The Missionary Review of the World — April 1899
lI!ISSIO:'-f HOUSE, SALISBURY SQ,UARE
. COUXCIL ROOM OF THE CHURCH MISSIONAHY SOCIETY. MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD: Old Series. t APRIL. j New Series. VOL. XXII. No.4. f I VOL. XII. No.4.
THE MOVEMENT AGAINST RITUALISM AND SACER- DOTALISM.
t "THE SECRET HISTORY OF THE OXFORD MOVEMENT."
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
The Anglican Church, conspicuously, is in the throes of a great' convulsion. Like an earthquake for which pent-up fires' have long been preparing, and of which lesser seismic upheavings have been the premonitory symptoms and signals, this modern outbreak has for more than a quarter of a century given increasing indications that it was inevitable-the precursors of the coming conflict; and a colossal meeting for protest convened in Albert Memorial Hall in London, in January, under the chairmanship of Baron Kinnaird, when ten thousand Protestants assembled to give their grievances a voice. t The crisis has been hastened, partly by the bold, alarming, and flagrant practises of the Ritualists and Romanists in the English Church, and partly by that astonishing exposure of the facts found in Walter Walsh's" Secret History of the Oxford Movement," whic1) had so rapid a sale that it was at one time difficult to get a copy, notwithstanding the large and repeated editions put on the market. That book ought to be read by every lover of the Protestant and Reformed faith, and of a simple apostolic worship. No such volume has been pnblisht for half a century, and it can be nnderstood only by a careful and candid reading. It exhibits the candor that it challenges in others, and at the same time it is markt by a courtesy very rare in controversial matters. Mr. Walsh claims to have reluctantly undertaken the work, under the pressure of duty and in order to open the eyes of loyal churchmen to what is going on beneath the surface; and being reluctantly compelled to his task of unearthing church secrets, • This periodical adopts the Orthography of the following Rule, recommended by the joint action of the American Philological Associatiou and the Philological Society of England :-Change d or ed final to t when so pronounced, except when the e affects a preceding sound.-PuBLISHERS.
t By Walter Walsh, publisht by the Church Association, London. t See p. 2f7.
MOVEMENT AGAINST RITUALISM AND SACERDOTALISM
he boldly drags forth into the daylight a hideous brood of monsters that have been rapidly and insidiously undermining the foundations of the Anglican Church as a Protestant, reformed, and anti-Romanist body.
One of the most conspicnous features of this volume is thltt these secret and subtle plotters, whose work seems Jesuitism in disguise, are made to tell their story in their ollJn lIJords, Full references and proofs are given for all the statements made, and the confirmation is drawn from the writings of the Ritualists themselves; and almost all the authorities quoted and appealed to are themselves ritualistic.
The hook thus appears to be an unanswerable array of facts, and a fair arraignment of the parties and the practises which it exposes. Secrecy has been the veil behind which these objectionable movements have been carried on. Ritualistic societies of this secret character have been annually increasing in number, and growing in membership and influence for years, until the Church of England is honeycombed with them, and the ultimate object appears unmistakably to be corporate reunion with the Church of Rome.
One feature of Mr. Walsh's volume is that it gathers together the scattered evidence found in variolls biographies and letters of those who have been the head plotters and actors ill this apostasy from Protestantism, and masses the testimony so as to give it force and weight. Much that in the earlier history of affairs was successfully concealed has been revealed, including the secret or private documents of the Ritualists, with reports of speeches actually made in the secret meetings, where freedom has been given to the real expression of the intent and purpose of the actors.
,The secret history of the Priest 1'n absolution is here for the first time brought to the light of day. The exposure made twelve years ago in the House of Lords, by Lord Redesdale, of the indecencies of the manual used by ritualistic father confessors, roused throughont Britain a great excitement, and so alarmed the brethren of the secret Society of the Holy Cross (S. S. Co), that they met to consult as to their course, and the full reports of their conferences, printed for members only, are here open to inspection, The exposure has come none too soon, and it is none too bold. For the Church of Rome even Protestants may have a degree of respect and forbearance, when it presents itself in its proper garb and without any false pretenses, But who can have any respect for a movement, .which, in the guise of Protestantism, is insidiously corrupting the very fountains of the reformed faith and worship? This strikes the unprejudiced observer as an act of ecclesiastical treason which has no more claim to either concealment or forbearance than the acts of a traitor in the state.
Mr. Walsh's four hundred pages ought to open the eyes of all lovers of pure faith and uncontaminated church life. Here the veil of estheticism and elaborate ceremony is rent asunder from top to bottom. The real intent and tendency are here seen, of the artistic musical services, the spectacular display, the imposing ceremonial, the gorgeous man-millinery, the importations of papal notions and customs, such as the confessional, the mass, prayers for the dead, etc.; and behind all this outward pomp and grandeur we catch a glimpse of the real doctrines awl practises which, as Protestants, we abhor and denounce.
Mr. Walsh's book is not, however, the only expositor of this occult Jesuitism in the Euglish Church. One has only to put patent facts together to see that the tendencies of things are by no means latent only. Ritualism has been. getting bolder and more defiant for twentyfive years, until there is little hesitation as to open collision with the bishops, as well as with all remonstrants. Not only confusion, but anarchy prevails, and some diocesans confess, like the evangelical bishop of Liverpool, their practical helplessness to contend with the sons of Anak, that have their stronghold in the very "city of the priests;" and, alas! in too many cases the bishops themselves are either ritualists or connive at the evil which they ought to suppress.
No one disputes the right of men to follow conviction, or even tastes and preferences, in a land where liberty is supposed to have sway. But no man has a right to stay in a church after he is not in vital sympathy with its doctrine and polity; and above all, do common honesty and decency demand ,that there shall be obedience to law, regard for order, and a still more sacred respect for the personal obligations assumed and implied in the ministry of a church. For any man, while yet in a church or denomination, secretly or openly to defy its constitutional law and constituted authority, is a first-class offense against the common law of conscience.
The saddest part of this volume is perhaps the unveiling of the downright disingenuousness and sometimes deliberate deception and hypocrisy of men who have at least been credited with sincerity of conviction and loyalty to conscience. Surely no man can read these four hundred pages without a moral shudder at the atrocious frauds and unblushing lies which have characterized leading men in the Tractarian and ritualistic developments of the last sixty-five years. Ever since 1833, which Cardinal Newman markt as the starting point of the Tractarian movement, there has been in progress the forging of a chain of deceptions, to which link after link has been added. The Disciplina Arcant', or secret teaching of the early centuries of corruption, seems to have been revived; and the so-called " Economical" mode of teaching and arguing has been one of the prominent links in this chain. Cardinal Newman himself defines these two-one as "withholding the truth," the other, as "setting it out to advantage," quoting with approval the advice of Clement of Alexandria, who gives rules to guide the Christian in "speaking and writing economically: "
He both thinks and speaks the truth; except when cU1'eful treatment is necessary, and then, as a physician for the good of his patients, he will LIE, or rather utter a lie, as the sophists say. He gives hin/self up for the church.* Mr. Walsh's Look traces the history of the development of this Oxford movement, and, of course, our space permits scarcely an out· line of it. But anyone can see how natural the steps arc, from secret doctrines, learned not from the Word of God but from the church, to the erection of tradition as of coordinate value and authority with Scripture, and so on to the sanctioning of customs, not only extra· scriptural, but antiscriptural.
From the Ritualists themselves it is made plain that the secret societies within the Church of England were for « the dissemination of High Church principles," and that because the open declaration of this purpose would involve risk to its success, privacy and secrecy and subtlety were resorted to in place of publicity and straightforwardness. The names of the instigators of this movement were, so far and so long as possible, concealed. For fifteen years no list of brethren of the S. S. C. found its way into Protestant hands, and the printed lists had no dates or place;; of issue by which to be traced to their source and time of publication. It seems difficult to believe that such men as Cardinal Newman, Cardinal Manning, Dr. Pusey, Joshua Watson, Harrell Froude, Prof. Mozley, F. W. Faber, and even Mr. Gladstone could have winkt at such methods. A letter from Newman has been publisht, in which he confesses, "I expect to be called a papist when my opinions are known." Mr. Froude acknowledges that he is doing what he can « to proselytize in an underhand way," and it becomes too plain that many who have in public profest to be evangelicals, have in private made quite other professions, and belonged to secret societies, whose object was unmistakably Romish. Among the doctrines held back in reserve for the initiated only, were such as the atonement, free grace, etc., which we reckon fundamental and for universal acceptance. To conceal their real intent, some of these Tractarians were "crypto-papists," and actually wrote against popery while seeking to promote it, "teaching people Catholicism without their suspecting it," so "that they might find themselves Catholics before they were aware." t Newman is thus shown to have abused and denounced the Church of Rome to cover his real aims, and afterward, when his temporary purpose was answered, withdrawing all these charges.
*Secret History, etc., p. 2. t Ibid, page 10. A letter is publisht from Rev. Wm. G. Ward, who was Newman's successor in Jeading the Tractarians, in which he confest that he no longer believed the English Church to be a part of the true Church at all, but" felt bound to retain his external communion with her mem- bers, because he believed that he was bringing many of them. toward Rome" (p. 15). We are not surprised that such a man upheld equivo- cation, and said, " Make yourself clear that you are justified in decep- tion, and then LIE LIK E A TROOPER" (p. 16). Newman's" Cmnobitinm "at Littlemore, was ostensibly a "hall"
for students, in reality a monastery, as he acknowledged to a friend. Yet he elaborately and in terms denied this to the bishop of Oxford.
We can understand his Apologia, in the light of such conduct, when he says: "'l'here is some kind or other of verbal misleading which is not sin;" but we fail to see that such use of words is " not sin." Mr. Walsh brings to the light of noonday not only the secret history of the Oxford mQvement, but the Society. of the Holy Cross, the secrecy of the ritualistic confessional, and the Priest in absolu- tion, the Order of Corporate Reunion, the ritualistic sisterhoods, the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament, etc.
As to Ritualism, a careful study of the Old Testament will reveal similar snares, exposed long ago, in the golden calf of Aaron, the brazen serpent of Moses, the ephod of Gideon, Micah's house of gods, the carved altar of Ahaz, etc., all of which are recorded for our admo- nition.
WHAT IS TO BE DONE?
And now, in V18W of all this, and much more that can not here be written, the solemn crisis is now before the whole Church of G09., to be met fairly and squarely and promptly, viz: What are Protestants going to do about the ritualizing and Romanizing tendencies so patent, especially in prelatical churches?
For ourselves, it seems that there is much talk about ritualism which does not touch the core and root of the evil, which is sacerdotalism, or priestly pretension. A priest is something foreign to New Testament ideas, since all believers are in Christ priests, having priestly access and prerogatives. The word priest is justified as an abbrevia- tion of presbyter)" but practically it is a corruption of the Scriptural term, and represents one who (pre-sto) stands b~fore God in place of the believer-assuming the mediatorial place and function.
Whatever be the etymology, modern sacerdotalism is a subtle system of imposture which p~d8 a human being between the believer and Christ. It establishes a merely human and arbitrary medium of approach, thus preventing immediate access to and fellowship with God. It renders every believer or inquirer liable to forfeit all true blessing by the fallible and even false natrure of that mediation which alike perverts his conceptions of Divine things, and misleads him in his supposed conformity to the Divine will. It is an unwarranted priestly -intrus-ion between a human soul and God.
To see this clearly we need only to put these pretensions together. To consider the confessional, prayers for the dead, etc., apart from this system, is to lose their main significance. These are not disjecta membra, but members in a body to which they belong, and in which, with singular skill, they are fitted to their place. ·There are at least seven parts to this body of doctrine: 1. Priestly ordinat-ion. 2. Priestly regeneration. 3. Priestly indoctrination. 4. Priestly absolution. 5. Priestly confirmation. 6. Priestly admint·stration. 'I. Priestly intercession. In other words, ordination, baptismal regeneration, tradition, confession, confirmation, the real presence, and prayers for the dead.
1. The basis of all the rest is Priestly Ordination, which puts priestly intervention between a believer and his right to act as a minister of Christ, and is supposed to confer, by a sort of succession in grace, the Divine authority to preach and administer sacraments. In the primitive days all believers preacht (Acts viii: 1-4, xi: 19, 20), and Philip baptized, tho he was set apart for a temporal office, and was, therefore, a "layman," and one case breaks the sacred line. Priestly ordination is the head of the whole system of sacerdotalism, and, if granted, it carries the rest with it by making a human authority necessary for all ministry, so that one is dependent for all else upon such priestly intervention.
2. Then follows Baptismal Regeneration, which puts the' ordained priest between the infant child and the church. Infant baptism becomes the means of regenerating the infant with the Holy Spirit and engrafting the child upon the body of Christ.
3. Next follows Priestly Interpretation or indoctrination, which puts the priest between the baptized child and the Word of God. The priest becomes the teacher of the child, and churchly tradition the practical source of authority. Wherever the testimony of Scripture is considered doubtful, tradition interprets it; and wherever the two conflict, tradition takes precedence. Hence the Bible is not a safe book to be put into the hands of any but priests.
4. Priestly Absolution naturally follows. The child is supposed to err, fall short, commit sin, and the only way to get clear of it is by the way of the confessional. This puts the priestly intervention between the sinner and Divine forgiveness.
5. Next follows Priestly C011;firnwtion, in which is supposed to he found the channel of grace to the believer, as in ordination to the priestly candidate. This puts priestly intervention between the "child of the church" and the Holy Spirit.
6. Then comes Priestly Administration of the Eucharist, whereby some mysterious change-transubstantiation, consubstantiation, or whatever it be called-takes place, in priestly hands, in the" bread and cup," so that they become the body and blood of the Lord. Hence the Lord's table becomes an altar, and the Supper a sacrifice. This puts pri~stly intervention between the child of the church and Christ's atoning death and sustaining life. .
7. l<'inally come Prayors for the Dead. The soul departing lingers in some intermediate state of more or less imperfect and disciplinary suffering, until priestly intercession relieves it of disabilities, and promotes fuller entrance into the heavenly estate. This puts priestly intervention between the human spirit and final entrance into glory. "Vhat must the dying thief have done with no priest to baptize, instruct, confirm, absolve, administer the" real presence," or pray for the repose of his soul!
To put all this together is to see the singular and subtle completeness of the whole system. If priestly ordination is the head of this body of sacerdotal pretension, we may compare baptismal regeneration to the breath which gives life; priestly interpretation, to the brain which supplies thought; priestly absolution, to the hands which apply cleansing water; priestly Eucharistic administration, to the mouth which receives food; priestly confirmation, to the blood which affords vigor; and prayers for the dead to the feet whereby all final advance within the doors of heaven is secured.
It is not necessary to contend that for nonti of these features of modern sacerdotalism there is any Scriptural foundation. All most subtle error is at bottom a half truth, and herein often lies its fatal character; but whenever even a Scriptural truth or practise is lifted into unscriptural prominence, or is linkt with other unscriptural teachings and practises £t becomes error. Truth is wholly such only while it holds its true position and true relation. The most sacred teaching if made to uphold error, becomes practically erroneous.
The question is whether any permanent and thorough cure of the existing malady in the church can be found until disciples renounce the whole system ~f sacerdotalism as such, and return to the simple New Testament faith and life. A system of idolatry is the inevitable outcome of the present growth of the sacerdotal pretensions which too many meet with practical apathy. The priest is virtually assuming Divine prerogatives; in the eyes of the victims of sacerdotal superstition, the water of baptism is becoming holy water, the bread of the Lord's Supper an adorable" host," the confessional a throne of grace, the priest a Divine teacher and intercessor, and the church, instead of a mere helper in drawing nigh to God, a hopeless barrier-not a means to an end, but itself the end.
There seems to be no alternative but to "worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness," and disregard the claims of mere artistic and esthetic beauty. Under the guise of symbolism and sacramentarianism and sacerdotalism, we are in danger of creating new Nehushtans, and erecting new houses of idols under the name of Christian churches. A sagacio-us Christian philosopher iiaid thirty years ago, as he watcht the tendencies already too ilpparent in Protestant churches, that the only safety would be found in "excluding any practises not enjoined or encouraged in the New Testament."
WHAT RETRENCHMENT MEANS IN INDIA
WHAT RETRENCHMENT MEANS IN INDIA.
BY REV. JACOB CHAMBERLAIN, M.D., D.D., MADANAPELLE, INDIA.* Missionary of the Reformed Church in America.
U Self-support among the mission cnurches" is, it is true, the apostolic plan, and none are working harder toward that end than the missionaries who are pushing the founding of native churches in India. To our joy steady progress is being made. In church after church in India a majority of the members give one-tenth of their income for church support and evangelistic effort. Is that exceeded in happy, Christian America? But even that tenth makes but a small aggregate here, for the average income is so scant. "' To the poor is the Gospel preacht," has al ways been the glory of Christianity. Even under the preaching of the Apostles, "not many mighty, not many noble" were called. In India, too, God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the mighty. But the mighty are not yet confounded. It is still the weak. As yet those of our converts who have any property are, usually, in some way, stript of it all, on embracing Jesus Christ as their Savior. In few of our upcountry congregations is the average total income of our members equal to seven dollars per month, while in hosts of our small village congregations the total income, per family; is not twenty-five dollars per year. And in these last three famine years often the village catechist, or pastor, himself on a salary of from three to six dollars pei' month for 'self and family, has had, out of that S11m, to keep a pot of conjee, or gruel, boiling all the day, to deal out a little to the hungry or starving of his flock, or of inquirers.
What does retrenchment mean in India? I will give you a few composite photographs taken from those working in different mis-' sio~s, and from these safe general conclusions may be drawn, without a tedious array of statistics.
THE DISAPPOINTED HOPE.
" Good' news, wife, good news," called Mr. G., as he sprang from the horse on which he had ridden twenty-three miles from a trip in the district. "The people of three hamlets near Kotur have given up their idols, pledged themselves to observe the Sabbath, and to obey all Christian teachings so fast as they are taught them. They promise to send their children to school to learn to read the Bible and Christian books, and I have promist to give them two teachers, for two of the hamlets are near each other, and one school will do for * I have recently met, in conference, missionaries of fourteen different societies, and we have compared notes. We have told one another of our joys, yes, and of our sorrows, and disappointments too, for on many of those missions the ax of retrenchment has fallen, fallen heavily, for from 10 to 20 per cent. of the annual expenditure for work on the field has, in several instances, been cut off, and from the fulness of their hearts, and mine. I speak.-J. C. both. They are in hereditary servitude to the head man of the neighboring caste town, and are wretchedly poor, but they seem to be really in earn,st. We shall get hold of their children, even if we do not make very intelligent Ohristians out of the older people. Now if that extra two hundred dollars that I askt for in the new year's appropriation comes, it will just cover the absolutely necessary outlay in these three villages, and in the two that I received last month, eighteen miles south. There is evidently a movement toward Ohristianity among these downtrodden people, and if we can only provide them with teachers, we shall see a grand ingathering. ThankGod for giving us this opening, for which we have long been praying and working."
His wife tried to look glad, but failed, as she led him in for the cup of tea and slice of toast she had prepared since seeing him come over the knoll a mile away, and until he had had this refreshment she would not tell him of the home mail, with iLs freight of crushing news that had come during his absence.
He needed the refreshment, for even then his hands trembled as he held the letter and read the imperative orders for a ten per cent. retrenchment on the last year's expenditure, instead of his hopt-for expansion, and then, putting his head on his hands, the strong man sobbed. a Then these seekers to whom I have promist the bread of life must go back and feed 011 their old ashes. 0 God, what does Thy Ohurch mean thus to play fast and loose with thirsty souls ?-to send me to proclaim in all this district' Ho, everyone that thirsteth, come ye to the waters,' and then strike the cup of the water of life from their lips as they bend to drink. Merciful Jesus, show Thy Ohurch what they are doing."
THE ABANDONED MISSION SCHOOL.
The heart of Mr. K., missionary at 'renevur, had been greatly ,:sladdened two years before, by the reception of a petition from the town of Bibinagar, twenty miles west, signed by the leading inhabitants, Brahmans, merchants, artisans, farmers, begging him to take under his charge, as a mission school, an Anglo-vernacular school which they had establisht a few years before for the education of their sons. They exprest their perfect willingness to have him introduce the Bible, as a text-book, in each class, every day, for they had noticed that the study of the Bible elevated the character of those who studied it, even tho they did not become Ohristians.
He found these people in earnest. The fees paid by the boys entirely supplied the salaries of the present masters. The missionary put in better teachers, and added a new Bible mastm.. In two years the people had grown to appreciate the school so much that higher fees could be collected. But, with the Bible master, it still required one hundred dollars per year from mission funds to keep it up. It was worth it. Ohristianity was gaining its first foothold in that town, in that taluk, or county. '1'he people were listening with respect, and attention, and interest, to the weekly preaching.
Then a heavy letter came from the home board; heavy with heartache. "Retrenchment, immediate, must be made at all the stations." The proportion falling on Tellevur was Rs. 1,000 (three hundred dollars). Sadly Mr. K. went over every expenditure, cut off Rs. 50 here, 75 there, 100 in another place; dismist three native agents, tho t.hey knew of no other employment; and yet there was Rs. 300 (one hundred dollars) more that must be cut off. No other way could be found. The Bibinagar school had to be gIven np. The Bible teacher was obliged to leave. It was reorganized as a heathen school, and Bibinagar was envelopt in its pristine darkness.
THRUST BACK INTO HEATHENISM.
"Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so," sang Sikamani (Orown-jewel), the little Brahman girl, as she entered her fathu's house from Miss R's caste girls' school in Singapuram, and her musical voice rang through the zenana apartments. "Here, my lotus blossom, what is that you are singing? Who is Jesus? and what is the Bible?" asked her kindly-faced grandmother. "Oome and sit down, and tell us all about it."
It was a leisure hour, and all the zenana women gathered and, seated on the mats around, listened while little" Orown-jewel" sang more of the beautiful songs Miss v. R. had taught them, in their own vernaculars. Then she told them all she had learned about that loving Jesus "who died that we all, yes, we women too, may be saved." Daily in this Brahman's home, in merchants' and artisans' homes, were such scenes witnest since Miss v. R. had, one year before, opened the first Hindu girls' school in all that region. The school had filled its building in the Brahman street, and Miss v. R. had just engaged to rent another in the Goldsmiths' street, and open another school, and already scores of pupils had made application to be received.
Miss v. R. had come horne joyously from completing the arrangements, making melody in her heart unto the Lord for giving her such opportunities, for she was already getting an entrance into one and another of her pupils' homes, to talk with their mothers and aunts. On her table lay the evening letters. One, from the secretary of the mission, she seized, opened, read, and sank into a chair, while disappointment and despair, too dry for tears, shook her slender frame. "Kiiling retrenchments ordered from home. No appropriations for Hindu girls' school. Must close them all from end of next month." That school cost Rs. 225, or $75 per year. The llew one would cost the same. But the home church was too poor to afford the $150, so the order had come as to all those Hindu homes into which the light was beginning to steal, "Shut out the light, shut in the darkness."
DR. ANNA AND HER PATIENTS.
Dr. Anna B., sent out five years before, had opened ou~ a very fine and desperately needed medical work in Bilanagar. Her hospital with twenty beds for in-patients was always filled, while the hundred out-patients daily were blest with her medicines, her skill, and her prayers. The seeds of the kingdom were daily sown in hundreds of grateful souls. Some seemed germinating. More patients were begging for treatment than she could possibly receive on her appropriations. She had sent a strong appeal for an increase in funds, and an assistant or associate, as the work was more than she could do. "Impossible. Funds not coming in. Can not keep up even present appropriations. Retrench 15 per cent. from January 1st. Imperative."
Sick at heart she went over every expenditure to see where she could possibly cut down. Medicines and necessaries for treatment must be had. A small reduction was possible in a few minor points, but on " diets of in-patients" must nearly the whole reduction fall. There was no help for it. Hereafter but ten of the twenty beds could be filled, for the people coming from distant villages were all too poor to provide food for themselves away from home. Ten beds were packt away, as they were vacated. The remaining ten were all filled with important cases, and Dr. Anna prayed for a hard heart, to enable her to refuse others.
"Will the dear lady doctor please come and see a dying woman in Kallur, four miles north?" A young mother, fourteen years old, whom native midwives had horribly maltreated, from want of skill and knowledge, was what she found. Her life still might be saved by the utmost skill and care, if she could be placed in a hospital, not otherwise. " Bring her in on her bed. I will try." Half way back and Dr. Anna was stopt at a hamlet to see a young girl, terribly gored by a bull. "Bring her in too." As she neared the hospital a woman wrapt in a blanket tied as a hammock to a long bamboo, and "borne of four," was laid 011 the veranda of the hospital, with foot dropping off from gangrene, the result of the bite of a poisonous, but not deadly, serpent. The love of Jesus pulsed in Dr. Anna's heart. She could not say no. "Take her in," and so of two others equally needy who came. Bu t how were they to be fed?
Dr. Anna had already devoted all she could spare from her small salary to purchase additional medicines for the growing throngs of out-patients. Now, to feed these, her suffering sisters, while they were being healed she gave up the more expensive articles in her own die'.:;, meat, eggs, fruit, etc., and struggled on, giving her every energy to her increasing number of patients, and working harder, if possible, even on her unnourishing diet. Months thus sped by. One morning she fainted at her work, and fell upon the masonry floor of her hospital. An adjacent missionary was hastily called. An English doctor of experience and skill came from the large town near. "Nervous prostration and threatening paralysis, from overstrain and lack of nourishment. Must be put on the first steamer and sent home as the only hope," was his unhesitating verdict.
Her board had saved one hundred dollars by the cut, and paid two hundred dollars to take home poor wreckt Dr. Anna B. The sick were deserted, and the hospital closed. The murmur went aro'und the home land, "What a mysterious Providence that strong and vigorous Dr. Anna B. should be stricken down after only six years of service, and just when she was most needed."
These incidents occurred in no one mISSIOn, in no one year. But they are true illustrations of what are the terrible burdens put upon her missionaries by the wholesale retrenchments ordered by the home church, in ignorance, let us hope, of the havoc they sometimes necessitate. Only a few of the actual workings of retrenchment have been pictured, for my heart is too heavy to gaze further myself, or open to the gaze of others all that a ten or twenty per cent. reduction involves. For here and there, in this mission and that, it means all that I have pictured, and more.
Retrenchment means the dismissing of faithful eatechists in halfinstructed little village congregations of those too poor and hungry themselves to feed the catechist and his family. It means the sending away of Bible women, and zenana workers who are gaining an entrance, or are eagerly welcomed in many houses where" the Sweetest Name" is beginning to be lispt. It means the closing of scores of day-schools attended by the worshipers of Vishnu or followers of Mohammed, who, in those schools, are daily reading and learning the teachings of the Nazarene. It means the giving up of preaching tours in "the regions beyond," with glad invitations to the Gospel feast. It means the closing or cutting down of schools for training young men and young women to be the 'l'imothys, and the Loises, ye~, the Barnabases and Pauls of the militant church of Christ in India. It means the sending out word to all seeking communities who are too poorto pay for a teacher," Don't give up yonI' idols and avow yoursel yes Christians now, for we can send no one to teach you how to find and follow Jesus! "
o Christ, who seest Thy crippled work, rrhy delayed chariot in India, rouse, rouse Thy people to a just appreciation of what they themselves owe to Thee; of what rrhou dost expect of them. Summon, with insistent voice, those redeemed by Thee to become Thy working partners in that stupendous work, the salvation of a sin-lost world.
1899.J PUERTO RICO AND THE PUERTO RICANS
PUERTO RICO AND 'l'HE PUEHTO mCANS.
BY REV. W. H. SLOANE, ~IEXICO.* The island of Puerto Hico is the summit of a mountain that rises five miles from the depths of the Caribbean Sea. It is a parallelogram in shape, its length from east to west beillg about one hundred and eight miles, and its average breadth thirty-seven miles. It has an area of about 3,530 square miles, or slightly less than that of the State of Connecticut or the island of Jamaica. It lies some 1,500 miles sOftheast of New York, and seventy miles ~ast of Hayti, and is the smallest and most easterly of the greater AntIlles. I Puerto Rico is an island of great beauty. Its numerous rivers, prolific soil, and humid climate, contribute to produce a luxuriant vege- tation, surpast by no other part of the West Indies. Hilly in the interior, with level lowlands around the coast, and innumerable valleys extending in beautiful vistas in all directions, every foot of soil invites to cultivation. Broad reaches of sugar-cane on the lower levels, fringed and dotted with the coconut palm, give place ufter a while to extensive tobacco fields, and these in turn are followed up the hills and mountain sides by the waxen-leaved coffee plant, yielding its aromatic berry under the shade of the broad banana. These heights are tilled almost to their summits, and it would be difficult to find anywhere in the interior of Puerto Rico an acre of soil that does not contribute in some way to the sustenance of man.
Besides the staples mentioned, sugar, coffee, and tobacco, cotton, • Mr. Sloane has recently returned from a tour in Puerto Rico, and has kindly furnisht this article, together with photographs taken by himself. See also map in our ~larch number. rice, corn, sweet potatoes, bananas. and oranges are produced. The rice is a mountain variety whicho does not need flooding, and with imported codfish, forms the principal article of food among the laboring classes. On the lowland pastures, of which there are many, excellent beef cattle are reared. A good military road, constructed at immense cost to the government, traverses the island from San Juan to Ponce, with a branch or Y leading from Cayey to Guayama. One great need of the island is good roads and bridges. 'rhe journey across the hills can 11e performed only on horseback. Fortunately for travelers, the horses, diminutive animals, have an easy canter, and a ride on one of them is a delightful experience.
Puerto Rico has been misgoverned and exploited by rapacious officials to a point almost inconceivable.* The haciendas, or planta- tions, have been largely owned by Spaniards. 'rhe extortion practist by the Spanish tax-gatherers, along with other ·abuses of a similar nature, made the ownership of land and the carrying 011 of any business on the part of native Puerto Ricans almost an impossibility. From the beginning of Spanish rule, the inhabitants of the island have suffered a boycott in almost every industry they have undertaken. Indeed it Jllay be doubted whether the Spaniards themselves, who OWli the land, ever made a tithe as much ont of it as did the officials who governed them.
THE PEOPLE AND THEIR CHARACTERISTICS.
The total population amounts to about 800,000, of whom the Spaniards, or "Peninsulares," form a small but commercially dominant class. The children of these Spaniards, born on the island, are known as Puerto Ricans, and in Spain they are compelled to move in a lower social circle than do their parents. The Gibaros, or small land owners and day laborers of the country districts, are a curious old stock modified by Carib descent. A still ].ower class has a large mixture of negro blood. All speak Spanish, but with a rapid a~.'ticulation, a dropping of the" s," and a changing of the "1''' into" I" that make their language very exasperating to a lover of the old Castilian.
The ni1tives of Puerto Rico are slight in physique, and more or less consumptive in appearance, altho vigorous frames are occasionally seen. The anemic cO);ldition of the middle ana lower classes is said to be dUll partly to the constant intermarriages that have taken place in this small island during the past 400 years, and partly to the treatment received at the hands of their rulers, who seemingly spared • Ever since the island was conquerBJi by Ponce de Leon in 1508, and the origina~ Carib inhabitants reduced to subjection, Puerto Rico has been a Spanish possession. For three centuries It was a penal station, then a colony, and after 1870 a province of Spain. When discovered by Columbus in 1493 it was known a's Borinquen, and this word in its adjective form has entered largely into the language of the country. Pohce de Leon called the island Puerto Rico, or "Rich Haven," from the fertile appearance of the country. The last traces of slavery were abolisht in 1873 by the abrogation of the ~ystem of forced labor. American supremacy was completely establisht in the island on the 18th of October, 1898.-W. H. S. no effort to repress every aspiration, and crush every enterprise, that showed themselves among this intelligent and generous-hearted people. With wages ranging from $1.00 per day down to twenty bananas (which were often considered sufficient for the support of a laborer's family), and even this wage paid in depreciated silver or unripe fruit, it is not to be wondered at that the average Puerto Rican looks more like a walking corpse than a living being. Naturally bright and vivacious, quick and eager to learn, of great kindliness of spirit, hospitable to a degree, remarkably docile and patient under restraint, intensely loyal to the soil on which he was born, he has been represt, boycotted, over-taxt and over-workt, under-fed and scantily clad, until hope was well nigh extinct in his bosom. Is it to be wondered at that, when the Stars and Stripes were unfurled over his native soil, A PUERTO RICAN FAMILY.
he should rush toward them, wild with delirious joy, and, with bursting heart, should thank God that the year of jubilee had come?
A few of the Puerto Ricans are well-to-do; a larger number manage to live in some sort of comfort, altho their scantily-furnisht shed-like dwellings offer few attractions to the visitor from northern climes. The great majority of the people are poor, and one wonders how they live. Day after day we have watcht the open apartments of indigent families, members of which had no employment, where no food seemed to enter, no table was spread, and no fire was kindled for culinary purposes. The routine of family life went on day after day, save that all labor and all partaking of food and drink were left out of the account.
For the poor, the blind, and the maimed, there are no asylums, and but few hospitals for the sick. One is astonisht at the number of malformed children he meets on the street, but learns that a larger number died in infancy. The conditions of life are such that infant mortality is very great. Little regard is paid by the authorities to the death and burial of the indigent. In the city of Oaguas the dying poor are removed to a room adjoining the cemetery, where they may breathe their last close by their final resting-place, and leave their measure for the grave before the expiring breath has departed from the body. Frequently corpses are placed in the shallow graves without box or coffin, or one coffin is made to serve for many funerals. 'rhe bones of the dead are constantly being removed from graves on which the annual tax has not been paid, in order to make room for new interments.
Ooncubinage is very common, almost the rule, in fact, and is not regarded with the disfavor that such a life would cause in the United States. The exorbitant fees demanded by the Roman Oatholic Ohurch for the solemnization of the marriage ceremony has brought about an almost total disregard of the sanctity of the marriage relation. The number of illegitimate children is largely in excess of the legitimate, and many of the priests have families.
RELIGION AND EDUCATION.
The inhabitants of Puerto Rico are Roman Oatholics, but the hold that the church has upon them is very slight. Ohurch and State have been so closely identified that the oppression exerted by the Spanish government has weakened the influence of the clergy. Religious services in all parts of the island are poorly attended, and the catechetical instruction of the children has been greatly neglected. Those evidences of rigid training that are seen in Mexico, and South American countries, are here absent. Many country districts have no churches, and the monasteries and convents that have been founded have never taken deep root in the Puerto Rican soil, nor been to the liking of the Puerto Rican people. Now that Ohurch and State are separated, as a result of the war, many priests, deprived of governmental support, are leaving for Spain. Some remain in hopes of aid from the United States government, and some are endeavoring to educate their congregations to look after the temporal wants of their pastors. The change brought about in the Oatholic ecclesiastical system in Puerto Rico has, for the time being, by its suddenness and force, dazed the adherents of th~ Roman Ohurch.
There is but slight observance of the Sabbath in Puerto Rico. A few people attend mass in the forenoon, and still fewer the vesper service in the afternoon. More or less traffic is carried on during the day, cock-fighting and gambling in all its forms are common, and the chief operas and plays are given in the theaters. Rum is one of the beverages most used by the lower classes, altho drunkenness is not common. All classes, and both sexes, smoke tobacco. Religious processions are not so frequent as in Central and South America, nor is the" devotion" shown the viaticum, when carried on the street, so great as we have seen it in Mexico. Take it all in all, Roman Catholicism on the island is noticeable chiefly for the absence of religious life and spirit, for the indolence of its clergy, and the indifference of its adherents. The people are longing for a new faith, and in every part of the island throng with eagerness to listen to a preacher who brings them the glad tidings of the Gospel. Americans are regarded as the liberators of the inhabitants from a hated political system, and they, better than any other people, are qualified to carry the message of salvation to the Puerto mcans.
Education in Puerto Rico is at a low ebb. Parochial schools are scarce and poor in quality. 0nly one governor-general has ever manifested any interest in the education of the Puerto Rican youth; his rule was short, and the measures he adopted, looking toward the establishment of a better school system, proved ineffective. Spanish youth have been sent to Spain or France to be educated, and the provision made for the schooling of the remaining 125,000 boys and girls has been lacking in both quality and thoroughness, and to only a _ limited extent has ad vantage been taken of it. Spanish statistics are notoriously untrustworthy, and they furnish but meager data on which to base exact conclusions regarding education in the island. The pu blic schools are a little over five hundred in number, are partly supported by a government fund, but depend mainly upon tuition fees, from which the very poor, however, are exempt. At the breaking out of the war between Spain and the Uni~ed States, these fees amounted to about 350,000 Puerto Rican dollars pel' year, say $212,333 in American money. The teachers were poorly paid for their services, and we were informed by a number of them that months would go by without their receiving any salary, and that it was not an uncommon thing to lose their stipend altogether.
A careful computation regarding the illiteracy of the inhabitants shows that about eighty-seven per cent. can neither read nor write. There is a compulsory school law, but it remains a dead letter. No one has ever been arrested for not sending his children to school. The system of education is not greatly unlike that followed in the United States. The primary school receives children of five years of age and under. Then come the intermediate, the grammar, and the superior schools. In the rural districts we seldom met with a school of any kind. The primary schools are taught by women, the others by both sexes. The teachers do not show a high grade of efficiency, but manifest a strong desire to qualify themselves more thoroughly for the better work that will now be expected of them. There are ~hree schools for adults on the island, but the attendauce is extremely
SOME FEATURES OF THE HISTORY OF THE C. M. S
slight. Puerto Rico has never had a university. An institution known as a " collegiate institute," located in the capital, has afforded some opportunity to students to acquire a knowledge of the classics, and of physics, geology, botany, algebra, chemistry, and history. The laboratories are poorly furnisht, mechanical apparatus is antiquated and worn out, and the facilities for obtaining a careful scientific train.ing generally very imperfect. Very few students remain through the four years' course. It is said that both sexes have equal access to the privileges of the institution, and that three young ladies have there taken their degrees. Spanish prejudice, however, is strong against the higher education of women, and it will be long before any large number of them seek a college course. At present a desire is strongly exprest on the part of all classes that teachers, qualified in both English and Spanish, be sent from the United States to Puerto Rico to take charge of the work of instruction, and introduce into the schools the methods and studies that have made our own the admiration of the world.
If the strong desire exprest by the Puerto Ricans, that missionaries of the Gospel be sent them, and school teachers be provided for the schools that now languish, be met by the people of the United States, we see no reason why Puerto Rico may not become the choicest of the possessions lately acquired by us. What the island now needs is a reenforcement of hope, the infusion of new religious and intellectual vigor, the creation of new aspirations, the establishment of new ideals; in a word, the evangelic faith, and all that follows it.
SOME FEATURES OF THE HISTORY OF THE CHURCH MISSIONARY SOUIETY.-II.
BY REV. T. A. GURNEY, M.A., LL.B., DORSET, ENGLAND.
It is interesting and profitable to mark some of the special influences at work in the development of the Church Missionary Society throughout its whole history.
First there is noticeable the VARIETY OF CAUSES WHICH LED TO THE ORGANIZATION OF JfISSIONS throughout the hundred years. There are missions which precede all pioneering, trade, or government, missions which follow in the wake of exploration, but precede trade and government; missions suggested by trade openings, missions inspired by political events, and missions whose initiative springs from a statesmanlike conception of what the mission as a whole aims to acoornplish.
1. The best illustration of a mission UJhiclt preceded pioneering, and gave the impetus to trade and government, is the Eastern Equatorial African Mission, founded by the intrepid missionary Krapf. When, in 1844, he went forth from Zanzibar to Mobas with a letter from the all-powerful Imam of Muscat and Sultan of Zanzibar, inform- ing the coast governors that he was" a good man who wishes to convert the world to God," nothing ,,:as known behind the actual coast line, then in the possession of that sultan from Cape Guardafui to Cape Delgado. For the civilized world it was a vast terra incognita, a blank on the maps, a region which most people imagined to be desert and sandy waste. The idea that behind that wall of torrid coast line lay such wonders as the Lakes Albert and Victoria Kyanza, such mountains as Kenia and Kilimanjaro, such uplands as healthy, fertile Uganda, such rivers as the Nile and, further west, the Kongo, would then have seemed a Utopian dream. It is most significant that it was a missionary, bent on his Master's work, who first peered over the wall, who first broke the zariba barrier of forest tribes at the peril of his life, who first laid thc trophy of the new age for Africa on the lonesome shore in the bodies of wife and child, who first astonisht the world with a record of journeys, in which his colleague Rebmann shared, so strange in their results that the geographers of Germany and England laught at them as myths. Yet this was the man who afterward wrote to fellow-missionaries the counsel to "resist with all the power of faith, of prayer, and of truth the mood of despondency and faint-heartedness which would say, with the men sent out to spy the land of Canaan, " We are not able to go up against the people, for they are stronger than we." The pioneering of Burton, Speke, Baker, Livingstone, and Stanley, came about as the direct result of that missionary work, and once again in the history of the world, the nations have inherited the blessing.
2. The Uganda mission gives an illustration of our second type. It is a mission following in the wake of exploration, but preceding trade and government. The challenge of Stunley to the Christian churches of America and England, from the court of Mtesa in 1875, led to the first offer of men and means, the mission work of Alexander Mackay, the episcopates of Hannington, Parker, and Tucker, the progress and fiery trial of the infant church, the opening up of trade, the railway, and the political protectorate. Krapf wrote nearly fifty years ago, "Accept little or nothing from political changes in Africa; it is a vital mistake to make the results of missionary enterprise depend upon the powers that be." The troubles since Europe intervened in East Africa bear fatal witness to the truth of this prophecy.
3. As an instance of missions 81lggested by trade openings, the Niger, Yoruba, and Northwest Canadian missions may be noted. Th~ course of the Niger had been determined in 1830 by Lander. In 1839 a Society for the Civilization of Africa was inaugurated through the energies of Fowell Buxton, whose watchword that" the Bible and the plow together should regenerate Africa," was accepted by the C. M. S., and two mission ag-ents accompanied the expedition in 18H, The expedition, tho lauoncht under the auspices of Prince Albert, proved a failure, but a second and third expedition followed in 1854 and 1857, and these were accompanied by Samuel Crowther. Thus step by step, following in the wake of trade, mission stations were planted. The demoralization caused by trade influences afterward, especially the liquor traffic, has been one of the greatest obstacles of the missiou.
4. An example of missions inspired by political events is to be found in the Punjab and Sindh missions, which sprang in 1851 from the two Sikh wars and the annexation of the country. 'fhe Japan mission, in which the C. M. S. only followed in the wake of the Amer- ican mission, started in 1869 from the great revolution which had created modern Japan, and which gave a limited opening in the coun- try. The China mission was the outcome of the two Chinese wars of 1841 and 1858-9, with their opening of the treaty ports to Western powers. The abandoned Constantinople mission sprang from the Crimean war, and the mission to the Bhils of western India from the efforts of the Indian government and Sir James Outram to raise them.
5. Among missions whose initiative springs from a statesman-like conception of missionary work as a whole, we may mention the early efforts to revive the Eastern churches with a view to reaching the heathen through them-the original design of the mission to the ancient church of 'fravancore, and the occupation, in the earlier years of the century, of Egypt. In each case the society aimed at something beyond the mission itself-the employment of it as a vantage ground from which to reach, through Greeks, Syrians, or Copts, the heathen of the world.
THE INFLUENCE OF LAYMEN.
A second influence, and one full of interest, is the influence of lay- men. We have seen what the C. M. S. owes in its first commencement to such laymen as Wilberforce, Grant, 'fhornton, Zachary Macaulay, and others of the" Clapham sect." But for their energies of organization and liberal supply of the sinews of war the missionary discussions of the Eclectic Society might have remained academical for years to come.
When the society actually took footing eleven out of the twenty-four who composed the original committee were laymen, and a layman has always since been the president of the society. The direct influence of laymen in those earlier years upon special questions of missionary pol- icy, such as Sierra Leone and India, was enormous. But when we come to the actual missionary work proper, the same influence is manifest. In fact from the first the C. M. S. has been an enterprise of the Church of England upon a lay footing, reflecting at each ~tage of its history, as it markedly does to-day, lay principles, lay ideas, lay methods.
Hence, it has been, and remains, sturdily Protestant, stanchly and pon-apologetically evan$"elical, and, :perhaps, sometimes a littlt;l undul! suspicious of ecclesiastical influences. It has expressly disclaimed, especially at one crisis of its history, any au thority to "send forth" in Christ's name, an authority exercised by the bishops of the church at the ordination of each missionary, claiming to be, in the words of Henry Venn's defense, "an institution for discharging the temporal and lay offices necessary for the preaching of the Gospel among the heathen." Perhaps its success has largely lain, under God, to this moderate attitude, for it has enabled clergy and laity to work heartily together without any heart-burnings. The constitution of the central committee of the society is a reflection ·of ·this feature. It is not a com- mittee of clergy at home-a band of amateurs unacquainted with the actual conditions of the mission field abroad. The committee com- prises (a) retired Anglo-Indians, high civil and military officers, who have governed provinces and commanded armies; (b) veteran mission- aries, returned after many years' work of active service; (c) a few bankers and lawyers, who bring to the financial and legal aspects of the work all their business experience; (d) members of the home ministry, wo::-king side by side with laymen and missionaries, bringing their spiritual inspiration and practical home knowledge.
This feature has undoubtedly quickened the zeal and enthusiasm of laymen, which, to this day, marks its whole history. In a church not remarkable always for the success of its development of laymen's work, this has stood out as the bright exception It is surprising how many missions C. M. S. owes to their conception, design, and first start. The first mission to Ceylon, not long after its annexation, was due to the appeals of Sir Alexander Johnson, the chief justice of the island, for a C. M. S. association there. The mission to the West Indies was also due to the same providential leading, in the offer of Mr. William Dawes, formerly governor of Sierra Leone, to act as hon- orary catechist.
The Himalaya mission was set on foot by officers and civilians at Simla, one of whom undertook to subscribe £-10 a month, and another of whom pledged himself to pay £60 annually for the rest of his life.
The Christian officers who won the Punjab for England, which, with its dependent states, is larger than the German Empire, were the ardent promoters of missionary enterprise. The Punjab mission sprang from a circular from those officers as a token of thanksgiving to God for the success of their arms. Within three years the Punjab C. M. Association was inaugurated, with generous support from John, afterward Lord, Lawrence, and Henry Lawrence. The deputy-com- missioner at Lahore built the first mission house there, and Lord Napier of Magdala designed the school house, whilst Sir Henry Lawrence raised the first girls' school in memory of his wife. At Sir Donald Macleod's initiative Multan was occupied as an important ·frontier station. Through the earnest prayers of Major Martin, who spent a part of each day in private supplication before God for the nE:)eds of the Punjab, upon the appointment of Major, afterward Sir, Herbert Edwardes, to Peshawar, as "the outpost of Indian empire," a mission was started there, the chief commissioner himself presiding over its launch. When the mutiny came it was that very province and those very officers who, by their loyalty and bravery, saved India. The very men who were foremost in evangelization and fearless in their devotion to Jesus Christ, were the men whose provinces refused to rebel, and whose soldiers marcht behind them enthusiastically to victory. And after the mutiny was over the same spirit was manifested even more strongly. Edwardes left his house at Peshawar, on his home coming to England, as a gift to the mission. And the very men who had saved India spoke ont most loudly, on their return home, against the old" Neutrality Policy" of the British government, a policy for ever ended by the significant words in recognition of Christianity, added by the queen herself to her proclamation assuming the direct government of India.
RAISING FUNDS AND AWAKENING INTEREST.
A glance must be taken at the methods of raising funds, of awakening or deepening interest, and of preparing candidates, which have markt the one hundred years. In the early days of the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, it was customary for the king to issue "royal letters," as they were called, commanding that collections should be made throughout the country for some special object, such as the relief of the West Indies from the results of a hurricane. Such royal letters were issued for the S. P. G., but for the newer O. M. S. there came no such royally-invited supplies. The first contributions were large private donations, and one chief source of income was the collection at the annual sermon, which sometimes, inasmuch as there were no local associations, amounted to £300. The total amount raised in the first five years was £2,467.
But in 1812, having twelve men already in the field and ten under training, the committee devised means, through Pratt, for an increase in their resources by means of local associations, the plan already adopted by the Bible Society. The main idea of these local associations was to obtain not only collections in churches, but penny-a-week collections from rich and poor alike. The first of these associations was formed in London, and Dewsbury comes second as the first provincial association, others soon following, Bristol soon taking the lead of all others.
In 1813 began the practise of sending leading clergy to different counties to preach sermons and address meetings, the West Riding of Yorkshire being the first district visited. The new move was regarded with much official suspicion, and trooted as one more evangelical innovation, but it was welcomed with great popular enthusiasm. "Penny associations" were started in many places, collectors undertaking to gather at least a penny a week from at least twelve persons through- out the year. Several ladies in different towns obtained hundreds of subscribers. From these efforts the income leapt up from £3,000 in 1812 to £30,000 in 1819-20.
The associations meanwhile multiplied in all parts of England, but there are in that early day no greater watering-places prominently on the list. By the jubilee the regular parochial associations had begun to take the place of the ladies' associations. Juvenile associa- tions and Sunday-schools were not yet prominent, nor sales of work, but one at York realizes £1,000 in 1839. The ordinary guinea sub- scriptions are the rule, with the penny-a-week collections and collec- tions in churches. Legacies have become an important addition, their yearly average, just previous to the jubilee, reaching £4,000.
Missionary boxes had also become a factor. In the war between America and England (1812), an American privateer captured a small Welsh collier in the Irish Ohannel. The captain of the privateer noticed in the cabin a strange little box, with a slit in it, and askt what it was. " Ah!" replied the Welshman, "I and my pOol' fellows drop a penny apiece every Sunday into that box to help to send missionaries to the heathen." "Indeed," exclaimed the American, "that's a good thing." And then, after a pause, "I won't touch your vessel nor a hail' of your heads." And the vessel, saved by its missionary box, went free.* The missionary boxes have become in recent years a very large source of income. So have juvenile associations, sales of work, and the further development of the local associations.
Ooming down to the present day, the whole country is now divided into districts, under association secretaries, who act as corresponding secretaries for their districts, and provide preachers and speakers, each diocese being divided into rural deaneries, embracing a group of neighboring parishes. These have, since 1860, had their own special ruridecanal secretary working with special knowledge of the district. In the case of great centers there are also auxiliaryassociations, such as the Bristol, Liverpool and southwest Lancashire, Manchester, and other associations. There are also county unions, whose object was never primarily the raising of funds, but many of them now have their own county missionary in the field, and raise funds for this purpose.
Fresh developments for widening interest have markt recent years. One of these is the Gleaners' Union for prayer and work, which commenced in 1886, and has a total membership from its first start of 102,- 216. The union supports its own missionaries, and also has become an * E. Stock's History of the C. M. S. I. 480. enormous incentive in local organization for all purposes. Another is the lantern and loan department, which commenced in 1881, for providing materials for meetings. 'rhe first lay-workers' union started in 1882, and now London has 600 members. The younger clergy unions now embrace twenty-one unions in federation, and the ladies' unions, the first of which dates from 1883, are doing very valuable work.
Differentiation in jin(1.nce has also markt recent years. The Missionary Leaves Association raises funds for special needs of special missions, such as the furniture of churches or schools and other equipment, and, tho started long previously, in 1883 it was first recognized as an ally of the society's work. Special gifts for particular missions are inspired by news from the field awakening thanksgiving or special interest.
But the greatest development has been in appropriated contributions for the support of our own missionaries. The idea was advocated in 1837, at the annual sermon, that each should have his or her own representative in the mission field, or that members of one congregation should combine to have their collective representative. But for many years the idea lay fallow, till in 1878 a "substitute for service fund" was opened at the instance of one clergyman, who gave £250 a year and afterward £500 till his death. In 1893, however, an appeal resulted in 48 missionaries being thus taken up, and in June, 1898, 300 were thus adopted wholly or in part, besides 63 who are selfsupporting.
Among more recent methods ~f awakening interest may be named missionary exhibitions, the first of which was held at Cambridge in 1882 ; also "missionary missions" and the "February simultaneous meetings." Missionary missions commenced in 1884, and the latter were held in 1886-87 in the chief towns all o'er the kingdom, not for collecting funds but for the deepening of the sense of missionary responsibility. The pttblications have also undergone great recent developments and are an immense source of deepened interest.' The O. M. S. Intelligencer is a missionary review for the thoughtful classes; the Gleaner, illustrated and in a popular style, has a very wide circulation; Awake does useful work among the working classes; the Ohildren's World carries its object in its name, and medical mjssions have now their own monthly, Mercy and Truth.
SELECTING AND PREPARING CANDIDATES.
From the first the C. M. S. wisely did not limit its choice of candi– dates for the mission field to clergymen and Englishmen. In fact it was impossible to do so because of the lack of men. Men were, therefore, accepted from foreign sources, particularly the Berlin Missionary Seminary, and these were ordained in Lutheran orders. The first Englishmen accepted were artisans, for Henry Martyn was not strictly a missionary, being one of the five chaplains who did so much to pre- pare the way for missionary work in India as Evangelicals under the influence of Simeon of Cambridge. The artisans were sent to New Zealand as industrial missionaries without ordination. Even when two candidates for ordination in England presented themselves, there was still the difficulty as to their actual ordination. This was, however, surmounted by their ordination to home work for a time in English curacies, and afterward the scruples of the bishops were overcome by an Act of Parliament, giving the bishops power to ordain for service abroad. Of course, long ago all such difficulties were entirely surmounted, and the candidates for the mission field from Islington College now form a feature of the London ordinations.
The choice of candidates has been widened comparatively, recently, by the acceptance of medical and female missionaries.
In 1865 the first medical mission of the C. M. S. was started by Dr. Elmslie in the native state of Kashmir. No work has grown with greater rapidity or been markt by more important results in China, throughout North India, in the Punjab, and Bengal, and among the great Mohammedan centers. A special medical department now deals with this work, raising funds which cover all the current expenditure for it, except the personal allowance of the missionary. Twenty-seven mission hospitals are scattered over the mission field, and to-day there are 53 medical missionaries, 1,252 beds in the various hospitals, and in 1897 treatment was given to 9,364 in-patients and 59,474 outpatients.
In 1885 Miss Harvey went to Africa as the first woman upon the modern roll of the C. M. S. female staff. There had been lady missionaries before working in girls' schools or otherwise, but there had been no systematic employment of women except in India, and there they workt under the zenana missionary societies, independently, tho in close alliance. In 1887 several women were accepted for mission fields not occu pied by the zenana societies. This step was soon followed by the sending of bands of female evangelists to Yoruba and Ceylon, and of trained women to East Africa, Palestine, and Japan. By 1895 200 women had been sent out, China having become meanwhile an important field for female work, and the coming of women missionaries to Uganda gave a new impetus to all the work.
The preparation of candidates for the mission field can not be more than toucht on here. In the earliest days this was accomplisht, as we have seen, by personal oversight and instruction. At length in 1825 a house was set apart at Islington as the first beginning of a training institution especially for Basle and Berlin men. This led to the present Islington College, which is the only missionary college provided by any society in England. The experiment has answered and some of the best men in the field have gone forth from thence. The methods of preparation and selection of candidates at home have become much more varied in recent years. There has also been abroad a similar development in such institutions as the Lahore Divinity School. Ridley Hall, Cambridge, has sent forth many graduates. The curriculum of Islington has been raised since 1868 and a more elementary preparatory institution has been provided at Clapham. Medical training is now paid for in the case of outgoing medical missionaries. A newly-formed candidates' department has been created for examination, advice, and oversight of candidates, and women are provided with three special homes, with two degrees of expense.
METHODS OF CONDUCTING MISSIONS.
Methods oj carrying on missions cover an immense field, for they embrace all the agencies, educational, medical, evangelistic, translational, and industrial, which form part of this highest enterprise of our Christian civilization. The field is so vast here that we can only view it in the aspects presented by the last fifteen years, regarding them in their unity as the diversified expression of modern Christian culture and devction. In no other sphere is a tax put upon gifts so many and so varied. Public schools and universities send forth their physique and learning. Islington or Ridley Hall, Cambridge, in many cases, supply the special and detailed preparation. '1'he Church of England sets apart the candidate with the solemn offices of ordination. Then the missionary goes forth, after the heart-stirring words of instruction from the committee, and the enthusiastic God-speed of the valedictory meeting. Like Paul of old, he lays tribute upon the gifts of civilization in their every form for his Master's service. The swift ocean-going steamers are the shuttles of the missionary loom.
Every sort of agency and talent is employed to attack the citadel of men's hearts. For most the method of attack is the direct evangelistic work in mela, bazaar, preaching room, itinerating, mission church, tract distribution, all which demands knowledge of language, tact, patience, and sacred culture. Others use the medical skill learned at Edinburgh or in London, in the plague-stricken districts of Bombay, or among the villages of bright Kashmir, or in hospitals such as the Hangchow hospital or convalescent homes, the leper hospital at Pakhoi in China, or Srinagar, capital of Kashmir, or the new mission hospital at Peshawur. Such medical work is used to allay the fanatic hatred of the Moslem at Cairo, Bagdad, and elsewhere, whilst Chinese prejudice against the foreigner is lessened by it in Fuhning, and Seven Stars' Bridge in Fuhkien. Active university men become the leaders of bands of associated evangelists in Tinnevelly, among the untutored Gonds, or in the wild jungles and swamps of the Kandyan Itinerancy. Educated ladies peer "behind the Purdah" of Indian zenanas, and learn as trusted friends their dark secrets of sorrow and shame. Others in girls' boarding schools, homes for lepers' children, women's hospitals, or itinerating work, in Kucheng, Hangchow, Ning-Taik or elsewhere, seek by the travail of faith to overthrow the great stronghold of China's age-long heathenism. Many ladies, joining in the general functions of the mission field elsewhere, mark by their advent, new eras of work at Abeokuta, Mombasa, Cairo, Jerusalem, and Mengo in Uganda.
Gifts of teaching are employed in educational posts of our mission field. French burns with enthusiasm over his divinity college at Lahore, the future" school of the prophets" for the Urdu-speaking people; A. L. O. E. throws the youthful energy of her ripest years into her Batala boys' school, whilst her pen pours forth short stories which are the first precursors of' a popular native Christian literature for the Punjab. Some are occupi~d with ordinary university pupils, as at Jay Narain's school at Benares, St. John's College, Agra, or the Noble High School at Masulipatam. Others labor in the divinity schools of Calcutta, Poona and Madras, or beside the waters of Fourah Bay, Sierra Leone, train the men who are to win the Western Sudan to Christ. Lady teachers are busy with the girls of Metlakahtla or in the schools of Baddegama, Cotta, or Lagos. The Annie Walsh school for girls at Sierra Leone deserves its own special mention.
Industrial mission work taxes the Scotch versatility of Alexander Mackay, boat builder, flagstaff constructor, and tomb mason. to King Mtesa for the Gospel's sake. Meanwhile Pilkington is busy translating Waganda Bibles and prayer books, bought with such eagerness that the book fund for Uganda in four years receives £2,000.
For some it is the tender shepherding of lambs snatcht from the cruel hands of the slave dealer, as in the Frere Town homes; for others the relief work amid the horrors of an Indian famine; for a few the ingathering of the flock of Christ amid the frozen solitudes of the waste howling wilderness of the great lone land. But all these, whether among Tinnevelly shanars, or bold Waganda, or timid aboriginals on India's hills, or quick Japanese, or fanatic Moslems, or simple Red Indians, "all these worketh that One and the self-same Spirit dividing severaUy to every man as lIB will." Thus, everywhere, whether beneath the muezzin towers of Islam, beside the waters of the Victoria Nyanza, within the walled cities of China, in the solitudes of the far west, or beside the sacred stream of Ganges, by a manifold agency which is yet one, "Christ is preacht." The devout conception of Gordon Hall and Samuel Newell, two members of the first band of missionaries sent forth by the American Board of Missions to Calcutta in 1812, of the possibility of the evangelization of the world in one generation, sufficiently difficult then, ought to be realizable now with such agencies at work not by one but many societies. That is all we need ask for, but that is a minimum to faith. " And then shall the end come."
MISSIONS AMONG TRE LAOS OF INDo-CRINA
MISSIONS AMONG THE LAOS OF INDO-CHINA.-I.
BY W. A. BRIGGS, M.D., LAKAWN, LAOS. Missionary of the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions.
It is thirty-two years since our two veteran fathers, Drs. MacGi}· vary and Wilson, with their families, hired a few small river-boats and begall t heir long, tedious journey up the river from Bangkok; tho boatmen pushing the boats along by means of long poles, until after five hnndred miles of pools and whirl- pools, rapids and shallows, these ambassadors of Christ reacht Cheung Mai, the capital city of northel'll Siam. They found the Laos to be a semi-civilized people of far gentler and more impressionable disposition than the Siamese, and untoucht by. foreign com- A SIAMESE RIVER' BOAT. merce or European notions.* But who are all these people called Laos?
What was their origin? Where was their ancient home? If we could go back to the time of Christ, we would find on the fertile plains of western an d southwestern China, a race called" Tais" or the" Free"
people. Their system of govel'llment and their ancient history are still subjects for research. Shortly after the beginning of the Christian era, Chinese encroachment made it necessary for the" Tais" to emigrate southward. This process continued and continues, till we find the original Tai race now scattered among all the countries of Indo-China, and of this great race the Siamese, Laos, and Western Shans of to-day, are the principal branches. Important differences in the written and printed character, as well as in the spoken language, constitute the dividing lines between these three main branches. The Presbyterian Church in the United States has accepted the responsibility of giving the Gospel to the Laos. .
The Laos of northern Siam resemble the Japanese in color, feature, and stature. The similarity is also noticed in their light-heartedness, love of music, and gentle disposition. In many respects, however, they are very unlovely; coward ly, immoral, malicious, hypocritical, and without honor. Tbe women in a measure are free, but are lookt down upon as inferior beings who in a past existence obtained but little merit, and were th erefore born females. As they are not allowed to enter the merit-making priesthood, their future existence will probably be in the form of a dog, a snake, {L pig, or a buffalo. The people live in small bamboo houses, generally of one room with a bal- • All th e people of northern Slam were called Lao by the Siamese, but strictly speaking the name is only properly applied to tpe people of Looung Prabang and the lower Mas. Kong region. The English term Laos h a s been used for all these northern peoples, and we have adopted it t o embrace all those who use the written character and the spoken language common to the people of our present mission stations.-W. A. B. A NATIVE LAOS HOUSE IN LAKAWN.
cony in front. 'fhese houses are windowless, and have but one door.
The floors are built a few feet from the ground, to avoid dampness and the floods of the rainy season. As a rule, the space under the floor is left open to accommodate the cattle, the pigs, and the poultry.
The principal food of the Laos is rice, and the chief industry is rice-farming. There being no other food produced to any extent, when the rice crop fails there is a famine; and when it fails for two or three years in succession, the extent and effects of the famine are indescribable.
In religion, the Laos divide their attention between Buddhism and Demonolatry. Buddhism recognizes no God, and no immortal soul or spirit in man. Its teachings hold the individual as supremely responsible only to himself. It professes to be merely a system of atheistic and rationalistic philosophy, according to which anything tending to a continuance of one's existence beyond the present life is wrong, and anything which tends to one's complete extinction after this present life is right. Activity is evil. To live by begging is righteousness. To humanely shorten the suffering of some poor brute is sin, for it may be one's grandmother. We hear a good deal about the brotherhood of religions. Here are some of the d~tlerence8 between Buddhism and Christianity: I Buddhism teaches passivity, and Christillonity teaches activity and t1!erefore encourages laziness. demands energy, work. Buddhism is an agnostic nega- Christianity is a positive revelativism. tion.
Buddhists speak of "entering Christianity requires one to be religion" (a change of residence). "possest of religion" (a change of heart). Buddhism tries to answer the question, .. vVhat can I do to inherit Christianity answers the queseternal extinction?" a question of tion, "What must I do to inherit its own asking. eternal life?" a question common to serious men and women the Buddhism neither recognizes, nor world over. attempts to supply the answer to the soul-cry of "every man that Christianity is God's incarnate cometh into the world." answer to that cry; seeking, sav- ing, satisfying. Buddhism stands off and says "Get out." Christianity comes down and says, "Come up higher."', Is it any wonder, therefore, that Buddhists everywhere have been driven to seek outside of Buddhism for that" something" which the soul may lean upon? Among the Laos, that" something" is Demonolatry. In reality the power of Demonolatry is far greater than that of Buddhist idolatry. The missionaries must meet both the theoristic philosophy of Buddha, and the subtler and more deeply entrencht systems of Demonolatry and fetichism. In open conversation Buddhism is quoted and offered for excuse; but the secret trouble in almost every case is the fear of, or the faith in, demons and witchcraft.
So much for the field in which the pioneer missionaries began to labor. At first there was the patient sowing, followed by a very small harvest. 'l'hen there was a long season of persecution, ending in the martyrdom of two Laos Christians. There was a brief lull, and then further persecution followed, until finally, in 1878, the present king of Siam issued a "Proclamation of Religious Liberty to the Laos."
f:)OME RESULTS 01<' MISSION WORK.
For sixteen years the original band of pioneers labored alone. Since then the force has been largely increast. From the first God's blessing has been evidenced, not by any sudden and intermittent periods of revival, hut by the gradual, steady growth in numbers and character of the native church. The following are some of the results: To-day we have 5 stations and 19 out-stations. There are 15 organized churches, with a total of 2,500 communicants. vVithin the past ten years the first church of Cheung Mai has received on profession of faith 1,162 adults. From this mother church 10 other churches have been directly organized, and its adult membership is still more than 700. Is that a good enough record for our critics of foreign missions? Did it pay to send missionaries to Cheung Mai ?
A theological training-school has been establisht. Eight Laos pastors have been ordained, and 3 men licenst, by the presbytery of Laos, Not one of these is receiving any pay from American funds. ",Ve have a force of evangelists, elders, dea- conesses, etc., trained for active Christian work. Only 2 of these have received any pay from Amer· ica this past y ear. The total sum appropriated by the board in ]898, for Laos church and evangelistic helpers, was less than $100.
Elementary school work is done in each station, much on the line of the Nevius plan. There a re 4 boarding-schools in the mission, with a total of over 300 scholars.
It is the exception for a girl or boy to graduate without having con- fest Christ. To-day there is grow- ing up a strong force of educated Christian young men and women, who are a lready entering enthusi- A LA uS BUDDHIST R I GH-PRIEST.
astically into active church work.
In the year 1897, almost every Christian family in Cheung Mai, whether or not they h a d children in school, contributed something to the support of the two Cheung Mai boarding-8chools; and of the entire expenses of the second term, more than one-half was defrayed by native contributions (salaries of missionaries, of course, excepted). The n ative contributions f o"r the o ne term w ere seven times as great as for both terms of any previous year_ Is there not here room for thought and generous, practical thanks- giving?
Hospital work and dis- pensa ry work are carried on in each station. The medical department of Cheung Mai Station is fully self-supporting_ Long stl'ides are being taken by the other stations in that direction_ We reach directly by this means some 15,000 people annually. In La,os, as in all other mission fields, this department has prov- ed its efficiency as a very essential missionary agency.
The Laos Christia ns are taking hold energet- ically of Christian En- deavorand Sabbath-school A LAOS CRRISTIAN PREACHER. work. As a result of the energy and perseverance of Dr. S. C. Peoples, a font of Laos type and a printing-press were sent to Cheung Mai seven years ago. To-day we have, printed in Laos, the following: The Gospels-Matthew, Luke, and John; the Acts of the Apostles, Genesis, the Psalms, the Epistle of James, an Old 'restament' History, a Life of Christ, the Shorter Catechism, Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress, a hymn book, * numerons small bo@ks and tracts; and, of secular school books, an arithmetic, a geography, four readers, an ancient history, and other smaller books. Sabbath-school and Christian Endeavor lesson leaves are printed monthly. The mission press is entirely self-supporting.
The church in America is not askt to support any feature of the work in Laos that the native church there can justly be expected to support at this stage of its development. More than that, the native Laos church is undertaking active work in the regions beyond. A small struggling church of fifty members (which has just finisht building a neat, cozy chapel without allY outside help) has contributed two months' support of a Laos minister, preaching the Gospel in French Laos territory, where, for the present, the missionaries are encouragrd by French officials not to go. A small Christian Endeavor Society ill Laos is assuming partial support of an evangelist at work in the French Laos field. A Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of fifteen members gave of their poverty thirty rupees in one year, sufficient to pay the expenses of a native minister for two months in evangelistic work.
At the annual mission meeting for 1897 the following resolution was adopted unanimously: "Resolved, That the misslon request the board for no appropriation for native ministers, licentiates, Bible women, and Sabbath-schools for the coming year."
Has it paid to send missionaries to the Laos of Northern Siam? Yes, truly; and yet a mere beginning has been made. Support from the church in America is needed more than ever before (1st) because of the necessity of emphasizing "Episcopal" oversight in the thorough upbuilding of the native church in the older stations, (2d) because of the new stations lately establisht, and (3d) because of the immense unevangelized Laos territory close by and beyond us.
* The advance edition of this hymnal which we have been using for three years contains 239 hymns. The complete edition, to be issued shortly, will contain over four hundred hymns, and will be accompanied by a collection of the choicest tunes familiar to the Church in America. This represents practically the work of one man. Six years ago we were without a single Laos hymn. One of our veteran missionaries had been urged to return to America, on account of physical suffering and almost continuous ill health. He struggled against what seemed to most of us a necessity. He struggled for four years, and during that time, besides being stated supply for the station church, he translated the Psalms and Genesis, revised a translation of Pilgrim's Progress, and composed or translated over four hundred hymns in the Laos language. Our veteran, Father .Jonathan Wilson, has lately returned to the Laos field, determined to be able to say with Paul, "I have fou~ht a good fi~ht."-W. A. B.
BENARES-THE MECCA OF HINDUISlIL
THE BURNING GHATS OF BENARES.
Here the bodies of tll" llIndu dead are burned on funeral pyres.
BENARES-THE MECCA OF HINDUISM.
BY MRS. MARGARET B. DENNING, NARSINGHPUR, INDIA. Missionary of the Methodist Episcopal Church (North).
Even after a residence of more than seven years in India; and with many experiences in different cities, Benares is a revelation of '
the possibilities of Hinduism. . -. .
The city lies on the banks of the magnificent Ganges, and facing the river is a perfect forest of temples, towers, bathing-ghats, and palaces. The various-colored stone of which they are built, the swarms of people in their many-tinted garments, the booths, the boats, the clear reflection of it all in the beautiful river, make a truly gorgeous scene of Oriental life.
Titular kings and queens, and a few real ones from all parts of India, come here, and each olle erects a temple to his or her favorite god or goddess, and also a palace, or mansion, in which to dwell during their sojourn in the sacred city. Here, too, they expect to come in their last days, to die on the banks of the great Ganges. Happy the man who dies in Benares, having his feet washt by the purifying stream as his soul leaves his body; then to be burned on its banks, and have his ashes carried away on the bosom of the river.
Many of the palaces are mere quadrangular piles of masonry, but many are really fine buildings, and enclose beautiful gardens. Near each palace is the temple built by the same devotee. The architecture is curious, ornate, and varied. Many temples are ornamented with pure gold. An elaborate, pinnated spire in different colorings was· often repeated. Around the base, and along the edge of the roof, numbers of small spires start out, first as bas-relief and then taper off : into graceful, separate spires, while again the bas-relief would begin. behind this row, and in turn taper off, and so on, until the spire in the· very center shoots up its graceful form, surrounded by symmetrical, alternate rows of spires, each row lower than the one nearer the center, down to the roof of the temple. Two of these spires, one in white and gold, and the other in dull green and brick red, with gold lines, were very pleasing to the eye.
In the city there is a double temple, whose exterior resembles that of a mosque. The domes are overlaid with thin plates of pure gold. Its interior is filled with almost innumerable idols-images of Gunpat, Parwati, the sacred bull; Siva, and the indescribable "ling," and many others. The whole scene was loathsome in the extreme. Swarms of people were going in and out of the temple, and up and down the narrow alleys leading to the temple. Each one going in was carrying a plate filled with flowers, rice, and little cups of oil and water, which form the offerings to the idols. Stalls of flower-sellers, oil and grain-venders blockt· the roads on either side. The water, oil, and flowers which fell on the pavement were trampled into a slimy paste, and as most of the flowers were marigolds, the odor was sickening. The temples in the crowded city, the idols, the deluded worshiping throngs, and, above all, the scenes along the river's edge, all proclaim superstition, impurity, vileness, a people given over to uncleanness and all abominations.
We spent most of our time in a boat going up and down the two miles of river front. The numerous ghiits are long flights of wide stone steps, reaching down below the water's edge. All day long, and most of the night, these great steps are literally covered with throngs of people, all eager to wash away their sins by a plunge into Mother Ganges. As one after another comes !lown into the river, they lift their folded, or outstrecht, hands, and,looking toward the far horizon, they breathe a prayer to the god of the waters. Some throw handfuls of the water over their heads as they repeat their mautras, or prayers. And the thought comes to us that this worship, and the throngs of people, have been like this for hundreds, even thousands, of years.
Oh! those generations old, Over whom no church bell tolled, Sightless, lifting up blind eyes To the silence of the skies, For the innumerable dead Is my soul disquieted!
One of the ghats is called" the burning ghat," and sitting in the boat, we watcht three or four bodies prepared for Hindu cremation. Whatever the rite of cremation may be elsewhere, here it partook only of the repulsive. The bodies are brought on bamboo stretchers, and are placed just inside the edge of the stream while the pyre is being made ready. This is the place where" suttee" used to be performed before English law put a stop to the cruel practise. One corpse was that of a man of about forty years of age. His widow, in the white garments of widowhood, came down to the water's edge, and dipping up some of the blest Ganges, poured it over the face of the dead. When the body was lifted on the pyre, she helpt to pile wood over it, and it was her hand that applied the torch. When the sickening crackling began, she went up the bank a little distance,· and at a gesture from a relative, perhaps a command also-for we were not near enough to hear-she pickt up a stone, and putting her hands alternately on the ground, she broke off the pretty glass bangles from her wrists, and walkt up the Dank, a desolate widow, done with pleasures, ornaments, and even respect, perhaps to endure treatment which wiII make her wish for the olden, sharper, but speedier death by suttee.
The dust of the burnings is strewn upon the beautiful stream, whose origin, according to Hindu mythology, is too revolting to mention. But in reality much of the body is not reduced to ashes, owing to the very primitive arrangements. Near one of the pyres we saw a gaunt Pariah dog gnawing away on the remains of a previous burning, and, on looking closely, we saw it was a human skull. This, my first view of a burning ghat, I hope may be my last.
Many strange and pathetic scenes were transpiring on all sides. The fakirs, or holy men, were to be seen everywhere-some at prayers, some in meditation, and some bathing.
A Brahman priest was leading a young woman into the water. We were told that he was giving her the holy bath. He dipt her up and down, mumbling incantations all the while. She placed the edge of his robe on her head every now and then, and the sad sight suggested temple practises such as Pundita Ramabai tells us go on in this great city of Hinduism and elsewhere in India. While we were still in the boat an old ascetic died, and we heard he was to be immediately lowered into the river instead of being burned. This is a privilege of this class of men, if they so desire.
'rhey tied large earthen pots to his arms and feet, and then rowing out into the stream a little way, while they blew an unearthly blast on a conch-shell, the disciples of the old devotee, laughing and chatting with apparent unconcern, tumbled the skeleton-like form overboard, and turning the" chatties," so they filled with water, the remains were soon out of sight beneath the water.
In a garden, neal' the monkey temple, we saw an old man, Shri Swami Bhar-karanand Sarasvati by name, who is supposed by his austerities to have attaincd to the state of deity. As we entered the garden in the chill of the early January morning, we saw the thin old man, on an upper veranda, in a state of nudity. He hastily donned a half yard of clothing. his robes of state, as it were, for he only dons it for the reception of visitors, and came down the rose-bordercd walk to meet us. To Ollr surprise, he took our hands in a friendly grasp. Then he presented us with a little book, containing a short sketch of his life, and a long list of noted and unnoted foreign visitors who have come to see him. He inquired all about us-our work, residence, and so on-and then bidding us be sure to see his own marble image in a little shrinil on the other side of the garden, he smiled, salaamed, and he did not ask for bakshish, and for that reason, if no other, we shall never forget Shri Swami, the holy man of BenareEi. We saw the statue, done most exquisitely in pure white, glossy marble, with the eyes painted to exactly simulate life. People from far and neal' come to bow down and worship this saint's image.
We have seen Benares! To some extent we can comprehend the first clause in verse 5 of lsa.lvii, and we can realize the necessity for some of the awful punishments meted out to idolaters in Bible times. We can give but a glimpse of Hinduism, with its multitudinous gods and its evil effects on mind, heart, and body of man. The worst we see we dare not write, and we can never know the worst as it really exists. But in spite of all this dark picture, India is arising from the slough of superstition, for her light has come. 'rhousands of her idols have been crusht, and even into dark Benares the beneficent rays are piercing, and some day, not very distant, the ashes of the idols in this city shall strew the beauteous river, and her inhabitants shall drink of the" fountain of life," and bathe for cleansing in the river of the water of life, which proceedeth out of the throne of God and the Lamb.
ISLAM: IN CHINA
II.-MISSIONARY DIGEST DEPARTMENT.
ISLAM IN CHINA.* BY REV. EDWARD SELL.
The first Mohammedans who came to China were Arab merchants. It is said that commercial relations with Arabia existed before the time of Mohammed. Four of the Companions of the Prophet brought presents to the emperor, and were allowed to settle in Canton, where they built a mosque called the "Holy Remembrance." This would give as the date of the first Moslem mission to China the latter part of the seventh century. The Khalif Valid, in the early part of the eighth century, advanced his victorious army to the frontiers of China. The general of his army demanded, and received, tribute from the emperor. In the year 755 A. D. a band of 4,000 Moslem soldiers came from Khorasan to the aid of the emperor, and in return for their services were allowed to settle in various towns in China. In 794 A. D. Harlm'r-Rashid sent ambassadors to China. The political relation thus entered into lasted for some centuries. In 1068 the Emperor Chin Tsoung appointed a Moslem to the oversight of the Arab strangers who came to Canton. This official distributed them in different places, and kept a register of their names.
Professor Vasilieff, writing in 1867, says that there were then in Peking alone 20,000 Moslem families, containing 100,000 persons, and that there were 11 mosques in that city. Another writer, in 1873, states that the Moslems were prosperous merchants, in a flourishing condition. Their present number is computed to be 20,000,000, scattered about in various parts of the empire. This is not an extraordinary number when we remember that some fourteen centuries have past since the first Moslems settled in the country, frequently in plague-stricken and deserted districts which they took possession of, and then increast their number by the purchase of children of indigent parents, and by marriages with Chinese women.
The Moslems are convinced that the future lies with them, and that, sooner or later, the religion of Mohammed will prevail in the extreme East, and replace the various forms of paganism. Professor V!1silieff is evidently of the same opinion, and views the position with much alarm.
The Moslems differ both in character and in physiognomy from the Chinese proper, and show clearly that they are a mixt race. The original source was the band of 4,000 soldiers who early settled in the country. Three centuries later, when the conquest of Genkhis Khan opened up a way of communication between the East and the West, many Syrians, Arabs, and Persians came to China. Some were merchants, some soldiers, and all more or less settlers. They were men strong in physique, active in habits, and they soon establisht themselves in the various localities in which they settled. They married Chinese women, and their descendants, the present mass of Chinese Moslems, bear markt traces of a foreign origin. The Moslem women, tho not so tall as the men, are, generally speaking, more robust and vigorous than the Chinese women.
As a race these Chinese Moslems unite the good and the bad qualities of the Chinese, the Arabs, and the Turks, tho they are less bigoted than the latter. They prefer the occupation of arms and commerce to the *Condenst from the Church Missionary Intelligence,', February, 1899.
MISSIONARY DIGEST DEPARTMENT
cultivation of the arts and sciences. They are very clannish, and are reputed to be honest. Owing to this unity which binds them together, and also to the concessions they make to the PTejudices of the Chinese people, they enjoy the same rights and privileges as other subjects, and are not treated as a foreign body. They are agriculturists, artisaLls, mer- chants, and even officials, if they are qualified for such a position. They wear the Chinese dress-the long robe and the pigtail. Their mosques are not prominent buildings, and the minarets are kept low so as not to excite the 'superstition of the people. They assist at popular fetes, and contribute to things in which they have no special interest. Those who hold high official positions even go so far as to perform certain religious ceremonies connected with the state religion. In discussions with the learned on religious matters they are careful to say that they differ from Confucianism chiefly in matters of a personal nat~re, such as marriage and funeral rites, ceremonial ablutions, and the prohibition of pork, wine, and games of chance. The result is that Islam is lookt upon by the Chinese as a religion similar in many points to their own. A Chinese writer of the eighteenth century says: "The Arab religion prescribes for the worship of the Supreme that which Confucius did for the Chang-Ty, and borrows from Buddhism what concerns prayer, fasting, almsgiving, and certain religious ceremonies."
The government has, as a rule, shown itself favorable to Islam, and at differentiJeriods has issued decrees to the effect that Islam has a good object, that it observes natural and social laws, and that the differences it presents to other religions only concern simple questions of national usage. The Chinese Mussulmans, thus allowed freeq.om in the exercise of their religion, have lived in the same way as the other inhabitants of the country. They submit to the same charges, enjoy the same rights, yet whilst casting in their lot with the other subjects of the empire have, as regards their religious position and their personal laws, remained a dis- tinct community. * .
The majority of the Chinese Moslems are Sunnis of the Hanifa sect.
The main dogmas of the orthodox creed are in agreement with their coreligionists elsewhere; but in speculative and philosophical questions they have been influenced by Buddhist and Confucian teaching. Living isolated for twelve centuries, in the midst of idolaters, and under a sus- picious government, the prejudices of which had to be duly considered, deprived of all facilities for reinvigorating their faith at the sanctuaries of their ancient saints, they have cultivated a humbler and more tolerant spirit; than is common among Moslems in other Eastern lands.
They have never been able in China to assert with boldness that Islam is the one, absolute religion, outside of which there is no salvation.
They have enjoyed equal civil rights with others, and have held official positions, involving conformity to certain national laws and customs con- trary to the spirit of Islam, and necessitating the close study of certain philosophical doctrines alien to the teaching of Mohammed. The result is that a certain laxness in practise has been permitted, and that the *The Chinese term for Moslem, given about the thirteenth century, is Roey·Roey, or Hoey-Tsee, which means "return and submission," in accordance with the verse in the Koran which says, "Verily, we are God's, and to Rim shall we return." The Mohammedans call themselves Mouminin (believers), and Moslemin. The name given to the religion is Roey- Roey-Kiao, or Tsin-Tching-Kiao, the true and pure religion. This latter name was formally authorized by the emperor in 1335 A. D.
ISLAM IN CHINA
dogmatic system has been influenced by philosophic ideas taken from other religions.
The Mohammedans believe in the salvation of Moslems only; but the Chinese Mohammedans say that of non-Moslems one man in a thousand and one woman in ten thousand will receive salvation. They further teach that as Eve was created from a bone taken from the left side of Adam, and as the left side is inferior to the right one, women are worse than men.* They tempt men to neglect religious duties and lead them astray. Women are said to love three things only-those who flatter them, their pleasure, and their own children.
The Chinese Moslems hold that all physical actions are the result of immutable decrees of God, that moral acts depend on the will of the individual, who is free to choose. Each man is born with a different natl}re, but, whatever that nature may be, he does not the less possess the faculty of thinking and acting according to his own will, subordinate to the power of God.
As regards their relation to the state, Chinese Moslems inculcate loyalty to the emperor, and conform to certain practises of the state religion. That religion is made up of certain rites and ceremonies performed by the emperor and the functionaries who undertake the duties of priests. Sacrifices are offered to propitiate the superior powers. The public officials have to take part in these observances. The Moslem functionaries, tho they regard the whole thing as ridiculous and superstitious, conform to the law in their own interest and in that of their own community. They know that such concessions to paganism are absolutely opposed to the iconoclastic system of Islam, but they yield to the temptation, and hope that under the peculiar circumstances of the case they may receive pardon.
The Chinese Moslems prohibit the use of tobacco, but opium-smokers are numerous among them. Gambling and games are illegal, but they evade this by saying that the prophet only forbade games of hazard, and allowed draughts and chess, which depend on the skill of the player. As a matter of fact, dice, cards, and betting at cockfights are common, and the Moslems equally with other Chinese are gamblers. Musical instruments must not be used in private or in public. Vocal music also is improper, tho passages from the Koran may be chanted at the time of prayer. Dancing is altogether wrong. It is also forbidden to make statues of men or figures of animals; but photographs are allowed.t Astrology, divinations, magic, and all calculations based on auguries and dreams, are utterly condemned. In this respect the Moslems have not fallen under the spell of the Chinese custom and practise in these matters. Among themselves they use the ordinary Moslem salutations, but to outsiders they use the form common to all.
Education is regulated partly by the Islamic law; and partly by the state system. At the age of four years, four months, and four days, a lad begins to read the Koran by rote. When he is about seven years old his general education begins. The mosque schools are adapted to this purpose, and the Chinese, Arabic, and Persian languages are taught. This education is carried on till the young man is twenty-one years old.
• Another form of this tradition used against female education is that the bone, being a rib bone, was bent, and so the disposition of woman is by nature crooked, and any attempt by education to improve it is clearly contrary to the natural order of things.
t It is sometimes said that as the sunlight does this and not man, this pictorial representation of the human form does not come under the prohibitive law. .
MiSSIONARY bWElST bEPA"R'l'MElN1'
Later on, provided he passes the necessary examinations, he can enter the service of the state. If the lad is to devote his life to some manual trade the course of education is different. Girls do not receive a general education.
The books composed and publisht by the Chinese Moslems are not sold publicly, owing to the suspicious character of the government and the prejudices of the literary classes. It is said that the first Mohammedan book publisht in Chinese appeared in 1642, and that was written in order to show the points in common between Islam and Confucianism.
From the above statements it will be seen that Moslems in China possess much religious liberty, but that they purchase this by conforming to pagan practises and ceremonial, and by a subserviency to the prejudices of the state officials and of the literary classes, in a manner not usual among their 'coreligionists in other lands. As regards their dogmatic beliefs they may be classed as orthodox Moslems, but they are certainly lax and time-serving in their conduct and relation to others of an alien faith. Now and again they have broken out into rebellion, but it seems very doubtful whether a body of men, who for many centuries have conformed to customs repugnant to the true Moslem, can ever become the political force which, it is said, Russia fears they may become, or are at all likely to prove a hostile power in the future developments of the Chinese empire.
WORK FOR THE PRISONERS AND EX-CONVICTS.* BY MRS. BALLINGTON BOOTH.
The first aspect of prison life that strikes one who enters within the doors is its cut-offness from the world outside. The man who has friends who still care for him may receive a stated number of visits a year, when, for a few minutes, he talks with wife or mother or friend in the guardroom, and he is allowed to write one letter a month, and to receive letters twice a week. To him there is, therefore, still this little bridge between his cell and the world from which he has been banisht. To many, however, there does not exist this link-no friends have they to call on them, and the deliverer of letters-passes their cell every week for years without stopping to hand a message through the bars to them. Stern discipline, loneliness, long hours of work, a narrow little cell, with just room enough for a stool and a bed, with a thick-barred door through which the light falls, flankt with shadows as a constant reminder of confinement-these, in part, make up prison life. The felon of wealth, and the poor prisoner from the slums, may march next each other in the lock-step, and occupy adjacent cells on the gallery, for to all intents and purposes they are alike now. The striped dress, close-cropped hair, the utter stripping off of all comforts, have a leveling influence.
The awfulness of prison life lies in the memories of the past; the dismal contrast between home and prison cell; the longing for loved ones, whose hearts are aching, away out of reach; the knowledge that the wretched companionship of misery must be theirs, in the weary round of prison toil from morning till night, for the long years ahead, which seem interminable. Above and beyond all this, prisoners have th'l bitter realization of the brand that has fallen upon them never to be removed- "Condenst from The Ladies' Horne Journal for February, 1899.
WOltK FOlt 'rHEl PltlS0NERS AND EX-CONVICTS
"convicts"-that they are degraded before the public, and will be lookt upon forever as accursed.
Upon many men imprisonment tells terribly. The nervous strain, the heartache, the close confinement often breaks down the strongest man, and he returns to the world a wreck of his former self, while in his pallid face, his stuttering accents, his halting walk, and his furtive, haunted look, we can read something of the much he has suffered, and surely, whatever his crime, however dark the past, we should pity him, and whisper, "Go in peace and sin no more."
The movement to help these men begin anew the battle of life, after they have been liberated, as well as to help them while in prison, started in Sing Sing prison, at a service in' the chapel on Sunday, May 24, 1896. Never shall I forget that first meeting. It was a scene that painted itself in unfading colors on the minds of many there present. The pale spring sunshine flickered through the barred windows, the guards in their blue uniforms stood lined up against the wall and at the doors, while every seat was filled with the men, all clad i1) the striped garments, set apart from their fellow-men, and yet each bearing his own burden, and having behind and before him the retrospect and prospect of his own individual life with its sorrow and its need.
As I stood on the platform of that prison chapel, looking down upon the sea of faces-between nine hundred and a thousand of them-a new revelation of the great wide field they represented dawned upon my life. The mark of suffering, hopelessness, and despair could be seEm deeply stampt on many of them, and as the awfulextent of the need dawned on me, and the heartache seemed to surge up from them to my own soul, I broke down, and the picture became blurred and indistinct.
Perhaps my tears meant more to my audience than my words that day, for many a man wept who had long been unused to weeping, and the chords of sympathy and confidence were struck between us, so that from that hour they accepted me into their lives, and I undertook my new mission as one direct from the God to whom the prisoner's cry has reacht, and been heard in all its bitterness. From that day, little by little, the work has grown, and become organized and systematized. We commenced with chapel meetings, and with correspondence, then came the need for interviews with those who wrote to us.
As men took their stand for a new, right life, it became necessary to have some kind of organization, and we formed what is now known as the "Volunteers' Prisoners' League." In each prison the V. P. L. Post has its own standard, and very proud they are of the pure white flag, with its blue star of hope, and the motto of our league that shows up plainly on the snowy field in crimson letters, "Look Up, and Hope."
The work has spread from prison to prison until it has become firmly establisht in eight of our large State prisons, and over three thousand members have been enrolled in the league. I have had the warmest assu-:>ances from the wardens and chaplains of our prisons as to the beneficial effect on the prison popUlation at large, as well as the wonderful change wrought in many individual lives. By no means the smallest factor of this work is the fact that it is bringing hopefulness in where there was nothing but despair.
Two outside branches of work naturally grew from this league within the walls. The first was the hunting up, cheering, and helping of the families of those in prison. Noone on the outside can form any idea
MiSSIONARY bIGEST bEPARTMENT
of the anguish, suspense, and misery men in prison suffer as the news reaches them of the sickness, want, or danger of loved ones on the out- side. I have had letters from men written in the first glimmering of the dawn at their cell doors, after a night of pacing back and forth in the narrow cells, with hearts breaking and brains reeling at the vision of a dying child's face, or the news of a wife out of work being driven to ruin as a means of support for herself and little ones.
Sometimes we are called upon to find parents for the son who has lost track of home and for years sent them no message; sometimes the relieving of a family on the point of eviction, having failed in the struggle to make ends meet after the breadwinners were gone, and at other times the reconciling of husband and wife" who had been estranged. I am in correspondence with mothers, wives, sisters, and children of prisoners all over this country, and in some instances in foreign countries.
The last, but perhaps the most important, branch of work which we have set on foot is that which stretches out the helping hand and gives the needed shelter to prisoners after their discharge from State prison. One can gather no idea of the difficulties which beset their paths; or of the constant rebuffs, disappointments, and suspicions that meet and thwart them in their efforts to do right. Happy the man who has a loving mother to whose home he can turn for shelter, or a wife who has stood by him with devoted loyalty. But what of the many" boys" who are homeless and motherless? Their money is soon spent. Employment is well-nigh impossible to find, and in the strangeness of the rush and turmoil of a world that pauses not to give them a thought or a word, they drift aimlessly and despairingly until hope deserts them. To such "Hope Hall" has proved, indeed, a haven of rest. We have made the place as homelike as possible, robbing it of any likeness to an institution. No one is allowed to visit it. No prying eyes can wound the sensitive, no publicity make them feel the memory of the stripes and lockstep. Situated in a countrified part of New York City, it has a garden to be cultivated, cows and horses to be cared for, and household duties enough to keep everyone busy. The building of the barn, the painting of the house, the cooking for the big family, laundry work, and all else is done by the men themselves. We can accommodate forty-eight men at a time, and already several hundred have past through its doors, graduating again into a new life, and to positions either found for them by us or procured in their own energetic search after work.
Perhaps the following incident concerning the first "boy" who entered" Hope Hall" will serve to show just how we can help men in the direst extremities through having such a place to prove their shelter when most beset with temptation and discouragement: I was busy in my office one morning, when a very urgent request to see me was brought in by my secretary, who added that my visitor was from "up the river." As he entered I noted at a glance that he was one of those who had learned long and hard the bitter lessons of crime's teaching. I rose to meet him and led him to a chair· by my desk, and tried by my hand-grip and smile to reassure and make him understand my sympathy. Bit by bit his sad story came out-and it was indeed a sad story.
He had been a burglar and highway robber for many years, and had served several terms in prison, and had hardened his heart against the hope of anything better in store for the future. He did not attend chapel, but from other prisoners he nad heard of my message and deter-, mined to have one more try to be honest. On leaving prison, not know-
JAPANEiSE LECTUREiS AGAiNST CHRISTIANiTY
ing me personally, he did not come to us, but tried to fight his unequal battle against circumstances. First, he hunted for work in New York, but, failing utterly, went down to Long Island and secured work at erecting telegraph poles. At this, however, he broke down through physical inability; tho a big, strong-looking man, a dread disease had its cruel hand on his lungs.
He had returned to New York to hunt for work once more, ineffectually, and then had utterly given up hope. In this dark hour came the enemy to tempt, and there being no stronger power within to lift up the standard against the inflowing flood of evil and bitterness, he determined that night to resort to the old way of gaining a living. Getting a revolTer and a handful of 38-caliber cartridges (that still lie in one of my drawers at the office), he made a sand-bag, and at nightfall went out to waylay some victim. In the lonely shadows of that night he fought again his battle between good and evil. Once more the words of hope came back to his mind, and by and by his good angel returned and withheld his hand from the doing of violence, guiding him to us in the morning, weak, faint, and weary, to surrender his weapons and ask for our friendship. He became the first inmate of "Hope Hall."
Diligently and faithfully did he work at getting" Hope Hall" ready for the others who were to come. He was so thanlrful for everything done for him, so relieved and happy over the new life that was opening out before him, that the old, hopeless, dejected look soon wore away. After he had found Christ as his Savior the change in him was wonderful, and no one could have believed him to be the same man. He was with us one year, having special duties assigned him. Tho his health was failing rapidly he became very ambitious to go out and test his strength at some employment. He became motorman on one of the cars in New York, and when the end came it was quite sudden, but a few days illness serving as his passage from the world that so grudgingly gives an ex-prisoner a chance, to the Heaven where all must wear the same white robes, and where no one will be asked, "What have you been? Where have you come from?" but where all shall be welcome who bear on their foreheads a new name and on their lips a new song.
Into "Hope Hall" we welcome all who come to us from State prison desiring to lead a better life-Protestants or Catholics, Jews or infidels.
The only two requirements are that they must have served one or more terms in State prison, and must be earnestly determined to lead honest lives. Some of our men are first-offenders, some have served five or six terms in prison, but we are just as hopeful for the latter as the former, and in many, many instances they are now living such lives as to justify our confidence in their sincerity.
Before us lies a great field-a need that makes itself felt in every State-a problem whose ghastly proportions loom up before us, and will not be downed by the selfish shifting of responsibility or the convenient theorizing as to the uselessness of efforts for its solution.
JAPANESE LECTURES AGAINST CHRISTIANITY.* BY REV. H. V. S. PEAKE, KAGOSHIMA, JAPAN. Missionary of the Reformed Church in America.
Having occasion in November to spend a few days in Nagasaki, and seeing notice of some lectureR by a Buddhist, one of whose objects was to urge the rejection of Christianity, I attended two nights in succession. From six to eight hundred men, representing merchants, students, and mechanics, gathered in a large theater and took a lively interest in the proceedings. The lecturer represented Shin-shu, the most numerous sect of Japanese Buddhists, and directed his argument and ridicule against Christianity. two modern mongrel cults, Tenrikyo and Remmonkyo, and * Condenst from The Independent, February 9, 1899.
MISSIONARY DIGEST DEPARTMENT
against Nichiren-shu, another Buddhist sect. The audience greatly appreciated his ridicule of the two mongrel cults and the Nichiren-shu. They caught the points quickly, and showed plainly how strongly their sympathies lay with the speaker. The different subjects were posted back of the stage, and ran somewhat as follows: " Christianity is a kind of Ghost-story_" ~'Tenrikyo is a Know-nothing." "The Doctrines of the Nichiren Sect are Dead Things." "Christianity Works Great Harm to Japanese Institutions." "The Priests of the Nichiren Sect Lure their Believers to Hell." "Concerning the Beneficent Influence of Buddhism on Society." "The Nichiren Sect Should be Ostracized," etc., etc.
An entire hour was devoted to the consideration of Christianity as a Ghost-story. Ridicule was the weapon, and the speaker, beginning at Genesis, gave us man created like a mud doll, and Jehovah, the architect of Noah's ark, a box-like craft whose lines would disgrace the ingenuity of a Japanese schoolboy. He wondered who sounded to find the exact depth of water that is stated to have covered Mt. Ararat; said that the man who wrote Genesis labored under the delusion that Ararat was the highest mountain in the world, wherein again the Japanese schoolboy was superior, and after a few other references, ended with the oft-quoted verses concerning a man set at variance against his father, the daughter against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, etc., wherein he claimed Christianity teaches unfiliality.
The second night he began by likening Christianity to the deadly cholera bacillus that must not for an instant be allowed to find a lodging place. He referred to the doctrine of future punishment. Their highnesses, the emperor and empress, are not believers, and Christians ruthlessly consign them to hell with ordinary unbelievers, while Buddhism offers a final way of happiness even to those who do not attain to the perfection of Buddha in this life. People in America can not estimate the intense feeling such words as these produce in Japan. Again, some Christians forbid the use of liquor and tobacco, principal sources of revenue, thus agitating against the country's temporal prosperity. Their real object is to play into the hands of foreign importers of wine and leaf tobacco.
Christianity inveighs against the honoring (or worshiping) of ancestors, heroes, and even the Buddha. Christians evade, on religious pretexts, putting up festoons and contributing money at the time of popular festivals. This wicked religion teaches that there is a duty .first to God, then to native country. This leads ultimately to affiliation with a foreign country in case of war. This would be eminently true in the case of members of the Russo-Greek Church. History goes to show that evangelization is but a first step toward conquest. In the speaker's mind, Christ was punisht simply and solely because he was a traitor. All Christians are traitors whose object is to found republican institutions like those of the United States and France.
In the introduction to his lectures the speaker referred to the fact that from July, 1899, foreigners may reside freely in any part of the country. Merchants will come from Christian countries, and missionaries, with both hands full of Bibles, will be more than ever a menace to our national purity. This, he said, is the reason why Buddhist speakers are traveling everywhere holding such meetings. "Now is the time to prepare for the dire day when this deadly Christian cholera bacillus will be entirely free to carryon his ravages. Buddhism is the carbolic acid, the antiseptic, with which to combat this. Let us awake and exert ourselves to the utmost."
THE RELIGIOUS CONDITION OF HAWAIl
THE RELIGIOUS CONDITION OF HAWAII.* BY REV. J. LEADINGHAM, HONOLULU.
According to the census of 1896, the population of the Hawaiian islands was divided as follows: NATIONALITY. 39,50l RELIGION. 24,4()7 Hawaiian and part Hawaiian……… 21.616 Protestants ……………………….. 23,273 Jap"neset.. .. …… …. …….. .. ….. 15,191 Roman Oatholicst……… , ………… 26,363 Ohinese………………………….. 8,302 Mormons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 4,886 Portuguese………………. Oonfucianists,Euddhists and Shintoists 44,000 Other nationalities. ….. .. . .. … ….. Others ……………………………. 10,498 Total. …….. : …………. 109,020 Total. ………………….. 109,020 It is well known that the evangelization of the Hawaiian Islands was accomplisht by missionaries of the American Board. It may not be so generally understood that when this board withdrew from control it was succeeded by the Hawaiian Evangelical Association, whose board is now the agency for directing missionary operations. At present this board renders advice and oversight to all of the fifty or more Hawaiian churches, and, in many cases, this is supplemented by financial aid. It also supports, in whole or in part, eleven mission stations among the Japanese, and is the mainstay of three Chinese and two Portuguese missions. A beginning has been made toward opening up religious work among the remote and scattered communities of Americans and other whites. As the country develops, one of its greatest opportunities is likely to be found in the religious needs of such communities. The Hawaiian Board also gives aid to the theological school in Honolulu, in which pastors are trained for the Hawaiian and some of the other fields, and several schools for girls are under its care. Besides the local work, this board supports native Hawaiian missionaries in the Gilbert Islands, and is the agent of the American Board in the administration of its affairs in that and other parts of Micronesia.
It will appear from this that the relations which the Hawaiian Board sustains to the religious needs of t,hese islands especially are very impor- tant. Historically and practically it is the organization best fitted to lead in the development of religious life here, and with a generous support from the prayers and material resources of its friends for the next decade or so, it can easily hold the key t.o the situation. Just now, however, it stands face to face with large opportunities and likewise serious obstacles; and the form of Christianity which shall prevail here in t.he fut.ure is quite likely to be determined in a degree by the success with which the board is able to meet the demands upon it during the immediate future.
Opportunities are now opening up in the shape of new fields at home.
In addition to the stations already establisht among the various nation- alities here, there are other strategic points among each of them at which evangelists and teachers could be placed to great advantage, if the means for doing so were at hand. This is especially true of the communities of whites which are now beginning to be formed in different places. These are important, because they should in the natural course of events swell the constituency which supports the missionary work among the less favored races.
There are also serious difficulties to be met and overcome in the *From the Missionary Herald.
t Now about 35,000. ~ More than half of these are Portuguese.
MISSIONARY DIGEST DEPARTMENT
Hawaiian Islands. There is just now a singular state of apathy and indifference to spiritual things among the Hawaiians. The natural in~olence of the Hawaiian's disposition will always be a leading factor in explaining such a condition. Recent political issues have also been used by many to embitter the minds of the natives against their best friends. A general spirit of worldliness on the part of many of the foreign population has likewise its depressing effect. To all these influences is to be added that of the use of intoxicating drink. This is debauching and ruining the nations by scores and hundreds.
Heathenism is also a foe which Christianity must still encounter here. Besides the lingering remnants of Hawaiian heathenism is that which is imported from China and Japan. Shinto and Buddhist priests are active in the support of their faith among the Japanese laborers in some places in the islands. It is no uncommon sight to see a hack loaded with Chinamen, having with them a roasted pig, on their way to the cemetery to pay their homage to their dead ancestors.
Such obstacles will be overcome only by patient, determined effort. We have now a stable government, and the country will henceforth be free from the distractions and animosities of revolutions. A well-ordered system of education in the government schools, conducted wholly in the English language, will in time do its part in enlightening and amalgamating the different races on the basis of a common language. There is also a body of people here who have a sincere and prayerful interest in the welfare of the country, and who give generously of their means to aid in its spiritual advancement. The great need of the islands to-day is that this body be increast.
RECE~T ARTICLES ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS.
AFRICA-Unoccupied Fields of Africa, The Christian and Missionary Alliance (February); History of Missions in Sierra Leone, Rev. Chas. Marks, Work and lVorkers (February); Missionary Work in Delagoa Bay, The Mission Field, British (February).
AMERICA-Home Life Among Alaska Eskimos, Mrs. Harrison Thornton, Cong"egational Work (February); The Red Indian of To-day, Geo. B. Grinnell, Cosmopolitan (March); Reform of the Indian Service, Herbert Walsh, Assembly Herald (February); Syro-Arabians in the United States, Isabel F. Hapgood, The Independent (February 16); A Sermon in a Saloon, J. B. Hamilton, The Independent (February 23); The Regeneration of Cuba, Geo. Kennan, The Outlook (March 4); The Reconcentrados of Cuba, W. R. Lamberth, Review oj Mi.•sions (February); The Church in Cuba, E. S. Houston, Catholic World (March); The Conditions of Puerto Rico, Wm. Hayes Ward, American Review oj Reviews (March); Missions in Mexico and Guatemala, Woman's Work for Woman (March); The Negleded Continent, Christian and Missionm'Y Alliance (March).
CHINA, JAPAN, AND KOREA-Recent Remarkable Events in China, BaptistMissionary Magazine (March); Some Sober Elements in the Situation in China, Robert E. Speer, Sunday School Times (February 11); The Reform Movement in China, Rev. Wm. Ashmore, D.D., Baptist Missionm-y Review (January); The Truth About the Chinese Emperor, Pashih Kin, Worldwide Magazine (March); The Empress Dowager of China, Henry Biodget, Missionary He"ald (March); The Japan of 1898, The Japan Evangelist (January); Present State of Thought in Japan, S. H. Wainwright, Review of Missions (February); Buddhism as it is in Japan, D. S. Spencer, Review of Missions (February); Country Evangelistic Work in Japan, C. K. Harrington, Baptist Missionary Review (February); The Agitation in Korea, H. G. Appenzeller, World Wide Missions (March); The Spirit of Independence in Korea, R. E. Speer, The Independent (March 2).
INDIA AND BURMA-Tribes, 'Clans and Castes of Nepal, Indian Evangelical Review (January); Among the Burmese, Woman'. Missionary F,-iend (March).
ISLANDS-Philippine Types and Characteristics, American Review of Reviews (March); Exploration in the Caroline Islands, F. W. Christian, Geographical Journal (February); The Races of Malaysia, R. W. Munson, Medical Missions (March); Samoa, The Missionary (Feb.).
MORMONISM-Presbyterian ;lIissions among Mormons, ·Gen. John J. Eaton, Assembly Herald (February); Woman's Life in Utah, Ruth Everett, The Arena (February).
RUSSIA AND SYRIA-Russia as a World Power, Chas. A. Conant, North American Review (February); Contending Religious Forces in Syria, H. H. Jessup, Mission World (February).
GENERAL-The Missionary Outlook, A. H. Bradford, Biblical World (February); What the Bible Societies have done for Missions, Paul Richter, Mission World (February); The Student Movement at Home and Abroad, A Symposium, Review of Missions (March); The Missionary as a "Buffer State," Wm. M. Upcraft, Baptist Missionary Review (January); Self-Nutrition in Native Churches, Wm. Ashmore, Chinese Recorder (January). III.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Qualifications of Missionaries. Europe, "went out into the forest wilderness, amid wild robber BY REV. R. P. MACKAY, B.A. hordes, swarming with wild beasts, unhealthy and fever-breeding; with We tried to make room for all of their own hands reared for themthe admirable paper read before selves huts, cleared and cultivated the Missionary Officers' Conference the soil, and, when the harvest in January last, by Rev. R. P. failed or fish in the brooks failed, Mackay, B.A., Secretary of the they lived on bark and weeds and Foreign Missions Committee of the the small fruit that grew in the Presbyterian Church in Canada, forest." but are compelled to merely select from its closing paragraphs. After Making due allowance for discussing the need of spirituality changed conditions at home and as a fundamental qualification for abroad, and for the fact that only missionary service, and the need of the most noticeable names are rea definite call thereto, and then the ported in history, is there still educational qualifications requisite, ground for the view that the spirit unless under exceptional cases, he of heroism in missions is subsiding, proceeds as follows: [J. T. G.] that in order to give point and in- terest to mission addresses, the We would venture in the fourth same old incidents are retold, and place to name enthusiasm, or at these not by any means from the least a capacity for enthusiasm, as, lives of missionaries of the last deif not indispensable, at least ex- cade? tremely desirable. Where would science be were it not for the en- It may be that the shelter of thusiasm of Galileo, Newton, Dar- Christian powers is making marwin, or Edison? Where would the tyrdom, in its primitive sense, im- Reformation be but for the en- possible, even to those who might thusiasm of Wyclif, who braved seek it, and that the increase of death that he might give England wealth has taken the virtue out of the Bible? or of Luther, who stood extreme self-denial and poverty, single-handed against Charles V. yet genuine enthusiasm will find and Leo X., against Germany and its own expression and its own the Papacy combined? It was the crucifixion too. Would the men enthusiasm of Paul that overcame who followed Columba to Scotland, the triple alliance of Jewish bigotry, or Columbanus to Gaul, or Ansker Greek intellectualh,m, and Roman to Scandinavia, if living to-day, be satisfied with simply offering their materialism. This enthusiasm is names to a board, and, when told divine. It came like a breath from that there were no funds, turn heaven, and set men on fire. Col- away feeling that their whole duty liding with the world they fell, but was done? Would they not rather their fall was the rising of the na- feel that the financial is only one tions. Hence as has been said, of the many problems to be solved, "The world's progress has been and solved by the same Power, from scaffold to scaffold, and from that their call is by One to whom belong the cattle on a thousand stake to stake! " hills, the silver and the gold, and Is there as much, it may be, and that His call must be obeyed?
has been, askt, of this enthusiasm in missions and missionaries now as in former years? We I'ead that the Irish and Scotch missionaries who evangelized the continent of Does this enthusiasm still exist? ence at home and abroad, impress We answer "Yes," but, whether on my mind more and more the iJl the same degree as in former need of a clear elucidation of those times or not, certainly not in the fundamental divine thoughts upon degree the occasion demands. Is which we ostensibly base our apit that the Church at home is peal for men and money to spread "neither cold nor hot," and that as the Gospel to the nations. The the parents, so are the children? weakness of the modern movement Or has there crept in a misgiving, in missions-or the lack of that a shade of doubt as to the need- eminent success which should the lost condition of the heathen? crown so enormous an enterprise, To the apostle the heathen were backt by such powers, human and without hope and without God, divine-is to be sought largely in aliens from God and the enemies of the want of a candid study and a God; and his vivid perception of practical application of the princiwhat that means made enthusiasm ples with which the apostles startglow, consumed him with zeal that ed, upon which the work. of God by any means he might save some. ought to be based to-day. The The missionary needs a clear vision fundamental ideas on which God that he may be able to fill up that intends to save the nations are just which is behind of the sufferings of as important as those by which He Christ-become poor that others justifies and sanctifies the individmay be rich. ual sinner, and may be just as readily learned from direct revela- There are other qualifications so tion and common-sense evolution apparent that they need not be of revealed thought wrought out in named, some of which are essential history. But the want of appreand others desirable, such as health, hension and scientific application ability to cooperate with others, of these principles often side-tracks freedom from racial pride, a bright the train along lines that, if not and cheerful temperament, power antagonistic to Christ principles, of adaptation to varying condi- are shoddy imitations of the mind tions, ability to lead, the construct- of the Master. And of all the inive faculty, etc. All are important genious devices of the devil to hinand not in goodly measure beyond der the work of God, none are so the possibility of attainment by effective as good imitations of the any of average gifts and conse- genuine article-on lines of princicrated life. "Prayer and pains," ples "good" enough for this world, said Eliot, "can do anything." but the direst enemy of "the best," Yes, anything that God will re- the divine-required for the cause quire at our hands. of God.
Basal Ideas in Missions. The tendency is to-day away from the central idea as exprest BY REV. C. S. EBY, D.D., VANCOU- and illustrated by Christ, around which the whole thought and effort VER, BRITISH COLUMBIA. of the apostles and early Church were concentrated, namely, the The missionary undertaking is a spiritual and the divine, and in its divine plan in human hands. The place the secular and the financial essential underlying ideas seem conditions are taken as the criteplain enough, the principles on rion of duty and limit of enterprise; which they are to be realized ap- an essential reversal of the Christ pear obvious. But, the passing idea. years and growth of varied experi- If we once get the great funda- management of universal affairs. mental outlines of our chart clearly We are told that He came that He drawn, the details will be easily might "destroy the works of the adjusted, as the ability of the devil." That will not be done until Ohurch and the development of He shows us how to turn the devil opportunities open the way for out of the world, redeemed by His taking possession of the land yet blood and bought for His inherit- to be conquered for our King, who ance, over which He shall reign in has undertaken to do so much for righteousness and without a rival. the human race, and has put the We are told that God made of one high honor into our hands of being blood all nations of the earth; they fellow-workers with Him in so are, if possible, still more one by glorious a cause, fellow-heirs of the the efficacy of the blood of the final triumph. What are these cross. For this purpose did He ideas? send forth His Holy Spirit to clothe the apostles and all really and THE DIVINE COMMISSION. equally consecrated believers with power from on high, transforming The scope of the divine commis- men and women into versions of sion is nowhere better exprest than the incarnate Word, flaming with in our Savior's words to the Apos- the same divine inspiration, each tles, astranslatedinthe RevisedVer- to the extent of his make-up, one sion: "Allauthorityhathbeengiven with the Ohrist ideal. The result unto me in heaven and on earth. was to be that in this practical age, Go ye, therefore, and make disciples this dispensation of the Spirit, the of all the nations, baptizing them Holy Ghost should be executive of into the name of the Father, and the Godhead, first making the of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Ohrist incarnate in His Ohurch, teaching them to observe all things then enabling Him to complete whatsoever I commanded you: and through His people the work He be- 10, I am with you alway, even unto gan to do while tabernacled in the the end of the world." The scope flesh. The Son of God claims equal of the mission evidently contem- authority as king in heaven and plates all the nations of the earth, upon the earth. He undertakes and will not be satisfied until the with His Ohurch to put in motion kingdoms of this world have be- a new set of operations to bring come the kingdoms of our God and the whole earth practically under His Ohrist, and humanity does the His sway, until His kingdom shall will of God on earth as it is done be as complete on earth as in in heaven. This is an enterprise heaven. worthy of God. This is the evolving thought of the Old Testament, For many years I have studied and the spiritual projection of the all sides of this question, and can New. This the trend of spiritual find no other satisfactory consumrevelation, the potency of ancient mation of this age according to the promise, the purpose of all sacred Bible, fulfiling its prophecies and history, to recreate the earth in its promises, than the evolution of righteousness. For this purpose a Ohristian society resulting in a was Ohrist born into the world, reconstruction of humanityaccordhead of a new type of humanity. ing to the mind of Ohrist, by means For this purpose did He live among of a complete and full appropriation men, teach, show His glory, glory of Ohrist's plan and provisions for as of the Only Begotten, suffer, die, such salvation of the world. Too rise again, and ascend to the head long has a defective theology and emasculated Christian experience Christ. They are sent forth to DISlimited the Holy One of Israel, and CIPLINE THE NATIONS. Nothing played into the hands of the enemy. less than that. The way they are Are the provisions of salvation too to do it is by teaching and baptizscanty to bring all this about along ing into the Name. lines already laid down? Is our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, as Reduced to its last analysis, the already revealed, too feeble for so divine ideal is to let loose on the" large a task? Is the Holy Spirit world men and women who have incompetent to work the Christ become like Christ. This idea was into so many human hearts? Will carried out in apostolic times, He tire of this task before it is com- Paul, the missionary, giving the plete? Not if it takes a million most illustrious example. years! The mind of Christ, in so far as The work of the Spirit, the relig- it could be taught by words, had to ion of Jesus, is it not a salvation be formulated into language to imunto the uttermost? Does it not part it to human minds. So theolreconstruct the individual and ogy grew. In order to efficient make him fit for angel society? If and combined work in carrying not, is it the fault of the plan or out the practical plans of divine provision of salvation? Where "disciplining," organization sprang such saved individuals have multi- into being. How much of our theplied, is there not a spot of "new ology is human thought, and how earth" begun? Are there not in- much divine? How much of our stalments of the heavenlies where organizations and church machinmen live together in Christ-spots ery is human politics, and how of the "new creation?" If not, much God's way of working? How whose fault is it? Is there not far are we carrying out the divine much more of heaven in Christian ideal? And how far is that divine lands, with all their defects, than ideal vitiated by the intrusion of in heathen lands? If this power the human element? an element should increase in more rapid ratio, which always neutralizes and hinand in profounder oneness with ders when developt beyond a cer- Christ's character in practical life, tain point. Church history is one would it not still more revolution- long series of records of the swampize society? You need nothing but ing of the divine element, gradually the mind of Christ in complete, reaching a vanishing point under practical working, to make the the accumulations of the human, earth a heaven. And you need which grew more and more, until nothing but this submission of the it eventuated in a human instituwill to the Holy Spirit to give every tion, divine only in name. And man the mind of Christ. how often graduated into an insti- tution run by the devil, clad as an "Go into all the world-preach angel of light! Then a reformation the Gospel to the whole creation- with new theology and newdenomdiscipline all the nations," was the inations, partially harking back to burden of Christ's command. That first principles, to repeat in a few is, men are sent forth, commanded years a similar history of degenerto bring about what God had ation. promist for ages. Men were sent forth filled with the Spirit, filled DENOMINATIONAL EFFORT. with the God-idea and the Godcharacter, and endued with the As translated by human methods God-power, to bring the world to to-day, and put into brief shape, the churches, to a large extent, understand the great commission to 9. To undertake work whe.re we mean a great denominational effort: are surest of having the quickest returns to place on statistical 1. To bring the largest number of records. people possible into fellowship with our denomination. Of course, there are exceptions to this type of practical translation 2. To bring the largest number of the Savior's command. But it possible to accept our type of is very easy to see how the human theology. element can grow more and more, and the divine grow less and less. 3. To have a comity of missions How easy it is to have all the form that will give us and our denomina- and machinery of missions, accom- tion the widest area possible and panied by much good work of godly free of competition. One man in men, and yet the whole business Japan sat in an island containing have in it very little of the divine 11,000 souls. In ten years he had idea, because the first great basal won eight converts, and protested thought of God is ignored in pracagainst another preaching t,here. tise, tho sounded forth from pub- lic platforms! How easy it is for 4. To make the missionary society the devil to sneak in and have a the right arm of the church. It hand in the management of affairs, arouses enthusiasm, and brings a while all on the surface is pious as a "reflex influence," making the parish beadle, smooth as a summer home church more successful. sea I 5. This society must be manned Gli:npses of Korea. by a strong secretary or secretaries, a good position for men who have R. A. HARDIE, M.D. won distinction anywhere but on Canadian Colleges Missions. mission fields, and deserve emoluments and honor. Then there must One of the most needy, but at the same be a strong committee, or commit- time most encouraging mission fields of totees, of men representative of va- day, is Korea, best known to most Westerrious places and church interests, ners as the cause, and in its beginning, the but whose least and last qualifica- scene of the late war between China and tion is a knowledge of outside Japan. evangelization. Korea is a peninsular kingdom 6. To raise money by every sort hanging down from the southof appeal, to be spent in detail by eastern border of Manchuria, but officials and committees who have separated from China proper by little direct knowledge of the work. the Yellow Sea. The Strait of Korea, 120 miles wide, intervenes 7. To select men who shall be between its southern extremity well pleasing to (1) the secretary, and Japan, while in the extreme (2) the committee, and (3) the northeast only the Tumen River church at large, who are then sent separates Korea from Russian Sias appointees of men, controlled in beria. The whole peninsula is exafter years as servants of a cor- ceedingly mountainous, a range poration by men often changing, indeed, the back-bone of which for who have no knowledge of their over 400 miles follows the east work. coast, then striking across the country, terminates in the ocean 8. These men to be appointed, on the southeast, its unsubmerged directed, withdrawn at the pleasure peaks forming the Korean Archiof officials, or according to the exi- pelago. Its territorial area of 00,- gencies of finances or other conditions, local and modern, which have no connection with their work or their personality. 000 sqUl,tre miles is a little more pared to festering cesspools. -Bethan half that of the Empire of fore the hottest weather sets in, Japan. It is just about the size of the windows of heaven are mercithe Island of Great Britain, being fully opened and all this deadly 600 miles in length and from 120 to putrefaction swept away. 200 miles wide. PRODUCTS. CLIMATE. The soil of Korea is everywhere Extending through eight degrees rich and fertile, but that in the of latitude, the mainland affords valleys, easily producing sufficifmt considerable variety of climate. for the wants of the people, is the An equatorial ocean current ren- only land tilled. 'Vheat, barley, ders the southwest warmer than it broom-corn, buckwheat, tobacco, would otherwise be and here cot- hemp, two or three vegetables, and ton is extensively grown. At in the more mountainous districts, Fusan, on the southeast, snow oats and the potato are cultivated. falls every winter, altho at sea Jfost of our fruits too are found, level it seldom lies longer than a but are very inferior in quality. few hours. At Wonsan, half way The principal productions however up the east, the thermometer rare- are rice and millet, forming the ly registers over 100 degrees Fahr- chief article of diet for the richer enheit in summer or falls lower and poorer classes respectively; and than two or three degrees below beans, which are boiled and fed to zero in winter; yet here snow may their cattle and horses. The forbe seen on the mountains for over mer are used for agricultural purfive months of the year, and rice is poses, but, notwithstanding the grown 150 miles farther north. meager diet of the natives, are Altho Korea is exactly on a par- never milkt. The horses are allel with the State of California, small, but being sure-footed and the climate is on the whole but lit- capable of great endurance, are, in tle warmer than that of Northern this rough and carriageless land, Ohio or Southern Ontario, but ow- invaluable as beasts of burden. ing to the greater humidity of the The pig and dog are the chief atmosphere the heat of summer is scavengers of the streets, but both more depressing and the cold of are used for food. The fauna inwinter more keenly felt than are cludes several species of deer, bear!!, corresponding temperatures in the wild-hogs, wolves, wild-cats, badglatter places. The rainy season, ers, and foxes. The tiger and usually beginning in July, and leopard are common in the north, lasting five or six weeks, is espe- and in 1895, during an unusually cially trying. During this time the severe winter, several people were atmosphere is saturated with mois- carried away from the vicinity of ture, and everything takes on a 'Vonsan by the former. Wildfowl, coat of must and mildew. Yet this especially pheasants, ducks, and season is of the greatest possible geese, also abound in the autumn. utility, not only from an agricultural, but also from a sanitary Except in the most mountainous standpoint. For the greater part districts, there is little timber, but of the year garbage and filth is the peninsula is said to be rich in allowed so to collect in the closed minerals. Gold, obtained only by courts, narrow streets, and open placer washing, is exported to the drains of village, town, and city amount of $1,000,000 annually. alike, that these may be well com- Copper, lead, iron, and excellent coal are also found. The coast fisheries too are very valuable, but are tall and well-formed, generally like the mines, have as vet been prepossessing in appearance, and but little developt. always dignified in bearing. Their complexion is dark and all have GOVERNMENT. long, straight, black hair, which, by the women, is worn in a loop at Altho Korea has been from time the back or coiled about the tem- immemorial the battle-ground of ples, but by the men is twisted China and Japan, and usually trib- into a peculiar topknot, which utary to the one or to the other of stands upright on their heads. The these powers, and not infrequently men have usually a thick, dark to both at once, she has neverthe- mustache and an Eastern pointed less remained a separate country, beard. They do not shave. and her rulers have always been supreme within the peninsula. The The population of Korea is vari- present dynasty, which came to the ously estimated at from twelve to throne in 1392, acknowledged the fifteen millions. Its growth, how- sovereignty of China, until the be- ever, is very slow on account of the ginning of the late war between frightful infant mortality and the that empire and Japan. Under occurrence from time to time of Japanese pressure the king then epidemics. In 1886, in the metro- renounced his allegiance to the politan province alone, one hundred emperor of China, and Korea was thousand people are said to have declared independent. The mon- perished of cholera in two months. archy has always been absolute, Smallpox is common in all parts the government consisting of min- of the peninsula every winter and isters appointed by, and responsible spring, but vaccination, now very to, the king alone. The governors generally practist, is doing much of the thirteen provinces and the to curtail the ravages of this disprefects of the 339 magisterial dis- ease. Typhoid, typhus, relapsing tricts into which the former are and malarial fevers, measles, sysubdivided, are still appointed by philis, digestive disorders, and parthe king and cabinet. The people asitic diseases, both skin and inteshave no voice whatever in their tinal, are extremely common. Nor government. The present monarch is this to be wondered at when we is, however, an amiable, intelligent, remember that absolntely nothing and progressive sovereign, evident- is known of the cause or prevenly desirous of the welfare and ad- tion, and scarcely anything of the vancement of his country. Altho treatment of disease, and that the a Confucianist, His Majesty has whole popUlation is congregated in frequently exprest his appreciation villages, towns, and cities, invariof the work done by the Protestant ably situated low in the valleys, missionaries, and less than two while the open gutters at the sides years ago spoke to Bishop Ninde, of the streets are, during the greatof the Methodist Episcopal Church, er part of the year, so choked with "those memorable words, which filth, that flow in them is imposthe churches cannot and must not sible. Even in Seoul, the capital, forget, 'Send us more teachers.' " a large walled city containing 150,- 000 inhabitants, with another 100,- PEOPLE. 000 immediately outside the wall, this state of things exists. The 'Vhile probably of Mongolian capitals of the thirteen provinces, origin, the Koreans are in race and and many of the magistracies, too, language, quite distinct from both are walled cities, containing from the Chinese and Japanese. They four or five to sixty or eighty by Welsh market-wives, altho the thousand inhabitants. crown is slightly less conical. This hat is made, according to the sta- GRADES OF SOCIETY. tion of the wearer, of silk, horse- hair, or finely fibred bamboo. Caste exists in Korea, not per- These differences are further em- haps to the same extent as in India, phasized in conversation by the and yet between the eat-pat-ehe use of the honorifics-low endings (worker in leather) and his august and almost innumerable interme- sovereign there exists an almost diate forms with which the lan- innumerable number of classes the guage abounds. differences between which are made apparent, not only by marks Roughly speaking the people of poverty or plenty, and of ignor- may be divided into three classes, ance or culture, but by required the upper, composed of officials peculiarities in dress. The color is and the descendants of such; the invariably white, but those who middle, consisting of merchants hold rank or office are permitted to and others able to keep slaves and dress in silk instead of the ordinar- hired labor; and the lower, em- ily worn cotton or hemp. Mourn- bracing all employed in any form ers only are now allowed to wear of manual work. To this class dis- the large sleeves (pockets) worn by tinction more than to anything all "gentlemen" previous to the else is due the Korean's character- coming of the Japanese army in istic laziness and its resultant im- the summer of 1894. They were at poverishment of land and people. that time ordered to discard them Those whom birth has favored with a view to effacing at least one with a claim to official standing or of the signs of caste distinction. the possession of a few rice-pad- The ordinary outer dress of married dies, look upon labor not only as women who have borne children beneath their dignity, but as de- consists of one or more short pet- grading and debasing others who ticoats, all but concealing the pan- engage in it. For the lower class, taloons, which terminate just below on the other hand, there is no en- the knees, and a short bodice which couragement to do more than they covers the shoulders but leaves the absolutely must to obtain a bare breasts entirely exposed. The livelihood, any acquirement over jacket worn by those who are not and above this, going to support mothers is longer, reaching down the indolent, overbearing, and op- to where the skirts are bound pressive aristocracy. Not until the about the waist. The higher class former class has learned the dignity women wear overskirts which of labor, and the latter has been touch the ground, so that their granted a guaranteE' of the enjoy- . dress more freely resembles that ment, of its fruits can we hope for of 'Vestern women. The head- prosperity in Korea. dress varies with every rank and station of life. Court officials, THE DAWN OF BETTER THINGS soldiers, yamen-runners, chair- coolies, mourners, etc., all wear is, we believe, already at hand. characteristic hats; bachelors and Since the opening of the country coolies wear kerchiefs only, and to Western intercourse in 1882, and women and children no head-dress especially since the declaration of whatever. The hat most common- independence two years ago, rapid ly worn is a black gauze-like struc- strides have been made toward the ture resembling in shape that worn inauguration of reforms' adminis- trative and social. Witness the following resolutions past by the to receive a hundred blows, and to council of state, and approved by be imprisoned at hard labor for his majesty the king. life.
" The distinction between patri- Now is the time for a great forcian .and plebeian shall be done ward movement in Korea. Many away, and men shall be selected influential officials are thoroughly for office according to ability, and alive to the fact that upon the inwithout distinction of birth. troduction of Western civilization depends their own as well as their "The law which renders the country's future, while by the family and connections of a crimi- masses the present relaxation of the nal liable to punishment shall be ancient hermit policy is welcomed abrogated. The offender only shall as a hope of deliverance from long be punished. and cruel oppression. The transi- tion has begun, and while pastors, "The law authorizing the keep- evangelists, and teachers are urging of official or private male or ently called for there is especial female slaves shall be abolished need for medical missionaries, male and it shall be forbidden to buy or and female. sell any person." CRUELTY IN SICKNESS. Other resolutions relating to taxation, the institution of an efficient By the Koreans, disease, as well police force, early marriages, etc., as all the other ills of life, is attribhave been adopted and are already uted to the malevolence of demons, bearing fruit. The trial referred to and in most cases of sickness more in the following incident would money is spent in exorcism, with a have been impossible two years view to propitiating the evil spirit, ago, and its result shows that those than in medicine for the suffering in authority are resolved that the victim. Perhaps nothing else serves reforms instituted shall be carried better to illustrate to the occidental mind the contrariness of things into effect. oriental than the music, singing, General Han, the minister of dancing, and feasting called for in case of sickness in a Korean home. justice, was one day passing, in his The chief figure in the troop of chair, through the streets of Seoul, actors is a female exorcist, believed when a ragged native stopt him to be in league with a powerful and presented a written complaint demon, by whose aid she can entice against the magistrate of Sang- or drive away the evil spirit caus- Yang. The complainantbelonged to ing the sickness. As she sings and the humblest and lowest class of dances the others beat upon drums, Korean peasants; the magistrate tom-toms, etc., all together making was a man well known and influ- noise enough to distract the poor ential in the capital, backt and sufferer. As a propitiatory sacrisupported by some of the highest fice tables are spread laden with officials. General Han, however, food and wine, of the odor arising immediately took cognizance of the from which the spirit is supposed complaint, and had the magistrate, to partake and depart satisfied. who happened to be in Seoul, arrested. He sent to the distant The Korean doctor's treatment, district for witnesses, and after a too, being directed toward the drivcareful trial, the magistrate was ing out of the demon, is naturally not only found guilty of having believed to be effective in propormost outrageously robbed the poor tion to its severity. Persons sufferpeasant under the guise of the law, but also of committing many other extortions and robberies, and was forced to make full restitution to the peasant, condemned ing from low malarial and other many homes and hearts that other- fevers invariably have various parts wise might not be reacht, and many of the body pierced with large, and, . of the most earnest and active of course, surgically unclean nee- Christians in Korea to-day are per- dles, as a supposed important part of sons into whose hearts the Gospel their treatment. We have seen found its way along paths opened broken limbs that have been punc- up by this means.
tured all round the seat of fracture The work of the medical mission- in a similar manner. Indeed no ary is, indeed, a blessed one. No treatment is more common than the other so nearly approaches and use of the needle. No attempt is repeats the life of Christ, and as we made to keep it clean, and conse- remember the crying need for and quently frightful abscesses, some- the glorious opportunity of this life, times causing death, often follow we wonder that more do not enter its use. How often too, must it. In all the heathen world there syphilis be transmitted by this cruel are but 400 medical missionaries, instrument. Rheumatic complaints whereas in Canada and the United are treated by repea ted burnings States alone there are over 100,000 with hot irons until sometimes all practising physicians. One physi- flesh in the neighborhood of joints cian to every six or seven hundred affected becomes a mass of scar of the population at home, and yet tissue. Urine is almost the only we send but one to every two and wash used for inflamed eyes and one-half million in heathendom!
granulating lids. Mixtures contain- We can well spare one-quarter ing such ingredients as fossil our doctors, and the remaining bones, powdered snake-skins, boiled 75,000 would be glad to see them toads and newts, moths, human go! Some, it is true, are offering secretions, and animal excrement themselves for this work, but the are commonly prescribed. necessary funds to send them out MEDICAL MISSIONS. are not forthcoming, and so the doctors alone are not to blame.
Loathsome as the above picture Protestant Christians in the United is, it is but a faint index, as it is States and Canada spend every but one result of the awful spiri- year hundreds of millions of dol- tual degradation of our brothers lars on wholly unnecessary-yes, and sisters in Korea. To improve often harmful-luxuries. They their condition spiritually is our spend as much more on mere com- chief aim; but in order to do this forts and conveniences, while over we must first win their respect and and above all necessaries, benevo- assure them of our love and sym- lences, conveniences, and luxuries pathy, and in the alleviation of they save annually $500,000,000, a pain and suffering, we have the sum sufficient to send out 25,000 most effective means to this end. – physicians and their families, fur- It is a work most trying in many nish them homes and thoroughly respects, but it is the self-sacrifice equipt dispensaries and surgeries, demanded that proves the sincerity and support them for at least ten of our love, and the results, often years. We claim the name Chris· so wonderful to them, and demon- t'ian, but by what right? "Whoso strating' as they do, our superiority hath this world's goods and seeth in one direction, command both his brother have need, and shutteth their confidence and their respect. up his bowels of compassion from The skill and practical kindness of him, how dwelleth the love of God the physician finds an entrance into in him?"
EDITORIAL
IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.
The Anti-Ritualistio Movement. pIe of England, parliament, and the queen, to whom a telegram was We believe that the movement sent together with a copy of Mr. against ritualism and sacerdotalism Walsh's book. Prebendary H. V. which is now agitating the Church Webb-Peploe, Dean Farrar, Sir of England, has such a definite in- 'Villiam Harcourt, Lord Kinnaird, fluence on the evangelization of and many other prominent men, the world, that we have devoted are leaders in the Anti-Ritualistic considerable space to the consider- Movement. ation of the subject in this number of the IlEnEw. Ritualism is especially deplor- able in its effects on missions. If A great Protestant demonstra- it does not displace a true zeal for tion was held in Albert Hall, Lon- the salvation of souls by a false don, early in February, at which zeal for ceremonialism,' it certainly 10,000 persons were present, and introduces into foreign lands a form 5,000 more could not obtain tickets. of worship so sadly like the super- The demonstration had the support stitions which Christianity comof over 50 Protestant organiza- bats, that a pagan people must tions, and delegates were present often be bewildered in the attempt from over 110 provincial towns. to make a distinction. The following resolutions, the first moved by Lord Overtoun, and the Mormonism in Oongress. second by Col. Sandys, M. P., were adopted unanimously: If Brigham H. Roberts retains his seat in Congress, it will be in 1. That this meeting views with alarm spite of the will of the people of and sorrow the extensive reintroduction the United States. It rests with throughout our land (1) of doctrines, rites, the individuals to make their will and ceremonies ,vhich were distinctly re- known through their representajected by the English nation at the time of tives. Numberless resolutions h~ve the Reformation, as being Romish inven- already been past and petitions tions contrary to God's word; (2) of "the forwarded to Congress. The Pressacrifices of masses II which were then de- byterian 'Voman'sBoardfor Home clared to be blasphemous fables and danger- Missions, and the League for Social ous deceit; and (3) of the evils connected Service, are especially active in with the confessional, and as the bishops in opposing Mr. Roberts' reception. too many cases appear unable or unwilling All citizens who have not already to arrest these misehievous abuses, this done so, should immediately draw meeting hereby demands that the conduct of up and sign a petition and send it public worship by the clergy of the Estab- to their representative in the 56th lisht Church shali be brought within the Congress requesting him to oppose limits imposed by law; and that public pat- the seating of polygamists in ronage be no longer employed for the fur- Congress. If these petitions are therance of Romish principles. sent to Dr. Josiah Strong, United Charities Building, New York, they II. That this meeting is of opinion that will be forwarded to vVashington legislation is imperatively required (1) to at the proper time. * compel obedience to the law, and (2) to give the laity free access to the courts of the • A favorable report was made in the recent realm, and hereby invokes the aid of Her Congress on the proposed constitutional lIlajesty·.s Government towards the passing amendment prohibiting polygamists from of a bllim order to secure these objects dur- being eligible to election to Congress, but the ing the ensuing session of parliament. determination of the question rests with the new Congress. The mass meeting is generally accounted a great success. Vhat practical results are to come from it remain to be seen. As a whole, we think the effect would have been greater, had it been more entirely in the hands of the evangelical members of the Church of England, and less dominated by non-conformists. We hope, however, that it will influence the peo- Mormonism is distinctively a Bishop Satterlee has said, " An heathen religion, tending to en- enormous increase to the efficiency snare the soul as well as a poli- of our mission work," to have tico-ecclesiastical power, seeking to " missionaries with independent control the country. Roberts, a means" going out at their own representative of this religion, expense? And would it not incite should be expelled from Congress on to a new heroism of self-denial and the ground that he is an avowed self-offering? The editors would polygamist and covenant breaker, gladly become vehicles of comand, having married his wives since munication between such parties. the Edmunds Anti-Polygamy Law of 1882, has acted in defiance of Rev. Chas. Inwood in China,* American law, is guilty of a crime against the United States; he is Since Mr. Inwood landed in therefore punishable with dis- China, October 2d, he has traveled franchisement and disqualification about 2,500 miles in the missions to vote, should not hold office of held to November 30th. Three honor or emolument in the United days after his arrival in Shanghai, States, or any State or Territory he started for North China, holdtherein. It will be a disgrace to ing missions in Tientsin, Peking, the United States, and a menace to Tungcho, and Chefoo. The camour laws and institutions, should paign was a dual one in each cen- Brigham H. Roberts be allowed to ter. At least one meeting each day retain his seat. But in order to was held for the native Christians, prevent this, each voter should who manifested the deepest intermake known his will to his repre- est in the Word, and in many sentative with no uncertain sound. cases were very responsive thereto.
Self-Supporting Missionaries. Both in Tientsin and Peking the congregrations grew so much that A letter has been received from they had to move to larger churches. a highly esteemed correspondent, In Peking they had between 700 to who feels providentially called to 800 native Christians at the service. go as a missionary without salary In Tungcho, upward of 60 students to Puerto Rico, the Philippine were reacht, besides theological Islands, or some other 'needy field. students from the city, and native He is an evangelical clergyman of Christians. Mr. Inwood contir.ues: the Episcopal Church, a man of good education and much experi- At ont') meeting in Tientsin I ence, also having been himself an had 25 English-speaking Chinese educator. He feels, moreover, medical students, who are Chrismoved to gather together a band of tians, and several of them of large volunteers who will go, under intellectual capacity, and men similar conditions, to the heathen whose souls are on fire with love to or papal lands open to the Gospel. Christ. These men will occupy re- The Church Missionary Society in sponsible positions in society and England has a number of such in the army and navy. self-supporting volunteers, and the system has worked well. The English meetings have us- ually been for missionaries and Does not this appeal find a re- other Europeans. These have been sponse in some God-called man or full of encoura~ment. All the miswoman who would like to join this sionaries (except the is. P. G. workbrother? Would it not imply, as ers) gave me the right hand of fel- lowship, and I love them all as if I had workt with them a quarter of • A letter written November 30, 1898, on board the S. S. Sha-si, on the Yang-tse-Kiang, en route to Chung-Ching. a century. Long distances, consid- Storrow, for some years a missionerable anti-foreign excitement, and the intense pressure of their work ary in India, can not allow to pass were not permitted to stand in the way, and I know from testiID:0- unchallenged. After speaking of nies that many a heavy and dIscouraged worker in these centers the great difficulty of governing a is now facing the winter with new heart and power and hope. Their distant empire, vast in extent and devotion to the people, their selfsacrifice, their steadfast pursuit of diverse in race and religion, Mr. the highest good of the people, has deeply toucht my heart. Much as Storrow says in part: I loved missionaries before, I shall return home with a new and deeper The government has not been as love. despotic and unprogressive as it is assumed to have been. Its method After returning to Shanghai I of procedure has been on the lines started in four days for the West. in favor by all English-speaking Hankow, Hangang, and Wuchang people, and if its movements have are only separated from each other been slow, it could plead the extreme by the Yang-tse and Han rivers, delicacy and difficulty of its posiand nearly two millions of peo- tion. And where even in Christian ple live in these tnree centers. In and civilized Europe and America, these cities there are now 4,000 are great public abuses easily over- Ohristian members, but one's heart thrown? aches at the thought of the sin and sorrow of the rest. We had crowded The people of India are as free as native gatherings, two remarkable any people in the world in opinion, meetings for native pastors 'and speech, and manner of life, but the evangelists, and one each day for government is wise in not throwing the missionaries. open to Europeans and natives alike civil service appointments. The The larger outlook in this land is latter are certainly sufficiently full of promise to those who believe gifted intellectually, but what of in God and in His government of their moral integrity as magistrates the world. The bloody coup d'etat and judges? A wise and prudent of September has for the moment policy demands that authority arrested the forces of prayers and should, for some time to come at righteousness, but only in appear- least, mainly be in the hands of ance The impact of Ohristianity Englishmen. upon: the life and thought of this conservative empire is very much We have made and are making mightier than I had imagined, and mistakes alike in policy and governmeans the impact of the life and ment, but Mr. Mathieson is most teaching of the missionaries only. unfortunate in his illustrations. There is not much outside the mis- For instance, after the death of sionary circle which really makes Rungeet Swigh, the Sikh army, for righteousness in China. No freed from his strong control man who studies spiritual facts and thirsting for excitement and with a spiritual eye can arrive at plunder, invaded our territory any other conclusion. Eliminate without the least provocation. We the missionary factor, and the defeated them again and again, but presence of W e~~ern lear~ing and treated them with great clemency, science and pohtiCS notwIthstand- and did not anrex the Punjab. ing, this land is absolutely without Four years later they again broke hope of regeneration. "On the loose; with great difficulty we Cross hangs all its hope." May defeated them, and to save ourwe have grace to uplift the Cross of selves from similar troubles, and the Jesus Ohrist as long as we live. Punjab from anarchy, made it a province of our empire. For sixty British Rule in India. years it has been peaceful and prosperous as never it had been In the December number of the before. To save the boy who was said to be heir to the precarious REVIEW Mr. J. E. Mathieson brings throne from assassination, or be- ing the center of conspiracy and some heavy charges against Bdtish intrigue, we found it prudent to bring him to England, secure in policy in India, which Rev. E. C. his family estates and a splendid pension.
The king of Oude received his title to royalty from us, and only by courtesy could be called an in- Comity at Home. dependent sovereign. Sensuality, violence, and oppression, were the Dr. S. E. Wishard, of Utah, takes chief features of his rule. The British government advised him again exception to the paragraph on "De- and again to check oppression and nominational Comity at Home," live decently. Then he was warned that the misgovernment and vio- in our issue of November last, lence would necessitate his depo- on the ground that it is missition, if not put down, and when that occurred, he was granted a leading and calculated to discour- age contributions to home mission handsome pension. work. * It is true that the general Oppression is no doubt rife in statements made might convey a India, as it is in every country in false impression if applied to the Asia, for power is thus abused by all, from policemen to rajahs. But work as a whole, and might seem the British government is in no to furnish to those who wish it, an sense oppressive, and sternly deals excuse for withholding financial with it when proven. Nor is taxation, as affirmed, support. Nothing was further from oppressive. It might, it should be our thought than to disparage in lighter, but this is true of every the slightest degree the work of country in Europe. It is misleading to speak of the Indian land home missions. In our opinion tax. The theory handed down from there is no nobler or more selfpast Hindu and Mohammedan sacrificing work in the world, than generations is that the land of a country belongs to the people, that done by the true missionary represented by its rulers. The zenimdars, for the most part, collect on the frontier, and none that more the rent from the cultivators, and thoroughly merits our hearty suppay rent to the government. Their holdings are not absolute like those port. In general, there are far too of an American or English resident, few, rather than too many, heralds but restricted. The government is of the Gospel in our Western towns, the supreme landowner. The zenimdars and talookdars are its and we believe that in the vast matenants, as the rijots or cultivators jority of cases they are earnestly are theirs. More than one-third of the Indian revenue is therefore not seeking to win souls to Christ. We tax, properly speaking, but rent believe, too, that our home mission for land. The policy of the government is to be just to the people. secretaries are conscientiously en- It stands, in fact, as a protector deavoring to distribute the men between the great landholders.who no doubt are prone to exaction and means at their disposal as econand" squeezing," and their tenants, omically and efficiently as possible. and has again and again enacted It is nevertheless acknowledged to laws to protect the people from their exactions, and limit the land be true, that there is a loud call rent. for reform in too many separate Much is said about the salt tax. instances. Dr. Wishard himself acknowledges that there are in his It is objectionable, as are so many synod two cases of a breach of taxes among ourselves, but it is the comity by other denominations only article used by all the people than his own. It is a difficult thing to fix the fault and to find that is taxt, or indeed taxable, and and apply the remedy. Unfortuaccording to Lord Cromer the con- nately the reform is not only needed in Western towns, but in Eastern tribution to government by taxa- cities, and not only in home, but tion throughout the empire is about in foreign fields-witness the in- rush of societies into Cuba and one shilling and eight pence per Puerto Rico. head annually. This sum is relatively more to them than to us, but The statements in the paragraph referred to, were intentionally genit is questionable if the people of eral, not to mislead or discourage, any civilized country are governed but in order that any who find the cap to fit might wear it. and protected at as low a cost to * Herald and Presbyter, February 15, 1899. themselves.
RECENT ARTICLES ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS
V.-RECENT BOOKS ON MISSIONS AND MISSION LANDS.
ACROSS INDIA at the Dawn of the 20th Cen· containing 20 millions of people, tury. Lucy E. Guinness. Illustrated. without a single missionary among Maps, quarto 260 pp. $1.50. Religious them. A. T. P. Tract Society, London, and Fleming H. Revell Co., New York, Chicago and OUR SISTERS IN INDIA. By Rev. Edward Toronto. Storrow. Illustrated. Index. 12mo. 256 pp. $1.25. Fleming H. Revell Co., New Miss Guinness is essentially a York and Chicago. pictorial writer. She sees every fact with an artist's vision, and her The study of the women of India books are always full, not of em- is one of deep interest and great bellishment only, but of helpful ex- importance. In spite of the fact hibits of truth in forms that ap- that they are downtrodden and pear to the eye. This latest book despised, they are the stronghold from her gifted pen is a gallery of of Hinduism, and from every standoriginal pictures, diagrams, and point, humanitarian and Christian, various devices ingeniously pre- call loudly for our sympathy and pared to present the otherwise efforts to s.ave them physically, somewhat dry statistics in an im- intellectually, and spiritually. pressive form. This feature is especially unique, and is seldom Mr. Storrow will be remembered met with to the same extent in by many as a frequent contributor other bt'loks. Almost every illus- to our pages, and as the author of tration is a study. The diagrams an able article on Hindu women in show by comparative geometrical the REVIEW for April, 1898. He figures such matters as the com- went as a missionary to Calcutta in parative areas and populations of 1848, and has had excellent opportho globe, and of India; the compara- tunities for studying his subject. tive increase of Christianity, Islam, He gives us a graphic description and Hinduism, in a decade of years; of the legal and religious status of the spiritual needs of leading dis- woman in India, her daily life from tricts; the student population, In- childhood to old age, and he dedian and British; the growth of votes special chapters to infantithe student Christian movement, cide, the suttee, and widowhood; he the proportion of India's girls and discusses the causes of and evils women, etc., etc. Every page is arising from the present status of fascinating, and the genius of au- women, the remedy, and the varithorship is added to the talent for ous forms of effort to alleviate their gathering facts and presenting sufferings and elevate their condithem to the reader. tion.
After a brief sketch of the jour- This is the most complete and valney to India, Miss Guiuness gives uable recent book on this subject. a full account of Bombay and It is sympathetically written, but Poona and the mission work in avoids extreme and misleading western India. There are interest- statements in which one is tempted ing accounts of central India, Ma- to indulge, when stirred by the dras,Calcutta,and Northwest India, scenes of cruelty and degradation with a vIvid sketch of the visit to so common in India. Much is left Darjeeling and the borders of Ti- unsaid which is important in a bet. The closing chapter makes a thorough study of Hindu women, special appeal for Behar, the most but enough is told to prove beyond neglected mission field in India, a doubt the dire need of " Our Sisters in India" for the Gospel of Jesus Christ in all its fulness, and Mr. Thornton is a careful student, to encourage Christians by the knowledge of progress already and has given us in condensed form made, and souls already won. a scholarly piece of work. He dis- WITHIN' THE PURDAH; also, IN THE ZENANA cusses briefly the origin, growth, HOMES OF INDIAN PRINCES, AND HEROES doctrines, and influence of these AND HEROINES OF ZION. By Mrs. S. Arm- sects. Parsiism which arose in strong Hopkins, M.D. 8vo. 248 pp. Illus- trated. $1.25. Eaton & Mains, New Persia under Zoroaster at an un- York, and Curtis and Jennings, Cincin- nati, O. certain date, came into India about These" personal 0 bservations of a 700 A. D., when the Parsi fled from woman medical missionary in India" presents in very truth an array their Moslem persecutors. They of heartrending facts. No one with a heart can read them without long- now number about 90,000. ing and seeking to help alleviate the The Jaina number over 1,400,000 sufferings of the poor Hindu childwives and widows. Dr. Armstrong- in India. Jainism is probably a Hopkins deals not in generalities, but in specific cases, which come to reform movement from Brahmanher notice in the Hyderabad hospital. ism, and is thought to antedate The style of the book is simple, Buddhism, which it resembles in clear, and vivid. It is exceptionally interesting, tho picturing heart- many doctrines and practises. rending scenes of suffering and sorrow. One is almost tempted to Sikhism arose about the last of believe that the husbands and mothers-in-law in India know the 15th Century, as a revolt from neither compassion nor love, and are incapable of such sentiments. the idolatry and caste systems of The book has a mission, to create deeper interest and stimulate the Hinduism. Its followers now nummore persistent effort in behalf of Hindu women. We do riot see how ber nearly 2,OOO,OOO-mostly living it can fail to fulfil that mission. It is particularly well adapted to wo- in the Punjab. men's and young people's societies. EMINENT MISSIONARY WOMEN. By Mrs. J The third portion of the book T. Gracey. 8vo, 216 pp. 85c. Eaton & describes the heroic character and Mains, N. Y., and Curts & Jennings, Cin· work of the Methodist missionary cinnati. women in India. The illustrations are unusually good. Two facts a8sure for this book a PARSI JAINA, AND SIKH, or some minor re- welcome: It is written by Mrs. ligiouS sects in India. By Douglas M. Thornton, B. A. 12mo. 96 pp. Religious Gracey, whose pen adorns what it Tract Society, London. touches; and it is written about 29 This is the Maitland Prize Essay, in 1897 awarded by the University heroic women, whose lives were of Cambridge, to Mr. Thornton, the author of "Africa Waiting," devoted to the service of Christ in who was for some time secretary of the British Student Volunteer the mission field, or as promoters Movement, and has recently gone out under the C. M. S. to Khartum. of missions at hom!). Mrs. Gracey has made a sagacious selection: Mary Lyon, whose name is in- separable from Holyoke and Wo- man's Education; Mrs. Doremus, who was for 15 years president of the Woman's Union Missionary Society; Fidelia Fiske, who was Mary Lyon reproduced in Persia. Educational and missionary work in Greenland is represented by the wife of Hans Egede; in Mexico, by Melinda Rankin; in Egypt, Liberia. and other parts of Africa, by Miss Whately, Miss Wilkins, Mrs. Day, and Madame Coillard, in China, by Miss Woolston, Lydia Fay. and Miss Aldersey; in India, by Mrs. Mullens, Miss .Tucker, Mary Reed, Miss Butler, Miss Cook, Mrs. .:vIarsh- man, Miss Anstey, Miss Swain, and Miss Brittan; in Ceylon, by Miss Agnew; in Burma, by Mrs. In· galls; in the South Seas, by Mrs. Lyth, Mrs. Geddie, and Mrs. Inglis; ancient origin of the Waldenses, and Greece, Syria, etc., by Mrs. and presents a hasty sketch of Thompson, Mary Baldwin, and the their history, giving one a new in- wife of Bishop Gobat. sight into the sufferings of the "Israel of the Alps." We could not but wish that Mrs. Gracey had enlarged her survey, They were burned, they were cast into and taken in a few other glorious damp and horrid dungeons; they were smoth- wcmen, for we need an encyclo- ered in crowds, in mountain caverns,-moth- pedia of women's heroic services, ers and babes, and old men and women to- and there is no complete work on gether; they were sent out into exile of a the subject. The three wonderful winter night, unclothed, unfed, to climb the women who were the successive snowy mountains; they were hurled over wives of Adoniram Judson, Mrs. the rocks, their heads were used as footballs, Moffat, Mrs. Livingstone, Mrs. their· houses and lands were taken from Krapf, Mrs. Grant, Mary Wil- them, and their little children were stolen to liams, Miss Field, Mrs. Rhea, Miss be educated in the religion they abhorred. Willard, Mrs. Capron, Miss Gard- n~r, and a host of others are wait- This extract reveals the temper of ing for some fit memorial. Let the book and some of the defects of Mrs. Gracey take up her pen again. its literary style. -A. T. P. The history, written from an I tal- ITALY AND THill ITALIANS. By Geo. B. Taylor, ian point of view, dwells perhaps at D.D. Map and IllnstratIans. 8vo, 441 pp. undue length upon the shadowy his- $1.50. The American Baptist Publication tory of the days before Peter Wal- Society, Philadelphia. do, and gives too few historical references in proof of controverted Dr. Taylor, a Baptist missionary points. It also makes too much of in Italy or over 25 years, is well qual- the cordiality of King Humbert ified to write on his adopted home toward the revived church of the and countrymen, and has done so Waldenses. Some of the chapters in a very acceptable manner. His are curiously divided. Chapter book supplies a lack, and will XV. deals with the Heroes, Chapter be sought and read, both for enjoy- XVI:with Martyrs, Chapter XVII. ment and information. Among all with Women. The reader queries the books which have appeared, we whether none of the martyrs were know of none which presents the heroes, whether none of the women subject so broadly and so well. Dr. were martyrs. Taylor has written sympathetically, justly, and frankly, neither CEYLON, a Key to India. An open letter to concealing nor extenuating faults, the Constituency of the American Board. and not unduly prejudiced in re- By Mary and Margaret Leitch. Illusligious matters by a sectarian bias. trated. 8vo, 80 pp. Paper. 10 cents. While not distinctively a mission- American Board of Commissioners for ary book, it has, of course, a posi- Foreign Missions, Boston. tive missionary value in the study of the Italian people and Roman- This is a very striking and forcism at home. The last chapter ible appeal, ably setting forth the deals with the evangelization of history, condition, and opportuni- Italy. The book is well illustrated, ties of mission work in "India's clearly printed, and attractively Pearl." Pictorially, statistically, bound. and in every way it is very com- plete, being full of valuable facts, HISTORY OF THE WALDENSES. By Sophia interesting incidents, and moving V. Bompiani. Illustrated. 12mo. 175" pp. arguments. $1.25. A. S. Barnes and Co., New York. WITH SOUTH SEA FOLK. By Miss E. Theodora This "modest little work" gath-. Crosby. Illustrated. 12mo, 208 pp. $1.00. ers up the few arguments for the The Pilgrim Press, Boston and Chicago.
Those who have heard Miss Crosby speak, or have read her in- teresting and able article in our January number, will need no fur- ther inducement to secure and read this fascinating little story of Monthly Missionary Bibliography. missionary life and work in the Caroline Islands. It is especially THE REDEMPTION OF AFRICA. A Story of Civadapted for young people, and if ilization. By Frederic Perry Noble. Bibknown to be in a Sunday-school liography, illustrations, maps and statislibrary will not spend many days on tical tables. 2 vols. 8vo, 856 pp. $4.00. the shelf. The fictitious character Fleming H. Revell Co., New York, Chiof the narrative has not unduly cago, and Toronto. colored the statements with regard to the character of the islands and IN AFRIC'S FOREST AND JU:NGLE ; or1 Six years their people, and the picture of the among the Yorubans. By Rev. R. H. joys and trials of missionary life ~~:eli C~~mo, 282 pp. $1.00. FlemingH. may be relied upon as being drawn from experience rather than from THE CHRISTIAN CONQUEST OF ASIA. Studies the imagination. and personal observations of Oriental Re- ligions. By John Henry Barrows. 12mo, THE STORY OF BEAUTIFUL PUERTO RICO. By 258 pp. $1.50. Charles Scribner'S Sons, C. H. Rector. Map and illustrations. New York. 12mo, 184 pp. $1. 25. Laird & Lee, Chicago. THE NEW FAR EAST. A study of present The claim that this is a "graphic political conditions and prospects. By description of the garden spot Arthur Diosy. Illustrated by Kubota of the world by pen and cam- Beisen. Map. 8vo., $3.50. G. P. Putera, comprising the history, geog- nam1sSons. raphy, soil, climate, inhabitants, customs, churches, schools, rivers, ACROSS INDIA at the Dawn of the Twentieth lakes, mountains, mines, prod- Century. By Lucy E. Guinne"s. Illusucts, invasion, railroads," etc., trated. Maps and diagrams. -Quarto, etc., might lead one to expect 260 pp. $1.50. Fleming H. Revell Co. an encyclopedia on things Puerto- Rican. One is, however, somewhat OUR SISTERS IN INDIA. By Rev. E. Storrow_ disappointed to find these subjects Illustrated. 12mo, 256 pp. $1.25. Flemtoucht upon only in barest outline, ing H. Revell Co. and about one-third of the pages devoted to half-tones. In general CEYLON A KEY TO INDIA. By :r.fary and Marthe information seems to be reli- garet Leitch. Illustrated. Paper. 8vo, able, but it will never rank with 80 pp. 10 cents. American Board, Boston. more thorough treatises, the island and its institutions. PROBLEMS OF PRACTICAL CHRISTIANITY IN The League for Social Services is CHINA. By Rev. Ernst Faber, Ph.D. preparing a series of 6 leaflets for Translated from the German by Rev. F. the express purpose of combating Ohlingan, and edited by John Stevens the evils of the Mormon system. Litt. D., D.D. J. Tamblyn, London.
Methods of Mormon Missionaries, by Rev. HISTORY OF PROTESTAXT MISSIONS IN JAPAN.
Wm. R. Campbell. By H. Ritter. Translated by G. E. Al- brecht. Methodist Publishing House, Present Attitude of Mormonism, by Rev. Tokyo.
R. G. McNiece, D.D. THE NATIVE TRIBES OF CENTRAL AUSTRALIA.
Historical Sketch, by Rev. D. J. McMillan, By Baldwin Spencer and F. J. Gillen. 8vo, 671 pp. The ~Iacmillan Co., N. Y. D.D. . Political Significance of Mormonism, by THE STORY OF THE PHILIPPINES. By Murat Halstead. Quarto, 400 pp. The Dominion Rev. Dr. Josiah Strong. Company, Chicago. Mormon Articles of Faith, with ~lormon AMERICA IN HAWAII; a History of the United Explanations, by Rev. D. J. Nutting and States Infiuenoe in the Hawaiian Islands. By Edmund James Carpenter. 16mo, 275 Rev. D. J. McMillan, D.D. pp. Small, Maynard & Co., Boston.
Ten Reasons Why Christians can not Fel- THE WEST INDIES. A History of the West In- dian Archipelago, together with an aclowship the Mormon Church, Being the count of their physical characteristics, resources and condition. Amos K. Fisk. Action of the Presbytery of Utah. Illustrated. 12mo. $1.50. G. P. Putnam's Sons. Specimen leaflets will be sent free on application, and quantities at CAMPAIGNING IN CUBA. By Geo. Kennan. 35 cents pel' hundred, postpaid. 12mo, 269 pp. The Century Co.
CATHOLICISM, ROMAN AND ANGLICAN. By A. M. Fairbairn. 8vo, 481 pp. Charles Scrib· ner's Sons.
MISSIONARY EXPANSION SINCE THE REFORMA- TION. By Rev. J. A. Graham. Maps and illustrations. 12mo, 244 pp. $1.00. Flem- ing H. Revell Co.
THE CHURCH MISSIONARY HYMN BOOK. 12mo, 224 pp. 3 shillings. Church Missionary Society, London.
BRIGHT BITS FOR READING IN MISSIONARY 80- CIETIF.S. By Mrs. M. S. Budlong, Rock- ford, II. 40 cents, MAPS OF CHINA. We have on hand a small quantity of maps of China, like those which appeared in our February number, showing the location of all missionary so- cieties. These may be obtained, while the supply lasts, by sending 10 cents in stamps or coin, to D. L. Pierson, 944 Marcy Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
VI.- GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
EDITED BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, D.D. TRANSLATIONS BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK.
THE KINGDOM. never come to the front as in these years of scarcity. Their praise is -THE LORD IS KING, BE THE not only in the writings of Mere- wether and Hawthorne, but in the PEOPLE NEVER SO IMPATIENT: HE mouths of English officials, who had ignored or despised them. No SITTETH BETWEEN THE CHERU- other whites except the mission- aries, are in touch with those whom BIMS, BE THE EARTH NEVER SO the famine pinches most. No others are at all fit to be wardens of UNQUIET. orphans more numerous than ever. No class can be so safely trusted as This first verse of Psalm ninety- honest and wise almoners of nine, according to the Church of bounty.-The Nation. England Prayer-Book version, has been taken as the motto-text for -M. Appia, in the Journal des the current year by the China Missions, speaking of the mission- Inland Mission, and Clvina's Mil- ary army, says: lions, for January, tells how the choice was made: "The verse came "Under the motley array of to us personally in a time of uniforms, of names and of societies, trial, and was God's message to it is difficult not to have mainly in our soul. Threatening news had view the divisions of the army of just been received from China, Christ. And yet it forms one and which indicated that our beloved the same whole under one head. missionaries there were in immi- As of the true Church, we can say . nent peril. There had preceded this also of it, that God alone shrouds the telegraphic despatches of the it. Vho does not feel that even daily press, to the effect that China among those who anathematize us, was in turmoil, that rebellions were there are still brethren, who will threatened, and that wars seemed one day recognize us as genuine about to devastate the land. Under members of Christ, and whom we these depressing tidings the heart shall salute as true warriors in the was bowed down and the spirit army of the Lord? " was in sore distress. But one of our mission household, who had -Joseph Kam is surnamed the been reading the Prayer-Book Apostle of the Moluccas. The C. version of the Psalms, suddenly M. S. Intelligencer says of him: came to our side, as a messenger "Born in Bois-Ie-Duc, the son of a sent from God, and read, ' The Moravian leather merchant, he felt Lord is King, be the people never so early drawn toward the foreign impatient: He sitteth between the field, but waited patiently in defer- cherubims, be the earth never so ence to the home ties imposed by unquiet.' It was enough. We saw the care of his aged parents. Upon in the precious words the living their death, shortly after the siege God in the eternal calm of His of Bois-Ie-Duc by the French, in infinite power and love. Since then which he displayed great intrepid- the peace which passeth under- ity, Joseph conceived the path standing has garrisoned heart and clear. The Moravian body, how- mind; and so we delight to pass the ever, refused to accept one not in message on to other souls." fellowship, and he was persuaded to remain in Holland for the sake -Christian missions, as hllman- Qf his two sisters, received a good itarian inl>titutions ill hldia, have government position, and eventu- -Medical Missions at Home and ally married. But sisters, wife, Abroad (London), for January, position, and child, were taken gives the following table, showing from him, the last s'o unexpectedly the progress made in ten years in that his friends feared to break the medical missions, and the present tidings. The lonely man received distribution in the different coun- calmly the news of his latest be- tries: reavement, repelling all consola- tion by the remark: 'I now learn January, 1890………. 125 God's way and will. I desired to " 1891 ………. 142 become a missionary. You held 1892 … '" … 156 me unfitted, procured me a situa- " 1893 ………. 165 tion, and bid me marry. I followed 1894 ………. 185 your advice. God, by depriving 1895………. 202 me of all, has loosed me now from 1896 ………. 216 every earthly tie. Therefore, to- 1897………. 239 morrow, I go to Rotterdam, in obe- 1898 ………. 251 dience to the voice, which for years " 1899 ………. 268 has spoken in my heart. I shall become a missionary.' Writing six Of the 268 medical missionaries, years later from Amboyna, this 64 are women. Their distribution same eager-spirited Kam says: is as follows: In India, 92; in China, 'There is no man in all the world 90; in Africa, 36; in Syria and Palso happy as myself.' " estine, 18; in Turkey, 5; in Persia, 4; in Japan, 4; in the New He- MEDICAL MISSIONS. brides, 4; in Madagascar, 3; in Egypt, 3; in Arabia, 2; in Korea, 1; -It means a great deal when a in Siam, 1; in Java, 1; in Northmedical journal of the stan'ding of west America, 1; in Natal, 1; in The Lancet presents such an utter- France, 1; unlocated, l. ance as the following: "We can imagine no career more lofty or -Medical Missions gives the honorable than that of a well-in- number of physicians of the Presformed, capable, and courageous byterian Church (North), as folmedical missionary. A few hun- lows: China, 22; India, 8; Siam and dreds of such men in the next half Laos, 8; Persia,9; Japan, 2; Syria, century would powerfully affect 2; Africa, 3; Korea, 5; South the history of China, India, and America, l. Africa. If men of commerce could give as good an account of their -Perhaps nothing shows the work in these lands as men of med- improvement in the inhabitants icine, the evangelization of the of Hebron like the change in the world would be hastened." behavior of the children. The quiet, business-like way in which -The Mission to Lepers in India dozens of these-our former torand the East has under its charge mentors-come, armed with mediat present in its own homes, adults' cine-bottle and ointment-cup, to and children's, 1,458 lepers, and the consult the doctor on their own acinstitutions which are subsidized count, is really remarkable. Poor by the mission contain 1,798 more; children; many of them are in a sad the total number of lepers helpt by condition, and in sore need of conthis means is 3,256. The society stant medical treatment, through will complete its first twenty-five no fault of their own. One miseryears of work in September of this able little girl, about twelve years year. of age, has persevered in coming for nearly four years, and is now blossoming out into health and bea,uty. Here, as everywhere else, child tongues. Let as many as possible life is sweet and attractive, and have medical training-a sure pass- many a sunbeam is thrown uponour port into many zenanas. Above path by the trustful affection and in- all, let -then]. be full of Christian nocent simplicity of the li.ttle ones. zeal and enterprise. Love for their A sturdy little man of three years native sisters will follow of itself- old shouts valiantly, "Boys, boys for the knowledge we have gained to the rescue!" when he finds his of educated native women from the head imprisoned between the doc- few who have broken through tor's knees, and a spray of warm trammels of caste and the gates of water playing over his inflamed the zenana, proves that no more eyes, and yet is not above consol- charming, gentle, and refined exist ing his injured dignity by a lump on earth than the Hindu woman of of sugar and a kiss when all is India. And in due season they over. A town maiden of six or shall reap. I have often said that seven says pitifully, "Dear lady, it is my firm conviction that the how can you let these dirty village whole fabric of popular Hinduism women sit down on your nice clean is being fast and surely undermined bed? " When she sees a Felluhah by Western education and Chris on the surgery couch, a moralist of tian influences." eight, bewailing her impaired eyesight, tells us seriously that chil- -Among the manifold novelties dren who have mothers as young of the passing generation is the apas her's was, always suffer a great pointment of a woman as superin- ' deal in their infancy, because "a tendent of Indian schools. Miss very little mother is too fond of Reel had previously held the posiplay, and does not know how to tion of land commissioner, and also take care of her children." An im- that of superintendent of public promptu poet of nine or ten, being instruction for the State of Wyomheld down by main force to undergo ing. In her first annual report she a very simple and painless exam- gives prominence to the necessity ination, suddenly ceast his screams for the industrial feature of educaand began to chant a kind of fu- tion: neral dirge, "Oh, mother, mother, come and see your poor son in the "I desire to emphasize the statedust!" then in a martial tone: ments of numerous Indian edu- "The knife is bared, the red blood cators that industrial training flows; oh, mother, mother, come should have the foremost place in and see your darling in the dust! " Indian education. Industrial train- All the time there was no knife in ing should be in a line with the the question at all.-Medical Mis- work that the students will find on sions. their reservations, and should tend to teach them to become self-sup- WOMAN'S WORK. porting. The backbone of an edu- cation is the ability to do some- -Sir Alexander Mackenzie, at thing, and to enable them to under- stand existing conditions and to the annual meeting of the Bir- adapt themselves to their surround- ings." mingham auxiliary of the Church -Miss McBeth continues her of England Zenana Missionary So- unique work among the Nez Perce Indians-that of conducting a theciety, had this to say of the agents ological class of promising native Christians, who have come to live to be appointed to zenana mission near her at Lapwai for this instruc- tion,and who hold themselves ready work, than which there is none more to answer any call for Christian important and delicate: "Multiply, therefore, the numbers of your agents. See to it that the women you send out are physically sound and strong, for the work at its best is onerous and exhausting. Let them be tactful, not too full of the idea of English superiority, while maintaining, in all its fulness, the English standard of life and morals.
