of the Domestic and Foreign Missionary Society for the year were $402,440.52, a decrease of $1,732.45 from previous year. The receipts for Domestic Missions were $219,439.33.

Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.

ABSTRACT of the 50th annual report presented to the General Assembly at its meeting in Omaha, Nebraska, May, 1887.

No less than eight of the missionaries of the Board have died during the year, while seven ordained and three medical missionaries, and six lady teachers, have permanently withdrawn during the same time. To strengthen the posts weakened by this depletion, the Board has sent out during the year seven ordained missionaries, of whom six were married, eight medical missionaries, of whom two were ladies, and eleven unmarried ladies.

Work has been prosecuted among 11 tribes of American Indians, and the Chinese and Japanese in the United States; in Mexico, Guatemala, Colombia, Brazil and Chili; in Africa, among the inhabitants of Liberia, and those of the Gaboon and Corisco region; and in Asia in important centers of influence in India, Siam, China, Japan, Korea, Persia, and Syria. In addition to this the Board has rendered substantial assistance to the evangelical work in Papal Europe through approved societies on the Continent. There have been in commission during the year, 173 ordained missionaries, 30 laymen, mostly physicians, and 296 ladies. Besides these, the missionary force includes 134 native ordained ministers, and 154 licentiates, which, with 756 Bible readers, catechists, etc., makes a total force in the employ of the Board during the year of 1,543. Three hundred and ten organized churches are on the roll, with 21,420 communicants, of whom 2,791 were added during the year. These churches report contributions to the amount of $28,552. The aggregate attendance on schools of all grades was 23,329.

In the various fields occupied by the Board there has been much to encourage, and yet not a little to perplex and disturb. In some of the missions, the Holy Spirit has so sealed the truth upon the hearts and consciences of the people that precious ingatherings have been witnessed, and the joy of harvest experienced. In others it has been a time mainly of diligent sowing and patient waiting. When the deep poverty of many of those gathered out of heathenism is remembered, the contributions of native Christians for the support of the Gospel during the year indicate high attainment in the grace of Christian beneficence. In some parts of the field a noteworthy advance has been made in the measure of government favor accorded to our missionaries, as in China, Japan and Siam, showing that the mission work is commending itself to those in high position, and that the door of access to the nations is constantly widening. On the other hand, the restrictions of the French government, in the territory occupied by the Gaboon and Corisco Mission have become so severe, as virtually to tie the hands of our missionaries, and to drive them from the field. After repeated efforts to secure some modification of the restrictions imposed, the Board has felt constrained, at the urgent request of the brethren on the field, to take measures to transfer that mission to another evangelical body, should the way be clear, and secure a foothold, if possible, within German territory.

RECEIPTS FOR THE YEAR.

This shows an increase last year of $55,618.14, although $34,696.39 was a special gift for the debt in the previous year's receipts.

The Assembly resolved to aim at the raising of $1,000,000 for the current year for foreign missions.

EXPENDITURES AND STATISTICS OF THE MISSIONS.

For missions among 11 tribes of Indians, with which are connected 15 American and 13 Indian preachers, 2 Indian licentiate preachers, 3 American laymen and 35 women, 15 native assistants, 1,741 communicants, and 13 schools, with 422 scholars, of whom 194 are in boarding-schools—$28,839.79.

For missions to the Chinese in this country, with stations in New York, San Francisco, Portland, Los Angeles and other places, in connection with which are 4 ministers, 8 female teachers (unsalaried teachers not enumerated), 7 native assistants, 286 communicants, and 17 schools, with 779 scholars, not including pupils in Sabbath-school—$17,909.57.

For mission in Japan, at 4 stations and several outstations, with 12 American and 11 native ministers, 15 licentiate preachers, 2 American laymen and 31 women, 2,178 communicants, and 11 schools, connected with which are 1,184 scholars, of whom 200 are in boarding-schools—$63,166.27.

For 3 missions in China, with 13 stations and over 150 outstations, 36 ordained Americans and 15 ordained natives, 35 licentiate preachers, 8 American laymen and 49 women, 144 native assistants, 4,306 communicants, and 94 schools, with 1,983 scholars, of whom 572 are in boarding-schools—$102,626.57.

For mission in Korea, with 1 American minister, 2 American laymen and 3 women—$8,868.63.

For 2 missions in Siam and Laos, at 4 stations and 14 outstations, 11 American ministers, 4 native licentiate preachers, 3 American laymen and 17 women, 23 native assistants, 676 communicants, and 14 schools, with 380 scholars, of whom 112 are in boarding-schools—$37,928.20.

For 3 missions in India, at 25 stations, 13 outstations, with 35 American and 19 native ministers, 31 licentiate preachers, 2 American laymen and 57 women, 216 native assistants, 1,033 communicants, and 9,671 scholars—$113,317.21.

For 2 missions in Persia, with 5 stations and about 100 outstations, 10 American and 32 native ministers, 35 licentiate preachers, 5 American laymen and 30 women, 120 native assistants, 2,052 communicants, 115 schools, with 2,731 scholars, of whom 230 are in boarding-schools—$61,430.83.

For mission in Syria, at 5 stations and 86 outstations, connected with which are 13 American and 4 native ministers, 32 licentiate preachers, 1 American layman and 23 women, 143 native assistants, 1,440 communicants, 119 schools, with 5,172 scholars, 270 of whom are in boarding-schools—$55,248.22.

For mission in Liberia, Africa, 7 stations, 3 American and 3 native ministers, 1 American layman, 1 woman, 1 native assistant, 284 communicants, 5 schools, and 157 scholars, of whom 88 are in boarding-schools—$3,669.17.

For Gaboon and Corisco Mission, at 6 stations and several outstations, with 5 ordained American and 3 ordained native ministers, 2 licentiates, 1 American lay missionary and 9 women, 14 native assistants, 688 communicants—$20,216.79.

For missions in Brazil, at 9 stations and several outstations, with 10 American and 6 native ministers, 2 licentiates, 1 male and 12 female missionaries, 29 native assistants, 1,895 communicants, 21 schools, with 518 scholars, of whom 42 are in boarding-school—$50,640.59.

For mission in Chili, at 3 stations, 8 ministers, 1 native minister, 4 native licentiates, 6 female teachers, 11 native assistants, 449 communicants, and 3 schools, with 260 scholars, of whom 27 are in boarding-school—$23,089.59.

For mission in U. S. of Colombia, at 1 station, with 2 American ministers, 3 female missionaries, 5 native assistants, 66 communicants, and 1 school, with 50 scholars, of whom 10 are in boarding-school—$5,798.99.

For mission in Guatemala, at 1 station, 2 female missionaries, 12 communicants, and 1 school, with 26 scholars—$4,536.72.

For mission in Mexico, with 6 stations, and about 100 outstations, 8 American and 27 native ministers, 21 licentiates, 12 female missionaries, 29 native assistants, 4,314 communicants, and 20 schools, with 620 (partial report) scholars, of whom 51 are in boarding-schools—$80,597.82.

For missions in European Papal countries—France, Belgium, Italy, etc.—$4,354.70.

For Home Expenses—printing, salaries, miscellaneous—$36,727.93.

*Includes $13,368.28 for investment.

United Presbyterian Church.

Abstract from the 28th Annual Report, presented May 26, 1887.

The Board report a year of unusual interest. "Every department of the work has shown the signal presence and favor of God." In the Indian mission, 1,934 professed Christ. The native church increased from 2,176 members in 1885 to 4,019 at the close of 1886. A marked advance was made also in Egypt. At home additional interest has been shown. Women's Missionary Societies increased from 501 to 593; members from 13,585 to 15,004; and contributions to foreign missions from $10,765 to $13,803.

MISSIONS.

There are two—one in the Punjab, or northwestern Province of India, and the other in the Delta and valley of the Nile in Egypt. In the former, the mission embraces the eight districts, Sialkot, Zafarwal, East and West Gujranwala, Jhelum, Gurdaspur, Pasrur and Pathankot with their several hundred villages. The latter has the districts of Alexandria, Cairo, Mansoora, the Fayoom, Lower, Middle and Upper Thebaid, and is in as many as possible of the 12,293 town and villages that are in them and the country at large.

GENERAL SUMMARY.

Missions 2, Stations 121, Foreign Missionaries 16, married women 16, single 20, Physicians 2. Total foreign laborers 54. Native ordained ministers 20, licentiates 9, other workers 346. Total native workers 375. Total of all laborers 429. Churches 31, Average Sabbath attendance 7,759. Communicants 6,161. Increase during the year (India 2,030, Egypt 311) 2,341. Baptisms 2,881. Sabbath-schools 138. Sabbath-school scholars 5,625. Other schools 192. Scholars in them 9,219. Contributions for church purposes $5,587. Appraised value of mission property $325,701.

RECEIPTS AND EXPENDITURES. The receipts for the year were:

The Expenditures for the year were for the Egyptian Mission $37,620.45, for India $30,351.04, for sending out, returning, and new missionaries $4,325.60, for salaries and children of missionaries at home $5,056.02, for other necessary home expenses $1,899.07, for payment of debt to Quarter Centennial fund $5,091.62, and for payment of debt to Egyptian mission $3,248.70, making a total of $87,592.50. The contributions of the church were less by $3,648.70 than the expenditures.

CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE

III.-CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.

ONE of our esteemed editorial correspondents, Prof. W. C. Wilkinson, D.D., writes us in the following inspiring words:

A World's Missionary Council.

THE MISSIONARY REVIEW will, if God prosper the enterprise, fulfilling the hopes and prayers of its conductors, become in some sort a realization of a certain broad and beneficent idea lately breathed in a published volume. One of the editors of this REVIEW, in a book entitled "The Crisis of Missions," proposes in the serene boldness of faith, the plan of holding an Œcumenical Council of a new order, a Pan-Christian Conference in behalf of Missions in every part of the world. A "World's Missionary Council," he calls it.

The idea is inspiring. There is a tonic audacity in it. It has the spirit of the beginning of the era of modern missions. It might have been William Carey's proposal. Its motto well might read, "Expect great things from God."

THE MISSIONARY REVIEW is already in purpose something like a fulfillment of such a noble dream. It offers to be a council in perpetual session, to consult for the spread of the Gospel throughout the whole earth. It will do what it can to bring about, in God's good time, the actual convening of Christendom in a council to concert measures for the speedy evangelization of the world. The reflex influence upon present Christendom of an effort to make itself commensurate with mankind would be such a strengthening of the things among us at home that remain, and that, without such a forthputting like this of power to save, are themselves ready to faint—such a strengthening, we say, as would mark an historic epoch in the advance of Christianity comparable to that of the Protestant Reformation—comparable, but, perhaps, superior.

May that God who has promised His Son the heathen for his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession, graciously accept each successive number of this REVIEW as one more prayer of His expecting Church,

THY KINGDOM COME!

China Inland Mission.

Letter from J. Hudson Taylor, our London Editorial Correspondent:

LONDON, Nov. 1st, 1887.

DEAR DR. PIERSON:

May I, for Mr. Radcliffe, as well as myself, reply to your kind letters about Editorial Correspondents? We are both so circumstanced that, while we should be very willing to be occasional correspondents, we could not undertake to write at regular intervals, or to any large extent. For myself, I must also add that perhaps half my time is spent in China and half in England.

We are both in hearty sympathy with you, and would gladly do anything in our power to help you. May the Lord make the REVIEW more than ever a blessing and a success.

Yours, faithfully,
J. HUDSON TAYLOR.

One of our editorial correspondents, Dr. H. H. Jessup, of Syria, writes a private letter, but it is of such public interest that we venture to print it. It was in acknowledgment of a copy of the little book on missions recently sent by the author to his old friend in Syria.—A. T. P.

BEIRUT, SYRIA, May 9, 1887.

MY DEAR BROTHER PIERSON:

I have just received a copy of your excellent book, "The Crisis of Missions," with your card, and write to tell you how highly I value the book.

Your preliminary word, that "the spirit of Christ is the spirit of Missions," is the keynote to the whole book, and should be the keynote of the life of every Christian disciple. One of the problems which I cannot solve, and which I shall be anxious to have solved when I reach the kingdom of glory, is this: "How will those Christians who say that they do not believe in missions explain their position to the glorified Redeemer?"

There can be no question as to your position on this great subject. I trust every young man and woman in our colleges and seminaries will be enabled in some way to read this stirring volume. But perhaps I was hasty in writing that sentence. For supposing that they should read it, and be stirred and thrilled by it as I have been, and hundreds of them should be led to say, "Lord, here am I; send me." "Churches of Christ, here we are; send us:" and all this in addition to the 1,500 mentioned by Dr. McCosh in his letter who have already decided to go, what would be the effect on the churches? Of one thing I am sure, and that is, that while a few "Thomas" churches might doubt and even despair, the great body of Christ's own children everywhere would be set on fire with the conviction that now is the Crisis; that God hath verily spoken to his people; that the silver trumpet has sounded the note of advance; that the church must either rise to the duty of the hour, or be swept aside, and another church be raised up to do the work.

I have just had under my roof that devoted man of God, Major General Haig, long in India, and now from England, who has just journeyed all around the west, south and east coast of Arabia, looking for openings for planting Missionary and Bible Stations; and his reports which are appearing in the Church Missionary Intelligencer are like the journals of an apostle.

The fact is that the last bolts and bars with which Satan clinched the gates of heathen empires centuries ago are dropping to the ground, and the rusty hinges are creaking open while the imprisoned nations stand wondering and waiting for the liberty of Christ.

Let us continue, my dear brother, to lift up our voices and call on our brethren and sisters everywhere to go forward.

I was greatly moved, when a lad, by reading Dr. Enoch Pond's "World's Salvation." But the facts and figures of that book, as I recall them, were far less stirring than those of your little volume. The darkness and the want then existed and were well described, but the open doors were few, and the actual call for men quite limited. But now the 1,500 candidates preparing to go could find work ready to their hands in Japan, or in Interior Africa.

The church's ear seems to be heavy and the church's hand to be shortened, while the Lord is calling louder and louder, and His mighty providence is moving on.

