The Missionary Review of the World — September 1893
MEDICAL MISSIONS IN SYRIA AND PALESTINE
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XVI. No. 9.-0ld Serie8.–SEPTEMBER –VOL. VI. No. 9.-New Series.
MEDICAL MISSIONS IN SYlUA AND PALESTINE.
BY GEORGE E. POST, M.D., BEIRlh, SYRIA.
Twenty.nine years ago Rev. David Metheny, M.D., of the United Presbyterian Church, went to Lattakia. Fourteen years before him, Rev. Samuel Lyde, an accomplished scholar and a refined Christian, had gone to labor among the Nusairiyeh, the only proper heathen in Syria. He had received many indignities and much evil treatment, which broke his health and discouraged him so much that he was obliged to leave after five years of fruitless toil. He was succeeded by Rev. R. J. Dodds and Rev. Joseph Beattie, two lovely and accomplished men, both well known to the writer. They labored for nine years to secure an opening among these heathen people, and among the nominal Christians of Lattakia. Mr. Dodds was an able Arabic scholar, a true Irish wit in conversation, affable and gracious-in fact, in every way as a man adapted to win his way among strangers and maintain his influence when once secured; Mr. Beattie, though less gifted as a conversationalist, was a man of uncommon sweetness of temper, and every way adapted to please those who value sterling worth and a kindly spirit. But although they had preached and talked and taught school, there was almost no visible result, and their long service seemed well-nigh lost. As soon as Dr. Metheny arrived in Lattakia a change came over the spirit of their dream. They took turns in interpreting for him at his clinics, and acting as intermediaries between him and the people, and visiting with him at the houses while he was engaged in the study of the Arabic language. At once those who had been cool before became their warm friends. They were welcomed among the bigoted, and had free access to poor and rich alike, to the people and the officers of the Government. They could now travel safely among the turbulent mountaineers. The fact that they belonged to the Hakim, and the Hakim to them, was a safeguard to them and a recommendation to their persons and their work. As for the doctor himself, he carried a charmed life. An incident in his own language will illustrate this: "Once, while travelling at night, when my horse was out of sight down a little ravine, and my attendant, dressed like a Turkish officer, WitS ahead of me, a compa~y of robbers watching the road accosted him with their secret password: , Where are you going ~' vVell knowing that they would fire on him, I called out immediately: 'What is it to you where he goes ~' They replied, 'Oh ! is that you, doctor ~ 'We have been waiting all the evening for you. The sheikh of the village has killed a sheep for you, and invites you to spend the evening with him.' Of course this was made up offhand. I politely asked to be excused on account of pressing business, hoping to avail myself of his hospitality at some other time. Although I knew that, near by us, a Turkish officer, recently killed there, was hidden in a well, we were allowed to go on our way unhurt." Since Dr. Metheny's arrival, the mission at Lattakia has prospered. On an imposing campus, on the highest ground in the town, is the mission compound, with its group of buildings, consisting of schools. dispensary, and dwellings for tp.e missionaries, mostly, I believe, erected at Dr. Metheny's expense, out of t!Ie fruits of his practice. A most encouraging work is carried on among tho Nusairiyeh and the native Christians, and an era of prosperity has succeed. ed one of discouragement, and barrenness. Dr. Metheny has gone to Mersine, where he has organized a most promising work on the same lines at} that in Lattakia. Dr. Balph has taken up the medical work in Lattakia.
Eighty miles south of Lattakia, at Tripoli, is the centre of the extensin medical missionary work of Dr. Ira Harris. The doctor is one of the mos~ modest and unassuming of men, but an able physician and surgeon, and a devoted worker for Christ. His name is a power throughout all the regior. occupied by the Tripoli station, and, in fact, over the who:e field of the Syria Mission. He has a dispensary and hospit=:.l :n Tripoli, ",here thou. sands of the poor are treated every year, and all Syria is fJ.:Il of the fam~ of his skilful opcrations and his kindly, helpful sympathy. This work alone would be quite enough for oneillan ; hut Dr. Harris frequently makes the tour of his own station, and sometimes of other stations, ger..- erally in company with one or mors of !.hose who labor in word and doctrine. One of his clerical brethr(':Il 'Writes me : ." Missionaries reached a village near evening. It was at the I;)nd of summer. and water was scarcs. The servant was sent to seCllrl'. water for the animals and food for the party, with instructions to pay for everything. He returned to report that no one would furnish anything. Soon, however, it was learned that there was a doctor in the party, and tne people vied with each other who should be the first to bring water, and speedily a sumptuous meal 1Vas prepared and sent from the sheikh'~ house to the honored visitors." The same missionary gives au account of how Dr. IIanis proved the means of cnabling thc missionaries to enter Ehedin. Many years before the elder Mr. Bird and his family were treated with indignity and driven from Ehedin, as were also Messrs. Wilson and Lyons, of Tripoli. In 1886 Dr. Harris was invited to sumlller in Ehedin, owing to services rendered to the wife of the sheikh; and 'in 1882 he and his colleagues were welcomed in Hadeth, a most bigoted centre of Maronitc fanaticism. Thus darkest Syria was opened to the light by the skilled touches of a scalpel and the gentle ministries of a loving heart.
Damascus is the typical Oriental city of Syria. Its large and bigoted population of Mohammedans is practically inaccessible to clerical and educational work. Dr. Mackinnon, an able physician and surgeon of the Scotch Church, and his recently arrived associate, Dr. Smith, have found a way to the confidence and affection of the hundred and twenty thousand Moslems of Damascus, and perhaps an equal number of those belonging to the tributary villages and towns. The hand that has made the lame to walk, the blind to see, the deaf to hear, and snatched the dying from the grave, pomts steadily to Christ.
On a spur of Lebanon, about 2500 feet above the sea, overshadowed by a grove of fragrant pine trees, is the hospital of the Society of Friends. The physician in charge of this institution, Dr. Besharah Manasseh, a native of Syria, is a graduate of the Syrian Protestant College, at Beirftt, and is a fine specimen of a Christian gentleman as well as a skilful physi- CIan. He is assisted by a devoted corps of English nurses. In this wellappointed hospital thousands of Druscs, Sunnite Moslems, Mutawfl.Iies, Greeks, Maronites, and Protestants are treated annually, either gratuitously or for a nominal charge. The dispenser, who compounds the medicines, is also a native of Syria, and was a pupil in the Syrian Protestant College. This medical charity has done much to soften prejudice and win the hearts of the people of this part of Lebanon, and add to the influence of the industrial school for boys and the school for girls, which are conducted by the same society.
At Shweir, a few miles higher up on the same spur of Lebanon, Dr. Carslaw, also of the Scotch Church, has another medical mission. He is assisted by Dr. IIammam, also a graduate of the Syrian Protestant College. His medical work is a strong buttress to his evangelistic labors and his flourishing schools.