Let them be apt in acquiring foreign work among their people.-Home lines, 1,000; Guam in Ladrones, 500; Mission Monthly. total, 171,600. Cuba is about the -A pleasant picture this: The size of New York, Ohio, or Ala- Woman's Missionary Society of the bama. Puerto Rico is a Iittle smaller Indian church at Good Will than Connecticut. The Hawaiian assembled in the home of their Islands are somewhat smaller than pastor, himself a Dakota Indian; New Jersey, the largest island, the neat frame house attractive Hawaii, being about twice the size with its cozy porches, bow window of Delaware. The Philippines cover of blooming plants, and tasteful a land space about as great as New interior; 25 women industriously York and the New England states plying needle and thread; the after- together. Luzon, on which Manila noon closing with a prayer-meet- is situated, is not much smaller ing, as usual, the eldest daughter than New York. All the new de- of the pastor leading the singing pendencies together are about equal at the organ. – Home kIission in area to the New England states, Monthly. New York, Pennsylvania, and New -Take a crumb from a report Jersey. In annexing lands we which is full of meat, that of the annex populations also. These are girls' school at Tabriz, Persia: "A as follows: Cuba, 1,500,000; 65 per Kurdish chief visited our school, cent. white. Puerto Rico, 1,000,000; and when he had heard the girls 60 per cent. white. Hawaii, 90,000; recite, seen their needlework, heard 65 per cent. white. Philippines, them sing and talk in three lan- 8,000,000; mostly Orientals. Sulus, guages, when he himself had exam- Carolines, and Ladrones, mainly ined the little girls in Turkish and barbarous. Roughly, we annex the seniors in Persian, he threw about 10,000,000 people, of whom 00 down his book and exclaimed that per cent. belong to more or less he 'had heard, but the half had inferior races."
never been told' him. ' 1Vho -Dr. Gunsaulus, in the six years would think,' he said, 'that girls of his service at Plymouth Church, could ever learn to do all these Chicago, raised something over things? But onr girls, what do $6,000,000 for institutions which he they know? 1Vhy, compared with chose to aid or found. One Sunday ;ljonr girls, they are mere donkeys;' he set forth in his best ma,nner the and he left, saying he prayed for things that ought to be done for the day when Kurdish children, the young boys and girls of our too, might be in school."-lYoman's generation. When he was through, Work/or Woman. Philip D. Armour came forward and said: "Do you believe in those AMERICA.
-The New York Evening Post ideas you just now exprest?" " I summarizes our new possessions as certainly do," said Dr. Gunsaulus.
follows: "The islands we have " And you'd carry them out if you taken number more than 2,000- had the means?" "Most assured- they have never been counted, and ly." "vVell,then," said Mr. Armour, still less have they been accurately " if you will give me five years of surveyed. But the best statistics your time, I will give you the available yield the following results money." The result was that Ar- as to areas in square miles: Cuba, mour Institute has Dr. Gunsaulus 45,000; Puerto Rico, 3,550; Hawai- as its president, where 1,200 young ian group, 6,640; the Philippines, men and women are taught 114,000; the SuIus. 1.OOOj the Caro- the most important industrial branches. The Sabbath address is same work-Booker T. Washing- to go down in history under the ton." title of the" $2,800,000 sermon." -A woman, bringing her daugh- -According to the census of 1890 ter fresh from the mountains to there were 33,004 negroes in the U ni- one of our schools, was much im- ted States engaged in professional prest. She declared, "It was a services. Of these 12,182 were minis- plumb sight! "-her "it" meaning ters, 440 lawyers, 1,190 physicians, everything in general. When taken 15,147 professors and teachers, and to the third floor of the house, she 4,025 in other pursuits clast as rusht in frantic fear to pull the girl professional. In 1895-00 there were from the window, where she had 1,319 students in professional gone to look out, crying, "You'II courses in colored schools, and of fall! I'm plumb dizzy!" In crossing these 126 were women. There were the veranda she took the precau- 703 students and 76 graduates of tion to keep close to the house, as theology, 124 students and 24 grad- if in danger of plunging over the uates in law, 286 students and 30 edge of a precipice. When shown graduates in medicine, and 6 grad- dormitoriee, she remarkt, "The uates in pharmacy, and 126 students girls sleep in rotation." – Home and 40 graduates in nurse training. Mission Monthly. The number of trained colored physicians has since risen to 805. -Episcopal work among the freedmen is establisht in 24 dio- – -When recently President Mc- ceses, wherein 40 colored priests Kinley and his cabinet paid a visit and 340 colored deacons are laborto Tuskegee anQ. Booker Washing- ing, and also 60 white clergymen. ton's Institute, Secretary Long There are 5 archdeacons in as many said: "A picture has been presented dioceses. The approximate results to-day which should be put upon taken from last reports: Communithe canvas with the pictures of cants, 7,556; baptized, 1,4079; Sun- Vashington and Lincoln, and day-school scholars (average), 6,248; transmitted to the future time and teachers, 633; the day pupils avergeneration; a picture which the age 3,9400, and it is estimated that press of the country should spread in all about 8,000 negroes have been broadcast over the land, a dramatic confirmed. picture, and that picture is this: The president of the United States -Troopfl Land 11, of Roosevelt's standing on this platform; on one Rough Riders, were enlisted at side the governor of Alabama, on :lHuskogee, Indian Territory. In the other, completing the trinity, a troop L were three Kendall College representative of a race only a few students-one Creek, one Cherokee, years ago in bondage, the colored and one white. Troop L was the president of the Tuskegee Normal company commanded by the fearand Industrial Institute. God bless less Capron. Our Creek boy was the president under whose majesty bugler for that troop, and sounded such a scene as this is presented to the first charge of the war. He the American people. God bless had his trumpet shot away, and the State or Alabama, which is was wounded in that first fight at showing that it can deal with this La Quasina. The Cherokee was inproblem for itself. God bless the stantly killed by the bursting of a orator, philanthropist, and disciple shell in the charge at San Juan. of the Great Master who, if he The white boy came home gaunt were on earth, would be doing the and fever-stricken. Kendall stu- dents have enlisted in other regiments; some have gone South, and saw them last year giving it up for some West, in the army of occupa- books, things that were lookt upon tion.-ALICE ROBERTSON. only two or three years ago as not worth bothering about. The first -Mr. A. H. Waggener, of Eure- thing an Eskimo now asks for, as a ka, Ill., is still engaged in his mis- rule, is so many books for himself sionary institute work. He has and family. But what astonishes since 1895 devoted his time ex- me most of all is the use they make clusively to this form of service. of them. Eskimos who could not Last year he lectured for charity read the year before, came last five weeks in Illinois and Indiana, spring, not only able to read them, besides attending numerous con- but able to show me the page where ventions. The work is, of course, any particular word was that I an interdenominational one, and askt them for. Surely this is a the maps and illustrations greatly cause for praise and thankful.. aid in impression. Pastors and ness. "-0. M. S. Gleaner. others, who desire to stimulate missionary zeal, which is founded EUROPE. on knowledge of the world-field, would do well to correspond with Great Britain.-The record num- Mr. Waggener.-A. T. P. ber of British warships now build- ing amounts to 119 vessels, ranging -The largest Indian work of the from the heaviest battle-ships to Episcopal Church "is in South tiny torpedo-boat destroyers, the Dakota, where the result of Bishop figures being 16 first-class ironclads, Hare's great work of 25 years is 36 cruisers, 14 sloops and gunboats, evidenced in the chapels and and 53 torpedo-boat destroyers. schools and 70 congregations scat- Chatham Dockyard is credited with tered over that great prairie the unparalleled achievement of waste, which a quarter of a cen- launching 3 of the heaviest battletury ago was inhabited by In- ships from the same slip within ten dians, then sunk in vice and every months. The armored ships being kind of wickedness, illiterate and built, at a cost of over £26,000,000 savage, having no higher ambi- ($130,000,000), number 28, with a tion than to live like the brute tonnage of over 350,000, the number beasts. To:·day there stand, in that exceeding by 2 the entire Russian same wilderness, 4 substantial fleet of battle-ships, and treble the boarding-schools, averaging 50 pu- number of armored vessels in the pils each, 53 neat church buildings, American navy. The whole of and 37 small mission houses, that these ships will be added to the have, in the kind providence of effective strength of the British God, gathered into His fold over navy by March, 1903. 10,000 baptized Indians from among the Sioux Indians, 12 of whom have -Dr. Barnardo's homes now conbeen especially trained and edu- tain nearly 5,000 waifs and strays cated, and have been ordained and (among whom are 700 little incursent forth to minister the Word ables, deaf and dumb, blind, and the Sacraments to their own crippled or otherwise diseased), and people."-Spirit of Mi$$ion$. 8 souls are added every 24 hour~ to this great family. 36,000 waifs -The Rev. W. G. Walton, work- have been rescued, of whom over ing in the diocese of Moosonee, 10,000 trained boys and girls have writes: "It is a common saying been successfully placed out in the here that an Eskimo will not give colonies, and nearly 21,000 sent to up his tobacco for anything, but I sea, or placed in situations in Great Britain. During the last two years at Drammen. They were continued no fewer than 4,877 fresh cases have during four days. This society been admitted-a number probably holds correspondence with the in excess of admissions by all the French Lutheran Synod and has other existing societies put to- extensive missions in Madagascar. gether. The doors are open to the Last year there were, in connection homeless freely day and night all with this mission, 25,336 communithe year round. No eligible case is cants and 44,000 regular attendants rejected on the ground of age, sex, at worship. The number of school creed, nationality, or physical con- children was 46,811, of whom 29,421 dition. No really destitute child were taught French. The number has ever been refused admission. of native pastors was 60.
The Continent.-Societe des Mis- -The following notice has been sions Evangeliques de Paris has received from the Moravian Mission just closed a memorable year, for it Board in Berthelsdorf: ' , We hasten has called forth an unprecedented to inform the friends of our mission effort and sacrifice. Forty-two that the trustees of the Morton Europeans, of whom 25 are men Bequest have paid £16,406 as the and 17 women, have gone out to 5 first instalment for our missions. different mission fields, six to the By the provisions of the will, this Lessouto, 10 to the Zambesi, 5 to is only available for the forming of the Kongo, 3 to Tahiti, and 18 to new out-stations in missions Madagascar. Of these, 9 were mis- selected by the trustees, and for sionaries returning to the former paying additional workers at such scenes of their labors; 31 were new stations. On the basis of proposals workers – missionaries, teachers, requested from us, the trustees evangelists, or artisans; and 2 were have decided tl).at the above-named delegates sent on special work by sum shall commence the following the society. enterprises: 1. Port Elizabeth, South Africa. 2. Cape Gracias a -The last annual report of the Dios, Nicaragua. 3. Rigolet, Lab- Roman Catholic Society of Foreign rador. 4. New Church in Para- Missions in Paris, as noted in The maribo, Surinam. These will be Independent, shows that the work commenced as soon as possible in of the society extends over Eastern each case. We repeat with empha- Asia and includes 28 dioceses, with sis that this bequest is not available 1,031 European and 569 native for the large -deficiency on our priests. The adult baptisms, with- general fund, or for the maintenout counting missions in Siam and ance of existing work. The present Yunnan, were 46,326, an advance of financial crisis of our missions is nearly 8,000 on the preceding year, not relieved in any wise by this and the entire community reported gift." in connection with the missions number 1,162,165. -Dr. Gustav Warneck, of Halle, has completed the twenty-fifth year -Thirteen missionaries of the of his issue of the Allgemeine Mis- Paris Lutheran Society labor on sionszeitschrijt. There is no one the island of Madagascar. The on th-e Continent who has a greater Lutheran Church of Norway knowledge of missions, or has renrecently sent 20 additional workers dered greater service to the sciento the same field. tific study of them. His rewritten "History of Protestant Missions" is -The Norwegian Missionary So- by far the best in any language; it ciety held lately its annual meetings has run through three editions in ASIA. Germany in one year, and we hope soon to see it in English dress. Islam.-The mills of the gods grind slowly, but they grind to -The contest for religious liberty powder. 'l'he Jewish Missionary in Austria is still going on. A re- Intelligence states that since 1876, cent case in the highest court was when the present sultan ascended decided against the evangelical the throne, Turkey has shrunk to party, and some of the officials are half its former size. In Europe already making use of this decision there has been the loss of Bosnia, to insist that children must receive Servia, Herzegovina, Bulgaria, the religious instruction of the Rumania, :Montenegro, Thessaly, church in which their parents were and now Crete; in Asia of Kars, born. This decision will bear hard- Batum, and Ardahan; in Africa, of ly upon former Romanists. A Egypt. The population has dememorial has been sent to the em- creast from 42,000,000 in 1876, to peror, testifying to the loyalty of 21,000,000 in 1898. But, 0 Lord, the members of the free churches, how long!! and calling his attention to the restrictions put upon their liberty. -Mr. Timothy B. Hussey, of Our missionary writes, "God has the excellent Ramallah Mission of helpt and will help."-Missionary the American Friends, writes from Herald. Jerusalem under date of December 10th, 1898, speaking of their pleas- -We know of no more practical ure and encouragement in a recent way in which to show sympathy visit of Dr. Cecil F. T. Bancroft, with the best elements in the popu- principal of the Phillips Academy, lation there who are eager to see Andover, Mass. better days for the country (Spain) than by assisting Mrs. Alice Gordon There are 27 girls in the training Gulick in her splendid work at the home of the mission, "where they American Institute for Girls. The are taught, first the Christian reo school has been in Biarritz, just ligion, then, all things good and over the French border, during useful, as in secular schools. They the war. That it still retains its are taught housework, sewing, etc. influence over a considerable sec- We have in aJl the day-schools tion of the Spanish population is about 150 more little Arab girls, proved by the fact that in Septem- and it is such a beautiful sight to ber 11 new students crost the see them thus brought together frontier and entered the institu- under good Christian discipline. tion. The time is at hand when a For the training home we endeavor return to Spain seems wise, and to select bright, active, healthy, Mrs. Gulick believes that the largest and intelligent girls, who will be usefulness will be secured if Madrid, likely to develop into missionaries, and not its former location, San teachers, good wives, and helpers Sebastian, is selected as the future in the future for the elevation of home for the school. If $50,000 can this people." be secured, land and a building will be speedily forthcoming, and thus Mr. Hussey refers, naturally, to a substantial center of American the unhappy state of women there. and Christian ideas and influences will be planted in the heart of the "Yesterday my wife was called nation's capital.-Congregational- to see a sick family. She found a ist. home, where lived in one room, two fathers, two mothers, nine children, and the grandmother, and six of them sick with very sore eyes. The room was totally dark Mount of Olives to Jerusalem, and when the door was shut, and smoky, before starting, the leading sheik, as there was no chimney, these de- a Moslem, askt permission to be fects causing the most of the ill- allowed to say "good-by" to his ness." When Mrs. Hussey had friend, and stooping down he revthoroughly washt up the nine chil- erently kist the cold forehead, saydren, there was great delight. ing in a low tone, "The peace of God rest upon thee. Be assured The treasurer of the Ramallah that without doubt I will meet Mission is Sarah J. Swift, 22 Oak thee in heaven;" and he made an Avenue, Worcester, Mass. earnest request that another lady worker should be sent to Et Tur, -The remarkable increase in the the village where she had lived.- population in Jerusalem during the C. M. S. Intelligencer. last fifty years is exciting much interest. The number to-day is India.-Dr. Fairbairn says, as the estimated at 45,000; of these 28,000 Indian Witness reports: To stand are Jews. Indeed, the whole Jewish face to face with the teeming milpopulation of Palestine is reckoned lions, and with all the influences at 100,000. that work against a hearing and against success, without fainting No fewer than 565 baptisms of or being discouraged, speaks of the Jews have taken place at Christ highest heroism; all the more so Church, Jerusalem, hundreds of because much of this work is done Jewish children have been edu- in obscurity, and made the harder cated in its schools, tens of because of lack of sympathy on the thousands of sick Jews have been part of those of our own race and treated in its hospitals, and a large faith and country. It seemed to number of Bibles and New Testa- him, he said, that the missionary ments circulated. and his work is more fully appre- ciated by the people of India than Jerusalem seems on the eve of by the Christian people of England becoming once more the "praise of in India. There may be immense the whole earth." No people need resources behind a great state; but, more the prayers of Christians in his judgment, the missionary than the Jews. "Pray for the and his work have more influence peace of Jerusalern."-The Chr'is- in reconciling the people of India tian. and the people of England.
-From that sacred spot where -I met in India an intelligent the Lord and Savior ascended from Sikh from the Punjab, and askt the earth to resume the glory which him about his religion. He re- He had laid aside for our sakes, plied, "I believe in one God, and I another devoted friend and worker repeat my prayers, called Japji, has been taken to her reward. every morning and evening. These Miss Helen Attlee went out to prayers occupy 6 pages of print, Palestine in 1890, and most of her but I can get through them in little time of service was spent on the more than 10 minutes." He Mount of Olives, where her patient seemed to pride himself on this love and ever-ready sympathy and rapid recitation as a work of inkindness won her an influence of a creast merit. I said, "What else quite remarkable kind over the does your religion require of you?" Moslem villagers around her. This He replied, "I have made one pilwas very touchingly manifested at grimage to a holy well near Amrither funeral on December 23, the day after her death, when numbers followed the remains from the sar. Eighty-five steps lead down being held. The following statistics to it. I descended and bathed in the sacred pool. Then I ascended of the C. M. S. in North India will one step, and repeated my Japji in about ten minutes. Then I de- show the advance that has been scended again to the pool and bathed again, and ascended to the made: second step, and repeated my Japji a second time. Then I descended a 1848 1898 third time and bathed, and ascend- 113 ed to the third step and repeated Ordained Missionaries……… 28 20 my J apji a third time; and so on for 14 the whole 85 steps, 85 bathings, and Unordained Missionaries 12 44 85 repetitions of the same prayers. It took me exactly 14 hours, from Medical Missionaries………. 0 1,050 5 P. M .• one evening, to 7 A. 1'!., 82 next morning." I askt, "What Ordained Native Pastors …… 0 good did you expect to get by going 7,000 through this task?" He replied, Native Agents …………….. 150 23,000 "Ihope I have laid up a great store of merit, which will last me a long Mission Stations…………… 21 350 time." This is the genuine Hindu 19,000 idea.-Sir MONIER-WILLIAMS. Communicants ……………. 1,040 450 -A missionary writes: "May I Baptized Adherents……….. 3,000 18,000 tell you of three subjects for encouragement and praise in the Schools……………………. 70 280 Northwest Provinces: (1) The wonderful raising and transforming of Scholars ………………….. 4,700 Indian women by Christianity. A striking proof of this is, that the Baptisms…………………. 50 first Indian deaconess has just been appointed, and she is likely to be Gifts from Native Churches.. 0 followed by others. Christianity can develop in women capacity for English unmarried Women … bearing responsibility and for independence. (2) There have been, -The Industrial Missions Aid the bishop says, more baptisms in Society has now issued its prothe Northwest Provinces during spectus for the establishing of carthe last 6 months than in the whole pet-making and other industries in of the previous 24 years. At Mirat India, as an auxiliary to mission the converts are being tested by work. A company has been startvery trying persecution. They are ed, called the Indian Mission Inentirely boycotted; they are re-_ dustries, Limited, which calls for fused their wages; they are not 5,000 shares at £1 each. The first even allowed to drink water from factory to be started will be at the wells. (3) The setting aside by Ahmednagar, in connection with the Church Missionary Society of the technical school of the Amerispecially and scientifically trained ca~ Marathi Mission. The carpets missionaries to work among 1'£0- to be manufactured will be the hammedans. " high class hand-made carpets. A competent manager is to come -In 1848, the jubilee of the C. M. from England to superintend the S. was held. now its centenary is work. The factory will probably employ several hundred hands, and so provide a means of livelihood to many in that district. Many boys are being already trained by Mr. Smith, and they will be ready to enter the factory as soon as it is started. A similar arrangement, we understand, is in contemplation in connection with the Wesleyan Mission. There is a promising field for the Indian Mission Industries Company, which, we are glad to see, is founded on a thorough busi- ness basis.
-On the 3rd of November last, three buildings were opened at Alimednagal' for the school of in- dustrial arts, of which our mission- ary, Rev. James. Smith, is the principal. The school owes its exist- tians in a town 7 miles away; ence to the generosity of Sir D. M. fodder and firewood from Chris- Petit, of Bombay, who gave Rs. tians in a town 4 miles away." 10,000 ($3,300) for the establishment Other instances of self-sacrificing of the im;titution, the remaining benevolence are named, including Rs. 17,000 which the buildings cost a donation of 50 rupees from the having been provided by smaller Second Church in Ahmednagar, gifts from England and America. which has an article in its consti- One of the buildings is designed for tution forbidding the reception of the teaching of carpentry and pecuniary aid from the mission. metal work, another for carpet The people are doing what they can making, and the third is a dormi- in the matter of self-support, but tory for boys. The chief advantage their poverty is so deep that the of such an institution in its bearing gifts are necessarily small. It is, upon the kingdom of Christ in therefore, impossible for them to India is the preparation of a body make up the more than 50 per cent, of native men trained in the arts, reduction in the appropriation for who will be able to lift the churches evangelistic work. They ought not out of their dependence upon others to be askt to do the impossible.- for support. Trained hands will Missionary Herald. find employment, even among people who would absolutely refuse to -Miss Muller, formerly a memgive work to native Christians who ber of the London School Board, had no manual school training. and an active worker in social Such an institution will do much reform, went out to India as a to break down caste. delegate to the Indian National Congress four years ago, and then -The Friends' Mission in India gave herself to the study of Hinduhas now 850 orphans under its care, ism in its native home. As the of whom the greater portion are result she has authorized the Bomfamine waifs. Four pounds per bay Guardian to say that she has annum will support each of these found herself faced with the unlittle ones until he can earn his own avoidable conclusion that Hinduliving, and funds are earnestly ism "is utterly rotten and corrupt needed for this object. At Seoni, from beginning to end, and full of Malwa, 37 of the older boys re- danger to the unhappy people who cently made public confession of place their faith in it." Miss Muller Chlist. had joined the movement under Swami Vivekananda for the spread -Dr. R. A. Hume, of Ahmedna- of Hinduism; now she has abangar, writes us that " American doned it, and is thankful that it is Christians would surely be toucht coming to nothing both in England if they could see how some of these and in America. We would point native Christians are trying to out that these Eastern faiths, meet their responsibilities. Few sometimes so plausible, need a days pass in which village Chris- trained mind to expound them; tians do not send or bring some- e.g., a great scholar read monothing for their churches. Within theism in the words-" Brahm is the past few days I have received great, and beside him there is small sums of money from 5 towns; none"; but an experienced mission- 14 loads of firewood were brought ary read pantheism-" Brahm is on their heads by Christians from everything, and everything is a town 10 miles away; firewood, Brahm."-The Christian. vegetables, and grass from Chris- China.-In 1842 the English na- mand for new books, even in this tion employed more than 15,000 interior province of Shansi, is so persons to secure for itself commer- great that some enterprising mem- cial advantages in China; the same bers of the Christian congregation year all the churches in Christen- propose to start a bookstore, in- dom had only 16 missionaries in vesting several hundred dollars in the empire. Now there are nearly the enterprise. 2,500, and 5,000 Chinese workers. -The writings of Dr. Martin, Dr. -Last August the Yellow River Faber, Dr. Fryer, and Dr. Allen, had one of its worst sprees. It have exerted an enormous influence broke its bank in four different everywhere. The same is especially places, and now makes for the true of the numerous and timely ocean by two new channels which publications of Rev. Tim 0 thy it is gouging out for itself, one on Richard, the secretary of the Soeach side of the old one, which in ciety for the Diffusion of Christime may become a dry bed of sand, tian Knowledge, whose translation most of the year. One of these of Mackenzie's "Nineteenth Cennew streams is about 120 miles tury," together with Dr. Allen's long, and floods the country in a " History of the War between strip from 16 to 30 miles wide. The China and Japan," have been, pergap in the bank where it breaks haps, more widely read than any through is about 7 miles wide. The other foreign-made books. The other stream sweeps a strip of monthly periodical called The Recountry not as wide as in the other view of the Times, finds its way all case. Except at the very beginning over the eighteen provinces, and it is in no place less than 8 or 10 even into the hauds of the emperor miles, and in some places it is 16 himself, who recently sent out urand 20 miles wide. No fewer than gent orders for all the back num- 31 counties are submerged, hun- bers for some years. dreds of towns and villages are utterly ruined, and some large walled -One of the six Chinamen recities are like islands in the sea.- cently executed in accordance with Rev. WM. ASHMORE. the imperial edict of the empress- dowager of China, brought her -So P., in the Christian World, wrath upon him because he reestimates that at least 500,000 at- printed an astronomy compiled by tempts occur annually in China to two of the missionaries, and added commit suicide by opium, and gives certain notes of his, in which he data sufficient, apparently, to jus- pointed out the incompatibility of tify his conclusion. By far the the facts revealed by astronomy greater number are women. with ancient Chinese doctrines. Tho only twenty-two years old, he -Rev. Mr. Atwater, of Shansi, had taken high rank as a scholar. calls attention to the wisdom and Such men as he, growing up within forecast of Protestant missionaries the confines of China, show how in translating books of science into the leaven is working, and in a Chinese. The result of this work very real sense they are martyrs is marvelous. At Fen-cho-fu, for to the truth. instance, the district and provincial magistrates, and the principal -One of the American Board schoolmaster, have just purchast missionaries in North China says numbers of books from mission- that a very encouraging feature in aries, and have ordered others that the present outlook is the fact that they have not on hand. The de- the spirit of martyrdom is abroad in the land. He adds: "Some of they have played something that these progressive officials might sounds like a Scotch bagpipe, and easily have availed themselves of ought to alarm any. devil, I should foreign protection and escaped say; the priests chanted. and what they knew was certain death, enough fireworks were set off to but they were heroes, and the world make a fourth of July. Every now ought to honor their memory as and then they stop. They also that of men who went down in the place tempting dishes outside the noble cause of truth and progress. door, and politely invite the devil They died obscurely, with their to come out and feast. The serv- bodies disgracefully mutilated like ants say they will keep up this those of murderers and criminals noise all night, stopping only to of the worst type, but the time will drink teal If we were heath8n we come, I hope before long, when should be afraid that the devil these men will be recognized and might come into our house when it their memory honored as the truest leaves the other. To prevent this, heroes in their country's history." we would place a knife and a broom across the door, besides hanging -The British consul at Chung- clothes around all the beds." king, basing his calculations on information received from the French -The most intelligent Chinese consul and priests, computed that are beginning now to perceive the up to the beginning of November, weaknesses of the hitherto impreg- 25 Roman Catholic chapels had nable citadel of Confucianism. Rebeen destroyed, thousands of their cent political events have given a native Christians had been ren- blow to the power of the old dered homeless, and perhaps 60 or philosophy from which it will pro- 70 killed. Bishop Cassels states bably never recover. The lettered that he had heard from other class, the "readers of books," the sources that in some cases these obstinate and prejudiced disciples of Christians had an opportunity the sage, who for so many ages given them to recant, but refused has been considered divine, were to do so, and were then beheaded. powerless to do anything to save their country, or to spare her the -Miss E. B. Sale, Canton, writes: keenest insults. People begin to "The people in the house opposite agree that it might be well to us are very busy this evening driv- abandon a decrepit system and to ing out the devil. Judging from accept some principles, perhaps the sounds they are having a pretty even a new religion, from those hard job of it; the devil must be abominable foreigners, so long rather a determined fellow. It be- mockt at and even stoned. – Lc gan while we were at tea. Such a MissionaiTc. beating of brass gongs that we could scarcely hear each other -Mr. Cecil Smith, of C. 1. M., speak. We askt the cook what writes from Shanghai. "In the was the matter, and he replied: July 1898 Number (Vol. xi, No.7). 'Oh, they are only driving out the on page 557, Rev. 1. Southy is devil! Some one in the house is quoted as never having seen an sick.' When one is sick, of course, indecent picture of any kind durthat is a sign that a devil is tor- ing his residence in China. The menting him, and the only cure is inference would seem to be that to frighten the evil spirit away. there are none. This is quite in- They have tried several plans this correct. In our boy's school at evening. Besides beating the gongs, Hsing-i (Province of Kuei-chou) I found a lad 10 years old with a set rule of the province, which he afcf most filthy pictures in his pos- firmed would be in the hands of the session. The native school-teacher queen and the khedive, the sole told me (and others have since con- representative of both being the firmed his statement) that these sirdar, in whom they have full conpictures are issued largely from fidence. There will be no attempt Hunan province, and scattered to govern the country from Cairo, over the various provinces by still less from London. He then Hunan and other pedlers. The promist perfect religious freedom, pictures are not exposed for public and in answer to a question assured sale, but are offered to boys and the sheiks that Moslem sacred law young men. I think that we mis- would be applied. Another act of sionaries are in danger of white- Lord Cromer's on his visit was the washing the Chinese for the sake laying of the foundation stone at of emphasizing the sins of Christen- Khartum of the Gordon Memorial dom. This is not wise." College. He outlined the aims of the college, announced that it will AFRICA. be wholly undenominational, and that the instruction so far as prac- North.-Twenty years ago there ticable will be conducted in Arabic; was scarcely a mile of good wagon- that its object shall not be to create road in Egypt. During the last 6 a race of Anglicized Sudanese, but years more than a 1,000 miles of to train their minds. fine roads have been constructed. Egypt to-day has more miles of -A method of propagating Islam railroad than Spain, or Portugal, without the Mohammedans at home or Austria-Hungary. Under the having to support their mission- Ptolemies it is estimated that the aries is thus reported to Evangepopulation did not exceed 8,000,000; lisches Missions Magazin: " A under the Mamelukes it fell to Basle missionary, traveling in the 3,000,000. When the British began German Sudan, met a Mohammedan their rule in 1882 the population teacher who carried with him the was less than 6,000,000; it is now Koran and wooden writing tables. almost 10,000,OOO-an increase of 66 Stopping at all places which have per cent. in 16 years. Egypt is no Mohammedan colonies, he goes longer the granary of the world, through his prayers every evening but its agricultural productions are in public in the most careful and far in excess of what they were in impressive way. He gathers the the "sev~n fat years" of Joseph. Moslem children and teaches them British enterprise and British gov- to read and write, requiring them ernment, joined with modern meth- to learn by heart verses of the ods, have wrought wonders in this Koran and prayers. When a land of the oldest civilization of scholar has completed his course in historic times. They have refuted this superficial instruction, his the idea that ruined empires can father has to pay a cow or produ;je not be rehabilitated.-United Pres- of the country to the value of about byterian. 40 shillings to the teacher. In this way these Mohammedan priests -Lord Cromer, the British diplo- support themselves and lead a very matic agent in Egypt, has been up comfortable life." the Nile to visit General Kitchener at Omdurman, and in a general re- West.-The present mutiny in the ception to the Sudanese sheiks KongoFree State is probablythe last made a long address on the future desperate attempt to throw off the white man's control. It is also the East.-The missionaries of the most serious outbreak, on account Zambesi Industrial Mission, in of the inaccessibility of the region. British Central Africa, recently When it is remembered that Baron sent to the queen a box containing Dhanis, the Belgian commander, is about 201bs. of coffee, as a sample of 300 miles from his base of supplies, the crop (of some 40 tons) which has with only a handful of whites, it is been raised this year on the plantasmall wonder that so many Euro- tions of the mission, by means of peans have already been sacrificed, native labor, under the supervision and it will occasion no surprise if of the missionaries. The sample further disasters await the Bel- represented the coffee in 4 of its gians. According to the latest in- different stages of preparation: (1) formation, Baron Dhanis is practi- In the berry, as exported, after cally surrounded by mutinous na- being gathered, pulpt, and dried; tives, and it is reported that panic (2) the berries cleaned and stript reigns throughout the Kongo ter- of their husks, as sold in the Lonritory. don market; (3) the berries roast- ed; (4) the coffee roasted and South.-Under the appropriate ground and ready for use. title, "A Battlefield in Africa," Rev. F. R. Bunker writes: "The Girls' There are some 30 English mis- Seminary, at lnanda, is a most im- sionaries in the field. Ten stations portant part of our Zulu mission. have been opened, 7 of which are The front veranda of the teacher's in charge of English missionaries, house, like the valley of Esdraelon and 3 are under native supervision. in Palestine, is famous in heaven, Eleven schools are maintained, and I believe, for the illustrious battles the average daily attendance last of the Lord waged here against year was 670. There are 2 hospitals, heathenism in this land." And this and a recent report states that the, is one of several hard-fought fields number of cases treated in 1 month he tells of: "Here Nomdeha, a prin- was about 1500, of which number cess, whose value was reckoned at about 50 were in-patients. The a hundred sleek cows, stood one number of natives employed on the day. An old counselor of her chief- mission's estates last year amounttain father pleads with her: 'Re- ed to between 1600 and 2000. member your royalty; don't cast disgrace upon your great name, -A missionary writes in Cenand bring sorrow and shame upon tral Africa (Universities' Mission): your tribe.' Hear her reply: 'Do "vVill those who send home-made you see that rose-bush in bloom?' or other dainties to Africa please pointing to it. 'My royalty is like remember that they must be sent t,hose flowers, soon to fade.' She in soldered tins. Cakes, plum-pudstays. A term went by, and she dings, cheese, bacon, are very acthought it safe to return home in ceptable in a country where these vacation. Her father commands things are entirely unprocurable, her mother to tear off her clothes, and if put into a tin and soldered and it is done. She borrows a down they will travel safely and shawl, anti, under shelter of the add zest to meals composed day darkness, runs back to school. She after day of tinned meat and the stays two terms, then returns home bony African kuku (fowl). It would again, and is kept a prisoner for be a great kindness if we someover six months, closely guarded. times gave a thought to the mon- Again she runs away." otonous African fare of our mis- sionaries, especially those up country. Zanzibar is more civilized, years later he was caIled to the service of the and there the table is better fur- foreign board. Dr. Gillespie was a man with nisht. How acceptable a Buszard a warm heart and good judgment. His piety cake would be at Magila, Kota was deep and unaffected, his courtesy was Kota, or Masasi ! " genuine and unfailing. He was an able writer and excellent speaker, and his sys- -Bishop Tucker writes: "One tematic methods and thoroughness, commust thankfully and praisefully bined with his other excellent qualities, made acknowledge that the church of him an invaluable secretary. Buganda, however much it may fall short in this or that particular, Dr. Gillespie past away f~""" his home at is full of vital energy,-an energy Elizabeth, N. J., on February 16. He was which can only be described as twice married, and leaves a vidow, two sons God-given. This God-given energy by his first marriage, and a son and a is manifesting itself in many di- daughter by his second marriage. rections, but in none is it more markedly apparent than in mission- The Rev. Benjamin Du Bois Wyckoff, for ary operations both in Toro and thirty-five years a missionary in India, died the adjacent countries. It is aiact, on March 1. He was born in Ohio on May 18, hardly I think realized, that the 1834, was a graduate of Hanover College and foundations of a church in Toro Allegheny Theological Seminary; was marare being laid, a church which ried to ~1alissa Johnson on May 31,1860, and, bids fair to become as strong and acconlpanied by his wife, started almost improsperous as that in Buganda. mediately for the mission field. After many Nor is it more fully realized that years of service, broken only by occasional Bugandn, missionaries have pene- furloughs, he finally returned to the United trated even to the outskirts of States in 1895, very much shattered in health. Stanley's dark forest,-some 300 He had gone to North Carolina, hoping to remiles from Mengo,-and that at the cover his strength. There survive him his present moment these missionaries widow and six children, four daughters and are nearer to the nearest mission two sons-Walter A. 'Vyckoff, a professor station on the Kongo than they at Princeton University, and J. Edward are to the capital of Buganda. Wyckoff, of New York City. These men (Baganda) have given up home and friends, luxury, and The Rev. Alexander Thomson, D.D., one of so-called pleasures for their Mas- Constantinop1e1s veteran missionaries, past ter's sake and the Gospel's, and are away on January 15th. He was Oorn in Arliving lives of such self-denial and broath, Scotland, Dec. 2, 1820. After his devotion as almost to make one gradnation from St. Andrew'g University, he ashamed of the little one has given taught for'a year in Ireland, and in 1845 went up in the same great cause." out as a missionary of the Free Church, to work among the Jews. After a year of pre· Necrology. lilninary training in BuLla-Pesth, he began active work in Constantinople, and until 1860 The Board of Foreign Missions of the his work was entirely among the ,Tews of Presbyterian Church has lost a most efficient Turkey. His linguistic ability was of great and beloved officer by the death of Rev. John assistance to hirn in that cosmopolitan city, Gillespie, D.D., who for thirteen years has for he was facile in his use of Hebrew, Spanbeen one of its corresponding secretaries. Dr. ish, German, French, Greek, Italian, and Gillespie was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, in Turkish. Translation work occupied a large 1839, and came to America with his parents share of his energy, and he twice assisted in at the age of fourteen. He studied at Wash- revising the Hebrew-Spanish New Testament. ington and Jefferson College and at Alle- He also publisht two editions of a series of gheny Theological Seminary. After a pas- graded text-books in the same dialect, which torate in West Liberty, Pittsburg, in 1882 he are used in most schools for Jewish children succeeded Dr. W. C. Roberts as pastor of throughout Turkey. He was also the author Westminster Church in Elizabeth, N. J. Four of an Old Testament History in Hebrew- Spanish.
In 1860 Dr. Thomson resigned his connec- tion with the Scotch mission, and accepted the position of agent in Turkey and Greece of the British and Foreign Bible Society, which position he held tiII failing health forced him to retire from it in 1896. During these years he became especially interested in the study of Albanian, in which language he edited quite a number of tracts. He was also chiefly instrumental in maintaining work among the Albanians at Koritza and other points.
Dr. Thomson leaves five children, three sons and two daughters. One son is the Rev. Robert Thomson, missionary of the A, B. Q. F. M. at Samokov, Bulgaria.
The Missionary Review of the World — February 1892
THE IMPORTANCE OF WINNING cmNA FOR CHRIST
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XV. No. 2.-0ld Serics.–FEBRUARY.–VoL. V. No.2.-New Serie&.
THE IMPORTANCE OF WINNING CHINA FOB. CHRIST.
BY REV. JOHN R. HYKES, KIUKIANG, CHINA.
1. China is to-day the great mission field of the world• .Whether we consider the extent and resources of her territory, the number of her population, her antiquity, or the character and possibilities of her people, she is unquestionably the greatest and most important field for misl!ionary operations on the planet.
1. Size.-In the Chinese Empire we have one of the largest domains ever swayed by a single power in any age or any part of the world. Ac- cording to the most careful estimate it comprises a continuous area of more than five and a quarter million square miles. It is one half larger than the United States with Alaska thrown in. It forms one third of the entire Continent of Asia-one tenth of the habitable globe. In extent it is equal to a Europe and a half. Next to Russia it is the largest empire that has ever existed.
2. Resources.-In this vast territory the greatest mineral and metallic wealth of the world is stored, and it is practically untouched.' Gold and silver are abundant; the diamond, ruby, sapphire, topaz, garnet, agate, and other precious stones are known and used ; tin, zinc, lead, nickel, and all the common metals exist in vast stores. Coal and copper are found in every province, and it would scarcely be an exaggeration to say that there is enough coal in China to supply the world for the next twenty centuries. In the Central Provinces men dig a shaft a hundred feet deep, carry the coal up the incline in baskets strapped to their backs-fifty and sixty pounds at a time-and call the proces!! mining ! Water is baled out by buckets handed from one. level to another, or it is pumped to the surface by a series of rude bamboo pumps, and when these primitive methods fail . to keep the mine from becoming flooded, it is abandoned and a new shaft sunk. Yet so abundant is the supply that immense quantities of coal are mined in this rude and laborious way.
The agricultural wealth of China is proverbial. In many parts of Far Cathay it is only necessary to " tickle the soil with a hoe and it willlaug-h ~ 11l~rve(j~." The great plaill~ 1l/l <jqltivated like gardl:qs (indeed1 th; Chinese are rather gardeners than farmers), hills are terraced to their summits, and in the Central and Southern Provinces the soil will produce three crops a year. In many parts of the Empire one acre of land is sufficient to support a family, and the happy possessor of five acres is in affluent circumstances. Judged by her resources, China is pre-eminently a great country.
3. Population.-The population of China is, beyond all question, enormous, " constituting by far the greatest assemblage of human beings, using one speech, ever congregated under one monarch." According to the lowest estimate the population of China is one fourth of the human race, six times as many people as there are in the entire United States- 350,000,000 souls, men with moral accountability, intellectual activity, and immortal destiny. It is a number inconceivable in its vastness, so great that it staggers the imagination. Think of it Christian men and women!
4. Antiquity.-China is unique in her antiquity. Her authentic history dates back more than 4000 years-303 years subsequent to the deluge, 47 years before the death of Noah. If you were to undertake to write the history of China you would have to take the tenth chapter of Genesis for thc first chapter of your history of the wonderful sons of Ham. It is a nation hoary with antiquity and marvellous in its preservation. Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, all the great nations of antiquity, arose, flourished, entered the charnel-house of departed empires and there mouldered into almost utter forgetfulness, and China alone remains of them all; and from present indications she is destined to go on down through the centuries. Why this marvellous preservation?
II. The greatest problem before the Church of Christ to-day is the conversion of China. . It is an extremely difficult task. No one who has lived and worked among the Chinese would minimize it; and yet there are some people who would have us believe that the evangelization of the Chinese is an unnecessary and presumptuous task. They say: " The Chinese are good enough ;" "They are vastly superior in civilization and morality to many other heathen nations;" "Let them alone. Keep your meddlesome and fanatical missionaries at home and give them work among the slums of New York;" "They are perhaps better off in their beliefs than we are in ours. ' , Let us see.
1. Moral conditiQn.-What is the moral condition of the Chinese people q It is most accurately described by St. Paul in that wonderful first chapter of his Epistle to the Romans. That terrible description of human depravity is no libel upon human nature. The black picture is not overdrawn. It is true to the life. Heathen character is no better to-day than it was in the time of St. Paul. It is worse, for there is no such things as stand-still in vice. In the mission with which I am connected, it was necessary a few years ago to tear down one of the mission houses, and it was erected on a different site at an additional expense, because the occupants could look down upon the Chinese courtyards below, and seo enacted before their very eyes some of the vilest crimes enumerated in tho first chapter of Romans. Dr. S. Wells Williams says: "They are vile and polluted in a shocking degree; their conversation is full of filthy expressions, and their lives of impure acts. By pictures, songs, and aphrodisiacs they excite their sensuality, and, as the apostle says, e receive in themselves that recompense of their error which is meet.'
Female infanticide, in some parts openly confessed, and divested of all disgrace and penalties everywhere; the dreadful prevalence of all the vices charged by the Apostle Paul upon the a:ncient heathen world; the alarming extent of the use of opium ; the universal practice of lying and dishonest dealings; the unblushing lewdness of old and young; harsh cruelty toward prisoners by officers, and tyranny over slaves by masters-all form a full, unchecked torrent of human depravity, and prove the existence of a kind and degree of moral degradation, of which an excessive statement can scarcely be made, or an adequate conception hardly be formed."
And yet. there are people who say the Chinese do not need Christianity!
2. What have existing religions done for them ?-There are in China throe sects or systems of belief which have moulded the religious faith of the Empire. They are Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism.
(1) CONFUCIANIsM.-Confucianism, or the Church of the Learned, is the State religion of China. It takes its name from the great eage, but it dates away back to the early dawn of Chinese history. Confucius was, as he himself says, merely a reviver of the usages of the ancient kings, a transmitter of the doctrines of the ancient sages. He was a 1·eviver and transmitter-an editor rather than an author. Confucianism cannot prop- erly be termed a religion (indeed, there is no generic word fol' religion in . the Chinese language), ·but it is rather a system of ethics and political economy. An eminent authority says: "The State religion can no more be called the religion of the Chinese than the teachings of Socrates could be termed the faith of the Greeks." It is silent on the great questions of human origin and human destiny, and it teaches nothing of the relation of man to a higher Power. "I know not life, how can I know death! " was the unsatisfactory answer the sage gave to the disciple who ventured to ask about death; and when asked in his last illness to whom he would 8acrifice, he said he had already worshipped.
Ancestral worship is the keystone of the Confucian arch. This is a most ancient cult, dating back at least to the time of Shun (B.C. 2250), and the sages are responsible for perpetuating it. One writer say!!!, they " have bound upon the millions of China a most degrading slavery-the slavery of the living to the dead." The worship of ancestors is the stronghold of Confucianism. This is the real religion of the Chinese j and the hardest thing for a convert to Christianity to give up is his ancestral tablet. These little boards, containing the legend of the two ancestors, of which there are perhaps seventy millions in the Empire, are" more potent for evil than all the idols in the land."
Confucianism contains many beautiful sentiments, as: "O,'erflow with love to all;" "Do not do unto others what you would not have others do unto you j" "I love life and I love righteousnet!s, but I love righteousness more than life j" it is a splendid system of ethics, but it contains no hope, for ordinary mortals either in life or in death. It has been a conserving intellectual force, it has inculcated and enforced filial piety, it has kept alive a belief in the futllte life, it has exerted an immense influence for good, yet after forty centuries of trial it has failed to elevate thtl nation morally and spiritually.
(2) BUDDHISM.-Buddhism was introduced from India about the year A.D. 67. According to the Chinese historians the Emperor Ming Ti, in consequence of a dream in which he beheld " an image of gigantic proportions, resplendent as gold, " sent an embassy to the West which returned with teachers of the Indian faith. The remarkable saying of Confucius, "The people of the West have sages (or a sage)," doubtless influenced the emperor's vision j and it would be interesting to know just how far it wat! excited by tidings of the advent and death of Jesus Christ.
No religion could have been propagated in any country under more favorable circumstances than the new faith in China. Introduced under imperial patronage, supplying a felt want upon the part of the people in its tenets respecting a future state and the nature of the gods, it gradually worked its way into popular favor. Emperors became the patrons of the new faith, and more than one occupant of the Dragon Throne entered the monastic order. One emperor gave nearly 4000 ounces of gold to have the sacred hooks transcribed in characters of that precious metal; another contributed 300 tons of copper to be cast into images, and only 200 years ago the renowned Kang-hsi gave the yellow porcelain tiles which cover the temples on the sacred island of Pootoo. And yet after more than 1800 years of trial, under circumstances most favorable, Buddhism has failed to elevate the Chinese to a higher life aud nobler purpose.
(3) TAOIsM.-Taoism, or the sect of the Rationalists, is a native faith dating back to the sixth century before the Christian era. It is not a religion. The philosopher Laotsz had no intention of founding a religion. It is a school of philosophy, an abstruse system of metaphysics, but it has few, if any, of the essential elements of a religious faith. The ancient Taoists were alchemists. They" sought to transmute the baser metals into gold," and professed to have diRcoyered the philosopher's stone. They discourse wisely upon the" Pill of Immortality"-a " golden elixir" which confers immortality and insures a place among the genii. The priests of to-day pander to and traffic in the superstitions of the people. They live upon the credulity of their fellow-men. A large part of their businQsll it:l tQ lU!'tlufa«tul'e and. lIell «barms to w(lrq ott all 50rts of m!1!die5 and evil influences. Some years ago there was in Southern China w:hat is known as the "Queue-Cutting Mania." Men in the fields, boys on the streets had their queues cut off, but how or by whom none could tell. Cattle pasturing in the fields lost their tails, fowls had their tail and wing- feathers mysteriously clipped. There was intense excitement throughout the Empire. In the city of Kiukiang, where I was living, two men were beheaded on a charge of cutting off queues by magic !
The priests of Tao rose to the occasion and devised a charm, which, braided in the queue, would protect that ornamental appendage from the "magic scissors" which were flying through the air. It was a great harvest for them. The head of the Taoist religion-the Pope of Tao- the" Heavenly Teacher" Chang, whom I once saw in his palace at the Dragon and Tiger Mountain, is the great wizard of China, and his charms are eagerly sought by the people. Taoism is a failure as a religion. There i~ nothing in it to comfort or elevate mankind, and the Chinese are no better for its twenty centuries' influence upon them. What China needs above everything else is the religion of Jesus Christ. It is her only hope.
There are persons who would have us believe that the conversion of China is an impossible task-that missions are a failure and should be abandoned. They argue very wisely that Christianity is not adapted to the Chinese mind, that there is something peculiar in the Mongolian ca~t of mind (the result, possibly, of his environment for the past forty centuries) which makes it utterly impossible for the religion of Jesus Christ to reach him. "The Chinaman," they affirm, " cannot be converted." If this is true the Church should know it j common honesty would demand that the missionaries admit it. If we are engaged in a hopeless warfare in the Chinese Empire the' sooner the Church recalls its forces from the field the better.
Let us look at the sources of information. These are, first, "Globetrotters;" second, naval men on the Asiatic Station.
We see two classes of travellers in the East. One, and, unhappily, much the larger class, go around the world to " see the sights" and have a good time generally. They do not stop long enough in any country to form an intelligent opinion of the people or their customs. They get their information from boon companions on the steamers and at the ports, who do not Rpeak the language of the people, have little sympathy with anything that is good, and who consequently are always ready to decry missionary work. They see nothing of missionary work for themselves. They get their information at second-hand from persons who evolve it from their own inner consciousness, and then they set themselves up a8 authorities in everything pertaining to the Chinese and pose as critics of missions! I mt't a specimen of this class when I was returning to China eleven years ago. In the same car in which we were crossing the continent we had as tra~'elling companion an elderly and intelligent man, Judge – – , several young ladies, evidently in his charge, and a youth who entertained the company with marvellous accounts of a recent trip to China. He told them all that he had seen in the far East, and, for their entertainment, a great many more things which he had not seen. After a while the judge asked him about Christian missions. Bc went glibly over the stock criticisms of missionaries, and pronounced them first-class frauds and their work an utter and hopeless failure. The judge said very emphatically: "I have been an ardent admirer of foreign missions. I have always given liberally to their support, but I have given the last cent I shall ever contribute to this cause." The next morning the judge, the youth, and myself met in the smoking-room. I told him how happy I was to meet a man who had been in China, and asked him in what part of China he had been. " Hong- Kong," he replied. "How long?" "Six weeks." "Did you visit Canton ~" " No." "Did you call at Shanghai?" " No." "Are you acquainted with any of the missionaries in Hong-Kong?" " No." " Did you see anything of the work of the Basel Mission in that place ?" " No." "Heard nothing of their schools and orphanages?" " No." " Ever been to a chapel~" "No." "Ever seen the outside of a missionary's house~" "No." "Well, you are a fine fellow to set yourself up as a critic of missions. You have never been to China at all, only to the Briti!lh colony of Hong-Kong, have never seen a missionary, a missionary's home or chapel, and yet you pose as an authority on Chinese mISSIons. You ought to be ashamed of yourself." And to his credit, I think he was j for the young ladies could not get him to say a single word about China from that time until we reached San Francisco. These are the men who know all about missions.
The other class of travellers is interested in everything that is good. They take nothing at second-hand which they can possibly get direct. They visit the missionaries in their homes, attend services in their ch3pels, and visit their schools and hospitals. A part of their business is to study this great problem of missions. It is a suggestive fact that these persons who know about missions from personal observation and. study are their most enthusiastic supporters. I met a man at Northfield last summer, who some years ago visited most of the mission fields of the world. He spent several days at Kiukiang, where I was then laboring. He was all on fire with enthusiasm for missions. He told me that since their return from abroad he had made missionary addresses in 1100 churches and his wife in 1500. Whose testimony is to be received?
It is a very unpleasant and delicate task to refer to the other critics of missions-viz., the naval men. I would be sorry indeed to think that they are all Lieutenant Woods or Captain Marthons. No man is more highly respected by the missionary body in China than Commander Barker of thll United States steamship Marion. He studied missions in every port he visited and wrote to the home papers commending the work. It is, however, an exception for an officer from a man-of-war to visit a mission chapel. Not long since the~e was a letter published from Captain Marthon, of the United States steamship Palos, in which he says that he has yet to see the first Chinese Christian. This letter was written from the city where I labored for eighteen years, and immediately after the Palos returned to Kiukiang with the victims of the Wusueh massacre. The writer must have known that the three children of the Wesleyan Mission at that place were rescued from the burning mission house, in the face of an infuriated mob, by native Christians, at the risk of their lives; that one of them when pressing through the mob with the four-months'-old infant of my friend Mr. Boden, and finding that he could not possibly save its life, tossed it over the heads of the rioters to a native Christian woman, who two hours later restored it to its mother. No Christians in China! There were Christian heroes all around, but he was too blind or too prejudiced to see. The Chinese can be converted, and a man must be incapable of finding anything if he cannot find Christians in China.
It is a common, flippant remark that more die in China every year than are converted in a century. This is not true; although it is not always easy to answer the sneers of the godless, who too often" salt their wit in the brine of our tearA." The work goes on; and it will go on, until" the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our God and His Christ. "
III. The conversion of China is unquestionably the most important work of the Church in this age.
This iA not so much on account of the greatness of the country and the vastness of the population as on account of the future of the Mongoliall. race. The" Chinese Question" is destined to become one of the difficult problems for this or the next generation to solve. He has emigrated to all contiguous countri~s, Japau, Siam, the Straits; he has crossed over to Canada, Mexico, the West Indies; he has settled in the Sandwich Islands, Australia, and the United States, and from present indications he is destined to overrun the world.
He is creating a general feeling of uneasiness wherever he has gone j and that not so much on account of his bad qualities as his good. Many of the objections urged again~t the Chinaman in this Christian, libertyloving country and the last decade of this marvellous nineteenth century, are trifling and childish in the extreme. The truth of the matter is, the Mongolian has by his patient industry, temperate habits, and careful economy become a successful competitor of the intemperate, extravagant, and too often vicious laborers from other lands.
John Chinaman has become the agony of colonial and American statesmen. The Australians are more anxious to get rid of him than of their pestifer~us rabhits. The United States feel that the safety and perpetuity of this Great Republip. and its magnificent institutions depend upon the exclusion of the Mongolian ! We can assimilate anything else-the Italians, Hungarians, Catholic Irish-but somehow we can't quite digest the Chinaman; and so we pass iniquitous Exclusion acts which wili put our children and grandchildren to the blush. They are a disgrace to the 'honor of our country, blots upon our national escutcheon, relics of barbarism only fit to be classed in the same category with burning witches in New England. The quicker they are repealed the better.
John is irrepressible; he is like Banquo's ghost, he won't down. Why 1 1. God has some great destiny for the Chinese race. 'I'hey have not been preserved so marvellously as a nation 4000 years for nothing. God does not work in that way. There is no waste of force or material in God's economy j and so the preservation of the Chinese down through the ages has been a conservation of a mighty force to be used by God in the consummation of His plans for the race. Neither is it for nothing that beneath the broad domain of China the mineral wealth of the world is stored.
2. The Chinese are capable of great things. They are slow, solid, aggressive, a people that will abide. They are patient, economical, filial, aDd they are pre-eminently a determined people. Some years ago China was devastated by a terrible rebellion. The southern half of the Empire was wrested from the Imperial sway and in the hands of the Taipings. The Mohammedans in the Northwest took advantage of this state of affairs and rebelled. "Aided by the reckless and seditious of all clans they drove out the governmental minions" and China lost Turkestan. At the same time Russia seized Kuldja. In a moment of weakness the Czar promised China that he would restore Kuldja as soon as China should reassert her authority in those regions and reconquer Turkestan. The attempt to restore prestige in a territory where every hand was turned against her seemed indeed hopeless. Her resources were exhausted, treasury aepleted, foreigners were within her gates, the distance to be traversed was immense, and no one dreamed she conld succeed. The Emperor sent for Tso Tsung Tang, one of his ablest generals, and asked him if he could reconquer Turkestan. Tso replied that he could. " But," said the Emperor, "have you considered that your operations will be so far removed from your base that the mules will eat up all the provision!! before they reach your army ~ Have you thought of that~" "I have," answered the redoubtable warrior, " and I have my remedy. We will push forward as far as we can as soldiers, and when our supplies are becoming exhausted we will squat as farmers and till the ground as many years as are necessary to raise supplies. We will repeat the operation as many times as are necessary, and Turkestan will be restored to your Majesty's sway." And they did it! I have intense admiration for such dogged, persistent determination -a determination to succeed in a well-nigh impossible undertaking if it took five years or fifty years for its accomplishment. Dr. S. Wells Williams says: "The history of the advance of this' agricultural army' would, if thoroughly known, constitute one of the most remarkable military achievements in the annals of any modern country." 3. They are a "brainy" race. There is no question that the Chinese are the most intellectual of all the Asiatics. They are the bankers and the wholesale merchants of the East. Some twelve years ago when General Grant returned from his tour of the world, he said that in his travels he had met three great men, three men who towered head and shoulders above all others, "with whom there were none to compare." One of the pre- eminently great men was Gladstone, England's great statesman; another was Germany's great warrior, Bismarck; and the third of these incompar- ably great men was Li Hung Chang, Viceroy of Chili and Prime Minister of China. A Ohinaman! There is to-day no man better versed in state- craft, there is no more shr~wd diplomat than Li Hung Chang.
4. The Chinese are a nation of students. In what other country in the world will you find 25,000 students competing in one examination-hall for literary honors ~ Last month iu the city of Nanking there were between 29,000 and 30,000 students attendiug the triennial examinations. Men will attend the examinations year after year until they are bowed and decrepit with age in the hope of obtaining the coveted prize. It is not an unusual thing for men of seventy-five and eighty years to be found at the;r place in the hall. So anxious are they to obtain an education, that a man who is too poor to buy oil will steal his neighbor's light through a knot- hole in order that he may study.
Is there no destiny for such a people ~ 5. China is arousing herself. Some people have an idea that China is dead. She is not dead, or if she is, I;he is a very lively corpse. She is not asleep, she is shaking off the lethargy of the centuries and arousing herself as a mighty giant for a coming struggle. She has a magnificent fleet of merchant steamers, large dockyards, arsenals, and a complete net- . work of telegraphs over the entire Empire. She has, it is true, but a few hundred miles of railroads, but railroads are coming and they will be built with native material and Chinese labor. 6. China is destined to become one of the great factors in the .future development of the world. I do not agree with Lord W olseley that she . is to become the great military power of the future, conquering Russia and India, and crossing swords with England and the United States. This seems to me extravagant; but if Genghis Khan in the beginning of the thirteenth century swept with his Mongol horde from the mouth of the Amoor to the sources of the Danube, what might not an awakened, civil- ized China do with a possible forty millions of soldiers ~ For the above reasons I repeat: The evangelization of China is the most important work of the Church of Christ in this age. Christianizing China is the only solution of the" Chinese Question." Exclusion Acts will not do it. This great problem is thrusting itself upon us. What are we going to do about it ~ We cannot ignore it-we dare not if we could. We cannot keep them out. We close the front door, but the back door is wide open, and it would take a much larger army than we have to efficiently guard it. Besides, the" Son of Heaven's" claim to universlll empire is a factor which has not been sufficiently con- sidered. The time will come when the Chinese will try to make it good.
Self-preservation demands the evangelization of the Chinese. China is destined to become either a conservator or a menace to Christendom. Which it shall be depends largely upon the missionary effort of this century. When the time comes, as it inevitably will, when an outlet must be found for the swarming millions of this land, and when they may try to make good their claim to universal empire, it will be well for us if she is a Christian land.
IV. Reasons for hopefulness. I see strong reasons for belieVing in the speedy evangelization of the land of Sinim. 1. The opening of the country. Only a little more than 300 years ago Francis Xavier, the noted Catholic missionary, stood bp.fore the walls of the Middle Kingdom vainly seeking admittance. It seemed to the devoted Jesuit that it was surrounded by a wall of exclusion as high as heaven and as hard as adamant, and he called out in the agony of his soul, " 0 rock, rock 1 when wilt thou open to my Master I" Humanly speaking, there was little prospect of ever penetrating this wall of exclusion, yet three centuries has seen it broken down, removed, entirely swept away. The mi!l8ionary to-day has access to the entire eighteen provinces of the Empire. 2. There is better feeling upon the part of the people. I make this statement with a full knowledge of the recent disturbances in China. Were there not better feeling there would have been fifty Tientsin massacres since last May. The!e troubles in China have been greatly misunderstood in this country. They are not "Anti-Missionary" riots, but an insurrectionary movement upon the part of :it treasonable secret society. The Emperor's edict is an inspiration to all who believe in the providential ordering of events. It is a distinct recognition of Christianity, and assures protection to missionaries and native converts. 3. Increased wiIlingness to hear the Gospel. There has been a notable change in this respect in recent years. There is no trouble to get large, . attentive audiences to listen to the preaching of the Gospel. 4. Success.-Twenty-five years ago there were less than 500 converts in the whole Empire. Thirteen years ago there were 13,000 communicants; now there are 40,000. In 1878, 13,000 native Christians contributed $9000 to the support of the Gospel. Last year the 40,000 converts gave $40,000 ; and the beginning of modern missions dates from the opening of the country in 1860. Besides, it must be remembered that success in missions cannot be computed by arithmetic. You cannot count heads and say this represents the results of missionary enterprise. There is an unknown quantity to be taken into consideration. You cannot measure in a table of statistics the breaking down of prejudice, the removing of
A MEMORABLE MORAVIAN ANNtV'ERSARY
opposition, the dissemination of Christian truth. In 18'15 another missionary and myself were mobbed in a certain district, barely escaping with our lives. There was no more turbulent district in all China. In 1889 I travelled through the same country with my wife and children, and did not hear a single disrespectful word in a ten-days' journey. Can such a change be measured by statistics ~ 5. A remarkable door has been opened to the dominant class. A few years ago the Emperor introduced Western science into the competitive examinations. The result is an increasing demand for this knowledge which can only be got in mission schools. It has been sneeringly said, "Mi8sionaries only get the scum." They generally get just about what they fish for; and if in future they only get the scum in China it will be their own fault.
6. Increasing momentum of truth. Truth, eternal, irresistible, unconquerable truth, is moving forward with increasing momentum in these laLter days of the nineteenth century. The Lord may seem slow in the accomplishment of His purposes, but He is not slow as some men count slackness. He will make short work in these last days.
I see no reason why China may not be CODverted in the next fifty years, if the Church awakens to a full sense of her duty and responsibility. We are on the verge of a mighty outpouring of God's Spirit upon the Land of Sinim. Why does it not come ~ Because we have not prayed for China as we ought. The great need of China is not more men, or llJore money, but united, earnest, agonizing praytlr for a copious outpouring of God's Spirit. Oh that Christian men and women would agonize in prayer for the salvation of this the greatest of all heathen nations!
A MEMORABLE MORAVIAN ANNIVERSARY.
BY THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF.
The Unitas Fratrum, the Moravian Brotherhood, may well provoke to emulation all other bodies of Christian disciples, for their consecrated zeal in the work of missions.
The whole Church is a missionary body. No board, society, or committee shoulders the responsibility and monopolizes the privilege of procuring laborers and providing for them. The entire Brotherhood is engaged in the work, and there is no thought of doing it by proxy. The Mastership of Christ is a practical article of their creed, and the last command and commission of the Master is not forgotten by the disciple. Rev. Archibald J. Brown, of London, tells how his daughter was led to give her life to Inland China. She said: "I have long known Jesus as my Redeemer and Friend, but when I fell down before Him and acknowledged Him as my Jfaster, Ho said to me, 'Am I then your, Master ~ Then go thou to China.''' Thll Moravians regard as impertinent &nd irrelevant such questions as these: Do foreign missions pay 1 Are they expedient 1 Will they be successful ~ for the Master has left His marching orders, and that settles all controversy. .
Obedience to this Master is the principle of the whole body of the United Brethren, prompt and implicit compliance with His will as expressed in the voice of His Word and the vote of His Church. Count Zinzendorf said to a Moravian believer, "Will you go to Greenland~" "Yes." " When 1" "To-morrow I" What readiness to obey, what immediate obedience to the heavenly vision! And think of a whole Church trained from infancy to this sense of individual duty and promptnpss of obedience!
The "regions beyond" represent the preferred sphere of Moravian mISSIOns. Not where Christ has been named, not building on another man's foundation; but they would help fulfil that prophecy, .. To whom He was not spoken of, they shall see: And they that have not heard shall understand."
Mary Lyon used to say to her pupil-daughters, " If you would heroically serve Christ and humanity, seek not easy fields of labor, but go where no one else will go I" And just that the United Brethren do. No field so far off, so difficult, so inaccessible, so walled in with adamant, so shut in with gates of steel; no people so repulsive and so hostile or oruel, that to that field and people their missionaries will not go. It may be the stupid, stolid Esquimaux, the slaves of the West Indies, the blear-eyed cretins of the Alps, the disgusting lepers of Africa, the cannibals of the South Seas -but anywhere and everywhere they rejoice to go and plant the cross. And the fact of greater distance, degradation, destitution, depravity, constitutes with them only a mightier appeal and argument for going where the neglect iR apt to be the greater because of such repellent features. They have learned that it is not charity, but selfishness, that" begins at home," and stays there; and, like Redslob and Marx who, during the past year, passed from Leh, the mountain outpost of Little Thibet, up to their glorious reward, the most self-sacrificing post of duty is the sentinelbox for this vanguard of the Church's army!
This noble Unitas Fratrum cultivate heroism. We have often feared that in these days the heroic spirit is fast being eliminated from modern mISSIonS. One argument often urged upon young people for devoting themselves to the foreign field is, that they will find little self-denial in such a course, since in most countries the highest civilization has found its way, and thej will find the comforts and conveniences and even luxuries of their homes still available. To our mind this is the worst sort of appeal -it is addressed to se1fishness, and leaves out the very heroi!.lm of sacrifice. A people that, in their very Litany, insert the petition, " From the unhappy desire of becoming great, good Lord deliver us I" is not very likely to court worldly comforts, honors, dignities and indulgences. And where the law and even love of self-abnegation for Christ are at the bottom of all missionary endeavor, we may well feel no surprise to find that b,y far the largest proportion of laborers in proportion to their numbers, and by far the largest average of gifts in proportion to their means, this little Moravian Church offers to the Lord's work. It is from Benjamin that the leader comes who stands above all the rest from his shoulders upward.
The Moravian Church is not only least among the tribes, but poorest. Yet out of their poverty have abounded the riches of their liberality. They put to shame the richer bodies of disciples and tempt us to t>elieve that riches bring the Laodicean spirit with them. and are a curse instead of a blessing, judged by their fruits in church life. Certainly the United Brethren are a standing testimony that small numbers and little money cannot prevent consuming zeal for missions and burning passion for souls, when in all the work the chosen formula and motto is "IN THE NAME OF JESUS. AMEN."
This paper was begun, however, with a purpose of glVlng som'.l brief account of the Third Jubilee of the Society for the Furtherance of the Gospe'! among the Heathen, which anniversary was lleld in the Moravian chapel, Fetter Lane, London, on Thursday, November 19th, 1891, at 6.30 P.M.
At this One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary it was the privilege of the editor-in-chief of this REVIEW to be present and deliver an address. The place was interesting, an oid-fashioned oblong building, hidden behind other structures, and approached through a long hallway-a building perhaps forty by sixty feet, with heavy, stately galleries, and plain board pews, and a high semicircular pulpit of evident antiquity, where Wesley and Baxter and Bradford have more than once preached the old Gospel.
The programme was interesting, announcing that "The Brethren's Society for the Furtherance of the Gospel was founded in 1741, with a view to entertain and assist Moravian missionaries passing through London to their various mission fields. It was reorganized in 1768 in order to establish the mission in Labrador. By God's goodness in protecting the ships used in this service, and in blessing the trade carried on with the natives to help iu supporting this mission, it has almost entirely been maintained by S. F. G. to the present day. The Society also endeavors to spread missionary information by publishing the quarterly' Periodical Accounts,' and in other ways contributes to the extension of the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ." Hymns composed by James Montgomery, himself a member of the S. F. G., for the centenary in 1841, and by Harvey, Spangenberg Doddridge, James Hutton, firEt President of the S. F. G., as well as by Ellis and others for the present occasion, were embraced in the programme and sung. After an appropriate Scripture reading from Romans 1 and 10 by Pastor Hasse, who presided, and ~he openiD~ pra~er was ofiered, Rev. B. Latrobe, Secretary, presented warm salutations by letter from the Unity Elders' Conference at Berthels- dorf, an apostolic greeting signed by James Connor; then from Bethlehem, Pa., U. S. A., the headquarters 0: the American province, salutation!! on the sesquicentennial; from Labrador'R largest congregation, at Okak, and the Missionary Conference at Hebron, Hopedale, etc., and from Bishops A. C. Ha!.'se and Joseph Latrobe and Brother J. England, etc.
Pastor Hasse, who gracefully presided, made the usual "chairman's address." He dwelt on the modern aspect of the Society's work, as confined chiefly to Labrador. This field is its special feature, but though primarily restricted to this land of eternal snows, equally sympathizes with all missions. Mr. Hasse touched briefly but effectively on the moral and economic features of the Labrador field, vindicating missions to a people who were a century and a half ago without light or help, and are still a classic and standing example and representative of the charter right of the Gospel: "The poor shall hAve the Gospel preached to them." A situa- tion radically worse, and a type of humanity more degraded, could not elsewhere be found when missions were begun in Lahrador and Greenland. And these facts emphasized the duty of bearing to these remote shores the tidings of salvation.
As to the economic side, Mr. Hasse explained the office of the S. F. G. as a training society. The Esquimaux must primarily be fed, clothed, and sheltered if they are to live. It is desirable not to make them paupers, however; and hence they must be taught to give an equivalent in the produce of the country. The summer trade is a revel; the winter is a time of starvation ; and as the starving time covers eight or nine months, extinction would result unless trade were carried on, and it is important that such trade be in hands that will conduct it on Christian principles and so elevate and improve as well as preserve the Esquimaux race. Mr. Hasse canvassed the common objections to such mission work and appealed to the future for its vindication, remarking that the' full recognition of its value might come, perhaps, only after another hundred years had swept away. By that time, it is believed, a new people, a mixed race, may have grown up, a Christian people, stronger, more intelligent, more capable, an . Esquimo-Enropean race, to take their full place among the family of nations.
Mr. Hasse explained the nature of the Society, as first a training society, and secondly as furthering on their journey brethren who pass throngh London en route to mis!lion fields. It is a committee deputed by the whole Church, a delegation; "in our estimate," said he, " the whole body is a missionary society, and the S. F. G. is made up of officers whose position specially qualifies them as leaders; but the army is the Church itself. "
Bishop Taylor followed with some historical statements, calling attention to the pictures hung on the walls and pillars-pictures. of Bishop Stevens, the Waldensian, the first converts in Greenland, George Schmidt teaching the HottentDts, Schmidt and Nitschmann in prisDn, etc. He also. traced the SDciety's name tD3 JDhn 6: 7, 8 (Greek), and explained its dDuble purpDse, first to. suppDrt the GDspel in LabradDr, and secDndly to. further the GDspel by helping Dn their jDurney after a gDdly sort, brethren who. fDr Christ's namesake went fDrth, taking nDthing frDm the Gentile un- believers.
Then Mr. LatrDbe rehearsed the sto.ry Df the Harmony and its recent visit to. the coast statiDns Df the nDrth. Ten vessels have been emplDyed in cDnveying LabradDr missiDnaries, and the present ship is the fDurth bearing this sacred name. She has retul'ned frDm her thirty-first vDyage, but this is the Dne hundred and twenty-secDnd made to. these shDres by the MDravian vessels. He mentiDned the singular PrDvidence that has watched Dver these vessels, and said: "As the SDciety meets fDr its annual thanksgiving service, cDmbined this year with its third Jubilee, precisely the same language as was used at the Centenary will review an added fifty years o.f these special mercies: 'During this IDng periDd no. fatal accident has been permitted to. befall this favDred bark, Dr thDse whDm she was cDnveying acrDSS the bDisterDus and Dften ice-bDund deep, and alDng a CDast bristling with rDcks and abDunding with peculiar perils; nDr has the cDmmunicatiDn between the missio.naries and their brethren in EurDpe been in a single instance interrupted.' Partial failures have been experienced. In 1816, the Jemima landed the needed sto.res at Okak and Nain, but was cDmpelled to. leave HDpedale unvisited. The mDst seriDus failure was in 1853, when DUt o.f four statiDns the third Harmony was o.nly able to. reach HDpedale, the mDst sDuthern. In bDth instances persistent gales drDve the ship DUt to. sea. The extraDrdinary perils Df ice and war and Df the numerDUS rDcks alDng that still unsurveyed CDast have never been suffered to. cut o.ff the communicatio.n with the missio.n statiDns.
" The develDpment Df the missio.n and o.f the trade, which partly sup- Po.rts it, made it necessary in 1870 fDr the So.ciety to. purchase a secDnd vessel. The Oordelia was run do.wn by a steamer Dff the NDre in 1881. No. lives were lo.st in this, the mDst seriDus disaster in the one hundred and twenty years during which S. F. G. has been a shipowning firm."
Mr. Latrobe repDrted the deaths of valued native helpers, like the faithful Abraham Df Nain, and Hulda eightY-Dne years DId, and the aged Martha; at HDpedale, BDaz and his sister Bertha, wife Df JDshua, nDW tDD crippled to. be Df use. The epidemic influenza at HDpedale has taken nDt a few valued church-members away. The evangelistic tDurs by sledge were referred to., cDntinued for three weeks, with no. sleeping places at times but snDw.hnts ; the grammar Df the Esquimaux language, a wDrk Df twenty years by Dr. BDurquin, and which has been received with great thanks, was cordially mentiDned; and the Esquimaux tDngue was cDmpared to. a pDlar bear gnashing its teeth within the bars Df its cage, against the man who. wDuld seek to. bring and confine it within the rules of grammatical o.rder and regularity. Various remarks followed as to the trials of the native Christians, the long winter, the failure of autumn fisheries and sealing, and consequent lack of stores, the absence of reindeer Ilear the stations, and the good help of God at all the mission centres waR gratefully recorded.
About forty missionaries ar~ on the list, and the people may be regarded as almost altogether Christian. I n fifteen years they have contributed to outside and mission purposes out of their poverty, about £210 sterling, or upward of $1000.
Rev. W. Fuller Gooch gave a brief address, in which he referred to the eminently biblical lines on which the whole mission work of the Moravians is carried forward, as shown even in the fondness for scriptural names- Nain, Hebron, Ramah, etc.; and remarked that the mastership of Jesus was recognized even by the captain of the Harmony, who regarded himself as under orders from the Higher Captain.
After a few remarks by Rev. A. Kleinschmidt, who represented the Holland Society, the" Zeist," W. V. Drury, M.D., spoke for the London Association in aid of Moravian Missions, which for seventy years has contributed in all a quarter of a mmion of pounds sterling. It shows the confidence felt in the work of the United Brethren, that this Association, composed of all denominations, has for so long given such assistance to this small and comparatively poor body of disciples in carrying on their self-denying work. This Lovefeast, at Fetter Lane, fittingly came to a close in the Doxology, which as a unique specimen of the simple Moravian liturgy we append to this paper. Such a doxology is itself a constant reminder of the privileges and obligations of Christ's redeemed people to spread the good tidings of the Gospel; and is a noble conclusion to the brief and beautiful form of public prayer which is full of petitions for a lost world and for the Church in its missionary capacity.
DOXOLOGY.
[Italics represent the response of the congregation.] Unto the Lamb that was slain, (Rev. 5: 12.) And hath redeemed us out of all nations of the earth j (Rev. 5; 9.) Unto the Lord who purchased our souls f6r Himself ; (Acts 20 : 28.) Unto that Friend who loved us-and washed us from our sins in His own blood; (Rev. 1 : 5.) Who died f6r us once, (Rom. 6: 10, 11, 12; 2 Cor. 5: 15.) That we might die unto sin j (1 Peter 2 : 24.) Who r6se for us, That we also might rise j (1 Cor. 15.) Who ascended for us into heaven, To prepare a place for us j (John 14: 2, 3.) CHOIR. And to whom are subjected the angels, and powers, and dominions (1 Peter ;3 ; 22.) To Him be ~lory at all times,
HOW THE GOSPEL SPREADS IN CillNA
In the chu1'clt that waiteth for Him-and in that which is around Him, CHOIR. From everlasting to everlasting :- Amen. MINISTER. Little children, abide in Him; that when He shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before Him at His coming. (1 John 2: 28.) In none but Him alone I trust for ever, In Him, my Saviour.
The Lord bless thee, and keep thee ; The Lord make His face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee j The Lord lift up His countenance upon thee, and give thee peace: IN THE NAME OF JESUS: AMEN. LONDON, November 20th, 1891.
HOW THE GOSPEL SPREADS IN CHINA.
BY REV. JOHN ROSS, MOUKDEN, NORTH CHINA.
Six years ago a young Bannerman of Chinese ancestry joined our then small church in Moukden. His father was a native doctor, who from a sense of sinfulness was deeply interested in the more earnest Buddhist sects. He had been a listener during th,e angry discussions raging against Christian doctrines when they were first introduced here. As a result he cut himself off from every form of idolatry. He had never spoken to either the foreign missionary or the native evangelist, but on his death- bed he recommended his two sons, and especially this younger one, to carefully examine Christianity for themselves, and not allow themselves to be carried away with the all but universal execration to which Christianity was then held up_ Young Jang was also a man with a sensitive conscience, and he, too, was anxious to rid his soul of sin. This, combined with his father's dying advice, led him to the chapel, where he became an inquirer as eager as he was intelligent. Being a fair scholar he soon became acquainted with the leading truths of Christianity and was baptized.
His new faith not only removed the former trouble of his soul, but filled him with a joy which nothing worldly could bestow. The fire so burned within that he gave up the situation he held, and went to the city immediately north of Moukden to impart his newly-fonnd treasure to his elder brother, a doctor in this city of Tieling.
The first news we had of the journey was when, on his return, with a face shining with joy, he informed us that his brother was a believer, and that he, his whole family, and a few intimate friends who had heard and become believers, were all applicants for baptism. My young colleague, Mr. Webater, had by this time come to Moukden, and it was deemed advisable that he should go north to investigate the facts of the story. R·, 800n returned and joyfully confirmed the statement of young Jang. On account of our strict rule for probation of intending members, no one was then haptized; but on a subsequent visit Mr. Webster baptized nine individuals, and took steps to open a station there. Two senior members, one, a convert of the late Mr. Burns, from Peking, and the other a Moukden man, were sent to initiate work in this apparently hopeful station.
Mr. Webster having accompanied me on the journey to the Corean valleys, already referred to in the REVIEW, suggested on our return jOlll'Iley, that instead of going back directly to Moukden, we should make a detour and see how it fared with the young station in Tieling. When we arrived at an inn on the outskirts of the city we were informed that the chapel had been attacked by a mob and wrecked. Desiring to know what amount of truth there was in the statement, we rode in to the chapel, but found no one there. We discovered that one of the two men in charge had fled, and the other was living in a neighboring house ae the chapel was uninhabitable. This man had already stood painfully severe persecutions. We found that the chapel door had been broken open, the windows smashed to pieces, and every perishable article of furniture completely destroyed. The streets were placarded with prominent "postE'fS" containing the wildest accusations and vituperations against the foreigners who had dared to intrude into the city. It transpired that the principal authors of this excitement and the chief leaders in the riot, were men from the magistrnte's office, which was bound, when necessary, to take steps to keep the peace. Therefore we inferred that the rcal cause of the outbreak was our old acquaintance, which for years had been our chief foe in Moukden-viz., the belief that we were there as political agents to crpaie a party which would be traitorous to China and friendly to foreign powers.
To do something to remove this evil prejudice we had the boards block. ing up the broken wiudow taken down, and we stood on the ledge exposed to the street. In a few seconds the street, which ordinarily is a busy one, was so crowded that there was no passage for man or beast. A dense mass of well-dressed men, mostly young, stood fronting us as closely packed as they could stand, filling the breadth of the wide street and stretching away to right and left. From the window-ledge, which was about three feet high, we could see and be seen by all the crowd. There we preached to the people for about an hour, always keeping in view, but never even inferentially' referring to the cause of the general excitemel)t. We preached the doctrine of Jesus, the Saviour from all sin and for all men. without distinction of nationality or condition. As both caution and explanation were essential to our position, and especially to our cause, we had to enter into minute details regarding the vital doctrines of Christianity, on account of which WP, had come to their "honorable" country. We were impressed with the death-like lltillness of the crowd. As far as indications of life were concerned they might as well have been cut out of stone. Every eye was unfalteringly bent on the two foreigners; not a head, not even a lip, as far as we could see, moved in that crowd while we remained face to face.
At length we descended from our pedestal, and gently wriggling our way through the crowd, we reached the two men who were holding our ponies. But as soon as we mounted and got just clear of the crowd, the unusual silence was broken by loud laughter, bitter mockery and reviling language, and by what was still more disagreeable, a shower of eithcr small pieces of brick, or of earth which, by the keen frost, were like so many stones. Our ponies soon trotted us beyond the reach of the missiles; but we had to go through a mile of street lined on both sides with shops which seemed crowded with human beings, who greeted us as we passed with mocking laughter, shouts of angry defiance, or revilings of the grossest kind. We were not much affected by this kind of thing which " breaks no bones," and soon we found ourselves in our inn, somewhat fatigued with the nervous excitement rather than by the labors of the day.
The young doctor had been boycotted and left some time before for his native viIlage.
Exactly two and a half years after that visit of ours, during which we were so unceremoniously treated, Mr. Webster stayed in the same inn, and walked that mile of street between it and the chapel. As usual, at most of the shop-doors stood some of the men in charge of the shop. Many of these men bowed to him as he passed, with a smile of recognition, inquired after his own welfare and that of his family left behind in Moukden. He entered the compound of the small chapel, where he was met and joyfully welcomed by a considerable band of men who had meantime become members.
Next day he dispensed the communion to a congregation of fifty baptized men and women. The" bread" was handed round in a plate, which he used for his food on the road, and the wine was drunk out of his breakfast-cup, as the most respectable vessel available. "But," as he stated in a letter written at the time, " the Holy Spirit of God was there." The emotion was profound. Men and women as they thus for the first time touched and tasted the tangible tokens of their Redeemer's dying love, did so with bursting sobs and with tears flowing down their cheeks. Those only who know the stolid nature of the Chinese, and their remarkable powers of self-control, can alone fully appreciate the significance of such uncontrollable emotion.
Two years later I was there dispensing the communion to a company of about double the number, and one which would have been much larger could all the members in the outlying villages connected with Tieling have been present. The members have had to take a second and larger chapel, but this was Sl) full that a number of men had to stand during the entire service, though these were then mostly applicants for baptism. On a subsequent visit a couple of months later there were twenty-seven persons baptized. press of time prevented ~e then from going to the villages where a number of women believers, unable from household cares, to go to the city, are awaiting baptism. Every year sees a larger number than the preceding enter the Church, and every year sees an enlarged number of villages taken possession of by one or more of the disciples of Jesus. One vil!age, about seven miles from Tieling in a beautiful valley, is wholly Christian, its inhabitants being all either baptized or applicants for baptism.
Instead of the former vituperation, the foreigner is now saluted by the more respectable citizens with kindliness, the magistrate is well disposed, all the lower officials are glad to be on friendly terms with the evangelist and the deacons of the church; and there is not only no avowed hostility of any kind against those who have become members, or obstacles placed in the way of those desiring to become Christians, but the " whole city speaks we]) of Christianity."
No Christian man will be at a loss to set down all those changed condi· tions to the power of Him who works through the preaching of the Word; but He who is the Almighty, and who does what Be wills, has willed to do thIS kmd of work only in conneetion with human agency. He gives the increase, He demands that Paul plant the seed. Whose eloquence wa.'! employed, whose lives were influential as the immediate came in producing this wonderful change-amouuting to a contrast–between our fir8t visit and my last· 1 The change has not been effected thr01}gh the preaching of the foreigner, nor solely by his life. As the work was begun by that youth scarcely SIX years ago, so has it been carried on all but exclusively by his countrymen who were or have become believers, and latterly by himself, who is now-and appropriately-the trained evangelist in charge of the station.
" He who runs can read" the lessons of stimulus, lessons of faith. lessons of caution, lessons of fear and of joy, which the above very brief narrative, which could be repeated of other places not a few, presents to all sections of the Christian Church doing work for the Master among the Chinese. And in connection with this story may I be allowed humbly to rebuke the unbelief of many in our home churches, and among many of our leading clergy 1 They tell us our duty is to preach, but not to expect conversions. I would never have myself come to China did I not believe it my duty to expect hearers of the Gospel to be born again. I have expected, always, undoubtingly expected, conversions. At this moment I expect more than ever before, and I know I shall not be disappointed, for " faithful is He that hath promised." Christians in Christian lands expect conversions! There is something, whatever it be, radically wrong jf there be no conversions under the proclamation of the message of God to man. Expect conversions. Pray for them earnestly, but pray in faith, believing that ye shall have what ye ask; if not, your prayers are in vain. Act for them solemnly, and act with wisdom to take away those things which hinder the conversion of hearers. "Open thy mouth," open it wide, :;u~q see if God, the ~aithfl,ll and the trte~ will not,fill it.
FORmIGN INFLUENCE IN CHINA
FOREIGN INFLUENCE IN CHINA.
BY REV. A. P. PARKER, SHANGHAI, CHINA.
Very few people in Western countries have any adequate idea of this great Chinese Empire, of its size, the character of its people, the strength and extent of its civilization. To many, as Professor Max Muller says, the Chinaman is a joke. To others he is uncivilized or only half civilized, and but little removed from the Hottentot or the American Indian. A dozen years ago, the Supreme Court of California, in its zeal to bring a law to bear against the Chinese, held that" the term Indian included the Chinese or Mongolian race." "It thus upheld a wrong," says Dr.
S. Wells Williams, " while it enunciated a misconception. It placed the subjects of the oldest government now existing, upon a parity with a race that has never risen above tribal relations. It included under one term a people whose literature dates its beginning before the Psalms or Exodus, and containing authors whose words have influenced more human beings than any other writings, with men whose highest attainments in writing have been a few jlictures and tokens drawn on a buffalo robe. It equalized all the qualities of industry, prudence. skill, learning, invention, and whatever gives security to life and property among men, with the instincts al!d habits of a hunter and a nomad. It stigmatized a people which has taught us how to make porcelain, silk, and gunpowder, given us the compass, and shown us the use of tea, by classing them with a race which has despised labor, has had no arts, schools, or trade, and in the midst of the Californians themselves is content to dig roots for a living." So long as these wholly unjust and inadequate conceptions prevail, so long will the people and country be treated with contempt on the one hand, while, on the other hand, the Church will fail to compre- hend the vastness of the work of evangelization to be done here and the immense outlay of men and money and prayer that are necessary to accomplish it.
China is a great country, great in size, great in history, great in civiliza- tion. Extending over 71 degrees of longitude and 34 parallels of latitude, it covered, in 1840, an area of 5,300,000 square miles, a territory a third larger than the Continent of Europe, and nearly half as large again as the United States, which covers nearly 3,700,000 square miles, including Alaska. This vast area has been reduced, during the last fifty years, by about a half a million square miles, ceded to Russia and England. Reach- ing from the frozen snows of Siberia on the north, to the tropical regions of the eighteenth parallel of north latitude on the south, China affords as great a variety of climate and production as any other country in the world. Vast mountain chains, wide and fertile plains and valleys, numer- ous lakes and great river systems, are some of its physical features. It contains a population, according to Dr. S. Wells Williams, the best authority on Chinese subjects, of 380,000,000, in the eighteen provinces, and 23,000,000 in Manchuria and the colonial possessions, or a total of 403,000,000. It yields every kind of mineral, vegetable, and animal production necessary for the sustenance of its teeming population and for the development of the arts of civilized lifc-a country complete in itself.
It is the oldest country in exi~tence that has a history, covering a period of more than 4600 years without a break in its continuity. Contemporaneous with Egypt, and Nineveh, and Babylon, it has outlived them all. While these mighty empires have sunken in oblivion and heaps of rubbish mark the forgotten scenes of their power and grandeur, China has continued on her way, and is to-day one of the great,nations of the earth, whose powerful influence on the destiny of the human race it is impossible to forecast. One of the oldest books in the world, outside of the Hebrew Scriptures, is the Shu King, one of the Chinese classics, which contains a record of events that occurred in this country B.C. 2300. The dim dawn of Chinese history reaches back to 2800 B.C., or, according to Dr. Hales's chronology, 350 years after the flood, and more than 1600 years after the creation of man. The period of authentic history may, according to the most reliable evidence, be placed at about B.C. 2300, in the reigns of Yao and Shun. Everything in this country is old. Centuries are but as years and years are but as days in the history of China, as compared with the mushroom growths of America and modern Europe.
Possessed of a knowledge of letters, architecture, agriculture, and civil government, two thousand years before our era, Chinese civilization was old when Greece and Rome were young, and ten centuries ago China was the most civilized nation in the world. At that time, and subsequently, reports of the wealth and power and Oriental splendor of the Chinese Empire created as much wonderment in Europe as the Chinese of the present day experience when they hear of the power and grandeur of Western nations. Without discussing in this connection the elements of Chinese civilization, we may note the fact that it has wrought out one stupendous result that may well challenge our admiration and invite our studious attention. It has kept nnder one government, under one homogeneous set of civil institutions, the greatest mass of human beings that has ever existed under one government in any age of the world. In view of this fact we might well inquire what are the elements of its strength that have served to accomplish such a result. Geographical isolation, filial piety, industry, innate strength of character, all these have been offered in explanation of this wonderful phenomenon. Perhaps they have all combined, under the over-ruling providence of God, to produce a result that is the marvel of the foreign student of the. history and institutions of this country.
But while this is a highly civilized nation, perhaps as highly civilized as any heathen nation has ever been in the history of the world, yet it is 1I nation of idolaters, sunken in gross and degrading superstitions. Reaching its highest point of development a thousand years ago, it has been on the down grade ever since in all the elements of mental and moral progress, with only occasional periods of temporary recovery. A discussion of the moral and spiritual condition of the Chinese, which I may take up in a future paper, would show that with the multiplication of idols there has come a decrease of moral force, and the .gathering gloom of superstition has so darkened the minds of the people as to practically arrest their progress in material, mental, and moral improvement. The facts that lie on the very surface of their past history and present condition indicate that they have, somewhere in the past, reached a stage of arrested development, and idolatry and superstition are largely the cause of it.
We cannot doubt that it is in the purpose of God that this nation is now being brought into close and vital contact with the great Christian civilization of the West, in order to arouse her from her mental slumber and moral deadness and start her again on the path of progress. It becomes us, therefore, to inquire what are the influences that are being brought to bear upon this great mass of civilized heathenism, how far the people are yielding to those influences, and what is the outlook for the future.
China's relations with foreign countries have been more or less desultory until within the last fifty years. Geographically isolated from the rest of the world, so that she was very difficult of access before the age of steam, she has been left alone, largely, to work out her own destiny, almost wholly uninfluenced by any other than inferior peoples. " But to-day she stands face to face," in the language of one of her most eminent statesmen, "with a condition of things unprecedented in the history of the country. It is the decree of Heaven and we cannot close our doors and refuse to receive foreigners or fold our hands and have nothing to do with them. "
There is reliable evidence that the Chinese had trade relations with the Roman Empire' as early as A.D. 150, but the long and perilous journey to China uver the mountains and high table-lands of Central Asia made the trade uncertain and fragmentary. In the latter half of the ninth century the Arabs carried on trade with the Chinese by means of junks, crossing the Indian Ocean, passing through the Straits of Malacca, and on up the eastern coast of China as far as Hangchow. The visit of Marco Polo to China in the thirteenth century, his long residence here, and the accounts he gave of his observations and experiences, on his return, brought the great Mongol Empire vividly to the attention of Western Europe. One result of this was the sending of Roman Catholic missionaries to China to convert the heathen to the Christian faith. Great success, apparently, attended the labors of these missionaries, but their work was destroyed with the overthrow of the Mongol Dynasty.
In the early part of the sixteenth century Portugal and Holland sought to open up trade relations with the country by sea, and succeeded to some extent in accomplishing their object. It is noteworthy that up to the advent of the Dutch and Portuguese and Spanish traders the country was practically open to foreign trade j but the conquest of Malacca by the Dutch, and of the Philippines by the Spanish, and the taking forcible possession of the region now known as Mac.ao by the Portuguese, together with the buccaneering exploits of the traders from these countries along the coast of China, excited the suspicions of the Chinese, and the country was subsequently closed to foreign trade, except at the port of Canton. British trade with China commencing in the middle of the seventeenth century, and resulting in the Opium War of 1842 and the opening of China to foreign residents, though beginning later than that -of any other nation, has exerted a greater influence on the country than all the other nations of the West combined. Without, however, going into the details of the earlier attempts of the nations of Europe to open up diplomatic and commercial relatious with the Chinese, suffice it to say that it is only within the past fifty years, or, more strictly speaking, within the past thirty years, that the country has been really open to foreign intercourse. The Opium War of 1842, at the conclusion of which Christian England forced heathen China to pay $11,000,000 for the opium which British merchants had smuggled into the country, and which the Chinese Government had seized and destroyed, and also $10,000,000 for war expenses, while it was an act of the grossest injustice, yet in the wonderful providence of God it resulted in a great blessing, not only to China but to the civilized world, in that it opened China to foreign intercourse and to the introduction of Christian missions into the country.
By the Treaty of Nanking, entered into at the close of that war, five ports were opened along the coast of China where foreigners were to be allowed to reside on Chinese soil. Before the opening of these five ports -Canton, Foochow, Ningpo, Shanghai, and Tientsin-and since the closing of the country against the Dutch and Portuguese traders and the expulsion of the Jesuit missionaries, no foreigner had been allowed to reside on Chinese soil, except within the narrow limits of the little compound known as the .. Factories" on the bank of the river at Canton. But now by the terms of this treaty, foreigners, whether missionaries, merchlnts, or government officials, were allowed the right of residence within the borders of the Celestial Kingdom, subject, indeed, still to their own laws, but guaranteed protection to life and property by the Chinese Government. This is not the place to discuss the subject, but a review of foreign intercourse with China shows that at no time, particularly within the last three hundred years, since foreigners have sought to open up trade relations with the Chinese, would it have been safe to have allowed unrestricted intercourse with the peoples of the West. The flagitious conduct of many of the traders that have come to these shores, and the intriguing schemes of the Jesuits for political power and interference with the civil authority, have been entirely sufficient grounds for the fear and suspicion of foreigners entertained by the Chinese, and show only too clearly that had the foreigners been allowed free access to the country, in all probability the government would have crumbled to pieces and the country would have been divided up between the three or four most powerful nations of Europe, especially as it was the general belief in Catholic countries that all pagan lands belonged to the Pope and he could give them to whomsoever he pleased.
At the conclusion of the war between China and the Allies, England and France, an additional number of pClrts were opened to foreigners for residence, and again, in 1876, at the conclusion of the negotiations consequent on the murder of Margary, an English commissioner, by the Chinese in Southwest China, still another number was added to the list of treaty ports, so that now there are twenty-one places on the coast of China and up the Yangtse River where foreigners are allowed to reside, own property, and carryon trade with the Chinese. Originally missionaries were restricted to these treaty ports, but they have long ago overleaped these bounds, and are now to be found in every part of this vast Empire carrying on their work.
In the resistle!!s march of events of this wonderful nineteenth century, the mighty momentum of Christian civilization has struck this country, startling the Chinese out of their mental and moral lethargy, and while they have striven, blindly and foolishly at times, to rcsist the invasion of foreigners and foreign innovations, they have latterly begun to accept the situation and try to adapt themselves to a condition of things that they have found it impossible to avoid, and are, in a word, yielding to the pressure of foreign influence that has been brought to bear upon them with ever-increasing force.
The pressure of foreign influence has been delivered upon the Chinese along three general lines-viz., political, commercial, and missionary. The governments of the West have been urging upon the Chinese the necessity of receiving ministers, consuls, and government agents at Peking and the treaty ports, and of sending similar government agents abroad to the treaty powers, thus entering into the comity of nations, adopting the great principles of international law, and reaping the immense advantages growing out of intercourse with various countries of the world.
Merchants have brought innumerable cargoes of the products of field and factory, of mine and machine, to this country, urging upon the Chinese the advantages of purchasing these goods and of selling to the foreigners their productions, such as silk, tea, porcelain, etc. The merchants have brought here specimens or models or descriptions of nearly all of the principal inventions of the great West, the steam-engine, the steamship, the railroad, the telegraph, the telephone, the dynamo, the printing press, mining machinery, etc., :lnd have urged upon the Chinese the necessity of employing these wonderful machines to develop the resources of the country and become great and powerful among the nations of the world. Missionaries have been pressing into the country proclaiming hope for lost men through the Gospel of the Son of God; showing the folly and sin of idolatry; urging the p,eople to forsake their idols and tum to the living God; establishing churches, schools, and hospitals; translating into the Chinese language, religious, educational, and general literature, sC8ttering miIlions of pages annually of Bibles and Christian books over the land, and bringing to the knowledge of the people the wonderful discoveries in religion, science, and general knowledge that to-day constitute the precious heritage of Christian nations. It has required steady pressure and persistent effort to do this work. The Chinese are full of suspicion as to our purpose in coming here. They are ready to attribute to us every motive but the right one. It has been exceedingly difficult, in many towns in the interior, to rent houses, or purchase land on which to erect mission buildings. A fear is entertained by some of the Chinese that when a piece of land is bought by a missionary it thereby becomes a bit of foreign territory. The missionaries are accused of the vilest crimes in the calendar; of kidnapping women and children j of gouging out the eyes of children with which to make medicine to Bend to foreign countries; of being spies in the employ of foreign governments seeking to gain a foothold in the country in order to its ultimate conquest; of trying by the dissemination of strange and pernicious doctrines, to break down all the sanctions of morality and destroy the foundations of social and civil order, etc.
But notwithstanding the difficulties in the way, notwithstanding the fear, the suspicion, the self· conceit and the inertia, the pressure of foreign influence has been l!teady, continuous, and increasing, and we see the result to-day in the movement that is manifest on every hand. The Chinese are yielding to the pressure, slowly, it is true, but nevertheles~ surely. Many whose information is more or less superficial, think: that the Chinese are so proud and self-conceited, so bound to their ancient traditions and averse to anything new as to be altogether impervious to any influence coming from other countries; or else that they are so stolid and sordid, flO gross and material, so sunken in superstition and intellectual stagnation, as to be utterly incapable of being raised to the high plain of thought and spiritual conception contemplated in our Christian civilization. But a nearer view of the history of the Chinese, a closer acquaintance with their national life and character, would serve to dissipate many of these false notions, and give a clearer idea of the nature of those influences that are needed to hring about that improvement which every well-wisher of the race so ardently desires to see.
When we consider the, to the Chinese, long and glorious history of China in the past; the volume and range of her literature, which represents the gathered treasures of forty centuries j the long roll of illustrious sages, statesmen, military heroes, scholars, poets, and philosophers, that adorns the pages of her history; her long-established institutions and the practical outcome of these in good government and social order; we cannot wonder that she is somewhat slow to yield to those influences which come to her from outside nations, whose boasted superiority is bat a growth of yesterday, and the conduct of wh~se people in this country has, in hundreds of instances, flagrantly violated those high moral teachings claimed to be contained in the holy books of the Christians.
But a few facts, out of many here briefly stated, will suffice to show that the Chinese are yielding to the pressure that is being brought to bear upon them, and are moving as fast, perhaps, as it is safe for them to move. Much more rapid movement would bring with it the danger of social and civil upheaval and disintegration. The people must be gradually prepared for the changes before these can with safety be brought about.
In the first place they are yielding along the line of political pressure. Minister, consuls, and other government agents have been received at Peking and the treaty ports from the various treaty powers j Chinese ministers and consuls have been sent abroad to the various governments of Europe and America; in the early part of the present year the Emperor granted an audience to the foreign ministers resident at Peking, and hereafter a similar audience is to be granted to all the ministers of the treaty powers. And to-day these various treaty powers, instead of being looked upon as tributary countries, stand recognized by the Chinese as independent sovereign powers and are treated with on terms of equality and respect. Wheaton's and Brul).tscheIIi's treatises on International Law have been translated into Chinese by Dr. Martin and others, and the leading Chinese government officials have read them and can quote tbe principles of international law as readily as anyone; as, for instance, in the case of the discrimination against the Chinese as compared to other nations, shown by the action of the United States Congress in arbitrarily restricting Chinese immigration, either with or without negotiation with the Chinese Government.
Again, tbe Cbinese are yielding along the line of commercial influence. An immense trade bas grown up with foreign countries. Millions of dollars' worth of goods are brougbt here annually from all tbe countries of the world, principally, of conrse, from Europe and America. The Chinese know a good thing when tbey see it. They know the value of a dollar as well as any people in the world, and when they Bee the abundance, the excellence, tbe cheapness, of the goods tbat are brought to them from foreign countries, they buy them readily and in great quantities. National prejudice, self-conceit, suspicion, and distrust, all' go down in one common ruin before the mighty force of the desire for material gain. The products of the looms of Manchester and Massachusetts are displacing the coarser and more costly native hand-made fabrics; kerosene is superseding the vegetable tallow dips and rushligbts ; Yankee clocks and watches are taking the place of the native sun-dial and the incense time-stick; while California flour and foreign groceries and hardware in great variety are coming in to supply the wants that the native products fail to meet. A fleet of some twenty steamers, owned by the Chine8e Government, and commandp-d by European officers, does a large part of the carrying trade along her fifteen hundred miles of coast line j a short hne of railroad, eighty miles in length, was built in 1888, in North China, from Tientsin to the Kaiping coal mines, and recently steps have been taken to extend this road to the northeastern boundary of the Empire at Shanhaikwan ; two years ago the Emperor issued a decree in which he said that railroads were necessary in order to develop the strength and resources of a country, and ordered the construction of a line of railroad from Peking right down through the centre of the country -to Hankow on the Yangtse River. This road has not been built, owing to the bitter opposition of the members of what may be called the Conservative party among the Emperor's advisers, who have succeeded in staving off the work of construction for the time being. But it is the general belief, both of Chinese and foreigners, that this road will be built before very long. The tele~ graph was introduced in 1881, consequent on the fear of a war with Russia, and it has been gradually extended to every part of the Empire, and has been an important means of strengthening the power of the central government over the provincial governors and viceroys. Mining machinery has been introduced for mining coal, iron, gold, silver, copper, etc.; last year a mint was established in Canton, the machinery of which was purchased in Europe, and already silver dollars and small coin, the product of the mint, are being put into circulation j and as the result of the wars between China and foreign nations, several large arsenals and navy-yards have been established where arms, ammunition, and gunboats are being manufactured after the most approyed European models.
The yielding of the Chinese along the line of missionary pressure is very marked and very encouraging. About fourteen hundred Protestant missionaries, to say nothing of the numerous Roman Catholic missionaries, are established in various parts of the Empire, not only at the open ports, but also away in the interior, in Northern, Western, and Southwestern China, gathering churches, carrying on school and hospital work, and going everywhere preaching the Word by the living voice and the printed page. The various Protestant churches number some forty thousand Christians, which with the baptized children, the candidates for church-membership, and the nominal believers, make up a Christian community of not far short of one hundred and fifty thousand. Three thousand native assistants, preachers, exhorters, licentiates, colporteurs, and Bible-wo~en are helping in the great work of making known the Gospel to their fellow-countrymen; more than fi;e hundred churches have been organized, about one ,fifth of which are self-supporting; there are about seventeen thousand pupils in the various mission schools; three hundred and fifty thousand patients were treated in 1889 in more than one hundred hospitals and dispensaries; and six hundred and sixty-six thousand Scripture portions-that is, whole Bibles, Testaments, Gospels, etc., were sown broadcast over the land. But besides these figures there are numerous indications that the power of the Gospel is being felt in this country, which cannot be tabulated. The pure life, the fervent devotion, the patience under persecution, the triumphant death, of the native Christians prove the genuineness of the work of grace in their hearts. A great change has taken place in many of the older mission centres in the sentiments of the masses of the people toward the missionaries. Instead of being called" foreign devil," we are more frequently greeted with" Mr. Foreigner;" the pcople listen longer and more attentively to the preaching in thc chapels; they are bolder to come to our hospitals for medical treatment and surgical operations; parents are more ready to send thcir children to our pchools, and the people buy and read our books more readily. All these and many other facts, which there is not space to detail here, show that the Chinese are yielding to the pressure. The Gospel is the power of God to the salvation of this people. One other fact ought to be stated in this connection, a great improvement is going on in the educational system of the country, as the combined result of foreign influence. In 1887 Western science and mathematics were, by Imperial decree, introduced into the government examinations ; government schools have been established, with foreign professors, for teaching these subjects and the principal languages of Europe; the government has established a translation department in which foreigners acquainted with the Chinese language are employed to translate works on history, science, mathematics, military tactics, naval architecture, etc., from English and other languages into Chinese; and these translations are being published and disseminated far and wide throughout the country.
The future is full of hope. The tremor of new movements is in the air. We who are here and have a finger upon the pulse of the country, can feel the throb of the new life that is being poured into its arteries. Those are most hopeful who have been longest here and know most of the people, of the difficulties in the way, as well as of the forces that are needed to overcome them. Revolutions never go backward. Progress will be onward and upward. The recent anti-foreign riots along the valley of the Yangtse River will give a temporary check to missionary work, but this check will only be temporary. Foreign influence will be strengthened, ultimately, as the result of these riots, and especially will Christian missions receive a great forward impetus by them. We are already reaping some advantage from these riots. The decree of the Emperor, issued on account of the disturbances, places us in a stronger position than we have ever occupied in the history of mission work in China.
Thus every difficulty will be but the stepping-stone to higher achievement. The work of awakening and improvement is bound to go on Machinery will be introduced and produced in ever-increasing quantities j the material resources of the country will be developed; mines will be opened for coal, iron, copper, silver, gold; improved methods of agricult~re will benefit the farmer; railroads aud steamers will afford raJ;lid cOIll-
THE GREAT MISSIONARY UPRISING
munication and vastly increase trade and production ; the great changes that are even now taking place in the educational system of the country will improve the character while they extend the benefits of education; the newspaper" the telegraph, the telephone, will, as they are already doing, spread general intelligence among the people; while above all, and better than all, the Gospel of the Son of God will go on with ever-increasing power from the vantage ground already gained, until this shall become a Christian nation and the last stronghold of Satan will be captured.
But the Church must rally to the work with her men, her money, and her prayers. We mUl!t haye enough men to do the work. Four hundred millions of people cannot be evangelized by fourteen hundred missionaries. One missionary to fifty thousand people would require eight thousand missionaries for China.
[NOTE.-A copy of the above paper was sent to the Southern Methodist Quarterly Review also; but was intended for insertion in both Reviews. -ED.] THE GREAT MISSIONARY UPRISING.
BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, BELLEVUE, O.
In Great Britain as the centre, and intimately connected with the organization of the London Missionary Society in 1795, but powerfully affecting also all the Protestant churches of the Continent, and of the United States as well, for years William Carey had stood almost alone in English-speaking Christendom. a voice crying in the wilderness. His heart was well-nigh the only one all aflame for the conversion of the world. Even when the Baptist Society had been formed and Carey had sailed for India, the interest was confined to the Baptist churches of Britain, neither numerous, nor strong, nor held in much repute, and only to a very limited extent even in their membership. Hence, after the long and dreary night, it was but the rising of the day-star that appeared, at most but the day-dawn, or the first blossom of the spring. The glorious sun, the lovely season of buds and flowers, had not yet made its advent.
But under the guidance and inspiration of the Divine Spirit, various cooperating causes had long been preparing the way for a majestic and widespread onward movement in behalf of missions. For fifty years the Wes- 1eyan revival had been turning the religious world upside down and had been kindling on every hand boundless love and zeal, desire and devotion. As far back as 1744 had been originated in Scotland a plan, which was soon adopted by many churches, both in the Old World and the New, for the frequent and regular observance of a day of "extraordinary prayer" for the descent of the Spirit and the spread of the kingdom throughout the whole world; and of late such gatllerings had become much more com- won. In addition, the unexampled missionary activity of the entire Mora,- vian Church ever since 1732, and the self-denying apostolic labors of such as Ziegenbalg and Schwartz in Tranquebar, beginning in 1705, as well as of Brainerd and Edwards (1741-58) among the American Indians, had sup- plied noble examples. Then finally, helping in the same direction, came Carey's great sermon, the sublime act of faith performed at Kettering, and his setting forth for the ends of the earth.
" The first two English missionaries to India seemed, to those who sent them forth, to have disappeared forever. For fourteen months no tidings of their welfare reached the poor praying people of the midlands, who had been emboldened to begin the enterprise." But at last, July 29th, 1794, letters arrived for Ryland, of Bristol, who read them and sent at once for Dr. Bogue, of Gosport, a Presbyterian clergyman, and Mr. Stephen to rejOice with him. First, they all gave thanks, and prayed for a blessing upon the Baptist Society, and then the two latter called upon Mr. Hey, a leading minister, and it was determined to begin at once to agitate for the organization of a simila: society. though with a much broader ecclesiastical basis. Suiting the action to the word, Dr. Bogue prepared an article which appeared in September, in the Evangelical Magazine, addressed to "Evangelical dissenters who practice infant baptism," urging all such to bestir themselves; arguing that the time to begin was fully come; ex- pressing the conviction that many would be found willing and eager to assist if only a few would step forth t6 lead, and that funds sufficient could be gathered to support at le!lst twenty or thirty missionaries. Such in God's hands was" the little fire" which kindled" how great a matter !"
The effect of this clarion call was immediate and profound. The next month it was further stated in the same periodical that, if a society should be formed upon a large scale and upon a basis so broad as to unite Chris- tians " without respect to different denominations, or repulsive distinctions arising from points in dispute between Calvinists and Arminians," one man stood pledged for £100 and another for £500 to equip the first six volun- teers for a mission to the South Seas. Some weeks later appeared the suggestion o,·er the signatures of eighteen Independent, seven Presbyterian, three Wesleyan, and three Episcopal ministers, for a meeting for consulta- tion, urging that in the mean time local and district gatherings be held to stir interest, collect funds, and choose delegates. In July, 1795, another article reached the public from the glowing pen of "T. R." (Raweis, a Church of England clergyman, whose influence through all the years next ensuing was unequalled in raising enthusiasm to the sticking point), " showing the very probable success of a proper mission to the South Seas," giving a long and glowing and inten~ely rose-colored setting forth of the situation in those remote parts, proving conclusively the islands to be a very terrestrial paradise, and the people the loving and lovable inno- cent children of nature. ~ Thus, at length, all things being read)", September, 21st, the mo- mentous meetings began in London. At the very outset subscriptions were made by the country ministers amounting to £750. Many encouraging letters from all parts of the island were read j it was announced that several men were ready to offer themselves, and the vote was unanimous to organ- ize at once. This" fundamental principle" was adopted: "The design is not to send Presbyterianism, Independency, Episcopacy, or any other form of church order and government (about which there may be differ- ence of opinion among serious persons), but the glorious Gospel of the blessed God to the heathen j and it shall be left (as it ought to be left) to the minds of the persons whom God may call into the fellowship of His Son from among them to assume for themsel ves such form-of church gov- ernment as to them shall appear most agreeable to the Word of God." For three full days the gatherings continued, with two sermons each day upon pertinent themes from eminent divines, and to audiences" immensely great." It seemed like a new Pentecost" with Christians of all denomi- nations for the first time in the same place, using the same hymns and prayers, and feeling themselves to be one." Two hundred ministers sat together in the galleries j and Dr. Bogue said : " We are called together for the funeral of bigotry j and I hope it will be buried so deep as never to rise again." Vhereat" the whole vast body could scarce refrain from one general shout of joy. . . Such a scene was never, perhaps, before beheld in our world j and it was a foretaste of heaven. • . . We shall account it through eternity a distinguished favor, the highest honor, that we appeared here and gave in our names among the founders of the society. This will be ever remembered by us as the era of Christian benevolence. "
The flame thus kindled in the metropolis quickly spread throughout all Britain j and, of course, it followed at once that money in abundance began to flow in from all quarters. One church in Southampton subscribed £270, and from Market Harborough came £83 Is. 7d. with this word: " No event in life has given me more pleasure than this glorious attempt to send forth the Gospel." The children in a boarding-school, unasked, gave £1 98. 6d. Scotland too was aroused. Missionary societies were formed in Edinburgh and Glasgow, ani before many months had passed nearly £12,000 had been forwarded to the London treasury. Earnest souls upon the Continent dispatched their contributions, amounting erelong to upward of £1500 j so that by the end of October, the directors had £3000 in hand, which, three months later, had more than doubled, and in June, 1796, they could report the receipts at £10,000. Missionaries, too, had offered themselves in encouraging numbers. By midsummer it was decided to purchase a ship and found missions in Otaheite, the Friendly and Pelew Islands, and the Marquesas, with projects looking toward Madagascar, the West Indies, and the north shore of the Caspian, so great was their faith, and so enlarged were their ideas and longings. And thus early the prophetic hope was expressed that this uprising for the world's redemption" will spread to every Christian bosom, to the Dutch, German, American, and all Protestant churches, till the whole professing world shall burn with fervent love, and lab'or to sprelld in every heathen land the sweet savor of the Redeemer's name."
Accordingly, the Duff was purchased at a cost of £4875, and furnished for her long voyage at an additional expense of more than £7000, several years' supplies for the missionaries included. A profit of £5000 was expected from freight to be brought upon the homeward trip. A call was made, and nobly responded to, for books, tools, cooking utensils, instruments, seeds and other supplies; and one poor man expended £2 28. upon six spades, nine' hammers, and four thousand 6d and 10d nails. July 2Rth, 1796, the twenty-nine chosen were solemnly set apart-six of them married, with two childIen, only four of them ordained, one a physician, and the others artisans. Thousands joined in the novel and most impressh'e service, and no less than ten clergymen-Episcopalian, Presbyterian, Independent, Seceder, and Methodist-sharing in the exercises, "showing that affection is increasing between ministers of different denominations, who, previous to this institution, had neither fellowship nor intercourse." In reference to the religious situation it was written soon after: "In no instance in the limits of our recollection has such a ~pirit of prayer and supplication been poured out upon the churches, or such general approbation been discovered. The greatest kindness has been displayed in all departments of the Government. Neither the Council Board nor the Custom House would accept fees." Wednesday, August 10th, at five A.M., the Duff' dropped down from B1ackall to Gravesend, a vast multitude beholding, and came to anchor at t!pithead the Tuesday following. The East India convoy having already sailed, she was compelled (since the French wars were raging) to wait six weeks, at Portsmouth, for the Adamant, a fifty-two gun ship. September 22d found her at St. Helen's. The following day her anchors were finally hoisted and her sails spread for the Antipodes. Thus the great undertaking, followed in Carey's path, three years and a half later than he, and yet-in some respects at least-even outdoing that immortal founder and pioneer. It was now that one moralized with altogether pardonable exaltation of feeling: ., It is highly probable that since the Lord and the apostles, the bosom of the deep has never been graced with such a vessel," or one" in which so many thou~ands of Christians embarked their hopes and followed with their prayers."
What remarkable and rapid growth may be discerned during the period under view! How different all this, for magnitude of operations and for eclat, from the deed of those twelve obscure NorthaUJptonshire Baptist ministers, and their subscription of £13 28. 6d., over whose utter inadequacy and insignificance Rev. Sydney Smith half a generation later could make exceeding merry! For nearly two years, until May, 1798, not a word was heard from Captain 'Wilson and the tremendous ventures made by faith. Leaving the Duff t.o battle for weeks with fearful storms off Cape Horn, and then, baffled, to beat her way past the Cape of Good Hope through 262 0 of longitude, let us glance at certain step8 .:,f progress meantime taken at home. Measures were immediately "et on foot to start a mission in the Foulah country, some 250 miles from Sierra Leone, for which GlaRgow and Edinburgh offered two men each, and the London So- ciety was to add the same number. Plans were also soon laid for a mission to the Cape. In January, 1797, it could be affirmed: "Christians in every corner of the land are meeting in a regnlar manner, and pouring out their souls for God's blessing on the world." And again: "The efforts most successfully made to introduce the Gospel to the South Seas have had a most powerful tendency to unite the devoted servants of Christ of every denomination in the bonds of brotherly love, and to awaken zeal to help the perishin!! multitudes in our own country, and 'also the Jews." ~onth by month came tidings of both local and district movements to raise missionary funds, and to multiply toilerfl at many points in the foreign field, and in every destitute region at home. For this purpose scores of organizations were formE'd in every denomination. In America similar interest prevailed; in Ma8~achusetts and Connecticut, at New York, Philadelphia, and othE'r parts of the country. .Nor waR the enterprise Jess upon the Continent; in Germany, Holland, Sweden, and Switzerland associations were also formed. With all these societies, as well as with various individuals, the directors of the London Society opened correspondence for mutual instruction and encouragement. Von Schirnding, a German nobleman, was delighted to hear of the evangelizing projects Oll foot j for years he had been cheriRhing similar schemes. and aided liberally with money and men. Vanderkemp, in Holland, a famed scholar and soldier, and aforetime a pronounced sceptic, offered himself as a messenger of glad tidings to the heathen, and proceeded at once to organize the Netherlands Missionary Society. Inspiring letters came from BasIc, which since 1771 had been the seat of a widespread movement" to maintain evangelical doctrine and piety." Certain devout German brethren sent their congratulations in this fashion: "It is like the dawn promising a beautiful day after the dark night. It is the beginning of a ne,w epoch for the kingdom of God on earth. Your undertaking and its success fills our hearts with joy and our eyes with tears. The history of Great Britain is sanctified by this unparalleled mission. What harmony among different perRu!lsions! You call on the wise and good of every nation to take interest in the work and bear a part. Such a call was never heard of before. It was reserved for the close of the eighteenth century to be distinguished by it." So it was that the tide of zeal rose and spread.
It was not until May, 1798, that, in a letter from Captain Wilson; written at Canton six months before, the first tidings came from the great missionary venture in the South Seas; and in July following the Puff lay at anchor in the Downs. And now came the climax of exultation and buoyant hope. "Never, perhaps, was an undertaking more completely accomplished. Fifty-one thousand miles have been traversed without the least material loss vr damage. The winds eonE'pired to waft them safely and swiftly to their desired haven. Everywhere they were reeeived by the natives with reverence and delight. All are settled in the islands they preferred, and apparentl.y in the greatest safety. At Otaheite, a most fertile district was bestowed upon them, and a commodious building." Dr. Haweis did not fail to surpass the most fervid and fanciful in his setting forth of the past, present, and future of the mission, in a public address to Captain Wilson.
But the directors well understood that something besides pooans of gladness were in order, and therefore, immediately after a day of thanksgiving had been devoutly obsHved, they met to plan both how to maintain communieations with the brethren already sent forth, and also to found other mISSIOns. Their faith hesitated not to survey a field as broad as this: " Hindustan, the Sandwich Islands, and other groups in the Pacific; the Creek Indians, Canada, the Bermudas, and any West India islands, and any coasts of America or Asia." And presently they notify the churches: "We must have an enlarged supply of money and men. We expect a body of German missionaries, anu we plan to engage a great company and teach them both theological knowledge and also occupations adapted to the islands. " But just now all their energies were bent upon preparing for a Recond voyage of the Duff, with Captain Robson in command. On N 0vembcr 13th, forty-six were in readiness (nineteen single men and ten married, with seven children), and were set apart to their sacred task. On the 20th, the Duff dropped down the Thames and ten days later weighed anchor. December 8th found her with seventy ships at Spithead, where she layover two Sundays on account of fogs; on the 21st a southwest wind was so fierce that the fleet put into Portland Roads, and a day or two later was off under convoy of the frigate Amphion. In the same company sailed the Hillsborough, bearing some hundreds of convicts bound for Botany Bay I and also Dr. Vanderkemp and three companions-Kircherer, Edmonds, and Edwards-en route to found a mission in Cape Colony.
Hitherto, for five years, the tide of good feeling and expectation of large results had heen steadily rising and swelling with scarce a refluent wave. Not a threatening storm-cloud had croRsed the 5ky. But, of course, such conditions could not always continue. This is not God's way with His kingdom. As might have been expected, and as was every way best, a series of trials and tests now ensued in the shape of serious reverses and failures apparently disastrous, coming from yarious quarters, of divers kinds, and in quick succession. The current emotion contained much unhealthy excitement; zeal was ardent, but was not all according to knowledge, and many of the expectations fondly cherished were unreasonable because without groulld. The millennium had not yet dawned, and the victory was not to be won without a fight long and most arduous. It had already been noticed, and with deep anxiety, that scar0ely a minister, and none of note and influence, had of fered himself to go wherever the Lord, through the Society, should send him. 'L'hey who came forward were laymen from the common walks of life, of humble gifts and attainments. Even these had not been sifted with sufficient care, and quite a number proved incompetent, and some even morally unworthy. First, trouble broke out in the company which had been sent to the Foulah country. They separated, some died, and war breaking out among the savages, others left, and so the mission came to grief. Next, early in August, 1799, the directors were stunned by the intelligence that the Duff had been captured by a French privateer in Feb- ruary, when off Rio Janeiro, and had been taken to Montevideo and sold as a prize. The missionaries would be sent home, but the mere money loss was £10,000. On the heels of these evil tidings came the further calamitous news from Otaheite that most of the missionaries left there, their lives in deadly peril, had fled the island, and, by a chance vessel, had transferred themselves to Port Jackson, in New South Wales. Likewise at Tongabatoo calamity had befallen, for some had died, some had fallen into lewdness with the natives and been cut off from fellowship, and civil ~ar had broken out, in which the brethren had been robbed and then expelled. Only from Vanderkemp came words of cheer. He could write that he had made a beginning, and that a " singular interest" had appeared. The" Spirit had begun a good work in some of the most abo ject and uncultured of the race." But there was no flinching or turning back in consequence; without a moment's hesitation, either on the part of the directors or the Christian public, the task was resolutely taken up, both of repairing the damage and of sending reinforcements to the Sout h Seas and to South Africa. By May, 1800, a contingent of sixteen men had been dispatched.
For lack of space I can follow no further the thrilling story of the London Society, wh08e beginnings were so glorious, as well as of such moment both to Christendom and to the whole heathen world. It was not long after the hopes of so many of the earnest-hearted had been so rudely hurled from the zenith to the nadir, that theY'began again slowly and steadily to rise.. One by one the various denominations which had been in hearty co-operation began to withdraw, and, as perhaps was wisest, to set up societies for themselves-the Episcopalians in 1799 leading the way, and finally the Independents were left practically alone. The South Sea~ proved to be no 8inless, stormless Eden, and their inhabitants to be of a piece with savages elsewhere. Many reverses were yet in store, and long waiting for the first-fruits was required. But island after island, continent after continent was occupied for the Magter, and by such heroes of faith as Ellis, Livingstone. Moffat, Milne, Morrison, Medhurst, Vanderkemp, and John Williams the martyr of Erromanga. Early in the century, India, China, and the West Indies were entered-Madagascar (a shining marvel
AN EVANGELISTIC 'l'otrn !N .tAPAN
among missions) in 1818, and others subsequently. As late as 1810 the income was but $5298 ; in 1856 it had risen only to $8233.; but in 1890 was upward of $600,000, with one sixth of the amount derived from the mission stations. The four ordained and one medical missionary of 1795 have increased to 159, with 1202 ordained native pastors. Thongh various missions have become self· sustaining, or have been turned over to other societies, almost 70,000 members are found in the churches and 110,000 pupils in the schools. No m.ortal can say how many organizations, both in the Old World and the New, owe their origin directly or indirectly to that great missionary uprising in the last decade of the eighteenth century, of which the London Society was both the effect and the cause.
.AN EVANGELISTIO TOUR IN JAPAN.
BY REV. FREDERICK s. CURTIS, HIROSHIMA, JAP.A.N.
Early in June, 1891, in company with a Japanese brother, I left Hiroshima for a two weeks' trip among the villages in the vicinity. The first village, two hours' ride by jinricksha from Hiroshima, is Kabe, where we opened the work a few weeks ago. After weeks of effort we were at length able to secure a small house here, which will serve as a preaching place for a time. Immediately after our first meeting, Buddhist lecturers were summoned, who were expected by their harangue to nip Christianity in the bud. But though much opposition has been raised, the handful of Christians remain steadfast, and a few inquirers regularly attend the meetings. We stopped at Kabe for an hour and talked with the leading Christian there, who was formerly an elder in one of the Tokyo churches. As we were about to leave, he desired that we should have a brief prayer together, and prayed for the blessing of God upon this evangelistic tour. It was with overflowing heart that I followed him in prayer. I am rejoiced that the Japanese brethren are so ready for prayer at all times. I am rejoiced, too, that through the example of a brother missionary I came to see the importance of learning to prllY, even before learning to preach or to converse, in Japanese. There are few rarer pleasures than this, to unite one's heart in supplication to our common Lord with those who have been rescued from the darkness of heathenism.
A few miles beyond Kabe we overtook two others travelling toward the same destination. One of these proved to be a man who had come to my house a few weeks before to inquire about'Christianity. As we journeyed together we talked further of the way of salvation. The other travellera member of one of the Osaka churches-with his friend, came to our hotel in the Qvening, when we talked and prayed together before going to the theatre meeting. In the theatre a few small lamps suspended here and there, and a candle placed on the speaker's table, with now and then the glare of a match used in lighting the pipe of a hearer, supplied all the illumination. Since the building was about as large, and resembled in other respects a faif-sized barn, one may weJl imagine that it was far from being well lighted. Here some 250 people assembled, and, seated on the hard floors covered with coarse matting, listened with the utmost quiet and attention. We returned to our hotel rejoicing in the blessing of God, for we had heard that Yoshida was a hard place, and had gone to the theatre prepared for a noisy time-opposition from the Buddhists. However, next day pushing on to Miyoshi, a place of about 20,000 people, and in the evening holding another meeting with about the same attendance as at YoshIda, we found here the opposition we had expected at the former place. In these large meetings the Japanese usually speak first; otherwise some of the people go away after they have seen and heard the foreigner, who is still an object of curiosity in the country.
OUf speeches were frequently iuterrupted by cries in English of " No, no!" or in Japanese, " The Jesus religion won't do," or " Cast this foreign religion out of our country!" Also by various quotations from the sages, with other remarks mnde to cause a laugh.
The next day at our hotel we talked with quite a number of inquirers, and held a meeting with some of these and the two or three Christians we had found. I spoke especially of the Scripture proof of the immortality of the soul and of the divinity of Christ. Later, when the question of the use of "sake" (Japanese wine) and tobacco, came up for discussion, I explained the principle upon which we must judge; that since our bodies are the temples of the Holy Ghost, in God's sight all is sin that injures the body. I felt much blessed in thus speaking, also in prayer. Before the theatre meeting of the second evening in Miyoshi, we took the precaution to provide a larger number of lamps, that the Buddhist priests and young men who were inclined to make a disturbance might not do so unobserved. While waiting for the people to assemble (a thing often done in Japan) I sat near the front of the platform and chatted with the boys about America, in which they seemed greatly interested.
I followed the Japanese speaker with a short sermon, and we were about to dismiss the meeting, which had been a noisy one, but when I saw that the majority of the 500 seemed disinclined to go, I determined to make a venture, so I told them that the whole meeting thus far having been much shorter than nsual, if they so desired I would speak again. To my surprise the entire audience sat down and called for the speech. After I had been speaking for a few minutes, or, rather, reading (for thus far I have been obliged to read the greater part of my sermons), it came over me with great power that I mnst speak, so I cast myself on the Lord and spoke as the Spirit directed. In one of these extemporaneous parts, desiring to illustrate the heinousness' of the sin of rejecting Christ I told the andience that the sin of the Japanese policeman who near Kyoto recently attempted to kill the Prince Imperial of Russia, was not nearly so great as that of rejecting the Prince of Life. As I thus spoke there was the great- est attentiun, and I trust also some impression was made. Though I had been working at the language for three years, and recently had spohn quite often, I had not felt at all sure that the masses understood me ; but now becoming fully convinced of this, and being so filled with joy that the audience had asked me to speak the second time, I could scarcely slee"p. At the close of the service the Christjans and a number of inquirer!! accompanied us to our rooms, and as usual remained till midnight talking of the things of the Kingdom. Among these inquirers the most interesting case was that of a young Buddhist priest named Chiba, who at the age of eleven took up his calling at the instance of his father and elder brother; but some time since in Kyoto, having come into posse~sion of a Bible, and learning something about Chris!ianity, he had come to us to learn more. In reply to my question as to the object of his search, he said that since he heard of Christ he could not be satisfied with Buddhism.
This young man is now twenty years of age, and next year is entitled to take charge of a temple. That he will not do this we fully believe.
The following morning we retraced our steps, and stopping to preach at Kabe, chiefly to the handful of Christians there, I returned to Hiroshima that night.
The following day, with the same Japanese brother, after teaching the teachers' meeting, we took the steamer for I wakuni. That evening at Shimminato, the seaport of Iwakuni, we hired the lower floor of a hotel .. and advertised a lecture on Christianity. In this rough place some 150 people crowded into the room and listened attentively. Going on to Iwakuni I preached to the Christians about finding Jesus in the Scriptures, and in the afternoon had a long converl3ation with some of the brethren in regard to persecution. Even in Japan persecution is no small matter. In the experience of many of the Japanese Christians a man's foes are they of his own household. In the early evening I called to see one of the officials who, with his wife, is searching the Scriptures. They seemed delighted to see me, and it was a matter of great regret that I had so few minutes with them. I urged them to make a practical test of every new truth they found, prayed with them, and went on to Imadzu "illage to hold a preaching service. In the meeting-place some 200 people gathered. Heretofore I had always read at least the greater part of my sermon; but here, for the first time, with the Japanese New Testament and a brief outline, I spoke extemporaneously; and, though conscious of some grammatical errors, I felt much blessed in thns speaking. The following day returning overland, and remaining over the next night at y'okkaichi, I had the privilege of speakiug at the first Christiau meeting ever held there. About 500 crowded into the single room and overflowed. In the midst of my sermon some one cried out, "God made the body but not the soul." I replied that we were not there to argue that point; but to tell them what Christianity taught. The Japanese speaker who followed
ONE OF THE FAITHFUL IN THE LAND
me told the audience that he would answer any questions III regard to Christianity.
There was a little hesitation; but finally some one said, " Is Buddha the savioar of Mida~" (Amida). He meant to say," Is Buddha the sa.·iour of men ?" At this the audience laughed heartily.
. The speaker replied, "I suppose you meant to say men instead of Mida ;" and went on to give a brief history of Buddha, showing him to be but a man, and therefore unable to save the soul.
Going on to Takewara, we held a large meeting. My subject was "Sin"-something very difficult for the Japanese mind to comprehend. In fact, as has so often been said, there is no word in the Japanese lan- guage to adequately express the Bible term sin. Before I preached, thrce boys delivered addresses on Christianity. The precocity of Young Japan may be fairly illustrated by the fact that these boys, aged eleven and twelve years, had chosen their themes' and prepared their addresses with but little help from others. These addresses, though short-·about three to five minutes each-werp. really very good, and delivered with absolute composure. Is it any wonder that the Japanese nation thinks it can do anything?
The subjects treated were: "The one true God," " All the blessings of mankind come from God," and" Pride makes men blind."
The following day, with the Japanese preacher located at Takewara, I .. went to a place called Mitsu, which being off the main road, it is probable that no foreign face had el'er been seen there before. Accordingly the people flocked to see me, gathering in front of the hotel and at the theatre. In this place we had two direct answers to prayer-in regard to the renting of the theatre and the attention of the people. The next day (Sunday) I spent in Takewara, and admitted to the communion two in addition to seven received early in the year.
On Monday I returned to Hiroshima, during the two weeks having held 15 meetings, with an aggregate attendance of 2500 people. In all prob- ability the majority of these had never heard of Christ before. I thank God for this privilege of preaching the Gospel where Christ had not been named.
July 10, 1891.
ONE OF THE FAITHFUL IN THE LAND.
BY C. J. vas KAMP, CANTON, CHINA.
On September 29th, 1891, our beloved pastor, Wong Kong Fuk died. He was one of the few faithful in the land; a man full of energy aM talent, who truly loved his Saviour, and labored in the service of the Mas- ter with his whole heart. He accomflished great things in his missionary station at Fayen, forty miles north of Canton, and many heathen were . converted through him. In the first years of my sojourn here I was permitted to make a few tours with him into the villages of the district of Fayen so as to preach the Gospel to the heathen. I see him yet, sitting in the tents of the Chinese, the gracious smile on his lips, surrounded by his eager listeners, to whom he is showing the nothingness of idolatry and the riches of the Saviour's love. How eloquent were his words! How well he knew how to captivate his hearers by new illustrations and skilful reasoning! How the Christians loved and honored him! With what a great respect the heathen regarded him! He brought Christ's name into his missionary station. One seldom heard a reviling word in the places where he preached. Thus the soil was prepared for the Gospel; ahd we may hope that many more in that field will find their eternal and full salvation.
A few days ago, as I was travelling toward Fayen with four students of our theological seminary, to conduct the funeral service of Wong Kong Fuk, I stopped at the large village of Thaiwuschak. Here, forty-three years ago, Wong Kong Fuk was born, and here he died. Here he also heard from the mouth of the Rev. Hauspach the words of l!fe which have been dear to him since his conversion as a stronghold in life and in death.
The narrow streets of the village, with the huts of limestone, were almost deserted. Only a few half-naked children play at the pond by the bamboo grove. I enter the open square with my companion, the student Khyamfuk.
Two high, red-painted poles point out to me the ancestral hall. A few Christians who are standing there hurry toward me, and, bowed and silent, extend to me their hand, and lead me into a hut where they offer me a cup of tea. Meanwhile the brethren, who have gathered from the most distant villages to the burial, come to greet me. A deep sorrow rests upon the men because of the death of their beloved spiritual leader.
" We are assembled to the funeral service," says Tschin. I put on my gown, tak~ the Bible and the Chinese hymn-book and stepped out into the open square in front of the ancestry hall. It was yet early in the day ; the sun had not yet sent down her beams in full force. There stood the coffin, covered with a blue bier-cloth, on which were embroidered Chinese char- acters. Dear disciples of the Saviour had sent it to their brethren in China as a greeting of the Risen One who also shall resurrect His own. There are also the large banners with the promises of comfort out of the Word of God concerning victory over death and immortal life in Christ. Com- pared with the heathen" Firlefanz," with which the heathen are buried, how delightful to eye and heart stand these banners with their beautiful Chinese characters. '
Several months before, when we buried a Christian in Canton, several scholars carried this banner through the city. They attracted the attention of the people, and many stood staring. "They appear as though they would like to march out to war," said a farmer, who had earnestly studied the text, and to whom the words, "I live, and ye shall live also," " The wages of sin is death," " Christ is the life, death is gain," and other words,
'rilE CALL TO pnAYElt
were a riddle to him. "They appear to be actors," said a second. A reader of books declared, "They are Christians," "adherents to the Jesus-religion." "So they are Jesus-people!" said the others, gazed once more upon the wonderful banner, and went their way.
Eight musicians were present, and with their funeral melodies accom- , panied the dead to his grave. These were engaged by the heathen elders of the village to render final honors to their dead.
We began by singing a song of life and resurrection. A large crowd surround the coffin. The immediate relatives of Wong Kong Fuk wear straw garments. a wreath of straw in their hair, and in their hands they carry a short bamboo rod, bowed and crooked; according to custom they thus escort their dead. A blue ribbon-the emblem of mourning-is braided in the queue just as we wear a band of crape about the arm or hat. The Christians wear white garments and caps, and they are a large number who have confessed the name of Christ in Fayen. Many of the heathen stand in the rear j for all knew and loved the Shepherd Wong. I made a short address based on Rev. 14 : 13 : "Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord." There was much weeping among the people, and tears fell from the eyes of many of the heathen. The Chinese know so well how to control their emotions j but here was refiected in their tears the love they felt for the dead. Tschin spoke after me, and mentioned his dying words: " Willingly I depart, for God will care for mine. Do you faith- full y carryon the work." The assistant, H yn, then offered prayer, after which I advanced to the coffin and pronounced a bJessing Over the remains.
The service made a deep impression on the heathen. How different this sorrow blessed of God from the cry and tumult of a hpathen burial, which only reveals fear and confusion before the King of Terror! The coffin was lifted, and the long procession started. The shrill tones of the bamboo fiutel' mingled with the clanging of the gongs. The Chinese music seemed to me a distressing discord, but I was obliged to endure it in silence. .
On the hill opposite the village is the grave in which we laid the body, and beyond lies the land where the light wrestles with the black darkness of heathenism. God grant His Word power and a triumphant ·ictory !
[Tran8lated from the German by M. M. Minnassian, A.B.] THE CALL TO PRAYER.
[EDITORIAL, A. T. P.] The editor feels the profoundest respect and reverence for that foremost of all missionary organizations, the Church Missionary Society, and a1though it is somewhat Jate to refer to this, its day of intercession for foreign missions in 1890 furnishes an example for all of us to follow.
The m'e of St. Andrew's Day, November 29th, and the week which it introduced, were made a period of special prayer for missions, and the prayer of Asa was adopted as a fit motto. We venture at this late day to make quotations from the re~arkable circular issued by this grand society in connection with this movement : " Lord, it is nothing with Thee to help, whether with many, or with them that have no power. Help us, 0 Lord our God j for we rest on Thee, and in Thy name we go against this multitude. 0 Lord, Thou art our God j let not man prevail against Thee. "
"This prayer of Asa, when going forth agamst overwhelming odds, may well stand out prominently in the minds of all who are taking an intelligent and prayerful interest in the carrying out of the Master's great missionary commission, as they thankf.lily approach the observance of the Day of Intercession, and realize that a great coneert of prayer will be ascending at that time, not simply from the world -wide Anglican communion, but also from almost all Protestant Christian communities, who find in the active work of proclaiming Christ's salvation a common interest, and at the throne of grace a common platform where all can unite, and thus co-operate in one common object."
" Asa's prayer is very apposite to the present position and opportunities. Fresh fields for conquest opening on all sides; 'many adversaries' more. busy and persistent than ever; only too successful attacks of the great enemy on infant Christian communities; his devices manifest in complications and difficulties even among brethren, overwheliiting demands which the very success of the work and growth of interest in it impose, requiring prayerful patience and earnest deliberation j these are some of the marked features of the time, calling for a large exhibition of the spirit breathed in Asa's prayer as he faced the great emergency with " The Cry of Faith, ' Help us, 0 Lord our God. ' " The Repose of Faith, , 'Ve rest on Thee.' " The Energy of Faith, ' In Thy name we go.' " " The remarkable appeal, signed by several prominent friends of the society, who met last July in private conference at Keswick, calling on the committee to organize' an advance on a large scale, under the directing hand of God,' is based on a review of the' needs of the heathen, and of the marvellous openings which God is providing at this time.' There are indeed marvellous openings. Africa is becoming accessible in all directions. Let special prayer be made for the Nyanza party uuder Bishop Tucker; for the Upper Niger and Soudan Mission, where an attempt is being made, fraught with promise, and with early tokens of the good hand of the Lord upon the workers, to penetrate the Central Soudan. The Imperial British East Africa Company is opening the direct route from Mombasa to the Nyanza, known as Bishop Hannington'tl route, and are cordially inviting the society to avail itself of the opelJings. China is an open field to all who will venture in. Calls reach the committee to man vigorously the frontier stations of the Punjab and Sindh Mission, so as to be in readiness as Central Asia opens its doors for the evangelist. In countries already occupied, the opportunities for evangelization demand large reinforcements; and prayer should earnestly be made that the native Christian communities in these countries may themselves be privileged to supply in large measure . the missionarieR needed in order that their own countrymen may be evan- gelized. The very magnitude of the work opening up might well appall, but for all which is implied in t.he liberty to cry, ' Help us, 0 Lord our God.' "
" A favorable symptom, as evidencing the reality of the work and the impression that is being produced by it, may be found in the increasing hostility manifested to the spread of the Gospel. In many of the older misaions of the society tho missionary may truly say, ' A great door and effectual is opened, and there are many adversaries.' This is especially noticeable in many parts of India, particularly at present among the Mo- hammedans in the Punjab, who have taken vigorous steps to stop the work carried on among their women by the Zenana missionary ladies. But the saIne spirit is apparent elsewhere, and is developing markedly in Japan and in Bagdad after the baptism of a Mohammedan convert; while political opposition is hindering the work in Palestine. Prayer is especially needed for the guidance of the missionaries by the holy Spirit, that they may act with judgment as well as with zeal j and for all inquirers after truth, and for those who are convinced of the truth, that they may be enabled to withstand the fiery ordeal of persecution, and to come out boldly to confess the faith of Christ crucified, even though it be unto death."
" The marked growth of interest in the cause among Christians at home, while full of encouragement, and a:/l.,ding ground for devout thanksgiving, brings with it special dangers and difficulties, and may well demand a large share in the prayers of God's people. The number of home workers, or professing workers, is largely increasing. This is evidenced by the increase, both in the number ,of unions of various kinds, and by the increase of their members. The Gleaners' Union, every member of which is pledged to do something for the cause, now numbers 28,000 enrolled members. If all are doing each what he or she can in the name of the Lord, and relying on the Holy Spirit's enabling grace, what may not be effected? Prayer with reference to all these tokens of growing interest is suggested in a twofold direction : " (a) That there may be no disposition to trust in mere numbers, remembering Asa's prayer: 'It is nothing with Thee to help, whethp.r with many or with them that have no power. '
" (b) That God the Holy Spirit may sift the workers, and bring to the front those whom He is calling aud equipping for the work. Of Gideon's army of 32,000 there were left but 300, the faithful few by whom the Lord would save Israel and deliver the enemy into their hands."
" Quality, rather than quantity, is needed. Let earnest supplication be made that a vast number of volunteers both from England and from every congregation in the mission field may be raised up duly qualified, and may abide the Lord's test. "
"The present position, difficulties, and opportunities of the society may well cause all who realize what is the present demand. in the Church of Christ to cry, ' Who is sufficient for these things?' 'Our sufficiency is of God. ' Let this period of intercession send His people to their knees with the cry of faith, 'Help us, 0 Lord our God j , and bring to each one the Repose of Faith which a realized dependence on Him must bring, • We rest on Thee j' and send us forth with the Energy of Faith, th<1t rests not, to stop and weigh the difficulties of the situation, but boldly takes as its watchword' In Thy name we go.' What encouragements may be drawn from the experience of the past j what incentives from the bright outlook of the future I"
" And in adopting Asa's prllyer, what reason there is to add his son Jehoshaphat's method, who, in similar straits to those of his father, followed his example of prayer. 'Oh, our God, we have no might, neither know we what to do j but our eyes are upon Thee; , and then, going in the name of the Lord, and when he had taken counsel with the people, , appointed them that should sing unto the Lord and praise the beauty of holiness' as they went before the army, and sang, 'Give thanks unto the Lord, for His mercy endureth forever.' "
"Compassed with the Song of Praise the Lord's army shall go forth , steadfast, unmovable,' always abounding in the work of the Lord."
" Let earnest prayer be made that. all who engage in any department of this great work may indeed, filled with the Energy of Faith by the Divine Spirit, go in the name of the Lord-in that all-victorious name to which every knee shall bow, and through which God giveth the victory. The work is not man's but God's j the object is not of human will, but of Divine purpose, for His glory in the conversion of souls and the building up of His Church. The issue must be sure, for the appeal. be. the ad versary who he may, is conclusive, , Let not man prevail against Thee.' "
A little lad who had become interested in gathering money to send the Gospel to the heathen, hit upon this happy device. He rummaged in the garret and found an old-fashioned powder-horn. which he decided to make into a missionary box. His older brother Raid he might have the horn, but wondered what he was going to do with it. The large end of the horn had a wooden bottom, and Eddie scraped it smooth, and asked his brother if he would cut some letters on it. " Yes," said his brother, and Eddie gave him these words: " Once I was the horn of an ox, Now I am a missionary box.·'
Eddie inked the letters, and then as he showed his box to his friends they were all so pleased with his ingenuity that they all put something into it, and he became a large contributor.
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.
BY REV. CO. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
CHINA.
-The Rev. Timothy Richard, in the May Missionary Herald of the English BaptiRts, says, writing from Tientsin: "From a political point of view, China has had a sad year. The population of China increases at the rate of/our million8 a year-forty millions (as much as all the Germans) every ten years. Without new means of support, this increase of population means the increased poverty of the existing inhabitants. As these arc already as poor as they can be and live, every increase means death. This is literally true. Under various names-droughts, floods, etc.-about twenty millions must have perished from starvation during the last dozen years. This year, in the province where Peking and Tientsin are situated, we have great floods such as they have not experienced here since the memory of the oldest living, and a few millions are expected to die before next year's wheat harvest. The saddest thing about all this poverty and starvation is that not one in a thousand of the Mandarins either knows the cause or the remedy. Such as did know, like the Marquis Tseng, who had been Minister to England, and his uncle the Viceroy of Nankin, and especially the Emperor's father (the Seventh Prince) have suddenly been cut off by denth. Now, alas! few of the remaining Manllarins know how to save their country."
-There having been a renewal of disgraceful calumnies again~t the Christian missions, especially the Roman Catholic, the Shanghai Conference has appointed seven to publish a refutation of them.
-Dr. Russell Watson, English Baptist medical missionary at Tsing Chu Fu, reports their having trp.ated over 12,000 cases during the year.
-China'8.JIillion8 for May announces the arrival, and gives portraits of 35 Scandinavian missionaries (17 male, 18 female) who arrived at Shanghai in February from America, and the names of 8 gentlemen and 7 ladies who arrived in March. "Part of the coming thousand." Sixteen of the Scandinavian brethren from America (C. 1. M.) had left Shanghai for Shan-se, under Messrs. D. Lawson and Peat. where Mr. Russell would snperintend their studies, locating them in little parties in small places within easy reach of Hiao-'i.
-The Rev. W. S. Swanson, formerly missionary at Amoy, said, at the anniversary of the London Missionary Society: "In 1800 of east longitude it does not seem to matter whether you are an Episcopalian, Presbyterian, or Congregationalist. You are face to face with the great work of Christ, and your confession of faith may be summed up in this: that all men are sinners, and Jesus Christ, God's only Son, is able to save to the uttermost. That is a working creed. "
Mr. Swanson added that" there were five hundred millions of Chinese in the world. The Chinaman was an individual with some backbone in him; but the Chinese woman had several backbones in her. If they could get the women of China to become Christians they had solved the question. "
-The Roman Catho;ic mission in South Shartung, under BiRhop Anzer, has exchanged the French protectorate for the German. The Catholics in China seem to have a great many diplomatic difficulties which, as the Allgemeine Missions-Zeitschrift suggests, can hardly be very advantageous to Christianity. "The less inclined missionari~s are to invoke diplomatic intervention, the mme rarely the strong arm of a Western power interposes in their affairs, the better. The broken reeds of Egypt have always shown themselves to be an ominous support." The same hishop (we think it was) probably accomplished more for the Gospel when he sold his house and offered his jewelled mitre for sale to find bread for the famishing.
-We know that " Christianity has materially modified the languages of the West, and that it is modifying, and will still further modify, the language of China. We know that Chinel:le is not so inflexible as the scholars of China believe it to be. If it were so, the Chinese could never possess anything but a stunted and attenuated Christianity, for at the present moment it has no fit terminology in which to express properly many of the grandest and most important thoughts that God has given to us through the Gospel of His Son. But all modifications of language must be within certain limits, and, moreover, they must be a gradual growth. "-Chinese Recorder.
– The Chinese Churchman (cited in the Spirit of Missions) remarks that for the first time, in Government proclamations, Christianity has been raised above the category of " Little Teaehings;" and for the first time our Lord Jesus Christ has been given a higher place t:18n Mohammed.
-The New York Recorder (iikewise quoted in the Spirit of Mi88ions) says, with reference to recent troubles: "The American Govemment should not be precipitate in dealing with China in taking' joint action' with other Powers, in any policy that looks like what the London Times advises as ' severe measures.' Joint action, and especially under the lead of France, as is proposed, would be a surrender of whatever little influence we possess in that empire. It would be the furtherance of European Bmbitions in China, which would do no good either to our commerce or national prestige."
-The London MiRsionary Society has reconstituted its Board of Directors on a more thoroughly representative basis, tal_ng precautions against giving London too large a proportion, and making arrangements for a more frequent attendance of the directors from the provinces. In view, also, of the danger that the society may become merely Congregationalist, they have invited each of the three Preshyterian churches of Scotland and the Presbyterian Church of Ireland to nomi.nate a director.
-George Miiller, in his address on Faith, at Basel, reported in the Neukirchene1' Heidenbote, takes pains to correct an opinion which many may have derived from his course. He says: "To make known the pecuniary wants of benevol(nt enterprises to their friends is something which I do not regard as unscriptural. Still less do I regard it as a sin. But I have refrained from it for this reason-naulely, because through my pastoral activity and my wide correspondence, I had learned, that of nothing is the Church of God so in need as of a greater faith. Many things were needed, but nothing, nothing, nothing so sorely as an iMrease of faith. And therefore it appeared to me, if I could carryon the work of the Lord without appealing to anyone except God for help, that would be a proof that even in the nineteenth century the living God is still here, that even, although the prophets have fallen asleep, yet the God of the prophets lives, and that the Lord and Master of the apostles yet Jives."
-" Certain languages are mighty conquerors. They almost divide the world between them, while others are fast dying out. The whole Bible has been provided in all the great conquering tongues. "-Ohurch Missionary lntelligencer.
-Northern Africa ~ays: "In those churches where there is good teaching as well as good working, we generally find good candidates and the most liberal givers. Of the twelve it is said that He ordained them that they should be with Him. They were then prepared not only by his teaching, but by watching how He Himself worked. We feel the need of just these two things in candidates-they need good teaching and they alRO need to be shown how to work by Rome one able to work efficiently. In our evangelistic missions there may have been great blessing by preaching some truths that had been much neglected, but tllere has also been a danger of neglecting and even despising dry theology, which is now producing a shallow type of Christian. Might not a good deal that is now left to colleges" (i.e., seminaries) " be done in the churches l May God help us to maintain the balance of truth, and in cvery way so to teach and labor that a generation of sturdy and consecrated men, full of faith and the Holy Ghost, may be prepared for the foreign and home fields. "
N01·thern Africa, speaking of its work among the Arabs, says: "The Church seems, like Hagar of old, to have left Ishmael to die, but the God of Abraham has not forgotten the prayer offered more than three thousand years ago by him whom He deigned to call his friend, 'Oh that Ishmacl might live before Thee,' a prayer that is to be answered not only in respect to the lad, but also his descendants."
– " Modern missions have been long favored to carryon their work in all quietness. Their voice has not been heard in the street. For decadeR the world scarcely took note of them, unless, indeed, to mock at them. This place under the cross has been both a defence and a blessing. Yet even this beautiful time of youth had its drawbacks. Doubtless it involved a certain narrowness-flight of the world, as they say now. Yet of this they have no great occasion to be ashamed j it is a reproach which they share with the apostolic age. But with all their imperfections they laid hold of the mission work in its innermost essence, extended the Kingdom after the manner of the Kingdom, saved souls, laid the One Foundation Jesus Christ, wrought from below up, and went from small things to larger.
"This time of stillness and neglect on the part of the world is now gone by for missions. Doubtless there is here anadvance ; the child has become a ma,n, who takes a place in the world's history. The world, therefore, naturally finds now occasion to define its position as to missions. Missions must be carried on ; that is now agreed. But the world is not at all pleased with the way they are carried on. It seeks to influence them, to give them a totally new direction, to alter them fundamentally, and 80 to trouble them in their very end."-Dr. VYARNECK.
-Men would have missions, remarks Dr. Warneck, leave the apostolic for the mediooval method. That explains why, especially in Germany, Rome and her methods are coming to be so vehemently admired, and the patient humbleness of evangelical missions misliked, as by the world" thc folly of the cross" has ever been. But the end of missions, as given by Christ, is as fixed as the methods of missions are left by Him flexible. Jesus is not only the origin, He is the prototype of the work. As Luke says, He began to do and teach, and after Pentecost He proceeded to do and teach through His messengers. The work which is a continuance of His is the work of Christian missions; no other is. Forgiveness of sins and eternalli{e are what He came to bring; that must be, fundamentaily, what they go to offer. " The foreign mission work differs from the pastoral work in this, and this alone; it is a new "message. This involves many differences in form, but none in substance. The salvation of souls is the central work at home and abroad. The degeneration of the work of" Christ's menssengers begins when, either here or there, this is thrust out of the centre.
-The Indian Watchman, of Bombay, and the Kaukab i Hind plead for a larger incorporation of Eurasian Christians in mission work. Their mixed blood makes them natural mediators between Europe and Asia.
-The LeipRic Missionary Society is entering on thc second half-centuryof the renewed Lutheran Tamil Mission in the Madras Presidency. This mission is hot one of the most showy ones, but its work seems to be marked by a decided measure of what the Germans call Gediegenheit-i.e., well-compacted solidity and scripturalness.
-Awake, the little magazine for children published by the Church Missionary Society, in a very animated description of India, quotes thc remark of a great French writer: "Hinduism is, perhaps, the only system of belief that is worse than having no religion at all. "
-Dr. Hooper, in the Ohurch Missionary Intelligencer for March, 1891, remarks that while Christianity has shown an extraordinary power in leavening other religions whose basis remained irreconcilable with it, Islam, equally theistic, has had no leavening power at all. Sikhism has been greatly modified externally by it, but internally remains as intensely pantheistic as any other form of Hinduism.
Arya Samaj. which is rather waxing, while Brahmo Samaj is rather waning, is, unlike the latter, cold in its theism, unfriendly to British rule, and hostile to Christianity, to which the Brahmo Samaj, as a body, has always been cordial. But the extrav!lgant misinterpretation of the Rig Veda on which Arya Bamaj rests contains, remarks Dr. Hooper, the certainty of its ultimate break-up. Meanwhile .Arya Samaj does not hesitate to revile Christianity, and our Lord Himself, in the most scurrilous way, and is meeting with a good deal of present success, especially by its appeal to national feeling.
-The Evangelisch-Lutherisches Missionsblatt says, what in our smiling, we might say smirking age, we seem desperately determined to forget. "We know from the Lord's parables of the fourfold field, of the tares among the wheat, of the broad and narrow way, that He has never expected the conversion of all men. Where He and His messengers sow the good seed, there the enemy follows on the traces, sowing the evil seed. Alongside of the mission of Christ there goes through all peoples and ages a mission of the devil, which is quite as successful, nay, outwardly seems often iar more successful than the mission of Christ." It if! not every place of which Christ says: " I have much people in this city.o, It surely should be enough for the messenger of salvation, as the Missions- " blatt says, to know that God's ,Vord will infallibly accomplish "that whereto He sent it."
-Alfred S. Dyer, in National Righteousness, writing of "The Great Plague of Asia," says: "He is no friend of God or humanity who attempts to underrate the gravity of the opium scourge, which is not now confined to China alone. India, Burmah, Ceylon, arid other parts of Asia are involved. In and from every British port, from Bombay to Shanghai, the plague is spreading." The curse. therefore, which India, under British compulsion, has sent out to China, appears to be returning to plague herself.
-The Monthly says: "A grave discouragement to Christian workers in Palestine is, that it has attracted and is attracting to itself many spiritual eccentrics who surround earnest Christianity with disastrous, and sometimes with ridiculous associations. The Holy Land has a strange mystic charm for many sorts of romantic souls, from Lady Hester Stanhope to Israel Pick and the American Adventists."
-IIenri Draussin, in L'Eglise Libre, referring to the pompous and almost impiously sycophantic reception given to the Protestant queen of Madagascar, at the opening of the Roman Catholic cathedral in Antananarivo, says: "At the risk of being stigmatized as hopelessly English, we avow that this sort of politico-religious manamvring, this shrewd medley of mass and flattery, this accommodation of the anathemas of Catholic dogmas against heresy to the interested designs of a propaganda which is bent at all costs on winning over a crowned head, seem to us of ill augury. " Especially does M. Draussin censure the complaisance of the national agents toward designs so unfriendly to freedom and to a free Gos'pel.
-Le National, in its frantic hatred of the Protestant friends, French and English, of Hova rights against French aggressions, is not ashamed to renew the charge againilt the Rev. Mr. Shaw of having poisoned the wine of the French soldiers in Madagascar! The slander is too idiotic to deserve any worse epithet. It blames their admiral for not· having shot him on the spot. We owe the sight of both the above quotations to the kindness of the Maison de.~ Missions in Paris.
-The Calwer Monatsblatter for March, 1891, consists of an article on our Indians, which for thoroughness, compactness, lucidity, and fairnes~ equals anythin£!: we have seen on the subject. It would be worth circulating in English among ourselves.
-Considering the curious attempts making now to bring about· a nondescript amalgam of Christianity and Buddhism, the following brief antithesis, quoted from the Literary World by the Christian, is worth considering. However widely concrete Christianity may have diverged from this type, even for long ages, the Son of man has always been at hand to bring it back. "It does not seek to trample under foot the natural emotions and desires of man j it does not seek to withdraw him from the world in which he has been placed. It does not disparage either the dignity or the beauty of life."
Those high-bred circles which have at length discovered that culture alone does not bring blessedness, may have Buddha and Schopenhauer, or they may have Christ. But assuredly they cannot have both. It is not strange, therefore, that the" sympathy of religions," which has been lately set forth ill Japan, is said to be inclined to leave Christ altogether out of mention.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
n.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY BEV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Japan Earthquake, lihood, the interruption of business, the general alarm of an earth-wave which [EDITOBIAL.-J. T. G.] produced a variety of phenomena over twenty thousand square miles or more The calamity that has befallen Japan of territory, all make an extraordinary is more than a national misfortune. In phase o( the world's history. these days when all the world is thrown into such near neighborhood, one mem- Japan has done nobly for the instant ber does not suffer, but all suffer. A relief of the sufferers. The Emperor and half million of houseless, homeless, Empress gave at once $20,000 to the redazed, bereft people, stripped of their lief corps. Nobles, lords, foreign resiproperty, with business interrupted and dents, and natives generally came to temporarily at least, destroyed, appeal the aid of the bewildered people, but to the universal heart of the civilized the whole is not equal to the necessities world. The Johnstown flood disaster of the case. Nor will the demand for met with sympathetic expression from aid be met for many a day to come. It large parts of the world. The Chris- is not too late, even after these lines tians of Japan took up a collection and shall be read, for contributions to be of forwarded it, through the Japanese value. We make no appeal for moneys Methodist missionary at San Francisco, to be added to any specific fund. Any for the Johnstown sufferers. But of the treasurers of the great missionary neither the Johnstown flood nor the societies will, we are sure, gladly be the Chicago fire are to bj! compared with custodians of money for the relief fund the reach of the wretchedness of this in general, for native Christians in parseismic disturbance of nearly all the ticular, or for reparation of losl! to prop- Island Empire. The hundreds of shocks erty. They will faithfully carry out left the people too much 'llarmed to re- any instructions of the donors so far as enter the houses which were left stand- lies within their power. We say this ing, and drove them to sleeping in the without having a word of consultation open air in the cold nights. The with them, and without knowing what American Charge d'Affaires at Tokyo, measures, if any, they will take officially anu Admiral Belknap, of the United in the case. But if any persons prefer to States Navy, in charge of the Asiatic send their contributions through secular Station at Yokohama, unite in an appeal channels, they can do 80 directly to Adto th'l. people of the United States to miral Belknap, at Tokyo, for the send relief. Ninety thousand houses ., Earthquake Relief Fund." It will destroyed, perhaps thirty thousand be well that whatever is done be done more badly damaged, eight or ten thou- at once. sand persons killed, carrying grief into the hearts of tens of thousand more, So far as we are able to recall at presand ten thousand badly-injured people ent, the missions at Nagoya and vicinto be cared for, make such conditions ity-the centre of the devastated disas should send a thrill through Christen- trict-are those of the Methodist Episdom, and at once meet with a hearty copal Church, the Presbyterian Church response in practical sympathy. No South, the Methodist Protestant Church, battle-field could furnish such heart- and a lady missionary of the Cumberrending sce.nes as have been witnessed land Presbyterian Church. The Southin connection with this disaster. The ern Presbyterians are also at Kochi. subsidence of the land, the destruction The only one of the foreign missionaries who sustained injuries, so far as we have of factories, removing .the means of live- ~earned! was the Rev. Mr. Van Dyke. of the Methodist Protestant Mission. Rev. eased, the clean and the unclean, the Mr. Miyama, of the }Iethodist Episco- patients who refrain from crossing jt pal Mission, and his wife were also in- and the ministering Christians who freejured. He has been a very active ly cross over to the lepers for their conworker among the Chinese in California stant labors of love to souls and bodies. and the Sandwich Islands. A Japanese At the left of this wooden railinK are pastor of the Presbyterian Chu.rch South the quarters of the nursing staff, also was instantly killed. There are many the workroom, kitchens, bakery, etc. Christians among the sufferers. To the right of it are the quarters of the lepers. The women live all together in The Leper Hospital of the Moravian a suite of large rooms; and two or three Ohuroh at Jerusalem, men generally occupy one ohamber. These apartments need to be light and REV. J. TAYLOR HAMILTON, SECRE1'ARY airy, owing to the nature of the disease, MORAVIAN BOARD, BETHLEHEM, PA. which becomes more and more offensive to sight and smell. They might seem A traveller in Palestine, when jour- bare to a European, but are fairly furneying to· day from Bethlehem to Jeru- nished for Orientals, especially of the salem, will very probably notice a large, class from which the patients are mainsubstantially·b~ilt modern edifice as he ly drawn." nears the Holy City. It is a stately structure for Palestine-in part two, To the story of this hospital I invite and in part three stories high as it rises your attention for a brief while. A above the Vale of Rephaim_ Over the peculiar interest attaches to it from its main entrance he will perceive, carved being the only institution of the kind in in large Roman letters, the words, aU the land in which our Lord, when Gn ., Jesus Hilfe," .. The Help of Jesus." earth, cl<lBnsed lepers among thobe Stimulated by curiosity, he may pass whom His word of power savingly through the open gate of the garden and healed of their diseases. ascend the steps to the front door. There is, indeed, another shelter for He will meet with a cordial welcome these poor outcasts; but the very confrom a German missionary, who will trast it offers to the home in which gladly make him acquainted with the Christian sympathy seeks to relieve misinstitution over which he presides-that ery and anticipate the wants of the is, on the supposition that the stranger's body, ,and at the same time breathe oourage is equal to the ordeal; for this hope into the despondent !!Ioul, argues is the Moravian Leper Hospital, just forcibly for the need of just such an inoutside Jerusalem. stitution Sf! the" Jesus Hilfe."
He will find that it is a quadrangular Eight years after our home had begun building "surrounding a large oourt- its work of mercy, a oertain Pasha gave yard, in the middle of which is a huge orders for the erection of a building for cistern. This cistern may well be large, the reception of lepers at the oost of the for in this land there is no rain for half State. It is not far from the village of the year, and wat~r is a main neoessity Siloam, and is" a low building of only for such an institution. Everything in one story, lit up by five windows which and around the house and in the yard serve for as many rooms. Eight lepers is scrupulously clean." He will notice are supposed to occupy each of thes(', especially the wooden railings that run and thoy are small for the purpose. right across the middle, dividing the The roof of each room is vaulted; in court as well as the passages. "True, the walls are niches; the floor is formetl the gates stand open, and, indeed, are of a stone pavement. On this floor low never closed; yet there it is, the bar- pillars ar" erected which are bollow in· lier between the health! and tJ~e (lis. side, and serve the double purpose of store-~laces for the fruits ~athered b! the lepers, and also to mark out the " On the other hand, a peculiar char. space appropriated to each patient. acteristic of the disease, as it now oc· Nothing buL an old thin straw mat is curs, is the insensibility of the skin, exspread on the hard, cold stones. Here tending inward so far that the knots the poor creatures lie in a room dimly which form under the surface could be lighted by only one window, and in an cut out without the patient feeling any atmosphere rendered pestilential by the pain. Of this feature there is no men· breath of many diseased persons. As tion in Leviticus. Lastly, the leprosy soon as the sun is up, life begins to stir of the present day seems absolutely in these five apartments, and whoever incurable by any medical art, while the of the inmates has still the power of law of the old covenant makes proyi. movement leaves the house. Those sions for cases of healing. who are unable to walk are obliged to remain indoors, and are left without " We cannot but conclude, therefore, any help or care, for no one has either that leprosy has changed its character time or inclination to tend the suffering in the course of centuries. It has be. or comfort the dying. Thl! most that come more ineradicable and more de· can be expected to be done by those structive. Observation of individual who leave the house in search of what cases bears this out. Careful treatment may be obtained by begging, is that and constant cleansing of the sores at they divide a piece of bread with some the very beginning of the disease will more unfortunate companion, and place check its course for years, while neglect, a jug of water by his side." Thus one especially if united to insufficient diet, after another gradually succumbs to the will quickly aggravate its destruative awful disease, and with severe strug- character. The above-mentioned knots gles and great pain closes hopelessly a under the skin begin to suppurate and life from which hope had long since fled. turn into deep and spreading sores, de. stroying the flesh until the bones are Leprosy still remains one of the most laid bare." loathsome and awful visitations that can well befall a human being. Of the form Whether or not leprosy, as it exists of the malady to be met with in the to-day, is infectious, is, I believe, some_ Orient, Dr. Einszler, the honorary phy- what of an open question. Certain it sician of our hospital at Jerusalem, is, that of the Moravians who at dif. writes as follows: ferent times to the number of about 25 have ministered to the wants of lepe,ril, "Neither the description of leprosy in connection with leper homes, not given in Leviticus 13, nor the signs there one has contracted the malady. Never. given to the priest for the discernment theless, it needs a most devoted spirit of the disease at all agree WIth the symp. to care for lepers in every stage of toms of leprosy as now existing. The the loathsome disease. Think what it , plague in the skin of the flesh' is not means to spend day after day in contact now 'in sight deeper' than the skin with such woe; to witness the intense surrounding it, nor does the hair on the sufferings and hear the moans of those diseased part turn white. On the con· victims for whom the diseas'l is reach· trary, it remains unchanged in color at ing a vital part ; to breathe the air made first, but after a time it becomes brittle offensive by the eftluvium of leprosy, and falls off, as the skin loses vitality and wash and bandage the sores repeat. and the roots of the hair die. In the edly; to know that the most which can Old Testament the expression repeated- be done is to mitigate the awful suffer· ly occurs, 'a leper white as snow,' ings and for awhile postpone the end, That evidently implied that the skin of happy even in the being able, by Gurjun the person so atRicted appeared remark. and Chaulmoggra oils, to afford some ably white, which, however, is not the temporary relief. And with it all, the stupefying dulness of intellect induce:::' case in leprosy of the present day. by the physical conditions not seldom reached America 10 sisters in Germany' proves a hindrance tothe reception of the and 2 in England '6xpressed their willhigher consolation. So atvarious points ingness to go. the ministering Christian is baffied. As the work of the hospital widened, Though the Moravian 'Church was its noble foundress began to perceive active among lepers in Cape Colony that its steady maintenance would from 1822 to 1867, the present under- greatly tax her ability, and that it was taking dates only from the last of those desirable to provide for its permanent years. Two years prior to this-viz., in continuance. Hence, on January 1st, 1865, the compassion of a German Baron 1881, she made it over altogether to the and Baroness was excited by the miser Mission Board of the Moravian Church. able plight of the lepers whom they ob- The local committee, with Mr. Frutiger, served when on a visit to Jerusalem. a German banker in Jerusalem as treas- On their return home they determined urer, still continued to "have the immeto do what lay in their power toward diate oversight. The prElsent building, the founding of a home for the outcasts. erected on a new site at a cost of about The Baroness von Keffenbrinck-Asche- $20,000, was opened on April 24th, 1887. raden especially interested herself, and The missionary now in charge is the Rev. devoted her energies to the carrying out Carl Schubert, who was installed only of their design, so that she rather than last Easter, having shortly before graduher husband has been regarded as the ated from the Moravian Training School founder of the noble charity. A com- for Missionaries in Germany. Bis exmittee for the more immediate supel·in- cellent predecessor, the Rev. Fritz tendence was formed in Jerusalem, con- Mueller, had served seven years; but sisting of Bishop Gobat, the German the health of his wife had become very consul, the pastor of the Evangelical precarious. German congregation in Jerusalem, and two others. A suitable plot of ground Varying slightly from time to time, was bought outside the Jaffa Gate, and the number of inmates at the close of the Moravian Church furnished the mis- last year was 18-10 males and 8 females, sionaries, the Rev. F. Tappe and wife, 9 Moslems and 9 Christians. Their ages who had previously served for thirteen varied from 19 to 71. One had been a years ill Labrador. The Home was con- patient for 17 years, but most of them secrated on Ascension Day, May 30th, for less than 3 years. 1867. So deep, however, did the Mohammedans' distrust and hate of Chris- It may be asked what are the results tians prove, added to the dislike of any- of all this Christian effort, aside from the thing that resembled restraint and the alleviation of physical suffering and deprivation of the old privilege of beg- want? ging, that not one leper would at first avail himself of its advantages. But Besides making use of opportunities gradually prejudices were overcome, so that present themselves in private conthat by the end of the first year there versation, the missionary conducts rewere 12 patients. In due time two ligious services daily in the chapel of nurses from Germany came to the as- the hospital, and twice a week an Ara· sistance of the manager and his wife, bic catechist, Daughan by name, renders who have besides the help of a man-ser- valuable assistance. And their efforts vant. But there have very naturally have not been in vain. been times of great perplexity. In 1887, for instance, the staff of nurses com- The Rev. Dr. Rondthaler, of Salem, pletely broke down. A call for volun- North Carolina, who visited the hospital teers was issued by the Mission Board several times during a stay in Jerusalem of the Moravian Church, and before it two years ago, said that two thinglil im- pressed him greatly : 1. That the patients of the house are very grateful and as cheerful as possible under the circumstances. 2. That many of them have a hope shown us hitherto. We have found & home in your benevolent hospital, in and an expectation beyond this life, so which we are well cared for.
saddened and darkened for them. Of a You already know what v.e have to go through. God the Highest has visited farewell service which he conducted he us with t.his painful disease. The bur- den which He has thus laid upon us is writes: "How they listened as I read great and heavy, and at times scarcely to be borne. Sometimes we toss about 1 John 1, and went on to tell in simplest on onr beds with inexpressible aches and pains such as human understanding language of the love and sympathy of can scarcely comprehend. But we are comforted, and bear our misery with the Saviour, and how it is expressed in patience, for our kind reception into your hospital has shown us that we are the kindness of His people to them. not forsaken by God the Highest. Here you not only care for us, but have sent Some are still Mohammedans; but.these us such dear house-parents, who do in- deed thoroughly take a parent's place children of Ishmael shared in the audio toward us, and day by day point us to Him who said: "Come unto Me, all ye ble 'Yes, Yes,' which often showed that that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." That affords us they understood." comfort and confidence in the hope that the dear Saviour will once grant us rest The Rev. S. J. Blum, of Philadelphia after this pitiful life, for we also shall have a place in His kingdom. Our who visited the hospital last year, was hearts, honored friends, are full of joy and delight that God still loves us very much struck with the absence of though the world hates and despises us. Yes, we are glad that when our all cries for " bakshish" on the part of Saviour was on earth He always pitied and healed the sick. Those who thought the inmates of the home whom he met they had no need of a physician kept away from Him_ We know, indeed, in the garden of the institution and in that we are sinners, and, therefore, we need a Saviour who will make us free their rooms. He regarded it as a very from sin, and that Saviour is Jesus.
marked evidence of the change in char- And now we beg you to intercede for us that God will grant us grace and paacter ths.t hs.d come over them, for else- tience in our sufferings as long as we continue in this world, and above alJ. where lepers were most importnnate. that He will give us everlasting life. Do help us. Pray fervently that we Had I time I might adduce a number may not perish in our great sufferings.
of happy death-beds that have cheered With heartfelt greetings ft·om all, SALIER. the missionaries during their years of labor. Last year, for example, a young man of twenty, named Beschara, was released from his life of sufferings, re- peating the twenty-third Psalm as the farewell confession of his faith. And others like him have died in confident expectation of that life where leprosy will be unknown.