For years I have been waiting to hear Brother Moody's voice on this great subject of Foreign Missions, and now that he has thrown his heart and help and voice into the work, the Lord has granted a rich blessing. Your plan of apportioning out the unevangelized world among the Christian churches is a grand one. See how the nations of Europe are cutting and carving the continent of Africa for their own commercial objects! It is time that the whole world were thus taken possession of for Jesus our King.

We are working on quietly here in Syria. Our last annual report shows a greater advance than in any previous year, in additions to the church and in all other departments of our work.

Yours, affectionately,
HENRY HARRIS JESSUP.

Japan.

Rev. James H. Ballagh writes:

YOKOHAMA, May 4, 1887.

REV. DR. PIERSON:

Dear Brother—Knowing well your interest in mission work in general, and also something of your interest in particular in Japan, through your acquaintance with native brethren, now members of your church or residents of your city, I take the liberty to present the claims of an interesting field of work for assistance. It is to ask aid for help in erecting a church building at Tokosuka, the naval station in this part of Japan, and where most of their ship-building is carried on. There are extensive dry docks and works there, several marine hospitals, a fleet of vessels, and a considerable body of marines, besides a very live and enterprising population. Iniquity is also very active. The brothels are large, and thronged at night like a fair—the veritable Vanity Fair of "Pilgrim's Progress." To the outside world it is interesting as being a most beautiful land-locked harbor in an inner bay of Yedo bay, near Perry and Webster islands.

At this place the French Romanists had a fine chapel when they commenced work at the navy yard, but it has been sold for old lumber on their loss of influence in Japan. There is now an active Protestant Church of our United Church of Christ in Japan with 76 members. It is only of two or three years' growth. The work was commenced mostly under Dr. Saiki's influence, and, though himself a Congregationalist, he threw his influence in favor of a Presbyterian Church being established here. The Church meets in greatly straitened quarters at present. As the town is small, lots expensive, and few houses to let, the Church desires to build a suitable chapel. One thousand dollars will secure land and erect a modest building. $500 we hope to be able to raise here, and they would like an equal amount in gold from America. Their pastor, the Rev. Ito Tokichi, is an indefatigable worker and an excellent Christian man. The membership is largely doctors—naval physicians—and their families.

Hoping that some practical manifestation of the hearty interest which American Christians take in the establishment of Christ's cause in Japan may result from this appeal,

I am sincerely yours in Christ,
JAMES H. BALLAGH.

Revised Edition of Dr. Judson's Burmese Bible.

The following extract from a recent private letter of the Rev. Dr. Jameson, Baptist Missionary in Burmah, to his seminary classmate, Prof. W. C. Wilkinson, D.D., will be read with interest. The date is Rangoon, Aug. 31, 1887:

"I am here for two weeks on the proofs, for I have agreed to give half my time to watching the new edition of Dr. Judson's Burman Bible through the press. I read each form seven times. Once correcting copy, and three times for typographical and other errors—besides verifying corrections. Of course I have good native help. But they need me as much as I need them. When I go back to my own district, I take my work along. For example, on that jungle trip, I corrected eight pages of the quarto for copy. After the Bible was printed, Dr. Judson made many changes in spelling, and the spelling of the Bible must be corrected from the dictionary. The whole must also be newly punctuated, and Dr. Judson's own corrections of the text must be made. When I am away, I leave the work in the hands of the Burman proof-readers, who do their best, and these forms I read only five times. But no form is put to press except when I am here. I will send you the next form with an English word in it, that will tell you where we are. When you receive it, you may comfort yourself with the thought that we are through that Book [Deuteronomy], probably."

India.

Communication from Rev. Jacob Chamberlain, M.D., Madanapelle, India, one of our editorial correspondents:

A Brahmin on the Bible.

In 1870, after three years of baffled effort, a lot was obtained in the bazaar street of the native town of Madanapalle, Madras Presidency, India, and a free reading room was erected and opened by the missionary in charge, Rev. J. Chamberlain, M.D., of the Arcot Mission of the Reformed Church of America. It was designed to obtain a hold of the educated young men of the place. Well-stocked with newspapers, periodicals and books, and with copies of the Bible in seven different languages on the tables, and with Scriptures, tracts, Christian books and school books for sale, it was thrown open for their use on every week-day and evening, with the exception that on Wednesday evenings there was to be a Biblical lecture, which all were invited to attend.

On each lecture evening a parable, a miracle, a biography, a prophecy, a sermon on Christ, a historical account—as of the creation, deluge, Joseph in Egypt, the exodus, etc.—was taken up and illustrated. While it was endeavored to make the lectures attractive as a literary treat, the bearing of each subject on the gospel of Jesus Christ and His salvation was never lost sight of.

From the beginning the room was always crowded on these occasions by intelligent heathen. At the close of one of these Bible lectures by Dr. Chamberlain, a Brahmin—one of the best educated in the place, not a convert—arose and asked permission to say a few words. In a neat address he urged upon his fellow-citizens the importance of availing themselves of the advantages offered for their intellectual and moral advancement, and in conclusion gave the following remarkable testimony to the Christian Scriptures:

"Behold that mango tree on yonder roadside! Its fruit is approaching to ripeness. Bears it that fruit for itself or its own profit? From the moment the first ripe fruits turn their yellow sides towards the morning sun until the last mango is pelted off, it is assailed with showers of sticks and stones from boys and men, and every passer-by, until it stands bereft of leaves, with branches knocked off, bleeding from many a broken twig; and piles of stones underneath, and clubs and sticks lodged in its boughs, are the only trophies of its joyous crop of fruit. Is it discouraged? Does it cease to bear fruit? Does it say, 'If I am barren no one will pelt me, and I shall live in peace?' Not at all. The next season the budding leaves, the beauteous flowers, the tender fruit again appear. Again it is pelted, and broken, and wounded, but goes on bearing, and children's children pelt its branches and enjoy its fruit.

"That is a type of these missionaries. I have watched them well, and have seen what they are. What do they come to this country for? What tempts them to leave their parents, friends and country, and come to this, to them an unhealthy climate? Is it for gain or for profit that they come? Some of us country clerks in Government offices receive more salary than they. Is it for an easy life? See how they work, and then tell me. No; they seek, like the mango tree, to bear fruit for the benefit of others; and this, too, though treated with contumely and abuse from those they are benefiting.

"Now look at this missionary! He came here a few years ago, leaving all, and seeking only our good! He was met with cold looks and suspicious glances, and was shunned, avoided and maligned. He sought to talk with us of what he told us was the matter of most importance in heaven or earth, and we would not listen. But he was not discouraged. He started a dispensary, and we said, 'Let the Pariahs take his medicines, we won't;' but in the times of our sickness and distress and fear, we had to go to him, and he heard us. We complained if he walked through our Brahmin streets; but ere long, when our wives and daughters were in sickness and anguish, we went and begged him to come, even into our inner apartments; and he came, and our wives and daughters now smile upon us in health. Has he made any money by it? Even the cost of the medicines has not been returned to him.

"And now, in spite of our opposition, he has bought this site, and built this beautiful room, and furnished it with the choicest of lore in many languages, and put in it newspapers and periodicals, which were inaccessible to us before, but which help us now to keep up with the world around us, and understand passing events; and he has placed here tables to write on, and chairs to sit on, and lamps for us to read and write by in the evening; and what does he get for all this? Does he make money by this free reading-room? Why, we don't even pay for the lamp-oil consumed by night as we read.

"Now, what is it makes him do all this for us? It is his Bible. I have looked into it a good deal at one time and another, in the different languages I chanced to know. It is just the same in all languages. The Bible—there is nothing to compare with it in all our sacred books for goodness and purity and holiness and love, and for motives of action.

"Where did the English-speaking people get all their intelligence, and energy, and cleverness, and power? It is their Bible that gives it to them. And now they bring it to us and say, 'This is what raised us; take it and raise yourselves.' They do not force it upon us, as the Mohammedans did with their Koran, but they bring it in love, and translate it into our languages, and lay it before us, and say, 'Look at it; read it; examine it, and see if it is not good.' Of one thing I am convinced: do what we will, oppose it as we may, it is the Christians' Bible that will, sooner or later, work the regeneration of this land."

Death of Rev. E. P. Swift.

Rev. G. W. Scott, of the Reformed Presbyterian Mission, India, writes Sept. 17, 1887:

The Rev. Elisha P. Swift died at his residence, Gujranwala, North India, Aug. 16th, 1887. His health began to fail about a year ago, when he had a fall while out in the district. Still he kept on with his duties, whether the weather was hot or cold, wet or dry, realizing that he was approaching the gates of death, preaching as a dying man to dying men. He was taken sick while in the district looking after the Christians he had baptized with his own hands, who were scattered through the towns and villages of western Gujranwala, many hundreds in number; for in some months he baptized as many as three or four hundred persons. His co-laborer, the Rev. J. P. McKee, was with him to the last. About a month before his death he was confined to his house with carbuncles, caused by diabetes, which caused him great pain. Yet he bore all with Christian patience, knowing that the Hand which afflicts is able to heal. His death was a peaceful and quiet one, surrounded by his wife and children, whom he leaves to mourn his loss. His funeral procession was a very large one, attended by several hundreds of people—the majority being from the Hindu and Mohammedan classes. These people, while opposed to Christianity, had learned to love the "man of God," and followed his remains to his last resting place, which is in the Church of England graveyard, close to the city of Gujranwala.

Africa.—Nothing was known of the interior of the Dark Continent until within a few years; now Africa is girdled with Christian missions. Between thirty and forty societies are working there. On the eastern coast the English penetrated to the great lakes, walking over the burning sands a thousand miles on foot, to plant the standard of the Cross. On the Congo River the Baptists of our own country have recently taken charge of the missions founded by Mr. Guinness, and their work is to be pushed into the interior—into the centre of cannibalism. Truly "Ethiopia is stretching out her hands unto God." The island of Madagascar, on the eastern coast of Africa, has been so largely Christianized that the natives of late gave some ten millions of dollars to Christian missions and evangelistic work.

To-day thirty-four missionary societies are at work in Africa, and all its 200,000,000 souls are practically within the reach of Christian missions; thirty-three societies have begun work in China, and all its 350,000,000 souls may be visited with the message of the gospel; more than fifty societies have entered India, and the light is dawning upon its 250,000,000; Turkey and Persia and Japan are filling with mission churches and mission schools; practically, the whole world is open, and the grandest day of opportunity for the kingdom of God that the earth has ever seen has fully dawned. If the cry of the lost nations reached the ear of those young men at Andover, with whom our work began, and would not let them rest, how that selfsame cry, to-day repeated from every people and land, and grown more articulate, must thrill the very heart of Christendom, and command instant and glowing response!—Judson Smith, D.D.

India.—The Church Missionary Intelligencer shows how the British Government and the East India Company were shamed out of their base patronage to Indian idolatry. Sir Peregrine Maitland accepted from the East India Company the office of Commander-in-Chief of the Madras army, and a seat in the Council—an office worth $50,000 a year—only on the condition that he should not be required to have any official connection with the idolatry of the country. He knew how the company had catered to the heathen ceremonies of India, even making large grants for their support. A few days after his arrival in Madras he received from the company's office in London a document sanctioning the appointment and payment of dancing girls in a certain Hindu temple, to which he was expected to affix his signature. He resolved to throw up his lucrative appointment and return to England rather than put his hand to any such scheme. The company declined to excuse Sir Peregrine, and, although comparatively poor, he sacrificed his $50,000 and returned to England. The annual festival of the goddess Yayagathal, the protectress of a part of Madras, was approaching; and the annual ceremony of marrying the East India Company to the image of this goddess was to be performed with great pomp. The goddess was borne in procession around the "black town," and then brought to government headquarters; a high official of the company came out, with a handsome cashmere shawl as a bridal present to the idol, and an ornament to be put around the bride's neck, the latter being used in native marriages in place of a ring, while repeating the words, "With this I thee wed," etc. The East India Company and the idol Yayagathal were thus pronounced husband and wife. Two missionaries in Madras united to caricature the scene. One wrote a minute description, the other with graphic pencil made a telling sketch of the nuptial scene. These were sent home. Bishop Blomfield carried them to the House of Lords, held them up to view, and declared that if the connection between the East India Company and the idol system of India was not abolished, he would send the letter and the cartoon broadcast throughout the land. This was sufficient. The absurdity and degradation were potent. Probably a petition signed by all the missionaries in India would scarcely have been so effective.—The Church.

There were in British India, according to the census of 1881, no less than 207,388 widows under fourteen years of age, and 78,976 of these were under nine. They can no longer legally be burned, but their earthly sufferings are worse than burning. Their widowhood is viewed by all Hindus as the punishment for horrible crimes committed in some previous existence. They are closely confined to the house; forbidden all companionship; confined to one meal a day, which they eat in solitude; obliged to conceal themselves in the morning, lest the sight of them bring bad fortune on the beholder; cursed, abhorred, suspected of every crime—and all this for life. Yet the doom of these innocent children is only the door-mat theory brought to its completeness. Because there is no one man living who has the right to tread them under his feet, they are trodden under feet of all.—Harper's Bazar.

There are in India 135,000 lepers—men, women and children—victims of the most terrible disease known to humanity. This society seeks to proclaim to them the blessed gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ, and, as far as possible, to relieve their dreadful sufferings, and provide for their simple wants.—Mission to Lepers in India.