A number of ladies of independent means and devoted piety have established at Ba'aqlin a very picturesque village near the seat of the Lebanon Government, at Beit· ed-Din, a mission in which medical aid is a large feature. Here, as in so many other places in Syria and Egypt, a graduate of the Syrian Protestant College is the physician. Dr.' Ali'Alam-ed-Din gained his aptitude for the work he is now doing in connection with these excellent ladies in the Moslem school of Miss Taylor, of Beirut, where, for the last two years of hi.;; undergraduate course, he gave his gratuitous and able services to the crowds of sick poor who came there to be relieved. It is very interesting to see a Druze, who is still numbered among his own people, co-operating so cheerfully and efficiently with those who are engaged in the work of Christian evangelization.
Six hundred feet below the level of the Mediterranean Sea, on the tor-. rid shores of the Sea of Tiberias, is the hospital of Dr. Torrance. Here, in the very region where Christ wrought so many miracles of healing, the bigoted Jews, the ignorant Bedawin, and the lapsed Christians arc approached and won by the same manifestation of love which was given there eighteen hundred and sixty years ago. I am happy to say that a graduate of the Syrian Protestant College has a share in this work also.
The region east of the Jordan has always been a peculiarly hard part of the Syrian field. The jealousy of the authorities is so great that even scientific expeditions are hampered and driven out, lest they should in some way injure the influence of the government in that turbulent district. A few years ago one of the English missionaries was expelled from this region and even from Syria. The schools all through Gilead and Hauran Ilre interfered with and often closer!. In es.Salt, however, there is a medical mission, and through its softening influence on the minds of the people anr! the rulers, this station is comparatively unmolested and its work is prosperous. It was very refreshing to me, at the time of my visit to this town in 1886, to find a graduate of the Beirut College in charge of a work which had done so much to make any evangelistic labors possible in that destitute and benighted region.
Three days south of es-Salt, on the mountains overlooking the Dead Sea, is the turbulent, half rebellious city of Kerak, where Tristram, Grey Hill, and others have been imprisoned and only released on payment of very large ransoms.. A few years ago Mr. Lethaby, an uneducated and poor layman, went there. He was abused, threatened, and would have been killed long ago but for his heroic wife, who, although not having a medical education, had knowledge enough to treat simple diseases, and has so ingratiated herself with the people that they protect her and her husband, where no foreigner, nor even an official of the Turkish Government would be safe. And there she lived and labored for body and soul together, cut off from the world, but in direct communication with heaven.
Not far from the reputed house of Simon the Tanner is a stately stone building, one of the finest in Jaffa. It is the hospital for which the late Miss Mangan gave her energies while living. In the effort to overcome the opposition of the authorities to this most benevolent work, she gave herself untiringly, and died a martyr to her zeal. But the seed she sowed so diligently has germinated, and this fine institution remainr.; a monument to her faith. Dr. Qaiser Ghuraiyib, also a graduate of the Syrian Protestant College, has been from the commencement the physician in charge.
I cannot, in the brief space allotted to this article, do more than allude to the numerous other medical missionary institutions in Palestine under the auspices of Protestant societies. In Gaza, at the extreme southern border of the Philistine plain, is a flourishing work, conducted by the Church Missionary Society. Three thousand patients were treated here during the past year. For a considerable time a graduate of the Beirut College was the assistant, and we are now looking for a suitable candidate from the !!ame to take his place. In Ram-Allah, near Bethel, the Society of Friends have a medical mission, conducted by Dr. Saleeby, who pursued his studies in the Syrian Protestant College. Nearly four thousand patients were treated here last year.
It would require a long article to do justice to the medical work in Jerusalem alone, for the benefit of Jews, Mohammedans, and the nati'e Christian sects. Foremost among these is the hospital and dispensary of the London Jews' Society, which treated 800 patients in the hospital and 40,000 in the dispensary last year. There is also Dr. Sandreckzki's hospital for children, with an aggregate of nearly six hundred of the little ones, whom he has taken in his arms in the name of Christ during the past year. There is also the establishment of the German Deaconesses, under the medical charge of Dr. Hoffmann, with its roll of 8000. The poor lepers are not forgotten. The Moravians, ever ready for the most selfdenying of all Christian labors, have a hospital for these outcasts, in which 22 unfortunates have found that the spirit of the Saviour still survives in his followers. All honor to Dr. Einsley and brave Mr. and Mrs. Schubert for their noble and patient devotion.
At Nazareth, Dr. Vartan conducts the work of the Edinburgh Medical Missionary Association. Over sixteen thousand five hundred patients were treated here last year.
At Bethlehem, Miss Preston Taylor, M.D., is practising in the name of Christ. At Hebron the Mildmay Mission conducts a medical work. When I was there last year I was gratified to find one of our graduates in charge of the Medical Department, aided by four nurses, who visit the houses, and take charge of the sick as occasion demands.
Within a fow years the usefulness of nurses and their peculiar access to the sick has attracted the attention of a number of consecrated women of means. Mrs. Meredith's far-reaching vision has looked across a continent and an ocean, and she has met a long-felt want by establishing a Nurse's Institution in Jerusalem, from which she proposes to supply at- ~ndants for the poor gratuitously, and for those able to pay, at very moderate rates. Miss Bouchart, of Damascus, a lady of fortune and largehearted benevolence, personally conducts a most useful work of this kind in Damascus. She has under her direction a native physician, a graduate of the Beirdt College, to treat those cases not otherwise supplied with medical care, and Miss Athill, a thoroughly trained nurse, to attend to this department of the work.
The effect of Christian work is to be tested not only by its direct fruits, but by its influence in stirring up the zeal of others, and especially those who are in any sense opposed in doctrine and practice. The energy and devotion shown by Protestant societies in the line of medical missions has brought out and developed a similar work on a large scale among the other religions of Syria, as well as among the non-Protestant denomina- tion~. DuriJlg the Christmas holidays of 1893 I was called to Semarin, one of the Jewish colonies of Baron Rothschild, of Paris, to see the head of the colony, who was ill. I there became acquainted with the worthy physician of the colony, and with the important medical work carried on in the colonies of Semarin, Safed, and Jaffa, which, although not conducted in the name of Christ, is animated by his spirit and imitates his charity. In each of these colonies there is a well-educated medical man, a hospital, a dispensary, and all sects and nationalities are treated free of cost. Let us thank God that even they who follow not ns or ours ara laboring for the benefit of the poor bodies which are so closely knit to souls.
An incident in connection with this work illustrates the sacredness of the person of the medical missionary in this land. nr. Scheid, the fiscal agent of Baron Rothschild for these colonies, was in Semarin during the time of my stay. Dr. Blyden, one of the physicians of the Safed colony, was also there. The doctor accompanied M. Scheid on a visit to Safed. A few hours out of Haifa the cavalcade was attacked, every person in it except the doctor, not even excepting M. Scheid (himself a Frenchman), was either stoned or beaten, the chest of M. Scheid was broken open, 30,000 francs and all his papers were stolen, and he was glad to escape with his bruise.s and the various injuries of his followers and attendants. Neither the doctor nor anything belonging to him were touched. These lawless freebooters or some of their friends had tasted his kindness, and his person and property were safe.