True, here as elsewhere, there have been some keen disappointments for the Christian workers in oharge. Yet on the whole they have felt themselves re- paid for their self-sacrifice. .
The following letter of thanks, com- posed by Salieh, one of the patients at the tim e of the consecration of the pres- ent building, and signed by all his com- panions, is s.n evidence that some of the poor unfortunates deeply appreciate what is done for them in the name of Christ: DEAR FRIENDS: We who have to bear Then follow the names of all the pain our bodies the wounds, and pains, tients. and whatsoever troubles this leprosy brings ~i/;h it, send you our heartfelt Thus charity that never faileth, by thanks for all the kindness. you have the grace of God implants in the hearts of these benighted outcasts a deep calm and a mo~t Christian resignation, pre. lepers, if the judgment of the medical paring them for the day of heavenly officer of the principal one of these in- health. firmaries is to be relied on. It is fair to emphasize that both these are esti· mates. No census has been taken, nor Leprosy in a. South Amerioan State, probably could be taken owing to the There is ever a melancholy interest in secrecy observed by the victims of the the subject which Dr. Taylor treats in disease and their friends, though there his article on the ., Leper Hospital at seems to be much less dread of the dis- Jerusalem ;" but the time has come for ease here among the popUlation in gen· something more that a morbid sympathy eral than in any other land of which we with lepers. The impression that lep know. The most notable thing about rosy is an exceptional and limited form the consul's report is that regarding the of human misery has perhaps caused the climatic effect on the disease of a local- modern scientist and humanitarian to ity some 1400 feet above the sea with a neglect such investigation into it as they temperature of about 82t0 in the district are accustomed to make into the more of Tocaima, about three days' journey widespread forms of human ill. But from Bogota, where there ~8 a leper asy·, the time has come for special inquiry lum at a place called Agua de Dios. It into unusual, and, as is supposed, infre. was discovered a hundred years ago that quent maladies. Pasteur, for instance, this climate arrested the progress of the is doing this for the malady arising from disease, so that lepers who remained rabies. We learn that there is a com- here rarely if ever died of leprosy, but of mission of specialists appointed for some other cause. There are sulphur England and India to inquire scientifi· springs in the locality, but the lepers cally into leprosy. But that is not broad do not use them. Other people resort enough. It looks as if such a commis- there, and quite a population has grown sion ought to be international. Certain- up about the lazaretto, and the people ly facts which may be said to have been mingle freely and without let with the recently brought to public notice, if lepers. The lepers do not now consti- indeed that is not a rhetorical state- tute more than one third of the resident ment of the extent to which they are population. The healthy people of the yet made known, about the United States locality intermarry with the lepers. The of Colombia, in relation to the preva- marriage does not result unfavorably to lence of leprosy, would suggest that a the healthy party to it; but the children great deal of important knowledge might born in this wedlock generally develop be gathered in that quarter. the disease in a few years, even little The British Consul at Bogota is author. children of four and five years being ity for most startling statements as to victims of it. On the other hand, the the extent and spread of leprosy in that case is given of a leper who bad been State. It appears to have been slowly nearly forty years in this locality who spreading for about two hundred and had passed through several stages of fHty years in that region, though in the the disease, but for the last eighteen last twenty years it cannot be said to years had had no pain or inconvenience have extended slowly, but very rapidly. from it. The mortality of the lepers, A medical review is published in Bogota, however, is far above the average of the the editor of which is recognized as a other people living there. They usually well·known physician, and he makes die of dysentery, fevers, and pulmonary the statement that of the one million complaints, The astounding thing ahout population of Santander and Boyaca, all this is the lack of restraint on the one tenth-which would be a hundred population with a view to limiting it.
thousand-are lepers. The lazarettos of If, >as the Consul says, the people believe ~l;lese districts contain thirty thousand it is both contagious and hereditary, and if from the introduction of a single case scared, haunted, held fast, the African's into Antioquia thirty years ago there can life begins and ends in fear. The chill be now counted eight hundred, what- of fear strikes it at birth and leaves it ever are the authoritiE's about that they only at death. Want, pale daughter of do not set up some kind of hygienic murder, aids to enlarge the depopulated regulations of it? If they are not finan· areas ; the knife of the cannibal threatcially able to isolate the lepers, they can ens them all-unhappy knife, the last have help from the outside world on the weapon of African atrocities! . . • simple ground of ordinary humanity, Sisters of America, shall your souls and and that not of the picture pocket-hand- ours keep silent? In the presence of kerchief sort either. It is not a case so this despair shall we look on with inmuch of sympathy as of decent humani- difference? Have our hearts nothing to tarianism of the common-sense order. ask, our energies nothing to do at a mo- We are near enough neighbors to Co- ment when great work should begin? .. lombia to take a lesson or two from her All Europe is stirred. . .. The past notebook on the subject of national of America gives assurance that it will carelessness on this matter of disease not be distanced by Europe in this great importations and inoculation, and near humanitarian movement. • .' Amerienough, too, to respond to a missionary ca, who sends her missionaries to equacall for aid in carrying the load of a torial lands, will not be indifferent to smitten population in districts where the efforts of the Old WorId, the lands one in ten of the people are suffering of their ancestors, whose conscience is the worst of human maladies. now aroused and whose valor is united for the suppression of the slave trade in J. T. G. Africa.
"An Appeal to the Women of "Sisters of America, your sisters in America." Europe rely on your i.lelp. Christian women of America, the hope of the dis- THE COUNTESS OF GASPARIN. tressed in Africa is in you."
'Ne have received the" appeal" sent The Men Who Ma~e Islam, out by the Countess of Gasparin to the women of America, on the subject of Whoever stops with the life of Muham- African slavery, in connection with the mad and the Quran will not come into a Brussels Treaty; but our space forbids knowledge of Islam, for the Quran alone using it all. We make from it the fol is to no Moslem the sole rule of life; lowing selections, translated perhaps, a and though the Sunni sect may spit little freely : upon the grave of the Khalifs Abu Bekr and Omar, yet without these men Islam "American sisters! Slavery is not would not have survived the death of dead. Nor have its abominations oeased Muhammad. To know Islam one must to dishonor the earth, nor its murders know the immediate successors of Muto stain it with blood. Extinct, is it? No! a thousand times No ! . .. Daugh- hammad-each at once king and pope ters of the continent of light, give it your pity." (Here follow descriptions – who carved out of the broken pieces of the horrors of the slave caravan.) of empire which Muhammad left strewn over Arabia, a strong State, and out of "Slaves of the Arab brigands, the his most casual utterance a canon for African people, small and great, are the the consciences of millions yet unborn. slaves of fear; the slaves of ferocious More splendid illustrations of bold, hatred, man against man, tribe against prompt decision in court or camp, one tribe. Slaves of bestiality, of falsehood, will look far afield to find than are reand of wicked spirit.s led about by storms corded of the four great khalifs, .the and hid in the forests. Slaves of the only" successors" of Muhammad. The devil, the monarch of the dark continent, very peril '-_ the first hour after Mu- that Muhammad could not die. When hammad's death only afforded such men the rumor spread that the great man opportunity to snatch triumph from was no more, the wildest excitement wild and hopeless disorder and over- swept the town, and the crowd that hanging ruin. gathered at the mosque was dazed as with delirium. c. Among them Omar The biographies of Muhammad are arose, and in a wild and excited strain past count. There are as rich resources declaimed that the prophet was not for the reproduction of every detail of dead, but in a trance, from which he his life as of any man that ever inhabit- would soon arise and root out the hypoed the earth. But for what followed crites from the land." Abu Bekr, who Muhammad ?-for knowledge of the men had been for an hour away from the who carved Islam out of the material prophet on a visit to his sick mother, which Muhammad left to them we have came hurrying back to the mosque; to resort to much painful picking in crossing the court he had stopped to dust-bins and out-of-the- way annals. kiss the prophet's face: "Sweet wert Few men are furnished for excursio"ns thou in life," he said, .c and sweet thou of this sort_ The learning, the literary art in death." Finding Omar still qualities, as well as the moral qualities haranguing the people when he reached for original researches of this kind are the mosque, he put him aside with the rare. It is with a sense of obligation memorable words: .. Whoso worshippeth which the literary and religious world Mahomet, let him know that Mahomet is should acknowledge, that we turned dead; but whoso worshippeth God, let him into and have come out of, Sir William know that God liveth and dieth not. " Omar Muir's latest studies into the fragments was speechless .. My limbs trembled, of scattered Arabian lore, which he andIknewoia certaintythatMuhammad prosecuted to furnish to the world a was dead," he would Ray in after years. portraiture of the great khalifs (Sir William persists in the old Romanizing The citizens of Medina had instantly .. caliph") of Islam; or, rather, to be assembled to select a successor to Mumore exact, to give us a noble volume of hammad, and the report of their gather. some six hundred pages, entitled ., The ing was made known at the mosque. It was a critical moment. The mantle of Caliphate :1ts Rise, Decline, and Fall. "* the prophet must fall on one and one only. The sovereigntyoflslam demand- One will search far for more graphic, ed an undivided khalifate. The die bold, and comprehensive historical must be cast and must be cast at once. grouping than is instanced in the first The men of Medina demanded that he few paragraphs describing the death of should be of themselves, for their good Muhammad, and the selection on the swords had saved Islam. spot of his immediate successor. •• Every word wnich ye men of Medina Muhammad died a little after midday have uttered in your own praise is true," in the midsummer of 632 A.D. It is said Abu Bekr, .c and more than true; doubtful if the devoted followers of the but in noble birth and influence th!l prophet had allowed themselves to con- Coraish are paramount, and to none but template the event of his death; and, them will Alabia yield obedience." like Napoleon, he seems never to have " Then," said the men of Medina, .. let thought of what would become of his there be one chief among you, and one faith or his kingdom when it should from among us." .. Away with you," fall into o~her hands. Some of his more said Omar; "two cannot stand todevoted adherents seem to have dreamed gether." The heat of the altercation was great when Abu Bekr arose. .. Ye * .. The Caliphate: its Rise, Decline, and FaIl.,. see these two," said he, pointing to Omar and Abu Obeida, .. choose ye now From Original Sources, by Sir William Muir, K.C.S.I., LL.D., D:C.L. The Religious Tract Society, London. Fleming H. ReveIJ Co., New York and Chicago, sole agents. which of them ye will, and flalute him this book of Mr. Muir's wholesome if as your chief." .. Nay," answered not palatable reading. -J. T. G. these men both at once, ,. t/Wu hast already, at thl! prophet's bidding, led the The Situation in China. prayers, and art our chief. Stretch forth thine hand." He did so, and they We wrote in the November, 1891, REstruck their hands on his, as is the Arab VIEW of "Some of the Causes of the Discustom, in token of allegiance. The turbanoe in China." We have little need men of Medina did likewise, and the to modify the statements there made. supreme power passed without let or But new factors have come into the hindranoe into the hands of Abu Bekr. problem. The" Eastern Question" has become" The Far Eastern Question." It was to no bed of roses that Abu Europe is "fencing" on the Northern Bekr had been elevated. It took a year border of China from Manchuria to the of hard fighting to reolaim the penin- corner-post of India Eussia and China, sula alone. at Pamir. The European nations are not so busy settling treaty matters with There was nothing effeminate about China as they are in playing a larger ~ha men that made Islam. Sir William game for supremacy in Asia. Hence ':links Khalid. the dashing general who the gunboat masquerade in Chinese '''ands in the foreground of these early waters is all that we seem likely to have :r 11 de days of Islam, an extraordinary just at present, while the several Eurown.rrior. "His conduot on the battle- pean powers are coquetting with China fidds whioh deoided the fate of the Per- instead of bullying her. Great Britain, sian Empire, and of the Byzantine rule who was just now trying to determine in Syria, ranks him a; one of the great- with what sauce to begin to serve Prince est generals of the world." But those Chung, has gone to hold a love-feast were rough men made for war, heedless with him in the Imperial Yemen. The of spilled blood; and Khalid, "the London Daily Telegraph found out that Sword of the Lord," as they surnamed it was manifestly the policy of England him, could wed the widow of one enemy .. to be on the friendliest terms with on the field still sodden with his own China, the 'vast realm of the oentre,' soldiers' blood, and later marry another which by the foroe of dominating cirwidow of Ibn Noweira, whose blood was cumstanoes has beoome our [England's] yet fresh upon the spot where by his natural ally in Asia, the interests of both own order he had been slain. But all empires being menaced by the same this study is not mere ourious delving potential foes;" The Speaker gave vent into antiquarian bone beds. It is by re- to the sentiment that it "is of muoh search such as this that we learn what more importanoe to make use of her blam is, what inherently and essentially limits it as a civilization. The [China1against Russia than to trouble dead hand of the prophet stretched out to be taken by the caliphs of four dynas- ourselves about missionaries . . . who ties, reached still further by the par- have no business to go where they are alyzing hands of the four Imams, and likely to be killed." The Western Daily sterility must reign wherever the soep- Press came to see that bullets and bayotre of the Moslem reaches. There is nets were of doubtful utility, because here no germ of popular institutions. " China may be a valuable ally for Eng- Erery year the politioal ascendenoy of land if Russia should ever overstep the Islam gives increasing evidenoe of being bounds of prudence in furtherance of doomed. There has been no progress, her designs in India." The Globe, the there can be no change. Islam stands- Saturday Review, and other leading still. Innovation is worse than a mis- papers write in the same strain. China take. Canon Taylor and his brood of is as muoh afraid of Russia as she is of second·hand critics of Islam will find anything else, and muoh more so when a.ny internal troubles of her own create she will gain the utmost possible for her an occasion for intermeddling with her own and other missionaries; for, with- affairs. Besides, if she can set these out being over· scrupulous about the European powers watching each other spiritual side of their work, she has long they will be the less troublesome to her ago reckoned the missionary as one of for the immediate present. the great factors in her colonial policy But that is not all the change that as well as in every non-Christian land.
has developed. It seems as if there Gltimately all that Great Britain gains were a division of policy among the by courting in North China will be made Chinese rioters themselves. Hunan has to inure to the advantage of the mis- had but one policy. As late as Sep- sionary. But if she and others should tember a conclave of Hunan leaders was utterly fail to protect the missionaries, held at Woochang. They passed a reso· it is not to be forgotten that the Roman lution to drive out all foreigners from Catholics stayed there two hundred the three provinces, Hunan, Hupeh, and years without any treaty; and Protestant Kiangsi. That may be called the Hunan missionaries may find greater defence programme. But if the information is from the fine diplomacy of Divine Provi- reliable, there is a Chinkiang section dence than from all earthly potentates.
which have a different view. These pro- Jesus Ohrist is not dead, and He will overturn and overturn "till His kingpose to lower the tea duties and favor dom comes."-J. T. G.
foreign trade, to employ foreigners ex.
tensively in the army and navy and cus- -Sad news comes from the Rev. Mr. toms. They would build railroads and Annand, in the New Hebrides. The apportion the land tax justly. Some of death of a child of Rev. Mr. and Mrs. them would employ foreign help in in- Lawrie, of the Scotch Free Mission, so augurating successful rebellion. These seriously affected the mind of Mrs. Laware not anti.Christian, nor anti.foreign, rie as to result in insanity. The wife nor anti-progressive, but are against the of Rev. Mr. Leggatt, of the Victoria present Government. church, hung herself in a fit of tem- porary insanity. A young Englishman We have traversed this mainly to show -Mr. Sawer-who had just married a that a good deal of the case has passed lady who went out to become his wife, beyond the provinco of a missionary re- was killed by bushmen, who sent a bulview. For those,who prize military and let through his heart, and killed and naval defence for missions, the imme. feasted on the bodies of two natives diate results of the political jugglery is who were with him. Mr. Sawer's renot altogether satisfactory. The Wuhu mains were brought to Tangoa by Mr. riots occurred last May, but six months Annand. He had been married but two days, and great sympathy is expressed for his young widow.
went by and nothing was done ; Wusueh -The Ohurch M"Ulsionary lntelligencer saw two wretches punished who proba. bestows high praise on the" Cycloptedia bly were not near the place at the time; of Missions," published by Funk & but no dignitary was degraded. The VIagnalls. It says: " This is far and Ichang riots occurred right under the away the most important work on misnose of the imperial representatives of sions yet published. . .. The amount the port, and the rioters were them- of information packed into the closely selves government troops. The brigadier·general stood by and saw the Oatho- printed 2700 pages is enormous ; and lie nuns driven to a horrible death, 'and one is staggered to think of the labor did not turn a hand to pre.ent the out- that must have been involved in its rage. Dr. Greig was tert'ibly maltreated production. It is worthy of AmeriIJa. in Shantung by officials and soldiers. In England we have nothing at all like We have no great grief over the diplo- it." It remarks on what is not in it, matic situation. If Great Britain be- but adds: .. We are afraid these criticomes an ally of China, sooner or later cisms will detract somewhat from our praise of the work; but W(l do praise it, nevertheless, most warmly." Men will feel, it says. that they can no more dis- pense with it than they can with Smith' 8 ,. Dictionary of the Bible."
1892.J EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
IlI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
What is the Next Step? cree, we know, t,ook less than ten months to run from the palace at There has been during the past ten Shushan to the limits of the Persian years a widespread echoing of the cru- Empire. Here is a world about twentysade cry: "Let us in our generation five thousand miles in circumference, carry the Gospel around the world!" inhabited by about one thousand mill- It has been discussed in pulpit and ions of people, yet unreached with the press, at home and on the foreign field. Gospel. Christianity holds the strategic Animated and inspired by this motto, centres. Even Africa is girdled and the missionaries in far-off lands have penetrated by missionary bands ; Asia met to consider what ean be done; is occupied, from Turkey to Japan; have held great conventions like that South America is imperfectly supplied at Shanghai last year; have issued their with Christian missionaries, but two of loud calls for" a thousand more work- the greatest of Christian nations occupy ers" at once to enter the field, etc. The the territory north of the Gulf of Mexi- China Inland Mission, Church Mission- co; we have a band of six thousand ary Society, London Missionary Society, missionaries, of six: times as many na- English Baptist Society, etc., have all tive evangelists and teachers scattered appealed for more men and women and over the pagan and heathen world. In money, with a view to the immediate the Protestant churches of Christenoccupation of the fields as yet unsup- dom, exclusive of the Greek and Latin plied, and the vastly increased occu- communions, and Oriental churches, we pancyof fields in which at present there have over forty millions of professed is an insufficiency of laborers. What is disciples who have thousands of millions the next step? of dollars at their command. All the appliances of the nineteenth century are I think we need first of all to realize in their hands, for they represent the that the evangelization of the world in this intelligence, enterprise, and enlightened generation is not a mere wild dream, but force of the world. Who can tell how may be made a fact if the Church of rapidly the Gospel message might be God will have it so, and use the means diffused over the habitable globe if all God has given her. Great things may this available material could be utilized? be done in a very short time if there be a determination to do them. and a After twenty-~ve years of constant proper energy, promptness, and co- study of this subject, and conference operation in action. When the English and correspondence with hundreds of Government wished to take the census students of missions and missionary of India, February 26th, 1891, it was all workers, I am more and more satisfied done in six hours when the appointed that if the Church would but imitate the time came. Arrangements were so com- laudable .. push" and .. dash" of the plete that at the set hour, from aU quar- men of this generation, the children of ters, the agents of the Government light would flood the world with the moved forward within their limited ter- Gospel in as little time as Ahasuerus ritory, and the proper inquiries were disperscd his royal decree from the made and answered and the records BosphoruR to the Indus. Will anyone made. tell us why not?
We have often called attention to the .. Where the word of a King is, thelre energy and celerity with which, in the is power." .. And the King's busines!! days of Ahasuerus, three times the en- requireth haste." These two texts tire empire, that reached from the ought to be our motto and our warrant Golden Horn to the Ganges, was reached for doing this work now and for the with a royal decree; alld the third de- whole world. Back of the Kiug's word lies the authority and the assurance of among people of all classes and denomi- Divine co-operation; the very fact of its being the King's business is the all-suill- nations: cient warrant for haste. Nineteen centuries have sped by, and the King's DEAR BRETHREN : "Elect according to business remains undone; the power the foreknowledge of God the Father, back of the King's word has never yet through sanctification of the Spirit, been fairly tested and proven. Oh, that unto obedience and sprinkling of the the children of God in our generation blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you would at least honestly undertake to see and peace be multiplied." that the Gospel is borne to " every creature" in "all nations" before the gen- Not being" ashamed of the Gospel of eration passes to the great account that Christ," when brought into comparison fix.es eternal destiny! with all the heathen religions of the world, and believing that Gospel to be To my mind, one step that can be the "power of God unto salvation to taken at once toward this world-wide everyone that believeth," we desire to evangelization is to gather for prayerfUl call your attention again to the last conference, at an early date, the leaders commandment of our risen and ascendof modern missions. Perhaps the first ed Lord; " All power is given unto Me conference might be comparatively a in heaven and in earth. Go ye, thereprivate one, in the parlor of some de- fore, and teach all nations, baptizing voted servant of Christ. Why not call them in the name of the Father, and of together such men as Dr. A. J. Gordon, the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teach- Dr. C. C. McCabe, Dr. Arthur Mitchell, ing them to observe all things whatso- Dr. Judson Smith, D. L. Moody, Bishop ever I have commanded you; and, 10, I Ninde, Bishop W. R. Nicholson, the am with you always, even unto the end Bishop of Huron, Ontario,J. Hudson of the world. Amen." Taylor, F. B. Meyer, Robert E. Speer, etc., and prayerfully consult as to the In order, therefore, to aid all our wider measures necessary to be insti- churches and Missionary Boards in tuted in order to secure larger results? carrying out this Great Commission, an There are men on both sides of the sea, enterprise has been inaugurated called and women too, who, after a godly sort, the" Cross-bearers' Missionary Reading have been studying this question, upon Circle, .. a course of systematic reading whose minds it has been a burden for and study on the subject of Missions, years, and who have been praying over embracing a period of three years. This it. Some of them we have mentioned movement has been before the churches because we know they are alive with in- about a year, and has received the en telligent zeal for a world's evangeliza- dorsement of many leading men in tion. We yearn to see some such meet- many lands. ing called, where at least united prayer may be offered for the speedy inaugura- The Board of Directors, therefore, tion of that new effort-shall we not say make the following appeal to faithful new era ?-of world·wide missions. Christians in all lands : The Crossbearers' Missionary Read- liirst. For one hundred thousand read- 109 Circle is a growing institution, and ers and students in the" Crossbearers' has undoubtedly a future of usefulness. Missionary Reading Circle," before the end of the nineteenth century. The following is an appeal recently sent out by them "To Faithful Chris- Second. For contributions from those tians in all Lands," with a view to who love the cause of Missions, for the ,"wakening greater interest in Ilissions purpose of establishing this Missionary Reading Circle upon a firm financial basis.
Third. For the hearty co operation of the Christian Ministry in this work throughout the world.
Fourth. To the American and English religious press for the publication of this appeal.
Fifth. That all who desire information concerning the" Crossbearers' MiHsion- ary Reading Circle" should address Pro- fessor Charles R. Foster, A.M., Fayette, Mo., U. S. A.
NOTlll.-The course()£ reading for this year is as follows : 1. "Life of William Carey," seventy-five cents; 2. ,. The Comin~ Kingdom," Jtev. W, W, Wld<lworth, $1 ; 3. .. Life of James Hanning. in London for preparation; meeting in ton, Bishop of Eastern Equatorial Af. their rooms for apportionments; cor· rica," Re". E. C. Dawson, M.A., $1; 4. respondenc,e with a few eminent socie- ,. The Great Value and Success of For· ties abroad for work among the actual eign Missions," Rev. John Liggins, heathen.
seventy.five cents; 5. The MISSIONARY The work of divisJon should be ac- complished with urgent prayer and dis- REVIEW, Funk & Wagnalls, per year, patch. I deem it the first and best $1.50 ; 6. Initiation fee, per year, fifty thing to do and be done in Christ's cents. Kingdom. We append a portion of a letter This matter requires no ponderous recently received from the originator of organization, but plain and lucid statethe readulg.circle idea as applied to mis. ments, loving, intelligent minds and sionary literature: hearts. BAREILLY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, BAREILLY, N. W. P., INDIA, Provision were easily made to wel- Aug. 24, 1891. come all workers in the unoccupied dis- DEAR BROTHER: I have received your C. M. R. C. handbook, and am rejoiced tricts of great areas; thus there would beyond measure that your project has taken such good shape. Something be ample room for all existing and aris· like this has been a dream of my heart for years. You have fully taken it up, ing workers, and the very fact of the and it remains for you to fully demon· strate its practicability. I pray that division and nominal assignment being God may help you; for I think there is great power in the idea. It will in· made, and being known widely in all augurate a new erafor missions.. the evangelical Christian communities, You will require tact and push to make a first-class success of it. Nov- would probably increase and arouse to elty may wear off. Pastors may be in. different. Even missionary secretaries effective endeavor for realization. may not see much in it; but you must push right on till the ball is rolling Our Duty in Danger. welL God will help you. Interetlt will grow. Leading men will see and be- The following is a letter sent out by come convinced. J. Hudson Taylor, to the missionaries I hope your movement may send a deputation to the next annual session of the China Inland Mission, in regard of the International Missionary Union, and urge this matter on them. That is to the recent troubles in China: a place in which to .. strike the centre." You will most of you have heard of May I ask the prayers of your Circle the time of excitement through which for the great work going on in this mis· many stations in the Yang.tse valley sion in North India. We are baptizing have passed. -old and young-more than a thousand souls a month. It is hoped that the danger is now passing away, though some fear that Yours, In His Name, one of the secret societies may yet cause T. J. ScoTT. further trouble. The present time seems, therefore, opportune for consid. An Organized Effort. ering the course that we as missionaries should adopt in times of excitement and The subject of" evangelizing the world danger, and several have said that they thought it would be helpful if I gave in this generation" is more and more be- you my thoughts on the subject.
ginning to occupy the minds of men. First, then, let me remind you of the importance in this day of the command This is shown by the following sugges· not to speak evil of dignities, but, on the contrary, to pray for those in autions from Mr. Robert Arthington, of thority. The rulers of this land have often a difficult path : it is not easy for Leeds: them to take our part against their own To partition the world for evangelistic people, and we do well to ~ray that they purposes would seem quite easy and may have courage and WIsdom to act withQut m~terial expense: by interviews firmly and justly; such prayers should be public as well as private. Much may depend on their finding that Christianity promotes loyalty to tl;u~ powers that be, and the giving of honor that," Sufficient is His arm alone and to those to whom it is due. our defence is sure."
Then we do well to recognize that we What a loss it would be if any of them are not here as representatives of West- should t.hink that we relied more upon ern Powers, and that our duties do not a gunboat or a band of soldiers than correspond with theirs. We are here upon the living God! Years of teach- as witnesses and representatives of the ing would not impress them as our con- Lord Jesus Christ. •• As my Father hath duct at such times may do. Moreover, sent Me, even so send I you." Once their sympathy will be drawn out for us disciples mistakenly would have called when they see us willing to suffer for down fire from heaven to avenge the the Gospel, as they so often have to do_ Master Himself; but He rebuked them A time of danger is a grand opportunity and said: " Ye know Dot what manner of being an object-lesson to the native of spirit ye are of, for the Son of man is Ohristians.
not come to destroy men's lives, but to III. The moral effect of our action save them." And again, when the sol_ upon the heathen will, to a considerable diers would arrest our Lord, one of His extent, be the same as upon the con- disciples drew his sword in His defence, verts. A calm and confident demeanor but our Saviour said: ., Put up again will go far to disarm suspicion. The thy sword into his place; for all they people will not be slow to observe t.hat that take the sword shall perish with we are not afraid, and to conclude that the sword. Thinkest thou that I cannot we have no reason to be. But if we flee, now pray to my Father, and He shall they are sure to conclude that we are presently give me more than twelve guilty of some of the charges brought legions of angels?" We may safely against us, and will be emboldened to conclude that our use of any weapon of attack and loot or destroy our premises.
defence, whereby another might be in- Even a dog will run after you if you run jured, would misrepresent our Master, away from him!
whose own distinct command to His _ Some of the older members of our disciples was: "Resist not evil, but mission have passed through more seri- whosoever shall smite thee on thy right ous times of excitement than the pres- cheek, turn to him the other also." ent. We have never at snch times re- If, then, it would not be consistent tired from a station; and though hold- for us to use weapons for our own de· ing the fort, has not always secured ns fence, it may be asked, Should we not against a riot, it has often done so, and leave our stations for such places as are, has proved abundantly fruitful in or can be, defended by the officers of strengthening the faith of our native our respective governments? It seems converts.
to me that there are several important An objection may arise in some minds reasons against taking this course, un- that we are directed, if persecuted in less absolutely compelled to do so. one city, to flee to another; to which I. We are in our stations at God's we would reply that we are not told to command, and as His ambassadors, and flee through fear of possible persecution.
therefore have both promise of, and If the Lord suffers us to be driven away, claim to, His protection. We have as St. Paul so frequently was, the re- many of us gone to places far removed sponsibility will then rest with Him; from foreign protection on this very and He will surely work out His own ground. Our risen Saviour has told us purposes through the trial. But let us that all power has been committed unto not retire ourselves from fear of loss or Him; and that, because this is so, we danger; and so doing perhaps leave our are to go everywhere, reckoning His un- Master's sheep just when they most need failing presence better defence than that the shepherd's presence and care.
which the arm of flesh can provide. We conclude, then, that the right We have a rIIre opportunity in times of course, and the best policy alike, is to danger of proving His promises for our- remain at our posts, whenever this is selves, and before our converts. possible. We may well rejoice that it is II. We are continually encouraging so, and that duty does not require the our converts to brave persecution and suspension of our work, for life is short, to snfferloss for Christ's sake, and they and daily the people are dying without are very apt to think that it is easy for God.
us to speak in this way, seeing that, as To us all is given the dignity of be- far as they can tell, we are well-to.do ing ambassadors for the King of kings; and exposed to no danger or loss. When and all His power is at all times behind then we are in danger they will mark us. We may therefore boldly say, very closely our conduct, and judge for "The Lord is on my side; I will not thexnselvEls how far we really beliElve fear. What can man do unto me I"
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
IV.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Ohina, Eto. is destroyed, and hundreds of them are fugitives from mob violence. It is too CHARACTER OF THE CHINESE CONVERTS. often forgotten that persecution is the normal condition of the Chinese con- One of the most marked signs of the verts to Christianity. We hear of these times is the altered tone of the secular persecutions only whl'n they touch the press toward missions. A noteworthy foreign missionaries; of the daily and illustration is the championship of the sporadic outbreaks against the native modern mission by the London Times. Christians we hear nothing, for it only The great "Thunderer," eminently concerns the Chinese themselves. To since the death of Bishop HRnnington, support the hatred and social ostracism, has lost no prominent opportunity to with which, as the writer admits, the say a strong word for missions and their converts are regarded, there must be results in Africa and Asia. Its leader genuine, energetic conviction. The'tens some while since. on the" unique and of thousands of converts scattered all extraordinary interest" of the recent over China, with their numbers daily India census, showing the strength and increasing, could not, indeed, be mainculture of the native Christian com- tained for a week from the missionary munity in India. is a masterly presenta. funds sent from abroad, even if these tion of some of the salient points of wer€! devoted to no other purpose. The that new factor in Christian statistical fact appears to be that these converts economy, stout enough in its pleading contribute liberally, and in some cases to have been delivered at an Exeter Hall wholly mo.inta,in their own native pas· missionary anniversary. It is with tors and places of worship." great pleasure that we turn to its editorial rejoinder to a correspondent in THE CHRISTIAN MOVEMENT IN NORTH CHINA. its columns, who signs himself ,. A Chinese," who raises the question whether One cannot but ask whether the the great Christian governments will churches in Christendom are awake to find it worth their while to defend the the fact that "this Chinese Empire may missionaries in China, when they come see a great uprising one day, and that to know that their converts are from the in the near future. for which these lower orders of society only, and arc led churches are in nowise prepared. We to em brace the Christian relIgion from have seen the mighty movements in the low motive of pecuniary compensa- Indio., the great turning to the Lord in tion for their allegiance. The Times Ongole, and the equally sweeping reanswers with the following knock-down vival in the lYlethodist missions of sort of logic: "If the Christian converts North India, and we have stood bewilare the needy and the viciolls, and iftheir dered before' them. The truth is, as motives are wholly those of gain, why Bishop Thoburn says, the people must should it be necessary to persecute them learn to familiarize themselves with the so cruelly, in order to drive them from idea that God intends to save the world; a faith which means nothing but a lit- and if there is a shred of truth in that tle money to them. The descriptions statement, we must prepare our minds lately published in the East of the per- for the contemplation of victories on a secutions of the little Christian com- scale far transcending the little work of munities in Szechuan and Yunnan, dur- to day. "If this world," he says, "is ing the past two years, are heart-rend- to be saved, there must come a time ing. Men, women, and children are when the heathen shall be gathered in murdered by Bcores, their little property by the hundred thousand-by the million." We have somehow at last got a about five hundred inquirers in his field.
glint that this sort of thing may occur which did not cover IDore than about in India; bnt as to China, we have sup one fourth their mission territory. This posed we must wait for generations yet is a fact that Dr. Nevius, with his great before this mighty mass of deliberative cautiousness, says he has not made pub- people can be expected to move, save in lic lest he might seem to be inflating the slow and tedious way with which the prospects. Dr. Nevius is confident we have already grown familiar. that the number of applicants for bap- It seems as if God were about rebuk- tism is understated at fifteen hundred.
ing that sort of timid faith, or, perhaps, But our eye is not merely on that fif- shaming it into bolder belief. Bishop teen hundred. They will not be bap- Goodsell, of the Methodist Episcopal tized without another fifteen hundred Church, just having returned from an standing behind them, waiting their official visit to the missions in China, turn. Any such facts as these mean says boldly that the MethodiGt brethren a movement and mean a movement there have baptized hundreds, and might in which God is. Dr. Nevius speaks have baptized thousands, as the breth- cautiously; and so we may pause to ren have done in India, only that they ask if the present disturbed state of thought it wiser to keep them longer the country, and especially of the North under instruction before baptism, of China, where we read of sanguinary Whether they are pursuing the batter battles just now, in which opposition to course may be questioned; each mis- all foreigners and their religion is one sion must be the judge of its own duty, of the points of contention, will serious- The fact remains that here'is the indica- ly arrest this movement and blot half tion of what may come any day in this of these inquirers off the evangelist's great empire. The English Baptists of "little book." PersonalIy we do not North China are meeting with like en- expect any such results. The Chinese couragement. Applicants al'e standing have known all along that there was at their doors begging for baptillm. The nothing in the foreign treaties of worth Presbyterians in Shantung face a similar to them. They have not been unfaruil- problem. They are going cautiously, iar with persecution, They can furnish and yet the pressure is on t~em. Last a martyr roli,. challenging comparison year's raport showed that they had with other parts of the mission field.
yielded so far as to admit some five hun- We know those who have illustrated dred converts to baptism. But that did this already; and the Chinese Chris- not show the wonderful work of the tians are not given to" backsliding."
Lord, for that was the report for the They have not had easy conditions on current year; and just after that, most which to make their trial trip. It has of the missionaries started out on mis- nowhere put them on a bed of roses to sionary tours, during which large num- accept the Christian faith.
bers were baptized, so the whole num- But it is not that we are concerned ber baptized in twelve months WdS over about just now. Here is the intimation one thousand. Besides these, there -more than that, the prophecy-of were not less than fifteen hundred more what God may do in pouring out His on the rolls of the missionaries as in- Spirit on China. There is already a quirers, or candidates for baptism, many mighty turning to the Lord; and it has of whom would have been baptized had occurred without a great leader, But not the brethren extended their term of let some Chinese Luther appear; let probation quite recently. This is not some Mongolian Wesley send out a all; the eminent missionary, Dr. Nevius, trumpet call; let some mighty leader tells us that he reoently reoeived from a arise like those with which the history native evangelist a "little book" con- of God's great doings has familiarized taining the names and residences of us elsewhere, and tbill revivAl in the North may sweep like the Tartar hordes in a Christian home; with the issues down on the rest of China. The Chi. of the press in every province, ex.
nese characteristics cannot be pleaded cepting not even Hunan, and every.
as against this, for this people is the where more or less knowledge of the mightiest homogeneous mass of human. Christian faith-in the fllce of all this, ity on t.ho globe, and they are not unac· it is not only the triumph of faith, customed at times to being swayed en but the dictate of reason, that in China bloc by great impulses. we should "attempt great things for It may be a chimera of the imagina· God, and expect great things of God. "
tion that a European writer suggests that a Chinese general may arise, who, THE MISSIONARY IN CHINA.
flushed with successful revolt against The London Times, in the article we the Manchu dynasty, shall sweep the have already alluded to, in reply to the French into the sea at Tonquin, break criticisms of .. A Chinese" in its col.
Russia in Asia in two, or lead a half· umns, says the writer is evidently in disciplined horde into Burma and In. ignorance of what the missionaries have dill. ; but we are, in China, dealing with done for China, and advises him to con~ a people whose history records great re· suit a catalogne of their pUblications in ligious movements. The people that Shanghai and elsewhere, which, the edi~ could furnish a leader competent to tor says, will show him that, ,. whatever overthrow Confucianism after it had knowledge of any of the sciences, arts, been established in the land for six cen· or history of the West his countrymen turies, burn its sacred books, put to possess, they owe wholly to missiona.
death all who were supposed to have ries." Then occurs the most emphatic any special knowledge of it, and tram. statement, which we choose to italicize, pie it under foot for two whole centu· that" the only real interpreter oj the thaught ries ; the people that could import a and progress of the West to the millions of foreign religion like Buddhism, and in China is the mi.~sionary; and when we one year take to its bosom three thou. remember that European knowledge of sand of its priests to teach the " doc· China is derived almost wholly from the trine;" the peopl<l who could raise a works of missionaries, we may fairly Peter the Hermit like 'rai Ping Hung, say that these men stand as interpreters to rally a crude, motley mass of half.in. between the East and the West." Refer.
formed people, who, baptizing each ring to the charitable work of missiona- other in the name of the Trinity, should ries, the editor says China "had no rush forward in a " Christian" insurrec· efficient hospitals or medical attendance tion with a religious.enthusiasm that in. until the missionaries established them; creased their bravery in battle, and and, in truth, she has no c:'ther now; trained them to self.denying discipline and when her great men, such as Li till they gave the Tartar dynasty the Hung Chang and Prince Chung, are in rudest shock it has as yet experienced- serious danger, they have to go to the such a people must not be counted as despised missionary doctor for that effi.
unsusceptible of great religious impres. cient aid which no Chinaman can give sions and wide.reaching display of re· them."
ligious energy. The Chinese nation may That is not the testimony of a mis· yet take up the religion of the Bible, and sionary magazine, it is the utterance of sweep half of Asia with it. In the face a seclllar journal whose judgments are of the seed that has been sown by mis. supposed to be impartial and weighty.
sionaries and native teachers, and iso· We could fill pages with similar testi.
lated Christians, who are scattered along mony from missionary sources. Rev.
the entire coast, till, journeying its Timothy Richard, in the Chinese Re· length, a traveller may sleep every night corder, for November, makes many sim. ilar assertions. His illustrations are THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF CHINA. much of the same sort, such as that the scientific, industrial, political, and It seems as if we would never have historical books, as well as those on mathematics now in use in China, are done vying with each other in our attranslations made by the missionaries ; and the reverse is true; most of the tempts to show how important a factor translations of Chinese literature into Western languages has been done by China is in the work of this world's mISSIonaries. The mines, steamboats, and railways of China were projected evangelization. We strain after imagery by men trained in the mission schools. The !lducational mission to America and comparisons that shall enable us to was led by a Chinese Christian. The medical schools and high schools in the make real to ourselves what this great interior, in which modern education is had, are illmost wholly those established empire is. From a great collection of by missionaries, and these missionaries are the advocates of reform which will, pamphlets before us, kindly furnished Mr. Richards says, bring an annual in- Come of $1,000,000,000 to China. U8 by the principal societies for this We are very strongly tempted, while study, we select two illustrations. Here writing of this theme, to quote wholesale from a little tract, " The Missionary In- is the last Annual Report of the Amerivasion of China," of the Congregational Honse, by Dr. Henry D. Porter, can Baptist Union, "hich puts the case of North China, other illustrations in point. He says the missionary be- thus: comes the necessary creator of a new secular literature. The first missio!lary "In the past. other Asiatic nations from America gave the Chinese a history have attracted the attention of the civilof the United States and a version of ized world in a greater degree than the Bible. Weber's" Universal His- China, owing to special and temporary tory" was translated by a missionary. causes; but as the whole of the East is Mr. J. Freyer has prepared fifty or sixty becoming better known, and the real standard text·books on various subjects character of its various peoples more of Western science. Dr. Martin's work correctly understood, it is acknowledged on physics is the .special source of in- that China dominates the East, and the formation relied on by Chinese officials, conversion of China means the triumph as well as his three great treatises on of Ohristianity in Asia. The reason for international law. Kerr, Osgood, Dud- this lies not onlv in the immense size of ~eon, and others have published valu- the country and the almost inconceivable works on Western medical science. able multitude of the people. in the The natives have some appreciation of strength of their intellectual and moral this sort of thing, for one hundred and character, and in their indefatigable intwenty literary graduates appended their dustry, but also in the fact that they are names to the request that Dr. Happer making a peaceful invasion of all the would establish his college at Canton, other countries of Asia, and by their rather than at some other point of in- superior ability and industry capturing fiuence. The son of a viceroy, who the commercial and industrial activities learned to read through the New Testa- of those countries from the nerveless ment, thumbs a dictionary made by a hands of the natives. The business of millsionary. Siam is almost wholly in the hands of the Chinese. The sllmt! is largely true of the Straits Settlements and adjacent islands, and they are becoming increas- ingly influential every year in Burma, India, and even in Japan. It is saying very little to observe that the evan- gelization of the Chinese is more im- portant than that of any other race. "
Rev. Dr. Judson Smith, in a stirring pamphlet entitled" Our Missionary Op- portunity in China," has the following: ., The Chinese are at once the oldest, the most numerous, the most exclusive,. the least understood people on the face of the earth. The interval between the thoughts, the traditions, the tastes, the aspirations of this people and those which make up our inner life is nearly as great as can well be conceived. Here in the centre of the Oriental world, fac- ing the sea along a coaa~ of above three thousand miles, in a territory, the natu- churches, as to their rites, teaching, ral Beat of empire, which exceeds the and books. Let the Emperor then send whole continent of Europe in extent and forth his royal decree explaining the constitutes one tenth of the habitable teachings and meaning of the missionaglobe, amid natural conditions of cli- ries through all the eighteen provinces, mate and soil which have made inter- and cause this imperial decree to be encourse with the rest of the world need- graved on stones and placed throughout less, and which have sustained a teem- the provinces in every yamen, college, ing population for a pel'iod far outrun- private school, public hall, in every vilning the entire history of the longest lage, market town, and city, and in lived states of ancient or modern times every great ancestral hall. .. Weare -here this nation has dwelt since quite sure we would like to Bee the Abraham went out from Ur of the Chal- throne thus doing a good missionary turn; but the force of the preacher's dees, and here it abides to·day with un- logic is rather irresistible to the Chinese failing numbers and unbroken strength. It il:l the only spectacle of tho kind which history presents or the world has ever seen."
-There is plenty of uneasiness in taxpayer when he says it would be China; but Dr. Legge says that fifty much more economical for thc Govern- years ago one of the common sayings he ment than to continue to pay so much learned in China was this : "However out of the public treasury for destroyed the empire be disordered and convulsed, missionary buildings and other indem- the Changs and the K'ungs have no oc- nity, for which really the people have to casion to be troubled." He says that he pay in the form of taxes. He assumes then understood that the K'ungs were tllat the foreigners cannot be driven the descendants of Confucius entitled away, for" when stopped one step, they " Dukes," and were endowed with ex- have always gone beyond and taken .tensive estates; but it was a consid- two," so they might as well provide for erable time before he came to understand their remaini~g in some more economi- that the Changs were the Popes of Tao- cal way to the country.
ism. The headship of 1'aoism has been -We are, from various sources in in the Chang family since the ~rst cen- China, hearing of the excellence of a tury of our era, with the exception of book published at Shanghai, of which one interruption. The spirit of the first our bright and brainy friend, Rev. Ar- Pope is supposed to have transmigrated thur H. Smith, of P'ang Chuang, Shanfrom one chief to another down to the tung, is the author, entitled, .. Characpresent time. For now, close on to teristics of the Chinese." We had the nine centuries, these popes have had pleasure of reading some advance sheets large landed estates about the Lunghu of the book, and appl'eciate the high Mountains as an endowment. Weare praise it is receiving. Some American all the while thinking of Confucianism publisher should by all means bring out as the religion of the State in China; an edition of it. It is not a passing but we forget that the temples of all the book, but will be among the standard State gods are in the hands of Taoist literature of the world on China and the ministers. Chinese. Whoever knows the author -A native Chinese preacher has made will be ready to believe in advance that a proposal which the Chinese Recorder there cannot be a dull line in the volume.
translates. It is that •• all the ministers -The Presbyterian Mission at Canof the Western nations at Peking unite ton has resolved, if the way shall open in requesting the Emperor of China to for it, to erect a memorial chapel to send one of the most intimate, greatest, Rev. Wellington J. White,. at Sanui, and most faithful officers in person to the and to develop work around It as a cen- Western portions of China, to examine tre ; they will accept gifts from friends fully the Roman Catholic and Protestant toward the memorial, that thUH, Brother White being dead, may yet I!peak, -The Chinese clearly distinguish Bl. All along the coast the missions have read, between the spirituality and been scarcely at all disturbed. All this worth of the Romanist and Protestant may seem a Chinese puzzle, but the Chi. forms of Christianity. Dr. Stuart says nese are always a puzzle to foreigners. no Protestant chapel was disturbed at Iehang, nor in other cities where the The Chinese Recorder says: ,. Some Protestants had been long enough for things are clear to the understanding of the people to become familiar with every intelligent and candid observer: them. Rev. Mr. Cockburn, of the (1) Preparation 'for the destruction of Scotch Mission at rchang, writes to foreign property had been going on for Dr. McMurtrie: " The American Episco- years under the observation of officials, pal Mission in a native house within the without any serious attempt on their city, the Roman Catholic Mission within part to stop it ; (2) the movement is not the city, also in II native house, and the distinctively anti-missionary; (3) , Chi- Church of Scotland Mission Station out- na exclusively for the Chinese' is the side the North Gate, are all of them safe. idea-official or otherwise, or both ; (4) No protection was given, but everything the Imperial Missionary Decree seemed was as quiet as on ordinary occasions. If to indicate a change of policy at Pekin; Christianity be offensi ve to the Chinese, but the fact appears' that the edict aDd and mission work felt to be a grievance, its publication in the Gazette were ob. it is passing strange that the very centres tained with great difficulty,' and to all of proselytizing should not have a single appearance it has failed to command stone cast at them. What happened at the influence we had a right to expect Ichang should convince all parties that from a document of the kind, bearing it is not this or that individual class of the seal of higbest authority. It is Europeans that is aimed at, but all J!Ju.ro· more than probable that tho issue of the peans, without dis/inction of nationality or hour for us who are in China will be in. occupation." The Roman Catholics are definitely postponed through a combinamore obnoxious because of their large tion of 'circumstances fortunate for the ownership of tracts of land and exten- Government, and as the due reward of sive trade, combined· with their often a finesse that has often proved more incautious. if not questionable, ways of than a match for Western diplomacy." securing childr~n for their schools and orphanages, and the secrecy with which The Recorder also gives the transla. they conduct both trade and schools, tion of a Hunan manifesto: '" With one and also in the very objectionable way heart we offer up our lives … ' they say. in which they meddle with Government The principal points of agreement are in their own interests, than because of the ostracism of individuals and famitheir religion itself. Riots or no riots, lies 'bewitched by the spies' of the the fact is, the work even in the dis- Christian religion ; the expulsion of susturbed centres was only interrupted for picious travellers within the borders of two or three weeks in the latter part of Hunan; the offer of money, war mate- May and early June. Schools, chapels, rial, and troops to carry out any comand even street chapels, and hospitals mand the Emperor might make for the have been opened, and surgical opera. chastisement and extermination of fortions performed as usual. Only in one eign powers showing practical animosity feature does the work vary from ante- against Hunan; also the non-burning riot days-that of the extension into of churches and chapels, because of dan. new stations in the Yangtse valley. The ger to adjoining native houses; all such Roman Catholic missions in North China buildings should rather be handed over are reported to have suffered locally, to the authorities to be sold for the but the work of the American Board in benefit of the revenues." North China has not been interrupted.
….. ~
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE. i51
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Organized Missionary Work and Statistics. Edited by .Rev. D. L. Leonard, Bellevue, O.
-Scarcely a lie can be named, among America in zeal and liberal giving in all the hundreds afloat concerning mis. behalf of world·wide missions, though sions, more utterly without foundation, to them belongs the honor of being but,. nevertheless, frequently repeated pioneers in the work, and from first to and widely believed, than this; that last they have supplied perhaps tbeir every dollar sent to the heathen costs full proportion of men at once gifted, the sender another dollar. Among consecrated, and successful in reach. others, Chaplain McCabe, on several ing the hearts of the heathen. Ger. occasions, has undertaken to capture man societies number 16, of which 9 and slay this rascally offender, but he (Basle, Berlin, BrecklulD, Gossner's, still lives. The real facts in the case as Hermannsburg, Leipsic, the Moravian, to the economy of administration on the North German, and Rhenish) may be part of our missionary societieEl appear called the prinoipal ones, and 7 le811er in these statements, which, though re- and newer ones, and who8e accessible lating to but four, will stand for all. In statistics are but fragmentary. Tbe ago the Methodist Church (North), of every gregate of ordained missionaries is about dollar received, upward of .95 go direct 525, with 108 ordained natives, and a to the missions, and but .0066 are total working force of 5213. The com. ., sunk" in office expenses, such as sala· municants number not far from 100,000, ries of secretaries, clerks, etc. The the schools 950, and the pupils 50,000. Amet'ican Board sends to the heathen The annual income from all sources is .9225 out of every dollar paid into the nearly $950,000, of which sum about treasury, the Missionary Society of the $200,000 are derived from the mission Reformed (Dutcb) Church .948 of every fields. dollar contributed, and the Presbyterian Board (North) .955 of every dollar. Thus, -The Basle Society had its remotest tell it all abroad tbat it costs fi ve cents beginnings as far back as 1780, founded on an aVbrage to sl'nd a dollar to the a school for the training of missionaries ends of the earth. in 1816, and sent out its first men in 1821. It is undenominational, and reo -For several months the New York ceives support from Protestant churches Independent has been supplying its read· of almost every name in Central Eu. ers, in most liberal monthly instal· rope. Missions are sustained in China, ments, with the freshest intelligence India, and West Africa (Oameroons and from all lands. And among these ap. the Gold Coast). In 1890 the income peared a quasi-supplement of 13 pages, was $230,047; the missionaries num· wbich set forth the home missionary bered 133, with 92 women and 738 na· doings of the various denominations of tive helpers in addition; the communi. the United States. At least 23 of these cants were 11,584, and the school cbil· were reported; or, counting all subdi· dren 10,500. The home training-scbool visions of such as the Methodists, Bap. has an attendance of 80 to 100. Varitists, Presbyterians, etc., tbe number ous industrial and commercial institu· was about 50. A statistical summary tions are sustained in the mission fields, was appended, from which it appears whose aggregate income amount;; to that $5,818,000 was the not insignificant nearly $50,000, and from which a hand· sum expended in 1890-91. some profit is each year derived.
-The Protestant Christians of Ger. -The Berlin Society (for the Promo. many can scarcely claim equality with tion of Evangelical Missions among the their brethren in Great Britain and Heathen) was organized in 1824, and at first undertook only to raise funds and native helpers. The income in 1890 supply men for other societies, in 1829 was $19,400. opened a seminary, and sent out its first representatives in 1834. The course of -The Rhenish Society is located at study extends over five years, and the Barmen, was formed in 1828, though funds are gathered by means of auxiliary the influences from which it sprung societies, of which there are upward of began to operate more than 30 years be- 300 scattered throughout Germany. fore. Its efforts are bestowed upon The income was $79,637 in 1890. In South Africa, the Dutch East Indies its Chinese and South African missions (Borneo, Sumatra, etc.), and China. (Cape Colony, Natal, Transvaal, Orange With an income amounting in 1890 to Free State, etc.) are 54 ordained and 8 $111,414 ($17,698 from the field), it BUS, l1nordained miss~onaries and 11 artisans, tains 83 ordained and 4 unordained mis. with 430 native helpers. The number sionaries, 13 ordain~d natives, and 558 of. baptized persons is 22,349, of com- other helpers. In the 170 churches are municants 10,892, and in the schools 11,556 communicants, and in the 350 3966. schools are about 6000 pupils.
-The Leipsic Society dates from -Hermannsburg Society was organ- 1836, was founded at Dresden, but after ized by Pastor Harms in 1849, was sus· -about ten years-was removed to the tained by the gifts of the poor, and its city to which it owes its name. In missionaries received none of the culspirit and methods it is Lutheran, and ture of the schools. South Africa and was designed to comprise and express South India are the fields upon which the missionary zeal of that church in the bulk of self-denial and humble zeal Germany, Scandinavia, etc. Its prin- have been bestowed. The churches cipal field is South India, in the Tran. gathered number 53, with 26,940 com· quebar region, the old-time seut of the municants ; and the schools 60, with Danish Halle Mission of Ziegenbalg and 4000 pupils. The 58 ordained and 4 Schwartz. The income in 1890 was unordained missionaries are assisted by $81,090, and $2600 from the mission 240 natives. In 1890 the income reached field. With this sum 25 ordained and 2 $51,792, and the native contributions unordained ·missionaries are sustained, $15,179. as well as 17 ornained natives, and 453 other helpers. In the 148 churches are -On June 11th, 1890, the Norwegian 6911 communicants, and in the 183 Evangelical Lutheran China Mission schools 4753 pupils. Society of America was organizt'd, and soon dispatched its first representatives -The North German Society is Ioeat. -3 men-to China, sending after them ed in Bremen, was organized in 1836 also in 1891 a reinforcement sufficient from various smaller bodies (" unions") to raise the number to 12, including 4 which for years had been in existence; children. Hankow is the seat of the the next year an institute was started at mission. Hamburg, aml the first men were sent forth in 1842. The only field occupied -Over 16,000 Indians are now citi· at present is in West Africa, upon the zens of the United States. During Gold Coast, where, from the first almost the year patents to land have been until now, untold sufferings and dis· issued to 2104 persons; 2830 patents couragements, especially from sickness are ordered, 1520 are approved, and and wars, have been heroically endured. other allotments are in progress. The At the 3 stations are found 442 com· amount of acreage in the 138 reserva· municants, 14 schools with 353 scholars, tions in 1890 was 104,314,349 acres. 9 ordained and 4 unordained missiona· That has been reduced some twenty ries, 1 ordlloiued native, and 26 other million acres. The appropriations for educational work the past year were $2,216,650, or an increase of 20 per 51,410. This is, for both membership cent; for contract schools. $601,000. and families, an increase of about 17 The total enrolment is 17,926-1549 per cent. But the statistics of foreign more than last year; and 100 indi- missions show that in every single par- viduals are in public schools paying $10 ticular this rate of progress has been far per quarter. -yes, many times, outstripped. This table tells the story : -The Foreign Christian (Disciple) Missionary Society lllet for its annual 1881 1891 Iner'se Perc't. meeting at Alleghany City, Pa., Octo ber 20th. The report presented by the Stations…………. 9 15 6 66 Secretary, the Rev. A. McLean, D.D., Out Stations.. ……. 109 166 57 52 was heard with much iuterest as indi- Missionaries . … , . . . . 15 27 12 80 cating good pr0gress in every part of the field. In China the number of Lady" …….. 18 38 20 111 members has increased from 16 to 41, Natlvepastors…… 14 33 19 135 in Japan from 179 to 245, in India from Other helpers, male.. 118 218 100 84 40 to 50, in Turkey from 664 to 691, in U female. 12 63 51 425 Denmark from 131 to 141. The Sabbath- U school scholars number in China 226, in Japan 136, in India 567, in Turkey Chnrches …. …… 35 53 18 51 600. At the two dispensaries in Nan- Communicants…… 2357 5214 2857 121 king, China, 2936 new cases and 6276 Academies. ….. .. 4 14 10 250 old cases have been treated. The expenditures for the year were $71,004. Pupils in Academies. 129 604 475 868 The total receipts from churches, Sun- Day Schools……… 49 119 70 143 day·schools, Endeavor Societies and in- Day Scholars .. …. 1866 4074 2208 118 dividuals were $59,365. The bequests Theological Students. 13 43 30 231 showed a marked falling off, only $1000 Contribntions of Na· having been received as against $12,000 last year. The donations, however, tive Chnrches ..•.. $2372 $7648 $4916 179 showed an increase of $7259. -The gross income of the Missionary -The general statistics of the Evan- Society of the Methodist Church in gelical Association for 1891 show 26 con- Canada for the last year was $143,000. ferences, 2062 churches, and 150,234 members. There are 1227 itinerant -The growth of the work of the Brit· preachers and 619 local preachers; 2535 ish and Foreign Bible Society in 40 Sunday-schools, with 177,639 scholars. years has been remarkable and in every. The collections for the missionary so- direction. In 1851 the year's issues ciety were $134,443. These statistics were 1,137,617 copies; in 1891 the year's show an increase over last year of 19 total is 3,926,535 copies. 'rhe receipts churches, nearly 2000 church members, for 1851 amount to £128,023 2s. 8d.; and over 1000 Sabbath-school scholars. in 1891 they were £285,437 48. 10d. The Of the conferences three artl in foreign expenditure bears much the same prolands, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan. portion: for 1851 it was £103,543 lOs. 10d. ; for 1891. £231,583 16s. 9d. The number of versions was then 148 ; now there are 292. There were in 1851 7 foreign agents, and 2 subsidized for oc- casional servIce; in 1891 there were 27 agents in various foreign countries. There were but 5 district secretaries, with 3 local agents ; there are now 13, with 4 recognized assistants. The local societies in affiliation were than 3809 ; now they are nearly double that num· ber, being 7178.
-Thesn figures relating to the growth -There are about 3,200,000 Presbyof a decade in the Reformeil (Dutch) terians in Scotland. There are 1650 Church cannot but be full of cheer to all places of worship in connection with who examine them. The increase in the Church of Scotland, and 1575 in membership has been but 13, 732-from connection with the Free and United 80,591 in 1881 to 94323, according to Presbyterian Church-in all 3225, or the latest figures-while its families more than 1 church for each 1000 of the have increased but 7452-from 43,958 to population. -The Primitive Methodists of Eng. 11,019 ; and Protestants, 124,,623. The land report 192,652 church members, Dutch Missionary Society occupies this 104,3 ministers, 16,256 local preachers. field.
The missionary society has an income -In 25 years the Leipsic (Lutheran) of £11,099, and an expenditure of £10,. Mission in South India has increased 4,77, Aside from this there was tho from 12 to 27 stations, from 262 to 613 special income of tbe African fund, village~, from 18 to 28 missionaries, amounting to £3313. with an expendi. from G to 17 native pastors, from 75 to turo of £2263, The work of tho society 183 schools, from 94, to 311 teachers, and is carried on entirely in Africa in tho from 1687 to 4753 scholars. Kaifraria mission at Aliwal, North. An increase of 150 members was reported. – The census of the important Basle The Zambesi mission had entailod con· West African Mission, made up to Janu.
siderable cost and some reverses have ary 1st, 1891, gives the following reo had to be encountered; but tho party suits: On the Gold Coast the number sent out by the Board have crossed tho of baptized amounted to 964,7, the in.
rivor and aro now engaged in real mis. crease for the year being 738 ; in the new sionary work. field of Kamerun the baptized number -In 1890 tho Ohurch Missionary So. 256, an incr6ase of 97.
ciety accepted 80 candidates. 31 being clergymen, of whom 24, were graduates; 30 were women, and 19 were laymen. British Foreign Missions. By Rev, Jail. Within 5 years the society has sent out Johnston, Bolton, England.
130 university men, 66 of them gradu. The Niger Mission.-·Though the ates of Cambridge. Church Missionary Society is sending out a deputation to West Africa to ar. -In 1890-91 the· China Inland Mis· range matters on a more satisfactory sion could report 407 baptisms, and the basis, information has just been rec6ived addition of 66 new workers and 19 as· in England from Lagos, through a pri. vate channel, that the native churches sociates, n coming from England, 15 have resolved to secede and to work on independent lines. Unless Bishop from America, 12 from Australia, 9 from Crowther is willing to postpone this Sweden,4 from Norway, 3 from Ger· many, and 1 originally from Holland. The number of communicants is 3000.
-Of the 285,000,000 in India it is course in order to discuss tbe situa. reckoned that only about 11,000,000 can tion with the English deputation, the read. The census of schools registered new arrangement will be in force on by Government (only about half of all, January 1st next. Who the delegates but the most effective half) is, for 1888- from England will be has not yet been 89, in the three presidencies: Madras, published. Much patience and guid. schools, 18,931 ; scholars, 552.152 ; but ance are required in the development a year later. 20,512 and 600,551 respec· of this important field, which is des. tiveJy; Bengal, schools, 64,,628 and tined to become a centre of missionary scholars. 1,4,82.150; but 66,285 and influence.
1,4,91,923 in 1890-91 ; Bombay, in tbe The London Missionary Society's former year: scbools, 17,732 and schol. Report.-There comes to hand the reo ars, 582,853; and in the latter year, port of tbis Rociety, showing that the schools: 11,716 (1) and scholars, 591,627. total income last year was £121,4,55; of -In the Minahassa, the Christianized this £76,313 was subscribed at home, district of Celebes, and upon the north. exclusive of special funds, dividends, ern end of the island, the statistics of and legacies. The native congregations population for 1889 were: Catholics, raised £22,500. On its foreign church 3896; Mohammedans, 5784; heathen, roll the society has 68,000 members, and another 250,000 adherents, with some been called a "black grant" of £2500 1200 native missionaries. There are has been made; and for a period of five about 200 English missionarieB, includ- years the society has ~'mewed its grant ing 37 ladies; and as the centenary of of £500 per annum to the Archbishop'S the society two years hence is approach- Mission to the Assyrian Christians. It ing, a call for" 100 more" missionaries will be sincerely hoped that the grounds is being made, with every promise, from for the recent complaints of the Amerithe appearance of the first-fruits, of a can Presbyterian missionaries respectgoodly harvest of laborers, accompanied ing the attitude of the representatives by B generous liberality. The Chronicle, of this mission may be wholly removed which the Rev. George Cousins edits at an early date. The society has also with sterling ability, will next year be promoted medical mission work by its considerably enlarged, have more illus- grants on behalf of the medical and surtrations, and contain a series of articles gical training of women. covering a wider area of topics than has latterly been possible. Progress in Nyassaland.-Veryen- couraging accounts are told of the phys' Contributions to Church of Eng- ical and civilizing development of the land Missions by the Society for Pro- region about Lake Nyassa. The white moting Christian Knowledge.-At one influence is united, native tribes are at time and lI.nother the society has helped peace, and have confidence in the white in the endowment of 44 colonial and man. Vice·consuls are being appointed, missionary bishoprics, and, this last while" customs," police, and postal matyear its grants for church operations ters are in process of establishment. abroad have been made on a liberal For the fertile land there is quite a rush scale. It has promised a grant of £5000 among the traders and others, and agri. toward providing Tinnevelly with its cultural prospects are cheering. It is own bishop, reviTed a lapsed grant of now proved, after fifteen years of ex- £500 toward the endowment of the perience, that Europeans caD. live in bishopric of St. John's, Kaffraria, and comparati ve health on the uplands in has voted £750 toward the additional Central Africa. Dr. Kerr Cross, who endowment of the see of Mauritius. In returned this year with his bride-a aid of the initial expenses of the New daughter of the late Dr. Turner, the Guinea Mission H has made a grant of famous South' Sea missionary, whose £500, and placed £1000 at the disposal death occurred this last summer-says of the Bishop of Mashonaland toward that one can sail from England up the the expenses of his new diocese. For Zambesi and Shire to the foot of the the dioceses of Colombo, Athabasca, Murchison Cataracts. He believes that and Mackenzie River the eum of £1500 Africa can only be developed by Afrihas bE-en voted to meet sums otherwise cans, and hence it is the duty of the raised, and, in assisting the building of planter to persuade the natives to labor, churches, chapels, and mission rooms build, and live on his or their own and stations in foreign lands as much as plantations. In this direction the civ- £10,615 has been voted to upward of ilizatory part of the missionaries' task 130 cases. These buildings range in at Blantyre and Bandawe has been most size from log churches to cathedrals, successful, to which Mr. Joseph Thomand the grants cover all parts of the son, who has just returned from Lake world as widely apart as the back settle- Bangweolo, pays a glowing compliment. ments of Northwest Canada, the islands Missionary friends in Scotland are eagerof the Pacific, the palm.set plains of lyanticipating the arrival of Dr, Laws Southern India, and the wide stretching this year. veldt of South Africa. To help in the training of a native ininistry, what has Welsh Calvinistic Methodist For- eign Missions.-Two missions are supported by this branch of the Church- member which they contribllte to the one on the Khasia Hills, in India, and bep.eficent work of the Church. the other in Britanny, the former being established 50 years ago. The native -The Northern Presbyterian Church churches number 80, with a membership has 4 presbyteries in the synod of the of 6190, including communicants, pro· Indian Territory–in the Choctaw, bationers, and children, while the total Chickasaw and Creek nations-includnumber of those who frequented the ing 62 churches and 1823 members. services and had renounced heathenism None of the churches have ministers, was 8900. The total income of the mis- but they are served by home missionasionary society amounted last year to ries and stated supplies. The Southern £7952 from collections, donations, and Presbyterian Church has 1 presbytery other sources. For the mission jubilee in' the Territory, with 13 churches and fund a sum of £25,000 had already come 637 members. The Spencer Academy, in to hand, and not improbably before the connection with this preshytery, is an Bubscription list was closed, the figure important element of its work. of £35,000 would be contributed. -The American Board has put up Miscellaneous. – There is slight $1,000,000 as its goal in annual receipts doubt that the Baptist Centenary for foreign missions. It hopes to reach Fund will reach £100,000, toward which this mark by constant advances, and as a large proportion is announced. Some the missionary impulse grows stronger handsome gifts have been recently made in the Congregational churches. The by the leading Baptists of Lancashire. Methodists have fixed their high.water The autumnal Baptist gatherings in Manchester in October were fully availed mmiasrskioants$, 1~2n5d0't0h0e0yfowrilhlomreeacahnditf.oreTighne of by the missionary wing, and a pro. nounced impetus given to the claims Presbyterian Ohurch has proposed of foreign missions. The Society of $1,000,000 for foreign missions as its Friends, it is reported, is beginning to aim. It is creeping up slowly to that plant itself in the East, particularly in point, having contributed over $900,000 Philippopolis and Constantinople, the last year. ground for a new meeting-house having just been purchased in the first.named -The schools sustained by the vari· place. ous American missionary societies con- tain almost 175,000 pupils, and the Monthly Bulletin. 12,000 Protestant mission schools are training to Christian intelligence an ag- United States.-The Methodists are gregate of not much less than 600,000 jubilant over the fact that their mis- children and youth. sionary society is free from debt for the first time in twenty·five years. Greal, Britain.-By way of inaugurat- ing the effort which has been resolved -The Methodists in San Francisco upon to raise $500,000 as a special fund have had, for five years, a Japanese Mis- to celebrate the centenary of the Eng. sion, an outgrowth of their Chinese lish Baptist Missionary Society, the Mission in the same city. There were treasurer of the society, Mr. W. R. 175 Japanese members a year ago, and Rickett, of London, has just intimated their church is known among themselves his intention to give $25,000. as the Take-a-seat church. -At the recent meeting of the Con. -The Dakota (Indian) Presbytery far gregational Union of England and Wales, exceeds the others of the Synod of Professor Armitage spoke on The For- South Dakota in the average per church ward Movement in Foreign Missions. He called upon his hearers to face cer· tain facts with contrition and sorrow. In 1841 English Congregationalists had 192 missionaries in the field, and in -Two educated negro women at 18lH only 197. He said: "For 50 years Vasten have begun to issue the first we have locked up our hearts in aliena- newspaper in the Congo Free State. It tion of sympathy-not entire alienation, aims to .. enlighten the souls of the but surely a very deep and real aliena· black-skinned. " tion. But a change has come. The Lord has opened the windows of heaven, -The Central Soudan has at last been and now we are discussing the enthusi- penetrated by two English missionaries. astic proposal to send 100 men and Messrs. Harris and White have gone to women into the field." found a mission at Lake Tchad. On their journey, which they made on foot, -Former students of Mansfield Col- they were hospitably entertained by the ege, Oxford, now on the mission field Arabs, being greatly assisted by Mr_ are never allowed to feel that they are White's violin, to the accompaniment forgotten by their alma mater. Each of which he sang the Gospel tunes. term the college appoints a correspond- The valley in which lies Lake Tchad is ing secretary whose duty it is to write east of the Niger valley, and has never to each of the brethren abroad, tell him before been visited by a missionary. of the latest college news, inform him as to the new men who have come, as -The Muhlenberg Mission of the to the old ones who have gone, and en- Lutheran General Synod in Africa pays deavor to make him feel, though far a large proportion of its expenses by away, that he is still a member of the the sale of coffee, which it raises on its college fold, that those with whom he own plantation in Liberia. once studied are men that live in living affection with him and love to hear of Pacific Islands.-Miss Charlotte M. his weal. The absent one in turn Yonge, the writer, recently subscribed writes to the college and keeps it fully $10,000 for building a missionary colinformed of his trials, success, needs, lege at Auckland, New Zealand. and thus feeds the flame of missionary enthusiasm within scholastic walls. -The Presbyterians of Australia and Tasmania are planning to establish a -Two hundred and twelve thousand mission among the aborigines of North copies of the New Testament in Hebrew Queensland. have been distributed among Jews in all parts of the world by the Mildmay -The miSSIOns Qf the American Mission to the Jews. Board in the Pacific Islands are thus described: .. The institute in the -The Irish Presbyterian Church has Hawaiian Islands for the training of always given effective support to :its a native educated ministry is commend- Foreign Missions· Committee. It is now ed for larger support. At Ponape the trying a new experiment with regard to work has been interfered with by Span- – its agents Up to the present its male ish persecution. The summary of the missionaries in India have all been or- work of the Board is as follows: Five dained university men, and their allow. hundred and thirty-eight missionaries, ance has been about £350 per annum. 2648 native preachers and teachers, 410 An influential section of the general as- churches, 38,226 communicants, andl sembly has lately organized the , ••Tun- schools of various grades with 46,403 gle Tribes Missions," the agents of pupils, are the salient and expressive which are to he earnest, well-educated figures. " laymen, with allowances not exceeding one-third those of the present ordained -The Free Church of Scotland. with mISSIOnaries. They propose to begin 335,000 members, raised last year, from their work among the Bhils, and the all Bouwes, a total missionary revenue first laY' a!1ent p.as aJready sailed. for the evangelization of the world out- !!ide the United Kingdom of £113,431. 16s. 3d. ($567,155). Its native com· ing the more popular language of the municants in aU foreign fields aggregate two. The spirit of missions, at home 6620. It supports 51 ordainedmissiona- and abroad, manifestly perva.ded the ries, 8 medical missionaries, and 23 pro. body. Two students came back who fessors and teachers. had been at work on distant fields, one -Next to the Moravians the United in AbYRsinia and the other in America. Presbyterians of Scotland are the mis- Their ordination diffused a glow of missionary church, Their 570 churches, sionary enthusiasm among the pastors with 185,000 members, contributed and elders, and reports from forty-four $400,000 last year, and the gain of mission stations in Italy quickened the converts was 600 during the year. evangelistic fervor. A Scotchman who was present at the Synod has written -In an interesting paper in a recent home that" almost every family among number of The Church of Scotland Home the Waldensians has furnished minis- and Foreign Mission Record, Rev. Dr. ters, missionaries, and evangelists, and Mackinnon, of Heidelberg, calls atten- the supply is only restrained by finantion to the thoroughness with which cial difficulties. Were the gifts for the German missionaries are trained for evangelization of Italy doubled or their work. Their systematic method trebJed, there could be no difficulty is said to be remarkable indeed in com- in finding a corresponding supply of.
parison with the lax preparatory train- able and godly Vaudois to do the work.' , ing in some other countries largely en- The progress of the Church of the Vaugaged in missionary effort. After satis- dois, in Italy, is slow, but it is steady, factory proof of their fitness for the life, and the Church is in no mood to retreat the candidates in Germany are admitted from the old contest with Rome.
to attend the Mission House one even- South America.-Rev. J. MIlton ing in the week for a year. They are Greene, of Mexico, is translating into then entered upon the books of the pre- Spanish, to publish in his paper, El paratory school for two years for in- Faro. Dr. J. H. Barrows's book, "The struction in Latin, etc. After this they Gospels are True Histories." have a. course of instruction of a theo- logical nature, including the study of -The Methodist missions in South the Bible in the original tongue, and a America propose to prepare for the Co· few sessions of medical training in the lumbian Exposition an exhibit showing hospital. The years thus spent are use· the progress and results of their work ful in developing in the future mission- on that continent.
ary many qualities which are of the ut- -Dr. J. M. Allis, of the Chilian Mis· most value in the mission field. The sian, says that " if Balmaceda had been result is that men are sent out who are trained under biblical influence, and if in every way worthy of their work, and his proud nature had been disciplined who undertake it thoroughly equipped by Gospel instruction and Christian for the Master's senice. teaching, there is not the slightest ques- tion that his history and the history of ltaly.-The Waldensian Synod was Chili would have been decidedly differ. held last month. Professor Geymonat ent." was Moderator. He presides so well that he is re elected from year to year.
The Waldensians have a fine" Synod- -The Salvation Army has secured a house," erected a few years ago as a strong foothold in Buenos Ayres. Dur- memorial of the "glorious return" of ing the financial troubles it was able to the Vaudois. It was noticed that in the help thousands of men thrown out of Synod the speakers are apt to glide away work to food and shelter. It has a from the use of the French into the thriving farm colony, and is training Italian tongue, which is rapidly becom- Spanish.speaking cadets. -The Synod of Brazil recently hand- reach up to and beyond the average of ed over to Episcopal missionaries in Rio Christian giving of Chinese Christians.
Grande a church with forty members, a The most recent figures for Swatow, day school, and a fund for erecting an supplied by Mr. Maclagan, of our mis- edifice; and did it gladly, willingly, sion there, are 1543 members, who duro and in the spirit of comityand·economy ing the year have contributed $1925.
which Secretary Clark, at Pittsfield, said 'I'he Formosan churches do quite as was so necessary. well; and in Amoy the annual contribu- -Mission work in Brazil by the Pres· tion of the church members is at the byterian Church (North) has been car· rate of more than $2 per head. Chinese ried on principally in the southern por- liberality will always seem to those who tion of. t.he country. But there is a know the Chinese money-making and great field in the north. The southern money-saving propensities, one of the Presbyterians have long been active most convincing proofs of the reality of there. The vast field lying between the Chinese Christianity."
San Francisco River and the Amazon is -Dr. Griffith John, the veteran miscomparatively little known to the Chris- sionary to China, is full of jubilation at tian world. Pernambuco is the chief the recent imperial edict opening the centre of this region, a city of 120,000 province ot Hunan to Christian teachinhabitants; in commercial importance ing. He says that its people are brave, one of the first in the republic. It' is manly, and straightforward, occupying the centre of the great sugar tr~de of the very highest positions as civil and Brazil. and the port of three States- military officers. They are proud, ex· Rio Grande do Norte, Parahyba, and elusive, and anti-foreign to a degree Alagoas. Three railroads in operation extraordinary even in China. But now unite there, connecting the city with that the door is opened they will be acthe northern, central, and southern cessible, and when once converts are parts of the State. Mission work is won and a footing gained there the adbeing prosecuted here with vigor and vance will be rapid.
success. -There is an apparentlywell-ground- ed expectation that the cultivated classes -The natural result of the growth of of Japan are only waiting for the con- Protestantism in Brazil is an urgent, an sent of the Mikado to embrace Protestant irrepressible demand for more ed ncation Christianity in a body. The Deshisha, -higher education. Under ordinary founded by a Japanese boy, converted circumstances the absence of such a de- by rpading a single leaf of the New Tesmand would argue the failure of the tament and educated in Phillips' Acadwork. By God's providence a new emy, Amherst, and Andover Seminary, order of things has been set up in Bra- has more students than all three of the zil, for which the ProtAst.ant ferment is institutions named. in some measure responsible. This in- tensifies the urgency of the demand. India.-A Moravian missionary named Letzen, with his wife, certainly ought China.-The Presbyterian missiona- to be written with those who love their ries in Manchuria have encouraged the fellow· men. }'or thirty years he has native Christians to form a native pres- been preaching and working at a stabytery.
-The Presbyteriom, Messenger, organ tion in the Thibetan mountains, with- of the English Presbyterian Church, out the sight of a European face, and says: ,. Without entering on any jeal- with the post-office fourteen days' dis- ous comparisons, it is permissible to re- tant, separated from them by the high joice in the fact that the members of passes of the Himalayas and dangerous our own churches in China and Formosa streams. -A native Christian, to the saliMfac- work upon it. The brickmakers and tion of the bar, the bench, and the pub- bricklayers, the painters and carpenters lic, has just been appointed Adminis- wele natives trained in the mission; trator-General of Madras, India ; and a and the hewers of wood and drawers of native Ch.ristian girl··-a graduate of one of the Christian colleges-has been ap- water were the very men who a few pointed to the charge of the post.office years before had sought to destroy the at Mandapasali. work. On May 10th the work was com- -The Gospel of Matthew, now being pleted and the church dedicated. It printed at Bangkok by the American will seat in the nltv!) and transept 200 Presbyterian Mission press, is the first move toward giving the Bible to the people with eltse, and 400 could be oro- Laos in their own language. This is vided for without passing the chancel. printed i)1 Siamese letters, but it is The wi.J.dowB are mostly memorial winhoped in the near future to give the same in the Laos letters also. dows of stained glass, and most of the fittings have been presented, including -A •• prayer-meeting" attended by handsome lamps, draperies, a bell and Hindu students of the several colleges chairs, communion table and readingin Lahore, India, is held in Mission College boarding-house every Sabbath after- desk. noon. This is in no sense a Christian prayer-meeting, and with it the college -An English Baptist m1ss10naryauthorities have nothing whatever to lir. Stapleton-writing of the ferocity do. The Mohammedan community, of the Bimgala tr1bes on the Upper too, is similarly affected.. A recent organizatiou, caJled the" Young Men's Congo, among whom he and his associ- Mohammedan Association," the secre- ates are attempting missionary work, tary of which is a graduate of a COllege, reports a .:£!gut between two villages, in announces as its object the spiritual and which thi/women took part, after which mor!>l welfare of the young men of the community. "Divine service" is regu- the victors danced in high glee, and larly conducted in four or five different brought in the bodies of those they had halls of that city; and the newspapers tell us of the" impressive sermons" and slain, presenting a sight so sickening the" earnest prayers" offered on such that it was difficult for the missionaries occasions. to eat or to sleep. The conquerors 4frica.-A very practical demonstra- cooked the bodies of their victims; and tion of the progress of missions is gi ven in the view published in various Eng- two days aft€r a lad walked into the mislish journals of the Scotch Presbyterian sion statio'l carrying on a plant.ain leaf Church, recently completed at Blantyre some of the flesh that had been roasted. in East Central Africa. The mission established seventeen years ago has passed Mr. Stapleton says: through every stage of discouragement and prosperity. At one time the fierco ., One of the men killed at Mampoko tribal antagonism threatened to extin. was a slave of the chief. He had worked guish it; but though the whole surround- for us some three months, and but the ing country was raided, the mission and I>vening before was engaged on the sta· the mission people were respected. In tion. In the morning he is killed, and 1888 the foundations of the new church in an hour or two tossed into a grave wefe laid, and !lince the!). !Ill have been at , unwept, unhonored, and unsung.' The people wanted to eat him, and would have none so, but his master refused to cut off his head, a necessary preliminary to the feast. Another man comes to the fight in full vigor; in twelve hours h1s bodv is cooked and eaten; while to burn alive a poor, sick, deserted woman is regarded as a huge joke. Yet usually these Bangalas are merry, manly fel- lows, very friendly in conversation, and quite demonstrative in their affection; but when the 1118t of blood is upon them deeds which fill us with horror are the merest incidents of the fight to them. "
The Missionary Review of the World — April 1891
A JESUIT MISSION IN INDIA
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIV. No. 4.-Old &ries.–APRIL. –VOL. IV. No. 4.-New Series.
A JESUIT MISSION IN INDIA.
BY REV. EDWARD STORROW, BRIGHTON, ENGLAND.
The Portuguese found their way to India before aLY other European nation, in ] 497. From the beginning they were zealous, after their fashion, in the spread of the Roman Catholic faith, but their zeal, being neutralized by great moral laxity, commercial greed, and political ambition, the" European idolaters," as they were called, made but few and mostly doubtful converts. But it was seen that India presented a' splendid field f~r the propagation of the faith, so Xavier was selected as " the apostle to the Indies. " He went with every human advantage. Ignatius Loyola sent, him forth with the inspiring words, " Go, my brother. Rejoice that you have not here a narrow Pale8tine or a province of Asia in prospect, but innumerable kingdoms; an entire world is reserved for your endeavors.' , The pope conferred on him the authority and dignity of Apostolic Nuncio throughout the East, and commended him to the respect and protection of all princes and governors. The King of Portugal sent him with every demonstration of interest and authOt'ity, and aided him all through his splendid but erratic career with whatever royal zeal and power could command.
Xavier landed at Goa in May, 1542. For three years he was ceaselessly active, passing from one part of Southern India to another; then, in 1545, he left for Malacca, and after visiting several other islands returned to India in January, 1548. Here he remained for fifteen months, busily occupied in the affairs of the college he had founded at Goa, visiting some of his former scenes of labor, and arranging for the prosecution of the mission, and then, in April, 1549, he sailed for Japan.
It is difficult to ascertain with any degree of precision the results of his " wild but splendid" career. Roman Catholic biographers and historians, having now Protestant eyes on them, are guarded in their statements, but in the past, when not so liable to criticism, gave almost as much rein to fancy as a Hindu panegyrist writing a Purana; By them Xavier is credited with all manner of gifts, natural, supernatural, and spiritual, and with an extraoldinary amount of success, his converts being said to amount to 500,000-" all fervent, and desiring nothing more than to become martyrs for their faith;" while, on the other hand, the Abbe Dubois affirms that Xavier left India in disgust, disheartened at the difficulty of making any real converts.
The latter opinion is the true one. He made many Christians, according to the Jesuit theory, though far fewer than is reported, but the vast majority were Christians only in name. Most were infants, baptized craftily and surreptitiously by the agents of Xavier.* A large number of adults submitted to baptism through fear and greed, and almost all the converts baptized had but a formal and most inadequate acquaintance with the doctrines and requirements of Christianity. That Xavier was himself dissatisfied and discouraged at the inadequate results is proved, first, by the fact that after so brief a span of labor he should have abandoned an enterprise 80 extensive, so splendid, and to which he had been specially appointed; and, secondly, on his owno testimony. In a letter to a missionary in Travancore he writes, in December, 1548 : "If you will, in imagination, search through India, you will find that few will reach heaven either of whites 01' blacks, except those who depart this life nnder fourteen years of age, with their baptismal innocence still upon them." In the following month he wrote to Loyola: "The natives, on account of the enormity of their wickedness, are as little as possible fitted to embrace the Christian religion. They so abhor it that they have no patience to listen to us. To ask them to become Christians is like asking them to submit to death. Hence, all our labor is at present to guard those who now are Christians. Hence, since there is not the least need of my labors in these parts, and as I have also learned of Japan, I have determined to start for that country as soon as possible."t In these letters Xavier obviously refers to the Roman Catholic missions generally, his own and those which had been conducted for the previous fifty years, at least, with the concurrence and aid of the Portuguese Government.
But the most condemnatory proofs of the want of success on the part of Xavier and all preceding missionaries, and of the genius of Jesuitism to adopt" ways that are dark and tricks that are vain," are seen in the methods adopted by the Jesuit missionaries in Madura, and persistently prose- * " When these children," says Father de Bourges, "are in danger of death, our practice is to baptize them without asking the permission of their parent_, which would certainly be refused. The catechists and the private Christians are well acquainted with the formula of baptism; and they confer it on these dying children, under the pretence of giving them medicines."-Lettl'es' Edijlantes, tome xiL, po 107.
t" The Missionary Life of Xavier," po 156, by the Rev. Henry Venn. Some Roman Catholic authorities state the number of converts, soon after .the death of Xavier, at 300,000 iu the western portion of India. In the beginning of the eighteenth century the native converts in the Madura district are reckoned by Father Martin to amouut to 150,000, and each missionary is said to have baptized at least 1000 each yearo Bnt the Abbe Dubois, who labored in India from 1790 to 1815, states the number of Roman Catholic Christians in all India, inclnding half·castes and Portnguese, at 635,000. Now, no one will claim that the Roman Catholic native Christians nnmber more than a million and a quarter; or for the whole Roman Catliolic popnlation more than a million and a halfo Where, then, are the boasted resuits of Roman Catholic missions, of which we hear eo often, and whose methods we are advised to follow l" cuted for one hundred and fifty years, which, as an instance of ,religious imposition, has been declared " to be without a paralleL"
The various steps by which this was done were kept secret, as Jesuit methods usually are, but of the fact there i" abundant evidence, as the following account will show.
Early in the seventeenth century, about fifty years after the departure of Xavier, Robert de Nobilibus, a nephew of Cardinal Bellarmine and grandnephew of Pope Marcellus II., and other Jesuit fathers in Madura, perceiving the strong prejudices of the Hindus against Europeans and the Christian religion, devised a plan, as subtle as it was criminal, whereby they hoped to overcome native prejudices by pretending that they were substantially one with the Brahmans themselves, and that Christianity and Brahmanism were essentially one, only that the former, being older and purer than the latter, should be accepted in its place. Studying the native language carefully; attaining a minute acquaintance with the usages and customs of the priesthood; preparing themselves, by a long course of austere training, for the part they were to act, and armed with writings made to resemble certain portions of the Vedas, and declared to be of equal authority, they entered Madura, not as Christian missionaries, but as Brahmans of a superior order, who had come to restore the most ancient form of the native religion. Their success, at first, was not great, but when charged in a large assembly, specially convened, with being an impostor, who sought to deceive the people, in order to introduce a new religion into the country, Malihilus produced his manuscripts, affirmed that the Romaca Brahmans were of much older date than those with whom he was contending, and in the presence of all declared and made oath that he was really descended from the god Brahma. On this, three Brahmans, impressed by his specious evidence and earnestness, advised that they should not persecute a man who declared that he was one of themselves, and gave such evidence of the truth of his assertions. Thus audacity and speciousness gained a certain amount of credence.
To sustain these pretensions spurious documents were produced,* and the fathers adopted names and usages which gave them a close resemblance to Suniassis, men devoted to the most ascetic forms of Hinduism, and greatly reverenced and feared by the more ignorant and superstitious of the people.
As Father Tachard wrote: "The missionaries have resolved to assume the dre!s and manner of living of Brahmanical Suniassis. This was a very difficult undertaking, and nothing less than apostolic zeal and love cOlild have enabled them to sllstain its hardships and austerities. For, besides * The most important of these was a work pnblished in Paris in 1778, nnder the title, .. L'Ezour Vedam, ou Ancien Commeutaire du Vedam, contenant I'exposition des opinions religieuse. et philosophiques des Indiens, Traduit du Sauscritam paiun Brami." An elaborate and scholarly analysis of this remarkable production is given in the fourteenth volume of the" Asiatic Researches" by Francis Ellis, Esq. He declares it to be "an instance of religious lmposition without a parallel." The author is unknown. abstinence from everything that has life-that is to say, flesh, fish, and eggs, the Suniassis must bathe every morning in a public tank in all weathers, and do the same before every meal. ,,* The Father did not think it expe- dient to add that Suniassis, among others t.hings, must wear an orangecolored dress j rub cow's dung on their foreheads and breasts j have a tiger's skin across the shoulders j have a club or staff on which are seven natural knots, and go daily through numerous .ceremonies, and that all these have a close association with heathenism. Thus armed and equipped did these "Brahmans from the north, " these "Roman Suniassis"
(" Lettres Edifiantes," tome x., pp. 15, 46), go forth to teach idolaters how to worship and serve the true God ! All the missionaries did not resort to these methods. They were adopted by a class, certainly with the assent of some others, for the purpose of winning over, if poss?ble, to the Catholic faith the social and intellectual leaders of the Hindus. It was seen that the Brahmans were excessively hard to wiu, and that between them and the lower castes and out-castes marked distinctions existed, but that if the former were gained over the conversion of the latter would be comparatively easy, if not inevitable. But this method involved the recognition of caste and of much beside utterly subversive of Christian doctrine, and even truth and honesty. "The catechist of a low caste," writes Father Maduit, "can never be employed to teach Hindus of a caste more elevated. The Brahmans and the Sudras have great contempt for the Pariahs. . • . We must, therefore, have Pariah catechists and Brahmanical catechists for the Brahmans, which causes us a great deal of difficulty." And then he illustrates the difficulty thus: A catechist came to beg him to baptize some Pariah catechumens and.to confess certain neophytes. But" the fear that the Brahmans and Surlras might come to learn the steps I had taken, and hence look upon me as infamous and unworthy ever after of holding any intercourse with them, hindered me from going." Subsequently he went, and writes: "I made these poor people go to a retired place about three leagues from hence, where I myself joined them in the night, and with the most careful precautiolls, and there I baptized them"!t Not only had the Pariahs separate catechists, but separate churches j nor ~<luld a Christiau Suniassi enter one of their dwellings to administer the 1allt rites of the Church, though he would do this if the dying were removed out of their own d welling-contamina.ted by low caste or no caRte-into the open air, or a proper caste church. The results of such a policy were such as might have been anticipated. As the Roman Brahmans had their poitas, cow * See "Lettres Edifiantes et Curienses," tome x., p. 324. Paris, 1780.
Also" Systema Brahmanican Fra Paolicio Bartolomeo," pp. 47, 56, 57. Romal, 1791. The leading features of Nobilibu8'8 or Nobilis's course are stated by the Jesuit Jouvincy in his history of the order, and in vindication of the policy pursued when it was subsequently called in question, the Secretary to the Congregation de Propaganda Fide wrote in 1676 to Pope InnQC('nt that Nobilis, although he called himself a Brahman, was not guilty of falsehood I t " Lettres Edi1lantes," tome x., pp. lJ43…!.:.5. dung ashes, and strict ritual, their converts, really few in number, ill- instructed and beguiled into Christianity, rather than intellectually ac- cepting it on conviction, retained with but slight modification the superstitious manners, customs, and beliefs of Hinduism, a residuum or virus of heathenism which has kept the Roman Catholic community of Southern India ignorant, poor, weak, uninfluential, up to the present time.
The boasted unity of the Church of Rome has always been more of an Rssumption than II reality, and these proceedings were too scandalous, es- pecially in the eyes of the Dominicans and Capuchins, to be alJowed un- challenged. An appeal was made to Rome, and Pope Paul V. appointed the Archbishop of Goa to investigate the charges. His report confirmed the charges, and condemned the policy of Nobilis and his party: To this the Jesuits replied with their usual speciousness that the rites and practices now challenged and condemned were merely civil .observances, having in them nothing of a religious nature; that they were neither opposed to the faith nor morality, but were absolutely essential to the spread of Christianity in India, and nothing more than prudent and innocent concessions to native distrust, superstition, and ignorance! On these conflicting reports a Papal declaration was issned, in 1623, condemning some of the practices, and counselling great care on all points in dispute, and to avoid scandal and. exposure, it was sent privately to the Jesuits only. The worthy fathers received it in silence and went on doing as before, so th'lt it was not until fifty-seven years afterward that the Capuchins so much as knew of the existence of such a document!
The Jesuits about ,this time were at the zenith of their power, and so for a long time were able to defy their enemies. And so, like other mortals, they abused their power and acted with more audacity and less caution, so that public attention was again called to their proceedings. So numerous and flagrant were their alleged compromises with Hindu rites and practices, that Pope Clement XI. was moved, in 1702, to send out C. T. Maillard de Toumon, a man of high rank and great repute, as Legate, with power to investigate the charges and report. The decree he issued condemned, among otlier things, the marriage of children six or seven years of age; the hanging of the talz about their necks–the usual Hindn symbol used in such cases; the abolition of certain nuptial ceremonies–" for they overflow with the pollutions of heathenism ;" the disuse of the twig of a certain tree which was emblematic of the Hindu Triad-Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva; of the circlets used for averting misfortune; the use of seven vessels filled with growing rice, emblematic of the seven planetary gods. The Christians were condemned for taking a part in idolatrous festivals; bathing at set times, and in tlie manner of the heathen; passing themselves off as Suniassis; using the ashes of cow's dung, with marks on the forehead, chest, and elsewhere, practices common among the" most superstitious Hindus;" and among other things condemned was a feminine ceremonial the decree characterizes as " the festival of immodesty and wanton- ness. ,.
A great outcry was raised against the decree. Father Tachard sent to all the missionaries under his charge a set of inquiries in detail asking if the ceremonies thus condemned were necessary, or could be dispensed with. The answers declared it was necessary to continue the methods in use. And this was affirmed in the following solemn document: "I, John Venaut Bouchet, priest of the Society of Jesus, and Superior of the Carnatic Mission, do testify and swear on my faith as a priest th.at the observance of the rites, as set forth in the preceding answers, is of the greatest necessity to these missions, as well for their preservation as for the conversion of the heathens. Further, it appears to me that the introduction of any otller usage contrary to these would be attended with evident danger to the salvation of the souls of the neophytes. Thus I answer the Reverend Father Superior General, who orders me to send him my opinion as to these rites, and to confirm it by my oath, for assurance and faith of which I here sign my name." Signed, November 3d, 1704, in t.he Mission of the Carnatic, Jean Venaut Bouchet.
" Fathers Peter Manduit, Philip de la Fontaine, Peter de la Lane, and Gilbert Ie Petit took the same oath, and attested it by their signatures; and after like fashion, swore all the Portuguese Jesuits in Madura and Mysore" .<" Memoires Historiques," Luques, 1745, tome iii., pp. 8-10).
Thus the reverend fathers publicly, solemnly, and deliberately make oath that, in these missions, the religion of Christ must necessarily be joined to the idolatry of the heathen, and that the introduction of Christianity alone, and in its purity, would be fatal to the salvation of souls!
This document was carried to the Pope at Rome by Bouchet and Lainez, who did their utmost to have the report of Cardinal de Tournon set aside. In this they were unsuccessful, but with wonderful audacity, on their return to India they affirmed the opposite! Norbert states that on a day when a large congregation of French and native Christians were assembled at Pondicherry, Bouchet "came forward in his sacramental robes, and calling to witness the body and blood of J esns Christ, protested before God that of a truth he had obtained from the lips of the Pope himself that the decree of Cardinal de Tonrnon was in nowise binding, and that the missionaries might permit the practice of ceremonies which the Legate had condemned, because so doing they might the more easily convert the heathen to the faith. ,,* Lainez, now Bishop of St. Thomas, made to the Superior of the Capuchins a similar declaration. These statements were denied by the Pope in a brief addressed to !:.ainez himself, dated September 17, 1712 ; in a letter addressed to the Bishop of Claudiopolis, Cardinal Sacrissanti, Prefect of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith, encloses a copy of ,. .. Lettres Edifiantes," tome iii., p. 320. the original acts of the Congregation of the Holy Office. "They will show you," he writes, "that the report you have heardin your co'un- tries announcing the suspension or annulling Of the decrees of the Cardinal de Tournon, Visitor Apostolic of happy memory, is false and without the slightest foundation." * The fathers, though hard pressed, were not yet vanquished. They reo ported that the Pope had been misinformed as to facts on which his de- cision had been founded, and prepared a document which was signed by many of their converts and three eminent Hindu Pundits affirming that the rites in question were all mere civil observances. But the contrary was affirmed by other Brahmans, yet with little effect; for the wily Brother- hood held on their way. Again Clement XI., in 1714 and 1719; Benedict XIII., in 1727, issued briefs, insisting on obedience to the decree of De Tournon, to which no attention was paid. But· a yet more ~x traordinary instance of disregard of moral obligation followed. Pope Clement XII., in 1739, issued a brief insisting on instant and absolute submission. Every Jesuit bishop and missionary in India was required to subscribe on oath to a most binding document, part only of which can here be given: "I, – – , of tha Society of Jesus, . . . obeying the precept of . . . Pope Clement' XII., . . . issued in 1739, enjoining all the missionaries • • . to take an oath that they will faithfully observe the Apostolic determination concerning the Malabar rites, . . . promise that I will obey fully and faithfully, that I will observe it exactly, entirely, absolutely and inviolably, and that I will fulfil. it without any tergiversation; moreover, that I will instruct the Christians committed to my charge according to the tenor of the said brief, . . . and especially the catechumens, before they shall be baptized, and unless they promise that they will observe the said brief . • . that I will not baptize them; further, that I shall take care, with all possible zeal and diligence, that the ceremonies of the heathen be abolished. . . . Thus, touching the Holy Gospels, I promise now and swear.
• • . Signed with mine own hand, –." t This evidently was designed to be a net from whose meshes no fish should escape; nevertheless, though it was signed by every Jesuit father, the Madura Brotherhood went on their way, systematically doing what~ according to the common understanding of mankind, they had taken an oath not to do !
The fathers yet continuing their methods, another Pope, Benedict XIV., issued a brief, so precise that it was difficult for even Jesuit ingenuity to evade it, and to make it public, commanded that it should be read every Sunday in their congregation, and that all converts should be made to promise obedience to its requisitions. Thus for a century and a half was this deliberate and systematic lying and imposture persevered in, and even then was but reluctantly, sullenly, and partially abandoned, not because it * "MemoireB Historiques," par Ie R. P. Norbert, Lucca edition, tome L, pp. 319-61.
t The original of the brief at full length is found in " MemoireB HiBtoriques," tome ii., p. 465,.' was evil and unchristian, but under the extremest pressure. Jesuitism remained true to its principles of concealment, evasion, and double meaning, if an end is to be gained, and submitted, but did not recant.
And the evil wrought remained. As a Roman Ca~holic historian writes: " In order to take away every pretext for tergiversation, Benedict XIV. issued the bull Omnium Sollicitudium, in which he recited all that had passed on the matter, . . . and left nothing undone in order to put an end to the disputes in regard to the Malabar rites. N6,"ertheless, a leaven of discord always remained between the Jesuits and the other missionaries, aud the latter reproached the formerfor not observing the bull honestly."* What have been the issues of this most shameful and systematic deception, this doing of evil that good might come ~ Ignominious failure, since Christianity has been slandered, the success of missions been hin- dered, and native Christian life and character permanently degraded and weakened! The natives discovered that the Roman Suniassis were, after all, only Feringhees, Europeans in disguise. This enraged and disgusted them. It stopped conversions. It aspersed the Christian name, and men of Western race. It lowered the standard of native Christian life and character almost iJ.leradicably. About twenty-five years after the bull of Benedict was issued, Fra Bartolomeo describes the :Madura Christians as "living in the lowest state of degradation and ignorance." The Abbe Dubois, who was a Roman Catholic missionary in Southern India from 1790 to 1815, gives in his remarkable volume of " Letters on the State of Christianity in India," a most humiliating account of the weakness, ignorance, and superstition of the Roman Catholic converts. Hereis one of his statements: "During a period of twenty-five years tbat I have familiarly conversed with them, lived among them as their religious teacher and spiritual guide, I would hardly dare to affirm that I have anywhere met a sincere and undisguised Christian."
Nor has the evil leaven yet been purged away. In the Harvest Field of this year, p. 329, an experienced and intelligent Protestant missionary in Southern India, the Rev. S. V. Thomas, M.A., thus writes: "Their converts are now to be found in certain districts of South India, in Madura, Trichinopoly. Tangore, and other places. These Catholic Christians, as they call themselves, are living monuments to attest the Jesuit policy louder thatl Pascal's letters or European proverbs. They wear marks on their foreheads as their heathen neighbors do, go to Hindu temples on festival occasions, and bow down before the images of pagan gods, while perhaps they inwardly repeat Paters and Aves. Part of their marriage ceremony is performed in the Christian chapel, and the oouple is blessed by the Catholic priest. When this is done they go home, kindle a fire and walk round it, tie the wedding knot in the presence of Agni, and call upon that fire god to witness the solemn contract. Their church is divided into compart- * " A Continuation of the Church History of Bersult Bercsstei," by Comte de Robiano, tome 1., p. 197. ments, so that the high-class Christians may worship the image of Him who was the friend of outcasts, without being contaminated by the touch of the low-caste worshippers. Christians and the descendants of Christians for several generations, they are sunk in such gross ignorance that, like the good lady in the" Monastery," they are often puzzled to know why Eve forgot to ask the advice of St. Peter or St. Paul before eating the forbidden fruit. Three hundred years of Christianity has left them only where it found themthe slaves of Brahman superstition and of Brahman fraud. Their condition is worse than that of the Samaritans described in the Second Book of Kings, ' Who feared the Lord and worshipped their own strange gods.' "
Such is Jesuitism and its fruits. The leading statements in this paper rclative to the Madura Mission are taken from a remarkable article in the second volume of the. Oalcutta Review, called" The Jesuit Missions in India," by the Rev. Dr. Mackey. The following are the Roman Catholic authorities on which it is principally based: 1. "Lettres Edifiantes et curieuses, ecrites des Missions etrangers, par quelques Missionaires de la Compagnie de Jesus." The original consists of 25 volumes, printed in Paris. The first volume was published in 1717, the last in 1741. The letters they contain were written at various times between 1699 and 1740. 2. "Annales de la Propagation de la Foi." The publication of this was commenced at Lyons, in 1823. . 3. "Memoires Historiques presentes (en 1744) au Souverain Pontife, Benoit XIV. Par Ie R. P. Norbert. Besangon, 1747 j et Luques, 1745. Avec la permissiou des superieurs." Norbert went out as a missionary from Rome to Southern India in 1737. He subsequently held the office of " Procureur General en Cour de Rome des Missions aux lndes Orientales." His work is most condemnatory of the proceedings of the Jesuits, not only in India, but China, and gives ample documentary evidence in proof of his statements. Like the Papal Legate, Cardinal de Tournon, of whose mission he gives a full account, he suffered much from the implacable hostility of the Jesuits.
From the Congo Balolo Mission, Lolongo Station, Lulanga River, Upper Congo, F. Theodora McKittrick writes, correcting a statement in the June number of THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD regarding the Mission at Lolongo : "Only one lady here has suffered from fever since our arrival fourteen months ago j three of us have enjoyed wonderfully good health. We are living in what appears to be a healthy neighborhood; the combined fevers of all three of us may perhaps have lasted twenty-four hours. "
MI~SIONARY METHODS OFFICIALLY REVIEWED
MISSIONARY METHODS OFFICIALLY REVIEWED.
BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Partially owing to adverse criticisms and partly to increased general intelligence in the Church concerning missionaries and their work in heathen lands, large sections of the Church in Great Britain and some in America, have been led to make a patient and thorough investigation into existing methods of missionary work and their results.
The Wesleyan Missionary Society was precipitated into an investigation of mission economics and mission resnlts in India, by the hasty and extremely indiscreet criticisms of a young missionary, only one year in the country, finding access to the home public through an influential journal, and fostered and fended by its popular and vigorous editor. The result was, the society was obliged to make investigations into the charges against it for allowing extravagant living of its missionaries, and for general expenditure to which results were not commensurate, whether judged of in themselves or by comparison with results achieved by others at less outlay. The ill-feeling and general critical attitude of parties, equally eager to ascertain what was right, but working from wholly divergent points, did not place the society in tile best attitude, to ascertain the calmest judgment, of those whose testimony was essential to a thorongh judicial investigation; but it did result in the severest testing of ,all evidence rendered in the case, and the discarding of everything that did not stand the fiery ordeal of a stiff controversy. We think very good results were obtained, but we cannot discern that anything was elicited under this burning.glass that might not have been better reached by other processes. Be that as it may, this was one of the forms in which answers" were wrought out to clitieism of a dam-· aging nature to missions in general and to those of this society in particular.
The London Missionary Society was favored with a more peaceful method of examining its work and of considering all suggestions that were made commonly public, by the agitation of the missionary critics. They appointed a special committee of investigation on all these subjects of metb(~ds, polio cies, and fields of labor. They secured able men to discuss these questions in formal memoranda. They also invited missionaries of recognized standing of the most prominent and widely separated fields, as China, India, and Madagascar, to lengthened interviews with the ::::pecial Committee.
The Free Church of Scotland sent an able delegation to India to examine all these questions of policy and methods on the field. The Church of Scotland Missionary Society instituted inquiries by correspondence with eminent laymen as well as missionaries, especially concerIling educational methods compared with evangelistic methods of work.
We caunot follow these various investigations in detail. They should convince the Church that missionary societies are careful to keep their whole work on the most approved plans, and are ready to make any advance movement that circumstances and experience demand and justify. We select from the topics specially considered a few, and give the result of the iuquiries, not, however, strictly confining ourselves to these official reports.
CELIBATE MISSIONARIES.
The London Society's committee represents the general concensus of opinion in the matter of sending out unmarried missionaries on the ground of economy and efficiency. The conclusion reached was that the system of celibate missionaries was bad. The results in the case of both native and Roman Catholic missions were unsatisfactory and often worse. China testimony was unqualificdly against celibate missionaries, as presenting insumountable obstacles to the work. In every field it was recognized that the Christian home and Christian family were absolutely necessary for exhibition of Christian life. The committee, therefore, made a minute in accordance with the testimony, and condemned the practice of sending celibate missionaries, exccpt in special cases and for a limited time.
LAY EVANGELISTIC MISSIONARIES.
The general drift of thought among those who have given largest attention to the subject in all fields and all societies is undoubtedly more and more favorable to the employment of If much larger number of Jay missionaries. The openings for their labor are increasing constantly along the avenues of commerce, colonization, and geographical extension; and coincident with this condition is a sort of general movement, which it is judged may be divi~ely originated, among great numbers of young men as well as young women, to engage in some form of work among heathen abroad, as mechanics, teachers, professional persons, engineers, clerks, and other secular offices.
The directors of the London Society have decided to accept offers of service from men who have not passed a course of theological collegiate training, and to send them out for a term of years as lay evangelists; the object being to open the door to foreign service, to men of good education and of proved experience as Christian workers, having missionary enthusiasm. They have to admit, besides, that the theological schools are not at present able to supply the increasing demand for workers. They, however, deem i~ desirable that the study of Christian missions, of the history of philosophy and comparison of religions, should form part of the course of preparatory study for all missionaries, especially for those appointed to India or China. The committee after thorough investigation approved of this action of the directors.
NATIVE AGENCY.
It is often urged that native agents should be relied on to meet the great demand, now unsupplied, for workers. But as yet it is plainly acknowledged that such agency is deficient in quality and quantity, and this, in fact, only points out the necessity as yet but partially cared for, of more institutions for the training of a native ministry, and more trained men to develop them j but as yet these trained men are not forthcoming, and the native ministry is not forthcoming as needed, hence the emergency must be met by accepting others whom God has raised up and thrust on the notice of the societies-laymen eager to be evangelists and teachers abroad.
EDUCATION.
The relation of Christian missions to education, and of educational work to results in conversions, was the gravest question that these societies were called upon to investigate. The Church of Scotland invited one hundred persons to give their opinions on the desirability of maintaining their col- leges in India. Of the eighty-five replies received, sixty-eight were favor- able to their continuance and sixteen unfavorable. Of the seventy Pres- byterians to whom the testimony was submitted, sixty voted favorably to the continuance of the schools. The symposium, composed of the sixty- 'eight opinions received in answer to tho crircular letter of inquiry, is in- structive reading, though mnch of it is quite too general and too long to admit of our making such extracts as would do justice to the authors.
Sir William Muir, formerly Secretary of the Government of India, said: " I have no hesitation whatever in saying that it would be a calamity for . India if missionary schools were withdrawn. Apart from immediate con- version to the faith, their influence on the mind of the people has been of. inestimable value. It was the t!cotch schools and colleges which first called forth the sympathies of Hindus toward Christianity. The country has by them been inoculated with Christian sentiment.
•, I take the Brahmo community as the exponent of this new phase of Indian life. The two sheets enclosed are random specimens of the hold which Christian truths and ideas have gotten of the minds even of those who ostensibly reject them. The Brahmo faith, no doubt, is but a poor travesty of Christianity j but it takes the life and teaching of our Saviour for its real basis, and through it vast numbers have access to the Bible and do study it. The process will go on if our missionary schools are maintained i and they are the only means at present available for leavening the minds of the young."
Sir Richard Temple, Bart., G. C. S. I., argues at length to show that the Educational Commission of 1881-83 felt itself obliged to recommend that the IJducation supported by the Indian Government should be religiously neutral, and though the foremost Hindus of the land deprecated that coarse, circumstances had justified the decision. He says: " If, therefore, the Scottish Missions were to withdraw from educational work in India, the state system of public instruction would be deprived of one of the most important class of institutions which have hitherto tem- pered the exclusively secular teaching of the Government schools. Further, as the native religious leaders have been encouraged to give spiritual in- struction in aided schools of their own, the Indian races would be left to the influence of a constantly increasing propaganda of Hinduism and Islam, while the Christian teaching hitherto given by t1>e Scottish Mission schools and colleges would be curtailed. " In short, just as Hinduism and Mohammedanism are entering more largely into the field of religious instruction in the schoob, Scottish mis- sionaries would be withdrawing from it. So far as regards the welfare of the people of India, therefore, I should deprecate any relaxation of the educlltional efforts of the Missions of the Scottish Church."
Sir Charles E. Bernard, Chief Commissioner of Burmah and Home Secretary of the Indian Government, at the close of .an able paper, says: " In so far as the existing educational system leads men to reject Hindu- ism, it prepares the way for Christianity. But if no effort is made to teach Christianity, and if Ohristian Rchools and colleges were closed, atheism would be unchecked until some extension of Brahmoism or some new sect like the Brahmos arose. If Protestant colleges and schools were abolished or greatly diminished Roman Catholics would probably extend their educa- tional work, and would occupy much of the .ground vacated by Protestant missions. "
Hon. George Edward Knox, formerly Sessions Judge, now Legal-Remem- brancer, Northwest Provinces, say~ : " I feel assured of this fact, that educational missions have, under God's blessing, conferred a boon upon India, and have been permitted by Him to be the means of bringing many souls to Christ. Of the extent of the boon, and of the number of souls, we shall not and cannot hope to have a com- plete record, at any rate until the day when we attain perfect knowledge. I have long entertained a belief that His Word is working secretly to an ex- tent which we cannot perceive, and that the day is not far off when the number of those who are added to the Church will be as unexpected as was the draught of fishes after our Lord's resurrection. May we be prepared to me~t it! The practice of employing heathen teachers should, I say unhesitatingly, be abandoned."
Sir William W. Hunter, an unquestioned authority on all things per- taining to India, as preface to a most interesting paper, says: "With reference to the welfare of the peoples of India, I should regard any withdrawal of the Scottish Missions from the work of education as disastrous. The weak point in our system of Indian public instruction is our inability to give any form of religious teaching in our state schools. We cannot teach Christianity, for the great proportion of the tax-payers are Hindus and Mohammedans. We cannot teach Hinduism or Islam, for we are a Christian Government. The result is an absence of religious teaching of ar:y sort, which the natives of India deeply deplore."
Rev. J. Murdoch, LL. D., of the Christian Vernacular Education Society, says: " It would be a great calamity if the higher education in India fell exclusively into the hands of Government, the Jesuits, and Hindus."
We cannot pursue this repertoire of very thoughtful expression of judgment and of most expert testimonv. It is fair to say, however, that the whole question is not covered in the above extracts.
SOME OF THE DIFFICULTIES.
But the troublesome kernel of this whole question still remains. Are these schools giving Christian education and reaching definite results in conversion 1 One of the recognized difficulties is the scarcity of Christians competent to do the teaching, and 1ence the employment of non-Christian teachers. The London Society's Committe(; thus conclude on the whole subject: " Ad things stand at present, such a course of instruction as will pre- pare for University degrees and Government service, necessitates the em- ployment of non-Christian teachers. An adequate supply of Christian teachers is not forthcoming. Difference of language forbids the trans- ference of teachers from one part of India to another. The non-Christian teachers are, of course, confined to secular subjects, and work under the eye and control of the missionary. Still, it is evident that their presence and influence detract from the Christian character of the school ; and may even, in some cases, seriously hinder the work and influence of the mis- sionary. By some devoted friends of missions, in India and at home, this danger is deemed so serious that they are ready to abandon our edu- cational work sooner than tolerate the presence of non-Christian teachers in mission schools. The grave responsibility and inevitable results of fluch a course must be fairly faced. It would mean the reduction of our schools to the level of elementary vernacular schools-the surrender of our hold on the young mind of India, in this crisis of its intellectual and moral history, when the first stirrings of ~ national mind are beginning to be felt, and old faiths are tottering to their fall. It would mean the handing over of the cultured youth' of India, the hope of the future, either to schools from which religion is systematically excluded, where morality has therefore no firm footing, and where there may be Agnostic and Positivist teachers as bitterly hostile to Christianity as the heathen; or clse to Rome and the Jesuits, eagerly watching the opportunity to step in and fill our empty place. "
THE EXPLANATION.
A really much more penetrating view of the whole subject is found in the conclusions reached by the Free Church Delegation. vVe do not know how far this has been made public, nor how far we are at liberty to make public what was committed to us witb the implication that it was official matter, for exclusively official uses. But surely the following most impor- tant general points are of too great value, and quite too general to make our use of them obtrusive or too enterprising. They admit that the Mission Colleges do not now produce the number of converts they once did. In fact, they produce hardly any, and they are not to be looked for. This was not the case in the old days. Dr. Duff and his colleagues had a noble band of converts from the college in Cal- 'cutta. So was it in Bombay and Madras. Why should this have been, and yet not even be anticipated now 1 We wish we could give much space to the reasons so ably assigned. 1. In the earlier days of mission colleges and lligh schools there was no balf-way house between Hinduism and all its abominations, and Christianity. Educated young men had to remain Hin- dus and accept what they came to loathe, or become Christians. There is now no such limitation. Oriental scholars have recovered the earlier Hindu faith, which has fewer disgusting elements, and even some elements of morality. There has, besides, been a decided attempt to read the spirit of Christianity into Hinduism. All this makes new conditions ; the then and now are not alike.
2. There is also the position which the higher schools are obliged to take in the Government system of education. The colleges are affiliated to the universities, and must satisfy Government educational requirements. This results in a pressure on the missionary for an amount of teaching which precludes the quiet personal talks on religious matters, and the private companies gather.ed formerly for instruction in Christian truth. The school is in the toils of competitive work and its secular results are essential to its Government revenue, and the teaching force is, at the minimum to reach this secular standard alone. The preparation former1y wont.to be made for conversion in the class is well-nigh out of the question.
3. In the old days baptisms sometimes suddenly emptied the school for a time, but the support of the 8chool being drawn from the missionary treasury, it was financially unaffected; but now these colleges and high schools are dependent on Government because its grants are conditioned on the fees raised in the school, and Ii stampede from the school means a finan· cial collapse in that portion of mission work; aud neither the local mission nor the home treasury is prepared to meet such emergency.
Professor Miller, in the Contemporary Review, October, 1889, cautions the public what to expect of mission high schools. " Education," he says, " is not fitted to bring men of immature minds, whose characters are only in process of being formed, into the organized Christian Church upon any extensive scale. . . . But it is fitted to plant thoughts and awaken impulses which may make the work of the missionary tell more powerfully.
It is in rare cases more than preparatory." There is no doubt that the general opinion is that educational work absolutely mnst be supported by evangelistic work. But there is still another side to this entire question, which has not been touched in any of the quotations or references we have made. What about the schools, the higher schools, as essential to the existing native Christian community V They cannot be educated in Hindu or Moslem schools, and the Government schools are positively negative or worse in religion. What then V We will let R,lV E. W; Parker, D.D., and Rev. E. H. Badley, D.D., of North India, state this case. This is their utterance about the work in the North India Methodist Mission: " Our evangelistic work is bringing in converts at the rate of 6000 per year, with a rapidly increasing ratio, and our s«hools have had and are haying a very important share in this work. We never could have had this work without our schools, and we dare not continue it without them. If we go forward-and go forward we must-we must educate or we will have a heathen Christian Church. "
But the Free Church Commission boldly puts the question also of the relation of higher education to the higher class of the Indian population. It is, they say, the only way of reaching them. They deliberately assert that, " Unless the Christian Church is prepared to abandon its efforts to get a hearing for Christianity among caste Hindus, unless it is prepared to confine its missionary enterprise to the sixty or eighty II ilIions outside Hinduism proper, this higher education must be included among missionary agencies and given an important place."
The Rev. Archibald Turnbull, B.D., of the Church of Scotland Mission in Darjeeling, with its 1200 converts, remarks that the discipline exercised by the monthly Panchayat (church-court) would seriously decimate the home churches. Our Scottish brethren have a high standard, and apply it strenuously.
Our readers already know that another of the "Soudan Pioneer Band," Mr. Helmick, who received the best medical treatment, has, like others before him, fallen a prey to the African fever. His letters show that even his short career in Africa has left the seed of a blessing in that dark soil. Mr. Brooke was also very sick with typhoid, and had to go away for a rest. We fear that too much blame has needlessly attached to other members of the Soudan Pioneer Company, because they refused medical treatment. One of the principal physicians of New York City has recently stated to the editor that if he were going to explore Africa, he would rather trust to the vigor of his constitution, with care as to his habits, than to risk a greater injury to his system by the daily use of quinine. He says the quinine habit is sometimes as dangerous and enslaving as the opium habit.-EDIToR.] Mr. A. R. Miles, referring to Treasurer Dulles's note in November REVIEW, writes from Bogota, that while the silver law has caused exchange to depreciate, the loss this year will not fall on the Boards-at least not on the Presbyterian Board. The appropriations being made on a gold basis, the loss is borne by the stations in the countries where silver is the monetary basis. The salaries of the missionaries of the Presbyterian Board North are fixed on a gold basis, and do not fluctuate from year to year.
Reginald Radcliffe, Esq., writes from Liverpool urgently appealing for greatly increased prayer in behalf of world-wide missions. He says it is time to " call a halt!" that we may consider whether the greatest need of the mission work to-gay be not that believers unite with each other in believing appeals at the Throne of Grace. We believe Mr. Radcliffe is right, and have often urged this as the grand and imperative demand of our missionary work. The laborers, the money, the energy, the enterprise will all be abundant when we get on our faces in penitence, in faith, in obedience, independence; and when our confidence is only in God. Then every door now shut will open. and every door now open wilL.be entered, and every field be sown with the good seed of the kingdom.
LING CHING TING, THE CONVERTED OPIUM-SMOKER
LING CHING TING, THE CONVERTED OPIUM-SMOKER.
BY REV. S. L. BALDWIN, D.D.
In 1863, as the Rev. S. L. Binkley was preaching one day in the Mission Chapel at Ato, in the southern suburbs of the great city of Foochow, China, a mim about forty years of age, seeing the chapel doors open, strayed in out of curiosity, and took a seat with the congregation. He listened with great attention to the preaching; and, at the close of the service, when all the rest of the audience had gone out, he made his way up to the altar, and said to the missionary, "Did you say that Jesus (I never heard of Him bcfore : 1 don't know who He is); but did you say that He can save me from all my sins ?" "Yes," replied, Mr. Binkley, "that is"just what 1 said." " But, ,. the Chinaman responded, "you didn't know me when you said that; you didn't know that 1 have been a gambler and a sorcerer for many years; you didn't know that I have been a licentious man; you didn't know that I have been an opium-smoker for twenty years, and every " one knows that any man who has smoked opium for that length of time can never be cured of the habit. If you had known all this, you wouldn't have said t.hat Jeflus can save me from all my sins-would you 1" " Yes," r-eplied the missionary, " I would havc said just what I did; and I tell you now that Jesus can save you from all your sins."
The poor, sinful Chinaman was bewildered. It seemed to him impossible of belief. Yet there was a charm about the very idea of a Saviour, who could deliver him from all his sins. He went away in deep thought. The next day he sought Mr. Binldey at his residence, to talk with him about this wonderful Saviour j and day after day for many days he came, examining the proofs of Christianity, and bringing his objection~ to be solved by the missionary. But one day he came to the missionary's study with a radiant countenance, exclaiming as he entered: "I know it! I know it ! I know that J csus can save me from my sins; for He has done it !"
He had a gteat battle to overcome his habit of opium-smoking, but seeking help from his new.found Saviour, he soon conquered, and said, " I don't want to smoke opium any more; I don't want to do any of the evil things I have been doing; but I want to go and tell the people of Hok-chiang that Jesus can save them from their sins." When his friends heard of his purpose, they tried to dissuade him, saying, " Don't go down, there j the people are fighting there all the time j they will soon take your head off, and that will stop your 'Preaching. If you will preach the , foreign doctrine,' stay here at Foochow and preach it where you will be safe." But he replied, "No j I must go to flok-chiang. The people there need the Gospel, and they are my people. I came from there, and I must go and tell them about Jesus. "
There was no time for a college course or for theological training. He went out with the Word of God in his hand, and the experience of his Saviour'8 love in his heart. His lSimple message to the people everywhere was, "Jesus can save you from all your sins; I know it, for He has saved me from mine!" He suffered much persecution-stoned in one place, pelted with mud in another, beaten in another, he pressed on with ill.domitable energy, proclaiming everywhere his simple message of salvation. Many listened to his earnest words anrl became followers of Christ.
After a time he was caught by his enemies in the city of Hok-chiang, and brought before the district magistrate, with false charges against him, and false witn~sses to testify to them j and the too-willing heathen magistrate sentenced him to be beaten with two thousand stripes. This cruel sentence was executed with the bamboo upon the bare back of the victim. I well remember the day when he was brought to our Mission premises, apparently almost dead. I well remember the sorrowful countenance of our good Scotch physician, as he came out of the room, after examining his patient, and said, " I don't think we can save him. I never saw such terrible injuries from beating. The flesh on his back is like quivering jeUy. But we will do our best to save him." I remember how I thought over some of the comforting words of Jesus, as I made my way toward the room, that I might try to comfort my brother in his great distress; and I remember, too, the smile with which he greeted me, and how he, speaking first, before I had a chance to say anything, said: "Teacher, this poor body is in great pain just now; but my inside heart has great peace. Jesus is with me ; and I think perhaps He will take m!> to heaven, and I will be glad to go. " And then I could see the old fire flashing again in his eyes, as with effort he raised himself a little from his bed, and said, " But if I get up from this, you'll let me go back to Hok-chiang, won't you ~"
He was in a precarious condition for some time, but soon began to mend; and before the missionaries thought he ought to leave the premises, he was off again to Hok-chiang, preaching to the very men who had persecuted him, and with such effect that some of them were converted, and became members of our church in that city.
He continued to preach with much energy and success for a period of fourteen years. He was ordained by Bishop Kingsley, in 1869. Soon after he was appointed to Teng-tiong in 1876, finding himself very ill, he went to his native island of Lam-yit, hoping to improve in the sea breezes, and under the care of physicians there. But when, after some weeks, they told him that his case was hopeless, and that he could not live many weeks, hc said: "Then I must go back to my station. I only came here in hope of getting well, so as to do Jonger service; but if I cannot, then I want to go where my work is, and die at my post. " So, in his feebleness, he made his way back to Teng-tiong ; and when he could no longer stand to preach, he sat down, gathered the Christians close around him, and talked to them of the love of Jesus, and His power to save from sin.
On Saturday – evening, May 19th, 1877, he sang two verses of the " Saturday Evening Hymn," beginning, " To.night all worldly things we clear away; To.morrow, keep holy the Sabbath day."
Finding himself unable in his weakness to sing more, he slowly repeated the last lines : " Resting on Jesus, my heart has no fear ; I shall reach heaven, my evidence is clear."
Casting a look of tender affection upon his family and the Christian brethren who were present, he gave them his parting blessing, and in a few moments, peacefully breathed his life away, leaving hundreds of converts to Christ, and among them a score of native preachers, brought into the Church through his labors.
Mr. Binkley was obliged to return to the United States, by the illness of his wife, before he had been two years in China. I remember how the tears flowed down his face, as I stood with him on the deck of the steamer which was to bear him away, and he said, " I can't bear to go home, when I haven't yet been able to do anything for Jesus here." But in leading this one man to Christ, our dear brother was honored of God in doing a work which will go on in increasing power while the world lasts.
Our last reports show over seven hundred members, over five hundred probationers, and over fifteen hundred adherents in the Hok-chiang district. Does it not pay to preach the Gospel to the Chinese ~ [The above article has already been published in tract form j it has; however, awakened such deep interest that the editor has asked permission of- Dr. Bald win to reprint it in the pages of this REVIEW. Among all the narratives of the mighty power of God in the conversion of a human soul, we believe that not even the Acts I of the Apostles give a more convincing example. We commend the reading of this tract to those who have charge of missionary meetings and monthly concerts. It is of itself a sufficient vindication of missions. -EDITOR.] Word comes from Figueras, Spain, of thi opening of the new hall and schools, in October last. Over 1000 persons were present, and most decorons was the assembly. Copies of the New Testament and religions tracts were distributed as the crowd dispersed. About $3000 are needed to pay for the new accommodations. The Town Council of Figueras has actually granted £5 sterling to the Protestant hospital or dispensary in acknowledgment of charity exteuded to patients, and there was only one dissenting vote! Here is an act unparalleled in th~ religious history of Spain. The work seems reaching all classes of people. Children from high Catholics are being transferred from the convents to these Protestant schools. We regard this work of Signor Rodriguez as very remarkable and promising.
WHY MISSIONS ARE SO ,MODERN
WHY MISSIONS ARE SO MODERN.
BY REV. DELAVAN L. LEONARD, D.D.
How happened it that the work of evangelizing the world, after centuries of such vigorous prosecution, attended with such marvellous success, was afterward well nigh suspended, and for well nigh fifteen hundred years? This most serious question we answer correctly Dy alleging that Europe became semi-barbarized and half-heathen, that the Church became secularized and religion formal, that Gospel faith, and love, and zeal went into long and almost total eclipse.
But this only leads to another question equally pertinent, and corriing much nearer home: Why, when through the Reformation ensued an astonishing spiritual quickening, a widespread revival of New Testament fervor and force, was not the sublime task at once resumed and pushed as at the beginning? Or, how happened it that for nearly three hundred years longer next to nothing was even attempted, so that the nineteenth century ·of grace was well on its way before the ears of the Christian Church began to be opened to hear the agonizing wail of a dying world? To this latter question let us seek a reply more at length; and also together with it, to the further and pleasanter query, How came it about at length that His disciples began to reperuse their Lord's Great Commission, and, though slowly, began to obey his last command? It is my purpose to set briefly forth some of the principal and more patent causes which hindered the beginning of modern missions and postponed them to a day so painfully and so culpably late, and also other conspiring forces which in the fulness of time made a beginning easily possible, and communicated the heavenly impulse, and then carried the majestic movement onward from strength to strength, from grace to glory.
And, first of all, be it remembered that in God's strange providence Protestantism was compelled at once to engage in a most terrible life-anddeath struggle with Rome, one whose fury did not in the least abate for five or six generations, and which has continued to the present time. The new doctrine must establish a right to existence, must conquer standing ground for itself, define and then enlarge to the utmost its bounds in Christian countries. So that as yet there was neither much time nor energy left to expend upon the vast and even far more benighted regions beyond. In Babylon, out of which they in horror had lately fied, the reformers found a foe ever present. wily, unscrupulous, and most determined to crush them, and commonly with the ruthless civil power in close league and co-operation. The horrid enginery of the Inquisition was steadily at work, and the Jesuits were. plotting destruction night and day. All Germany was in perpetual chaos, social, political, and religious. Recall the unspeakable desolations attending the almost constant "religious" wars of those dark days; the hapless and most tragic lot of the W alUenses and Albigenses; how the Huguenots found no rest from persecution, and finally were slaughtered by the wholesale, imprisoned, impoverished, and driven from France. For the better part of a century little Holland bent the utmost of her almost miraculous energies to save herself from utter destruction by the diabolical schemes of Philip II. and his Duke of Alva. And as for England, in the persons first of the Lollards and later of the Puritans, those who would have none of Rome suffered manifold afflictions from Henry VIII., Bloody Mary, Elizabeth, and the four Stu'arts, for a hundred and fifty continuous years in all j nor was the fearful stress finally over until happy 1688. Therefore, it is not at all to be counted strange that the dreary and bloody sixteenth and seventeenth centuries witnessed no evangelistic crusades to speak of aimed at remote Africa, Asia, America, and the islands of the sea.
But besides the theological and ecclesiastical strifes which began from the Reformation, esteemed one and all by the frenzied combatants " wars of the Lord," were almost as bitter, as exhausting, and even more interminable thau the clash of arms. And, indeed, the task was tremendous, full of difficulty, demanding the .utmost of wisdom and skill, to separate Bible truth from Romish error, with which for more than a millennium it had become worse and worse intermingled. The trouble extended to all matters of both belief and practice. The reformers of necessity resorted to the Scriptures anew and investigated for themselves. The human mind and conscience now jllilt set free from age-long and galling tyranny, of course were altogether unused to untrammelled exercise, and so not strangely they ran riot sometimes, and went to the other extreme of license, lawlessness, anarchy. Sects sprang up by the score, all manner of hobbies got upon their feet and performed their antics before high heaven. While some would bring the least change possible to religious beliefs and customs, others would reject to the utmost, and thus be as unlike as possible to the harlot of the Reven Hills! But the most temperate and conservative were compelled to fashion fresh creeds and church forms. And, should ecclesiastical rule be monarchic or aristocratic, as aforetime, or democratic rather ~ And the confession, should it be of the Augsburg pattern, or of the Helvetic, or the Gallic, or the Belgic ~ Which was verily nearest to God's Word, the Heidelberg, the Westminster, the Thirty-nine Articles, or the Savoy 1 The spirit of war filled the air, fighting was the chief business in all realms, and hence Luther was hot against Zwingli, and both against Calvin, and all three could by no means in the least tolerate the heresies of Servetus, Arminius, and the rest. In England for long it was not only Protestant always against Catholic, but also war to the knife between the Established Church and Presbyterians, and Puritans, and Independent~ and Baptists, and Quakers, etc. Nor, indeed, in the nature of things, could it be any light matter, a short and simple process, to escape altogether from the intellectual and moral night of the Dark Ages, to return fully to the , truth as it is in Jesus, or for Protestantism to come thoroughly to itself, to a knowledge of its sublime mission, and as well to fashion the needed instrumentalities for its accomplishment.
A further difficulty as good as insuperable was found in the fact that everywhertl Church and State, the spiritual therefore and the material, were closely united, and so long had the relation existed that now it seemed to most to be not only eminently proper, but also necessary. This was another portiQn of the evil inheritance received from Rome; but as a result religion had come to be largely a political affair, to be managed in cabinets by kings and statesmen and generals, by them to be fostered and guided, to be defended by the secular arm. Force was in common use to punish opinions and convictions which by theologians, or philosophers, or politicians were adjudged pestilential. And such a wretched caricature of the teachings and example of Christ as resulted was not at all fit to be carried to the ends of the earth. Better wait for generations until this unnatural and unchristian alliance is ended, and a sharp distinction is made between the things of Cresar and the things of God.
And then, in addition, as yet nothing of importance in any realm of activity was undertaken and prosecuted by the individual of his own motion, from an impulse abounding~ within, but every movement was by prescription, authority of pope or king, and under the lead of orders, and companies, and guilds. The day of voluntary associations was not yet, and far in the future. The benighted people were nobodies, but cattle to be driven or clay to be moulded, instruments to be played upon by the few enjoying the divine right to originate, and shape, and manage. As we shall see, what little was done to carry the Gospel abroad was devised wholly and engineered in every case by royalty and privileged corporations. As far lUI possible all this from the glorious days of the apostles and of their successors, when missionary effort was mainly individual, when the entire body of Christ was instinct and overflowing with celestial aggressive force. No world-wide progress could be made uutil such ignoble and enfeebling bonds were in some way broken, and if need be through violent civil .and ecclesiastical overturning, and the rude shock of war. The English revolution, with the sublime outburst of the Puritan spirit, must precede, and the American, yes, and also the French, with the terrible throes and destructions included 'of the Napoleonic campaigns, to end a great host of old abuses, to teach p·riests and nobles an unpalatable lesson in humility and modesty, to exalt the rights and privileges of the many. Above all, the religious world was waiting for the rise of a great people beyond the sea, untrammelled by tradition, God-fearing, intelligent, each one trained to think and act for himself, with democracy in the State reacting upon the Church, a people loving liberty of thought and conviction better than life. Then, at fellgth, the Gospel, free as at the first, left to itself to do its appointed work under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost and the guidance of the Word, an<l with reliance only upon spiritual forces, couId enlarge itself indefinitely on every side, and spread around the whole earth.
• There was yet another obstacle to the origin and growth of mIssiOns, well nigh prohibitory, and resident in the fact that for nearly a hundred years after the rise of the Reformation Protestant peoples possessed no point of contact with the heathen world. Hence the existence of any widely extended and deplorable moral darkness was a mere matter of hear- say and untested theory. All navigation to distant paris of the world, all commerce, all colonization were exclusively in the handt! of such z!lalous servitors of Rome as Portugal and Spain. Because Catholics saw with their own eyes they also felt, and sent out missionaries in abundance. It •was not until after the destruction of the Spanish Armada and the rapid decline of those powers behind the Pyrenees that Prot~stant England, Holland, and Denmark stepped forward to the first rank as rulers of the ocean. But a few years more elapsed before colonies were planted at Jamestown, at Plymouth, and on Manhattan Island, while factories were opened in South Africa, Asia, and the Indies, both East and West. And when thus finally the supreme naval and commercial hegemony passed into Protestant hands, it was the Lord's sure token that the pure Gospel was about to fly abroad.
Then, in due season, followed yet other and even more astounding victories for the rising faith of Luther, and these chiefly through British valor and aggressive enterprise. It was nothing less than one of the greatest epochs in human history, especially in relation to the career of all English-speaking people, and the publishing of the message of salvation to all mankind, when almost in the same year Clive conquered at Plassey and Wolfe at Quebec, and thus 200,000,000 Hindus were brought into closest intercourse with English Christians, and the French were driven from this continent to make room for the speedy rise of a " Greater Britain," which should fairly rival the mother country as an ardent evangelizer, and continually provoke her to Gospel good works.
One more step of a similar character remained to be taken, nor was it long delayed. Since the generation which followed Columbus. and Magellan, and the Cabots there had been a litrange and long-continued apathy with regard to carrying forward to completion the discovery of unknown regions. Little progress was made in that direction save by a few like Barentz, and Tasman, and Behring, until Captain Cook's three famous voyages (1769-79). In· particular he turned the attention of the civilized world to such continental land spaces as Australia and New Zealand and New Guinea, and brought to light in the vast and hitherto untraversed expanse of the Pacilic, the South Seas of a century since, islands innumerable, such as the Society, the Friendly, an<f the Sandwich groups. We can little understand. the great stir that was made, the boun·dless en- thusiasm that was kindled by his achievements. The deeds of our Living- stone and Stanley were received coldly by comparison; and the impulse . directly given to the cause of missions was immediate and very great. Two facts in evidence of this must suffice. It was the reading of Cook's narrative that first set Carey's soul on fire with holy zeal, and his original purpose was to proclaim Christ to the heathen in Tahiti. And, moreover, the London Missionary Society, at whose organization such a remarkable wave of religious zeal arose and spread all over Britain, was formed expressly to carry the cross to the South Seas, and in Tahiti its earliest representatives first touched land and opened their work.
A final step remainp,d in preparing the way for successful attempts to turn the heathen from their idols to worflhip the living God. A mighty and widespread outpouring of the Spirit of the Most High had long been the chief desideratum. From various causes in conjunction during the.' latter part of the seventeenth and extending far into the eighteenth, a sad and dark eclipse of faith had befallen the reformed churches throughout both Europe and America, a serious decline of vital piety, a lapse into frigid formalism and rank rationalism. The only zeal left was for an orthodoxy which was stone dead. After the Restoration in England had ensued a woful reaction, a descent into infidelity and immorality. "Never has there been a century in England so void of faith as that which began with Queen Anne and ended with George II., when the Puritans were buried and the Methodists wp,re not born." In 1732, when the Moravian Church came into being, cheering evidence began to appear that the Lord's grace and mercy were not clean gone forever from his apostate people. And a little later began to descend those refreshing showers of divine blessing through the fervid and tireless labors of the "'IVesleys, Whitp,field, and our own Edwards, whereby were supplied to hundreds and thousands a spirit truly apostolic, a zeal fiery and vehement, a faith hardy and venturesome, . like that which inspired the church in the pentecostal age. Without this almost unparalleled anointing from on high modern missions could never have begun to be, but now it was possible for the kingdoms of this world to become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ.
Closely akin to what has just been mentioned, and in great part as a result of the operation of the same spiritual forces, the heart of Christendom began to be strangely touched, and melted, and filled with compassion for the millions who were perishing-that is, the spirit of humanity, of philanthropy, of the Good Samaritan, which is inherent in the 'Gospel, was everywhere active in the early days, but had long since been almost quenched, was wondrously revived. Even Christian souls were in an unfeeling, an inhuman frame, reflecting thus the old pagan and barbarous times. Sorrow and woe found slight sympathy. When the general case was so forlorn little heed was given to the misery of others, especially if .of a different nation, out of sight, !It a distance. But a marked change in this regard was at the door. Howard had started upon his painful journeys to mitigate the grievous wrongs inflictcd upon prisoners; the voice of Wilberforce was lifted up in denunciation of the sin of African slavery, and Raikcs had opened his first ragged school. And all this was but the feeble beginning of an era of reforms which constitute one of the most striking characteristics of the passing century, as well as one of its best claims to be remembered with gratitude in centuries to come. And of this pity and compassion the heathen world presently began to receive at least a portion of its share. '
This brief glance at the Protestant Christian world, extending from near the beginning of the sixteenth century to near the end of the eighteenth, is sufficient abundantly to show that the long failure of the Lord's host to go up and possess the earth for Christ, though in no inconsiderable degree their sin and shame, and because of their indifference and unbelief, was also in yet greater part their misfortune, the result of their evil environments, for which they were not responsible, and which they were compelled to endure. Moreover, those tempestuous years were not by any means wholly wasted, but, on the contrary, were an all-important and indispensable period of extensive seed-sowing in preparation for the magnificent missionary harvest to follow. At length the time was fully ripe. Rome was now so badly battered that no longer need any live in mortal fear lest either by guile or by open assault she should recapture lost territory, and therefore Protestant Christianity could well afford to face some other way than toward the Tiber. Freedom, both ecclesiastical and civil, had extensively become the inheritance of the masses, and to them the printing press and the public school were fast bringing intelligence. There were no more lands to be discovered, and the steamship and the rail car were soon to make easily accessible the very ends of the earth. And, finally, in the nick of time a few, at least, in loving obedience to the command of their risen and ascended Lord, were ready to go into all the world and preach the Gospel to every creature.
The news from the Micronesian missionaries, received January 6th, by way of Japan, Was brought there by the steamship Alliance, Commander H. C. Taylor. It is briefly summarized as follows: The shelling of Ouas Ponape and the burning of the mission premises by the Spaniards took place September 20th. The missionaries, Mr. Rand, Misi Fletcher, and'Miss Palmer, were then at Kiti, on the other side of the island. On October 16th, the United States man-of-war Alliance arrived at Kiti, and after some effort, Commander Taylor was permitted to take Mr. Rand, the ladies, and seventeen girls from their school to Kuraie. There are now, therefore, no American missionaries on Ponape. It was useless for them to remain, for the governor had strictly forbidden the holding of any meetings or the opening of schools. It is a sad day for Ponape ; and it is neither to the honor nor to the advantage of Spain, as it breaks stipulations with the United States.-Missionary Herald.
England, Germany, Italy, and Portugal have signed an agreement for the reCiprocal protection of missionaries of these four nationalities who settle in Africa, in regions accorded to their respective States by the recent treaties. For liberty to exercise their ministry the missionaries must have a passport from the government to which they belong. -Missionary Herald.
THE LONDON PAPERS AND INDIA'S WOMEN
THE LONDON PAPERS AND INDIA'S WOMEN.
BY MRS. J. T. GRACEY.
An impression prevails that many of the stories concerning the evils of child-marriage and enforced widowhood in India are somewhat exaggerated.
Upon opening a recent India paper, I read the following: "In one of the largest cities of Southern India a marriage was recently arranged between a young man of twenty-three years, suffering from white leprosy all over his body, and a bright young girl of only twelve. The girl was bargained for, and rupees five hundred were paid down in hard cash. She of course knew nothing of the arrangements made until told by her father, ~hen she quietly submitted to her fate with a resignation characteristic of a Hindu maid."
Turning over the page, another item fell under my notice : "On Sat- urday last a young girl-wife, aged eight years, was admitted into the hos- pital suffering from burns all over her body, caused by her husband having branded her with a hot iron because she was absent from the house rather longer than usual." Still another: "A marriage has been celebrated within the week in which the bridegroom (name given) is aged 35 years, to an infant nine months old!" A marriage was recently performed be- tween a Brahman and fourteen girls belonging to one family. The corre- spondent of a native paper says : " We learned that fourteen Misses Ban- nerji were to be given away; I went to the spot out of curiosity. I saw the bridegroom older than a grandfather, seated on a painted wooden scat, and fourteen girls, varying in age from three to twenty-six years, seated about him in the form of a crescent. The ladies were veiled, and faces east down, as if they were cursing their parents for shambling them in this fashion." This was not done a century ago. It was done in the latter half of this year of grace, 1890.
Instance after instance could be given, but these facts, a few of many occurring within the last few months of ] 890, will surely prove that the statements have not been exaggerated. Then another item attracts our attention: "The number of persons who died by violence or accident in the Bengal Province alone this past year was between thirty and forty thousand; more than ten per cent of these deaths were from suicide, and the greater number of suicides were among women. " Poor women, with life so intolerable it cannot be borne ! .
For several years past the London Times has most ably discussed these evils in its columns. At one time a series of articles appeared gi.ving most startling facts in regard to existing customs, and demanding a reform in the interests of humanity, and when it became known that these articles were written by a Hindu woman, who knew from bitter experience whereof she wrote, a most profound 8ensation was created.
In a recent issue of the paper a very able editorial appeared, headed, " The Fundamental Problem," in which it explains the origin of the social condition of caste women in India, and deals with the general subject of legisla- tion. This is followed by a letter from a Mr. Malabari of Bombay, an Indian reformer and a Parsee, who has for many years been indefatigable in his efforts in India to stir up the natives to' the physical, social, and moral evils of these customs. He has been recently in England, nsing vig- orously both pen and voice in the hope of arousing public opinion, where legislation onght to begin. He sayR: "The system of infant marriages in India has spread under the regis of British-made laws." He has writ- ten a pamphlet entitled, "An Appeal from the Daughters of India." He urges English women to use their influence, and the Government its authority, to help banish these terrible evils.
Rukhmabai, the young and accomplished Hindu lady, whose sentence of six months' imprisonment for refu'sing to marry the husband to whom she had been betrothed in infancy, awakened such sympathy a few years ago, comes out in a very excellent article on the subject ia the September num- ber of the New Review.
And now Punch takes up the subject, having for its text the following extracts from the T!mes editorial : " It is our national boast that odious and cruel institutions cannot long breathe the atmosphere in which the Queen rules. But in India we have long connived at cruelties-cruelties none the less odious because practised in the name of religion, and upon victims that mutely acquiesce in their fate-which need only to be understood to excite profound repugnance and compassion. The time has arrived for the rulers of India to ask them- selves whether they can any longer throw the shield of British law over the tortures perpetrated upon the Hindu child-wife and the Hindu child-widow."
Again: " Before the' silent millions' who make up the rank and file of Hindus, discard the cruelties of their marriage system, their opinions, preju- dices, and habit of thought must change. Nothing is more certain than that they will change slowly j but we hold to the belief that judicious leg- islation will hasten the process more powerfully than anything else."
A full-page cartoon is given to the subject under a legend, " The Shield and the Shadow": "At the feet and clasping the skirts of the armed Island Queen-the Shield, kneels in agony the child-wife or child-widow, behind whom, closely pursuing, is a dark menacing shadow, ' Caste,' " and in a dozen or more ringing stanzas Punch states some very plain truths, and closes with these lines: – " Poor child ! the dark shadow that closely pursues her Means menacing Terror, she sues for a shield, And how shall the strong lEgis-bearer refuse her? '.rhe bondage of caste to calm justice must yield.
" We dare not be deaf to the voice of the pleader For freedom and purity, nature and right, Let Wisdom, high-throned as controller and leader, Meet cruelty's steel with the shield of calm might!"
WOMAN'S WORK
Docs anything practical come out of this agitation? Yes, but it comes ·slowly. In England !J, very influential' committee has been formed including the names of three ex-viceroys of India, as well as several ex-governors and lieutenant-governors, who are familiar with the facts, and such a committee will have influence.
Then the Christian women of England are being stirred as never before, and as a result, a society has been formed called" The Indian Widows' Union." It is an organization of the Christian women of England for the purposeof improving the condition of Hindu and Mohammedan widows in India. The members are" widows only," but any Christian woman may become an " associate member." They pledge themselves to prayer that God will break the yoke and set the captive free. They raise money to be expended in training widows to useful industries, and they gather and diffuse information with regard to the condition of the widows. At the head of this institution is the Dowager Lady Dynevor, and a depot for the work done by the widows has beep. established at West Kensington.
The agitation in India by the native press, and by liberal and advanced natives on the platform, and this agitation in England should, and surely must lead the Government soon to act j but the evil lies too deep for the Government to remove. Nothing but the teachings of the Gospel of Christ will reach the root of the evil, or cure the disease.
WOMAN'S WORK.
The Woman's Board of Missions of Boston (Congregational) held its twenty-third annual meeting in Hartford, January 13th-15th.
Over two hundred delegates represented its constituency in New England, New York, and Pennsylvania.
At the delegates' special meeting on Tuesday, the subject of first importance was the pressing, imperative need of money. This was ably emphasized in a paper on "Aggressive Work" at home, presented by Miss A. B. Child, Home Secretary.
It marshalled such an array of startling facts that it ought to take every woman's auxiliary by storm, and make "aggressive work" for the treasury of each a success, so that the advan,ce called for this year, $25,000, may be secured without fail. This leaflet, "Aggressive Work," is already in print for circulation.
This Board is invited to meet in Brooklyn, N. Y., III 1892.
One result of General Booth's scheme will be found, we hope, in renewed attention to the rescue work done by the clergy. Looking into an appeal sent out by the Rev. J. H. Scott, rector of Spital fields, we find that in this one parish "during the past year 230 cases [women and girls] have been dealt with, llO of whom were below the age of twenty years j 104 hav~ been sent to rescue homes, 13 returned to their parents, 21 sent to hospitals, 11 to service, and the remainder dealt with in a variety of ways." This is, of course, b,ut one side of the work carried on from year to year in such parishes fiS Spitalfields and WhitechapeI.
THE LIGHT IN DARKEST ENGLAND
THE LIGHT IN DARKEST ENGLAND.
BY FRANCIS EDWARD SMILEY, EVANGELIST.
The.!' Bitter Cry of Outcast London," ., In Darkest England," and other startling announcements of the social and spiritual destitution of our cousins across the sea have conveyed to those, unfamiliar with the numerous agencies struggling to deliver the" submerged tenth," the erroneous im- pression that the misery has resulted from the Laodicean apathy of the churches themselves. We hear so much about the lapsed classes and so little of the saved masses, that the pessimistic world regards England, and especially London, as synonymous with heathendom. So many clouds and so few sunbeams, so much darkness and so little light have furnished 'th~ material for the sketches of rhetorical writers, that one is not s~rprised to hear the question seriously asked, Has the Kingdom of Light in Chris· tian England been overshadowed and blotted out by the Kingdom of Dark~ ness ~ While it is our duty to penetrate the darkn~ss, we can do so more safely and speedily even with tapers to encourage us. Let us hold up a few lights, then, that light even "darkest England" for the encouragement of those at home and abroad who seek to penetrate the darkness and bring the perishing out from the regions of the shadow of death into the light and liberty of a Christian life.
In the city of London, where are to be fomid the darkest spots in darkest England, the herculean efforts of the churches to rescue the perishing are as astounding as the gigantic evils to be grappled with. There are literally hundreds of organizations employing thousands of missionaries, colporteurs, Bible women, nurses, Scripture readers, deaconesses, and teachers, who are striving night and day, on the streets and in the tenements, to raise from the mire the souls and bodies of the "submerged tenth." In no city in the world is there exhibited a more aggressive Christianity, or are more evangelistic agencies effectively organized, or more money spent for philanthropic purposes, than in so-called " heathen London."
If the malignant forces that seek to destroy the moral life of the world's metropolis are legion, so also are the benign influences that oppose with irrepressible energy every evil tendency that manifests itself. If the devil is active, so also is the church or the true diRciples in it.
Among the numerous agencies that hasten to answer the" bitter cry" is the London City Mission. "Lux in tenebris" should be its motto. This single society sends out daily five hundred agents, who occupy as many districts in the poorest neighborhoods of the city. Three hundred halls have been provided in these parishes, wherein the missionary gathers his motley congregation for religious services. The missionary is practically the pastor of the outcasts. He lives among them, is their counsellor and friend. The London Female Preventive and Reform Institute, with its mission- aries, matrons, and seven homes adapted for the classification of all ages and conditions of unfortunates, may be taken as an example of the twenty- five societies engaged in similar work. The girls are induced to forsake the streets for a comfortable home, where Christian influences, motherly sympathy, food, shelter, and employment are furnished as stepping-stones to a virtuous life.
The St. Giles' Christian Mission for men and the Elizabeth Fry Refuge for women are prominent among the numerous agencies laboring among discharged prisoners. Their agents are at the prison gates every morning to invite the discharged men and women to partake of a warm breakfast, and to offer them a friendly shelter and secure for them situations, away from the evil influence of former companions.
Such institutions as the MiJdmay Mission and the Bible and Domestic Mission send out daily hundreds of deaconnesses, nurses and Bible women, who, with food and medicines for soul and body, labor among the inmates of hospitals and asylums, among the toilers in factories and dwellers in the tenements. They visit among the poorest of the poor, nursing the sick, relieving distress, teaching the helpless mothers by simple economic and , sanitary rules the valuable lessons of health and thrift, and proclaiming by precept and example the joyful messages of Christ.
It is idle to attempt in this article even the enumeration of the numerous enterprises sustained by the Christian people for the evangelization of this great metropolis. There are at least one thousand agencies, recorded in the Oharities' R~gi8ter and .Digest, at work relieving distress, both physical and spiritual.
There are two thousand places of worship with all the evangelistic agen- cies for aggressive work. There are, moreover, a number of churches ex- clusively for foreigners.
In addition to their usual services, many of thc London churches carry on mission enterprises among the poor. They send out evangelistic bands to conduct meetings in the open air and call the attention of the thoughtless pedestrian to eternal things. They support colporteurs, Scripture readers, and missionaries, who devote their entire time, visiting among the people of the parish.
To reach those who will not attend the churches, special religious ser- vices are held in concert halls, theatres, and other popular resorts through- out the city, where attractive music, .spirited singing, and brief Gospel addresses interest, instruct, and influence many to a better life. There are special agencies that look after the spiritual welfare of the soldiers j others that care for the sailors. The policemen, firemen, and post-office em- ployes have their special services. There are missionaries that visit the cab-stands, market-places, and railroad stations. There are missions to the Jews, Catholics, and foreigners, w.hile the thousands of toilers along the riV<lr are not neglected. The ~riminal is met as he ('ornes from the prison gate in the early morning j the prostitute is accosted as she plies her trade in the streets at midnight, and urged to forsake her life of sin j and the homeless urchin is aroused from his hard couch, with literally a stone for his pillow, on the bridges and in the parks, and provided with comfortable bed and board, and brought under the influences of a Christian home.
The messsge of salvation is proclaimed through tens of thousands of Bibles, tons of tracts, and numerous volumes of Christian literature, which are scattered broadcast through the agencies of the religious publication societies.
Nor does this charity remain at home. Evangelists are sent out to neigh- boring towns and cities; mission boats cruise about the coasts, visiting the coastguards and lightships in their isolation j hospital ships are dispatched to the fishing fleets in the North Sea, to administer both temporal and spiritual nourishment to the toilers of the deep. Nor does this expensive service diminish the magnificent sum annually contributed to send the Gospel to heathen lands.
In addition to these united efforts there are many individuals engaged in evangelistic work. England's Christian queen becomes an evangelist to the families of the poor crofters in their Highland cabins, and other mem- -bers of the royal family count it a privilege to visit the poor and dis- tressed in hospitals and asylums. Members of the nobility lay aside the cares of State to preach the Gospel to the outcasts. The Christian banker, merchant, and editor supplements his daily labor by mission work after business hours. He erects a building or rents a hall wherein to gather the lost sheep. while he himself. often becomes the pastor of the flock. Sons and daughters of the aristocracy, students of the universities, repre- sentatives of learned professions, have given up their homes to live among the people, and have consecrated their time, talents, and means for thtl, " help of the Lord against the mighty."
Back of all this personal and combined effort for extending the king- dom of Christ, are the sympathy and encouragement of the English Govern- ment, whose sovereign bears the title, "Defender of the Faith." Every- whtlre one sees amid the surrounding wickedness traces of the nation's trust in Almighty God, and professions of Christianity. It is inscribed upon her chief commercial establishment in the humble declaration, "The earth is the Lord's and th~ fulness thereof." Upon her public buildings, her monuments and fountains scriptural quotations are carved in stone.
These evangelistic agencies, stationed like a mighty army throughout the metropolis-contesting every foot of territory against the encroachments of the kingdom of darkness, and winning glorious conquests for the King- dom of Light-have weakened the power of the destroyer and defended London from his complete mastery.
. There have been marked improvements during the last thirty years in the moral and social condition of the people. London is wicked, but Lon- don is growing better. Official statistics testify to a healthier atmosphere, and the Christian visitors notice It decided improvement. The prisons have fewer occupants, the poorhouses fewer boarders, and the public houses fewer customer!!, than three decades ago. The wage-workers live better and dress more neatly. They have discarded corduroy for tweeds, and fustian for more substantial cloth. The wife and mother keeps herself and children more tidy, and her home more inviting. A few pictures or chromos, in rough frame8 or no frames at all, adorn the walls; a flower-pot or box, witb a bright geranium or an aspiring fern, decorates the windows. The people show more respect for the clergy, and welcome the Christian visitor to their humble homes. The minister is invited to the workingmen's crubs, and his address is cordially received.. The deepening interest in spiritual things is manifest in the increased attendance at the churches and other places where religious services are held.
Through open-air preaching, colportage work, and mission services, the people have been brought more into contact with the Gospel. and through the visits and instruction of devoted missionaries, the poor fI~cognize the church as their friend.
We do not mean to imply that this improvement is noticeable uniformly among all the lower classes. It is noted principally among the working people, who a few decades ago were very indifferent to the claims of religion. • Such is the testimony of many of the clergymen laboring in the East End.
All the Christian world is anxiously watching the contest that is being waged in London between sin and righteousness, between the followers of Christ and the followers of Belial. This anxiety arises from the intimate relationship existing between this noble city and the cities of other lands.
The throb of London life is felt throughout the world. If her moral pulse is weak, the effect is visible on people that live afar. Moreover, every city must witness the same struggle within its walls as is now being waged in the British metropolis. It is only a question of time when the fair cities of our own land will house a population as !arge as London. Places that are designated upon our maps to-day as villages will, in a few years, be metamorphosed into citics with teeming populations. The Rame enemies mllst be faced ; the same evils must be resisted that threaten our most sacred institutions. The same social problems will arise. The" bitter cry" will be heard. A" way out" of the darkness will have to be devised. Tbose of us who are laboring in the cities are already in the midst of these burning questions.
We will do well, therefore to turn to the mother country, which has given us so much instruction in art, science, literature, and law, and learn from its Christian activity the methods adopted and the success attained in evangelistic work among the millions dwelling in "the greatest city of ancient or modern times." vye will thereby be better able to grapple with these same evils before they reach the same threatening proportions, and thereby stay the destructive onslaught of the enemy by weakening and scattering his gathering forces. And while we face the" dark forest," let us generously acknowledge the work of the pioneers, who have blazed the trees for our guidance in leading its helpless inhabitants out from their bondage into the light of the glorious liberty of Christ.
Harriett Warner Ellis, No. 64 Mildmay Park, London, North, writlll, with regard to women's work for women: "As one of the oldest survivors of the littld company called together in 1834 by the saintly Abeel, Baptist Noel, and others, and having continued to be a member of that first committee up to the present day, you will, I feel sure, pardon my intrusion. When the first twenty ladies were selected from members of all Christian denominations holding the great vital truths of Christianity, it was suggested by Dr. Abeel, or one of his eo-workers, that four young ladies, who were themselves Christians, should be added to the number, to learn about the work, and so be trained to take the place of others when removed by death or other causes. I was the youngest of those so chosen, not being nineteen. My dear father, John Sherman Elliott, was an active member of the Britil:!h and Foreign Bible Society and other similar work, and missionaries of all names were frequent visitors at our house. The first ladies sent out found, as a missionary's wife wrote, ' our efforts as yet are all among the very dregs; in time all may get access to the higher or more respectable native females.' Miss Wakefield was the first lady sent out to India by the new society. Miss Thornton went, in response to an earnest request from Mr. and Mrs. Medhurst, to Batavia.
" On the 29th of March, 1836, Miss Wakefield wrote: 'All attempts to get at femaleI'! of the higher classes appear to be utterly useless.' In that year, Lady Bryant, who had just returned from India, and who joined the committee, wrote: 'By cautious and persevering efforts it may be done,' and in June, 1837, four native gentlemen in Calcutta gave Miss Wakefield permission quietly to visit their wives to teach them Bengali, from Christian school books, and needlework. But nothing was to be said on the subject in public, and the word Zenana was not to be used, as it might stop the work altogether. In March, 1838, Miss Holliday, afterward Mrs. Leider, obtained the same permission from Mahomet Ali in Cairo.
"Prior to this a ladies' association had been formed in Calcutta to maintain the Central School, established by Mrs. Wilcox, and it had a branch in London. That branch had become extinct before the Female Education Society was formed. While rejoicing that now there are twenty-two ladies' societies, we ask for help, not only as being the first in the field, but because it comprises in its sphere China, Japan, Persia, the Straits, the Levant, and West and South Africa. We have no expense of offices, but still meet at each 'other's houses."
THE CREATION ACCORDING TO KRASI TRADITIONS
THE CREATION ACCORDING TO KHASI TRADITIONS.
BY REV. WILLIAM WILLIAMS, ASSAM, INDIA.
First of all God created the heavens, the earth, the sun, the moon and the stars. He created also the beasts of the field.
Heaven and earth were connected by a very high mountain, which is called" Heaven's Navel."
The beasts of the field, at the beginning, could talk like men, and the tiger was their king. They had a market also of their own, which is called the Lurilura-market. As far as I can gather, the word Lurilura carries the idea of "confusion" or " hurriedness."
After that God made man out of red earth, and He put him out in the sun that he might become hard.
The tiger saw this" son of humanity" and said to himself, "This one will be the king j" and being filled with the spirit of rivalry, he asked his subjects, the beasts of the field, "Who among you will go and tread under foot that son of humanity ~" No one responded. After that a creature which goes under the name of "Horse-divine" came forward and offered his services, saying, " I will go and tread him under foot." He went and bruised in pieces the son of humanity.
This" Horse-divine" was a red creature, and the descriptions of him remind me of the pictnres I have seen of the " Welsh red-dragon."
Early the following morning God came to see the" lion of humanity," but to his great sorrow he found out that he had been destroyed.
Now God called together all the beasts of the field and asked them who did it,but no one answered a word-there was a great silence !
At last the dog came forward and said that it had been done by the " Horse-divine."
God made man the second time in the same way as before, and commanded the dog to watcJ:!. him lest he should be trodden under foot and destroyed again by the enemy. The dog obeyed and watched. The "Horse·divine" made his appearance again, but the dog barked at him and threatened him, and being afraid of the dog, he went away.
After that God breathed spirit or soul into that " model of man," and it became a living creature and it spoke.
God said to man, " Come to me to-morrow morning." When the morning came, the tiger got to God's presence before man, and God gave him twelve bodily powers j and the tiger went his way. After that man came, and God gave him twelve inventive or mental powers.
Having received these mental powers, the son of humanity wended his way to the market of confusion, and to his great consternation he found the tiger waylaying him on the road that he might kill and eat him. Man went back and told God of it, and God presented him with a bow and arrow in addition to the twelve inventive powers.
Thus equipped, man went back and followed the path in the direction of the above market, and he found the tiger still waiting for him. He proceeded this time, and when the tiger came forward with an open mouth to eat him man drew the bow, and the arrow, to his great joy, went straight into the tiger's mouth, and he died.
God saw that man was very lonely in the world, being without a companion ; and He caused a deep sleep to fall upon man, and when he awoke he found the woman standing by him.
God married them; and two genii, one representing" an oath" and the other" a curse," acted as witnesses, who also received power from God to destroy, or, as they express it, " to eat them," if either would be guilty of bigamy.
The Khasis were most strict on this question and other questions relating to the sexes previous to the coming of the English to the Hills. And it was an attempt among the Sepoys to violate their rules and customs in this respect that was at the root of the massacre which took place on the Hills in the year 1829, when two European officers and several Sepoys were killed.
The next thing in the tradition is the existence of sixteen families in the world; but a separation took place; nine houses or families ascended into heaven by that" H!)aven's Navel" referred to at the beginning, and seven families remained on earth. And for a long time there was a continual intercourse between the two parties, and God used to talk with men.
The Khasis very often call themselves" the children of the seven families," or" the children of the seven nests."
Now God commanded His servants to prepare a throne on earth, that He might- hold a durbar to judge and to administer justice. When the throne was ready, and before God made His appearance, man ascended the throne and sat on it, saying to hims~lf, " I also will judge together with God." God came and saw man sitting on the throne prepared for Himself, and He went away in great indignation.
The communication between heaven and earth was ended. God and man were separated. The pride of man's heart drove away the divine favor and fellowship- aspiring To set himself in glory above his peers, He trusted to have equalled the most High."
God determined to punish man for his pride in aspiring to equal his Creator and Judge, and He caused a great tree, which is called" The Tree of Shame," to grow in the middle of the earth, the branches of which filled the heavens, and the world became quite .dark; it kept away the rays of the sun, the light of the moon and stars, and the dew fell incessantly night and day.
The children of men were in a very great trouble indeed. With such darkness and dampness life became almost unbearable.
A great durbar was held to consider their trying situation, and the best way to get out of it; They could see no better way than by trying to cut down the tree. They all agreed to this, and went in a body with their billhooks and axes and worked hard all day. When the evening came they returned to their homes to rest for the night. The following morning they all went again to their work and found, to their great astonishment, that there were no marks whatever of their work the previous day. The tiger, their great rival and enemy, went there in the night and licked the cut they had made, hence the filling up. This aggravated their situation.
When thus overwhelmed in their calamities, God showed mercy to them by sending a .little bird whioh is called in Khasi I Phreid, something like the wren in size, to teach them wisdom. The little bird asked them, " What will you give me if I teach you wisdom g" The children of men said, ' , We shall give yon grain and Indian corn." The terms were accepted, and the little bird 8aid, "When you go home in the evening do not take your billhooks and axes with you, but leave them at the foot of the tree with their edges pointing outwards, and when the tiger comes in the night to lick the cut he will cut his own tongue." Man believed the little bird, and acted according to its instructions. The plan proved snccessful, and the" Tree of Shame" was felled at last, to the great joy of humanity. The branches thereof fell into the land of the foreigners (the Bengalese and the Assamese), and this accounts for their lands being plains; the enormous trunk remained where it fell, and this accounts for the land of the Khasis being hills !
The tradition we see does not improve as it goes on. It begins well, and in several point~ it agrees with Divine Revelation- (1) The order of creation, man being the last and the best-the" roof and crown" of the whole fabric of the world. (2) Man made of ., red-earth." (3) And God breathed ~pirit or sonl into that model of man, and it became a living creature, and it spoke. (4) A deep sleep falling npon the first man, and the woman standing by him when he awoke. (5) The fall of man, cllUsed by the enemy and the pride of his own heart. (6) The" sixteen families" and the" seven families" (see Gen. 10 : 2, 6, 22).
NOAH I JAPHETH. SREY. HAM. ' 13. Cush, 1. Gomer, 8. EIam, 14. Mizraim 2. Magog, 9. Asshur, 15. Phut, 10. Arpbaxad 16. Canaan. 3. Madai, 4. Javan, 11. Lud, 5. Tubal, 6. Meshech 12. Aram, 7. Tiras, The Khasis also have a tradition of a nniversal flood, and their religions ceremonies are full of the atoning and the mediatorial elements.
Mr. J. B. Braddon, an officer of the Indian Government, wrote: "It would be well if those persons who speak and write 80 earnestly respectin/!: mission work should spend some time among the Khasees, and look without prejudice at the work that is going on there. I feel very certain that they would no longet think that the missionaries labored in vain."
LETTERS FROM EUROPE
LETTERS FROM EUROPE.-I.
MISSION WORK IN THE SCOTCH ATHENS.
BY DELAVAN L. PIERSON.
Scotland is generally known as a religious country. One can readily understand this after walking the streets of Edinburgh on a Sabbath morning, and seeing the numerous and magnificent church edifices lifting their lofty spires on all sides, and the populace thronging the thoroughfares in every direction on tll e way to their places of worshi? Not a street car is to be seen on the Lord's day; and, as a natura] consequence, the vast majority of the people walk, if they go to church at all. Yet the congregations seem to gain rather than lose from this cause, for it may be doubted whether in any city in or out of Britain the average audiences exceed those of this modern Athens.
It would be strange, however, if, as in other cases, there should not be found a darker side to the religions life of the city. One needs only to take a stroll through the Lowgate or Canongate on a Saturday night to be convinced of the truth of that fact. It seems as though the higher the spiritual life of one factor of the citizens, the lower would be the degr~da tion of the other. But however that may be, there is at least plenty of opportunity for earnest missionary effort to be expended in behalf of the lower classes of Edinburgh.