At Lucknow, where so many were murdered during the Sepoy rebellion 30 years ago, 2,000 children, nearly all of Hindu Mohammedan parentage, recently marched in a Sunday-school procession. Two men in Dr. Chamberlain's hospital, on leaving for home asked for copies of the Testament read and explained to them while there. Being told that they could not read it, they replied, "When a peddler or tax-man comes around we'll make him read before we buy anything or pay our taxes." Four years after this, Dr. Chamberlain visiting a town some miles away, these men brought their whole village to him to be baptized.—The editor of The Star of India writes to The Independent: "There are no less than 36 missionary societies represented in India, besides ten or more private missions. The English Baptists were the first to enter this field (passing by the early Danish Missionary Society which sent the first Protestant missionaries to India in 1705), and the Disciples of Christ, whose mission dates from 1883, the last. All branches of the Church are represented. Europe and America, Great Britain, the Continent, the United States and Canada—all are here, laboring hand in hand for the uplifting of India. According to the statistical summary for 1885 there were 137,504 communicants representing the fruits of these missions."—In the Imperial Gazetteer of India, Dr. Hunter, Director-General of Statistics to the Government, says Christianity is now the faith of over two millions of the Indian population—a number twelve times as large as that of those who follow the teachings of Buddha. Whereas in 1830 there were only 27,000 native Protestants in all India, Ceylon and Burmah, in 1871 there were 318,363. The Government expends £170,000 per annum in supplying the spiritual wants of the troops and civil service.

Madura. There is worshiped by the natives a deity whose name means "Prince of Darkness." "They sacrifice to devils." The name of the village is "Temple Village," but it is a heathen temple. The ideas of these heathen, and even their language, are degraded by association with idolatry. (Compare "Hawaiian Islands," by Anderson, p. 291.) By religion they understand idol worship. When you tell them of Jesus living and dying 1800 years ago, they say their gods are 18,000,000 years old. When, on outbreak of war, the native disciples heard of the Missionary Board as straitened, they gave their jewels; one man gave a silver chain, worth half a year's savings, and children brought their toe rings and earrings and gave them to the mission treasury.

Revival in the Punjab. A remarkable work of grace is progressing in the English Church mission in Punjab, chiefly in and about Amritsar. Several prominent men, as well as people of low caste, have been reached. About 150 low-caste converts were baptized the previous year, but now the work seems much more extensive. Nothing like it in vigor and growth had ever been seen before in that region. The ingathering of low-caste people is affecting the Hindus, Sikhs, and the Mohammedans, and several of these higher classes have been reached. The missionary at Amritsar writes of the remarkable interest manifested in the simple story of the gospel: "Our compound resounds from morning to night with voices repeating to each other the Lord's Prayer, the Ten Commandments and the Creed, with bhajhans and bits of the Gospels." Much of this is the result of medical missions.

Japan.—English Books in Japan. The great spread of instruction in the English language in Japan has led to a great demand for English books. Over 85,000 English books of all classes were imported last year, as against 40,000 in 1885. The import of American books increased from 59,000 in 1885 to 119,000 in 1886. Sir F. R. Plunkett, British Consul at Tokio, remarks upon this: "An argument against a large import of educational works has hitherto existed in the fact that foreigners have no claim to the protection of the Japanese copyright, and any work that gained extensive popularity was sure to be pirated by Japanese publishers, and cheap editions of it issued that could be profitably sold at far less cost than the imported originals. This difficulty has been and can be got over by the co-operation of Japanese booksellers, and in this way not only is the benefit of copyright obtained, but the books are sold at lower prices than were formerly obtained for them by European booksellers in Japan." A large demand during the year for printing paper is traced principally to the publication of numerous translations of English works on law, political economy, history, and other educational subjects.—London Globe.

Japanese on Hawaii. The number of Japanese who have emigrated to Hawaii within two years is 2,859. Only about 100 of them have returned to Japan, and about the same number have died.

Greek and Roman Catholic Missions. The following statements respecting these missions are by Rev. J. Hartzler: "Bishop Nicolai furnished the statistics of the Greek Mission in Japan for 1886, as follows: Bishops, 1; foreign priests, 3; native priests, 11; deacons, 2; theological students, 104; whole number of native members, including baptized infants, 22,546. The Roman Catholic Mission in Japan reports: Bishops, 2; missionaries (all French), 59; native priests, 3; churches and chapels, 100; theological seminaries, 2; theological students, 72; catechists, 284; schools and orphan asylums, 69; pupils in the same, 3,340; total native membership, 32,294."

The Bible. The Bible is to-day translated, either wholly or in part, into 287 languages and dialects, including all that are widely spoken; so that the message of salvation from the printed page may reach nine-tenths of the entire population of the globe. The adherents of the religion of Jesus Christ to-day outnumber the followers of any other faith in the world. Christian missions number more than 2,000,000 adherents on heathen soil, and at the present rate of increase will include 20,000,000 before this century closes. Obstacles are not all overcome; the hardships and perils and heroisms of the work are not all past; Christian faith still finds itself often tried and courage is put well to the test, and checks and defeats enough attend the work to prove that the evil spirits of hate and murder are not yet exorcised: that still "through much tribulation we must enter into the kingdom of God."—Judson Smith, D.D.

Increase of Protestantism. So extensive have been the defections from the established Greek Church in Southern Russia that the Holy Synod have appointed a commission to investigate the matter. This commission has now reported, acknowledging that these defections are great, and accusing their own clergy for their failure to discharge their clerical functions. The remedy for what they deplore seems to them to be greater zeal in attendance upon church services, more preaching, and more attention to church music. This report is substantial evidence of the power of Protestantism; and even the effort to withstand this new movement is very likely to help forward a needed reformation in the Greek Church.

Spiritual Progress in Persia.—The Church at Home and Abroad has an intensely interesting report of what has occurred in Persia within the last two years. This was the field of the old Nestorian Mission of the American Board, and is very dear to us still. A year ago it was reported that a larger number had been received to the church within the twelve months than during any former year. During the last winter more converts were won than in any of the first twenty-five years of the mission, though that period was marked by some memorable revivals. In Western Persia there are now 1,932 church members, in place of 713 fifteen years ago. During the revival which followed the Week of Prayer, the number of inquirers was over five hundred. This revival was conducted wholly by native pastors. Of the seventy-nine students in the college at Ooroomiah, seventy are followers of Christ. The western mission has ninety-four village schools, with over two hundred scholars. Dr. Labaree reports that the Moslems of Persia are more accessible than those of any other land. They are receiving large editions of the Bible, and those who have accepted Christianity, though a small company, have shown remarkable steadfastness and zeal.

An Egyptian papyrus, forty-two feet long and containing all the chapters of the "Book of the Dead," has been received and unrolled at the Sage Library, in New Brunswick, N. J. It was secured for the library by Rev. Dr. Lansing, a well-known missionary in Egypt. Experts pronounce it to have been written nearly 3,000 years ago.

The Bible in the Last Fifty Years.—The last anniversary of the British and Foreign Bible Society falling in the Jubilee year of Queen Victoria's reign, the speakers naturally reviewed the progress of the Bible cause during the last half century, and made some striking comparisons. The Earl of Harrowby, President of the Society, said:

"Fifty years ago our receipts were £100,000; now they are nearly £225,000. Fifty years ago the Auxiliary Societies amounted at home to 2,370; now they are over 5,300. Abroad you had 260 auxiliaries and branches fifty years ago; now 1,500. Fifty years ago the annual issue of the Bible and portions of it from this Society was 600,000; now it is about 4,000,000. The cheapest copy of the book, half a century back, was issued at about two shillings; now the price is sixpence. The cheapest Testament then was tenpence; the cheapest now is Lord Shaftesbury's, and the price is a penny. And that is not done by any grinding of the people who produce these works. One of the first questions I asked when I had the honor of being called to occupy this chair was, how were the workpeople treated who manufactured the cheap Bibles; and by the testimony, not only of ourselves but of the outside press, I have assured myself that there is neither overwork nor underpay. Fifty years ago the Scriptures were circulated in 136 languages; now they are circulated in 280. Fifty years ago fourteen fresh languages of Europe had been honored by Bible publication. Now the Bible has been published in twelve fresh languages in Central Asia and Siberia, twelve in India, fourteen in China and Mongolia, nineteen in the Pacific, thirty in Africa and thirty in America. In this fiftieth year of the Queen's reign there is only one great language which has not a complete translation of the Scriptures, namely, the Japanese language."

INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT

IV. INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.

CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D., OF THE "INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY UNION."

FOURTH ANNUAL MEETING OF THE INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARY UNION.

The International Missionary Union is an organization composed of returned missionaries of all Evangelical churches, whether at home temporarily or permanently. It seeks to promote mutual sympathy and co-operation of missionaries in their work, and holds annual meetings for the discussion of important questions connected with the work and the diffusion of missionary intelligence. The fourth annual meeting was held Aug. 10-17, at Thousand Island Park, the entire body of missionaries being entertained without cost by the Thousand Island Park Association. The forenoons were devoted to business, covering discussion of methods and recommendation of measures calculated to increase missionary efficiency. The afternoons consisted largely of presentation of incidents, statistics and facts bearing on specific topics of missionary interest, while the evenings were given to more formal platform addresses.

The "Seventy" missionaries present were as follows:

From India: Miss Dr. M. A. Anderson, Congregational Church; Rev. and Mrs. Chandler, Congregational; Miss M. J. Frith, Canada Baptist; Miss E. Gibson, Methodist Episcopal; Dr. and Mrs. J. T. Gracey, Methodist Episcopal; Rev. A. Hazen, Congregational; Rev. G. J. Martz, Evangelical Lutheran; Mrs. Rev. G. H. McGrew, Methodist Episcopal; Rev. James Mudge, Methodist Episcopal; Mrs. Stella Nichols, Evangelical Lutheran; Rev. C. W. Park, Congregational; Rev. Dr. J. L. Phillips, Free-will Baptist; Rev. D. W. Thomas, Methodist Episcopal.

From Turkey: Rev. Dr. H. M. Barnum, Congregational; Rev. Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, Congregational; Rev. L. O. Lee, Congregational; Rev. and Mrs. J. G. Leonard, Congregational.

From Bulgaria: Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Belden, Presbyterian; Rev. and Mrs. D. C. Challis, Methodist Episcopal.

From China: Mrs. Mary D. Culbertson, Presbyterian; Rev. J. G. Fagg, Reformed; Rev. Benj. Helm, Southern Presbyterian; Rev. and Mrs. Spencer Lewis, Methodist Episcopal; Rev. John Murray, Presbyterian; Rev. Dr. Speer, Presbyterian; Rev. and Mrs. C. A. Stanley, Congregational; Rev. and Mrs. J. L. Stuart, Southern Presbyterian.

From Assam: Rev. M. B. Comfort, Baptist; Rev. T. J. Stoddart, Baptist.

From Italy: Rev. Dr. Cushing, Methodist Episcopal.

From Jamaica: Rev. Dr. Douglass, Canada Methodist.

From Japan: Rev. and Mrs. W. C. Davidson, Methodist Episcopal; Miss Julia Gulick, Congregational; Rev. Dr. D. McDonald, Canada Methodist; Rev. and Mrs. J. M. McCauley, Presbyterian; Rev. J. H. Pettee.

From Siam: Rev. Dr. Wm. Dean, Baptist; Rev. and Mrs. Dr. S. R. House, Presbyterian; Rev. and Mrs. Lisle, Baptist; Rev. Dr. S. Mattoon, Presbyterian; Rev. J. Wilson, Presbyterian.

From Germany: Bishop and Mrs. J. F. Hurst, Methodist Episcopal.

From Mexico: Miss L. M. Latimer, Methodist Episcopal.

From Burmah: Rev. and Mrs. C. A. Nichols, Baptist.

From Ceylon: Rev. and Mrs. T. S. Smith, Congregational.

Missionaries to North American Indians: Rev. and Mrs. Egerton R. Young, Canada Methodist; Rev. and Mrs. Dr. Geo. Young, Canada Methodist; Rev. and Mrs. E. Arnold, Methodist Episcopal.

Persons under appointment to foreign fields: Rev. H. F. Laflamme, Canada Baptist, India; Rev. J. F. Smith, Canada Presbyterian, China; Rev. J. P. McNaughton, Canada Presbyterian, Turkey; Miss Dr. May Carlton and Miss E. J. Hinckle, both to be sent to China this autumn under the auspices of the Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Thirteen mission countries were thus represented, besides which one native of Armenia, one of Japan, and a Karen took part in the exercises. Missionaries from Saskatchewan and Ceylon clasped hands in the fellowship of a common cause. Veteran and volunteer inspired, either the other. The utterances of Dr. Dean were rendered weighty by the fifty-three years of self-sacrifice and toil behind them. His address on "The Translation of the Scriptures into Chinese," will be found on another page in this Department.

Dr. Leonard had preached in Tarsus, Iconium and Cappadocia. Miss Gulick of Japan was born of missionary parents in Honolulu. Mrs. McGrew of India was born on mission soil in Buenos Ayres. Rev. Dr. Phillips and Rev. Mr. Smith of Ceylon claimed India as their native land, being of the second generation of missionaries.

Dr. Cyrus Hamlin, after more than forty years of missionary service, and with the weight of seventy years upon him, intellectually demonstrated that his eye was not dim nor his natural force abated. He was appointed by the A. B. C. F. M. to Constantinople in 1837, and was the father of Robert College. The manner in which he secured for the erection of this College the most desirable of all the sites commanding the view of the Bosphorus, makes a story of thrilling interest, and gives him the highest rank for diplomacy. For seven years he held on to a pledge of Ali Pasha, who, under the influence of a protest from the French Ambassador, crowded on by the head of the Jesuits, and a like protest from the Ambassador of Russia, goaded on by the Patriarch of the Greek Church, was openly declaring that it was not possible for the pledge to be redeemed; because the property was so related to that of these powers, that the college could not be erected on that commanding site. But notwithstanding all this, he held his position, until at the end of seven years he received a note from Ali Pasha saying, "You may begin the erection of your college as soon as you please." He had outdone the diplomacy of the head of the Jesuits and the French Ambassador, as well as of the Greek Patriarch and the Ambassador of Russia, and had secured from the Sultan himself by Imperial Volition a permit to build the college. This was infallible, and neither Ali Pasha nor any one else would dare call it in question. But this was not all. An order was given to allow all the material brought from England and France to enter duty free.