I am happy to say that there is a Christian medical mission in Safed vying in a friendly spirit with that of the Jews in its efforts to reach and mitigate the sufferings of the people. The medical attendants for many years past have been graduates of the Syrian Protestant College.
In most of the cities of Syria and Palestine the Government supports more or less clinical work for the poor. In Beirut there is such a clinic held by the municipal physician, and a pharmacy has recently been established, in which medicines are dispensed gratuitously to the poor. A hospital for certain female diseases has also been opened at the expense of the city government.
The orthodox Greeks of Beirut have established a hospital and dispensary in this city, and vast amount of good is accomplished by its means. Several of the graduates of the Beirut College have been or are now on the staff of this institution. The Greek Catholics, Maronites, and Moslems have also their organizations for the systematic visitation of the sick, and for the supply of some of their most urgent wants.
The Lazarists, Sisters of Charity, and the Jesuits have clinics, dispensaries, and hospitals, and a comprehensive system of house visitation among the poor. Incited by the example of the American Mission, the Jesuits have established a strong medical college, which is subsidized by the French Government. Did my space allow, I would gladly give a detailed account of these institutions, and of the many medical charities conducted by other than Protestants in all the chief centres of this land. I cannot close, however, without a few words in regard to the institution so frequently mentioned in this paper.
The Medical Department of the Syrian Protestant College is a medical mission of the most prodnctive kind. It works directly and indirectly for the body and the soul. Its direct work is chiefly in connection with the noble hospital of the Klligllts of St. John in Beirut. These knights con- sist of the cream of the German nobility, and their order snpports 43 hos- pitals, of which that at Beirut is the only one ont of the fatherland. When it became known to the Turkish Government that the order wished to establish a hospital in Beirut, the authorities gave them a fine plot of ground, about four acres, on which the hospital now stands. The munici- pality of Beirut alRo pays a considerable sum annually for the support of poor patients, principally Moslems, in the hospital. The Government also gave the order the large property in Jerusalem, where ruins of the medial- val hospice of the old order of St. John still stand. The Johanniter Hospital, at Beirut, consists of a central building, with 63 beds, an outside building for contagions diseases, a polyclinic, where from 10,000 to 15,000 free consultations are given every year, and various accessory buildings, all surrounded by a beautifully arranged garden, and having a grand outlook over sea and land., About 500 patients are treated annually in the wards of the hospital, of which number more than a third are of non-Christian sectR. An open Bible, Scripture readings, personal conversations, and Sabbath services remind all these people whence their blessings flow, and invite them to trust in Christ for the salvation of their souls. The people who thus hear the Gospel are for the most part those who would not otherwise be accessible to missionary teaching. The Sisters of Kaiserswerth (Protestant Deaconesses) are the nurses of this institution, and the professors of the Medical Department of the Syrian Protestant College its medical attendants and evangelists. Each of them has a direct influence of his own as great as his strength and zeal.
But it is the indirect work of the college which gives it its chief importance. It is training the young to carry outward, in ever-widening circles of beneficence the work of the professors. It was impossible to give an account of the medical mH;sionary work in this land without frequent mention of the graduates of this institution. It is difficult to give an idea by statistics of the good done even by those of our graduates who have not become connected with missionary iflRtitut.ions. I believe that it would be a small eRtimate of the service rendered to the poor by our men if we put it at the figure of a hundred thousand free consultations a year, quite outside of all establishments. If we add to these fifty thousand a year in connection with the various agencies mentioned, some conception may be formed of the scope of our work in relieving human misery. It is by no means illegitimate to add to these large figures the much larger number of those who are ahle and willing to pay in whole or in part for
KAMI-No-MICm-sHIN'fO
the benefits received, bnt which never could have been rendered had not this institution been found.
An incident will illustrate the aim of our training, the contagious power of a good example, and the personal devotion of one of our graduates. The young man to whom I allude was educated in the college under the auspices of the Sidon and Tripoli stations of the mission, on condition that he should teach for two ycars after graduation, at a salary of $10 a month. It so happened that at the time he graduated Dr. Harris was in need of an assistant, and he chose this young man for this office instead of that of teaching. He is a man of earnest Christian character, of pleasing address, and has a special gift at presenting the Scriptures in an attractive and striking manner suited to the comprehension of the simple folk who come to our clinics. He has preached Christ to many thousands, the majority of whom are of the non-Christian sects.
As the time drew near for the contract to expire, he informed the doctor that he had received several letters from his brother in Alexandria, urging him to accept a situation in the custom-house of that city at a salary of $28 a month, with the promi.se of an increase at the beginning of the new year, and promotion from time to time, as his experience and ability increased. He said, however, that he did not wish to go, and was ready to stay on in connection with the work, with the moderate addition of $2 a month to his salary, which would then only amount to $12 a month in all.
Not long after this he received a much more enticing offer, as follows: A man of considerable wealth wished to take a large amonnt of Syrian goods to America and open a shop in New York or Chicago. IIe offered to give him a salary of $5 a day for a year, half the amount to be paid down in advance, and the remaining half to be deposited with the doctor or anyone elsc the young man might name. His reply was: "I am not working for money, I am working for Christ. I love to be with you, and I know we are doing much good. " And there he remains, a living example of the Gospel whieh he preaches.
KAMI-NO-MICHI-SHINTO .
. BY A. H. MCKINNEY, PH.D., NEW YORK.
Westerners are often amazed when they read of the number of adherents to some of the religions of the Orient. This is particularly true of Buddhism, with its alleged five hundred millions of devotees. Investigation, however, reveals the fact that there are Buddhists and Buddhists. The Buddhism of many is analogous to the Christianity of the boy who, having been asked how he knew that he was a Christian, indignantly replied: "I hain't a Jew, am I!" It is popularly supposed that in Japan there are thirty millions of Buddhists. The fact is, that in the Mikado's 'empire there is a triad of religions, the rites and ceremonies of which are so intermingled that millions of people may be counted as belonging to all three. These religions are Shinto, Buddhism, and Sorto, which is the Japanese term for Confucianism. We propose to take a survey of the first named, which as the old national religion was called Kami-no-Michi * (or Mad-~u), and is now generally known as Shinto.
There are many ways of spelling this word Shinto, which is simply the rendering in Chinese characters of the words Kami-no-Michi, meaning ." the way of the gods" (shin = god, to = way), and is equivalent to'
the Greek ()eo, },,0Y0G" The Chinese explain the word as follows: shin= spirit, to = the doctrine, and they deelare that Shintc is a form of spirit worship.