In the former residences of the nobles in the High Street and Canongate, some of the lowest classes now have their dwelling places. It seems oddly out of place to see fine panelled ceilings and carved oak woodwork in the homes of the paupers, and it is a peculiar fact that the mansion once occupied by the Duke of Queensbury is now used as a House of Refuge for the Destitute. There three hundred paupers and inebriates find their homes; forty destitute men and women nightly find shelter, and hundreds of the poor buy there daily their twopenny dinner of soup and bread for a penny. Great improvements are being made in the homes of the poor. Dark and dirty closes and narrow winding stairs are being replaced by light and airy courts lined with glazed brick and stairways of iron, so that it is next to impossible for the dirt to find a sticking place. In the lodging houses, too, there is noticeable a vast improvement. Instead of the close, dingy, crowded" metropolitan lodging houses," fit only to breed and foster poverty and vice, " model lodging houses" have been erected that are provided with all necessary sanitary arrangements. Here, at the small price of from four to sixpence per night, so much better accommodations may be had than most of the, poor men enjoy in their own homes, that many leave their wives and families to take advantage of them. A reading-room, with newspapers and Sunday services, is connected with them, and a kitchen with a huge range, where each man may eook his own food. In the washhouse, with its drying room, reminding one of the fiery furnace, a man may wash, rinse, and dry his whole wardrobe in the space of fifteen minutes. Everything is clean, comfortable, and well ventilated. No profanity or vulgarity is allowed, and fines or expulsion are the penalty for every offence. S~arate lodging houses are provided for the women, and each has accommodations for some three hundred and eighty.
But while all this is being done for the moral aud physical improvement of these men and women, their spiritual natures are not neglected. There are missions of every description scattered throughout the city, some of them peculiar to Edinburgh, and all apparently accomplishing a noble work.
The Territorial 'Mission was instituted by Thomas Chalmers, and has continued in a flourishing condition ever since his time. After the disruption he first held his meetings in an old tan loft in the West Port, and in the surrounding district carried out his ideal plan of city evangelization. The church which was afterward erected for him there, and where he preached for several years, is now used as a mission hall in connection with the Chalmers' Territorial Church. In this old church meetings of various sorts; carried on by the members of the church, are held nightly. These meetings include temperance, evangelistic, song, children's, and other services. But the principal emphasis is put upon the" from·house-to-house" visitation, which is carried out most systematically and regularly. Over this mission department of the church work is a missionary, and under the missionary some seventy or eighty workers, each ten having its own superintendent. Each worker visits from five to six families on e,very Sabbath afternoon, so that all of the four or five hundred families in the district are visited at least once a week. Spiritual effects are those sought, and each worker endeavors to become intimately acquainted with the family history and cares of those with whom he comes in contact. Tracts of educational, temperance, and religious character are distributed regularly, and differ in character from Sunday to Sunday. The temporal wants of those who prove worthy are also looked after to some extent. The missionary and workers have lodging house and bakeshop tickets, marked with symbols to denote their worth, so that they cannot be exchanged for drink; these they distribute to the needy, and clothes and food and other assistance are often given when the nature of the case seems to warrant it. Many ladies of the church are interested in the work of reclaiming the fallen women, many of whom are from high familics of the city and neighborhood, and are weary of their wretched life and long for better, nobler things. If Christ is the one whom they seek, some home is usually speedily found for them, and their old life buried as much as possible in oblivion. If, on the other hand, respectability only is their aim, they must agree to spend eighteen months in a reformatory or "home," where they are clothed and fed 2nd are obliged to do a little work. After this a situation is usually obtained for· them, and they may begin life practically anew, apart from all their old surroundings and companions. Open-air services play an important part in the evangelisti,c wo!.k of the church, and every Sabbath f evening they are held in various parts of the city, by which means people are gathered and are led singing down the street to the door of the church, where an evangelistic service is held at eight o'clock. The singers remain without for a time, to endeavor to attract more wanderers, fer music seems to have especial powers over the Scotch nature, and then all are invited in, and the pure Gospel is preacbed to them there.
There are many difficulties and disappointments connected with the work, but one soul saved would put ten thousand misgivings and fears to flight. The scene of the work was, in the early part of the century, the scene of the ghastly tragedy of the" Burke and Hare murders," wheril unsuspecting strangers were decoyed into a so-called lodging house only to come out corpses, sold to the medical students. The body of Burke himself was afterward delivered as that of a criminal to undergo the same treatment that his victims had undergone before him. The most difficult people to) reach are those who have lived in t,hese low circumstances from their childhood. As a rule, they marry early and live a drunken, brawling life. It is those who have falien in some degree at least who appear most susceptible to earnest entreaty. Many are the dangers and inconveniences which the workers are obliged to undergo in carrying on their work, often being called upon to stand between the knives of knavish brawlers or remain up until daylight with those whom they are seeking to reclaim.
Newton's great law of motion seems to apply as truly to religion as to matter, and for every energetic evangelistic action there appears to be an equal reaction in the religious lives of the workers. Never was a church more thriving than the Territorial Church of the West Port. It is noticeable even in the very walk of the members up the church aisle j it is energetic, and not as if the congregation only came to the church to attend a funeral service.
Another excellent example of the Edinburgh mission work is that of the " close" missions. The Carrubber's Close Mission is the most interesting and influential. It was founded in 1858, and for over twenty years carried on its work in small, insufficient, and dingy quarters at the foot of one of the old closes in the High Street. Finally, through the energetic efforts of Mr. D. L. Moody, a fine seventy-five thousand dollar building was erected for their use, with all necessary class-rooms and an audience room with a seating capacity of about twelve hundred. Here meetings are held nightly in connection with the various departments of the work. There are over six hundred workers identified with this mission who, under superintendents, work in connection with one or more of the thirty-two sections. These sections carryon work very varied in character in co-operation with open· air meetings, temperance and evangelistic, together with societies foJ." women, girls, young men and boys, and special work among the J."ailroad men, coalmen, and policemen. During the last year there were 4500 meetings in connection with the Carrubber's Close, including prayer-meetings, open-air services, temperance meetings, Bible classes, and meetings for the young in country and city. There are ten open-air meetings in various parts of the city every Sabbath. A prominent feature of the work is the temperance movement, in conjunction with which a monthly periodical is published, the Gospel Temperance Appeal. Every Saturday evening a temperance meeting is held, at which everything is done to provide an attractive programme of temperance addresses and sacred music. Although m.'lny of the meetings are considerably disturbed by those under the influence of liquor, still often these very men are led to Christ and become earnest and enthusiastic workers. Pledges are to be had at the close of the meeting for those to sign who will, and always a number remain to take the pledge or, at least, be spoken to on the subject. The names of those who take the pledge are written down with the address, and thus they are put into communication with the workers, several of. whom follow up each one and endeavor to help them on in their new stand for the right.
The Girls' Sewing and Bible Class is also very helpful for reclaiming those who have fallen, and for saving many another from a downward course. At a meeting recently of the girls who had been reclaimed through the efforts of the lady in charge of this department, there were present over one hundred and sixty, all in good situations, and leading respectable lives. Need it be said that they have a great affection for their benefactress, and most of them for Christ as well ~ Many tracts are distributed throughout the streets also in connection with the mission work, and have the naHle of the mission upon them· as a guide to those seeking further light.
As an instance of how much influence thc mission exerts for good in the city, we need only cite a letter from the governor of the Edinburgh prison to the Superintendent of the Gospel Temperance Section. It reads : 30 Waterloo Place, Dec. 8, 1890.
DEAR MR. BARCLAY: Will you kindly do me the favor to express to the Directors of Carrubber's Close Mission my thanks for the interest manifested by themselves and their workers in the reformation of the criminal classes. I think you are aware that for many years I have given you the credit of keeping down the daily average number of criminals by about one hundred, and I do trust that you will not diminsh your exertions, as this is 8 very important time for action.
****** ** * Unfortunately, I have not been able to attend so many of your meetings as I could have wished, but when I have been present it has often been a matter of wonder to me, on seeing so many familiar faces, to imagine where they might have been and what trouble they might have got into had it not been for such meetings j although I am aware many of your people have dond much in the way of individual help. With many thanks, Yours very truly, J. E. CHRISTIE.
The Edinburgh City Mission, like those of like character in other cities, takes a large part in the evangelistic work of the city. Its efforts are confined to the poor of no one portion or district, and, unlike other forms of missionary societies here found, employs a number of salaried men to devote their whole time to the visitation and care of the lower classes. For this purpose the city is divided into nine sections of about four hundred families each, and over each section is a missionary who holds services in the mission hall of the district, and whose business it is to visit as often as possible the families in his section, and to care for the general spiritual welfare. There are besides five special departments of the·work for specified classes, having missionaries for each department; these include the cabmen, policemen, lodging houses, prisons, inebriates, and public houses and fallen women. In the division of the city care has been taken not to interfere with any well-organized work of a church or other mission, but there are many churches which work in connection with the city mis- sionaries, thus supplying a large body of workers to assist them in their vis- itation.
The City Mission is entirely undenominational, but is thoroughly evangelical, and in consequence its workers do not as frequently meet with a cold reception at the hands of the Roman Catholic portion of the city. The methods used are very similar to those of the other societies, first and foremost being that of personal contact with the men and women on the streets and in their homes, thus seeking to raise them morally and spiritually, and in raising the individuals from the degradation into which they have fallen to raise the whole community. As a rule, the city missionary is the only pastor and adviser that they have; but the men are well chosen, and keep their hands to the plough faithfully, endeavoring, by becoming all things to all men, to try if by any means they may save some. The results are tangible and encouraging, though the work is one fraught with trials and discouragements.
A fourth form of mission work, and one peculiar to Edinburgh, is that of the" Students' Settlements." These are conducted by the students of the university or theological colleges, and are found to be of the greatest benefit both to the students and to those among whom they labor. The Ponton Street Mission, in connection with the university, originated about four years ago, largely through the efforts of Professor Henry Drummond. Its object is .nominally secular, but much religious work is done by the students who are engaged in the work. A large hall has been erected in one of the poorest districts of the city, and here the students live and endeavor by personal contact, especially with the young men, to raise them intellectually, morally, and spiritually. Classes in wood-carving, drawing, history, and other departments are conducted during the week and, together with the reading·room, furnish an opportunity for the personal contact sought. Sabbath-school and Bible classes, with an occasional evangelistic address, and now and then a meeting for social intercourse, also form an important part of the scheme by which the work is carried on. About five or six students usually live in thE' mission and devote much time to the work, often at great inconvenience to themselves.
The other settlement is in connection with the Free Church College Missionary Society, and has only recently been organized. Its object is solely religious, and avowedly so; other benefits are expected to follow the spiritual uplifting of the community. The" settlers," six in num- – ber, comc into contact with the men, chiefly in the Young Men's Club, where they have an opportunity to converse with them as they at the same ·time endeavor to entertain them at games of dominoes, check- ers, and in other ways. The men's club forms' the chief feature of the work. There is a fee of one shilling a year to entitle one to membership, and the men make their own rules, elect their own officers, and have entire charge of it, subject to the approval of the" settlers. ,. Of their own free will they prohibit gambling and profanity, and are, as a rule, orderly and appreciative. The club is intended to take the place of the public house in the leisure hours of the men, and to afford an opportunity for the students to come into direct contact with the individuals whom they seek to benefit. Other departments of the work are the Sabbath-school,- chil- dren's church, Band of Hope, library, savings bank, Boy's Brigade, Bible classes, prayer and temperance meetings, and meetings for women, chiefly under the charge of ladies from St. Andrew's Church, which works in connection with the students.
The subscribers to each of the various departments of mission work form the society from which managcrs, directors, and the variolls officers are elected, and who guarantee the financial support of the mission.
There are many other, and private, missionary enterprises carried on by individuals and churches, besides many charitable societies for the relief of the poor and distressed. • Few cities of the size seem to be so thoroughly and energetically cared for as this home of Knox and Chalmers, and the results of the labor ex- pended may be seen as much in the spiritual life of the churches as in bet- tered condition of the poorer classes. But there is no l.ack of room for workers, and in spite of all that has been done or is being done, the con- dition of the poor in many districts seems as wretched as can well be im- agined. The workers, however, continue faithful, taking to themselves the consolation and promise given in the word.s. " Let us not be weary in well doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not. "
. EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND, January 17, 1891.
Few things impress one more in all Scotland than the old gate in Dundee, where the martyr, George Wishart, preached to the plaguestricken people gathered outside the gate, while the inhabitants of the city were gathered just inside. What a type of the true missionary, standing between a living church and a dying world, and preadhing the gospel of spiritual healing!
THE TELUGU MISSION
THE TELUGU MISSION.
BY C. B. WARD.
This Telugu Mission was born in a prayer-meeting, February 22d, 1879, in Goolburga, Ii railway station about three hundred miles from Bombay, in the dominion of H. H., the Nizam. Two persons were present, a padri and an engineer: the padri, a member of South India Conference, pastor at Ballory, and thc engineer a district officer in the Public Works Depart- ment of the Nizam's Government.
This event took place at the close of the great famine of 1876-71'1, in which five millions perished.
The Bombay Guardian, editor, George Bowen, missionary, first announced the" new arrival" in its last issue of February, 1879, and commended the" little one" to the confidence of the good. March 12th, 1879, we took over from a famine poorhouse, kept up a yenr on private charity, five boys and girls. Here began the actual work.
In the order of Providence, Rev. T. S. Burnell, over thirty years an A. B. C. F. M. missionary at Melun, Madura district, South India, had the honor of taking the firiit financial share in the new concern. His] 0 rnpees were received by us March 20th, almost one month from the prayer-meeting. March 29th on this Rs. 10 we took 14 more waifs from an overcrowded famine camp at Adoni. These, with 2 more taken at Goolburga by Mr. Davis, gave us 21 in all-Telugu; Canerese, and Mohammedan, both sexes.
. The Bombay Guardian of April 5th published progress, and declared rising faith and intensifying purposes.
April 1st the padri got married, and received for the orphan work Rs. 50 from an unknown friend, who continued to do the same thing monthly for a long time. We have since learned he was the great-hearted Henry Conder, Esq., General Traffic Manager of the Great Indian Peninsular Railway.
And so the work went on. At a later date we took up ;30 new ones, at a later, 50, and a later, 13, and the la"t large accession, September 30th, 52 boys and girls from Adoni. A few more scattering ones came in, till about October 1st we found we had actually collected over 180 orphans at Mr. Davis's place in Goolburga. Death did so quick work, however, that we never reached above 122 on hand at anyone time.
The Bombay Guardian, the India Methodist Watchman published our testimony and helped us much.
Thus began the work. God's Word supplied the base for the faith the Holy Spirit inspired in our hearts. We boldly avowed our purpose to trust God and never solicit, except in prayer. The Holy Ghost was chancellor of the exchequer, and in the first six months He called in from whom He would about Rs. 2000.. And in this time the bulk of the care of all these little ones feU upon Mr. Davis. He wrought not by proxy. His own hands fed, dressed, washed, assisted, and he spent hours a day trying to impress these precious souls for God; and surely we shall meet some of those little ones who passed away with Jesus' name upon their lips and His truth in their newly opened hearts.
I saw now the providence of God in the last ten years of my life-from the plough to four years of student life, one and a half years of work in Chicago among the street Arabs of Halsted Street, till William Taylor (now Bishop) found me in December, 1875, and sent me to India.
God's Holy Word, Finney's" Autobiography," and ~Hiller's " Life of Trust" were the pabulum our souls thrived on in those days. How won- derfully the great God led us! Starting as we did without bank or missionary treasury, from the very beginning we b'"gan to cast about us for a productive footing somewhere. We dreamed and prayed over factories, farms, industries, etc. But the Lord had us in hand, and first gave "r the orphans some public road-making on which they realized something like Rs. 100 in a short time. e had no idea of greasing our wheelsforever with charity, but rather designed to repay to the Lord the charity money lent us, and send workers to the " regions beyond" and support them there.
We cannot follow in detail the wonderful history of these ten eventful years. But what have we now ~ 1. C. B. and E. M. Ward and their children, Wesley Asbury, William Taylor, George Fletcher, Susanna Ruth, and Nellie Marion, in all 7 souls.
2. Eurasian orphans, boys, 8, and girls, 5. 3. Native families, 19, blessed with 24 living little ones. Unmarried boys, 4 j girls, 2. One widow with her son-in all, 67 souls. Grand total of 90 -adults 50 and children 40. So we cannot, as of old, say" orphan children," for we are become a colony of families. 4. Of the whole number, 40 are full members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and another dozen we rank probationers. In most of these honesty, diligence, observance of the Lord'tI day, prayer, testimony, and general upright character give us much ground for believing a work of grace is wrought. We have no tobacco, or liquor, or jewelry Christians in our" little church in the wilderness." 5. When we gathered up famine waifs we found them from five to twelve years of age. All our native people except one, my assistant, Nunsoya Naidu, have been a full ten years with us. Our Eurasian orphans have not been with us so long, but most of them during eight years. 6. For years stern necessity has made us two houses: one in Secunderabad, where Mrs. Ward, our children, and the unmarried girls stay with one or two pairs of the married ones as servants j and one in the district, wherever I may have work for all the field force of our colony, migrating as work leads us on railway construction and mining. The bulk of the family have been in camp with me for about four years now. We find much to encourage us in the Christian character of those we have spent ten years with, for Jesus' sake. They are our" seals." '1. The entire work which we have had upon our hands has cost about Rs. 10,000 per year (ovcr $3000). This includes not only our own mission work, but doing something to help other work. We have spent outside of our own work in this time several thousand rupees-contributions to other missions and support of other missionaries, distribution of religious literature, the publication of tracts, and our own India Watchman, etc.
Of this Rs. 100,000 passing through our hands in ten years more than half are our own earnings. Formerly contributions exceeded, but for four years our earnings have by far exceeded the gifts made to us. In the whole ten years our receipts from places outside of India fall below R8. 5000. Our contrihutions have always come unsolicited, except in prayer. Weare not concerned about money, and never beg. But we do believe and plead God's promises, as they are neither lies nor out of date.
8. Weare not in debt. In an honest and rather daring endeavor to realize the capital needed for a Chr~stian colony, on a large railway contract we lost Rs. 20,000. But God enabled us to make it up and pay the loan with liberal interest.
9. God started us in orphan work in 1879, and kept us closely to it and learning the language up to 1883. In these years God cheered us with the genuine conversion of half a hundred of our orphans.
Then came three years (1883-86) of very steady and vigorous evangelistic work, in which we were much blessed, but the only abidirtg, visible fmit was the conversion of two natives, who are both preachers now.
Insurmountable difficulties in the way of acquiring any land under the Mohammedan Government made dropping into the present" two house" arrangement a necessity-No. 1 at Secunderabad, No. 2 at Beersheba or Dothan, as good grazing leads us. Wonders hath God wrought for us during these years. We can only bless and praise Him.
10. We hope to publish soon a report for the ten years, in which we shall try to rccord something of the goodness of our prayer-hearing God.
11. In the years of our history God has been good, but it has been hard to understand all His ways. Three of his handmaidens, than whom we expect no more spiritual and successful workers in India-Cecilia O'Leary Moore, Hapley Freer, and Hester Ann Hillis-God took from us, each one suddenly. They did work that lasts, and now enjoy reward everlasting. One lady after leaving us became the wife of a Baptist missionary in Bengal. One from iII health was compelled to return to America. Our brethren, Ernsberger and Blewitt are now both honored members of India Methodist Conferences. The latter took away from us Ruth Freer, a good worker with us, a good wife with him. One young man apostatized fearfully. One found the work uncongenial. Miss Bell went to study inedicine in Hyderabad Medical College. One native preacher and wife, lent to us, stayed but a little time. One of our converts left us, and is now promoted to the post of head native preacher in Conference work.
12. Eight little ones hath God taken. Our firstborn first; after him seven other children in our native families. Six of our native orphans have died, ~ giving us their testimony to Jesus' saving power. They surely await us. Three Eurasian orphan boys have died, of whom we have hope, one a poor, ,suffering epileptic all his life. Several have fallen back into the world. Some Eurasian orphans, after two or three years with us, were taken by friends or relatives. A few have died, leaving us no certain word. Our total death-roll in ten years reaches a little over 20.
13. But the best of all is, God has at last answered our earnest prayer in giving us a large piece of land (over' 2000 acres) on an annual rental of Rs. 800. This is what we have besought of Him for years. Our utter extremity has become God's gracious opportunity. And now what! Our migrations may cease, our two homes become one, and our colony be the base of supply for dozens of workers. We may again get into shape for vigorous evangelizing. Our 20 families of native Christians have of their own efforts acquired cattle and caris, and cash to the amount of about Ra. 2000. They are not paupers, and are ready to go to work at once in our village. The rental we can as easily pay as the rent of Secunderabad house. And we believe God has arrangements on foot for the small capital required for the immediate restoration of the entire village, thereby making it worth at an early day several thousand rupees per annum.
We have no complaints, but we can clearly see it has taken ten years to f;ubdue the missionary aristocracy in us, and teach us truly humble, economic, and New Testament lines of life and labor. We have also learned that physical labor is conducive to health in the tropics by these years in India, and are just ready for many more, if it please God.
Trusting God, we have begun work upon our village, and with a home and a promise that" we shall be fed j" with a fine field of souls about us, with our years of experience among the people, and naturalized in India, we look forth after this ten years' journey-not forty, as the Israelites hadto a grand future in this goodly land God has glven us.
Bishop Thoburn recently recognized us fully as a part of the great Methodist Church, and henceforth our members shall have a place in Methodist totals, as they have not had for a few years lately, though we have prided ourselves upon the fact we belonged there. Our only contention has been to be le;ft alone as non-subsidy workers. This is now granted us, and God is with us.
The hard work is not done. Years yet must be spent teaching native Christians confidence in their own ability, and teaching them how better to utilize and develop the resources of the country, making foreign aid unnecessary either for their support or such work as they should do for tIle salvation of the heathen. We have some fine specimens of natives who, under God, will make good business men and women for Him, and some who will make good Christian workers and preachers.
We believe God is with us j we need no other aid to live upon or learn by. God has given us, as capital, strong bodies, common sense, rich soil, aU tributary to our faith. Our prayer has been for a piece of land, that
A. B. C. F. M•
with this productive base we might maintain a whole force of Gospel workers in the surrounding country, whose lifework, and exchequer and methods of filling it, might all be open to the gaze and study of the surrounding heathen. God has schooled us for ten years to ·fit us for the work before us, and now given u!' the land, and here we are a happy family, a monument of God's care in the midst of a heathen land, subjects of His continued love-a little church of Jesus Christ of His own planting. To God the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost be all the praise and glory, world wit-hou-t e-nd-I – – – – On January 20th last, a party of five sailed for Secunderabad, India, to join the self-supporting work of Rev. C. B. Ward. One of the party-' Rev. M. F. Smootz-who already spent several years iu this work. bas now married and gone back to the Deccan, India, for life. Rev. R. H. Madden, wife, and son, who accompanied him, have been doing successful mission work in New York City.
There sailed the same day for South America, Mr. T. W. La Fetra and an experienced teacher, Mrs. Anna Dodd. Mr. La Fetra has already spent seven years in mission work in Santiago as auxiliary and helper to his brother, Rev. I. H. La Fetra, in the large college in Santiago. He visited the United Stateil to purchase a complete outfit for printing-costing about $5000-a religious paper and books for educational work in South America.
A. B. C. F. M.
A despatch from Nagasaki, Japan, published recently in the daily press, stated that the United States steamer Alliance, in its visit to Ponape, found that the war between the natives and the Spaniards had been instigated by the American missionaries, who on that account were forced to retire from Ponape to Kusaie. "The story," says the Missionary Herald, "is so absurd as to be comical. The only Americans at the point of conflict on Ponape were two women, who at the time of the difficulty between the Spaniards and the natives sought to their utmost to preserve peace, but failed. And when the revolt occurred, these two women, aided by a native teacher, risked their lives to save from destruction two Spanish priests and some soldiers. And they succeeded in their efforts, only to be accused by the Spaniards of having incited the natives to their deeds of violence. "
The following item is found in the report of the Hiroshima circuit (Methodist), given by Rev. B. W. Waters in the Missionary Reporter: " Hiroshima has been well chosen as the centre for our work in that part of . Japan. But the city itself, a strong Buddhist centre, is not as open to Christianity as some of the smaller neighboring towns. Neither the city nor the country work ought to be neglected. But owing to school-work and passport regulations, it is difficult for one man to carryon both. We really need two additional men for Hiroshima and for the work that proper- ly can be connected with it. "
THE MISSIONARY'S SHOES
THE MISSIONARY'S SHOES.
BY A. J. GORDON, D. D., BOSTON, MASS.
The homely and the sublime were never more closely conjoined, we venture to say, than in the following from the history of Herrnhut : Zinzendorf sent one day for a Moravian brother and said to him : "Will you go to Greenland to.morrow as a missionary F' The man had had no previous intimation of his call, but after only a moment's hesitation he replied: "If the shoemaker can finish the boots which I have ordered of him by to-morrow, I will go."
Need we say that if such a spirit of prompt obedience were universal in the Church, there would be no highways unoccupied or byways untravel1ed in all the regions beyond now waiting for the Gospel. But we have not to tarry even for a day for our shoes to be done. What saith the Scripture, and how much it saith in a single comprehensive sentence ~ "Having '!lour feet shod with th,e preparation of the gospel of peace." The law said to Moses: " Put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground." Grace says: " Put on thy shoes upon thy feet, for the place where thou standest is missionary ground. " "All roads lead to Rome," says the proverb j but since the day of Pentecost all roads lead from Jerusalem j "that remission of sins should be preached among alnations, beginning at Jerusalem." Therefore Christ's witnesses were sandalled at the outset for their journey j and of this we desire briefly to speak.
The Gospel is its own preparation. For our shoes are not the preparation for, but the preparation of, the Gospel. The tendency is inveterate and constantly recurring to introduce some forerunner of grace into the missionary field in order to make ready for its coming. Even those who firmly believe that" Christ is become the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth," have not infrequently thought that they must take their starting-point from Sinai, again employing the law as a school, master to lead men to Christ. The story of Henry Richards's experience on the Congo-which has made such a profound impression of late wherever recited-has its chief interest in this idea. Brutal and bloody savages, among whom the murder of innocents was a sacred rite indispensable for the solemnizing of the funeral of their chiefs, and man·slaying a medical prescription to be adopted as a matter of course on the order of the witch. doctors, what impression could the Gospel of the grace of God make upon such sonls if immediately applied ~ No wonder that the thunders and lightnings of Sinai should be invoked as a necessary prelude to the sweet strains of redeeming love. "Grace, of course," said an old Scotch preacher, "but did you ever know a woman to sew without a needle? So I say unto you, thrust in the needle of the law till the sinner is pricked to the heart and cries out, and then you may draw as long a thread of Gospel consolation as you choose." But these degraded sons of the C;ongo did not wince in the least under the needle of the law. "Thou shalt not kill," "Thou shalt not steal"-instead of" kicking against these pricks," or being in the least wounded thereby, they were absolutely insensible to them. As for being sinners, when this charge was made against them they blandly conceded that while the missionary and his countrymen might be such, they certainly were not.
But now, after the seven years' fruitless ministry, comes the great change. In translating the Gospel of Luke, and reading therefrom the story of the sufferings and death of Christ, and pressing home upon the people the message, " And all this for you," tears began to fall, exclama- tions of astonishment began to be heard, and then conversions began to occur, till within a few weeks more than a thousand were added to the Lord of such as should be saved. As this story has been repeated of late before churches and theological students, the missionary has rarely been allowed to stop at the expiration of an hour; cries of " Go on !" break- ing out at every attempt to pause. "So astonishing; so well-nigh incredible !" people say.
And yet it is but the repetition of an old stQry, though on a larger scale. What student of missionary history does not know of the work of Hans Egede in Greenland, with its long, weary years of moral teaching, ending with the farewell sermon, " I said I have labored in vain and spent my strength for naught g" And then the translation from the gospels of the story of the Saviour's passion, by John Beck, the Moravian missionary, and the astonished exclamation of the listening savage, Karjamack, " How was that ~ Tell me that again, for I would be saved ;" and through this Word the savage changed into a Christian and a faithful preacher of the Gospel to his countrymen? So it was when Mr. Nott opened the third chapter of John to the hit~erto stolid and unconcerned South Sea Islanders. When reading the golden text of redemption, " God so loved the world," a man rose and demanded, "Is that true ~ Can that be so? God love the world when the world does not love Him ~ God so loved the world as to give His Son to die! Can that be true f' And as the verse was read once more he burst into tears, and the long-delayed blessing began.
It is a lesson which we have constantly to relearn, that" the preaching of the cross is the power of God." Not that evangelical Christians are likely to doubt the efficacy of such preaching tor accomplishing the one thing of bringing peace to distressed and penitent souls; but that it can also effect the opposite result of bringing contrition to hardened and indifferent souls, it is difficult to credit. Yet this is one of the paradoxes of Christianity, that the cross, which is the highest exhibition of divine compassion, should also serve as the most powerful instrument for human conviction. It has proved true a thousand times over that by His wounds we are wounded, as well as that " by His stripes we are healed." As the same sunlight can warm and comfort when falling gently on our persons, or scorch and blister when focussed by a burning glass, so the same love of God revealed on Calvary- can be Ilsed by the Spirit to bring the most tender consolation or the most poignant contrition. 'l'herefore, the Gospel in first, and its fulness, to the most degraded heathen!
Then let us refer to the sandals of education which have so often been bound upon the feet of the Christian herald.
One may well wonder why the temptation has been so constant for the missionary to turn schoolmaster. "No greater than for the pastor to turn pedagogue," it may be truly replied. Yes, and here is the most serious defect of our present-day Christianity, that it is leaning on crutches when it ought to walk by faith, undertaking to accomplish by culture what God has ordained to be effected" by the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven. " Art, architecture, music and ritual, how prominent the place which these are coming to occupy in our modern churches! Ask their promoters why 1heyattach snch importance to them, and they reply, " For their educational influence. " But we make bold to say that their tendency has generally been to educate away from Christ rather than toward Him, prepossessing men with forms, sensible impressions, and so disinclining them to the things of the Spirit 1 We have more faith a thousand times over in the regenerating power of the simple Gospel than in the educating power of all these elaborate accessories of Christian worship.
But we are speaking of education in the strict sense of the wordgrammar, arithmetic, and·· the arts, as introductory to the Gospel. Has 8uch a dispensation of teaching ever proved really helpful in preparing the heathen ,mind to receive the Word of life ? No more probably than a gymnasium in the basement of an American church, with its curriculum of dumb-bells and vaulting-bars, has conduced to a change of heart in the young men who have entered therein. The tendency is inevitable for these preparatives to become substitutes so prcoccupying the interest and attention with themselves as to render thc heart less accessible to the Gospel than before they came in. Education by all means! But in the school of grace the law seems to be not" know, in order that you may believe," but " believe, in order that you may know." Culture, when set forward as a forerunner of Christ, has constantly failed to become such, because it Ja~ks the humility to say: "He it is who, coming after me, is preferred before me, whose shoe latchet I am not worthy to unloose." It being true, according to our Lord's own words, that the Father hath" hid these things from the w'ise and prudent, and revealed them unto babes," it cannot be the missionary's business to make men wise lind prudent in order that they may receive the Gospel, but rather to tell the wise and prudent, that except they repent and become as little children, they shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven.
A wide observer of missionary operations in Japan has recently expressed the opinion that the chief occasion of solicitude.for the country is found in the excess of education over evangelism, and that the wisest missionary policy would be a bold immediate movement among the lower classes, who are as yet untouched by Western 'culture. Let this call be heard, then, all over our country-not for more teachers merely, but for more evangelists.
Concerning industrial and mechanical forerunners of the Gospel we may speak with equal emphasis. So ingrained is the notion that what has been called" a propredeutic dispensation of civilization" must prepare the way for Christianity, that colonization has not infrequently been proposed as a John the Baptist to evangelization. Ninety years ago Wilberforce lent his influence to a great scheme for ameliorating the condition of Africa by this plan. Artisans with saw and hammer and anvil were despatched to- her western coast, with the understanding that after a considerable progress had been made in civilization, missionaries should follow up tho ~ssault with Bible and catechism. But the onterprise had not momentum enough to reach its destination, and proceeded no farther than Sierra Leone.
Even had it entered the field, its work would have been a gratuitous one.
For the trce does not bear the root, but the root the tree. As certainly as the planted acorn produces the oak, so surely will the incorruptible seed of the Word yield the fruits of righteousness and social order when believingly re~eived into the human heart.
David Brainerd gives a remarkable testimony to this fact, when sum- ming up the results of his labors among the American Indians at Cross- weekslllJg. Indeed, his witness supports all that we have been saying in this paper. Lest any should accuse his work of being the outcome of excitement and fear inspired by the preaching of the terrors of the law, or charge that his converts were only such as had been" frightened by a fearful noise of hell and damnation," he says: "God left no room for this objection in the present case, this work of grace having been begun and carried on" by almost one continued strain of -Gospel invitation to perish- ing sinners." Not the law of Sinai, but the cross of Calvary must have the credit for this remarkable work. Amid the multitude of inquirers and the urgency of the claims of perishing so~ls, he had little time, he tells us, to inculcate moral reforms or social llnd domestic improvements.
He could only sound out the message of salvation 1>y the blood of Christ, "and eternal life through faith in His name, and pass on. But note the result, as he records it : .
" When these truths were felt at heart, there was now no vice unreformed, no external duty neglected. Drunkenness," the darling vice, was broken off from, and scarce an instance of it known among my hearers for months together.
The,abusive practice of husbands and wives in putting away each other and tak- ing others in their stead was quickly reformed, so that there are three or foul' "
couples who have voluntarily dismissed those whom they had wrongfully taken, an(l now live together in love and peaco. The same mignt be said of all other"
vicious practices. The reformation was general; and all springing from the internal influence of divine truths upon their hearts, and not from any external restraints, or because they had heard the~e vices particularly exposed and repeat- edly spoken agaim.t. Some of them I never so much as mentioned-particularly that of the parting of men aud their wives-till some, having their conscience awakened by God's Word, came, and of their own accord, confessed themselves guilty in that respect.
" The happy effects of these peculiar doctrines of grace, upon which I have so much insisted, upon this people, plainly discover, even to demonstration, that instead of their opening a door to licentiousness-as many vainly imagine and slanderously insinuate-they have a directly contrary tendency; 80 that II close application, a Bense and feeling of them will have a most powerful influence toward the renovation and effectual reformation both of heart and life."
By as little pains as Brainerd labored to introduce" Christian Civilization," by so much are many modern missionaries anxious to exclnde if -from their fields. Its avant-coureurs in these days are the whiskey bottle and the powcer-flask. " If only we can keep out European and American civilization," says an earnest missionary in Africa, " there is hope for our work in the Dark Continent." On the whole, what a mockery there is in this much-vaunted word! And how little apprehension of the subject does an eminent writer on the evidences of Christianity exhibit in saying that" The wisest modern missionaries admit that they mnst civilize heathen nations in order to make Christian institutions permanent. " No! ~ot the sandals of law, of education, or of social science for the missionary of the Apostolic school j but" feet shod with the preparation of the Gospel of peace." The first take but tardy steps, and rarely those condescending steps that reach the sinner where he is j but the latter: "How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace j that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation. "
THE BURMAN BIDLE.-The first edition of Dr. Judson's translation of the Bible into the Burman language was in three large quarto volumes, twelve by nine inches. The second edition was printed from the same type but upon thinner paper, and was bound in one volume. It bears this imprimatur: "Maulmain: Printed at the American Baptist Mission Press for the American and Foreign Bible Society and the American Baptist Board of Foreign Missions; 1840. " Now after the space of fifty years a third edition is published by the American Baptist Missionary Union at its Mission Press in Rangoon, copies of which have just been received in America. It is a royal octavo, much smaller and more convenient than the earlier editions, having been newly set up and stereotyped, with many corrections noted by Dr. Judson himself inserted in the text by the careful hand of Dr. E. A. Stevens. This translation of the Bible into Burman was made amid great difficulties, Dr. Judson being obliged to make ~is own grammars and dictionaries as he went on, but it is remarkable as being one of the most accurate and idiomatic versions of the Bible in any language. It is an imperishable monument to the great ability of America's first missionary to the heathen, Adoniram Jlldio1on.-Baptist Missionary Magazine.
EXTRACTS ANlJ TRANSLATIONS FROM: FOltElGN PERIOlnCALS
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN PERIODICALS.
llY REV. C. C. STARllUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
-The Church of Scotland, Home and Foreign Mission Record for January 1st, 1891, has the following statement: "A collection on behalf of the Committee of Correspondence with Foreign Churches is appointed to be made in all our churches and chapels on Sabbath, the 18th inst., provided always that wherever this day may be unsuitable the collection shall be made on another Sabbath.
" The great object of this committee is to foster friendly relations with the Reformed Churches of the Continent, ani to give aid to those who require it. We are especially brought into contact with the Reformed churches of France, Italy, Bohemia, Switzerland, and Belgium. With these churches the Church of Scotland in former days maintained constant correspondence, and it would be a loss both to them and to us should· such communications cease. Since the last appeal was made in 1888, deputies from the Church of Scotland have been present at one or two memorable meetings (If Continental churches. The celebration of the Bicentenary of the glorious return of the Waldenses took place in August and September, 1889, when the Rev. Dr. Mitchell, of South Leith, represented the Church of Scotland. At the jubilee of the formation of the Missionary Church of Belgium, which was celebrated in June, 1890, the Rev. Duncan Campbell, of Rosemount, Aberdeen, represented our Church, and received a cordial welcome. To enable the Church worthily to maintain these relations, and to bestow assistance in accordance with the needs of the struggling communions on the Continent, the present collection is made. "
-Says the Record: "A correspondent in Aberdeen reports a much appreciated visit of our Foreign Mission Convener to that city. Dr. M'Murtrie preached an impressive and an appropriate sermon to the students ill the university chapel 011 the 7th ult., and addressed a crowded congregation in Rosemount Church at night. On the Monday morning he addressed a full meeting of divinity professors and students, to whom he stated that the Mission cause was now attracting to its service a portion of the flower of our divinity halls, and that no less than twenty-four of our present missionaries (including missionaries' wives) in the foreign and Jewish mission fields came from Aberdeen and its neighborhood. At noon, on the same day, Dr. M'Murtrie addressed the South Church Ladies' Work Party ; in the afternoon he took part in the monthly meeting of the Ladies' Association Committee, and in the evening he addressed successively the Rosemount Young Men's Guild, and an Old Muchar congregational social meeting. Verily our Convener does not spare himself !"
-We give two of the collects of the Church of Scotland for the Week of Prayer. For Tuesday: " 'Ve beseech Thee, 0 Lord, on behalf of Thy Church Universal, in all lands and places, under whatever name or form, worshipping Thee in various tongues, and approaching Thy presence in the name of Jesus. We pray for union, for unity of spirit, for love; that Christian life and teaching may be increasingly subject to the Holy Ghost; that Christian people may witness unto Christ by living in godly love; that we no longer be opponents or rivals, but all one in Christ Jesus; and that for His sake, Amen." For Thursday: "For Thine ancient people, o God of Abraham, we earnestly pray that the veil may fall from their eyes, and that they may be turned tu the Lord; and for our Home Missions in the darkness still found in our land, we beseech Thee that the labor of Thy servants may be blessed in bringing many to the cross: through Jesus Christ, thy Son, Amen."
-In the Conferences Fraternelles, held in Paris, last October, various judgments were expressed of Roman Catholicism; but Pastor R. Hollard seemed to strike the centre when he gave as its damning sin, " It destroys the conscience." J esuitized Catholicism values blind obedience above everything else. It will be a sad thing for France to recur to this as her best conception of Christianity. But the leaders of intelligence seem to be awaiting the issue. Professor Atlier said: "The University is deliberating whither it shall go. It has made the round of all the systems, and now is eager to reach a goal. One of its professors said to me, ' My ffiend, count us as belonging to whosoever shall know how to conquer us.' "
Pastor Hollard thinks that Protestantism is not qualified to take the place of Catholicism in France until it understands better than now to respond, in evangelical simplicity, to those spiritual wants which Catholicismconsults the instinct of adoratiou and the craving for unity. Why should Pere Hyacinthe and the Protestants with the same aims be so little inclined to friendship ¥ The sentiment appeared to be very decided, that evangelizin~ work and charitable work ought to be carried on by distinct agencies. At Geneva, M. Ernest Favre attests, evangelization has been much more effective since this separation was made.
-The indian Standard, speaking of a recent Church Congress, allows that sanitation is important, but very reasonably insists thaI; the Kingdom of God and the Cross of Christ have not lost their prime importance. Speaking likewise of Brotherhoods (whose result!! in India do not thus far appear very marked), it wishes to know why the absence of God's unit of human society, the family, should be so highly esteemed. And asks why Archdeacon Farrar contends for vows where a celibate life appears a call of duty. Semi· monastic Sisterhoods and Brotherhoods, as Count Gasparin long ago pointed out, are apt to be of dubious results on Protestant soil. Every plant has its native and congenial habitat.
-The Rev. C. A. Schonberger, through the Jewish Herald, reports " that notwithstanding the sad fact that all open preaching to the Jews is prohibited in Vienna, yet they are constantly flocking, as inquirers, to the missionary's house, where Bible and other classes are regularly held. The Bible-class is largely attended, and this branch of the work is most encouraging. "
– " Regions Beyond," quotes Mr. Stanley's description of the proud Wahuma race, which he discovered, "being clearly of Indo-African origin, possessing exceedingly fino features, aquiline noses, slender necks, small heads, with a grand and proud carriage; an old, old race, possessing splendid traditions, and ruled by inflexible customs which would admit of no deviation." Stanley pronounces the features of the great KafEr race to be ., a subtle amalgamation of the Hindu and West African types." Although the foraying W ahuma have abundance of heathen vices, yet their higher type, mild and courteous manners, and salubrious country, render them hopeful for missions. To Stanley they brought up thoughts of "those blameless people with whom the gods deigned to banquet once a year upon the heights of Ethiopia. "
~ ".'. -The Universities' Mission in Central Africa, which now has 2000 adherents, is rejoicing in the ordination of its first native priest.
– " The Paris correspondent of Evangelical Ohristendom," says the Indian Standard, writes: 'There is a fearful increase of crime, conwadicting strikingly those who hoped that 'schooling' and 'good behavior would go together.' Increased schooling and increased crime proceed pari passu. Youthful literates, fifteen years ago, were 68 per cent, now 78 per cent. "The evident failure, in a moral point of view, of education without religion, is throwing weight into the Roman Catholic scale; children are crowding their private schools."
-Mrs. Dods, of the McAll Mission, says: "The old hall at the corner of the Rue de Rivoli, where the dirtiest of people used to crowd in night after night-some said to get warmed-has disappeared; its successor- Boulevard Sebastopol.-has come and gone, and now in its place are not one, but two or three large halls in densely crowded streets-St. Denis, Temple, and Salle Rivoli-the last redeemed from its evil uses as a rendezvous of atheists, anarchists, and lovers of guilty pleasures j wafihed and purified materially and morally, and consecrated, with its 600 seats, to the service of the Lord."
-Charlie, a convert of the Universities' Mission, having fallen into the handt,; of the heathen Gwangwara, was asked by them, " Why do not these white men and you fear us, seeing that we can kill you all~" He answered: "Because you can only kill our bodies with your spears; it is our souls we care about, and you can't touch them, and so we don't fear you." I heard from others at the time that Charlie had made this answer, and that the Gwangwara were not only awed but actually made afraid by these words. Doubtless it was the first intimation they had ever received that there was anything about a man they could not kill. Yet they believed it when Charlie told them, and, cowards at bottom-like all bullies-they trembled at the news."
-It has been decided in India, says the Bombay Guardian of January lOth, that if a full. grown minor appears capable of caring for himself he may lawfully be baptized against the will of his guardian. But a violent persecution against the Wesleyan Mission at Banknra, Bengal, has been excited by such a case, resulting in the burning of a school.
-A Christian New Year's Mela (or fair) has been held on the banks of the Jnrnna (as lately recommended by the S. F. G.) attended by Anglicans, Baptists, Methodists, and Presbyterians, meeting " in oneness of spirit, as sheep of one fold." It was held in the Presbyterian grounds.
– " Several thousand representatives of the eight chief Indian languages," says the Indian Witness, "lately met and transacted all their business in English. And no one seems astonished."
-The Ohinese Times, as quoted in the London and Ohina Telegraph, says, of Chinese appropriation of Western science, that it has as yet had very little effect on the national life. "Her dalliance with the skill and science of the Vest is rather a species of coquetry than honest wooino-. The truth is that powers less tangible and material, yet far more pote~t than railways, telegraphs, balloons, or phonographs, must be evoked before any deep or lasting impression upon this slnmbering mass of stagnant life can be expected. Spiritual forces cannot be conquered with material weapons."
tNTERNATtONAL DEPARTMENT
II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
The Religious Attitude of the Ohinese which he is entering, is somewhat like Mind. a scientific farmer who studies and BYREV.W. A. P. MARTIN, D.D., PRESIDENT OF analyzes the soil into which he intends to cast the precious seed. He may find THE IlIIPEBIAL TUNGWEN COLLEGE, that that soil was produced by the disin- PEKING, CHINA. tegration of many kinds of. rocks, some deposited from water, others thrown up Religion consists of two elements by the action of internal fires, others thought and feeling. Its thought i~ yet affected by atmospheric influences. directed toward the mysterious prob- We find, in a similar manner, the lems of existence. In this aspect mental soil of China composed of three every religion that emanates from hu- leading elements which have been comman thought is, to a certain extent, to mingled and brought into interaction be regarded as a philosophy, hence in such a way as to present to the superworthy of careful study, not as throwing ficial observer a homogeneous aspect. light which to us would be valuable on These are known as the three religions the question of human destiny, bdt as -Confucian,Tauist, and Buddhist. throwing light on human character on national character, and the relation's of Before attempting to point out their nations to each other. The religious interaction, which, after all, is the objecexperience of the Chinese people, the tive point, allow me briefly to sketch the elements forming their religious beliefs, leading characteristics of each, as they constitute the subject which I have to rise successively before our eyes. I discuss. No field could perhaps be of shall not be able to go into detail in greater interest, partly on account of the our allotted time, nor would it be demultitude of people who are affected by sirable, inasmuch as I have in mind the these views, partly on account of the distinct object of pointing out only a vast antiquity, presenting records reach- few salient features by which these reing back, without a break in the chain for ligions have acted upon each other. many thousands of years, and also because that great people have been seg- The Confucian system did not origregated by mountain chains and ocean inate with Confucius. He said: "I am breadths, from intercourse with the rest an editor, not an author." He took the of mankind, to a very large extent for records of remote antiquity and sifted the greater part of their national exist- them, in such wise, however, as to exert ence. In order that our lessons may be in a most effective manner the influence of value, it will be important that we of an editor, giving to the readers of all should take them out of the stream we succeeding ages only that which he may say, at a point prior to the in'flux wished to have produce its effect on the of the living waters of Christianity; national mind. We consequently date for Christianity has to some extent Confucianism from the beginning of his affected the modes of thought of that people beyond the pale of Christian com- twenty~ records, from the time of Yao and Shun munities which, for the last three hundred years, have been growing up in his favorite models of virtue, that land. But the systems of which I have to speak date back far beyond that tw~ two centuries before the Christian era time. The missionary, thoughtful, and accustomed to study the field upon Viewed as a religion, it' presents leading features: the first is the worship *Addrc•• before the American Society of Com- of Shang-ti; the second is the worship of the spirits of men under the title of anparative Religion. cestors. Shang-ti signifies the Supreme Ruler. Coming before us in some of the most ancient books extant in any language, that august being suggests at once the Jehovah of the Clll:istian Scrip- show, by the influence of other religions, tures-the Lord, the Most High, who more or less corrupting even the com- was worshipped not only by those who parative purity of the primitive ideas. are recognized in the canon of Scripture as' possessing the guidance of inspira- Confucius was himself strongly in- tion, but by such men as Melchizedek, clined to agnosticism. In his intimate the King of Salem, who was both king conversations with his disciples he re- and priest. We find the earliest sov. fuses to give them any positive state- ereigns of China combining this double ment in regard to the things beyond the function of king and priest, signalizing reach of hnman sight. He said: " We their accession, especially in the case of know not life. How can we know founders of dynasties, by going to death, or what lies beyond the grave? mountain tops, the highest points ap- We are unable properly to render service proaching to heaven, and there offering to onr living parents; how should we up burnt sacrifices to the king of know how to render fitting service to heaven, by whom kings reign and those who have passed into the other princes decree justice. If there were any world ?" Yet he enjoined service to doubt as to the lofty spiritual conc~p those who have passed into the other tion connected with this grand object world as the cardinal dnty in his reo of worship of the one alone to whom all ligious system, and it is that, more than kings and princes were recognized as anything else, which makes it a religion accountable, we may find it in a single potent and living to this day. The worpassage among many scores that I might ship of Shangti, the Supreme Ruler, cite to you if I only had time. The grand as it is, is nevertheless like a ray founder of the dynasty of Chow, eleven of the sun falling upon an iceberg, so hundred years before the Christian era, far as its influence on the publio mind is leading a small army to attack the in concerned. It is limited to the empowerful host which upheld the thron-e peror and to a few remarkable and au· of a tyrant. On the battle-field, before gust manifestations of public ritual, but the critical engagement, he addresses an you do not find it in the household. eloquent harangue to his soldiers, and You do not find it on the lips of the the most eloquent passage is that in people. You do not find that God in which he points upward and says: " The that form has taken up his abode with Most High God, the Supreme Ruler, is ' men. He is still far remote, on the sum· looking down upon you. Let not your mit of an icy Olympus, as it were, hearts waver." The worship of Skang- although to a certain extent dimly per. ti, the Most High (for that is almost a ceived by the mind of the Chinese naliteral translation of the name), contin- tion. ues to the present day, the sovereign now on the throne acting, as did his Tauism rose next. The founder of predecessors of four thouand years ago, Tauism preceded Confucius, but by a as high priest for the empire. On an kind of paradox his religion is of later altar within the walls of Peking he offers date. The founder of Tauism goes by up burnt sacrifices to the Supreme the name of Lautse, which signifies the Being. In the earliest days, however, .. old philosopher," probably because this worship was impure. We find no he was old when Confucius was young. point in Chinese history where it was They were contemporaries. The Tauist not mingled with the worship of sub- system is not found clearly developed in ordinate deities, nature.gods-gods of the only book which bas been transmit. the hills and rivers-and that intermix ted to us from the hand of Lautse, and ture not only continues to the present the authenticity of which has been to a day, but it has b!)en very largely in. large extent questioned. His followers, creased, as I shall have occasion to however, deduced from the obscure hints contained in that book two ideas, or rather one idea, which afterward sub. divided itself into two. The one idea genii. The term genii we usually em· was that by persistent effort we may ac- ploy as a translation for shensien or quire a mastery over matter in such a sien)in, both forms being used, which is way as to command all its potencies, and the word the Tauists apply to their employ them in accomplishing objects adepts, those who obtain the precious which would seem far beyond the reach gift, the elixir of immortality. This of human power, unless it were elevated view may be illustrated by the following by this process of discipline. The mat- lines from a Chinese poem : ter thus spoken of is subjectively that of our own bodies, the discipline of " A prince the &ought Immortal went to seek, which would result in a possible immor- And finding it he soared above the spheres; tality, and objectively the material objects surrounding us, but chiefly the In monntain caverns he had dwelt a weekelemental forms, the careful study of Of human time It was a thousand years." which would enable man finally to transmute the baser metals into gold, and to The Tauist system, deifying, as it were, accomplish many things which have the matter, being essentially materialistic, air of miracle. You perceive at once laid hold upon that august and sublime how naturally from this root conception conception of the ruler of the universe, springs the two fundamental ideas of and incorporated it into the material alchemy-the transmutation of metals world. Not only so, having arrived at into gold and the attainment of immor- , the idea of the five elements, it subditality. These came forward under the vided the idea of the supreme ruler, influence of perhaps the two leading de- and made five gods, each a god of a 'sires which characterize human exist- special element. Thus it corrupted the ence-the first to be rich, the second to idea of God, and it has been one of the live long, or to Iive forever, in order most fmitful sources of corruption in to enjoy wealth. This system has, how. the history of the Chinese mind, introever, a close relation to what preceded ducin" a multitude of favorite idols, it as a cause and explanation of the nature·gods of material origin, which power with which it took hold of the continue to be worshipped to the preshuman mind. I have just l18id that ent day. Confucius was something of an agnostic. He dealt largely in negations-refused The Buddhist system came in, as you to give any light beyond the grave, or are aware, early in the Christian era, the to hold out any hope of immortality, Emperor Ming Ti having sent a mission although that is to some extent implied to India to bring Buddhist priests and in the formal worship of ancestors. books from that country in the year 66 The longing of the human mind for a of the Christian era. The occasion for future life sought satisfaction in the the introduction of Buddhism was, on Tauist conception of a possible immor- the one hand, the eclipse of Confuciantality which was to be conquered by a ism, and, on the other, the religious long and laborious discipline, and which thought, or phases of thought, stimucould not be the heritage of the many, lated and introduced by Tauism. The but Which might become the possession defects of both were supposed to be of a very few. supplied by the stronger, more intel- lectual, and more spiritual creed of In- This system, at the same time, im. dia. The eclipse of Confucianism was parted a kind of life to all nature; every not caused by the ascendancy of a rival form of matter is instinct with an in- creed. It was caused by a political revextinguishable, divine essence, which is olution. The buililer of the great wall capable of assuming personality. In rose up in his might and conquered the this way it peopled the whole world with rival kings,-and resolved that he would a new Pantheon of gods, fairies, and extirpate the feudal system. He was made to believe that without extirpating the books of Confucius he never could eradicate that system, and that though he might overthrow one king after an- a very powerful attraction in contrast other, yet after he should pass away the to the meagre promises of Tauism and system would again spring from the the cold negations of Confucianism, pages of the Confucian books. He re- which preceded. This was connected solved to burn the books, and then, lest with the doctrine of the transmigration these books should be reproduced from of souls, which "Was common to almost the memory of able scholars, he put all Indian creeds. The Indian philosthem to death, and thus flattered him- ophy on that subject regarded transmiself that he had swept away Confucian- gration as something amounting to a ism from the face of the earth, and with physical necessity, that it is absolutely it the whole of the feudal system. It impossible for a man to extinguish his was during this eclipse of Confucianism, being-that he has, as it has been exwhich lasted for about two centuries, pressed, come into this world without that the Emperor Ming Ti sent his em- his own choice and will go into the next bassy to India. without his own choice, and thence go on in a succession of changes forever. The Chinese people, having got the This succession of changes is described, idea of immortality from Tauism, were under the figure of a wheel, the turn of at first fired with it, but disappointed destiny, or wheel of fate, which is repthat through that system there was no resented as revolving rapidly and drophope for any but a very few; they were ping out human souls to be born again fascinated with a report they had heard in the form of man or of some higher or of a blessed religion in India, which lower being, there being six categories offered salvation to all. Hence the em- in all, according to the Buddhist diviperor sept his embassy to India and in- sion. The religious view of the founder troduced this new religion, which had of the faith was pessimistic. To escape perhaps to some extent already found from this series of changes constitutes its way into China, and begun to exert happiness, and he devised a method for some influence, but which from that day that purpose. In the Northern School became a potent factor in the develop- of Buddhism, especially in its popular ment of the Chinese mind, and contin- phase, we seldom meet with this idea_ ues to the present day to be the leading We meet more frequently with the idea religious influence in that country. I that to rise in the scale of being is hapmay say, as an illustration of the posi- piness. Sakyamuni had in his system tion which Buddhism acquired and no heaven. The Northern Buddhism, holds in China, that I hold in my hand which has prevailed in China, has a a document never given to the world in heaven, borrowed, it may be, from the the English language, nor, perhaps, so Christian's Paradise. It has, presiding far as I know, in any other Western over that heaven, a goddess of mercy, language, showing that if in the year 66 borrowed, perhaps, from the Catholic an emperor was so impressed with conception of the mother of Jesus Christ. Buddhism as to send an embassy to the Many other ic!eas present a transforma- West to introduce it into China, four- tion-Iwill not say a travesty-of Christeen centuries later another emperor tianity. was so much influenced by it as to send an embassy to introduce the Buddhist Weare asked particularly the relation classics from Thibet. (The paper, which and the interaction of these three syswas an edict of the Emperor Yungloh, tems which we have thus briefly 1412, was here read.) Various doctrines sketched. You have noted that they are alluded to in that paper, only one rose one after the other, each of them or two of which I will touch upon. I introduced by a felt want, and that each have already referred to the full and 'was preceded by a yearning of the hnbounteous offer of salvation and immor- man soul for something better; consetality made by Buddhism as furnishing quently, in a religions point of view, each one may be considered as an ad. to the doctrine of immortality, in the vance upon that by which it was pre- duty of worshipping departed spirits. ceded. They were a long time antago- But this is faint, very faint, in compari. nistic, sometimes even inciting bloody son with the religious teaching of the persecutions, but in this day they have other two sects. Buddhism has been become comparatively quiescent, like especially potent in instilling ideas active chemicals, which, being brought which are so nearly akin to those prop· into juxtaposition, exert for a time their agated by Christianity as again to pre. various qualities, but which soon be. pare the way for the introduction of ancome quiescent and inert, until they are other system. Buddhism, no doubt, brought into contact with some more en· vastly enlarged the area of Chinese con. ergetic agent. We shall find that in ceptions, To borrow a mathematical Christianity. A remarkable illustration illustration, the religious ideas of the of the quiescence of these long, active, Chinese were limited, before the intro. and conflicting systems is found in the duction of Buddhism, to two dimenfact that there are in some parts of sions, something th!t may be described China little shrines or temples where as a "flat-land," with length and the three religions are seen represented breadth, but no height. Buddhism by their founders-Confucius, Buddha, gives it height, soaring up to the heav_ and Lautse-all sitting sid" by side and ens and developing the conqeption of a receiving at one and the same time the universe, the grandeur of which perhaps homage of worshippers who acknowl. nothing can exceed. Is it possible that edge all three. You might object that after this universe of three dimensions it would be a strange mind that would we shall have one of four dimensions? acknowledge and swallow all these Mathematicians tell us that with space creeds, yet there are many who assert of four dimensions it is possible to 'do that the three creeds are identical, if you many things which cannot be done could only get down to the bottom. In without it. There is, in my view, room fact, nothing is more contradictory. The for the fourth dimension, or, to drop the Confucian system is essentially ethical; figure, there is room for a fourth stage the Buddhist system is pure idealism, in the progression, one which Ohina is as pure as that of Berkeley or Hegel; waiting for-that is, the introduction the Tauist system is materialistic, be- of Christianity. Each of the previous ginning with gross materialism. How religions was ushered in by a felt want. is it possible that three systems so Christianity alone can supply the de· utterly divergent should ever be recon· fects of all the systems and present one ciled? The fact is, they are irreconcil· harmonious unity. If I were to express able. Each one presents some one thing in one word what Christianity is to con· which meets a human want, Qut recon· fer upon China, it would be this: Not ciliation there is none; peace, union, a God seated far away, upon some reo harmony, there cannot be, though 0. mote Olympus, as in the Confucian systruce, a permanent truce, seems at pres· tem ; not a God inherent in matter, as ent to exist between them. They are in the Tauist system; not a God, as in' no longer belligerent. The question the Buddhist system, who has risen from may be raised, What benefit has each the ranks of the disciples of virtue, a one of these conferred upon the Chinese mere deified man, but God, the Spirit people? Each one has enlarged and of the universe, in Christ Jesus, coming widened the speculative thought and reo into the human Boul, taking up his abode ligious conceptions of the peop] e. Con. there and working by his Holy Spirit a fucianism gave them, or, at least, pre· regenerating influence such as none of served for them, and preserves to the these creeds has ever possessed, and of present day, the grand idea of the Suo which they have presented only a faint preme Ruler, and it bears witness, too, and dim frophecy. This I believe to be the mission of Christianity, and I be- tombs. Here these mounds are, howlieve the Chinese, though it may be un- ever, the great hieroglyph of Americaconsciously, are waiting. for it and up in the mining regions of Michigan, reaching out after it. a thousand miles up the Missouri River, all over the Ohio and Mississippi basins In reply to a question as to what re- five hundred of them, if our memory ligion preceded Confucianism, Dr. Mar- serves us correctly, in one county of the tin said: State of Ohio alone; and all over the Southern tier of our States. How old "Confucius edited the canonical they are is an antiquarian's conun_ books 'of China, the earliest of which, drum. Trees have been found growing or rather the records contained in it, go .upon them with upward of four hunback twenty·two hundred. years before dred rings, recording their annual Christ. These two religious elements growth; and these, the" primeval forof the Confucian system, worship of est" of our forefathers, were a second Shangti (conjoined with that of the growth on the .. primeval forests" of hills and rivers) and that of deceased the civilized races, on whose graves ancestors, were in full flower at that they have grown, and who, some think, time. These mUl!lt have taken some retreated from the Ohio valley two time to attain the form in which they thousand years ago ! appeared. As to the idea of the Supreme Ruler, which, so far as it goes, But monuments they are of a people is very analogous to the Christian's idea of settled life, who had organized inof God, whether that is from a pa- dustries, habits of intelligent work-as triarchal tradition, as I am inclined to skill in masonry and pottery, and in think, I will not affirm." weaving and spinning cloth; and who could mine and move blocks of copper The Mound·Builders of America. ore weighing sixty tons.
We are paying large attention in these Who they were and whence they days to 'he antiquities of Oriental coun- came will be a scientist's riddle for tries. But the more one pursues the many a year to come. .Had half the atstudy of the antiquities of the pagan tention been bestowed on the dead lanpeoples of our own continent, the more guage of these sun·dried or burned interesting does it become. brick books which has been bestowed on the brick books of Babylon, and had The study of the mounds of North the arrow-headed alphabet of these our and South America is equal in interest own prehistoric peoples received the to those of Egypt or Assyria, and no one attention that has been given to Asc.an now say how important their study syrian research, it might not now be 1<0 may become. mortifying a failure to try to answer this question. They are the .. lost All the pre.historic mounds of North tribes of Israel," say some; Malays, and South America are of one type from say others, whose empire, maritime and Peru and Yucatan to Mexico and the commercial, and whose fleets of great Mississippi and Ohio valleys, in being ships reached all over the Pacific island a terraced elevation. Some, possibly, and to Peru; Phcenicians, cry others, once furnished the foundation of a the great colonizing navigators of anbuilding, as did those of Guatemala tiquity. Not so, say others still; they and Southern Mexico, where ruined are" Atlantics," from the lost" islands stone edifices still remain on the sum- of Atlantis," a portion of the American mits of similar earthworks. It is high- Continent now below the waters of the ly probable they were constructed for Atlantic Ocean, which once stretched in religioUI!I uses, some say, giving indica- neighboring groups from the West Intions of sun.worship and other sacred dies to the Allorefl. But, leaving all symbol, while othel"S think theIr} only these external theorizings out of view, arrested at the instigation of the eccle- we have two most adverse theories of siastical authorities on a charge of pub- scientists to amuse U8, if they do not licly performing religiolls services not satisfy us. sanctioned by the Rcman Catholic Church. On a hearing before the Crim- First, the civilized life of the ancient inal Court in November, it was proven Mexicans and Central Americans origi- that his religious services had been nally began and reached its climax in conducted privately within closed doors, South and Central America, and extend- and entirely within the' limitations of ed itself with gradually lessening com- the law, and he was acquitted; but in- pletcness over large portions of Ameri- asmuch as the parties urging the prose- ca, the civilization being less perfect as cution appealed the case to the Superior the colonies were remote. Second, the Court he was remanded to prison. The theory of the modern passionate evolu- Superior Court, after visiting the site of tionist, who would show that the begin- the chapel, affirmed the decision of the nings were everywhere, the gradual de- lower court and directed his release ; velopment reaching highest in Mexico, when his enemies again interposed, and Yucatan, and Peru. by appealing to the Supreme Court, suc- ceeded in having his imprisonment pro- These diyergent schools teach-the longed. Mr. Hicks, of the United States one that this is a great prehistoric race, Legation, telegraphed on the 16th of with arts of civilized life, reading, writ- January, that he bad watched the case ing, and aJ:chitectural decorations, and closely, and had had almost daily prom- skill not to be excelled by the best of ises of Mr. Penzotti's release, which tlie our constructors and decorators. These Foreign Office deemed certain; but al- ( find in the mounds of the United States though his imprisonment has con· evidence of a civilization such as the tinued for more than six months, a race of Indians known to history could decision dops not seem to haTe been never have produced. The other school rendered as yet. thinks there is nothing about these earthworks that may not be accounted Penzotti is an Italian subjeet. He has for after the most ordinary manner as been twenty-five years in South AIDer- belonging to the modern Indian. More ica. He was converted in Buenos Ayres entertaining literature is not easy to and became a colporteur of the Ameri- find, though it be only a babble of can Bible Society. He was some while books. ago placed in charge of Bible distribu- tion on the west coast of South Amer- -A brother kindly sends us a note ica. For threE years, amid a great deal stating that we inadvertently used the of persecution, he has been selling wrong title when we alluded to the Bibles in Peru. The priests had him "Church of England Missionary So- arrested and thrown into prison, where ciety," in Persia, in the February num- he has remained till now, among the low- ber. He says the missionaries whose in- est and vilest criminals in a dark filthy trusion in the Persian Presbyterian mis- cell. The charges cannot be sustained; sion field is complained of are an .. in- but, under Peruvian law, he must prove dependent mission under the special himself innocent. The Italian minister direction and patronage of the Arch- at Callao has sought his release as an Ital- bishop of Canterbury, and receive part ian flubject, and the American Bible So- of their funds from the Society for the ciety has appealed to Mr. Blaine for pro- Propagation of the Gospel." tection of certain property and other rIghts of Americans involved in the At the meeting of the American Bible case. But meanwhile Mr. Penzotti is Society in February, letters were pre- behind those barH, the representative and sented from the society's agent in Peru, champion of religious freedom. who has been in prison at Callao since the 25th of July last. Mr. Penzotti was
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
III.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
COMPARATIVE RELIGIONs.-The New which Dr. Martin himself was good York University has shown commend. enough to reyise and place at our dis- able appreciation of the thought.need posal. We present it now, with the im- of the age, in establishing a Lectureship pression that it is one of the very best on Comparative Religions, and is to be and most suggestive papers we have congratulated that it has secured Rev. published. We are also pleased to an- F. F. Ellinwood, D.D., as Lecturer. nounce that we hope to present, in an We understand that two courses of lec- .early issue hereafter, a paper from Dr.
tures are given. In the first, Dr. Ellin- Martin on "American Influence in wood considers Hinduism, Buddhism, China." G.
Mohammedanism, Zoroastrianism, and Confucianism, giving a large proportion A NEW MISSIONARY CYCLOPlIllDIA.-We of attention to Hinduism, as embracing soliciteil from Messrs. Funk & WagnaIIs all phases of the religion of the Hindus for temporary use, some advanced sheets from the first Aryan faith through Brah- of the new "Missionary Cyclopredia"
manism, Buddhism, Philosophic Ra-· they are about to issue. We were so tionalism of the schools, etc.-in a delighted with the excellence of the word, all that belongs to the> composite work, that we venture to violate a rule which may be called Hinduism. In of the house, admirahle though it be.
the second course he subsoils these It is, we believe, understood that their same fields with a more thorough study, own books are not to he presented in taking also the ancient religions of the this way in their periodicals. It is our world, studying them with a view to the pleasure to establish that rule by an ex- light which they throw on the question of ception. It is not too much to say that a primitive Monotheism, the testimony for more than a dozen years a missionary which they give by their traditions to the cyclopredia has been a desideratum.
general truths of Christianity. He con- We do not know of an edition of New- siders also Tauism and Shintooism, comb later than 1860. Aikman's Cyclo- and the religion of the Druses. He predia appe'ared in 1859, and reached a takes up particularly the relations of the second edition in 1861. Hassell's" From Dhammapada and the Bhagavad Gita to Pole to Pole" and Elliot Stock's Christianity. . He gives a full written "Handbook of Christian Missions"
lecture. He also furnishes lists of books were issued in 1872, as was also Boyce's to be read in connection with the lec- invaluable" Statistics of Protestant Mis- tures. His classes, as a rule, are enthu· sionary Societies, " which was published siastic in this study. Out of these only for private circulation, but worth courses of lectures has grown the organ- its weight in precious metal. Grunde- ization of "The American Society of man's "Allgemeiner Missions-Atlas,"
Comparative Religion," which though Vahl's" Missions-Atlas," and Werner's young is enterprising. On February 6th "Atlas der Evangelischen Missions,"
last it secured Rev. Dr. A. P. Martin, are of high value within their sphere, President of the Imperial University at but are not in English dress. There Peking, China, to deliver before it a lec- are smaller works, as Badley's" Indian ture on " The Religious Attitude of the Missionary Directory" and Dobbin's Chinese Mind." As the lecture was not " Foreign Missionary Manual," and the a written one we solicited the kind admirable "Missionary Year Book."
offices of the Corresponding Secretary But the great gap is unfilled. We of the Society, Rev. C R. Blauvelt, want a comprehensive, well-digested, Nyack, N. Y., in securing for publica- historical, geographical, and statistical tion in our columns a report of the lec- Bummary-a vast dictionary of mis- ture, and he 'furnished a full synopsiS, sions, And at great cost and pain!! that desidemtum is, we are confident, China is a greater scourge than war or now to be met. We base our judgment pestilence." These China Christians on some two hundred pages which we are taunted with having adopted the re- have examined and tested, by working ligion of "the foreign devils, who are with them for a month. Those who making China into a hell by their opi- know the nature of such a production um." Worse still, the poor, weak lit- will not expect a faultless volume. It tle Christian church in the Celestial Em- will not be free from some inaccuracies. pire is being well nigh decimated by Biographically, it will be like heaven: the use of the drug. G.
one will find persons there he did not expect to see, and miss persons whose -" Maokay of Uganda" has been is· sued by the Armstrongs. Alexander names he thought certainly would be Mackay was styled by the Pall Mall Ga- ·zette the ., St. Paul of Uganda." Stanthere. That is inevitable. But, after ley, Grant, Jephson, and scores of the great Afrioan "lights" have poured all such natural and necessary exception their vials of odors on Mackay's grave. We doubt if he is not to stand out the is taken, this promises to be a mission- foremost missionary layman of the cen· tury. This book is one to " read, mark, ary cycloprodia on a scale and of a char- learn, and inwardly digest." It is a religious tonic. acter such as we have not had. It will be hailed heartily and studied dili- gently. Missions represent more than anything but the Bible the nnity of Protestant Christendom. Manyare eager to get a glance at the whole field down to date. We believe from what we have seen of these sheets they are not to be disappoin ted. Our readers may observe that, for unity's sake and convenience of refer- The leading articles which we have ence, we have assigned to each month a general field, as follows : examined, snch as "Buddhism" and January: The general outlook of the "Bantu," must have been written by world field.
persons speoially competent to furnish February: China, Thibet, and Con- fucianism. them. We understand that.llpeoial care Maroh: Mexioo, Central America, has been exeroised in the assignment of West Indies, Cuba, and Evangelization of Cities. the several classes of work, by which the April; India, Ceylon, Java. Brahmanablest talent has been brought to bear ism.
upon the whole wvrk, which is editorially May: Burmah, Malaysia, Siam, Laos. Buddhism. in the oharge of Rev. E. M. Bliss. June: Africa. Freedmen in North The publioation of such a book or America.
books, for it is in two large volumes, July: Islands of Sea-Polynesia, Me- lanesia. Utah and Mormonism. North requires the investment of a large sum Amerioan Indians. Chinese and Japan- ese in Amerioa. of money, and deserves the encourage- August: Italy, France, Spain. Papal ment of the Christian publio, as furnish- Europe. Bulgaria.
ing a thesaurus of missionary informa- September: Japan, Korea. Medioal Missions. tion. Dr. Rufus Anderson's axiom Ootober: Scandinavia, Germany, ought not to be lost sight of-" The Switzerland, etc. Turkey, Persia, Arabia. Mohammedanism. Greek interest which truly Christian people Oh~roh, Nomu.al Christianity take in missions is equal to their correct knowledge of them." G.
-There is a traot entitled" Christian Woman of North China to the Christian Women of England upon the Opium In-· iquity." In' this these Chinese Christian women deolare to all Europe and to all nmnkind that" forei6n opium in November: South America. Y. M. Bulgaria to the Bulgarians and Servia C. A. Home Missions. Papacy. to the Servians now give Palestine back to the Jews? These provinces as well as December: Syria and Jews. Green- Roumania, Montenegro, and Greece, land. Educational Missions. were wrested from the Turks and given to their natural owners. Does not Pal- A remarkable movement, headed by estine as rightfully belong to the Jews? It is said that rains are increasing, and MT. W. E. Blackstone, of Oak Park, Ill., there are many evidences that the land is recovering its ancient fertility. If is on foot to present an overture to the they could have autonomy in govern- ment, the Jews of the world would rally leading nations of the world, to buy Pal- to transport and establish their suffering brethren in their time-honored habita. estine and put it at the control of the tion. For over seventeen centuries they have patiently waited for such a Russian Jews, for occupation. The list privileged opportunity. They have not become agriculturists elsewhere, because of signatures to this document, already they believed they were mere sojourners in the various nations, and were yet to obtained, include editors, lawyers, mer- return to Palestine and till their own land. Whatever vested rights, by poschants, and men in every secular call- session, may have accrued to Turkey can be easily compensated, possibly by ing, as well as clergymen of every de. the Jews assuming an equitable portion of the national debt. nomination, inclusive even of Roman We believe that this is an appropriate Catholics. We have seen no document time for all nations, and especially the Christian nations of Europe, to show for twenty years that so impressed us kindness to Israel. A million of exiles, by their terrible sufferings, are piteously with its five hundred signatures. appealing to our sympathy, justice, and humanity. Let us now restore to them The following is the text of this me- the land of which they were so cruelly despoiled by our Roman ancestors. morial: . To this end we respectfully petition " What shall be done for "the Russian His Excellency Benjamin Harrison, President of the United States, and the Jews? It is both unwise and useless Honorable James G. Blaine, Secretary of State, to use their good offices and into undertake to dictate to Russia con- fluences with the Governments of their Imperial Majestiescerning her internal affairs. The Jews Alexander III., Czar of Russia. have lived as foreigners in her domin- Victoria, Queen of Great Britain and Empress of India. ions for centuries, and she fully be. William II., Emperor of Germany. Francis Joseph, Emperor of Austrolieves that they are a burden upon her Hungary. Abdul Hamid II., Sultan of Turkey. resources and prejudicial to the welfare His Royal Majesty Humbert, King.of Italy. of her peasant population, and will not Her Royal Majesty Marie Christina, Queen Regent of Spain, and, with the allow them to remain. She is deter- mined that they must go. Hence, like the Sephardim of Spain, these Ashkena- zim must emigrate. But where shall 2,000,000 of such poor people go?
Europe is crowded and has no room for more peasant population. Shall they come to America? This will be a tre- mendous expense and require years.
Why not give Palestine back to them?
According to God's distribution of na- tions it is their home-an inalienable possession from which they were ex· pelled by force" Under their cultiva- tion it was a remarkably fruitful land, sustaining millions of Israelites, who in- dustriously tUled its hillsides and val- leys. They were agriculturists and pro.
ducers, as well as a nation of great com- mercial importance-the centre of civil- ization and religion.
Why shall not the powers which un- der the treaty of Berlin, in 1878, gave Government of the Republic of France, and hopeful that our Government should and with the Governments of Belgium, initiate this friendly movement, to give Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, these wandering millions of Israel a set- Roumania, Servia, Bulgaria, and Greece, tled and permanent home. to secure the holding, at an early date, of an International Conference to con- " The President listened attentively to sider the condition of the Israelites and Mr. Blackstone's remarks, and promised their claims to Palestine as their ancient to give the subject serious considerahome, and to promote, in all other just tion." and proper ways, the alleviation of their suffering condition." The editorial staff of this REVIEW is now unusually complete. It embraces, Several petitioners wish it stated that besides the editor-in-chief, Rev. Drs. the lews have not become agriCUlturists, Gracey and Gordon, leading Methodist because for centuries they were almost and Baptist divines, Rev. C. C. Staruniversally prohibited from owning or buck, an Episcopalian, Rev. D. L. Leontilling land in the countries of their dis- ard, a Congregationalist, besides a leadpersion. ing Presbyterian clergyman whose name does not appear. Neither effort nor ex- On March 5th, Mr. William E. Black- pense is spared by the publishers and stone, of Chicago, presented this remark- editorial staff to make this the leading able paper, with its signatures of the review of world-wide missions. Mr. most prominent men of the country, to Starbuck, who has charge of the foreign the President of the United States; and exchanges, is seeking to make his dethe following is the report of the inter- partment the American review of review, as found in the daily press: views.
"Mr. Blackstone explained to the The greatest embarrassment which President and Secretary Blaine that the attends our work is perhaps the lack of memorial was the result of a conference trustworthy statistics, or rather, conof Christians and Jews, recently held in sistent and uniform statistics. One of Chicago, and called especial attention to our correspondents complains of the the fact that it did not antagonize Rus- statement on page 232 March issue, of sia, but only sought, in a peaceful way, the work in Africa. He compares this to give the Jews control of their oIa with the figures of Mr. Liggins in his homes in Palestine. He pointed out ., Value and Success of Foreign Mismany evidences of the possibility of sions," page 31, who reports 175,000 great development of ihat country, both communicants and 300,000 baptized agriculturally and commercially, under members of churches, etc. Now we ask an energetic government, and said that our friend to bear in mind, first, that the railroad now building from Joppa Mr. Liggins's estimates, published in to Jerusalem, if extended to Damascus, 1888, were probably taken from reports Tadmore and down the Euphrates, can- made in 1887, and covering the year not fail to become an international high- from 1876-77. These estimates in the way. He said that the poverty of the REVIEW are from the most recent reports Turkish Government gives emphasis to available. But most of all must it be the proposed indemnity by funding a borne in mind that scarce any two portion of the Turkish national debt statisticians proceed on the same printhrough Jewish capitalists, and that only ciple of estimate. A Baptist connts only peaceable diplomatic negotiations are baptized adult believers; an Episcoasked for, to the end that all private palian or Catholic would reckon every ownership of land and property be care. baptized infant; and some high churchfully respected and protected. In clos- men have been Jmown to reckon all the ing, he said that, being on such friendly household of a baptized communicant. terms with Russia, and having no com· plications in the Orient, it is most fitting For years we have been seeking to get not detect the fact that on page 149, some uniform basis for such tables line 17, immorality would read better adopted, but in vain. If we could have for another" t". If any reader thinks uniform forms for such tables, no errors that proof.reading is a sinecure he or contradictions would seriously occur. should try it. For example, if we could have a column for baptized adults, one for baptized in- By some strange oversight in the brief fants. etc., one for adherents, etc., we article on "Missionary Training might prevent confusion. As it is now, Schools," page 300, Vol. III. of thid our only way is either to discard figures REVIEW, no mention is made of the Interentirely, or else publish such as we can national Medical Missionary Society and get, and ask our readers to take them Training Institute, at No. 118 East fortyfor what they are worth as approxi. fifth Street, New York. This institu· mates. We say this once for aU. tion was founded in 1881 and incor- porated in 1886, its objects being, "to Another esteemed correspondent heal the sick and preach the Gospel in thinks the word" boasts," on page 205, New York and other cities, and train March issue, a "venomous word to young men and women to go abroad as thrust at a bishop." The editor will medical missionaries." The medical only say no such indignity was intend· director and founder of the institute is ed. The word was used in a mild sense, Dr. George D. Dowkontt, a devoted misof a perfectly lawful exultation at a very sionary and able manager. creditable increase. This word has a legitimate use. Camp. Psalm xliv., 8. Seven dispensaries have been estab- lished-6 in New York and 1 in Brook. In his annual report of the Congrega. lyn, and upward of 25,000 cases of distional Union's work, Secretary Cobb ease have been treated. suggested, and Dr. Taylor advocated. for promoting the progress of mission. In 1889, 59 students, 12 of whom were ary enterprise: (1) a clear presentation, ladies, were received; and missionaries at least once a year, in every pulpit, of from this training I>chool are working in the work of the various departments India, China, and Africa. of Christian service in the light of the latest facts; (2) the adoption by every At the time of writing the artiC'le, we church of a plan by which offerings of had in mind general training schools, money shall be made, precisely the same and not medical. Hence the inadvert· as offerings of prayer and praise, to ence. carryon the work of the on.coming kingdom of God; (3) a greatly awakened A writer in the Christian suggests that apprehension of the fact that evangeliz. a good service could be rendered by ing work is rapidly growing, so that mllny Christians if they would write let· funds which sufficed twenty.five, or ters to missionaries in foreign lands. even ten, years ago can by no PORS;- There are many who can write a few bility do the work demanded to.day. simple sympathizing lines that would cheer lonely hearts, but perhaps could Our correction in the February num· not otherwise do much for the Master. ber, page 142, needS correcting. The There are also many earnest believers line misplaced on page 51 of the Janu· whose interests would be widened if ary number belongs on page 50. And they were to write to missionaries in in the February number, page 83, line different fields, for wherever their let- 12, Siberia, should, of course, read Libe· ters go their hearts would go thereafter. ria; and even Dr. Gracey's eagle eye did In most cases such letters will be an· swered, and thus new and holy bonds would bind together the hearts of the writer and the lonely workers in far· away fields.
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
IV.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
-Asia is the most populous of con- ism, in the strict SQnse of the word, they tinents. But its population is un- say is, what may be called a cellular sysequally distributed. Taking the whole tem of society, where the cells are built area of Europe, it has a denser popula- up separately, and kept from all possition proportionately than Asia has. It bility of coalescing by an elaborate sysaverages 90 to the square mile, while tem of boycotting in food and in mar- Asia averages only 46. riage. And this has given rise to a hab- it of thought which is the deadliest foe But four countries of Asia-India, to Christian aggressive work. The one Java, China, and Japan-with five- sin which the caste Hindu regards as sixths of the total area have double the unpardonable is to think and act for population of Europe. himself. Individual responsibility, one of the most important elements in Chris- INDIA- BRAHMANISM. tian morality, is the one great sin to the caste Hindu. The individual is noth- The population of India is roughly ing, the caste is everything. If the classified as : (1) Hindus, (2) Aboriginal caste Hindu is to accept a new faith, tribes, (3) Mohammedans, (4) Miscella- then the probability is that he will come neous sects-Buddhists or Jains, Parsis, to it by a movement of masses and not Sikhs. The first two are estimated of individuals_ at 206,000,000, the Mohammedans at ronndly 50,000,000, and the miscellane- This finds at this moment an emphatous at 6,000,000. In counting the Hin- ic illustration in North India, among dus and Aboriginal tIibes together, we the Methodist missions. A great movedo not mean to say that Gonds, Rhonds, ment among certain low-caste peoples Santals, and the Hill tribes are Hindus. has taken place by which the communi- Many of them are so counted, but per- ty, as such, is turning to Christianity; haps 20,000,000 of them, at a low esti- and 5000 were baptized last year, and mate, are not even Hinduized, and pos- perhaps as many more were ready to be sibly 50,000,000 of them must not be baptized, but the missionaries preferred counted as Hindus. they should wait for further inRtruction and testing; yet they will, notwithstand- Of the 186,OOO,000-if we reckon it so ing this repression, baptize at least 5000 high-of the Hindu community, a large more this year, and have at least 10,000 number are out.castes by the system, eagerly awaiting baptism. It is a moveor are very low·caste people. These, ment much like that in Ongole among strictly speaking, are religiously with- the Baptists, and in NellorEl also. out privileges and socially without standing, separated necessarily and In the Deccan, this Scotch delegation eternally from the body politic of the thinks, the family feeling is stronger four castes which constitute the Hindu than the caste feeling in the depressed community. classes, and they think that there, the aggression will be along the family line. Professor Lindsay and Rev. J. F. Dr. Sheshadri's success is based on the Daly, deputized last year to visit the family as an indirect agency in the prop. Free Church missions in India, report- agation of the Gospel. It is confessed ed that caste Hinduism includes all man- that the mission does not show the sa~ne ner of religions in our Western sense of proportion of results in conversion the word, varying from a refined theos- among the strictly caste Hindus, but it ophy down to what is little better than is certain that, through mission and govrude fetich worship, and has no com- ernment schools, and other contact with mon creed, although beneath all there Western civilization-in society, letters, lies. a curious pantheism which is the one common religious basis. Hinducommerce, and laws-caste Hinduism is community, . which challenges fresh being seriously undermined and greatly effort on the part of the Christian modified.* Church; for it shows that, after all the European scholarship has disclosed to advance of the Christian community in these Hindus their own original scrip. India, there were more heathen in India tures, now overlaid with the debris of at the end of the decade than at its be- Iustful and foolish idolatry and fetich- ginning. Itmustnot be a source of dis.
ism; anu. whole segments of this commu.i couragement, however, for the Christian nityare breaking from the strict social community in India was shown to have order and organizing at a sort of half.way increased at nearly double the ratio of house between Hinduism and Chris- the non-Christian population. Then we tianity, while individuals in large num- must not overlook t.he fact that Brah- bers have swung to a stage of infidelity manism has been deteriorating for a in all religion. India to·day is not thousand years. It has died at the top.
the India of even fifty years ago. The It has been struck in the head; as a re- British Government steadily urges a ligious sYRtem it has been brained. It European standard of morals on the has added nothing to its philosophy for community. The pressure brought to centuries, nor to its aggregate of re- bear on them just now on the family and ligious force. If because of its exten- marriage life is in illustration, by which sion among depressed masses it has the" age of consent" has been raised found geographical or communal ex- to ten years. Gross abuses forced the tension, it has yet seriously declined in government to this action; but what us its purity. If there are more Brahmans, feel more hopeful is that the public there is less Brahmanism. It has even sentiment of the native community has been compelled to take a back seat on been elevated so far as to fortify the gov- the school forms, while European schol- ernment in this action. This gives en- ars should teach it what its sacred books couragement to hope that the govern- say it is. It is a learner and not a ment may be induced to press the mar- teacher of its own literature.
riage laws of India in the near future A preacher of the Brahmo Somaj is yet nearer to a standard becoming a reported as saying in a sermon : Christian nation. But in considering the " Men's minds have become restless. contact of Christianity with Brahman- Their minds now are filled with doubts ism, high caste or low caste, it is always regarding those things which formerly well to bear in mind that it is an absolutely local religion. It is confined to commanded respect. . . . A great flood the soil; crossing certain geographical has come and swept over the face of the boundaries, a caste Hindu loses his caste. Caste HindJlism, therefore, can have coun'try, carrying away the roofs of the no geographical extension. It is also edifices of past creeds and customs. confined within blood boundaries. It Drowning men, in their despair, are catching at whatever they find nearest their hands. They are finding it diffi- cult to obtain peace of mind."
can only be propagated along race lines. The New Light, an organ of the Brahmo The only possible increase, therefore, of Somaj, has the following: the Brahman community is as the " Christ Jesus … is as much necessary birth.rate exceeds the death.rate. If in this age and in India as He was 1800 the census can be relied on, Hinduism years ago in Judrea. As sinful children (not Brahmanism) increased in the re- of men, we, the people of India, are as cent decade six per cent. This marks a much in need of the Living Son of the great aggregate increase if a heathen Living God as the people of Judrea were in days gone by."
• The part of this official report of the Free But let us not overestimate the utter- Church of Scotland delegates to India, which an~es of the more intelligent classes. we have followed, would make a very excellent Below them is still the vast horde who tract. eat. drink, and are given in marriage, The extensive influence of the San- caring only how to plough, and reap, and skrit language on the Javanese is in evi- trade, and keep from starvation, not able dence of long intercourse. Every to read, not caring what the brains of language of the Eastern Archipelago will India are occupied about at all. Only be found to have engrafted upon it a 11,000,000 out of a total of 250,000,000 quantity of Sanskrit proportionate to the can read. extent of its own cultivation. The Kavi, / Mission work was never more neces- a language of Java, is chiefly SanskTit. sary, never so vast, so intelligent, so co- One sixth of the Malay language is San- operative, so compacted, so jealous of the skrit. The Mohammedans came in 1478, efficiency of its own methods, so intro- and Arabs and MaJays drove out every spective as now. The ratio of conver- description of Hindus, even a sect of sions steadily advances as weil as the Sivaites, who attempted to propagate ratio of the Christian community rela- their peculiar worship. tive to other portions of the population. Bishop Thoburn is authority for the Islam, so modified as to form almost statement that the largest missionary a distinct religion known as Javanism, conference in the world meets monthly remains the religion of the Javanese in Calcutta. race, and is reported to have rapidly ex· tended. The Sundas, who occupy the The next Decennial Conference of the west end, are less civilized than the Jav. ruissionaries will be held in 1892, and anese, who occupy the rest of the island. we have no doubt the summary of re- Politically the country is divided into sults will be greatly uplifting. 24 governorships. It has the electrio telegraph and two railroads. JA.VA.. Missionary work on this island as Java is about equal in size to one a:c.d nearly records a failure as in any part one-third of Great Britain, and count- of the globe. The Christianity of the ing little Madura, in its bosom, with Netherlands has had this eighteen or less than one·fifteenth of the area of the twenty millions of people within touch whole Eastern Archipelago, it has more for two centuries and a half, and enrolls than half the population of the group; not perhaps more than 4000 Christians. and its population is rapidly increasing. The Netherlands Missionary Society has It is the third in size, but first in trade labored here. The Dutch Missionary of the group. It is the granary of the Society commenced work among the archipelago. It is the most noted, too, 4,000,000 of Sundanese in Western Java for its ruins. Brambaban abounds with in 1863. It has schools and perhaps stupendous relics of Indian origin, the nearly 1000 in its congregations. It hilS remains of an extensi ve and splendid translated the entire Scriptures into city, while prodigious monuments of an- Sundanese. The Dutch Reformed Mis- cient Hindus appear in every direction. sionary Society labors in Central Java. The finest Sii ecimens of Buddhist stat- It reports a remarkable movement in ues in the world are in Java. Boro the last two or three years among the Buddha is the most magnificent relic of populations ruled by Moslem Sultans, Buddhism remaining in any country. notwithstanding that no missionary can Three hundred Buddhist images are preach without a government license, here. Buddhism was the prevailing re- and that license restricts him to one po· lision of the ancient Javanese. Civili- litical division. Over one thousand zation spread from West to East in the souls were reported converted in one Indian Archipelago. district where permission to preach hIlS beE'n persistently refused, and no min. The Javanese trace their origin to In- ister allowed to administer the sacra· dia. Probably commercial intercourse ments. The Mennonite Society, or- existed between the Coromandel coast g,an"iz._ed–in. 1849, made Java its first neld and Java from time immemorial. but it reported not more than 133 adhe- tered the field in 1813, by the ap- rents in 1889. pointment of four missionaries. This Board has given great attention to the (lEYLON. establishment of a well-ordered educa- tional system. They have had encour- Ceylon, the natives say, is the" Seat aging results in the way of self-support. of Paradise." Its 3,000,000 of people They now enroll 1477 communicants, are crowded about 118 to a square mile. and number 3116 adherents and 328 na- It is about two_sevenths the size of Great tive workers. The contributions of the Britain. It is called the "adopted native church last year amounted to country of the persecuted Buddhists." $4878. Singhalese and Tamils are the two principal races of the island. These are The Wesleyan Missionary Society endifferent from each other not only in tered Ceylon in 1814. The story of Dr. language and religion, but in vigor, in- Coke dying on the way to found this telligence, and personal characteristics. mission is a familiar one. The Church of England Missionary Society entered The Tamil is industrious and enter- in 1818, and the S. P. G. in 1838. prising, while the Singhalese is just the opposite. The HindUIsm of the Tamils In a large public square in the northdiffers but little from Hinduism in South ern part of Calcutta missionaries preach India. They are mostly devil-worship- every Sunday afternoon to large and repers, and devil trees and temples are spectful audiences. Recently a man common. The Buddhist Singhalese, like appeared in the audience interrupting their Tamil neighbors, have retained the preacher. He was remonstrated many of the lower forms of superstition. with, but continued his impertinent questions. Suddenly a native police- Ceylon has been mission ground for man arrested him, though he called nearly four hundred years, and has been loudly on the Hindus to rescue him; made the victim of some of the most re- and he was taken to the police station markable experiments in Christianiza- where, before the magistrates, he con- Hon that the world can anywhere show. fessed that he was a paid agent of the Its missionary history may be divided Madras Hindu Propagation Society, sent into three epochs, corresponding to the to Calcutta to put a stop to street governments which held it : the Portu- preaching! This illustrates the tactics guese, the .f)utch, and the English. now being pursued in India. When the Portuguese held most of the island, the Roman Catholics, in the be- Dr. W. A. P. Martin, in the librum, ginning of the sixteenth century, sought contradicts the impression that China to introduce Christianity, but it was lit- will menace the world's peace. Chinese tle less than paganism itself. The traditions are opposed to war. Defence, Dutch, in 1556, made the great blunder not conquest, is the aim of her military of seeking to turn the natives from Ro- organization. Internal improvements manism to L)ltheranism, by offering are progressing. To meet the needs of government offices only to such as were commerce, the rich coal-fields of the baptized in the national church. They Empire are being developed. These banished the priests, Catholic rites were mines are connected with the sea by a forbidden on pain of death, and the railway. Soon other railroads will be people were commanded to become built. China, Dr. Martin says, will Protestants. The 30,000 Christians soon mine her own iron and produce which they soon reckoned were of little her own steel rails. She is mining for worth, and there is only a feeble rem-. silvel.' and gold, and is prospecting for nant of them to be found. petroleum.
The English Baptists came in 1812. They number now about 1000 communicants. The American Board en-
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
-The North Afrjca Mission has in lem are in protracted unhappy friction.
all 58 missionaries engaged in its field Complaint is made by the Society that of operations, embracing Morocco, Al- the bishop'S late charge, instead of geria, Tunis, Tripoli, and North Arabia. being primarily addressed to his clergy, -·Last year the Foreign Mission Fund was evidently intended for English of the English ;Presbyterian Church High Church friends. More deplorclosed with a debt of £3100. able, it magnifies "points of external service and ceremony," to the exclu- Italy-Evangelical Alliance.- The sion of the truths of the Gospel of president of the Roman branch of the Christ. Other charges ar~ made which Alliance had the honor of a private audi- mark strained relations. As the Society ence with King Humbert, before whom provides a large proportion of the bish- were laid the arrangements for the ap- op's salary, some change is inevitable. proaching international conference at Bishop Blyth decla.res that he will not Florence. He expressed his cordial in- resign. terest in the meeting, and hoped that the Alliance would ~e warmly greeted Archdeacon Maples. – Rev. James by the Italians. The subjects for dis- Johnston has recently, in Manchester, cussion comprise" Religious Thought listened to this nobly devoted worker, in Italy," "Florence and the Reforma- identified with the Lake Nyassa branch tion," "The True Unity of the Chris- of the Universities' Mission, over which tian Church," "The Divine Authority Bishop Smythies presides. The archof Holy Scripture," "The Relation of deacon belongs to a family of eminent the Church to Modern Society," "In- solicitors in London, and was educated ternational Christian Co-operation," at the Charterhouse and University Col- "Christianity and Social Questions," lege, Oxford. Upon taking holy orders, and " Foreign Missions." in 1876, he left for East Central Africa, where he has bravely remained, an inde- India-Salvation Army.-By the fatigable missionary pioneer. He gives toilers continued advance is reported a cheery account of the conquests and throughout Ceylon and the Indian Em- prospects of the Universities' Mission. pire. In 1886 the Army had 15 corps, One of the chief trials which the Uniwith 39 European and 41 native officers, versities' missionaries have to face is the while in 1888 some 56 corps had been irritating effect produced on the nerves established, represented by 166 Euro- by the malarial climate, and the consepean and 102 native officers. The re- quent difficulty of dealing justly and turns for 1890 show 96 corps, 171 Euro- gently with the natives. ~'his may pean and 273 native officers. Out of a partially account for, though not excuse total of 4673 conversions there had been the cruelties practised by secular ex- 263 Europeans, 317 Roman Catholics, plorers in many parts of Africa.
592 native "Christians," and· 3501 East Africa.-A Berlin correspond- "raw heathens saved." In December ent of the London Times telegraphs that last 55 new officers embarked for India, the Central Board of the African Society where some of the Army's social work of German Catholics has granted 25,000 is being attempted. As regards the marks toward the fund for placing a.
position of the Salvation Army in the Wissmann steamer on Lake Victoria, United States, the figures are 86,662 on condition of the success of the enter- members, 40 church buildings, and 287 • prise being otherwise assured, and fur- halls, with sitting accommodation for ther sums, amounting to 75,000 marks, 102,261 persons. for the promotion of missionary enter- -The English Church Missionar,}" prise in various districts of German East Societs and the Bishop of Jerusa- Africa. Although Major VOIl Wissmann, on his return to Berlin, last summer, in and Christian manner," and continues, comparing the work of Catholic and " I shall never forget ODe time, when Protestant missionaries in East Africa, speaking on this subject with his late awarded to the former the palm of much Highness the Maharajah of i Travancore. greater success, his statements were His Highness said the day of rest was stoutly challenged and, in some cases, observed by his Government in the certainly disproved. jails, public offices, etc., but he asked, Would it not be a strange thing if he, English Wesleyan Missionary So· a Hindu prince, had to interfere to ciety.":-The discouraging statements make Christians keep the Sabbath? ' " made in the January issue of the REVIEW The missionary concludes by observing relative to English Wesleyan finances that the question is one which, so far may now be considerably modified. as the obse"ance of the day of rest is With the disappearance of the contro- concerned, "very closely affects Chrisversy on the Society's Indian policy, tian missions." which led to a serious decline in receipts in Great Britain, there is reported at Hindu Child Marriage-" Age of the opening of 1891 a "marked improve· Consent" Bill.-Moderate as the Inment." Fresh sympathy has been awa· dian Government measure is to raise kened. From Tonga good news still ar· the minimum age of a girl capable of conrives. With the return of religious sent,ing from ten to twelve years, it is liberty the native Wesleyan chapel is some advance toward the removal' of a regaining the ground which it lost by shameful abuse in relation to Hindu the recent persecution. child marriages. By the majority of representative subjects in India the bill India.-The eminent Baptist minis· will be deemed inadequate. It was ter, Rev. E. G. Grange, of Bristol, who only a few months ago two thousand has just returned from India, says that Indian women asked that the consenting the style of life in which missionaries age should be fourteen yearli. This live does strike a visitor as being luxu· memorial to the Viceroy was supported rious, but it is inevitable. His general by fifty.five ladies practising medicine impression is that the life is a trying in India. For this step in legislation one, and nothing save the love of God great praise is due to Mr. lblabari, or the love of money would keep a man whose efforts have been of the most in India. self·denying character. He thought that fourteen years might be adopted, Indian Factory Commission.- an opinion similarly held by the medi- Although this commission, at the con. cal profession, and likewise long recogelusion of its sittings in 1890, recom· nized by the Parsee and Brahman commended important amendments touch. munities. The Rajpoots have lately fol· ing the excessive working hours of lowed this examp1e. Fortunately, the women and children, there is a further l'rincipal Hindu reformers are press. call for humane -legislation in such na· ing amendments by which to strengthen tive States as Travancore, where the the rights of parents in withholding Factory Acts have no operation. A their daughters from cohabitation with friend of the writer, the Rev. J. Knowles the husbands they have married as mere (L. M. S.), Travancore, South India, re- children, till they have reached a proper marks that" professedly Christian men age. It is admitted that the Viceroy may and do work women and children has escaped being charged with violating from dawn to dark, with only a short outrageously social custom and ecclesipause of about twenty minutes in the astical tradition. The ultimate developmiddle of the day." Referring to the ment of this measure is scarcely less imneed of intervention, Mr. Knowles says, portant than the virtual abolition of " The only thing I am pleading for is the legal status of Indian slavery in 1843. that things shall be done in a humane Monthly Bulletin. year of 42,124. All the Methodist de- nominations in the United States nUll!- -The Christian Alliance has some ber 54,711 churches, 31,765 Dnnisters, suggestive words on taking secondary and 4,980,240 communicants. places in service for Christ. We must learn to help as well as lead, if we would -The Deaconess movement is spread- be used of God. It is a great thing to ing. In connection with the Baptist be wiIIing to be second, or third, or Forward Movement, a new Deaconesses' fourth, or hundredth, if need be. Paul Home was recently opened in London. went out second, but God soon reversed Ladies will be trained in nursing and the order, and so it reads now, " Paul other work among the poor, and will be and Barnabas," not" Barnabas and placed under the direction of such Saul." Andrew Milne was refused as churches as may desire t.heir aid. missionary, and then offered to go as a servant. Be blacked Robert Morrison's -The Rev. G. W. Morrison, of the shoes, and did a servant's work for a American U. P. India. mission, may be time, bnt became at length one of the compelled to return to this country this greatest missionaries of the world. spring to bring his motherless babe.
-There are in the United States, -The Rev. J. Kruidenier, of the Canada, England and Scotland, 34 American U. P. Egyptian Mission, who women's missionary societies, and they has been laid aside for :five months with have 1397 missionaries in the field. critical illness, has recovered, and has resumed his work at Assiout. -The work of telegraph building in South Africa has pushed far ahead of -The Rev. Dr. Lansing, of the railroad enterprise. A line now reaches American U. P. Egyptian Mission, is the new capital of King Khama, 1700 slowly recovering his health, and is bemiles in an air line northeast of Cape ginning to take some part in public ser- Town. Savage Africa will thus be vices. Be is at La Grange, Mo. joined with civilization by electric wires. Two hundred and sixty wagons, -Dr. Pentecost reports the outlook each drawn by from ten to twelve yoke for India most hopeful. The older misof oxen, have taken their way northward sionaries are .full of expectation. Imloaded with nothing but telegraph wires. portant conversions are occuring at all No recent enterprises of the sort surpass the stations. Be emphasizes the fact, in magnitude, or in the energy with however, that the mission field is sadly which they are being pressed forward, undermanned. Be appeals to all Christhese railroad and telegraph projects, tians in America for special prayer for now far advanced in South Africa. India, for the outpouring of the Spirit upon the workers and on the people. -It is said there are about thirty Be pleads also for increased gifts to the thousand children of school age in Chi- mission boards. "Let our men of cago who are not in school, and not at wealth double their SUbscriptions, work. This means that, in most cases, and let one hundred of our very best they are on the street. Verily, there is young men offer themselves. It is need of Gospel work very near home. absolutely of no use to send second- class men· to India. _ . .. Do not -The Methodist Year BooTe for 1891 believe the report of the unbelieving gives many interesting facts. The spies. God is able to give us the land." Methodist Episcopal Church in this Dr. Pentecost presided lately, at the country has a membership of 2,283,154, Town Hall of Calcutta, at the annnal a net gain of 46.691 over last year. The prize distribution of the boys' and the den()mination is serv~d by 14,792 min- girls' schools of that city, and Mrs. isters. It has 2,264,832 Sabbath·school Pentecost gave away the prizes. Dr. scholars, an increase over the previous Pentecost's work among the Englisheducated Bengalis is declared by the home with ruined habits. The Rev. Indian Witness to have been attended Eugene Dunlap, for many years con- with much blessing. One address, at nected with the American Presbyterian Duff College, made a profound impres- Mission at Siam, is making the arrange- sion. Young Bengalis present have ments, Up to the present time only since signed a solemn covenant to take four young men from Siam have been Christ as their Saviour, declaring they educated here. One. is now in the will make a public profession soon. Auburn Theological Seminary. " 'rhe feeling prevails among all classes who know the facts," says the Witness, -October 2d, 1792, the Baptist Mis- " that we are on the eve of a mighty sionary Society waa organized, the first work among this class, who have so long society in the world organized exclusivestood at the very threshold of a Chris· ly for sending the Gospel to the heath- tian life." It is a notable fact that thA en. The first offerings amounted to Englishman, the leading daily paper of about $66. Now there are 223 evangel- Calcutta, gave a sympathetic as w,ell as ical missionary societies, 5594 foreign elaborate account of Dr. Pentecost at missionaries (over 3000 of whom are orthe outset of his mission. It ascribes dained ministers), 33,543 native helpers, much of his success to his striking per- 681,503 native communicants, and in sonality and manner. 1890 the contributions reached $11,42::1,- 58.8. -From Tahiti and the adjacent islands a band of not less than 160 -There are several excellent training evangelists have gone forth, carrying the schools for nnrses in Japan. One of message of salvation to other benighted these is under the direction of a lajy tribes, and yet less than a century ago who left the superintendency of a Bosthe ancestors of these evangelists were ton hospital for her laborious post in lying in the grossest darkness and su- Kyoto. Another school in Tokyo is perstition. raising money for a building. Its man- agers consist of both American and Jap- -A Young Men's Christian Associa- anese ladies. tion has been established in Jerusalem, and modern methods of reaching the -Recent reports from the Presbytemasses are to be instituted in that his- rian mission in Shantung, China., are of toric city. a most encouraging character. The meeting of Presbytery at Wei Hien -The Rev. Dr. R. Hamill Nassau, a brought together about forty mission_ Presbyterian missionary on the Ogove aries full of enthusiasm, besides a goodly River, West Africa, is preparing to re- number of native preachers_ This Presturn to this country with his motherlells bytery has twenty organized churches on little daughter. Mrs. Nassau died in the its roll, with applications forfour or five wilds of Africa, with no white person new organizations. Four hundred and near except her husband. Dr. Nassau fifty-eight additions to t)le churches expects to reach Philadelphia about the were reported for last year. It is estifirst of May. mated that there are fifteen thousand in- quirers in the different districts. -Arrangements aTe making by the King of Siam to send six young men to -The Young Men's Christian Assothis country to be educated. They are ciation work in India is most encouragto enter Westminster College, at New ing. The number of members on the Wilmington, Pa., an excellent United roll of the Madras Association increased Presbyterian institution. The reason in three months from 85 to 165, 50 of given for bringing them here is that whom are active members. The influsimilar experiments in England have ence of the work is great, first in failed, the young men having returned strengthening and enconraging those I who are Christians, but who are exposed the Britons. They were too lazy and to many temptations, and then also in illiterate, he said, for any good. The reaching those who are not yet Chris- darkeys saw the point. It is a good tians. thing to look at the hole of the pit whence we were dug, especially when -British papers announce the death we are impatient enough to say that the at Newchang, China, of the Rev. J. H. lower races about us cannot be civilized. Fitz Simon8, missionary of the Irish Presbyterian Church. He had been -Leading Hebrews in San Francisco, only three weeks in his chosen field it is said, have dt!cided to raise a fund when called home. of a quarter million dollars for the re- lief of their persecuted brethren in Rus- -It is said that not more than one sia. The plan includes the purchase of eighth of the people of Japan live in a million acres in Mexico on the Pacific cities having more than 10,000 inhabi- coast, which will cost only one dollar tants ; the vast majority are farmers or an acre. This tract will be divided into fishermen. small farms, on which large numbers of these Hebrew exiles, who are mostly -The Evangel, the American Baptist farmers, will live. Colonists are to be mission steamer on the lower Congo, is sent out through the English Society of the first vessel to make the passage from Israelites. All the rabbis and rich the mouth of the river to Matedi in a Hebrews of San Francisco ar(}active supday. porters of the projE!ct.
-There are said to be 11 provinces in -The Shah of Persia, it is said, re- China, with 982 walled cities, in 913 of cently paid a personal visit to the Amerwhich there is no missionary. ican mission home and school in Te- heran. This is the first visit ever paid -The American Baptist Mission on by the Shah to a private foreign resithe Congo has founded a new station on dent, and it is not surprising that it the upper river at Irebo, 375 miles made quite a sensation. His Majesty above Stanley Pool and 750 from the was greatly pleased. sea. -From the report of the Japanese -Two new editions of the Burman Minister of Education it appears that Bible are being printed by the Baptist there are nearly three million pupils in Missionary Union, one in Rangoon and the public schools of the Empire of Jaanother, from reduced plates, in Boston. pan. The cause of education is rapidly advancing. -The American Baptist missionaries on the Upp!'r Congo have made discov- -The Rev. A. W. Thompson, the eries which show that Lakes Mantumba new Presbyterian missionary to Triniand Leopold are connected and form a dad, was recently designated at Dursecondary course for the waters of the ham, Nova Scotia.. Mr. Thompson Congo. The Upper Congo Valley is one leaves with the full confidence and the vast network of lakes and rivers. earnest good wishes of his church.
-There are three mission steamers on -The Rev. John M: Greene, D.D. the waters of the Upper Congo. They now for some years at the head of the convey preachers and teachers to the Presbyterian Missions in Mexico, was various stations on the great river and obliged, some six months since, to decarry supplies when needed. sist from his manifold labors and cares, and return home to recruit his health. -A missionary in South Afriea was We are gl ad to learn that he is now reading Cicero's Orations with his negro again in nearly fnll strength, and expects students. He came upon the passage to return to Mexico at once. where Cicero advised the general to make slaves of all the prisoners except -On November 29th last Dr. Henry ing the high passes of the Himalayas H. Jessup, so long of the Presbyterian and fording dangerous streams. They Syria Mission, had the pleasure of wel- have not seen a European for ten years. coming a son as a recruit to that mis- sion. The Rev. William Jessup and -The Presbyterian Mission in Chili wife arrived that day in Beirut. Mr. has five organized churches as well as Jessup left Syria when a little child in preaching halls in the principal towns 1864, and now returns for the first time. in the country, Evangelists make long Educated in Princeton, he was ordained tours, sowing the Bread of Life. There by the Presbytery of New Brunswick are two schools: an elementary one at last April, married to Miss Faith Jad- Valparaiso, attended by 200 scholars, win, October 15th, and sailed for Syria and a superior institution at Santiago early the following month. He is now with 80 scholars, some of whom have stationed at Zahleh, on the eastern side come from homes in Peru and Bolivia. of Lebanon. A young Spanish pastor, M. Francesco Diez, who studied at Lausanne, has re- -The Rev. Hunter Corbett writ~s to cently settled at Santiago in connection the Presbyterian Banner from China: with the mission. " During a journey of two months in the interior visiting churches, stations -McCormick Seminary has at present and schools, forty persons were redMved 40 young men who expect to enter the into the church on confession of faith, foreign field. They appeared before making ninety-two this year. Three Presbytery lately, and asked permission church.buildings were dedicated. Two to visit the churches to present the work of them are built of stone and the other so dear to their hearts. They hope by of brick. These buildings cost the these meetings to stimulate large lib- ChriRtians no small amount of self- erality, so that when the time comes denial." During this year about five the Board will be able to accept them. hundred members were added to the They received the hearty endorsement churches in the Presbytery and five of the Presbytery. men were ordained to the ministry. -As showing the vitality of the sim- -Cardinal Lavigerie proposes to re- ple old Gospel, a missionary from China claim large regions of the A.frican Sahara says: ., If there is anything which lays by monkish settlements. He is organ- hold of the poor people in that country izing a French Sahara Brotherhood, who it is the simple story of the crucifixion will live as engineering monks, and of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is not the after five years' trial devote themselves morality, or the miracles of the Gosfor life. They will be posted near old pel, or even the wonderful sayings or wells in the Sahara, and will reopen teachings of our Lord Jesus Christ, those wells and start new ones and but the old story of the cross, of the plant fruit far~s to form a series of blood, of the sacrifice, of the satisfacoases in the desert. They will make it tion of Christ in dying for sinners on their special work to gather the scat- the tree, that is the power for good in tered nomads, suppress their slave trade, touching the heart and awakening the and convert them if possible. The conscience … system is to extend itself until vast tracts are fertilized, as was the case in -The anti-rum congress at Khartoum the time of ancient Carthage, seems to have been a vigorous one. It was held at the same time with the anti- -AMoravian missionary and his wife slavery congress in Brussels. Bishop have been laboring for thirty years at a Taylor's magazine says: "While the station in the mountains of Thibet, Christians in Brussels were resolving to with the nearest post-office fourteen • search all vessels and dhows suspected days distant and reached only by cross- of having slaves on board, and to con- fiscate the vessels and return the slaves,' the Arabs were adopting a resolution are also 27 80cieties on the continent of • to surround the entire coast of Africa Europe. As to results, it is said that with a cordon of armed dhows and con- within the past seventy-five years 100,- fiscate every European vessel contain- 000 Jews have been baptized, and that ing liquors, and sell .the crewS into sla- the number of Hebrew Christians with very.' " their children reaches a quarter million. Many of the converts are men of influ- -It is said that for what it costs to ence. fire one shot from one of our largest cannon, a missionary and his family can -The work among the Chinese in be supported over two years in Japan. America has a very important bearing Would we not better spike the cannon on the evangelization of China. The and send the Gospel abroad? number of Chinamen converted in thi's country who go back to extend Gospel -The Woman' B Executive Committee influences in their native land is surpris- of Home Missions of the Presbyterian ingly large. They are valued helpers in Church has for several years prosecuted the stations of both the Presbyterian educational and industrial work for Ind- and AmericllnBoardmissions, and some ian children and youth in schools in of the strongest churches have been New Mexico, Indian Territory, Arizona, founded by Chinamen who have been Nebraska, Iowa, and Wisconsin, with converted while living in California. In gratifying results. There are now un- four or five cities natives who are either der the care of this band of Christian now residents of the United States, or women thirty-two schools, where chil- who have sojourned there, are provid- dren are thoroughly instructed in gos- ing the funds for evangelistic enter- pel truth, and through the influence of prises. There is said to be less opposi- which many savage homes have been tion to the Gospel in those sections from transformed. Chapels have also been which there has been emigration to built, and the precious seed of living America. These facts should urge us to truth scattered broadcast. greater activity in behalf of the Ori- entals now among us. -A Methodist medical missionary in India makes a strong plea for a prelim_ -Here is a pleasant item from Glas- inary service in the home field for those gow, Scotland': "Mr. Quarrier was vis- who go abroad, Such experience would ited the other day by friends from the not only be a test of their qualification, West Coast, who laid on his table £2000 but would also be educational, prepar- in bank-notes, saying they wished to ing them for wiser and more efficient build a house for the orphans in mem- service when they enter the foreign field. ory of a beloved husband and father. They were most anxious that no name, -Dr. Tucker, who succeeds the heroic not even initials, should be published. Bishop Hannington in Equatorial They refused to take a receipt, saying Africa, under the appointment of the to Mr. Quarrier, "You have got the Church Missionary Society, found his money, and that is enough." journey to his post at Uganda one of great peril. But for the opportune help -It is not pleasant to read in the of German soldiers the missionary would Christian World that ., Black Mass" was , have shared Bishop Hannington's sad celebrated in 250 Anglican churches on fate. All Souls' Day. Prayers for the dead were offered, and the altars were drapeu -It is usually supposed that mission in black. Straws show which way the work among the Jews does not yield wind blows, and when 250 of them blow sufficient results to encourage its con· in the same direction it is not difficult tinuance. But our friends in Europe to decide the tendency of the prevailing do not appear to share this feeling. breeze. Other indications of 8 Bomish Great Britain has 14 missionary soci- eties. which employ 312 agents. There tendency are furnished by English Epis. the Roman Catholic, and the Anglican copal clergymen in abundance. Church have missions in Alaska.
-The London City Mission has 300 -Yes, even our aborigines can be Gospel halls in which religious services touched and renewed by divine grace. are held during the week, in many cases To the wildest and worst of them, a livevery night in the year. ing Indian can be a good Indian. For Bishop Hare, who knows whereof he -The American Bible Society has reo writes, exclaims: "Nine Sioux Indians ceived from the National Bible Society nobly working in the sacred ministry! of Scotland a copy of the New Testa. About 40 Sioux Indians helping them as ment translated into Tannese by the licensed catechists. Forty branches of Rev. William Watt. the Woman's Auxiliary among the Sioux Indian women. Seventeen hundred -One consecrated man may set in Sioux Indian communicants! Sioux motion great influences for good. Sir Indians contributing nearly $3000 an- Keith Falconer founded a mission at nually for religious purposes! But Aden, in Arabia, and with his last what impression have all these solemn breath begged that it be not given up. but cheering facts made upon the pub. The Free Church of Scotland has ac. lie mind as compared with the wild cepted it as a legacy, and Professor Lan- antics of the heathen Sioux Indians, sing, of New Brunswick, is preparing which excited the attention and stirred some young men for the mission. Mean- the feelings of the country, and daily while a German, reading the life of occupIed column after column of the leith Falconer, was moved to give newspapers for weeks ?" himself as a missiopary, and proposes to enter upon the work of evangelizing -Woman's work for woman in forthe Bedaween Arabs who dwell around eign lands, which had its beginning Mt. Sinai. So the torch is passed from only about 20 years ago, has been atthe dying to the living, and new con- tended by a marvellous development. secrated men are never wanting to take In all 70 societies are in existence, supthe place of those who fall in the field. porting a force of 1468 missionaries, and gathering and expending last year the Organized Mi.~ona.ry W"ork and Statis- snug sum of $1,692,963. Of these so- tics. Edited by Rev. D. L. Leonard, cieties 34 are found in the United States, Bellevue, O. 10 in Canada, 24 in Great Britain, and one each on the Continent and in South -England has 8 Jewish missionaries; Africa. The American societies alone Scotland: has 5 ; Ireland 1 ; and these sustai~ 926 missionaries, and raised organizations in all employ 312 agents. $1,087,568 last year, or almost three- There are 27 societies upon the Conti. fifths ~f the entire amount. nent, and in the United States 7, with 34 in their employ. The total of organ_ -In connection with the Day of izations designed especially to carry the Prayer for Colleges, statistics appeared Gospel to the Jews is 48, and their mis- of an interesting and important charsionaries number 377. acter from 24 colleges having" substaJ;l. tial relations with the Presbyterian -According to Dr. Sheldon Jackson, Church." These figures throw welthe Presbyterian Church now has 7 mis- come light upon one or two weighty sions and 4 churches, with from 70 to questions. Omitting the colleges for 80 communicants each in Alaska. The women only, and including only the church in Sitka has 360 communicants. students in institutions for men, or Besides the Presbyterian Church, the those where co-education exists, it ap- Moravian, the Protestant Episcopal, the pears that 82 per cent of the attendants Methodist Episcopal, Congregationalist are church members in the college classes proper, or 61 per cent if pre- the women 28. The visits made aggre_ paratory students are included. And of gated 22,766. They conducted 2946 the 1509 students, 361 are reported as church, cottage, and mission meetings, "meaning to be ministers." Making 549 children's meetings, 235 tent meetall due allowance for women found in ings, and taught 2163 Sunday-school the mixed colleges, the conclusion is that classes. The number of visits made to not less than one in three has the minis- saloons was 1932, and the number of try in view. inquirers professing conversion was 2729. It is evident from these figures -The educatiox{al work of the vari- that while a large proportion of time is ous societies is always to be borne in zealously devoted to Bible study and mind as only second in importance to attendance upon lectures, attention to the direct preaching of the Gospel in " applied Christianity" is by no means pagan lands. And the aggregate of neglected. In vocal classes 448 were schools of all grades, and of pupils as taught, while 74 received private inwell, is cheeringly large. Thus the strnction for the voice, and 91 received London society alone supports no less private instrumental lessons. than 1615, with 105,980 in attendance_ The Church Missionary Society has -No friend of missions can watch 1796 schools with 75,581 scholars, and that unparalleled movement known as the American Board 1025, with 47,319. the Partition of Africa, without wonder- The Methodist Church, North, is edu- ing what is to be the effect upon the cating 30,049 in foreign lands; the Pres- well-being of the 200,00,0,000 that inbyterian Board, North, 23,935, and the habit the vast spaces of the Dark Con- Baptist Missionary Union, 20,615. The tinent, or without hoping that it will be schools sU'ltained by the various Ameri- blessed in almost. every particular. can societies contain almost 175,000 Eight European nations ~re concerned pupils, and the 12,000 Protestant mis- in the colossal affair, if we count the sion schools are training to Christian Congo Free State with its 1,000,000 intelligence an aggregate of not much square miles, as Belgium'S share in the less than 600,000 children and youth. " deal." France easily leads in the ex- tent of her acquisitions, having her hand -The first annual report is out of upon Algeria, the Sahara country, and Mr. Moody's Bible Institute for Home other regions farther south, or a total and Foreign Missions (and Chicago of 2,300,000 square miles. Though, if Evangelization Society), and will be a to Great Britain's 1,910,000 in South surprise to many. Three departments and Central Africa we add her most exhave been in operation during the year, cellent prospects in Egypt and the Souone for men, one for women, and one dan, and the superior soil and climate for instruction in music; and the num- of her possessions, then her share is ber of persons enrolled in them is most valuable by far. Germany, just at 173, 80, and 578 respectively-in the present, is content with 1,035,00,0 square two first named 253, or a total of 831 miles, Portugal with 775,000" Italy with students. Upward of 20 denominations 360,,000, and great expectations as touchwere represented in the attendance, ing Tripoli, while Spain brings up the and more than 3.1> States of the Union. rear with the trifle of 210,000. Upon Sixteen came from England, 15 from the entire continent-some 50,0,0, by 50,00 Canada,· 9 from Sweden, 4 from Ire- miles in extent-are found some 12,00,0,- land, 4 from Germany, 3 from Norway, 000 square miles, of which only 2,500,- 2 from Turkey, and 1 each from Russia, 000 remai!l unassigned. It can scarcely Bohemia, and Finland. They came be but that roads, the locomotive, and from 51 secular occupations, and 41 stable government will Boon follow; and were ministers or evangelists. The so let the Lord's people make haste to average age of the men was 30, and of go up to possess the land for Him.
The Missionary Review of the World — October 1890
CARDINAL LAVIGERIE AND HIS ANTI-SLAVERY WORK
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. No. lO.-Old Series.–OCTOBER.–voL. ill. No. lO.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
CARDINAL LAVIGERIE AND HIS ANTI-SLAVERY WORK.
BY REV. J. C. BRACQ, PHILADELPHIA.
The statements of both the colleagues and the opponents of Cardinal Lavigerie remind us that mankind always inclines to ex- aggerate the qualities or the vices of men before it is willing to bestow upon them admiration or contempt. The friends and the foes of th~ Cardinal have each from their own standpoint enlarged upon his merits and demerits, and overrated or minimized the importance of the services which he has rendered to the anti-slavery cause. Their utterances have much value, as they are mutually corrective. Weare not, however, left to these partisans for our information on the Cardinal and his anti-slavery work. The Grey Book, prepared for the Conference of Brussels, gives us an impartial resume of what had been done to destroy slavery prior to the conference. Mgr.
Lavigerie has favored us with a volume of documents, * giving not only his own estimate of his work, but also the means of ascertaining the measure of the (Euvre Antiesclavagiste and of the man whose name is so intimately associated with it. The historical part of the documents is decidedly unfair to the world at large in relation to its share of efforts for African emancipation. The work of Wilberforce, of Granville-Sharpe, of Zachary Macaulay, of Buxton, of Livingstone, of Stanley, of Gordon, of the Anti-Slavery Society of England, the appeals of Englishmen before the Parliament, the patient negotiations of the Powers with Eastern potentates, the work of Protestant missionaries whose eye-witness reports stirred their respective countries-all this is overlooked; or, if referred to, has but an incidental or minifying allusion. The Cardinal speaks too disdainfully of the work of his predecessors, and too triumphantly of his own. He mentions, indeed, the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the Conference of Verona in 1822, the Congress of Berlin in 1884; but he says that up to this time "everything remained in the official world. " Then he adds: "It is true that the first explorers, and particularly Livingstone and Stanley, had begun to inspire learned societies and chancelleries with a feeling of horror and pity which the evils of Africa could but excite. The missionaries in their turn, the * Documents sur ia Fondation de I' <Euvre Antiesciavagiste. witnesses of so much infamy, have not waited, by their letters, to rend the veil." (Documents, p. 9.) According to Cardinal Lavigerie the reports of Livingstone and Stanley did not go beyond the range of learned, societies and the precincts of chancelleries. The multi- tude of their books and reports, which had a circulation a hundred times wider than any of the verbal or written utterances of the Cardinal, and to which he constantly refers for statistical purposes, or fo~ broad surveys of the African evil, count for naught among the powers that have brought to light the African horrors. Again, the "mis- sionaries" to~whom he makes allusion are Roman Catholic, and notably his own. The half century of heroic efforts of Protestant missionaries in Africa before his advent does not seem to trouble him in the least when he calls himself" the pastor of Africa," or when he speaks of" my missionaries" as the only Christian workers on the Dark Continent.
All this represents 'but one aspect of the historical unfairness of the prelate. There is a more serious historical defect: it is his abortive exertions to cause the Pope to appear as the prime mover in the anti-slavery crusade. A careful reading of the encyclical letter to the bishops of Brazil (pp. 1 to 27), of the allocution of the Cardinal to the Pope (pp. 30 to 37), of the answer of the Pope (pp. 38 to 41), of the Cardinal's expression, "daigna 8e rendre d ma priere" (p. 495), and of many similar passages, will convince one that, prior to the first success of the African prelate in this campaign, the Pope had no especial interest in this cause. All through the documents we find exaggerated, irrelevant and unhistorical praises of the Pope of the same unreal order as the statements that make Leo XIII. "the prisoner of the Vatican." Weare far from unwilling to recognize the rare qualities of the present Pope or his co-operation in the present anti-slavery movement; we only contend that neither he nor'the Cardinal, nor the Roman Catholic Church, ought to monopolize the credit of a movement to which Protestant missionaries, explorers, tradesmen, statesmen, and all the great factors of civilization, have been the most important contributors.
Cardinal Lavigerie has certainly aroused the Catholic nations of Europe to the importance of eradicating the slave trade from Africa; he has led Protestant nations to take up with new ardor and in a more practical way a cause dear to them; he has set earnest men to devise. means to destroy African slavery; he has inspired several thousand young men to go as volunteers to Africa; he has so affected public opinion in France that the French Government receives popular support in its campaign of Dahomey, where one of the greatest strongholds of slavery.is being overturned; he has done much to bring anti-slavery men of different countries to act in concert; he has organized the different anti-slavery societies in Europe into the large society, L' (Euvre Antiesclavagiste. These re- sults are remarkable, but they were secured by appealing to Catho- lics, Protestants and Free Thinkers alike. For a long time the work was presented as unsectarian, but it is no longer so. At the height of enthusiasm, Mgr. Lavigede announced the convocation of an im- mense Anti-Slavery Congress on August 5, 1889, in Lucerne. All the anti-slavery societies of the world were to be represented. The greatest anti-slavery orators were to be heard. This was to be the Ecumenical Council of the friends of negro deliverance. A few weeks before the opening of the congress, the Cardinal suddenly and arbitrarily postponed it, and then adjourned it indefinitely. He gave different reasons for this. rrhose made official were tha~ the coming French elections would prevent France from being fairly represented; but how could that be, as the elections were still at least six weeks distant? At a later date he announced, not his immense gathering, but a small conference with four delegates from each society. This was to all a conclusive proof that the "French elections" were but a pretext. The general interpretation of the Cardinal's action is that he clearly saw that, with such a large assemblage and so many Protestants present, it would be impossible to bring the movement within Catholic channels. N ow the organization is not only completed, but the Catholic Church holds command over it. Every friend of anti-slavery will lament this course. Why did the Cardinal appeal to Protestants and Free Thinkers upon a broad humanitarian platform and then put the whole organization underthe control of the Pope? Can those who thought that they were joining an unsectarian philanthropic organization now see it, without indignation, become the appanage of the narrowest sectarianism? That the work' has become thoroughly Roman Catholic is plain enough from pages 490, 497 and 498 of $e documents. It is not astonishing that the Swiss Anti-Slavery Society has already sent the Cardinal a note which is tantamount to a threat of separation.
One of the special features of Cardinal Lavigerie's work is the bold endeavor to stop slave-hunting by the sword. He proposes for Africa the revival of some of the old religious military orders of former days, such as the Knights of Malta, the Knights of Saint Lazarus and the Knights of Alcantara. These bodies of knights, placed under the authority of the Church, would be moving about, interrupting the work of slave-traders. Whether or not this part of the programme is reaHzed, the campaign will take place and volunteers are preparing for it. Will not these volunteers be a danger to Protestant establishments in Africa? As a minority, the Catholic missionaries have done much to wreck our Protestant missions; will not this corps be animated by the same spirit? This is a question which the past of Catholicism brings home to ns with increasing intensity. Another question forces itself upon us. What could not the (Euvre Antiesclavagiste have done, had it remained unsectarian, to destroy slavery in Africa, to improve the relations between all bodies of Christendom, to uphold some of the best interests of mankind and of civilization? It is with irrepressible melancholy that we contemplate possibilities that have been thwarted by unscrupulous sectarianism.
Cardinal Lavigerie is a great man, an adroit leader, one of the most distinguished representatives of the Roman Catholic Church, and one of the most liberal-though honest liberalism is no longer possible in that church. Few bishops have revealed more independence in reference to the Holy See, and probably none have burned more incense before it. His education, more rhetorical than scientific or philosophical, has prepared him for quick rather than ·prolonged action upon intelligent audiences. His addresses in England, Belgium, France and Switzerland sent a thrill of horror through his audiences as he related the harrowing scenes of carnage and barbarism attending the slave trade. The Cardinal stirs up the feelings of his hearers by the appropriateness ()f his utterances, the sympathetic glow that warms them, and the felicitous use of his surroundings. Still, his pictures of slavery are from documents rather than observation; it is easy to see that he has not witnessed the curse of manhunting and man-selling that desolates Africa. His addresses are' full of repetitions, not only of facts but of forms. Even his beaua; mots are ever the same. Compare him with another anti-slavery orator whose voice was heard in England a quarter of a century ago. How witty, brilliant, quick and spontan~ous was the American; how elaborate in method and restrained by religious forms is the French. How matter-of-fact was the Brooklyn preacher; how poetical and emotional is the primate of Africa. What singleness of purpose in the Plymouth pastor; what constant effort on the part of "the pastor of Africa" to win sympathy for the Church, the Pope and his mis-' sionaries. What absence of personal concern in the American patriot; what frequent allusions to age, to fatigue and self-sacrifice on the part c;>f the Catholic philanthropist. The one, how modern in address, how fond of democratic simplicity; the other, how riveted to the past by his ideals; his ecclesiastical rank, his delight in high-sounding titles and aristocratic pretensions. The one must be humanitarian because he is a Christian; the other a Romanist because he 'is humanitarian. Both men have in common great popularity and great zeal for the highest interests of the colored race.
There are traits in Mgr. Lavigerie that we would not discuss. His shrewd diplomacy, his extensive land speculations, and his lotteries, permitted by the French Government on conditions that were not fulfilled, need no comment. His love of personal mise
A FOREIGN MISSIONARY OF OLD TESTAMENT TIMES
en scene is known to all. He had arranged to have eighty of the pupils of his schools go to the famous Congress of Lucerne to sing. One of his priests in Algiers had composed a cantata in which the Cardinal was constantly praised, and several times called "the Liberator. " We do not say that the Cardinal ordered this cantata, but he accepted it. He even invited Gounod to write the music, but this distinguished composer could not comply with the request. Mgr. Lavigerie offered two prizes, one of a thousand francs and one of five hundred, for the best musical composition. When his anti-slavery lectures were published he sent them to the Catholic prelates of France, who acknowledged them in letters of excessive praise. One of the bishops places him among "the illustrious apostles of the Church and the unspeakable benefactors of mankind." Another would make him an "Urban II.," a "Peter the Hermit." Th~se letters, which even a vain man would read stealthily in his closet, the Cardinal published among the documents. While he gave scarcely two pages to what others had done before him to destroy slavery, he devoted more than one hundred and thirty to letters as flattering to him as they were irrelevant. Lately his tomb was finished in the Cathedral of Carthage. He gathered all his clergy and with them marched in procession to bless his last resting-place. That he should have withdrawn from his usual work to go and meditate and pray near it would have been natural enough, but all this ceremonial display reveals a nature which, on the border of the grave, is too self-absorbed. Great as his services have been to the anti-slavery cause, his anxiety to give the history of a work in which he is one of the chief factors; his parsimony in dealing with those that preceded him and prepttred the ground for him; his .finesse in making his (Euvre AntiesclavCtgiste Roman Catholic; his self-glorification in the cases mentioned, have led us to ask ourselves if this modern Urban II., this contemporary Peter the H~rmit, has not much of Loyola in his spirit and something of Boulanger in his methods? Be that as it may, it is certain that Protestants would do well to reflect before giving the Cardinal their money or their praises. Had he continued ashe began he wouldhave deserved both.
A FOREIGN MISSIONARY OF OLD TESTAMENT TIMES.
BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D., NEW YORK.
It is believed that the first missionary to the heathen of whom we have any knowledge was Jonah, and he was far enough from being a model. To show that the cause then, as well as now, was a divine and not a mere human enterprise, the impulse came from the infinite compassion of Jehovah. Jonah was reluctant, evasive, disobedient. Even at the last he was churlish and took his allotted task at the hardest. This brief sketch of him which we find among the minor prophe, cies of the Old rrestament, constitutes an interesting and most in, structive object lesson.
First of all, it shows how much broader and grander is God's com. passion for the heathen than that of his select prophets and apostles. It also reveals a wise and tender discrimination, even in the midst of dire judgments. And it affords another proof that a plan of aU-embracing mercy and salvation was in force long bffore Christ came to be offered once for an for human redemption.
As we shall see, this illustrative picture was placed in the very darkest setting. The scene was laid in the thickest gloom of the old world apostasy; the heathenism which Jonah confronted was of the very worst type that the world has seen, either in ancient or in modern times; and even the witnessing power of the Church of God, as represented by His chosen people, was at its very lowest and most ineffectual stage. Out of this widespread and manifold darkness shines forth this prophetic light of the Divine pity for the worst of sinners.
It is scarcely necessary to discuss the mooted question whether the story of Jonah is real history, or only a parable like that of the prodigal son, since, in either case, the lesson taught concerning the mercy of God is the same. No words could portray a father's forgiving love more impressively than the story of the Prodigal; no greater proof could be given of God's compassion to the heathen than is found in His plea for the repentant Ninevites against the peevish remonstrances of Jonah.
I prefer to consider the story a real narrative and to take it as it stands. Miracles are miracles-and nothing is gained by explaining away one and leaving another equally great and extraordinary. All nature is God's handiwork, and He is not limited by our conceptions of law. To accept the Divine Incarnation, the Resurrection and the Ascension, and yet reject the miracles of the Old Testament, has aI– ways seemed to me illogical and capricious. It is a species of discrimination which can rest on no firmer basis than mere human fancy or conjecture.
The mere incidents of Jonah's commission and his flight are very simple. He had been commanded of God to go to the great and wicked city of Nineveh with a definite message of warning. It was not a pleasant errand to be the bearer of evil tidings-in fact, to pronounce upon the city a sentence of doom which would in all human probability cost him his life. He was afraid, and unquestionably that was the secret of his flight. Where he erred was in failing to realize that He who had commissioned could also protect him. "Be not afraid; have not I commanded thee?" expresses the real logic of all Divine commissions. Jonah not merely failed to respond-he proceeded in the very op- posite direction. He labored under the absurd infatuation of suppos- ing that he could be safer and more comfortable in far-off Tarshish than at home, or, as we sometimes express it-that he could gain something by putting the sea between him and the unwelcome com- mand. He proceeded therefore to embark; with a business-like bravado he paid his fare; he would have no issue with any but God. Yet withal he was not so brave as he would seem; he half smuggled himself on board and hid away and went to sleep "in the sides of the ship. "
'l'heJ'e are admirable touches of nature in the part taken by the crew of the ship when under the terrible pressure of the storm. They began to suspect that they had "some Jonah on board." They had labored at the oar and they had prayed, but evidently the case did not belong to any of their gods. They made inquiry therefore concern- ing the mysterious stranger who alone seemed unconcerned enough to sleep. They cross-examined him: "What is thine occupation and whence comest thou? What is thy country and of what people art thou ?"
It is interesting to observe the awe which filled all minds when the judgments of Jehovah were named. These seamen evinced it, and afterward the people of "Nineveh were equaayawe-stricken. Their apostasy could not quite obliterate their fear of that omnipotence which belonged to the God of Israel. When Jonah said, "I am a Hebrew and I fear the Lord, the God- of Heaven, which made the sea and the dry land," they were "exceedingly afraid."
Then there followed some tokens of humane consideration on both sides. On the one hand Jonah frankly avowed his belief that he was the sole occasion of the tempest, and advised that he be sacrificed. On the other hand the seamen were loath to adopt extreme measures, and they struggled hard to reach the land; and when they found that they had no other alternative, they themselves prayed to God that the dire necessity which confronted them might not be laid to their charge. The recalcitrant missionary was thrown overboard and was swallowed by "a great fish."
One might have stIPposed that after his candid acknowledgement of his wrong, and especially after God had mercifully heard the prayer wllich he had offered out of the depths, Jonah would prove thenceforth most grateful and submissive; that he w(luld be fearless also, since God had signally delivered him, and that above all ],e would be forgiving, even as he had been forgiven. He ought to have been, after ~uch a discipline, a model missionary to the Nillevite~. But instead of this he showed peculiar weaklless-the gospel designed for the Ninevites was in an earthen vPRsel.
Jonah prayed fervently in his affliction, and he indicted what seems to be a psalm of thanksgiving for his deliverance. He made solemn vows and was very sure that he would fulfill them. He did obey when the second summons came, "Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee," but his obedience was not well sustained. He had a higher opinion of his own righteousness than Paul had of his, and he was not willing to "pluck out his eye" or "be accursed" for the salvation of any man or any number of men.
The solemn message which he bore was that after forty days Nineveh was to be destroyed. God intended it as a warning, involving a chance for repentance; Jonah understood it as a sentence of irreversible doom, and he was piqued at the idea that his prediction was not to be literally fulfilled.
How far the Ninevites repented is an interesting question. The advocates of the theory that the book of Jonah is only an allegorical poem, ask with much emphasis, "Where is the evidence that Nineveh was ever reclaimed? What historic proof appears that it became a God-fearing city?" It is not necessary to suppose that the repentance here referred to was that Godly sorrow which needeth not to be repented of; it was more probably a turning from the specific and unpardonable wickedness which had brought the judgment of God upon it. It. was at le&st a temporary reform of intolerable offenses.
Of all the types of heathenism that the world has witnessed, that of Nineveh and of the Euphrates'vaHey-that which spread westward to Sodom and overran the land of Canaan and Phoenicia-was the worst. It made universal prostitution a religious duty; from this it proceeded still further and spread everywhere the unnatural vice of Sodom; still further revolting cruelty was added to revolting vice, and children were burned alive by thousands a8 sacrifices to MoLoch.
These were the sins that caused the destruction of the cities of the Plain, and all the severest judgments recorded in the Old Testament.
Ebrard has shown how these terrible sins followed all the Phenician colonies on the Mediterranean; and when one contemplates the alternative of allowing the eorrupting influence of such a people to spread everywhere westward till all Europe and the world should be brought under its power, he can better understand the justice-nay, the humanity-of those wars of extermination by which Jehovah swept the land of the Canaanites and planted in their stead a better seed, in which all nations should be blessed.
The preaching of Jonah seems to have operated only as a cheek. Even in judgment God remembered mercy. He would never destroy till patience could no longer forbear, or till the cup of iniquity was fulL ,Vars of extermination waged by divine behest are hard for us to contemplate who see not the end from the beginning, and cannot say whether in the long run this or that may prove more merciful. But the mission of Jonah to the Ninevites throws a bright and pleasing light upon the dark mystery of divine judgments. It shows that in a :sense God loves to repent-we may say 'Waits to repent-of His threatenings; that, notwithstanding all the carping of men against His severities, He is more forgiving than man, and earnestly remonstrates against the hot – headed zeal of His prophet, who, having spoken, would carry out to the letter all that has been threatened.
The most difficult thing to understand in the authorized wars of ·extermination is the destruction of the innocent with the guilty-even little children. But there is a single sentence' in God's appeal to .Jonah which shows that even in that sad extremity God is not without tender consideration. "And should not I spare Nineveh, that great city, wherein there are more than six-score thousand persons that cannot discern between their right hand and their left hand, and .also much cattle."
We cannot compass the broad and far-reaching considerations which affect the divine mind, with whom one day is as a th6usand years and a thousand years as one day. We know not in the case of .any infant whether it were better to die than to live. Certainly the death of the innocent were better than a long life of inevitable wickedness like that of Nineveh or Sodom.
Yet no opportunity for repentance is to be withholden, and the ,one thing which is conspicuous in this beautiful glimpse of the divine -character is the compassion-the considerateness-which, in pleading with the indignant prophet, points to the hundred and twenty thousand little children and the multitude of dumb beasts. The attributes of God here present a symmetry which is in strong contrast with the -caprice of man.
The late Dr. Horace Bushnell, in his incomparable chapter on the .divine character of Christ, calls attention to the fact that while men are always losing the balance of truth and verging to one extreme or another, the Christ rests ever in divine poise and harmony. Men talk ,of mercy so soft and limp as to sacrifice all law and order and fill the universe with anarchy, and yet what a history of intolerance and relentless cruelty do the records of mankind present!
So God threatened the Ninevites and held His prophet to the faithful discharge of his duty in warning them, yet how wonderful were His expostulations with that prophet when they had shown signs of repentance! There was no false estimate of their sincerity or their probable stability, yet there was a whole city in sackcloth, from the king to the lowest menial, and by royal decree everyone was" commanded to turn from his evil ways and from the violence that was in .his hands!" A respite must be given. Sentence was suspended and
A SKETCH OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC MOVEMENT IN KOREA
the door of mercy was thrown wide open, and who can say how many souls in that great city found the repentance which is unto life?
We love to think that this remonstrance with Jonah in favor of the Ninevites was kindred with that which Christ made with His disciples when they asked that fire should descend from heaven on the heads of those whose acts they condemned, and with that other lesson of similar intent which was set forth in the parable of the barren fig tree. Doubtless, it was He, the same-" the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world "-that interceded for sinners both in the Old Testmnent and in the New.
The scheme of redemption was in His mind even when the wickedness of the world was at its height. Others outside of the Abrahamic Church, and even the chief of sinners, were objects of divine compassion; J·onah's missionary commission was a part of the great commission which in the fullness of time was given to. the apostles and to the whole Church.
A SKETCH OF THE ROMAN CATHOLIC MOVEMENT IN KOREA.
BY PROFESSOR H. B. HULBERT, SEOUL, KOREA.
Weare accustomed to speak of the missionary movement as one which had its origin during the second quarter of this century, and this js quite natural, because the missionary movement among Protestant peoples did have its origin about that time; but what of the missionaries of the Roman Church? Is it not remarkable that at the very time when the missionary movement was being decried in England and Scotland, and had not so much as been broached in America, the Roman Church had its missionaries in a large proportion of the Eastern countries? The seminary of the Societe des Missions Etrangeres had long been founded in France, and was sending out scores of men to India, Siam, China and Japan. Their great central station in the East was at Macao, near Hong Kong. This place was granted to the Portuguese in ]557 by the Chinese, and became one of the important ports of the East. It made a splendid centre for evangelistic work-a fact which the Roman Church was Dot long in percelvmg. From that point it sent out missionaries into all parts of China, which was at that time violently opposed to evangelistic work. To that place missionaries retired when times of special persecution and hardship came. 'l'here they brought some of their most. promising converts, and tat{ght them in a seminary specially endowed for this purpose.
But I desire to speak more especially of the work of the Roman Church in Korea. I make bold to say that in no country has Christianity been founded under circumstances more peculiar-more romantic, I might alrno~t ~a.". The l'tpry of it, as detailed by one of its workers, is fascinating-bloody almost beyond parallel, to be sure, resume but it was the blood of true men. Let me give a short and entirely inadequate of that story; for, although we differ in some im- portant particulars from our brothers of the Roman Church, it is as well that we should note the truly great qualities which have made them 80 tremendously powerful for good in many parts of the would.
In the winter of 1784, at about the end of our war for independ- ence, the annual Embassy from the court of the king of Korea en- tered the gates of Peking to present the customary compliments and gifts to the Emperor of China. Among their number was a young man of great honesty of character and of high culture, judged by the standard of the East. While in Peking this young man fell in with some Chinese Christians and was brought in contact with the Vicar Apostolic of that city. It resulted in his embracing the Ohristian religion and carrying it back with him to Korea, which before'that time had not so much as heard of the existence of Christ.
It was not long before he had gathered about him a small company of men who found no answer to their religious nature in the Confu- cian cult and, before a year had passed, the Church was an established fact in Korea; not, to be sure, after the Roman idea of establishment, but the seed had taken root and the true church was there. For sev- eral successive years one or other of this band accompanied the Em- bassy to Peking in order to receive baptism and to try to induce the Vicar Apostolic to send a missionary to Korea. But this was impos- sible, for the constant state of uncertainty as to the fate of the work in China rendered additional work impossible. It was just preced- ing the time of the Revolution in France, and the Church found it difficult to send men even to supply the urgent demand in China.
But each time the Embassy went, the Christian who accompanied it brought back books and religious objects, and gradually the band of Christians acquired a good knowledge of the fundamental doctrines of Christianity.
Of course these visits to the missionaries in Peking were unsus- pected by the Korean Government, but the fact of the presence of Christianity in Korea could not be long concealed. In 1791 it was remarked that certain men did not worship at the graves of their"
parents according to the Confucian code. It led to an inquiry, and the open confession and profession of Christ. Then began the first of the persecutions, which have followed each other at short intervals almost to the present day. The methods of torture in Korea are al- most too horrible to be believed. It consisted generally in be.ating the victim with huge paddles about the size and weight of a heavy oar. The victim lying on his face received from twenty to a hundred blows of this murderous instrument, every blow of which was suf- ficient to break the bones of his limbs, and reduce his flesh to a pulp_ Again thongs were put through the wrists and ankles between the tendons and the bone, and the sufferer was drawn back until his wrists and ankles came together, and in this posture he was left for hours. Others had chains put around their necks so heavy that they could scarcely lift them from the ground. They were literally devoured by vermin in the wretched prisons. They died of cold and hunger. Widows who professed faith in Christ and were arrested, suffered treatment a thousand times worse than delth at the hands of the majesterial agents.
In 1794, the Church in Peking, being unable to send a European missionary, put the Korean Mission into the hands of Father Tsiou, a Chinese preacher. But how to enter Korea was a question very difficult to solve. Between the northern boundary of Korea and the eastern boundary of China was a belt of land called neutral. It was forbidden to all men to reside on this belt of land, because it was considered that it was for the mutual benefit of Korea and China that an uninhabited tract of land should separate the two States. This belt of land was overrun by outlaws and refugees from justice of both countries, and they formed powerful bands, rendering it extremely dangerous for anyone to cross it in either direction. At the same time, the points where one could enter Korea were very strictly guarded, and everyone who passed had to undergo a minute examination. Many were the expedients adopted by missionaries from time to time in order to evade the examination. Sometimes they came to the place in the dead of night and made a dash past the sentries and gained the mountai,ns, where pursuit was impossible, but where they had to undergo untold suffering and privation before they could reach a place of comparative safety. Sometimes they would hide among a drove of cattle and thus pass through without being detected. At a later date missionaries all came by the way of the sea, ,crossing from China to a certain island on the coast of Korea, where they had to rendezvous with the Korean Christians. 'l'heir password, or rather signal, was a white cross on a red flag, and whenever such a flag was seen on the horizon a small boat put off to the island rendez- VOIlS, where the transfer was made and letters interchanged. Many a time a boat bearing a new missionary to Korea has hovered about for weeks waiting for its signal to be seen, and not a few times have they made three or four trips from China to the Korean coast before being able to effect a landing. The stories of these adventuresome journeys are as exciting as the most lively fiction.
But to return to the narrative.' Father Tsiou hovered about the boundary of Korea for a long time before he was able to enter. In the month of December, one bitterly cold night, he crossed the Ya- Lou River and was smuggled across the line, and finally arrived in Seoul and began the administration of affairs. From 1794 until 1801 there was a steady growth in the Church, but then broke out the first great persecution. It was not only the hatred of Christianity which made such havoc among the Christians, but it was intensified by party animosity.
There are four great parties in Korea, named from the four points of the compass. Two of these held about equal power, bat a large number of the Christians belonged to one of these, and the other naturally made Christianity the handle by which to exterminate their rivals. The persecution raged with frightful force. The agents of the magistrates sought for the evidences of Christianity with the instinct of bloodhounds. The whole Christian population, amounting to several thousands, was totally uprooted. All who did not renounce their religion and curse J esue were put to death, after the most cruel sufferings, and their relatives, whether Christian or heathen, were banished to distant islands. The detailed account of this persecution is enough to make the blood run cold. The sight of little children and aged men plodding along barefooted through the snow of winter or" the intolerable heat of summer is enough to fill the beholder with the deepest pity. This persecution seemed to have destroyed the Church, root and branch, but it was not so. Those who had been sent into different corners of the land began the work of reorganization immediately, and eventually their banishment caused the spread of the faith into the remotest parts of the country. Persecutions contin,ued at short intervals from that time on. Father Tsiou had been seized and decapitated in the beginning of 1801, and the Christians sent every year to Peking imploring the Church to send some one to administer the sacraments, and meanwhile they struggled on as best they could. The severest persecutions took place in 1815 and in 1827.
Finally, in the year 1830, after the Pope had received an urgent and touching letter from the church in Korea, Father Bruguiere was commissioned to make his way into Korea and take charge of matters there. From 1831 until October, 1835, Father Bruguiere was working his way overland through China to the borders of Korea. The hairbreadth escapes which he had during this journey and the suffering which he underwent would form a volume iu themselves. And no sooner had he reached the borders of Korea than he was stricken with fever and died. Soon after Father Maubaut, a missionary of Manchouria, was appointed Bishop of Korea, and in January, 1836, he arrived in Seoul and began his labors. Soon he was joined by two other workers, and the work was pushed with vigor. But in 1839 the Government became aware of the presence of foreign preachers in the country and a persecution began which bade fair to surpass in violence all that had preceded it. Not one of the native Christians that were seized would divulge the secret as to the dwelling place of the foreign preachers, and suffered death in consequence. Father" Maubaut, seeing that the Government would not stop the persecution until the foreigners had been apprehended, made the determination to give himself up to the authorities, and going quietly to the magis- tracy he announced hi~self. He sent to his two fellow-workers asking them to follow his example, which they did, and the three together, after many severe beatings, were taken out of the south gate of tpe city and beheaded. The persecution gradually died out, and the work again went on. Soon more missionaries came; 1841 saw a terrible persecution, and each year saw its martyrs. In 1855 there were several missionaries stationed at different points throughout the coun- try, and at their head was Bishop Berneux, perhaps the most remarkable of all the Latin fathers Korea had seen. At that time there were about 12,000 communicants in the whole land, but the Christian population numbered nearly 20,000. Steadily the Church increased in spite of opposition from all sides. It has always been poor from the fact that the majesterial agents, or as they are called in the East, " eja~en runners," made Christianity a pretext for seizing a man and demanding a heavy fine before they would release him. In this way the Christian population has always been reduced to the lowest reach of poverty. , And so matters went on until about the time of our civil war in America. At that time the heir to the throne was yet so young that the government was administered at the hands of a regent. It was about the time that the Russians had obtained possession of the territory north of Korea, extending to the Tumen river. Russia was demanding of Korea freedom of trade for her merchants in Wensau, the eastern port of Korea, but at no time has the Korean Government been more averse to the opening of the country to foreigners than it was then. It is said that Bishop Berneux had considerable influence among a certain class of officials in Korea, and that at one time he had it in his power to aid the Koreans in their negotiations with the Russians, and that he refused to do so. Be this as it may, the Regent and ~he Government formed the sudden determination to destroy all the foreign missionaries and to annihilate the whole native church, and then began the great persecution of 1866. First, all the missionaries that the Government could lay hands on were seized and thrown into prison. Two made good their escape after weeks of hiding and starving among the mountains, but Bishop Berneux and eight other missionaries were seized.
Allow me to describe briefly the trial and execution of Bishop Berneux, and that will suffice for all. Being seized in his house, he was bound hand and foot' and cast into the prison reserved for those who had been condemned to death. On the next day he was brought before the high tribunal and was put to the question: "What is your name?" "Berneux." " What is your nationality?" "French." "Why have you come to this country?" "To save your souls." "How long ha,:e you been here? " "Ten years." "Will you apostatize?" "No, indeed, I came here to teach Christ, and I never will renounce Him." " If you do not you shall be beaten to death." " Do what you wish, I am in your hands." " Will you leave the country if we give you a chance?" " No, I will not leave unless you carry me away by force." Then he was stripped and laid upon the ground and beaten with the great paddle-like implement of torture until his flesh actually hung in strips along his limbs. He was also punctured all over the body with sharp sticks. His limbs were thrown out of joint, and in this plight he was thrown into the prison again. The next day he was brought out again to be questioned, but he was too weak to articulate. All the other missionaries went through the same ordeal. On the day of execution a cortege of soldiers bore the prisoners in litters or carts to the place of execution, about three miles from the city to the south, near the river. There a great circle was formed, and the execution commenced. Bishop Berneux was placed in .the circle, cords were passed through his ears and under his arms, and, suspended on a pole, he was carried three times around the circle. Then he was placed on his knees in the center, his limbs securely tied and his head extended forward by means of a cord tied to his hair and held by a soldier. 1'hen half a dozen soldiers, sword in hand, began a savage dance around the victim, uttering horrible cries and brandishing their heavy weapons, and as each soldier passed in front of the victim he delivered a blow at the neck. At the third blow the head fell, and one of the most horrible massacres of modern times was perpetrated. So fell that whole band of noble men. Is it easy to believe that this ghastly work was done in the nineteenth century, nay, within a quarter of a century of the present day? And yet it is true. The persecution, among native Christians, which followed, carried off between six and ten thousand men, women and children. Whole villages were blotted from the face of the country. Whole districts were decimated. The powers of hell seemed to have risen in revolt against the Cross of Christ. Ingenuity, little short of Satanic, was exer.cised in the detection and slaught.er of Christ's followers, until a half of their whole number were added to the list of martyrs. The Church has recovered in large part from that persecution, and its work is being actively pushed by a force of eighteen fathers. The statement that the work in Korea is being carried on by Jesuits is incorrect. It is carried on by the Societe des Missions-Etrangeres of Paris.
UNDENOMINATIONAL MISSION WORK
UNDENOMINATIONAL MISSION WORK.
BY REV. JAMES F. RIGGS, BAYONNE, N. J.
It is a charming theory: Let them go everywhere preaching the- word. Let this new crusade be introduced at once, and let thousands. and tens of thousands of individual missionaries go to all lands,. carrying the knowledge of Christ to gladden the world. Now, if this means that we rejoice in the personal influence of Christian men in every city and town, and further, that we wonld multiply such holy influences without limit, then, of course, we can all say Amen with all our hearts. A noble life, whether it be of tea merchant, ship captain, or railway engineer, can not fail t~ tell in the end. God knoweth them that are His, and the power of a pure, honest, and de- voted life is always a matter of congratulation to us. Especially do, we insist on this high and sacred responsibility in the case of all physicians, editors, and men who employ labor on a large scale in heathen lands.
But observe one important qualifying fact: Such men are not called missionaries; they do not refer to themselves in such terms, and they claim no privileges or exemptions on any such ground. Each man of this class is self-supporting, and he does not fall back on the sympathy or material aid of the home churches. Hence we shut out all such at once from our inquiry. Our aid is not asked for them, nor do they defer to our technical ecclesiastical authority. But there is a class of men to whom we must call attention. They claim, and actually assume, the entire liberty of a wanderer, who may come and go at pleasure, yet they call themselves missionaries, and demand the moral sympathy and the material support of the home churches. To this we do object. They are superior persons, they have discovered the spiritual elixir of life, and they alone possess the secret. Their discourse is based on the general principle that the laborer is worthy of his hire, but they decline all ecclesiastical direction. Even a word of inquiry as to their theological position is often resented. Unfortunately, the supply of such persons is inexhaustible. Hercules cut off one head of the hydra, only to see two heads spring up in place of it. We read in scripture that Jonah's gourd came up in a night and perished in a night. And in the moral world there is a parallel. Such a city as Constantinople is a sort of perennial gourd-garden. The prospectus of each gourd is set forth in great confidence, but the result is not such as to justify the promise.
In these remarks we have no reference to the great established charities of the world, such as the Bible Society. That is not what we call undenominational-it is rather pan-denominational. The Bible Society occupies a position wholly unique, and its agents are like other recognized missionaries. They constitute in real life a body that may be fitly compared with any denomination, and their confession of faith is the Bible itself. But in actual praotioe it is a business enterprise, and so far from coming into collision with any other mi,s- sion, it is the right arm of all missions. Very little enduring work can be done in any place until the Bible Society lends its aid.
Again, special emergencies demand special forms of activity. The Christian Commission, which did a noble work in war times, and other colossal enterprises of that nature, are simply the outcome of a sudden demand that can be met in no other way. So, too, we would set aside the China Inland Mission, which is often called undenomi- national, simply denying that it is in any way a model for general jmitation.
Having thus briefly indioated what we are not discussing, we oan take up the undenominational mission itself. What is it? It is a mistake from beginning to end. It is poor eoonomy in the use of ma- terial, it is poor economy in the collection and transmission of funds, and the individual free-lance, who sallies forth to destroy the works of the devil without assistance, usually stumbles into a trap before he has accomplished very much.
It would astonish and amuse the friends of real mission work if they could listen to the talk of some of these men, and note the nature of their propositions. The most wild, vague and impracticable schemes are suggested by them, in perfect innocence. They know nothing of systematic mission work. They come at a bound into an Asiatic community, knowing nothing of customs, prejudices, and lines of effort that are already familiar to the people. They give needless offense at many points, and they fail to take advantage of points that might be utilized. They have no definite notion as to the possibility or impossibility of any given thing. Many years ago a famous Spanish monk, Raimundus Lullius, proposed to the leaders of Christendom the notion of dialectics as a weapon of universal religious warfare. He proposed to overthrow all forms of error, paganism, Mohammedanism, all schismatics and infidels, by his acuteness in· word-fencing, in dialectics. Roger Bacon proposed to the Pope, Nicholas IV. (who was greatly interested in the crusades), that he should erect large focal mirrors near the great Mohammedan cities, and so set them on fire by the conoentrated rays of solar heat. We are reminded of these beautiful but impracticable plans by the very simplicityof some inexperienced zealots in our own day. Even the young missionaries, who come out to join our regular systematized working force, fall into these inconsistences; how much more the mere religions adventurer who goes out to the field without any allied forces on his flanks.
It will probably be said in defenc'e of this guerilla method, that the regular missionaries have made mistakes. So they have; but their mistakes are noted, recorded, and when all the testimony is gathered into a body of doctrine it becomes the science of mission enterprise. l1issionaries do make mistakes, and what hope do we have that it will ever be otherwise? Only this; that the systematic development of the work, not under a despotic superintendent, but on the true fraternal principle of mutual aid and brotherly co-operation-in a word, the vital denominational system will obviate disorder and provide a trustworthy, scientific method, built up out of the experience which has been so dearly bought.
The common system, known as the denominational method, is the true method for many years to come. Why? Because men are not perfect, and because the only way we can approach perfection is by a mutual system of aid and of encouragement. We must here protest against a little bit of pure theorizing that is certainly thrust in and made a basis of error in this discussion. Weare told, the missionary should preach only the great outline truths of the gospel, in which the entire mass of Christendom is agreed. All minor matters ought to be left in the native churches, that they may develop a local system of ecclesiastical life and manners that shall suit the place and the times. This is a sheer dead-lift of theory. '1'he man who can preach effectively the great cardinal doctrines will be the man who has a well-worked-out theory of systematic theology, complete in all its parts. Who are the successful preachers? Are they not the men of clear-cut and well-matured views? We need the consciousness of reserve force. Denominational details are not trifles, but they are the solid backing of an immovable conviction. The denominational clutch on the sword of the Spirit is simply a confident clutch. Better work with a man who is left-handed than with one who says that there is no appreciable difference between one hand and the other.
In order to teach well, the teacher must know a vast deal more than he actually imparts, and the missiona.ry who is cut off from denominational sympathy has suffered a loss that no personal genius can ever make up.
Very little good solid enduring work is accomplished without the co-operation of a number of departments. Look at any given mission. It has its educational department, training up a native ministry. It has its publication department, providing a religious literature. It has its evangelistic department, the visitation of villages for the purpose of preaching. And, finally, it has its properly episcopal department, or department of superintendence, which is absolutely neceBsary for the proper co-ordinating of these diverse branches. No individual, however highly endowed, can. keep up all these various activities any more than a solitary individual could maintain a complex civilization all by himself. The fatal objection to these sporadic mission enterprises will be found just at this point. But we are told that if we would sustain them, these feeble missions would grow as the others have grown. Yes; then let us humbly ask, What Cate- chism would they use in their schools? How would they examine their candidates for the ministry? Where would they draw their supply of religious literature? There are a thousand practical diffi- culties in the way of all mission work that is not identified with some strong, well-defined denomination. No such worker is content to be always a mere tract-distributor. He will not tolerate the idea of oc- cupying permanently the lowest position in religious life. Every workman longs to see his superstructure rise to its proper eminence, and if this is to be done there must be a foundation, not only deep, but broad. There is a process known in electrical science as " completing the circuit," and in our active work for Christ we .need to do the same. We are not content with a mere piece of wire, or a strip of zinc, or a few drops of acid; we may not stop till we have completed the circuit. Nor are we afraid of denominational zeal. What if the battery is highly charged? What if men do speak unadvisedly with their lips? Have we not a check on such mistakes?
Why do men desire to organize any such efforts? Is it not generally because they wish to shake off responsibility? They are impatient of control. They are not willing to be advised. They find the exact, inexorable character of theology a yoke and a bondage. 'l'hey prefer to abandon themselves to the action of the centrifugal force. They are willing to wander alone, misled by the moral mirage which shows them facts, indeed, but facts turned upside down. Setting out in such a spirit, .it is not strange if they find this world a trackless wilderness.
It may be urged, perhaps, in reply to tp.is, that there is already friction and jealousy between the rival denominations. This is a VfYy unfortunate exaggeration. As a rule the large societies are friendly and sympathetic. A beginning has been made. Now let each society press its work to the utmost, and let the individuals ally themselves as they best can.
Just before the great battfe of Trafalgar, Admiral Nelson stood on the quarter-deck of his flag-ship, the Victory, and his fleet-captains, who had been summoned on board, stood around him. It was an anxious moment. They would soon be enveloped in battle-smoke, and one of the captains expressed the fear that one of them might make a mistake. The reply of Lord Nelson is worthy of a permanent place in the mind of every servant of Christ. It was the very utterance of genius. He said gravely, "No' captain can make a mistake if he lays his ship alongside a French ship."
A SUPPLEMENTARY NOTE.
The exception only illustrates and enforces the general law. The world is familiar with some' remarkable examples of noble, honest, and successful mission enterprise, conducted outside the lines of our regular denominational boards. The present writer has no wish to be unjust, nor would he withhold an iota of the praise due in any case. But mark the facts as they are in real life, not as they are in the dreams of unbalanced courage. Men have crossed the Atlantic in open skiffs; would you therefore advise anyone to go and do like- wise? Men have crossed the Andes alone, without any guide; would you assume from this fact that such a mode of travel is to be com- mended?
A very common mistake in modern times is the undervaluing of system, because somebody got along without any. Mr. Moody never went to college, hence a college course is superfluous. That mode of reasoning would do away with almost every blessing in civilization, because at one time or another some person was compelled to do with- out it. 'fhe independent or undenominational mission is a mission conducted under extraordinary difficulties, and the aim of this plea is to induce men to avoid those difficulties which are now quite needless.
There was a time when each and every mission was an experiment. Methods were uncertain-experience limited. Men who gave their lives in those days to the determination of grave questions in the policy of evangelism, did not throwaway the opportunity, for there was a cause. Now many things are entirely different. Experience is ample, and we know what can be done and what cannot. Let not the old rash ventures be made again to no purpose. We praise Dr. Joseph Wolff, but it would be very foolish for any person now to llndertake to repeat his journeys in the disguise of a dervish. It is not necessary to do so.
The enthusiast who sets forth on an independent mission, is not always to be blamed, but he ought to be instructed. He does not . know the facts in regard to the foundations already laid, and the tunnels already driven far into the rock. It is easy to point to a man of genius, and to imagine that all further debate is shut off. On the contrary, we ought not to be guided too exclusively by the triumphs of genius, because a mighty man may do what a man of ordinary force and consecration could never do. And failure is not simply failure, it is disaster in the foreign field, making the whole region sterile to those who follow.
If the question be put as to our immediate duty toward the scattered forces now in the field, the present writer would suggest: 1. That those persons who can influence any enterprise of this nature should concentrate their men just so fast as may be possible. Missionary power is like the mathematical law of the cube. 'fhe cube of two is eight; but the cube of three is twenty-seven. By all means gather the men into organic missions rather than depend on isolated units at long intervals.
2. Let those missions that are already denominational in substance
THE PRAYER FOR LABORERS
become such also in name and honest avowal. If this involves some criticism and official inspection, so much the better. The tendency will be to weed out errors, to correct bad methods, to bring about harmony in all sorts of questions, and it will prove a check that we greatly need on the reckless waste of money in some places.
The one point on which we insist is that success renders denominational boundaries absolutely necessary. Just so soon as the missionary is able to lead men to the Saviour, then immediately the questions of organization and education come up, and cannot be set aside unless there be such vigor and nerve in the leader as to make of his work, practically, a new denominatio,n.
THE PRAYER FOR LABORERS.
[EDITORIAL.-A. T. P.] "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest that He would thrust forth laborers into His Harvest."
How long shall it take us to learn that the grand inspiration to all missions, the world over, and to all missionary spirit and sacrifice in the Church, is PRAYER? not appeal to men, but appeal to God.
This is but one of those injunctions and promises which fix our eyes upon Prayer as the great motor in the kingdom of God. Again we affirm it: Prayer has turned every great crisis in the kingdom. It can bring' men, it can furnish money, it can supply all the means and materiel of war. Yet, we sadly but seriously affirm that this, the grandest of all the sprhIgs of missionary activity, is that on which the least practical dependence is placed in our missionary machinery.
Let us look at the bearing of believing supplication upon our supply of laborers for the harvest field.
The fascination about all true Christian work is that, first of all, it is God's work. The true child of God longs to find his place and 1'!phere in that grander sphere of divine activity where he is permitted to share co-operation with God. Now all true adaptation to our work depends on a higher plan than ours. God's work reaches through the ages and spans even the eternities. Every workman must have hisfltness for his particular work, and that fitness must be (If God, for the workman cannot know what peculiar demands that :t work will make upon him until he gets at work, and then it is too late to prepare. Preparation must be carried on earlier, and, be- -cause no man can tell with certainty what he is to be called to do, or where he is to be placed, the only hope and faith that can solve the, perplexity must fasten on the Providence of God. He who foresees and foreknows what the work is to be must predestine and prepare the worker to do it.
Does He not? 'Who that studies history-which is the mere record (If God's dealings with humanity-cannot see that a divine plan is at work? that in the great crisis of affairs He brings forth some man or woman singularly prepared, unconsciously' prepared, often unwill- ingly prepared, for the work and the sphere? so that, as, in the build- ing of the te:nple, no sound of axe, hammer or tool of iron was heard while it was in building,-so again there is no need of any adaptation after the man and his work meet-they mutually fit as stone does, stone, or timber does timber, where the work has been properly done in the quarry and in the shops.
Many a man has no chance or need to adapt himself to his" en- vironment." One of the great objections to "evolution" is found in the frequent examples of preadaptation with which nature abounds. A caterpillar that lives on the earth, crawls on its own belly, eats leaves and refuse,-at a certain stage of its history enters the chrysa- lis state. It is to emerge from its cocoon a winged butterfly, hence- forth to soar, not creep or crawl, to sip the honey from the dainty nectaries of flowers. Here is a wholly new' experience, of which the' life of the worm furnished no earnest. Now if you run a sharp blade down the length of the cocoon, and cut through the cuticle of the animal while yet in the chrysalis state, you will find all the peculiar' organs of the future butterfly 01' moth mysteriously enfolded beneath that skin. How are they to be accounted for? That caterpillar nO" more knew its future state and needs than the unborn infant knew its coming wants. It could not be said to adapt its organs to its new life after its emergence from the cocoon, for those organs were all there- long before the moment of that new birth. And so the reverent Christian scientist accounts for the preadaptation by a higher evolu- tion in the plan of a Creator.
Just so we discern in history preadaptations that defy any ex- planation without faith in the providence of God. M~n themselves have been undergoing a peculiar training for ten, twenty, thirty" forty years, which has found its explanation only when God has brought' them and their preordained work together! Moses, in the- palace and court of Pharaoh, from the hour when he was taken out of the basket of bulrushes, was unconsciously preparing to become , God's great agent in Israel's deliverance and organization: the fitness of that man as leader and law giver, poet and prophet, organizer and administrator, is so exact and marvellous that it compels belief in God. Luther at Erfurt and W urtemberg, Knox in Scotland, Calvin in Switzerland, J ohn Wesley and Charles Wesley in England, J ona- than Edwards in New England, William Carey at Hackleton, Adoni- ram Judson in 'Villiamstown, John Hunt at Hykeham Moor, John E. Clough studying civil engineering, David Livingstone poring over Dick's "Siderial Heavens," Henry M. Stanley reporting for the New York Herald-these are examples of men whom God was unconsciously making ready for a special work of which they had no conception, and for which they could make no intelligent preparation.
Who was it that not only raised up those six remarkable men and missionaries-Schwartz, Carey, Judson, Morrison, Wilson and Duffbut raised them up in the same age and epoch of missions? All of them from humble life, but of varied nationalities, of different denominations, Lutheran, Baptist, Independent, Presbyterian; who was it gave to all of them essentially the tastes and the training of scholars, though their early surroundings in several cases specially forbade; who was it that singularly fitted them to be theologians, translators, philologists, scientists and teachers? Who was it that so singularly adjusted the plan of these several lives that each spent some forty years among the natives of India, Burmah or China; passed the advanced limit of three-score years and ten, and died rejoicing not * only in their labors but in the fruit of their labors?