Here were men and women who had hazarded their lives for the Lord Jesus. The "beloved physician," Dr. S. M. House, had been gored by an elephant; Jonathan Wilson, a pioneer to the Laos mission, was imperilled, when his converts were slain by royal order. The younger brother and sister Lewis, of far Western China, had faced the fury of a Chinese mob that plundered and destroyed their chapel and their home, compelling them and their colleagues to set off in native boats on a 1,500 mile journey down the great Yang-tse-kiang to the sea. Here were those whose hearts had been kept from fear when 2,000 in a day were dying of cholera in the capital city of Siam, where they lived; men who had given bread to the famishing thousands in North China, saving many lives at the risk of their own; those who had ministered to the lepers and outcasts of India. Some had lived with the savage Santals in their jungle homes, and with the red men of our continent in their wigwams. Others, on their mission-preaching tours, had traveled in wheelbarrows, in sledges drawn by dogs, in palankeens, in jinrikshas, in birch-bark canoes, on elephants, on camels, and hundreds of miles on snow-shoes. One member had been speared by Malay pirates, and another, like Paul, had been shipwrecked and cast ashore on an island in the Mediterranean Sea. But whatever else had been their experiences or deliverances, all could speak of the blessedness of the Master's service, and of souls once without God and without hope turned from darkness to light and rejoicing in the Saviour they had found.

THE THEMES DISCUSSED.

"The place of higher education in mission work" was presented by Rev. Mr. Smith of Ceylon, who gave an interesting account of the development of the educational work of the American Board in that island. The prevailing view seemed to be that when there appeared to be a general desire among people for higher education the missionary should endeavor to meet it with Christian schools, where English should be taught, if desired. Astonishing statements were made of the eagerness among many to learn English. On "The voluntary desire of the heathen for the Gospel," and "Remarkable instances of Divine grace, as manifested in the lives of converts from heathenism," there were narrated incidents drawn from personal experience and observation of so valuable a nature, it is a pity they could not have been preserved in a permanent form. So great was the interest in some of these topics that the discussions were prolonged several hours. Even then not a tithe of the important questions was so much as touched upon. Bro. Davidson, of Japan, gave a vivid sketch of the wonderful revival which recently swept over that empire. He hoped that in fifteen years Japan will be Christian. Turkey, partially dismembered, was served one evening. Dr. Barnum, speaking of eastern Turkey, said that there was the cradle of the race. "The cradle does not need rocking, for the people are all asleep." "We jog the cradle now and then, and the occupants are beginning to open their eyes and yawn." Bro. Challis, of the Methodist mission in Bulgaria, told something of the outlook in that country. He compared the people, with their liberty-loving spirit, to Americans, and expressed firm faith that, in spite of the designs of Russia, God would overrule to give them independence and freedom.

One evening was given to addresses by missionary ladies on different phases of woman's work, and a special woman's meeting was held one afternoon. On Sabbath morning the large tabernacle was filled, when Bishop Hurst preached an excellent and inspiring sermon from "Whoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed," etc. The "mountain" was heathendom, and "whoever" was the Church, which should remove it by the power of faith. The theme was "God's day our day for the salvation of the world." The audience numbered over three thousand. The bishop also delivered, one afternoon, his excellent lecture on "Protestantism in Mexico." At the children's meeting on Sabbath afternoon there were several short and spicy talks and an exhibition of curiosities, singing in a dozen or more languages, and presentation of natives of foreign mission fields who were in attendance.

TRANSLATION OF THE SCRIPTURES INTO CHINESE.

BY REV. WILLIAM DEAN, D.D.

THE entire Bible was first translated into Chinese at Serampore by Joshua Marshman, D.D., in 1807-8, with the aid of Joannes Lassar, an Armenian, born at Macao, who was a good Chinese scholar. Dr. Marshman went out to India under the patronage of the Baptist Missionary Society of England. He was born in Wiltshire 1768, sailed for India 1799, and died at Serampore 1837, at the age of 69, having had 38 years for missionary work.

A similar translation of the entire Scriptures was made at Macao and Canton by Robert Morrison, D.D., who went to China in 1807, under the patronage of the London Missionary Society, and died at Canton 1834, at the age of 52, having 27 years of mission work in China. In addition to the Scriptures, the Chinese dictionary of Kang Hi was translated into English by him, in six quarto volumes—a great and important work, to aid subsequent missionaries in the acquisition of the Chinese language.

In Morrison's version of the Scriptures, William Milne, D.D., translated the books of Deuteronomy, Joshua, Judges, Samuel, Kings, Chronicles, Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther and Job.

Dr. Milne was born in Scotland, 1785, went to China in 1813, under the patronage of the London Missionary Society, and died 1822, at the age of 37, after nine years in the China Mission. During these few years he acquired a good knowledge of the language, had the superintendency of the Anglo-Chinese College at Malacca, performed an important part in the translation of the Scriptures, and prepared some of the best Christian tracts we have in Chinese.

He is the man who (before the committee), when asked if he would be willing to go out as an assistant to the mission, replied, "I would be willing to be a hewer of wood or a drawer of water to help to build the Lord's house;" and perhaps no man ever did so much in so short a time for the Chinese mission as William Milne, the little Scotchman.

Another translation of the Scriptures into Chinese was made by Walter H. Medhurst, D.D., and his associates, which was called the Shang Ti mission. Dr. Medhurst went out as a missionary printer, under the London Mission Society, and became a prominent preacher and writer in Chinese. He was born in London, 1796, went out, in 1816, worked efficiently 40 years for the Chinese in Batavia and China, and died on landing in England, 1856, aged 61 years.

Another version was made by Charles Gutzlaff, D.D., born at Pyritz, in Prussian Pomerania, 1803, went out under the appointment of the Netherlands Missionary Society in 1826, landed at Batavia, visited Rhio, Singapore, Siam, and finally became Chinese Secretary to the English Government of Hong Kong, where he died in 1851, at the age of 48 years.

He was a man of portly form, quick motion, rapid speech, possessed a practical knowledge of various European languages, and a ready use of the Chinese colloquial and written language for missionary work and political purposes. His hasty action was not always promotive of the nicest accuracy, and his multitudinous labors did not allow of the most finished completeness in all.

Another version of the entire Scriptures in Chinese was made by Elijah C. Bridgman, D.D., Walter M. Lowrie and M. S. Culbertson, completed at Shanghai, which uses the term Shin for rendering the words Elohim and Theos. This, in most cases, has been a distinguishing mark between the versions made by the English and American missionaries. The former mostly use Shang Ti and the latter use Shin as the term for God.

Dr. Bridgman was born in Belchertown, Mass., 1801, and went out under the American Board to China, 1830; he died at Shanghai in 1861, aged 60 years; 31 years were spent in China, and he was the first representative of the A. B. C. F. M. Society in their mission to China, and to the end was a faithful and honored missionary. Dr. Culbertson went to China in 1844, finished the translation of that version, and died the day before they commenced printing it. He went up suddenly like Elijah in the chariot of Israel and the horsemen thereof. One of his associates reported his departure by saying, "A translator translated." Josiah Goddard made an excellent translation of the New Testament in Chinese—some think the best extant—with some portions of the Old Testament also. His mission work began with the Chinese in Siam, and ended at Ningpo, China. Dr. Goddard was born at Wendell, Mass., 1813, graduated, the first in his class, at Brown University in 1835, graduated at Newton in 1838, sailed for the East the same year under the patronage of the American Baptist Board, spent a year at Singapore in the study of Chinese, landed at Bankok in 1840, removed to Ningpo in 1848, where he died in 1854, at the age of 41, after 16 years of efficient missionary service, in translating the Scriptures and preaching the gospel to the Chinese. Some may have labored longer to do less work. Men's lives are measured, not by the years they live, but by the work they do.

William Dean published two editions of the New Testament and one edition of the Pentateuch in Chinese, with a commentary on Matthew and Mark, Genesis and Exodus. Dr. Dean was born at Eaton, N. Y., in 1807, sailed for China in 1834, labored for the Chinese in Siam till 1842, when he removed to Hong Kong; returned to Bankok in 1864, and ended his missionary work in 1887, at the age of 80. He was 50 years in the service.

In 1843 a Convention of missionaries assembled at Hong Kong, to consult with reference to a new translation of the Scriptures in Chinese. There were present Medhurst, Dyer, and Stronach, of the London Society; Bridgman, Ball and Bonney, of the American Board; Dean, Shuck and Roberts, of the American Baptist Board; Bishop Boone, of the Episcopal Mission, with others, who spent days of prayerful endeavor to harmonize on some general plan of Scripture translation.

First there was a want of agreement on the proposition to make the Textus Receptus the model of a new version. Some thought we should make the original Hebrew and Greek the standard for a new translation in Chinese. Then came up a question regarding the rendering of the terms θεος, επισκοπος, βαπτισμα, on which there was a want of harmony of sentiment, so that it proved necessary to divide the Convention into classes, or for each one to go on in his own way, and look to God for the guidance of the Holy Spirit to lead him to understand the meaning of the original text, and call in the help of native scholars to aid him to express it in idiomatic Chinese. In this way a number of versions, in a variety of style, have been prepared, and some portions of the Scripture have been made to harmonize with the Mandarin and the colloquial of the local dialects, and some have been Romanized, or the sounds expressed in Roman letters as used in English words, and the Chinese women taught to read them easier than to learn to read the complicated and multitudinous characters of the Chinese written language. One objection to this mode of learning to read is found in the fact, that learning to read Chinese in this way would limit the reader to one dialect or province, whereas learning to read in the Chinese way, prepares one to read in Chinese in every province, or wherever the Chinese language is written, as in Cochin China, Japan, and all over the world, where you find a Chinaman who can read his own language; the form and signification of the written character is the same, however the spoken dialect may differ.

In preparing the various translations of Scripture into Chinese, other persons, whose names are not mentioned above, have rendered important aid. Such men as J. R. Morrison, Chinese Secretary to the English Commissioner and the Government of Hong Kong; G. T. Lay, Agent of the British and Foreign Bible Society, and various other missionaries, such as David Abeel, James Legge, Walter Lowrie, George Smith Bishop of Victoria, and, indeed, all missionaries to the Chinese, may have contributed, in some measure, to aid in giving the written word of God to the people for whom they labored orally, and all translators have depended upon Chinese scholars for the idiom and style of the language by which the idea is expressed.

LIQUOR ON THE CONGO.

AMONGST the resolutions of the Missionary Union none deserves more persistent and prominent advocacy than that relating to the International sanction of the introduction of Rum into the Congo Free State. The extension of European Colonial possessions and protectorates in Africa means a fearful extension of the use of intoxicants in the Dark Continent. We are assured, besides, that the article furnished for the Congo is a specially vile compound prepared for that market. A representative committee of missionary societies laboring in Africa have published a pamphlet entitled "The Liquor Traffic and Native Races," to be had of the secretaries of these societies. The Bishop of London presided over a meeting in London last spring which condemned the traffic and the government protection it has received. A meeting of members of the House of Commons, held to consider the subject, resulted in the expression of their readiness to aid in suppressing this trade and of the sanction the governments give it. Public meetings have been held in Manchester and Cambridge with like result. Bishops and Archbishops, and leading men like Canon Farrar, have entered the arena to oppose this great evil, which blasts the progress of civilization and missions, and hinders the elevation of the people. Archbishop Johnson, a Negro of Lagos, west coast of Africa, and member of the Legislative Council, is appealing to Africans to circulate petitions all along the coast, and the king of Belgium, with other prominent persons, encourages this West African remonstrance to the trade. It is high time the voice of the people of America was heard on this subject. The missionary societies might very properly take the initiative in a public meeting in Boston or New York. A remonstrance should be sent to our own government, that it may feel the force of public sentiment in the case. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York, and the Bishop of London, have addressed the following letter to the Bishops of the British Colonies and dependencies:

"My Lord: The attention of the Church has been recently drawn to the widespread and still growing evils caused by the introduction of intoxicating liquors among the native races in the colonies and dependencies of the British Empire, and in other countries to which British trade has access. Part of the mischief is certainly due to other traders than the British, but British trade, as exceeding in volume that of many other countries put together, is mainly responsible. This mischief cannot be measured by what we witness among our own countrymen. The intemperance is far greater; the evils consequent on intemperance are far worse. Uncivilized people are weaker to resist, and are utterly unable to control temptations of this kind. The accounts given of the numbers that perish from this cause and of the misery and degradation of those who survive are painful in the extreme. And besides the grievous wrong thus inflicted on the native races, reproach has been brought on the name of Christ. The English missionary who preaches the gospel, and the English merchant who brings the fatal temptation, are inevitably associated in the minds of the heathen people, and by many not only associated, but identified. It is asserted by travelers of repute that in many parts of the world the moral character of the natives gains more by the preaching of Mohammedanism than by the preaching of the gospel, for the former tends to make them sober.

"The evils of intemperance in the British islands have, as you are well aware, long engaged the attention of the Church at home. The report of the Lower House of Convocation of the Province of Canterbury in 1869, and that of the Province of York in 1873, in each of which a large mass of evidence from every class of society was got together, had a painful effect on the public mind at the time, and they have served as trustworthy manuals on the subject ever since. The formation of the Church of England Temperance Society has organized and concentrated the efforts of those Churchmen who have been deeply impressed with the necessity of combating intemperance, and that society is daily growing in numbers and in influence. Owing to these and similar endeavors made by both Churchmen and Nonconformists, drunkenness has been and is still being diminished in these islands, and there is every reason to believe that before long public opinion will demand of the Legislature that steps should be taken to remove, wholly or partially, the temptations which now make it so difficult for weak men to lead sober lives.

"It is not for us nor for the bishops at home to suggest to your lordship or your clergy the best means for dealing with similar evils in our colonies and dependencies, and in the heathen countries in your own parts of the world. But we have felt it our duty to bring to your notice the painful accounts that have reached us, and to assure you of our warmest and most earnest sympathy with any efforts that you may see fit to make to deal with the serious difficulty. You may have the means of influencing your Legislature; you may do much to form public opinion; you can at least make it plain to all men that the Church is not, and never can be, indifferent to this great sin. In whatever you may be able to do in this matter you may be assured that the Bishops at home are supporting your action with their earnest prayers, and, where co-operation is found possible, with their most hearty co-operation."—EDWARD CANTAUR, W. EBOR, F. LONDIN.