So dense is the darkness that enshrouds the early history of Japan that it is impossible with any degree of certainty to tracc the genesis and early development of that which afterward became the national religion of the empire. The drift of scholarship, aside from the Japanese, is settling toward the theory that at least the germs of Shinto were brought from the mainland of Asia. When we know more of the religion of the Ainu, perhaps we may be able to speak more decisively concerning Shinto.
Not only is the origin of Shinto a matter of great perplexity to investigators, but the religion itself has been so modified by its contact with other systems that no superficial observer can tell just what Shinto is. Japanese scholars themselves are divided into hostile camps when this subject is upon the tapis. Foreigners who have investigated the system with the most disinterested motives do not agree in their conclusions, and many of the most candid are the least dogmatic in their statements.
A returned missionary, for a long time resident in Japan, on being asked for some information as to what Shinto really is, replied: "I would like to learn something about Shinto myself." One scholar t de- elares: "Shinto is an engine for reducing the people to a condition of mental slavery." Another t says: "There is good evidence that Shinto resembles very closely the ancient religion of the Chinese." A third § holds that " the leading idea of Shinto is a reverential feeling toward the dead. " "In its higher forms Shinto is simply a cultured and intellectual atheism. In its lower forms it is a blind obedience to governmental and priestly dictates." This is the verdict of Dr. Griffis,1I whose long residence in Japan, and scholarly, unprejudiced investigations combine to give it weight. In fact, it is only since 1870 that we really know anything about Shinto, as writers prior to that time told us of Buddhism, and not of Shinto.
* Japane.oe scholars:nse the term Kami-no-Michi, and not Shinto.
t Ernest Satow. ~ J. A. von Brandt. § Arinori Mori.
~ See" The Mikado's Empire." by W. E. Griffis. He characterizes Shinto as "a Robinson Crnsoe among religions." ~ An examination of the sacred books of Shinto will show us at least the Ht:trting-point from which what may be called the doctrines of the system were developed. Then a glance at the rites and ceremonies of those who claim to be exponents of the system will enable us to ju~e how far those doctrines affect the lives of the people.
1. THE SACRED BOOKS. The literature of Shinto, like that of so mauy ethnic faiths, is a development of the early fables and folk-lore which were handed down from generation to generation by the minstrels. These recall to mind the bards of the Druids, the rhapsodists of the Greeks, the priests of the Zoroastrians, and the early reciters of the Vedas, to whom, respectively, we are indebted for much of what we know of these peoples.
Although some Shintoists are positive in their assertions that there was an early divine alphabet called Shindayi, or God-letters, no traces of it can be found. About A.D. 284, or the fifteenth year of the Mikado Ojin, it is supposed that Chinese characters were introduced into Japan. Soon after this there must have been the beginnings of a printed sacred literature, but investigators have found nothing that belongs to this early date. There is a tradition that the sacred books that are now known to us were preceded by two similar works compiled in 620 and 681 A.D_, but there are not remains of these to substantiate the tradition.
The earliest sacred books that are now available are : 1. The Kojiki, or "Records of Antiquity."* This is a collection of oral traditions which was reduced to writing in 721 A.D_, and now form the Japanese Scriptures. It is also the oldest Japanese history. It consists of narratives without dogma, ethical code, or rituaL The work is in three volumes, the first of which deals with the mythology of Japan, and the second and third contain narratives of the doings of the mikados for about thirteen hundred years (B. C. 660 to A. D. 630) . Japanese historians declare that the compiler was a female of the peasant class, whose memory waR so extraordinary that she could repeat everything that she had ever heard. This declaration is certainly a great tribute to the memory of the female, but it does not tend to increase our reverence for the trustworthiness of the narrative.
2. The Nihongi, or "Chronicles of Japan." This was compiled in 720 A.D., and contains records of the mythological period. It continues the history of the Mikado down to 699 A.D. These two works are written in the ancient language, and can be read only by those who have specially studied the archaic forms of the language.
3. The Engishiki, or "Book of Ceremonial Law." This dates from 729 A.D., and contains many prayers and chants.
In addition to these there is a collection of ancient myths, entitled Koshi Seibun, and a great mass of commentaries on the sacred books. None of these writings can be relied upon for historical accuracy.
*A translation of this work may be found in the supplement of Vol. X. of " The Transactions of the Asiatic Society of Japan." II. DOCTRINES OF SHINTO. There arc many that claim that Shinto is not a religion at all. It. is certain that there is no attempt at any systematic statement of belief, and there is little to help the most careful student of the system in formulating what might be justly called a statement of the doctrines of Shinto. There is not e'en a moral code. The following may be considered a fair expression of what the Christian would call the doc- trines of Shinto : 1. Creation. There is no real creation, only development. Here is a . summary of the Shinto doctrine. In some unexplained way the universe was evolved from a germ which had remained hidden somewhere in chaos. Then came the Kami, or gods. These developed in pairs, very imperfect at first, but approaching perfection until the perfection of the creative prin- ciple was reached in Izanagi and Izanami, who were male and female reo spectively. Using his jewelled spear with which to stir the sea as he stood in heaven, Izanagi collected on its point some drops, which, as they fell, consolidated awl formed an island, to which he and Izanami descend- ed, and which they used as the base of operation in fonning other islands.
Then came the separation of sun and earth. The daughter of the first pair, Amaterasu, l-ecame the ruler in the sun. Meanwhile, disturbances began on the earth, and anarchy prevailed until the sun-goddess sent her grandson, Ninigi-no-Mikoto, to restore order. This required a long series of violent strnggles between the heavenly and the earthly powers, and resulted in Nmigi-no-Mikoto becoming the first Mikado of Japan.
2. God. According to the foregoing account of creation, it seems that the universe came into existence before the gods. It is held by many, on the other hand, that Shinto teaches that one supreme God, from whom all others sprung, had existed from eternity, and that he apparently came forth from between the heaven and the earth when they separated. A second and a third god followed. From these sprung Izanami and Izanagi, who were the progenitors of all beings. 11ms it is evident that whether God is considered as eternally existent or as evolved from less perfect beings, the doctrines of creation and of God are intimately connected. Many scholars hold that both doctrines are evolution pure and simple.
It is true that the conceplion of a supreme, personal God is well-nig~ lost. Many foreigners who have mingled with the people assert that Shinto is practically hero and ancestor· worship. While the sun-goddess is reverenced above all others, other gods and objects of nature are also worshipped. As the representative of this goddess, the Mikado practically occupies the chief place in the system. He exercises both temporal and spiritual power over the people. He is at once emperor and pope.
3. Prayer. There is a vague conception of a god of some kind who is interested in man's affairs. The prayer in the heart is heard. The Mikado prays daily for his subjects. Pray«:>rs are for temporal blessings. The dead as well as the liviug are prayed for. The following, quoted by Dr. Griffis, indicates that together with the belief in many gods there is a recognition of a personal, providential ruler of the universe. "Oh God, that dwellest in the high plain of heaven, who art divine in substance and in intellect, and able to give protection from guilt and its penalties, to banish impurities and to cleanse us from uncleanness-hosts of gods, give ear and listen to our petitions I" Forces of nature and many local gods, such ·as those of the mountains, seas, rivers, wells, and roads, are ad- dreslOIed in prayer.