Sometimes, indeed, it suddenly appears to the man himself that the adaptation somehow exists; but it is only the consciousness of a pre-fitness. John Hunt has been compared to the forest bird, which, hatc'hed in the nest of some common domestic fowl, moves about restless among the pullets and ducks in the barnyard, until some day, finding its pinions grown long and strong, and instinctively conscious that the air, not the earth or the water, is its native element, suddenly soars from the ground and makes straight and swift flight toward the freedom of the woods and the higher realms of the atmosphere! Of how many of God's workmen might similar words be written? And what new hope does it impart to missiolls as the enterprise of the Church to know that while God buries the workmen He carries on the work ! No gap ever occurs that He cannot fill. How often a desponding spirit cries, when such a man falls as John Williams of Erromanga, or Mackay of Uganda, or Livingstone at Lake Bangweolo, or Keith Falconer at Aden, "How shall that man's place be filled?" But God has another man ready, and sometimes two to take the place of one. And so the work goes on.
The subject will bear indefinite expansion; but our object is only to sound once again the grand key-note of all missions: Believing Prayer. The field is wide-world wide. The Harvest is great, but the laborers are few. How are they to be supplied? There is but one way authorized in Scripture: "PRAY ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest that HE would send forth laborers into His Harvest." Nothing else can fill these vacant fields with an adequate supply of workmen. Education cannot do it. A great deal of our education is leading young men and women away from mission fields. "The spectacles of the intellect," says Dr. David Brown, "are binocular." 'l'here is a tendency in all intellectual culture, as in the gathering of earthly * See Dr. George Smith. riches, to make us practically Godless. Men become purse-proud by accumulating wealth, and brain-proud by accumulating learning. If God does not hear prayer and give learning and culture a divine direction, a heavenly anointing, our colleges will only raise up a generation of sceptics. Our appeals and arguments will not give the Church missionaries; unless the demonstration of the Spirit is added to the demonstration of logic, no conviction will result that leads to consecration-that higher logic of life.
And, when workmen are on the fleld, it is the same prayer that must secure to the word they preach" free course," so that it is glori- fied. When the Church at Antioch, praying and fasting, sent forth Barnabas and Saul on that first missionary' tour, the Church kept praying; and, in answer to prayer, doors, great and effectual, opened before them, and repentance unto life was granted unto the Gentiles, and mighty signs and wonders were wrought by the hands of those primitive pioneer missionaries.
We have heard many things said in depreciation of J. Hudson Taylor and the China Inland Mission. We have he~rd his whole work stigmatized as" without a foundation," a " wild scheme," "im- practicable," "lacking all elements of stability and permanence;" we have heard said of it, that it " gets men and women into Inland China, and then leaves them there to starve," etc. One thing is very remarkable about it: it sets us all an example of faith in God and power in prayer. It has been the writer's privilege to meet frequently and in circumstances·favorable for confidential intercourse, this be- loved man of God-this" Paul, the little "-and from his own lips to hear the history of the China Inland Mission. It is a wonderful story; it sounds like new chapters in the Acts of the Apostles. Mr. Taylor was at the little Conferences of Believers at Niagara-on-the-Lake in July 1888 and 1889. At the first, he made a precious address, fra- grant with the anointing of God-unpretentious, modest, simple, childlike. It took us all captive by a divine fascination. He simply unfolded the word of God, made no appeal, would, in fact, have no "collection. "But that little company of believers, mostly poor, con- strained him to accept a freewill offering of some $2,500. To our surprise he was rather anxious than pleased. And in 1889 he told us the source of his perplexity. As nearly as we can recall, these were his words: " When that money was put into my hands, I felt burdened; when the Lord sends me workers I feel no anxiety, for I know that He who .provides laborers for His harvest-field will provide the means to put them into the field. But when the Lord gives me money and not the workmen to use the monsy, I know not what to do with it. When from the Conference of 1888 tMrteen volunteers subsequently offered • themselves for the great field of China, I said, ' Now the Lord has .solved my perplexity.' But, 'you see, we sometimes reckon too fast. And so it was with me. For when I went to the places from which these beloved laborers were to go forth to the harvest-field, the churches to which they belonged insisted on paying all the expenses .of their outfit and journey; and so I had this money still on hanel, and my perplexity was increased. Now, dear friends, don't give me any more money unless you give me the men and women to use it! "
We have made and heard thousands of missionary addresses, but never any like that! For once we have found the l1ead of a great missionary movement whose main care is not money at all, and who is more an';£ious to have workmen than funds; who, in fact, begs us not to give him any more money until we first provide the workers to use it. The ordinary conditions seem somehow reversed. We hear on all sides frantic appeals for money. To-day, it is said, scores of young men and women are coming forward, offering to go, but there is no money to send them. Brethren told me in Scotland that they were compelled to stop appealing for workmen, because the appeals were so much more enthusiastically responded to than the Church responds to the needs of an over-taxed treasury!
We have no thought of using invidious comparisons; but we are compelled to ask whether we have not, in our missionary work, fallen into the snare of worldly care-whether missions do not stand in our thought too much as an enterprise of the Ohurc.h, and too little as the work of God, of which the Church is the commissioned agent. We feel conscious, like all others that have passed their meridian hour, that our day of labor slants toward its western horizon and its setting-hour. We desire to make every utterance of tongue or pen as serious, solemn, candid, and conscientious, as though it were, as it may be, the last. And, with fnll consciousness that no othel' "Editorial" may ever issue from the pen and hand which write these lines, we here record the profound conviction that, back of all otl.!-er causes ·of the present perplexity in our mission work; behind all the apathy of individuals and the inactivity of churches; behind all the lack of enthusiasm and the lack of funds; behind all the deficiency of m,en and of means, of intelligence and of consecration, of readiness to send and alacrity in going, there lies one lack deeper and more radical and more fundamental-viz.: THE LACK OF BELIEVING PRAYER. Until that lack is supplied the doors now opened will not be entered, and the .doors now shut will not be opened; laborers of the right sort will not be forthcoming, nor the money forthcoming to put them at work and sustain them in it; until that lack is Rupplied the churches in the mis-. sion field will not be largely blessed with conversions, nor the churches in the home field largely blessed with ~utpourings and anointings of zeal for God and passion for souls.
The first necessity for the Church and the world is also the first
THE RESULTS OF MODERN MISSIONS PERMANENT
central petition of the Lord's Prayer: Thy Kingdom Come! of which the hallowing of God's name is the preparation and the doing of God's . will is the consequence. And that Kingdom comes only in answer to . expectant prayer. We need, first of all, a revival of the praying spirit which moved Jonathan Edwards to publish his appeal in 1747, and led 'William Carey and John Sutcliffe to republish it in 1787. Modern missions had their birth in prayer; all their progress is due to prayer. A few souls that have close access to the Mercy Seat, like Moses, Samuel, Elijah, Daniel, have kept up the apostolic succession of prayer. And because of this, and of this alone, doors have been opened, workmen thrust forth into the open fields, and money has been provided. But suppose the 'Whole Church would get down before God! What if, where one now prays, a hundred were bowed on the face like Elijah on Carmel! What, if in place of the naturalism that. is eating at the vitals of spiritual life there might be a revival of faith in the supernatural, a new and universal awakening to the fact. that God is a present, living, faithful, prayer-hearing God; that the closet is his ante-room, nay, his audience-chamber, where, to the sup- pliant soul, he extends his sceptre and says, "Ask what thou wilt in Jesus name, and it shall be given unto thee !"
The late Mr. Neeshima, of Japan, said to his fellow-countrymen when planning an evangelistic tour-"Advance on your knees!" To· work without praying is practical atheism; to pray without working is idle presumption. But to pray and work together, to baptize all work with prayer and to follow all prayer with work-that is an ideal life. Of such a life we may reverently say, labo1'are est orare- work is worship and worship is work.
In the vision of Isaiah (vi.) the seraphim have six wings, and four of them are used in the office of humble and reverent worship, while only two are reserved for flying. As Dr. Gordon beautifully says, " Let us learn a lesson on the proportion to be observed between supplica- tion and service." Better twice as much devout preparation as work~ than a hurried and superficial communion with God, and an unpre- pared and hasty dash and rush into activity. Let us linger before God until we get power, and then life becomes grand. It shines with the glory of His Face, and it moves with the might of His omni- potence.
THE RESULTS OF MODERN MISSIONS PERMANENT.
BY REV. THOMAS LAURIE, PROVIDENCE, R. I.
The American Board began its work in Western Asia by sending missionaries to Palestine. In other words, the new world sent the gospel to that part of the old world whence that same gospel first went forth to bless the rac~-to the city where our redemption was wrought out and where the first Christian church was formed. That fact starts the inquiry, whether the power of the gospel, like that of mere human influences, is short lived? As earthly kingdoms rise from obscurity, flourish for a season, and then decay, does the kingdom of God in like manner have its era of growth and harvest, and then leave nothing but stubble to be ploughed under by new laborers in their preparations for another crop? Missionaries from New England occupied chUl'Ch edifices in Ceylon that had been built centuries before by Papal missionaries from Portugal. Shall missionaries to China a millenium hence find no trace of the work being performed in that empire to·day save some stone like that at Singan Fil, which records the labors of N estorians eleven centuries ago? Or shall future evangelists from Central Africa find such wrecks of churches in New England as we have found in Tarsus, Smyrna and Thessalonica? On the one hand it may be said that our country has not been in existence so long as the time between the visit of Xavier to Ceylon (1544) and the present; but on the other, we can say with the prophet, "The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the word of our God shall stand forever" (Isa. xl:8), and that word has .been translated into the language of China, "and it shall not return to Him void, but shall prosper in the thing whereto He sent it" (Isa. Iv: 11).
These questions present a very interesting topic for discussion. The writer sincerely wishes that he were able to do justice to so grand a. theme, and ventures to submit these few thoughts only as a starting point whence others may advance further into a land flowing with milk and honey, and bring back far richer clusters.
First of all then let us keep in mind that in this discussion we are not inquiring as to the certainty of the conversion of the world to God. He settled that forever when in His word He put the certainty of that result alongside of the certainty of His own existence. The old version of Numbers, xiv:21, read thus: "As truly as I live, all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord," but the new revision translates it more accurately, "In very deed, as I live and as all the earth shall be filled with the glory of the Lord." At first sight this seems a weaker statement, but it is in fact much stronger, for while the old rendering made the existence of God a pledge of the conversion of the world, this more correct one co-ordinates the two things as alike certain and incapable of change. How could it be otherwise, when it is written (Daniel vii:14): "His dominion is an everlasting dominion, and His kingdom that which shall not be destroyed." And then this divine result is the work of God Himself, as He says (Isa. 1x:22), " I the Lord will hasten it in its time." We must never forget that it is "not by might or by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord." And to this agrees Isa. liii:12, "Therefore will I divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong; because He poured out His soul unto death: and was numbered with the transgl'essors; yet He bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the trangressors. " Thus binding the redemption already achieved and this future triumph of that redemption in one inseparable bond. Well does the Holy Spirit say through Jeremiah xxxiii:20: "Thus saith the Lord; If ye can break my covenant of the day, and my covenant (Jf the night, so that there should not be day and night in their season; then may also my covenant be broken with David my servant."
It is well that our hearts be established by recalling such words of God before we launch out on the more uncertain sea of human probabilitie!l, for what Christian can read such words of God and for (Jne moment doubt the final issue.
Still the fact remains that the gospel was once preached in Palestine by our Lord and His Apostles, and now missionaries from other lands are needed to restore to that land the knowledge of the truth, and the question is, "Have we any reason to think the present evangelization of that region will be more permanent than that which went before?"
We see at once that there is a difficulty here which does not exist in some nations whose nominal conversion to Christianity took place during the dark ages. Take France as a representative of many others. There Clovis, a fierce fighter, when Thor and Woden seemed to fail him in battIe, turned to Christ for help, vowing to be His follower if He gave him the victory. The bloody battle was decided in his favor, "and thousands of his wild warriors followed him to the font with as little thought as they would have followed him to death or victory." It was this conversion that won for the King of France the title of" the most Christian king." The historian adds: "It is from this robber, liar and murderer that France rightly dates her beginning." (Encyclopedia Brittanica, Ninth Ed., Vol. IX, p. 529). It is not at all surprising when nations whose conversion has been brought about by such methods fall away from the faith, for the tru~h is that they never had a faith to fall away from. If the church in Palestine had been brought iuto existence by such methods we might be grieved, but we could not be surprised by its fall; but when the preaching of the Lord Jesus Christ and the Pentecostal outpouring of the Holy Spirit lie at its foundation, we must look elsewhere for the explanation of its falling away_ Still no thoughtful reader of the New Testament ought to be surprised at it. The Apostle says to those among whom he had labored more than two years at Ephesus (Acts xX:29): "I know that after my departing grievous wolves shall enter in among you, not sparing the flock; and from among your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after them." It may be said that this does not anticipate so utter an overthrow as destroyed vital piety in all that region. True, and yet tha~ same Apostle strove to prevent in, his own lifetime an apostasy that would have been utterly subv~sive of the truth, for he says of some op'posers (Gal. ii:5) that he" gave place to them in the way of subjection, no, not for an hour; that the truth of the gospel might continue with you," imply- ing that otherwise the truth had perished from among them. Then in 2 Thess. ii:3, he speaks of falling away and a revelation of the man of ,sin. "For," he adds in verse 7, "the mystery of lawlessness doth already work: only there is one that restraineth now,until he be taken out of the way. And then shall be revealed the Lawless One, whom the Lord Jesus shall slay with the breath of His mouth, and bring to nought by the manifestation of His coming."
Besides, over and above these warnings of the Apostles, how often did the Lord Jesus say to His churches: "Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen [note it: already fallen] and repent, and do the first works; or else I come to thee, and will move thy candlestick out of its place." (Rev. ii:5). Surely such utterances ought to make surprise impossible when we look on the spiritual desolation 'of Bible lands, and their political and pecuniary desolations are only the consequences of the spiritual ruin that had gone before.
Another truth claims our notice in this connection. At no time in the past has any religious movement been either perfect in its nature or universal in extent. In other words, it has not thoroughly transformed the whole character, or pervaded the entire community. No one man has done good and not sinned at all, and there have always been those who have floated with the current whichever way it turned, but without any spiritual life of their own. Hence among the ancient people of God His kingdom did not move forward in one continuous advance, but rather by seasons of progress, interrupted by either lack of movement or positive retrocession. An advance under Samuel was followed by a backward movement under Saul. Another advance under David was succeeded by a retrograde movement that culminated under Jeroboam, the son of Nebat. Again, light under J ehoshaphat was followed by darkness under his son, Jehoram, and so on to the captivity. That, however, was under a dispensation that was growing old and ready to vanish away.
Under the gospel, our Leader teaches us to aim at nothing less than the doing of the will of God on earth as it is done in heaven; and this, which involves complete obedience on the part of each, and the combined obedience of all, we are never to lose sight of. It is to be the object of our daily prayer and constant endeavor. Still, being so high an aim, it is not strange if its attainment be more difficult, but we trust that the morning has dawned that shall shine more and more unto this perfect day, for under the power of the Spirit of God, things shape themselves toward a higher standard of character throughout the Ohurch iu all lands. And here belougs one truth that is fuil of comfort. The work of the Spirit is not stationary, but progressive.
He began by brooding over material chaos. He insp~red Bezaleel and Aholiab for 'their work, and He now works a spiritual transformation in human hearts. Though He did this before Ohrist came, yet it was confined to EO few, that the evangelist could say (St. John vii:39), "The Holy Spirit was not yet given; because Jesns was not yet glorified." After that He wrought the wonders of the day of Pentecost; yet that was only one step in an advance that shall overcome the powers of evil with a continuous and unending victory. The same divine energy that overcomes for one moment is able to overcome forever. And it is in the line of the divine progress to show the power of the redemption that is in Ohrist Jesus, to conquer the causes that now render revivals temporary, as well as those that render them impossible at all to man unaided.
As the plan of God involves this progress, we should expect to find instrumentalities provided to carry it out, and we are not disappointed. The past history of the Ohurch has shown God working toward perfect ends through imperfect instrumentalities. At first there was a needs be for Apostles, lifted out of and above the rest of the Ohurch. Still they were not an unmixed good. Their presence involved the danger of depending too much on leaders, although one of the chief Apostles begged the prayers of the churches for a blessing on his labo.rs. This undue reliance on leaders led to the attempt to perpetuate the apostolic office without the apostolic gifts, hence ruinous ambition among the clergy, who forgot how the Master said, "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant" (Math. xxiii:ll), and that" Whosoever shall humble himself as a little child, the same is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven" (xviii:4). When we look back on the bitter fruits of ambition in the Ohurch, we are at no loss to explain the disappearance of spiritual life from Bible lands. Still this does not involve the failure of divine plans, for the same chastening that visited retribution 011 sin in the Ohurch, also prepared the way for a renovated sanctuary and a holy people who should carry out the glorious idea of a Ohurch, as it existed in the mind of God.
Look at some of the wonderful works of Him who is King in Zion. Once copies of the Holy Scriptures could be multiplied only by the slow labor of the pen. Then the common people could not possess them. Even churches could hardly secure a copy for their public worship. This left them dependent on the clergy for their knowledge of the truth, and it is humiliating to have to confess that this great power in the hands of ecclesiastics was not always used to make their people wise unto salvation, but rather to strengthen their own supremacy.
Even now good men look more to the preacher than to Ohrist. How much more when $ey had no Bible at home to correct that tendency, and everything in the Church magnified those who sought their own greatness at the expense of the edification of the people. Even now some true disciples are influenced more by the visible splendor of a church edifice and the audible music of the choir than by unseen spiritual virtues. How much more, when those who ought to have pointed them to the "Lamb of God who taketh away the sin of the world," claimed that they themselves had power to forgive sins and impart salvation! But now that the common people have the Bible in their own hands, which can make them wise unto salvation, they have a divine deliverance from this bondage to a clergy, and we may estimate the greatness of that deliverance from the frantic efforts put forth to-day to take away the Bible from the masses, or at least to prevent them availing themselves of its divine instructions.
The Master in his day preached the coming of the Kingdom of God, looking beyond the temporary thraldom of his people to that freedom wherewith the truth would make them free. And the Church has now come forth from that dark house of bondage to walk in the light of the truth of God.
The fact, then, that the Providence of God, by means of the press, has put the Bible into the hands of the common people, and stirred up His Church not only to see that it is distributed but that men are stimulated to engage in its study and assisted in that study, is one pledge that the waters of this flood of ignorance shall not return to destroy the Church and necessitate another replanting of those lands where the truth is taking root to-day.
Another fact which strengthens this conviction is the influence which the Bible exerts on those who receive it. It has already been intimated that something is needed to interest men in the truth, so that they shall feel its power, and that something is the Holy Spirit, who, Christ says, "Shall take of mine, and declare it unto you" (St. John xvi:14). It is not necessary to determine the minimum of truth essential to secure the work of the Spirit in a human heart. It is enough to know that He works through the truth. Anyone who has ever had opportunity to compare the working of Papal missionaries with those who go forth from our Puritan Churches, appreciates this fact as no language can describe it. There is a puny weakness in the adherents of the one, and a stalwart energy in the converts made by the other, to which words cannot do justice. On the one hand are Lilliputian superstitions and Brobdingnaggian legends of the Saints. On the other are a wonderful manliness and the fruit of the Spirit in all its v6riety and sweetness.
Some magnify education as a power to renovate persons and peoples; and no doubt education produces great results, but the highest style of education is seen where a soul, regenerated by the Spirit, studies that Word of God through which the Spirit sanctifies. NOl science can compare with the Bible. Other sciences deal with the, works of God, whether in the realm of matter or of mind; Scripture, deal~ with God Himself and our relations to him. No college can rise so high along any other line of study; no university can secure, such a large and well-proportioned mental development through the pursuit of all other sciences put together, and it is this highest style, of education that is given in our higher missionary schools. There,. whatever other line of science is pursued, the Bible is supreme, and_ that not only enmancipates from the bondage of ignorance, it lifts; the soul into the plane along which it is to advance forever, and on which they move in Heaven to-day. And the- men so trained will never degenerate as Bible lands have degenerated under an ecclesiasticism that ignored the Redeemer, and his great Redemption, and sent them to the priest for salvation, instead of sending them to the only name under heaven that is given among men whereby we must, be saved. Men do not go to Him and come back empty.
Some talk as though a new discovery in politics or in science was· lifting up the masses to-day and righting the wrongs of ages-upheaving society from its depths and creating all things new. It is neither a new discovery iu politics nor in science, but an old truth sung by a woman nineteen hundred years ago in connection with the incarnation of the Son of God. "He hath showed strength with His. arm; He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their heart. He hath put down princes from their thrones, and hath exalted them of low degree. The hungry He hath filled with good things; and the rich He hath sent empty away." (Luke i:51,53). It is that power of an Incarnate Saviour that was spoken of even a millenium before- Mary thus magnified the Lord, when the Psalmist said of Christ, "He shall deliver the needy when he cricth; aud the poor that hath. no helper. He shall spare the poor and nee(~y, and shall save the souls of the needy." (Ps.lxxii:12, 13).
In the labor questions that now vex society, we see this power grinding like Samson in the mills of the Philistines-a captive shorn of its strength; but in the missionary station we see it wielded by omnipotence, to shatter every hostile force that exalteth itself against God and human well being. There it asserts its divine energy, and there is one line of its working that calls for special notice. The heathen, like sinners at home, are selfish, and their selfishness has. found expression in a lazy looking ont for their own advantage, regardless of the interest of others. At first missionaries were made so happy by the sight of interest in spiritual things, in however small 8. degree, that they were in danger of hindering the work of God by doing everything for their converts and shielding them from every self-denial. They hrnished employment; they protected and coddled
MAHDISM AND MISSIONS IN THE SOUDAN
them till they were in danger of destroying all manly self-reliance. Now they have learned the love as well as wisdom of those words of Jesus (Luke iX:23): "If any man would come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me," and they teach converted heathen that the work of the kingdom in their land belongs to them and not to the missionary. That to them belongs the support of the churches, and that their feet are to carry the goopel into the regions beyond. The consequence is a type of Christian zeal and self-denial that puts us at home to shame, and our churches are stimulated to new consecration by the example of those who yesterday were heathen. Here is another fact on which we build our assurance: that the present results of missionary labor have come to stay. The churches that lazily leaned on the store of merit which their clergy claimed to have at their disposal may pass away; but these Christian workers are only the vanguard of others who shall enter into their labors, and together press on in the service of the Lord till the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.
It is said that even the most fervent zeal may grow cold and disappear. Yes, if its roots go no deeper than the heart, which is deceitful above all things; but if the zeal of the Lord of Hosts is performing this, if the life that is iu Christ as well as from Christ is the power at work in this matter, is anything too hard for the Lord? "Hast thou not known? Hast thou not heard? The Everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? There is no searching of His understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might He increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; they shall walk, and not> faint." (1sa. xl:28-31).
MAHDISM AND MISSIONS IN THE SOUDAN.
BY REV. LEWIS GROUT, WEST BRATTLEBORO, VT.
Among all the characteristics which mark the followers of the False Prophet in Beled-es-Soudan, "the country of the blacks," perhaps none is stronger or more peculiar than their faith in Mahdism. Nor can any organization or enterprise that may have in view a thought of promoting the essential well-being of that people, whether social, political or religious, afford to be indifferent to the opposition this religion would offer to its efforts. Least of all can any missionary, or missionary society, hope to succeed there without knowing something of the character of the Mahdic phase, of the Moslem faith, and something of the reasons why its devotees are so strongly attached to it. Should a study of the subject show that the Mahdism of the Soudan includes not only a purpose to see their faith extended and established throughout the continent, but also a desire to be relieved from crushing assessments for that which brings them no good, to be exempt from interference with their dealing in slaves, and be left free of every foreign yoke, whether military, political or financial, to govern themselves as of old, it would not be difficult to see why its friends and advocates are firm, active and aggressive. It will help to give some good idea of the hold Mahdism has upon the Soudanese, to take a brief look at the traditions of the people respecting the Mahdi, and at some of the reasons for the ready response they gave to the claims of Mohammed Achmet (or Ahmed) to be the true and very Mahdi for whom they had been long looking.
Soon after Ali, surnamed the Lion or God, married Fatima, the daughter of Mohammed, whose doctrines he addpted and labored to enforce, his rival, Abu Bekr, being chosen calif in 632, the Mohammedans were divided into two sects, the Sunnites and the Shiites, the latter of which were the partisans of Ali. .Ali became calif in 655, but was assassinated in 661, and was succeeded by his son, Hassan. Under the auspices of the Fatimite dynasty, the Shiites soon spread over all Persia and a large part of Egypt, including the Soudan.' They believed Ali ranked equal, if not superior, to the Prophet himself. Some of them looked upon him as the incarnation of Divinity. He was counted the :first of the 12 Imams, or Pontiffs, of the Persian creed, who, one after another, without arms, treasures or subjects, enjoyed the veneration and provoked the jealousy of reigning califs. Their tombs are still visited by the devotees of the sect. For solitude, sanctity, and veneration paid him, the twelfth and last of these Imams surpassed all that went before him, and was made specially con- spicuous by being called EI Mahdi (Mehdi, or Mehedi), literally, "the guided"- that is, "the inspired one;" and hence, a spiritual guide, a deliverer invested with a supernatural mission. The time and place of his death were never known; indeed, it was believed that he never did die. For many generations his votaries pretended that he disappeared in a cavern, where he still lived, and from whence he would emerge before the coming 'of the last day, to overthrow the tyranny of Antichrist. Some of the Persian traditions taught that this Imam, EI Mahdi, would outrank all other prophets and divine messengers; that, being "well-guided," heaven-directed, sent of God to be the leader of His people, he would come out of his concealment in time to accomplish the last things, unite with Christ to consolidate the Christian and Mohammedan law, declare EI Islam the world's true religion, and convert Christians and idolaters alike to the Moslem faith. It is well known that for some years now past the Shiite Mohammedans were looking for the early coming of the last day, and for the speedy reappearirtg of the long-expected Mahdi. Nor can there be any doubt that the superstitious adventurer, Mohammed Achmet, or Ahmed, aware of these shadowy expectations, had endeavored to prepare himself in the seclusion and silence of a studied retreat, to answer the description which tradition had given to the coming EI Mahdi, and seize upon some auspicious occasion to declare himself the promised guide and deliverer.
He was born in Dongola, in 1843, the son of a carpenter, the grandson of a Moslem priest; dark-skinned, with .Arab blood, though he claimed to be a full-blooded Arab-a regular male descendent from Mohammed, through his daughter Fatima and her husband Ali. He is said to have been a strange and precocious child. His father apprenticed him to a boatman, an uncle, from whom,'he ran away, and joined himself to a priest or fakir, a dervish, who lived near Khartoum. Here he studied for several years and made such progress iQ. learning the Koran that, at the age of twelve years, he knew a large part of'it by heart. He lived for a time with a French surgeon-general, Dr. Peney. He attended a Mohammedan school for a few years, and then, for another term of years, studied under a famous saint, by whom he was ordained a priest. Having completed his studies of Mohammedan literature, at the age of 25 he betook himself to a cave on the island of Abba, above Khartoum, near Kana, on the White Nile, where, for fifteen years he lived an austere life, fasting, praying and meditating on the mission to which he would eventually give himself. By his unique personal appearance and mystic manner of life, he soon began to get a wide repute as a most devout and saintly man. Crowds eventually flocked in to ask his prayers and make him presents, and become his disciples. He cultivated the friendship of the influential Sheiks, selected wives from the families of the rich and powerful, and in that way increased his own wealth and power and laid a train for political influence. Having established a school of dervishes, he only needed a good opportunity to an- nounce himself as the Mahdi for whom the people were looking, to draw around him hordes of fanatical followers. Nor was it long before the desired opportunity came to hand.
The Soudan had now, for some years, suffered greatly from the onerous taxation and cruel Bashi-Bazouk system, while Egypt had been continuously imposing upon her, and was now ready to rise in her might and follow any leader who might promise deliverance. And the sad home-troubles to which Egypt herself was just now subject, were too many to admit of her giving any thought or care to her Soudan dependency.
Arabia's attempt to revolutionize the government, England's interference with affairs in Egypt, making the imbecile Pewfik Khedive in place of the enterprising Ismael, bombarding Alexandria, and claiming control over the revenues of Egypt, all conspired to give Mohammed Achmet all the opportun- ity he could wish to announce himself the Mahdi, the deliverer from oppres- sion, the long-expected redeemer of Islam, whom the past had promised. Gor- don, too, the Governor-General of the Soudan, had now, two years since, resigned his charge and left the country, after he had done much during his few years' administration to rouse the ire of the slave dealers, and prepare them to welcome any deliverer who should promise them protection or even tolerance, as the Mahdi would, in their nefarious pursuits. Announcing himself the true Mahdi, as he did in May 1881, a host of zealous emiASaries hastened to carry the news up and down through all the Nile country that Soudan was about to rise in rebellion, throw off the dominion of Egypt and the Turk, and make the triumph of freedom and of the Moslem faith universal and complete. His pretensions were at once reported to Raouf Pasha, Gordon's s~ccessor as Governor-General, at Khartoum, upon which he sent a band of 200 men to capture the prophet; but they were soon surrounded by his adherents, many of them massacred, and the rest put to flight. Upon this, Sennaar and other parts of the Soudan revolted, and the Mahdi soon found himself at the head of an army of 50,000 men. Several bands of Egyptian forces, one of them numbering 6,000 men, were sent against him in 1882, only to share the fate of the first and be annihilated. The city of El Obeid was taken and made the Mahdi's capital. In November 1883, a large Anglo-Egyptian army of about 10,000 men and 42 guns, in command of Hicks Pasha and his European staff, and many Egyptianofficersof high rank, undertaking to recover EI Obeid, were hemmed in among neighboring passes, and, after a most heroic struggle of three days, was overpowered and utterly destroyed-"not a man left to carry the fatal tidings to Khartoum."
To the Arab, these many and great successes of the Mahdi attested the butt of all his claims, and contributed greatly to the rapid increase of his popularity and power, doing more than all his asceticism had done to make him, in the eyes of the people, the very prophet and deli.erer, the religious teacher and political leader they had desired and expected. His. political importance, passing rapidly beyond the bounds of the Soudan and of Egypt also, had now begun to agitate the counsels of England, and trouble the Sultan of Turkey. The British Government which, at first, refused specifically and repeatedly to be accessory in any sense to the military do- ings undertaken by Egypt to subdue the Mahdi and hold the Soudan, had now entered upon a long and disastrous campaign in conjunction with Egypt against the impostor. Long and sad would be anything like a full account of the monies and men sent by England and Egypt to subdue that Soudanese re- bellion, of which the Mahdi and his general, Osman Digna, were distinguished and successful leaders. Nor should it be forgotten that the Premier of England admitted, claimed, that the Soudanese had a good reason for the revolt in which they were engaged, and were fighting for their rights. Gordon, too, was evidently of the same opinion. And yet, in one form or another, the cam- paign was continued till January 1885, when Khartoum was betrayed into the hands of the Arab host, Gordon slain, the English army ordered to withdraw, and the Prophet of Islam left to follow up his so-called mission.
With varied success the Mahdi's career was carried on till about the middle of June, when he fell a victim to the small-pox, which was then raging in the country. But it was not long ere another Mahdi, Khalifa Abdullah, was found to take up and prosecute the work to which Mohammed Achmet had devoted his energies. The long-continued war, and especially the blockading of Suakim and other ports on the Red Sea, bringing much annoyance and damage to the Soudanese, the new Mahdi sent Osman Digna with an axmyof dervishes. and others to lay siege to Suakim and drive the Egyptians into the sea. Upon this, near the close of 1888, the British Government sent troops and ships-ofwar in such numbers as to compel their foe to raise the seige. But the repulse was only local and temporary. Worsted at Suakim, the Mahdi undertook to invade Egypt, and was setting heavy guns, gun-boats and regiments of dervishes. along the southern border to this end, when British forces were sent to aid the Egyptians in repelling their foe. The leader of the dervishes being asked to surrender, replied: "I have been sent to conquer the world. I call on you to surrender. Remember Hicks and Gordon." On the 3d of August, 1889, the Anglo-Egyptian army engaged the derviShes, who made a gallant defense, and yet, losing 1,500 killed and wounded and having 1,000 taken captive, they were completely routed. But anything further, as a move on Dongola, was deemed useless, unless the Government would accept the views of the generals. that Berber should be taken and held as the key of the Soudan.
The Mahdism of Abdullah evidently makes more of the religious element than did that of his predecessor. Abdullah and his dervishes are working for the most extended triumphs of the Mohammedan faith. Some of the less religious of the Soudanese profess willingness to accept English rule, could they be rid of the Egyptian, be rid of exorbitant taxation, be rid of interference with their trade, and be at peace; and the reason of their making common cause with the Mahdi and dervishes is to secure these results. But the more devoted of the Mahdists would expel or subdue all that oppose their making Islam universal in Africa. To this end they invoke the aid of all classes in the Soudan, assail Christian missions in the equatorial provinces, intrigue with the Congo tribes, purpose to push their conquests to the Atlantic, and claim, indeed, already, nothing less than all that part of Africa which lies north of the Zambezi as Mohammedan territory. To this end have they pushed their arms into the equatorial provinces, made war upon the stations and forces under Emin Pasha, compelled him to move southward from time to time, till~ finally, with great reluctance, he has been persuaded to accept the opportunity Stanley's Relief Expedition offered, to abandon the field and leave the realm he had in charge to the undisputed control of the Mahdists.
To be sure, there are those who predict that the Mahdists may yet have trouble in their own camp. The Moslem society, called Sid-es-8enoussi, is reported to have said that Abdullah is only Calif of Khartoum, and not a real Mahdi. But this large and powerful sect of the Senoussi, having its headquarters in Northern Africa, west of Egypt, whose calif, or "divine lieutenant," has under him a complete hierarchy of subordinate officers, with a probable following of 1,500,000 fierce fanatics, is governed by the same spirit and committed to the same end as the Mahdists of the Soudan-all alikeaiming ata speedy, complete, universal triumph of Islam. However great, as between themselves, the jealousy or rivalry of these two califs and their respective followers, or whichever of them may be in the lead, they can but be in sympathy and united in the great end of their common faith, in their purpose to make their religion and their rule universal.
Here, then, is a great field for Christian missions-in some respects the largest and most important in the world. Taken in its largest dimensions, and in general terms, the Soudan extends from the Atlantic to the Red Sea, and from the Great Desert to Upper Guinea on the west, and to the equator on the east, making some 3,500 miles in length, and from 500 to 1,500 in width, with an estimated population of 50,000,000. Some make the Soudan to include more than the above territory, and put the population at 90,000,000, the larger part of whom, be they more 01' less, are in that part of the Soudan of which we have been speaking in the foregoing pages. Converting these millions to Christ is not only redeeming them from errol' and making them a truly civilized and Christian people, but it puts an end to one of the most cruel and nefarious of all traffics, and turns the most active and hostile foe of Christian missions into a friend and helper-believers in a fetish into believers in Christ, the priest of Islam into a preacher of the gospel. And yet it continues to be said there is not a single true missionary of the Cross of Christ in all that brO'ad realm, which, in both area and population, makes little, if any;less than a fourth part ()f the whole Dark Continent.
To be sure, good men and societies have been turning their thoughts and efforts in that direction, and will doubtless continue to do so till an entrance shall be made and a good work done. Some ten or more years ago Mr. Robert Arlington, of England, offered to give the American Missionary Association '$15,000 towards a mission in the Sobat region, and the association undertook to make it up to $50,000, and sent out two men in 1881 to explore the field. They were gone more than nine months, met with many obstacles, incurred many personal dangers, and returned just at the outbreaking of war in Egypt, and at·the uprising of the Arabs under the Mahdi in the Soudan. The exploration was counted a success, but the enterprise was postponed and finally abandoned.
For some years a young English layman, Mr. Graham Wilmot-Brooke, has been laboring to establish a Christian mission among the Moslem tribes of the Soudan. At one time he had hoped to reach some of the central tribes of that region by going up the Nile; at another, by going south from Algeria; at another, by way of the Senegal sources; and then, again, by the Mobangi river, one of the northern branches of the Congo. He is now hoping and working to reach that central region by way of the Niger and Sokoto. Commencing work in Sokoto, his plan is to move forward at an early date into the heart of the Soudan, and give himself to mission labor among the Mohammedans. Four of the general secretaries of the Young Men's Christian Association of Kansas have given themselves to mission work in the Soudan, one of whom has reached Africa; the others are on their way, and others, from both Kansas and Minnesota, are preparing to follow.
The Roman Catholics have several stations in the Soudan, as ~t Khartoum, EIObeid and Delen, where they have at least comfortable houses, hospitals and gardens, and workers trained in Arabic and in the negro dialects. Nor is their mission likely to fail for want of money or recruits. The Moslems, also, especially the religious society of the Sid-es-Senoussi, have schools in many parts of the Soudan, and for the blacks as well as the whites. The dominion of Nadai, the sultan of which is a fervid adherent of the sect, is said to be fairly overrun of Moslem workers. Manyof the blacks are drawn into the schools. Their influence is felt far and wide-" from Senegambia to Timbuctoo; to Lake Tchod, Bahr-el-Gharel, and even to the Danakils, the Gallas and the Somalis." Why should Protestant Christian missionaries be less interested, earnest, self- denying, or less successful in the Soudan than Roman Catholics or Moslems? Earnest Christian efforts to com-ert believers in the False Prophet into believers in Christ have been already successful enough to encourage other and greater efforts. Hitherto comparatively little has been done in this direction, and the methods adopted have generally savored too little of wisdom, faith and hope, and too much of prejudice or dislike for the Turk and Arab to insure the best results. Indeed, too little has been known, or at least too little advantage taken, of the common oneness there is on many points in the beliefs of Islam and Christianity. To those who contemplate laboring among the Mohamme- dans, the conclusions of this kind to which able students of the Koran, as Sir William Muir and Max Miiller, have come, should be of special interest, in that the Jewish and Christian Scriptures, as current in Mohammed's age, were by him held to be the genuine, and of divine authority. The 131 passages brougJat together and compared by Sir William to sho~e testimony which the Koran offers to the authority of the Scriptures, together with the great number of Biblical stories and incidents and passages quoted from the Bible in the Koran, with little or no change, 'give the true Christian missionary of this day much of common ground on which to approach and win the adherents of Islam. As has been said: "It is much that the Koran, despite all its errors, inculcates 'the divine unity, perfections and all-pervading Providence; the existence of good angels as well as of Satan and the fallen angels; the immortality of the soul; the resurrection and retribution of good and evil, and the sin of idola- try.''' And then, too, were we to consider the kind of Christians the Moslem has generally had before him, as in the decayed and corrupt churches of the East, whether Armenian, Nestorian, Greek or Coptic, with which he has been most in contact, we might doubtless make some good allowance for his preju- dice or hate toward the Christian. The debased systems of the so-called Christian faith, which have prevailed for so long in the Turkish empire, have been alike a reproach to the Christian name and a hindrance to any attempt to reach the believers in Islam with the grace and truth of the gospel of Christ. But in the great changes and interchanges of the day, the Moslem is having a . good opportunity to see the difference between a true and a corrupt Christian faith, and to modify his antipathies_ The successes which well-ordered mission work has achieved among the Moslems in other parts of Africa are a good index to what might be expected from such missionary labors among the Mahdists in Eastern Soudan. Rev. E. F. Baldwin, writing of his work in North Africa, speaks of frequent conver- • sions from the false to the true faith in South Morocco, notwithstanding the
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS
great persecutions to which the converts are subject. Under date of March 1889, he says: " For upwards of a year new accessions have been constant, and everyone baptized has renounced Mohammedanism." On one occasion he made a trip of twenty days into a part of the country where Europeans have seldo)Jl gone, and" enjoyed unusual facilities for preaching to the people, and was even admitted to the mosques and preached to the Mohammedan priests. A considerable numper of converts have been gathered, but they suffer great persecutiou." And again: "Tidings from different places in the interior, where the Word of Life has been carried from here, tell us of many turning from Mohammed's cold, hard, false faith, to the love and light the gospel brings them. May not all this encourage the zeal and faith of Scotland workers toiling in these hard }Ioslem fields?"
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS. My DEAR DR. SHERWOOD:-I send you the following letter, a translation of one which I have received from Nice. Willyou be so good as to publish it, and thereby relieve the feelings of our French brethren of what they feel as an injustice on my part? Sincerely yours, C. C. STARBUCK. "L'Eglise Libre," Journal de la Reforme Evangelique.
NICE, FRA."WE, July 21, 1890. SIR:-THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, in its last May number, maintains that the Protestant journals of FraJW6.have not disapproved of the proceedings of the colonial govern- ment of the Loyalty Islands with regard to the Rev. Mr. Jones, miss;onary at Mare. One of our missionaries, in Informing us of the fact, says that he has addressed you a protest, begging us to furnish you the proof of your error. Nothing more easy, Mour journal has in at least a dozen articles remonstrating against the wrongs done to him and to the natives who remain attached to him. Indeed, our energetic protests against the exile of several teachers, supported by the Tahitian pastor who sits in the superior council of the colonies, have procured the recall of the exiles. I hope that you will, in a near issue of the REVIEW, rectify the involuntary but regrettable error into which you have fallen, and will be so kind as to address to me the number containing the rectification. Accept, Sir, our Christian salutations.
H. DRAUSSIN, Editor of L' Eglise Lib,·e.
-The last year's edict of the Russian Government, restraining Protestant Christians from holding missionary meetings, and sending abroad missionary gifts, has been modified as follows: "(1.) Pastors are not forbidden to take a text during worship and to preach from it on the extensionof Christianity. It is only such missionary gatherings as lack a warrant of law that are abolished. (2.) Collections for the benefit of foreign missions may be taken up, but every such collection must have previously been approved by the governor. Such contributions are to be sent only to the Leipsic and Danish missionary societies, and the 'amount raised in each parish and sent from it, is always to be notified to the governor." A grudging concession, but still a concession.
-The Paris Society, finding that the maintenance of the growing number of Basuto catechists and evangelists begins to weigh heavy on the limited means of the nativeI Christians and of the French Protestants, has decided to solicit the assistance of English Christians, Lessuto being under English authority. They find an encouraging response to their appeals.
-M. Ellenberger, French missionary at Massitissi, in Basuto Land (or, as the French call it, Lessuto),writes: "At the opening of this month (Nov., 1889), and on the occasion of the reception into the church of fifty-six neophytes, we had at Massitissi a very delightful Christian celebration, lasting three days. The Christians of the out-stations had been very cordially invited by those here, so that brotherly love has greatly contributed to a good understanding among them and to the joy of all. On Saturday morning we were called to bless nine mar- riages of persons who had been long united according to the customs of their fathers. On the same day, at the beginning of the service preparatory to the Holy Communion, forty children of Christians were baptized, and after a brief meditation upon John iv:19 several members of the church addressed fervent prayers to the Lord.
"On the morrow, Sunday, in an open-air meeting of 800 persons, the neo- phytes, conducted by one of the elders, came in procession, two and two, and were received by the assembly, which raised a hymn of thanksgiving. After a brief address from their missionary,45 of them were admitted to the church by baptism and 11 by confirmation. Several of the men received, edified us by the spontaneous account of their conversion, and one of them offered, with so much unction, a prayer in Zephuthi, his mother-tongue, that the whole as- sembly was deeply moved. My colleague, M. Bertschy, who took part at the reception of the neophytes, presided over the Communion service of the afternoon. Although the sickness, the rain, and the rivers, had made it impossible for many Christians to be with us, nevertheless 353 communicants approached the Lord's table." Deeply profitable meetings in the evening and morning, not unattended by conversions, closed the solemnity.
-The French brethren in the Upper Zambesi, in the country of King Le- wanika, have appeared about as far retired as any missionaries in the world from both the comforts and dangers of civilization. But the magic of gold supposed to be discovered has already begun to bring the world of white men upon them. Let us hope that the Barotsis will not be swept away before it.
But, indeed, from latest accounts, there appears to be more danger that the white race will disappear in South Africa before the blacks, than the blacks be- fore the whites. Many a hopeful tribe, however, has been trodden to pieces first.
-The following shows some of the accompaniments of missionary life in South Africa: "It …vas the season of rains; the country traversed resembled an immense sheet of water; the water-course to be passed had overflowed its banks and rolled along its yellow waters, enormous, impassable.
"They camped. Bushmen stole from us our two goats. Farewell, then, to the few drops of milk which we appreciated so much. Our horses began to die one after the other, and so suddenly that we could do nothing. . . . Our draught-oxen went on dropping like flies. Clouds of vultures, which no longer quitted us by night or day, struggled and fought over the carcasses. Bands of Ma-saroa (bushmen) came to dispute with our horrible guests the morsel of putrified flesh.' This lasted fifteen days. Dysentery and other maladies attacked our travelers, who, however, were at length relieved by the help of Knama, the Christian king or Shoshong."
-The JOurnal of March has the following remarks upon the projected en- terprise of Mr. Graham Wilmot-Brooke, and his three companions, for pene- trating into the Soudan by way of the Niger, under the general direction of the Church Missionary Society, and under the Episcopal superintendence of Bishop Crowther, but, as to details, being left very much to themselves, and renounc- ing the protection of the British Government: "We observe the distinctive traits of this evangelical enterprise: to act, above all, by spiritual means; tv enter into personal and intimate contact with the souls which one wishes to draw to God; for this end to place one's self on the level of those towards whom a pity, without lachr;vmose phrases, but so much the more intense, ought to draw the missionarIes, as Jesus Christ has descended to earth out of pity for our fallen race; finally, in a Moslem country, where to make profession of Christianity may have as its consequences persecution and death, not to cover one's self with the protection of a powerful European government, saying to converts: 'Be firm in suffering, I shall not be touched,' but to share with those whom God shall regenerate, the joy of suf- fering reproaches for the name of Jesus. We find here the alliance of apos- tolic principles with the sound and sobel' experience of a directing committee. The infinitesimal commission of missionary agencies is avoided by the humil- ity of men whose youth is equal to the boldness of great initiatives, and by the wisdom of men of age and established balance of character, but who do not fear the truth of the Spirit and who consent to second missionary essays which depart from the beaten tracks. Thus it is a sweet and vivifying breeze which conveys to us the fragrance of the simple and heroic times of primitive mis- sions."
"How," says the Journal, " when hearing of these projects, can we avoid thinking of our own Senegal? The upper river gives access to the upper course of the Niger and to all the great occidental region of the Soudan; the language of the llandingoes, who, with the Foullas, dwell in these countries, is of the same family with that of the Bambaras; the industrial Mandingoes and the pastoral Faullas are both Moslems; but they are at least as ac«essible as the motley and corrupted populations of the Lower Senegal. When shall the time come when, instead of leaving our mission in barracks amid the pernicious miasms of the Senegambian coast, we shall be able to dispatch men who shall . do, for the glory of Christ, what Captain Binger has just been doing for h~s earthly country, and march simply and resolutely to the conquest of the Afn- .can world, like David going forth toencounter the giant of Gath?"
-It is a matter of satisfaction and thanksgiving, not merely to the Unitas Fratrum, but to Christians generally, that with January of this year the Periodical Accounts of Moravian Missions entered upon its second century.
-11. Grandjean writes in the Bulletin Missionnaire (organ of the free .churches of French Switzerland): " The stay of M. Berthoud is extremely valuable during the Easter season. He has opportunity to give a thorough exposition of the fundamental facts of the work of salvation to' hundreds of souls, that possibly hear all this for the first time. It is not that our excellent Timothy does not well discharge his task, but the preaching of a native, especially of one who has not passed through a school course, cannot but be inadequate, and gradually become thinner, if the voice of the missionary is not sometimes heard. Last Sunday M. Berthoud preached in the morning on the death of Christ, and in the after- noon Timothy resumed the same subject, in order to bring it within the reach of the more ignorant and to drive the nail home. The missionary and the native evangelist admirably supplant one another. The preaching of the missionary is more complete, but it often remains unintelligible to a good many, in view of the immense distance which subsists between their manner of thinking and ours. The evangelist gives to the word of the missionary a form which the negro comprehends."
-Missionary G. Stosch says, in the Evangelische Lutherisches 1/1issionsblatt: " At the death of the venerated (Protestant) Abbot Thiele, in Brunswick, it was relat~d of this faithful witness of thE' Lord, that, from year to year, as the passion-tide returned, he came into new animation; for in the Cross of Christ lay his strength. That is what our Tamil Christians also feel. Should you ask, " What is the main thing in Christianity?" I doubt not by far the most, of high and low, would answer: " The Cross and the wounds of our Saviour." There- forE' they love Passion Week and the weeks preceding. Many a one looks up to the Southern Cross that, still and great, a Joseph among the constellations, is just at this time rising upon the horizon. The soft, luminous flood of the milky way flows down upon the crORS: a lovely- image, holding quiet watch over the pinnacles of India. But yonder cross IS only an image and symbol, impotent to allay India's wretchedness. The true power of the Cross is in Word and Sacrament."
-Tranquebar, on the Coromandel coast of South India, about 170 miles south of Madras, will be remembered as the seat of the Danish-Halle Mission, established about 1706. It is still a station of the Leipsic Society, which, how- ever, works chiefly in other towns. Mr. Stosch writes: "Outwardly Tranquebar is falling into ruin. Its houses are decaying; its :streets begin to look desolate. And yet it will retain its charm for every sensitive mind. It remains the city of a great past, and of earnest, quiet work in the present. There, in all stillness, many an earnest decision is passed. There our Church has won a right of citizenship, even in the consciousness of the heathen. Would that it might please God, through the spirit of revival, t(} bring yet many heathen there to living faith! There is yet much room in our Jerusalem church; nor, indeed, is Tranquebar wanting in outward attractiveness. There you hear, day and night, the thunder of the ocean. How peaceful is this monotonous melody! Our children, too, exclaim, full of delight, when they see the blue flood from the upper chamber of the mission house: , The sea! the sea!' How homelike have been the hours of chat at evening in the veranda of our house, when the white Jerusalem church opposite glittered so festively and yet mysteriously in the moonlight and the cool sea-breeze rustled through the palms.
"Whoever wishes to make studies in the observation of men finds in a· Hindu railway station a wealth of opportunity. Women in brilliant garments and golden ornaments, poor Pariah women wrapped in rags, naked children, gossipping men, all waiting for the late train. We recognize the proud face of the Brahmin; we recognize the Sudra by his more intelligent. countenance and his more elastic gait. People at home are far from imagining the difference between Sudras and Pariahs as great as it really is. It is a, deeper distinction than thatat home between rich and poor, between cultivated' and uncultivated. See this group of Pariahs. What deep furrows sin and superstition have ploughed in these faces. A gloomy trait remains in their features, even when they laugh. But through the influence of Christianity it is effaced. It is surprising how utterly different the expression of countenance' is in Christians from what it is in heathen. This comes out still more strongly in women than in men, and in children than in grown people."
-M. GeOl'ge Casalis, ordained last year in Paris, for the Basuto Mission.
gave, at his ordination, a very interesting address, of which we quote a part: "My brethren: I can well believe that no one among you is astonished to see me to-day occupying this place and ready to receive, ill the midst of this a5sembly, the imposition of hands. Son and grandson of missionaries as I am, it is natural, you think, that I should follow the footsteps of those who have preceded me; it was almost inevitable, you will say, that, being born in a mission field and having grown up in a thoroughly missionary atmosphere, I have felt· myself impelled, when once arrived at manhood and the use of reason, to embrace the missionary career.
"Unquestionably, if at this solemn hour one thought bears special sway in my soul, it is that of a profound thankfulness toward God for the €;race' which He has shown me in causing me to be born in a missionary fanuly; for it is· under the paternal roof, and thanks to the principles instilled into my mind from my earliest childhood, that I have learned to know and love the career which to-day is about to become definitively mine.
" But if, on one hand, I am bound to acknowledge the hereditary element of my vocation, I am bound also, and not less emphatically, to certify that this alone was not sufficient to make of me a true missionary. God has taught me in a very special manner that, to be a genuine messenger of His Word, it is needful to possess a personal faith, firm and immovable, such as alone has power to engender conviction.
" After a classical course pursued in France, I quitted France for Scotland. I was to take up medical studies there, and undertook these with a double aim of becoming both physician and missionary. I was thus fulfilling the prayers of my father and of my grandfather, and had the joy of hoping one day to· follow in their steps.
"Very soon, however, I began to chan~e my point of view. Drawn away by my new studies, I saw, in the shock WIth naturalistic theories, new to me' and whose novelty and appearance of science charmed me, my religious convictions go down one after the other; I abandoned the faith of my childhood, and with it all thought of ever becoming a missionary.
" It would be too Ion&" to recount the struggles which my soul had to sustain during the years followmg this defection. Suffice it to say that God was about to avail Himself of my studies themselves to bring me b;tck to the faith by confronting me, as a physician, with deathbeds which gave me to feel how false and void of consolation all human reasonings are against the remorse of a troubled conscience and the tears of the afflicted.
"The inward work, which at this period went on in my soul, was power-·
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
fully seconded by the l?resence in Edinburgh of a man whose livinO' faith, joined with profound SClence, has been for many students the means of arriv- mg at salvation. Henry Drummond was then giving his first lectures at the University. I went to hear him; I was touched by his ardent and persuasive words, and, thanks to his influence, I becaUle once more a Christian m the true sense of the word. Such were, my brethren, the means of which God made us.e, despite !lly i.ngr~ti:tude, despite my doubts, to reveal to me the. depth of HIS compaSSIOn, m aIdmg me to comprehend that, apart from Him, I could attain neither to the pardon of my sins nor to salvation as it is found in Jesus."
1I.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions.
Of the 5,000 volunteers, 550 have The first pamphlet of the special completed their courses of study, 400 series is from the pen of John N. For- of whom have graduated this year man, and is entitled "The World's from colleges and professional Need," being Student Volunteer Series .. schools. It would be hard to guage No.7. In a single sentence he thus the value of the reflex influence on sums up the needs abroad: "'You the churchathome andon undergradu- know that multitudes are living and ate volunteers, if the men and women dying without hope; then just act on now equipped for their work become this knowledge." Of his own country established in their chosen fields this he writes: "As I write to you from year! Hence, it is of incalculably one of the mission fields of India, sur- great importance that the large major- rounded by multitudes whom we can ity of those whose studies are com- barely touch, how small look the fields pleted, go abroad at once. To the end in America? During the past winter that this exodus may be speedily ac- I have stood to witness for Christ in complished, appeals from various scores of towns, with population from parts of the unevangelized world 7,000 to 28,000, towns which, perhaps, have been written, and are issued in receive a brief visit once in one, two, pamphlet form in the Student Volun- or three years. There is a city of 60,000 teer Series. These appeals will be of which I had hoped to reach. It is un- service to undergraduates as well as occupied by Protestant workers, and to graduates. Those still engaged in hardly ever even visited. It is part ofan preparatory work will find in these immense tract containing 8,000,000 little pamphlets facts and figures on people, and in all this region there is which decisions for chosen fields in just one mission station."
many instances may be based; those There is hardly a paragraph in the who are ready and undecided can gain appeal in which the idea of consecra- much .practical information from tion does not occur-whether the con- them, because from no other single sideration as to time of going, or "fit- source, in so compact a form, can ness for the work" or " ·need for ser- such accurate and recent data be ob- vices at home." The writer's own tained. Furthermore, the peculiar attitude toward all questions requir- needs of different peoples are pictured ing decision is conveyed in the lines with graphic and spiritual power. It he quotes: will be profitable to all friends of "0 use me, Lord, use even me: foreign missions, whether volunteers Just as Thou wilt, and when and where."
or not, to read carefully these Again, in his replies to the personal pamphlets; statements contained of queries," Is now the time?" "Shall such absorbing interest, will give a I prolong my studies?" the thought of fresh incentive to special prayer for consecration is discerned throughout, missions and aids to a more 'intense "like a subtle ether pervading the and personal interest in the evangeli- whole." .
zation of the world. Because Mr. Forman writes from so high a spiritual plane, all that he says others, I look to our dear Lord Him- is characterized by eminently practi- self to show me. It is in His presence cal sense. To those who are thinking every word is written, and I would ·of engaging temporarily in home pray you, in His presence alone, and work, he says: "There is very great prayerfully, to read and ponder. Oh, danger of the work which is under- let us first of all draw so near to Him taken temporarily becoming a perma- in spirit that we may look on all nence. And I doubt whether it will, things with His eyes, feel with His in the majority of cases, prove any heart, love with His yearning com- real preparation for foreign work; at passion, and in His light see light least, not nearly enough to compen- upon these great and important sate for the time taken. As to pro- themes." longing one's studies after having completed the ordinary course for minis- She writes as one who has strong and ters, you must remember that there deep convictions; there is no faltering will be two years of preparation after or ambiguity in the statement of her reaching the foreign field, in the line position, while her language, always ' of language stndy.••. To be able to chaste and beautiful, sooms the true speak the vernacular like a native, will medium for thought so true and subbe worth vastly more than a post- lime. "Fourteen hundred every hour, graduate in philosophy, theology, or one million every month, they die in medicine. But do not understand the China-without God. Think over it; above as favoring your coming out be- weep over it; pray over it. Let the fore having completed the ordinary tears of Christ's compassion fall hot course in theology or medicine." and heavy upon the heart-tears of His anguish, of His love. Think how Miss Geraldine Guinness is the he loved and suffered, loved and gave author of "An Appeal from China," -gave all-until, constrained by the which is No. 8 of Student Volun- same spirit, you too can say with deepteer Series. Miss Guinness is the est reality: 'I haVE:> nothing too daughter of Rev. H. Graham Guinness, precious for my Jesus;' nothing too F. R. S., of London, and is becoming dear to lay down for Him, and for known in America through the His lost and perishing world." volume entitled, " In the Far East," which contains her own letters writ- The writer's method of representing ten from China-a book which has China is by a division into provinces been received with great favor in of which there are eighteen. " Six of Great Britain and America, and with these that border on the sea, and one signal blessing to many readers. inland province, Hunpeh, having been longer and more thoroughly evangel- There is a word which ought to be ized than the remaining eleven, in used with great caution – but which consequence of their having afforded conveys adequately the effect of this open ports and on earlier entrance to appeal-that word is "thrilling." No foreigners. " honest man or woman can thoughtfully read Miss Guinness' message Respecting the remaining eleven without being profoundly touched. provinces, she writes: "At a low es- She is dead in earnest and has com- timate there must be considerably passed her subject in a masterful way: over a hundred and fifty millions of "How to speak to you briefly enough, souls in the vast cities, busy market and ·yet adequately, upon a subject so towns, and thickly scattered villages great and so momentous, upon your of this region. To give some slight own individual treatment of which idea of how unreached these millions hang issues of such supreme and are, think for the present of the cities eternal importance to yourRelves and only-the important, walled cities, the governing cities of each province -where the cultured and ruling six such cities, and fifty-four utterly classes reside." unreached by the true Light.
Two instances will show in how flo-nan, Ton-nan, Kwong-si, and comprehensive a way the need is con- all the rest are similarly represented, veyed: "Shen-si, possessing eighty- giving one a complete picture of the eight such cities, has eighty-six with- whole-and a very black picture it is. out a missionary. Kiver-chon has lifty- MAX WOOD MOORHEAD.
Missionary Oorrespondence, by Rev. James Johnston, Bolton, England.
Zanzibar: Abolition of Slavery.- earnest worker for the extinquishing The decree which the Sultan of Zanzi- of the curseof infant female betrothals bar issued, August 1, prohibiting the and marriages. It is shown that the right of property in slaves, marks the supposition of any buttress resting on dawn of a brighter era in the history the VeWc sacred writings is an entire of' Eastern Africa. Within a com- misapprehension. More probably the paratively short period it is anticipated evil had its birth in the native Hindus.
that the "open sore" on the island ages back, desiring to protect their and coast of Zanzibar will be healed. offspring from the invading Mongols.
Meanwhile the Arabs acquiesce, But the origin is of secondary moment chiefly because of the weakness of in view of the disastrous misl:hief their position and the determined atti- attending it. No darker blot stains.
tude of the Sultan. By and by, when Indian social life, the exposure of the Arab masters recognize that their which becomes an obligation upon labor can only be obtained on terms the whole of Christendom. Girls· similar to what prevail in European whose ages average from five to seven countries, and, further, that polyga- years are universally married to boys mous customs may not be gratified, of scarcely higher age, and forthwith some friction may arise. To the mem- the relations of the married state bers of the Brussels Congress, which commenced. Although the usual age, the Sultan's envoys attended, hearty when the girls "marry" is seven, congratulations will be conveyed. they are pledged to boys by their The Sultan's edicts form the first fruits parents in veritable childhood. One· of the objects of that memorable abominable feature is the common gathering. As regards the influence habit of the parents of female children of the measure upon the interior of selling these to their destined hus- Africa, it is generally believed that the bands. A notorious case may serve· closing of slave outlets, as in Lower for illustration. At Bamundangah, Egypt, will gradually exterminate the near Ionai, in the Hooghly district, traffic throughout the central regions. the wedding of a young bride, whose Seyyid Ali, the Sultan, a monarch of age was registered" eight months,"
only six months' standing, and of was solemnized with a man twenty- thirty-five years in age, has a promis- eight years old. A sum of 200 rupees ing future. With considerable intelli- in cash formed the bride's dowry.
gence he unites good judgment, Such revelations bearing on the years.
honorable principles and strength of and contracts seldom come to the ears will. of American or British missionat;ies.
India: Child Marriages.-All who After parents have arranged the are in helpful communication with betrothal for a girl it is impossible for Hindu life will gratefully welcome her to get it cancelled. That dis- the pamphlet, " An Appeal from the graceful English doctrine of the Daughters of India," the latest publi- " restitution of conjugal rights"
cation emanating from Mr. Behramji woven into the administration of M. Malabari, a weli known Parsee and Indian law works in the most enslaving fashion. A female of tender forcible appeal for the missionary age united by her guardians or a for- cause in the Indian empire. Its tune-teller, to a boy, youth or man, is enormous population made the pro- compelled to make the best of the too gress of missions insignificant com_ frequent .degrading match. During pared with what was expected in the the lifetime of the husband or subse- near future. Twenty-five years since quent to his death her condition is there was not one lady working in the alike one of torture. The widow of a Zenanas, whereas there were now boy husband who may have died early over 100 in India, from Tinnevelly in is exposed to nameless cruelties. It the south to Peshawur in the .Pun- has even been seriously asked whether jaub in the north; and beginnings some kind of immolation is not pre- had been made by the Church of Eng- ferable for the victims than their sub- land at Foochow and in Japan. The jection to barbaric outrages. The bondage of their Indian sisters was British, too, have not by any means terrible, owing to the thraldom of stamped out Suttee. Evidence can caste and the blighting influences of be produced, if necessary, that it is infant marriages and child widow- practised to-day among several of the hood. These sad facts could' not fail less civilized States of India in de- to incite help for missions. The quiet- fiance of the law and, to many a ness of India was not a full guarantee brutally treated girl of eight or nine of security. When masses of super- years, death is a happy release. stitious natives congregated there was A greater knowledge of the cruelty the risk of the flame of revolution of child marriages is awakening the being enkindled and excesses com- spirit of reformation. Among edu- mitted, as in the days of the fearful cated Hindus endeavors are being mutiny. For the prevention of the made to check or abolish it. They recurrence of such a calamity, religious are asking for a prohibition of mar- education was the main safeguard.
riages under twelve years-low as The church society taught equally that will appear to Western minds. women and girls, men and boys. By In numbers of the Indian cities the recent development also of the devotea men and women are working Indian Widows' Union, industrial to mitigate the lamentable iniquity. schools were established with the One of the most efficient agencies is object of training widows to support located in Madras, and receivesgener- themselves. .
ous support. The labors of Mr. Mala- Testimony to Indian Missions.- bari, the voice of Ramabai and the At the complimentary banquet of wel- sufferings of Rukmabai have con- come which was given in July at the demned the social custom and moved Northbrook Indian Club, London, to not a little the world's sympathy. Lord Reay on his return to England Until native and foreign opinion is after five years' service as Governor of strong the viceroy declines to interfere the Presidency of Bombay, his lord- with a national religious (so-called) ship, in replying to the toast coupled privilege. Consequently many strenu- with his name, delivered an important ous advocates of amelioration have speech, in which he reviewed the been much disappointed. Hope is civil, military, judicial and commer- nevertheless growing that the viceroy cial factors associated in promoting having full provincial reports may the growth and unity of that empire.
shortly introduce long overdue bene- Concluding his remarks, he observed: ficial legislation. " Among my non-official allies I must Zenana Missions.-Mrs. Moorhouse, place all missionary bodies. The ad- wife of the eloquent Bishop of the mirable work they are doing is Manchester diocese, lately made a thoroughly appreciated by all the people of India, and I should willingly been accomplished there. Similarly dwell on this pleasant topic." the devoted young missionary, Rev. E. V. Cooper, of Huahine, South It should not pass unrecorded that Seas, feels the pressure of French rule the exertions of Lady Reay to benefit and Roman Catholic emissaries. Nor all classes of women in India were is it long ago that Madagascar was remembered in an unusual manner by the scene of high-handed proceedings the native ladies. Before her lady- on the part of France towards Mr. ship left the shores of India, the native Shaw and others, which are not for- ladies, who assembled for the first gotten. Now it is evident that the . time for such a purpose, presented her ambition of France will be gratified with a handsome testimonial. On by the announcement of a protectorate Lady Reay arriving in London, the over this " pearl of the Indian Ocean." Indian ladies of the metropolis gave a What the Hovas and other powerful similar tribute in recognition of her tribes will resolve upon remains to be ladyship's assistance to advance the seen. The political character of the admirable organization founded by transaction cannot stand investiga- Lady Dufferin. tion, otherwise its morality would be strongly censured. Numerical mis- Lepers in India.-Great attention sionary returns indicate that the Lon- is being given to the better protection don MissionarySocietyhas 31 male and vf the lepers, largely due to the agita- female missionaries, and adherents tion promoted by missionary and numbering a quarter of a million; the philanthropic bodies. At a public Society of Friends have 15 missionaries meeting in Bombay, their housing and and 32,000 adherents, and the Church care was discussed and a committee of England 12 missionaries, to whom appointed to frame a scheme to carry are attached 10,000 adherents. out such requirements of the subscrip- tions amounting to 12,000 rupees, the -A correspondent writing to one of Governor contributing 1,000 rupees. the London papers from the capital, Calcutta is similarly alive to the Antananarivo, respecting the gold necessity of State legislation in leper craze on the island, says, that in the asylums, and a new leper institution country thousands of natives are seek- is recommended by the Bengal Gov- ing gold on Government account, ernment for the city. Present accom- which demands forced labor, Sundays modation for the poor creatures is included. For the same purpose inadequate. Though 387 lepers were children are taken from school. Both registered in Calcutta at the last at Tamatave and the capital he obcensus, the number was below the served the domination of French mark. Probably not more than one- influence, which must be a dishearten- fifth of the leper population is within ing spectacle to the English and other asylum walls. Protestant missionaries, whose years of arduous work is seriously jeopard- Madagascar.-The constituents and ized. The writer continues: directors of the English missionary societies have been unexpectedly " One very noticeable change is in thrown into deep concern regarding the slave market. Formerly (three the position of their missions on the years back), not more than twenty, or island under the Anglo-French agree- at most thirty, slaves were ever exment'just signed. A number of Prot- posed there for sale, and transactions estant missionaries have no reason to took place in such a quiet way that look with satisfaction on France they were not noticed; indeed, the abroad. It seems only yesterday that natives appeared ashamed to acknowlthe Rev. John Jones, of Mare, in the edge complicity in slave trading. But Loyalty Islands, was ignominiously when I visited the market the other expelled after a grand life work had day over 200 slaves of both sexes, men, for English clergymen have kept him women and children, were on offer, incessantly occupied pleading the· and there was little or no reluctance cause of missions in the far East. He on the part of the owners to quote loudly complained, at a meeting of prices. Dancing, also, in European the English Society for the Propagafashion, is now the order of the day. tion of the Gospel, that he could not The French resident gives balls, invit- secure followers from the ranks of ing the Malayasy aristocracy, the the English clergy. In response, four prime minister and the queen's ladies- have promised to join him anda candiin-waiting taking a very active part, date for holy orders. In New York and giving balls themselves in return. he expected to have a young .Ameri.' What do the missionaries think of it, can physician as fellow traveler, to· I wonder?" assist in hospital work. It is intended to make this department a prominent Korea.-For his distant and unset- feature of the mission. The bishop tled diocese the .Bishop of Korea has deserves to be classed high in the recently sailed. Though consecrated annals of heroic missionary bishops. in November last, his engagements Atrica.-The British East African ficates were given tothem. They them- Company. Grave doubts have been selves paid nothing for their freedom. It was an absolutely free gift. No one expressed in some quarters, where controls them. They go and come as perhaps " the wish was father to the they please, and earn their daily wages thought," that the British East Afri- like other people. The second (b) can Company would not prove spec- class of these fu~tives who had ially zealous in the suppression of the sought refuge at mlssionary stations, slave trade, and in the emancipation had fled from masters who were not of slaves within its" sphere of influ- Arabs, and with whom no communience." Such fears may now be dis- cation could be secured. To these missed. The company has recently only a permit of residence was given. adopted measures which have secured While no payment whatever was the liberation of from 5,000 to 6,000 made by the company in their behalf, slaves within its territory, and has or by themselves, they are really on given satisfactory assurance that in the same footing in all respects as are that territory of 50,000 square miles, those of the class first mentioned. and bounded on the south by a line extending from the mouth of the The second general class are known Uniba river, about four degrees and as "the Fuladoyo Runaways," who, thirty minutes south latitude, to a forming a powerful settlement in the point on Lake Victoria Nyanza in interior by themselves, had no conabout latitude one degree south-the nection whatever with European missame being the line dividing the Ger- sionary mcieties, and whose freedom man and English "spheres of influ- depended upon their remaining a unitence"-African slavery will not be ed and compact body. Neither when allowed. "Slaves cannot breathe in their crops failed, as they frequently England," neither can they in the ter- did, nor in any other emergency, ritoryof the British East African Com- could they leave their strongholds to pany. earn money for self-support in the service of the company, or as porters That this work of emancipation has in caravans. These fugitives are also been judiciously and yet promptly registered, and after registry are at effected by the company, will be made liberty to go where they please, upon apparent by the following statement, undertaking to pay their former as to the three different classes of masters $15 per capita, which they can slaves already emancipated. These readily earn in the service of the comare first, the fugitives who have sought pany, and so secure a" freedom cerrefuge, and found it, at the different tificate," according to them all the missionary stations in the company's rights and privileges of free men. territory, and who form two distinct classes: (a) those belon@ng to coast The third general class embraces all Arabs of any African tnbe who were slaves belonging to tribes at the back redeemed by a cash payment of $25 of the British coast line, and for about per capita to their masters. They three hundred miles into the interior, werethenregistered andfreedom certi- who have treaties with the company, and have thus brought themselves sums of money for its colonization. under its protection. Caravans have He has sought to promote its moral heretofore captured these people, and improvement. He has been active in sold their captives as slaves upon measures to suppress the slave trade reaching the coast. The country of and the liquor iniquity. And recently these tribes is subject to fammes, his Premier introduced in the Chamwhen parents sell their children as ber of Representatives What is known slaves to coast-traders to secure food as the Congo State Bill, in which Belfor themselves. A proclamation by gium agrees to loan the Congo State the company has closed all this busi- 25,000,000 francs, without interest; ness, and now all slaves from the 5,000,000 to be advanced at once, and country promptly secure their free- 2,000,000 each year for ten years. It dom when they are discovered or is stipulated, however, that "Belmake themselves known, and without gium can annex the Congo State and remuneration to their purchaser and all its properties and rights, in connominal owner. formity with the acts signed in Berlin, on February 26, 1885, and in Brussels All this is matter for thanksgiving. on July 1, 1890, Belgium assuming all And now let us have something of responsibility toward other parties, the kind from the German " sphere." and King Leopold .renouncing his -The Evangelist (New York). claims for indemnity on account of sacrifices made by him. If, on the -The Congo River of To-day. On expiration of the term, Belgium does not desire to annex the Congo State, the Congo there are no beasts of bur- the loan will bear interest at 3~ per cent., and repayment can be deden, there existing merely a manual manded on the expiration of a further transport, the porters being the natives ten years." These are generous of the Bakongo tribe, inhabiting the propositions, and will likely be agreed cataract regions. In physique, these to by the legislative power. They are me~ are slight and only poorly devel- the result of the discussions and labors oped; but the fact of their carrying on of the Anti-Slavery Conference just their heads from 60 to 100 pounds closed at Brussels. weight twenty miles a day, for sometimes six consecutive days, their only Brazil.-Reaction. While the Re- publicans are wasting precious time food being each day a little manioc in the non-essentials of civil service,. root, an ear or two of maize, or a the arch enemy is organizing all his. handful of peanuts, pronounces them forces to resist the Republic by every' at once as men of singularly sound means known to Popery and Jesuitstamina. Small boys of eight and ism. Archbishop Don Antonio is en- deavoring, with apparent success, to nine years old are frequently met create a Catholic Party which will carrying loads of 25 pounds weight. adhere to the dogma of Roman Catho- lic Infallibility. Although the Gov- Throughout the cataract region the ernment has abolished the Saints:' general accepted money currency is days from the list of official holidays" Manchester cotton cloth nlade up into .he churches never before were so pieces of six yards each. The Euro- filled, nor the feasts so well attended, pean cost of the cloth, paid to these as during the month of May-" the month of Mary." Public departments natives for transporting a load to and the schools, are kept open on the ~tanley Pool from Matadi, including old''holy" days, but neither employees rations, amounts at the present day to nor scholars come; and teachers, in $5 for a load of 65 pounds. Five years ago the cost was only one-third of this amount; but it has increased on account of the competition of the various trading houses that have established stations at Stanley Pool for the ivory trade on the upper river.-Century.
-King Leopold, of Belgium, has manifested a remarkable interest in the development of the Congo State. He has personally advanced large defiance of the new law, take their ornament callf'd the Semboo. It is pupils to confession and the mass. -somewhat egg-shaped, and a foot in During the late persecution of Protes- height, tipped by an enormous dia- tants at Cruzeiro, the parish priest, mond, encircled by many smaller while denying complicityin theattack, . ones, crusted on like barnacles. All added that he had only to raise his over this exquisite oval object are finger to have every Protestant driven similar clumps of diamonds, no other from the village. stones being used for this part.
The Bishop's pastoral hasbeen sent England.-Dr. Bamardo, of Lon- all over the land; papers 'are pub- don, had his annual meeting this year lished in the interest of Rome; schools at the West End, in the Royal Albert are organized, and the priests are Hall. His aim was to take the children, teaching the people that they owe for whose interest he so diligently their duty to the Church first, and the labors, right into the midstof thericher Government afterwards. Civil mar- classes, that they might see and hear riage is proclaimed as no marriage at the little ones for whose welfare their all; and the rumor that the Synod of means and sympathy are solicited.
Bishops, lately held at Sao Paulo, had The experiment was a perfect success.
issued a secret circular instructing The Marquis of Lome presided, and the clergy to resist every measure between seven and eight thousand adopted by the Republic, is confirmed people were present. The speakers on by the defiant attitude taken by the occasion were the Rev. C. H.
priests of the interior. A hard fight Spurgeon, Canons Girdlestone and is before us, for Rome's old cunning Fleming, Sir Arthur Blackford, Lord and craft are still available. The Kinnaird and Mr. W. Fowler. Lady people are in her grasp, and the very Kinnaird distributed about 140 prizes ignorance and superstition she has to the girls and boys from the differ- fostered, are now powerful weapons ent Homes. The total number of in her hands. children rescued since Dr. Barnardo It is estimated that there are 500,000 beg'dn his work 23 years ago is 15,563, Protestants among whom iliteracy is and the income last year was £106,- rare; and there is about an equal 722. The work of last year is shown number of free thinkers, materialists, by the following figures: 1,893 were " indifferentists," and positivists, who, admitted to the Homes, 1,287 boys and if united with the Protestants, could 606 girls, which, with the 2,749 in control the electious. If this unum is residence, make up the total to 4,642 not effected, Rome is almost certain resident in the Homes during the year.
to control the first Congress.-Brazil- Great interest was excited in the ian Missions (August). meeting by the passing across the Burmah.-The Buddhists in Bur- platform of selections of the various mah do not consider the question of classes of children; especially was expense in beautifying their temples. this so when the deformed and crip- Here is the description of the new pled went by. The sight was a grand vane of the pagoda at Rangoon. The object lesson, and aroused the sympa- vane is about three by one and a thies of the audience to an unusual half feet broad, and thickly crusted extent. A collection of £1,850 was with precious stones and lovely fans taken up.
of red Burmese gold. One ruby alone India.-The Opium Curse. Canon is worth 6,000 rupees, and there are Wilberforce, who has returned from several hundred rubies alone on this a visit to India, was present at the beautiful thing. On the tip of the annual meeting in Exeter Hall of the iron rod on which works the vane is a Society for the Suppression of the richly carved and perforated gold Opium Trade, and moved a resolution -calling upon the Government of India many distinct races and religions, led to use the discretion conferred upon it to the same speculations. In India, by the Indian Opium Act of 1878, by long before the Brahmo Somaj, the dosing the licensed opium dens. The Emperor Akhbar tried to form a Canon, in the course of a fervid natural religion for this country by a speech, charged the English people "combination of. what is best" in with the responsibility of the degraded Christianity, Mohammedanism, Hin- social state of the people of India. He duism and Buddhism. In Europe, hadbeenalmoststifiedin opiumhouses, more than a century ago, the atheist where he had seen seventy, eighty, Volney's " Ruin of Empires" was full .and a hundred people in every phase of these ideas. There are some who of intoxication, with emaciated bodies think that this doctrine, made con- and lack-lustre looks. He had seen crete in the form of a great world- these people being slowly poisoned in religion, will be the final, form of ()rder to raise the Indian revenue. Anti-Christ. There are many facts There were ten thousand of these dens which seem to point in this direction.
in India, and he had satisfied himself The proclaiming the "truths" of that the practice of opium smoking Mohammedanism every week in a was spreading among all Classes there. mosque at Liverpool; the spread of It was a common thing, he said, for pseudo-Buddhism in France and the proceedings in one of the courts to America; the acceptance of Theoso- be stopped because the witness was phy with its lying wonders taken unable to proceed with his evidence from Brahminism; the growth of until he had had his pipe of opium. Unitarianism-all are signs of that Dealing with the financial question, he final darkness which is settling over maintained that the revenue of India the world prior to the rising of the might be secured by diminishing the Sun of Righteousness. – Bombay expenses of the administration. This Guardian.
might be effected by employing native Switzerland. – The religious condition of Switzerland pr~nts· -civil servants, so that not a single many interesting facts. According to the statistics of December, 1888, farthhdg of taxation need be put upon the country contained 1,750,000 Prot- estants, and 1,200,000 Roman Cathothe people by the suppression of the lics. There is perfect liberty of creed and of conscience. The person who ()pium traffic. The resolution was exercises paternal authority or acts as guardian can determine the religious seconded by Mr. Frederick Sessions, education of the children till the age of sixteen. TheJesuits are forbidden, ()f Gloucester, who also was able to but the priests are much more numer- ous than the Protestant ministers. As testify, from recent personal experi- is so often the case, the C1}urch in the minority is especially vigorous; in the ,ence, to the physical and moral de- ,Reformed cantons the Catholics are on the increase, while the Reformed pravation caused by the opium are gaining in the Catholic cantons. The Catholic Church is a unit and is traffic. ' domineered by ultramontanism; the Protestants are divided, fierce contro- -There is a strong tendency in this versies raging betweentheevangelical and the liberal parties. In point of ,country towards Brahmo Somajism, zeal the Catholics are far ahead of the Reformed. In the Catholic canton of even outside the cult, to the belief Uri I inquired into the attendance at church, and was told that, as a matter that in some sort of way all the differ- of course, everybody went except the little children and the infirm. In ,ent religions of India are sisters; that winter the people fill the church, even each and all contain sufficient truth to save those who have been born into them; and that the only true religion is to be found in a combina- tion of "what is best" in all. The ()rigin of these ideas is not with the Brahmo Somaj. In ancient Rome, as well as in modern India, the universal empire of one paramount power over on week days, coming from the number of the MISSIONARY REVIEW mountain-sides and the valleys, OF THE WORLD, a periodical which through the snow and over the ice, to continues to maintain its pre-emiattend divine services. I rode through nence in the field it cultivates, Dr. the Rhone valley on Corpus Christi Pierson gives an interesting account· Day. I saw not a person at work the of his mission tour among the Scotwhole day; even the cows were kept tish churches. He testifies that the in stables that their keepers might results every way, so far as they can attend service. Every village had its be now estimated, abundantly repay celebration. The processions were all the cost in time and toil. The large; the display was surprising, re- arrangements, thanks to Dr. John vealing a splendor which, under the Lowe in the east, and Dr. Pagan, of circumstances, seemed impossible, Bothwell, in the west, have been sinand contrasted strangely with the gularly complete, relieving him from ap,parent poverty and squalor of the all needless correspondence and pervlllages. plexity. "We have been met at trains," says Dr. Pierson, "and escorted to hos- Never before did I understand pitable homes; welcomed with a genu- Zwingli's iconoclasm. Of all the re- ine cordiality; we have found everyformers he was most intent on re- where warm hearts and exceptionally moving images and pictures from the generous co-operation. The whole· churches. One need but see the tour reminds me of Paul's testimony Catholic cantons to-day to appreciate to the Galatians. We have met abunhis iconoclastic zeal. Many of the dant hospitality and Christian generimages and pictures are worthy of osity elsewhere; but never any exsavages rather than of Christians, and perience of loving kindness that on the the devotion of them cannot but be whole quite equals this. The meetdebasing. This is true of the repre- ings have followed each other in so sentations of Christ, as well as of pic- well ordered a scheme that there has tures .of the virgin and the saints. In been neither loss of time nor retracing the Reuss valley I saw, in front of a of steps." chapel, the representation of a saint with a hog leaning against his legs, Dr. Pierson sees no reason why apparently rubbing its itching side. I similar campaignsmay not be planned asked for an explanation, but, of in America, so that such men as Dr. course, received none. Gordon of Boston and Dr. Taylor of New York-these are only two of a I can give but one instance of the long list he gives-may be brought superstitions, which are worthy of into living contact with large congre- Spain. In passing up the Rhone valley gations throughout the United States from Brieg to Fietsch, my companion, and Canada. He adds that Scotland a Catholic, proprietor of a hotel in the is a land of martyrs and missionaries. valley, called my attention to a church at our side. "The two naturally go together. The martyr spirit has survived the' "This church is peculiarly rich in martyr fires, and so the vital energy grace," he said. "Emblems of won- that once made martyrs now runs derful cures performed are hung into the channels of missionary enabout the altars. And the church has thusiasm. We go nowhere without this wonderful power: It often occurs feeling ourselves to be on holy ground." that children die without baptism. He seems to have been especially They are then brought to this church struck with that house at Strathaven for the rites of burial. Now it fre- from which have gone William and quently happens that during these Gavin Martin to India, James Martin exercises some sign is given by the to Jamaica, James Martin's son to deceased child. Then the priest im- India, and now Miss Martin, the sister, mediately baptizes it." to Jamaica. "What an outcome," he exclaims, "of one consecrated home! Thus the child is supposed to give Five missionaries almost from one some evidence of life, but just enough cradle! No marvel Scotland is into make it fit for baptism; then it is terested in missions. Instead of coming buried. What the sign is and how it across the sea to kindle a missionary ill recognized I could not learn. But revival, the flame was found already a rare chance is given to the priest, burning, and needing only the fuel of and to the credulous and excited par- facts, and the fanning of the breath ents, to establish a miracle which re- of the Spirit of God, to become a con- suming fire. Coti!d all this intelligent dounds to the glory of the church.- and aroused enthusiasm be effectually Dr. Stuckenberg in Homiletic Review.
MiscellaneouS.-Five Mission- aries from One Cradle. In the March
1890.J MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS•
.applied to action, the whole machinery fice. One lady sold a bracelet and of missions would move with greatly sent the proceeds; one young man increased rapidity and efficiency." took off a solid gold vest chain, and Dr. Pierson mentions the intel'esting another a diamond seraf-ring, and enfact that, although his meetings have closed them to Dr. Pierscn; others not been with immediate reference to sent the price of a pair of kid gloves, raising money, no collections being or a box of cigars, or a concert ticket, taken save for current local expenses, or various other gratifications and voluntary offerings have been sent in indulgences foregone for the sake of to him, some of them very significant, the perishing. – Chri8tian Leader because the fruit of evident s-elf–sac-ri–(-Lon-do-n).
III.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Ohina. in March, 1889, "to consider questions 0/ policy, methods o/work, extension or restric- [Our readers will remember that a tion 0/ fields o/labor," etc_ branch of the China Inland Mission, In view of recent criticisms of the work of representing North America, was re- Foreign Missions and general administration of Missionary Societies, a special importance cently established in Canada, of attached to their duty, and they entered upon which our friend and brother, Mr. their task with a desire to make thorough in- H. W. Frost, is the worthy secretary. vestigation. They appointed sub-committees -This brief letter from him shows that on home and foreign expenditure, and on the best means of bringing the 'lhurches into a good beginning has been made.- closer relation with the society. Rev. Pro- J. M. S.] fessor Anthony, reported on .. The Best Train- ing for Missionaries;" Rev. Dr. Macfadyen, on CHINA INLAND MISSION, } " Celibacy," and Rev. Dr. Mackennal, on Council for North America. "Education in India." Interviews with mis- sionaries supplied valuable information, and Toronto, Ont., July 3, 1890. their varied experience and high standing DEAR DR. PIERSON:-During the short time gave great weight to their opinions. -of our existence in this country we have had the privilege of helping forward 24 persons, The report of the committee was agreed and are hoping to send forward 10 more" ac- upon after much prayerful Inquiry; and sugcepted " ones in the early fall, with others to gests no material change as to the education follow. But this does not satisfy us, just of missionarycandidates, but that the study because we feel it does not satisfy the great of the history of Christian missions and of heart of Him who gave His life "to every comparative religions, form part of the pre- -creature." If, therefore, you can turn the paratory course, especiallyfor thoseappointed thoughts of any, who are not led otherwise, to India or Ohina. toward this mission we will be thankful to you, and shall count it a precious privilege to As to celibate life among the hedthen, the do all we can to help such ones to realize their missionaries all discountenanced making celi- .desires. bacya system in mission effort. The results, With warm Christian regards, In the native and Roman Catholic priesthoods, were declared to be bad. The Oxford experi- Yours faithfully in Christ, ment in Calcutta does not involve a lifetime H. W. FROST, Secretary.
England. of celibacy: In China, celibacy Is an almost [The following report of The Special insurmountable obstacle to the work of the Oommittee of Inve8tigation appointed by the London Mis8ionary Society, missionary, while in India.. it raises grave difll- culties. The unanimous testimony was that in ,should be incorporated in this REVIEW, every mission field the 0 hristian home and not only as a matter of current history, but as a testimony to the grand ohristian family are absolutely necessary as society at whose request the investigation was conducted. Our space makes factors of evangelization. necessary considerable abridgment, As to the proposed new departure, the combut the main conclnsions of the committee we are glad to put before our mittee approve the action of the directors who readers.-EDS_] recently decided to accept, under conditions, offers of service from men who have not A Special Committee of Investigation was appointed by the London Missionary Society passed through a course 0/ theological colle- giate training, and to send them out for a term of years as lay evangelists; not to en- courage any lower educational standard; nor to introduce Into the field workers who will labor for a smaller salary than that hitherto given to missionaries; but to open the door to foreign service to men of good education and who claim high respect are decidedly un- of proved experience as Christian workers, favorable to it. who have not been able to obtain special ministerial training, and to help supply the The committee ask that the following facts increasing demand for workers which the be borne in mind: theological colleges do not at present meet. (1.) The scholars in the schools receive a The committee believe the ultimate success cousiderable amount of regular Bible instruc- of this society, as an evangelistic agency, will tion from the missionary. (2.) Though con· largely depend on the employment of native versions are rare, they receive a degree of workers, and that the existing institutions for preparation, otherwise lacking, for hearing their training should therefore be fully sus- the Gospel and reading the Scriptures in after tained, and, where necessity arises, new insti- years. (3.) Nominally heathen teachers are tutions should be started. not always foes to Christianity; often they are convinced of its truth, though not prepared to They also hold that the existing policy of avow themselves Christians. In some cases, a working lrom centres, where churches and considerable proportion of both teachers and schools are set up, and evangelists trained for scholars voluntarily attend ChrIstian classes, the regions beyond, (as contrasted with a on the Lord's day. (4.) By means of Govern- Tague itineracy), is the method sanctioned by ment grants and fees these schools are to a Apostolic example, by divine authority, by considerable extent self-supporting. The experience, and by the nature of the kingdom committee do not recommend the discontinu- of Christ. ance of these schools, but urge the im- portance: 0.) Of exercising the utmost care· The committee report emphatic and hearty to maintain the distinctive Christian characexpressions from missionaries with whom ter 01 the school.; (2.) Of insisting that suffithey conferred, as to tbe methods and man- cient time daily be given to the Scripture' lesson throughout the schools, and in all theiragement 01 the 80ciety, and their cordial rela- classes alike; (3.) Of substituting Christian teachers in all schools supported by the tions with its directors and secretaries. society, as soon as possible; (4.) Of training, as speedily as possible, qualified Christian. .As to the paramount question of gravest im- teachers in all branches of instruction. ' portance, viz: the relation of Christian missions in general, and those of our own society They urge the noble opportunity which in particular, to education in India, the com- presents itself to wealthy Christians to meet mittee say: At present, such instruction as this great need, by founding Christian colwlIl prepare for university degrees and Gov- leges on unsectarian lines, in each great lanernment service, neceJJ8itates the employment guage area, for the training of such teachers- 01 non-Christian. teachers, as an adequate for the whole of India; and also to well-qualisupply of Christian teachers is not forthcom- fied university men, consecrated to the service ing. Dilference of language forbids the trans- of our Lord, to go out to India and becometerence 01 teachers from one part of India to teachers. another. Even the non-Christian teachers are, of course, contlned to secular subjects, With regard to the expenditure on the misand work under control of the missionary. sion house Btat!. the committee record com- Still their presence and influence detract plete agreement that the staff of assistant. in. from the Christian character of the schools, the foreign, home and accountant's offices is and may, in some cases, hinder the work and not larger than the work demands; that no inflnence of the missionary. Some devoted reduction Is practicable, and that the remunerfriends of missions deem this danger so seri- ation Is very moderate. In fact, the financial ous that they would abandon the educational position of the society has constrained those work llQOner than tolerate the presence of who serve it to contribute a large share of non-Christian teachers. Such a course would their own income. mean the reduction of the schools to the level of elementary vernacular schools-the sur- As to expenses of traveling deputations, anrender of the hold on the young mind of niversary services, etc., during the past ten India, in this crisis when the national mind is years considerable reductions have been beginning to be stirred, and 'old faiths are effected. The committee think this process tottering. It would mean the handing over of may be carried further without loss of effithe .cultured youth of India, the hope of the ciency, especially if neighboring churches and future, either to schools from which religion districts would arrange meetings in concert. is systematically excluded and where morality has therefore no firm footing, and where .As to the salaries of missionaries, etc., the there may be Agnostic and Positivist teachers committee conclude: (1.) The principle, acted as bitterly hostile to Christianity as the upon by the society, of regnlating payments heathen; 'or else to Rome and the Jesuits, to our missionaries by the claims of the several who eagerly-watch the opportunity to step in localities is the only sound one. (2.) Any reand fill the empty places. duction of the present scale of payment would be at the cost of efficiency. (3.) The fixed The great weight of opinion is in favor of scale of payments, as hitherto adopted, should. continuing the present sy.•te"" though some be strictly adhered to. (4.) The existing ar- Bordeaux, etc. The Berlin Conference has rangements for furlough after ten years' done a great deal in that respect. service; a second, afrer eight years'; a third, after seven years'; are the best in the Faithfully yours, interest both of the society and of the mis- E. LENOIR. sionaries. [NOTE:-This brother is one of the most de- As to methods for increasing contributions, voted men we met in our European tour dur- diffu8ing information and awakening and ing seven months. He not only conducts the 8'Ustaining interest in rnissions, throughout McAII work in Marseilles-teaching, preach- the churches, the committee suggest pas- ing, visiting, etc.-but he takes his violin and toral visitation for the purpose of reviving leads the Singing in person. His father is a the missionary spirit; the spread of informa- banker, and Mr. Lenoir gives ~p lucrative tion through lady visitors: that advantage be employment with prospective wealth for the taken of a fifth Sunday in the month to en- humble work of a McAII evangelist. What it force the claims of foreign missions; that the means for him and others like him to lead in a Sunday evening service sometimes take the total abstinence movement can only be underform of a missionary meeting; and that stood by those who know that the use of light special efforts be made to inrerest the young wines is almost as universal among the.French in missionary work, by lantern lectures, etc. people as ice water is on American tables.- A.T.P.] In summing up the result of this prolonged, painstaking, searching and impartial inquiry, India. conducred at the request of the directors and on behalf of the society's constituents, the Comilla, Eastern Bengal, July 19, 1890. committee, with intense satisfaction and DEAR DR. SHERwoon:-Rather more than a thankfulness, bear emphatic testimony to the year ago I wrote to Dr. Pierson, giving a slight wisdom, Belf-devotion, fidelity and executive sketch of our Australasian missions. Since ability with which the work of the society is then, sickness and overwork have made sad carried on, at home and abroad, and commend havoc amongst our laborers, Lutwe are exit to the unabated confidence and largely- pecting considerable additions next cold increased support of the churches. season. Oh, that God's people at home were aroused to the urgency of this work: Only to- The report is signed by J. Wycliffe Wilson, day, as Ilie on my bed, unable to rise, a Hindn- J .. P., Sheffield, chairman. and sixteen others, stani woman who received a little medical help well known in the Congregational body. some days ago, came to see me, and seemed loath to leave. Hitherto, it has seemed utterly France. hopeless to try and speak to her about Jesus, as she knows only one or two words ot Ben- Marseilles, July 9, 1890. gali, and I know only one or two of Hindu- stani; but, to-day, after finding out about her DEAR DR. PIERSON:-YOU will hear with physical stare, the desire to do something for satisfaction that your visit and that of Major her soul was overpowering. With many Whittle, in April last, has not been forgotten. signs and repetitions we managed to get at Every one of us remember, with thanks to the what is meant by hell, heaven and God. Then Lord, your speech on missions in the Y. M. C. coming to an understanding of what "sin" A. Hall; your powerful teaching on "Recon- signifies. the poor creature would have it that ciliation," in the Salle Repub/ique, has often I was siuless, and God to her. It was hard to been referred. to since, and with profit; and make her understand that! disowned to that. the young man whom Major Whittle brought Finding that all her children had died, and to Christ the same evening. We are glad to that one boy who lived to be four or five years say that the work goes on with ever so much old was specially remembered, I asked, joyful spirit. Our halls are both always "Where is he now!" She replied, "He is dead, croWded. I never should have believed that what more is there to say about it." She is we would soo such general desire in the south a strict Hindu, professedly, but is even too of France to hear the Gospel. What marvel- ignorant to think of transmigration. I You lous fervor the doctrtne of Atonement has on should have seen her poor face when she our working people I Long live evangeli- gathered that her child is in heaven and she zation! may go to see him. She tried vel'J:' hard to understand how she might get there, but I Larely, a friend from Switzerland spoke on fear it was beyond her. Oh, may God's Spirit temperance in our halls. We had about 25 enlighten the poor dark soul! May God's people who signed the pledge. I was obliged to people wake up to their duty! We have not join and to lead and take the head in the move- to go and seek for the work-it comes to our ment as there was nobody else to take it. We doors, to our very bedsides every day-and are encouraged on that point, and we hope to how many hundreds who invite us to their increase; there is a good spirit in the new so- houses have to be turned away I The desire ciety. Sabbath observance makes good pro- for more laborers comes to be the one desire gress too. Many shop-keepers enter that of my heart. door; I hear it is the same in Paris, Lyons, Did strength and time permit, I should so eastern :l.nd western extremes, as Arabia, like to tell you of what God has done for us Egypt, Tnnis, Tripoli, and Algeria, as well as poor, weak women, here, regarding the Mis- some lesser States. These all lie in great sion House, and land to build it on. Such darkness and almost wholly unevangelized. wonderful deliverances, such answers to The considerable and admirable educational prayer, and such tenderness. Now, that the mission-work of the American Presbyterians building is suspended for want of funds, our in Syria and in Egypt is confined almost society in debt (unknown to us until lately), wholly to the corrupt, native, nominal Chris- no "allowance" for ourselves, and many of tian sects, such as the Greeks, Latins and our friends in New South Wales bereft of all Maronites of Syria, and the Copts of Egypt. earthly possessions by heavy floods, it seems But Mohammedans are still fast bound in the as thongh our hearts grow lighter and chains of their religious delusions, and in the brighter. The house was so very certainly dense darkness that envelops them. The started at God's bidding and not mine, that I need, in several of these Arabic·speaking, can just rest and let Him manage His own Mohammedan countries is as great as the need business, even though the season for roof- of Morocco was five and a half years ago, making is fast slipping away, and I want the when I began as the only missionary to Mo- house to be ready for the new comers. He hammedans. Now, thank God, in both north- knows what He is about. ern Jllorocco, with Tangier as its base, and southern Morocco, with Mogador, there are Wishing still greater prosperity and useful- many devoted missionaries, over thirty in all. ness to the REVIEw. The desire to be used by God in similarly Yours in the work, opening up other parts of the vast Arabic- speaking Mohammedan world has been much ELLEN ARNOLD. on my mind. I feel my unworthiness for this, but if God deigns to thus use me, the glory Japan. shall all the more be His. It is with a view to this thatI have come East to Syria, and am now A CORRECTION. engaged in seeking to fit myself to be under- Arima, July 23, 1890. stood in Arabic wherever the Lord may lead me. May I ask your pr~ers that I may be EDITORS OF THE MISSIONARY REVIEw:-The helped in tillS language study,which is difficult article of Rev. F. S. Cnrtis, in July, 1890, No. to one who is past forty. Aggressive gospel 7, pp. 535-37, in speaking of Zamaguchi Ken, work, even when hampered by an imperfect and profesBing to give the numberof mission- knowledge of the Arabic, is much more to my aries west of Hiroshima, is unjust to the Bap- taste; but the present occupation is needful tist work there. The A. B. M. U. has two for the future. families now on that field, and they expect to be joined very soon by three ladies, already It is well known that I have advocated and appointed. sought to practise simple and self-denying methods of mission work, and such as seemed The A. B. M. U. had a missionary residing to be, for me, the most direct and effective, in ShinIonoseki two years before any mission- although hard to the flesh. I drew them from ary settled at Hiroshima, and it has never for the Lord's instructions to his first missiona moment withdrawn from that field. In the aries,as recorded in Matt. x. It has become a absence of the first missionary, the work was maxim with me, that while leaving all others carried on for eighteen months by r('gular to conduct their work as seems to them best, visits from Kobe, our men remaining from I must conform mine to the principles conone to four months at a tinIe, until the arrival tained in those instructions, read and underof some of the present workers, a year ago. stood in the light of "the great commission," in the end of Mark and Matthew, and of the It seems but just to the A. B. M. U., and to recorded practice of the Apostles in the men who are your subscribers, that correction preaching tours in Acts. Practically speaking, should be made, so that their work in this im- following out these principles leads those portant field should not be iguored. Asking pledged to them to live upon the level, in mathat you will kindly grant this, I am, terial things, of the people to whom they are sent, as far as is consistent with health and Yours sin('erely, cleanliness. So, when located among the people, such missionaries would live, out- T. E. SHOEMAKER. wardly, as they do; and when traveling, they would go, two by two, on foot, carrying only Syria. the Gospel message, unimpeded by anything to excite the envy or cupidity of the natives, Brumana, Near BeyrO'Ut, June 25, 1890. and, as a rule, depending on the hospitality of DEAR EDITORS:-I have recently come from those among whom they are at the time Morocco to this Lebanon village, where I am traveling. spending some months in close study of pure Arabic. Here, every facility exists for this, but Morocco furnished none. We there labored under the most difficult and discouraging circumstances in gaining so much knowledge of the Arabic tongue as we already possess. Arabic is the language, not only of Syria and Morocco, bnt also of the great Mohammedan nations lying between these two
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
These views of mISSIOn work have been may be better fitted to go out on repeated jour- greatly opposed, and sometimes with much neys for preaching among Moslems wherever I bitterness of feeling, in religious periodicals, may be led. especially in England, where, in The Christian (London), I published, week by week, a series When I left lIIogador the converts were of eighteen articles dealing with the question. greatly scattered and persecutions continued. Since then, some dear friends have become Some of the most true, who had endured both thereby alienated, while enemies have scruti- stripes and imprisonment, left the town to es- nized and criticised every move I have made_ cape further similar treatment, just before I Even fellow-workers, who had pledged them- came away. Others gave ns much concern by ,selves to stand with me in advocating and prac- lack of steadfastness. Through the American tising these methods,after awhile, fell back and Consul I was officially forbidden by the native left me almostalone. I now find myself obliged, governors to travel in either of the two large with barely a single associate, to go forward provinces adjoining Mogador, and through in the path of service to which I feel called, which I must pass to reach the interior. On ,and from which I dare not go back. It is this one visit I was arrested in consequence of this disappointment as to others standing with order, but released in answer to prayer, before me, especiallY, co-workers in the field, com- our captors had reached the governor's house. bined with lesser reasons, that has led me On another journey in the same part, we were to feel unwilling to encourage other young turned back with violent threatenlngs with men to join me. Therefore, I do not now pro- clubs. On stm another journey, in conse- pose, as I had thought to do when I arranged quence of being in some danger in a native to come here from Morocco, to become respon- sok or market, we were reported at home at ,sible for the guidance and support of others. first imprisoned and then killed. On still .such responsibility is a wearing and heavy another journey, we were arrested on two oc- burden indeed, as I have found, and I am not casions, once by being taken before the govsorry to be relieved of it, though I was not un- ernor, and only escaped from his soldiers by willing for It so long as I felt it was God-ap- stratagem. AS to the future of the work in pointed. Such friends as have written, olIer- Mogador and Southern Morocco, the presence ing to support workers with me will accept my of a number of new missionaries provides suf- thanks for their kindness, and will, from this, ficiently against its being neglected. understand how it is that I cannot, at present ,atleast, make nse of their olIers. A bi-monthly statement of the amounts sent toward my support to Mr. Eugene Levering, We are living here very simply Indeed, and No.2 Commerce street, Baltimore, 11M., ap- very much as the native Syrians do. Our pears regularly in The Baltimore Baptist. To organ is about the only article of European all who have kindly helped thus, I return furniture in our little native house of four , heartfelt thanks. The difficulties and trials of rooms and a kitchen. Our food is native. Mr. a life of faith, as to temporal supplies, are not Brading, my devoted co-worker, is at another few nor small, but the compensation in seeing Lebanon village for language study, where he the hand of the living Father in one's daily .only hears Arabic, and where, in his single life, is great indeed. Hence, after years of room with its earth fioor, is scarcely a single treading this pathway, I can recommend it article of all those found in even an humble heartily to such as have falth therefor. But home in America. Notwithstanding his being let none others attempt it. brought up in soft and easy surroundings, he gladly endures hardness, as a good soldier of As great difficulties and keen trials have of Jesus Christ. late thickened about me, may I not ask for an increase of prayer on my behalf. "Grace be From what llIave said, it will be seen that I with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ have not come to Beyrout to make this my in sincerity." ,sphere of work, but only temporarily, that I Yours, in Gospel service for Mohammedans, C. F. BALDWIN.
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
'The Foreign Missions of the Moravian Lord and Master, it is that He has Church. caused it to be distinctively a Mission- BY REV. J. TAYLOR HAMILTON, ary Church. Through His grace the ,SECRETARY OF THE SOCIETY FOR PROPAGATING Moravian brethren early realized that THE GOSPEL (MORAVIAN MISSIONARY the business of a Christian's life is not SOCIETY), BETHLEHEM, PA.
If there is one feature in the history to become one of a select coterie, a ,of the Moravian Church for which we clique banded together to luxuriate have cause to render heartfelt thanks selfishly. in the enjoyment of personal to the overruling providence of our religion, but that the express com~ mands of the Lord and the needs of- Scarcely has the first enterprise the times demand at the hands of be- been undertaken, in 1732, than a- lievers the most strenuous efforts for second is inaugurated. The cousins, the evangelization of the world and :Matthew and Christian Stach and the furtherance of Christ's kingdom. Christi!tn David, on January 19, 1733, I wish briefly to sketch the rise and leave Herrnhut to assist the Lutheran progress of Moravian Missions in sub- missionary, Hans Egede, in his appar- stantiation of this assertion. ently hopeless labors in bleak Green– Ten years after the renewal of that land. Negotiations are next begun at ancient Protestant Church which, in Amsterdam with the directors of the 1467, as a result of the teachings of Dutch Trading Company for Surinam, the martyred Hus, came out from or Dutch Guiana, and in 1735 three Rome, but which had been almost missionaries depart to explore its- blotted out of existence by the merci- rivers and lagoons. As the years pass less barbarity of the dragoons, and the by, other West Indian islands besides cunning procedure of the Jesuits, to St. Thomas are entered-8anta Cruz, whom the House of Austria turned San Jan, Jamaica, Auligna, St. Chris- over Bohemia and Moravia at the close topher and Barbadoes.
of the thirty years' war-ten years In 1735 the first colony of Moravians after the renewal of the Church of the destined for this continent of ours pro- Bohemian and Moravian brethren, ceeds to Savannah, Ga., to labor for- through the instrumentality of Count the Indians, and in 1740 Christian Zinzendorf, at Herrnhut in Saxony, in Henry Rauch preaches to the Mohi– the year 1722, when that settlement cans of New York State. In 1736 of religious exiles numbered only six George Schmidt, who had served an hundred souls, two of the Moravian apprenticeship at confessing the gospel~ immigrants, Leonard Dober and David by lying for six years, for the faith's Nitschmann, with about three dollars sake, in an Austrian dungeon, works apiece, setout on foot for Copenhagen, his way to Amsterdam to find ship for- thence to proceed by ship to St. Cape Colony; and although his success– Thomas, to bring the gospel to pegro fullabors amongst the Hottentots are- slaves. ere long harshly terminated by the- Since then unsuccessful attempts to Christian DutchJ)ettlers, in 1792, when found missions have been made byour missionaries are again sent out, they people in the following countries: in find Schmidt's garden at Guadendal..
Lapland, amongst the Srenoyedes, in his outpost amongst the heathen, with Algiers, Ceylon, Persia, the EastIndies a thrifty pear tree to mark the civiliz- and Demerara.; and the following were ing agencies he had introduced, and.
established but afterwards suspended: better yet, they find aged Magdalena, on the Guinea coast of Africa, amongst one of his converts, with the gospel the Tartars, in Abyssinia and in Tran- Schmidt had preached still fruitful in quebar. Concerning these I shall say her heart; and to-day our South Mri– next to nothing. In their zeal the can Mission has the care of 13,590'
brethren sometimes overestimated souls. In spite of the failure of a first their own resources; sometimes so- attempt to land on inhospitable· called Christian governments inter- Labrador in 1752, owing to the massa- fered, or unscrupulous trading com- cre of a boat's crew by the natives, in panies placed unsurmountable obsta- 1764 J ens Haven, after years of care- cles in their way; sometimes heathen ful preparation and the study of the savages refused to allow a permanent Eskimo language in Greenland, taking- residence amongst them. I shall his life in his hands, hazards a visit.
speak only of those fields which have and later the mission is permanently • been permanently occupied. established by fifteen Moravian colonists, of whom he is the leader. Themis- commenced amongst the Indians of sion amongst the Indians of New York, Southern California, and finally, this Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Ohio year, the negroes and coolies of Trini- having experienced various vicissi- dad hear the message of salvation tudes during the war with the French from our brethren. in colonial days, and during and after the struggle for Independence, notably Whilst there has been individual the massacre of more than ninety instances of failure and seasons of ap- Christian Indians at Guadenhuetten, parent standing still, on the whole Ohio, had found refuge in 1792 at New there has been ever a steady and Fairfield in Canada. Nevertheless, in general advance. The work comspite of the ruthless reduction of the menced 158 years ago has widened converts,who had once been numbered out into a vast series of missionary by hundreds, to a mere persecuted enterprises. In the foreign field our handful, in 1801 new operations are Church has now about 86,000 souls in commenced amongst the Cherokees. her care, ministered to by 343 mis- Again fourteen years elapse, and an sionaries, of whom 51 are native born, old field is re-entered. The Calmuck with 1,659 native assistants. There are Tartars are revisited, though they 135 stations and out-stations, with 140must later be once more abandoned. schools of all sorts, attended by about 20,000 scholars. The support of the Yet within the 'decade of this relin- work entails an annual outlay of quishment, namely in 1827, possession $300,000 in round numbers. is taken of a new outpost on the Island of Tobago. One year after that Kaf- It has been with deliberate purpose fraria is entered. Less than a decade that I have gone into this somewhat: passes when Demerara is invaded in tedious skeroh of the growth of the the name of Christ, to be temporarily operations of o~r Moravian Church, yielded, indeed, five years later. But which has ever been federated together in 1848 there is a new advance, the in the Continent of Europe, in Great coast of palmy Mosquitia in Central Britain and Ireland, and in our own America being claimed as a Moravian country, for work in the foreigu field. mission field, ere long to be one of its I have done so because three special most fruitful. In the following year features stand out from such a survey, attention is paid to the degraded state which are not without their signifiof the black fellows of Australia. And cance for tile Church of, Christ in in 1859 the eternal snows of the Hima- general. They are these: layas are pressed by the footprints of our brethren in Cashmere. In the First, the missionary activity of the sixties Hus' descendants in the faith renewed Moravian Church is seen to seek to revive vital godliness in their have been not spasmodic, but steady spiritual fatherland, and their light and on principle. It cannot be atnow shines amidst the dark supersti- tributed to an overwrought and temtions of Bohemia. In 1867 a mission porary excitement, but must 'be no less noble than that of Father ascribed to the intelligent recognition Damien is begun, one leper hospital in of the truth, that the Church cannot Jerusalem, that has been steadily discharge its duty to the Master withmaintained ever since, having at out steadfastly seeking to win the present twenty inmates. In 1878 the world for Him in accordance with His outpost in Demerara is won back. In command. 1884 we rejoice in the privilege of sending God's Word to Northwestern Secondly, there never has been a. Alaska, to the Eskimos along the time when the renewed Moravian Kuskoquin river. In 1889 a mission is Church has been dead to missionary work. It has a record of constant ac- tivity. Decade by decade new field" have steadily been added to the old. In the third place, the Moravian Of course we have our theological Church has often made grateful ac- seminaries and our institute for the knowledgment of the reflex influence training of missionaries; and we, no of the foreign work upon the home less than others, place a high value {)hurches. Itisactivity here-the being upon a medical education as a valubrought face to face with the needs of able element in a missionary's equipthe perishing heathen and the utter ment. Yet from the days when .abyss and sin into which these have Leonard Dober, the potter, we!lt to fallen, and it has been the steady the West Indies, and Christian David, drain upon the Church's strength to the carpenter, to Greenland, to the meet the demands of the hour abroad present, in which we have sent men that have preserved the home congre- who were farmers or carpenters by gations sound in vital faith, during occupation to Alaska, our Church has periods when enthusiasm within never hesitated to accept as volunteers, threatened to degenerate into fanati- or directly call for the services of cism, or when rationalism was abroad such who have been, if you are pleased outside and was rendering callous the to put it so, untrained laymen, pUl"e sense of responsibility in the souls of and simple, up to the time of their thousands of professed believers. going forth to the heathen. And in many a case these men have met with In considering the methods and gloriously fruitful success. principles according to which Morayian Missions have been conducted, I And again a second characteristic believe that the following are worthy of our work has been to manifest" less ·of attention. First of all, both in solicitude to bring a great number of theory and in practice, we have en- persons to a mere profession of the deavored to maintain that all the mem- Christian faith,"-again I quote the bers of our Church should feel that Synodal Results-" than by means of the responsibility for the success or the gospel preached with the demonfailure of our heeding the Lord's com- stration of the Spirit and of power to mand to go and preach the gospel rests turn souls from darkness unto light, upon everyone. Iquotefromthereso- andfrom thepower ofSatan unto God. lutions published in the "Results of For this purpose the preaching of the .ourGeneralSynod,"thehighest legisla- gospel must be accompanied by the tive body in our Church, as follows: specialcareofindividualsouls;periodi- clI,l conversations of the missionaries "The Brethren's Unity is a Mission- with the members of their congregaary Church. It finds its missionaries tions according to their several in the rank and file of its own mem- classes, and visits to the houses and bership, and there is no special class to the beds of the sick and dying, are out of whom they are to be selected. deemed of the utmost importance." Even if the majority do enjoy a .special preparation before their en- This principle is faithfully observed trance into the service, such prepara- in all our mission provinces. In order tion is not necessary in every case. tofacilitate itsapplication, theconverts The chief preparation for missionary are divided into the following classes: service must take place under the 1. New People, the lowest class, conteaching of the Holy Spirit, in order sisting of those who have applied to that it may be said of all missionaries, the mISSIonaries for instruction. ., They shall be taught of God.' All These are taught the rudiments of the human learning and external accom- Christian religion. 2. Oandidatesfor plishments will abide without influ- Baptism, a higher class, those who ence and result if inward enlighten- have passed the first stage and arenow ment and the training of the heart be being prepaJ:ed for baptism. 3. Bap- , -'tnting." tized Adults The term explains itself. 4. Communicants, those of the third managed by an elected board, repre_ class who have undergone probation, sentative of our entire Church, and and, having been confirmed, are ad- having its seat in Berthelsdorf, mitted to the Holy Communion. Saxony. I refer to the fact that There are besides, two other classes: about $25,000 a year come to our sup- Baptized Children, the children of port from the "London Association parents in fellowship with the Church, in Aid of the Missions of the United and the Excluded, those who, being Brethren," an association composed under church discipline, are deprived of members of the Church of England, of the privilege of sharing in the of Independents, of Baptists, of Metho- Lord's Supper, but who receive the dists, and of other Protestants, and particular attention of the mission- which was formed in, and has been aries. It must be remembered that supporting our operations ever since the position of a convert from the year 1817. On the continent of heathenism, or even that of a Chris- Europe, and particularly in Switzer- tian of a second generation, is far land, moreover, large sums are different from that of a man who has annually received from Christian grown up in a Christian land with the people who are not in immediate con- inherited tendencies of many genera- nection with our Church. In fact, tions of Christian ancestors. Hence without this noble assistance, our the need of special fidelity in watch- denomination, which numbers only ing over individual souls. about 33,000 at home, could never sus- And I may yet mention a third tain a work which embraces almost characteristic. For the· sake of the three times as many abroad. We may natives themselves, in order to teach be said, therefore, to stand a living them habits of thrift and to educate monument to the truth that Christian and civilize them, no less than in union for the Master's cause is a fact order to diminish the cost of the mis- that isreal, even in these days when sions, in many of the fields mercantile sectarianism seems sometimes to have concerns and trades are carried on, run mad.
the profits of which are for the benefit In the latest edition of his Church of the gospel work. In Labrador, for History, Professor Kurtz of Dorpat, instance, a considerable business is is pleased to pass judgment upon the done in furs and fish and cod-liver missions of the Moravians in the fol- oil. In Surinam the mission has in lowing words: "Their procedure was some years been almost or quite self- admirably suited to uncultured races, supporting with its various commer- and only for such. In the East Indies, cial operations. In South Africa the therefore, they were unsuccessful."
raising and preparation of arrowroot, Perhaps there is something in what under the guidance of the mission- he writes. Yet he overlooks much.
aries, has saved our native converts He forgets that they made their from extremest want in times of attempt in the East Indies at a con- scarcity or famine. Yet, it may well be siderably earlier date than Carey- understood that, with all the revenue namely, in the year 1759, and then, derived in favorable seasons from too, in spite of the fact that almost all such sources, the entire work has re- the colonists of a Danish commercial mained and will remain pre-emi- establishment on the Nicobar Islands, nently one of faith. north of Sumatra, whither the In as much as I have touched upon brethren proposed to go, had died one of the means of support, just here from the effects of the climate. He I may be permitted to draw attention forgets that when they first founded a to a unique feature in connection with settlement at Tranquebar, on the our work, which in the last instance is Coromandel coast of Ilindustan, for the purpose of preserving connection too, for the most insignificant, for with civilization and the home Church, whom also Christ did not disdain to the climate carried off one' of the die. And they belieTe that the living leaders and his wife in less than three Word of God is for the salvation of :years. He seems to forget that when these also-body and soul. They the brethren began to gain converts know well enough that the same .at Tranquebar, their Christian adver- amount of disinterested persistent saries among the colonists sought to fidelity would have produced possibly procure from the King of Denmark, richer harvests elsewhere; but they in whose territory the place was know also that these are the peoples <situated, a prohibition of all further who might otherwise say in the Judgoperations there. He further over- ment, "No man cared for our souls." looks the fact that when, in 1768, the They believe that even the most brethren were at length enabled to utterly degraded are still within the pass over to the Nicobar Islands, the reach of the Bible to Christianize and climate speedily carried off two of the civilize. And their success has warsix missionaries, and utterly pros- ranted a firm continuance of their trated the remaining four. He does traditional policy. Notoriously low not tell you that in 1781 the war ip. the scale, for example, are the between the French and the English black fellows of Australia. Yet it has hampered the missionary operations happened that amongst twelve hunat Tranquebar, and that in 1778 already dred colonial schools in Gippsland, the Nicobar Islanda were seized by one mission school for the natives at the Roman Catholic commanderof an Ramahyuk has gained the first prize lmperial frigate in the name of Joseph offered by the Government. The II. of Austria, and every hindrance Bush negroes of Surinam were savages placed by him in the way of our descended from the fugitive slaves of brethren. Finally, in less than twenty- the colony, brutal, fierce Ishmaelites, five years, forty missionaries were vic- finding a secure refuge amidst the tims to the East Indian climate. malarial swamps. Yet after conver- Christian charity would take these sion, our missionaries have so trained things into account. them as to awaken an appreciation for the grandest of sacred music-in Might not the true explanation of fact, themselves to sing with powerthe fact that our people have labored, ful effect choruses from the Oratorios, .as a rule, amongst those heathen who with orchestral accompaniment furare lowest.in the scale of humanity, nished by themselves. The Dutch be rather found in pursuance of a settlers of Cape Colony were wont to deliberate pm'pose to do something class the Hottentots with their own for those whom others might overlook? dogs. Overthe river Sonderend there It is probable that the conviction that is now a bridge one hundred and such is the true explanation, occa- eighty feet long, resting on five massioned the formation of that unique sive piers-the whole entirely the work auxiliary society in London in 1817. of Christianized, civilized natives. The Moravians are not so devoid of It is said that a farmer who was once judgment as to be blind to the policy just passing over the bridge, began to of seeking to convert to Christ rail at a Moravian Hottentot from the populous, cultured and influential Guadurdal near by, and to grumble nations of heathendom, whose con- at the laziness and worthlessness of version would insure a large IWcession Hottentots in general. The Hottentot to the capacity of the Church of Christ pointed to the bridge, and replied reto compass the whole globe. But spectfully: they seek to give testimony to their conviction of the necessity of caring, "Baas, I do not choose to answer. Let that bridge speak for us. If baas the day will surely dawn-sooner than had built it for me, and I could with- many anticipate, if the Church uni- out trouble walk and ride over it, I versal is permeated with the spirit of 8h~uld not venture to complain of service and is faithful to her calling- baas' laziness, for I should think it when" all shall know the Lord from required more diligence and labor to the least unto the greatest," and when build a bridge than to walk over it." " the earth shall be full of the knowl- edge of the Lord, as the waters cover Surely the Eskimos of Labrador, the sea." whose winter lasts from October almost to June, with a thermometer First Impres8ions in Brazil. sometimes forty degrees below zero, have very little to stimulate them to BY REV. THOMAS J. PORTER, CORYmake exertions for self-improvement. Yet the Rev. Benjamin La Trobe, of TIBA, PARANA, B~ London, England, who visited the country two years ago, thus depicts Among our very first impressions an Eskimo interior at one of our sta- is a painful one of the irreverence of tions: "It is furnished with the usual Romanists in their use of the names <louches spread with skins. One o. of God. For example, the square on two objects in the room testify to a which we live is known as "the refinement that is unusual. A guitar square of the Good Jesus." They call their children by the same sacred hangs on the wall near a cage with d. name, "Jesus." And they have in Rio the " Navigation Company of the bird in it, and against the partition Holy Spirit" and the "Brewery of stands a piano. Fancy such an instrn- the Holy Spirit." ment in a low turf hut, even though it be but an old square piano!" The Roman Church has made them so irreverent, ignorant and skeptical, Elsewhere he describes a native that the majority of Brazilians have church choir as accompanied by four practically no religion. Many writers native musicians, three of whom play for the press evidently do not know on violius and the fourth on a violon- what Christianity is. They have seen cello. There are natives, too, who it as belied by the lives of priests, of have cabinet organs in their homes. whose wickedness horrible stories are He speaks of Eskimo choristers as currently believed. No intelligent rendering chorals and anthems so man now send3 his wife or daughter difficult, that the ability of the average to the confessional. Old missionaries European church choir would have say they have never met a Brazilian been well tested in attempting them. who confessed belief in the infalli- bilityof the Pope. And now, since the If the missions of the Moravian separation of Church and State, the Church teach anything, they cer- only power of the priesthood is " the tainly demonstrate this in a way not power of the keys." But very few to be successfully controverted, that Brazilians ever confess, except at marthe gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is riage and at death. And very often the power of God unto salvation; that they are buried without the presence its sufficiency is dependent upon no of the priest. What effect civil marextraneous or accidental combination riage Iuay have on the influence of of circumstances and upon no purely Romanism remains to be seen. But mental qualities inherent, or, at least, evidently the even*s of the past year dormant in the race, whether favored have weakened that influence. Alor unfavored by those things which most nobody in this city attended the in and of theIUSelves incline to intel- services of Holy week. Yet it is scarcely lectual culture; and finally, that if four years since the vicar-general of the very lowest pagans can be thus the province of Parana, from tl$ savingly illumined by the light divine, same capital, dared to order the people neither a scholar nor a father to his to burn the Bibles the missionaries country. He left without a friend were selling. and without an enemy. I have heard Brazilians say "He was a bananf." On April 21 the hanging of Xavier He did much for his empire. But Tivadentes, in 1792, for conspiracy to why did he not stimulate his subjects create a republic, was celebrated with to develop their rich but uncultivated great show of attachment to the country? Why did he not educate Republic. You remember that after them to independence of foreign his execution, the Bishop of Rio had labor, capital and enterprise? What, the Te Deum sung in the churches. I has he done of late years, except at was glad that I could not discover a the monition of the coming event?' priest among the crowd. The speeches Since the martyrdom of Tivadentes, I heard were very weak and tame. republicanism has lived and thought The only man who made a goodspeech, and waited the fullness of time. The was promptly carried off to Rio de emperor knew this, and knew when the Janeiro to be tried for treason in time had come. mildly and justly criticising the provincial governor. The large portrait I will not lengthen this letter by of Tivadentes which appeared in the ~umerating facts to show the proleading daily paper of the city, bore a found ignorance of the people and striking resemblance to the head of the wretchedness of their schools; Christ, as drawn by Carracci. This such facts as these-there is no college fact was probably the resultant of in the American sense in the counjournalistic enterprise, infidel irrever- try; thirteen teachers of the public ence and republican spirit. schools in Pernambuco were dis- missed because they could neither read The eight men who form the present nor write-but, in view of the whole military dictatorship are considered to situation, it is evident that the imperial be intellectually the ablest in the coun- need of this country is Christian edutry. So far they have been wonder- cation, from primary schools to a fully wise, temperate and just. The Robert College. Such schools would preference expressed by many for be the right arm of the Church of adopting a national constitution by Christ in moulding the Republic of arbitrary methods, rather than by a Brazil. vote of the people, forcibly reminds us that this is not Saxon and Protest- Trinidad. ant America, but Latin and Roman Brazil. However, it should be re- A. NOTE FROM REV. JOHN MORTON, D.D. membered that more than four-fifths of the population cannot read nor Tunapuna, Trinidad, May 31, 1890. write, and, therefore, cannot vote. To the International Missionary Union, hold- And many voters are hardly fit for self-government, they are so ignorant ing its Seventh Annual Meeting at Clifton and destitute of patriotism. At best Springs, N. Y., June 11 to 18, 1890, Mr. and the Republic will be, for a time at Mrs. Morton, of Trinidad, send greeting: least, an oligarchy. Yet, if it accom- We returned December 5, 1SS1l, having seplishes the tithe of what Brazilian cured when in Canada one missionary and patriots hope from it, the abolition of two female teachers for vacancies, and the the monarchy will be justified. promise of a fifth missionary, who is already virtuallyunder appointment. These were the Contrary to the prevailing opinion objects for which, at the convention at Bing-' in the United States, Dom Pedro II. hamton, we asked the special prayers of the was not a remarkable ruler. It is said International Missionary Union. Our united here that he aimed to be thought prayers have been answered; let us praise scholarly and liberal, and was, in fact, the Lord together. At the close of 1SS1l our agency consisted of 4 Canadian missionaries, 2 ordained native ministers, 20 native cl'te- chists, 3 Cl'nadian female teachers and 34 native teachers. We had 2,060 children in our schools, 36 couples were married and 210 per- sons were baptized in 1889.
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
We received from the Government for edu- Chinese who come to the United cation in 1889, $7,350; from proprietors of States and our treatment of a Treaty estates, $3,BOO, and from the native church with China or any other Government nearly $2,000. We began the year with a debt on earth. It is on the latter phase of of $300, and closed it with a balance to credit the subject that this deliverance was of $280. made by the Missionary Union.
The returns for 1889, just published, set the The following was adopted: total number of East Indians in Trinidad at 88,000. The increase by immigration alone in CHINESE RESOLUTION. 1888 and 1889, was 5,200. Of those who arrived in 1889, 537, or nearly one-sixth, had been Whereas, the United States of America. and in Trinidad before, and 131 had been in other the Empire of China are bound by solemn colonies. These figures show that our field is treaties, and whereas, unjust laws discriminafast widening. ting against Chinese subjects have been passed by our Government, and whereas, The work of enlightening and Christianizing missionary work, on account of this wanton this people goes steadily forward. We are insult to a friendly power, China is greatly with you in spirit, and wish to share in your retarded, and whereas, leading Chinese statesinterest and prayers. men, through a memorial presented to the throne, have petitioned for retaliation against Yours faithfully, Americans in China, and whereas, it is stated, on competent authority, that new treaties, as JOHN MORTON. strict in regard to Chinese immigration as may be desirable to our Government ca.n be nego- REV. DR. GRACEY, President International tiated; therefore, Missionary Union. Resolved, That we petition Congress to re- Our Oonduct in Relation to the Treaty peal that unjust and dishonorable Scott Bill, known as the "Chinese Exclusion Act of with Ohina. 1888," and at once. in a manner compatible We present herewith the action of with our honor and dignity as a Christian the International Missionary Union on nation, to commence negotiations with the the question of our treatment of the Chinese Government for the revision of former Chinese Government. There should treaties, or the making of a new one, as may be be a distinction kept in mind between deemed best. the treatment we should give the V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY SECRETARY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
Missions and Sects in the Turkish in controversies and often in open Empire. strife, are now too thoroughly under subjection to Turkish rulers to al- No other country presents such a low of conflict, and they have been medley of reljgions as the Empire of the Sultan-and the fact most re- too deeply humbled and dispirited to- markable of all ii!, that although hat- exercise any very aggressive characing each other most cordially, they all ter. For a long time the Patriarch- remain in a sort of trnce. That truce ate of the Greek Church was regularly has continued for centuries with com- sold to the highest bidder by the Sul-· paratively few religious outbreaks, tan, and that fact alone WIj.S enough to whatever may have been the political destroy all spiritual life in the church.
intrigues, and however great may Much the same policy has been ex- have been the oppressions visited by ercised by the dominant power to- the strong upon the weak. In the ward all other Christian sects. If one Turkish Empire, or at least the coun- would gain a realizing sense of the tries which it now dominates, the two moral condition of the Christian great 'Western religions had their de- Churches in the Turkish Empire, and velopment. They have both passed at the same time would see the hu- its boundaries, however, and have miliating subjection in which they are been characterized as "missionary held by Mohammedan authority, he religions. " has only to witness the services of The Christian sects, which in the Greeks, Maronites, Armenians, Jacob- early days were so constantly engaged ites, Copts, and Nestorians, in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Je- of Constantinople, claimed supremacy rusalem on Easter Sabbath-all wor- over both the Eastern and the Western shipping at the same time, and all churches. Gregory the Great,of Rome; kept from quarreling with each other defended hiR See against this assump- . by the stern authority of a Moslem po- tion, by the scriptural doctrine that lice. It should be borne in mind, bishops are equal.
however, that this subjection to the The Greek Church agrees with the Turk, however it may have been ne- Church of Rome in reference to bap- cessitated centuries ago, is now only tismal regeneration, the worship of an accident of European diplomacy. Mary, prayers for the dead, the use of As for the humiliation of the Greek relics, the infallible authority of coun- Church in any part of Turkey, the cils, prayers to the saints, and the Russian power would make quick virtual substitution of their interces- work of it were it not for the political sions for those of Christ. It differs restraints of Protestant and Catholic from Rome in allowing the marriage Europe; and, on the other hand,Catho- of the clergy, in denying the supreme ·lic Europe would sweep away Moslem authority of Peter and his viceregents.
:tyranny from.. the Holy Land but for It rejects the doctrine of supereroga- _the fear of Russia and the armed pro- tion and the dispensing of indulgences.
test of England. So, from age to age, It does not accept the doc~rine of -the Turk continues to insult and hu- the immaculate conception of Mary, miliate all branches of the Christian though it does claim for her a miracu- Church within his dominion. lous resurrection like that of Christ.
Let us take a very brief glance at It rejects the ;worship of images, but some of the sects of the Turkish Em- (very illogically) it does worship the pire. flat paintedforms of saintscarved from THE GREEK CHURCH. boards. A Patriarch of the Greek This has its principal seat of power Church has great authority over his in Russia, and it is supreme in all bishops, but he alone is not infallible.
parts of Greece, but it is also found The Greek Church holds the unique in both European and Asiatic Turkey. doctrine that the souls of unbaptized It was formerly known as the Eastern infants, and of the ignorant heathen, Church, in distinction from that of go at death to a limbus which is Italy and Western Europe, or as the neither heaven nor hell, but a place Byzantine Church to distinguish it suited to their case.
from that of Rome. Its separation The history of the Greek Church from the Latin or Roman Church has shown far less moral corruption began with the removal of the throne in its average clergy than the Church .of Constantine to Constantinople and of Rome. It is, however, far more the division of the Empire between his torpid and inefficient than the Western sons. This led ultimately to the over- church, partly' from the repression .throw of the Eastern Empire by the suffered from the Turkish power, and .Turk, and it also facilitated the over- partly from differences of race. It throw of the Western Empire by the has never been, to any extent, a mis- Goths. sionary church. The missions of the The Eastern Church also began to Russo – Greek Church, as in Japan, diverge from the Western on doctrinal may owe their inspiration quite as .points, and especially on the question largely to political designs as to the of ecclesiastical supremacy. The coun- spirit of Christ. The Greek Church cil of Chalcedon, A. D. 451, decreed differs from the Papal in reckoning the equality of the Eastern and the the time for observing Easter accord- Western prelates, and about the close ing to the "old style" instead of adopt- of the sixth century, John, Patriarch ingthedates oftheGregorianCalendar. It also immerses its candidates for characteristics, however, a degree of baptism three times-once for each of independence has been maintained.
the persons of the Trinity. Maronite patriarchs and bishops The Greek Oatholic Church, num- must be Maronites by birth, and must bering thirty or forty thousand people be chosen by their own people; the in Syria, is simply a branch of the clergy may marry once; tHey may Greek Church which, after cen- also own private property, imless be- turies of proselyting and intrigue on longing to a monastic order. No the part of Rome, finally acknowl- Maronite can belong to a European edged the supremacy of the Pope. monastic society; the saCred language But it makes some reserves. It ap- used must be the Syriac, and not the points, or at least nominates, its own Latin. Scriptural lessons are printed patriarchs,who must always be chosen in Arabic. from among its own people, and its In their relation~ to the Turkish clergy may marty before ordination. Government the Maronite bishops Its formularies declare Christ to be hold a degree of political power-the the only intercessor for sinners, and governorships of their districts being yet, in consistent subserviency to subject generally to their choice. Mul- Rome, it proceeds at once to commend titudes of the Maronites have been the intercessions of Mary. The Greek won to an evangelical faith by the Catholic Church persists, against all Syrian Mission of the Presbyterian flatteries and threats of Rome, in ob- Church, and they have been found to serving the Eastern reckoning for the appreciate education to a remarkable time of Easter. degree.
THE MARONITE CHURCH. The lack of space forbids even a To speak very briefly, the Maronite brief notice of the Armenian and Church, which is found principally Jacobite Churches, also found in the on Mount Lebanon, is a branch of the Turkish empire, as we desire to pre- Roman Catholic Church, though ad- sent brief sketches of the sects of the mitting only a qualified adherence. Druzes and thE( NllI'sareyehs.
The fact that its ilartial dissent is Mohammedanism, the staple and allowed, is but another evidenceof the dominant faith of the empire, would tact, and, when necessary, the flexi- require a treatise instead of a sketch.
bility of the Papacy in adapting itself THE DRUZES.
to all possible conditions if only its The brave and desperate resistance supremacy is acknowledged. which the Druzes of Syria have re- The name Maronites is derived cently made against the Turkish from Maro, the name of their first Government, suggests a brief review bishop. In doctrinal controversy they of their singular religious faith and adopted the theory of the Monothe- their characteristics as a people. Even lites, a sect of heretics who, in refer- Mohammedans are scarcely more diffi- ence to the question whether Christ cult to be reached by the gospel than had two natures or one, settled upon these strange fanatics of the Lebanon.
the belief that He had two natures, They are generally reckoned at about but one will. The sixth council of 50,000. One half this number are on Constantinople, A. D. 680, condemned Mount Lebanon, and the remainder the doctrine, but it survived for a long are scattered through Hasbeyia, time. At length the persistence of Merj Ayun, Damascus and the Hau- Rome brought the Maronite Church ran. They do not consider themselves to abandon the Monothelite theory, Mohammedans, though the Govern- and in most other points to come into ment so far classifies them as such full subordination. On the side of as to include them i~ the military political sympathies and national conscriptions. The genesis of the Druze sect grew the Court of El Hakem, and to him is. out of the assumption that the de- to be ascribed the real authorship of scendants of Ali, the cousin of Moham- Druzism as it now exists. His name med, and husband of his daughter was Hamzeh Abu Ahmed. He con- Fatima, were the true successors of demned many of the teachings of EI the Kaliphate. Dorazy, but confirmed the divinity of EI Hakem. During the reign of the Abbassides, Mohammed Abdullah, who claimed This tyrant, after many atrocities, to be a descendant of Fatima, suc- was assassinated, probably at the in- ceeded in detaching from the Kaliphs stigation of his sister, Sit EI Mulook. of Bagdad, the Mohammedans of Hamzeh represented to the people Arabia, Syria and Egypt. The latter that the Kaliph had not been murder- became the seat of government. ed, but had mysteriously disappeared Early in the eleventh century, Abu to test the faith of his followers. And Aliel Hakem, the sixth of the Fatimite he claimed that a book which he had dynasty, came to the throne at the written, containing the Druze docearly age of eleven years, and began trines, had been" found at the gatea reign of folly and unparalleled op- of the great mosque at the disap-· pression. He fancied himself inspired, pearance of our Lord." and at length divine. His monstrous assumptions were encouraged by a Druzism was not the first system in Persian mystic, who came to Egypt which the old Persian philosophy had and succeeded in raising himself to a been mingled with the Monotheistic position of great influence and power. religion of Syria and Egypt. Mani- His name, EI Dorazy, was, with a cheism and Gnosticism had some cen~ slight change, given to the sect who, turies before greatly disturbed the under his teachings, came to regard peace and corrupted the doctrines of EI Hakem as divine. EI Dorazy con- the Christian Church. But a different ceived the idea of framing a system combination produced a different reof religion which shopId unite the sult. The allegorical tendencies of all mystic dualism of Persia, which had branches and products of Zoroastrianborrowed some admixture of Hindu- ism, engrafted upon the stock of stern ism, with the Monotheism of Islam. and dogmatic Islam, presented a weird EI Hakem aided this project by severe system which is altogether unique. persecution of non-Fatimite Mohammedans, and also of the Christians. The basal doctrine of the Druzes, as. He himself claimed to be an incarna- of the Mohammedans, is the unity tion of God. and supremacy of God. Theirs is the most strict and intense type of When EI Dorazy, having finished a Unitarianism, though with a panthebook designed to prove the divinity of istic notion of man's absorption into his master, undertook to read it in the that unity, and they virtually regard great mosque, the exasperated Mos- God (as the Hindu Brahm is regarded), lems rose in rebellion, and he was as destitute of attributes. Like the obliged to flee to the valley of EI Hindus, they insist that we cannot Teim, which lies between Lebanon predicate anything of the Infinite. and Hermon. There he won many Very inconsistently with this doctrine followers, by money furnished by his they contend that the Deity has often royal patron, and by the licentious- been incarnate in human form, though ness of his teachings. it is not quite clear that such incarna- tions are not merely phenomenal. After EI Dorazy's escape from Egypt, another Persian, of the same The Druzes attempt to reconcile Batemite sect of the Indo-Persian Islamic Monotheism with the Persian Mystics, was instated in his place at Dualism by the theory that the Su- preme created out of His own essence. an intelligent being known as the '. by the question" Did this man sin or Universal Mind, and that this being his parents, that he was born blind? ..
.sinned through his personal vanity. This doctrine of transmigration or Thereupon, as a punishment to him, metempsychosis was common in old God caused to spring from him another Egypt as well as in India. It was also we being-the Antagonist or the author held by Pythagoras and the Greeks, .()f evil. Here have the Persian and by the Pharisees, and it was one Ormazd and Ahriman as secondary of the heresies charged against Origin .()r created beings. The Antagonist by the fifth ecumenical council. The was not made evil by arbitrary cre- Druzes make it very prominent.
ation, but became so by his own rebel- When the souls of men first came to lion. Other beings were created, till inhabit human bodies they were with.
the moral antagonism of the world out bias toward goodor evil; theyhad ,came to be represented on the one no moral law and were not account.
hand by the Universal Mind, the Uni- able. But they were at once subjected versal Soul, the Word, the PrecedeI' to the influence respectively of the ,and the Succeeder-as ministers of ministers of truth and the ministers God, and on the other hand, by the of error above named, in order that Antagonist and the Foundation-as they might freely choose between the .ministers of evil. All human souls two. God Himself also then appeared were created at the same time-viz.: in human form and preached the .at the beginning of the world. No truth to men. The sun, moon and addition has ever been made to the stars and the winds were sent as ob- ,original number. All souls are im- ject-lessons or symbols, to reveal to mortal and pass from one bodily form men God's wisdom and power. Under ,to another according to the'Indian doc- this Divine manifestation, all men be- trine of transmigration. The dualism lieved and all were good; but after a ,of good and evil enters into all human time God withdrew from the world, life; every soul is a battle-ground for and then the ministersoferror succeed· the two conflicting principles. ed in leading a large part of the hu- The last of material creations was man race to apostasy. The choice once that of human bodies. The world was taken was final. No man has changed ,stocked at once with human beings in since that first decision, nor can he'
.all stages, from infancy to old age. ever' change in all his transmigrations.
.All the souls of the world's history It will be seen from this how utterly were thus variously and contempor- hopeless is the fatalism of this strange aneously embodied-some for a longer system. All Druzes, of course, are and some for a shorter term. The believers, and therefore are on the idea of Adam and Eve as progenitors side of the good; all the rest of man- is ridiculed. The world was fullypopu- kind are faithless and evil, and there- lated and in full tide of activity from fore in an utterly hopeless condition.
the outset. This is probably the farthest But from our standpoint it is the of all removes from the doctrine of hopelessness of the Druzes that pains Evolution. us. How are a people thus environed The Druzes defend the doctrine of and encased in conceit to be reached transmigration by the Hindu argu- by the gospel or by truth of any kind?
ment that the unequal allotments of Their creed leads them neither to the life can only be explained on the sup- conception of being converted them- position of sin in a previous existence. selves, nor to any desire to proselyte They meet the objections of Chris- others. All outside of their narrow tian!! by referring to the New Testa- sect were eternally doomed by the ment assertion that John the Baptist fatal choice made thousands of years "Was a transmigration of Elijah, and ago. These people are the most com-: When Ibrahim Pasha, taking them pletely isolated of all men; their or- at their own professions of faith in ganization is a secret society. Their Islam, compelled them to bear arms, dootrines are carefully withheld from multitudes became Christians, only to the rest of mankind. Every Druze is throw off the mask at the close of sworn to secrecy, and' it was only the war. Except in their many acts through the wars of Ibrahim Pasha, of kindness toward each other, Dr.
between 1837 and 1842, that their W ortabet, of Beyrout, from whom I sacred books first became known to have received many facts, regards the world. them as " the most fraudulent and de- The Druzes have many mythical ceptive of all peoples."
doctrines in regard to the successive They believe that the inhabitants of manifestations of God among men, in China are all Druzes, or, as they say, which Adam, Enoch, Noah and Shem "Unitarians," and that in a great playa part. The Deluge is treated alle- future conflict between Mohamme- gorically; honor is shown to Isaiah, dans and Christians, a great Druze David and Daniel, who "allegorized leader, with a vast army, will come the Law of Moses;" also to Pythagoras, • from the far East, and conquer both.
Plato and Aristotle. Jesus is said to EI Hakem will then reappear in visi- have been only a representative of the ble manifestation, and will reign for true Christ, who remained concealed ever from his throne in Egypt, attend- in the person of Lazarus. ed by five ministers! What can be Druzes reject the doctrine of the done with such a people? It is well Resurrection, but admit that the true to know their real character. Their Christ promulgated the story that the bitterness and ferocity was shown in son of Mary had risen, as a means the massacre which attempted the of establishing the Christian religion. extermination of the Maronites of This was done in order that, under Lebanon in 1860. Their system seems the foil of Christianity, the esoteric a master-piece of Satan. Only the Druze religion might be concealed. power of the Divine Spirit can trans- It was the real Christ, and not Jesus, form them. The work of missions that appeared to the Disciples after must be a work of faith and prayer.
the Resurrection. Discouraging as missionary labor God is represented as having pur- among the Druzes is, the Presbyterian posely misled one portion of the Mission in Syria has rejoiced in many human race and to have enlightened apparent conversions. It even num- and saved another. And this arbi- bers two or three Druze preachers.
trary and fatalistic doctrine has given The native Protestant Christians, how- a vitiating tendency to all Druze ever, look with great distrust upon ethics. For example: the sacred members of this sect who profess their books enjoin strict veracity in dealing faith. But all things are possible with with fellow Druzes, but justify false- God. His mean~ may be various.
hood toward all others. No confi- Education will effect changes. The dence, therefore, can be placed in the absurdities of the old system will be word of a Druze beyond the dictates seen. Prevailing Christian sentiment of his own interest. He is commanded will make itself felt.
to love the brethren of his sect, but no THE RELIGION OF THE NUSAIRIYEH.
others. An implacable hatred exists These strange people, found in the toward Mohammedans, and yet, as a extreme north of Syria, are even less matter of policy, the Druzes conform understood than the Druzes. Their to many outward requirements of mystical and mysterious faith has Islam. They are not greatly trusted as been kept a secret by the force of the soldiers, though they are enrolled. death penalty which awaits any man who shall divulge it. Yet glimpses in constant conflict with each other, discovered here and there seem to and are only united in their opposition favor the conclusion that the basisisthe to the gospel, missionary effort is by old Phrenician heathenism, to which no means in vain. additions have been made from time to time, from Persian Mysticism, Mo- As a result of the faithful labors of hammedanism, Druzism and Christi- its missionaries 213 native preachers anity. They believe in many incar- are now proclaiming the truth to their nations of God in human form. countrymen. There are 130 churches, with a membership of thousands. In this, as in the doctrine of trans- There are 16 colleges and high schools migration, they agree essentially with for young men and boys, 13 girls' the Druzes. There is, however, this boarding-schools and 235 primary or difference-that they believe that the common schools. The whole number souls of wise men, after many changes, of pupils of all grades is over 11,000. become at length stars in heaven, The number added to the churches while base men become incarnate in last year was 683. beasts. Like the Persian fire-worship- . pers, they associate God with the sun, Two generations of native Chris- and they turn toward the sun, morn- tians have spread their influence far ing and evening, when they pray. and near, and it would be scarcely too They seem to regard both J esut! and much to say that the whole Armenian Mohammed as prophets, and they race has been awakened to new life. favor Ali, son-in-law of Mohammed, as the true successor, and the Fati- The work of the American Board in mites as the lawful dynasty of Islam. Turkey cannot be measured by statis- They hate the opposite and prevail~ tics. Education has achieved a tre- ing party, the Sunnites, and some of mendous influence, whether we esti- them at least profess to honor Jesus. mate it from the standpoint of Rob- The element of doubt lies in the fact ert's College in Constantinople and that, like the Druzes, they recognize the other flourishing institutions in the no claim of trutl:t or veracity, except interior, or from that of the widely toward their own people. They believe scattered primary schools, each one of that women have no souls, and they which becomes an object-lesson and a treat them accordingly. They are powerful stimulus to a whole comcharged with domestic crimes of a re- munity. Home life has been raised volting character, and, in spite of some to a higher grade, all the wholesome mauly traits, they are a degraded peo- influences of a better public sentiment ple. Secluded from the world in their and a purer morality have been felt. wild mountain life, they have resisted A general thrift has been promoted, the civilization, such as it is, of the the common comforts of life have Turk, and the religious influence of been multiplied, and the oppressions Mohammedans and Christians alike. of a tyrannical government have at least been mitigated. Medical science The Reformed Presbyterian Church bas come in Turkey, as everywhere of America is trying to reach them else, as a handmaid of missions. The with missionary labor, and has had hopelessness with which Mohammesome success, but the field must be dan fatalism looks upon the unresistregarded as extremely difficult. ed ravages of disease has given place to a new confidence and a better esti- MISSIONS IN TURKEY. mate of human life. Not only are thousands saved by the direct efforts The success of the American Board of the missionaries, but a native mediof Foreign Missions in Western, Cen- cal corps is being raised up: the whole tral and Eastern Turkey furnishes treatment of disease is being revoluabundant proof that, even in a coun- tionized. try where gigantic forces of error are
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS
In a purely economic view, the its true value. So great has been the Turkish missions have accomplished impression which it has made upon inan untold good. Fanning mills and telligent Englishmen that years ago other agricultural implements have a Turkish Missions Aid Society was gone forth in the train of the mis- formed for the purpose of increasing sionaries, and the mean and grudg- the funds of the American societies in ing spirit of those who complain at their work. Among those noble men the alleged robbery of our own coun- who, from their ownobservation, gave try by foreign missionary outlay, has it their cordial endorsement, was the been rebuked by the tens of thousands late Earl of Shaftesbury. of dollars which the enlightened districts of Turkey alone have paid Even the Turk appreciates if he for various lines of American manu- does not approve the work. He canfactures. not be indifferent to its educational influence or to the general enlighten- If there are American Christians ment and moral elevation which it is who, through a satisfied ignorance, promoting among the people. The fail to appreciate the missionary work apprehension which his restrictive accomplished in the Turkish Empire, measures imply is a proof that mis" there are others who estimate it at sions are a power.
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
.The Soudan Pioneers. of petition was that the Kingdom of God might come; that the gospel Whatever may be said about the might be published to the world in this ., intemperate zeal" or the" mistaken generation, and that God would in methods" of the Kansas brethren, who, some remarkable way use us-the four. under the lead of Mr. George S. Fisher, men there bowed in prayer-to give a have organized this new Soudan new impulse to this work of a world's movement, we feel constrained to say evangelization. That prayer has been that we have never known any move- already most remarkably answered. ment that in its inception and pro- God laid on the heart of the then gress seemed to bear more distinctly pastor of the Philadelphia church, the the stamp and seal of God. In fact, burden of arousing the churches to the whole movement may be said to more intelligent zeal for missions, and have had its unexpected origin in the in June following he resigned his little prayer meeting, held on a Sab- pulpitand parishtospendsix monthsin bath morning in May, 1889, in the Great Britain in addressing the people study of one of the editors of this RE- of God on this great subject. Mean- VIEW. The International meetings of while, these brethren went to their the Young Men's Christian Association Western fields and could not layoff were at that time being held in Phila- this load of a world's destitution. Undelphia. Early on that Sabbath morn- expectedly to themselves they were ing, as by a common impulse, Messrs. led in a strange way: they found grow- Fishel' and Nash, Y. M. C. A. Secre- ing up about them a new foreign mistaries of the States of Kansas and sionary interest. It grew and spread Nebraska, and Rev. Thomas C. Hor- like a prairie fire, until it swept everyton, Y. M. C. A. Secretary from St. thing before it. Had they proposed Paul, Minn., came to unite in aseason at the outset to turn the Y. J..f. C. A. of prayer with the editor, then pastor into a foreign missionary organization, of Bethany Church, Philadelphia. they would have felt it at least a di- That prayer meeting, will ;never be version if not a perversion of the purforgotten by the four men that con- P?ses of the organization. But the stituted that gathering. The burden .movement took so sudden and rapid martyrs to follow in the steps of John .a progress, that it seemed to defy con- Williams, and Coleridge Patteson and trol. We have never felt otherwise James Harrington. than satisfied that the Y. M. C. A., be- ing, as it is, established for undenomi- At the same time, is not God speak- national work among young men, it ing to us a word of caution' Is it {)annot be turned into foreign mission- prudent to rush into Equatorial Africa ary work in such form as to interfere with no knowledge or experience of a with other established agencies with- torrid climate, to face unknown foes, ·out inevitable friction; and we believe peculiar forms of disease, and a thou- that if this Soudan Pioneer Mission is sand perils which, like the flora of the to be permanent, it must separate country, are indigenous to the soil, from the State associations where it without all adequate information and ·originated, and take a separate, inde- provision against such exposures ? We pendent fprm. are nOl to count our lives dear unto ourselves, but are we not to reckon At the same time we cannot see that them dear to our Master and for our any intentional perversion of Y. M. C. Master's sake? When this movement A. money or energy has been intended. began, we cautioned our brethren not 'This whole movement strikes us as to go into the Soudan without ex- -one of those rare and exceptional ris- perienced guides, without explorers ings of missionary interest which can- familiar with the country and its .not be accounted for by ordinary peculiar dangers and diseases, who causes, or confined within ordinary could also advise as to all proper prebounds. We simply wait for this cautions respecting dress, food, habits rushing torrent that has swept be- of life, and exposures to malarial in- .yond its banks, to scoop out a new and fluences . permanent channel, and we look with prayerful interest to see the final is- Those who have read Bishop Crow- .sue. We ca~ appreciate the emphatic ther's life, will remember the strange protest of the brethren of the Inter- fatality attending that first exploring national Committee, while we confi- party of which he was a member, be- .dently believe many of their fears are cause of the green wood that was groundless, and that if they patiently stowed in the barge. A simple wait and rather seek to guide sympa- precaution such as was afterward thetically than to arrest arbitrarily adopted, would have saved a score of .a movement so might.y, the ultimate most precious lives. Those who go to result will be advancement all along Africa or any other untried climate, the lines. should first get all the wisdom that ex- perience canfurnish, and go armed and Meanwhile, three of the Soudan Pio- equipped as the laws of prudence en.. neers are reported dead with African join, with all the panoply that a true fever; and a startling rumor in the science can supply. We may be called New York World, which has not been to martyrdom but not to suicide. We .confirmed, states that Mr. Kingman earnestly hope our Soudan Pioneers and others have been massacred. We will exercise unusual precautions, and wait with no little solicitude to hear advantage themselves of every prepafurther and authentic news. It would ration that the combined experience not be surprising if God should bap·· of all explorers and missionaries can tize this new mission in blood. If He supply, before venturing into such a has a really great future before these perilous district. Let us guard human devoted young men, it may be that a life in proportion to its priceless value, ~up of suffering is to precede thechal- and so make our offering to the Lord ice of joy. That is God's way. Let one of the more permanent service. us not hesitate if He calls for more A.T.P. Dr. Penteoost's Siege of Oaloutta. that in India, China, Japan, Syria, Our readers have, before this, this class who are familiar with the· learned of the scheme of our esteemed brother, the Evangelist, Rev. George English tongue, its literature, and its. F. Pentecost, D.D. He proposes to go to India, to be joined by volunteers gospel message, are the last to yield from Britain and .America, and to attempt evangelistic work among to the power of that gospel, and often English-speaking residents, Anglo- Indians and Eurasians, and native the most pertinacious foes of its prog- Indians who are familiar with the English tongue. He proposes to go as ress and the most malignant adversathough there was no concert of action, and as though the concurrence ries of its spirit. were merely accidental, and to have these pilgrims meet in Calcutta for a We say this not to cast any chill over stay of five months; then lay siege by Bible-readings and sermons and prayer the enthusiasm of our brother. We services, to the English-speaking population; and, having thoroughly bid him God speed, but we believe he aroused them, seek from this vantage ground to reach out and affect wider will need to be sustained by the prayers results. We hope for great results from this mission. It seems to us a of an unusually consecrated band mistake, however, to announce at the beginning of a programme, which in- of God's watchers. If this work can cludes a meeting of various parties at one centre, as though it were wholly be done and the English-speaking resiundesigned. Anything that produces an impression of disingenuousness can dents and natives can be aroused and hardly be according to God's will. And, besides, the rapid communication of quickened and consecrated, it may be· intelligence in these days makes sure that this sailing under sealed orders the signal for the Revolution of India. becomes an open secret. Tbe people of East Indies will already, before Dr. God grant it I A. T. P. Pentecost has landed at Calcutta, have been informed of the "un-designed The "New Herrnhut." coincidence. " A PROPOSED HOME-REST FOR RETURNED' We are persuaded that the work MISSIONARIES. undertaken by Dr. Pentecost and his co-laborers is not an easy one, but the Every reader of this REVIEW, and hardest job that could well be under- every friend of missions, will feel taken. No class of the community is warm interest in a new and unselfish so impervious to all impressions as project which has in view the comfort those who have been confronted with and welfare of returned missionaries, the gospel and have been accustomed who are seeking rest and recuperation to resist its power. Give us the most after years ofexhausting toil; and no hopeless Regions Beyond as our field, class of the Lord's servants are more rather than the gospel-hardened sin- deserving of our sympathy and gener-· ners whose eyes are blinded by the ous aid. very blaze of gospel light. 'We have the common testimony of missionaries Every year, at the great Northfield. gatherings, these dear brethren and sisters are to be found, sometimes by .the score, and, not infrequently, like our esteemed friend and correspond-· ent, Rev. George W. Chamberlain, of Sao Paulo, Brazil, they find Northfield a convenient place, not for their own rest and refreshment alone, but also for the education of their children during their furlough.
We have been impressed with a· growing depth of conviction that, if some adequate and permanent provis- ion covId be made for the accommo- dation of such missionaries and their families, it would be one of the noblest and most useful forms of benefaction. Just now, a farm of fifteen acres, beautiful for situation,' just border- • ing the grounds of the Northfield when our colored brethren of the Seminary, was found to be for sale, and at a very low price. One of the South, properly trained in medical editors ventured to purchase the property in behalf of the friends of science, could traverse and live in the missions, and we now desire the prayerful and sympathetic co-opera- "dark continent" with comparative tion of all willing hearts in the further- ance of what we believe" God has impunity. We believe that God will put into our own heart to do" for his own servants. force this question upon the considera- Letter to Henry M. Stanley. tion of the Church, North and South, We have been favored with the fol- and upon our missionary societies. lowing letter, with the request to give it to our readers, with such com- We shall wait with interest Mr. Stan- ment as it might suggest. We cheer- fully comply. The letter will speak ley's reply to Mrs. Ray's letter, which for itself. And sure we are that 1:11'. Stanley will give it due consideration, we introduce by a note from Miss and a fitting reply. The subject of the letter is one of profound interest to Frances E. Willard, who sends it to- the whole American people, as well'as to Africa. It is an important factor us:-J. M. S. in the stupendous unsolved problem of the future of the negro race. For "Evanston, Aug. 14, 1890. ourselves, we are more and more con- "DR. J. M. SHERWOOD: . fident that Divine Providence is shap- "ing events so as to use our rapidly-aug- "HONORED BaOTHER:-I am sending you 8c menting colored population to take a letter addressed to Henry M. Stanley, by 8c very important part in the occupa- tion, the civilization and the evangel- gifted Christian woman of the South. Would ization of the immense territories in Africa, so suddenly and wonderfully it not be well to publish this letter, with opened up and brought under the favorable commentary? It is not at all in- protectorate of the leading European tended to exploit the colored people, but in SO powers. We have in the South, abun- far as they desire to do it, to set before them dant material out of which to make, in due time, thousands of mission- this open door. Mrs. Ray says: 'Our South- aries, the peers of Bishop Crowther, ern women were, for a long time, unconscious who was a slave in his youth, and missionaries in the home for the foreign now a l~ding bishop in Africa, and field;' and if a great magazine, like the who commanded the homage and ad- ~EVIEW, would take up the subject, in its own miration of the W orId's 1:1issionary Conference, in London, in 1888, and wise and cautious way, immense good would whose striking photograph forms the come of it. A resolution, urging the National frontispiece in the January number of Women's Christian Temperance Union to give this REVIEW. Such being the case, attention to this feature of missionary work, why should such numbers of the choice young men and women of the was adopted at the Asheville Women's Chris- North fall victims to the climate of tian Temperance Union training-school, re- Africa (three of the Kansas band that sailed in May have already fallen), cently held. Please let me know how this· looks to you, and give me any ideas that you think will be helpful. " Yours, with best wishes, and grateful re- membrance of your kindness, "FRANCES E. WILLARD."
"HENRY 1:1. STANLEY: "HONORED SIR:-I write at a ven- ture, to ask how shall the Southern women of the United States co-operate for the evangelization of Africa ? You know the institution of slavery as it once existed in theSouth. You know Africa. You can contrast these con- ditions and determine what sort of an evangelical factor these colored peo- ple, once slaves, who still remain with us, might become to their own race in Africa. If the discipline of slavery, under superior moral condi- tions, should prove to have been the prinaary training-school for such work, now that the second step of preparation is opened to the race, through citizenship, with its atten- dant responsibilities and opportuni- ties, the last link in the chain, of out- going missionary effort by Africans in America for their own continent;. might soon be forged. Individuals, given, and simple ways were sug- great or small, have a measure of re- sponsibility. The thought, 'How gested for saving that small amount. shall we help these people to do this work?' has often stirred my heart. We observed that Mr. Wilkins ex- One way suggested to me (leaving the commercial view of the subject to plained the plan at Northfield, at one statesmen and publicists), has been to ·organize our Southern women, of Mr. Moody's conferences, and it thro~gh ohurch missionary societies, intO home missionary bands, for the seemed to meet with favor. In a purpose of aiding the willing-minded among the blacks to go out on such a note, just received from him, he holy errand, to which they are better ,suited than the Anglo-Saxons. I am says: anxious to present this feature of pos- sible Christian enterprise to our mis- " You were good enough to publish sionary boards, and a statement from in the July number of the MISSIONARY .you would have great weight. May I not hope for it, in the interest of the REVIEW my paper on the' Extra-Cent- , dark continent,' which you have done a-Day Band. I am sure that you and more than any other person to bring your readers will be very glad to know ;to light. that there are now 13 or more bands, ,, Yours, with high esteem, with aggregate membership of about " Mrs. J. E. RAY. 650. More bands will be started imme- ." Asheville, N. C." diately.
Grand Possibilities. "There is a widespread interest in We gave in our July issue the out- the movement. Among the letters of line of a plan, devised and put in inquiry that I have received, some have come from Maine, New York, {)peration by a leading banker of Pennsylvania, Illinois, Nebraska, and Boston, to increase the permanent re- even Oregon. I am more and more ceipts of all our missionary societies sanguine that the' Extra-Cent-a-Day Band' may be made a tremendous without interfering with already-es- missionary power. tablished agencies. Simple and unos- " Sincerely yours, tentatious as this plan is, it seems to "S. F. WILKINs."
us worthy of careful study, if not of This is a good beginning, and we see general adoption. In the nature of no reason why the plan should not things it is adapted to all churches, come into general use. We earnestly all lands, and all conditions of things. commend it to our churches of all It is systematic in principle; it en- denominations, and to the considera- courages self-denial; it is within the tion ofourmission-boardsandsocieties.
reach of every friend of missions; the A cent a day is but a trifle, but if the method costs nothing but a little thirteen million Protestant Christians ,effort; and while the gift is small, the in the United States would give at aggregate is likely to be large. Mr. that rate, yeady $47,450,000, instead of Wilkins' own experience, at Newton $6,000,000, would flow into the Lord's -Centre, Mass., in the church which treasury. Is the plan not worth a he attends, we regard as a fair speci- vigorous trial? J. M. S.
men of what the method is capable of In response to a recent statement in yielding, if a fair chance be given it. the REVIEW, that a church in Phila- The Extra-Cent-a-Day Band there delphia had undertaken the support of numbered, in July, 111. The ex- at three of the native helpers whom Rev.
pected receipts for the year will be R. M. Mateer has hired his own over $400, which will practically all be charge in Shantung Province, Shang- extra. It is not intended to interfere hai, we have received the following: with other ways of giving, but to -EDS.
supplement the usual methods or "The Willing Workers' Band, of the Broadway Presbyterian ,Church .agencies. So an extra cent only is of Rock Island, a band of some 25 lads, has assumed the support of another, and it has kindled great en- thusiasm to think of supporting a preacher for a year in China.
"Yours, "WM. S. MARQUIS, Pastor."
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN. 797'
VII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Africa.-The London Spectator reports a five Europeans superintend the work.-Afri..
recent decree issned by the Sultan of Zanzi- can News.
bar which is more immediately important as Brazil.-Protestant newspapers.-Brazil'
a blowto the African slave trade than the con- has at present six, to wit: ImprensaEvangeli- ference at Brussels. Zanzibar has heretofore ca,weekly; Evangelista, three times a month'
afforded the largest outlet for slaves from the Apologista Christao, weekly; Expositor fJhris: interior, Under the decree of the sultan, the tao, fortnightly; Arauto, monthly; Pulpito.
exchange, sale, or purchase of slaves is ab- Ji}vangelico, monthly. The representative'
solutely prohibited; all slave-dealing estab- Christian newspaper has not yet made its ap- lishments are closed; all slave-brokers carry- pearance in Brazil; a paper that is able to ing on the business made liable to heavy cover the whole ground. The capital and the penruties, and to deportation; all Arabs deal- men are both wanting. The present religious ing in domestic slaves are included in this press is in the hands of busy, overworked mis- provision, and any houses hereafter used for sionaries who edit their newspapers in the any purpose connected with the slave traffic hours stolen from rest.
are to be forfeited. Regarding slavery in Cbina.-Recent trustworthy calculations Zanzibar itself, the decree provides that on of the population of the Chinese Empire, by"
the death of their present owners slaves shall Russian antporities, reckon it at 382,000,000, be ipso facto free, unless the deceased leave and the annual increase at 4,000,000. Not one lawful children, who alone may inherit them. in 10,000 ever heard of the religion of Jesus, Slaves cannot be willed away or sold after the Christ.
death of their owner, and their ill-treatment -The China Inland Mission received last by their masters will be severely"punished, and, year £51,484, of which £33,642 were available"
in certain cases, involve the penalty of for- for general mission purposes.
feiture. Any Zanzibar subject married to a per- France.-The Rev. Dr. McAII, ofParis, in son under British jurisdiction is disabled from a recent letter, doolares his intention to have holding slaves, and all slaves now in the pos- anchored in the Seine a large missionary boat, session of such persons are declared free. Per- which has done service in many of the French sons who have themselves been slaves are pro- seaports. "It will be the first time," he says, hibited from owning slaves. Every slave is to "that this mode of evangelization has been at- have the absolute right to purchase his freedom tempted in Paris, but, though the popUlation· at a reasonable price; every slave is to have the is not seafaring, we have the impression that same rights as Arabs in courts of justice, and with God's blessing, the novelty of the method the sultan binds himself to accord them special will draw the attention of many hitherto ig- protection. These regulations will undoubt- norant of the Gospel. The cabin of the ship"
edly inflict a very heavy blow on a large sec- will contain nearly 200 persons, and we hope tion of the slave trade, besides involving a to have daily servi~ on board for two very serious social revolution in Zanzibar. If, months. The authorities have given us every as is reported, this decree has been secured by facility and protection."
English influence, the English protectorate in Formosa.-Rapid progress.-Some per- Zanzibar has made a most auspicious begin- sons complain that the missionary work ad- ning. vances so slowly, but God often shows that -Africa has now within her borders 10 He can accomplish His ends rapidly. One of American, 12 British, and 13 continental mis- the latest Instances of rapid progress is the sionary societies. There are more than 700 change wrought in the moral and religious ordained missionaries, and more than 7,000 condition of the inhabitants in Formosa, an native preachers. It is estimated that there island in the China Sea. The population here are, both white and native, about 175,ooocom- is mixed in character, being partly Chinese, municants, and 800,000 adherents.-North- and partly wild tribes. Among the latter western Ohristian Advocate. people, the missionary began some fourteen -Hamburg, July 23d.-The Reichstag, the years ago, to labor. At that time, idolatry first steamer in the new East African line, held sway, and hatred was felt and expressed sailed hence to-day with a full cargo and sev- for the foreigners. The diftlculties and ob- eral passengers. stacles in the way seemed almost insuper- -Congo Railway.-Over 1,000 Africans are able, but the workers had faith and energy, now at work on the Congo railroad. On April and God was with them. They gradually 12th, two miles of it had been completed; this found favor, and their labors proved success- portion begins at Matadi, which is at the ful. Now 12,000 conversions are reported, western end of the road, ninety miles from and churches are In full operation. Schools the sea. The principal difficulties lie in the have also been started, a native ministry is building of the first ten miles before the level being trained, and hospitals have been estab- plateau of the Congo hills is reached, Twenty- lished. Christianity has thus gained a strong footing. The next 14 years should,with such a Japan. – Murder of Mr. Large. Dr. wonderful foundation, manifest most remark- Thwing, our correspondent, who has just re- able gains in this island, and its complete turned from Tokyo, and who spent some time domination by Christ may be expected in the among the associates of the recently-murdered near future. GDd has his own way of work- missionary, w!'ites us that it was clearly a ing; but whether it be by slow or by speedy cltse of revenge, and not of cupidity. The processes, let us not despair of his final con- reply to the question, .. What is it?" which quest of the world, nor relax our efforts to met the two assassins as tbey entered the eircle the earth with His Gospel. chamber, was "Business," the euphemistic word for revenge. Mr. Large had not an Italy.-The Evangelical Church of Italy, enemy, but he and his wife were regarded as formerly called the Free Italian Church, is one in this savage, retaliatory action. There doing a noble work for Christ in that land. is a widespread feeling of unrest and of re- Its report for 1889 shows that it has many en- pugnance against the revolutionizing infiu- couragements attending its work. The ence of Western ideas, both in education, re- ehurches number 31, with 55 stations. There ligion and politics. are 2,305 communicants, and 1,374 school -It is a noteworthy circumstance that the ehildren. Evaugelist Spigno, of Genoa, one first Japanese Parliament, elected on the first of its agents, makes the following cheering of last July, contains ten Christians, or one in statement: .. The time is not mature for a thirty of the whole number of members. profound and general revival among the These Christians were elected in the face of Catholics, but it is certainly coming through much opposition to them on account of their the power of Christ. With pleasure, too, I religion. observe that the skeptical spirit, once so dominant, is gradually dying away, so that -It is reported that there are 3,000 Japan- the Gospel is no longer the object of scorn. ese in this country, of whom 2,000 have been In regard to Catholicism, it is morally de- baptized by missionaries in their own land, or molished. since they came to the United States.