A GENERAL MISSIONARY CONFERENCE IN LONDON IN 1888.

IN October, 1878, a General Conference on Foreign Missions was held in London. Upwards of 150 members represented nearly 40 distinct missions. Six American missionary societies were represented in the number. Much information was elicited, and considerable missionary stimulus was given.

Arrangements have been begun for the holding of another such conference in London, in 1888. Forty European Missionary Agencies are represented in the call, and the American societies are to be invited to send delegates. The Committee say that they "are most solemnly impressed with the conviction that there has never been a time, since the days of the apostles, when it was of more urgent importance than it is now, that all who love the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity should labor 'in the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace,' in order that 'the gospel of the kingdom of God' may be carried out into all the world and preached 'unto every creature.' They, therefore, entreat that earnest and continued prayer may be offered unto God by His people, that it may please Him in all things to direct their efforts, as a Committee, on behalf of the proposed Conference, and eventually to grant such an outpouring of His Holy Spirit upon its meetings, that His cause shall mightily prosper, and His name be exceedingly glorified in the ingathering of great multitudes in every part of the earth, into the kingdom of His dear Son Jesus Christ."

The Committee have classified the ends aimed at under three heads, viz.:

1st. To turn to account the experience of the past for the improvement of the methods of Missionary enterprise in the foreign field.

2d. To utilize acquired experience for the improvement of the methods for the home management of Foreign Missions.

3d. To seek the more entire consecration of the Church of God, in all its members, to the great work committed to it by the Lord.

The following Topics have been suggested for consideration, subject to modification:

I. MODES OF OPERATION IN THE FOREIGN FIELD.

1st. Self-Support and Self-Government in Native Churches.

2d. How to Educate Native Evangelists and Pastors, and to stimulate the higher life and enthusiasm of converts for the conversion of the heathen.

3d. How to adapt Missionary methods to the different states of Civilization or Barbarism among heathen nations: (a) Education. (b) Woman's Work. (c) Medical Missions, etc.

4th. How to adapt Missionary methods to the different forms of Religion among non-Christian peoples; especially those having sacred books.

5th. The providing of Christian literature for Converts in all parts of the Mission Field.

6th. The proper treatment of such questions as Polygamy, Slavery, Caste, the Marriage of Infants and of Widows, etc.

II. METHODS OF MANAGEMENT AT HOME.

1st. Comity of Missions, or their relation to one another and to their respective spheres of labor; and the apportioning unoccupied fields to different Societies.

2d. The Choice and Training of Missionaries with reference to different spheres of labor.

3d. The nature and extent of the Control to be exercised over Missions by Committees or Churches at home.

4th. Support of Missions, and Finance.

III. THE MUTUAL RELATIONS BETWEEN THE CHURCH AND MISSIONS.

1st. The reflex influence of Foreign Missions on Home Evangelization and Church life.

2d. The duty of Christians, in their personal and collective capacity, to obey the Lord's command to "make disciples of all nations."

IV. A POPULAR SURVEY OF THE RESULTS OF MODERN MISSIONS AND OF THE GREAT WORK WHICH REMAINS TO BE DONE IN "THE DARK PLACES OF THE EARTH."

V. THE CONSECRATION OF COMMERCE.

The Rev. James Johnston, F.S.S., has been appointed Organizing Secretary of this Conference, and has, by request of the Committee, come to the United States to secure, if possible, a good representation of the American Societies at the Conference. Dr. Johnston needs no introduction to the American churches. He was appointed to draw up the report of the Imperial Commission on Education in India, and is the author of important pamphlets, amongst which is that entitled "A Century of Protestant Missions, and the Increase of the Heathen during the Hundred Years," which has already run through an edition of several thousands. Mr. Johnston can be addressed care of Dr. Gilman, Bible House, New York.

Amongst the subjects discussed was "Methods of arousing interest in Missions among Home Churches." Rev. W. H. Belden opened this discussion with a valuable paper on "Simultaneous Missionary Meetings," and Dr. Spear spoke on "The Consecration of Wealth."

The following officers were elected for the ensuing year:

President, Rev. J. T. Gracey, D.D., Buffalo, N. Y. Vice-Presidents: Rev. Cyrus Hamlin, D.D., Rev. S. L. Baldwin, D.D., Rev. S. H. Kellogg, D.D. Secretary, Rev. C. W. Park, Birmingham, Conn. Treasurer, Rev. W. H. Belden, Bridgeton, N. J. Executive Committee: Rev. J. L. Phillips, M.D., Howard, R. I., Rev. E. R. Young, Rev. J. Mudge, Rev. M. B. Comfort, Rev. B. Helm, Rev. H. N. Cobb, D.D., Miss C. H. Daniels, M.D.

The following Resolutions were adopted during the session:

THE STUDENT MISSIONARY MOVEMENT:—Having learned that large numbers of students in the higher institutions of learning in this country and Canada are proposing to devote themselves to the Foreign Missionary work in obedience to the Saviour's last command, we wish to express our gratitude to God for this new proof of His own determination to secure the speedy coming of His kingdom among the nations.

And furthermore we wish to express the profound conviction which we have, that this uprising of laborers greatly emphasizes the responsibility of the churches at home; that it calls upon all who love the Lord to give these candidates for service a large place in their sympathies and prayers; and also to devise liberal things by their contributions, not merely for the support of a large number of new missionaries, but for greatly enlarging the sphere of missionary labor, and for speedily carrying the gospel to every creature. "How shall they believe in Him of Whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? and how shall they preach except they be sent?"

QUEEN VICTORIA'S JUBILEE—Resolved: That the International Missionary Union of different evangelical denominations do offer on this Jubilee year our sincere and hearty congratulations to Her Most Gracious Majesty Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland, and Empress of India, on the signal prosperity, extension and glory of her reign. Some of our members saw her ascend her throne, and we would most gratefully acknowledge the great kindness and protection which we have enjoyed from officers of Her Majesty's government in America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and the islands of the ocean, where we have been called to preach the gospel of Christ. And we do supplicate Almighty God to continue the bestowal of His distinguished mercies upon Her Majesty, Her Royal family, and Her wide extended domain. May grace, mercy and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ be and abide upon Her Majesty forevermore. Amen.

BIBLE TRANSLATION—Resolved: That this Union, having heard from Bishop Hurst of the most interesting races of Indians in Mexico now numbering eight millions, who are an honest, independent race, friendly to Protestantism, and yet who have no translation of God's word, do hereby overture the American Bible Society to take such steps as will lead to the translation and publication of the word of God in the leading dialect of this most interesting race; and that our Secretary forward a copy of this resolution to the Secretary of said Society.

ON DR. TOURJEE'S OFFER—Resolved: That the International Missionary Union, having heard of the kind offer of Dr. Tourjee, of the New England Conservatory of Music, to furnish free instruction in music to missionary candidates, and believing that both vocal and instrumental music constitute an important auxiliary in all our work among the heathen, cordially recommend to such candidates the special training of the ear and voice with a view to acquiring and improving whatever of native melody they may find in their several fields.

ON LIQUOR ON THE CONGO—Resolved: That as missionaries of the various denominations in the International Missionary Union, we protest against the wicked and disastrous policy of allowing the introduction of intoxicating liquors into the free Congo State, and that we suggest to the secretaries of all missionary societies to exert their combined influence to induce the governing powers to change their policy to one of prohibition.

ON THE OUTLOOK ABROAD—Resolved: That the members of the International Missionary Union returning to their respective fields abroad be constituted an Outlook Committee, and requested to report to the Union, through the officers, movements of promise, signals of danger to missionary interests, and tokens of cheer in foreign lands, thereby increasing the efficiency of this Union and strengthening the bond that binds us together as one in the work and hopes of the Gospel.

PROGRESS AND RESULTS-MONTHLY BULLETIN

V.-PROGRESS AND RESULTS-MONTHLY BULLETIN.

IT is a sign of great good that not one man has yet been asked by the editors to accept a close relation to this REVIEW as editorial correspondent who has not cordially responded in the affirmative. Already we have secured Dr. J. T. Gracey, Dr. Josiah Strong, Rev. D. L. Leonard, Rev. A. P. Happer, D.D., of China; Prof. W. C. Wilkinson, D.D.; Rev. Jacob Chamberlain, M.D., and Rev. John Forman, of India; Rev. and Prof. Geo. Wm. Knox, of Japan; Rev. Geo. W. Chamberlain, of Brazil; Rev. J. Hudson Taylor and Mr. Reginald Radcliffe, of China Inland Mission, and Rev. H. H. Jessup, D.D., of Syria. We expect to enlarge this list until we shall have at least one competent correspondent in every great missionary land in the world.

The Eighth Annual Convention of the Inter-Seminary Missionary Alliance was held in Alexandria, Va., Oct. 27-30, 1887, and addressed by Rev. J. E. Grammer, D.D., and Rev. F. M. Ellis, D.D., of Baltimore; Rev. Jos. Packard, D.D., of the Theological Seminary; Rev. R. A. Goodwin of Petersburg, Va.; Rev. Wm. E. Griffis, D.D., of Boston; Rev. H. A. Nelson, D.D., and Rev. A. T. Pierson, D.D., of Philadelphia, and Rev. G. W. Chamberlain of Brazil. Papers of a high order of excellence were also read by Messrs. T. J. Villiers of Rochester, E. R. Chadwick of Bates Seminary, Isaac I. Gorby of Union, Benson Sewall of Bangor, Robert I. Fleming of Garrett, D. A. Murray of Princeton. So earnest, prayerful and consecrated a body of young men is not often brought together. We look for great results.

AFRICA.

—Cairo. The University of El Azhar. Dr. E. W. Blyden differs from Gen. Haig, in thinking the Mohammedans very active in propagation of Islamism among the Nigritian and Soudanic tribes.

—Madagascar. In the capital, Antananarivo, the Protestant school has 2,387 pupils. . . . The Queen recently attended the opening services of two Christian churches at Ambokimanaga. In fourteen years 700 Protestant chapels have been built in Madagascar, making the number now 1,200. There are 8,000 Protestant communicants, and all the churches are self-supporting. In the Protestant school at Antananarivo 2,387 children are in attendance.

The statement made in the Roman Catholic Review that the German government would allow but one missionary society (the R. Cath.) in its East African territory cannot be correct. From three societies seven missionaries have already gone to Zanzibar.

—Soudan. Emin Pasha pleads for British sway over the equatorial provinces of the Soudan. The missionaries unite in the plea. It is thought it would be a death-blow to the slave trade. Stanley's force found E. Pasha on the south shore of Albert Nyanza, and in health.

—Congo Baptist Missions. Rev. T. J. Comber, the courageous, untiring pioneer, so useful and so beloved, who was penetrating toward the interior, died on board the "Lulu Bohlen," while anchored off the Loango.

An Evangelical German East African Missionary Society has just been formed in Berlin, "to preach the German evangelical faith, and prepare the way for the introduction of German civilization into East Africa, where this year only Englishmen and Frenchmen have been at work." Whether the primary object is the advancement of Christianity or of German civilization does not yet appear.

—Professor Stewart, of Liberia, says it is estimated that for every missionary that goes to Africa 70,000 gallons of liquor are sent to that country. Who shall estimate the wretchedness and degradation of an African heathen under the power of rum and tobacco? And what a greed for blood the liquor dealers must have who, not content with killing 70,000 human beings in this country, extend their work of destruction across the sea!—Cent. Presbyterian.

CHINA.

—Nankin. The North China News states that a benevolent gentleman in the United States has subscribed $300,000 for the establishment of a university at Nankin. It is hoped that the amount will be increased by contributions to $500,000. Several missionaries are interested in the undertaking, which promises to be of great advantage to China, and incidentally to the cause of missions in that empire.

—Dr. Happer returns to China, having secured $100,000 for his Christian college, and $5,000 more toward endowment. He finds it hard, however, to get the money subscribed fast enough to go on with the buildings.

—Dr. Williams, after thirty-two years in China, thinks that half a century more of Christian missions will evangelize and even Christianize the Empire. Mr. Burlingame testifies that intelligent men of China put no faith in popular religions; and Dr. Bartlett adds that "this Gibraltar of Pagandom may become its Waterloo."

—A Christian missionary, on entering a new field in China, was kindly received by the Mandarin, who promised to do all in his power to help him. "I have not heard your doctrine," said he, "but I have seen it. I have a servant who was a perfect devil, but since he received your doctrine he is another man, and I can now trust him."

—The New Version of the New Testament prepared by Rev. Griffith Jone, of Hankow, is said to be superior to any other, and it is confidently expected that it will be adopted as a basis of a union version for all China. Such a book will be in a language spoken and understood by three hundred millions of people. Unlike India, China has really but one language, and if once the Bible were satisfactorily translated into that language the result may be something such as the world has never before witnessed. The book has worked wonders before. It will doubtless work wonders again.

—Tientsin. Mrs. Bryson says: "Some little time ago we commenced a special service for women at three o'clock on Sunday afternoons in the rooms used as a class-room for Mrs. King's medical school in Tientsin. We are getting regularly from twenty to thirty women and a large number of girls. The service takes the shape of a Sunday-school, our older and more intelligent members teaching the others. The women seem to be much interested in the service, and I trust that God's blessing will rest upon it."

—The Spirit of Missions of the Protestant Episcopal Church for October states that "the Chinese Governor of the large island of Formosa, in starting a College, has chosen a missionary to inaugurate and organize the institution. Such a step would have been regarded as a miracle one generation ago."