4. Death. Like the Zoroastrians, the Shintoists will have as little to do with a corpse as possible, because they consider that death is polluting. In both systems the effects of sun-worship are seen in the treatment of the dead, and in abhorrence of all forms of uncleanness. Further on it will be noted how the Shinto priests lost their influence, because of their unwillingness to come near a corpse.
5. Immortality. There is no developed doctrine of the immortality of the soul j but as the Japanese all believe that they are descended from the immortal gods, the inference is that they consider themselves immortal j but there is no dogmatic teaching on the subject. One reason why Buddhism made such an easy conquest oftheJapanese may be found in the fact that its doctrine of Nirvana gave the people something to which they could look forward, while Shinto was silent as to the great beyond. To the ordinary Oriental life is drudgery and weariness, and he has no wish to prolong it. A Japanese proverb runs: "If you hate a man, let him live. " Hence the idea of Nirvana, with its consciousless existence, was acceptable. On the other hand, how can we account for the fact that cows, horses, etc., were formerly buried with the dead, except on the hypothesis that preparations were made for a life beyond ~ Another curious practice that needs explanation in this connection is the prayers which the Shintoists offer for the dead. Sir Edwin Arnold declares that" one point in which Japanese women are above and beyond all their Christian teach~ ers is the tender regard that they pay to their dead, and in the ceremonies, full of a strong and sublime faith in the future life, which they make at their graves. " This faith has its roots in Shinto rather than in Buddhism.
The five commands of Shinto relate to : (1) Preservation of the pure fire as an emblem of purity and Il means of purification. (2) Purity of the soul, of the heart, and of the body. (3) Observances of festivals. (4) Pilgrimages. (5) Worship of the Kami in the temples and at home. The three cardinal tenets promulgated by command of the Mikado in 1872 show how little of religion ther~ is in the system. They are as follows: (1) Thou shalt honor the gods and love thy country. (2) Thou shalt clearly understand the principles of heaven and the duty of man. (3) Thou shalt revere the Mikado as thy sovereign, and obey the will of the court.
III. RITES AND CEREMONIES. Most interesting are the religious ceremonies of the Japanese. From these we learn, if not the doctrines of the primitive cult, at least the popular beliefs of the present time. Here we have to do only with those practices which belong peculiarly to Shinto. We must, however, keep in mind the fact that Buddhism has leavened everything in Japan, and it will not be surprising to find under the name of Shinto some things that should be labelled Buddhist.
1. Purification. As sin is regarded as pollution, the chief rite of Shinto is purification. At first the Mikado ordered public ablutions. Afterward paper figures rcpresenting men were cast into the water. Later still the high priest at Kioto threw into the water an iron figure the size of the Mikado. 'Phis rite represented the cleansing of the whole people. Now the festival of general purification is held twice a year. Besides this there are frequent washings for purification, which, with the ceremonies connected therewith, are similar to thosc of the Brahmins of India.
2. Festivals. As has been noted, the sun-goddess is the supreme object of worship. The hierarchy consists of the Mikado, two ecclesiastical judges, and numbers of priests and monks. In the springtime festivals are held in honor of the goddess, at which these dignities playa most important part. The Mikado is the representative of the goddess. The priests make offerings of fish, rice, etc. Ceremonies in imitation of planting and sowing are held.
3. Pilgrimages. Each district now has its own deity and its own temple j but there is a most sacred temple (or several of them) in the Province of Ise. This was built in honor of the sun-goddess, and to it all Shintoists make at least one pilgrimage during their lifetime. The more pilgrimages that can be made the better. The Shintoists believe that the gods of Ise have more than once saved Japan from destruction. When Perry anchored his fleet in the Bay of Yeddo, "orders were sent by the imperial court to the Shinto priest at Ise to offer up prayers for the sweeping away of the barbarians."* 4. Marriage. The marriage rites and relations are held to be under the direct patronage of Izanagi and Izanami. It is deemed most unlucky for a Buddhist priest to officiate at a wedding. A Japanese has but one lawful wife, but he may have as many concubines as the size of his purse will allow. While in ancient times polygamy was common, now the great majority of the people are monogamists.
5. Hero-worship. By decree of the government, semi-diville honors are conferred on the dead. Statues of poets, orators, and famous meu are placed in the temples and regarded with reverence.
Idols are now worshipped, but this is due to the influence of Buddhism. Keeping in mind the fact that the first Mikado was a god, and * Griftls. quoting a native annalist. that his successors are regarded as descendants of the gods, it is not strange that reverence is paid to them. Add to these the large number who have been deified, and one can imagine what an intricate and complex system of hero worship has been developed.
IV. MYTHS. Of these there is no laek. The most interesting of them is that of the sun-goddess. As this myth lies at the basis of Shinto, we give a condensed statement of it. Izanagi and Izanami produced a most beautiful daughter, resplendent and glorious. While she was embroidering beautiful textures her mischievous and wicked younger brother spoiled her work by covering it with defilement. The maiden, displeased, withdrew into a dark cave and left the world in darkness. After long deliberationsamong the eight hundred thousand gods, three stratagems were resorted to for the purpose of drawing the goddess from her place of concealment. First, another beautiful goddess was sent to dance almost naked before the cave, so as to' arouse her jealousy. Then a large number of cocks were placed near by, so that their crowing might excite her curiosity. Finally, as an appeal to her vanity, a mirror was placed before her cave. These efforts proved successful. Hearing the gods laugh, the goddess opened the door of her place of concealment j as she did so she beheld her reflection in the mirror, and stepped outside to get a closer view of her loveliness. At this the" God of Invincible Might," who had remained hidden near by, caught the goddeOls, pulled her forth, and shut to the door in the rock. The gods then returned her to her proper place in the sky. The meaning of this parable is given by the rationalistic writers of Japan. The maiden is the sun, the defilement is the evil of the world, the withdrawal into the cave is an eclipse, and the retul'll to her original place is the separation of light from darkness subsequent to the eclipse.
The scene representing the rival naked goddess dancing at the mouth of the cave has been dramatized, and has produced a corrupting effect on the morals of the people. After marriage purity is emphasized j but among the unmarried laxity in morals exists to an alarming degree. Much of this immorality is directly traceable to the worship of the sun-goddess, and more especially to the representations of such scenes as the one narrated above. Much of what the Anglo-Saxon considers immorality may be excused by keeping in mind the differences in the moral standpoint of the two races. The sweeping assertion that most Japanese women are impure is unworthy of notice, as it is the offspring of ignorance. On the other hand, it must be admitted that Shinto has lowered the moral tone of its devotees.