India.-At a recent meeting in connection New Hebrides.-We have another strIk- with the C. M. S. in Salisbury square, a letter ing instance of the fact that the gifts of con- was read from Rev. H. J. Hoare, of Peshawar, verts from heathenism for the work of the Punjab. He speaks of it as a city of seventy Lord, put to shame the contributions of Chris- or eighty thousand inhabitants. The Afghans tians in better circumstances. The converts in it call themselves Bani-Israel- sons of on Aneityum, one of the New Hebrides Israel. They have a decidedly Hebraic cast Islands, volunteered the price of this season's of feature. Theyare great enemies of idola- crop of cocoanuts for the purpose of roofing try and higoted Mohammedans. The GDspel two churches with corrugated iron. The ean be freely preached; a handsome church copra, which is the dried fruit of the cocoanut, is built; and English-speaking natives attend is the chief source from which these islanders a literary institute. Before this wide door obtain their foreign goods, such as clothing, which is opened, the paucity of missionaries is ironware, tea, sugar, rice, etc. These Christhe pressing distress. "Fields white unto tians agreed to use for this purpose all their harvest" is the summons proceeding from copra for six months, so dispensing with every quarter. the comforts, not to say the necessaries of life. In this way they gave twenty-six tons of -Two Bengalee ladies, after a five-years' copra, valued at $574. While engaged in this course of study, received the degree of M.B. work of self-denial one of the churches was (Bachelor of Medicine), at the Calcutta Uni- destroyed by a hurricane, and so the people versity. They are both Christians. One has proposed, in addition to what they had already received an appointment under the Countess done, to devote the proceeds of the annual of Dufferin fund, and the other will open pri- arrowroot contribution toward this object. vate practice in Calcutta. Giving like this, were it practised among Christians generally, would make the Lord's -The baptism of Baboo Poresh Nath Sar- treasury overflow. kar, an interesting young Hindu, by Mr. Hector, principal of the Free Church College New Zealand.-The last census in New at Calcutta. which took place on a recent Zealand reveals the interesting fact of a pro- Sunday at Mahanad, has excited no little fession of religion on the part of no less interest. His relatives tried to prevent the than 95 per cent. of the whole population. baptism by detaining him in Calcutta, but he escaped from their toils, and reached the ap- Palestine.-Bishop Blythe, of Jernsalem, pointed place in time to meet Mr. Hector. He says there are now in Palestine double the has had to leave his wife and three children, number of Jews that returned from the Babywho have been taken possession of by his lonish captivity, and that the "latter rains" father, a bigoted Hindu. This persecuted which had been withheld since the times of disciple took his B.A. degree in 1884, and has the exile, had been granted again during the been head'master in a Christian school in last two years. Mahanad since 1887. -Colonization.-At a meeting of about '2,000 Jews in London, an address was given had done all in their power to dress the wounds by the Rev. H. Mackobe, on the new move- and sustain the patient. For a time good ment for the colonization of Palestine. It was hope was entertained of her recovery, but in stated that large numbers of Jews were be- the course of a few days inflammation set in, ing enrolled as members, and that the pro- and neither tender ministrations nor medical posed agricultural pursuits on the ground skill availed to save the precious life.
round Mount Zion were meeting with general As usual, the authorities were slow to take support. The allotments would be by ballot. measures for the arrest of the murderer, but Russla.-The Russian Minister of the In- through the vigorous efforts of Col. Stewart, terior has prdered the local authorities to pre- the English Consul, who stirred up the officers vent foreign missionaries from carrying on and himself offered a reward of $75 for the their religious propaganda among the Jews, capture of the murderer, the man was finally to the detriment of the exclusive right of con- arrested and imprisoned.
version possessed by the orthodox church. Mrs. Wright was an Armenian lady of most Scotland.-A society in Scotland, the Ayr- excellent Christian character, the daughter of shire Christian Union .has undertaken the a noble Christian mother who had been identi- work of sending out young men to Southern fied with our mission for ml;lny years. Mrs.
Morocco, to become missionaries after the .Wright visited this country with her husband plans advocated by Rev. E. F. Baldwin, going a few years ago, and won the confidence and forth two by two, without purse or scrip, ac- esteem of all with whom she came in contact.
cording to Matt. x: 9, 10. Although enjoying her visit to this Christian Switzerland.-The annual session of the land, she welcomed the day of her departure Switzerland Conference of the Methodist for her own land, that she might resume the Episcopal Church was recently held at La work which lay upon her heart, and to which Chaux de Fonds, with Bishop Warner presid- she had giTen her life. The bereaved husband ing. The Conference reports 5,109 members, and children and the mission so greatly 33 preachers, and 28 chapels. Formerly the afflicted are commended to the prayers of churches of this Conference were united with God's people. -Dr. Gillespie in New York those of Germany in one conference. Evangelist.
Turkey.-A·n extraordinary result of mis- -The Proportion of Missionaries to Popusion work in Turkey is the large Armenian lations. When the total statistics of missions emigration to America. The Armenians have are submitted one gets the notion that the learned that America is a paradise, next to . laborersaremanyratherthanfew. Butletthe heaven; and they are here, now, literally by number be placed side by side with the poputhe tens of thousands, all as the result of mis- ·Iations to whom they are sent and the imsion work. They do not go to Europe, but to pression is very different. America, and here they are industrious, respectable people. But this is a serious loss to China has one to 733,000 of population. the mission churches in Turkey. Siam " 6(X),OOO -The great revival which has taken place in connection with the Turco·American MIs- Korea 500,000 sion at Aintab, in Armenia, has resulted in the addition of 534 new members to the church. India 350,000 -Murder of a Missionary's Wife. A re- Africa 300,000 cent telegram in the newspapers has already announced the murder of Mrs. Wright, the In Central Africa and the Soudan the prowife of Rev. J. N. Wright, of Salmas, one of portion is one to each 5,000,000 of people. the stations of our Western Persia Mission. What are these among so many f Like the The facts, as they have reached the Board of five barley loaves, they must be multipled to Foreign Missions, are hriefly these: An Armen- supply the needs of the hungry multitude. ian teacher who had been employed in our We confess that it requires a miracle to make boys' school at Salmas was dismissed because the supply equal to the need. But nothing is of gross sin. As a maid servant iI'. the family too hard for God. Were His people as obediof Mr. Wright was involved, Mrs. Wright had ent to His will and as responsible to His comfelt constrained to reprove the young man, mand as were the loaves to the Lord Jesus, who in turn charged his dismissal entirely to there would soon be more than sufficient for the work of evangelizing these millions, and th~re would be no lack of funds, but the peo- ple, like the Israelites in the wilderness, would her, and took revenge by stabbing her five have to be told to cease from giving. Chris- times. Mr. Wright, who was in the adjoining tendom has the men and the means necessary room, immediately rushed to the rescue, but for the conversion of heathendom. Our chosen too late to avert the assault. A telegram was fields-China and India and Central Africa- a_ once sent to Tabriz for a physician, there are in especial need of more laborers. The being none nearer. Tabriz is thirty hours few converts call to us to come over and help from Salmas, but because of various delays, them. Let them be helped promptly, liberally, forty-nine hours elapsed before a physician and as if we are resolved soon to win China reached the bedside of Mrs. Wright. Mean- and India and the Congo for Christ.-The while her husband and associate missionaries Freeman (London).
INDEX OF CONTENTS OF THE OCTOBER NUMBER. [Oct•
INDEX OF CONTENTS OCTOBER NUMBER.
PAGE PAGE· I.-LITmRATURE OF MISSIONS•••••• 721-759 mated population, 797: ChinaIulandMis· II.-GmNmRAL MISSIONARY INTICLLI' slon……………………………….. 797'
GENCE…………………… 763-778 ENGLAND.-Dr.Barnardo's annual meet- m.-MIssIONARY COaREBl'ONDENCE•• 773-777 ing of children, 770: Report of the Inves- IV.-INTmaNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.•• 777-785 tigating Committee of the London Mls- V.-MoNTHLY CONCER? OF MISSIONS 785-792 sionary Society…………………….. 773, Vl.-EDITORUt. NOTmS ON CuRRENT FRANCE,-Letter from our cOxTespon- TOPICS ………………… 792-796 dent at Marseilles, 775: a missionary boat on the Seine…………………… 797'
VII.-PRoGREss OF MISSIONS: MONTH- FORMOSA.-Rapid progress in mission t.Y BUUmTIN ……………. 797-799 work ……………………………… 797'
vm.-INDEX TO OONTmNTS ••••..• ••••• 800 INDIA.-Child marriages, 765: Zenana Authors. missions, 766; Testimony to Indian mis· sions, 766; Lepers in India, 767: The EDITORS. – A. T. Pierson. The Prayer opium curse, 770; Tendency toward Brahma Somajism, 771: Letter from for Laborers, 741; The Soudan Mission, Miss Ellen Arnold, 775; Hebraic race in the Punjab, 798; Baptism of an interest- 793: Dr. Pentecost's Siege of Calcutta, ing Hindu …………………………. 797 794: ~he "New Herrnhut," 794: J. M. ITALY.-The Evangelical Church Mis· sion……………………………….. 798- Sherwood, Editorial Notes…………… 795 Bracq, Rev. J. C., Cardinal Lavigerie and his Anti·slavery Work……. …. … 721 Ellinwood, F. F., D.D., A Foreign Mis- sionary of Old Testament Times, 725; JAPAN.-A correction of statement, Missions and Sects in the Turkish Em· 776; murder of Mr. Large, 797; First Jap· pire ……………………………… 785 anese parliament…………………… 798- Gracey, J. T., D.D., International Depart- KOREA.-RomanCatholic movement In. 730 ment……………………………… 777 Lavigerie, Cardinal, and his anti·slavery Grout, Rev. Lewis, Mahdism and Missions work ……………………………… 721 in the Soudan………………………. 753 MADAGASCAR.-Confcern of Eng. Hamilton, Rev. J. Taylor, The Foreign Mis- lish missionary societies, 767; The gold sions ofthe Moravian Church ………… 777 craze…………………………….. 767 Hulbert, Prof. H. B., A Sketch of the R0- Missions, modern, results of permanent. 767 man Catholic Movement in Korea …… 730 Mission work, undenominational…. •• …. 736 Missionaries, Five from one Cradle. . . . . .•. 772 Johnston, Rev. James, A. S. A., Missionary Moravian Church, Foreign Missions of the 777 Notes …………………………….. 765 NEW HEBRIDES.-Remarkable Liber· Laurie, Rev. Thomas, D.D., The Results of ality of the Converts …….. ………. 798- Modern Missions Permanent………… 746 NEW ZEALAND.-The Last Census..• 799 Moorhead, Max Wood, Student Volunteer PALESTINE.-The Number of Jews Movement…………………………. 768 there, 799; Colonization. …………… 799 Porter, Rev. Thomas J., First Impressions Prayer for Laborers, 741: The Bishop of in Brazil……… . ….. …………… 783 Korea……………………………… 768' Riggs, Rev. James F., Undenominational RUSSIA.-Repressing Missionary Work. 799 SCOTLAND.-Sending out Missionaries Mission Work ……………………… r.m to Morocco….. .. …………………. 799 Starbuck, Rev. Charles C., Translations SWITZERLAND.-The Religious Con· from Foreign Missionary Periodicals•••• 759 Countries and Subjects.
AFRICA.-Mahdism and Missions In the dition of, 771: Annual Meeting of M. E.
Soudan,753: Abolition of Slavery in Zan· Conference .. ,…………… .. …….. 799 zibar, 765; The British East African Co., SYRIA.-Letter from our African Cor· 768; The Congo river of to-day, 769; King respondent, now in Beyrout…………. 776 Leopold and the Congo State, 769; Zanzi- TRINIDAD.-Letter from Rev. John bar decree against slavery, 797; Number Morton, D.D……………………….. 784 of missionary societies in Africa, 797: TURKEY.-Large Armenian Exodus to Congo railway.. . .. …… • •.. .. .. .•• :. 797 America… … .. ………….. , …….. 799 BRAZIL.-Reaction, 769; First Impres- TURKISH EMPIRE. – Missions and sions in, 783: Protestant newspapers .••• 797 Sects, 785; The Greek Church, 786; The BURMAH.-Buddhist extravagance in Maronite Church, 787; The Druzes, 787: beautifying their temples…………… 770 Missions in Turkey, 791; The Religion of CHINA.-China Iuland Mission of North the Nusairiyeh…………………….. 799 America, 778: The treaty with China, 785; Note from Dr. Thwing, 798; Wright, Mrs.
Support of a missionary in, 796; Esti· J. N., of SaJmas, the Murder of……… 799
The Missionary Review of the World — March 1890
MISSIONS IN OLD SCOTLAND
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. No.3.-0ld Series.—MARCH.–,-VoL. m. No. S.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS. MISSIONS IN OLD SCOTLAND. No.' II.
BY A. T. PIERSON, D.D.
The old year died in a pathetically becoming way. December 31 beheld a funeral cortege in Westminster Abbey, when an illustrious poet was laid to rest among the great dead that there find a shrine and throne. The latest of the sons was given a tomb close by the father 9f English poesy, and Ohaucer and Browning lie side by side in the" Poets' Corner."
Notwithstanding fog and frost, crowds lined the avenues along which the bier was borne, and when, at 11 :30, the doors were opened, the Abbey was at once filled, and when the tolling bell was pealing out its weird monotone at twelve, there was not a vacant place save those reserved for clergy, choir and mourners. It was a brilliant as- semblage-lords and ladies, dukes and earls, ambassadors and minis- ters, bishops, deans and canons; all were there to do honor to the pure and reverent poet, whose lines have been an honor to humanity and to God. Mrs. Browning's exquisite lyre was sung, " He giveth His beloved sleep," set to music by Dr. Bridges; and the first part of the ceremony closed with Wesley's anthem, " All go to one place." During the whole service there lay on the coffin Tennyson's floral wreath, and Miss Browning's cross and wreath of palma violets. We have said that it seemed a most fitting closing ceremony for the dying year. And those two musical selections, how they seemed to present the two sides of humanity's solemn history! The eschatology of missions! On the one hand the Christian's death and burial; "He giveth His beloved sleep ;" resting awhile until the resurrection. asleep in Jesus. And, on the other hand, unredeemed humanity, sweeping on promiscuously, a generation together, all going to one place, and that place a grave without hope-a grave of unbroken gloom. And to think how easily, if the Church would obey the Lord, and resolutely preach. the gospel among all the nations, that hopeless and indiscriminate, . sweeping of human beings into the rayless pit of sheol might be transmuted with a. peaceful, hopeful composing of saintly forms for' a sleep that looks forward to its rapturous waking! With December 31 the mission tour of Scottish churches, which has engaged my attention for more than a month, closed for the time, to be resumed in February. It is purposed to give .Tanuary to London and the great centers of population in England, and then, if God will, to give two months uninterruptedly to Scotland, until at least all the main body of the population has been overtaken.
This is a natural point of retrospect; and it may be generally said that the results every way, so far as they can be now estimated, abundantly repay all the cost in time and toil. On Monday evening, at Airdrie, I gave the fifty-seventh address on missions since the. Etruria l~nded her human cargo on the 16th of November. First, I spent between three and four days in Liverpool, of which some account was given in a previous letter. Then, on November 20th, a welcome meeting was held in the Church of Scotland Assembly Hall, in Edinburgh; and from that day the meetings were held almost daily until the year closed.
The very efficient committee at Edinburgh, with Rev. .Tohn Lowe, M.D., as chairman, supported by a committee in the west of Scotland, of which Rev. John Pagan, D D., is the energetic chairman, have arranged the entire tour, at my request, so that all I have had to <1.0 has been to go where I have been sent, thus relieving me from all needless correspondence and perplexity. The arrangements have all :been singularly complete. We have been met at trains and escorted to hospitable homes; welcomed with a genuine cordiality; we have found everywhere warm hearts and excepti<;>nally generous co-operation.. The whole tour reminds me of Paul's testimony to the Galatians, who" received him as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus," "and would have plucked out their own eyes and given them to him." We have met abundant hospitality and Christian generosity elsewhere; but never any experience of loving kindness that on the whole quite equals this.
A word further ought to be added as to the way in which the meetings have been planned and conducted. The resident clergy and leading laymen and laywomen, too, have been enlisted in the movement in advance, and their cordial support secured. Then their preference for the time, hour and place of meeting has as far as possible been consulted. The meetings have followed each other in so well ordered a sc~eme that there has been neither loss of time nor retracing of steps. During these past thirty days there have been large and enthusiastic gatherings at Leith, Peebles, Innerleithen, Dalkeith, Haddington, Glasgow, Port Glasgow, Dumbarton, HcIcnsbnrgh, Kilmarnock, Paisley, Irvine, Ayr, Greenock, Gourock, Stl'athaven, Bothwell, Hamilton, Wishaw, Lanark, Motherwell, Airdrie, etc., a.nd in all cases the audiences have been large and the attention earnest .and absorbed.
The plan has been connected with a. few features of marked value, which might be well imitated elsewhere. Afternoon meetings have neen held for women especially, and addressed ordinarily by some . .man and woman who have been on the foreign field and were at home on a furlough-as, for instance, Rev. Mr. Rice of India, Ross of Manchuria, Alexander of Jamaica, Christie, M. D., likewise of Manchuria, and Mrs. Edge of China, and Mrs. Armstrong of Burmah. Then in the evenings, general meetings, held in the largest available church or hall, addressed generally by one of thesQ returned missionaries and myself, and sometimes briefly by some one of the local clergy. Some man or woman has been called to preside at the respective meetings, whose name and known interest in missions gave added power to the gatherings; and the common custom of voting thanks to the speakers, which often diverts attention from the subject matter to the person bearing the message, has been happily omitted. We see no reason why similar campaigns may not be planned in our own land, so that without needless cost of time or money, such men as Dr. Gordon of Boston, Dr. Barrows of Chicago, Dr. McVickar of Montreal, Dr. Goodwin of Chicago, Dr. Chamberlain of Brooklyn, Dr. Taylor of New York, Dr. Gracey of Buffalo, and such women as Mrs. Bottome, Mrs. Gordon; Mrs. Bainbridge, Mrs. Rhea, Mrs. Douglass, Mrs. Capron, Mrs. Harvie, Mrs. Hoge, Mrs. Moses Smith and Mrs. Barakat, may be brought into living contact with large congregations throughout the United States and Canada.
Scotland is a land of martyrs and missionaries, and the two naturaIiy go together. The martyr spirit has survived the martyr fires, and so the vital energy that onco made martyrs now runs into the channels of missionary enthusiasm. We go nowhere without feeling ·ourselves to be on holy ground. Hallowed associations make every spot sacred. At Bothwell we had to walk but a few steps along the Clyde to find ourselves confronting the mills where David Living- Jltone worked, and the humble home of Blantyre, where that "adventurous laddie" first saw the light. At Strathaven we were but .seven miles from the battle-field of Drum Clog, where Douglass led a little band of Covenanters against Graham, of Claverhouse, with the royalist troopers; and from that little town where the hand looms still produce their beautiful products, wentfrom one house, William and Gavin Martin to India, and James Martin to Jamaica, and James Martin's son to India, and now Miss Martin, the sister, to Jamaica. What an outcome of one consecrated home! Five missionaries almost from one cradle! No marvel Scotland is interested in missions! With a view to touching as many centers as was practicable, I have generally had three services on each Lord's Day, but so aided by resident ministers as that no part of the service but the address and a short prayer just before it fell to me. The large attendance at all these services, especially those held in the evenings, has been a matter of congratulation and surprise. At Paisley, the large town hall" erected as a memorial to George Clark, Esq., of spool-cotton-thread' fame, and holding 2,500, was literally packed; and at Glasgow, St. Andrews, holding from five thousand to six thousand, was similarly crowded. Instead of coming across the sea to kindle a missionarT revival, the flame was found already burning, and needing only the fuel' of facts, and the fanning of the breath of the Spirit of God, to become a consuming fire. Could all this intelligent and aroused enthusiasm be effectually applied to action, the whole machinery of missions' would move with greatly increased rapidity and efficiency.
We think we see some signs of greatly increased giving. These meetings have not been with immediate reference to raising money" and no collections have been taken except for current local expenses. But from time to time voluntary offerings have been sent in to me, by those whose hearts the Lord has touched, and some of them have' been very significant, because the fruit of evident self-sacrifice. In some instances the facts attending such gifts have become known to me. One lady sold a bracelet and sent the proceeds to be applied to. mISSIons. One young man took off a solid gold vest chain, and another a diamond scarf-ring, and enclosed them to me. Others sent· the price of a pair of kid gloves, or a box of cigars, or a concert ticket, or a package of Christmas cards, or various other gratifications and indulgences foregone for the sake of the perishing. What· would be the result were only John Howard's maxim followed, that our "luxuries should give way to the conveniences of the poor; OUF conveniences to their necessities; and even our necessities to their extremities!" The nakedness of the indigent world might be clothed from the superfluous trimmings of the vain. That will be a new era and epoch in missions, when even our luxuries are sacrificed for the· sake of supplying the gospel to the world.
With this last day of the year we enter upon the closing decade of this century. Dr. George Smith, of Edinburgh, the accomplished biographer of Cary, Duff and Wilson, reckons the first century or modern missions from 1788. He divides the century into three periods: First, the period of preparation, when the ground was' being broken up and made ready for the seed, from 1788 to 1838. Secondly, the period of sowing, when the seed was being scattered,. from 1838 to 1858. Thirdly, the period of ingathering, when the harvest began, from 1858 till now. I have often thought of a somewhat similar division into periods of seven years each: 1. From 1788 to 1837, seven periods of seven years, the times of organization when the great missionary agencies were forming. 2. The times of aggres. sive activity, when the Church was pushing rapidly forward into new nelds, three periods of seven years, from 1837 to 1858. And 3. The times of realization of results, when both aggressive movement and great success marked missions, the plowman and reaper going side by side.
However this be, we are now in the nrst years of a second century of modern missions. Never since Christ arose from the dead has there been at once such magnificent opportunity and such inspiring encouragement. No previous generation has had suoh facilities .and applianoes for giving the gospel to mankind as have we. Divine Providence has furnished us weapons for our warfare such as men in .apostolic ages never imagined. The marvelous f:.bles of the Arabian Nights are eclipsed by the realities of printing press, steam engine, ·electric telegraph, postal system, and all the other helps which are now challenging the church to use air, earth and water in her great mission to the race of man. No man can show a sensible reason why within the next ten years the Word of God should not be published throughout the world. Thirty millions of Protestant disciples can .evangelize the world if each one will become responsible for fifty <>ther souls. If one missionary will go to the field out of every 300 Protestant church members, we shall have 100,000 missionaries in t~e foreign work, besides native helpers that now outnumber the missionary band five to one. If every such church member could be led to consecrate habitually and systematically to missions,jive cents a day, it would yield the enormous sum of about 550,000,000 dollars yearly, 01' one and a half million dollars a day! Think what could be done in evangelizing the world if there were a band of 100,000 missionaries -sent out by Christian churches, with the grand sum of $550,000,000 a year to provide for their support!
This decade ought to be the most glorious of all history in the progress of the gospel. But there must be new giving and new liv- .ing, more men and women sent t.o the front, and more money and means furnished for the work. Dr. McAll writes that for sheer laok .of money he has to close thirteen of his stations, at a time when every door is open and every demand i5 for expansion rather than retrenohment. The Churoh of God does not respond to the providence of God as she ought. The very air is vocal with the calls of God, the very horizon is blazing with signal lights. Who will come forward .and say, "Here am I, send me?" Who will bring their silver and gold with them and lay on God's altars their abundance? Who will go into that holy of holies, where wrestling Jacobs become prevailing Israels, and learn the secret of that mighty prayer which brings down ..showers of blessing upon earth's dry ,and barren wastes?
EDINBURGH, Dec. 31.
THE BOERS AND MISSIONS
THE BOERS AND MISSIONS.
BY REV. LEWIS GROUT, WEST BRATTLEBORO, VT.
Among the many new and interesting missionary developments of the present day, that which is revealing itself among the Dutch farmers, or "Boers/' as they are often called in South Africa,is oneof the most remarkable and cheering. Their two hundred years of life in that land have been years of a most unique commingling of the romantic with the real,-a life characterized for domestic simplicity,. wild adventure, independence, and a high regard for at least th~ forms and observances of a sound Christian faith. They have everhad a great love of liberty, been vigorously tenacious of their own rights; and yet have had ll- firm helief, at least many of them, that, the natives, the black people, were divinely appointed to be the servants of the white race. Out of all this have come many border' wars, repeated collisions and conflicts with the English, and sometimes a hostile feeling towards Christian Missions, all which has led many of them to a most unsettled, migratory way of living. But, now, at length, their ideas of liberty are taking on a more intelligent, scriptural aspect; their formalism giving place to spirituality, and theirfeelings and conduct towards the natives beginning to undergo a happy" beneficent change. The spirit of that true and living faith which their' pioneer fathers carried to that land, is beginning to be revived, and one of the most important reasons they originally assigned for going there and taking up their abode among or by the side of the natives -to aid them in their religious well-being-is beginning to be honored: in the mission work they have already entered upon in their behalf.. During the two centuries of their abode there, the Boers have had much to do towards developing and utilizing the secular l'~sources of the country, and in giving shape to the social and political affairs of all South Africa. Their molding influence was never greater than it is to-day, nor will it fail to increase and extend as the years go on. Their past career is fraught with instruction, if not also with admoni– tion; their present trend with encouragement to all true friends of law and religion. To all who are interested in the ever-changing fortunes of men, the different phases of social life, and especially in' knowing something of the many mighty forces now at work for thespeedy redemption of that long neglected and much wronged land of the sun, which has come to be called the- "Dark Continent," a brief sketch of the early life, general character, and present promise of the' Dutch Boers in South Africa can hardly fail to be instructive and encouraging.
When Diaz discovered the southern angle of Africa, 1486, andproposed to his royal patron, John II., of Portugal, to call it "the stormy cape," the King said: "No; call it 'the Cape of Good Hope," because of the promise it gives of my finding in it a good way to. India." So, through the moral and political storms that have raged in that region, the eye of faith sees a "Good Hope" for yet making • that cape as a stepping-stone and means of reaching a realm larger than India with the gospel of God's love. It was about the middle of the seventeenth century, 1652, that the Dutch East India Company, seeing what a good replenishing station the cape would make for ships plying between Europe and the East, sent a colony of soldiers and others there to build a fort and plant a garden, hoping, withal, as they said, that the religious interests of the aborigines might be thus promoted,-that the formation of said fort and garden may not only tend to the advantage of the East India Company, but, what is of more consequence, may also be the means of preserving many souls to the praise of God's most holy name, and for the propagation of his holy gospel,-that, by living on good terms with the natives, their children may become useful servants, and, if educated in the Christian faith, should the Almighty grant.his blessing, many souls may be brought to a knowledge of religion and saved to God. But these ends, if ever practil,lally sought in those early days, were soon forgotten, and for two centuries left virtually out of account, though they are now beginning to come to the front.
The infant colony went on to prosper. The natives brought them cattle and sheep, their gardens gave them vegetables, the plains gave them game, and the sea gave them fish, but for some years they were subject to many trials. At first, it is said, they had to ~ontend with their fears, lest the wild men by day or the wild beasts by night should attack them and their fort, and carryall by storm. They had to contend with want; and one poor soldier was sentenced to many blows from the butt of his gun for wishing the purser at the devil for, serving out penguins instead of beef and pork. They suffered from thieves, and one poor fellow was sentenced to be flogged and put in irons for stealing a cabbage. At times a Hottentot would walk off with some of the cattle, or the leopards and lions would take them for their own use. They had the scandal-monger among them, and one of them was sentenced to ask pardon on his knees, be bored through the tongue, and be banished three years for words spoken against ladies of rank. The colonists were sometimes chided by the Home Directors for want of enterprise and self-support, and told that a country which could not grow its own corn did not deserve to be called a colony_ Then the Home Company sent out fifty young farmers, and an equal number of maidens to aid them and others in their new home. Next came three hundred Huguenots, men, women and children, the salt of the earth: – – " Pilgrim fathers, noblest blood of sunny France, Broad-browed men of free-born spirit, lighted with the eagle glance."
Robbed of " freedom to worship God" in the land of their birth: " To this far nook the Christian exiles fled, Each fettering tie of earthly texture breaking; Wealth, country, kindred, cheerfully forsaking For that good cause in which their fathers bled."
To these may be traced some of the most valuable elements of the white race in South Africa; though, for a long time, the illiberal policy of the Home Company was far from giving such scope to the enterprise, industry, and influence they were prepared to exert, as the highest welfare of all parties, both immediate and future, required.
The sturdy Hollanders and Huguenots of those early days, the real Pilgrims and Puritans of South Africa, glorying, as they did, in being" free-born" and" liberty-loving," were, nevertheless, remark- ably patient under the many frivolous and discriminating laws and customs to which they were subject, touching private, social and civil life. Some of the good-hearted rulers, such as "Father Tulbagh," who lived .about :the middle of the last century, men of great simplicity of life and never lacking in rigid discipline, evidently failed to see what was really the great opportunity and object of their office, and yet were diligent enough in prescribing such laws and forms of social and official etiquette as they thought the people should observe. They had full faith in ranks and grades of society, and eschewed the doctrine that all men, even the white, were made or designed to be equal. The low vehicles of that age were admirably adapted to the fashion, made imperative by law, that every person should stop his carriage and get out when he should see the Governor approach, and should likewise give the members of the" Court of Policy" a clear pass for their carriages. The exact amount of velvet which gentlemen of different ranks might wear, the amount of ornamentation for their carriages, the number of servants each rank might boast, the particular costume of the footman, the dress of brides and their friends at weddings, the cloth and cut of dresses for the wives of men .of different ranks, as the junior merchant or the senior merchant, the wearing of diamonds, mantles, hoops, and dresses with a train, as the chronicles of thos.e days tell us, were all determined by laws made, not by the modistes of Paris, but by the Governor and his grave Council in the castle of Good Hope. And yet there was evidently much of good feeling and genuine enjoyment among that people. If they went to one extreme in the respect and deference they paid to age, rank and office, it is worth considering whether the people of this day have not gone to the other.
The religious character and observances of the Boers at that early period were not less marked and molding than their civil code and social life. Their means of education, teachers, ministers, books, except the Bible, outside of official ranks, were few. But the attachment of the scattered people to all the sacred institutions of religion was then, as now, remarkable; and evidently the guiding and re- straining influence of these simple ordinances and teachings of the gos- pel, during all the years, have done much to prevent the nomadic dasses from lapsing utterly into the heathenism of the native tribes with which they have ever been in contact. Even now, in those who lead a migratory life, rouch as the greater number of their fathers were wont to lead, " While on from plain to plain they led their flocks, In search of clearer springs and fresher field,"
-both the spirit and the forms of religion are everywhere far from rare. They hold the Calvinistic doctrines, and, in many respects, are not unlike the sturdy Scotch of three centuries ago. Rough and un- couth as the" trek Boers" (nomadic farmers) often are, they have, at least many of them, a habit of saluting their Maker at break of day with supplication and song. Nor is it any uncommon thing for the patriarch of the family to bring his household together, morning and -evening, read a chapter from the well-worn family Bible and offer prayer. They still retain tha.t resolute, republican spirit of freedom for which their ancestors were distinguished in the Netherlands many generations ago. From their religion and their politics together, it is -easy to see how they should be often thought a stubborn, sometimes a bigoted, if not also a proud race, of an independent spirit, a posi- tive purpose, and ever ready to fight and die for their rights and their liberties.
In their general appearance, domestic life and common pursuits, the Boers are tall, stout, strong, hospitable and kind, frank and cour- teous, sometimes surly and phlegmatic. Their farms and their fami- -lies are large, the former numbering from six. to ten thousand acres of land, the latter from six to a dozen children, to say nothing of serv- ants. Their wealth consists of their lands, cattle, sheep and horses. Where they have been able to settle down to live undisturbed for a few generations, they are not unlike the average New England farmer "in the general ordering of their affairs. When they are given or driven to constant change, the wide open field is their home, and the large tented wagon, usually drawn by twelve or fourteen oxen, is their house, where they sleep at night, and in which the women and chil- -dren ride by day, while the men, in their saddles, are out with their rifles for the game they need for the larder. If one thinks his stay in a place may be for a few months or years, he builds a cheap -" wattle and dab" house and covers it with thatch for himself and family, a hovel for his horses, and a pen for his cattle; encloses a few _.acres of land for a garden, and plants out a few fruit trees, and, even- .tually, if not too much annoyed by the natives, or forcibly ousted by ~the English, he comes to find he has a permanent home.
But the civil and political career and experiences of the Boers have been full of variety and trial. The original settlement went on to grow till it came to number fifty thousand souls and embrace a hundred thousand square miles of territory, when, in 1795, the English came' in and took possession, held it till 1806, then gave it back, but recov- ered it again in 1815; since which time it has continued to be an, English colony, much to the disgust and grief of the Dutch. The peculiar views of the Boers in respect to the natural rights of the na,..' tives, the frequent encroachments of the former upon the territory of the latter, and the consequent strife between the two races, all went, to make the life of each for many years one of almost constant fear' and unrest. The Boers could neVer forgive the English for taking from them what they claimed as their own country; and, being accus- tomed to take and hold many of the natives as slaves, or, a'S the Dutch said, as "apprentices," when, in 1833-7, the English abolished the system, the already disgusted Dutch became highly indignant. But the more considerate still remained in the colony and made the, best of it, while great numbers of them withdrew for good. Not less than five or six thousand of them, heads of families, gave up their big farms, gathered up their more valuable and portable effects, took, their families, cattle, sheep and horses, their Bibles and their guns, inspanned their big wagons, called the ugliest ox in the team by the opprobrious name of "England," set their faces toward the North Pole, and journeyed on till they crossed the Orange River, the northern limit of English rule, and there took up an abode wherever they could find green grass and good water. From this, in a year or two, 1837, a thousand of them inspanned their wagons again, took their families, cattle and other effects, followed up the Orange River and came down into Natal, hoping to make that beautiful country a new Netherlands, and there find rest and peace. But after two years of" war with the Zulus, and then two more of war with the English, the, land of their delight became a British colony. Again, a few of the more considerate of them remained and tried to make the best of it;, but great numbers of them withdrew, went back over the mountain, rejoined their fellows, and established the Orange River Free State and the Transvaal Republic, with an alleged promise from the English that they should not be disturbed. But, under the so-called "jingo policy" of the British Government a few years since, this promise, which the Dutch declare to have been plain' and positive,. seems to have been forgotten; and an attempt was made, or at least conceived, t.o deprive the Dutch of their independence and establish a grand Anglo-African Confedracy which should embrace all South Africa. This led to a war between the English and the Dutch, and also with the ZuIUjl. But in this the Dutch had the best of it, and are still preserving their independence.
The Free State embraces about 50,000 square miles, and has a population of about 130,000, of whom the whites number about 60,000.. The Transvaal, now called the South African Republic, embraces about 80,000 square miles and has a population of about 300,000, of whom about one-sixth are white, and of these about three-fourths are- Dutch. The eastern frontier of this State is about forty miles from Delogoa Bay. A railway to connect the capital, Pretoria, with the bay is nearly completed. Between this State and St. Lucia Bay the· Boers have formed what they call the" New Republic," of about. 16,000 square miles. This new State has already negotiated a treaty with the Transvaal, by the terms of which the two are to form them- selves into one State, to be incorporated under the name of the Dis- trict of Vryheid. Many of the English, both at home and in South Africa, especially in Natal, have been urging and hoping that British rule might be pushed northward, so as to take in Zululand, and what. was otherwise soon likely to be known as the" New Republic;" or even that the scheme of a grand Anglo-African Republic might yet be realized at an early date. But the latest utterance and phase of the Imperial policy on these points are that Mr. Gladstone emphati- cally repudiates any intention to interfere in Zulu affairs; that the Home Government is not prepared to adopt toward the Boer settlers in the New Republic district a hostil~ or aggressive attitude; and that· England especially desires to maintain friendly and cordial relations. with the Transvaal and the Orange Free State. The more considerate and humane course of the Boer towards the native is taking away one considerable pretext of the British Government in former years for interfering with Dutch rule.
From interesting addresses at the World's Missionary Conference last year in London, and from other fresh and valuable sources of information, it is clear that a great change is coming over the Dutch in their feelings towards the natives and in their attitude towards mission work among them. For many reasons, probably few men are ableto give more correct; valuable testimony on this point than the Rev. John McKenrie, of the London Missionary Society. In a recent speech of his, having referred to the opposition which mission work had to· encounter from the Dutch in former years, he goes on to say that, in the course of time, such work has come not only to have their high approval, but to find their own sons and daughters engaged in it;. that the Dutch Reformed Church of Cape Colony" has its own missionary society now, and if, in any village throughout the colony, there· should be a community of black people not ministered to by a European society, there you will find the Dutch Reformed Church at. work." The superintendent of the Berlin Missionary Society, Rev•. A. Merensky, having referred to the fact that, in former years, the- Boers of the Transvaal had refused to allow any mission work to becarried on in that State, goes on to say: "Our missionaries now have· in the Transvaal alone twenty-three stations, with five thousand mem- bel's; and altogether there are now about twenty-five thousand native Christians in the 'fransvaal." The Swiss have a flourishing mission in that State. Nor is the changing of sentiment and bearing on the part .of the Dutch towards the Zulus in N atalless marked. Some two years -ago there was a religious movement of great power among both races in the upper part of that colony, in the Greytown region. Several na- tive evangelists, being employed to hold meetings among their own people, often held them, by invitation, at the houses of the Dutch, .and many of both races were hopefully converted. The pastor of the Dutch church in Greytown gave the work every possible encourage- ment. Many of the farmers not only gave it their hearty approval .and shared in it, but contributed much of their own time and personal -effort to carry it forward. Rev. James Scott, a missionary of the .scotch Free Church, was called in and" assisted at the baptizing of -about a hundred natives who had been converted by those Boers who .destroyed the station of Livingstone, and interfered with the work of .our French brethren. Having received an outpouring of the Spirit of .God two or three years ago, these Dutch farmers are now gathering . their Zulu servants together and are themselves preaching to them the .gospel of Christ."
The veteran American missionary, Rev. David Rood, for forty years a faithful laborer among the Zulus in Natal, bears similar testi- mony to the interest the Dutch are now taking in mission work among the aboriginal races in all parts of Soutlt Africa. And, as among some of the more important causes, or agencies, that have wrought .and are still working this cheering change,-a revival of religious and missionary zeal among the Dutch,-he mentions the labors and prayers ~f the many devoted teachers that have been going out, for some years, from New England, and especially from Mt. Holyoke Seminary, under the call and direction of P-astor Murray, of Wellington, superintendent .of the Dutch churches in South Africa, to establish schools of the South Hadley order and spirit among the Dutch in different parts of .all that broad field. Nor is their influence limited to the sections in which the schools are set, but" reaching Dutch families far away."
At the annual meeting of "The Natal Missionary Conference," held in Durban last July, Rev. James Turnbull, V. D., of Grey- town, read an interesting paper on "The Boer Farm Mission, or the Introduction of Christian Life into the Kraals of the Kafirs," which .serves to prove and illustrate the real practical interest the Boers .are taking in the religious well-being of the nations around them. The Boer's farm is generally large, comprising from five to ten thousand acres. On it may often be found a goodly number of Zulu Kraals; and the aim of "The Boer Farm Mission" is to fur- .nish religious instruction for these natives by providing a native
MORAVIAN MISSIONS AMONG THE AMERICAN INDIANS. 17~
evangelist from some regular mission station to labor for them~ The evangelist thus employed is to have a hut of his own on the farm, together with a field for planting and pasturage for his cows; also a small salary, part of which is to be paid by the Farm Mission and part by the farmer for whose people he labors. This evangelist is to teach and preach also on the neighboring farms, and the owners of these shall be expected to help make up the salary of the minister whose services his people may share. The enterprise promises to be attended with much success. The members of the church have increased from 45 to 96 during the last year, and some 50 candidates are now waiting for baptism.
MORAVIAN ~IISSIONS AMONG THE AMERICAN INDIANSr BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, BELLEVUE, OHIO.
It is much to the shame of American Christendom that so little is known of the character and doings in general of the Moravian Church, and in particular of her efforts to evangelize and civilize the' aborigines of this country. For not only does the story constitute one of the most thrilling and pathetic portions of our early annals~ but a number of her representatives rank high for distinguished public services among our pioneers and founders. This church was the first to cross the Atlantic upon an errand purely evangelistic. For the better part of a century she stood in the very forefront of the fearful strife with the wilderness and with savagery in New York. Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Canada West. Nor did any heralds of the cross ever surpass, while few were able to equal, for patient endurance of hardships, or for length and energy of effort, such truly apostolic men as Heckewelder, for forty years a missionary among the Delawares, and Zeisberger, who for upwards of sixty years, bestowed most lavishly upon the same people the wealth of his wisdom and zeal, and died when past eighty-seven with the armor still on, and so, even more than Eliot, fairly earned the honorable title of Apostle to the Indians.
Already Dober and Nitschman had been despatched to the negroes of the West Indies, and the Stachs, with Christian David, to the Greenland Eskimos, and now in 1734, when the renewed church had been in existence scarcely more than a decade, a company of Moravians made their advent into Georgia to tell to the Creeks the story of redemption. But various troubles ensued and the mission was transferred to the more genial atmosphere of Quaker territory, and to the Forks of the Delaware. Here in 1741 a permanent settlement was made, destined to be a sort of second Herrnhut, a centre of gospel power for the New W orId, and named Bethlehem, Zinzendorf himself being present. A considerable accession soon followed of <settlers from Europe, and several tours of exploration through the forests to the north and west.
Meantime in Herrnliut Christian Henry Rauch h~d been set apart .as the first missionary to the Indians, and had landed alone and a ~tranger in New York. Only discouragements met him. But hearing that a delegation of Mohicans was in the city, he sought them out, and, sad prophecy of woe, found them in beastly intoxication. They had learned the Dutch language from their neighbors, and taking advantage of a few rational moments, he offered to return with them as a religious teacher, and in due season set out for Shekomeko, in Dutchess County, and near the Connecticut line. For a time his message was heard with interest, but when the novelty was gone his hearers fell away, rebuffs and insults became his daily portion, and he was bidden to be off' by the way he came. However, additional helpers were sent, and at the end of a year the seemingly barren soil suddenly began to whiten with a harvest. Tschoop (Job) and Shabash, the debauched wretches he had followed to their homes, through ,deepest penitence entered thoroughly into the kingdom, though one of them before had been "the greatest drunkard and most outrageous villain" in all that region. Savages came twenty and thirty .miles to listen to the" great words," a church of 70 was gathered, a ,-second station was opened further east upon the Housatonic (Pachgatgoch), and five missionaries were kept busy preaching, teaching and visiting from lodge to lodge. But those were troublous times. Evil doers found their gains from the vices of the Indians sadly les- ,1lened by the success of the Moravians, much sectarian bigotry and jealousy were abroad, and, worse, there was constant peril from the French. So from these combined sources fierce opposition arose, and their arrest followed upon the charge of being" Jesuits.in disguise," and finally in New York an act was passed which ordered" the sev- -eral Moravian and vagrant teachers to desist from further teaching .and preaching, and to depart the province." Thus expelled and the mission broken up, teachers and converts were presently transferred to Bethlehem. This was the first forced exodus in a long and lament- .able series.
In 1745 a Delaware chief and his wife were baptized, the first converts from that tribe upon which the bulk of Moravian fervor was henceforth to be expended. But just now great things were planned in behalf of the Iroquois to subdue their haughtiness by the power of the Cross, and inspire their hearts with the pity of Christ. .A mission board was formed. Young men were to be chosen and trained for the task by years of study and familiar intercourse. David Zeisberger was one of the first appointed (destin irter Heidenbote), and was sent to the Mohawk Valley to study the language. Arrested as a French .8P'!I and sent ba<?k, and little later with Bishop Spangenberg he made .a trying and most perilous trip to Onondaga to secure from the Grand Council permission for teachers to reside among the Six Nations. This was followed by several other visits of similar character, <and by two periods of residence, by which he gained such great ad- miration and affection from those redoubtable warriors that by the ·Onondagas he was with great ceremony adopted into the tribe of the "Turtle. As another means of reaching and winning the Iroquois, a mission was opened at Shamokin upon the Susquehanna, a great gathering place, with a blacksmith shop to sharpen their tools and weapons, and Zeisberger as an assistant. For some reason nothing flubstantial came of all this planning and labor. The French war <lompelled suspension, and after twenty years' continuance the attempt nnally ceased (1766).
But the work was vigorously pushed in the Wyoming Valley and <at other points. With <what heroic spirit is shown in a resolution adopted by the Mission Board " to carryon the evangelization of the Indians in an apostolic manner, and with resistless energy, to the glory of God, and to deem fit for this service such men and women only as are willing to lose their lives for Christ's sake." And, verily, it soon appeared that only such faith and fervor could meet the demands of the case. The Delawares were found comparatively docile and easy to be reached by such simple, earnest and loving presentation of the truth as the humble-hearted Moravians gave. So that by the end of 1749, 300 converts could be counted in Eastern Pennsylvania. But Braddock's defeat was the beginning of protracted disturbance and disaster. The entire frontier was exposed to bloody forays, morbid fear of tomahawk and scalping knife was universal, and the baseless suspicion spread that the Christian Indians and their teachers were in league~ith the French. Then, as if in cruel irony, a troop of Monseys, who were hostile to the English, made midnight assault with wholesale slaughter upon a Moravian settlement only a few miles from Bethlehem.
The mission came forth from the French war sadly scourged and a decimated, and then, when only a brief breathing space had been en- joyed, the Pontiac Conspiracy followed, with similar train of evils. The old charge against the converts was revived, but was proved to be a calumny by the meekness and resignation with which they endured severe and manifold trial and affliction ensuing. In part, at least out of kindness, they were ordered by the civil authorities to give up their arms and gather at Philadelphia, but, obeying, were met by a howling mob with insults and threats. In spite of all orders from their officers, the soldiers refused them a refuge in the barracks. Transported next to Province Island, a few weeks later they were packed off to New York, but on the border of the province were met ·with a command not to cross. Back then they tramped through a snow storm, and durance followed in all of sixteen months. Most of the time the missionaries were with them giving protection, council and good cheer. And the poor creatures were marvellously patient and steadfast through the whole. But during the summer smallpox and dysentery broke out, and almost half of the entire number died•. When finally released less than 100 remained, and so inveterate was– the prejudice against them that this remnant must needs at once re- move westward. So that presently we behold the afflicted flock and their loved shepherds, forsaking homes and worldly goods, plunging into the pathless forests, climbing Broad Mountain, crossing' the. Great Swamp, often able to advance but few miles a day, and, after' five weeks of hardship, fixing themselves upon the Susquehanna and. laying the foundations of a Second Friedenshutten (Tents of Peace).
This was in 1765. And now a few years of respite were vouch- safed. Comfortable homes were soon built, as well as a chapel and school-house, while a post-and-rail fence was constructed about the~ -entire cluster of cabins. The streets and yards were kept scrupu- lously clean. To every family was a garden, an orchard and a canal" while 250 acres were given to meadows and grain fields and cattle;, . hogs and poultry were abundant. To crown all a rich spiritual bless- ing also came, bringing a large increase of converts, while the gospel sounded out among the Mohawks, the Senecas, Cayugas, Onondagas, Tuscaroras, Wampanoags, Tutelas and N anticokes.
In 1767 intelligence was brought to Bethlehem that the Delawares .of the upper Allegheny desired to hear the glad tidings, and Zeisber- ger was deputed to journey thither. He found a very den of heathen- ism at Goschgoschunk, with debauchery and all manner of depraved doing rife. But, nothing daunted, he was on hand again the year following with Gottlob Senseman and three families of Christian Indians.. to begin the first Protestant mission beyond the mountains in the vast Mississippi Valley. For a while life was well nigh intolerable> so furious was the opposition. The settlement was removed a few miles. to a spot now in the midst of the oil region of Venango County, but at le~gth, by gentle bearing, coupled with zealous teaching and fervid appeal, such a turning to the Lord began that the heathen party lost control. In 1770 a call came to introduce the gospel still further west upon the Beaver, and a number of families journeyed thither iu canoes by way of the Allegheny and Ohio, and built Languntoutenunk, or Friedenstadt (City of Peace). Among the trophies of a revival,. which soon ensued, was Glikkikan, a famous chieftain and warrior,. who from henceforth threw the whole might of his influence in favor' of Christian civilization.
But serious trouble was brewing in the Susquehanna region. The bitter strife beween Yankee and Pennanite for the possession of . Wyoming was in progress. By the treaty of Fort Stanwix the territory in which Friedenshutten stood was sold to Pennsylvania, and the whites were crowding in upon the red inhabitants. Hence, re- moval, sooner or later, became necessary. And just then an invitation came from the Grand Council of the Delaware nation upon the Tus- carawas anG Walhonding, streams which unite to form the Musk- ingum, to remove, with tile promise of an aml)le tract of most fertile river bottom covered with magnificent forests full of berries, vi deer, turkeys and other game, while the stream was fairly alive with fish. And all hard by Gekelemukpechunk, the capital. Therefore, on every account it seemed best to transfer the mission from the Susquehanna. to the Muskingum, and in the spring of 1772 upwards of 200 crossed the diviaing ridge and made the long pilgrimage.
Zeisberger chose a spot upon the bluff nellr to a large rivulet which leaped forth from under ground, and called it Schonbrunn (Beautiful Spring). At a later time, to accommodate the growing numbers, he located two other settlements distant each a few miles, Gnadenhutten (Tents of Grace) and Lichtenau (Pasture of Light). These solid be- ginnings of religion and settled order were made by the Moravians, be it known, about half a generation before the Ordinance of 1787 and the founding of Marietta. And now followed in this far-off Arcadia what on the whole were the halcyon days in the career of the mISSIOn. Of material prosperity there was no lack, so that the heathen came from far to behold and wonder. Several sachems of high degree openly espoused the truth, among them Netawatwas and White Eyes. The chapel, though holding 500, could not contain the . audiences which gathered to hear the" great words." Baptisms, too, were frequent, and some of the shrewdest of the chiefs judged that a few years would suffice to give the victory to the gospel.
But, alas, sorest tribulation was in store. The Revolution was hastening on apace, with all its terrible moral strain and waste. When open collision came, it was neither from cowardice nor lack of patriotism that the missionaries decided to stand neutral. It was $ matter of conscience. They were non-combatants from principle. But this fact was the direct cause of continued embarrassment, though it is impossible to see how their case would have been bettered by choosing either for Congress or the King. But here, as also before and at a later time, upon them fell the" frequent penalty of peace- makers, the distrust of both sides." Certainly their course was ad- vantageous to the Colonies, since, though the Delawares finally went over to the British, it was not until after the surrender of Burgoyne and the alliance with France, and so for years 10,000 warriors were held back from their bloody forays by Zeisberger, Heckewelder and the rest, as in New York were many more by missionary Kirkland. The situation on the Muskingum was most trying and critical. The Christian Indians occupied the border between the English settlements and the savages of the 'Vest, and so were between two fires. War fury was rampant, and it required the utmost of sagacity and watehfulness to keep the hands of the young Delaware braves from seizing the hatchet. War parties frequently went back and fortb and all were entertained with strictest impartiality.
At length, to the British commander at Detroit, the attitude of this influential tribe became intolerable. And well k!lowing that the missionaries were tbe cbief obstacles in h.is way, be determined to strike at them a telling blow. It was when the long and weary strife was well nigh over, only four weeks before Cornwallis surrendered, that a few hundreds of Wyandots, lVlingoes, Shawanese, etc., with Elliott, an English captain, among them, suddenly appeared at Schonbrunn and the other towns, and by force compelled an exodus of the entire Christian population, Zeisberger and the four. other lVloravians included, and a long journey to Upper Sandusky, involving a wholesale destruction of property; and at the approach of winter, destitute of food and robbed of nearly all their clothing, were left by their captors in the wilderness. A little later the missionaries were ordered to Detroit to remain, and their followers to separate and find a home where they could.
But, meantime, the climax of horrors had come-the crushing (latastrophe. In a starving condition small companies had begun to return to the lVluskingum to gather some of their corll, which by the thousand bushels had been left unharvested. Toward the end of winter a larger party had gone upon the same errand. Theil' presence became known to the borderers of Pennsylvania and Virginia, and an <expedition was planned to cut them off. Under the lead of one Col. Williamson, while scattered through the fields, they- were suddenly set upon and made prisoners. A few hours were given in which to prepare for death, and then they were taken to two "slaughter houses," and one by one butchered and scalped. Ninety.six victims, wholly innocent of evil, of whom some thirty were women, thirty-five children and twelve babes. And this" not in the flush of victory, but in cold blood, leisurely as animals for the shambles." After the slaughter every building was burned.· Can American history match this woful and altogether sickening narration?
The residue of the dolorous story, though extending yet over the better part of a half century, need not long detain us. Permission was soon given to Zeisberger and his white associates to remain in Detroit, or to retire to Bethlehem. But the thought of forsaking the souls they had gathered at such cost could not be cherished for an instant, and a·re-establishment of the mission was determined upon. By consent of the Chippewas, a location was selected a few miles to the west of Lake St. Clair and upon the Huron (now Clinton) River, and a call was sent to the Christian Indians to gather at New Gnadenhutten. Not strangely, the response was so meagre that a start was made with but nineteen, and fifty-three was the sum total at the end of a year. A long succession of troubles, repeated removals with great loss of property, set upon and harried alike by British and American, and fihally the ruthless and unprovoked slaughter of scores of their brethren, whom could they trust, and what ground was there for hope and courage? In the almost insanity of despair they were haunted with the suspicion that the massacre was instigated by their teachers! Though others returned later, and not a few relig- iously alone and unhelped from henceforth lived and died true dis- ciples, yet too many made utter shipwreck of faith and relapsed into paganism, counting the gospel a cheat and snare.
Nearly four years was passed in the forests of Eastern Michigan in :severest toil and with slight encouragement, and then since the Chip- pewas broadly hinted that their presence was no longer welcome, the future ownership and government of the Northwest was uncertain, ;and since Congress had taken steps towards ceding to them the lands they had occupied on the Muskingum, in 1786 their steps were turned in that direction. Crossing Lake Erie they were driven ashore by tlevere storms, and were compelled to continue their journey on foot. .At length the Cuyahoga was reached, and upon its banks, some miles :south of where Cleveland now stands, a halt was made upon the site <>f a former Ottawa village, and the work of building and planting was at once commenced. This was their Pilgerruh (Pilgrims' Rest). It soon became apparent that though Congress stood ready to bestow titles and gifts of corn, blankets, etc., yet, on account of the deter:: mined opposition of the neighboring Indian tribes to a return to the Muskingum, the project must be postponed.
A more favorable location for a settlement was sought for and found some sixty miles to the west on the Huron river, and near to the Milan of this day. New Salem 'was the name which expressed their hope, and four years followed of rest and peace, and consequent prosperity. A grateful calm it was after a protracted season of dis- astrous storms. Or, as the event proved, it was a brief period of sun- shine succeeded by the gloom of a tempestuous night, and so its beauty . was but a bright sunset glow. A thriving town sprang up as if by magic, cattle increased and large harvests were gathered. Three .schools were opened and a hundred dusky pupils filled them. The chapel was thronged with Delawares, Chippewas, Ottawas, and even Wyandots, inquiring after the better way, and an old time revival began, which, with overwhelming power, laid hold of such as Gelele- mand, a head chief, and Gegeshamind, a notorious sorcerer,' and the membership of the church rose to 212.
·But evil days were oJ?ce more at hand. An Indian war broke out and raged with fury over the Northwest, with the crushing defeat of St. Clair and the brilliant victory of Wayne as chief incidents. Again missionary work was rudely brought to a Fltl).ndstill, and~ finally, lest a second massacre befall, a flight for safety to Canada was planned and executed. Some fifty appiicants for church membership declined to go, but the residue, in thirty large canoes, crossed the lake, located upon the Thames, founded Fairfield and received from the Government a large grant of land. After six years, or in 1798, a fraction numbering thirty-three formed a colony and set out for the Muskingum to rebuild the waste places and occupy the 12,00(} acres set apart for their use. Sixteen years had wrought great changes. The ruins of the former settlement could be traced.. Heaps of bones mingled with the ashes showed where the slaughter had occurred. But the fields were again wild with briars and underbrush. For some reason no attempt to restore and rehabilitate prospered. The missionaries and early converts were aged, and one after another- ;were passing away. Zeisberger, the chief leader and inspirer from the beginning, the center and soul of every movement for fifty years,. in 1808 went to his reward. The whites were crowding in from every direction, bringing the demoralization of their vices. And, finally, the migration of the Indian tribes across the Mississippi had set in. So in 1824 the lands were receded to the United States and the work came to an end. Unsuccessful attempts were made to open missions upon the Wabash and in Georgia among the Cherokees. Fairfield was burned by Gen. Harrison after the battle of the Thames, upon the false report that the Moravian Indians had fought with the British. That mission, however, still survives, and two stations are maintained in the Indian Territory. And this is all that remains after the utmost of wise, and earnest, and consecrated endeavor continued through one hundred and fifty years.
And what shall we say to this most painful narrative of hope deferred, of toil unstinted, and in His name, but constantly beset with appalling difficulties and doomed to failure at last?· Well, this at least: The work undertaken was a sublime one, and in the truest sense Christian, Christlike-of a piece with that done by the same church for the degraded African, and Australian, and Eskimo. Preaching of the gospel to the Indians was the thing to do, and th~t regardless of results, great or small. It was in obedience to the Divine call. Nor can we accurately reckon up returns in such high matters. It is no slight thing that some 1,400 or 1,500 souls were converted and trained for glory, and that christianizing and civilizing influence~ were carried to many hundreds more. Then Moravian missions to the aborigines of this country have but shared the sad lot of all similar undertakings. What is there to show for all that Eliot did, and Edwards, and the Mayhews, and many others in later times? In every case the obstacles were overwhelming, and the tribes have
THE JEW IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
well nigh vanished from the earth. Therefore, it was not their fault that they failed. There was a true Providence in the matter. They .did all that mortals could do. " Were strenuous ~xertions, indefatigable labor, patient perseverance, constant self-denial, and devoted zeal sufficient to secure success," then no sort of failure would have resulted. Best of all, such godly doing is never to be accounted "waste." In the spectacle I have been endeavoring to portray, as in so many bright passages from the history of Moravian missions, the gospel ideal is held up to the gaze of Christendom as seldom elsewhere. How blind and reckless, how unquestioning and resolute was their faith! At the divine bidding, like others of God's heroes, they gladly and with fine enthasiasm 'dared to attempt the impossible. And so in all centuries to come, and to thousands, what such as Zeisberger, and Heckewelder, and Senseman, and Rauch, and Buttner, and J ung did and assayed to do, will prove a mighty inspiration and ' impelling force to similar heroic efforts for the redemption of lost men.
THE JEW IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY.
BY J. T. GRACEY, D.D., BUFFALO, N. Y.
Seven millions of people are an inconsiderable numerical proportion of the fourteen hundred millions of people on the globe. But this number of Hebrews have managed to secure a large share of attention from the rest of mankind in our time, as for centuries preceding. We say seven millions, but this is probably under rather than beyond the real number, which has been estimated as low as five millions, while Herzog reckons, on the ground of information derived from many quarters, that at the lowest they number twelve millions. If the Jewish population of Europe be correctly estimated at five millions-and the statistics are doubtless more trustworthy here than ,elsewhere-then we strongly incline to the very high figures of Herzog, rather than to the extremely low aggregate of two millions in all the world outside of Europe. But Herzog says two millions is too 10w for Europe. This would be one Jew for every forty-five of the entire population. In Amsterdam alone there are thirty-six thousand Jews; in Poland no one estimates the Jew population at less than one million; and in Russia, including Poland,> at three millions. Germany has upwards of half a million, and the United States probably three-quarters of a million of Jews; European Turkey contains about 350,000, mostly about Constantinop~e; Roumania, 250,000, and North Africa, 100,000.
We will not now classify the Jewish communities only to say, there are J ews-and Jews. The Falashas in Abyssinia, the Black J'ews on the Malabar coast, Loango Jews in Africa, and the Karaites in Russia, Crimea and Damascus, are not Jews by lineage. The last named claim to be descended from a leader of their own who lived twenty-two centuries ago. They are not Talmudists. They number about 100,000. They disclaimed being Jews to escape the Russian outbreak of the anti-Jewish riots of 1881.
Nor can we stop to say more than a word about their language. In Europe they speak J udeo-Spanish and J udeo-German. The one is the corrupted Spanish and Hebrew they carried with them when expelled from Spain; and the other has Hebrew roots and German flexions. Over Asia 'and Africa they speak a peculia~ jargon, yet generally, besides, the vernacular of the country where they live.
But the change in the position of the Jew within the last half century is one of the most remarkable character. Fifty years ago the Jew was inert and imbecile. Now he exercises a power greater than in the days of David or Solomon. The Jews to-day influence more people, control more bullion, and exercise more legislative power than they did when they had their temple, their land ati.d their scepter. They have been stationary for eighteen centuries and hunted into obscurity. To-day they attract wider attention than ever before in tbeir bistory.
They are "ministers of finance, ministers of education, peers of the realm, mayors of great cities, senators in the assembly, close counsellors of kings." Painters, philosophers, poets, professors, physicians, editors, lawyers, members of parliament, bankers,-none of them could name those who have attained eminence amongst them without naming a modern Jew. In all countries of western Europe> except Russia, they enjoy Civil Equality and all the rights of citizens. It is estimated by those who claim to see the drift of things, that in a brief period all the seats of justice will be in their bands. Out of twelve hundred students at .Jaw iu Berliu, six hundred were Jews. The Berlin and other Councils are ruled by a Jewish majority, and aU offices are in the gift of Jews. The German tradesman sinks to a. secondary position alongside his Jew competitor, the best squares are filled with Jew shops, the best estates have passed into their hands;. in Germany they have ousted the best families from their patrimonial possessions. This is true of Holland also.
One Jew at least has reached the Senate of France, and another the Chamber of Deputies. Lord Beaconsfield achieved undying notoriety as the Prime Minister of Great Britain; and M. Simon the French Premier, and Gambetta the leader of the opposition, were both descendants of Jewish families. One of the best minds of the Southern councils during the rebellion was that of Judah P. Benjamin, a Jew; and in the North, a Jew, August Belmont, was Chairman ~f the National Democratic Committee in 1878. The Jew is the world's chief banker to-day. No existing civilized nation has failed to f~el his influence in monetary matters. National loans in Europe have long been dependent on Jewish coffers, and it is doubtful if any nation would dare to declare war until they knew if Jew bankers would float the loan necessary for the conduct of the campaign. Almost the whole Cif the liberal press of Germany is in their hands. The two leading papers of Rome, Italy, were, and possibly still are, edited by Jews. The power of the Jewish press of the continent of Europe is very great in ID'ltters political, scientific and theological. The learned Rabbis publish many journals.
At the bar the Jew has achieved great eminence within thirty years of opportunity. It is fifty-six years since the Jews were admit- ted to the freedom of the city of London. The first Jew sheriff of England was elected in 1835, and a little earlier the first Jew was ad- mitted to the English bar. It was as late as 1847 that Baron Roths- child was returned for the city of London, and eleven years later (1858) the first Jew was admitted to the House of Commons. There were but twelve Jew brokers in London at the beginning of this cen- tury. ~he number was limited to twelve. The rare privilege to be- come one of these twelve brokers was conveyed by title deed, and as late' as 1826, when a vacancy occurred, over seven thousand dollars was paid by a Jew for the privilege of its occupancy.
The children of Jews are being educated in a ratio disproportioned to those of Gentiles in many countries, especially in Germany, Austria, and even Russia. This finds an illustration in the Grand Duchy of Baden, where the number of the population being a trifle over a million and a half, one million were Romanists, a half million Protestants, aud twenty-eight thousand Jews. But in the grammar schools the Romanists and Protestants counted two thousand each, and the Jews over five hundred, or the Romanists 41 per cent., the Protestants 47 per cent., and the Jews 11 per cent" or, more roughly and roundly, the Romanists had one pupil in these schools for every five hundred of their number, the Protestants one for every two hundred and sixty, and the Jews one for every fifty-seven. In what are known as the commercial schools the proportion is about the same.
The Jews in Turkey are reported as taking a great interest in education. There is said to be a class of educated Jews, liberal minded and prosperous, untiring in their efforts to develop education among the native Jews by establishing schools.
The increased prosperity and power of the Jew was a foremost occasion of the anti-Semitic riots in Russia in 1881. It was alleged that they had increased in population and wealth until they exercised an undue preponderating influence in affairs of State. It was said that their presence in such numbers and their power endangered national unity and the Christian faith; that they could never be true patriots, and as a money-lending people they exerted a corrupting influence on commerce. It is charged against the modern Jew that he carries out no mission for the good of the human family, and that he seriously interferes with brotherly unity and love. As a class, it is true, they originate no organization of their own looking to practical beneficence beyond their own race lines. But the mercantile Jew of our country has been a generous contributor towards relief of national calamities by fire, flood and pestilence. That his motive may be mixed in his subscription to the relief of sections whence he finds his patronage, even if established, would, we fear, not prove that he occupied a lower level than many Gentiles by his side.
As the Jew has entered into the civilization of the age and become a part of it, Rabbinical Judaism has necessarily undergone considerable modification.' The public schools and other educational establishments give them their curriculum of study, and the study of the Talmud has so far declined that German Jews have to imp~rt their Rabbis from among Polish and Russian youths. The catechism learned by the Jew children in Germany teaches rationalism, not Biblicism, and many have first learned the Bible through the Christian missionary. Amongst multitudes of them in Germany, the hope of a Messiah has totally disappeared. Dr. Philippson, editor of the Allgemeine Zitung des Indenthens, acknowledges that a spirit of skepticism has laid hold of the yonnger generation, so that conviction has disappeared; that there is truth, and that man can obtain it; all idealism is gone, and nothing is considered to be useful and worth while anyeffor.t but that which promises material advantage-wealth, honor, power and enjoyment. Hence this mad spirit of speculation, this ef~ fort and anxiety to get rich quickly, and at the expense of others. A writer in that same periodical said a few years ago: "I see that among the educated classes the religious indifference has so much grown that they do not take the least interest in Jewish literature. I cannot get rid of the doubt whether Judaism, which rests on an historical foundation and is built up with historical stones, can stand and continue when those stones are loosened, and that foundation is forsaken."
The Jewish Chronicle and Jewish World are full of lament that the privileges granted by the Russian government to educated Jews, and the drafts of Jewish youths fOl' ten years into the army, with other causes, are rapidly resulting in the same decline of faith among the Russian Jewish community, and the younger generation is acknowledgedly skeptical, though often secretly so at home. The Is~ raelitish Alliance of Paris is rapidly planting the same forces-schools, etc., among the Jews in Turkey, Asia and Africa. Of two thousand shops kept by Jews in the city of Paris, not over a hundred are closed on Saturday. Of the seventy thousand Jews in New York City, not over twenty-five hundred are attached to the synagogue. Rev. Theodore J. Meyer has therefore pertinently said that the " consequence of this new spirit is that the synagogal service, which for centuries had existed without any change, can no more attract and ,satisfy people whose mental horizon has been enlarged by the study of history, science and philosophy, and whose tastes and modes of living have been revolutionized by the contact and intercourse with civilized society. The disorderly, noisy service of the synagogue could not but be repulsive to such men. A reform of it was therefore generally de- manded. Under great opposition, not only from the still poweI"ful orthodox party, but in many cases also from the political authorities, a. change was at length effected. Everywhere in the principal syna- gogues of the Continent and Great Britain more order and decorum prevail, choral singing, regular or occasional sermons in the vernacu- lar were introduced, although with a very few exceptions the language ·of the prayers remaiI).ed Hebrew. For a time that succeeded in at- tracting again to the synagogues those who had turned away in dis- gust from the old unresthetic service; but it could not satisfy them for any length of time. The cold decorum of the new service left them cold, too; and moreover they discovered that the spirit of the prayers of the synagogue was more in opposition with their views than even the old form of service had been with their new 1abits and tastes.
" The writings of Zunz, Geiger, Holdheim, Furst and others had rudely shaken the belief in the authority of the Talmud and in the .institutions of the prayers and service of the synagogue by Ezra .and the great men of the Sanhedrim. These men, and the leaders of this movement generally, had been all more or less imbued with ration- alism and pantheism, which at that time prevailed in German litera- ture and society generally. What sympathy could they have with a liturgy which on every page gives expression to its hope for the com- ing of the promised Messiah, prays for his appearance, for the gather- ing of scattered Israel, and their return to their own land; for the re- building of the temple and the restoration of the sacrificial service? After the charm of novelty had worn off, the synagogue again stood :empty, notwithstanding their reformed services. Greater, more thorough-going reforms were required-reforms which introduced into the synagogue not only better decorum, music and singing, which e., did not merely lop the liturgy a little here and there, but would bring it into harmony with the spirit of the age, both internally-i. doc- trinally-and externally."
The Jewish World is a weekly penny paper, published in London, which week by week has reproduced in popular form the subtlest and boldest infidel thought of Strauss and Bauer. There is little room to ,doubt but that where Judaism has come in contact with Christian civ- ilization it has resulted in a death-blow to Rabbinical Judaism. A re- turn to simple Mosaic Judaism has proven to be an impossibility.
Even in other countries Rabbinism has been undermined.
The question of their conversion to Christianity would require a ,separate article. A few statements, however, may be presented.
Seven or eight years ago it was said the number of Hebrew Christians in Berlin alone was upwards of fifteen hundred. In 1876 the Irish . Presbyterian Mission Board estimated that there were twenty thousand converted and baptized Jews then living in the communion of Christian churches, and the Missionary News estimates that at the present day at least a thousand. Jews annually are converted to Chris- tianity, who join the churches in about the following proportion: Greek Church 450; Romish 270 ; Evangelical 250 ; and that during this century at least a htlnarea tliousana have been baptized, among whom are many eminent persons. Professor Paulus Cassell, D. D., a member of the German Parliament, is a convert from Judaism. The Irish Presbyterian Missionary report" of thirteen years ago, said that not less than three hundred and twenty converted Jews were known at that time to be occupying high and influential p08itions as ministers" theological professors, and teachers in the Christian church. The Church of England alone had one hundred and ten converted Jews ministering as priests at her altars, and amongst the most eminent di- vines of the Presbyterian and dissenting bodies were many of the chil- dren of Jacob. Christian Jews have won for themselves a world-widereputation as commentators and expounders of the Christian Scriptures,. and some of the brightest centers of Evangelical light on the continent of Europe are universities whe'reJewish Christian doctors occupy the chairs. There are indications among the Jews of Persia of a large movement'towards Christianity. Among the sixty thousand Jews of London there is said to be an increasing approximation of many J eWI> to the Christian church. Some well-to-do Jews say that many would any day become members o~ the Christian church if there was an important movement that way from the synagogues. Many Christians. found in London have Jewish names, and have had for at least one generation. Sixty Jews have applied for membership cards in our' Young Men's Christian Associations. Forty years ago there were not fifty Jewish Christian converts in Gteat Britian ; now the missions. count three thousand, and it is estimated that fifteen hundred Jews. leave the synagogue every year; whether they become Christians or infidels, we are not told. Europe has nineteen, possibly more, Jewish societfes. In this country it was thought twenty-five years ago that there was no room nor need for a mission to the Jews, but we now have several, and through them many have been brought to Christ.
An able Jewish authority says: "The majority of Jews are more familial' with the doctrines and sayings of the New Testament than they are with the Talmud and the Pentateuch." Rev. Rudolph Koenig of Pesth says of Professor Delitzch's translation of the New Testament into Hebrew, which has gone through several editions, that the J ewe are its readers, and a considerable movement among them has been the result. He also speaJ-:s of the Jewish Missionary Association formed among the theological students of Leipsic, called" Institutum Judaicum," holding prayer-meetings for the conversion of the Jews. The methods of appeal to the Jews which experience discloses,
ROMAN CATHOLIC LAY CONGRESS OF 1889
are often curious and instructive. There is, for instance, the appeal to the Jewish character of the New Testament. It is affirmed to bemore Jewish than the Old Testament, containing not a' particle of Gentile element within its pages, whereas the Old Testament containsprophecies communicated through Gentiles like Jethro and an idolatrous priest, and a pseudo-prpphet like Balaam.
We have no room so much as to outline the independent Jewish Christian movements, like that under Rabinowitz, the learned Jewish lawyer, who teaches the Jews" Jesus is our brother," and" The key to the Holy Land lieslin the hands of our brother Jesus." We forbear reference now to the oft-repeated suggestion that the conversion of the people would provide not a missionary agency but a missionary people, and an indigenous evangelistic force.
They are sleeping under all stars, trading in all marts, sailing overall seas, scaling all mountains, tracking all deserts, wearing all garbs,. speaking all tongues, familiar with all customs and codes, "the source of all the monotheism of the world," holding in their hands the prophecies of their own peeled, scorned, and scattered: condition; at once no people and the mightiest of people; steeped in prejudice and often in poverty; without prophet to inspire, or priest to rally, or' prince to rule, or standard for rendezvous; without country that they may call their own, without shekel or shield, without miracle or sacrifice, without urim and thummim or cloud pillar, they remain, defying all influences that have worked the extinction of other peoples from the days of the Czar of Egypt to those of the Czar of Russia; and they remain to accomplish so high and holy mission as witnesses to Jesus Christ in another and a better sense than in that of the terrible, "rrarry thou till I come," whIch has made the monumental through centuries of the judgment of God.
THE ROMAN CATHOLIC I~AY CONGRESS OF 1889.
BY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D. D., NEW YORK.
The significance of the Roman Catholic Centennial, which was· held in Baltimore in November last, is admitted by all. A review of a hundred years of progress was presented with skill and enthusiasm. The advances made both intrinsically and relatively, and the promise which those advances give to the future of Roman Catholocism in this country, were received with manifest pride, and with an apparent assurance of faith for the time to come. This was the first of a probable series of conventions designed to represent the laity. Very apparent was the desire to show the people a little ostentatiously that the Church is not bound hand and foot by priestly authority, but in the influence of and powers of its laymen is abreast with Protestantism. The speeches and papers were presented by laymen, mostly young or in their prime, and supposed to represent the, wide-awake spirit of our country and our generation. It is under- stood, however, that all the papers had passed under the eye of the Bishops, and that the Convention as a whole was held firmly in hand.
The general plan was well conceived and executed. The whole {lase of the Roman Catholic Church in this country could scarcely have been presented, in its beginnings, progress, and attainments, more adroitly. According to programme, two days were spent at Baltimore, and a third day at Washington in the dedication of the National Catholic University.
The Convention was dignified by the presence of a special repre- sentative of the Pope, and by Cardinal Tascheraeu of Canada. Car- dinal Gibbons was supported by about a dozen American Arch- bishops, eighty Bishops, and nearly a thousand priests, .while the attendance of Catholics upon the different sessions is supposed to have numbered tens of thousands.
The address of welcome given by Cardinal Gibbons, as reported, seems rather.disappointing. Much was doubtless expected from him, {lonsidering his acknowledged ability, his progressive spirit, and ad- mirable tact. He stated that he had not at first been favorable to the idea of holding this Congress, as the time seemed too short. His reference to the fact that the business proceedings "would have to be dovetailed between the religious festivities of Baltimore and 1Vashington," and his facetious sympathy for a body thus "sandwiched," as he said, "between two other corpulent bodies, which is always so much the worse for the individual sandwiched, rendering it difficult for him to breathe, and-still more difficult to speak," would seem to lack the dignity deml.nded from so august a personage upon so great and historic an occasion. He expressed, however, a desire long felt, to see the clergy and the laity drawn more closely together, believing that while the clergy are divinely constituted channels for instruction in faith and morals, they may learn much from the laity in practical wisdom and worldly common sense. He expressed his earnest prayer that the deliberations of the Congress might be marked by the "freedom and independence which becometh patriots,' by the wisdom and discretion which becometh enlightened {litizens, and, above all, by the charity which becometh Christians, sons of the same Father, brothers of the same Christ, members of the same family, having one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all."
Important papers were read by Dr. J. G. Shea of Newark, N. J., who gave a history of the Roman Catholic Church in this country, .and emphasized with much pride the fact that its growth had been achieved without any appliances of home or foreign missionary agen- {lies; and by Hon. H. T. Brownson of Detroit, who urged that "the ,Church should adopt all that is good in modern civilization, and not try to return to oldconditions,"-that more should be made of the lay element in all practical work, that "politics and religion should not be separated, if purity in politics is to be looked for," that the cause of temperance and every means of purifying the politics of the country should be encouraged.
The most eloquent speech of th~ Convention was delivered by Daniel Dougherty, Esq., of New York, who regarded the opportunity of the hour" as the great honor of his life." For peculiar glow of imagination, brilliancy of utterance, broad and rapid sweep of history, and skilful arrangement of facts for the purpose in view, the speech has rarely been excelled. The fact that America was discovered by a Catholic navigator under royal Catholic patronage, that a Roman Catholic Christian service was the first to consecrate the Western hemisphere so far as .history records, that one great aim of Catholic discovery was the establishment of the religion of Christ, that Catho- lics had been the first to stain our fair land with their martyr blood, that although" they had been spurned with suspicion, disenfranchised, hunted as criminals," yet a Catholic was among the signers of the Dec- laration of Independence, and Catholic powers of Europe aided us in our struggles against the Protestant powers that denied us liberty, that the blood of Catholic patriots was freely shed for the Colonial cause-all this was shown forth with consummate tact. He maintained that in spite of "constant abuse heaped upon Catholics in later times, in newspapers, books and periodicals, speeches and sermons, by sectarian assemblies and political conventions, and even on the .floor of Congress," yet, Catholic volunteers had been among the first to consecrate their lives to the Republic on every field of battle. He did not allude to the New York Catholic riots to resist the draft: still we would not detract from the worthy service rendered by Catholic soldiers in the support of the Government. " From 40,000" said :Mr. Dougherty, "the Roman Catholics in this country have become 10,000,000. From a despised people they are a mighty power. In every avenue of industry and intellect they are the peers of their fellow men. Their schools and colleges, libraries, asylums and hospitals are scattered far and near. In every village, a steeple or tower tipped with the cross tells where Catholics pray. In every metropolis a cathedral lifts its massive walls high above all surrounding piles, or with its stately dome crowns the city's brow. Our grand old Church," he continued, "rescued the jewels of classic lore from the ruins of the Roman Empire, and preserved them through the convulsions of a thousand years. She was the pioneer of civilization, the founder of States, the conservator of order, the champion of the people against the encroachments of tyrants."
Now, there is a large per cent. of truth in all this, but it is ereparte. The almost total destruction of civilization in Spain is not mentioned. And as to Catholic resistance to tyrants, Charles V. and Phillip II. are passed in silence, as well as the fact that Pope Paul IV. remonstrated with the Spanish Sovereign for his leniency and tardi- ness in crushing the Protestants, and even withdrew from him the >subsidies of the Church.
At the inauguration of the Catholic University at Washington, Father Fidelis, in an eloquent sermon, treated history in the same eclec- tic manner. Those events which we all admit to have been sublime he thus set forth: "She [the Church] has waited in the wilderness and 'crouched in the catacombs, and from her throne of honor she has ruled the world with more than regal sway. She met the barbarian and curbed his rage; she organized a new civilization on the wide ruin of the old; she cleared the forest, and drained the marsh, and built the town' >she covered Europe with her cathedrals and colleges; she was the foster mother of learning and the patroness of art; and all the while ,she forgot not that which was ready to perish, but in meekness and voluntary poverty she went her ceaseless rounds of mercy."
Evidently the leaders of the Church are using the immense prestige of their past history to the best possible account. The masses of the people will be made more intellige~t and more enthusiastic. They will not be carefully instructed in regard to the Inquisition or the wrongs of Albigenses, Lowlanders and Huguenots. They will know -only the brighter side: possibly we have dwelt too exclusively upon the dark side. If the late Congress has really struck a new key-note of advancement,-if, as Father Fidelis claims, "the Catholic Church is capable of infinite adaptability,"-is "constantly shaking off and casting from her that which is outwo:n and worthless,?' candid Protestants will rejoice in every slich change.
The declarations contained in the Platform are as follows: First. That there is no antagonism between the claims of the Church and those of the country, and that if the freedom of our .country should ever be in peril, its Catholic citizens will be found ready as one man to pledge anew:' their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor." Second. A regretful reference to the social and political dangers which threaten the laId in pauperism and discontent. Third. A recognitl:>ll of the importance to society as well as the individual, of Christian education, and since religion in the public schools is denied, the indispensable necessity of parochial education for the children of all Catholics. Fourth. A declaration of the sacredness of the home, coupled with a denunciation of Mormonism, and" the facility for divorce which has gained such alarming currency under the auspices of Protestant sentiment and legislation." Fifth. A warning against the danger of political or industrial guilds, and an earnest recommendation of Oatholic societies only, since in a religious basis, and not in a race or national basis, lies true safety.
. Sixth. The conflict of capital and labor, and the associational tendencies connected t4erewith ar~ looked upon with regret. Nihil- ism, socialism and communism are pointedly condemned, and equal condemnation is visited upon the heartless greed of capital.
Seventh. Strong ground is taken against intemperance and Sabbath desecration. "Without going over to the Judaic Sabbath," says the Platform, "we can bring the masses over to moderation of the Christian ::;unday, and to effect this we must set our faces sternly .against the sale of intoxicating beverages on Sunday. Let us resolve that drunkenness shall be made odious, and give practical encouragement and support to Catholic temperance societies." All Catholics are urged to join their influence, with that of other enemies of intemperance, against the corrupting influence of the saloon in politics.
Eighth. The importance of disseminating Catholic reading matter, not only in books and tracts setting forth Christian doctrines, but in acquainting the people with Catholic teaching and opinion on the important questions of the day. Circulating libraries and Catholic reading circles are recommended, but not a word is said about reading the Word of God in any version.
Perhaps the most difficult plank in this platform, yet the most crucial and important, considering the present status of the Church, is that relating to the freedom of the Pope. The Oatholic Mirror, the supposed organ of Cardinal Gibbons, published a week before the Congress, an article declaring that" American Catholics do not desire that the temporal power of the Pope shall be restored) they only demand that the independence of the Pope in spiritual matters shall be guaranteed to him by the Catholic powers of Europe." This utterance, which was not challenged by the Convention, gives a somewhat enigmatical significance to this plank in the platform, viz.: "The absolute freedom of the Holy See is necessary to the peace of the Church and the welfare of mankind. We demand in the name of humanity and justice that this freedom be scrupulously respected by all secular governments. We protest against the assumption by any such government of a right to affect the interests or control the action of our Holy Father by any form of legislation or other public act to which his full approbation has not been previously given; and we pledge to Leo XIII., the Worthy Pontiff, the loyal sympathy and unstinted aid of all his spiritual children in vindicating that perfect liberty which he justly claims as his sacred and inalienable right."
The question which it is difficult to decide is, to what particular rights does this freedom apply? This protest against the rights of any government "to affect the interest or control the action of the Holy Father by any form of legislation to which his full approbation has not previously been given" may admit of an immense latitude of interpretation. The language, if it is to hinge upon a Pope'<i own decision;;;, wodd open the way for all shades of sentiment, from the mild and patriotic utterances of Cardina! GlObons to the preposterous.
assumptions of a Hildebrand. .
Our perplexity is still furtner increased by the fact that since the- rising of the Convention, viz., on December 30th, the Pope, in con- sistory, gave his interpretation of the issue in question by declaring that his liberty required nothing short of· a recovery of temporal power.
Weare inclined to accord a real sincerity to the intelligent Catholic: laymen of this country in the avowal of their loyalty and patriotism, but they may believe that the best thing that could happen to thi~ country would be to bring it under Sl)iritual control of the Vatican.
We, on the other hand, desire a prevailing Protestantism because we are afraid of the Vatican. There need be no question of motives,-it.
is a matter of principles and of history. Protestants profess an al- legiance to this realm, and to no other. It does not meet the case to say that we also owe a supreme allegiance to God. We gladly ac- cord that to Catholics, but we protest against an earthly vice-regency which is supreme. And when we suggest possible conflicts between the Government of the United States and the Government at Rome, we are talking of no idle dreams. The history of the past is full of _ concrete and terrible realities on this subject. When we remember that only twenty-five years ago Pope and Cardinals and Bishops were in league with the French Emperor in trying to overthrow the repub- lic of Mexico; when we hear that not many months ago large sums were contributed by Catholics in this country to aid Boulanger in overthrowing the republic of France; when we learn that only a few days ago the Catholic priests of Toronto successfully resisted a free ballot in a special election of trustees of the schools,-we think we have some reason to fear the influence of a two-fold, and, perhaps, conflicting allegiance. It is just here that the chief issue with Ameri- can Catholics lies.
When we settle down into our most charitable and hopeful mood~ some ungarded utterance is sure to appear which dispels our hopes.
We are not permitted to draw our conclusions from the Centennial Congress alone. We cannot forget an encyclical of the Pope in which he distinctly says (Art. XLII.): "In case of conflict between the ecclesiastical and the civil powers, the ecclesiastical powers ought to prevail. "
We cannot forget those words of Cardinal Manning while he was Archbishop: "I acknowledge no civil power; I am the subject of no prince! I claim to be the Supreme Judge and Dictator of the con- sciences of men; of the peasant that tills the fields and of the prince that sits upon the throne; of the household that sits in the shade of privacy and the legislator that makes laws for kingdoms." We have a declaration of the late Cardinal McCloskey, that the Catholics of the ITnited States are as strongly devoted to the maintenance of the temporal power as those of any other country. We have a prophecy of Father Hecker, made in 1870, that "there will yet be a State religion in this country, and that that State religion will be Roman Catholic." It may be said that these are only the vaporings of fanati- cal Ecclesiastics, but Prince Bismarck, judging from actual experience in statesmanship, said in 1875: "This Pope, this foreigner, this Italian, is more powerful in thIS country [Germany] than any other person, not excepting the king." In view, therefore, of many conflicting indications, our Catholic friends must not think us bigoted if we receive the enthusiastic utterances of their Congress with some measure of abatements.
But what is the outlook of the Catholic Church in this country? The question is largely one of comparative numbers.
It is to be borne iI1. mind, of course, that the Roman Catholic body now claiming at least 9,000,000, is reckoned by a different principle from that which obtains among Protestants. All baptized persons are considered full members of the Church, and it is customary to count families and circles of kindred. By the same method, the total number of Protestants, whose communicants number say twelve and a half millions, would reach forty-five or forty-six millions, or about five times the number of Roman Catholics. But, in considering relative power in the State, it would not be safe to count upon such a ratio as this. There is no such political unity in the Protestant body as among Catholics, and in some matters of a social and religious nature there is a serious lack of co-operation. Were the Protestant Churches as thoroughly united as are Romanists, in demanding this or that claim from the municipal, the state, or the national, authorities, their demands would be irresistible; but politicians are accustomed to judge that from their standpoint Protestant political unity is a rope of sand, while-Romanism is a strong-stranded, hard- "twisted, agency which they cannot afford to ignore.
The members of Protestant bodies are indep!Jndent citizens, thinking for themselves, differing in their views on many questions, and voting according to their political opinions. But in the main the Roman Catholic body is a solid mass which can be hurled on either side of any political issue with great effect, and it is not so much the numbers as the compact organization which enables the Catholic in- :fIuence to tip the balance of power between parties, and thus secure: its ends. Even aside from the ratio of numbers, therefore, the· Roman Catholic Church must always possess an advantage as a mctOl" in popular government. In reference to numbers and increase, it should be said, in the first place, that the great Catholic gain in this country has been due mainly to the constant tide of immigration. This is not likely to cease so long as the populations of Europe throw off a surplus, and this alone will constantly affect the comparative ratios of Romanism in this country. In the second place, there is a greater increase of Catholic population by natural generation. The influence of wealth upon our native-born citizens of the Anglo-American stock, ·and the increased extravagance which widely prevails, operate unfavorably upon the number of marriages and the natural increase of population. This check exerts a far greater influence upon the native American element, which is largely Protestant, than upon the immigrant population which is mainly Catholic.
Some suggestive statistics are furnished by Dr. Josiah Strong, showing the comparative increase of Protestant and Roman Catholic Churches in different periods of the past. Thus, from 1800 .to 1850, the population of the country increased 9 fold; the membership of all evangelistic churches 27 fold; the Roman Catholic 63 fold. From 1850 to 1880 the population increased 116 per cent., the communicants of Protestant churches 185 per cent., and the Roman Catholics 294 per cent. Or, to take another line of comparison, in 1850 the Catholics equalled 45 per cent. of the total Protestant church membership, and in 1880, 63 per cent.
In looking forward to the future of this important question, there are various considerations, lying some OJ}. the one side, some on the other. When we consider the boldness and assurance of infidelity, I think that every true friend of the cause of Christ must rejoice in the alliance of the Roman Catholic Church in this country. That it is a Christian church in its great body of believers, and aside from its hierarchial assumptions, I, for one, have no doubt. That there are tens and hundreds of thousands of real Christians in its communion, I am confident. That its strong faith and its unflinching maintenance of its principles will help to interpose an important barrier against the flippant infidelity of the day, there is good reason to believe. Cardinal Gibbons' able book, recently published, is a strong defense of 1lhe common Christian faith.
In Italy there is danger from extravagant and infidel legislation in the Chamber of Deputies, as well as from the reactionary schemes of the Cardinals. That the temporal power of the Pope shall ever be restored, is impossible. The whole trend of sentiment among the Latin races is against it, and when Archbishop Corrigan said recently that the Catholics of this diocese "long for the day when the Sovereign Pontiff shall be restored to the fullness of his timehonored and necessary rights," he only did injury to the Papal cause at Rome. The constant utterances of this sentiment by Catholics in
A PLEA FOR ENTHUSIASM IN MISSIONS
3011 lands, and the extravagant demands which the Pope is thus encouraged to make, can only add fuel to the flame Qf indignant radicalism in Italy, and so strengthen that resistance and repression with which the Papacy cannot continue to cope. .
That the Roman Catholic Church in this country will become a. great power, we have no doubt: That it will exert a disproportionate influence in our politics, seems probable. That it will ever gain such power as to overthrow our liberties, I do not believe. The American people are long suffering under the encroachments of particular sections or classes, but when the evil is ripe for retribution, they rise up and sweep it away as with the resistless power of the tides. Meanwhile, let us hope that American Catholics themselves will become so broadened that they will lose their interest in the dead chrysalis of Italian supremacy, and will seek to enthrone here the true "Head ()ver All," who is confined to no country or hemisphere.
A PLEA FOR ENTHUSIASM IN MISSIONS.
[EDITORIAL.-A. T. P.] Among the most startlingly rapid movements of the present day are the" Societies of Christian Endeavor." Though but a few years old, already they are spreading over the earth.
" Christian endeavor" is too sacred and meaningful a phrase to be <larelessly used and applied. "Endeavor" is from the French, compounded of en and devoir, and means exertion in the line of duty, labor directed to some specific end, guided by a supreme aim. "Christian endeavor" is, therefore, the highest expression for holy €xertion along the lines of Christian duty, activity, set to the music Qf love and loyalty to Christ and souls. We must beware that it <lomes not to be a meaningless phrase or the mere motto of a formal, superficial, external, mechanical stirring about-a noisy, bustling activity that makes up for devoutness and devotion by" mouthing" and motion!
"Christian endeavor" is the soul of missions, and there are a few indispensable requisites to its exercise.
First of all, a holy enthusiasm. That word has been thought by some to be derived from the Greek .E'V and eEO~, meaning entheism, or God-indwelling. Certainly, in its highest use and application, it means nothing less than a divine passion burning in the human soul and yearning for the accomplishment of high results. And so understood, enthusiasm is the soul and source of all Christian endeavor. Without it there cannot be the heroic, self-sacrificing worker for God. Without it in any sphere there is no high achievement. All successful men in every department have been enthusiasts, and sometimes ~onsidered as fanatics.. Michael Angelo, attacking with hammer and chisel an old dingy, yellow block of marble, declaring that within it was imprisoned an angel, and as a sculptor seeking to set the angel free, was a poetic example of artistic enthusiasm. So also was Da Vinci, who wrought for ten years upon his master picture of the "Last Supper," in the refectory of the Convent of the Madonna della Grazea at Milan. Often for whole days he was so absorbed in his work that he forgot to eat. Again, for days he would only come and stand in silence before it, as if devoutly studying his great theme and criticising his own work. Again, in the heat of noon, he would leave the cathedral where he was modelling his colossal "horse," and, hurrying to the convent, add a line or a touch of color to the picture and return. Who does not remember the story of Palissy, the potter? In 1539, having seen in Italy some decorated pottery, he determined to discover the secret of enamelling. For sixteen years he tried experiment after experiment. He put his whole life into his work, regardless of cost, of toil, of hardship, from each new failure and disappointment rising to another endeavor, and rejoicing even in failures because they narrowed down the circle within which lay the secret of success. He reduced himself and his family to poverty and the verge of starvation, and, with almost insane persistency, broke up even his household furniture to feed the fires of his glazing furnace when other fuel failed!
Christopher Columbus was an enthusiast or he would never have discovered the New W orId beyond the Atlantic. There are few sublimer scenes in all history than that on which the Southern Cross shone, when, on the early morning of October 12, 1492, the great Genoese navigator sleeplessly walked the deck of the Santa Maria watching for land. His three ships had been 71 days at sea. He had met every disappointment and obstacle undismayed. He had encountered storms 150 violent that his crews insisted he was tempting Providence. The cry of " Land !" had set the ships echoing with the Gloria in Excelsis, only to have it change to the minor strain of .De Profundis, when the next day it was found that the supposed point of land was only" Cape Cloud." The crews had been not only turbulent and despondent, but mutinous, and had plotted to throw overboard the pertinacious Admiral. But Columbus never swerved or faltered. He dared everything and kept on his course. He peered into the heavens to catch sight of birds of short flight, which by their nature never wander far from land; and he watched the waters to detect drift wood, branches of shrubs and floating seaweed, .whick might indicate the proximity of shore. And now, at 2 O'clock, A. M., Rodrigo Triana, on the Pinta, first caught a glimpse of the New WorId, and Columbus was awaked from his reverie by the boom of a signal gun. The great discoverer's enthusiasm was rewarded. J ames Watt was an enthusiast. As a boy, he sat for hours ex- perimenting with the tea-ke~tle, holding a saucer over the spout, studying the expansive, expulsive and explosive force of steam, the laws of vaporization and condensation; while his aunt, Mrs. Muirhead, warned him that no lad would ever make much of a man who wasted his time on a tea-kettle. That was sublime enthusiasm that led Agassiz to turn away from the tempting offers of gain, answering, "I have no time to make money," and going on a lonely pilgrimage to the Pacific to gather new fauna and flora for the museums of science. Sir .James Young Simpson conducted experiments in amesthesia, making trial of chloroform upon himself, and nearly losing his life, a martyr to science, before he perfected his discovery. And who has ever read the story of Francis Xavier, without wishing that the example of his sacred, even though misguided, enthusiasm might move us all to simi- lar devotion! Follow him, in Bologna, preaching, visiting hospitals and prisons; embarking, in April, 1541, for the Indies, and when scurvy raged among the crew, himself cleaning the sores and cleansing their soiled clothes. At Goa, ringing his bell in the streets to call to- gether the people, eager to teach children and even slaves; going to the coast of Cormorin and the island of Ceylon; visiting Japan, and just about to enter China, when, at forty-six years of age, fever burned up his very life in its terrible furnace. During ten years this s, Apostle of the Indies" had planted his faith in 52 different king- .doms, preached the gospel over 9,000 miles of territory, and baptized over 1,000,000.of persons. Where is our enthusiasm for the truth, for Christ, for the souls of men, for the Kingdom of God? If merchants and manufacturers, discoverers and inventors, scientific men and artists exhibit such passion for their calling, how shall we account for the apathy, lethargy, listlessness, inactivity of God's children? What an example he set us, of whom it is said that the" zeal of God's House ,consumed him."
Enthusiasm comes not unsought. It has its purchase price, like every other hid treasure or precious pearl of the Kingdom. Its basis is sincerity, without which, as Carlyle says, there is no truly heroic ,character. To be genuine in spirit, and honest in conviction, to believe ()ur.ti>eliefs, and act upon them, that is the actual basis of enthusiasm. A deep experience of Christ's power and love-that is what makes disciples genuine, for it enables them to speak what they know. When Morse sought to get from Congress an appropriation of $30,000 to build the first telegraph line from Baltimore to Washington, a committee of five was appointed to consider and report. There was a tie-vote. The chairman left the room with Mr. Morse, and by and by came back and said: "Now, gentlemen, I am prepared to give the ,casting vote for the appropriation, for I have myself sent and received a message over the wires." Well may he have an enthusiasm for God who has been in personal communication by prayer with the throne ()f God, has sent and received messages from above. Such holy enthusiasm 'comes not without that intimate touch of God, that is the reward of absolute self-surrender. To find out God's plan in our generation, as Prince Albert said, and our place in it, and then fall into that place,-to take our work as from God,-a little segment of His own eternal work which lies over against us and bears our name,-to undertake for God all tpat begets a holy frenzy,-we become co-laborers with the Father, co-sufferers with the Son, co- witnesses with the Holy Spirit. Back of our feeble Chr.istian En- deavor lies the whole power of the Godhead. What wonder if such enthusiasm makes foreign missionaries mighty to the pulling down of strongholds!
Enterprise is the natural handmaid of enthusiasm. Alexander the Great, referring to his indebtedness to the teaching of the great phil- osopher, said: "Philip of Macedon, my father, gave me life; but Aristotle taught me how to make the most of life."
This is a time for enterprise, for the combination of "dash" and " push," which the word suggests. This nineteenth century easily leads all the centuries of human history. During the last fifty years more:o£ Nature's secrets have been unlocked and her resources utilized than during all the centuries preceding. Railways, ocean steamers,. telegraphs, telephones, electric lights and electric motors, spectroscopes and spectral analysis, steam presses and sewing machines, giant explQsives and anresthetics-what have not these fifty years brought forth? Now is the time, ripe in the providence of God, for the greatest of all enterprises,-a world's evangelization, to be pressed and hastened forward with every appliance of modern civilization. And this great uprising of young disciples in the" Students' Crusade," and the "Young 'Men's" -and" Young Women's Christian Associations,'~ and in the" Societies of Christian Endeavor," may yet become the signs of the dawning of the millennial morning.
I want to live long enough to see this world mapped out for God,. to see a definite o;rganized movement for the occupation of the whole world for Christ. When Christ fed the five tho~sand, he showed to. all of us the value of systematic, o.rganized methods. The mul~tude were made to sit down in ranks, by fifties. Then distribution bedame possible o.n systematic principles. In a miscellaneous crowd or mob,. some would selfishly press toward the front, and others would be pushed toward the rear, overlooked, unsupplied. But when the whole mob became reduced to the subjection of order, and classified like a military encampment, it became easy to snpervise the disbursement of supplies, so that none should be neglected.
At least a thousand millions of people are to day perishing for lack of the bread of life. We are commanded to" give them to eat. ,~ We have an ample supply, and the most wonderful thing about that supply is, that as we divide it, it multiplies; the more we distribute
NICARAGUA AS A MISSIONARY FIELD
the more we have to distribute. Let the unevangelized world be di- vided into companies, set off into definite districts, and the thirty mil- lion of Protestant church members may easily reach every living soul within the life~time of a generation. For it is obvious that a thousand million divided by thirty million leaves but thirty-three to each disciple, i. e., if each Protestant church member shall take 33 human'souls as his share, and undertake to reach one new soul every year during the average life-time of a generation, the whole world would be evangelized within that time. Or, to present again in another form the entire feasibility of doing this work in our generation, Ahasuerus may once more be referred to, who sent out his royal decree over his 127 provinces, reaching two thousand miles east and west, and twelve thousand miles north and south, within nine months, and had no help from any of those modern appliances and inventions which make possible for us a thousand-fold success. The unevangelized world covers, perhaps, thirteen times as much territory as the old Persian Empire. If he could reach all his subjects in nine months, surely we can reach all mankind in thirteen years!
The fact is that were our Christian Endeavor simply inspired by holy enthusiasm and directed by consecrated enterprise, more would be accomplished within the next quarter century than during the past thousand years toward the pervading of the world with the gospel. In this matter the Church is doing nothing worthy of herself, her Master, or the cause of missions. Satan himself puts us to blush by the promptness and eagerness with which he pours his agents inte? every open door. His pre-occupation often prevents our occupation of the field, or seriously and effectually delays all our missionary operations. "It is good to be zealously affected always in a good thing." Oh, for some potent influence from above to make God's people zealous to push the occupation of a world for Christ, and to do it in our own generation!
NICARAGUA AS A MISSIONARY FIELD BY REV. S. D. FULTON, AZTEC, NEW MEXICO.
The actual commencement of work on the interoceanic ship canal across Nicaragua and bordering on Costa Rica, calls attention to that point as the most important Qentre for mission work in the world. The commerce of all nations will transit there; men of every language will be among the sailors and passengers on the vessels. The gospel message can be planted by word of mouth and printed page in the hearts, heads and hands of representatives of every people, tongue and color on the globe. Central America itself, and South America and Mexico can be reached and evangelized from this mission centre. It is evident that the coast lines of vessels running down the Pacific and Atlantic from Pana~a and Aspinwall will extend their routes to Nicaragua, or be supplanted by new lines starting from there, thus affording the most comprehensive and far-reaching medium of carrying gospel ideas in printed page, and by the simple story of the Cross, told daily, wherever passengers to or from South American ports could be reached in their transit or stay at Nicaragua.
A method of work which might grow out of this would be to have an ocean colportage on these coast lines of vessels. The writer was impressed by these thoughts from travel in South America, and from seeing the numerous passengers arriving and departing at Panama some years ago.
If consecrated Christian money could ~. e brought to bear upon this work, no greater highway for the message of the King will exist in the world than the Nicaragua route and its connections will afford.
It is not too soon to plant our mission and begin our preparatory work along these lines. A printing press ought to form part of the mission plant from the first, from which leaflets and tracts, in Spanish, of simple, striking gospel thoughts, and translations of current gospel literature, could be issued and used gratis, as in our similar work in New Mexico and Colorado. Mission schools should be planted at once, in which native Nicaraguans and Costa Ricans, both Indian and Spanish, could be educated and begin to form an evangelistic force such as we now have in the Presbytery of Santa Fe.
A glance at the map of the world will show what a marvelously .cosmopolitan centre Nicaragua will become. Lines of vessels will run to the West Indies and New Orleans; to New York, Boston and Halifax; to Liverpool, London, Hamburg and North European ports; to the Mediterranean and the nations, ancient and modern, that border on that great commercial ocean; to all the Atlantic ports of South America. and to the West Coast of Africa; while on the Pacific, side lines will run along the Mexican coast, to San Francisco, Portland, British Columbia and Alaska; to all Pacific ports in South America; to China, Japan and Korea; India, Persia, Arabia, Madagascar and the Eastern Coast of Africa; to Australia and islands of the South Pacific; with vessels passing through the canal from all these countries, bringing the world to our very doors. And when the canal is finished and people of every tongue can be reached, there should be a large depository of Scripture literature in every language, so that, as on the day of Pentecost, every man may have the gospel in the language wherein he was born.
In view of this, surely no such centre for Christian missions exists at present on earth as Nicaragua can be made-a citadel for Christ, a very Gibraltar of missions.
The Scientific American, February 16, 1889, said on this subject from a business standpoint: "The effect upon the world's commerce, and upon that of the United States in particular, of the opening of the Nicaragua Canal route, is a matter in which even the most careful calculations are almost certain to be far below the reality. The canal itself will certainly have advantages over one at Panama, in being in a healthy climate, and in the heart of the northeast trade winds, where it offers especial convenience to all sailing craft, both in the Atlantic and Pacific. . . In the 49 engineers and 150 men in the employ of the com- pany during the last survey there was not a single case of serious sickness, .although most of the members were; from the nature of their occupation, almost .daily exposed to constant wetting."
As it is now quite certain that there is to be no Panama canal, the importance of the Nicaraguan one is the greater.
The Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions ought to enter the -field at once; its work is the most successful in Mexico and New Mexico, and it has the best trained force to start with; but when lately approached on the subject, though appreciating the magnitude <'If the opportunity, it responded that lack of funds prevented its as- .suming any new work, only one man being added to the force in Guatemala, and none to that in Mexico!
What an opportunity Nicaragua presents to a Christian man or woman of wealth to say to our Board of Foreign Missions: "Go ahead; I will pay all expenses of the work in Nicaragua; devise lib- ·eral things for Christ's kingdom there, and draw on me." Or, better yet, to settle a sum sufficient to prosecute the work for at least ten years in the hands of the wise, responsible Board. No amount of wealth left to heirs can afford a millionth part of the joy and eternal reward that such a step will bring to the person taking it.
Let me quote a few words from Dr. Josiah Strong's notable work, ," Our Country" (page 219): "Says a New York daily paper: A gentleman died at his residence in one of our up-town fashionable streets, leaving eleven millions of dollars. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, in excellent standing, a good husband and father, and a thrifty citizen. On his death bed he suffered great agony of mind, .and gave continual expression to his remorse for what his conscience told him had been an ill-spent life. ' Oh I' he exclaimed, ' if I could only live my years <Jver again! Oh! if I could only be spared for a few years, I would give all the wealth I have amassed in a lifetime. It is a life devoted to money-getting that I regret. It is this which weighs me down and makes me despair of the life hereafter.' "
And Dr. Strong adds: "Suppose so unfaithful a steward is permitted to enter the many mansions, when, with clarified vision, he perceives the true meaning of life, and sees that he has lost the one opportunity in an endless existence to set in motion infiu- ·ences which, by leading sinners to repentance, would cause heaven to thrill with new joy, it seems to me he would gladly give a hundred years of Paradise for a single day on earth in possession of the money once entrusted to himtime enough to turn that power into the channels of Christian work." Nicaragua affords one of the rarest, choicest opportunities in the -world to-day for the investment of large means in Christ's work. A
THE STUDE~7 VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT
most reliable medium exists in our Foreign Board. Trained men and women clfl. be placed in the field at once, who have learned theil"" calling in self-denying toil in similar work; and only the round world itself bounds the wide-reaching influence which would emanate from this great centre.
THE STUDENT VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.
The annual meeting of the Executive Committee and Agents.pf the Student, Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions met at Cleveland, oTrio, Dec. 21-23. There were present, Miss Nettie Dunn, representing the Y. W. C. A.; Mr. J. R. Mott, the College Y. M. C. A.; Mr. R. P. Wilder, the Theological Seminaries;, Mr. R. E. Speer, the Traveling Secretary; Messrs. W. H. Hammon and W. J .• Clark, Corresponding and Recording Secretaries, and E. W. Rand, Editorial Secretary. The entire meeting was one in which the unity of the Spirit was, manifest, and each one present was conscious that the Spirit of God was in the movement. The questions under discussion were all of importance. They consisted in a full and open discussion of what should be the financial policy of the movement, how the States can be better organized, what makes a model band, the work in theological seminaries, the volunteer pledge, how to put volunteers to work, missionary literature and periodicals, and the relation of the student movement to the press. Full reports of all de- partments of the Movement were presented. Respecting the progress of the- movement at present, the report of Mr. Speer showed that the cry is still " for- ward." He commenced speaking Sept. 6, at Minneapolis, Minnesota. Since that date, he has delivered 150 addresses, an average of two a day, address-, ing 43 colleges and seminaries, 4 theological seminaries, 3 Y. M. C. A. and Y.W. C. A. conventions. 23 churches, besides other miscellaneous organizations. He has traveled about 9,000 miles, his route embracing 12 States. There were 550 new volunteers, some of whom are ready to go at once, and the entire number represents some of the finest Christian students to be found in our Western Universities; $4,000 was pledged by colleges and $1,000 by individuals" to support missionaries in the field, and '&elp to swell the fund for a Y. M. C. A. building in Tokio.
On January 11, Mr. Speer will again start out, and visit the principal colleges of New England, such as Harvard, Yale, Amherst, Williams, Brown, and then the colleges of New York; after which he will go South, stopping over Sunday at Princeton, his alma mater. Only the principal colleges of the South will be touched, after which he will go to Canada, and from thence to Michigan and Pennsylvania, where the tour will end.
Some very interesting statistics were presented by the recording secretary at this meeting. There are now 4,752 volunteers. Up to December 10, there were 4,632, of whom 194 have been sent out as missionaries, to be found principally in China, Japan, India and Africa, all scattered in 21 different fields and representing 25 different organizations; 10 volunteers are under appointment to sail, 25 deceased, and only 18 withdrawn, so far as can be known at, present. There are still remaining in this country 4,385 volunteers. In sex, 78 per cent. are males and 22 per cent. females; 35 per cent. are graduates from college, and 31 per cent. are still in college. In special training 16 per cent. are, graduates of theological seminaries, and 2~ per cent. medical graduates, 10! per cent. are in course in seminaries, and 1! per cent. in medical schools. Last June about 3,500 circulars were sent out asking confidential questions of volunteers respecting their names, age, time of going to the foreign field~
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
denomination, whether they were weaker or stronger in their determination to go. Thus far 800 have responded. On the basis of this 800 the following statistics have been prepared: Ready to go, 24 per cent.; in professional train- ing, 12 per cent.; in college, 31 per cent.; academy, 5 per cent.; out of school, 9!
per cent.; withdrawn, only 2! per cent. Denominational preferences: Pres- byterian,27! per cent.; Congregational, 18 per cent.; Methodist, 14 per cent.;.
Baptist, 11! per cent.; in all 40 denominations represented 65 per cent. are stronger in their determination, and 10 per cent. weaker.
In the r;sing of money, the movement has been very aggressive. Thus far there has been raised among churches $11,500; colleges, $17,350; seminaries, $8,500; miscellaneous, $3,011; R. E. Speers, $5,OOO,-making a total of $45,406.
REPORTS FROM THREE STATES.
Ohio.-Mr. Haskell, the corresponding member for Ohio, has been able to, give his whole time to the work, and hence shows a very cheering report. He has held 40 meetings, visiting in all 23 institutions; 100 volunteered, 63 in meet- ings, but 37 were the result of personal work; 12 colleges and seminaries give annually about $4,800. Virginia reports 54 new volunteers, making 107 the whole number of vol- unteers in the State; three can go this year. Only one volunteer has renounced his decision; $1,000 was raised. Kansas reports 13 new volunteers. There are 150 volunteers in this State, of whom 19 are young ladies ready to go at once. Four colleges contribute to the support of missionaries; three volunteers have sailed; one renounced de- cision, and $4,260 raised in money. Reports of other States will be given from time to time. E. W. R.
n.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
[The initials to this article, which we copy eration is the brightest jewel of from The Christian, London, indicate that it empire. Such is the fixed policy of' comes from a source which entitles it to the the Government of British India; and most serions attention. Its statements will manifold blessings of every kind, macause painful surprise and indignation.-Ens.] Aftica.-The Royal Niger Com- terial and spiritual, have attended it pany.-It is no longer a secret, close during the last half century. But the or open, that this newly chartered rulers of the Niger Valley, to whom company has made treaties with the the Imperial Parliment has dele– several Negro Mohammedan Powers gated their foreign powers, propose in the Soudan of Africa, east of the Ni- to do something more. They promise ger, promising that they will not only their treaty-allies to obstruct the do nothing through their own em- Christian missionary, to deny him ployees to attempt the conversion of passages in their steamers, succor the Mohammedans, but will do all that from their stores, and to erase his lies in their power to obstruct others name from the list of British sub- who come under their influence. This jects, entitled by the custom of Great amounts to open war of 8<Klalled Britain to succor in case of need, Christian men with the Gospel. rescue in case of captivity, and retri-, Let us think it out. The company bution by the nearest British authori- gives a free hand for the conversion ties in case of murder.
of the Pagans. It is very proper and The true-hearted missionary asks.
expedient that the rulers of a country not these things for himself. His.
should do nothing directly or indi- friends raise no voice in the country, rectly to influence their subjects in calling for vengeance for the slaugh- their religious views. Their king- tered Hannington. That particular- dom is of this world, and entire tol- crime has, however, been avenged by a higher Power; the assassin-sovereign were there long before this company has been deposed, and is now an exile came into existence, and will outlive from his country. Whether the Royal it. The Mohammedans of the Soudan, Niger Companylikes itornot-whether whether Fulah or Negro, are pigmies it will affect their dividends or their in strength, culture, power, and popu- {)ommerce with the Soudan or not-it lation in comparison to the fifty mil- is well that these gentlemen should lions of British India.
reflect on the policy which they are The gentlemen of the Niger Com- inaugurating, and consider what the pany talk with bated breath of the House of Commons will say, when it fanatical Mohammedan, in his turban, comes to hear of it. cloak, and trousers. The phenome- It is true that the East India Com- non is new to them, butAnglo-Indianii pany previous to the year 1815 adopted have lived all their lives in the midst this same policy. They did so in of noble, though fanatical, Mohamme- iimidity, in ignorance, and in ma- dans. Some as fair in color as our- terial weakness. They had to face selves, and many much more learned mighty empires, and armies of sol- and polished; some of gigantic stat- diers, supplied with cannon, trained by ure, and hereditary warriors. Yet the Frenchmen; they had to fight for their gospel has its free course amidst the hold of India, and regarded matters Baluchi and the Afghan, the Patan, from the point of view of a mercantile and the converted Mohammedan Raj- -company. India was too far off for put, and the Empire of the Empress its affairs to be influenced by public of India flourishes, because it is -opinion at home. Public opinion at founded upon righteousness.
home had not been formed; it was the We doubt whether treaties with day of small things; and the individ- such clauses should not be denounced ual missionaries, who appeared and as derogatory to the dignity of Great were rejected, though saints of God, Britain, as if we were ashamed of the like Carey and Judson, had not the religion which has brought us such prestige of the associated strength of blessings. The thing is doubly offen- the great middle classes of Great sive when we are kindly told that we Britain behind them. Moreover, it is are allowed full leave to convert the admitted that the East India Com- Pagan; but must not address the pany did wrong; we palliate their Negro who has got himself up with {)ffence, we do not excuse it; we can- the veneer of Mohammedanism, for it is not justify it. no more. Their knowledge of Arabic Things have changed now. The and the Koran is scant; all the bad, thoughts of men have become "wider salient features of Mohammedanism with the process of the suns." A great are asserted,-intolerance, polygamy, majority of the British people recog- slavery, unnatural crime, contempt of nize that the mighty power and vigor human life, and overweening pride- vouchsafed to them were not conceded while the better things to be found by the Most High for the purpose of in the Koran, and the learning and exporting liquor (of which sin we refinement of the polished Moham- gladly acquit the Royal Niger Com- medan of India, Persia, and Turkey, pany), or making dividends of profit; are totally absent.
but to benefit, in every possible way, At any rate, the public notice has the subject people, and to give them been dispatched, and January 1, 1890, the free opportunity of accepting fixed as the date of the new policy.
Christianity, should they see fit to do We must recollect that when a so. The Niger Valley is not far from British subject is killed or imprisoned, Great Britain. Public opinion will something more than his life and lib.
nave its sway there. The missionaries erty are lost to his country, viz., the prestige of our nation. The represen- leaf, had recalled his edict against Christians, and had welcomed the tative of the British Government in English missionaries with honors un- precedented. It is said that his over- China remarked in 1873 that there was throw last year was due to the discov- ery by his gtards of a plot he had a necessity to protect the missionary formed to destroy them. At all events, his exile was followed by Arab· sufrom actualviolence, but nothing more. premacy, the burning of the English and the French missions, and the The present foreign secretary two years flight of the missionaries. To the lat- ter, Mwanga wrote recently, predictago told a deputation of missionaries ing the triumph he has now accom- plished, and promising them welcome that the Great Powers of Europe as- should it occur; so that his restoration must be added to the stock of good serted the right to deport an alien, news which has come after so long a. story of disasters in East and Central without cause shown, from their terri- Africa.
tories, but they would shrink from the As to Bushiri, he certainly did not make war on all white men, but upon charge of ordering his death, or im- the Germans; and the native uprising which he headed was largely provoked prisonment, without the form of a by their overbearing ways. He was a. chief of great influence, and stories are regular trial. Mr. Jones, of the told of his personal protection of Brit- ish missionaries and others, during the L.M.S., was expelled by the French revolt against the indiscriminate fury of his followers. The outbreak swept Government from the Loyalty Islands; over the whole coast region, but Wiss- mann had weapons which mere force and, for the sake of argument, we of numbers could not resist, and also the money with which to enlist and may concede that the Mohammedan arm native auxiliaries. Bushiri, who would have been called a patriot had potentates of the Soudan might deport he succeeded, suffered the ignominious fate which has been meted out to many a British missionary; but, when they another unsuccessful leader, both in civilized and savage lands. hear that there is no risk, they will Now, accordingly, the way seems certainly kill him. R. N. C. open for resuming the march of civil- ization from the Zanzibar coast East ACrican Coast. – The toward the great lakes. It is evident that this will be one of the main routes hanging of Bushiri practically com- for the African commerce of the fu- ture. First, however, a clear underpletes the immediate work for which standing of British and German rights in that region would seem to be neces- Capt. Wissmann was sent to Zanzibar, sary. Up to half a dozen years ago England had matters pretty much her and clears the way for the resumption own way there, and then, the energy of Peters and his associates threatened of German schemes of conquest and to carry all before it for the Germans. colonization. The pleasure which this news creates at Berlin may have been a little qualified by the evidence that Dr. Karl Peters and his party were massacred by the Somalis; but as Dr. Peters, though the most promi- nent of the founders of German colo- rues in East Africa, had in his Tana River expedition defied Bismarck and irritated the British, his fate will be less lamented at London, and will in- crease the Chancellor's prestige at Ber- lin. Emin's progress toward recovery is a subject of universal congratula- tion, while another promising piece of news is that King Mwanga, who was driven from Uganda, his brother be- ing made ruler in his stead, has marched back in triumph. Mwanga was infamous a few years ago for his horrible persecution of the Christian converts among his subjects, and the murderof BishopHanningtoncrowned his atrocities. Yet, before his de- thronement, he had turned over a new Of late,the British have been greatly under Major Serpa Pinto, and sancstrengthening themselves, aided by tioned by the Portuguese Govern- the strained relations between the ment, against the Makololo in the high-· Germans and the Sultan. The latter lands of the Shire, a river running thinks the Germans do not pay him from Lake Nyassa to the Zambesi the revenue agreed upon, and that river. The object was to esta1;>1ish the they try to shift on him losses arising authorityof Portugal over'the territory from disturbances caused by their by force of arms. This Major Pinto, want of tact. Lately he has given to after entering those Highlands by deihe British Company the administra- ceiving the British Consul, attacked tion of the ports of Lamu, Kismayu, the unoffending Makololo, slaughter- Brava, Magadisho, and so on, so that ing hundreds of them with his Gattits government now stretches along ling guns; when, believing themselves 700 miles of coast line from Warsheikh abandoned byEngland,whoseflag they in the north to the Umba river in the carried, the poor people felt compelled south. The Germans contended for to submit to Portuguese authority; the possession of Lamu, the third port whereupon the bloody soldier avowed ()f importance in East Africa, commanding the trade of the Tana river; his intention to extend the Portuguese but it really belonged to the British, who controlled most of the trade of dominion as far northward as Nyassa, the port. Mr. Stanley, on reaching Zan- and to include the Lake shores; and zibar this time, found British interests warned all missionaries and others rematerially improved from their con- siding on the river and on the shores dition at his previous visit, when or- of the Nyassa, to submit to Portuguese ganizing his Emin relief expedition. But there is no reason to think that rule! The request was as modest as Germany and England will come into conflict in this region. Count Herbert it was just. How far he would have Bismarck recently declared that Ger- carried his victorious career, ifhe had many's policy there would go hand in not been sent to the right about by the hand with England's. " We will ne- prompt action of England, cannot be gotiate with the East Africa Com- told. pany," hesaid, " in order to arrange for further action." The next ten years These Makololo, who have suffered will be remarkable for the develop- from this cruel raid of the Portuguese, ment of that coast and its communi- are a very interesting people. We cation with the lakes.-New York were first introduced to them about Times. thirty years ago by the publication of Livingstone's narrative of his great -England and Portugal in Africa. journey across Africa. It taught us Every friend of Africa will rejoice to admire the Makololo for their simthat England has taken up the dispute plicity of character, their incorruptible with Portugal with a determined en- honesty, their loyal devotion to that ergy that has brought matters to a great explorer, their grief when he crisis; and that Portugal. has escaped left them for a season, their long and further humiliation by a prompt sur- confident waiting for his promised rerender. Nothing was ever more im- turn to lead them back to their homes, pudent than the pretensions of the and their rejoicing when at last he aplatter to the country in dispute, and peared to fulfill his promise. A large nothing more high-handed than the majority of them, however, had formcourse of her representative. It makes ed a liking for the beautiful country one's blood boil to read of the savage on the right bank of the Shire, where atrocities perpetrated by the forces they settled at the request of its peo- ple, who needed their protection, and laid the foundation for what is now a really prosperous State in Nyassaland, and one which has always refused to allow slavery 0'/' slave-trading within the same purpose, the empire has be- its bounds. It is this State which the come a republic. A century ago, be- Portuguese attacked under a disputed fore God's time, there was an attempt claim. to establish a republic in Brazil, and since that time the spirit of the repub- Other and still more important in- lic has been nourished. -terests would have suffered by this Portuguese raid upon the Makololos, A Portuguese college was founded in 'and would probably have been destroy- 1554, and around it has grown up the ed by their permanent occupation of city of San Paulo, with 50,000 inhabit- the country. We allude to the won- ants, and the largest law school on the derfully successful missions of the Es- western hemisphere. Through this -tablished and Free Churches of Scot- school Brazil has disciplined the life land. The former has for twelve Cif her people, and some of the fruits, years been at work in these beautiful of it have been seen in the last month's Shire Highlands, on the eastern shore peaceful revolution. It was not the ,of Lake Nyassa, its head station being sword that made the republic in Bra- Blantyre, a name derived from Liv- zil, but the pen. It was not the small ingstone's birthplace. At one station army that overthrew the empire. it boards eighty children, and at anoth- There was a newspaper that advocated er has a school of one hundred pupils. the republic in Rio, openly, for three It has expended $200,000 in its work; or four years. There is wonderfnl it has introduced the successful culti- ability in Brazil to carry out the re- vation of coffee, tea, wheat, and other pUblican idea. and there is little danger products, and if allowed to proSecute of faction fights. The future of Brazil its work, will soon make the Shire is in the hands of the school teacher. Highlands a civilized and prosperous ;section of Africa. Cbina.-The New York Chamber of Commerce has done itself credit by The Free Church mission has been adopting a paper urging the re-open- at work on the west shore of the Lake ing of negotiations with China for the for 14 years. It has a Medical De- friendly adjustment of all questions partment, which treats about 10,000 between the two Governments. The ])atients annually. Its headquarters New York Observer says: "This coun- are at Bandawe, where 1,300children try would do itself credit, and would are in its schools. It has a prospero~ only do what is right to China, by station among the Zulus, who rule seeking to put our relations with that the country west of the Shire; .and country upon a basis of justice and three other prosperous stations in dif- community of interest. But justice ferent parts of the country. This mis- is the more important consideration. 13ion has already expended $225,000 in Lest it should be supposed that the its work, and its annual expenses are Chamber of Commerce is acting from about $20,000. any extraordinary or sudden twinges of conscience in China's behalf, it is Br32;i1.-Rev. Dr. Chamberlain, only proper to say that it views the of the American Presbyterian Mission necessity for action from a financial m Brazil, lectured recently before the standpoint. The subject was brought American Geographical Society at to the attention of the Chamber by Chickering Hall on the condition and C. P. Huntington, who in a letter to 'prospects of Brazil, illustrating his re- its ex-President, A. A. Low, speaks of marks withstereopticonviews. Hesaid the injury to our commerce, caused that it was God's purpose that Portugal by the action of Congress and the dip- .should hold Brazil, with its 4,000 miles lomatic treatment of China. ' It ·Qf Atlantic coast, until the present seems,' writes Mr. Huntington, 'that century, until the time came for the without uttering a word or lifting a ,empire, and now, in furtherance of finger, the Chinese are enabled to re- with an endowment of Rs. 18,000 per- taliate effectively against our com- annum, contributed by the State rev- merce, so that we have not only af- enues." That idolatry is endowed by forded them a wanton affront, but the British Government in India. and also injured ourselves in a twofold that high functionaries consider it, way, by excluding a tractable and proper for the heir presumptive to the- cheap labor, which we very much throne to visit idol temples in state, is need to built up desolate places, and no doubt news for which many read- by the loss of valuable trade, which ers of the Bombay Guardian in Eng- we might have kept to the exclusion land will not be prepared.
of our rivals.' It is to be regretted -Sir William Hunter, K. C. S. I., that the trade basis should be the only who is so often quoted as the highest, one on which justice toward the Chi- authority on civil and political mat- nese can be urged with any hope of ters in India, has recently added t() success; but whichever way it comes, his testimony in reference to the work we trUst that justice may at last be of missions in the Indian Empire. In done. Hitherto We have been unjust an address before the British Baptist in our attitude towards China." Missionary Society he speaks as a lay- -According to Imperial decree the man, whose work in India has been 200 picked scholars of Hanlin College altogether of a secular sort; but he- are to revise the great " Encyclopre- affirms that the missionary work is ilia" of China, which was compiled a one of the greatest and best move- century ago, and which contains the ments which at the present moment Chinese classics, the history of China is going on in India. " It has been for 3,000 years. and embraces all rich in results in the past, and it is knowledge under heaven. New and fraught with incalculable blessings in strange doctrines have been intro- the future." In enlarging upon this duced in late years, and the whole- statement Sir William dwells upon some truths of Confucius and Mencius the fact that the Christian work in are in danger of being set aside by India has passed the stage when it Western ideas. Hence the revision. was wholly dependent upon foreign This vast work, which requires four- mlssIOnaries. "The Indian native'
teen volumes to contain its index Protestant Christians have nowgrown alone, is expected to roll back the tide llP into an Indian native Protestant of Western learning, and hold China church. They have their own pas- securely to its old traditions. This tors, numbering 575, men ordained in shows how Christianity is making it- one body or another of the ministry.
self felt in that ancient and conserva- They have also a body of 2,856 quali- tive empire.-Exchange. fied lay preachers, natives born in the India.-Govemment maintaining country, educated in the country, idolatry.-A writer in the Bombay working in the country for the wel- Guardian speaks of the visit of Prince fare of their own countrymen. The AlbertVictor in state to the idol tem- native Protestant church in India has ples of Parvati, near Poona. He was ceased to be an exotic, and if the Eng- accompanied by the Governor of Bom- lish were driven out to-morrow they bay, the Duke of Connaught, Com- would leave a Protestant native mander-in-Chief of the Bombay army, church behind them. While the and other high officials. Before en- Protestant Christians in India num- tering the temples, the Prince was bered about half a million, there were presented with an address, giving an nearly 200,000 pupils in Protestant account of the idols contained therein, mission schools. This is an immensely and stating that" the temples are at sigruficant fact; significant of mis- present ma,intained by Government, sionary zeal in the present, but still more significant of Christian influ- been lately completed from Batavia to ence in the future."-Miss'y Herald. Bekassi. Other brancfl roads are be- ing constructed. 6. In Sumatra a line Korea.-Among the members of has been built by a private company a single Congregational church in to connect several tobacco plantations, Tokio are a judge of the supreme and a branch is beinglaid to Babougan. court of Japan, a professor in the Im- And other lines of tramway are oper- perial university, three Government ated. 7. Turkey in Asia is also lay- secretaries, and members of at least ingrailroads. .The one from Ischmidt two noble families. Two influential to Angora, 375 miles, is to be laid members of the legislature of Tokio, this year by an Anglo-German-French one of them the editor of the Keizai syndicate, who have taken the job off Zasshi, the ablest financial journal in the hands of the Ottoman government~ Japan, are also members of another Congregational church. Eighty kilometers of the road run- ning into Constantinople have already Turkey.-The influence brought been constructed, and the road is in to bear by foreign ambassadors at operation. From' Ischmidt for 150 Constantinople to induce the Turkish kilometers the roadbed has been congovernment to visit upon Mousa Bey, structed but no rails have been laid, the Koordish chieftain, some punish- and then from that point on is where ment for his crimes, has resulted in the American bridges will be put in. the exile of this ruffian and his fam- The road continues to Sivas, which is ily to Syria. The Porte has agreed to in the middle of the Angoran country, increase the police force in Armenia 600 kilometers from Ischmidt. Eventwith a view to the checking of Koor- ually the whole system will take in dish outrages. Mousa Bey in Syria some 3,000 or 3,500 kilometers, runwill be about as near the site of his atrocities as he is at Constantinople, like ning to Bagdad and the Persian Gulf. yet with the sentence of exile against him representatives of foreign gov- The total cost will be something ernments will be able to see that he $75,000,000. It will be completed does not return to his old home. This within 31-2 ,ears. A branch line certainly is again.-Miss'y Herald. will be run to the Holy Land, Jerusa- lem,andSmyrna.-J. T. Gracey,D.D. -Miscellaneous. -Java has its railroads. The system of railroads -The Anti-Slavery Congress of in Netherlands, India, dates from Brussels has had its counterpart in the year 1862, when a concession was the Anti-Rum Congress at Khartoum. granted to the Netherlands India While Christians are earnestly con- Railway Co. to build a road from Sa- sidering how they can crush out slavmarang to the independent States of ery, Moslems are considering how Djokjokarta and Sourakalta, with a they can preserve slavery and crush branch line to Cembarawa or Fort Wil- out intemperance. The means sug_· liam I., which was completed in 1873. gested are curiously similar, if we 2. In 1871-87 the Government built may trust the somewhat vague rea west linefrom Djokjokartato Tjilat- ports that come from the Mahdi's jap. 3. Another runs east from Djok- camp. Europe on the one hand is jokarta to Pasarouan with several to draw a cordon of her ships of war . branches. 4. There is a railroad al!>o around Africa, and capture every from Batavia to Buitenzorg. It is in- Arab dhow that can be found, release tended that this shall be extended to its prisoners, and scuttle the ship it~ form a junction with line No. 2, so as to self. The slave traders on their part; reach the only port on the south coast· are also to draw a cordon of dhows: of Java. It is to be completed in around the continent, and capture· three years. 5. A branch line has every vessel that contains the abomin-· 8ble firewater that is eating away tha strength of the natives, and thus de- but it consecrates men and women to priving them of the material for their the cause of God. Wheresoever there trade. Boston rum, English gin, and is that spirit..of consecration which German schnapps were doubtless not says, 'I give my money, I give my represented at Brussels, as the purvey- sons and daughters,' there Christ will ers for Eastern harems were at Khar- be glorified. When that spiritof con- toum, so that the pai:all.el is not quite secration reaches the great heart of complete. There isenough of truth in humanity, then the missionary work it, however, to set us to thinking.- will go forward with a velocity that Rev. E. M. Bliss. we have never dreamed of. Thework is'in its infancy to-day. What will it -Intelligence comes this month be one hundred,-two hundred years from all our mission fields. We hear hence? The promises to women are of missionary meeting in Jamaica, vital of celestial blessing, which give and specially of one little country to them the powers that men somecongregation that by its gifts for mis- times lack. It is a woman's hand that sions puts many a larger home Church is scattering subtle poison through the to shame; of the 'arrival of Mr. Por- delicate pages of books such as ' Robteous in Old Calabar, and of a suc- ert Elsmere,' and in many other ways; cessful conflict with cruel heathen but the height of Christian purpose custom at Okoyon on the part of two can never be attained until all womanof our agents. From Kaffraria we kind have given their hearts to hear of a most cheering revival at Christ and Christian work."-Home EmgwaIi–of which Miss Hope's letter Missionary. told us something last month. No fewer thaD. 150 young persons, all pro- -The good that one woman, singlefessing conversion to God, have been handed, can do, is interestingly illus- ~urolled in the condidates' class. trated in the case of Miss Arnott, of Surely there is ground here for thanks- Edinburg, in her work in Palestine. giving and continued intercession. Some of the details of what she has We hear also of the arrival at East accomplished are given by Dr. Mutch- London of Mr. Hunter, our mission- more thus: ary to the Xesi.be country. Mr. Davidson sends us from Japan a deeply " Miss Amott went to visit the East interesting record of a recent visit to and was induced, temporarily, to take Hokkaido, with notes of the progress the place of an absent teacher. The of Christian work there. From Raj- condition of the people and their exputana Mr. Gray sends a most in- treme wretchedness awoke her pity, structive account of the history and and she conceived theidea of applying tenets of the Arya Samaj, and Mr. moral leverage where all true eleva- Bounar continues his "Notes of a tion begins, at the individual, and so Tour through Bundi and Kotah." elevating the home. She began alone, From Manchuria we have brief drawing on her own resources, obsketches of three native agents.- tained ground on moderate terms and The Mission Record Of the United began a school. She taught such poor Presb. Ohurch. girls as she could persuade to come. Her curriculum was very simple; its -Woman and Missions.-Dr. Storrs two great lessons were how to live and said in a recent address: "The intro- how to die. God stood by her, and duction of the feminine life and heart soon she had a building and as many intothis missionary work brings in the scholars as she could care for. force that fires and intensifies its onward progress. This intensity of the "Her work (by some) was looked purpose in women does not work only upon as visionary, until its manifest in the direction of filling up treasuries, success brought offers of abundant help and even management. One of
MISSIONAlI.Y CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PAlI.TS
the finest school properties now in the very little to begin with. Twenty-five Levant-worth, probably, $75,OOO-is years she has been in the field, during a part of the result of ~r work of which time she has had wonderful Iaith and love, and all the outcome of tokens of the divine favor in guidance, her own indomitable spirit, for she had help and results."
lII.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Africa. Arabs, from Morocco to TrIpoli; and, indeed, desires to include the Europeans, French, IIRIEII' LBT'l'ER PRO. REV. JAIIES SCOTT. Spanish, Italians, Maltese, as well.
Impolweire, Natal, Dec. 4, 1889. Weare.here on the fringe of this great African DEAR DR. PIERSON: We got back to our work Continent, In countries bounded on the north here In September, and, although we have by the Mediterranean Sea, now the great high- found some coldand lndi1ferent who once gave way of the East. So far from verifying the promise of better things, and Satan at work In thoughts of our chIldhood-ofvast Satldypla.lns many ways, yet we have rea.son to thank God peopled by blacks-it is here, on the contrary, .and take courage. The times of blessing have a lovely, fertile, mountainous country, and our DOt quite gone from us. In the last three Berbers and Arabs are white, and many with months I have baptized fifty-eight, and expect noble, manly traits. However, as to their reli- ;in the next three months to have as many gion, they are Mohammedans. Yon, dear breth- more, as I have not yet had time to visit all ren of the United States, have long been occu- .my out-stations, some of them being far away pied with these adherents of the false prophet, .and the season unsuitable for traveling. but here In Algeriawe have the immenseadvan- Amongst those whom I baptized last Sabbath tage of proselytizing In a landruied by equitable 'was an old woman who had first heard the laws, and where the acceptance of the religion gospel from a native evangelist sent out by my of Christ does not entail the danger, if not the predecessor-this was some thirty years ago. penalty, of death. We hear from our Brother 'The good seed, watered by the Spirit, has at Baldwin of persecution by the authorities In ;length brought forth good fruit. Another, a Morocco, and it may be so if the Truth prospers younger woman, had resided on the station of In Tripoli, still barbarous States. We circulate .my dear old friend, the Rev. C. Possett of the the Arabic Scriptures prepared by the Ameri- Berlin Society, who was called to his rest some can brethren at Beyrut, and we spread them yearsago,andshehad received herfirst impres- abroad everywhere around us. 'SIons from him; so it is, "one soweth and another reapeth," but may the glory be to the Lord Kabylia itself is a most romantic region, en- .and Master. Although we have our troubles closed by the range of the Jur-Jura mountains, with backsliders and others who have fallen from which spurs are projected enclosing ferinto sin, yet the Zulu who has once professed tile valleys, richly cultivated, and bounded on {)hristianity and been admitted to the church, the north by the hills of Beni-Djennad, where .and then gone back to heathenism, has not as two American brethren have entered a village yet been met by me; though I have heard a and run up a mud-hut and have begun their good deal of such, and read about them In work, braving all the discouraging circum· newspaper articles and books by travelers. stances connected with their position.
AiIectlonately, The people have built their villages on the JAMES SCOTT. summits of their mountains for protection against the Arabs who Invade the country, NORTH AFRICA AS A MISSION FIELD. but they cultivate their slopes In every avail- Algiers, November, 1889. able spot. Some of the tribes take their flocks In summer to the higher valleys of the moun- DEAR EnITORS: Your valuable MISSIONARY REvIEw has not hitherto dwelt on the move- are tains, which, In the winter seasons, covered ments In Northem Africa; and as I have been ,some ten years seeking, with the blessing of with snow, where they find delicious pasturage. .Qod, as an Independent Missionary Pioneer, to Its summit, the Lalla-Kadidja, is 8,000 feet 'OCCUpy myself with the spiritual Interests of high. Every village has its Djemaa, or ParJia.. its various populations, I have no doubt that a ment House, where the affairs of the village few brief notes will be acceptable' to your and the Tribe are discussed, and where every readers. We (that is, myself and my earnest man capable of carrying a rifle, or keeping the and zealous wife) first directed our attention Ramadan fast, is a member; Indeed, the Kuto the Kabyles, an interesting'people located in byles have presented what many have aimed the mountainous regions of Kabylia. 'The at-the purest and most economical Republic "North Africa Mission" has since extended its the world has ever known. It is true, before -operatiOIllr to all the Berber races and the the French invasion, the tribes were often at loggerheads, owing to their self-assertion and jealousy. Happily, that is all at an end, through poli also, the Arabic. The range of Berber in the wise and firm rule of the French regime. Algeria is. cOllsiderable, taking in the whcle Theyare a fine race, with manynoble qualities, country, from Dellys southeast to the borders. very susceptible to kindness, and systematic- of Tunis, havi~ its boundary on the east at, ally hospitable; the more they are known the the River Kebir, but extending to Constantine more they are loved. Their women are un- and the region north of the city. Many dis- veiled, and when young, many are extremely tricts to the northwest of Algeria contain handsome; but like all Mohammedan women, Berber-speaking people, but they are speedily are a subjected, if not an enslaved, class. becoming Arabized. The whole of this district. from the river Sapil, which has its embouch- As far as they know it, they observe the re- ure at Boagie right up to Tunis, is unevangel- ligious prescriptions of the Koran, though it is ized, except a few sisters at Constantine and likely that some tribes do not possess a copy. Bone. These extend to circumcision, the response to the call to prayer, fasts and feasts, etc., but Here is a sphere of missionary labor for- they do not observe its prescriptions as to in- some of your noble young men who are conse- heritance. They have no written language, crating themselves to foreigu mission work. and we have only at present the Gospel of Arabic would be the language most necessary John translated into Kabyle in Roman char- to study, and which might be partiallyacquired acters, and Mr. Mackintosh has' translated the in the United States. It opens the way to mil- Gospel of Matthew into Refllan in Arabic char- lions of Mohammedans. French also would be. acters. Happily there are now many French necessary in Algeria. We have here a most schools throughout Algeria, and an interpreter healthful climate, and have spent several may generally be found in most villages, and summers without inconvenience. The tempera- by this means we have been enabled to preach ture. Farenheit, would be about 82 in August. in various places. and 48 in winter months, December and Janu- ary. The North Africa Mission has upwards We have in most of the towns a peculiar race of forty missionaries, including ladies, and. of Berbers, known by their varied colored there are at least forty more independent, or coats, and keeping grocery and other shops- conn'!Cted with other societies; but there is the Mzabs from the Sahara. They are Mo- room for eighty more, and we want American hammedan dissenters, and very accessible, re- zeal and push to overcome, with the help of ceiving our Arabic Testaments very gladly. the Spirit of God, the tremendous difllcultie~ Our butcher here tells us he reads his Testa- of mission work among Mohammedans. ment to three or four listeners of an evening. Yours truly in the Lord, The Arabs are mostly a nomadic race, GEORGE PEARSE. though many get settled in towns, and are be- coming agriculturists. We have seen cara- Ohina. vans moving after wheat harvest down into the Sahara to reap their dates. Three hundred HIGHLY INTERESTING LETTER FROM DR. RAPPER., villages of French colonists without a single evangelist'cry:aloud for workers in that tongue. Canton, Dec. 3, 1889. The physical features of the country are ex- DEAR REVIEW: Last evening was" Mission- traordinary. We have first, the Tell, a strip of ary Concert" night-the old concert of prayer territory varying from fifty to one hundred for the conversion of the world. It has been miles, bounded by the Mediterranean on the kept up at this station from the days of north-hilly, mountainous, romantic, very di- Bridgeman and Abeel, the first Americanmis- versified. Next, the High Plateau-vast plains sionaries to China. They arrived at Canton in separated by parallel ranges of mountains and Feb. 1830. I cannot say positively whether subject to alternationsof intensecold and great Dr. Morrison held such meetings before the heat, devoid of trees and very little inhabited, arrival of their brethren or not. I infer he though affording in many parts pasturage for had not, for want of men of like mind to meet cattle. Beyond these lies the Sahara, diversi- with him ; but I feel assured that he rejoiced fied by vast plains of sand with rocky plateaus. to unite with them after their arrival, in this. The French have their military stations far concert of prayer. They were sent in answel' down in the south; and again beyond this lies to his long continued prayer to God, and after oft ;repeated and urgent requests sent by him the Soudan. to the American Board of Foreigu Missions, to The Atlas mountains commence at Agader, send men to China. The meetiug has been continued down through their successors to, near the coast, to the south of Mogador, and this pre..«ent day. It is 45 years since I first extend in a northwesterly direction through met with it. It was then attended by Drs. Morocco and Algeria, and terminating at Cape Bridgeman, Ball, Parker, Brown and Dean Bon. In Tunis there are no navigable rivers. Williams, Rev. Messrs. Sheeck, Roberts, Devan, M. D., Waltel' M. Lowrie, myself, and some With respect to the languages spoken: In others. These all have finished their course, Morocco it is a corrupt form of Arabic, but the and gone to their reward. Their places are Shelluhs and Rifi's speak Berber, and, perhaps, occupied by worthy representatives of the comprise two-thirds of the population. In ,Algeria and Tunis, and we may include Tri- 1l8JIle societies, and of other societies not then rying lighted torches. When asked why thoy represented. did so, they stated they carried the torches to frighten away the tigers. The necessity of The meeting last night was one of "/musual doing so was made clear by the statement, interest from several circumstances. There that a few days before, a woman, who was out was a very large attendanceo-in all some 35 cutting grass on the mountain, was carried missionaries were present. Of these, there away by a tiger and eaten. were new missionaries from the church of " The United Brethren in Christ" in the It has been widely known that the Chinese United States, just arrived to commence a people of this city, some 16 years ago, organ- mission at Canton. This is their first mission ized a society to counteract and hinder the in China. .All the brethren welcome their new spread of Christianity, by the use of the same brethrenand sisters to the fellowship of labors means which missionaries use to spread the for Christ among this numerous people. The gospel. That society established a large dls- Rev. E. P. Thwing, Ph. D., was also present, pensary for giving medical advice and pre- -as a visitor. The great interest of the meet- scriptions gratis to all applicants. They also ing, however, in connection with the prayers give cOWns to all the poor who apply for offered, was the information communicated of them. They also opened halls, and employed some few of the results of work done. speakers to preach Confucianism. They opened schools in which the children of all The Rev. C. Bone, of the Wesleyan Mig.. those who wished to send them should be -sion, gave some details of his recent visit to taught the Confucian classics. the stations of that mission up the north "river from this city. During this visit he had The same has been done at the manufactur- baptized some fifty persons on profession of ing town of Fatchan, 12 miles from this city. their faith. When visitmg these same stations The Wesleyan Mission commenced a mission- last spring, he had baptized about the same ary hospital there some' six years ago. It is a number, making over 100 baptisms during the town of some 600,000 inhabitants. There had year. In one case, he went 12 miles from the been Christian churches and preaching halls 13tation to baptize an old man, who could not there long before that; but after the hospital <lome to the place of worship by reason of age was opened the people took measures to preand inflrmities ; but the son, through whose vent their people being led away by it. They instruction the old man had come to the collected funds to build and maintain a dispensknowledge of the gospel, sent two horses for ary and hospital, and sustain the preaching Mr. Bone and his companion to make the of Confucianism in halls for that purpose. journey. All the other stations on the moun- They have expended about $42,000 in building tains Mr. Bone had to reach by walking; in the dispensary and hospital. The dispensary >(lne case walking 25 miles in one day, over is quite numerously attended. The hospital mountain roads. At one mountain village he has 100 rooms for the accommodation of pabaptized nine, in another seven, and in an- tients; but for some reason they have not other three. The baptism of these last three been occupied to any extent by resident pawas performed in a stable, as that was the tients. The conditions on which they can be only .place which the very few members in occupied are said to be unsatisfactory. These that village could get to meet in. We may efforts of the Chinese to counteract the efforts feel assured that He who "was born in a stable of missionaries testify to two things, Viz.: to and laid in a manger" met with those who the efficiency and wisdom of the means which met to engage in His worship, and in the cele- missionaries are using for the dissemination of bration of the ordinances of his appointment the gospel, and of the desire and purpose of in such humble surroundings. the people to adhere to and support their own system. A little company also gathered in a village where there is a large Buddhist Monastery, Other items of intelligence were communiand the inhahitants of which are largely de- cated by Dr. A. P. Happer from a letter revoted to Buddhism; hut a little company have ceived from Rev. Dr. Corbett, of the Shanprofessed Christ, and we may hope that the tung Mission, in which he gave a statement of number may increase yet more and more, for his work on a recent itinerary. He had just "the entrance of God's word giveth light." returned (Oct. 28th) from a trip of 49 days among the churches, stations, and schools un- I cannot _relate all the personal incidents der his supervision. During this time he bap. which give such special interest to "viva tized 58 persons on profession of their faith, voce" statement by one who saw and experi- making 100 baptizyd since March, 1889. He enced what he related. One may be given: says "God is greatly blessing the schools in Theyhad to cross a swollen stream by wad- the country. Not ouly teachers and pupils are ing it ; his companion had to hold his watch finding Christ; but not a few of the parents upon his hand above his head to keep it from have come out on the Lord's side. At one getting wet. Another most interesting scene place where we have three schools, 19 were redescribed: the appearance, as seen from the ceived, every one of whom said that their first chapel door, of the groups of people coming serious interest in the Truth dated from hearto the evening service, many of the men caring their children or grandchildren singhymns kind of information I want, and I wish to tell or repea.t scripture which had been learned you how much I appreciate it. .
in school. So important has this work grown At each meeting of the Society two boys are that now we have 84 schools in different cen- appointed to prepare papers for reading at the tres. A Normal school has been opened for next meeting. The countries for discussion.
the special purpose of training school teach- are appointed, and during the month follow- ers and lay preachers. We have now 15young ingthe boys come to me for their information.
men who have been in native schools from 8 They write down roughly the facts, statistics,.
to 12 years, taking & special three years' etc., whlch I have prepared for them, and then.
course. Pray for this work. Rejoice with us at their leisure go over this carefully, and pre- that Shantung Mission is to be re-inforced pare their papers, which are usually very this autumn with 17 missionaries; six have al- good, and sometimes written in such high ready arrived, and the others are on the way. .. wen Ie," or book ljmguage, that I gasp, and.
We have been praying and waiting for years wonder how they manage to change the ma- for more help." terial I have given them in such common.
These items of information adaed interest to . words and broken sentences, into such lluent, our .. monthly concert." They are communi- high sounding sentences, some of which I can- cated in the hope and belief that they willln- not underStand at all. The spoken and writ- terest many readers of your REviEw, and draw ten language of the Chinese are so different.
forth prayer from many hearts for yet more They have one good rule, which would be- abundant outpouring of the spirit in every well If followed by our home societies.
part of the world. Each boy appointed to prepare a paper, who- A. P. ILu>PEK, fails to do it without a very good excuse,' is Editorial CoITe8pondent. 1lned, and the money put in the treasury. At Tungclu:nd Fao, Sept. Zl, 1889. the close of each meeting the roll is called,. My DEAB DB. SHERWOOD: I have read with interest your article in the August number of and the members answer by stating thethe REvIEW, entitled, .. Have we too many missionary periodicals ,.. Without express- amount they have for contribution. Thirty ing an opinion of other missionary periodicals, allow me to say that I regard THE MII!SION- cash, or three cents, is a large sum for one boy ABY REVIEW OJ!' THE WORLD as excellent. to give at anyone time, and if a member says: Please give us more of it. There is a large and 1l0urishing Missionary he has four or llve cents to give, a murmur of Society here in the College. They have eft!.- cient oft!.cers chosen from the more advanced astonishment goes through the room, and th&' students and native teachers. They have excellent rules, good attendance, and 1lrst-rate smaller boys give vent to a prolonged .. Oh-h,.. order at their meetings, and all the members seem interested and wide-awake. The chief which they fondly imagine is whispered, but diftlculty in their way is in getting information on Missionary topics, 88 they can read no in that they are mistaken. How good a thing. English, and can 1lnd nothing suitable in their native books. It is necessary for one of the It is that God regardeth notthe amount given, missionaries to hunt up all avallable material, but the spirit In which it is given. With best wishes for the success of your magazine, I am, Very truly, FANNY COBBETT HAys.
P. S.-Perhaps you are acquainted with my father, Dr. Corbett, of Chefoo' He is now visiting his country stations, from which he- writes good news of addition to the church, and more interest shown by the common peo- ple. F. C. H ..
and translate it to them. While Mrs. Mateer Engla.nd. was here, she was translator, general advisor, and an .. Encyclopedia of Missions" in living A BUSINESS LAYMAN'S VIEWS. form, and the interest was largely kept up [We gladly give space to the follow- among the boys by her contributions of inter- ing letter from a leading merchant of esting and suitable material. Since she left I Liverpool. Not only is his citation have been trying to take her place as translator, and apprecIate all the diftI.~·1it from Palgrave to the point and of great; 1lnding suitable material, and of giving theSe value, but also his personal observation boys, who have no other source of informa- from fifteen years' residence in Olll tion, a real wide outlook on the Mission lleld. Calabar, West Africa, is important. I do not want to con1lne myself to our own Here ,he struggled nobly to carryon church work-what couid I ten them ot trade without dealing in liquor, but. Egypt, for instance, lf I did' I cannot incnr the expense ot taking each church's particUlar was obliged to give in and relinquish.
organ, and even if I could, would have no time business. Andhesays: "Theamazing to hunt through them all and select what is thing is that all this traffic is conductsuitable. Your bright, readable magazine is ed in the main by not over a dozen ;just what one in my position needs. You select, and arrange, and put in order, just the firms, the members of which are most; excellent men, many of them I be- whatever weakens QI' distorts them more in.
lieve sincere Christians." Mr. 'Irvine jurious. Hence, a Malay :Mohammedan is a. is a. Ruling Elder in the Presbyterian cont~ction, an anomaly, a failure, much as Church, and says: "I hope to be one a Hindoo Christian, or a European Buddhist to welcome Dr. Pierson in a. day or might be. The system does not suit him, nOl"
he the system. Not 80 the Malay of the Philip.
two."-J. M.S.] pino-Christian type. His family, as tbat of DBAB BIllS: Although somewhat late, it may his Chinese or Japanese cousins, moderate not yet be out of place in the controversy polytheists like himself, is a pleasing sight: raised by Canon Taylor regardiug the compar- much subordination and little constraint, uni. ative merits of Christianity and Islamism in so~ in gradation, liberty not license; orderly Africa, to give you a quotation which I came children, respected parents,womensubject but 8Cr01!8 lately in .. Ulysses, or Scenes and not suppressed, men ruling but not despotic Studies in Many Lands," by .the ,late ,accom. reverence with kindness, obedience in aiIe:. plished W. G. Palgrave. tion-these form a lovable picture, not byany At page 153, in an article on Malay life in the means a rare one in the villages of the Eastern Philippines, Mr. Palgrave says: .. Tb&t the Isles. "
adoption of Islam may be, and,in fact is, a real It is no secret that at one time in his life the benefit and an uplifting to savage tribes, genial Gift'ord Palgrave sympathized to such amongst whom the lowest and most brutaliz- an extent with Mohammedanism tbat current ing forms of fetichism would else predominate, report, though without foundation, stated he does not admitof doubt. Anthropopbagy, hu- had actually become one, and therefore such man sacrifices, and other kindred horrors, bave testimony as tbat given in this extract carries thus heen banished by Mohammedan teach- additional weight. ing from whole tracts of Africa, and, 80 far, la I bave not seen it quoted elseWhere, and I welL But not less does experience show that trust you will consider the extract of suf/lcient sooneror later, the tribe, the nation, tbat casta importance to give it a place In your REvIEw.
in its lot ,with Islam, is strioken as by a blight; Perhaps I may also add, tbat long before Canon Taylor shocked the sense of Christian its freshness,.its plasticity,disappear first, then England, Professor Blyden of Monrovia, who has been repeatedly a guest of mine, and its vigor, then its reparative and reproductive whose writings on thla subject formed the power, and it petrifies and perishes. With the ground work of Canon Taylor's views, had dis-' abstract and theoretical merits of Monothe- cussed the matter with me, and I do not hesl· lam or Polythelam, Islam or Christianity, I tate to say tbat the Canon injected views have nothing to do; but thla much la certain, and ideas into Dr. Blyden's writings which tbat within the circle of the l'hillippine Archi- were far from those Intended to be conveyed. pelago itself-not to seek examples further away-the contrastbetween the Mohammedan That Islamlam is better than Fetichism, no viIIages of the southernmost lalands and the one will deny, nor will anyone who knows the Christian ones elsewhere, is very remarkable, country refuse to acknowledge that the follownor by any means favorable to the former. ers of the Prophet are spreading rapidly over the centre of Africa; but to plead that tbe sys· .. For a satisfactory explanation of the prob- tem is better for the Negro than Christianity, lem before us, there isno need for recurring to and to raise it for one moment to the level of a. causes, if such there be, hid in the extra-mun· favorable comparison, and that by the mouth dane and unknown. The reason is near to of a Christian minister, is sad in the extreme. seek. Family life, family ties, family aiIectiona, these form the only true, stable, and at I respect the Canon for his courage, and if the same time expansive basis for communi- he would only allowit to take him to any of the ties, states, empires even; and tbat these may, mission stations on the west coast of Africa, and actually do, co-exist after a fashion with a and witness, as I have often done there, the vigorous profession of Mohammedanism, no beauty of simple, consistent Christian life onewho has experimental knowledge of Turk- among the hundreds of native converts, he ish orArab population can possibly deny. They would, I am sure, if he lived to return, not be exist, but even when at their best and strong- slow to acknowledge that Christianity had est are always cramped, stunted, and hindered lost none of its powers. from their full growth and development by theforced demarcation between the sexes, the Yours most truly, sanctioned polygamy, the over·facility for di· J.ums mvnnll, F. R. G. S.
vorce, and the other social mistakes inter. India. woven-whether by the hand of the prophet himself, or, rather, as with Sprongel I incline [Our readers may remember that after the death of her father, the to believe, by that of ,the narrow-minded and Rev. Royal G. Wilder-the founder and editor for ten years of THE MIsascetic Omar-into the very texture of Islam. SIONARY REVIEW-his gifted daughter Nowherearefamilybondscloserdrawn,tamily aiIections more enduring, t1I#In among the Malay races, and nowhere, in consequence, is Grace, with her aged mother, re. can count! The memory of these children is turned to India, as missionaries, and remarkable. Why shouldn't we take advan- tage of this to store Christian truth in their are laboring among the same people minds? These Government schools are sending out hundreds of good readers every year. where he and they had formerly lived What are these boys to read? and wrought. Miss Grace is ~ sister of Mr. R. P. Wilder, who has done This month mother and I have made a short so gran(i a work among the students tour of thirteen towns near us. In only one of in the United States and Canada, and these we found a Cbristian home. At one tlie who expects soon to join his mother women acted wildly curious. They sat down on the temple steps, and listened eagerly. As and sister in Indian missionary work we took out our lunch, some head men of the in that vast and inviting field. This village tried in vain to drive away our audishort letter from Miss Wilder we are ence-the women especially were so anxious sure will be read with great interest, to see us eat. Even at this village-reached by a rough cart road-we found a boys'
knowing these facts.-J. M. S.] school. I distributed some leafiets, asking the Kolhapur, Dec. 4, 1889. boys to commit the Lord's Prayer. We had My DEAR DR. SHERWOOD: I fear you think driven out quite a distance from the village, I have not been very good in carrying out when across the fields, running and panting, the request you made me shortly before we came a boy to tell us one boy had failed to get sailed. I little realized then what a pressure a paper.
we find out here to do rather than to write At Miraj, a town of 24,000, we visited a Gov- about it. ernment school of over 200 pupils-one of I want to thank you for the regular coming eight similar schools. There are also private of the REVIEW. I cannot but wish that dear schools, and a girls' school, with a roll of 105, father might know how God is using it to and an average of some 75 girls. Miraj is at carry, with such zeal and rapidity, the news the junction of our new Kolhapur Railway of His workings in every part of the world. It with the. Southern Marathi Railway. It is a seems to me that the prayers of father's last trade centre, rapidly increasing in population year were prophetic of the REVIEW'S future, and importance. Yet in this large place, only and I feel that I could ask for it no greater 35 miles from us, there is no missionary or na- gift than that God will raise up hearts to pray tive preacher, no chapel or Sunday school.
for it, as dear father did. The same can be said of lnchalkarangi, with I cannot but take it for granted that you a population of 11,0001 Here I found two have a very special interest in our Kolhapur girls' schools. • field, and so would like to know of our pur- All this Government education awakens poses and needs. feelings of fear, as well as hope. All this One subject lies very much upon my heart training means power, but power which just now, and that is, our present opportunity can be used for evil. Enough miserable of reaching the children of India. Mother novels and infidel books are circulated to and I have been much together in our work, alarm us.
and in spite of other calls, our attention has We have from our mission bungalow dur- been drawn to work among children. We find ing the past few weeks, sold some 30 rupees that aiming at children is a good way to get worth of books. Mr. Seiler is now getting village audiences, so we have started Sunday from Boston, for English students, some of schools in two near villages. Our greatest op- Mr. Hastings' tracts. We hope soon to have a position comes from Government school sale room for books in our city-Christian teachers. We hear that one boy's hand was books, story books, and school books, would swollen from the beating he received because be very acceptable for this. I am now loan- he committed the Lord's Prayer. Another ing Christie's" Old Organ," as I have but one teacher burned some of the papers we had copy.
given the boys. One of our brightest boys Our great need just now is workers. One told me that the teacher refused to take him earnest Christian at a centre like Miraj could into school until he gave up the books he had carry on Sunday-school work in many large received from us. Satan is not going to let us villages. Three of the five Sunday schools infiuence these bright children if he can help which mother and I atten,! are held on week it. This is not to be wondered at, but a great days. One under a tree, one on the verandah wonder will it be if we fail to see and seize of a school house, and the third in a "chow- this, our present chance. die. " or inn.
These little ones are not all the rough, wild, Will you, Dr. Sherwood, especislly remem- ignorant creatures which we at home label as ber us, asking that God wlll raise up workers " heathen." Many have trained minds-are for this field? We are greatly rejoicing to- beautiful readers; boys who can recite the day in the thought that Dr. and Mrs. Wanless multiplication table up to thirty as fast as we and Miss Sherman are probably in Bombay;
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
yet the unoccupied stations, Pawlialla and seek subscriptions to a Vedic school, where Rutnagerri, leave little hope of our taking Pantheism is to be taught. One native judge new places unless more workers come soon. gives 50 Rs., and other prominent ·educated men are contributing! I wish friends at home might realize our present chance in India. This week men have May God richly blessyou in yourgreat work. iJome up to KolbaI!ur from Southern India, to GRACE E. WILDER.
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
'The United States and the Congo Free the President phrased it, wherewe had State. no interests or control.
From time to time a good deal of 3. The Convention of Delegates, public criticism filters through the however, drew up a formal act of the nature of an international convention, press, and emanates from platform which laid down certain obligations and pulpit, because the United States to Government does not actively inter- purporting to be binding on the signa- -fere to stay sundry wrongs and inju- tories, subject ratification within ries being inflicted on the simple one year. inhabitants of the Congo Valley, 4. Notwithstanding the reservation €minently by the introduction of rum into that region by foreign and so- of our Government on its delegates, 1:alIed Christian nations. It seems as their signatures were attached to the if the naming of the evil beingfos- general act in the same manner as -tered by the commerce which Europe those of other plenipotentiaries, makand America are cultivating in that ing the United States to appear withquarter of the globe, would be suffi- out reservation or qualification to eudent to secure the intervention of our tel' into this joint international en- Republic to stop it. We earnestly gagement. wish that our Government could do :something, but we have to judge of its 5. But the President of the United power and the propriety of its course States, in reporting the matter to Con- -of non-interference in the light of the gress in his annual message, distinctly repudiated the comp~ct, regarding the act of the delegates as in no sense -attitude it has assumed toward the impairing the original reservation Convention of Powers in the case of made in the premises by which its the Congo State, and of the funda- delegates were sent merely to take mental principle underlying its course part in a deliberative body. And so ()f procedure. profound was his personal convic- tion that the Government ought not 1. The United States Government to enter into a compact for the" consent delegates to the conference at Ber- lin held by the representatives of some servation of the territorial integrity of fifteen of the most powerful nations distant regions where we have no es- -of the world to discuss methods tablished interests or control," and so whereby the Congo Basin might be sure was he that the country would kept open to the world's trade. not support a policy of possible "ezi.- 2. The definite understanding of our tangling alliances" abroad, that he -Government was that the proceedings said to the Senate in concluding the were to be only deliberative, without traversing of the case in his message: imparting to the result any binding " I al:iJstain from asking the sanction <character so far as the United States of the Senate to that general act." were concerned. This was grounded We are not aware of any public act '<In the old policy of this Government not to share in "jurisdictional ques- of the Government or of its representa- -tions in remote foreign territories," as tives since, that has modified that position. Our Government and our people, as a people, stand wholly out- political or moral, to hold back thi~ side of that convention, and of all cup of the sorcerer from those poor other political relations, so far as the degraded races. Politically, so far as… writer now thinks of, to the so-called the powers and proceedings of the in- "Congo Free State." Of course, the ternational convention that seeks t()- action of the country's delegates was controIthe imaginary Free State go. of no effect without the sanction of our Government can no more interthe Senate, and that should have been fere than it can with Home Rule in had within a year of the date of the Ireland, or the imposition of customs. signatures. The rather mythical dutiesin Liverpool or Berlin. It would "Free State" is, therefore, the busi- be told to mind its own business if it. ness of the people and nations who did. chose to create it. Itis not a political power, nor probably soon to become What we desire is, to have our such. It will probably furnish the people see that- whatever we do 1;() occasion of disputes between the suppress the rum traffic on the Cong()- nations who entered into this danger- is to be done in our individual ca-· ous alliance; and we will rejoice that pacity, or through our churches' and. we are not involved in a broil for the other voluntary organizations. We. preservation of "territorial integrity as Christians, 88 philanthropists, or' of distant regions where we have no through our missionary evangelistic established interests or control." force, may protest, appeal, create· sentiruentin anyway, and the respon- It is fitting, therefore, to consider sibility is on us to do with our might. whether any attempt on the part of what our hands find to do. There is. our Government to interfere with that some better way for Christian rule 1;() of the signatory powers in the Congo be established in Africa than by mawould be anything short of an imper- nuring the soil with the graves of its. tinence. How could we, having re- people, first ruined and rotted witlL fused to enter into that convention, rum. 88k to be permitted to dictate its policy? The Native Languages of Mmco.
Let it be borne in mind that we are BY REV. WK. P. F. FERGUSON, B. D. no party to that contract; and, among our national sins and shortcomings, Because of its vast architectural reis not to be enumerated the sanction mains, Mexico is often called "the by our Government of the introduc- Egypt of America." In view of the· tion free of duty amongst the low great number of .languages which races of.the Congo, with their feeble have been spoken among its moun-· force of resistance, that which tains and valleys, it might also bethreatens to decimate them as surely called the India of the New W orId. and 88 speedily 88 slavery has done It may be supposed that the common the central belt of the continent. expression, "the Land of the .Aztecs," is an adequate expression of the an- We do not desire to soften the sense tiquity of Mexico; but before it cameof indignation against the signatories, under the sway of that great but uno. whose very self-interest, or whose hu- fortunate people, it.had been the land manitarianism of the lowest grade, of the Chichimecas, the Toltecs, the one would think would have induced Zapotecas, the Mayas, the Otomies, them to restrict the agency which the Xicalancas, the Quinames, and of" threatens the destructioil of the very perhaps as many other peoples, some population with which they seek to of whose very names are lost to hisbuild up a market. We do not seek tory. Nor are these the names of to excuse our Government from every mere tribes, rather of nations, and legitimate exercise of its power, some of them of races distinct in cus- toms, langua~es and blood. .. PopulOils realms in its sounds, but to the writer it d~ Swept by tbe torrent see tbeir ancient tribes not seem to be particularly so. As a. people the Otomis are of special inter- Engulfed and lost." est, from the fact that they are proba– bly the oldest race now extant in. To-day there survive of these peoples Mexico. only remnants, hiding, as it were, among the mountains that once The Mayas, in the far south and formed the ramparts of the empires southeast, number about 400,000. of their fathers. While those of them who live along' the coast have been visited by many It is the object of this article to pre- travelers, the deadly climate andtheir' sent some facts with regard to these supposed hostility have almost com- peoplesand their languages, and to of- pletely isolated those who iDhabit the' fer some suggestions as to giving them interior. These, it is generally be- the Gospel in their' own tongues. lieved, still retain almost intact their ancient civilization. Whether the be- Omitting any mention of a number lief is well founded or not, remains of minor languages, each spoken by for the explorer to show. Their lan- from a few hundred to a hundred guage was anciently one of the most thousand people, we will notice five of cultivated, and has received a consid- the most important, namely: the erable study from modem scholars. Otomi, the Maya, the Zapotaca, the The results of this study are, how- Tarasca, and 'the Nahuatl, or Mexi- cano. These must not be thought of ever, difficult of access.* as simple dialects; they are rather distinct languages, with differences The Tarasca is the language ofas great as those that exist between about 250,000, chiefly inhabitants of any of the tongues of the Aryan fam- the State of Michoacan, on the Pa- ily, if, indeed, some of them have cific coast. They are to-day all that even a remote connection. All of remains of the once powerful kingthem, with the exception of the dom of Michoacan, which success- Otomi, were expressed in picture fully resisted the Aztecs even in the writing, which was, especially among height of their power. Tradition con– the Mexicans, or Aztecs, developing nects them closely with the Mexicanos ; toward an alphabet. The use of this but their language does not seem tohas ceased, and they are now all writ- me to warrant it, bearing in its roots. ten by means of alphabets given to and formations only a very small rethem by the Spanish conquerors. semblance to the more cultured Nahuatl. It is not, however, with- In detail: The Otomis are one of the out elements of strength and force, most widely distributed of the native and must have been well suited to the· races, being found in five States of the neeas of a hardy, warlike people. Republic, and in a ward of the national capital. They seem to be The Zapoteca may be taken as the· among the most intelligent, and cer- representative of a family of dialects. tainly are among the most industri- sometimes classed as the Mixteco-Za– ous inhabitants of the country. They poteca. As a refined language, this number about 700,000, of whom many would doubtless be ranked as next to. of course have more or less knowledge the Nahuatl, though the two seem aI– of the Spanish language; but the most entirely distinct. A very consid- .greater number still retain and con- erable literature, comparatively speakstantly use their own. This is one of ing, has been formed by translations. the most complicated of the so-called Indian languages. Unlike most of • There are some excellent monographs the others, it abounds in vocals hav- worthy of study, such as Brenton's, on ing no less than sixteen vowels. It is tbe Mayas, in tbe south, and their language. usually spoken of as harsh and rude -J.T.G. and a few original compositions. This soldier and the Roman priest h.as been was the native language of Mexico's to destroy all that, in the old ciziliza- most illustrious statesman, Benito tion, was worthy of preservation, and .Juarez. to make the entrance of the tr:ue The Nahuatl, or Mexicano, was the ,Gospel ten fold harder now than it language of the Aztecs, and, as well, . would have been four hundred years of their predecessors, the Toltecs. It ago.
is the most cultured and elaborate of Protestantism has as yet attempted .all these ancient tongues, as the peoples very little toward the evangelization who used it were the most refined and of the native races. A few who are progressive. In no sense is it a bar- able!' to be reached through the Span- barous dialect, but rather a worthy ish language have been gained. In a ·compeer of any ancient classic speech, few points work is conducted among furnished with all the elements re- them by means of native workers who quired by a people great in arms, state- are able to speak the Indian languages.
craft and literature. To-day it is But I do not think there is in the Re- :spoken by about 1,750,000, dwelling in public a single American missionary .sixteen States of the Republic, and able to preach in any indigenous forming nearly one-sixth of the whole tongue, nor more than one or two even population. Its extant literature far able to converse in it.
exceeds that of any of the other native During the year 1889, the press of languages. the Methodist Episcopal Mission in the The number of people in Mexico to- City of Mexico has issued the Gospel day who still speak some one of the in- by Luke in the Nahuatl, the necessary digenous languages, is very little less funds being furnished by gentlemen than 4,000,000, out of a total popUlation in the United States. The work is a ·()fless than 12,000,000.* reprint of an older edition that had Toward the Christianization of these almost wholly been destroyed. It millions, there has been done by the seems to have been partly revised, Roman Catholic Church-not any- though a very slight knowledge of the thing. True, very few among them language shows one that it still lacks are unfamiliar with the cross and much of being a faIthful translation.
rosary, and very few have never heard This one Gospel is the only portion of the names Jesus and Maria, but these the Holy Scriptures, excepting a few .are to them only the symbols of a blind verses, as the Lord's Prayer, available fetichism. Certain branches of the in any of the native languages.* old paganism have been lopped off The Roman Church, with all her and replaced by shoots of a pseudo- boasted learning, never has attempted 'Christianity. Planted in Mexico by this first duty of missionary labor-to . men whose hands were foul with every give the Holy Scriptures to the people.