—"The North China Herald" of Sept. 10 publishes in a letter from Tientsin, where the great statesman of China, Li Hung-chang, has his official residence, the following statement, viz.: "A letter was recently addressed to Mr. Smithers, the American Consul of this place, requesting that he should see H. E. Li Hung-chang in regard to the location of the College which Dr. Happer is laboring to establish at Nankin, and requests His Excellency to memorialize the throne on the subject, giving all the particulars, that the future institution might also have imperial cognizance. As the Chinese are always partial to knowledge and learning, the Viceroy readily assented to the proposal. But he requested that, as the institution was to be founded at Nankin, the parties should address a written petition to the Viceroy at Nankin on the subject, and also present a copy to him, after which they would jointly memorialize the Emperor on the subject."

—In Canton, with its 1,500,000 inhabitants, are now opened fifteen Christian chapels, where the missionaries and the native ministers preach the gospel not on the Sabbath day only, but daily, and from two to four hours each day, to audiences varying from fifty to several hundred. After the sermon, Chinese evangelists continue the services. Free conversations and discussions follow; rooms are at hand for private conferences, and Christian books and tracts are kept in readiness and disposed of in large numbers. The preaching halls are thronged during the hottest months—July, August and September—and from noon until three o'clock—the hottest part of the day. Tens of thousands of visitors to the city have heard the gospel in these chapels and have carried it hundreds of miles into the interior. The missionary encounters these in the most remote places on his inland tours, and sometimes listens with surprise while they repeat the substance of the discourses which they have heard. The dialect used by most of the missionaries, in preaching, is the Pun-ti, or pure Cantonese, by which they have access to twenty millions of people.

FRANCE, in order simply to be prepared to cope with other nations, has within five years built 45,000 school-houses, at a cost of $80,000,000! What might not Christian America and England accomplish for missions, if the opportunity were appreciated! It is said that if a rod 71 inches long represents the income of the Presbyterian Church, one inch would stand for their gifts!

—McAll Mission in Paris. The attendance at the services has increased largely during the past year, although the number of stations remains the same. The McAll Mission Record says: "The missionary schooner 'Annie' having again been placed at the disposal of the Mission, a very interesting campaign was organized on the coasts of Brittany. Of this work Mr. McAll writes in a private letter: 'Brittany, so long supposed to be completely enthralled by Popish teachings, is now evidently open for the proclamation of the Gospel, and the people—a race much resembling the Welsh in many things, as well as origin—are kindly disposed. To them the message of divine love comes as a new and strange discovery, in contrast with the almost idolatrous ritual to which alone they have been accustomed.'"

JAPAN.

—Rev. George Wm. Knox, of Tokio, writes: "In the Tokio First Presbytery, the additions on profession of faith were more than 240 during the six months previous to April 1, an increase of 15 per cent. In the Tokio Second Presbytery over a hundred adults had been baptized. He himself took a trip of 250 miles to the north. At Sendai, the most influential city in the north, the Miyagi Presbytery was organized with five churches. Large meetings were held in the theatre, and most attentive and respectful congregations were present. Similar meetings were held for lectures at three other towns en route, and in all much interest was manifested. Opposition seems to have died away, and the best part of the people unite in saying that Christianity is a necessity for the further development of Japan."

—Tadmor in the Desert, or Palmyra, City of Palms, is a beautiful type of the Church of God among the gentiles, a historic parable of foreign missions. A great stretch of wilderness lay between Jerusalem and Babylon, arid, barren, without rest or food. King Solomon, Prince of Peace, had the pure water from the springs on the high hills conducted along the plains, and made "rivers in the desert," a very Elim for palm trees and springs of water, and called it "the City of Palms." It was a new Jerusalem transported into the wilderness, and making it blossom as a rose, providing a rest and a refreshment for the hungry, thirsty, weary pilgrim. What a figure of what the true Prince of Peace is doing to-day in the wilds of pagan lands!—bringing the streams from celestial springs to turn the deserts of sin into the Palmyra of Pilgrims.

—London Missionary Society. In fifty years the communicants in the missions have increased from 6,615 to 70,561, and the native preachers from 451 to 7,168.

—The Moravians have an important mission on the Moskito Coast, Central America, among a mixed population of Indians, Creoles and Spaniards. Begun in 1849, down to 1881 it had been quite successful, there being at the beginning of that year about a thousand communicants. A great awakening occurred, and all classes were most deeply moved. Bands of Indians at work in the forest, away from the mission stations, were seized by an overpowering conviction of sin, children at the stations knelt and prayed for forgiveness, and an almost universal awakening followed. It seemed to come spontaneously; it continued without special effort of the missionaries, and there was great excitement, which the missionaries labored to subdue as much as possible. The result of the revival was the adding of 1,500 or more to the list of communicants. Tested by time, conversions proved genuine; few have fallen away. A spirit of consecration possesses the older members, and the field of mission work is greatly extended. The natives no longer say that God does not love the poor Indian as he loves the white man, but rejoice in the revival as a special manifestation of God's grace toward them. Not a few heathen and dissolute characters were thoroughly converted and reformed.—Independent.

—The statistics of Presbyterian missions from the report of 1886 show the total number of communicants in the mission churches to be 20,294. This shows a gain during the last decade of nearly 136½ per cent.

—Some statistics appear in a recent issue of the Siglo XIX, of the City of Mexico, which will surprise many who regard an acquaintance with the Spanish language as merely an accomplishment. That it is of great use is proved by the tables submitted and the growth of our commercial relations with Mexico and South America. English is found to be spoken by 87,000,000 of people throughout the world; Spanish by 63,690,000; German by 53,000,000, and French by 43,000,000. Thus Spanish is second in importance, as a commercial language, being the only means of communication with a large percentage of the population of the earth. We must, however, take into account the fact that a larger part of them are of inferior importance to the bulk of the population of the United States, and of the other countries; yet it still holds that a vast extent of territory exists in which nothing but Spanish is spoken.

MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS

VI.-MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.

VI.-MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.

THE following letter is from Dr. James L. Phillips, Chaplain State Institutions, Howard, R. I., a medical missionary "from Midnapore, Bengal, India, now at home on furlough, but earnestly hoping to return to his work abroad, in which it has pleased God to grant him 17 years, and very happy years, too."

REV. ARTHUR T. PIERSON, D.D.:

Dear Brother—I learn that you are to take up and carry on Mr. Wilder's Missionary Review, and I am delighted to know this. From the first number I've read it eagerly, and have done what I could to introduce it to friends in Europe and India. I most earnestly hope that by God's blessing upon your labors it may continue to hold its high place as a thoroughly independent, undenominational, faithful and fearless review of all missionary enterprises, home and foreign. So far as I know, it stands without a peer, in its own special province, in Christendom.

I should like to know the plans for the future conduct of the REVIEW, with a view to getting our pastors to subscribe. Some of our people have been taking it from the first, but hundreds more ought to.

Could you devote space in THE REVIEW to the Monthly Concert of Prayer for Missions, which has fallen into sad neglect during these 20 years? I am continually hearing of Congregational and Presbyterian churches—the two churches that observed it most faithfully years ago, when I was a student in this country—that do not even have the Missionary Concert. In this State the Baptists are keeping it up, I think, better than any other church.

My proposition is: Let THE MISSIONARY REVIEW consult with The Gospel in All Lands, and draw up a Programme for the Missionary Concerts of 1888, so that our pastors may have ample time to read up and be ready. As dear Dr. Duff used to say, "the hitch is with the pastors." What an added power we should gain in all our missionary work, at home and abroad, could we establish, and faithfully sustain, in our American churches such a grand CONCERT OF PRAYER, by taking up each month the same general topic, and instructing, interesting and inspiring our congregations with it! I cannot doubt that British Christians would join us in this good movement, for they have held up the monthly concert better than we have in America. Could we not have something like the International Sunday-school lesson—the same verses of Scripture studied in many lands and languages? For months these and kindred thoughts have been revolving in my mind; and the reading of such books as your noble "Crisis of Missions" only adds fuel to the fire already kindled. If there be a work in which sect-lines must more and more disappear, it is this great work of the world's evangelization. Christians must come into close fellowship with Christ, be more loyal to His government by keeping His great and last commission, before the "greater things" he spoke of can appear. Believe me, my dear sir,

Yours, with high esteem and very sincerely,
JAS. L. PHILLIPS.

This letter was followed by another from the editor of Gospel in All Lands:

NEW YORK, Oct. 27, 1887.

My Dear Dr. Pierson—I have just learned that you will have charge of the Monthly Concert Department of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW. I have been arranging the topics for the Monthly Concerts for 1888 to be treated in Missionary World and Gospel in All Lands, and a letter from Dr. J. L. Phillips urges me to see if Gospel in All Lands and MISSIONARY REVIEW cannot agree on topics for next year. I propose those on the enclosed paper. Several are the same as those adopted by the Presbyterians North and South.

EUGENE R. SMITH.

1888.

January—The World.
February—China.
March—Mexico, Central America.
April—India.
May—Burmah, Siam and Laos.
June—Africa.
July—Islands of the Sea, North American Indians, Chinese and Japanese in America, etc.
August—Italy and Papal Europe.
September—Japan and Korea.
October—Turkey and Persia.
November—South America.
December—Syria.

[The above arrangement will be adopted.—EDITORS.]

THE WORLD FIELD.

IN looking at the great field of missions, we are first of all overwhelmed with its vastness. We talk of continents as covered with the death shade, but how vague are the terms we use.

Let us take Connecticut as the unit of measurement, with its area of 4,700 square miles. It is contained in Dakota 47 times, and Japan is about as large as Dakota. And now we begin to get some definite conception of the Island Empire of the Rising Sun that is just now attracting the attention of the world by changes so radical and revolutionary that the like have never before been seen.

But Japan, large as it is, is very small in comparison with other heathen and pagan lands. Japan could be contained in India 10 times, and even India could be contained nearly three times in China; or, to be more accurate, you might carve out of China two empires like India, and have left enough to make seven more like Japan, or three hundred and thirty like Connecticut. And yet out of Africa you might construct China and two Indias besides!

Next we are impressed with the vastness of the vacancies where as yet no gospel light has shone. Great districts that are themselves empires have never yet been approached by the heralds of the Cross. When Samuel Hebich reached Calicut in 1834, the whole coast from Bombay to Cochin was as yet unoccupied, and looking inland, Bangalore, Bellary, Belgaum were the nearest stations, each between one and two hundred miles distant. When Robert Moffat landed in Africa, in 1817, the greater part of that Continent's interior had never been trodden by a white man's foot. And even as lately as Stanley's passage across the continent, ten years ago this summer, he came out at Banana, at the Congo's mouth, having, since he left Zanzibar, seven thousand miles distant, seen no man who had ever heard the gospel! About the same time two missionaries of the China Inland mission went from Bahmo in Upper Burmah to Chun-King, in China, one thousand miles, without finding one gospel station.

A third thing that impresses us is the wonder-working of God in connection with the history of modern missions. The days of supernatural signs in the church were the days during which the church was one great evangelistic body. When evangelism began to decline, the dark ages came rapidly on; and only since evangelical faith was revived and the church reformed, and so prepared again to take up the work of world-wide missions, have the days of manifest supernatural influence returned. We do not hesitate to say that the history of modern missions is a history of modern miracles—manifest workings of divine power, as convincing in their way and as peculiarly adapted to the present age as any miracles wrought in the days of the apostles. Single men, like Robert Moffat in Africa, Robert Morrison in China, John Williams in the South Seas, Wm. Johnson in Sierra Leone, Zeisberger and Duncan among the Indians, have been permitted to see results that as plainly show the hand of God as when the paralytic took up his bed and walked, or Lazarus came forth in grave-clothes.

A fourth impression is made upon us by the long study of missions, viz., that if a man or woman wants to make the capital of life yield the largest interest, here is an investment worthy the full engrossment of all the aims and powers of manhood and womanhood. To some, a life given to Christ in the great field of foreign missions means a life buried, wasted, thrown away. And it is so, if the standards of the world as to money-making, selfish indulgence, aspiring ambition and worldly emolument are to be taken as the measure of success or failure. But if a higher point of view is once got and held from which to survey life, it is not so.

Follow Moffat in his fifty years of consecrated toil, the apostle of Africa. Not only did he lead the way as an explorer, even for the heroic Livingstone, but he translated the Bible into the Bechuana tongue, dialects of which, varying but little, are spoken over almost the whole of the Dark Continent south of the equator! We have no proof that to any person it was ever given to render into Saxon the whole of the Scriptures. Bede was engaged on "John" when he died; Wickliffe and Coverdale had helpers. But Robert Moffat was permitted to translate the whole word of God into the pagan tongue of South Africa—an achievement which, had he done no other service, puts him among the most distinguished of the world's benefactors.

But Moffat is but one among a host of men and women whose lives have shaped the destiny of whole continents. The quiet work of the preachers and teachers at Beirut is permeating not only Syria but the whole Arabic-speaking world. Bishop Taylor in Africa, leaning only on God, going almost single-handed among the most barbarous tribes, and making the very chiefs tributary to his mission work; Dr. Clough among the Teloogoos, baptizing ten thousand in less than two months, and breaking down caste in his noble schools; Royal G. Wilder, "burying himself" among the heathen, that in thirty years he might preach in 3,000 villages and cities, scatter three million pages of tracts and gather 3,300 boys and girls into Christian schools—these are examples of "wasted life." If so, let our lives be wasted. Such a buried life becomes the seed of a harvest that neither time can measure nor man estimate.

II. SUGGESTIVE PARAGRAPHS.

The first Protestant sermon preached west of the Mississippi was preached by Samuel J. Mills, the father of the American Board. Desiring to get out of this "pinhole," he went abroad. He had before said: "I cannot suffer my influence to be limited by Atlantic, Mississippi, great lakes, or gulf."

Miss Tucker (A. L. O. E.) went to India as a missionary, leaving the field of authorship for the comparatively obscure field of mission work. Judge Tucker, of Futtepoor, was her brother. He served long in India, giving to missions $200 per month. To those who remonstrated as to his liberality, he replied: "Here are 86,000,000 adult population; 5,000 die daily; every day's delay means 5,000 souls!" At the entrance to the station he had four stone tablets erected. On two, the Ten Commandments; on two, John iii: 14-18. After the duties of his office were fulfilled, he preached Jesus. "If every hair were a life," said he, "I would give them all to Him." He fell in 1857, at the hands of the mutineers. On his sitting-room walls were inscribed: "Fear God," "Love your enemies," "Prepare for death."