V. THE TRIAD OF REUGIONS. Japan, as we have noted, is blessed or cursed with a triplicity of religions, so interwoven, not only into one another, but also into the whole social fabric that it is extremely difficult to determine where one begins and another ends, or how much of an individual belongs to one or to the others. Our study of Shinto cannot be completed without at least a hasty glance at the other two religions. In 552 A.D. the Buddhist priests entered Japan along with a company of learned Coreans, who had come to I'eside at the court of the Mikado. Everything was favorable to the propagandism of the imported faith, and it soon manifested its power in all parts of the empire. Its priests soon acquired an extraordinary influence over the people. A peculiarity of the Shinto faith helped them greatly. That was the teaching that death is polluting. The Shinto priests, refusing to have anything to do with a corpse, would not attend funerals. The Buddhist priests, having no scruples on this score, officiated at the funerals, and by this means gaining tbe ears, and very often the hearts of the people in times of sorrow, were very naturally able to exert great influence over them. The two systems gradually mingled, and for over a thousand years each had such a hold on the people that a very large majority of them belonged to both at the same time.
In the beginning of the ninth century, Kobo (774-835), a scholar in Sanscrit, Pali, and Chinese, a master of the Shinto scriptures, who has been called the Japanese Philo, claimed that he had received a divine revelation from the goddess Toyo. According to this revelation, all the gods of Shinto were declared to be manifestations of Buddha.· Hence Shinto was but a daughter of Buddhism. Furthermore, all the traditions and rites of Shinto were explained according to Buddhist ideas. So flexible is Buddhism that it had no difficulty in stretching itself so as to cover the smallest detail of Shinto belief and practice, and its complete ascendency was assured. The Mikado named this new system "Riobu-Shinto," or ," The twofold doctrine of the gods." There are now from fifteen to twenty daughters as the result of this union. They are really corrupt sects of Shinto.
Meanwhile, the educated classes, rejecting the superstitions of both Shinto and Buddhism, looked around for something to take the place of religion. This was readily found in the cold materialism of Confucianism, whose highly elaborated ethical system appealed to the cultivated mind. This system was adopted by many, and of course promulgated. Its moral code supplied a serious defect in Shinto, but it did not offer to the common people what their hearts longed for. Shinto was in the field to stay. Buddhism appealed to the popular longing for show and ex~itement, and Confucianism tended to elevate the secular life of all.
Thus we have the combination which forms that wonderfully eclectic system, whose inconsistencies and intricacies render it so difficult for the missionary or the student to discover just what the ordinary Japanese believe.
An attempt has been made at separation. A hundred years of preparatory polemic ·literature in favor of the old national faith and the absolute supremacy of the Mikado, the work of trained Shinto writers, prepared the way for the legal divorce of Shinto and Buddhism, which took place in 1868, when the Mikado ordered a general separation and purifica-
n:Al£I-NO-~IICHI-BmNTo. [Septembel'
tion. This, as might be expected, was a formal and not an actual separation between the two faiths. While the form of Buddhism is found in all religious life and thought, the spirit of Shinto abides in the temples, in the sacred books, and in the minds of a class of Japanese scholars who use it as the basis for polemic literature. Shinto, in the opinion of many, presents a stronger bulwark against the incoming of Christianity than does Buddhism, for it is the basis of the patriotism of the Japanese, and will not readily yield to any for:)e from the outside. At the same time, while the influence of Buddhism may be on the wane, she has strlHJk her roots so deeply that an official edict has not driven her from Japanese soil.
It is admitted that there is a wide difference of opinion among investigators, as to the influence of Shinto. Says Griffis: "Left to itself, Shinto might have developed codes of ethics, systems of dogma, and even a body of criminal and civil law, had not the more perfect materialistic ethics of Confucius and the more sensuous ritual of Buddhism, by their overwhelming superiority, paralyzed all further growth of the original cultus." Shinto has had, and in a measure has preserved, the idea of one supreme God. On the other hand, its many inferior gods, its adoption of the rites of Buddhism, and the sun myth with the immoralities connected with the worship of the sun-goddess, have done much to lower the moral tone of the Japanese, so that while they may not go to the excess of immoralities indulged in by ot.her peoples, they have not much positive morality. As a counterbalance to the demoralizing effect of the sun myth, Shinto preaches discourse eloquently and learnedly, on ethical subjects, but little moral power results from their teachings. Buddhism has done more than Shinto in the way of education, civilization, and gcneral advanccment. The latter, however, has one redeeming feature. That is the honor that it has shown to womanhood. The Japanese woman occupies a far higher position than do her sisters of other Eastern countries. Nine of the sovereigns of Japan have been women. To-day, women, as a rule, are respected and cared for. How far this is due to the exalted position occupied by the sun goddess is a subject worthy of investigation.
To the student of comparative religion, for a long time one of the most interesting and perplexing phases of the study of Shinto was that there seemed to be no means of connecting it with the primitve cult or with any contemporary faith. Even such widely separated systems as Druidism and Zoroastrianism have so many points in common that the unprejudiced investigator declares that either they must have in some way come into contact with each other, or that they both retain element.s of the primitive faith. For a long while there seemed to be no link by which primitive Shinto could be connected with any other early cultus. Now, however, there are many scholars whose opinions on the subject are worthy of consideration, who hold that Shinto is closely allied to the religion that held sway in China prior to the time of Confucius. This conclusion is based on the similarity of legends and traditions.
KAMI-No·lIHcm-SIIINTO
What of the future 1 That Shinto will never have any influence on the world at large no one questions. That the political agitations in Japan are sounding the death-knell of the system many believe. The Mikado occupies his position by divine right. The present generation may not question that right in so many words, but it is doing much hard thinking. The seeds sown in the minds of Japanese while attending European and American universities will not be long in bearing fruitage. Japan is experiencing the throes preceding a new birth. Deliverance will come. If the Mikado continues to reign, it will be by the will of the people instead of by the will of the gods. Then Shinto will be a thing of the past, as interesting to the Japanese student as is the mythology of Greece to the American scholar, but exerting no more power over his thought and actions. Until this political revolution takes place, Shinto will retain its hold on the people. This is what one * who has felt the throbbing heart of Shinto declares: "Shinto extends a welcome to Western science, but remains the irresistible opponent of Western religion, and the foreign zealots who would strive against it are astounded to find the power that foils their uttermost efforts indefinable as magnetism and invulnerable as air. The reality of Shinto lives not in books, nor in rites, nor in commandments, but in the national heart, of which 1t is the highest emotional religious expression, immortal and ever young. For underlying all the sllrface crop of quaint superstitious and artless myths and fantastic magic there thrills a mighty spiritual force, the whole soul of a race, with all its impulses and powers and intuitions."