·crime of blood and lust, the Roman These, from among many facts of Church has wrought nothing other interest, must suffice. Upon them I ihan the works of its fathers. " The base the following suggestions: Mexican Church," says one, "fills no These peoples should not, alone mission of virtue, no mission of mo- among the nations of the world, be rality, no mission of mercy, no mission forbidden to hear of "the wonderful ()f charity. Virtue cannot exist in works of God" in their "own lan- its pestiferous atmosphere. The code guages." This is emphasized by the of morality; does not come within its fact that they are living and dying practice." The work of the Spanish * There is in existence a MS. copy of the * The 1lgi.res of this article are based upon Four Gospels in Nahuatl. The writer saw it several times in Mexico city. It is now somethe "Cuadro Geografico" of Sr. Antonio where in the United States. -Garcia Cubas. within a few hours of our very doors. The character of mission work But the missions already established among these peoples must be from the in Mexico have already fields de- foundation. The priest has scarce manding all that they can expend of placed a stone upon which it will be money or labor, while the unap- safe to build. The same is true with proached Spanish-speaking popula-, regard to literary work. The alpha- tion offers room for the expansion of bets given to these languages by the many years. Thus, it seems that the padres are without exception faulty, establishment of special missions to and their grammars attempt to force the Mexican indigenes offers a favor- into the moulds of the Latin and able field for some missionary society Spanish languages that have scarce not already engaged in that Republic. a trace of likeness to them. This Such a step would, of course, meet work is of value now only to the stu- the opposition of some, as did even dent who is able to detect and reject the publication of the Nahuatl Gospel. their mistakes.
It will be urged-as it has been urged The limits of this article forbid more -that the keeping alive of any sparks than the briefest suggestion of the of the old civilization, as such an ef- possible results. The indigenes are, I· fort implies, would be disintegrating believe, equal in mental and physical in its effect upon the Republic, and endowment and vastly superior in would be so looked upon by the Gov- morals to the Spanish-speaking popu- ernment. This objection is of no lation. Upon them must, in a great weight with anyone who has noticed measure, depend the solution of some the growing native-Mexican spirit in of the problems of Mexico's state and both the literature and politics of the social life. Experience, such as has country. It is also objected that any been had, shows that they are not such effort is unnecessary, as the pres- more difficult to reach than their ent generation of Indians can be neighbors. The" everlasting gospel"
reached by the employment of native does the same work in the heart of an workers in connection with Spanish Aztec that it does in the heart of a missions, while succeeding genera- Saxon. It is only a question of effort, tions will have ceased to use the native and light can at last shine in this tongues. I doubt if the history of ancient darkness, and these long op- Christian missions. furnished an ex- pressed peoples can be endowed with ample of equally great peoples evan- the" heavenly citizenship."
gelized without the direct use of their REV. DR. HAMLIN'S VIEWS.
language and the creation of a Chris- When the subject of the use of the tian literature. And I do not believe, vernaculars of Mexico for missionary judging from the history of the past purposes, and the propriety of pub- three and a half centuries, that the lishing the Gospels in one or more of Spanishcan ever supplant the stronger these tongues, was under discussion three or four of the :Mexican verna- at the International Missionary Union culars. Meeting at Bridgeton, N. J., the Rev.
The initial step of such an effort Cyrus Hamlin, D. D., gave utterance should be an exploration to determine to his views and experiences on the the dependence of the various sec- general subject, and especially on the tions of the country upon the native application of the principle advo- languages, the dialectic changes, the cated, and, as these views of the ven- customs and many other questions erable and vigorous founder of Robert concerning which there is not now College are of value, and the facts al- sufficient information. Such an ex- luded to concerning the Armenian ploration might be so conducted with- language are of force and fitness in out financial loss. this discussion, we present now a .summary of ·Dr. Hamlin's address at waYs follow every translation, sooner the time referred to. He said : or later. It reconstructs its language " I regard the subject of the trans- by bringing it into new use. It re-.
.lation of the Bible into any unevan- constructs it by reconstructing the .gelized language, as one of prime im- mind and heart, and new meanings j)Ortance. If Mexico is to be evangel- come into old words. Let the Bible ized, it will be done through the native enter among those Mexican tribes en- languages of the people, Spaniards, forced by the love of missionaries, and Aztecs, Zapotacas, or what not. We it will make all things new. They have had a somewhat parallel condi- w1ll never be evangelized through the tion of things in Turkey. The Turk- Spanish.
ish language is the language of the Missionary Education in China. Empire, as much as the Spanish is of Mexico; but there are fragments of Now that the subject of higher edu- nations conserving more or less their cation as a missionary agency is beown languages, and we have used ing debated, it is well to note the those languages as the channels of the gospel to them. The translation of angle of vision of some persons on the Bible has been life from the dead, the field, who might claim to be unnot only to the people, but to their prejudiced because outside the circle languages. Fifty or sixty years ago the modern Armenian was a gross of participants. The Ohinese Times is and vulgar language, ungrammatical, an independent secular weekly paper full of foreign idioms and words of published at Tientsin, in North China. ¥i1eness and blasphemy, and it was The Methodist Episcopal Mission has regarded by the people as a desecra- for some time past had an education to translate the Word of God into it, and it must be confessed the first tional institution at that place known translation was very imperfect. It as the "Wiley Institute," named >could not be otherwise, for the instru- for the late Bishop Wiley, once an ment itself was very imperfect; but efficient missionary of this church in the most imperfect language can express the Sermon on the Mount, and China. The Ohinese Times had a 'some of the most beautiful Psalms leading editorial a little while ago on .and the gospel narratives, with clear- the relation of this institution, which ness. The first Armenian translation was immediately attacked and ridi- has now become incorporated as -culed by Jesuit missionaries and >others. Replies were made to them; "The Peking University," to the gen- -criticisms, friendly and unfriendly, eral situation at present in China. were noticed. Altercation sprang The editorial referred to says: up. The language grew. It began to drop off incongruous elements. Af- " The prospectus of t~s institution "ter ten or fifteen years a new transla- shows it to be the natural develoption was demanded and made, greatly ment of the Methodist Episcopal improved upon the first, because the Mission in Pekin~, which grew first language was undergoing a transfor- into 'Wiley Instltute,' and is now mation. Since then a third revision about to pass into the more advanced has been made. The language has stage of the Peking University. The become a cultivated language, and ca- title is apt to strike those who hear it pable of expressing, with great clear- for the first time as ambitious, and ness, the truths, the facts, and the sen- even audacious, but when calmly timents of the Bible. This will al- considered it is scarcely out of keep- ing with the general tone which the outer nations assume towards China.
" The assumption not only of un- doubted superiority, but of the right to impose that superiority on the Chinese, has a substantial basis of fact to rest upon, and whether it can be altogether justified on the princi- ple of non-interferenpe or not makes no practical difference. Facts come before theories, and if no formula yet exists to explain the fitness of the .domination which the foreign spirit is a brief history of the present' Wiley resolved to exercise on the Chinese Institute,' and a report by the princi- mind, such a fonnula will in time be pal, Rev. L. W. Pilcher, for the year ·.discovered. Meantime the aggressive 1887-88. These well-written papers movement is in full play and the show what a very good foundation forces behind the movement are ap- has been already laid in Peking for parently too potent to be seriously the new university, and what oppor- hindered in their operation by anr tunities of teaching the future literati obstacles whatever. The Peking Um- and official class, the teaching of the versify, under the auspices of an new sciences would give them. These American Mission Board, is an apt papers are backed up by a stirring ar- expression of the whole attitude of ticle by Bishop Fowler, who is Cllan- enlightened foreigners towards the cellor of the new university." ()hiriese Empire. .As such it deserves the best consideration which we can The International 14isaionary Union. give it. The Seventh Annual Meeting of the " The idea of this university seems International Missionary Union will be to have been flashed into the mind of held at Clifton Springs, N. Y., the lat- Bishop Fowler, during a recent visit to ter part of June next. Peking, by the ImJ?6rial Edict which .allowed Western SCIence to share with The invitation from Dr. Henry Fos- Chinese learning in the honors of the ter, the founder of the famed Sani- tarium at Clifton Springs, to the Union .competitive examinations. ' Here,' to hold a session at that place, has thought the Bishop, ' is our oppor- been a standing one for three years tunity. The Chinese Government past, but not till now has it seemed provides the motive for study in the practicable to accept the generous of- reward it offers for success, but it fer. The Sanitarium is so widely <does not furnish the means of study. known as a local point of missionary We will supply the want, and with interests, that it needs no introduction the teaching of science we will mingle to missionaries. We do not know the teaching of Christianity in such a what number of hundreds of mission- way as to spread the :principles among aries have received the advantages of the literati of China. treatment and of a home in this insti- tution while invalids or semi-invalids. " The missionary spirit is as much The spiritual atmosphere of the place a. living force in the world as the has always been spiritually hygienic, greed of gain or the passion for and if it is possible for sectarianism to knowledge, and the China field is so lose caste and color more thoroughly large and attractive that we may anywhere else in the land than here, reckon on substantial and perhaps we can not name the place. The ofstartling results of its operations in ficers of the Union have never urged the course of a generation or two. It missionaries to attend the annual is probably the most potent factor of meetings. It has been enough just to the coming invasion of China, and, as announce where it was to be held, and ,such, challenges attention to its all returned missionaries-men and methods. And if by discussion and women-who could possibly command free comparison these methods could the time and money and had the be in any degree divested of error, strength, gravitated thither, like .and their success assured without the "doves to their windows." But if it drawbacks which are apt to mar all were necessary to appeal to the brethgreat enterprises, then public benefit ren and sisters to be courteous to an will be certain to result from the ven- invitation, it would not be easy to tilation of missionary work outside over-emphasize the claims of Dr. Fosthe professional sphere. It is, on this ter and the Sanitarium to the compliaccount at any rate, that we consider ment of a largeattendance. Of course, it our duty to direct attention from time to time to what the missionary body is doing, and the new Peking University marks a most important :stage in that work.
" The appeal of the Methodist Epis- ·copal Mission to the liberality of the United States is for the round sum of half a million dollars to build and endow the university, of which a copy ·of the design is given in the prospectus. The appeal is accompanied by the physical advantages and charms evangelistic work effected by the often. of Clifton Springs are second to no maligned Christian College at Madras. health resort in the land. Missionaries of which he is a professor. Soneed not feel unwelcome in a place stro~gly was it felt that missionary which for a third of a century has education is a branch of evangelisticbeen dedicated to their physical up- work, that a protest was entered building. against the proposal, now favored in. many quarters, to substitute laymen We make this early announcement for missionaries in charge of educaof the next meeting, that all returned tional institutions. This approval of missionaries in the country may be educational· work did not involve. able to make their summer plans to in- however, any undervaluing of agenclude this meeting. Also, we wish to cies more obviously evangelistic. urge upon every member of the Union Preaching to low castes and nonnow abroad, to send some communi- castes has of recent years been prosecation, longer or shorter, to this meet- cuted with increased energy in seving. They are all members of the "Out- eral of the fields occupied by the Weslook Committee," and are expected to 1eyan Society, which has thus anticireport· on the situation in their part of pated the clamor that has recently the world. Either the President, arisen for the evangelization of the Rev. J. T. Gracey, D. D., 183 Glen- masses. This work will still hold a wood Avenue, Buffalo, N. Y., or the foremost place in the policy and oper- Secretary, Rev. W. H. Belden, Bridge- ations of Wesleyan missionaries; but ton, New Jersey, will receive these at the same time they are not inclined papers. to abandon those means of presenting the Gospel to higher, yet more be- India Wesleyans on Recent Criti- nighted, classes which their educacisms.-The Fifth General Confer- tional institutions afford. ence of Wesleyan Missionaries in India assembled at Bangalore at the -The questionof the employmentof' close of 1889, and sat for eleven days. a cheaper Europeanagencythan the or- Since they held a similar meeting dinarymissionary, is one that has lately three years ago, the work in Ceylon been prominently before the Weshas so far developed as to demand a 1eyan Society, as it has been beforeseparate organization and an inde- others. Experiments have been made pendent Conference for that Island. on some of the stations of the Society There were 24 ministers present from in South India; but the results so far every part of India and Burmah. have not been very encouraging. The Conference considered the ques- The Indian Methodist Times says: tion with much carefulness and in " On the subject of higher education great detail, and while it expressed as a missionary agency, the' Confer- its willingness to give the system a. ence showed that its views had not fair trial, it did not express much been at all affected by recent noisy hope that a permanent relief forcontroversies. It affirmed the im- straitened funds or a large multipliportance of maintaUring all the exist- cation of missionary resources could ing educational institutions of the So- be looked for in this direction. The· ciety, and the desirability, in some qualifications which must be required places, of adding to them. It heartily of European lay agents, the minimum encouraged the brethren in Calcutta rates of stipend at which their health to support and co-operate in the and efficiency could be maintained, scheme for a united Christian College and the kind of service in which they in that city, and the Rev. Gao. Pat- could be most effectively employed,. terson testified, in a remarkable speech, to the powerful and extensive
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF'MISSIONS
were all duly considered and reported ized in the removal of all hinderances on to the Home Committee. to the settlement of herself and fellow- workers among the women of Kash- -The death is announced of Dr. mir. She was thoroughly qualified Fanny J.'Butler of Srinagar Kashmir. for her work, and was a most compe- She went out in 1880 as the representa- tent physician and a most earnest tive of the Church of England Ze- and devoted missionary. "Our sisters nana Missionary Society, and was sta- have had to mourn over the removal of tioned at Jabalpur, and about a year several of their most honored workers ago was transferred to her present lo- in the last three or four years, but cation, and passed away just as the no loss is greater than this," says the great desire of her heart had been real- Missionary Intelligencer.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY REV. F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
Mexico. murder, and a slavery which was al- Before the year 1519. heathenism most worse than murder, are not edi- bore unquestioned sway in the Valley fying topics. Disgrace, rather than of Mexico. It was not without some glory, was reflected upon the Christian redeeming qualities. It was attended name. So grievous did the general by an advanced civilization; it was system of peonage become in the first presided over by a mild and humane twenty-five years, that in 1642 an op- sovereign, whose laws promoted the pressed people rose in a formidable re- general welfare of the people; yet in bellion against the Spaniards, and it its prevailing religious rites it was one proved so far successful that Charles of the bloodiest and most cruel of all V. of Spain issued an edict abolishing systems. Under the Aztec rule it the enslavement of the Indians, and had taken on cruel observances as a whatever forms of oppression tended war measure. The Aztecs, in con- to degrade them. But the planters quering the Toltecs, substituted for were not to be foiled, if "money, in- their gentle and grateful offerings of fluence, false,4ood and intrigue" could fruits and flowers, the awful rites of prevent it. A strong delegation sent human sacrifice. Cowardice dictated to Spain caused the edict to be re- this method of disposing of prisoners voked. In 1550, Velasquez, as vice- taken in war-at the same time that roy, made another effort in behalf of the fostering of a bloodthirsty spirit the peons, but Phillip II. had come to was supposed to give new valor to the the throne, and he was not a man to Aztec soldiery. appreciate humane measures. The THE SPANISH PROPAGANDA. people sank even lower into that deg- In the full noontide of this Aztec pow- radation from which three centuries er, the Spaniard appeared on the east- have not been sufficient to raise them.
ern coast, and the mysterious symbol In 1572 another and peculiar mis- of a cross was borne before his daunt- sionary agency was established in less troops. This was ostensibly a re- Mexico in the form of the Spanish In- ligious crusade-a missionary enter- quisition. If this could secure purity prise. Paganism was to be done of faith in one hemisphere, why not away, and the beneficent reign of in another? Out of its dark history Christi!l-nity was to take its place. an occasional flash of lurid light ap- But over the opening scenes of this pears, only to reveal the blackness of Spanish Propaganda de Fide it were the night. One or two illustrations.
charitable to draw a veil. Perfidy, will suffice. At a single auto-da-fe cruelty, robbery, bloodshed, wholesale in 1659, fifty persons were burned alive, the viceroy presiding on the oc- the Mexican people had a heavy score casion. .As late as 1872 or 1873, when to settle with the Papacy, and they the Methodist Missionaries were re- proceeded with the business right modeling an old mOI).astery at Pueblo earnestly. Every trace of the Em- for a church and school, they found pire was obliterated, the Jesuits were the skeletons of heretics walled into again expelled from the country, the its subterranean dungeons. In 1776 rich estates of the Church-the fruits the Jesuits were expelled from Mexico of centuries of extortion-were largely by a concerted movement of the chief confiscated; the monasteries were cities. thrown open, religious liberty was proclaimed; the Bible, hitherto ex- THE RISE OF THE REPUBLIC. cluded, was granted free course, and Protestant enlightenment was wel- In 1808 Napoleon I. usurped the comed. throne of Spain, and led on to great results in America. Two years after The First Napoleon, by his blunderthat usurpation and the crowning of a ing ambition, had sprung that move- Bonaparte in place of Ferdinand VII., ment for civil liberty which extended Guadaloupe Hidalgo, a cure of Guan- not only over Mexico, but over all the axato, raised the standard of inde- Spanish-American States in the short pendence. The cause of Liberty was space of twenty years, and now the finally won in 1821, and the Republic Second Napoleon, while also attemptwas established in 1824. A year ing to dispense thrones and sceptres, later the Mexican Congress framed becomes the unconscious instrument a constitution, which declared the in securing religious liberty. Roman Catholic religion to be the faith of the country forever, and it From 1519 till 1867, or through the forbade the exercise of any other form entire period of 348 years, the Roman ()f worship. Catholic Church of Spain had been engaged in <Jivilizing and Christianiz- In 1835 President Santa Anna abol- ing Mexico. Waiving the question, ished the State Governments, and in whether any advance had been made -consequence Texas and Yucatan de- in civilization, whether the welfare of ~lared their independence. the whole people was in any degree better cared for before the arrival of In 1846 Texas was a~mitted into the Maximillian than before the landing United States, and the Mexican war of Cortez-what had been done in the followed, which resulted two years way of spiritual enlightenment as the later in the accession of Arizona, New result of a propaganda of 300 years? Mexico, California and a part of Nevada, to the United States. A FRENCH-CATHOLIC ESTIlIIATE OF THE MEXICAN CHURCH. THE ACHIEVEMENT OF RELIGIOUS LIBERTY. The testimony of a French-Catholic priest, who visited Mexico at the time, In 1864, Maximillian, an archduke and resided for some time in the ()f Austria, was placed on the so- country, will be accepted as unbiased. called throne of Mexico by Napoleon Emanuel Domenech was a chaplain III., and the Republic was declared to in the invading army of Napoleon be at an end. Three years later, Na- III., and he became director of the poleon III. having withdrawn his press in the Empire of Maximillian. troops through fear of the armies of His observations were published in the United States-now released from Paris in 1867, under the title, "Le duu"y by the close of the War of the Mexique Tell Qu'il Est." First he Rebellion-Maximillian was arrested speaks of the clergy, as follows : "The and shot by order of President Juarez. clergy are in general very poorly edu- At the close of this effort-in which cated. They have the most errone- Pope, Cardinals and Mexican Bishops had joined-to destroy the Republic, <Qus and absurd ideas of morals and of the devil with God, the absence of in- ternal exercises of pietr, have killed Catholic dogma. • • . They traffic the faith in Mexico. It IS vain to seek in the sacraments, make money out any good fruit from this worthless 'of every religious ceremony, undis- tree, which makes the Mexican relig- ion an assemblage of heartless devoturbed by the fact that they become tion, shameful ignorance, insane su- perstition, and hideous vice. • . In guilty of simony, and liable to the vain you seek in this country, called Catholic, houses of refuge for the aged censure of the church. If the laws and indigent, for 'penitents fallen through betrayal and misery, or for of Rome were to be enforced in Mexico, works of benevolence and mercy. • • In Mexico, faith inspires nothing, inthe majority of the Mexican clergy vents nothing; it does not even imi- tate-it is a fossil. . • • The idolwould be excommunicated. Mr. Biart atrous character of Mexican Catholi- has said that 'the priests are forcing cism is a fact well known to all trav- the people to live in Qoncubinage, by elers. The worship of saints and ma- donnas so absorbs the devotion of the -exacting from them for the marriage people that there is little time left to think of God. . . . For want of {)eremony a sum which the Mexican serious instruction, you find in the Catholicism of the Indians numerous laborer, in view of the low scale of remains of the old Aztec paganism."
wages, could not accumulate in five REASONS FOR CARRYING ON PROTEST- years of the strictest economy.' There ANT MISSIONS IN MEXICO.
is little exaggeration in this. The ac- We are often asked, "Why send {)ounts which Abbe Domenech gives missionaries to Roman Catholic coun- of the scandalous lives of the priests tries?" The above extract must sup- have never been surpassed by any ply the answer. The virtual pagan- which were published by Protestants. ism of the priests and the moral cor- As to the rapacity and the consequent ruption of the people are admitted.
wealth of the Church, the Abbe de- Last summer an intelligent American dares that three-fifths of the cities priest said: ' , We send missionaries to were in 1867 occupied by convents Mexico and South America to convert and churches. "I do not speak," he our priests." A distinguished Mexi- says, "of the fabulous riches of these can general, whom we had the honor churches. I think it right that the to meet on a steamer from New York temples of God should be better adorn- to Vera Cruz, expressed a hope that ed than the apartments of a stock- Protestant churches would be multi- broker; but is it not a lie in a man to plied in Mexico, as a means of elevat- make a profession of poverty, and ing, by their influence, the Mexican then live in possession of abundance Ohurch itself, and making it more like and comfort, as the ecclesiastics of the Oatholic Ohurch in the United Spanish America do?" States. If even the priests need con- Of the people, the Abbe says: "The verting, and if intelligent statesmen Mexican is not a Catholic. He is a Christian, simply because he has been and army officers welcome, and even baptized. I speak of the masses, and not of numerous exceptions in all desire, the influence of Protestantism, classes of society. I say that Mexico is not a Catholic country. First, be- there would surely seem to be an open cause a majority of the native population are semi-idolaters. Second, be- door. It would be a criminal indiffercause the majority of the Mexicans carry ignorance of religion to such a ence and neglect not to heed the call. point that they have no other worship than that of forms; it is materialism With regard to sending priests to without a doubt. Third, because the clergy themselves in general have lit- convert priests, they are in fact sent tle education, know very little of theology, and are ignorant of the canoni- from Spain and Italy, and not from cal laws and of the decrees of councils. . . • Mexican faith is a the United States. It is whispered in dead faith. The abuses of external ceremonies, the facility of reconciling Mexico that the real design is not so much to convert the Mexican priesthood to Christianity, as to Ultramon- the city. In 1872 the Presbyterian tanism-to overcome dangerous tend- Church (North) established missions encies toward independent republican- in Mexico City and in Zacatecas. The ism and a national spirit, and to bring Methodist Church (North) soon fol- them under the more thorough con- lowed ; also the Southern Methodists, trol of the Vatican. If this be so, the Southern Baptists; the Southern there is not less, but greater reason, Presbyterians, and the Congregation- for extending the free and enlightened alists. spirit of American Protestantism, lest the last state of the Church be worse The work of these various Christian than the first. And it must be Ameri- bodies has prospered along all the can Protestantism, if any, that shall usual lines of missionary labor. accomplish this work. Our geographi- Churches, schools of various grades, cal position is such that other Protest- printing presses and colportages have ant nations will naturally assign the been established, and many religious task to us. Weare only separated books have been translated into the from Mexico by a river. Great rail- Spanish, and several able religious road lines have already crossed the papers are now published. We shall border at different points, and the two not deal with statistics here, except to countries are bound together by a state that the membership of the thousand commercial bonds. Mexico churches now number many thous- and Central America are in sympathy ands; but there are some special feat- with our institutions. They have ures of the work which may be specadopted them, in fact, and their states- ially noticed. men have more than once expressed the desire that their countrymen may 1. It has never been free from perenjoy the same liberty of thought and secution. In one case, an American the same general enlightenment which missionary fell a victim to the hatred we possess. of the priesthood, and at least two others narrowly escaped. Of native WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. ministers and people, many have fallen, and a still larger number have Even before the collapse of the been maimed. Even within a month Maximillian Empire and the procla- stones have been thrown at the winmation of religious freedom by the re- dows of a newly dedicated church. stored Republic, good seed had been These acts of violence have invariaplanted, and was only waiting for the bly been instigated by the priesthood proper conditions for growth. With -never by the Government officials. the American army, under General It is greatly to the credit of the au- Scott, many Bibles found their way thorities, from the President down, into Mexico. Here and there little that they have, as a rule, striven to bands assembled together to read the carry out the guarantees of religious Book, which was almost as new and freedom, and to punish their violation. strange as if it had just descended out One of the most fanatical States of of heaven. Its messages were re- the Republic is Guerrero, and it is ceived with joy by many hearts, and only the determined spirit of its Govlittle churches – the "ecclesire" of ernor, Arce, that has prevented the apostolic days were formed in private extirpation of the Protestant cause. houses. Somewhere about 1870, Father Aguas and other priests in the 2. The work of the various societies capital began to proclaim a free and has in the main been well organized. blessed gospel of faith and of power. It has wisely considered permanence Aided by the Rev. Mr. (afterwards and self-reliance in the churches. It Bishop) Riley, Protestant congrega- has fostered a national spirit, and has tions were organized in and around studiously avoided all appearance of a desire to hold Mexican Protestantism_ by any American leash, or in any way not extend to the smaller States on its (as has often enough been hinted) to southern border. Nevertheless, at open the way for anriexation. Belize and along .he Mosquito Coast, Great attention has been paid to the there has been a limited missionary training ofa native ministry. In few work for several years, and there have mission fields is the work so largely been times of remarkable refreshing done by native preachers, or done so in the Wesleyan Missions of that field.
well. Whether Methodists or Pres- Altogether, the most progressive of byterians, these men are true" itin- the Central American States is Gua- erants." Mounted on Mexican ponies, temala, and yet until within the last they ride over mountain roads where six years, there was no such thing as a no vehicle could be used, and often Protestant religious service in the en- long distances, to villages where be- tire State, with its million and a half lievers from half a dozen hamlets as- inhabitants.
semble to hear the Word with glad- The history of the establishment of ness. It has been our privilege to the Mission of the Presbyterian Board hear from some of them truly elo- in its capital is full of interest. In ,quent appeals. 1884 President Barrios, of Guatemala, 3. For the most part there is an and Minister Romero, of Mexico, were admirable spirit of harmony and co- at Washington, seeking the arbitra- operation between the different Mis- tion of President Arthur in a bound- sionary Boards and Societies. Rules ary question between their respective <>f comity, which had been agreed States. Their relations personally 'upon have, with few exceptions, been seemed to be friendly, and other mat- ,observed. Rivalries in the price of- ters than the question in dispute were fered to native laborers are avoided, discussed. While President Barrios and it is rare that efforts have been and his staff were stopping for a time made to convert to the tenets of a in New York, Senor Romero wrote a particular sect those who have al- note to a gentleman in the city, inti- ready been converted to Evangelical mating that the President of Guate- truth. Conferences of a friendly char- mala would gladly welcome the estab- acter are held from time to time, and lishment of a Protestant mission steps. have been taken to economize among his countrymen, and he sugges- missionary resources by the establish- ted that the fact be communicated to ment of a Union Protestant College. some of the missionary societies. The There is great reason and great en- contents of the note were made known couragement to unite in a "Concert to a secretary of the Presbyterian of Prayer" for the one missionary Board, who sought an interview with work of Mexico as a whole. the President, which proved to be of the most cordial and satisfactory char- Guatemala. acter. Full protection and every fa- The Central American States have cility were promised, and even the not been the theatre of extended Prot- traveling expenses of the missionary estant Missions. Insalubrity of cli- to the field, though this was not ac- . mate has doubtless been one obstacle cepted. A missionary family was ,supposed, and the unsettled state of sent out promptly, and in fact they the country, as well as the general accompanied the President on the fanaticism of the people, has also had steamer from San Francisco to Gua- its influence. The impulse communi- temala. A few months later two cated to Mexico twenty-five years ago young ladies were sent to establish a by the re-establishment of the Repub- girls' school.
lic, and the general awakening of the The proInises of the President were 13pirit of liberty among its people, did generously fulfilled, and several American and British residents lent try furnishes such varying degrees of their influence to the work. Upon altitude as to secure healthful condi- the death of President Barrios, it was tions-and such is the obvious need feared that serious reaction might fol- of enlightenment that there is reason low under the administration of his to believe that the authorities every- successor; but, fortunately, the new where, in spite of the bigotry of the, President, Senor Barrillos, has also ex- priesthood, will guarantee liberty and tended full protection to the Protest- protection. Whatever may be the is- ants in all their rights. A change in sue of the schemes now discussed for- the missionary force, which left the transit from the Atlantic to the Pa- work of the little church for a time cific, the geographical position which without a head, seriously retarded these small States hold in the commu- the work; but it is again in a flour- nity of nations will rapidly increase ishing condition. Two ordained mis- their commercial importance and sionaries and two unmarried ladies bring them into contact on all sides, are at present engaged. Suitable and with the active forces of the age.
commodious buildings have been The status of the Roman Catholic purchased during the year, and the Church in Central America is that of mission is regarded as now estab- the Middle Ages. The period of Lu- lished on a solid foundation. The ther and Zwingle has not yet come.
church membership is pot large, nor but it will be hastened; the country is there a long list of pupils in the has waited long. Yet not exactly a.
schools ; but the right to exist in the Luther is needed-the times require a face of Catholic prejudice, the tried somewhat different method. An fidelity of the Government in the equal earnestness, but more of con- maintenance of every right, and the ciliation is demanded. It has been general sympathy of the foreign com- fully demonstrated in the efforts made'
munity, as well as of many natives- in Roman Catholic countries in this all these are assured. hemisphere, that not denunciation is.
The climate is salubrious, and the needed, but the 'plain, kind, and per- country beautiful. The people are sistent presentation of a more excel- impressible, and the Romish priest- lent way. The Government of Gua- hood are at least incapable of serious temala, while extending complete· harm. The Indian tribes of the in- protection, and giving every facility terior, not very firmly held by -the to Protestant missionary effort, has.
Catholic padres, are peculiarly recep- made known its want of sympathy tive. Unlike the Indians ofthe United with anything like an assailment States and Canada, whose roaming of the errors or corruptions of the ancestors have lived for generations Roman Catholic Church; and this we by the chase, the aborigines of Guate- believe to be the sentiment of those'
mala are industrious, for so warm a liberal minded statesmen in all the latitude, and for the most part thrifty. Spanish-American Republics who are They present a most promising field most ready to extend a welcome to.
for missionary labor. Protestant effort and influence. There The signfiCance of this young mis- is scarcely one of these States in which sion is much broader than the meas- instances of this enlightened spirit_ ure of its present results would show. have not been shown. If President, It is a demonstration of feasibility and Juarez was ready to welcome and success. It is an encouragement for protect Protestant missions; if the- other organizations to establish mis- noble minded General Esquibedo,_ sions in the Central American States. though a sincere Catholic, could wish The existence of mountain ranges for the organization of Protestant through the whole extent of the COUll- churches in Mexico; if Minister Ro-
EDITORIAL NOTES ON ClJRRENT TOPICS
mero could intercede for the extension and simply do the work of earnest, of the same work into Guatemala, and Christlike evangelists-simply show her own President could invite mis- the purity and beauty of a true gossionaries into his capital,-are not the pel; or to change from the standpoint sentiments of these broad minded and of statesmanship to that of the New noble men worthy of being heeded? Testament, shall they not show the Shall not missiontlries take counsel spirit of Christ at the well of Samaria, from their moderation and charity, and the tact of Paul at Athens ?
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
The Oonference at Brussels. into slave trade territories, the estab- At the Anti-Slavery Congress, which lishment of stronglyoccupied stations, opened in November, delegates were and the placing of efficient cruisers present from the United States, Great upon the waters of the interior. The Britain, France, Germany, Austria, Powers having territorial interests in Belgium, Russia, Denmark, Spain, Africa are to assist each other, and Italy, Norway, Sweden, the Congo may commit their work to chartered Free Statel and even from Turkey and companies, and also protect private Persia. Its task is a difficult one, and companies whose object may be to it is compelled to move slowly. It had crush the slave trade. Among these been much easier if the death of Gor- proposals there are also particular don and the fall of Khartoum had not stipulations for the punishment of extinguished the germs ot civilization slave traders and their accomplices, which had been introduced into the for the just disposal of fugitive and valley of the Upper Nile. Although liberated slaves, and for negotiations the work of the Conference progresses with such African States as have not slowly, it is none the less likely to give signed the General Act of the Confer- a decided impetus to effort for the sup- ence, with a view to obtaining their pression of the evil. The Powers have adhesion to its action. and to the in- assembled through their representa- terdiction of fire-arms and munitions tives for the purpose of entering upon of war.
a united and determined crusade The fact that these propositions are against this great outrage upon hu- said to be generally regarded with manity, and their determination will favor by the members of the Confer- be opportunely stimulated by recent ence, leads us to hope that the work occurrences in Africa. Two commit- of that body will not disappoint the tees have been appointed; one to re- earnest expectations of the civilized port upon the most available measures world. To the latter the recent cable for the suppression of the traffic by despatch from Rome makes the sur- sea, the other by land; to the former prising announcement that the Pope of which the English representatives was not invited to send a delegate to have proposed the right of searching this Congress. If this be true, the vessels over a zone comprising the managers of that Congress have openly whole East African coast, from the slighted one who has manifested more Persian Gulf to Madagascar. sympathy with the purpose for which The Belgian Plenipotentiaries have it was called-to take measures to submitted proposals providing for the break up the slavetrade-and agreater necessary action in territories ruled or willingness to promote it, than several protected by civilized nations, for the ot its members, and a good cause may construction of highways and rail- suffer from the folly of its professed roads, the discontinuance of negro friends. But if, as reported. the Pope carriers, the prohibition of the impor- has been ignored in this indecorous tation of fire-arms and ammunition way at the instigation of the Italian Gove=ent, that Government has which has for ages ravished and deso- been guilty of an act which can lated African soil. J. M. S.
scarcely be excused by any degree of provocations to which it may have A Grand Farewell Meeting.
been subjected. A great meeting was held at Exeter Portugal is not represented at the Hall, London, Monday evening, Jan. 20.
Conference, and her position and prac- It was called by the Church Missionary tical policy are hostile to its object. Society, to take leave of the Rt. Rev.
Here may be found the explanation of Bishop Crowther, D. D., and the fol- the virtual failure of the combined lowing missionaries, about to depart English and German forces on the East far the Delta and Lower Niger Mis- African coast to suppress the infamous sion: The Rev. F. N. Eden, M. A., the slave trade. That trade has not been Rev. H. H. Dobinson, B. A., and Mr.
materially diminished in extent, and P. A. Bennett; for the Soudan and its cruelties seem to have been aggra- Upper Niger Mission: Mr. Graham vated, rather ·than alleviated, by the Wilmot Brooke and Mrs. Wilmot presence and possessions of the three Brooke, Rev. Eric Lewis, B. A., and European powers. If Portugal does not Miss L. W. Lewis, and Mr. C. F. Har- openly favor the old-fashioned slave ford-Battersby, B.A., M.B., M.R.C.S., trade, she certainly manifests no real the Rev. J. A. Robinson, 11. A., having and active sympathy with any efficient sailed on Jan. 15; for the Eastern Equa- efforts for its suppression. Among torial Africa Mission: Mr. Douglas the first, if not the first, of nominally A. L. Hooper, B. A., and Mrs. Hooper, Christian nations to engage in that Mr. G. L. Pilkington, B.A., Mr. G. A.
trade, she seems determined to be the Baskerville, B. A., and Mr. J. D. 1'1.
last to abandQn it. So far as she has Cotter, B. A., and for the Yoruba been able to do so, she has persistently Mission: Rev. H. Tugwell, B. A., and thwarted such efforts as England and Miss Aimee Wright. A goodly com- Germany combined, or singly, have pany of 16-12 of them men and 4 made for its suppression; and what women-and, what is very noticeable, she has done in the past, she may be mostly college graduates, and people expected- to do in the future. Only that represent the very flower of En- upon compulsion will she co-operate glish civilization and culture. Not with England and Germany, or with often does a sight so impressive and either, or with any other nation or inspiring greet our eyes.
nations, for the suppression of the Sir John Kennaway, M. P., pre- African slave trade, so long as that sided-a man who values far more trade can be made profitable to her- than all his titles and honors, the self. privilege of being President of the In view of this fact, the civilized Church Missionary Society. With a world has reason to rejoice at the bold few well chosen words, the meeting stand which the English Government was opened. Rev. Mr. R. Lang, Sec- has just taken in reference to the ab- retary for Africa, explained the na- surd claim of Portugal to territorial ture of the work to be undertaken.
rights in Africa. Not only is the action Two of the departing missionaries are of the English Government just in it- to go to the old Yoruba Mission, and self, but it is manifestly in the interest a large band are destined for the Niger of humanity and Africa's welfare. It field, under Bishop Crowther. Mr.
is quite time Portugal was made to see Lang remarked that an important and to realize that she can no longer question has been, whether that small defy the sentiment of the whole civ- church now existing on the west coast ilized world, and, for the sake of gain, can be expected to furnish needed h~lp to sustain the accursed traffic laborers for the evangelistic work demanded. And, as it seems unjust to which to address the vast assembly, -expect it, the C. M. S. has invited and never have we heard so many ad- these qualified workmen to go and dresses where there was nothing that live in Africa beside these people, and could have been left unsaid. Wilmot Brooke referred to the new ~onditions lead in evangelism.
The Niger Mission is not only to be under which the mission band goes Teinforced, but reorganized. 1. The forth. In Mohammedan lands, the upper portion is to be the scene of missionary, ordinarily being under labors comparatively new, or at least the regis of a nation feared by the extended on a new scale, on methods people, is put in the anomalous po- that will enable the native population sition of urging converts to brave dan- to realize the purpose of Evangelizing ger which he himself is not called to Agencies, and the missionaries will face. This band goes out, claiming live, as far as may be, on the level of no such governmental protection, and the natives-identified with them. venturing to dare the same perils -There will go out with Wilmot that the converts must face. Mr.
Brooke, a doctor for Medical Mission Lewis asked that prayer may be of- work at the base of this northern mis- fered _for "spirit-taught converts,"
sion, ladies also working with them who inay become winners' of souis side by side. 2. The Lower Niger themselves. Mr. Battersby said that Mission among the pagans, southward he had often said, that he " would not of the confluence of the two rivers-a be a doctor, and would not go to Af- vicar and his curate have left their rica," but found himself doing both.
parish at home to go abroad. On the Mr. Eden, of West Hartlepool, is East African side, Douglas Hooper the vicar, and Mr. Dobinson, the cu- leads a band, and in that band go rate, who leave their parishes for the "three of his own university friends. foreign field, believing that successors The principal of Ridley Hall, Rev. may be more easily found for them -G. Hundley Moule, who had trained than substitutes for them, as intending ,several of the missionaries, suggested workers in the African field. Mr.
that.those who stay at home should at Dobinson beautifully spoke of the least promise to pray for the depart- high level of preaching the gospel ing band, and keep the promise, re- to the nations, inasmuch as in Luke membering especially how, in the xxiv:_ 46-48, Christ puts this on the _,stifling atmosphere of Mohammedan- same plane as his own sufferings and ism and paganism, they need to be di- death.
vinely kept in the fresh air of God's In course of these addresses many own presence. Reference was also stirring and suggestive thoughts were made to the "African Prayer Union," presented, that the "good done by which meets on every Thursday for leaving home is often more than by specific supplication. staying," is often illustrated in the ef- The Bishop of the Niger, Crowther, fect of such consecrated examples.
then referred to the establishment of The resignation of two curates em- the Niger Mission in 1837, and the dif- braced in this party has already im- ficulties met and the obstacles sur- pressed some of their congregation, mounted during these fifty years. hitherto seemingly uninfluenced by The pioneering stage has passed, and their preaching. The long waiting the era of development begun. Pagan time was referred to as one of especial -chiefs see the folly of idolatry, and temptation, while the missionaries are -even Moslem leaders begin to ask for getting ready to go to work.
the knowledge of Christ. The motto of this out-going band is : Then the various men of the band "AFRICA FOR CHRIST,"
-were each given a few moments in "HIMSELF FOR ME." And on the reverse side of the more dread than overstatements.
printed motto is the verse: They are sure to be found out, and " Every step of the way, Lord! then they lead to an increasing skep- Yes, every step of the way, ticism." We gladly publish this re- Thine all is Mine, mark, both in order to correct the And I am Thine, overstatements, and to show the ani- For every step of the way."
In course of the addresses, Mr. mus of such men as Mr. Stock, in Mackay's words were quoted: "We seeking to avoid any romantic rose- have stolen Africans from .Africa, and colored presentation of the facts of now a process is going forward which missions. We were misinformed as is very much like stealing Africa from to the real intention and influence of the Africans;" and again it was aptly this institution, and are glad to correct said that the "civilization and com- any wrong impression.
merce which the natives are pressing The Statistical and Comparative upon the Dark Continent are but the Tables in the December number of the names for fire-arms and fire-water." REVIEW are regarded here as of such The evening abounded in appropri- value, that at a meeting held Jan. 22, atereferences to HolyScripture, among at Rochdale, Canon McClure, in re- which two impressed me as both very ferring to them, declared his intention striking and suggestive: II. Chroni- to have a copy of them placed in the cles xiii: 12-" And, behold God him- hands of every church member in self is with us for our Captain ;" John Rochdale. And Dr. R. W. Dale, the viii: 29-" He that sent me is with eloquent preacher and WI'iter, of Bir- me; the Father hath not left me mingham, publicly, and of his own alone." impulse, called the attention of the From these indications. our readers audience the previous evening to the'
may gather how deeply devotional in MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD, character, and how stimulating to pronouncing it "incomparably the heroic endeaver and endurance for best and most stimulating and help- Christ's sake, was this whole meeting. ful periodical on Missions to be found The Church Missionary Society is do- in the world." The compliment was, ing a most noble work, and deservedly as grateful as it was unexpected.
takes rank among the noblest socie- .A. T. P.
ties in the world in its furtherance of foreign missions. How far its great Medical Missions.-The Edinburgh leading men are from any disposition Medical Missionary Society will keep· to place the work of missions in any its Jubilee year in 1891. Rev. G. D.
deceptive light, may be inferred from Cullen, the venerable vice-president, the following note from my friend, is still living, though his name ap- Eugene Stock, Esq., one of its secre- pears in the first list of Directors in taries. Referring to an erroneous 1842. It is a Home and Foreign Mis- statement, which, by some inadver- sion .Agency, and abroad has Medical tence, crept into the article on Bishop Missionary Training Institutions in In- Crowther, he says: "In one sentence dia, Medical Missions in Nazareth and about the Preparandi Institution, I Damascus, a band of 28 students fit- cannot think whence came the idea ting for foreign service, and enrolls that it' is a 'centre of light for the from 60 to 70 fully qualified Medical whole coast.' It was only intended missionaries, formerly students of the for the Upper Niger. [It ought to be a Society.
centre of light for the whole coast, but The home work is centralized at the it is not, said Mr. Stock, to me.] Cer- Livingstone Memorial Training Insti- tainly, we have never published any- tution and Dispensary. The total thing of the sort. There is nothing I number of ministries to patients during the year 1889 was 10,089, an in- necessity for an appropriate special crease of 553 over the year before. education for missionaries is almost as This number includes only patients obvious as the necessity for having registered at their first visit. Includ- them; that if the demand for Mis- ing all visits, even where repeated, the sionaries be reasonable, so is the de- number rises to about 23,000. mand for their suitable preparation." After indicating the lines upon which Evangelistic work is carried on by a new departure in the education of the students in Cowgate and else- missionaries should be inaugurated, where. The famous Magdalen Chapel, such as a less rigidly fixed Arts cur- where John Knox preached, the birth- riculum, which would provide for the place of Scotch Presbyterianism, is student making himself faIniliar with the chapel of the Institute. The at- those subjects which would be of the tendance is so crowded that enlarge- greatest service to him in his future ment of premises is imperatively work-especially anthropology, and needed. Sometimes nightly services the science and history of religions- are held, and every effort is made to departments of knowledge with which serve the people-body and soul. missionaries ought certainly be ac- quainted, and instruction in which Since 1880, 44 students have left for Universities should certainly supply, service abroad, and 11 more are pre- Professor Flint proceeded to say: paring to graduate this year. " There is still to be desired, it seems to me, the directly practical training of Medical Missions have developed a ~tficiently equipped Evangelistic with amazing rapidity. When Dr. and Missionary Institution, placed in John Lowe went to India in 1861, the midst of a suitable training only 14 medical missionaries, with ground, such as the east end of Glas- British qualifications, were in the for- gow would furnish. Our Scottish eign field. Now there are 125, and Churches would do a very useful one-tenth of .these are ladies, and thing if they were to unite in setting nearly one-half of the whole number up and supporting such an Institu- from this Edinburgh Society. Besides, tion; they have been tried, and found there are some 140 from America. highly beneficial by other Churches in This goodwork is owing to Dr. Parker, other countries." who was the pioneer in the movement, and an American; but now the Edin- Mrs. Dr. Ohristlieb. burgh school is ahead of the American. Of the 280 now in the field, about Among other great privileges of the 37 are ladies. In the Edinburgh In- mission tour in Boetain, not least has: stitution about £40, or $200 a year, been the joy of personally meeting, at pay for board of students, and but for Mrs. Watsou's in London, the widow lack of funds, the number of students of my friend and that lamented adwould be indefinitely increased. vocate of missions, Professor Theodor Christlieb, of Bonn. In course of con- A. T. P. versation I find that Mrs. Christlieb is living at No. 22 Konigstrasse, Bonn, In his opening lecture, in Divinity and is proposing to make her house a Hall of the Edinburgh University, at home for a few young men who are the commencement of the last session, proposing to sojourn abroad for pur- Professor Flint took for his subject poses of study, etc. She has issued a "Christian Missions." Speaking of little circular, as follows: the special training needed for Missionary work, he said: "We may .. Mrs. Christlieb, widow of the late Professor· now naturally pass on to consider Christlieb, D. D., of the Bonn.University, offers what is, for us here in Scotland, a comfortable Christian home to the sons of' one of the most practical of ques- gentlemen coming to Germany for education. tions. It seems to me that the 'The number of pupils received is limited to six. that great river whose COU'l'Se was Special motherly care bestowed on junior pu- first made known to the world by pils, and every attention paid to health and Livingstone. The powers and duties comfort, as well as to the studies of the pupils. of the new company seem to be dis- It is Mrs. Christlieb's special aim to train the creetly guarded for the protection and young people committed to her charge in the promotion of the best interests both fear and love of God. The language spoken in of the natives within the territorial the family is German. concession and of the supervising British Government. While its gen- "The house is situated in the best part of eral sphere of operations lies between Bonn, and has a good garden; and the beauti- the Lower and Central Zambesi on ful country around Bonn affords plentiful op- the north. the Transvaal boundary on portunity for walks and excursions, with first the south, and westward to the twen- rate Rhine swimming baths and gynmastic tieth degree of east longitude, its more .sports, if desired. special sphere will be north of British Bechuanaland, north and west of the "As a university town, Bonn offers special Transvaal Republic, and to the west ,educational advantages. The Latin schools, border of the Portuguese dominions. or the University lectures, can be attended as The more important legislative acts of soon as young gentlemen have sufficient the company are to be approved by knowledge of German. Mrs. Christlieb's son the British Secretary of State before .will act as private tutor, if desired. " they can become valid.
Parties proposing a temporary stay Among the powers granted to this ,abroad would do well to correspond new company are those of abolishing, with Mrs. Christlieb, especially intend- by degrees, any systems of the slave ing missionaries and sons of mission- trade, or of domestic servitude, that .aries who wish to fit themselves for may exist in the ceded territory, and :service. Mrs. Christlieb's home will of so regulating the traffic in intoxi- be found full of a pure, evangelical cating drinks, as to effectually pre- .and missionary atmosphere, and free vent their sale to the natives. The from the rationalistic influences found company is also required to maintain in many households of Bonn, a careful regard to the customs and laws of the natives of the country in A.T.P. all its dealings with them, so far as such customs and laws are consistent Hope for the Dark Continent. with an impartial administration of Our readers will excuse our fre- justice. That these humane injunc- 'quent reference to events occurring in tions will be followed, we have suffi- Central and Southern Africa, for they cient guarantee in the persons to are Providential heralds of a brighter whom the charter has been granted. day for Africa. The recent grant by Among these are the Dukes of Fife the British Government of a royal and of Abercorn, Lord Gifford, George charter to the new South African Cawston, and though last, not least, company is assuming large propor- Cecil John Rhodes, who is really the tions in the estimation of the English leading person in this great and prompeople. The newspapers express the ising enterprise, and whose past his- {)pinion that it may mean the estab- tory in Africa and. elsewhere is well lishment of another British Empire known. like that in India, opening up another vast area to British enterprise, coloni- To speak of this new and important zation and capital. The territory in- concession as embracing Bechuanacludes the whole region lying between land, the whole of what is known as the Transvaal and the great lakes. Khamin country, to the Zambesi, the By the organization of this company, whole of Matabeleland, and several to be known as the South African 'Company, with a liberal charter and a large concession of territory, and in the hands of trustworthy men, Great Britain has recently extended her ter- :ritory to the banks of the Zambesi,
ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS
large outstretches, is to speak of what gold, which may prove its curse until appears from the map an insignificant portion of Africa. Yet in doing this, the supply is exhausted, and for some we have included a country of 400,000 square miles-an area equal to the time afterwards. Under judicious, combined areas of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, management, this new concessionmay Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana become a grand radiating centre for' and Illinois. This large territory has far-stretching plains and high moun- the civilization and Christianization tains; it has a rich and rare 'variety of climate and soil. The country has of South Africa, if not of the entire'
continent. But if such a result is to be secured, England must avoid the serious and patent errors she has for- merly made in that quarter of the world. She is, we believe, now wise enough to do so. J. M. S.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND ST A TISTICS.
Methodist New Oonneotion Missionary and a Christian community of 3.634; about Sooiety. 1.700 scholars in the day and Sunday-schools.
Secretary: REV. W. J. TOWNSEND, Richmond Young Men's Association in Aid of Hill. Ashton-under-Lyne. England. the Baptist Missionary Society. REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING MAY. 1889. Secretary: MR. C. HOLLIDAY. Baptist Mis- General Mission Fund ………………£4.409 sion House. Furnival St., Holborn. London. Special Foreign expenses……………. 2.751 E. C.• England. REPoRT FOR YEAR ENDING APRIL 26, 1889. A considerable portion of the General Fund is still used for the more strictly Home Mission Receipts …. .. ….. .. …. .. .. .. .. . £193 13 10 work. in the Isle of Man and in England. the Expenses ………….. ……….. 1931310 Home Mission Fund not yet being large enough to meet all wants. The only foreign work The work of the Society seems to be in the is in North China. where there are 6 ordained way of furnishing lectures and imparting gen· -1 medical. and 5 female missionaries; 25 na- eral information on Mission topics. rather than tive ordained ministers. 18 other helpers. S in the actualemploymentof Missionaries. As stations. and 48 out stations. 4 churches. with such it does good work. 1.495 members. of whom 26 were added during the year. Striot Baptist Mission.
General Baptist Missionary Sooiety. Secretary: JOSIAH BRISCO. 58 Grosvenor Road, Secretary: REv. WILLIAM HILL. Mission Highbury, New Park. London, N.. En- House. 60 Wilson St.. Derby. England. REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING MAY 31, 1889. gland. £634 Receipts. REPORT FOR YEAR 1888.
GeneralPurposes……. : ………. £4.842 10 0 Receipts…. …. .. ……………. Special Funds.. .. …. …. …. •• …. 265 7 :I In India………….. : …………. 2.61010 6 The whole of this goes to the Mission ex- In Rome………………………. 184 13 3 Balance… …………………… 20 12 11 penses, except a small sum for stationery and £7.923 14 11 printing. The Mission in Madras numbers: Expenditures. Balance….. .. •.. … .. .. …. …… £ 887 10 10 6 ordained. and 8 female missionaries (some Orissa Mission….. ….. …. …… 2.858 10 5 In India (see above)…. …. …… 2,610 10 6 of them natives). 22 helpers. It occupies 22 Rome…. …… .. •… .. … …….. 484 13 3 Annuities. expenses. etc…. …… 1,082 9 11 stations and out-stations, with 15 churches and Total…………………… £7.923 14 11 890 members, of whom 38 were added during The Orissa Mission in India numbers: 9 ordained missionaries. 7 female missionaries. 20 thayear. native helpers. There are 19 places occupied as stations or sub-stations. provided with 17 Baptist Missionary Sooiety. chapels. There are 1.401 church members, Secretary: ALFRED H. BAYNES, Baptist Mis· sion House. Furnival St.• Holborn. London, E.C. REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31. 1889. Receipts.
Balance. Special Fund………. .. £26113 a Receipts…………………… .. 80.818 94 Balance drawn on General Fund. 2,862 3 G £83.942 61 Receipts at stations.. .. .. ….. .. 9.096 0 () TotaL. . .. .. .. …….. .. .. .. . £03.038 6 1 Expenditures. £5,859 97 Ladies' Committee……………… 40 0 0 Balance Debt …..•••••••••.. , . 73,188 19 Balance from old account. .. ……. 1 1 2 Expenses •••.•••••••••••••••••• 4,894 14 9 Balance Special Fund……… . Total. ……………………. £346 7 6 ExpenditnresinMissions………… 343 15 1 £88,942 61 Balance…. . .. . .. … ……………. 2 12 5 Expenses at stations (see above) 9,096 00 Total. … ……………….. £93,038 6 1 Total. ……………………. £346 7 6 The work, carried on by a single mission- Statistics. 118 ary and his wife, since 1877, has increased far Missionaries…. ………………. beyond the possibility of meeting its demands.
partly supported…….. 11 Pastors of self·supporting churches 62 Ohristian Vernacruar Education Society for India. Evangelists…. ……………….. 581 Secretary: REv. JAMES JOHNSTON, 7 Adam St., Stations and sub-stations. .. . . . . . . •• 496 Strand, London, W. C., England.
Baptized………… …. …… ••••••. 2,871 REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1889. Receipt•. Members…… …………. ……… 47,133 Subscriptions, etc., England …••• £3,361 16 0 Day-school teachers .. _………… 371 Contributions, India. ………… '" 841 18 9 Scholars…… ……… ……. ……. 16,381 Sale of Publications, India.•••••• " 4,611 6 3 Sabbath·school teachers…… …… 2,225 Grants…………. … .. •……… •• 692 4 0 scholars…………. 26,870 The Missions of the Society are in India (Bengal and northwest provinces), Ceylon, China, Japan, Palestine, Europe (Brittany, Total…………………… £9,507 50 Norway and Italy), the West Indies, and Payment•. Schools, India………………… £!,968 9 6 Africa (Congo River). Publications………………….. 4,894 16 6 London Society for Promoting Christi- Colportage .. .. ……….. _…. " 75 18 9 anity among the Jews. Administrative expenses, etc., The Secretaries: LONDON SOCIETY'S HOUSE, England.. .. ……… … . …. .. .. 1,050 13 4 No. 16 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W. C., Total …………………… £8,989 18 1 Repayment to working capital. . . • 142 12 5 England. Balance ……………. ……….. 374 14 6 REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING lIlARCH 31, 1889.
Receipts……… …… ……….. £34,814 11 7 Total. … ………………. £9,507 5 0 Expenditures ….. _………….. 34,561 15 1 The Society has a working capital fund of MisSion stations …………… . • 37 £1,000, and a special fund for publications of Ordained missionaries………… 27 over £3,000.
Unordained" and lay agents. 26 Children under instruction. ………. 8,900 Colporteurs, etc………….. …. 44 Students in training institutions…… 98 School teachers. .. . . . . . . .. .. …. .. 41 Copies of publications printed……… 690,5SS Christian Israelites…………… 84 Of the stations: 6 are in England, 20 in Con· British Society for the Propagation of the Gospel among the Jews. tinental Europe, 2 in Turkey, 4 in Syria and Secretary: REV. JOHN DUNLOP, 96 Great Rus· Palestine, 1 in Persia, 3 in North Africa, and 1 sel! St., Bloomsbury, W. C., London, Eng. REpoRT FOR THE YEAR ENDING MAY, 1889. in Abyssinia. Receipts……………………. £8,926 0 0 Sunday-school Union Cont'l Mission. Expenditures…. ……………. 8,911 19 10 Missionaries employed…………………. 31 (Branch of the Stmday-school Union.) Voluntary workers …………………… 90 Secretary: MR. WM. H. MILLAR, 56 Old Bailey, Complaint is made of the disproportionate London, E. C., England. cost of admintstration, but it should be reo REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 30, 1889. membered that it costs no more to administer an income of £18,000 than one of £8,000. Out- Receipts . …………. ……. £1,860 13 4 side of England the work of the Society is car- Expenditures. ….. ………… 1,729 110 ried on principally in Germany and Austria, though there is a station at Jaffa, and one at The work of the Society includes cash grants, Adrianopie, in European Turkey. and grants of costs and publications to Sunday-schools in France, Germany, Hoiland, British and Foreign Sailors' Society. Italy, Norway, Sweden and Switzerland. Secretary: REV. EDW. W. MATTHEWS, Sailors' Young Men's Foreign Mission Society of Institute, Shadwell, London, E., Eng. Birmingham. REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1889. Secretary: A. H. KNOTT, Y. M. C. A., Needless Receipts. Alley, New st., Birmingham, England. REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING MARCH 31, 1889. Snbscriptions and collections … £14,138 19 9 Receipts at Missions in Natal, Africa. Legacies. . . . . . … •• .. .. ……… 348 7 4 Donations …………………….. £225 16 4 Y. M. F. M., Birmingham…. ••••••• 59 10 0 Y. M. C. A., Shrewsbury…. …. •… 20 0 0
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
Dividends, sales of books. etc… 488 15 3 Scripture portions distributed. .••• •••• 18,821 Balance, March 3f, 1888………. 1,811 14 6 Tracts, magazines, etc. •……. 592,394 Total………………… £16,787 16 10 Free beds (London), 6,764. Meals ..•• 39,781 Expenditures. The work of the Society covers almost the 'Chaplains, Missionaries, etc …. £3,315 12 10 whole world, and is in most cordial relations Provincial and Foreign stations. 8,879 4 11 with the American Seamen's Friend Society.
.sailors' Institute……………. . 782 9 4 German Evangelical Synod.
Deputation expenses………. .. 357 2 8 Secretary: REv.PAUL A.MENZEL,Annapolis,Md. REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING HAY 31, 1839. General …………… . 788 7 4 Income. . .. •••• •…………………. £9,510 Statistics of Missions among the Sutnaml, .Special Funds…………….. .. 396 10 11 Birvampore. India: 1 station, 3 out-stations, 4 ordained missi0lli!ries, 4 teachers, 5 cathe- Total payments•••.••••••• £14,519 8 0 chists, 3 schools, 2 churches, 200 communi· Investments…………. …….. 545 2 0 cants. Balance, March 31, 1839……… 1,722 6 10 There is a printing press employing 40 men. This Society worked through the Basel and Total .. . …… £16,786 16 10 Barmen Societies for many years, but since 1883 has had the care of this.work committed Summary of work for the year: to it by the Missionary Society of New York, composed of members of several Lutheran and Meetings on board ship 1,661, on shore. 4,818 Presbyterian churches.
Attendance 91,477," 491,427 Visits to ship lodging houses, etc.. …. 51,563 .. the sick and families.. .•• ….. 8,535 Bibles and Testaments sold (English and Foreign)…. …….. …… …… 8,768 VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.
""f'rlca.-Lieut. Taunt, of the United Africa. The Missionary Gleaner gives tidings of the arrival of Mr. and Mrs. Cole, of Mpwap• :states Navy, is the commercial agent of this wa, at Zanzibar, while Mr. Price and Mr. Wood, being bachelors, remained at their per· .country on the Congo. His experience of the ilous post. It seems that Bushiri, the Arab leader, arrived at Mpwapwa with 250 armed country dates back several years. • men on July 5. He assured Mr. Price that he had nothing to fear, but on the eighth of July Lieut. Taunt has spent a suftlcient time on the a Christian native warned the missionaries that they were in danger, and they left by Congo to know the country and people fairly moonlight for Kisokwe. six miles distant. The next morning Bushiri's men broke into the well, and we give an extract from his report mission house, and cleared out all that was of any use to them, and set fire to the place. Tecently received at Washington, given by the The natives assure Mr. Price that he shall not be disturbed, aud though the perils are great, correspondent of the Boston Journal: he and his associates will remain. Though there are said to be letters from Mr. Mackay •• The Protestant missions on the Congo are and others on the Lake Victoria, the Gleaner contains no definite tidings concerning the the American Baptist, American Methodist situation of affairs either at Msalala, or at Rubaga. (Bishop Taylor's), American Faith Cure (Dr. -The Royal Niger Co. has been so suc· Simpson's), the English Baptist, the Balolo cessful in suppressing the liquor traftlc in its territory in Africathat very little liquor is sold Mission (English), and the Swedish Mission. in the interior. Cannibalism is also declining.
'The Roman Catholic are the Belgian and the -The first convert in the Upper Congo Valley was recently baptized at Equator Sta· French Missions. The American Baptist Mis· tion. The valley contains 30,000,000 people.
sion, formerly Livingstone (English), is doing -Miss Sharp, the well·known teacher in Africa, has ten students from the Dark Con· excellent work, and is in a flourishing condi· tinent, who are prepared for a better educa· tion than her school proposes. She wants to tion. It is under the control of and supported send them to England to have them prepared for missionaries in Africa. by the Baptist Mission Board of Boston. Its five -Rev. David A. Day, a missionary stawell equipped stations extend to the Equator tioned near Monrovia, in Liberia, writes thus: "I sat on board a boat at one of the promi- 'on the upper river. Palabala, on the lower river, is the headquarters. The steam launch, Henry Reed, on the Upper Congo, belongs to this mission. The majority of the members are English, formerly of the Livingstone In· land, but now almost every steamer brings out American missionaries. The other two American missions are in anything but a lIourishing state."-Missionary Herald.
But our correspondent on the Congo, Rev.
Wm. Clark, of the A. B. M. U., writes us: .. Lieut. Taunt's published statement that the .A. B. M. U. is the only successful mission on the Congo, is not true. Both the B. M. S. and the S. M. S. have prosperous churches and 1!Chools. " J. M. S.
-English Church Missionaries in East nent African ports, and saw landed on a single Six or seven years ago, when Mr. Mozoomdar. Sunday from two steamers, about 50,000 casks of gin. Think of one missionary and 00,000 the second minis~r of the "Church of the' casks of gin coming into Africa at once I" New Dispensation," was in this country, and -The natves of Swaziland, South Africa, have agreed upon a triumvirate to govern published "The Oriental Christ," fresh hopes, their country. It will consist of two British members and one resident of the Transvaal. were raised as to what might be the grand is- The chiefs of SwazUand have also joined in a petition for the abolition of the liquor trafll.c sue of the movement. The Brahmo Soma;;, in their country. has since then suffered eclipse, and Mr. Mo- -Mr. Stanley has written a letter to Mr. Bruce, the son-in-law of Dr. Livingstone, de- zoomdar now writes sadly of it, but he adds: scribing the expulsion from his kingdom of Mwanga by a revolt of the combined native " Christ is a tremendous reality. The destiny Christians and Mohammedans, and the subse- quent conversion of Mwanga himself to Chris- of India hangs upon the solution of his nature· tianity. This Mwanga was the persecutor who murdered Bishop Hannington. Mr. Stan- and function and our relation to him. Let us. ley says that the fact that the native Chris- tians had grown strong enough to make a not hide in darkness, and rest contented with revolution in one of the most powerful of the African kingdoms, is one that if Livingstone random streaks; but place ourselves in open could have known it would have filled his dy- ing moments with content and love. The most light, and solve the problem, 'Who and what deadly persecutions-the stake, the knife, and the bullet-had failed to shake the staunch is Christ?' " fidelity of these African converts. -The Indian Witness states that secret be- -After all our explorations and discoveries, the future of Africa seems very dark. lievers in Christ are rapidly multiplying. For Our trust must be that ull;der the guidance of a divine Providence, there may soon come a every convert who openly avows his faith, league of our most powerful Christian and civilized nations, which, making the African there are hundreds who withhold such declaraslave trade more criminal than piracy, shall move promptly to its suppression at whatev.er tions for fear of their own households and cost. Such a league might conclude to begin its work by the construction and operation of caste circles. Thousands are being made' transcontinental African railways, bisecting the slave trade regions of Africa. and so ex- readyfor public avowal and loyal service when tinguishing the inhuman and infamous traffic. the break shall come. Harmah.-Sir Charles Bernard recently stated that the Christian Karens number .Japan. – In the course of his journey 200,000, or fully one-third of the Karen people. About 500 congregations are practically self- around the world, with the design of arousing supporting. They tithe the produce of their land for the support of their pastors. They interest in Christianity among the colleges of also send missionaries to Siam, and furnish all their support. the Orient, i:lecretary L. D. Wishard has Cbfna~China has 82 medical mission- reached Ceylon and India, where he is meetaries, a majority of whom are from the United States and mission hospitals and dispensaries ing with happy results. His nine months" in severa.! cities. A large part of the expenses of these hospitals is borne by the better classes stay in Japan afforded him opportunity to of Chinese, who highly appreciate the work. visit eighteen leading cities, and twenty-nine :J;;ngland.-The Church ofEngland has nearly 360,000 members in India. Government and eighteen Christian colleges -£1,334,491 is estimated as being the aggre- and schools. He conducted over 200 meetings gate amount of the year's British contributions for foreigu missions. This is $105,000 attended by thousands of students and busimore than the previous year's total. ness men. Over 140 students united with the Indta.-A few years ago Keshub Chundel' Sen and his Brahmo Somaj, in India, at- church connected with the Doshisha School at tracted wide att~ntion. The new religious movement was hailed as one full of promise. Kyoto, and large accessions to other churches followed his labors elsewhere. He writes strongly of the need and demand for special work for young men in Japan, on a basis similar to that OIl which our Y. M. C. Asso- ciations rests in this country. In his inter- views with more than 100 missionaries, he says that not one raised an objection to such an ex- tension of missionary work.
.Java.-Java is the most fertile, the most productive, and the most populous tropical island in the world. The Dutch have had pos- session of it many years, and have derived great revenues, especially from the coffee plantations, but have done little for the re- ligious elevation of the people, who are 1110- hammedans.
ltJadagascar.-The missionaries of the London Society in Madagascar affirm that their hold upon the people is as strong as it ever was, while the French influence is much less than it was feared would be the case.
Just now an event of much political import- ance is taking place. An attempt is being made to establish the authOrity of the Hovas over the Sakalavas, near Saint Augustine Bay.
A strong military expedition has been sent for this purpose, and if it succeeds, that portion of Madagascar wm be open to missionary ef- fort; it it should fail, the central government.
will be seriously Crippled. J. M. S.
The Missionary Review of the World — September 1888
THE CENTENARY CONFERENCE OF MISSIONS
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XI. No. n.-Old Series._ _SEPTEMBER, _ _VOL. I. No. 9.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
THE OENTENARY OONFERENOE OF MISSIONS. SECOND EDITORIAL LETTER FROM REV. A. T. PIERSON, D.D.
LONDON, June 26, 1888. My DEAR DR. SHERWOOD :-This great World Oouncil impresses me as, so far in history, the climax of a series of astounding developments, which, like a pyramidal structure, have been rising from the broad base laid a century ago in the recognition of duty and debt to this lost world. 'These developments may especially be noted in seven directions or successive stages. First, there came the opening of doors till the whole world is now practically open. Then the organization of Missionary Societies and Boards now numbering over two hundred. Then the revival of the doctrine of divine stewardship and the consequent consecration of money; then the multiplication of laborers until the church knows not how to send those that offer. Then the development of the woman's agency in direct mission work. Then the bestowment of a new spirit of united prayer, and now the exhibition of the essential unity of all true disciples in what seems to me the most important and thoroughly ecumenical council that has ever yet assembled. The greatness of this gathering grows upon us all. Babel's miracle was reversed at Pentecost-the confusion of tongues that divided and dispersed mankind was offset by the tongues of fire uttering in every language the wonderful works of God. But here we have an advance even on Pentecost. Then and there, disciples could do nothing more than utter the gospel message, each in his own tongue. Here, from the east, west, north, south, the scarred veter~ns from a thousand fields have come up to the metropolis of the world, to translate into our one English tongue the stupendous triumphs of this gospel as wrought under their own eyes, in the isles of the sea, in India and Ohina, Japan and Burmah, Turkey and Syria, Africa and Papal lands. But though we have reached a climax of development, the topstone and capstone have yet to be laid before the pyramid of wonders is complete. The 1JJhole world must now be taken possession of and occupied for Ohrist. Without this grandest result, all else is comparatively not only unfinished, but is failure. To this end all elsc points and tends. For this God led His people to see and feel their debt to a dying world. For this He opened wide the doors, led to the organization of societies whose network of effort should encompass the globe; for this He led disciples to give money and offer themselves; for this ·He brought woman to the front, gave a spirit of prayer and manifested the essential unity of all true disciples. And if now, with all these encouragements and helps, we do not go up and possess the land and drive out the sons of Anak, it will be the most faithless and cowardlyapostacy of the ages! Never came the words of the inspired apostle with more force to the church: "See then that ye walk circllmspectly, not as fools, but as wise, buying up opportunity, because the days are evil! Wherefore, be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is, and be not drunk with wine, wherein; is excess, but be filled with the Spirit." Eph. v. 15-18.
Another impression most profoundly made by this Oonference is the necessity for a positive, aggressive type of Ohristian faith and life. The gospel needs no defense-if it does, the best apologetics are found in ener·getics. ;, To use the spade and throw up defenses may be well enough for those whose principal thought is to put up a barrier and a rampart between themselves and the foe. But whenever an enemy can put the opposing army on the defensive an immense advantage is gained. The only hope of successful warfare is to carry the war into the enemy's country-give him all he can do to take care of himself, press him to the wall, divide his forces, giving him no chance to combine and concentrate; compel him to garrison every imperiled point, not knowing where next you are about to strike. God never meant that His troops should busy themselves throwing up intrenchments and hiding behind defenses. To attempt to defend the Bible is a confession or concession of its weakness, or rather our own. Ohristian missions have shown that the gospel needs no defense. It is the power of God unto salvation, and the wisdom of God, too. All we have to do is to let philosophy, speculation, doubtful hypotheses alone, and simply, persistently, faithfully, lovingly, positively preach Ohrist, and the gospel will assert its own authority and vindicate its own divinity. There is such a thing as obscuring its glory even by the smoke of the incense of our own praises. There was one paper read on the work in the Fiji Islands; it occupied but twenty minutes, yet that twenty minutes, packed full of simple facts, carried conviction not to be produced by a half a day's subtle reasoning. The logic of events is the demonstration of the Spirit. The world may dispute the conclusions of argument: the keen edge of the metaphysician's sword often only whets the edge of his antagonists. But there are wonders of God's power that compel even Oharles Darwin to say, with Pharaoh's magicians, "This 1:S the finger of God." Those facts, modern missions must multiply and spread before the people. We nc:cd not yoke our arguments to God's chariot: only gather out the stones and give it free course and it will be glorified.
Another profound impression left by this World Oouncil is that of the. marvelous celerity of movement in this march of the ages. Truly God is marching on, and he who would keep pace with God must not lag behind or lack for energy and enthusiasm.': This is an age of steam and telegraph. There has been an amazing development of human invention and discovery. The march of humanity has been so rapid as to leave every other age far behind in rate of advance. Within a quarter of a century changes have taken place which have revolutionized human society. The spectroscope has been added to the telescope and microscope. The telegraph has yoked the lightning to its chariot, and now outstrips even the wings of the wind. We have devised photometers so delicate that stars which the greatest telescope cannot reveal are detected by the delicate instruments that betray the presence of the faintest light.. 'The deaf are almost made to hear and the blind to see. The most terrible surgical operations are performed while the patient is wholly unconscious through the beneficent action of anmsthetics. But if the march of man is rapid, how much more so is the march of God. He never falls behind. ~'The faster man moves the faster God moves. The celerity of His march is always in proportion to the preparation and capacity of His people to follow. And hence we may expect Him as leader to move onward and forward with more and more astounding rapidity as He gives us facility and opportunity for a corresponding rapidity of advance.
The unthinking man and even disciple may sometimes become discouraged and complain that it is impossible to meet the growing demands of the constantly advancing and enlarging work of missions. But such forget two things. First, this is the comincing proof that it is God's work and He is in it. No human power could have opened doors as He has done it, or swept away obstacles such as He has removed, or insured such miraculous swiftness of movement. In every part of the world-field God is manifestly working, and because He is working, His church finds new developments perpetually challenging her attention and response. While hurrying to occupy one new point and post of advantage another and another invite immediate occupation. While going up to possess some fair land that has suddenly been thrown open, fresh territory on every side commands and demands our prompt entrance, lest the enemy go in before us. While we are hurling back one wing of the enemy, the other gives way and the very center reels and staggers, and God sounds the trumpet call for fresh battalions to come to His help and complete the route of the foe. All healthy work and successful war makes constantly increasing demands on our resources, our sacrifices, our energies, our endeavors. A healthy boy will outgrow and outwear his old clothes, in fact they never get old, for while yet comparatively new, he gets too big for them, or his very activity quickly wears them through or tears them through. But no sensible mother ever complains because her boy is growing. A poor sickly cripple may wear the same pants till they rot from mere age, but the cripple does not grow. Because missions represents the healthy offspring of the church in her best type of life, the work of missions will always astonish us by rapidity of development. The more rapid~ the more normal and healthy and hopeful.
Secondly, let us not forget that it is the salvation of the church to be il'l, stra£ts. Laodiceanism is always already developed whenever and wherever disciples become rich in goods and easy in mind, as those that have need of nothing, or are sufficient unto themselves. Emergencies drive us to God for new help and strength, as they drove Moses and Joshua and Hezekiah to the throne of grace. To feel deeply our own inadequacy to the task; to be consciously in the minority; to be humbled by our own weakness, poverty, jgnorance, infirmity-this is the first condition of real power. If our trust in God be only as great as our distrust of ourselves, there are no triumphs impossible.
It is an indisputable historic fact that the eras and epochs of the greatest power in the church have been those when the exigencies and emergencies have been the most trying and desperate. The very fires which, by a seven-fold t"rial in the furnace, kept the Huguenots and Waldensian churches pure and true, were the fires of persecution. The most startling supernatural deliveranccs were wrought when every human hope had been crushed by apparent and overwhelming disaster. The church of God will never be in easy circumstances. Whenever J eshurun waxes fat he always kicks. Whenever God's people get in comfortable and especially luxurious circumstances, then evangelism declines, worldliness creeps subtly in, devotion dies, and the church has but a name to live. But to see a host of foes in our very front, which we cannot meet in our own strength; to behold a work whose very opportunities far overtax our available resources of men and means; to find God's chariot hastening on at such a rate that at our utmost speed we can barely keep it in sight-ah, this deepens the spirit of prayer, evokes consecration, and compels close fellowship with each other and with God.
Another impression left by this conference is the necessity of closer and more acUve fell01lJsMp among disciples.
Much has been said of our un'ity as expressed and developed in this great conference. Let us not forget that the very emergency of the church compels unity. Our opportunity and our peril alike make unity absolutely necessary. Before a united, determined, malignant, desperate foe, marshaling all his hosts and concentrating all his force against the Bible, the Ohrist and the instItutions of the gospel, we cannot afford to be divided. We unconsciously and involuntarily draw together in presence of a common danger. When the ark is in danger, we forget our tribal standards and close up our ranks about the tabernacle of God, until we touch shoulder to shoulder and forget our tribal allegiance in our anxiety for the treasures of our faith and hope. Macaulay says that in presence of men that worship a cow, the differences between evangelical disciples become positively insignificant. We add that to magnify and emphasize them till they become separating barriers and dividing lines, in the presence of foes that, like Herod and Pilate, become friends for the sake of crushing Ohristianity, is positively criminal. I take no merit or credit to myself that in this great conference I have forgotten my own country and my father's house, and almost lost my own identity and denominational connection. In the presence of issues so vast, and perils so tremendous, and work so herculean, and foes so colossal, all has been driven from my mind save the fact that I am a servant of God, and am standing with other servants of God, watching the imperative signals of His hand in the crisis of the opportunity of the church and the destiny of the world. And if, in- presence of such an enemy on the one hand and the Jehovah of the covenant on the other, I could not forget all else but this, that we have one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one common cause, hope, and home, I should doubt whether, after all, I am a disciple. A man who, in such a presence, magnifies his denomination is only a fossilized ecclesiastic-a mere mummy.
In connection with this necessity of closer fellowship, one other impression this conference has graven on my heart, and that of many others, as with the pen of iron and the point of adamant: The voice of God to-day commands active co-operation among disdples in mission qoork. Here for ten days we have met from every quarter and every evangelical branch of the great Ohurch Oatholic, and not a discordant note has been sounded. Brethren may dwell together in unity, may talk freely and frankly of things in which there is wide difference of opinion, and yet feel one heart-beat of responsive sympathy. This harmony of feeling and concert of action would continue if the contact and fellowship could continue. But there is danger that when we separate, diversities of sphere, denominational view and practical working may leave the way open for misapprehension and possible conflict. Oan we not perpetuate this contact and preserve this fellowship? The conference has bound itself by wholesome restraints not to open the door to resolutions. But even wholesome restrictions must not become a yoke of bondage.
I am fully persuaded that there is at least one way in which we may preserve certain links of contact and co-operation. We have spent hours upon the discussion of missionary comity, and in it we were touching the very core of practical mission problems. Now the only hope of permanent adjustment of missionary comity is by a missionary committee. Change the emphasis of your accent and you have the remedy suggested. This blessed contact which has developed such overflowing charity it would be a disaster to have broken and lost. Could there not be a committee, not legislative but advisory, representing different denominations and societies, to whom might be referred any questions pertaining to the adjustment of our common and co-operative missionary work? What if such representative men as Sir John Kenneway and Eugene Stock, Wardlaw Thompson and A. C. Thompson, Ellenwood and Gordon, Hudson Taylor and Wm. M. Taylor, Bishop Wilson and Ninde, could be organized into an interdenominational and international missionary committee, to keep up this blessed contact and counsel with each other by correspondence or converse as new exigencies arise I Let me mention one direction especially in which such a committee would be pre-eminently helpful: the occupation of fields for Ghrist. First, as to fields already fairly preoccupied, it could be determined to leave them to those now working in them, unless too large. So has the Nile Valley been practically left to the United Presbyterians, Turkey to American Congregationalists, Palestine to English Churchmen, and Siam to American Presbyterians.
Second, as to fields now open but unoccupied, whose very vastness demands division of labor, such a committee might aid in securing prompt and united occupancy without overlapping and interference.
Third, as to fields not yet opened fully but just about to be-like Korea and Thibet-preparations might be made by which both delay and waste of material might be prevented. So important does this matter seem to me that I can think of no other work more important, and for the sake of doing this any man might feel honored if he were called of God, to lay down any other and separate himself unto this. I am painfully conscious that the occupation of the world-field, vast as it is, is not a matter of numbers. There is an enthusiasm of mere numbers that is often misleading and mistaken. God can work by a few humble faithful consecrated souls better than by a vast host of nominal disciples. Quality is far more important than quantity. But the fewer the heroic souls ready to dare the self-denying work the greater the need of preventing waste. We shall need all the men and women and all the money and means which can be obtained for the Lord's work. Let us have wise and holy counsellors, who act for the church and the Lord Christ, in mapping out the world-field and distributing the workmen widely and wisely.
But above !}ll our eyes need to be turned to the Lord. In the year-1863, in the midst of the great war for the Union, the ordinarily rainless summer in Nevada was suddenly interrupted by a
THB TRAINING OF WORKMEN
densely dark and threatening sky of storm-clouds. So heavy the pall that rested over Virginia City that Mount Davidson could scarcely be distinguished in the distance from the black masses behind it.
A remarkable phenomenen then appeared. Upon the very summit a little tongue of golden flame swayed to and fro like some weird supernatural signal; strange flame, indeed! for it neither waxed nor waned, but steadily burned on. It was the flag of the republic. There chanced to be a rift in the dense clouds, and the setting sun through that unseen rift flung its radiant beam upon that nation's standard and transfigured it to golden flame, an(l for an hour that burning bauner held the charmed gaze of the multitude. And, stranger still, that very day marked the fall of Vicksburg and the victory of Gettysburg!
Darkness that may be felt overspreads the earth, and gross darkness the people. The black clouds of skepticism and infidelity, irreligion and idolatry gather their awful masses in our sky and threaten a destructive storm. But on the very summits of Pagandom, in the midst of the death-shade, waves God's own signal. '1'he flag of the Cross burns in the ray of the Sun of Righteousness, the glory of God transfigures it. Even while we gaze upon it Satan's strongholds are giving way before the onset of God's missionary hosts, and the very tide of battle is turning. We have only to keep our eyes fixed on that banner, . and by that sign we shall conquer!
THE TRAINING OF WORKMEN.
• BY HENRY GRATTAN GUINNESS, LONDON.
[Dr. Pierson writes, concerning this paper, read at the London Conference and furnished 08 by the author for publication: "Clear, practical, pungent and powerful, it captivated the Rssembly. "-EDS.1 WE have in thiJ'l year 1888 reached an important crisis in missions. A hundred years of missionary labor lie behind us, and we gather at this International convention from east, west, north, and south, to study its records, and to learn its lessons, that we may start with the fresh knowledge and renewed energy for our still unreached goal-the evangelization of the world.
The century has been a glorious one in gospel work. After ages of apostacy-followed by stormy times of Reformation-the church awoke a hundred years ago to its duty to publish the gospel to all mankind. During the century, thousands of devoted laborers have gone forth; hundreds of heathen languages have been learned; the Scriptures translated into them; the Wora of God widely proclaimed, and some three millions of heathen converted to Christianity. Among all people the gospel has proved its soultransforming power. A co-operative providence has opened the world. Railways and steamers traverse it in every direction. Meanwhile Protestant Great Britain, America and Germany have largely increased their Ipopulation and their wealth. England alone, after spending freely on necessaries and luxuries, hoards annually now no less than 240 millions of money (1,200 millions of dollars). The means to accomplish our God-given work are increased and increasing. What we want now, and what we seek, is full purpose and resolution to use the powers we possess. God grant that this conference may be, as it ought to be, a tUrning-point in missions-a stage from which the church will make a fresh start, and push on her glorious warfare against sin and Satan with tenfold courage and energy, l'esolvingby divine help to evangelize the world before the present generation has passed away!
If this is to be done it is clear that there must be an enormous increase in the missionary army. The non-Christian nations number over a thousand millions. To give no more than one missionary to every ten thousand of these we should need a hundred thousand missionaries. There are at present only six thousand-in the entire field-men and women, all told. A new era, however, seems dawning-witness the hundred missionaries added to the China Inland Mission in 1887, and the thousands of undergraduates in England and America who have recently pledged themselves to missionary work.
God is evidently answering prayer, and thrusting forth laborers into His harvest.
We gather here to-day at the outset of this convention, to consider the qualifications and training necessary for missionaries. Four points al'e raised for discussion-the first as to mental and spiritual qualifications; the second a as to special training at home; a third as to training in the field; and fourth as to the advisability of establishing missionary lectureships in our colleges. I take up here the first two of these points-the testing of candidates to ascertain their suitability for the work, and their training after acceptance, and before being sent out.
And firstly as to the qualifications required. A missionary is an ambassador for Christ to the heathen-or to any non-Christian people. It is of necessity, therefore, that he be a true Christian-an anointed man, one called of God to the ministry of the gospel, and sent forth by Him. The church cannot create such laborers; only He who made the world can make a true missionary. No training can manufacture him; no human ordination can fit him for his work. The best musical education cannot make a musician of one who has no ear, nor the ablest instruction an artist of one who has no taste. It is clear that we cannot create even genius, how much less grace. A true missionary, like a true minister, is a supernatural gift to the church and to the world from the ascended Saviour. He ascended np far above all heavens, and gave apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. He alone gave them then, He alone can give them now, In considering the application of a candidate, therefore, the question to be settled is not, Can he be made into a missionary? but, Has God called him to be such? Have the necessary qualifications been bestowed? Only where this is the case can the training be of any use. If a man or woman is to become a true and useful missionary, there must first be not only genuine convel'sion and sincere personal piety, but whole-hearted self-consecration to the work of God, and a call to His holy service; including a strong inward sense of vocation, together with providential indications and adaptations. There must be mental and physical fitness for foreign service, and abQve all the spirit of Christ, for no matter what other qualifications So mah may have, he will never be a missionary unless he is filled with Christ-like compassion for the lost, and with a burning desire to seek and save them. This should be the ruling feature of his character. With this almost any special talents may be utilized in missionary service; without it, even the most brilliant are useless, If the heart be intensely set on the salvation of the perishing, love will teach ingenuity, and lead to painstaking and perseverance. Love will overcome all obstacles, and accomplish its object. The love of souls, the longing for llalvation, is one of the leading qualifications that should be looked for. But even the presence of this does not make testing needless, for there may co-exist with it physical, mental or moral disqualifications. Delicate or unsound health, a nervous irritabitity or desponding temperament, a lack of vitality or vigor, personal defects of a serious character, hereditary or acquired tendency to any dangerous malady or bad habit-these are so many physical disqualifications. So again, a prevailing mental obtuse~ess, the absence of general intelligence and common sense, the want of good memory, of the power of attention and observation, of ability to distinguish between thin~ which differ-to reason correctly and to reach right conclusions-any conspicuous defect in these mental requisites should create grave hesitation as to a candidate's fitness for missionary work.
And there are moral dejects also which would hinder usefulness even if body and mind were all right. Pride, obstinacy, want of docility, of meekness, of sympathy; habits of exaggeration, misrepresentation, or mischiefmaking; indolence, selfishness, rashness, levity of character, lack of patience and perseverance, of faith and courage, of self-denial and prayerfulness; all these are prohibitory defects, and the candidate in whom any of these are observed should be recommended at least to wait till he has grown in needful grace.
On the other hand, it should be noted that there are defects of a different character, which constitute no real disqualification, because training may, to a great extent, remedy them. Ignorance, lack of habits of study, or of experience, narrow-mindedness arising from want of intercourse with various classes of men, awkwardness of manner, and many and similar faults, indicate only a candidate's need of education and training, and should not stamp him as ineligible.
2. We turn now to the subject of the TRAINING of accepted candidates. The question stands in the prospectus, "Should there be special training for the missionary service in addition .to general education?" The answer is, ttndoubtedly. God always trains His instruments. Every true missionary must be specially trained for his work, though not all in our schools. God has His own schools. They are very various, and some of them strange and severe. Moses was trained to be the deliverer and lawgiver of Israel in the courts and schools of Egypt, and in the mountain solitudes of Midian, for eighty years. David was trained to be king over Israel by years of spiritual experience, and by many dangers and toils. Daniel was trained for his wonderful prophetic office by his education and career in Babylon. Any training that we can give to a volunteer for missionary work will form at best but a small part of a greater and more effectual training which God himself bestows. We can do something to help, though not much. Let us see to it that what we do be done in harmony with that which is done by the'great Master. Our Lord himself carefully trained His apostles for the great work He committed to them-;-the evangelization of the world. His example is full of instruction for us.
Christgave His disciples a threefold training-theoretical, moral andpractical. This was one of the principal works which He accomplished in the world. He prepared the instruments, He trained the men who should afterwards evangelize it. He chose them, called them, kept them, taught them, prayed with them and for them, impressed Hisspirit upon them, breatheditinto them : He corrected them, expanded their minds, exalted their conceptions, and purified their motives and purposes. Before He sent them forth into the world He kept them for over three years with himself, during which He set before them His own glorious and sacred example. What a development of soul! What a training for service! "Follow me," He said, "and I will make you to become fishers of men." "Take up your cross and follow me." "Learn of me." " Abide in me."
Besides this He imparted to them priceless instructions. He tanght them the nature of His divine kingdom, His own personal character and claims, the nature of true holiness, the simplicity, spirituality and power of prayer, the excellence of humility, the essential duty and blessed results of self-sacrifice, the sin of hypocrisy and formality, the spirituality of worship, and the supremacy of the Word of God over all human tradition,;. He revealed to them also the future, unfolding the prospects which lay before the church the Jewish people and the Gentile world. He revealed the advent and th~ work of the Comforter, to whom they were in future ,to look for guidance and help. It was by these instructions and influences that He fitted His disciples to be the promulgoators of a pure, spiritual, universal religion, with charity as wide as the world, with consciences sensitive about sin, yet free from superstitious scruples; with habits of obedience to the divine law, though emancipated from bondage to human customs, and with characters cured of pride and passion, impatience, selfishness and self-will. Christ employed as His first ambassadors God-given, God-taught and God-sent messengers, and even these He had both sifted and trained.
Hence it is evident that the development of spiritualli!e is the great thing to be aimed at in missionary training. Woe to the church if she neglects this, or gives it a secondary place! Her messengers will be of little use, for un_ spiritual agents can never accomplish spiritual work. Are we not building up a spiritual temple? Must not each stone of it be a living stone, seeing the house is to be the habitation of God through the Spirit? If, then, the end in view be spiritual, so must the means and methods be-we must follow the example of Christ.
The effect of this training was to transform the men who received it. They became a wonder in the world. Men marvelled at these Galilean fishermen -ignorant and unlearned as they were in earthly things-that they should possess such spil"itual light and love, such wisdom and boldness as they evinced. Men took knowledge of them that they had been with Jesus. Yes, they had been with Jesus. That was the secret of their power; that was the method of their training. The society of Christ was the school of their apostleship, the college in which they graduated. They had been with Jesus, and as the Father had sent Him so He sent them into the world, promising himself to be with them, and with their faithful successors even to the end of the age.
The calling, qualifying and directing of the laborers thus commenced by our Lord was afterwards continued by the Holy Ghost througoh the church. He sent forth missionaries unto the Gentiles. The Apostolic Church acted directly under the Spirit's guidance. " As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." Then the church fasted, prayed, laid their hands on those men and sent them away. That is, they set apart and sent out those whom God had qualified and called. The Lord was with these missionaries and wrought glorious things through their instrumentality.
We cannot improve on this example of the primitive church. The Acts of the Apostles form the best guide-book for missionary societies and missionaries. The impulse and the energy must always come from heaven. Successful missionaries are God-appointed men. We must pray for such; watch and wait for them; welcome them and utilize them as they are given. Yes, for the thousands of workers still needed in the mission-.!ield we must first of all pray-pray as Elijah prayed for the rain, fervently, effectually, incessantly tIll the prayer is answered; pray as the church prayed for the promised Spirit before Pentecost. Such prayer would bring another Pentecost, and we need such a season to-day. We want the world to be evangelized, but we must remember that He who redeemed it and commanded His apostles to evangelize it, forbade them to leave Jerusalem on their glorious mission till they were endued with power from on high. They obeyed Him; the power came, and thousands were converted by it. But there never was and never will be any substitute for this spIritual power, this holy anointing. Without it evangelistic or missionary work must be in the deepest sense a failure.
With these sacred examples before us we cannot but ask the question whether our mode of testing missionary candidates is sufficiently careful and thorough, and whether our plan of training them aims, as it should do, at the development of the moral and spiritual naturH even more than at the invigoration of the mental powers, and the impartation of mere knowledge. Do we seek and select in the first place, and cultivate in the second, the type of character which Christ cultivated? Are we guided in our selection mainly by the spiritual stature of the candidate-by his humility, patience, prayerfulness, and faith-by his possession of the Spirit of Christ? In our training, again, is our aim the right one? We educate abundantly, and education is undoubtedly a good thing, but it is a poor substitute for grace exercised and spiritual gifts strengthened by use, for habits of practical devotion and self-denying labor formed and established. Collegiate study and examinations are not enough. Degrees are no criterion. Men of high scholastic attainments have been sent out in our own day to convert the heathen, who have been converted by the heathen, or rather perverted by them from the truth. As Gideon tested his three hundred, so do we need to test and sift our missionary volunteers, and the testing should include the Oross. "Master," said one of old, "I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest." "Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests," was the answer, "but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head." That is, Christ intimated to the would-be disciple that to follow Him, he must be prepared to share His lot." No training that misses this element is worth nluch.
'fhe reality of the missionary's devotedness is best proved and developed by hard a.nd humble work among the ignorant, the prejudiced, the poor, the degraded at home. If a man objects to, or slurs labor among them, as beneath his dignity or disagreeable to his tastes, it is useless to send him forth as a missionary. Selfishness may make a good student, natural ability an acceptable speaker, but only distasteful service puts to the proof a man's grace, his sense of duty and strength of principle. Fifteen years' experience in the training of young men, and personal dealing with more than three thousand volunteers for missionary service, leads me to urge the importance of this test. Next, perhaps, in value to spirituality may be ranked evangelistic gift and ability. How is this to be developed? In the same way that skill in any other line is imparted-by instruction and practice. The preparation for all ordinary work consists in the actual doing of it, not merely in gaining a theoretical knowledge of how it ought to be done. No one would employ a mechanic who had never worked at his trade, nor an architect who had never erected a building. No one would employ a doctor who had not treated the sick, nor should we ever send out missionaries-preachers and teachers for the heathen-who have not done teaching and preaching work, and been blessed to the conversion of souls at home. If a man is not a successful soul-winner in his native land, he is not likely to become such in China or Africa. It is surely unwise in a high degree to commit to unproved men one of the most difficult of tasks. Unless a man has succeeded in turning others to righteousness in these lands where it is comparatively easy, what reason have we to conelude that he will do so in heathendom where it is much more difficult? There are home heathen enough in our crowded cities to afford practical training for missionary students. Just as medical students walk the hospitals, so should om' missionary students learn their future work in our courts and alleys-in the centers where sin-sick and perishing souls needing the gospel remedy congregate. East London, for instance, with its vast and varied population, is an admirable training ground for missionary students. It was this fact which led uS,many years ago, to plant there our Institute for Home and Foreign Missions, from which, during the last fifteen years many hundreds of missionaries have gone forth. We have more than a million of the working classes in this quarter. We have infidels, Romanists, English and foreign Jews, French, Germans, and Italians; Africans and Asiatics, including Chinese, Hindoos, and other nationalities. We nave drunkards and paupers, and multitudes who are heathen in their habits, if not in their creed. Among these the evangelist can prove his gifts; he can either deal singly with indiVIduals, or preach to companies gathered in rooms, mission-halls, lodging houses, or on board ships; and above all, he can address crowds in the open air.
The value of open-air preaching as a preparatIOn for missionary work is exceedingly great. It cultivates aggressiveness, boldness, simplicity, directness, and earnestness of style, an extemporaneous delivery, and an interesting and striking manner of presenting divine truths. The open-air preacher 'must first gather his congrq'ation, and then hold it in spite of surrounding distractions, with nothing but the simple power of his words. He must suit his style to the roughest and shrewdest of his auditors. He must promptly meet objections, answer questions, and quiet disturbances, as he seeks to win an entrance to unwelcome truths in the hearts and minds of neglecters and rejecters of the Word of God. He has to face opposition, and enaure at times contempt and shame for the Master's sake. It is not easy work, and there is nothing in it to foster conceit or gratify self-esteem. It is really hard, self-denying service, more analogous to that which would be required of a missionary in the streets of India or China than almost any other form of gospel labor.
To preach from a pulpit to orderly congregations, prepared to listen re- spectfully and sympathetically, is no preparation for labor among the heathen. There is no trouble in gathering the people under such circumstances. Everything in their surroundings helps religious impression, and intelligent attention is bestowed on the preacher.. But there is nothing of this sort in heathendom lOne who is only up to work of this conventional type might almost as well stay at home. The missionary has to press his message on mim who have no notion of its importance, no disposition even to listen to it, no substratum of religiOUS knowledge on which to work, no enlightened conscience to which to appeal, no habits of reverence or decorum, no sym- pathy with the preacher's mode of thought, and but an imperfect compr~hen sion of his language. Like the open-air preacher, the missionary must not expect either to be sought, appreciated, or thanked for his service, nor to find in it any other gratification than that of serving Christ and saving men. In this and in other similar efforts to raise and transform degraded and sunken populations at home, the missionary candidate is not the best trained for his future work, but best tested, best proved fit for it.
In addition to such experiences a missionary needs, of cours'e, knowledge of various kinds. Education of the mind has its place, though it be not the first place. The higher the mental qualifications of a man or woman (other things being equal) the better. But here it should be clearly stated that the nature of the case indicates that only a certain proportion of missionary workers require what we call a thorough education. Do we not limit too narrowly the class of men from which we select missionary agents? Do we sufficiently remember that the first missionaries were mostly poor and uninfluential in worldly position, ignoran t and unlearned as regards mental attainments, not many wise, not many mighty, not many noble were called. For one learned Paul of Tarsus there were elev.en plain men of no special erudition, fishermen and men of that class whose principal education was that which they received from Christ himself. The army requires more privates than officers; and one architect can plan a building which will need many hands to erect. Some highly-cultured men are of course needed in a mission, and are essential to its highest prosperity; they are needed to do literary work, reduce unwritten tongues, and translate the-Scriptures; to train and teach native evangelists, to lead and organize, to direct and to originate. But are they the only men needed? Did any army consisting of officers only ever march to victory? Are not rank and file required as well? and does not the mission army need hundreds and thousands of privates? Is it essential that all, or even the great majority of missionaries, should be scholarly gen- tlemen who have studied from boyhood to maturity at heavy expense of time and money? Do the ninety per cent. of thc population of China who cannot even read, 01' the savages of Central Africa or the New Hebrides, de- mand teachers of a higher stamp than do the working classes in these coun- tries? Should we not elSteem it a great waste of rQsources to insist that all home and city missionaries should be classical scholars? And are not work- ers of all classes required among the heathen as much as at home? May not many men without either the leisure or the means, or perhaps even the incli- nation for a long and elaborate course of study-intelligent artisans, young clerks in banks, in offices, assistants in shops, the sons of farmers, mates of vessels and skilled mechanics, tradesmen, teachers and others-be well suited to serve Christ among the heathen, to preach the simple gospel to the masses of the people?
On the other hand, to send out ignorant and untrained men to undertake missionary work were clearly folly. "Let such first be proved," is a dictate of common sense as well as a precept of Scripture. Paul said to Timothy as regards the truths of the gospel which he had taught him, "The same com- mit thou to faithful men who shall be able to teach others also." Of all men a missionary should be a man of general intelligence and fertIle resources. Without a measure of cultivation it is impossible that he should be this. Knowledge is power, and missionaries as a class should know something of everything. A missionary has to travel, and should understand geography. He may perhaps have to build his house, to make his own furniture, to till or direct the tillage of his garden, the cooking of his food, to work the printing- press. Knowledge even on such matters will therefore be valuable to him. He may be situated far from any skilled physician, and ought there- fore to have at least some elementary knowledge of anatomy and physiology and of the use of simple surgIcal and medical aids; The more grammaticaJ, knowledge he has the better, for he will have to learn and use a foreign tongue, and possibly to translate into it the Word of God. He ought to know enough of nature to appreciate the works of God, and enough of history to perceive the background of Bible facts. As he has to teach Christianity, he should know something about the history of its planting, its early sufferings and triumphs, the origin and progress of existing apostacies, and the story of the Reformation. He should also be acquainted to some extent with the history of modern missions, including the lives of eminent missionaries. But above all, he ought to be well acquainted with the Bible. That Book will have to be the companion of his loneliness, the guide of his perplexity, the support of his life, the instrument of his labors. It should be the chief subject of his study. His mind should be familiarized with the sacred text, with the evidences of its lDspiration, and with the varied doctrinal and practical truths which it reveals. He needs to be rooted and built up in Christ, and established in the faith, and the aim should be to give him afirm grasp of the teachings of Scripture, and instruction; as far as possible, in the whole counsel of God.
It is a serious question whether in our training of missionaries we give the Word of God the place which it deserves. Is not Bible study in our colleges apt to be too cramped, and too merely critical? We teach our stu- dents to dissect the Scriptures, but are they taught to dissect their own hearts, to understand themselves? We teach them the letter of Scripture, but do we lay due stress upon the posession of its spirit? We teach them to judge the Book, but they should he taught to let it judge them, and by its light to judge of all things. Is not God's Word a fire and a hammer? Woe to us if by our processes we strip it of its sacredness and strength. Let us give the Word of God its propel' place, and own its supreme authority, pre-eminence. and power.
It is the desire of this conference that those who take part should contribute to the general stock the,results of their experience, suggesting for the con- sideration of their brethren the chief practical conclusions to which they have been led. I may mention, then, that guided by the principles indicated in this paper, we founded, fifteen years ago. in East London, an institution for training' and helping into the foreign field young men who desired to be mis- sionaries. We subsequently added a country branch of the Institute, and later on a Training Home for Deaconesses. During these fifteen years we have dealt with more than three thousand volunteers for missionary work, have re- ceived on probation between eight and nine hundred, have trained and sent out five hundred missionaries, and have now about a hundred students in the Institute. Our plan is to give the students, where they require it, preiimi- nary secular instruction in the country branch, and then practical training in East London, including missionary, evangelistic, linguistic and medical de- partments. All our students receive from a qualified medicaJ man the train- ing of the ambulance corps, the results being tested by a public examina- tion. The deaconesses, in certain instances, are sent for three months to live in hospitals where the maternity cases are treated. Students going to Africa receive instruction in the treatment of tropical fevel's, and where there has been special fitness we have given students the advantage of a four years' medical course in the London Hospital. In almost every case these have be- come qualified medical men, and are now in the mission-field. The time spent by students in the Institute has varied according to their age and needs. Our system has been an elastic one. We have tried to give to each the help he or she was capable of receiving, and to introduce each to the sphere in which we saw they could best do good gospel service.
The results have not disappointed us. We have received men of all nationalities and all classes, as well as of all evangelical denominations. We have trained them for all countries, and former students are now working in connection with between twenty and thirty societies and organizations, while many of them have founded new and independent missions. As a rule they had done well, and given much satisfaction in the missions they have joined. There are exceptions. Every rule has such, but we thank God on remembrance of the majority of them. They have gone into every country in Europe. They have gone to the roughest and most westerly parts of North America, to the negroes in Jamaica, and to the Roman Catholics and English settlers in South America. They have evangelized in Morocco, Algiers, Tunis and Egypt, in North Africa; have established missions in Cape Colony, Natal and Kaffir-Iand; and have penetrated the heart of equatorial Africa, founding fresh stations, reducing the languages of the people to writing, translating the Scriptures, and turning hundreds from heathenism to the knowledge of God. They have suffered, literally, thousands of attacks of fevers, and many of them have laid down their lives in the service of Christ and for the gospel. They have founded medical missions in Constantinople, Syria, and Armenia ; have evangelized in the wildest parts of the HaUl'an, have preached in the crowded cities and mountain wilds of India, and opened many mission-stations in the most distant provinces in China. They have scattered the Word of God in every province in that vast empire, and have traversed in their missionary labors almost every country in the world. Our experience has shown us that there are thousands of devoted young men and women suited for missionary work, and desirous to give themselves to it, that they are capable of rapid improvement under Christian training, and willing to go anywhere for the sake of the gospel, that there are open doors in all lands, and fields waiting for reapers, white to the harvest, and that the Christian Church may increase with appropriate effort the number of its missionary laborers to an almost indefinite extent.
Allow me, in conclusion, to summarize what I have said, and to emphasize certain points.
First, we agree most thoroughly with our highly esteemed and respected friend, Dr. Pierson, in his published opinion that "if we would largely increase the missionary force we must in some way lessen the time and cost of preparing the average workman.. . A most formidable barrier to the work of evangelization is that even where both men and money may be obtained it takes too long a time and too costly a culture to train the average workman; and this one obstacle often overtops all others, and is practically insurmountable. •• There ought to be a change in our ecclesiastical tactics; our system of training for the mission-field must be more flexible and more economical of. time and money, or we cannot send workmen mto the great world-field in adequate numbers." Without any rigidly uniform system.of training, we must encourage every willing soul to do the work for which he 01' she is best fitted, and endeavor further to fit eaeh for their proposed sphere of labor, and we must shorten and simplify the course of training.
Secondly, no candidates whatever should be accepted for training save spiritually-minded men and women, possessed of good health, good common sense, devotedness to God's service, and a divinely indicated call to the work.
Thirdly, such persons should be thoroughly tested, and carefully trained.
THE WORK AMONG THE FIJI ISLA.NDS. [SlU"f
Their training should be adapted to develop the unworldly spiritual character which missionary work requires. It should always be adapted to the individual case. All missionary students should be trained in laborious and self-denying habits, and exercised in evangelistic work among our own lapsed masses, especially open-air preaching.
Lastly, every missionary student should be furnished with the practical instructions of the ambulance corps, as to how to deal with accident cases; while those who are prepaung for labor in Central Africa and other parts of the world where no qualified medical aid is to be had should receive, in addition to other teaching, special medical instruction of an elementary and practical nature, and in those instances where there is marked aptitude and desire for it, the missionary student should have the advantage of a full medical course.
THE WORK AMONG THE FIJI ISLANDS.
[A Paper read before the London Conference by Rev. John Calvert.1 [The facts concerning the missionary life of this remarkable man, stated in a note to Dr. Pierson which we give below, will add interest to bis paper.-J. M. S.
.. DEAR DR. PIERSON: .. SEVENOAKS, KXN'!', June 19, 1888.
"IN 1838 I went to Fiji with John Hunt. 1n 1856 I came home with the printed New Testament and MS. of the complete Bible, and was four years in England. In 1860 I went again to Fiji with several younl!; missionaries newly married. Iu 18721 went to South Africa for nine years. In May, 1886, I went on a visit to Fiji and returned through America, and I am now settled down here as supernumerary. 1 have lately supplied twenty cases of Bibles and Testaments, from the Bible SOCiety, and four cases hemispheres iu ziuc cylinders to keep them safe, when not used, from the cockroaches, And I am now putting to press Hunt's Theology, Hymns. Catechism and Book oC Offices. .. Affectionately yours, "JAMES CALVERT."] OF all the many Oceanic missions in the Pacific, I am here to represent but one, in which a. great part of my life has been spent-the Mission to Fiji. This large and beautiful group, which lies 1,800 miles northeast from Sydney, and 1,200 north of New Zealand, consists of some 200 islands and islets, eighty of which are inhabited; and the two largest are ninety miles in length. The islanders are a fine race, of fair intelligence, and, according to the measure of their own simple wants, very industrious. Having been left to themselves and to the undisturbed control of bad influences in all the past, they became extremely vile and degraded. Cannibalism was a recognized institution among them and practiced to a frightful extent. Infanticide was a general custom, and the burial of sick persons before death was common. Cruelty of all·kinds abounded; and polygamy, with its inseparable consequences of evil, was established throughout the group.
The condition and claims of Fiji were brought urgently before the Chris- tian people of England, and particularly before the Wesleyan Methodist Churches, about fifty years ago. Already two white missionaries were doing noble work in the Islands. They were re-enforced from time to time. They never exceeded thirteen at anyone time-now they are only nine; and this number will probably be still further reduced, the work being carried on chiefly and successfully by agents raised up among the people themselves. Happily we have always been heartily one, so that our prayers and. labors . have not been hindered, but greatly helped. Regular weekly English wor- ship and the class-meeting among the mission families were of the utmost value in keeping our own souls alive. God chose the men employed; none of them extraordinary or great, but suitable, well adapted, ready to rough it and go on heartily with every branch of the work that had to be done, making little of difficulties, dangers and affiictions, but the best of everything and everyone. And all our work personally, and in the training of native agents, has always been done in the Fijian language, and interpreters not employed. On a recent visit to Fiji, my heart was gladdened at finding the same stamp of men supplied by Australia, carrying on the work successfully. A very great help to our progress was, as I believe, that we had the whole field to ourselves, and our laborers were not interfered with, by the presence of any other Protestants. The Romanists came too late, arriving after we had got a good footing, and supplied the Scriptures. They avowed themselves as our opponents, and relieved us of a few troublesome persons. They have never succeeded. to a large extent, and are now losing ground, though they have zeal and self-denial worthy of any cause.
The vital, experimental and practical truths of God's Word were explained, applied and enforced. Christ, the living Saviour of all, especially of them that believe to the saving of the soul, was shown to be all in all, able and willing to save to the uttermost all who came to Him. The divine personal Spirit, in all His glorious energy and saving power, was prominently set forth, and He was ever present, convicting of sin, of righteousness, and of judgment. Great numbers from the beginning of our work, and, thank God, to the present time, were thoroughly awakened by the truth and by the Spirit. They sorrowed after a godly sort, turned from sin, and turned fully to God through Christ alone. And such penitents in very large numbers have, throughout the whole history of the mission, found peace with God through believing, and have shown to all men the evidences of life renewed in righteousness and true holiness. Old things passed away: behold all things became new. On several occasions, on many of the islands, there have been special outpourings of the Divine Spirit, when considerable numbers were saved, and all ~ere quickened into life and prosperity.
The spirit in which they endured trials, persecution and loss, and their steadfast aim with all kindness to do good to anyone by any effort or sacrifice, proved the truth, depth and excellence of the religion they experienced, enjoyed and practiced.
Many of these new creatures in Christ Jesus, quickened and raised into newness of life, began to speak, and testify and entreat as the Spirit gave them utterance. It was more than meat and drink to them to spread among their relatives and countrymen the religion that was such a reality and boon to themselves.· Thus the truth and saving grace of God spread from one to another, from village to village, from tribe to tribe, from island to island. None could gainsay or resist their testimony in holding- forth the Word of life. The missionaries and our mission needed no better or stronger commendation. These real converts have been and are" manifestly declared to be the epistle of Christ ministered by us, written with the Spirit of the living God," "an epistle known and read of all men." And by their agency a most substan- tial, most blessed and extensive work of God has been wrought in all direc- tions throughout Fiji.
On my last visit I was d4llighted with the grand sight I witnessed at the District Training Institution. There I found 109 fully-devoted men, selected from the institutions in each circuit, under training as preachers of the gospel: fine, strong, whole-hearted men, who 'cheerfully surrender them- selves to the cause of Christ in Fiji or elsewhere. To the oversight of this vastly-important branch of our work are devoted a missionary and his assist- ant, a native minister, who are specially qualified and adapted. Since my return an appeal was made to these students to hazard their health and lives among the dangerous people and in the unhealthy climate of New Guinea, where Fijian teachers have already been sacrificed. Fifteen were asked for: forty volunteered! eighteen were chosen, and sent forth.
Mission work in every-conntry must mainly be done by the converts them- selves. The foreigner is an expensive agent, with the many real and im- aginary wants of himself and his family. His continuance is often inter– rupted, and his stay shortened. And he can never manage the climate and customs, or find out and adapt himself to the native character, so well as one of themselves. The native agent was well-known before the glorious change that has renewed him on the spot before their eyes: and he is a liv- ing specimen-well studied-of the power of the gospel to transform. He is already there without any expense, can be employed at small cost, and that raised mainly by those for whose benefit he labors: and mission funds are not required for his removal and sustenance should he fail. With only 9 white missionaries, we have 3,505 native preachers: 56 ordain{>d, who take full part in the work of the ministry with the English missionary, 47 catechists, 983 head preachers, with 1,919 ordinary local or lay preachers. There are 1,268 chapels and other preaching places; 28 English church members, 27,097 full native church membQrs. These are well cared for by 3,480 devoted class-leaders. There are 40,718 scholars in our 1,735 day and Sunday-schools, taught by 2,526 teachers; and 101,150 attendants on public worship. The jubilee of the mission was lately held. Fifty years previously there was not a Christian in all Fiji; then not an avowed heathen left! Canibalism has, for some years past, been wholly extinct, and other immemorial customs of horrible cruelty and barbarism have tiisappeared.
Behold! what hath God wrought! A nation has been born at once!
"Instead of the thorn the fir tree came up: and instead of the brier came up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the Lord for aname, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off." "The wilderness has become a fruitful field, and the fruitful field is counted for a forest." "Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel [and of all nations, great and small], who only doeth wondrous things. And blessed be His glorious name for ever: and let the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen."
Though poor, the people are most liberal in contributions for carrying on their own work, building all the schools and chapels and teachers'
houses; and they give generously, at much personal sacrifice, to the general mission funds. Had it not been for the business calamities that have come upon Fiji, as upon most parts of the world, the mission promised well ere this to have been self-supporting. Their deep poverty is borne well: and the riches of their liberality abound. I was delighted now to find them thoroughly good and fully devoted to God and His cause. Their religion is a grand , and powerful reality in very trying circumstances.
When this mission began, the Fijian language had never been written; the missionaries, therefore, had to supply it with an alphabet, and reduce it to a written form, and then to set to work to explore its grammatical structure, so as to give the people in their own tongue the Word of God, and furnish them with a useful literature. Very early in the history of the mis- sion the printing-press was brought into use.
When our printer failed in that far-off and out-of-the-way place we were in great difficulty, as a new edition of the New Testament and other books were urgently required. We ordered a man from London who would rough it, be content with the poor fare and small pay and hard work we were ac- ';:l!stomed to, but slch a man was not found. Then it came to pass that il! French count, an infidel, who was wrecked from an American beche de mer vessel, was thoroughly awakened, and sought and found mercy and saving grace. He was completely reformed and wished for employment with us. I taught him printing and book-binding, which he quickly learned; and just then, when we were in deepest need, he became a most efficient laborer wIth us. He could make sails, splice a rope, pull an oar, sail a schooner, floor a house, put in windows, make a door and fit it in. He became a teacher in our schools, and a good local preacher. The people felt that he loved them, and the best of our converts from any part of Fiji were cheerfulJy ready to settle down and work with him, so that we had a good staff of earnest and cheap workers in our printing and book-binding establishment. A new edition of the New Testament and all the books we required were well done and quickly supplied, helping on the work amazingly: A wh'ole-hearted man like that was beyond all price. Had one been made to order on purpose for our needs and work, he could not have been better adapted. And the case proved to us the all-sufficiency of God's resources; and just at the right, the very best time on the spot the demand was supplied, and without any cost. Oh, that we looked more to God for all we need I Then we printed innumerable portions of the Scriptures, catechisms (one especially, consisting o~ passages of Scripture only, which was invaluable), reading, and other books, as well as an excellent and immensely valuable system of theology, prepared by the eminent John Hunt when his heart and mind were in their best state, and when he had gained an excellent knowledge of the language; also an invaluable dictionary and grammar, provided by David Hazlewood, a man not known to fame, but whose record is on high, who did service of immense value in the language and translation department.
Since 1856 large supplies of Bibles and New Testaments in good bold type and strong and some elegant binding are constantly forwarded by the British and Foreign Bible Societies, on which many missionary societies are largely dependent, and from which all are cheerfully and promptly supplied with all they require. These Scriptures are highly l)rized, eagerly purchased and diligently read, the natives in many instances depriving themselves of the conveniences of life that they may secure and possess God's Word. The proceeds of these books are returned to the Bible House. They have supplied two editions of the completed Scriptures and fifty-six thousand of the New Testament in six editions. Other books in large quantities are also supplied fl'om England, better and at less cost than they can be printed and bound in Fiji, or obtained from the colonies.
Though Fiji is small when compared with the great nations, yet it affords a specimen and example of what can be done by the Word and Spirit and Providence of God, and it enheartens and encom'ages all to attempt and expect great things for all the nations of this sin-stricken, redeemed world. Ample provision for all our race has been made in the grand atonement and all-prevalent intercession of our great and loving Redeemer, who by the grace of God tasted death for every man, and wills that all should be saved in the gift of the life-giving Spirit who works mightily and can renew every depraved heart; and in the glollious gospel which saves all who believe, God intends to save our fallen race, and will do it. His glory shall be revealed antl all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it. He hath said it, and He will assuredly bring it to pass. Christ must reign over all. Let us then go fOJ;'th in faith and preach the gospel to every creaturel feeUng sur~ tbat we have strongest ground for ille utmost hopes iu Him who has said: "And I, if 1 be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me." And again: "All authority hath been given unto me in heaven and on earth; go ye, therefore, and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them into the name of the Father, and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I commanded you: and 10, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
SEVENOAKS, KENT, June 1,1888. JAMES CALVERT.
THE KARENS.
[Paper read belore the Conference by Mrs. W. F. Armstrong. It made 8 deep impression.-Ens.J THE only apology for my appearance here this evening is that I am the only Karen missionary attending this Conference, and so noble a people should not be passed by unnoticed. Thousands of them are praying for us, and it is right that we should remember them.
The Karens were once the hill tribes of Burmah, treated by the Burmese with the greatest injustice and cruelty. While they were under the Burmese Government they hid themselves in the jungle on the mountain sides, con- cealing the paths to their bamboo homes, and constantly moving from one place to another to avoid detection. They were content to live on the pro- duce of their gardens, to weave their own clothing, and to be as independent in the forest as the birds or the bees.
Their religion was peculiar to themselves. They lived pure, honest, truthfullives-I speak advisedly-they were unbounded in their hospitality, had no idols; but made offerings to propitiate the demons whom they feared.
They had no books, but they had carefully preserved traditions of a book they once possessed to which they were disobedient, and it was taken from them. Some day-so their legends ran-their white brethren would come across the sea in ships and bring back the book which told of the Great Father. They retained much of the moral and historical parts of the Old Testament in sayings of theil' old men, and it seems probable that tpey had at some time had access to its sacred pages.
No wonder such a people should receive the gospel when it came. No peo- ple have ever been discovered who were so prepared for it or whose very prejudices were on its side. When missionaries came among them their old men said, This is what our fathers told us of, it is this for which we have so long waited; and they flocked by hundreds to receive it. Not without change of heart. Their simple faith took Christ at ilis word; the Spirit accom- ied that word. Though they were ignorant and untaught in schools, they came forward eagerly to learn, believing with all their hearts, and re- ceiving the promise of God" to everyone that believeth."
An entire change has been wrought among them in the last fifty years.
Now there are over 450 Karen parishes, each one of which supports its own native pastor and lts own village school, and many subscribe largely to send the gospel farther on. !
There are about 30.000 baptized communicants, and fully 100,000 nominal Christians, about one-sixth of the whole tribe in Burmah.
A marked characteristic of their Christianity is that th.ey are earnest for- eign missionaries. They have their own foreign missionary society and send out their own young men to distant countries and other languages, support- ing them there and re-enforcing them as the need arises. These have opened up new fields of labor where other missionaries could not reach; they have tuken educated <Lnd devoted Karen wb'esto assist them, and have undergone
HOME WORK FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS
much hardship and privation with a true spirit of heroism worthy of any Christian nation. One instance, which I was personally cognizant of, and I have done.
I loved the people dearly; I looked upon them as brothers and sisters indeed, but when my husband went to the Telugus I went too. One of my teachers, who had traveled with me in many a jungle tour, and who loved souls as well as I did, who had risked her life over and over again for Christ's sake, was moved to go wIth me. This Karen girl went to India and learned the Telugu, both written and spoken, and this more rapidly than any missionary I have ever known. She started a girl's school among them, teaching them in Telugu more efficiently than any of their own people could do on account of her previous training. Of course I speak of work in a new station where mission work had to begin from the foundations. She won many women and children to listen to the gospel, and was everywhere treated with respect. The natives giving her the same title they applied to myself. Indeed, she proved herself in all respects a genuine foreign missionary.
She is now living in Rangoon, where she is married, and works among Burmese, Telugus and Karens, as she has opportunity. She is Secretary of the Karen Women's Foreign Missionary Society, which supports and directs its own Bible women. She is not in mission employ, but is supported by hel" merchant husband, who also is an educated Christian Karen, speaking daily for his Master during business hours and giving nobly to the cause of Christ, as you in this country do.
I always felt that work among Karens was only half way to heathenism. Among the Telugus I saw many debasing influences of idolatry which I did not find among Karens. In the estimation of those who know them best they are the most remarkable of all Eastern tribes. God has surely some wonderful purpose for them in the future, and we see a forecast of this in their eagerness and ability to work as evangelists among other nations.
Another conference, I trust, may see some of them in your midst to speak for themselves.
HOME WORK FOR FOREIGN MISSIONS.
BY REV. A. T. PIERSON, D.D. [A paper read at the World's Missionary Conference on Monday. June 18.] WHAT the source is to the supply, the motor to the machine, the home church is to the foreign field. The vigor of the heart's beat determines the ' pulse beat at the extremities. It is of first importance that, at home, work for missions abroad be continuous and constant, healthy in !one and spiritual in type.
How shall the churches be raised to the degree of consecration required for the evangelization of the world? Sheldon Dibble used to say that two conversions are needful: first, to Christ as a Saviour from sin; and then to missions as the corrective antidote to selfishness. A century ago William Carey felt the thrust of the keen lance of Sydney Smith, who, by his unsanctified wit, proposed to "rout out thai nest of consecrated cobblers"; and Carey had to fight for fifteen years the apathy even of his own Baptist brethren. Dr. Judson's hand was nearly shaken off, and his hair shorn off, by those who, in the crisis which can be met only by self-sacrifice would, to save themselves, willingly let missions die.
Foremost among the means by which deeper devotion to the work of eV'an~ gelization is to be secured, I would put the education of the chu1'ch in the' very principle of missions. Where the hearty acceptance of this is lacking, the impulse and impetus of missions are wanting. The church of God exists, not only as a rallying, but as a radiating, center. It is indeed a home, but also a school; a place for worship, but not less for work. For a society of disciples to be engrossed even in self-culture is fatal to service, and even to true sanctity. The church is no gymnasium where exercise is the law and self-development the end. The- field is the world, and each sower and reaper. while at work for a harvest, gets in his exertion the very exercise which is needful to growth.
So important and so fundamental is this principle of missions, that any church which dj!nies or practically neglects it, deserves to be served with a writ of quo warranto. This law of church life must be constantly kept before believers, enforced and emphasized by repetition-that upon every believer is laid the duty of personal labor for the lost. This conviction must be beaten in and burned in, till it becomes a part of the very consciousness of every disciple, until the goal is seen to be not salvation or even sanctification, but service to God and man in saving souls.
In the educatiop of a church in foreign missions, nothing is more essential than that the missionary spirit burn in the pastor. A stream rises no higher than its source; and, ordinarily, the measure of the pastor's interest In the world-field determines the level of his people's earnestness and enthusiasm. He ought to be a student of missions, an authority on missions, and a leader in missions. He is not the driver of a herd, but the leader of a flock: he must therefore go before. His contagious enthusiasm and example must inspire in others the spirit of consecration. The personal character of the man gives tone to his preaching, and is perhaps itself the best kind of preaching. That must be a frozen church in which a man, alive with intelligence and zeal for the work of God, could not warm into life and action under such a pastor as the late W. Fleming Stevenson.
The rudiments of a true education being laid, we must go on unto perfection; and among all the means of this higher training we put, first and foremost, a knowledge of the facts of missionary history and biography. Information is a necessary part of all university training in missions; not a partial, superficial impression, but information-a knowledge of missions complete enough and thorough enough to crystallize into symmetrical form in the :mind and heart. Facts are the fingers of God. To a devout student of His will they become signs of the times, and signals of His march through the ages. Like the gnomon of a sun dial, even their shadow may mark the hour in God's day. Prince Albert used to say to the young men of Britain: " Find out God's plan in your generation and never cross it, but fall into your own place in it." There is a pillar of providence, the perpetual pillar of cloud and fire, whereby we may be led. That pillal'is built up of facts, oftentimes mysterious and dark, like a cloud, yet hiding the presence and power of Him who dwelt in the cloud and made it luminous.
To a true disciple missions need no argument, since the chm'ch has what the Iron Duke called her" mat'ching orders." But duty becomes delight, and responsibility is transfigured into privilege, when it is clearly seen that to move with the missionary band is to take up march with God. The apathy and lethargy prevailing among believers upon the subject of missions is to me unaccountable in view of the multitude and magnificence of the facts which demonstrate that in the movements of modern missions, more <han in any other of the ages, there has been a demonstration and a revelation of God.
We are observing the centenary of modern missions. But the most amazing results of this century have been wrought during its last third, or ihe lifetime of the generation now living. This World's Conference is simply the church coming together at the Antioch of the Occident to hear those whom the Holy Ghost has chosen and the church has separated unto this work, rehearse all that God has done with them, and how He has opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles. Who dares to say, in the light of modern missions, that the days of supernatural working are passed? So far, as in primitive days, the disciples have gone forth and preached everywhere, it has still been true that the Lord has wrought with and confirmed the Word with signs following-signs unmistakable and unmistakably supernatm-aJ. Doors have been opened, within fifty years, that no human power could have unbarred. The mighty moving of God can be traced back through the centuries, long since g'iving Protestant England a foothold in the very critical; pivotal center of Oriental empires and religions. The necessity of protecting her Indian possessions, of keeping open the line of communications between London and Calcutta, determined the attitude of every nation along the water highway. Then from beyond the Pacific another mighty, puissant people, the offspring of Protestant Britain, moved forward thirty years ago to turn the extreme eastern wing of the enemy while Britain was piercing and holding the center. Commodore Perry knocked at the sea gates of Japan, and in the name of a Christian Republic demanded entrance. Rusty bolts that had not been drawn for more than two centuries were flung back and the two-leaved doors of brass were opened to the commerce of the world. Rapid has been the progress of the march of God. Japan unsealed her gates in 1854. From that time not a year has passed without some mighty onward movement or stupendous development. In 1856 the g-reat breach was made in the Chinese wall, and by the treaty of Tientsin one-third of the human race were made accessible to Christian nations, and, as Dr. Gracey says, that wide door was opened, not by the vermilion pencils of the Emperor, but by the decree of the Eternal. The same year, 1856, also saw signed and sealed the Hatti Sherif in Turkey, by which the Sultan, at least in form, announced the era of toleration. The next year the mutiny in India changed the whole attitude of the East India Company towards missions, and prepared the way for the surrender of its charter to the Crown of England.
Let us leap the chasm of twenty years and nole the progress of eventR on the Dark Continent. In 1871 Stanley pierced the jungle to find the heroic Livingstone. In 1873 Livingstone died near Lake Bangweolo; in 1874 Stanley undertook to explore equatorial Africa; in 1877, after a thousand days, he emerged at the mouth of the Congo. At once England took up the work of following the steps of the explorer with the march of the missionary, and now, ten years later, the missions of the great lakes in the east, and those of the Congo basin at the west, are stretching hands to link east and west together. Give us ten years more and Krapf's prophecy will be fulfilled: "A chain of missions will cross the continent." In 1884, fifteen nations, called together by King Leopold and presided over by Bismarck, met in Berlin to lay the basis of the Congo Free State; and in that council not only Protestant, but Greek, Papal, and Moslem powers joined I Such are some of the great providential signs of a supernatural presence and power. What shall be said of the gracious transformations that have displaced cannibal ovens by a thousand Christian churches in Polynesia; that reared Metlakahtla in British Columbia; that made Madagascar the crown of the London Missionary Society; that turned SielTa Leone into a Christian state; that wrought mightily with Hans Egede in Greenland, Morrison and Burns in China, Perkins and Grant in Persia, Carey and Wilson and Duff in India, McAll in Paris, ,and a host of other missionaries!
If disciples are indifferent to missions it is because they are ignorant 'of missions. A fh'e needs first of all to be kindled, then to be fed, then to have vent. The only power that can kindle the flame of missionary zeal is the Holy Spirit. The coal must be a live coal from God's altar. But, having that coal and a breath from above, all that is needed is fuel to feed the flame, and that fuel is supplied by a knowledge of facts. Too much care cannot be taken to supply these facts in an attractive, available form, at the lowest cost. The women's boards and societies have done no greater service than in providing and distributing a cheap literature of missions. The printed facts that are to do this work of education must be put in the briefest and most pointed form. This is an age of steam and telegraph. While Methusaleh turned round, we have gone around the globe. Men need now what they can catch at a glance. Ponderous volumes may do for ponderous men, who have leisure for prolonged study and research, but the bulk of people must get their knowledge of facts in a condensed form. Our bulletins must be bullet-ins. Some of us must skim the great pan and serve up the cream in a little pitcher, rich and sweet; we must boil down the great roots and give others the sweet liquorice in the stick, so that a bite will give a taste and make the mouth water for more. Students of missions will read with avidity the Ely Volume, and" the Middle Kingdom,"and kindred books that are the authorities on missions; but students of missions are not made by this process. We must feed first with milk, and not with strong meat-and by the spoonful, until both capacity and appetite are formed.
The value of simultaneous meetings, missional:y conventions, and other special services consists perhaps mainly in the wide, rapid, and attractive and effective dissemination of intelligence. Truths and facts are brought before the mind with all the help of the enthusiasm of a public assembly. The eye helps the ear in producing and fastening impression. The hearer comforts the living men or women who have come from the field, perhaps with the very idols of the heathen in their hands, or the relics of their superstitious practices; sometimes the native convert, or preacher, himself pleads for his benighted fellow countrymen. And so the most apathetic soul, III whom grace has kindled the fire of love, finds the fire burning, spreading, consuming selfishness, and demanding a proper vent in Christian effort! This is the way that missionaries are made.
In 1885 there assembled at Mr. Moody's boys' school at Mount Hermon, in Massachusetts, about 300 student." from the various colleges for a few weeks of study of the Word of God. A few who had in view the foreign field greatly desired a missionary meeting, and all the students were invited. There was not even a missionary map to assist in impressing the facts; the speaker drew on the blackboard a rude outline of the continents, and then proceeded to trace the great facts of missions, and so deep was the interest awakened, that meeting after meeting followed; from about a score, the number who chose the mission field rose to a hundred; then certain chosen men resolved to go and visit the colleges and carry the sacred fire; they went, met their fellow-students, and brought out the leading facts of missions; and to-day, in America and England, a band of probably no less than 3,000 young men and women stand ready to go to the foreign field if the door shall open before them. If disciples do not wish to flame with missionary zeal, ~hey must avoid contact and converse with the facts and the heroic souls who are the living factors of missions. It is dangerous business to trifle with the combustible material, unless you are quite sure there is not even", spark of life or love in your soul!
Among the means of education we mention last what in the order of time and of importance belongs first: the influence of Christian women in the home life. If God has shut out the ordinary woman from much participation in public life, and shut her in the home, iii is because her sphere makes up in quality what it lacks in quantity. Here are life's arcana, veiled from the common eye; the home is the matrix of character. The faith of the grand- mother Lois and mother Eunice still descends to Timothy. Anthusa and Monica still give the church her golden-mouthed Johns and her giant Augustines. To one woman may be traced the rise of the seven kingdoms of the Saxon Heptarchy. At evet'y stream there isa point where a human hand might turn its current, and at that point in human lives the wife and mother presides. The heathen rhetorician Libanius exclaimed: "What women these Christians have!" And, if the secret things were brought to light, it might be found that many, beside Morrison and Burns and Lindley and Pat- teson, have owed their saintly character and missionary career to the sanct- ity of a mothet'. Even before birth, maternal character leaves its impress upon the unborn, and at the mother's breast and knee the earliest lessons are learned in piety and prayer and personal consecration.
The nursery may be the garden where the precious germs are first nourished from which develop pillars of cedar and olive for the temple of God. The Earl of Shaftesbury learned of humble Maria Millis the first lessons in living,which made his influence capable of being measured only by parallels of latitude and meridians oflongitude, and its results only-to be computed by the :eons of eternity! My sisters in Cht'ist, do not hesitate to break on your Master's feet your alabaster flask; though it may seem but as waste to some, the house shall be filled with the odor of your consecration, and you shaH at least create in the home a mighty mould of chat'acter from which shall go forth men and women whose words and deeds shall shake the world: Here, in the home, if prevailing selfishness and extravagant self-indulgence are to be correctea, must be taught first lessons in giving, the divine doctrine of stewardship, and the responsibilities both of wealth and poverty. Munificent legacies cannot atone for parsimonious gifts. It is not God or His poor who need our gifts, so much as we ourselves need to give. Giving is the sovereign secret of serving, but also of getting and growing. To deny self and help others is God's antidote to that monstl'ouS sin of selfishness w,hich is the root of all others; and soit is more blessed to give than to receive. And if there ever was an altar that sanctified, magnified, glorified the gift, it is the altar of missions. Let the ethics, the economics, the :esthetics of giving be taught at the mother's knee, and we shall have a new generation of givers.
Too much emphasis cannot be laid on placing at the center of the family a consecrated woman. She is like Goethe's mythical lamp, which, set in the humblest hut of the fisherman, changed all within it to silver. She pours on the root of the cocoanut-tree the water, which comes back, by and by, sweetened and enriched, in the milk of the cocoanut which falls from the top. A selfish, sordid woman, presiding in the home, perverts child-life; in such a household there is a malign influence, which, like the mirrors in the temples of Smyrna, represents the fairest images distorted and deformed, and makes even piety seem repellant. The more I see of woman's influence on the whole structure of society the more I feel the stress of the apostolic injunction that the believer should marry only in the Lord.
The responsibilities of wealth are to be discussed by another in a separate paper.' BlIt I must add, to complete my own thought, that, among other necessary reforms in our church life, we must cease to depend upon the donations of the rich. It is alike harmful to them and to the church. God never meant that with such wealth of divine promises we should appeal to the rich, and especially the worldly wealthy, for money for the kingdom. Such appeals discount our faith, dishonor our Lord, and humiliate the church, while they inflate the rich with self-righteous conceit and complacence as patrons of the cause of God. Let there be a Bible type of systematic and proportionate giving by every disciple, and the treasuries of the church would overflow with voluntary gifts of disciples.
Above all other spiritual agencies affecting missions from the home side, we place earnest and habitual prayer. This is a supernatural gospel and demands a supernatural power, for conversion is a supernatural work. Not even a knowledge of facts can make a missionary or inspire a missionary spirit. The coal must be there, and the breath of God, before even the best fuel will take fire. A thermometer may be held in the direct line of the sun's rays and show but little rise in temperature, because the radiant heat is reflected from the bright, glassy bulb, like light from a mirror. Heat rays from the sun may pass through a lens of ice, and concentrated to a sufficient deeree to ignite, at the focus, combustible material, and yet those rays may not melt the ice of which the lens is formed. It is only when knowledge is sanctified by prayer that it becomes a power.
For one, I regard the increased-or rather the revived-observance of the monthly concert as a necessity to true home work for missions. It is now comparatively a thing of the past. Once it was a regular observance of the first Monday of each month; then merged into the first Sunday evening; then the first mid-week service; and in many cases, divided between home and foreign missions, it lost its original special character, and has now only a name to live, and is practically dead. I know a church member who thought the monthly concert meant a musical entertainment. To allow so valuable a help to the culture of intelligent interest in missions to he dropped from our church economy and become an arclu.eological curiosity is a fundamental mistake. It may be made both interesting and stimulating. I have found the most successful way of conducting it to be to divide the world-field among the church membership, so that every man and woman, willing to help, may have a special field from which to report from time to time, changing the fields once a. year, in order to broaden both intelligence and interest, Then have maps, and, best of all, maps made by the church members themselves. A man or woman who draws a map of any mission field will never lose the image of that field from the mind's eye. I have had a full set of fine maps made for me without a penny's cost, by members of my own congregation.
The lack of earnest, believing, united prayer for missions is both lamentable and fatal to success. Prayer has always marked and turned the crises of the kingdom. No sooner do devout souls begin to unite in definite supplication than stupendous results begin to develop. Fifty years ago the burden of prayer was for the opening of doors, and one after another the iron gates opened as of their own accord. Then the plea went up for larger gifts of money; and at a critical period, when the whole onward march of missions was threatened, God gave a spirit of liberality; in 1878, that annusmirabilis, some twenty persons gave about four millions of dollars. Woman came to the front, and showed how, by gathering the mites systematically, the aggregate of gifts may grow steadily year by year, and rapidly. Then devout dis-
1888.J THE HEROIC MISSIONARY SOCIETY
ciples were led to pray for more laborers, and especially for the consecration of our foremost youth; and now from the universities of Britain and America a host of three thousand young men and women are knocking at the doors of the church, saying, "Here we are; send us;" and even the church that has been praying for this very result can scarce believe that they stand before the gate.
Brethren, we shall have learned little at this Conference if we shall nothave learned new lessons of the power of prayer. Themistocles delayed the naval engagement at Salamis until the land-breeze blew which swept his vessels toward the foe, and left every oarsman free to use the bow and the spear. How much wasted time and strength might be saved if the church of God but waited for the breath of the Holy Spirit to provide the impulse and momentum which we vainly seek to supply by our own energy and endeavor! When He breathes and blows upon us, how tbey who have toiled in rowing are left free to wield the weapons of the Lord's warfare, to exchange secular anxieties for spiritual successes!
Zoroaster bade his followers let the fires go out periodically upon their hearthstones, that they might be compelled to rekindle them at the sacred altars of the sun. What mean the smouldering en;bers on our hearths and altars, but that we have forgotten whence come the live coals, and the breath which alone can fan them into an undying flame!
THE HEROIC MISSIONARY SOCIETY.
BY ROBERT N. CUST, J.L.D., LONDON.
(Ooncluded from page 603, August number.) I NOW pass to the Heroic Missionary Society. I take as my type "the Moravian, 01' the Church of the United Brethren;" for the church and society are identical. It was the offspring of a bitter persecution by the Roman Catholics in Moravia: a small remnant fled across the boundary of hated Austria into Lusatia, and settled on the estate of Count Zinzendorf, and founded their city of Herrnhut. I have lately visited it, sat in the councilroom, conferred with the leaders of the community, visited their widows and worn-out missionaries in their humble homes, and knelt in their great Freidhof: they were first in the Protestant mission field, they are one ot the few associations that have obtained a footing in everyone of the five portions of the world: and they deliberately chose the most debased and degraded tribes as the object of their love, because such as they seemed to need the gospel most; their agents in truth wore the garb of poverty, and were poor in spirit also; in the countries, where they worked among slaves, they became slaves also, even as our Lord took upon himself the form of a slave, "p.6p</>1JV dOVAOV Aaf3wv." With the poor Hottentot they were not ashamed to suffer hardship and persecution, and to maintain that these poor outcasts had souls for which Christ had died: with the Eskimo they lived as brethren, and won them to themselves, content with the poorest and most unsavory fare, laboring with their own hands, trying not to be a burden to their church, which was so poor that it has still to be sustained by the alms of universal Christendom, for they were doing work which no other society could do; they literally went about as the disciples of Jesus, without scrip 01' change of garment, and their examples of self-denial carried the hearts of their people by storm: in these last days they have opened an asylum for lepers at Jerusalem. Their doctrmes were as simple as their practice, "Nothing but Christ crucified"; they had a courage which no danger could daunt, and a love which no harsh treatment could efface; who ever heard of a Moravian appealing to public meetings, or a public press, to organize armed relieC-e:fpeditions, or avenge their slaughtered brethren? They took death and the spoiling of their goods joyfully; they had a quiet constancy which no hardship could exhaust; there were, and are, no Exeter Halls to trumpet their praise; in their church there are no rich men to sub- scribe annual thousands, and yet they have left a mark on the world which no time can efface. Their types were, ,singleness of pm'pose, simplicity of bearing, self-consecration, and contentment with a little. If I wished to praise a missionary, I should say that he is worthy of being a Moravian. Many societies have done well, but this has excelled them all, for it has most nearly approached to the ideal church, formed after the pattern of the Founder-first and foremost in the great battle-field, yet seeking the last and lowest among the ranks of men. "I was a stranger, and ye took me in; I was sick, and ye visited me; I was in prison, and ye came unto me." The blessings of those ready to perish have accompanied, and still accompany, the gentle footfall of the Moravian brethren, as they tread the soil of distant and inhospitable climes, unknown, unpraised, but not unrewarded, The mode of conducting missions must be heroic also. We have but one _.life to keep or lose: how can we spend it in the best way? If souls are to be won to Christ, it must be by men or women whose souls are overflowing with lo'e to Christ. We ask not for ascetics, nor adopters of the native dress, nor the turner of the formal prayer-wheel, nor the daily celebrant, but such an expression of character on the countenance, such a mode of utterance, such a voice, thoughts that move, words that burn, as display earnestness and that the soul of the missionary is on fire. All human talents are only so far profitably employed, as they are used to save souls; all human knowledge is of no avail, unless it conduces directly or indirectly to the extension of our Master's king- dam: the simple gospel outweighs it all, so simple that all can understand, so profound that no one can get beyond, ,The great he- roes of whom I have spoken, and the great missionary band of Moravian heroes, differed from each other essentially, but they had formed the same conception of Christ, and of their duty; they looked over the human fences of churches, and saw the awful vision of the face of Christ only; they had a burning desire to carry His message face to face, mouth to mouth, in i{s naked simplicity; they thought nothing of chapels, and altar-cloths, stoles, m.usic, painted glass and decoration; they took the living Word to dying souls, teaching the poor heathen to live decent, holy lives in this transitory world, and through faith to inherit eternal life hereafter. There was no necessity for hair shirts or flagellations, for long ceremonies or retreats; theirs was the daily round of holy duty, whether steering the mission-ship, building the mission-school, or preaching the mission-sermon, until the very hour that they are called away, which is the best proof that their allotted task was done. I would have you realize the dignity, the greatness of the office: it is not a romantic or sentimental employment, such as discoursing witb Brahmins under a tree, or gathering sweet little children in a school; there is much that is distasteful, and humbling, and sometimes a feeling of despair.
The hero must not be cast down, must not be diverted from his purpose, must not change his ground. We can admire the perseverance of a bad man in a bad cause, how much more 01 a good man in a good cause I The famous Las Oasas had a fixed purpose to protect the poor natives of America, and he IS reported to have done,something every day of his life to advance the one great idea which dominated his existence. Hudson Taylor has put it well, "GO· in glad obedience; in fullest confidence, without anxiety, to do a definite work." Such is the high type, s,uch the practice of those hero-missionaries, * * * whom I have noticed. (See our !August number.) Let me look at the subject from another point of view. How much do we read, in missionary letters and reports, of theirfamilies, birth of children,death of children, illness of wife, and domestic cares, while the reader is anxious to know how the gospel warfare goes on, what progress has been made. Only imagine the public dispatch of a general or governor in which such details were even alluded to! In private letters to friends such things might be noticed, but not in the documents placed before the dommittee. Nothing strikes a committeeman more than the preponderate proportion of the corre- spondence which is occupied with notices of the wives and children of mis- sionaries, as if the committee were a board of guardians of the poor. How often a missionary comes home in full health and vigor, leaving for a time, or forever, a field of work for which he is suited, and in which, after some years of pupilage, he has learned to be useful, because his wife is ill ! Would the general commanding an expedition, or the governor of a province, have done so? How often the Indian official, or soldier, has to ship off a sick wife and cannot accompany her! We have not far to look to find out what St.
Paul would have said, and what our Lord did say (Mark x : 29). Even in the life of John Williams we find mention of the illness of his wife brought much too prominently forward: he was !1lways anticipating the necessity of an early return to England for her sake: but he clung on for eighteen years, and she arrived home in excellent health, and outlived him some years. It is against this exaggeration of human affections that the servant of Christ should struggle valiantly and prayerfully.' * * * * There are giants amidst the body of missionaries, for whom nothing is too good, for they would in secular professions have risen to distinction and wealth, but to a very large proportion this would not have happened. The praise of the good, self-denying, consecrated missionary is in the heart of all who care for such things, and many, unknown to him personally, talk lovingly of him when he is absent, and sadly when he is dead; but the great missionary is thinking always of his own infirmity, of how much he has left undone, and how much he could have done better, and rejoicing that it is given to him to spend and be spent. There is in modern times a far wider spread of missionary spirit than in past years, but it is not so deep; it has become a fashion, not a revelation, in a man's mind.
We find no idle calls on the part of the heroic missionary society, or the survivors and relatives of hero-missionaries, for vengeance on the murderers of the slain; this is one of the features of the gradual degeneracy of the age and the overweening self-assertion of a certain section of the British middle classes. It is well to have a giant's strength, but it is not well to use it as a bully. Nothing would have been easier than to have swept the islands of Erromanga and Nikapu from sea to sea clean of all their inhabitants to re- venge the deaths of Williams and Pattison; but the missionary societies pro- tested against the very idea of retaliation, nor would tl:J.e British responsible authorities have tolerated it. The relations of the deceased did not gather excited meetings in British towns, and pass resolutions, as in later cases, to petition the Government to send expeditions of rescue or intimidation. Such weakness of faith, such want of sound judgment, such incomprehensibleruis- 1 We do not indorse all the strictures and criticisms of the writer in this paper, and think he is at times unduly severe and sweeping. Still, what he writes on mi.sionary subjects-and few write more-deserves careful reading and candid consideration. Missions and missiOnaries have not IL warmer friend thllIl he.-EDs. understanding of the duty of a Christian man, were reserved to a later age. On the platform the missionary proudly, yet humbly, professes that he C.al'- ries his life in his hand, ready to live, God willing, and ready to die: if this were not the case, how low the British missionary would rank after the Swede, the Norwegian, and the Swiss, who have no ships to send, and whose countrymen still are ready to give up their lives, and fill up all that remains of the sufferings of Christ. If a misdionary has not stomach for such warfare, he had better retire into the safe refuge of a London curacy, or a Lancashire manufactory, where he will find heathen to minister to, without risk to his life, or causing alarm to his over-anxious relations.
The hel'o-missionary remembers that his service is a life-sel'vice, not the pastime of youth, or the employment of manhood, until a good living and a pleasant home is provided for him in his native country. Nothing is so disheartening as to !;lee so many instances of this forgetfulness of their first love, and of the words of our Lord (Luke ix : 62), "No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God." 'l'here should be no discharge in this warfare save death or certified ill-health of the missionary himself, not of his wife and his children. It is a matter of congratu- – lation that we have aged bishops content to occupy their posts until death, that we have missionaries who have not preferred tbe ties of blood or the claims of family to the work which has been the desire of their youth, the joy of their manhood, and the solace of their old age. The hero-missionary is tender in heart, gentle in words, slow to anger, and easy pacified. He is not insensible of the heinousness of sin, but his heart melts in pity towards the sinner. He does not strike with his hl),ud or stick the bodies of the poor natives whose souls he has come out to try to save; he does not usurp an authority over them because his face is white and he is one of a strong nation, as he remembers that he is their minister, the servant of servants, as was his Master, who washed the feet of His disciples; he doe~ not tie them up to trees to be flogged, and kept in durance for whole nights, but he .attaches them to himself by the silken cords of love.
He may be the son of a noble in his own country, and he is not puffed up, or he may be the son of a country shopkeeper, and he is not abashed, nor does he strive in his new profession to be coventionally treated as a gentleman, for in his humility he takes in either case the standpoint of being a Christian, occupying the same position that was occupied by Paul the great scholar and Roman citizen, and by Peter the humble fisherman : he seeks not high places, nor great companies, nor first-class accommodation in steamers or railways; he is economic of the funds of the good society which is his nursing mother; he is not always calling out for grants for his wife or his children; he does not dwell in a fine, comfortable house, for he minds not high things, and is content with men of low estate; his door is ever open to the people, whom he came to win to Christ; his attire is simple, and he seeks not the company of this world, though indirectly the type of the holy, upright man, which he presents to their eyes, has a reflex blessing on their souls; though silent, his life is a sermon to them. He acts up to the ideal of the Christian soldier which he had conceived in his youth when the message came to him, when the Holy Spirit overshadowed him; to be brave and strong, yet loving and tender; full of holy ardor yet self-controlled and free from spurious excitement; firm in convictions, yet tolerant; firm of purpose, yet merciful and considerate; meek and lowly, yet proud of his calling; fearing God, and fearing no one else.
~y friends, you must lJe thorou~hly equipfled for th«;l cQmbilot with something more than the surface teaching of the ordinary theological college. One of my fellow-students, forty years ago, at the East IndIa Cl>Uege, was a Jew, a believing Jew and a clever Jew, and he took the highest marks in PalPy's Evidences. I asked him whether he were not entirely convinced, and he re- plieu that it had not the least effect upon him. Such must often be the teach, ing of the oruinary missionary to a Hindu, a Buddhist, a Mahometan, and, to a certain degree, to the Pagan. It is always easy to speak with contempt of the Indian Fakir, smeared with ashes, and sneer at the pJ'ayer-wheel of the Buddhist (something very like which in kind is found ill many a Christian church) and point out the blots in the Mahometan scheme of salvation; it seems casy to show up the utter abomination of pagan human sacrfiices; but the missionary will find that behind these exoteric symbols there is a rad- ical misconception of the problem of human nature in the minds of the pro- fessors of a false religion, and behind the poor ignorant devotee he will flnd men with minds much more l;ubtle than his own, gifted with a power of argu- ment far .exceeding his own, appealing to authorities, of which the ITltssion- ary is ignorant. The idol is something more to the believer than a bit of wood and stone; the believers are not men of the nineteenth century, and with the impress of European training. To miracles and prophecies quoted by the missionary the teachers and believers of the false faith will quote prophecies and miracles of their own; to the words of the Bible and the claim of inspil'ation they will oppose the words of their own sacred books, and claim equal supernatural authority; the sequence of historical events and the facts of geography are unknown to them; it becomes at last a struggle for life upon the first principles of human existence, and the contest must take place upon an arena, of which the poor theological student of England never dreamt, behind the altar, out of sight of the church, in scorn of the Bible or any Christian authority, and nothing but the outpoUl'ing of the ,Holy Spirit can bring the unbeliever to see, and know, and bow to the truth.
The Hindu in his prolific literature works out his great metaphysical ques- tion, "What am I? whence came I? whither dol go?" , lIov yev6f1a1; 1f60ev ripl; rivo, XaplV i;')JJov, a1fij')JJov; and it ends in nothingness; his successor the Buddhist makes this nothing- ness the object, aim, and end of existence; the Mahometan boldly pillages the Old and New Testaments to fashion a system which can never respond to the yearnings of the human heart or satisfy its aspirations; the pOOl'
pagan in his blindness is so far ahead of the modern educated atheist, that he feels and admits the presence of the Deity and His omnipotence, and tries to appease Him by sacrifices; he is ready, however, to listen to some- thing better, and welcomes the teacher, who .comes with a semblance of greater knowledge of the great Unknown. We read how, when the first missionary arrived from Rome in Northumbria, and a council was summoned to discuss how be should be received, a wise old baron remarked, that the life of man seemed to them in their heathen ignorance, like the flight of a bird outo[ the dark winter outside into the warm and lighted chamber, and then out at a window into another world of dark winter at the opposite side; the passage of a moment from a long unknown past into a long and unknown future; the contemplation of this was crushing; and, if the stranger from Rome could tell them something a little more certain, he should be wel- comed. Such is the spirit, with which a teacher is welcomed in many a pagan community. But is the ordinary missionary equal to this occasion?
Bred up in an atmosphere permeated by Darwinism and atheism, in a church whel'!~ more value is plac~d on the human surroundings, the ritual and th~ externals than the eternal truth, can it be hoped that he will mount up to the level of the religion of religions, the object and aim of human existence, and with the Bible in his hand aRd in his heart, and nothing else, grapple with the Hindu, Buddhist, Mahometan, or Pagan on the common ground of right and wrong, truth and -falsehood, judgment and mercy, sin and repentance, pardon and peace, opening out new worlds of thought to his astonished hearers? The hero-missionary can do this. He exhibits his principles, and his doctrines in his Christ-like life and words, and challenges his hearers to show him a better way than the way of self-sacrifice, self-control, and selfconsecration, to procure a higher conception than that of the fatherhood of God, of faith in a Redeemer, of the presence and power of the Holy Spirit leading poor weak men to personal holiness.
There are plenty of men who will volunteer to go out and dwell a season amidst the polished Persian, the civilized Arabized races, the Indian, who, with all his faults, is gentle and reasonable, the intelligent Chinese, and the progressive Japanese. They represent nations on the highest roupds of the ladder of civilization, our superiors in many arts and graces, with their monuments of literature, and architecture, and their time-honored customs: they have centuries ago got beyond the epoch of human sacrifices or cannibalism; they have had in their midst great sages who felt after God, if haply they could find Him, men standing on the same platform as Socrates, and Aristotle, and Pythagoras. There is very little discomfort in such service, and no danger; mere worldlings dwell among such races for the purpose of commerce and the service of the state. We do not wish to undervalue such services, for such were the missionary operations of St. Paul among the Greeks and Romans. The process of sapping and mining has long been going on. Education has brought with it a contempt for idolatory, but civilization has brought with it a contempt for all religions, and a disbelief in the supernatural, a doubt as to the reality of a future state.
But this is not the higher order of service; it does not mean the same self-sacrifice; it does not approach so near the services rendered to man by our Saviour; our Lord abased himself when He took the form of a slave and became man for our redemption. He thought it not vile to dwell in the tents of men, and associate with the poor, erring children of men. Patteson and John Williams, and the whole army of Moravian missionaries, learnt to look over the-wall of partition that separates race from race, and to call no one common and unclean; there have been missionaries who have had the fortune given to them to go in and dwell among lepers, and have succumbed to the disease themselves; there are those who have found a grace vouchsafed to them to dwell among the POOl', dirty savage outcasts of the human family, to submit to insult, hardship and perils; to die in spirit every day, and at length breathe out their last breath in some round straw hut, looking to Jesus, yet still thinking of friends and home.
U Dulces moriens reminiscitur Argos."
But there was no murmuring, for they knew how to be humbled but not ashamed, to be cast down but not disheartened, bearing about them the marks of the spear in their sides, and the print of the nails on their hands and feet. The service of such was great and noble; the heart of the worlding beats high when he hears of such achievements. Surely there must be joy in heaven w/len one of the miserable savages, to the outward eye nearer the beast than the man, is brought into the fold, and his body becomes the temple of the Holy Ghost, for Chris~ in very deed died for him also. The seU-sacrificing missionary teaches the men to lJe br(l.ve, yet not cruel, and the women to be sweet and affectionate, yet not unchaste; out of the stores of his acquired experience he teaches them humble arts, and the very rudiments of knowledge, the very fundamental of human graces, to be decent in act and word, to respect human life, to recognize property, to be sober and chaste, to love God as a father and cease to fear Him like a slave, to bow in gratitude to the free offer of pardon. And yet all this is possible: it has been done, it may be done again; it must be done by some of you who stand here and hear me this day: "EV 'TOV'Tr,J VlK(L."
It will be nothing wonderful, if in due time we convert the people of India, China, and the extreme Orient. They are not wiser and stronger than were the Greeks and Romans in the day of their greatness, and we know that the cross proved sufficient for their conversion. And experience has shown that the same cross is sufficient for races whom Cmsar never knew, of whose existence the Greek philosophers, and even St. Paul, had not the faintest idea. We thus begin to realize the full meaning of the prophecies of Isaiah, "The isles!lhaU wait for his law," and the words of our Lord, "They shall gather his elect from the uttermost parts of the earth," and again, in the Revelation, "Behold a great number, whom no man can number, out of every nation, and all tribes, and peoples and tongues."
There are three classes, in one or other of which you must, as Christian men, range yourselves : I. Whatever secular station you occupy, whether at home or abroad, you -must place the duty of assisting the evangelizing of mankind in the very first rank of duties, for nothing can approach it in impdrtance; if your lot takes you to non-Christian countries, you will find plenty of opportunities to serve the cause, and bitterly you will regret in your old age, if you neglect your opportunities.
II. If you have a call to go forth as a missionary to the civilized non-Chris- tian nations, if you find yourself in possession of special gifts, consecrate them; do not take a worldly view of the subject, and mix up a mission to a dying world with visions of early matrimony, social advantage, and a pleas- ant career. Mere worldlings act thus. Many a soldier, many a student of nature, ml:ny a ruler of men has risen far above such a low level of human aspirations. The athlete and the mechanic give you a lesson. Show to the heathen that you come among them unjerstanding the law of self-sacrifice, and that you come not, as the haughty Briton, one who lords it over, and sometimes strikes or ill-uses the lower races, but as then' brother and their servant for Christ's sake.
III. But Jet me show a more excellent way to those who are strong in body, strong in spirit, and also have worked out the sublime idea of self-sacrifice and self-consecration. The call will come to some of you, as it has come to others, in your dreams by night, in your visions by day, as you walk alone, or are in prayer, or in the midnight watches. It will gradually overpower you and make you captive, and at length you will call out with a loud voice, "Send me, Lord, for I am ready." For still many a sunny island of the South Seas, many a retired valley of the great central plateau of Asia, many a dark, forest-clad savannah of ,the great valley ot the Congo, many a wild tribe of South America, and, alas! our own fellow-subjects, the neglected, ill-treated Australian aborigines, and the poor Bushmen of the Cape Colony, are waiting, waiting for the moving of the waters of the fountain of life, and for some one to help them down; lifting up their eyes for the sight of the blessed feet of those who bring the gospel message; calling for their man, the Allen Gardiner, and Patteson, and Williams of this generation; they are standing in your midst, though not as yet revealed to the eyes of men. In the long course of centuries no prophet or evangelist has ever come near these poor heathen; they have laid out of the course of the revolution of the gospel; they are waiting for one who, in his life as well as his words, will illustrate to them the life and passion of our Lord and their Lord; they ask not for the refinement, nor the fantasies of modern religious thought and practice, but with dumb voices they ask the men of the nineteenth century and civilized Europe to teach them to clothe their nakedness, to dwell in decent dwellings, to cluster in villages, to live with one consort, and to respect human life, to do all things in a Christian way, and to realize the presence of the risen Saviour. In the last desperate struggling of heathendom it may be .:that the man of God, who thus appears like an angel among them, will be killed and devoured; but his death will prove the dawn of the new life; over the martyr-tomb will spring up the new chapel, and the younger generation, who witnessed the slaughter and partook of the ter~ible feast, will, by the grace of God, be converted and made new men, and, like St. Paul, become evangelists. When their day of grace comes, and they understand the matter, like the Jews at Jerusalem a few days after the crucifixion, they will be pricked to the heart. History is always repeating itself; but on this generation, the men of your age and country, rests the duty of completing the work, till the gospel cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. At the present moment there are regions still unevangelized, sufferings for Christ's sake not yet suffered, and crowns of martyrs and confessors not yet won.
Finally, my dear friends, suffer me to say to you one word more, and this word applies not only to the missionary, whose vocation is the highest of earthly vocations, but to each one of us, however humble and prosaic our special vocation may be. What were we created for? Why are we kept alive, except to do some special work which is marked out for us by the inexorable teaching of circumstances, circumstances wqich are controlled by the omniscience of God I How can we succeed in any work if our attempts are not sanctified by prayer! "Labora et Ora," for true prayer is somethmg done in the service of the Master, followed by praise for being selected to do it; not the empty litany or the conventional prayer-meeting. Say what we like, we are all day-laborers, and he serves his God best who does his day's work in the best manner and in the best spirit. None miss so entirely the mainspring of human action as those who strive to dissociate religion from the simple round, the common task of the most prosaic, the mostunroniantic, the most depressing lot in life.
It is not success that sanctifies the work, fot many of the best of us in our noblest undertakings do not succeed. We are thwarted by some narrowminded obstructers standing on the next round of the ladder above us; we are baflled at every turn, and at length laid aside by poverty, sickness or death. It is not striving that wins; the race is n()t to the swift, nor the battle to the strong. We must not look for the selfish satisfaction of thinking that we have done something; we must not hope for the applause of bystanders, for the foolish multitude generally praise the wrong person, or praise the right person for the wrong thing. We must find our reward in the work itself; something each day accomplished; something done; some kindly word spoken; some cup of water offered to the suffering; some noble thought cherished, some achievement, which the world ought not willingly to let die, shadowed forth, thought out, conceived, If not actually brought forth. Good work, earnest work, prayerful work, can never be without a
A TRINITY OF MONSTROUS EVILS DENOUNCED. 6'75
blessing to the worker, which will follow him after life's endless toil and endeavor to his rest, and what greater work than the saving of a soul I I once stood at the mouth of the great Panjab Salt Mine on the river Jhilam, and watched the long procession of women, children and men, of young and old, slowly advancing towards me, toiling up the steep incline, each with his head bent and back curved under the burden of rock-salt, which they brought from !he bowels to the surface of the earth. This was their hard and palpable day's labor. To the strength of each the burden was adjusted ; the young daily grew into capacity to bear heavier, the old daily felt their strength less equal to their diminishing load, but all rested night after night wearied with their daily round, and all each morning rose to the consciousness of a day's sweating and straining, and a risk of accidents and disease, and the dark river to be crossed at last. Tears started in my eyes as I thought of the sad procession of my contemporaries, whom dut'ing my own life I had seen toiling and striving, lifting their heavy burdens, or sinking by the way under them. I thought of the strong and enthusiastic, too eager for the strife, who fell years ago; the patient and uncomplaining, who toiled on till within the last few years; the yearly diminishing group of fellow-laborers, with yearly diminishing force, and the dark unknown future before me.
But there is no prison so deep that its depths are not reached by some ray of God's interminablfl day, and, as I looked into the faces of the salt-bearers, I became aware that one ray of light reached to the lowest slope of their dungeon, and, as they advanced upwards, it ever became brighter and brighter, shining hopefully in their uplifted eyes, and gladdening their hearts with the thought of home, and rest, and of labor, sanctified for the sake of the little ones, the old ones, the sick ones, to whose cOljJlforts their earnings ministered. The hero-missionary places the heathen, to whom he goes as Christ's ambassador, in that corner of his heart where other men place their families. Nay, more; God's greatlessons are taught in His works and in His creatures. As each laborer reached the outer world, and flung ((own his burden, his eyes insensibly turned up with a look of thankfulness and acknowledgment to the kindly light which had led him, and then each unconsciously shrouded his eyes with his hands, as if unable to bear the full glow of unutterable gladness, which the grace of Gcd sends to testify to the sanctity and dignity of labor, however humble and contracted the sphere: "Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things. 'Enter thou into the joy of thy Lord."
A TRINITY OF MONSTROUS EVILS DENOUNqED.
[A popular meeting of an extraordinary character was held on Wednesday evening, the twelfth dl>y of the session for the express purpose of giving public and indignant expression to the intensified feeling of the Conference in relation to three stupendous evils which had been brought to its notice during the meeting. It was not down on the programme, but the Loudon papers speak of it as a "magnificent dembnstration," and the most .. enthusiastic as well as the largest meeting of the series. Several of the speakers were Americaus-Dr. William M. Taylor of New York, Dr. A. J. Gordon of Boston, Dr. G. E. Post of our Syrian Mission, and our associate, Dr. Pierson of Philadelphia. We have full reports of the meeting in various English papers, aud proceed to give our readers a bird's-eye view of the great meeting, that they may feel the pulse of the world's missionary representatives in regard to such giant social, commercial and national sins as those here unauimously denounced by the largest and grandest popular council ever held. We follow chiefly the report in The Christian of London.-J. M. S,1 THE final meeting of the great Missionary Conference will not soon be fo.rgotten by those who were present. It was the largest of the series, and by far the most enthusiastic. The subjects under consideration-the Opium Traffic, the Drink Traffic, and Licensing Sin-naturally lent themselves to the expression of strong feeling; both speakers and hearers fully took advantage of the opportunity. The opinion was expressed during the evening that in the matter of the opium trade the Christian conscience of Great Britain has of late gone to sleep. The proceedings of Wednesday evening ought to do something in waki:e.g it up and keeping it wide awake till the cause for such wakefulness has disappeared. The outstanding features of the evening were the powerfully explosive utterance of Dr. Taylor, of New York, the remarkable reception given Mr. Alfred Dyer, on his return from India, and the heartiness of feeling shown towards our two eloquent American brethren, Dr. Gordon and Dr. Pierson.
"The chair was taken by Sir Arthur Blackwood, who was supported on either side by an array of gentlemen well known for their active interest in questions of national morality. In the opening prayer, Dr. Parsons, of Toronto, struck an appropriate keynote by his reference to the foes that oppose the kingdom of Christ and prevent the salvation of men.
SIR ARTHUR BLACKWOOD'S ADDRESS.
" After some remarks on the wisdom of the decision to hold such a meeting in connection with the Conference, the Chairman said: 'Not as part of a cutand-dried plan prepared beforehand, not as an outburst of hasty enthusiasm, but as the deliberate, solemn conviction of men and women qualified to judge, you have decided to speak out and denounce certain deeds and practices, and to deplore their terrible results. I a!ll sure I am right in saying that we do this in sorrowful confession of the blameworthiness of the churches, as well as in solemn condemnation of these practices. Were it not for lack of faithful testimony, watchful attention, earnest prayerfulness, courageous utterance, these things could never have attained their present magnitude. Surely the standard of morals in so-called Christian nations and governments must be low ir..deed, when practices like those cannot only continue unchecked, but be defended; and that not merely ou the ground of expediency, but of actual necessity. Where have the churches of Christ been in their testimony against these things? We must confess om' own guilt. We are not met for discussion; that time has gone by. Denunciation is our object to night-unanimous, I hope, and vehement if need be. What cause can demand it more? It is to be the denunciation of deedsdone contrary to every pre- cept of the gospel, contrary to the whole spirit of the Christian dispensation, and even protested against by the very heathen themselves. We are indeed deeply thankful that no sooner has one of those practices in its clear and ter- rible character been fully exposed and recognized than the British House of Commons resolved unanimously (for the few defenders of the practice dared not record their votes against the resolution) that this system should be abolished root and branch.* That proves, thank God, that the moral sense oC this nation is still alive with regard to such matters. But doomed systems often live long, and your denunciation and your protest to-night are none the less needful because, so far as that judgment has been uttered, this thing is doomed in all its horrible enormity and atrocity.
We are not only here to denounce, but to deplore the results, direct and in- direct, of these deeds and practices. The direct results, alas! who can esti- *This reference is to the formal licensing of harlotry by the British Government for the gratifiea- tion of the army in India. A fierce fight has been going on against the awful and scandalous in- Iqnity for months past, led on by Mr. Alfred S. Dyer, who in return has been assailed with as mnch bitterness as the Pall Malt Gazette once received for uncovering similar, though unlicensed, in- iquities in Lonaon. The British Parliament was finally forced by the terrible revebtlons made and the protests nttered to repeal the act, just as the Conference came together.-EDs. mate? Eternity alone will disclose the ruin to the thousands and thousands of bodies and souls of those amongst whom these practices have been carried on by members of so-called Christian nations-carried on by those who ought to have been the protectors and the friends and the saviors of the heathen to whom they went. The indirect results have been no less fatal. What might not the progress of the gospel of Christ have been among the nations of the earth had that gospel been commended and enforced by the lives of those who profess to be Christians? What can more effectually have barred its advance and have stayed its progress? I must allude here, for one mo- ment, to a challenge thrown down to you by the world. It is not often need- ful nor wise to pay much heed to what the world says about Christian work. Yet at times it is necessary, and I wish to draw your attention to the utter- ances of The Time8, which, in a leading article dealing with your Conference, spoke the other day in these words :- .. , Criticism cannot express itself aR altogether contented with the amoont of groond which has been annexed. • . • Before the promoters of missionary work can expect to have greater resources confided to them they will have to render a satisfactory acconnt of their trnst in the past. Their pro- gress, it is to be hoped, is sure; indisputably it is slow. A Congress like the present would be better employed in tracing the reasons for the deficiency in quantity of success than in glorifying the modi- com which has been attained. • • • The cause marches at a pace which, unless it is registered by the enthusiasm of Exeter Hall, appears little more than funereal. • • • For eyes not endowed with the second sight of the platform, the principal citadels of heathendom continue to 1lannt their banners as before. If some people profess to believe that they hear too much of foreign missions, the explanation is that they see too little of their results.'
"I think that demand is a fait- one, and that we are right in answering the challange. The world asks, Why have you not accomplished more? It says: 'Traae the reasons for your want of success, instead of talking about what you have done.' We have come together for that purpose to-night. Whilst . in the spirit of self-judgment and true humility before God for our well- known shortcomings in enthusiasm, in zeal, in self-denial, in prayerfulness, in effort, we declare before the world that, foremost, perhaps, amongst the causes which have hindered the progress of the gospel of Christ in heathen lands, have been the three practices which we desire to hear denounced to- night. How could it have been otherwise, when wherever the missionary has pitched his tent the rum merchant has sent his barrels, so that we have gone to the heathen in certain lands with the Bible in one hand and the rum-keg in another. What can those people have thought of the character of the Chris- tianity which thus presented itself to them? How can we wonder that the gospel makes small progress? With our cannon balls and bayonets we have forced the introduction of opium into China, and, alas! taught the popula- tion to grow the drug itself in order to oust our Indian products, thereby inflicting upon them irretrievable injury. What can that people think of the Christianity that came to them in that guise? And, again, when upon the defenseless, uneducated female population of India, a Christian government has fastened the horrible diabolical system to which allusion must be made to-night, and enforced it with all the tremendous weight of its authority; when side by side with the chaplain and the church has been the Govern- ment brothel, how can we wonder that there, in India, they have laughed at our Christianity, and cast contempt upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ? If the world taunts the missionary enterprise with its little progress, and says, 'Find out the reasons for your lack of success,' we can indeed say, with all self-judgment as regards our own shortcomings, 'These practices, carried out by Christian nations, and authorized and enforced by so-called Christian governments, have much to bear of the blame for our want of success.' It is our business to-night to lift up our voices, and that with no bated breath; a.nd in no indistinct manner, to declare, in the name of the Lord, and on the ground of every obligation that we owe to Him who has redeemed-us by His blood, that, so far as lies in our power, so far as our protests and prayers can effect it, these deadly evils shall be stayed, and, by God's help, be impossible for the future."