The gospel is still foolishness to the Greek. He mistakes the twilight of the morning for the twilight of the evening; what light he sees in the gospel he thinks is the last lingering, fading ray of a declining day, instead of the precursor of a splendid noon.

Post-mortem Gifts. "Father was wont, at this season of the year, to look with great anticipation to the great missionary anniversaries. I desire to act as his steward and pay in his behalf his ordinary annual contribution, which I enclose."

"W. E. D."

"SACRIFICE IS GOLD IN HEAVEN."

Bishop William Taylor: "I feel such a yearning in my soul to help the Lord Jesus to convert this world, that I would gladly be multiplied into a thousand workmen, and then live a thousand years to help on this work."

John Wesley loved to scatter every penny above his scanty necessary outlay. In 1782, his income was £361 19s. (about $1,820); of this he spent for clothing some $30, and gave away the entire remainder with his own hands. His book steward the same year, by his directions, gave away $1,185 more. At the end of his days Wesley wrote: "For upwards of 86 years I have kept my accounts exactly. I will not attempt it any longer, being satisfied with the continual conviction that I save all I can and give all I can—that is, all I have. I never put sixpence out at interest since I was born; nor had I ever a hundred pounds together, my own, since I came into this world." He regarded riches as a "necessary evil," a "serious danger."

A very fine article on Foreign Missions may be found in "Appleton's Encyclopedia," from the pen of an eminent writer.

There is needed a far larger recognition on the part of Christians of the duty of a personal instead of a proxy evangelization. "You see the day is past when the Church could say, 'Silver and gold have I none,'" said Innocent IV. complacently to St. Thomas of Aquinum, as he pointed to the masses of treasure which were being carried into the Vatican. "Yes, holy father," was the saint's reply, "and the day is also past when she could say to the paralytic, 'Take up thy bed and walk.'" It is not simply gathered treasure, whether of gold, or of social position, or of culture, which can make the Church able for her duty, disarm distrust of her among all classes, and fill her with power for the compelling of the millennium. It is scattered treasure which will do it. It is as each one of her members does and keeps doing his share and hers of the priestly ministry of personal interest and invitation. Why should you be willing to sit in one corner of your empty pew on Sunday? Why should you not be restless until even from the highways and hedges you have compelled them to come in—shown by divine deed that God's house is for all, and at least done your share toward the disarming of any possible distrust?—Dr. Wayland Hoyt.

It is never safe to make an exception a rule of conduct. One of the best illustrations of this fact was given by the Rev. Dr. Lorimer, during the Minneapolis meetings, in a little dialogue, which, if not veritable, is certainly suggestive. Talking with a man who had professed to be converted, a minister said: "Have you joined the church?" "No; the dying thief did not join the church, and he went to heaven." "Have you talked to your neighbors?" "No; the dying thief did not talk to his neighbors, and he went to heaven." "Have you given anything to missions?" "No; the dying thief never gave anything, and he went to heaven." "Well, my friend, it seems to me the difference is that he was a dying thief, and you are a living thief."

France: The Paris City Mission, started at the time of the Exhibition in 1878, in 1880 fairly commenced work with a staff of three missionaries, subsequently increased to 13. Latterly, funds have failed, and the number has been reduced to six. The income has ranged at different times from $3,200 to $3,600. One-third of this money is raised by pastors and congregations in connection with which the missionaries labor; the rest by private subscription.

India: Bengal.—Ten native young men have responded to the call for missionaries to preach to the Bengali coolies in Fiji.

Ahmednuggur.—It is said that the A. B. C. F. M. is going to establish there a college to train young men in English.

Japan: The first Japanese missionary student to the Basle Mission is Geusi-Igutsi, who was instructed and baptized (John) in China. The missionaries who have had opportunities of closely observing him have great confidence in him.

Korea: There is a call for a woman to work among the native women, and the government will encourage schools, though open preaching of the gospel is yet somewhat restricted.

North American Indians: At the late Indian Conference at Mohawk Lake, it was said that the effect of the recent orders of the Indian Bureau forbidding the use of any other language but English in the native schools would close some twelve to twenty Dakota schools where native teachers are at work. Another order stops the government boarding-school children from coming to Sunday-school! What do such orders mean?

Palestine: The opposition of the Turkish Government to the Mission Schools in Palestine, so far as the education in them of Mohammedan children is concerned, has culminated in an order from Constantinople forbidding the attendance of Moslems altogether; and one father has been thrown into prison for sending his child to a Mission School.

Persia: Persia has had a remarkable spiritual awakening, beginning with the Week of Prayer. The revival extends to several villages. Many lukewarm Christians were greatly revived, and sinners of all grades, young and old, converted. Places of worship have been found too small to accommodate the crowds. Mr. Labaree, of Oroomiah, reported the work still progressing and spreading. In several towns there are from twenty to forty, and even sixty inquirers.

Scotland: Free Church of Scotland sends out 109 missionary workers, of whom 30 are laymen and 30 women.

Syria: Beirut.—Two young men, members of the Senior class in the college, offer themselves to African missions. Dr. Jessup commends them highly. They have taken all the deprivations and difficulties into account, and make no stipulation as to the nature of their work or the amount of their pay. Their familiarity with Arabic would be of great help.

Thibet: The United Brethren have recently established a station at Leh, the chief town of Ladak, or Middle Thibet, a province of Cashmere. Many persons who at Kyelang have been brought to the knowledge of the truth have returned to Leh. Permission to reside there was given to these missionaries by the maharajah, at the request of the Marquis of Ripon. The town is situated in a fine, open valley, surrounded by lofty mountains, and is close upon 11,300 feet above the level of the sea. The winter has been spent here by Mr. and Mrs. Redslob and their family, who, by reason of the climate of this elevated station, have had much sympathy with the ice-bound missionaries of Labrador and Greenland.

III.—MISSIONARY TEXTS AND THEMES.

The field is the world.—Matt. xiii: 38.

1. World-wide extent, and the period, all time.

2. Two kinds of seed, the word and the children of the kingdom.

3. The harvest is to be sure and abundant.—Is. lv: 13.

4. The results will be rapid and marvellous.—Amos ix: 13.

5. All mainly depends on prayer.—Matt. ix: 38.

"Missions, Past and Prospective." In the "Bampton Lectures" by Anthony Grant, 1843, the following is the outline of the argument:

1. The adequacy and tendency of the gospel to gain universal sway. Its adaptation to mankind at large is contrasted with other religions, as adapted to a limited area; there is not one so much better than others as to pay to attempt to propagate it extensively; and when this is done it is only as a defensive measure to prevent decline.

2. The Universality of the Message and tendency to unity. He well says that "The gospel is not to be in all places at all times, nor in all places at one time; but in some place at all times and in all places at some time."

3. Christianity is not a spiritual influence on the soul of man, solely; but rather a spiritual and visible institution in which souls are gathered unto the Lord and nourished unto eternal life. Body, soul and spirit benefited. The gospel is communicated through external and visible system, which is threefold, viz.: 1. The conveyance of spiritual blessings. 2. The education of man as a social being. 3. The perpetuating and propagating of truth.

The New Testament contemplates both voluntary and commissioned agents for preaching, combining the authoritative teaching of the Church with that of the written Word of God.

Preaching, teaching, living, are to go together: Non magna loquimur, sed vivimus.

"There is no question as to whether or not missions are binding upon Christians. Missionary effort is not a matter of choice but of obligation. Indeed, it is as much an obligation as baptism or the Lord's Supper. Christ gave very few detailed instructions for the guidance of his Church. He left her policy to be shaped by the Holy Spirit. But one definite injunction He did give, and that his last as the risen Saviour: "Go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost; teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." This is not merely a commission for baptism. It is the outline of a policy—the missionary policy of the Church. It presents to us a command, a duty, a statement of the principal object of the Church's existence; with the encouraging promise, in view of the immense obligation, of power commensurate with the task—"Lo, I am with you alway." Missions are not optional. "Make disciples of all nations," is as binding as "This do in remembrance of me."

The Chinese are proverbially dull when first reached by the story of the gospel. Yet one woman in Shanse, though a cripple, came a long distance for a second visit to the missionary, and when asked what she remembered from the previous Sunday's talk, replied: "I am old, and my head is thick, and I have no memory. I only remember two things: That God is my Father in heaven, and that his Son Jesus Christ died on the cross for my sins."

STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS

VII.-STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS.

British Contributions to Missions in 1885. Rev. W. H. Scott Robertson has summarized and analyzed them as follows: Grand total, including dividends, interest and rents, $7,936,870, an advance over 1884 of $71,990. He includes Roman Catholic contributions, $33,440. It appears from his tables that the Christian world raises over $11,000,000 a year for Protestant Missions, while Romish Foreign Missions receive but $1,325,850, little over one-eighth of that sum. (Missionary Review, Feb., 1887.)

—While the Church of England in 25 years has spent on Foreign Missions $50,000,000, seven times that amount has been spent on Home enlargements, improvements, etc. From a careful examination of the statistics of Christian Missions, the Quarterly Review states that during eight years the ordained missionaries from Protestant Christendom have increased fifty per cent., and the total income seventy per cent.

—Foreign Missions in 1885-1886, as reported in Wilder's Statistical Tables:

These tables, of course, only approximate the truth. But some things in them are noteworthy. 1. The year's growth in communicants at home was nearly 52,000 less than the previous years (1884-5), and only 1.35 per cent.; abroad it was nearly 150,000, and nearly 19 per cent.

2. The total of workers has risen from 37,837 to 40,246, but still all Christendom sends but 6,647, while the native churches provide 33,600, five times as many. Christendom sends one out of every 4,332 members to the field; the native churches give one out of every 28! At that rate Christendom would have to-day one million workers in the foreign field, or one to every 850 of the unevangelical population of the globe!

—"The Independent" takes note that Dr. Daniel Dorchester has just made a fresh study of statistics, which are not specially flattering:

The total yearly receipts from all our American Home and Foreign Missionary Societies in 1850 were $1,232,123; in 1860, $2,525,549; in 1870, $4,225,952; in 1880, $5,939,845. Since 1880 the average amount has been about $7,000,000 yearly. The increase has thus been large, being four-fold for Foreign Missions and six-fold for Home Missions in the thirty years from 1850 to 1880.

But when we come to count the members of the Protestant churches we have a different story. The number of church members are given by Dr. Dorchester as having been 3,529,988 in 1850; 5,240,554 in 1860; 6,673,396 in 1870, and 10,065,963 in 1880. Now, assuming these figures to be correct, we have 35 cents per member given in 1850 for Home and Foreign Missions, 48 cents in 1860, 63 cents in 1870, and 59½ cents in 1880. In the last period there has been a falling off, and there has been no adequate increase since 1860. It must be that there is an immense number of church members reported who give absolutely nothing for missions; and it must be that the interest of those who do give is much less than it should be. An average of less than sixty cents in a year is vastly less than what ought to be given.

But when we come to the property test, the case is still worse. Supposing the church members to have just an average amount of the wealth of the country (we do not doubt they have more), in 1850 they gave to missions one and one-tenth mills to each dollar of their property; in 1860 this sum was reduced to nine-tenths of a mill; in 1870 to eight-tenths, and in 1880 to six and a half tenths of a mill. Thus we see that while the total gifts have increased five times, the amount given by each converted dollar has been reduced nearly one-half. This is very far from a creditable showing, and proves that not near as much sacrifice is made for the cause of missions as forty years ago.

The one great duty of the Church is to convert the world to Jesus Christ. Are the effort and the self-denial adequate which give sixty cents a member per year, and two-thirds of one-tenth of one per cent. of property?

—Foreign Missionary Organizations raised last year in the United States $3,898,944. The total gain in communicants was 22,069.—Wilder's Tables.

—Since the Methodist Board of Church Extension began its work, in the year 1865, it has helped to build 5,805 churches. It has collected and disbursed nearly $3,000,000.

—Presbyterian Growth. From the narrative of the state of religion to the last Assembly we learn that the additions to the membership during the year were over 52,000 on examination and 29,000 on certificate—the most fruitful year in the Church's history. The Boards received $1,915,987. Foreign Missions had the largest receipts ever known in the history of the Church, $784,157.59. Of this the Women's Boards contributed $248,649.50. The growth of the contributions of the latter is a remarkable exhibit of what can be done by "organizing the littles." In 1871 they reported $7,000. This amount has gone up by the following strides during subsequent years: $27,000, $64,000, $87,000, $96,000, $115,000, $124,000, $136,000, $170,000, $176,000, $178,000, $193,000, $204,000, $224,000, $248,000.

—Moravians have a noble missionary record. During the last century 25,000 of them have been sent to "the regions beyond," while $300,000 have been expended yearly, and nine vessels been kept busy in the interests of missions. This small band of disciples may well put us all to the blush by their sanctified liberality and self-consecration.

—Roman Catholics in China.—The Chinese Recorder gathers from a table of statistics of Roman Catholic missions the following facts: "There are in the various provinces of China 483,403 Catholic Christians, 471 European missionaries, 281 native priests, 2,429 churches and chapels, 1,779 colleges and schools, with 25,219 scholars, and 33 seminaries and 654 seminarists. In Corea, Japan, Manchuria, Mongolia and Thibet there are 130 European and 15 native priests, 227 churches and chapels, and 77,254 Catholic Christians. In the Indo-China peninsula there are 694,286 Catholics, and in India 1,185,538 Catholics. The grand total for these Asiatic countries is 2,440,486 Catholics, 2,639 missionaries and native priests, 7,293 churches and chapels, 4,469 colleges and schools, with 112,359 scholars, and 76 seminaries, with 2,746 seminarists. These countries are divided into 67 vicariates apostolic and 4 prefectures apostolic. Six of these vicariates are worked by the Jesuits. Most of them, however, are under the charge of missionaries of the Society of Foreign Missions of Paris and the Seminary of Foreign Missions of Milan."