What of Christianity in Japan ~ Shall the Sun of Righteousness displace the sun-goddess ~ Humanly speaking, that will depend on Christendom itself. Japan is watching Europe and America. She has already accepted their arts and sciences, because she has learned their superiority over her own. If Christians can show that the religion of Jesus is better for mankind than that of the Mikado, of Buddha, and of Confucius, that religion will be accepted. One of the greatest obstacles to the spread of Christianity in Japan arises from the reports that are being brought home by the Japanese travellers concerning the unbelief of the intellectual classes of America. If those reports continue, the progress of Christianity in Japan will be impeded. Oh, that the Christians of this fair land would realize that the eyes of Japan are upon them! Oh, that they would show the Japanese what real Christianity is !
As this article is being penned it is reported in the daily papers that Toshi Hoti, the precocious eldest son of the Japanese Mikado, is on his way to visit the World's Fair. The future of Japan may be largely dependent on what he and his companions sec and hear while in this country. Ought we not to be ashamed of ourselves as a nation if this young prince can truthfully tell his people that Christian America has nothing to offer Japan in the way of a faith better, purer, holier than her own 1 * Lafadio Hearn.
KOREA-ITS PRESENT CONDITION
KOREA-ITS PRESENT CONDITION.
* BY REV. JAMES S. GALE, WONSON, KOREA.
This small peninsula presents to those interested in missions perhaps the most startling field of this missionary century. Till within the last decade it was closed and barred against everyone. Even the Chinese, who received, and still receive in Peking, the yearly ambassador with Korea's tribute, know as little as others of the inner life of this people. Since the distant past Korea has remained entirely alone, and has endeavored to work out its way as a nation independent of others. The result has been that she has built up systems suitable for her life as a hermit, which are being subjected to violent agitations now that she has entered the company of treaty-making nations.
At no point in her history of a thousand years has there been such overwhelming force brought to bear upon her cherished customs as at this present time. A war with Japan some four hundred and fifty years ago cost a great deal of life and almost her individuality; but when the enemy withdrew she revived. One hundred years later a Manchurian swoop down upon the capital had even less effect, and with the promise of subjection, Korea went on just as she had for centuries before. But the opening of the ports has rung a knell to ancient Chosen (Korea). The influence that enters through these gates is an enemy that knows of no retreat, so that Korea's standing in her antiquity is only a matter of time.
The present period threatens not only to destroy the established means of livelihood, but also their social systems, leaving nothing behind but the. slavish religion and susperstitions of their fathers.
It is well known to everyone acquainted with Korea that the ordinary native dress is white cotton. It is the most extravagant, and, withal, useless garb that one could imagine for a land subject to extremes as this peninsula is, but it is a dress that carries in every fold of it ancestral associations, and they have learned to think it the most dignified and becoming outfit in the world. Cotton, therefore, is in demand here as woollen goods are at home, and the weaving of this being the most important calling in Korea, has ever given employment to a large percentage of the people. The ports are opened, and in come bales of foreign cotton cheaper than the natives can manufacture, and native cotton-weaving is compelled to give way, purchasers from north to south finding it more to their taste and pocket to dress in 'Vestern goods.
·Work in metal is growing less as well, quantities being shipped in from Japan for the manufacture of pipes, articles as common here as teaspoons at home. Castor beans, that were grown to supply oil for lamps, have disappeared, and a cheap kind of kerosene from Philadelphia does the lighting for Korea. The use of empty kerosene cans has all but anni.hilated the water-bucket and crock-maker's trades. Dye stuffs and dyeing, in .. There seems to be almost as many ways of spelling Korean names as there are writers on the 8ubject. We hope a system oC orthography will soon be established which will come Into general nse. Wonson is sometimes spelled Onesan, Gensan or Wensan. which Korean women excel, are being crowded out by the introduction of cheaper and more attractive qualities from Japan. Axes, kuives, nails, and, in fact, all kinds of hardware are imported and sold cheaper than the native manufacture. Telegraph lines to the four points of the peninsula, while appreciated and prized by the foreigner, are cursed by the native broker and travelling merchant, whose profits have been cut off by this constant communication with the capital. Money has become more and more useless. Rice has gone up to five times its cash value since the open- ing of the ports, and most of the articles in daily use have quadrupled themselves in the same time.
For this reason the native ships his beans and fish away in autumn in order to raise a little money, and thus he endangers the lives of those depending on him during the long winter to follow.
In this destruction of native mealls of livelihood no new calling seems to have arisen by which he can help to clothe and feed his nation. Nothing has been supplied to fill up the vacancy, hence the land is swarming with idlers and petty merchants, who make a doubtful living in handling these foreign goods. The poverty of Korea is extreme j the manner of life and habits of the people such as to confirm one in the belief that they have reached the very lowest possible condition in every way. We look for a change, which must of necessity be one for the better.
There can be no doubt in the minds of any that the resources of the country are great j but as they remain undeveloped, they afford no consolation in existing circumstances. Those who have lived in their huts with them, and have seen their life and surroundings from day to day, have only one picture, that deepens with the increase of foreign trade-a picture of idlene8s and poverty.
Some four years ago, on landing in Seoul, like all other Westerners, I was hcrrrified at the filth, apparent laziness, and poverty everywhere, and surprised at the lack of a single sign of visible prosperity with it all. I was told, in consolation, that the country was the place to see the real life of Korea, and that I would have proof there of the wealth I had heard spoken of. So I resolved for a time to make the country my home, and started for Whang Hai. Before being permitted to proceed to the end of my journey, I was obliged to spend a few days in the governor's buildings at IIai-choo, the capital of that province. Not that the governor knew me, or was in any way interested in my calling, but because I carried a passport from the Foreign Office j and as it is second nature for a Korean to be ,formally polite and hospitable, he had me call on him, and showed me over the government house and official quarters. Certainly I have never seen a more impoverished, tumble-down set of buildings than the liiame governor's compound. Since that time I have been obliged to enter many others in all parts of the peninsula, and they are of a kind, buildings, some of them that were once pretentious, but are now falling to ruins. I found the middle classes, too, in just as sorrowful a condition as their superiors. Living with one land-owner in Whang lIai for three months that year, I had ample proof that there was nothing in that part of the country that corresponded to the prosperity I had heard of.
Then I turned for a year to the far south, making Fusan my home, and visited when I could the cities of that district, where the population is dense, and where I expected to find something on which to hang Korea's national pride; but it was ignorance, poverty, idleness, I think even worse than that found in the north. Kyeng Choo, the ancient capital of Silla, one of Korea's ancestral kingdoms, was in its rack and ruin, but the ghost of what had once lived and flourished. Since then, along with Mr. Moffett, I have seen the far north and east; and if anything, it has been an increasing picture of filth, idleness, and poverty, the entrance of foreign life and trade tending, as we see, only to the increase of the latter.
While China has continued in the main uninfluenced by Western life because of its prosperity and absence of national decline, Korea's financially helpless condition tells how powerfully she is to be influenced by this opening of the ports. The average Korean is proud as any man living, and yet he is willing to adopt almost any substitute that will offer a change and prove an exit from his present condition of misery.