THE CHINA OPIUM TRADE.
Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, founder of the China Inland Mission, moved the following resolution: .. That this Conference, representing most of the Protestant Missionary Societies of the Christian world, desires to put on record its sense of the incalculable evils, physical, moral, and social, which continue to be wrought in China through the opium trade-a trade which has strongly prejudiced the people of China against all missionary eftort; that it deeply deplores the position occupied by Great Britain through its Indian administration in the mauufacture of the product, and in the pr'Qmotion of the trade which is one huge ministry to vice; that it recoguizes clearly that uothing short of the entire suppression of the trade, so far as it is iu the power of the Government to suppress it, cau meet the claims of the case, and it now makes its earnest appeal to the Christians of Great Britain and Irelaud to plead earnestly with God, and to give themselves no rest until this great evil is entirelv removed; and further, that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Prime Minister and the Secretary of State for India.'
"Mr. Taylor observed that the fact that the opium traffic is a huge ministry to vice, and an obstacle to the evangelization of China, is surely sufficient reason why the subject should be brought forward and protested against by this Missionary Conference. He then said: 'I made the statement at a previous meeting, which I will repeat, that while the result of eighty years of evangelistic effort in China has brought us to rejoice in 32,000 converts to Christianity, about 150,000,000 of the Chinese have been either turned into opium smokers or have come to suffer from the opium vice, as husband, wife, father, or mothe)'. If the evil is so rampant, and it is most difficult to help the smoker or his unfortunate family, surely it is high time that our protest was raised against it, and that we did our utmost to bring the evil to an end.'
"Proceeding to quote from official documents and the writings of wellknown men, Mr. Taylor showed the iniquitous character of the traffic. Rev. Griffith John condemned it unsparingly, and appealed to 'the great heart of England' to remove the curse. Rev. Howard Malcolm, of the United States, remarked that' the proud escutcheon of the nation which declares against the slave trade bears in this trade a blot still broader and darker.' Mr. C. Aitchison, chief commissioner of British Burmah, in a memorandum addressed to the Government of India, speaks of the' demoralization, misery, and ruin produced among the Burmese by opium smoking.' After quoting other testimonials, Mr. Taylor contended that England is directly responsible for every acre of Chinese soil engaged in the cultivation of opium. We introduced the drug, and then the people of China raised it themselves. The Chinese appealed in vain to England's kindly feeling and sense of.rectitude; they appealed to every sentiment which was likely to move a professedly Christian people: but in vain. Then they came to the conclusion that Eng- land has no moral sense, no conscience, but only a pocket, and that the only way to move England was to prevent the money from reaching her revenue by China producing the drug at home, until the pressure of England is removed. , "The government of India is to a large extent the producer of the drug. More than half the drug manufactured in India is produced and sold directly by the government of India. It is said that we need the revenue. Remem- ber the well-known words of Mr. Henry Richard in the House of Commons. He said he had a firm conviction that no nation had ever been engaged in any business so absolutely indefensible on all grounds as the opium traffic: … It might be true that the power of England was forcing it upon the Chinese, and was spreading among them demoralization. disease and death-but there was the Indian Revenue. It might be true that the tralllc created an enormous amount of ill-will and heart-burning towards England on the part or the Chinese Government and the Chinese people, which had led to one war and might lead to another-but there was the Indian Revenue. It might be true that the traffic constituted the most formidable of obstacles to Christiauity among the Chinese-but there was the Indian Revenue. It might be true that it interfered with the development of every kind of legitimate commerce-but there was the Indian Revenue. It might be true that it dishonored the character of England in the eyes or other nations, and prevented her from protesting against similar practices elsewhere-bnt there was the Indian Revenue.'
"To put it plainly, as Mr. T. A. Denny had well put it, this plea amounts to this, that' the English nation cannot afford to do right.' I sincerely trust that this meeting will make it very plain that in its estimation the English nation cannot afford to do wrong. In conclusion, Mr. Taylor expressed a hope that the wrong may be put right while there is opportunity, and before the wrong-doer is visited by divine judgment.
Dr. James L. Maxwell, formerly missionary to Formosa, seconded the resolution. It is quite true, he said, that the Indian Government is the chief party to the evil. But before that there is a BritIsh House of Commons to be reached, and still before that there is the conscience of England to be reached, and, yet again, before that, there is the heart of the Christian church in England to be touched. The question is absolutely beyond discussion. We deliberately cultivate the poppy and minister to the vice of a heathen people; more than that, we fatten upon that vice, in spite of the fact that the rulers of the Chinese have again and again remonstrated with us, and in spite of the fact that our action is leading to the physical, moral and social ruin of the people. Of late years there has crept over the Christians of this country a very strange apathy in dealing with this opium trade. Intellectually we have acknowledged that it is wrong, and we have signed memorials against the traffic; but we have not kept it in our hearts as a burden upon our souls before God. Why do we not arouse ourselves? In this hall to-night, there is a constituency large enough, if set on fire on this subject, to begin to move England from end to end. Who dares to measure what the progress of speed in dealing with this would be, if each of us pledged himself before God not to forget the matter; but in private and in public so to move that this blot shall be removed from the nation? Only let us get to faithful handling of the evil, looking to God for help, and absolute suppression will in due course be reached." The resolution was carried unanimously.
NATIVE RACES AND THE DRINK.
Dr. W. M. Taylor, of New York, submitted the following resolution, which he supported, by a tremendous earnest and rousing- speech :'- " That the International Conference, compristng delegates from most of the Protestant Missionary Societies in the world, is of opinion that the traffic in strong drink, as now carried on by merchants belonging to Christian nations among native races, especially in Africa, has become a soarce of terrible and of wholesale demoralization and ruin, and is proving a most serions stumbling-block to the progress of the gospel. The Conference is of opinion that all Christian nations should take 8teps to suppress the traffic in all territories under their influence or government, especially in those under International control, and that a mutnal agreement shonld be made to this effect without delay, as the evil, already gigantic, is rapidly growing.
" After stating that he had received several pressing mandates on this topic, to be delivered to the Conference from Presbyterian bodies in the United States, Dr. Taylor said: 'We who look back to this as our dear old home-land have a very tender regard for her reputation, and we feel sad to have to hang our heads in shame over her when the opium traffic is brouglit up against her. But our hands in America are as deep in this drink traffic~ yours are, and we come here to beseech you a!ongwiih us that the Christian Church of Europe and America as a whole shall advertise itself out of this business, and shall declare that whosoever hereafter is responsible for its continuance, that responsibility, by the help of God, shall no longer lie at our doors. I protest against this traffic because of the demoralizing effect it has on the native races. We know something of what it does at home, but these effects are far more tremendous abroad. These native races are in the position of minors or infants. If we insist, and rightly insist, that those who sell liquor to children and minot'S shall be punished, shall we force this traffic on those nations that are composed of minors altogether? I protest against the traffic, also, because it is destructive of legitimate commerce. The expenditure of resources for the gratification of the drink appetite renders it impossible for the natives to deal in more wholesome articles of trade. I ask you, in the name of common sense and righteousness, if you are going to allow this one deadly traffic to deprive you of honest gain in those countries which in so wonderful a way have been opened up to trade in modern times? If you force rum upon them, you cannot give them cotton, because they have nothing to buy cotton with. But stay, there is one trade that may be Improved by the rum trade. I saw in one of your morning papers this week a paragraph with reference to King Quamin Fori, and a visit paid to him by Sir Brandford Griffith, Governor of the Gold Coast: 'All that King Quainin Fori asks is that Her Majesty's l'epresentive will instruct the merchants of Addah to pay for palm-oU in cash instead of gin.' The Governor, III answer to this appeal, said he could not interfere with the course of trade. The last sentence in the paragraph is to the following effect : of .. The prevalence of the habit among Christian traders in that region paying the heathen for his goods • in gin,' may possibly have something to do with the curious circumstance that king after king with whom the governor held a palaver, during his official progress, appears to have asked for a supply of handcull's,"
"Yes, the trade in handcuffs is one that is stimulated by the gin traffic. Here is a trade-mark for the gin bottle. Handcuffs! Handcuffs ! Yes, handcuffs that enslave, handcuffs that degrade; 0, yes, put it on the gin bottle everywhere.
"I protest against this traffic because of the retribution wbich it is sure to bring on the nations who protect it. I rejoice in the ringing words quoted by Mr. Hudson Taylor from Mr. Henry Richard: 'The government of God is real; the government of God is moral; the government of God is retribu- tive.' Has Great Britain forgotten to read the lesson of the Indian mutiny? Has America forgotten to read the lesson of the civil war? Shall we allow ourselves to go to sleep agamover an eVil like this, folding our arms and saying : ' Let it alone; it will take care of itself'? The Governor of the Gold Coast said, 'We cannot interfere with the course of trade.' This has been said again and again in history. It reminds me of the passage: 'Yet a little more sleep, a little more slumber . . . so shall thy poverty come as one that travaileth, and thy want as an armed man.' Oh, that armed man! We saw him in America twenty years ago, and Gettysburg was the retribution of letting it alone. You saw it in the Indian mutiny away back among the fifties, and that fearful time was the retribution of letting it alone. Are we to let it alone again, and bring down still greater retribution upon our heads in America and upon you here?
" Once more I protest against this detestable traffic because of its neutral- izing effect upon the efforts of our Chrlstian missionaries. Why should we go to the heathen handicapped and hampered by men who have no care but to make money, and who have yoked the motive-power of appetite to the car of Mammon, that they may ride the more surely over men? Oh, brethren, as the representatives of the Missionary Societies of the world, let us rise in our might and say: 'It is time that we should be unlimbered and unhampered and delivered from this terrible evil.' If the churches of England were united, and in earnest, and right, no government would be able to resist them. If the churches of England, of Europe, and America were united, and in earnest, and right, no evil in the world could stand before them. Let there be no pessimism among us in regard to this. PessimIsm is lor those who have no Christ; courage is the characteristic of those who know they have Him with them and in the midst of them. But we must ourselves have clean hands. Let us labor, and pray, and determine in the might of God to lay low everything in the shape of demoralizing traffic with these native races. Let us knock it on the head, and sweep its kennel clean out. The resolution was carried by acclamation.
KING LEOPOLD AND THE TRAFFIC.
" A third resolution, recognizing the benefits that have already accrued to Africa in connection with the founding of the Congo Free State by the King of the Belgians, invoking his aid in suppressing the drink traffic, and appointing a committee to proceed to Brussels and lay this important matter before his Majesty, was submitted to the meeting by the Rev. Dr. J. Murdock, of Boston. In doing so he mentioned an incident told in New York by Mr. H. M. Stanley. When that explorer met the King in Uganda, the King asked him many questions about Queen Victoria, the Emperor of Germany, and others i then he said, •What tidings can you bring me from above?' Mr. Stanley, unhappily, was not an expert in these matters, but he gave the King a New Testament, which he declared contained the only answer which man could ever receive to that most momentous inquiry. After a long passage across the continent, Stanley came at last to meet with the colored people of the Western Coast, and the first question they asked of him was, 'Have you any gin?' That, said Dr. Murdock, is the difference between heathendom pure and simple and heathendom as touched by the curse of Western civilization. It was in order to touch this evil at its very core that the matter would be laid before the King of the Belgians. The resolution was seconded by Mr. H. Grattan Guinness in a paper full of startling facts, most eloquently and impressively stated. The resolution was heartily agreed to i the gentlemen appointed to carry out its provisions being Dr. Murdock, Mr. Grattan Guinness, Mr. J. Bevan Braithwaite, and Mr• .Alfred Baynes.
L!OENSED VICE IN INDIA.
"The fourth and last resolution was moved by MI'. Alfred S. Dyer, who, as the Chairman remarked, had only a few days before returned from India. On rising, MI'. Dyer was greeted with oft-repeated rounds of cheering, and it was some time before he was able to speak. He read the resolution as follows: " That this Conference has heard with shame and sorrow of the extensive system of State·licensed vice carried on throughout India by authority of the Indian government; that at the same time it desires to place on record its deep sense of the great service rendered to the canse of morality and religion by the House of Commons determining the repeal of all legislation which anthorizes and en· courages vice; and it confidently expects that Her Majesty's government will now take Immediate measures to abolish what constitutes a social degradation, and so remove a stnmbling-block to religion, and the dishonor to the name of Great Britain which have resulted from this system; and further. that copies of this resolution be forwarded to the Prime :Minister and the Secretary of State for Indis.
"The time being far spent, Mr. Dyer had proposed simply to read the resolution, leaving it to speak for itself without any advocacy of his own. In response, however, to the calls of the audience, he said: The uppermost feeling in my heart is one of unbounded thanksgiving to God for the great victory which has been gained in the House of Commons in this cause of social purity. I honor the noble men in that House who have stood faithful to this cause amid so much ridicule. I honor them in that they have been • faithful to the truth of our Lord Jesus Christ, and I look upon this victory entirely as an answer to the prayers that have been offered up. We have been praying about it in India. Not a day passed that I did not pray for it, so that I feel, as I have said, unbounded thankfulness to God, while I thank those members of Parliament. After seven or eight months' patient investi- gation in India, and coming into contact also with the drink traffic, I have come to the conclusion that the two great obstacles to the success of mission- ary work in India are the systems of licensed vice and of licensed drink. I would only add that we must see that the resolution of the House of Com- mons is carried out in India. I hope in a few weeks to go back there; and I intend to stay there, to act as your representative, to exercise a due vigil- ance, and to see that the system of licensed Ivice is abolished. While I am there, I shall also make it my business to investigate further these questions of the drink traffic and the Chinese opium traffic, and to see if I can help you to get rid of them.
"Rev. G. E. Post, M.D., seconded the resolution. He said: 'It was with extreme repugnance that I undertook to speak. My repugnance arose from the fact that I felt myself to be a citizen of another land, and that this was a question which primarily concerned Britain. But in presence of such a ques- tion you are not Eng-lishmen, and I am not an American, but we are all of us citizens of the commonwealth of man, and endowed from heaven with the freedom of the city of God. I take that freedom to protest against the worst form of outrage that has ever been perpetrated against a defenseless people, Anglo-Saxon fathers, hang your heads with shame for the cause that brings us here to-night. Anglo-Saxon mothers, turn your hearts away from your husbands and your sons; you cannot look them in the face as you discuss a question like this. Anglo-Saxon daughters, draw your veils over your eyes lest you put me to silence by ihe mantling blushes on your cheeks. Twelve years ago the civilized world was stirred to its depths by the story of the Bulgarian atrocities. A few undisciplined Bashi Bazouks, elated by victory, were guilty of atrocities which brought down upon their country a desolating war, which dismembered it, and which drew from one of your statesmen that famous utterance that the Turks must be driven, 'bag and baggage,' out of Europe. We have been guilty of an atrocity which surely might justify the statement that we ought to be driven, 'bag and baggage,' out of Asia. This, moreover, is not an atrocity by a few guerilla soldiers, but by a Christian Government, with its two estab- lished religions and its numerous churches and chaplains. We have gone into India in an official capacity, to degrade, first our own sons, and then the daughters of the weak subject races. It is with shame that we confess that our race has sunk to such a degradation as that. Turn to a lIlore cheerful aspect, and reJoice at the action of the House of Commons. All honor to those noble men who have stood up and vindicated the right. I repudiate, and never will believe, the accusation, that the medical profession stands behind these acts. I have been a member of that profession for twentyseven years. I say that when you press this matter on your legislative bodies, you may rely upon the medical profession being with you. And let us press forward in the consciousness that God is with us." The resolution was carried unanimously.
CLOSING WORDS.
The evening was now far advanced, but the Chairman called out Drs. Gordon and Pierson for brief addresses.
Dr. A. J. Gordon said: "It has been said, and I think truly, that there is enough sentiment, and conscience, and enthusiasm, and spiritual power in this audience to move our governments to the abolition of these terrible iniquities. Let it be remembered for our encouragement that in England, when the slave trade was to be abolished, agitation began with only two or three men, who carried it to a successful issue. I remind you also that our great conflict in America began with two or three men, who for years stood alone. Again, remember that the leader of that movement placed on his banner the motto, 'Immediate, Unconditional Emancipation,' and in spite of all ridicule and all abuse, and all dissuasion, he never would take that motto off his banner, but carried it forward until at last the whole nation followed him, and we swept the curse of slavery from our land. I suppose it will be admitted by our American brethren that the most eloquent man America has produced in modern times was Wendell PhiUips. He stood side by side with Lloyd Garrison-the two stood alone for years. I remember the time when they could not rally twenty men in a city to listen to them, eloquent as they were. This, however, is what I am going to say: Dh, English women! oh, American women! do you know what you can do? Just before Wendell Phillips died, I had a memorable conversation with him. Knowing that he had sacrificed social position, and much besides, I had the curiosity to ascertain what led him into the agitation. He had an invalid wife, who for years never left the house. I asked, 'What first led you to espouse the cause of the slave and to stand by him? ' He replied, 'My whole career is due to my wife. She said to me before the thought had ever touched my conscience, 'Wendell, you must take up the cause of the slave,' and I did it at her request, and I fought it out because she stood behind me.' There is a lesson for Christian women! And now let us remember that if two leaders can. finally bring a whole vast nation to follow them in deIpanding the abolition' of such an evil, we are more than two, and we have had as eloquent men leading us to-night as either of those I have named. Let us follow them. There is nothing that ca'n stand against iteration and reiteration. Suppose you suspended a piece of iron .weighing a hundred pounds In the midst of this hall, and, when it was perfectly poised, you brought a schoolboy to pelt it with pieces of cork. At first there would be no impression, but if the boy kept at it long enough and directed the pieces of cork at one point, the time would come when the whole mass would begin to mo,'e. In like manner, our testimony may in itself be very weak and unworthy, but let us bring it to bear long enough-testimony after testimony, protest after protest, demand after demand, abhorrence after abhorrence, expressed in the intensest terms against these evils; and by and by the great mass will begin to move, and it will be swept out of the way. Let us not be disheartened. Let us take courage from the assurance that God will bruise Satan under our feet shortly."
Dr. A. T. Pierson, lD the course of a stirring address, said: "If I had time I would like to take up the challenge thrown down in that secular news-
MISSIONARY MONTHLY
paper. For I reckon that it knows a good deal more about the kingdom of Britain and other kingdoms than it does about the kingdom of God. We stood this afternoon in the London Missionary Society's premises, and had rehearsed to us in brief outline the wonderful story of the progress of the gospel in Tahiti and the neighboring groups of islands. The missionaries labored in Tahiti for years without any apparent results, but then within a very short time the people became so thoroughly Christianized that they sent to the otqer groups, and within forty-four years the regeneration of Polynesia was accomplished. And yet this newspaper thinks that the progress of foreign missions has been funereal! Having told of wonders wrought in China, Dr. Pierson said :We have spoken much in this Conference about the union which has been exhibited. I want to say that I take not the slightest credit to America or to myself for this unity. If in the presence of the gigantic foe that unites all its forces and masses all its hosts against the kingdom of our Lord Jesus Christ, I did not forget that I am an American, and also forget the denomination to which I belong, I should consider myself a fossilized ecclesiastic, and not a disciple at all. When Herod and Pilate are made friends in order to crush Christ and Christianity, it behooves all true disciples to stand shoulder to shoulder, and to close about the ark of God. The fact is, our unity is largely the involuntary unity of those who in the presence of the adversary have come together because they cannot help it ; and I think that the methods and manner adopted by our foes make it clear that we can pursue no successful policy of warfare but an aggressive one. We had better stop throwing up defenses, and carry war into the enemy's camp. A positive, aggressive gospel is surely the one that is going to win the day."
THE MISSIONARY MONTHLY CONCERT.
BY DR. JAMES L. PHILLIPS, CHAPLAIN TO STATE INSTITUTIONS, R. I. ALMOST a century ago a few earnest Christians in England founded the Monthly Concert of Prayer for Missions. To this day it is faithfully observed in many churches of the mother country. More than twenty years ago, when I was a student in the College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, this monthly concert was regularly held in many of the New England and New York churches; and while visiting friends in the Western States, before embarking for India, I found it in some of the churches there. On coming back to America I have been making many inquiries, and regret to learn that there seems to be a marked falling off in the observance of this missionary service. The history of this meeting for nearly a hundred years affords ample proof of its importance. Its real value cannot be estimated, for facts and figures can neither detect nor determine the full benefit it has brought to the church of Christ at home and abroad. The journals of missionaries in foreign fields, and records found in our best periodical missionary literature, and in the memoirs of men who have been valiant pioneers in extending the triumphs of the kingdom of God on earth, yield abundant and remarkable testimony to the benefit and blessing that this monthly concert has been to Christian toilers in many lands. It is very cheering to find THE MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD calling attention regularly every month to the Concert of Prayer, and the following incidents may serve to illustrate and impress the importance of this service. Ten years ago, when at home on furlough before, one of the last things I had to do was the raising of an endowment fund for our Bible School in India. While engaged in this work, which occupied several months, I was traveling much and met with many very Ct9nvincing proofs of the educating power of the Missionary Concert. One of these I wish to cite, because it illnstrates how the regular observance of this monthly meeting tends to plant the habit of cheerful giving, one of the hardest habits, so the pastors tell us, for Christian disciples to acquire.
The committee sent me to some strange spots for money. Everyone who has done such deputation work among the churches on either side of the Atlantic knows wh~t surprises, pleasant and otherwise, drop into this line of service, and some of these become the salient points of the scene as you look back upon it in after years. One week day evening I had an fLppoint- men t in a village of Central Ohio. On stepping off the train, and looking over the place from the railway station, and there learning that the church to which I was sent was without a pastor, I wondered how this appointment came to be made. The outlook was anything but bright.
The hour for the missionary lecture found about seventy people seated in a plain house, the women on one side and the men on the other. They listened admirably to what was said about gospel work in India, and the demand for. trained native helpers. A stranger minister had offered the opening prayer, and no one volunteering to take pledges or the collection for my endowment, I asked my brother to wait upon one side of the house, while I did on the other. Catching up paper and pencil, he straightway went for the men, fancying no doubt that the pocket-books belonged on that side of the house. For once it wasn't so, for in cash and pledges together moire . than ten times as much came in from the women's sIde as from the men's side of that small congregation. I shall never forget the very first woman whom I asked for money that evening. Her quick answer to my question, "Would you like to help our Bible School?" was significant and cheered me so. Looking up through her glasses squarely into my face, she said :- "Indeed, I should, sir," and she gave me fifty dollars. Anotherlittle woman gave me twenty-five dollars, and still another ten. On reaching my lodg- ings I learned from my kind hostess that these three women were sisters, and naturally I was curious to know their history. One of them lived close by, so the next morning on my way to the railway station, I called upon her and thanked her and her sisters for the good cheer they had given me at the meeting. And from this humble Christian woman I learned these facts. Their childhood home was in Western New York, and they used to attend a Presbyterian church. Their pastor never failed to observe the monthly concel·t of prayer for missions, at which service he regularly brought be- fore his people the conditions and claims of the pagan nations, the freshest news from the front ranks of Christ's advancing army in all lands, and also the duty and the privilege of helping on this grand movement for the world's evangelization by earnest prayers and cheerful offerings. That faithful pastor had reached his rest and reward in heaven, and I, a stranger from the opposite side of the earth, had been permitted to reap' some of the golden harvest for which through years of patient toil he had sown the seed.
Another incident of more recent date illustrates the other side of the ben- efit that accrues from thIS missionary concert, that is the cheer it carries to our brethren across the seas. On the 6th of March, 1887, the concert topic in quite a number of churches was New Fields, and particular men,tion was made in the addresses and prayers of a little station recently opened on the Orissa coast. The young missionary planting this station had met with serious obstacles. A cyclone had blown down his first buildings, there had
ISLAM AND CIVILIZATION
been lack of funds for pushing on the work of rebuildhtg, and other discouragement. He did not know that on the first Sabbath of March we were to offer up special prayer lor him in our monthly concert. But the blessing came just the same.
In a private letter this missionary writes: "On the 6th and 7th of March I received a special outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Such courage I have never felt in my work, and all the native Christians felt more or less the same spirit of consecration. The following Sabbath I baptized six, and there are a number among the Hindus and Telugus here who, are seeking Christ. Wherever we go, the Spirit of the Lord seems to be going before to open up the way. It has been surprising to me, and the native workers have remarked a number of times, how wonderfully the people accept the gospel."
By the slow course of an ocean mail, our brother on that Ori!'sa coast learned on the 3d of April, from a Boston newspaper dated February 24th, that the missionary concert of March 6th was to make him and his field the special subject of prayer. Whereupon he writes: "Then it flashed upon me like light from heaven that my wonderful blessing on the 6th and 7th of March was a direct answer to your prayers, and I went into the service and told the Brethren. Instead of preaching, we had a consecration meeting, in which the power of the Spirit was wonderfully manifest. It was a blessed day. I believe the prayers offered there for this special field were answered. Today the hardest man in this place sent to buy a New Testament. God's Word will make its way, and His kingdom prevail."
These words from a lone man on a far-off shore speak volumes to every pastor in America and Europe. Would that all pastors, in city and country alike, could be of one mind in observing this Monthly Concert of prayer for Missions. How the church at home needs the quickening and refreshing it would surely bring! One of the most interesting sessions of the Convention of the International Missionary Union, held at the Thousand Island Park in 1887, was devoted to discussing ways and means for stirring up our home chnrches to persevering prayer and systematic beneficence in behalf of the millions still in pagan darkness. Over and again during this discussion, it came out that wherever the monthly concert was regularly kept up, the interest i,missions was intelligent and aggressive. Beloved pastors of the church of our Lord Jesus Christ throughout all lands, will you revive and sustain this MONTHLY CONCERT, and so teach your people to obey His great command to disciple the nations?
ISLAM AND CIVILIZATION. "THE recent controversy as to the comparative merits of Islam and Christianity raises issues deeper and wider than the so-called' religious world.' It is not Christianity alone, but civilization, which is involved in the issue. I believe that under Christianity alone can man reach the perfect development of his nature. • . • Islam can raise to its own level tri,bes lower than itself in the scale of humanity; but this it does at the terrible cost of petrifying them at that level forever-the level, that is, of the barbarous Arabs of Mahomed's day. For, except in the matter of idolatry and infanticide, Islam, as we find it in Mecca, its metropolis, is not in advance of the social and intellectual condition of the Arabs of that time; and inasmuch as the Koran claims to be the last declaration of the divine will to man, it follows that any progreiis beyond the Koran is not only superfluous, but impious in addition. And the history of Islam all ovel' the world proves to demonstration that what was antecedently to be e~pe~ted has in fact occurred. • • • The Koran, in Islamic belief, was written by the finger of God in the highest heaven before all time, every word and letter of it, in the Arab tongue; was· then, at the predestined time, taken down to the third heaven by the angel Gabriel, and there recited, word for word, to Mahomed in an audible voice in 'suras' or chapters, as occasion required, and was by him miraculously re- produced from memory. This is an article of faith throughout the world of Islam; and as the Koran professes to be the last revelation of the divine will to man, it follows, of course, that nothing which is sanctioned in the Koran, explicitly or implicitly, can· ever be abrogated, altered, or become obsolete.
Nobody who realizes this fact will believe that the Koran can possibly be a preparatory discipline, like Greek philosophy, for Christianity.
There is no living voice in the church of Islam to reconcile the past with the present and make provision for the future. It claims an infallibility more sweeping and more rigid than that of the Vatican decrees, but it is the in- fallibIlity of a dead pontiff, an ignorant and immoral Bedouin, who died twelve centuries ago. . . . As a spirtiual force, in so far as it ever was one, Islam is not advancing, but retrograding. The Musulman world contains no longer a single center from which radiates any intellectual light 01' any sign of material progress. There is not one Mussulman state in the world which wields independent sway-which, in fact, does not exist solely by the suffer- ance of Christendom. A creeping paralysis has fastened upon Islam, and the shadow of the devouring eagles may even now be descried on its horizon.
How stands the case of Christianity in comparison? Its Pattern Man is not only to the Christian, but to the great mass of intelligent and educated un- believeJ's, the highest and noblest ideal of humanity that history records or the human mind can conceive. His teaching and example are the most per- fect exhibition of human virtue that the world has seen. . • . As to the comparatively slow progress of Christianity and its imperfect success, even within the frontiers of Christendom, we must distinguish between the essence of a system and its separable accidents. Islam, at its best, bears within it the incurable germ of inevitable decay and dissolution. The hin- drances to the spread of Christianity, on the other hand, are but parasites whioh cling to it and which it may shake off. They may be summarized as follows: "1. The divisions of Christendom. Islam, too, has its sects, and many of them; but they close their ranks and present a united front to the 'unbe- lievers.' 2. Faulty methods of propagandism, such as neglect of rearing in foreign lands a native ministry, while importing European habits, customs and dress among native converts. 3. The discredit cast upon the Christian name by the lives and demoralizing traffic of professing Christians. 4. To which may be added, as regards India, the active discouragement and even resistance which, until a recent period, a professedly Christian government offered to the propagation of Christianity. . It is a superficial view which would confine the comparison between Christianity and Islam to the numerical proportions of their respective adherents, though even on that score Christianity has no reason to blush, as I have already shown, and as Sir William Hunter has explained with respect to India. At the time of Christ's dea.th, 'the number of names together,' who owned themselves His disciples, 'were about an hundred and twenty.' Was that a fair test of the success of his ministry? The apparently signal failures of Christianity have generally been the preludes to fresh victories. So it may be now. The suc- cess of Christianity at any given time is not to be measured by visible r~sults.
In India, in Japan, in China, in Africa, throughout the Turkish empire, it is
ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK
silently sapping the foundations of rival religions. Its ideas and principles are in the air, like those minute yet potent germs of which physical science tells us. Only they are germs of health inoculating diseased organisms with the seeds of a. regenerate life. Christianity is impregnating Islam, Buddhism, Confucianism, Paganism, with hopes, aspirations, ideals, principles, which are gradually but surely disintegrating the old order of things, and preparing the way for the reception of Christianity."-Malcolm MacOoll, in Oontemporary Review.
n.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK.
Established Ohuroh of Scotland. crease in the membership of the church to the number of 7,973_ The total number of commu- AT its recent session the Foreign nicants is 579,002. In 1873 the membership was Mission Committee reported to the 460,464, so that there Is an increase of 118,538 in General Assembly 827 baptisms as fifteen years. the fruits of the labors of their missionaries during 1887. Of these The Free Ohuroh of Scotland. 676 were in the Punjab, around Sialkot; 120 in the threefold Darjeeling GEN1IRAL abstract, showing the sums raised Mission; 13 in Madras, and 13 in Ar- for the various objects of the church for tbe konam; 4 in Calcutta, and 1 in Bom- year, from 31st March, 1887. to 31st March, 1888: bay. To these add 1 at Calcutta and 2 at Madras, in connection with the I. Sustentation fund ………… £167,37474 Ladies' Association. There are at II. Local building fund. . . . . . . . . . 65.689 8 IIJ-ii present about 3,000 baptized persons III. Congrega- In the Church of Scotland's missions to the heathen in India, Africa and tional fund. £16:>,005 8 5J-ii China. Congrega- RECEIPTS. tional mis- cellaneous The Foreign Mission Revenue from all sources objects …. 43,123 12 6 in 1887 was £43,399. This sum inclndes income – – – – 208,129 0 llJ-ii IV. Missions and education.. . . •. 117.916 5 1 at home, £24,481; income abroad, £10,799; in- V. Miscellaneous ………….. 33,746 3 2 terest on J1lvested funds, £1,267; income of Total……………………£592.855 5 1 Ladies' Association for Foreign Missions, £6,8,;2. The missionary receipts were as follows: Revenue at Home…………………. £50,295 As regards income, results, and additions to the Revenue Abroad………………….. 33,5UI For tho Conversion of the Jews…….. 8.682 sta1l', 1887 has been the most prosperous year ill Making the whole missionary revenue the history of the Foreign Mission. of the Free Church of Scotland for – – 1887-8. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . £100,756 The total contributions to the various schemes of the church for the year amounted to £151,805, an Increase on the previous year of £9,293.
DUring the past year there bas been an in- United Presbyterians of Sootland.
SUMMARY FOR 1887.
Annual Income, '£43,430 13s.• Including a Small Expenditure in Spain.
No. of Com- Native Fields of Labor. Sta- Foreign Workers. Native Workers. muni- Schools. Schol- Contri- – – – – – – – – tions. cants. ars. butions. ——— —— — — — Or- Fe- Or- !~~. dained. Lay. male. dained. Lay.
Jamaica ………… 46 19 . …. …… 13 82 ………… 8,796 68 £ Trinidad ……….. 3 2 "2" 1 ··42" 359 2 5,967 6,000 Old Calabar. 6 6 7a 4 "iil' 269 ]6 Kaft'raria ……….. 11 11 3 76 1,426 India…………… 10 15 10 ….2· .. 65 2,180 3'~ 517 194 195 1,482 1,266 .. ..2.. 15 2 445 92 5,029 . 217 ..2… …1… 499 5 – – – -13- – – – – – – – – – – – China ………….. 43 -3-90 Japan ………….. 4 –** – ** 80 – -ll!2- Totals………… 84 61 7 21 22 389 44 12,938 210 13,071 £9.325 *Not reported.
The Income as given above IS over 1886 gaye, and 161 more native com- .£3,800 more than our report for municants. Irish Presbyterians. Total home receipts .. " ……•.. £124,581 19 fa FORTY-SIXTH annual report on FOREIGN RECEIPTS.
Foreign Missions, presented to the Mission districts auxiliaL·'ls…… 5,803 0 6 General Assembly in Belfast, June, Total ordinary receipts. . •. . •. . 130,337 19 8 1888. EXTRAORDINABY RECEIPTS. The report is encouraging. The Contributions for special missions year 1887 has been a notable one in the Indian Mission. There were 147 in UpperBurmah, Central Atrica, baptisms, and an increase of communicants, and two natives were China, India, etc…………… 1,508 18 6 ordained over congregations of conveds from heathenism. The outlook Ditto, for St. Vincent Hurricane in China to.day is more hopeful than it has been for many years. The in- Di5tress Fund…. …………. 20 4 4 come of the Society is also steadily, though not rapidly, increasing, as Total Income ..•…………. £131,867 2 6" the figures below will show: PAYlIlENTS. Total sum raised 1884-5, £11,130 5s.; 1885-6, £12,032 lOs.; 1886-7, £12,728 18s.; 1887-8, General expenditure …………. £136,124 8 0 On account of Special Missions, £13,054 16s. If we add to last year's sum the £2,000 raised etc ……………………… . 1,529 210 Ditto,Ladies'AnxiliaryCommittee 313 19 5 for the Stevenson Memorial Fund, it would Total expenditnre ……….. £131,967 10 3 make the sum total above £15,000. From which deduct ordinary and Presbyterian Ohuroh in Oanada. extraordinary receipts for the year.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. …. . 131,867 2 '> THE report made to the General Leaving a deficiency on 1887 Assembly, which met in June, is account of……………. . 6,100 7 9 highly interesting and inspIrIng. To which add the debt of 1886.. . 10,768 19 11 Decided pl'ogress is reported in all Leaving a total deficiency of. £16,869 7 8 the Missions under the Assembly's GENERAL SUMMARY.
care. Missions nnder the immediate direction of the Wesleyan Missionary Committee and British According to the returus the Canadian Pres- Conference, in Europe, India, China, West byterian Church now embraces 1831 churches 4(rica, the Transvaal, B,"itish Hondura8, and stations, with 793 ministers. The active and the Bahamas. membership aggregates 76,226 families, 13,261 single members, while the church-goers number Central or Principal Stations called Cirahout 400,000. There are 112,940 Sabbath cuits ……………………………. 336 scholars, and 12,976 teachers, having the privilege of libraries containing 183,471 volumes. Chapels and other Preaching Places in The income of the Church last year was $1,772,- connection with the above-mentioned 000, against $1,215,000 in 1881. Last year Central or Principal Stations, as far as $738,000 was paid in stipends, or an average of ascertained.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. .. . . .. . 1,338 $943 to each minister. $112,000 was also subscribed last year towards Home and Foreign Missionaries and ASSistant-Missionaries, missions; $86,866 for foreign missions, as including Supernumeraries.. . . . . . . . . . . 333 against $69,000 last year. Knox and Queen's College each have sent out and support a mis- Other paid AgentR, as Catechists, Inter- sionary to China. The Women's Foreign Mis- preters, Day-school Teachershetc…… 2,000 sionary Society contributed over $23,000, as against $18,500 last year. Unpaid Agents, as Local Preac ers, Sab- bath-school Teachers, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8,859 Wesleyan Missionary Sooiety. Full and accredited Chnrch Members…. 32,lt?O THE seventy-fourth annual meet- On trial for Chnrch-Membership…….. _ 4,1114 ing of this society was held in Exeter Scholars attending either the Sabbath or Hall, London; April 30. The abstract of the report shows that the Day·schools… . . . . . . .. . . .. . . . .. .. .. . … 59,388 Society's debt has been increased by £6,100, and is now £16,869. Unless Ohurch Missionary Society. there is an increase of income this year it will not be possible to main- THIS society, which has the largest tain the existing missions of the income of any missionary society in society. the world, held its eighty-ninth an- niversary in Exeter Hallin June. Its income for the year was £221,331 ($1,106,655). We give an abstract of the financial report: Last year the committee reported the larg- est ordinary income on record, viz., 207,7931., the advance being mainly due to an exceptional amount of legacies. This year the total is only 191,557l., the lowest in the past five years; but this again is due to a falling-off of nearly 14,- ODOl. in legacies. The receipts from all sources except legacies, viz. 173,7561., are the highest in the past five years. The committee therefore feel constrained to utter a note of heartiest thanksgiving. Moreover, some of the most im- surplns of one year and being charged with the portant gifts of the year do not come nnder deficit of another, is entirely exhausted for the ordinary income. The Extension Fund has re- first time since it was formed, in 1880. Judged, ceived, 8,6791., including a benefaction of 5,5OOl., therefore, from a business point of view, the po- specially allocated to Japan and the Punjab. sition is a seriOlls one. Yet the committee dare More than 4,0001. has been received for the Ny- not send back the candidates for missionary ser- anza Mission. The contributions for the Winter vice who are coming forward in increasing Mission to India amounted to 1,700l.; and 700/. numbers, and who are plainly brought by the has beeu given towards the proposed Hanning- Lord of the harvest to be thrnst forth into His ton Memorial Church at Frere Town. The total harvest. Nor do they believe it is necessary to receipts from all sources amount to 221,3311. do so. If only there is faith to roll upon Him the whole burden, and to follow in simple obedience Nevertheless, the facts remain that the defi- the clear indications of His will, there is no ciency in legacies has diminished the resources cause for fear. But the committee are bound to at the committee's disposal for carrying on the state the case to their friends exactly as it stands. work by Over 13,0001. ; that the expenditure of Put in one sentence, it is this: to replace the the year is more by 2,333l. than that of last year, Contingency Fund, and to cover the estimated and though considerably under the estimate, expenditure of the current year, will require a sum exceeding the income of the past year by I has exceeded the receipts by 12,oool. ; and that 3'.ooOl. the Contingency Fund, which is always the bar- ometer of the Society's position, receiving the Fields of Labor. – – ——– — – – ——– – – No. of Com- Schol- Native Sta- Foreign Workers. ars. Contri- tions. IDuni- Native Workers. Schools – butio-ns. cants.
Or- Lay. Fe- 01'- J..ay. Fe- £ dained. male. dained. male. West Africa…….. 42 10 14 49 151 75 9,598 96 6,995 7,875 East&Central Africa 11 14 11 1 Egypt aud Arabia .. 2 2 14 ..7 281 .. 8 528 95 Palestiue ……….. 9 6 13 1 1 '5 2 140 9 11 45 1,875 266 48 12 885 Persia and Bagdad. 2 4 1 .. 1 11 11 93 8 309 Poenrslyia } 343 India…………… 91 Ceylon………….. 12 109 1..2 12 137 1,724 421 24,531 1,314 47,089 6..,8..73 Mauritius ………. 6 12 250 93 2,009 192 9,793 …… China ………….. 20 18 1 ..1 29 1,470 Japan ………….. 5 3 52 4 16 3 421 115 2,007 New Zealaud……. 42 10 5 N. W. America ….. 31 23 3 I .. 242 16 2,570 129 North Pacific……. 7 8 '43 11 ~17 ~415 is 336 1;211 15 I .. 122 2,562 1,115 227 2 .. 92 201 7 268 Totals………. 280 247 40 22 265 2,881 653 4i,115 1,859 71,814 £15,452 The London Missionary Sooiety. and kindred societies to preach the The ninety-fourth annual meeting gospel to the heathen." The plea of this society was held in Exeter Hall, May 10, under the presidency of Lord Brassey made for the extension the renowned traveler, Lord Brassey, K.C.B. The testimony of the chair- of the work was very effective. man, who has had such exceptional opportunities for witnessing the " Iu the report reference is made to the splenwork of missionaries in different did success which has attended the work of lands, haviug, as he himself indi- your Society under those illustrious missioncated, seen the work in Labrador, aries, Lawes aud Chalmers, iu New Guinea. We Terra-deI-Fuego, in Turkey, India, have very interesting details with reference to Tahiti and elsewhere, is very valua- the progress of the work iu Iudia and in China; ble. He admits that there have been and as a most remarkable instance of the sucindiscretions in some cases, but he cess of our work, let me refer once more to that adds: "I venture to say that few in- devoted zeal which is shown by the native misdeed are those instances of indiscre- sionaries who are recruited from the South tion in comparison with the mass of Seas. I do not know any evidence more imnoble work which has been done for pressive of the good results of the work which generations by those who have been is done by this Society than this most telling sent forth under the auspices of this fact, that the work which is being carried on by those 160 devoted men and women, who have gone forth from this country, is being supple- mented and carried forward by no less than 1,000 native ordained ministers, and 6,000 native preachers. Aud looking to another and per- haps a less impressive circumstauce, is it not ex- ceedingly grat!(ying to observe that the statement of income which this society has at its dis- tary (Dr. Green), set forth that: posal for its good work contains an item of nO less than £17,000, which Is subscribed by the The receipts from !Ill sources during the year, native people from theIr limited aud narrow re- ncluding the balance at commencement,. were sources,to carry forward the missionary work?" £211,108. There was a net increase on the year of £9,098. The total expenditure had been The total income of the society Cor 1887 £208,662. The number of new publications isamounted to £157,000. But uo less than £27,000 sued during the year amounted to 757, of which of this sum came from legacies, which is £16,000 214 were tracts and leafiet.. The circulation above the yearly average, necessitating mnch had reached 61.061,050, including 24.590,600 more liberal giving the current year to avoid a tracts. To this number must be added that of heavy debt. the Issues from foreign depots, estinlated at 15,- 000,000; the total amount being 76,061,050, a Religious Traot Sooiety. slight diminutiou upon the whole as compared with the issues of the previous year, although EXETER was crowded on the occa- the circulation of the tracts has shown an insion of the eighty-ninth annual meet- crease of 870,300. In the year 1887 no fewer than ing of the Religious Tract Society. 222,000 of the London Board School children Lord Balfour, of Burleigh, presided. were presenled for examinalion in Scripture, of The annual report, read by the secre- whom 5,555 received prizes and certificates.
Methodist New Oonnenon Missionary Sooiety.
Annual Income, £7,106.* No. of Ad- Com- Native Sta· herents. Contribu- tions. muni- cants. tions. Fields ofEntered Foreign Native Schools. Schol- Workers. Workers. arB. —- —- I ;LaY'1 – – — – – – – Labor.A.D.
— £ daOiure-rl. Lay. • mFaele-.
Ohina …. 1859 50 6 1 47 3 2,436 1,218 6 162 388 *Iucluding the sums spent in Ireland, Canada and Australia. The Missiou in Canada 1D 1874 united with the various other Methodist bodies in the Dominion, and thus was formed '.' The Metho- dist Church of Canada."
United Methodist Free Ohurch Missions.
Annual Income, £21,876 178. 9d. * No. of Foreign Native Com- Schol- Native Sta- Workers. Workers. muni- ars. Contribu- tions. cants. tions. — – – – —- – – – – – —- —- Entered A.D. Fields of Labor. Schools.
'– Ordained. Lay. £ China ……………… 1864 3 3 11 306 4 77 34 East Africa ………… ]861 5 4 9 180 5 241 24 West Africa………… 1859 6 5 92 2,894 11 1,122 641 J-am-aic-a .- – ……. – – ……..- -1838- -10- – -9 – – -48 – – – 3,342 -31- -1,-924- -1,-188- – Totals ………………… 24 21 160 7.622 51 5,864 1,893 * This total includes the sums expended in the colonies of Australla and New Zealand, as well as in heathen lands and in Jamaica.
The Southern Baptist Oonvention Maryland. . •.. . . •. . •.. . •••. •.. . . . .. .. •.. .. 2 M!ss?u~i…………………………….. held its forty-third anniversary in 4 MISSISSIPPI. .. . . . . . .. . . . . . .. . . . .. .. . .. . .. • 3 . ~r::i~i~· …………….:.:::.::::::::::: 1~ Richmond, May 11-15.
Total income from April, 1887 to Western Arkansas and Iudian Territory.. 15 Western North Carolina……………… 18 April,1888 $86,385,66 West Virginia………………………. 1 Total expenses 84,848,34 Total………………………… ~ Actual balance for the new ••• WORK DONE. MISSIonarIes ………………….. '" year – $1,748,60 287 Churches and stations …………… . 1,114 The number of missionaries in the employ of Baptisms ……………………… .. 4,857 the Board during the past year has been as fol- Reeeived by letter……………… .. 2,63n Total additions . . . . . . . . . . . " ……… _ '1,4H6 lows: S. S. organized ………………….. _ 431 Arkansas ……………….. ~………… 22 Cuba………………………………. 17 Teachers and pupils ……………… . 17,240 District ocColumbia……… …. …….. 1 Churches constituted……………. . Houses of worship built………… ,_ 306 FlOrida…………………………….. 37 Georgia…………………….. …….. 5 64 Iodi!,,! Territory. . .. .. . … .. . . .. . .. .. .. . . . 15 Cost of bouses of worship ………..• $54.068 LOulSlana………………….. ……… 21 Pages of tracts distributed……….. . 442,852 Bibles and Testaments …………… . 1.769 Total Snnday-school publications…. . 4,754,000
CORRESPONDENCE AND GENERAL INTELLIGENCE
III.-CORRESPON DENCE and GENERAL INTELLIGENCE.
The Jews of Morocco. or forced outside the city walls and there m~ dered in cold blood. Their hodies were then cat By Rev. E. F. Baldwin, our Ed- into pieces, and their clothes as well. The money itorial Correspondent at Tangiers. that each one had was put into hi. hands, which MOGADOn, MOROCCO, May 25, 1888. were severed from the bodies. Their headlcss DEAR EDITons.-Although I am working as trunks, their heads themselves, their hands and a missionary among the Moors aud Arabic- feet were laid in order in a long ghostly row.
speaking Berber races of this great empire, yet The scene of lamentation and woe the next morn- I feel great ,interest iu the Jews which are found ing, when the entire Jewish population poured crowded tcgether in all its many cities. A few out to behold the harrowing sight, was inde- notes respecting them will doubtless interest scribable. The heads only conld be recognized.
your readers. It was impossible to know to which of the mur- Large numbers of these ancient people of dered men the severed members belonged.
God are supposed to have been settled in Moroc- Doubtless the Jews often exasperate the co from the earlier centuries of the Christian era. Moors beyond endurance by their nsurious if They were greatly increased by the influx from not dishonest extortions. The following incident Spain about the end of the fifteenth centnry. was just told me by a credible witness. In an When Columbus was sailing westward to dis- inland Morocco city a Moor died, leaving a wid- cover a new continent many scores of thousands ow and three little children. Before there had of wretched Israelites were sorrowfully making time elapsed to bury him, a Jew appeared, de· their way out of Spain and Portugal, where they manding from the widow the sum of $600, which had been enslaved and persecuted, and from he clainaed was dne him from the deceased. The which they were now finally banished. Spain had widow protested that it could not be so or she long afforded them an asylum. To them is would have known of it. She had nothing to largely due the attainment in arts and letters pay. He was one of the protected Jews referred that marked the period of Moslem conquest and to. At his demand the body of the dead man rule in Spain, and which has been so vaunted by was brought out of the house which had bethe admirers of Islam, which in itself is incapa- longed to him, and his widow and her children ble of aught but blight and ruiu. The descend- were also ejected. She buried her husband and ants of these forlorn Jews are now found then made her way to the house of the chief throughout Morocco. They densely fill the sep- rabbi of the Jewish community. She was ad- arately walled off portions assigned to them in mitted, her children being with her to add force the Moorish cities. These Jewish quarters are to her appeal. She tcld hina her piteous tale.
called the Mellahs or places of damnation. Into He was an upright man. He sent her away to these they are shut from sunset to sunrise. They return after three days. That night he called are downtrodden and despised. They formerly together the leading Jews of the place, the of- were compelled to wear only black garments. fending Jew among them. The rabbi, when Also when outside their Mellaha in many towns the Jew persisted in its being an honest debt, they must go in their bare feet. Neither may counted out before him the $600 in gold from his they ride through the Moorish part of the town. own store, and, placing their Scriptures before They are in constant dread of the Moors, who him, demanded of him that he shonld swear tc oppress and maltreat them. The Jew never the righteousness of his claim and then take his makes the least resistance. The fear of the na- money and restore the widow her house. He tions among whom they dwell is indeed upon refused to swear, from which his gnilt was evi- them as foretold. dent. The next morning the rabbi sent for I recently heard from an eye witness of an mules, and began lading them with his goods, appalling circumstance that occurred in Fez, the saying he would leave such an iniquitous people northern capital of Morocco, now less than a year before it was smitten with the wrath of God.
ago. ·Several Moors, it is asserted, had been The Jews gathered about hina and entreatedhina thrown into prison on false claims for debts and entreated him to stay, but without avail. brought against them by Jews who had the ben- Then they insisted on the offending Jew leaving efit of foreign protection, that is under the pro- the town, hanishing him from their midst. Upon tection of one of the foreign consuls. Such pro- this the old rabbi consented to remain. The tected natives, whether Jews or Moors,cannot be Moorish authorities were appealed to, and the called to account for their actions by the Moorish addule, or Moorish officer who conspired with authorities, being only answerable to the minis- the Jew and gave him a false paper on which he ter or consul who gives them protectIOn. The made his claina, was arrested, and on confessing friends of the agrieved Moors took summary his gnilt was thrown in prison, where he still re- and dreadful vengeance by waylaying nine of mains. the chief men of the Jewish community, includ- On the Jewish Sabbath just passed I accoming some of the offenders. They were on their way from the business part of Fez to the Mellak, panied a missionary of the Jews who is laboring In the gathering dusk, when they were enti~ed here to the Jewish synagogues, and there saw much the saml) scene as was witnessed when the Lord and IDs apostles were on the earth. sible tiDle; and to this end it is the duty of There was the venerable rnier of the synagogne. Christians to give personal effort and money. Then, too, after their reading of the law and Besides. this there are some things that need prayers it was virtually said to the friend I was special attention. One is to sonnd out a strong with, "If ye have any word of exhortation for voice against the Drink Tramc in the Free Congo tile people, say on." Whereupon he preached State. Such a protest will be concurred in by Christ to them from their own law, much in the the leading inlluence of the Established Churches same way that Paul did in Antioch, in Pisidia. of England and Scotland. At the same time, The place, the faces, the dress, the manners, the however, the arts of the opium trade aud use in service were all Oriental, Jewish and full of China and India, and of the free still system of Scriptnre suggestions. I noticed also that" when India'ought to be noticed as great hindrances to they heard that he spake in the Hebrew ton!(ue the evangelization of the 600 millions in these to them, they kept the more silence." The two lands. brother I speak of was a converted Persian Jew who is the assistant of Mr. Zerbib, the mission- Another question in relation to which the ary of the London Jewish Society for Promoting Conference should give expression is this, viz.: the Gospel among the Jews_ He succeeded Mr. What shall be done with converts who have, in Guinsburg, who was long here, but has now accordance with the laws and us~ges which prebeen removed to Constantinople. He was much vail in China and India 'from the days of Abrabeloved in this field. ham, and before them, two or more wives. The present prevailing usages of different mission- I have no space to speak of my own work, ary societies is to require them to put away aU which is among the Moors and other Arabic- wives but one. I think this contrary to aposspeaking races of this vast and almost entirely tolic usage. I think they should be permitted til unevangelized empire. I have recently come to retain their wives till separated by death. I Mogador in the sonthern part of Morocco, from seud you a printed copy of my views. Tangier, where I have been working for several years. The outlook is full of promise. We are The estimated number of Buddhists. EdwlJ: hoping soon to be joined by others. Perhaps I Arnold, in his .. Light of Asia," states the num ought to mention that I am an independent missionary, unconnected with any society, and ber to be 470 millions-the greatest number or therefore looking to the Lord alone for needed direction and supplies. But we find it true that religionists of one sect in the world_ Others, al "He is faithful that promised." Mr. Eugene Rev. James Freeman Clarke, in his" Ten Great Levering, 2 Commerce street,Baltimore, receives Religions," states the number to be 300 millions, and forwards funds for me, Dr. John Peddie, and others at 250 millions, and so on_ These pastor of the Fifth Baptist Church, Philadel- statements are made with a view to discredit phia, and Rev. A. C. Dixou, pastor of the 1m· our holy religion. I regard these statements as manuel Baptist Church, Baltimore, know me entirely unwa'/"1"anted and uiuJUpported by facts well. The church of the first licensed me to and principles which guide in classifying re preach, and in the church of the second I was ligionists. I inclose a pamphlet in which I dis- ordained. My father was formerly a pastor in cuss the subject and give my reasons for fixing New York city. the number of Buddhists at 8eventy·two millions. Prof. Monier Williams, who is a very much Ohina. more reliable man than EdWin Arnold or Dr. Freeman Clarke, states, as his opinion, that 100 LETTER from Dr. A. P. Happer: millions would be a large estimate of the Bud- [This lp.tter was written before the dhists in the world. It is too bad that Christian writers should accept and publish the opinion of meeting of the London Conference, skeptics and infidels on this point when there is and contains several important sug- positive testimony. If the Conference should appoint a committee on this point who would gestions in relation to its action, most publish a report, accepting Prof. Monier Will- iams's estimate of the number of Buddhists in of which received due attention.- the world, viz., 100 millions, it would be ac- cepted by Christiau writers as a reliaQle state- EDS.] ment, and do away with this infidel reproach to Christianity. For, with Protestant, Greek and CANTON, April 30, 1888. Roman Catholic followers, Christianity has the My DEAR DR. PIERSON.-THE MISSIONARY most numerous following lin the world, and au REVIEW OF THE WORLD for April has just ever increasing multitude. I include a pamph- reached me. I suppose you expect to be in Lon- let on this subject that may go into the hands of don from Juue !l-19th at the World's Missionary such" committee. Conference. I pray that the Spirit of God may be poured out upon the members with great Iu this day of multiplying the number of mis- power. sionaries, I think it specially importaut that There are some things that should have con- sideration of the Conference. First, and above some arrangements should b'e adopted to give all, it will seek to deepen the conviction in the whole Christian church that it is its duty to them some distinct and practical instruction aud evangelize the whole world in the shortest pos- training regarding the work to be done, and the best way to do it, by missionaries, men and women. :Many men and women come out with In what lis God glorified t 1110 being kTI(JWn. the most indefinite idea of what they are to do, A biographer. in making people adniire his hero, or how to do it. I inclose a pamphlet on this does a great deal of "touching-up," cutting paint. I do emphasize !uno it may best be none. down faults and expanding virtues. A homan I favor a professorship in existing institntions, character suft'ers by being perfectly known. But though a distinct institute for that purpose may the glory Of God is in being known. Our busibe best. ness is simply to cry with Isaiah, "Behold your God! " One cannot look at the sun without Some of these papers may be of use to you, if Beeing ItB brightness. One cannot look on Jethese pOints come up in the Conference, and I hovah without beholding His glory. noticethat several ofthem are on the programme. The drink trade in Africa, and the opium trade If, then, we would be God-gloriften, we in India :and China, I observe, are not down, must be God-revealers. Isa. ii : 9-" The earth but I think they ought to be acted upon. The shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord." number of Buddhists is a matter of fact, and it Hab. Ii : 14-" The earth shall be filled with the somewhat concerns the honor of our Lord, and knowledge of the glory of the Lord." The two it is easy to vindicate that point from the taunts are one. To know Him is to know His glory. of infidels by Btating the fact. . When His glory is known, then He is glorified. The end of creation and redemptionis attained. With best wishes, and praying that a special In both passages it is written that this knowlblessing may rest upon the Conference and the edge is to fill the earth "as the waters wver the Spirit of God direct all their counsels. sea." God has set the limits of the sea, and from limit to limit the waters sweep. The Yours in Christian work, limits of the gospeJ.sea are uothing short of the A. P. HAPl'ER. limits of "the earth." "As the Waters Cover the Sea." Here, in India, we have tracts nearly equal to FROM Rev. John M. Forman. London in population, which are unoccupied. FATERGARR, N. W. P. INDIA, May 26, 1888. In China there are a thousand counties, averag- .. What i8 the chief end of man!" "To ing in population about the same as English glorify God and to enjoy Him forever." counties, unoccupied. The Soudan, with about To ENJOY GOD. 1. The Christian is sure of 70,000,000, occupied by two young men I If all heaven, and the JOY of heaven is God. So, as this extent is to be filled with the knowledge of to future enjoyment of God, he is certain. Let the King of Glory, we must be at work. him, then, be glad of what he has, and go on to " As THE WATERS COVER TI'IE SEA."-The the next point. waters fill every crack and crevice. How differ- 2. The present enjoyment of God. Any child ent from the knowledge of God thus far. Look at London, Boston, New York, Chicltgo and the knows that when he takes candy into his mouth he need not try to enjoy it. The enjoyment is Great West. The number of unfilled corners is iuevitable. A man who tries to be happy is un- allpalling. Then look at our nominallyoccupud happy. But even an atllicted and sorrowful fields in India, China, etc. Here in the district soul, when once occupied in seeking to make of Fauakhabad (one of our oldest mission-fields) others happy, is itself happy. When the enjoy- we have yet some half million practically unment of God is our aim, we fail to eUJoy Him. touched. If this world is really to be filled with Simply because the aim is selfish, and selfishness the knowledge of Jehovah we must be up and is sin, and sin hides God from us. doing. "Woe unto them that are at ease in Zion." A man who carries the name of Christ The way to enjoy God is so to live that He and does not try to fill the earth with the gospel enjoy us, i. e., to please Him. There is no ques- is a clog to the wheels. He is a destroyer… He tion as to Enoch's having a keen enjoyment of also that is slack in his work is brother to him God, as he walked with God; for in that walk- that is a destroyer." ing he had "witness borne to him that he had been well-pleasing unto God." But wbat an inspiration in this prophecy I It will be fulfilled. The sea bed with all its rough- The way to enjoy God is to please God. The nesses,ups and downs, is covered by one great way to please God is to fall in with His plans. ocean. So this earth, scarred and furrowed and The consummate plan of God is God's glory. valleyed by sin, is to be covered by the glory of Then, though man has two ends, he must have but one aim. That one conscious aim or pur- the Lord. And when we look we Bee His glory, pose Is TO GLORIFY GOD. glory; nothing but a sea of glory I Praise the Lord I "Let us fall in line with God's plan, not :Many Christians think this savors of tran- with theories but with work, giving first of all . scendentalism. But Paul, by the Holy Ghost, makes it a plain, business·like. every-day prin- our own selves unto the Lord. " ciple. "Whether, therefore, ye eat or drink, or whatsoever ye do, ·do all to the glory of God." "Now concerning the collection," give cheer- Our first petition must be, "Hallowed be Thy folly, give liberally, give to the last cent. What uame." Christ's loftiest prayer is "Father, is holding the wealth of a million millionaires glorify Thy name. And there came a voice from compared with knowing that we have" fellowheaven saying, 'I have both glorified it, and I ship with God" in His glorions purpose! When will glorify it again.' " Alexander Duff was a yonng man he locked his closet door and said," Silver and gold have I years, at last will throw open the doors to none, but such as I have give I thee; I give thee missionary efforts over the length and breadth myself." Young man, young woman, go and of Dutch India. Being thus challenged to send do thou likewise. And let the mother teach her out more missionaries it is to be confidently ex- child from infancy that the only thing worth liv- pected that the Christians of Holland w!ll, in the ing for is to fill the earth with the knowledge of name of God, accept the challenge. So be It.
God. Japan . .. What Beest thou 1 And I said, I see a rod of an almond tree (shaked). Then said the Lord LETTER from Rev. C. S. Eby: unto me, Thou hast well seen: for I watch (shaked) over my word to perform it." As TOKIO, June 23, '88. sure as God is sure, this earth is to be filled DEAR BRETHREN.-I "m not sure whether I with the knowledge of the glory of Jehovah as have not already sent you a copy of my " Appeal the waters cover the sea. Brother, if you are for Japan," at all events I send you a copy each not striving for foreign missions, you are miss- by the present mail, and also a copy of the ing the purpose of your creation. course oflectnres delivered in the Meiji Kwaido in 1583, English edi!ion.
LETTER from Rev. F. Leon Cachet: I am delighted with tl:.e MISSIONARY BEVIEW OF THE WORLD, and wish it godspeed ; it will [Foreign Secretary of the Dutch do much to stimulate the missionary zeal of the Reformed Missionary Society, Rot- churches and to promote the missionary revival terdam, Holland. The news it con- almost upon us. God grant that the real misveys will carry joy to the missionary sionary age may soon dawn when the efforts of world.-EDS.] the churches will be commensurate with their AlIlLITY and with the OPPORTUNITIES of the DEAR EDITORS.-Will you allow me room in hour.
your highly valued REVIEW to state that the Rev. The " Appeal " will speak for itself. I do feel Mr. Cook's' powerful appeal,' which you give in that the imperial opportunity in Japan is not your June number (p. 448), respecting the want being fully met by ordinary methods, arid tre- of missionaries in Dutch India, and which ap _ mendous forces of prejudice and unbelief and peared at length iu The Straits Times, is bearing imported misbelief run rampant and almost un- good fruit alre!,dy. You must know that there rebuked, except in a small way. A large and was a change of government in the Netherlands bold movement" takes" with the Japanese as a few weeks since, and one of the first official well as with any people, and through the central acts of the new Secretary of State for the col- institution piIrpose we shall be able to speak so onies, Mr. Reuchenius, was to send a circular as to be heard by an empire.
to all the Protestant mission society in the Neth- Will you give the aid of your powerful advo- erlands, of which the following is a translation: cacy? Surely there are devoted men of wealth "COLONIAL OFFICE, No. 46. who would invest. May our common Master THE HAGUE, May 8, 1888. guide.
In an article, 'Netherland's India: An Ap- Spain. peal,' appearing In The Straits Times, a Singa- pore newspaper of March 6th, attention is drawn ~ur readers will recall the brief to what Dr. Schreiber, Secretary of the Rheney appeal we made in our July issue in Mission at Basmey, had pointed out ten years behalf of these heroic missionaries. ago, that the number of missionaries in Dutch The Lord gl'antedspeedy help, and we India should be greatly increased, in order to rejoice with His sel'vants.-EDS.] counteract the growing influence of Islam there: and it is further shown how great the need FIGUERAS, SPAIN, June 30, 1888.
yet is that the number of missionaries should he DEAR EDlTORs.-The pastor nnites with me increased. It appears to me that this article de- in thanking you very warmly for so kindly in- serves, in every respect, yonr attention, and I serting my last letter in your valuabie MISSION- therefore do myself the pleasure to offer you a ARY REVIEW. If you remember, it was there copy thereof. stated that we were anxious to build a Gospel I need hardly state that the government Hall in this dark Spanish town, and that £400 would valne it highly if the mission societies in was needed for a site. A friend, then traveling the Netherlands would put forth their utmost in Italy, most kindly wrote telling us to buy the efforts to increase the number of missionaries in land at once, adding, 'I will cover the cost.' The butch India, and to counteract the increasing pastor lost not a moment in trying to secure it, influenee of Islam among the heathen in the but the lawyer would not credit the assurance Indian Archipelago. that the money would shortly he sent from Eng- The Minister for the Colonies, land, and refused to draw up the legal document.
(Signed) " REUCHENlUS." The landlady, however, agreed to wait a couple This is a most important docnment, as it of week•.
shows that the Dntch Government, after having The Romanists at once seized their opportu- more than favored the Mohammedans for many nity. Deputations from the Societies of St. Yin·
INTERNATIONAL DEPAtfT:M:E~'t'. [SEP'l'
cont de Paul and the Holy CroBS, beaded by tbe returniug home iill after midnight. Will your rector of tbe largest church here, called on the readers praythat his precious life,and thoseofhis landlady and urged that she on no account be fellow workers, may be preserved. Our comfort gnilty of selling land for a Protestant capilla. At and conlldence is that .. not a shot cau hit till the same time they laid down the money (£400) the God of love sees lit." For the angel of the for·the site, and also £1,400 to purchase a house Lord eilcampeth ronnd them tbat fear Him, aud "nd garden adjoining, thus effectually shutting delivereth them. From month to month our the Protestants out on each side. All we could do little party give a hearty welcome to your valuwas to unite in prayer that God would undertake able and most interesting M,SSIONARY REVIEW for US and for the honor ofilis cause. The triumph OF THE WORLD. Wishing it increased blessing of the enemies of the trnth seemed complete. and a yet wider circulation, But, contrary to all expectations, a far better Yours faithfully, site was immediately offered for sale. It is EMILY LOPEZ RODRIGUEZ. situated in the principal street, in a central part of the town, having also the great advantage Afrioa. that it commands a back street by which many who, like Nicodemus, lack courage, may be LETTER from Rev. Jos. Clark: able to enter the hall unobserved. Our only dilllculty was that the price, including govern- CONGO, PACAVALA STATION, May 9,1888. ment payments and legal costs, came to £250 Rev. J. H. Weeks and Mrs. Weeks, also more than we had in hand. This we laid Rev. A. D. Slade, all of B. M. S. (English), arbefore the Lord in prayer, and He graciously rived safely at Bauana ou the 24th of April. Mr. answered by inclining the hearts of two of His and Mrs. Weeks spent some considerable time servants to come to the rescue. In addition to at San Salvador, Congo, and have beeu to Enga former donation of £100, a friend in Surrey land for rest and change. sent us £200 more, and another in Scotland Receut reports from Bishop Taylor's party £50. Thus the e:JJact sum needed arrived just state that M,.,.. Walker has been ill and delayed in time to make the purchase I Truly the in journey to Stanley Pool. When taken ill she Lord has made what seemed so evil to • work was fortunately able to be taken on to our Lu- together for good,' kunga Station. Messrs. Waiker and Burr are also there. About 600 loads of their steamer are What would not the Romanists give if they now at Isangila; none beyond. could take from us that precious site I But it French, State and trading steamers refuse to is legally secured. .. If God be for us, who can take Mr. Brooks and his companion to the falls be against us f" All that now remains for us to of the Mobangi, where he desires to be placed so do is to build the first permanent Gospel Hall as to work his way to the Soudan. They refuse in the province of Gorona. Being for the to leave him in any place except where there is Mastor's glory, we believe that through His a station with white men. servants He will provide the means. Recent news from Stanley's Aruwimi camp report the whites there all well, bnt a good deal Since writing the above we have heard, on of sickness among the Zanzibaris. No news of reliable authority, that a priest belonging to a Stauley. church quite near to our new site, said, 'I All well at various missiou stations. would gladly have given $5,000 to have 'Jre- May, 12, '88.-Mr. J. S. Cutler of Ohio, who vented the Protestants bnying that plot of land.' joined himself to Bishop Taylor's mission here, Last Sunday night, while we were returning died at Vivi on the 3d May of gastritis. He was home from the service, a man was seen hanging about 65 years of age. about our house armed with two long knives, and At Vivi aud Isangila the bishop's people are was arrested by the civil guards. We thank God working hard at getting the steamer up country, for what we have reason to believe was a narrow but they are hampered for trade goods (cloth escape. Of Rome our Lord's words still hold etc.,) wherewith to pay carriers. Those that good, .. The time cometh that whosoever killeth are left are not at all dismayed, though their you will think that he doeth God service." In numbers have been greatly reduced. If the preaching among the villages the pastor has to Methodist Church "Would only take up the work, drive along very lonely country roads, often not they have a grand opening before them.
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D., OF THE "INTERNATIONAL MIS- SIONARY UNION."
The Medioal Work in Missions.* sityof urging the importance of the BY REV. EDWARD CHESTER, M.D., medical, in connection with other forms of mission work. And more INDIA. than ever before, most missions are feelIng that the medical work THE time has passed for the neces- must be cared for and }'alued, just *Read before International Missionary Union, Bridgton, N. J., 1888. as are the educational, the evan- Fourth, and lastly, the exigency of gelistic and the congregation and the times demands a much larger church work, and that for women force of medical men and women and girls. upon mission fields.
There will be cases where the par- 1. The medical work should be ticular circumstances of location, given a place in every well organized custom, a deficiency of funds, or a mission. I do not mean the having paucity of laborers may render it one or even more men in a mission almost impossible to carryon every who know a little about medicine, or form of mission work. But in a mis- even have a degree,. providing they sion with a sufficient force, not confine their medical work to the lim- cramped for funds, and with ability o its of their own family and servants, to undertake the various forms of or even the families of the catechists mission work, the medical work and teachers living at headquarters.
should be conducted with the same Nor do I mean an occasional taking care and energy as the educational up of the medical work for a week or or other form of labor. two, and then giving it up for months The statement that the medical at a time. With the same expecta.- work is very expensive, almost as tion of permanency as you would much so as the educational, will not commence a high school or boarding be found true in all cases. And it is school at headquarters, with the a question whether it may not al- same use of recognized appliances, ways be almost self – supporting. the same amount of energy and sys- Certain it is, that the medical man tem in carrying on the work, and the himself in each locality may do same generosity in the use of funds very much to make this work in a for necessary expenses, thus only, is mission inexpensive, and it depends it of any real use to conduct the greatly upon him whether it is pop- medical work in missions. One or ular with the people and a success more dispensaries at important cen- or not. tel's; a hospital, if the funds will I would start with the proposition allow, and accommodation in this for "that in organizing any new mission at least a dozen in-patients, a good in a locality where none had existed supply of inexpensive medicine, so before, the medical work should be. that all the out-patients as well, who given a place, as much as the educa- attend the dispensary, may receive a tional or the WOJ:k of preachmg. supply of medicme; a sufficient staff And even in missions of long stand- of native trained assistants to pre- ing, if the medical work has not been scribe, compound, and look after entertained, I would' urge a trial of surgical cases, with a sufficient stock it, with an eye to the great gain it of surgical instruments for all mi- would be to the mission. nor operations. All these are neces- My second point would be that the sary for a successful medical work in medical work in a mission must be a mission.
eminently evangelistic, and In har- I have for years, m my mission mony with all the other work of the work in India, found it wise, as en- mission. abling me to save myself for more A third consideration is that if the important work, to do nothing my- medical work is taken up at all in a self which could be about as well mission, it must be a thorough and done by a native. It is on this line efficient work-one which will com- that I have always had, in my work ..land the respect and regard of all in the Dindigal Dispensary, such a classes. staff of native assistants that I could trust the work to them for a few the relief of suffering and saving of days at a time, when obliged to be life. myself out in the villages. In short, I think that in the medical work 2. But I pass to the second point: in missions, as in the educational that the medical work in a mission work, those steps must be taken which must be eminently evangelistic and will insure success. The natives of in harmony with all the other work India are clever enough to know of the mission. The more skilful the which are the best schools, the gov- medical missionary as a physician, ernment or the mission schools, and the more clever as a surgeon, the choose the best, which are, as a rule, better for the work and for making the latter, even though they know it a success, so far as popularity goes. they will have to give an hour a day, But it will not be a success as a for five days of the week, to the study mission work unless the saving of of the Bible. And just so is it with souls is ever brought to the front as dispensaries in India. As a rule, the the main object to be accomplished, mission dispensary is the most popu- and unless the medical missionary is lar and has the largest attendance. eminently a spiritual man with much And it is good policy for any mission of the mind of Jesus. As in New to make its schools and its dispensa- England of old, the church and the ries the best in the market. schoolhouse were side by side, and each helping the other, so should the Tothe work of the dispensary and church and the schoolhouse and the the hospital already noted, I would dispensary, on mission ground, work add, to be attended to, if possible, into one another's hands and be emiby the medical missionary, the train- nently fellow-workers. In a mission ing of good native men and women dispensary, among out-patients and for the work of hospital assistants Ill-patients, there is ample opporand nurses. Then native Christians tunity for making known the goscould be selected, and a choice made pel. And oftentimes the patients among these, so as to secure those are in such a state of mind that they who would add evangelistic to their may truly be said to hear the Word medical work:. gladly. In every part of our mission work we turn to the Lord Jesus as I would give the medical work a our great example. But eminently place in every well organized mission, in the medical work must we follow because I believe that, in a very His example in striving to reach the specialdegree, it adds to the efficiency heart and save the soul by showing of every branch of mission work, and our desire to relieve suffering, to heal makes the work, as a whole, more the sick, to give sight to the blind, successful. and hearing to the deaf. The medical work in missions is nothing, save as I would do so, also, because I think it helps to show to the heathen that that it furnishes, in the course of a the divine Christ is the center, the year, a very large number of most at- soul anltthe life of Christianity, and tentive and mterested hearers of the that we are His disciples and followgospel, not to say scholars. I would ers. do so because I think it gives us an entrance into many houses, 3. Our third consideration is that and an intimacy and friendship If the medIcal work is taken up at all with many of the more intelli- in a mission, it must be a thorough gent, respectable and influential na- and efficient work, one which will tives, such as could be secured in no command the respect and regard of other WilY. And all this quite aside all classes. In all cases with which from the positivegoodresulting from I am acquainted in India, the medical form of medical disease and surgical, missionary has become proficient in of which our best American medithe vernacular, so that he speaks cal text books inform us. And a with his native patients without the medical missionary has seldom the help of an interpreter. 'I'his is sel- opportunity of holding a consultadom the case with the civil or govern- tion with a brothel' doctor, even in ment dispensaries. But this greatly a dangerous case, requiring, perhaps, pleases the natives, especially the a most difficult surgical operation. women. Then, with hardly an ex- The nearest European doctor, as in ception, the rule in a mission dis- the case of the writer, may be 38 pensary is one of kindness. Not only miles away, and the medical missionis the medical missionary very care- ary may have to treat all his medical ful to gain the affection of the native cases and decide upon all his surgIcal patients by his invariable krndness, operations entirely by himself. If a but he insists upon his native assist- mission would have the medical ants in the dispensary following his work a Slccess, it must be willing to example. And here the natives are take pains to secure a really efficient not slow to mark the difference be- workman and grudge no expenditure tween the mission and other dispen- which is necessary to secure him a saries. competent corps of native assistants and a fair supply of surgical instru- But, important as it is to let the ments and medicine. law of the dispensary be a law of love, other things must be added. The medical mission work has been The work of the dispensary must be found to pay, and to pay well, in all carried on with the greatest regular- cases where it has been conducted ity, precision and care. It must be properly and in a liberal spirit. Indecidedly first-class work. There is stances to prove this could be given no place here for half-way work, by the hour. Thorough work and skimping 01' sham. He who is not the best, carried on in love to Christ willing to give his whole time, his and souls, and for Christ's sake, this whole heart, and his whole love to must be the motto and life of all sucthe medical mission work, had better cessful medical mission work. leave it alone altogether. The loathesome leper must have our best care 4. Fourth, and lastly, the exigency as well as the simple cases of fever. of the times demands a much larger Case;; of cholera and small-pox can force of medical men and women in no more be avoided or neglected than mission fields. I can speak of India the farmer neglect to feed his horses from what I know of the state of 01' cattle. The best results, which mission work there, after an experionly follow the best service, must ence of twenty-eight years. But gain for a mission dispensary a good what I note of India, I think, I may, name. Let no one imagine that a with equal force and truth, say of mere smattering of medical matters, China, Japan, Turkey, Persia and the knowledge of medicine which Syria. Never before has there been would be picked up in reading a few such an interest felt in medical mis- pages here and there of the books sion work; never before such an denominated" Medicine for the Fam-' opportunity afforded for reaching the ily" would suffice to enable a man people through the dispensary. In to have charge of a dispensary in India the Lady Duiferin scheme has India, Japan, China 01' Africa, where, excited an intense interest through- in the course of a month, there may out the whole of India in the medical present themselves almost every work for women, and though more lady physicians have come out to India in connection with the various pensaries. Even for this purely evangelical missions during the past evangelistic work we need more medten years than in all previous years, ical missionaries. And I can speak yet it seems to-day as if there were from personal experience when I say places for scores more. And in the that with an efficient corps of trainmedical mission work for women, in ed native assistants in his dispensaall the countries noted above, there ries the medical missionary can do is, perhaps, the strongest argument a great d('al of evangelistic work. for the importance of the medical For 24 years I have been compelled, mission work, the strongest ground from th£' smallness of our mission of its great necessity as a part of force, to have charge of a large and mission work, than can possibly be important station, with its churches given. I need not take fl'om any and congregations and schools of table of statistics the proportion of various grades, and the work of the women to men in the population of itineracy, or preaching in heathen the prominent countries of, the East. villages, while carrying on all my Their number is immense. And with medical work. An English service all this countless number of women every Sunday evening, with an Engand girls there is no possible way of lish sermon, has been thrown in as a reaching them and influencing them, matter of simple recreation. It has and blessing them, which will com- truly, however, been a great pleaspare with that in the power of the ure. Christian lady physician. To ev('ry lady physlCian now on the ground, That my Dindigal dispensary has in the countries noted above, if there been of the greatest help to me in were ten, yes, a score, it would not my general mission work, I have had be one too many for the great and many proofs. I have gained the good impol·tant work the Lord is giving to will of the people; our native pastors just this class of Christian laborel's. and catechists can preach and sell Scripture portions and tracts in any And the number of male medical part of the station without any fear missionaries should be greatly in- of insult or opposition. They are creased. We can do much of our listened to with the greatest interest. work through our native Christians, I would receive a welcome in the but they require to be trained for house of any man in the whole of the special work. We can never, in any Dindigal district. I find it more easy, heathen or Mohammedan country, on this very account, to establish expect to have all the European or schools in the villages, and I receive American laborers required for the more money from the people for evangelization of these countries. their support. And the Dindigal dis- We must call to our aid the natives pensary and hospital, with about of the different countries. But for 9,000 new cases every year, and 20.- aid in Christian work the missionary 000 old cases, or those coming more must train them for each specific than once to the dispensary, and form of mission work. For the med- patients coming in the same period ical work, both among men and from 500 and more different villages, women, many more native men and have cost the mission nothing these women need to be carefully trained, 24 years, from the first year they and this is an important work de- were established. For my services, volving on the medical missionary. which I am only too glad to give gratuitously, the English Govern- I have already alluded to the large ment gives me the whole cost of the and appreciative audiences which the dispensary establishment, all the medical missionary has in his dismedicines required each year, and all about doing good to all. A mission the surgical instruments and hospital dIspensary on heathen ground is a. appliances. The American Board of beautiful and strikmg object lesson. Foreign Missions kindly gave me the It is ever educating the heathen in money for the hospital and dispen- the first principles of the gospel. Its sary buildings, which secures these golden word is "Love," its motto, permanently to the mission. " Therefore, all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do And I see no reason why the Eng- ye even so to them." lish Government would not grant International Missionary Union, Fifth this favor in any part 0/ India, if Annual Meeting.
satisfied that a medical work in a As the International Missionary given locality is needed, and will be Union IS a unique institution, not yet carried on efficiently. fully understood in many quarters, and unheard of in some others, we After these twenty-eight years in may once more introduce it to our India, watchillg with intense interest readers as a permanent organization the work in various missions and va- seeking to accomplish in its measure, rious localities, I have been forced to the same general ends aImed to be the conviction that it is not best to reached by the great missionary undertake anyone form of mission conferences in bringing together the work at the expense of the others, missionaries of all societies, from all but rather have them all carried on fields, that they may annually comwith as much skill and energy as pare views on current developments possible, letting each help and sup- of Christ's kingdom in the several port the other. I would not, there- parts of the globe. The Union was fore, exalt the medical work beyond organized at Niagara Falls, Canada, others, which for many veal'S have in the summer of 1884, met there been found worthy of trial. I would, again in 1885, and at Thousand Island however, strive to have this work Park in the River St. Lawrence in given the place it deserves, and fairly 1886 and 1887. It is composed of re- turned foreign missionaries of all tried. branches of the Evangelical Protest- W hen we see m England and ant Church, temporarily or perma- nently in America. Its international America the splendid building's which character has thus far embraced are being erected for hospitals, when representatives of the British Empire we know what large amounts are and the United States of America. necessary to carry them on success- The constitution names as the object fully, we cannot believe that this of the Union "to promote the gen- medical work is being tried, and the eral cause of Missions in all possible large expenditure made without care- ways, chiefly by the diffusion of mis- ful consIderation. More costly hos- sionary mtelligence, the discussion pitals are being built and a larger of missionary topics, and the increas- expenditure incurred, because it is ing of mutual acquaintance among known that the work appeals to the missionaries of different churches interest and sympathy of the whole and countries." people. And none the less is this medical work needed in heathen The Union holds one meeting a. lands. We cannot conduct it on such year, as near August as possible, on a magnificent scale as in this country. invitation of such community as may It is not necessary. But we can show proffer entertainment to its members the heathen, in a much less expen- sive manner, the same lesson of the gospel, and how our Lord and Master cared for His fellow men, and went a.nd be easily accessible.Thetotal num- fifth annual meeting, held in Bridgel>er of missionaries now enrolled is 134. ton, New Jersey (1888), are found On the roll of attendance at the the following names: Years of NAME. Field. Denomination. Service.
1858–…•. Rev. H. N. Barnum. D.D ..•.•••………••.•…•. Turkey•••••.. American Board. 186(}-'64….. Rev. A. Bates …………•…•••.••…..••.•….• Ceylon.••…… American Board. 1879-·81. •.•. Rev. W. H. Belden…………………………. Bulgaria.•.•••. AmericanBoard. " ….. Mrs. " …………………………. Bulgaria..•…. American Board. 1861-·69•…. Mrs. M. H. Bixby………………………….. Burmah .•.•…. Baptist. 1S6{}–•…. Rev. E. Chester. M.D ..••••…•…•••••.•.•…… India ….••..•.. American Board. 1867-·74•…. Rev. M. B. Comfort ……………•.. , ..•••…… Assam•…•….. Baptist. 1878-'84•..•• Miss C. H. Daniells, M.D ……………………. India ……….. Baptist. 1869-'70….. Rev. J. A. Davis …………………………… China………. Reformed " ., … Mrs. " …………………………… China………. Reformed. 1834-'84•…. Itev. William Dean, D.D ……………………. China……… Baptist. 1883- – ….. Rev. N. H. Demarest……………………….. Japan .••……. Reformed. 1846- – ….. Rev. S. B. Fairbank……………………….. Iudia……….. American Board. Rev. L. A. Gould…………………………… China………. Baptist. Mrs. " …………………………… China………. Baptist. 1861-'68•••• Rev. J. T. Gracey. D.D ……………………… India ……….. MethodistEpiscopal 1856- – ….. Rev. R. H. Graves. M.D .•……………•……• China………. Southern Baptist. 1837-·77….. Rev. Cyrus Hamlin. D.D.• LL.D ……………… Turkey ……… American Board. 1885- – •…. Ira Harris. M.D.. . .. .. . . . . ••• .. . …………… Syria ……….. Presbyterian. 1884- – .•… Mrs. " ……………………………. Syria•…•…… Presbyterian. 1846-·72••••. Rev. Allen Hazen ………•••.•••…………•… India…..•….. AmericanBoard. M. B. Kirkpatrick. M.D …………………….. Burmah …….. Baptist. Rev. R. M. Luther. D.D. (Secretary) ………….. Burmah…….. Baptist. 1878-'83….. Rev. James Mudge ………………………… India ………. Methodist Episcopal 1870-'78….. Rev. R.E. Neighbor ………………………… India……….. Baptist. 1861-'82….. Mrs. S. E. Newton ………………. , ……….. India……….. Presbyterian. 1866- – ••••. Rev. H. V. Noyes ………………………….. China………. Presbyterian. 1872- -…. Mrs. " ………………………….. China………. Presbyterian. 1873- – ….. Rev. G. W. Painter………………………… China………. Sonthern Pres. 1570-'81. …. Rev. C. W. Park ………………………….. India ……….. AmericanBoard. 1885- – ….. Rev. J. L. Philli~s. M.D., D.D ………………. India ……….. Free Baptist. " ….. Mrs. ' ……………….. India ……….. Free Baptist. Regillald Radr.lilfe. Esq ..••.••..••…•.•…••…. Russia ..•••…. Church of England. 1877- – ….. Rev. J. H. Roberts …………………………. lJhina………. American Board. 1880-'86….. Rev. W. Royall ……………………………. China………. SouthernM.E. 1682- – ….. Rev. E. C. Scudder. Jr ……………………… India……….. Reformed. 1854- – ….. Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, M.R.C.S.• F.R.G.S ……. China………. Inland Mi,sion, 1848-·56….. Rev. Geor~e Thompson …………………….. Africa………. Am. Miss'y Society. 188()…'87….. Miss Jeume S. Vail ………………………… Japan ………. MethodistEpiscopal 1846-·64….. Rev. Edward Webb ………………………… India ……….. American Board. 1872-·82….. Miss Lula Whilden …………………………. China………. Southern Baptist.
To this group of missionaries was heartily sustained the Executive added Rev. Dr. Wm. Kincaid, one Committee in the experiment of apof the Secretaries of the American pointing the meeting aw&y from pop- Board, who made a handsome ad- ular summer resorts, and though the dress, in which he recognized the spe- smaller number was doubtle·<s in part cial benefits of such a union, not only attributable to this "new departto the missionaries, but to missionarv ure," yet the meeting was acknowlsecretaries and other prominenthome edged as equal to any of the precedworkers for missions. Rev. Dr. ing meetings in all other respects, Luther, a member of the Union by and superior to them in some features. virtue of service in Burmah, is also Bridgeton, through its churches, Di&;trict Secretary of the American represented by their Ministerial Un- Baptist Missionary Union. Miss ion, became the host of the Union McIntosh was the only lady secretary from July 5 to July 12 inclusive. It is this year, and she represented the a beautiful, thriving city, with glass, young organization .of the Woman's nail and iron manufactures and ex- Board of the Southern Baptist Con- tensive canning interests, seminaries vention. No one was discouraged by of learning, a personally highly rethe small number in attendance, as spected mayor and council, and not a compared with previous years, but 8aloon! The hospitality was cordial, and the guests found themselves af- annual meetings are usually inaugu- fected with "enlargement of the rated served to stir the finest relig- heart" ; the local newspapers gave ious emotions. This "Recognition daily reports of the meetings; fast meeting," in which each missionary friendships were made, and we trust introduces himself or herself, stating both entertainers and entertained field, form and years of service, call were made mutually helpful to each to the work, special difficulties, trials other in spiritual things. It will not and triumphs, or other personalfacts, be surprising if a gracious revival of tends at once, and at the beginning, religion shall follow on this sweet to blend souls that have hitherto only season of the "communion of saints." known each other through remoter The devotional meetings which agencies in purest fellowship. Cloud- occupied the first hour of each day's pillar and fire-pillar, springs in the exercises sustained the character of desert, manna that "tasted to every those of previous sessions. Dr.Dean man like that which he liked best,"
pronounced them amongst the most dew on Hermon, vision, miracle, par- precious· of his experience, and de- able and prophecy-all were recalled clared that of Tuesday morning to or realized in this mosaic of Chris- be the best meeting he had beep in tian narrative. One becomes confi- since he returned from China. Of dent that neither the Acts of the course, it was with depth of tender- Apostles nor the eleventh chapter of ness that these members prayed for Hebrews is yet finished, as he listens missionaries' children. The session to these "testimomes." God does devoted to interchange of thought on "in very deed yet dwell upon earth the specific power of the Holy Ghost and among men.
was not only one of earnest self- Turning from this feature of the searching, but of discrimination be- week to the free" round table" con- tween even the most highly analyzed versations on practical problems, one moral character and power and the finds in these meetings What Dr.
supernatural c~:;erations of the adora- Chester would call "sanctified com- ble Spirit. mon sense." The hour given to the If ever, since Pentecost, a company consideration of the subject of re- of Christians realized more fully the production of western ecclesiastical unity of the Spirit, it wDuld be diffi- forms on foreign mission fields was cult for any who enjoyed these hours the most remarkable of its kind the to name the place or time. The writer ever knew.
deeply spiritual character of the de- It was much more remarkable than votional hours of the Union through any participating in it had planned its five annual meetings suggests that or could have anticipated. The frank- that they be placed in the list of ness and freedom, the manifest intent "movable feasts." It were worth· to lay aside as far as possible the bias traveling across the continent to ex- of education, association or other perience the indwelling, the abiding preference, that each might contrib- presence of the Holy One as it· was ute his quota to the honestest pos- realized at Bridgeton. One may go in sible inlook to the real needs of the the strength of such meat more than foreign churches; earnest Chris- forty days. Some of the addresses, tian rivalry in making concessions, eminently those of Rev. J. Hudson without yielding or expecting any to Taylor and his associate, Reginald yield what he was supposed honor- RadclIffe, Esq., only served, if possi- ably to maintain-all made this ble, to deepen the divine impressions company of ten denominations ap- of the devotional hours. Even the pear a charmed circle. The equal of peculiar service with which these it has seldom been experienced. If the spirit that pervaded that com- American Indian vernaculars by pany could become the spirit of the Rev. E. _Arnold, of the St. Regis churches everywhere it would make Reservation, caused considerable dis.
but a mite of difference what forms cussion and showed wide diversity of of church government and polity ob- view. The question whether it was tained. Herfil was a Congregationalist desirable to bring natives from the brother saying that in his district the foreign fields to give them an educa- churches would in his judgment soon tion in Europe or America developed form into a modified episcopacy, as a the existence of only one set of opin- form of government most suitable to ions. All declared against the course, the native mind ; and another, a Pres- as leading to most unsatisfactory re- byterian, declared to be, in fact, a sults.
bishop over the churches under his A paper from Rev. Dr. Cunnyng- care; and others, not Presbyterians, ham, formerly of China, now Secre- conceding that the Japanese would taryof the Sunday-School Union of probably prefer and possibly come to the M. E. Church, South, was read, demand a Presbyterian form of gov- and followed by healthy discussion ernment, and yet another declaring on the development of this and other that the Anglican Church in China agencies for increasing-the interest of did not aim to strictly reproduce the the home churches in missions. Rev.
Episcopal polity, but to recognize in Dr. Barnum of Persia, who contrib- it such modifications as might nat- uted much of wisdom and interest to urally grow out of its new relations. several of the leading discussions, Some oC the discussions were much read an able pap{'r on" Some points more formal than others, and were of comparison between the mission- introduced by able papers. One of ary work of to-day and the early these was by Rev. Edward Chester, planting of Christianity."
M.D., on "Medical Missions," to Women's work for -heathen women which we have given the position of was considered during one session, leading article in this department, and the missionary ladies took part and which it is possible may be in the discussion, rendering there, as printed hereafter in other form for they did at the evening platform general circulation. meetingsand specialafternoon ladies'
Dr. Cyrus, Hamlin's paper on services, the most helpful interest to "Five Hundred Years of Islam" the whole annual session. Their con- was a terrible impeachment of Is- tribution to the spiritual directness lamic civilization. We hope to be and power of the devotional exercises able to favor the readers of the RE- was of great worth.
VIEW with this paper, and some others The papers and addresses cannot also hereafter. The wide range oC be all recounted, though none were experience and observation, and the below the merit that would entitle intimate personal acquaintance with them to speCIal mention. The even- Islam in Turkey, Persia, Bulgaria, ing platform meetings were devoted Africa, India, China, Ceylon, and to countries or to subjects, as other quarters of the globe, by the "India," or "Medical Missions."
members present, made the discus- One whole evening was occupied by sion of the subject of "Islam as a Civ- Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, founder and ilizer" one of rare value a.nd interest. present Superintendent of the cele- A paper presented by the writer of brated China Inland Mission, in these lines on Bible and other trans- narrating his personal experiences lations in' the Mexican vernaculars, and the development of his peculiar and another paper on the narrow- work which challenges solargeatten- ness and the limitations of the North tion. The spiritual effects of the simpIe story were not the least of the Several missionaries not present results of the evening with this sent their congratulations, and made brother, who was admitted to mem- suggestions of value for the future bership in the Union. The Union usefulness of the Union. We furhad been represented at the World's nish herewith the personal letter of Missionary Conference in London by the venerable Dr. Wood to the meettwo of its members, Rev. W. H. Bel- ing at Bridgeton. den and Mrs. Belden, and an hour was profitably and entertainly spent LETTTR from Rev. George W. in listening to their report of the Wood, D.D., to the Secretary of the great meeting from the personal and International Missionary Union: social, as well as the more official side. They evidently absorbed much, Unable myself to attend yonr meeting last and were able happily to reproduce it year, I was glad that the missions in Turkey for the delight of others. It was to Mr. and Mrs. Belden that the Union were so well represented by Drs. Hamlin and was primarily indebted for the courtesy of entertainment in. the city Barnum; and I hope tbat they and others from where they reside. that field may be with you also at Bridgeton dur- The address by R. Radcliffe, Esq., before the Union, on his personal ex- ing the present week. It would gratify me highperiences as an evangelist in several countries in Europe, eminently ly to be with you in bodily presence, as I shall Italy and Russia, was instructive and practically suggestive. It was a be in spirit and fullest sympathy; but the ordersurprise to most of those present, surely, to be told that Russia is pEn'- ing of the Divine Will, ever wise and good, defectly free for any number of evangelists who may go from person to nies me this privilege. From my late temporary person, and do effectivework through interpreters. sojourn in Summit, N. J., I have come with my The officers of the Union were, in wife for a little visiting among relatives and the main, re-elected, but Dr. Dean was added to the list of Vice-Presidents, friends in Livingston County, N. Y., on our way a class which Dr. Hamlin already. graced. to Dakota and Montana, to spend the summer, if The Rev. Mr. Mudge says; the Lord will, with children whom we have in .. Notes can give but ltttle idea of the rich those Territories. feast that was spread before us for each of the seven days, enlarging our stores of information, The death of our brother, Dr. Byington, has qnickenlng our sympathies, broadening Our view, deepening our consecration, and intensi- brought a great a1lliction upon the missions in fying our love for the work of saving the nations. We lloated ou a stream 01 keen enjoyment where Bulgaria and Turkey. Cut off in mid career of the pOints of beauty .ucceeded each other with almost bewildering rapidity. The people of a most useful life, he speaks to us impreSSively Bridgeton, who opened their doors to us with most cordial and abundant hospitality, showed of the supreme importance of spiritual and eteralso by their attendance a high degree of appreciation of the great privileges thus brought nal realities as a motive power in all Christian withiu their reach. Their pulpits were nearly alllll1ed on Sunday by the ·misslonaries, and the activity, and in the spirit of a true consecration, testimony of the pastors was that an entirely new era of interest in lllissions among their of a wise husbanding of physical energy in order people would date from this Convention. The members of the Union will certaiuly hold in to continuance of service in a world where the grateful remembrance their unstinted kindness. " most that we can do in the longest period that may be allowed to any of God's servants, is so greatly needed. '
May I exprees in a word the joy which I feel in the multiplying evidences of a new uprising of a zeal, not blind or tranSitory, for the conquest of the whole world to the dominion of Imman- uel, our Saviour and Lord 1 The trend of divine providences over our entire globe and the work of the Spirit in its measure and fruits in the hearts of Christ's true disciples, while accom- panied with much that is painful, bring to the church an appeal which it becomes us to wel- come with cheer and thauksgiving, and glad re- sponse in the line of individual and organized efforts to which we are called. :May you con- sultations be stimulating and productive of richer results for good than in years past, when occasion for congratulation was so great. In the might of the forces of evll in our Own country and in other lands, let ns see no ground of dis- couragement; for greater is He that is with ns than can be all they who are against us. What- ever drawbacks or defeats may occur, these are permitted for benellcent ends to which they are noedful or may be made subservient. What we may not now understand, we shall see hereafter
70ti THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
With adoring admiration of the wisdom that Is Dege of carrying it forward to new triumphll higher than oura, May the, be wise, faithful and happy, lind ui As I look forward, knowing that my con their turn be succeeded by a generation who nection With present Corms of service Is com- Ing to Its termination, I desire, with penitent 'shall be more honored and blessed even than confession and supplication in respect to my own relations to the cause I love, to give the hand of they, as workers together with God for the fulfellowship, with words only of encouragement, to the young and vigorous who have the prv- filment of all that He has promised to do for men, With fraternal affection and regard, youra most sincerely, GEO. W. WOOD.
V.-THE- MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY A. T. PIERSON, D.D.
JAPAN. of fellowship." What a scene was that to betoken the change that ABOUT twenty-five years ago a twenty-five years had brought I native of Japan, not known by name to modern history, conceived the The whole nation is awake and adidea that for his country to open her vancing. In 1872 the name of Chrisgates to Occidental civilization would tian was odious in Japan; now there be a benefit and blessing, and with are 16,000 who are loyal to Christ, a the prophetic foresight of a practical multitude of students there are waitpatriot and statesman, he dared pub- ing to learn of this new religion; and licly to advocate the abandonmen~ thousands are on the very pivotal of the exclusive policy hitherto pur- point of destiny, the question must sued by his nation. For such advo- speedily be determined whether they cacy he became so obnoxious to his become Ohristians or agnostics and countrymen that it was resolved to atheists. Years ago a school for put an end to his influence by put- boys and girls began in Yokohama; ting an end to his life. On a great now 'the boys' school is moved to festival day, when Japanese came Tokio, and becomes the Union Colfrom all quarters to do honor to the lege, with 300 students, under presigods of the kingdom, three bands dency of Dr. Hepburn; and the girls' prepared to waylay him: he escaped school remains at Yokohama as the the first, but fell into the hands of Isaac M. Ferris Seminary. Christhe second and perished. tianity is penetrating to the very borders of the land of the Rising A few months ago, a native pastor Sun. The Government itself offers was celebrating the Lord's Supper in to aid teachers while they are studyone of the Christian churches of the ing the Japanese tongue, and the island empire. He was a relative of door is wide open to Christian misthat murdered man who was the sions. Five denominations are united first modern martyr to his country's in the Union church, which is repreadvancement. In the congregation sented in the Union College. Young an old man arose and begged to be men are so anxious to get an educaheard. He said, "I am one of those tion and be fitted to preach to their who murdered that man, twenty-five countrymen that they resign lucrayears ago, and I want to confess my tive positions, or refuse tempting part in that crime. " The young pas- offers for secular positions, in order tor said, "By all the ancient customs to fit themselves for Christian serof Japan, I am bound to avenge that vice. Who shall guide these inquirblood-feud by plunging my dagger ing, intelligent minds and encourage into the throat of the man who was these young disciples, unless the the murderer of my relative. But church in this land supplies men and Christ's blood reconciles all blood- means? Was there ever such opporfeuds, and in Christ's name I wish to tunity offered by God 'for the evan~ extend to this brother the right hand g'elization of an empire containing on a persecution, and the Catholic thirty-eight millions of people I How converts recanted or fled to China, slow we are to go in and possess the or endured torture and martyrdom. 131nd I With a proper, prompt, ener- In 1835 Roman Catholic missions getic occupation of these wonderful again found a way into Korea by way fields of Christian labor, we might of China and Mantchuria, and the turn the whole future of the Sunrise Jesuits claimed 15,000 converts even Kingdom in the direction of the as late all 1857. cross: Not only is all antagonism abated, but Japan actually invites But we are especially concerned Christian teaching and missionary with the late opening for Protestant labor. The plowman may overtake missions. Japan in 1876 made the the reaper, and the treader of grapes first complete treaty with her neighhim that soweth the seed. The sower bor across the channel; six years' must carry the sickle. later, partly through the aid of the great Chinaman, Li Hung Chang, a KOREA. similar treaty was made with the United States. In 1884 the Presby- AFTER a strict isolation of centuries terian Board, at the solicitation of this hermit nation is open to the Rijutei, a Korean of rank, who was gospel. Its territory is partly penin- converted while representing his sular and partly insular; the penin- government in Japan, established a sula is about 400 miles long and 150 station at Seoul, H. N. Allen, M. D., miles broad, and is shaped like Italy. a medical miSSionary in China going Numerous adjacent islands constitute there. The American resident minthe Korean archipelago, chiefly of ister, General Foote, gave him an granite rock, some rising 2,000 feet appointment as physician to the above sea-level. The population legation. Dr. Allen was simply numbers from 8,000,000 to 12,000,000. tolerated at first by the Koreans; but during a revolt 10 Seoul, he skilfully The predominant religion is Bud- treated several persons of rank who dhism; though there are some follow- had been wounded, and saved the life ers of Confucius, as in China, and of the king's nephew, Min Yong Ik. some of a religion similar to that of He found the native doctors and sur- the Sin-tu in Japan. Indeed, Korea geons trying" to staunch the wounds seems, in some respects, a cross be- with wax, and his own scientific tween these two immediate neigh- treatment won the admiration of the bors. In 1882 Korea was, by treaty, Koreans. The king's nephew de- opened to American commerce, the clared they that believed him" sent key used by God to unlock this em- from heaven to cure the wounded." pire to the gospel was the medical His medical services to the royal m~88ton. Somewhere between the family led the king to build a gov- sixteenth and eighteenth centuries ernment hospital, which he named Romanism was carried into this Hay Min Lo, House of Civilized country by papal converts from Virtue, and which he placed under Japan and China. About one hun- the care of the Presbyterian mission dred years ago, Senghuni, a distin- and the supervision of Dr. Allen. guished official, professed conversion The mission finds in Rijutei a true and was baptized under the name of helper who has devoted his energies Peter; the missionaries were popu- to giving the Koreans the New lar, and the more educated classes Testament in their own tongue. Mr. saw that even this corrupted form of Arthington, of Leeds, gave the money Christianity was an improvement to pay for printing 3,000 copies of the upon "paganism. The government Irospels of Luke and John; and so became alarmed; the priesthood led the last door is opened by this her- change in public opinion, we would emphBSlm mit nation for the admission of the this fact, which very much simplifles the probgosPIlI. The working force has been lem : that you are not now asked to build and increased by the addition of Rev. Mr. furnish school-houses, supply native teachers, Underwood and Dr. Herron and his pay annual detlciencies, etc., but simply to fur- nish and support lady teachers to work witla wife; and some are so sanguine as to sympathetic Japanese in giving the girls ot Jwhope that God is going to work a pan .. Christian education. The ripe opportlD" greater and more rapid change here ity consists in this-that not only Christian than in Japan. Fragments of evan- clmrches, but non-Christian philanthropists, are gelical truth, brought by stealth from looking to Christianity as to the ouly force they the· Sunrise Kingdom, found their know of that will lift woman ont of her Ignoway to the heart of Rijutei. Years rance and degradation, and enable her to exert passed by, and the crisis came. such an Influence in the home as do the womell Rijutei was the means of saving the ot Christian lands." life of the queen, and so earned favor with the king. At once he went to Dr. Wm. Fleming Stevenson, while Japan, where he learned the way to Christ more perfectly, and so was an enthusiast in Missions, said to his led to undertake, like Luther, to give brethren: his own countrymen the Word of God in their own tongue. Here is .. We must not be over sanguine as to the rll' another pruof of God's seal on the ception given to the gospel in heathen communiwork of missions. A few years ago ties, as in Japan. It is partly of an Athenian type, born of cnrioslty and love of novelty; and we were just beginning missionary partly the result of proverbial politeness, giving teaching in Japan, and now Japanese courteons audience to a foreigner; and partly converts are proposing to go to the fruit of a Progressive, aggressive spirit, Korea as evangelists I which, especlaily in educated people, takes to Occidental civilization; and partly the movement SUGGESTIVE PARAGRAPHS. of governmental policy. From motives of State, neutrality is exercised. The Sabbath is ob- Desire of Japanese Philanthro- served in Japan only in government omces pists.-The Rev. J. H. De Forrest, a where are many foreiguers. The edict against missionary in Japan of the American Christianity Is not repealed, and much real Board, says in a recent letter: hostility hides behind the veil of indifference."
"Thoughtful Japanese have long been watch- The Mildmay meetings and all the ing missionaries and their methods of work; and when they compare the gifted women en- great religious societies' anniversagaged in school and evangelistic work with the better classes of women here, tbey see tbat ries held in England and America, in something-either that Christianity or civilization-has given tbe women of the west a posi- the month of May, have already their tion that excites their admiration and earnest longing to bave the women of Japan gain a sim- counterpart in Japan. This year the ilar place of influence. They also see that unless some way of elevating woman is systematically tide of these has been at its flood for uudertaken, Japan cannot push forward into the position of a truly civilized country. Hence it nearly the entire month in Tokio and happens that woman's work is now attracting tbe thought of philanthropists, who are asking vicinity. The meetings may be said in pnblic and in private that we aid them, espe- cially in the establishment of Christian girls' to have commenced with the fourth schools. We have already at hand importnnate calls for lady teachers from TokiO, Okayama, biennial meeting of the General As- Takahashi, Matsuyama, and other large cities; and what &11all we do in the face of these re- sembly of the United Church in qnests? Professor Toyama vehemently says, •It is an opportunity that missionaries cannot Japan, when fifty-seven churches, afford to lose.' In asking you to do all you an to take advantage of this unexampled represented by their delegates and a nearly equal number of natives and foreigner ministers met in Tokio, and a large number of clergymen of other churches were invited to sit as corre- spo n ding me m be-rs-. – .
. Mistaken Devotion.-In one of the great temples in Japan the devotion of the worshipers consists in running around the sacred building one hun- dred times, and dropping a piece of wood into a box at each round, when, the wearisome exertion being ended, the worshiper goes home tired and 000, about that of the United States very happy at the thought of having in 1845. done his god such worthy service. Are there not some Christians whose How the Gospel was first Planted activity is very similar to this, and of in Korea.-This incident is related about as much value? They are on by Mrs. Fannie Roper Feudge, Balthe street, running to all sorts of timore, Md. : meetings, and ever bustling from place to place. They feel and talk as .. Among many efforts made during the presif they were rendering most valuable ent century to carry the gospel into Korea, and service, and solace themselves in their weariness with the comfort that with little apparent success, one seed ot sacred they are doing great good and will have a rich reward. Yet really they truth was planted by a little Chinese lad shortly are accomplishing nothing. Their before Korea was opened to missionary effort ; exhausting labor is really only run- and this, so far as we know, was the first in nil ning round and round the temple; the hermit kingdom to spring up and bring forth no cause is advanced by it; God's fruit to the glory of God. This little boy's name name is not honored by it. was Ah Fung. He had been taught at one of the mission schools at Ningpo to read the Bible, Every indication goes to show that and to go to Jesus iu prayer whenever he was the Hermit Nation, as Korea is called, in need of help. When he was about nine years is rapidly leaving the hermitage and of age, his father took Ah Fung with him on one coming to the fore. The United of his trading expeditions to the Korean capital. States steamship Omaha has just By some mishap, while there, the boy was stolen arrived at Yokohama from Korea, and sold to the governor, who presented him to and Captain McNair reports his ob- his wife. She made him her page, and he would servations from a visit to that coun- often attempt to tell hili young mistress of the try, at whose capital, opened up to Saviour he loved and trusted, but withont avail, Americans by the treaty of 1882, he until one day the reaper Death took away her met the American Consul. For baby girl ; and then, in her great loneliness and miles, in the journey to Sevul, the sorrow, she recalled the words of her little page capital, the country looks like one about Jesus and His love, and asked him to teU vast cemetery, with its thousands of her the story agalu. Day after day did this green mounds on hillsides where Christian child talk of the Saviour, until she, too, sleeps the dust of more than ninety came to love this same Friend." generations. The crops are grown, the trades flourish as they do here. TEXTS AND THEMES. They have crime and criminals just as we do, but unlike our own courts, Zech. iv : 6-" Not by might (num- Korea punishes thieving with decap- bers), nor by power, but by my itation, consequently a great many Spirit." heads roll about wanting bodies to fit them. Remington and Martine rifles, Zechariah is encouraging Zerubbawith Gatling guns, the telegraph and bel,who was disheartened in attemptelectric lighting abound in parts of ing to build the second Temple by Korea, so rapid is the march of civil- paucity and poverty of the returned ization. Mission work is just begin- captives, who must be his human dening to occupy the ground, and no pendence. God assured him that not doubt there it will meet with great by a host of people, nor by human' opportunity for spreading the gospel, resources, but by His Spirit, all although at flrst the work will have work for <Sod is to be accomplished. to be limited to the youth. Korea When His Spirit moves, the most now contains a population of 20,000,- colossal mountain of obstacles be- comes a plain.
To enforce and illustrate this, the vision of this chapter is portrayed.
The candelabrum represents the church of God-God's golden light- bearer. The reservoir of prophecy supplies the lamps with oil. _ But the reservoir itself must be supplied by golden pipes, and these must connect with the living trees, which are per-
PROGRESS AND RESULTS 01' MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
ennial oil-producers. These trees, personal influence more obviously represent Jesus Christ in His royal appear. This compels us to shout and priestly offices as Mediator, in " grace! grace!" all the way from which offices He was typified in Ze- cornerstone to capstone. rubbabel and Joshua. Exodus xxxviii: 8-" And he made The way to build and nourish the laver of brass . . . of the churches is to depend on the Holy looking glasses of the women assem- Spirit. The foundation must be laid bling." in Jesus, and then the structure carried from corner to capstone as a The banished metal mirrors of ~he work of grace. Let us not despise women were contributed to be melted the day of small things. If the seven and cast into a laver for God's tabereyes of omniscience are supervising nacle. What a sacrifice of vanity! our work, and the seven hands of and what a lesson for us on the way omnipotence are building for us, to furnish God's house with needed even the feeblest, faintest body-a supplies! mere remnant-can build the temple of God in a strange land. This has 1. We ought to sacrifice our luxbeen the hope of missions always. uries. Not one step has ever heen taken successfully in d~pendence on num- 2. Common things may be put to bers or wealth or social patronage. uncommon uses-a brazen mirroJ' In no work does the Holy Spirit's becomes a brazen laver.
2. The instruments of vanity unto the sacred vessels of the tabernacle.
VI.-PROGRESS AND RESULTS OF MISSIONS: MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Africa•…,..Mr. Moil', of the African The native church among the Hydahs, Rev. J. Lake Company, states that at least Loomis Gould, missionary, has 42 communiten thousand slaves cross Lake Ny- cants. At the communion of the Thllngit Presassa every year. "I once looked into byterian Church, Sitka, on May 5th, Rev. A. E. the hold of a slave-dhow," he says, Austin received six adults and baptized four "and saw eighty or ninety little chil- infants. dren there. Oh, friends, if you had seen those eyes gazing up into yours, Austria.-The British and Foreign you would pray earnestly that this Bible Society distributed by sale and 'open sore,' as Livingstone called it, gift 20,597 Bibles, 102,01l Testaments might be healed."-Spirit of Mis- and 45,391 portions, making a total sions. of 167,959 volumes. The largest number was in the German language, -The first Christian church in the the next in Hungarian, then Bohe· Congo Free State was organized in mian, Hebrew, Roumanian, Servian, November of last year, and there are Polish, etc. now 1,062 converts in the Congo Mission. Burmah.-Sir Charles Bernard, wbo has two sisters working as missionaries of the Alaska.-The reports of the churches in South- Church of Scotland in India, has recently stated some interesting facts a.bout the east Alaska are f8ll of encouragement. Rev. S. Christian Karens of Burmah. He says they number about 200,000, that is, about one- Hall Young reports from Fort Wrangel47 com- third of the Karen people. There are from 500 to 600 congregations practically if not municants ; 7 added on examination and one by entirely self-supporting. It is their practice to set apart as much produce of their land certificate; adult baptisms, 7 ; Infant baptisms, as will support their native pastors,and this they do before appropriating any of the har- 4; enrollment of Sabbath-school, 50 ; collections vest for themselves. They also sen4 mig. sionaries into Siam, and support them fully. Corall purposes, $277. Rev. Eugene S. Willard -The annual meeting ofthe Bassein reports from the native church, Jnneau, com- Sgau Karen Churches was held remunicants, 'rI ; 'added on examination, 14, and by cently. During the year, 562 have certficate,13 ; adults baptized,14, and Infants, 1 ; enrollment of Sabbath-school, 80. Rev. Alonzo E. Austin reports from the native church, Sitka, communicants, 222. Added on examina- tion, Ill, and by certificate, 1. Adults baptized, 108, and Infants, 75. Enrollment of Sabbath- school, 175. Collections for all pnrposes. $70. been baptized on profession of faith, given away, the rest sold. The of whom an unusually large number American Bible Society has also have come from the heathen. The made a grant of $1,500 to the Evantotal contributions of th(l churches of gelical Society of France to aid in its work of Bible distribution. That the association for the year amount society has had in its service durto Rs. 41,000. The pupils in the town ing the year 42 colporteurs, and high school have increased to 400, the distributed 28,745 volumes of the largest number ever known in the Scriptures. history of the Bassein Sgau Karen Mission. Besides the Sgau Karen Germany.-Fifty years ago seven Association, there is a Pgho Karen Association having about 1,500 com- shoemakei's in a shop in the city of municants. The Henthada Karen Mission numbers 2,000 communi- Hamburg said, "By the grace of cants. These Christians have taxed God we will help io send the gospel to our destitute fellow-men." In themselves voluntarily to raise Rs. 5 twenty-five years they had estabper member toward new school buildings in the town of Henthada. Al- lished fifty self-supporting churches, ready Rs. 7,000 have been paid in, and the rest ,will be forthcoming had gathered out '10,000 converts, soon. It must be remembered that the great body of the Karens are had distributed 400,000 Bibles and small rice cultivators, yet they are willing to bear heavy burdens in or- 8,000,000 tracts, and had carried the der that their children may receive gospel to 50,000,000 of the race. It would take only 150 such men to carry the gospel to the whole world in twenty-five years. • -Pastor Rohrbach, of Berlin, said that he an education.. . gaioed his first ideas of evangelistic work from China.-The news from Central Mr. Moody, and when he read of the work of China, received by the China Inland Robert Moffat in Buchuanaland, he asked, Mission, is very cncoura.ging. Mr. " Cannot the same power be' brought to bear Stanley Smith reports 210 baptisms upon Germany Y" He was glad to say that the at one time, and as many inquirers. initiatory work of Dr. Schluembach, Dr. Somer- The Rev, G. Clark tells of preaching ville, Dr. Ziemann, and others, had done a great deal for the caose of evangelization. to immense audiences, sometimes as Hawaiian Islands.-Seventy years many as 4,000. It is stated that "a ago the inhabitants were depraved few as influential men as the empire has produced have embraced Christi- heathen, and human sacrifices formed anity, others are ready to do so, or a part of their religion. In 1820 the wish to reap the benefit of its civiliz- American Board sent the first mis- ing influences." Nine men have been sionaries there. From that time baptized and admitted to the Lord's Supper by the China Inland Mission there was steady progress; at one at Honan. This is stated to be the first Christian church founded in time, during a great awakening, 1,700 this province of 15,000,000 souls. The only other society at work in persons being received into the the province IS the Baptist Mission- church in one day. The time came ary Society, and there are but three when the islands could be called European agents in all this vast Christianized, and in 1863 the Amerpopulation.-O. M. Intelligencer. ican Board closed the evangelizing agE:ncy, continuing only the educa- China Inland Mission.-Ohina's Millions for tional, and an independent self-sus- taining native church was formed July says of last year's labors: "Looking on under the name of "The Hawaiian the work of the whole year, we have to praise Evangelical Association." From a report of the Association made in God for the addition of between five and six 1886 we gather the following: There are fifty-eight Hawaiian churches hundred members to the churches-a larger ac- connected with the Association re- porting 5,387 members, who paid cession than we have ever yet had to report. $8,463 for pastor's su~port; $9,829 for church building; $3,655 to send We look for yet greater results this year. All the gospel to others; $5,593 for misthe stations and oot-stations can be better cellaneous purposes; a total in one year of $28,142. worked by our augmented numbers."
France.-By the aid 01 the Ameri- Holland.-The Ministerof Colonies, can Bible Society the Bible Society of France has printed 10,000 copies of the New Testament, and distributed by sale and gift 13,938 volumes, of which 196 were Bibles, 9,486 Testa- Mr. Keuchenius, has sent a missive ments andS,487 portions. About one third of the entire number were to the various Missionary Societies in the Netherlands, declaring in it, that 8,523 probationers and 10,180 Chris- tians. This is Bishop Thoburn's the Dutch Government should like to " diocese."
see if the societies 01' unions afore- At the Conference on Foreign Mis- sions in London, Sir W. W. Hunter said could contribute largely to in- saId that while the ordinary increase of the population of India had been crease the number of missionaries in 10~ per cent. the increase of Chris- tians had been 64 pel' cent. in the last the Dutch East Indian Archipelago ten years.
and to stop the progressing influence -The Indian census shows that the native Christians are increasing of Islam among the heathen popula- fifteen times as fast as the general population. tion of these islands. -The Maharajah of Darbhauga, of N. D. SCHUUMANS. Bengal, has given $25,000 for a hos- HAARLEM, July 5. pital and dispensary in connection with Lady Dufferin's medical work. -The evangelical population founded a union His gifts for benevolent purposes the last eight years reach fully $1,- for the purpose of establishing schools independ- 700,000.
ent of the State becanse of the law forbidding Italy.-In this stronghold of Ro- man Catholicism the work of the the reading of the Bible and Christian teaching British and Foreign Bible Society has met with marked success during In olllcial schools. These independent schools the past year, the distribution being 83,349 copies in advance of the year are prospering; at the end of 1886 there were preceding. The figures are: Bibles, 7,322, Testaments, 18,885, and por- 441, In which 71,000 children receive a good ed- tions, 102,821; total, 129,028.
ucation.-JOIIN1Cil Reli{lieux. -A Japanese correspondent writes India.-The Hindus are not disposed to the Christian Union: to allow Christianity to win a victory " Sunday, March 25, was another rad·letter in India without a struggle. Publica- day in Kyoto. Twenty-five yonng men and tions in defense of Brahminism are eight young ladies, students in· onr Doshisha scattered widely over the country. schools, publicly confessed Christ as their Just now we hear of a Hindu Tract Society started in Madras, which is Savionr. This, with six young ladies baptized issuing large editions of handbills monthly, in which the Christian re- in January, and forty-three young men baptized ligion is furiously attacked. The English missionaries report that all In December, makes eighty-two accessions from this is working for good, and that "the Tamil country is being stirred the school during the current school year. Ten as never before." These conflicts are rousing men from their indifference, were received Into one of the city churches on and will lead to decision, either for Christ or against him. the same day. One of the young men joini~ -A Parsee Student. A Parseegirl in from the school is a son of one of the most fa- India named Sorabji has become mous men in Japan. The Osaka Church will quite distinguished for her intellec- dedicate a very large and commodious chnrch tual ability. In her University course April 5."
she has gained scholarships each Jews.-The number of Jews in the world is estimated by the Hebrew year, and has kept at the head of the .Annual at 6,500,000; of these 800,000 list of competitors in English. She are in Palestine. The largest disperhas recently graduated in the first sions are in Russia, which contains class. Only six students in all, of 2,550,000, of whom 766,000 are inRuswhom the remaining five were men, sian Poland; in Austria-Hungary, succeeded in obtaining this degree. 1,645,000; Turkish Empire, 800,000; Miss Sorabji is the only" girl gradu- Roumania, 265,000;· United States, ate" in the Bombay Presidency. 230000, and Abyssinia, 200,000. Best of all, she is a Christian, and the child of Christian parents, one of -Alexandria Reports for 1887. The seven sisters, all of whom have been Rev. William Kean, the head of the well educated and are doing good station, givesa frank statementof the service as educationists. Her mother difficulties of work among adult Jews. has established a successful high Miss Kirkpatrick reports continued .chool in Poonah. success in the two schools under her charge, the fees of the girls' school -calcutta has 200,000 Mohammedans and one not only paying:aU expenses, but with ordained missionary to them.-Indian Witness. £25 from the Glasgow Ladies' Associ- -The Methodist Episcopal Church has in India foreign, native and zenana missonaries, 4,450 members, ation, meeting all the requirements rents, $32,986, and the remainder ~m mis_ of the pOOl' school in the Jewish cellaneous sources. The appropriations already quarter of the town. Mr. Douglas pledged by the Board for foreign work during Dunlop, the head of the boys' school, the coming year amounted to $183,076. To reports 251 pupils (124 being Jews) translate, publish and distribute 500,000 volumes enrolled in the boys' schools, 190 be- of the Scriptures In foreign lands, $143,570 was ing in attendance at St. Andrew's paid. school. Of the 190 there were 63 Jews, 42 Roman Catholics, 31 Protestants, -The address ofthe Methodist bishops 24 Moslems, 23 Greek Church, and at the Geueral Confereuce shows that In the 7 Copts; 01', with regard to nat:ion- past few years 450,000 souls have been brought ality, 51 Egyptian, 45 British, 25 into the church, and the membership Increased Greek, 25 Italian, 20 German, 11 from 1,769,534 to 2,093,935. Receipts for mis- French, 8 Austrian, 3 Spanish and sionary work last year upwards of $1,000,000; 2 Swedish pupils. The ages of the approprlatlons for next year, $1,200,000. The pupils were remarkable. Of the 190 church claims 12 theological semi)laries, 54 colenrolled in St. Andrew's school 6 leges and 120 seminaries, with a property valua were over 20 years of age, or 21 over tion of $25,000,000. seventeen, or 42 over fifteen, or 78 in all over thirteen. The New Testa- -'l'he General Assembly of the United ment is carefully read and explained Presbyterian Church of North America recently in various languages every day, and held its sessions in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Ten all the Jewish boys without exception Synods and 61 Presbyteries belong to the Assemtake full part in the devotional exer- bly, with 753 ministers, 3,580 elders and 9S,992 cises and religious instruction. At members. The contributions of Sunday-schools the Sunday-school there is a good at- and missionary societies frp: the past year tendance of Jewish boys-sometimes amounted to $1,019,937. a dozen of them senior pupils. The basis of the success of the school is -The foreign missions of the Protestant the solid and high-class commercial Episcopal Church report communicants as foleducation provided, for which £347 lows: Liberia, 472; China, 374; Japan, 429; were realized in fees in 1887.-0hurch Haiti, 855; total,1,730. The income was $175,- of Scotland Record. 84S.46, including a balance of $20,739.51 from last year. There is a balance of $44,974.3Sln the -The Mission work among the treasury. 6,400,000 Jews of the world has been developed with especial rapidity -The English Wesleyan MisBiona.ry since 1881. An investigation made Society expended last year $700,000, and reports then showed that there were engaged statistics as follows: Stations, 339; preaching- in it 20 societies, employing 270 mis- places, 1,224; missionaries and assistant mis- sionaries. Statistics recently pub- sionaries, 324; other paid agents, 1,825; unpaid lished report the existence of 47 so- agents,3,651; cburchmembers,31,26S; scholars, cieties, with 377 missionaries. The 58,10S. increase in contributions has not been proportionally large, being only -During the six years, 1881-7, the North- about $96,000. Of the $432,000 which ern Baptists expended for Home Mission work, constituted last year's income, $363,- as shown by the receipts of the "American 163 were given in the British Isles. Baptist Home Missionary Society," $2,256,656. The missionaries make their head- For the same period they expended for foreign quarters at those cities where the missions, as shown by the receipts of the Jews chiefly congregate. Fifty-eight "Baptist Missionary Union," $2,327,289. The work in London; 14 in Buda-Pesth; Southern Baptists duriug the same six years 33 in Constantinople, and 28 in Jeru- contributed for Home Missions $455,399, and for salem. A proportionally smaller Foreign, $472,411. number of wQrkers are stationed at the less important cities. -The Methodist Episcopal Church, South, reports a total of members and preachers MISSIONARY SOCIETIES' RECEIPTS FOR of 1,107,456, an increase of 41,079. It has 11,364 churches, valued at $15,204,883. 1887-8. -The United Presbyterian Church of -The seventy-second annual meeting Scotland reports 565 congregations, an increase of 1, aud 182,170 members, an Increase of 107. olthe American Bible Society, New York, was The total congregational Income the past year held May 10. The cash receipts for general pur- was $1.603,500. -The German Evangelical Luthera.n poses amounted to $557,340, and disbursements, Church Synod embraces 246 ministers, 387 con- $506,443. The receipts from legacies for gen- gregations and 38,000 members, 219 parochial schools, and an average yearly attendance of eral purposes amounted to $113,778; from 6,427. churches, individuals aud auxiliary donations, Russia. – Rabinowitz. The Free $85,405 ; from books and the purchase account Church of Scotland Monthly contains $296,540 ; from trust funds, etc., $23,944; from a letter-written by Rabinowitz tp Dr. ary who came to this country to ob- Wilson of Edinburgh, dated March tain funds for the erl'!"ction of a Chris- 12. Dr. Somerville, who will be re- tian high school in Bangkok, has remembered as the Scotch minister turned to his field of labor. He sewho has preached in Constantinople cured $15,000 in this country, to and in various parts of the world with which the King 01 Siam will add such good effect, had visited Rabinowitz at Kischineff, which is the capi- $5,000. The erection of the school is tal of Bessabaria, some eighty-five thus made possible. miles northwest of Odessa. Dr. Somerville stayed with this Christian Sweden.-The Swedish Magazine, Israelite a few days, preaching, as Lunds-Missions Tidring, gives the Rabinowitz says, "to a house crowd- present number of baptized converts ed to overflowing by children of of the Berlin society as 16,539 at 47 Israel coming to see the eminent and stations. The last year's contriburespectable doctor." And he adds: "Dr. Somerville was 'moved to his tions of these amounted to $3,780. very heart, seeing how here the Jews, Syria.-The Quaker women have a with God's Word in the hand, are seeking the Lord their God, and "Syria-Ramalleh Home." They pro- David their King, Jesus Christ." pose to build a girls' training-school there, for which ,3,000 is raised, twice -Lord Radstock gave some interesting in- that amount being needed. Sybil Jones was the first woman to preach stances which had come under his notice. Two the gospel in the land since the apos- tles' day. They have a school at prominent workers had heen banished; one had Mansnrieh, near the Svrian Mission, on Mount Lebanon. The Philadelto walk 1,000 miles in chains to Siberia, bnt his phia Society supports a Bible woman in this mission. joy was that he would" now have the privilege -The Mission at Brumana on the of preaching the gospel to the prisoners," who heights of Mount Lebanon. overlook- ing Beirut, is under the joint mancould not otherwise be reached. In St. Peters- agement of the Society of Friends in Great Britain, Ireland and the burg the" open meeting" principle works ad United States. There is a training home for boys, with 30 inmates, and mirably, hecause when the gatherings are broken for girls with 20, and a well-ordered hospital with 15 beds, besides disup by the police-as is invariably the case when pensary, open five days a week. The mission has the charge of various discovered-the converts are each competent to day-schools for both sexes in several surrounding villages, in which more minister the Word to others, and thns, as in the than 300 children are under instruc- tion ;, it also employs a colporteur early days of the church, the scattering of the and several Bible-women. There are people secures the scattering of the seed. In also two mothers' meetings, which in earlier days had sometimes to be fact, on one occasion a number of imprisoned shortened becaulile of fights among the women, but which now are comconverts were released, hecause by their testi- posed of large numbers who delight to learn texts of Scripture, and be mony " they did more harm in prison than out." read to, rather than give vent to evil passion.-Presbyterian. Scotland.-,At the first meeting of the National Bible Society directors -The Pilgrims to Mecca this year for the new year, held in Glasgow, the from Syria are very few. The steamtotal income for 1887 was reported to ers offer great inducements, but as be £33,432 7s., being only £335 Is. less the pilgrimage takes place in June than the income of 1886, which in- and July the people dread the intense cluded £4,875 ofa fund raised in heat of Mecca and stay at home. A honor of the society's semi-jUbilee. Moslem of Beirut was asked, "Are The expenditure had been £30,992 6s. The issues in 1887 were 6a2,073 copies many of the Beirut Moslems going or parts of Scripture, including to Mecca this year?" "No," said he ; 164,729 Bibles, 180,662 Testaments, "only about ten." " Are those who and 286,682 portions. Though some- go generally made better men by the what less than the exceptional circulation of the last two years, these fig- pilgrimage?" " Better I They are uresare considerably beyondany form_ worse. Mecca is the wickedest place er record. The issues at home were in thQ East; full of robbers, thieves 220,754 copies, and abroad 411,319. and pickpockets, and everything vile.
Siam.-At a meeting of the Pres- Hardly a man goes but is robbed." bytery of Siam, it was reported that an addition of 48 members by confession, and five by certificate, makes the Whole number of communicants in connection with this Presbytery now 881. One new church was organized and one student licenl:!ed to preach the gospel.
-The Rev. Mr. Eakin, the mlssion~ Swltzerland.-The Basle Mission native Bible readers, and more'than has 111 missionaries and European 150 schools. teachers in its three fields, and 489 native pa.stOl'S, catechists, evangelists -The Woman's Foreign Missionand teachers. In 1884 there were ary Society of the M. E. Church just made to the quadrennial conference, baptized in Africa, India and China is full of encouragement. The re- 531 adult heathen,204 heathen chil- port covers the past four years. dren and 773 Christian children. The Basle Mission Church numbers to:day The society now nUlllbers 4,888 auxiliaries. with an annual membership of 115,228. The 17,053 members. German work had fnlly justified the expectations Turkey.-We are beginning to hear of the originators and had grown constantly. The last report gave a total of 104 auxiliaries, of spiritual result'i following the ad- with 2,694 annnal members and 19 life members. ministration of relief to the famine The aggregate recelpte of the last four years sufferers in Turkey. In some places have been $658,898.77, an increase over the pre· portions of the Scriptures have been vlous fonr years of $154,314.23. distributed with needed bread for the body. Mr. Gates of Mardin reports -The Woman's Society of theAmerican Bapthat in one village a man said, after tist Missionary Society received, East, $55,880 ; an earnest discussion: "It is nothing West, $25,882. other than the words of this book -Reports of the Five Women's Foreign which have sent us this aid." A Mos- Missionary SOCieties of the Presbyterian Chnrch lem at one village affirmed: "I know Cor the year ending May 1, 1888, namely: that the Protestants are the best of all the sects." " How do you know Woman's Foreign Missionary Society of the that?" said a bystander. .. You are Presbyterian Chnrch, Philadelphia: Receipts, a Moslem. What do you know of the $149,640, a gain of $19,821; Anxullarie., 2,000, teachings of the Protestants?" The gain, 221; Missionaries, 133; Native Teachers and Bible Women, 91. Moslem replied: "I know by one sign. If I go to a priest, he says to Woman's Presbyterian Board of Missions or me, Give. If I go to a Moolah, he the Northwest; Receipts, $132,472, gam, $15,412; says to me, Give. If I go to an offi- Auxiliaries, 1522; Missionaries, 6~; Native cial or a friend, they say to me, Give. Teachers and Bible Women, 49, All;ay, Give. The Protestants alone say, Take. Theil' schools say, Take; Women's Board of Foreign Missions of the their teachings say, Take; their Presbyterian Chnrch, New York: Receipts, charities say, Take. By this I know $62,544, gain, $12,407 ; AUxiliaries, 900, gain, 76 ; that they are the· best." Mr. Gates Missionaries, 41; Native Teachers and Bible reports that villages are asking for Women,3D. teachers, and that the evangelical Woman's Presbyterian Foreign Missionary helpers are honored wherever they go Society of Northern New York: Receipts, $10among the mountains.-Mi88ionary 418 ; Auxiliaries, 118, gain, 14; MiSSionaries, 5 ; Herald. Native Teachers and Bible Women, 13.
Women's Missionary Work.-The Woman's Presbyterian Board of Missions of Women's Foreign Missionary So- the Sonthwest: Receipts, $7,217, gain, 503; ciety of the Presbyterian Church in Auxiliaries, 47, gain, 8; Missionaries, 7.
Canada reports $10,058 as the amount Total receipts, $812,286, gain dnring the year. of last year's receipts. Its foreign 848,143; Auxiliaries, 4,587, galu, 319; Missionwork is thus summarized: Three aries, 254; Native Teachers and Bible Women, schools for our Own Indians in the 83. Northwest, one girls' school in Formosa, six schools under the care of -The Fifteenth Annual Report of the Woour ladies in Central India, six native man's Foreign Missionary Society of the Presteachers assisting in these schools, byterian Church of the Pacific Cocst Is an ex- ceedingly Interesting one. The receipts from two Bible women, general mission- all sources were $10,700.4Q. ary work in the hospital, villages and zenanas, three missionary teachers, -The Woman's Union Missiouary SOCiety of one medical missionary, one lady America has In Calcutta and the villages south ready for the work, one lady in of It 22 schools with 1,178 girls, and 114 zenanas Canada receiving medical education, in which are 130 regular pupUs. A Bible lesson donation for Trinidad. Is given every day in the schools and at every visit in the zenanas. -The money given by the women of the Presbyterian Church in the -At the recent annual meetIng ofthe Chnrch United States during the past sixteen of England Zenana Missionary Society It was years amounts to $2,150,000, repre- stated that there had been good success at al- senting the entire support of more most every station. The receipts for the year were $133,000. There are now at home nearly than 200 women missionaries, 200 900 ass,ociations, and upward of 600 working parties in support of the mission.
'716 STA.TISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS
VlI.-STATISTICS OF THE WORLD'S MISSIONS.
WORLD – WIDE DISTRIBUTION OF THE The issues of the Hibernian Bible So- 59,105 ciety for the same year were as fol- BIBLE. lows: Bibles, 20,897; New Testa- ments, 25,862 : Portions, 12.846. To- [Rev. John Wilkinson (London) has tal…. ….. ….. ………. …. …..• published a powerful tract with the Portions reduoed to Bibles, 402, which 46,661 above caption. We avail ourselves with Bibles and New Testaments of his statistics relating to Bible dis- make a total of Bibles, New Testa- ments and Portions reduced to Bitribution.-EDs. ] bles, of…………..••…..•……• REv. JAMES JOHNSTON, in his" Centnry of The Issues of the American Bible So- ciety, as given in the report for the Christian Missions," puts the population of the same year, were as follows : Bibles, world at about 1,470.000,000: Protestants, 135,- 369,714; New Testaments, 598.515; 000,000; Greeks, 85,000,000; Papists, 195,000,- PortiOns, 469,211. Total……….. 1,437,440 000; Jews, 8,000,000; Mohammedans, 173,000,- 000 ; heathen, 874,000,000; altogether about Total Bibles, New Testaments and 1,473,000.000 as the world's population at present. Portions reduced to Bibles. . . . . . . . . . 982,892 The Mohammedans and the heathen together The report states that "there are at least make 1,047,000,000, besides about 11,000,000 of .Tews. These 1,058,000,000 are unevangelized. twenty-five German Bible SOCieties. Some of Besides, there are millions of Greek Catholics them are very small." Only four or five-occupy and Roman Catholics as destitute of the Bible as a prominent position. These are: (1) the Prus- 8re the Mohammedans and the heathen. sian Chief Bible Society, for the eight original provinces of Prussia; (2) the Wllrtemberg It is esthnated that there are yet more than Bible Institute, for the kingdom of Wiirtem- 3,000 langnages and dialects into which the Holy berg; (3) the Saxon Chief Bible Society, Cor the Scriptures have never been translated. kingdom of Saxony; (4) the Nuremberg Bible Association, for the kingdom of Bavaria; and A.t the head of the list of agencies for the dis- (5) the Berg Bible SOCiety, on the Rhine. The tribution of the Bible is the British and Foreign circulation of the Prussian Chief Bible Society Bible Society. According to the report of 1886 for 1885 reached 97,400 copies; SO,694 of them the issues of the Society were as follows: Bibles. None of these were issued by the From the Bible Honse, London: Bi- British and FOreign Bible Society, but were ad- ditional. " The other four Societies mentioned bles, 636,411 ; New Testaments, with put into circulation, in 1881–39,539,20,731, 6.752 or without Psahns, 1,100,891 ; Por- and 17,477 copies respectively. About one-half tions,365,517. TotaL………… ..• 2,192,819 of these books were supplied by the British and From depots abroad: Bibles, 195,102 ; Foreign Bible Society. The work of the re- New Testaments, with or without maining twenty Societies was limited in extent, Psalms, 625,295 ; Portions, 1,110,688. and comprised but few of the British aud For- TotaL…………… …………… 1,931,085 eign Bible SOCiety's books. "
Total for the Jear, of Bibles, New Now let us gather the sum total of Bible cir- Testaments and Portions. . . . . .•. . . .. 4,123,904 culation by these German Bible Societies: First we have the Prussian Society… 97,400 Total portions, 1,476,205, divided by 82, Then we have the Wilrtemberg,Saxon, and thus reducing them to whole Bi- bles, make 46,181 ; which brings out Nuremberg, and Berg SOCieties, al- the following total of Bibles, New together 84,499; from these we must Testaments and Portions reduced to deduct half, as reckoned to the Bibles: Bibles, 831,513; New Testa- British and Foreign Bible SOCiety's me nts,l,816,186; Portions, reduced issues-so these four Societies cir- to Bibles, 46,131. TotaL…. •. . . . .. 2,693.830 culated ………………………. . 42,250 We put down for the other twenty The issues of the National Bible Soci- 645,662 small Societies a circulation of….. . 60,350 ety of Scotland for the same year, 1886, were as follows: Bibles, 154,- 450; New Testaments, 256,507 ; Por- tions,234,705. TotaL…………..
Total portions, 234,705, divided by 32, 418,692 This will make a total for the twenty- and thus reducing them to whole Bi- five Societies of………….. …… 200,()()(1 bles, make 7,335; which brings out The Trinitarian Bible Society's report fOl the following total of Bibles, New Testaments, and Portions reduced to 1887 says: "The circulatiou of Scripture dur Bibles: Bibles, 154,450; New Test- ing the past year has been as follows, in twenty aments, 256,507; Portions reduced languages" :- to Bibles, 7,335. TotaL………… Bibles, 3,354; New Testa- ments, 11,038; Portions, 96,620…•…•••.•.••Total 111,012 Special sale or HebrewNew PRESBYTERIAN MISSION OF NORTHERN BRAZIL.-STATlSTICS FOR 1887. Testaments, 75,000; special NAlIlE OF grant oC Hebrew INew CHURCH.
Testaments, 25,000..Total 100,000 Recife ………. 1~ ~ ~'i 25 58 39 . . . . . . . . Total circulation, sales, and grants… . 211,012 Goyanna……. 11 •. 32 29 1 …. 1 8 The Portions, 00,620 rednced to Bibles, i" .. Fortaleza. . . . .. 9 .. 1 47 40 27 " .. 1 1 by being divided by 32, make, In Mossoro.. .•. . . . 5 20 21 12 ……. . Parahyba .•…. 11 3 1 1 16 ~~ <I I ….. . round numbers, 3,020; which with Maranham….. 1 1 …. 15 …. 1 ..
the Bibles, New Testaments, and Pao de Assucar. 8 7.. .. … IS 17 .. 1 .. ·. Maceio……… 8 1 …. ,.. 3 1 1 ….. . special 100,000 oC Hebrew New 8146 3 3 108 215 143 3 1 2 2 Testaments, make the total……… 117,412 Totals. Catholic and Protestant Converts.
British and Foreign Bible -DR. WARNECK, who also is a lead- Society – Bibles, Testa- ments and Portion: issued ing authority on mission matters, from the London House and from def.ots abroad.. 4,123,904 has compiled some statistics on the The same tota , with Portions reduced number of converts reported from to Bibles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. •. . .. 2,693,830 Catholic and from Protestant socie- National Bible Society ot ties. His summary is that the former Scotland-Bibles, Testa- ments and Portions. . . . . . 645,662 reports 268,700 converts in Africa, The same total, with Portions reduc- 2,000,000 in Asia, 55,000 in Oceanica, ed to Bibles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. . . • 418,692 330,000 in America, or a total of Hibernian Bible Soclety- 2,053,700. Protestant societies report Bibles, Testaments and 577,000 in Africa, 700,000 in Asia. Portions. . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . 59,105 280,000 in Oceanica, and 688,000 in The same total, with Portions reduc- America, or a total of 2,245,700. Dr. ed to Bibles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . •. . . . . 56,661 American Bible Society- Warneck remarks: Bibles, Testaments and Portions ………………. 1,437,440 .. I must confess that these figures sur- The same total, with Portions reduc- prised me. Considering the grand and im- ed to Bibles. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • 92,982 posing organization of the Catholic Church. The twenty-five German Societies…. 200,000 the larger number of its missionaries, their Trinitarian Bible Society- rapid method of receiving into church com- Bibles, Testaments and munion larger numbers, and the great ad- Portions …………. , . . .• 211,012 vantage enjoyed by the fact that they have The same total, with Portions rednc- been at the work many centuries before our ed to Bibles…………….. ……• 117,412 work began. I had thought that numerically Grand total, InclndingBibles – – – their mission success would vastly exceed Testaments and Portions. 6,477,123 that of the Protestants. Leaving ont of consideration Asia, where chiefiy those who The same total, with Portions rednc- are descendants of converts of earlier cen- ed to Bibles.. ………………… 4,4.59,487 turies in China and India swell the number in the Roman Catholic reports. it must be Only frrur-and-a·1uJlj' milliOns of Bibles are seen that everywhere else the mission work being prodnced a year, while the annual increase of the world's popnlation is estimated at twelve of the Evangelical Church is far in advance mUli0n8! of that of the Roman Catholic."
BlBLE WORK IN CHINA IN 1887.
B. & F. Bible Soc. North China. …… ~~ 790 75,228 76,212 Central .. . . . . . . . 839 83,652 84,664 – – Sonth " .. . . . .. …. -. .-. . – -. . . -. 91,010 TotalB. &F….. 367 1,629 158,880 251,886 Scotch Bible Soc. -Mission work ofthe Catholic Church North China. . . . . .. …. 136 7,229 7,366 Central" ….•…… 1,952 168,859 170,31J is in the hands of the Propaganda Total N. B. S. S.. 2,088 176,088 178,176 Society, In the periodical Kathol- iscke Missionen recently this Society Amer'nBible Soc. 80 689 713 1,482 Sales-Depot …… . ]20 2,082 29,932 82,13'" makes its report for 1886. 77 2,059 :103,782 205,918 h Missionaries. 35 121 1,145 1,301 According to this France furnished about 48 899 9,837 10,784 two-thirds of the funds needed Cor the work. " Colportenrs.• namely. 4,855,658 francs; Germany contrib- Donations-Depot .. 72 1,184 1,256 uted 409,271 francs; Belgium, 358,767 ; Elsass " Missionaries. and Lorraine, 286,987 ; Italy, 382.214; Great " Colportenrs.. Britain. 166,319; Switzerland, 77,139; the Total Am. B. S . . 360 5,922 246,593 252.875 Netherlands, 112,551 ; Spain,97,522; Portugal, 47,249; Austria, 88.403; Hungary. 3,952 ; Bnl- SgacrainadainnadviRaonnmcoaunnitar,ie5s0,0;84R7u; ssAiaSlia5,288;,4t0h5e; Grand total, 1887. . . 727 9,639 581,581 682,937 Total, 1886… . . . . . .. 1,019, 14,256 493,678 583,429 Africa. 35,373; North AmerlCa.l00,928; Cen- tral America, 566; South America, 55,569 ; – Chute8e Recorder. Australia, 14.519. ' .Je'll'I.-lI'rom the HelJrsUJ Annual we learn A.merlcan Baptflt 1Illmoa&l]' tlnton• that France contains 000,000; Germany. 562.000, of whom 89,000 inhabit Alsaee and LorraIne; REOAPl'rULA'rI01I'. Austria-Hungary, 1,644,000, of whom 688,000 are in Galicia and 638,000 In Hungary; Ita!;!'l to.QOO ; The Burman Ml88ion.-51 mll!l!Ol1aries, 1ft Ns~'e!Ith~e~r,laOnOdOs, 82,000; RPooluamnda,ni7a6,8,2O6OO5~U;WTu; r~kUeIyI, men and 85 women (including wfflllJ of mis- (Russian sionaries) ; 13 Ordained and 89 nnordalned na- SloWotlutuzuerilanBde,lg7iu,0m0,0; 3,O:Kl ; Bulgaria, 10,000; tive preachers; 21 churches, 1,680 members, Denmark, .,000; Spain, 150 baptized in 1881. 1,900; Gibraltar, 1,500 i. Greece, 8,000; Servia, 3.500; Sweden, 3,000. m Asia there are 30,000 TAe Karen .Mi8rion.-47 missionaries. 15 men of the race. Turkey In Asia has 195,000, of whom and 82 women; 10 ordained and 851 unordained 115,ooo are in Palestine, 407,000 In Russian Asllr, native preachers; 494 churches, 26.008 mem- 18,000 In Persia, 14,000 In Central Asia, 111,000 In hers, 1.877 baptized In 1887. India, and 1,000 in China. In AfrIca 8,000 Jews lgievrel~In.60E,0g0y0pitn, 55 000 In Tnnisia, 35,000 in AI- TAe Shan Mi88ion.-6 miSSionaries, 2 men Morocco, 6,000 in TrIpoli, and and 4 women; 7 unordained native preachers; 2OO,uuu In Abyssinia. America connta 280,000 2 churches. 42 members, 1 baptized In 1887. i;rg~clr:; g}::n:ee~~~s ~l~em~':ts~fIa:ll:; continent, while only 12,000are scattered through TAe Kachin MiBrion.-2 missionaries, 1 man Oceanica. The entire total ~f the Hebrew race and 1 woman; 2 ordained and 1 unordained na- tive preachers; 3 churches. 39 members, 3 bapon the surface ot the globe Is estimated at tized in 1887.
6.300.000. TAe Ohin'Miasion.-5 missionaries, , meB and 3 women; 15 ordained Bnd 16 unordalned -The French Protestant mission- native preachers; 7 churches. 174 members. 62 aries among the Bassutos of south- baptized In 1887. eastern Africa report for 1886-7 as follows: The M8Gme8e .Mi8sion.-9 missionaries, 8, men and 6 women; 2 ordained and 9 unor Stations……………… . 17 (Same as previ- dained native preachers; 15 churches. 786 mem- ousyear. bers, 37 haptized In 1887.
Out-stations…………. . 89 Increase of 5 The Garo MiBrion.-4 missionaries. 2 men and 2 women; 5 ordained and 6 unordalned na- Native helpers•……….. 160 18 tive preachers; 10 churches, 986 members. 165, baptized in 1887. Marriages…………… .. 109 14 TAe Naga .Mi88ion.-8 missionaries. 4 men InCant baptisms.. . . .. . .. . 322 64 and 4 women; 6 unordalned native preachers; 8 churches. 70 members. 6 bap.tized In 111117. Catechumens.. . . . . . . . . . .. 2.245 387 The Tcl'U(fU Mi8sion.-44 missionaries, 19 men Communicants. . . . . . . . . . .. 5,525 385 and 25 women; 56 ordained and 137 unordalned native preachers; 52 churches. 68.629 members, Total number adherents… 7.770 672 2.321 baptized in 1887.
– – – Scholars….. . .. . .. . . . 4,066 982 The OAineBe MiBBiOn.-1IOmi8sionaries,12 men and 18 women; 7 ordained and 33 unordalnod Congregational Statistllll. native preachers; 19 churches, 1.568 members. 51 baptized in 1887. Chur~hes: whole nnmber………. .. 4.404 new ………………. .. 246 TAe Japan MisBion.-2/i missionaries. 8 men gain in number……… . 127 and 17 women; I) ordained and 21 unordalned Mell!.'>ers: whole number ………. . 457.584 native preachers; 11 churches, 770 members, added on conCession…. . 41,156 211 baptized in 1887. .. by letter …….. .. 26.185 total [189 not di- T1Ie Congo MilI8ion.-28 missionaries. 17 men vided] …………. .. 67,530 and 11 women; 4 churches, 248 members, 1111 removed…………… .. 38,644 baptized in 1887. apparent increase ……. . 28,886 gain [actual. comparing JiJurqpean Ml&siom.-1I72 preachers; 654 totals] ………….. . 21.200 churches. OO.14l1 members, 5,532 baptized In difference [due to Inacu- 1881. rate report<! …….. .. 7.681 BaPHsms : I!-dult………………. .. 20,123 In the missions to the heathen there are 60 mfant……………… .. 11,1166 stations and 831 out-stations. Including those Families reported.. . .. .. .. .. . .. …. . 268,775 now absent from their lI.e1d8, there are 282 mis- Sunday;~chools. me.mbers ……….. . 551.691 sionaries. including 159 single women lll!d 84 gam in members … . 29.704 wives of missionaries. " average attendance . . 324.719 united with the church In an the missions there are 262 misaionarles from……….. .. 18.399 (Including la1 evangelists), 1.798 preachers, 1.296 benevolent contribu- churches. and 127.208 members; 10.602 were tions ot…. ….. . $162,012 baptized in 1887.
BENBVOLEN'r CON'rRmU'rlON8 oJ!' 'rHIII I1IJIJ'tWUe frum laBt Slear.-14mia8Ionaries, 31 OHURCHES: churches, 8.678 members.-8eventy;fourth ~ lIual Report. For the year 1887 only………….. $2.095.485 Increase over 1885.. .. .. .. .. . .. . .. .. (18,275 O~,which lor ~oreign Missions. . . . . . 319.404 ~ucation.. . . . . . . . . . . . . 221.287 .. .. Church BuildiIlg……. 122,590 Home Missions…. . .. . 436.577 .. A. M. A…… ………. 151,698 .. Sunday-schools……… 28.986 .. New West………….. 43.960 .. Ministerial Ald….. …. . 9.138 " •. Other ob,tects……….. 787,731 Legacies paid. . .. . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . . . 829,663 !lome Expenditures……………… 5.078,980 Increase. . . . . . . . . 1,100,750 U U – Congregational Year-Book JfYr 1888. " Faetl COllCemiDg the COllege Department of or more tl'&veling secretaries, and the Interna- YOlIIIg lieD'. Christian As.oelatloDs of North tional Committee's secretarial force numbers America. 14. 77 or these associations are engaged 231 college associations are In existence. specially in work among raUway men; 10- 41 have been orgallized within the year. , among German-speaking young men; 273 are in ' 179 have an aggregate membership of 9.863. colleges; 29 are colored and 18 Indian. 226 203 have an active membership of 8,699. associations report educational classes in trom 174 have an associate membership 0(2,240. one to fifteen branches of study; 287 report 177 have 2,570 members serving on committees. special attention to physical culture through 143 expend annually $6,067. gymnasiums and out-door sports; 898 Bible classes, 367 Bible training classes, and 661 4 haTe buildings; Princeton, valued at $20,000; Hanover, '$1000; Toronto University, weekly prayer-meetings are among the services $7,000, and ~"e University, $50,000. Cor young men only, which are reported.
59 have rooms devoted exclusively to their UStt. -In heathen countrie. Protestants occupy 54 have furniture valued at $20,732. 100 separate mission fields, containing 20,000 18 have libraries of 8,655 volumes, valued at mission .tations, supplied by 40,000 missionaries. In these 20,000 mission stations there are 500,000 $3,577. Sabbath-school scholars, an average or 25 to 27 had 101 lectures during the year, and 68 ha. each station. In the 20,000 Protestant mission stations there are 1,000,000 of native communi- 144 sociables. cants, or an average of 50 to each etation. There are also 2,000,000 of adherents who are friends BELIGIOUS MEETINGS. of the evangelical faith and hearers of the gospel preached from tbe Bible, an average of 100 to 87 report 98 Bible classes, with a total average each station. Including all classes, there are attendance of 1,688. now identified with Protestant Christian mis- sions 3,500,000 persons, served by 40,000 mis- 59 report 99 traiuing classes, with a total aver- sionaries. The nationalities friendly to Protest- age attendance of 1,024. tant Christianity, or nominally Christians, contain a population of about 150,000,000, or 188 report 198 prayer-meetings, 147 ofwhich have one-ninth ot tbe whole population of the earth, a total average attendance of 3 998. ' covering 14,000,000 of square miles, or one-fourth of the whole geographical surface oC the globe. 84 report gospel meetings, 50 of which have II The Greek and Roman Catholic churches cover total average attendance of 1,481. 18,000,000 square miles in nations friendly to them or dominated by them, and have 250,000,000 23 report song services, 13 of which have a to- of adherents. The Mohammedans bave a fol- tal average attendance of 394. lowing of "bout 200,000,000 nominally. Strictly pagan conntrles, therefore, have yet a popula- 80 report missionary meetings. tion of OM bution souls who are not reached by 3 report daily prayer-meetings. Mohammedan, Catholic, Greek or Protestant 19 report 21 cottage or neighborhood prayer- churches.
meetings. -Statistical tables In the Baptist Year-Book 8 report meetings In almshouses, jails and hos- show the total number of members In the 31,891 Baptist churches to be 2,917,815, indicating a pitals. gain of 184,745 members during the year. Tho 18 report 27 Sunday-schools conducted in their number of baptisms reported is 158,373, which ia 2,995 more than were reported a year bofore. members. 137 881!OCiations observed the day of prayer for -" The Presbyterian Church of the United States, ,,11 branches, have over 15,000 churches, colleges the last Thursday in January, :1886. 11,500 ministers, 1,500,000 members, and ex- 181 observed the day of prayer for young men, the second Sunday In November. 200 report 81,420 young men as studenta In their colleges. 157 report 9,956 young men, stndents of their colleges, 8S members of evangelical churches. 150 report 1,7~ professed conversions during the year. 161 report that 2,750 students in their colleges intend to enter the ministry. 48 report tbat 135 or these have been convocted since entering college. 24 report that 86 of these have been converted the past year. 19 report that 64 have been inflnenced in their , decision for the ministry by tbe work of the College Association. 59 report that 126 students in their colleges In- tend to be foreign missionaries. 4 report that 5 of these have been converted the past year. 3 report that 16 of these have been influenced in their decision for the forei!(n field by the missionary department of the College Asso- ciation.
– The International Committee of Young pends annually in her work 816,000,000 ; has also Men's Christian Associations at 40 East 23rd 46 colleges, with 5,000 students; 20 theological street, New York, bas just issued the Associa- seminaries, with 1.900 studenta ; 34 female sem- tion "Year-Book for 1888." There are now, inaries, with 4,000 pupils."-Dr. G. P. Hay,.
according to this annnal report, 1,240 associa- -The statistics preseuted at the last Interna- tions in America, aud 8,804 in the world. The tional Sunday-school Convention show that American associations bave a membership of whlle there are in the Sunday-schools oC our 170,000 ; they own buildings valued at $5,609,- country and the Dominion of Canada seven mil- WS, and have a total net property of $7,261,658 ; lion children and youth, there are more than IIIstyear they expended $1,181,888 In local work, nine million outside of the Sunday-school. Dr.
~d $104,949 In general work. 752 men are de- Worden stated that of this number 800,000 are In voting their entire time to the local, State and New York State,575,OOO In Pennsylvania. 440,000 IIlternational work as secretaries and assistants; in Ohio. 365,000 in Kentucky, 840,000 in Indiana, ~here are 23 ,Btate committees that employ one 600,000 in DlinOi8, 550,000 In Missouri, 228,000 In Kansas. In three years the gain In" Sunday- l!'aith in foreign /parts was organized in L7ona.
school membership has been nearly 500,000 ; but France, in 1822. Since that time it has received an aggregate of 220,000,000 francs, mainly in this ill small, compared"with the gain in our pop- small amounts. Its receipts during the past year were 6,648,000 francs, of which 4,850,000 ulation, which Increases more rapidly every were drawn from France.
year. -According to the Directory of the Roman Catholic Church for 1888, there are, in England -The Weilih Calvinistic Methodists embrace aud Wales,2,314 Catholic priests to 1,728 in 1876, and these preside over 1,:lO* churches, chapels 1,:e20 churches, 129,000 members, 1,012 minis- "nd stations. Scotland has 5 bishops, 324 priests and 237 churches aud chapels. The R0ters, aud 1,450 Sabbath·schools, with home and man Catholic population iu 1887 is given as 1,354,000 in England and Wales, 326,000 iu Scotforeign missionary societies. land, 3,961,000 in Ireland. Together with the colonies, the number of Catholics under British -The German Evangelical Lutheran Chureh rule is 9,682,000.
Synod embraces 246 ministers, 381 congrega- -New England Catholic statistics count up as follows: Priests, 906; seminariaus, 233; tions, and 38,000 members, 219 parochial schools, churches, 602 ; chapels and statiOns, 133; col- leges, 7 ; academies,38 j parochial schools, 205 ; and an average yearly "ttendance of 6,4'l7. pupils, 69,105 ; charitable institutions, 36; Cath- olic population, 1,185,000. This estimate is -The African Methodist Episcopal Chureh, based on the reports of the parish priests to their ordinaries. It is rather uuder thau over the fig_ whose General Conference recently in session at nres. Exceeding care is taken in making this ceusus. Estimations are generally based upou Indianapolis, reports 1 membership of 408,351, baptisms, marriages, etc., which yield a certainty on the safe side, but which exclude that host and the total of money raised for all purposes of Catholics who hold their religion loosely, who seldom attend church, who frequently neglect to during the year 1887 as 51,064,569. There are have their childreu baptized, yet who are sub- stantially Catholics, if anything, and who some- 3,394 churches and 660 parsonages, valued at times, soouer or later, return to the faith of their rathers. There are at least a million and a half $5,340,889. There are 11,009 stewards, 14,190 Catholics in New England. It has been assertsd, without contradiction, that over half the popustewardesses, and 14,778 class-leaders. lation of Boston are Catholics.- Catholtc Re- view. The statistics of the United Presbyterian – In 1881 the 1,200 members of the United Church for the present ecclesiastical year are: Presbyterian Board in Egypt-most of them very poor meu and women-raised more thau 1887. 1888. $17 each, for. the support of churches and schools. Look on this picture, then on that. Total membership… . . . . . . • 94,641 98,991 Christians in America give 50 ceuts each to mis- Total congregations" . . . . .•. . 885 1107 sions. Christians in poor Egypt give $17 each Total pastoral charges…… 618 708 for missions, and yet America is considered" Total contributions ………• $977,860 $1,019,937 Christian nation -Presb. CoUtge Journal.
-According to the Year-Book of the Disciples -The wealthof church members in the United States of America in 1880 was 8,723 m!llion dolof Christ for 1888, they have 6,437 churches, lars. Of this pne-sixteenth of one per cent. or one dollar out of $1,586 is given in a year for the 620,000 communicants, 4,500 Sunday-schools, salvation of eight hundred million heathen.
with a membership of 318,000, and a teaching – I t is difficult so learn thstatistics of J emsa- em. Probably as reliable information as can be force of 33,340 ; number of preachers 3,263. The secured is given by the Bote aus Zion, a carefwly edited German Protestant quarterly, published value of church property is $10,368,361. in the Holy City. The Mohammedans number about 9,OOJ, the Jews 18,000, and the Christians -In Germany and Switzerland there are eigh- 7,000, making a total of 34,000. The Jews genteen foreign missionary societies, with betweeu erally claim more, making the estimate as hlgil 522 and 550 missionaries in the field, and with an as 30,000.
Income of about $720,000. The particular cir- cumstances of their origin, no doubt, account for this state of things, bnt it certainly ought now to be possible to consolidate the smaller so- cieties, and thus save the expense of so many different officials.
-Mr. David McLaren has made II careful ex- amination and analysis of the home contribu- tions of four great missionary societies and of the British and Foreigu Bible Society during the ftftyyears of the present reign. The annual av- erage amount of the five societies for the last ten years was £556,631, shown as follows: Baptist Missionary Society. . . . . . . . . . . .. £57,229 Wesleyan Missionary Socie!y………. 109,433 Church Missionary Society…………. 193,670 London MisSionary Society..• , . . . . . ••• ro,742 British and Foreign Bible Society. •.•• . 109,557 The total contribntions for the IIfty years were £10,798,160, being about the amount spent on drink in this country in sixty days.
One feature bronght out by the examination is that, when al large sum has been raised for a special object, the income of sncceeding years has not suffered In consequence.
-The Roman Catholic Propaganda of the
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.
| Item |
Number |
| Number of Missions |
22 |
| Number of Stations |
89 |
| Number of Out-Stations |
891 |
| Number of Ordained Missionaries (11 being Physicians) |
168 |
| Number of Physicians not Ordained, 8 men and 4 women |
12 |
| Number of other Male Assistants |
10 |
| Number of Women (wives 164; unmarried, besides Physicians, 107) |
271 |
| Whole number of laborers sent from this country |
461 |
| Number of Native Pastors |
155 |
| Number of Native Preachers and Catechists |
393 |
| Number of Native School-teachers |
1,164 |
| Number of other Native Helpers |
325—2,037 |
| Whole number of laborers connected with the Missions |
2,498 |
| Pages printed, as nearly as can be learned |
18,650,000 |
| Number of Churches |
325 |
| Number of Church Members |
28,042 |
| Added during the year |
2,906 |
| Whole number from the first, as nearly as can be learned |
101,089 |
| Number of High Schools, Theological Seminaries, and Station Classes |
55 |
| Number of Pupils in the above |
3,623 |
| Number of Boarding Schools for Girls |
41 |
| Number of Pupils in Boarding Schools for Girls |
2,318 |
| Number of Common Schools |
878 |
| Number of Pupils in Common Schools |
34,417 |
| Whole number under instruction |
41,151 |
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:
| Members in its mission fields |
125,530 |
| Number of churches |
1,265 |
| Number of preachers |
1,730 |
| Baptisms last year |
9,342 |
| Income of the Union the past year from all sources |
$406,639 |
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.
| Number of Churches |
127 |
| Number of Missionaries |
103 |
| Number of Church members |
7,896 |
| Added during the year |
1,197 |
| Scholars in our Sunday-schools |
15,109 |
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:
| Churches |
5 |
| Church members |
370 |
| Added during the year |
43 |
| Schools |
18 |
| Pupils in Schools |
608 |
| Missionaries and Teachers |
61 |
CHINESE WORK.
| Missions |
17 |
| Missionaries |
28 |
| Pupils enrolled |
1,044 |
| Hopeful conversions |
150 |
| Given up to idolatry |
211 |
RECEIPTS.
| From Churches, Sabbath-schools, Missionary Societies and individuals |
$189,483.39 |
| Estates and Legacies |
52,266.73 |
| Income, Sundry Funds |
10,561.07 |
| Tuition and Public Funds |
28,964.81 |
| Rents |
478.10 |
| United States Government for Education of Indians |
17,357.21 |
| Slater Fund, paid to Institutions |
7,650.00 |
| Total |
$306,761.31 |
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.
Analysis of Receipts for Foreign Missions in the Last Ten Years.
| Year |
Whole No. of Parishes* |
No. of Parishes Contributing to For. Mis. |
Receipts from Contributions |
Receipts from Legacies |
Total (Appropriations) |
Receipts from Contributions (Specials) |
Receipts from Legacies (Specials) |
Total (Specials) |
Gross receipts for the year |
| 1877-8 |
2,900 |
1,170 |
$91,539 67 |
$17,974 98 |
$109,514 65 |
$24,456 92 |
$6,000 00 |
$30,456 92 |
$139,971 57 |
| 1878-9 |
2,900 |
1,163 |
95,846 02 |
16,709 86 |
112,555 88 |
35,771 96 |
275 00 |
36,046 96 |
148,602 84 |
| 1879-80 |
2,900 |
1,217 |
†117,042 45 |
27,458 33 |
144,500 78 |
17,583 47 |
— |
17,583 47 |
162,084 25 |
| 1880-1 |
3,000 |
1,230 |
‡136,993 18 |
22,977 06 |
159,970 24 |
25,788 05 |
— |
25,788 05 |
185,758 29 |
| 1881-2 |
3,000 |
1,487 |
128,945 80 |
31,168 41 |
160,114 21 |
13,233 84 |
500 00 |
13,733 84 |
173,848 05 |
| 1882-3 |
3,000 |
1,375 |
§116,772 63 |
28,230 82 |
145,003 45 |
13,927 05 |
— |
13,927 05 |
158,930 50 |
| 1883-4 |
3,000 |
1,389 |
111,299 20 |
9,638 70 |
120,937 90 |
7,843 68 |
6,200 00 |
14,043 68 |
134,981 58 |
| 1884-5 |
3,000 |
1,412 |
103,223 31 |
76,087 47 |
179,310 78 |
17,017 16 |
2,000 00 |
19,017 16 |
198,327 94 |
| 1885-6 |
3,450 |
1,996 |
137,982 82 |
12,929 30 |
150,912 12 |
14,355 58 |
100,400 00 |
114,755 58 |
265,667 70 |
| 1886-7 |
3,450 |
1,814 |
126,410 74 |
6,926 42 |
133,327 16 |
21,781 79 |
— |
21,781 79 |
155,108 95 |
*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.
| From Churches and Sabbath-schools |
$360,231.51 |
| Woman's Boards |
248,649.59 |
| Individual and miscellaneous sources |
72,006.65 |
| Legacies |
103,269.84 |
| Total |
$784,157.59 |
| Expenditures of the Board |
$722,494.90 |
| Add the debt of last year |
57,853.28 |
|
$780,348.18 |
| Leaving a balance in treasury of |
$3,809.41 |
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.
| Total receipts |
$784,157.59 |
| Total payments (including debt of $57,853.28) |
780,348.18 |
| Balance, April 30, 1887 |
$3,809.41 |
Financial Exhibit of All the Boards of Presbyterian Church, 1886-87.
| Board |
Balance, 1886 |
Debt, 1886 |
Receipts |
Expenditures |
Balance, 1887 |
Debt, 1887 |
| 1. Home Missions |
— |
— |
*$640,258.03 |
$604,937.02 |
— |
$21,687.77 |
| Sustentation |
$8,180.45 |
— |
13,198.00 |
16,423.60 |
$4,954.85 |
— |
| 2. Foreign Missions |
— |
57,853.28 |
784,157.59 |
780,348.18 |
3,809.41 |
— |
| 3. Education |
— |
2,600.92 |
67,149.59 |
84,657.10 |
— |
14,906.59 |
| 4. Sabbath-school Work |
— |
24,511.42 |
49,751.29 |
50,175.36 |
— |
24,935.49 |
| 5. Church Erection—a. Churches |
18,794.73 |
— |
84,080.14 |
97,343.79 |
15,837.36 |
— |
| b. Manses |
26,297.00 |
— |
1,022.46 |
10,737.34 |
9,767.12 |
— |
| 6. Relief |
5,685.92 |
— |
142,009.10 |
120,619.23 |
— |
21,389.87 |
| 7. Freedmen |
— |
6,200.81 |
115,203.83 |
123,134.26 |
— |
14,131.24 |
| 8. Aid for Colleges |
— |
— |
53,279.66 |
53,279.66 |
— |
— |
| Totals |
$58,958.10 |
$134,800.93 |
$1,950,109.69 |
$1,941,655.64 |
$33,868.74 |
$97,050.96 |
*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:
| Source |
1886 |
1887 |
| To balance brought forward |
— |
$400.00 |
| Presbyteries |
$43,342.46 |
48,339.56 |
| Sabbath Schools |
5,706.28 |
8,536.89 |
| Ladies' Societies |
6,796.19 |
8,803.48 |
| Individuals |
9,801.64 |
5,002.07 |
| Women's Auxiliary Bds. |
— |
1,626.76 |
| Interest |
884.43 |
1,994.99 |
| Bequests |
18,705.54 |
8,737.92 |
| Gibson Trust Fund |
716.23 |
902.13 |
| Total |
85,952.77 |
84,343.80 |
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:
| No. of Societies |
102 |
| European Ministers |
40,371 |
| American " |
83,420 |
| Total |
123,791 |
| Year's gain |
1,703 |
| Home Communicants (Europe) |
16,934,077 |
| " (Am.) |
11,856,134 |
| Total |
28,790,211 |
| Year's gain |
53,564 |
| Year's growth in Communicants |
386,958 |
| Less than last year by |
51,772 |
| Foreign Miss. Income |
$10,297,238 |
| Year's loss |
74,463 |
| Whole cost of administration |
830,000 |
| Year's increase |
21,355 |
| Per cent. of income |
8.78 |
| Increase in percentage |
.98 |
| Workers from Christendom (ordained) |
3,035 |
| Year's gain |
60 |
| Workers (laymen) |
1,167 |
| Increase |
435 |
| Workers (women) |
2,444 |
| Increase |
24 |
| Total workers from Christendom |
6,647 |
| Native workers (ordained) |
3,307 |
| " (not ordained) |
30,293 |
| Year's increase of native workers |
1,890 |
| Total No. of workers |
40,246 |
| Native communicants |
950,162 |
| Year's increase |
148,134 |
| Per cent. of increase |
18.74 |
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:
| Number of societies |
37 |
| Total number of missionaries |
919 |
| Men |
446 |
| Wives |
316 |
| Single ladies |
157 |
| China inland mission (men) |
92 |
| Various Presbyterian societies (men) |
93 |
| Methodist societies |
70 |
| Congregationalist societies |
53 |
| Episcopalian societies |
39 |
| Americans |
164 |
| English |
230 |
| Other nationalities |
52 |
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.