—There are 40,000 Wild Indian Children in this country. Of this number, all told, there are but 12,000 gathered in the Government and Mission schools, leaving 28,000 children to whom no school opens its door, and to whom no Christian missionary comes. There are at least sixty whole tribes upon whose darkness no ray of Gospel light has ever fallen, as pagan and as savage as were their ancestors when the first white man landed upon these shores!

—Perhaps the power of God has been manifest in the islands of the Pacific more than in any other part of the world. In the Sandwich Islands one pastor baptized 12,000 converts in 45 years. In the group of islands called the Philippine, the Society, the Friendly and the Caroline, the natives were savages and cannibals of the worst type; but they have exchanged their savage life for the life inspired by the gospel of Christ; and in those groups of islands there are nearly 200,000 native Christians. In the Fiji Islands, also formerly a centre of cannibalism, out of a population of 120,000 all but one-seventh are said to be attending the Wesleyan meetings, and the most of the remainder belong to other meetings; so that church-going there is quite universal.

—The Salvation Army, entering India five years ago, has now 120 English and 80 native missionaries.

—The Imperial Academy of Sciences has recently completed the publication of a translation of the New Testament into the language of the Calmucks. This, it is said, is the first attempt to make known to the Calmucks the text of the Christian Gospels. The initiative is due to the British Bible Society, by which the work of translation was confided to Prof. Pozneieff, of the Chair of Mongol and Calmuck Literature in the University of St. Petersburg. Two hundred copies have been sent to Astrachan and sold to the converted Calmucks of that province. The rest have been sent abroad for distribution in Asia by European missionaries.—St. Petersburg Dispatch to the London Times.

—The Australian Church, under the direction of the Bishop of Sydney, has resolved upon the establishment of missions in the English portions of New Guinea, which portion is about equal in size to the whole of Great Britain. The Society for the Propagation of the Gospel has appropriated £5,000 to aid the work.

—The "Ragged Sunday-schools" in London have 40,000 scholars and 4,000 teachers. Its president was the late and honored Lord Shaftesbury. His son succeeds him in the work. The income of the society, consisting wholly of voluntary contributions, amounts to $80,000 per annum.

—There are 400 Mormon bishops in Utah, 2,423 priests, 2,947 teachers, and 6,854 deacons. Salt Lake City is divided into wards of eight or nine blocks each, and a bishop is put in charge of each ward. Under him are two teachers, whose business is to learn the employment and income of every resident of the ward and report the same to the bishop. Then the bishop collects the tenth of each man's income and turns it in to the church authorities. The Mormons are as adept as the Roman Catholics in getting their hands into the pockets of believers.

—Two hundred and fifty millions of women depend for the Gospel upon the women of the Protestant Churches of America. Nine-tenths of the contributions to foreign missions are given by one-tenth of the church membership, while only one-half of the membership give anything. The average amount per member is fifty cents per annum—only the seventh part of a cent per day for the conversion of a thousand millions of people. An average of five cents a week from every member of the Protestant churches of the United States would bring into the treasury during a single year $16,500,000. Ninety-eight per cent. of the Church's contributions for religious purposes is spent at home, while only two per cent. is applied to the foreign mission field. There are 75,000 ministers in the United States, or one to about every 600 persons, while only one is allotted to half a million in heathen lands. There are 1,500 counties in China without a single missionary.

—There are about 600 native newspapers in India, all of which, with the exception of about half a dozen, are bitterly opposed to Christianity. Societies are now being organized for the dissemination of the skeptical writings of England and America. An important society is in operation from Lahore, as a centre, while another has its headquarters in Benares. The pictures of the gods best known to the Hindu pantheon are even lithographed in Germany and England and sold in Calcutta! Native rajahs interest themselves in circulating Hindu tracts, and have adopted shrewd methods to carry on their work. The Rev. Mr. Craven says he knows of one rajah alone who is printing at his own expense 2,000,000 of Hindu tracts, and intends to distribute them at the large fairs of North India. The missionaries, however, keep close watch over these antagonistic forces. They too are enlarging their operations rapidly. But the churches and societies which they represent should adopt far more liberal measures to furnish the millions of natives to whom they are sent with sound Christian literature. The passion for reading has struck every part of India. The people will have books and newspapers. It is for the western Christian world to say what their fibre shall be.—Dr. Hurst, in Harper's Magazine.

—The Chinese Recorder gives the following statistics of Christian missions in China to Dec. 1, 1886:

Of the single ladies nearly half are American. Others are not named.

—The China Inland Mission has 43 married and 129 unmarried missionaries. Including wives and 117 native workers, the entire force numbers over 300. They are asking for 100 more for this year. Their operations have been continued for years, and the hundred new men are called for by way of celebrating the majority of the society.

—The Japan Mission of the Presbyterian Board are asking for ten new men instead of a hundred, and the question is whether the Presbyterian Church is able and willing to grant their request. What will the synods, the presbyteries and the churches say to their petition?

—The Chinese Governor of the large island of Formosa in starting a college has chosen a missionary to inaugurate and organize the institution. Such a step would have been regarded as a miracle one generation ago.

EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS

VIII.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.

A WORD TO OUR PATRONS.

Enterprises are nowadays so commonly started with supreme reference to pecuniary returns that it seems like an affectation of unselfishness to claim any other and higher motive in the wide circulation of this REVIEW. Nevertheless, the editors are conscious of no ulterior end but the arousing of the Church of God to a more vigorous prosecution of the missionary campaign. And in our effort we desire the warm, sympathetic co-operation of all our subscribers. We undertake the work with a deep persuasion that it is God's work laid upon us, and we care for no reward beyond the consciousness of His approval. We mean to make this REVIEW indispensable, if we can, to all who love the cause of Christ, and especially to all who wish to know the needs of a world-wide field and the progress of the Kingdom,

We wish to establish between the Church at home and the workers and warriors on the outposts a line of communication, which shall also be a line of supplies; to create and foster a living bond of active and intelligent sympathy; to know what is doing and needs to be done—what needs are met and what lack is felt; to mark progress and trace causes of defeat, to canvass methods and criticise defects, to prevent waste and relieve friction, to promote co-operation and allay antagonism, to stimulate giving and especially self-giving—such are some of the many glorious results we aim to further. The wider the circulation of the REVIEW the more rapid and widespread the success of our measures.

We want those whom God has blessed with means and a generous heart to put at our disposal a Fund for gratuitous distribution to those who cannot afford to pay for the REVIEW. For example, in this country and in England, there are some three thousand young men and women who have signified their desire and intent to go to the foreign field when their studies are completed, if the way shall open. Many of them are poor and self-dependent. Can any man or woman make a nobler appropriation than to put at our disposal such sum of money as may enable us to send the REVIEW to such young persons free for one year?

While at Rochester, two young persons came to one of the editors, who made an address there on Nov. 15, and said: "I have just read your book, 'The Crisis of Missions;' it has decided me to give myself to the foreign field." A similar scene occurred at Buffalo, next day, and at Alexandria, Va., a few weeks before. If some man or woman who cannot go himself, or herself, can, by the free distribution of such a missionary organ as this, make missionaries, what offering can be more acceptable to God? We are willing to be custodians of such benevolence and see that it is made just as powerful as it can be in furthering the work. And if there be any who cannot give, will they not at least pray that our work may prove to the churches the world over even a greater blessing than our hearts could dare to anticipate?

The fund is already started by a gift of $100 from the editors and $100 from the publishers, and a considerable addition will be made from arrears of subscriptions on THE MISSIONARY REVIEW, all of which Mr. Wilder put at the disposition of the editors. We want to raise $5,000 for this purpose.—P.

The recent meeting of the American Board at Springfield, Mass., was in many respects the most eventful one since its organization. It was generally felt that the meeting would be a battle-ground between the new theology, with its post-mortem probation, and the older, more conservative, and, we hesitate not to say, more Scriptural and evangelical position held by the Reformed churches for centuries. Happily, as we think, the issue of the battle was on the side of the old and not the new theology. The landmarks which the fathers set up will not be removed, and Dr. Storrs' manly and Christian letter, accepting the presidency of the Board—a letter too long to be reproduced in these columns—covers, to our view, the whole case.

In this letter of acceptance, he expresses the opinion that the question of the "new theology" is, for the present, practically settled, so far as the Board is concerned; and adds that a withholding of funds from the treasury, "if that should unhappily come to pass," would not change the convictions on which the decision was based. He frankly gives as his belief that it would be unsafe to allow the same latitude of opinion in the missionary field which local churches here occasionally allow, whether properly or not, to those who transiently minister to them. There is a loyal and royal ring in words like these: "This society exists for a purpose wide as the world, solemn as the Cross, connected with eternal issues. It is always responsible to the Lord of the Gospel for what its messengers proclaim in His name."

Dr. Noble of Chicago one year ago expressed on this subject, comprehensively and briefly, the practical bearings of the whole question. He said, in effect, that there are two ways which we may pursue: we may either spend our time and energy speculating as to whether mankind will have probation after death, or we may give ourselves to the endeavor to secure their acceptance of this great salvation in the present probation before death. "As for myself," he added, "I propose to give all my thought and powers to securing for men a present salvation." To all of which let all the people say Amen!—P.

In New Jersey, the week between November 13 and November 20 was kept as one of simultaneous meetings in the interests of Foreign Missions. The whole work was in the hands of five members of Synod, Rev. Dr. Augustus Brodhead, of Bridgeton, being Chairman. He lived long enough to make the arrangements and was then called up higher.

All-day conventions were arranged for in every one of the 219 towns in the State where there was a Presbyterian church. The convention was not held on the same day in every place, but some time within the week. Fifty-eight places were designated as centres, provided with special speakers at the evening meeting. The plan of the conventions was uniform: A morning prayer-meeting, followed by an open meeting for familiar conference as to the mission field, its work and workers; in the afternoon, separate meetings of ladies', young people's and Sunday-school societies and bands, and in the evening the main meeting, with at least two specially prepared addresses.

To our minds, this simultaneous meeting is one of the grandest plans ever adopted to arouse, concentrate and vitalize the interest in the great foreign Mission work. We hope to see the day when, throughout the whole land, simultaneous meetings shall be held, and, like the three annual feasts of the Jews, all the tribes go up to take part, bring offerings and carry back a new inspiration and blessing. The movement is timely, popular, grand, effective, and promises results far beyond our present calculation.—P.

MRS. WILDER, widow of the late editor of The Missionary Review, and Grace E. Wilder, the daughter, sailed for Kolapoor, Western India, on the 26th of Nov., under the auspices of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions. Miss Grace was born there, and the mother spent thirty years of her life there in missionary work in connection with her devoted husband. She had a school of 300 girls, at one time, and gave Christian education to a large number of the native women of India, who regard her in the light of a mother. Denied the privilege of going back to her work, after twelve years' absence, in company with her venerated husband, she, after his death, begged to be allowed to go back with her daughter and resume active work there, as a Bible reader, on her own charges. Her first love is still fresh and strong, and poor India, for whom she and her life companion sacrificed so much, is dearer to her than her native land, and even the sons whom she leaves behind. The daughter inherits a full measure of her parents' spirit, and, having rendered her father important help on The Missionary Review, and received rare training for the work, consecrates her life to the same blessed service. And one son, now in Union Seminary, New York, who has gone among our colleges lately and helped to kindle the missionary spirit among the students, will follow his aged mother and youthful sister as soon as his studies are completed.

What heroism have we here! The timid maiden and the solitary, aged widow, parting with children dear, the comforts of a good home and the dust of her loved one, and braving the winter storms of ocean, embarks joyfully for her long voyage, to carry once more the message of redeeming love to her sisters in India, and with trembling voice to repeat to the children the sacred lessons she taught in early life to their mothers!

The God of the widow and the Father of the fatherless preserve and speed them on their glorious mission and spare them to sow the seed of an abundant harvest! Just before his death the husband and father said to the writer: "I consider it a privilege and a joy inexpressibly great to have been permitted to spend forty-two years of my life in the service of Christian missions, and my one desire to-day is, now that you have kindly relieved me of this Review, to be spared to go back to India and lay my worn-out body to rest among the people there, whom I love. Yes, I would gladly start, even if sure I should not live to get there and my body find a grave in the deep."—S.

"THE day is breaking,
We are living, we are dwelling
In a grand and awful time!
In an age on ages telling;
To be living is sublime.
Hark! the waking up of nations—
Gog and Magog to the fray!
Hark! What soundeth? 'Tis creation's
Groaning for its latter day."

Yes, the time is hastening. God is rolling on the ages with awful sweep and force. He is crowding a whole century of opportunities into a day. He is bringing the world together, so that the Church may compass it, know it, traverse it, a hundred-fold quicker and better than in former generations. Competent engineering authorities assure us that in five years we shall be able to go round the world in forty days; and go in all the comfort and with all the security of our modern civilization! And are not such facts the voice of God, speaking out of the cloud to His people to go forward?—S.

WE beg our friends and patrons to be a little lenient in their judgment of this our first number. The call to the editors was sudden and unexpected. It found them both full of work, and yet they dared not decline what seemed a call of Providence. We have done what we could, at short notice, and with the material and help we could command; and yet we have not realized our ideal. We hope to improve as we get familiar with the work and gather in a vaster and more select amount of material. We expect also to enlist competent pens to aid us in the Literary department, ensuring greater variety and ability. We have also arranged for assistance in Statistical matters, and fuller information from our Editorial Correspondents. The editors are mainly responsible for this initial number.—S.

As it is pleasant to know whose thoughts one is reading, the following rule will be adopted: All editorials will have the initial of the writer. The names of other writers will be given in connection with their contributions. To Parts I., V. and VIII. both editors will contribute. Dr. Pierson will conduct Part VI., while his associate will be responsible for Parts II., III. and VII.

Through an oversight, Dr. Pierson was not credited, as he should have been, for Mr. Wilder's Biography, on pp. 7-16. An excellent likeness of Mr. Wilder will be found in the number.—S.