A host of political offices have been created within the last ten years, in order to provide for the new responsibility of entertaining and treating with the representatives of foreign countries. All these mean an increased de. mand for funds on the working classes. The nobility of the capital, whose names, justly or unjustly, have an ill savor in the country, are already, through this foreign influence, fallen into extravagances that the farming and tax-paying classes complain of bitterly. It is the proper thing now, especially with younger officials, to buy all that is possible of the Western world, from steamships, electric lights, and gatling guns, to watches, clocks, and drawing-room ornaments. This may seem a small matter, and yet it tells heavily on a people so poor and sorely taxed as the country natives are. Until ten years ago there was nothing new under their sun on which even unscrupulous nobility could squander the nation's money; now the doors are open, and no one knows the limit to the possibility of purchase. These latter-day extravagances, along with the death of trade and manufacture, have brought the Korean subject to a desperately ominous point in the history of his race and nation.
It has been said by some careless observers that Korea is without a religious system. Statements to this eiIcct have appeared so often in American papers, that there ought to be some reason for the misunderstanding. Perhaps it is because Korea has no religion ap!l.rt from her national life, her whole existence from king to coolie being one complicated system of ancestral worship, that one may easily fail to notice, seeing it enters so subtly into every detail of life.
·While writing this to-night (February 16th)–Kore:m new year's evethere is t.o be found in every loyal household a spread of ancestral food.
KOUEA-ITS PUF:SEN'f CONDITION
Even the poorest puts forih his greatest effort to make a luxuriant display in the presence of the spirits of his fathers. Fruit, rice, meats, distilled drinks, incense, candles, are some of the items on the list for ancestral worship. The natives put off their greasy garments, and, dressed immaculately, sit out the night. When the first cock crows the candles are lighted before the tablet (two walnut slabs fastened together, with an opening between, where the spirit iSlilaid to reside). The worshippers bow, offer drink, and call on the shades to accept their sacrifice. Then when each in turn has made his salutation, they retire from the room and lock the door, in order that the spirits may inhale (as they say) the offering unembarrassed by the presence of the living. Again they circle about and bow repeatedly until the end, when they set to and feast on what the spirit leaves -a dinner that is supposed to bring them earthly prosperity, but which, to all appearances, leaves them disordered in stomach and poor in pocket for many days to come.
New Year's is the sacrificial season, but it by no means includes all. For three years after the death of parents, night and morning 'the children offer food, meat, and tobacco before the tablet in the room where the dead once lived, making, besides, numerous offerings at the grave. From the palace to the lowest mud hut the three years of mourning and daily sacrifice are observed with the utmost strictness. During such time the royal household is occupied entirely with the spirits of the dead, believing that the prosperity of their dynasty hangs on such worship. In the case of the poor people they bring their food, and staff in hand, with lond lameniations (usually purely mechanical), spread it out before their father's ghost. For three long years this endless ceremony goes on, after which period they limit the direct sacrifices to about six important days in the year-the four national jete days and anniversaries of birth and death. A native absent from his aucestral home will walk from the farthest end of the peninsula, if necessary, to be at the grave on the appointed day. Such devoutness in religious service I have never seen even among the strictest Romanists, nor have I read of anything surpassing it among Mohammedans or Hindus.
As far as its being universal is con~erned, I have never heard of any failing to sacrifice except the handful of Buddhists and a few professing Christians. To neglect this is to make one's self an outlaw and an alien to the land of his fathers, "beasts and dogs that ought not to live 1" Last month a Kim went, according to custom, to pay his respects to an elder relative. The first question was, "Have you failed of late to sacrifice~" "Yes," says Kim, "I cannot sacrifice again." "Then away with you; you are no relative of mine-a villain that would mix with dogs and forget his fathers 1" It is quite as much as a man's life is worth to neglect this sacred custom, The time between sacrificial ceremonies is taken up with searching the hills for a propitiolls site for burial. The hills themselves become dragons, spirits, ghosts, and what not, to gain whose favor and fint! a suitable resting-place for the dead is the burden of every heart, for through that alone can they hope for earthly prosperity. Hence praying to the mountain spirits, and worshipping at every hilltop is the outgrowth of ancestral reverence. Shrines or spirit trees are at every mountain pass where travellers bow or make some trivial offering.
In the choice of a grave site there are many points to be taken into consideration. So complicated and mixed are the methods of arriving at a proper conclusion, that a large number of people make a special study of it, and gain tlwir living as experts in geomancy. A grave is chosen on a mountain front, if possible, IJaving two armlike ridges on either hand, one called the dragon side and one the tiger. A translation of a song from one of their ancient books gives perhaps as clear an outline of what is re- 'luired for a propitious site as is necessary : " If men are happy, 'tis because They keep the old ancestral laws. Look to your homes, alld to the dead, And let this ancient law be read !- The tiger and the dragon side Meet at the top, and then divide; No hill behind to topple o'er, The streams meet and flow down before 'i'hree terraced sides to correspond, And sloping front on either hand: Away beyond if there could be Three thousand miles unbroken sea, The favor that such burial brings Would rear the proudest race of kings."
After burial, the native watches as a matter of the most vital moment to see that no one encroaches on or interferes with his ancestral graves. If it becomes a choice between feeding or clothing the living and making some outlay for this resting-place of the dead, they will decide in a breath in favor of the latter. Should a household meet with repeated disaster, up come their ancestor's bones, and are buried elsewhere, thinking thus to conciliate the spirits. From the idea of certain localities being possessed, has grown the belief that there are 'spirits in every mound, rock, and tree. Also from the years of sacrifice in the home comes the idea of a guardian spirit, which is worshipped by food, prayer, and characters posted on the walls. A species of venomous snake so commonly makes its home in the tiles, and is seen winding in and about the roofs of Korean huts, that they have associated him with this guardianship, and one of the commonest kinds of worship is prayer and offering to the serpent. To this has been added a host of other spirits, the guardian dragon, which they worship by dropping food into the well, his supposed retreat. In this guardianship they include weasels, pigs, and nnclean animals of eVflry kind, dividing off to each so many days in the year, making a constant round of religious ceremony. Besides this there are prayers to the spirits at the opening of each Geason for specia: blessing, as well as other superstitions connected with every walk of life. To illustrate: I left on January 9th for Seoul, the capital, which is about one hundred. and seventy-five miles from this port. I took two natives with me-one a gentleman, and thoroughly educated from a Korean point of view; the other a rougil, honest-looking coolie. On the way, one evening this coolie, when drying his straw rope shoes, happened to leave them near the opening of the fireplace. In the dark next morning the cook pushed his shoes, along with the brnshwood, into the fim, and they were hnmed. The coolie announced the fact with a mournful countenance, and the gentleman gave a start and said: "There's trouble ahead for yon." I then asked why, and he told me that to have one's shoes bnrned by mistake is a woeful omen. I said: "But you do not believe in it, do you?" " Believe or not, it comes true for all that, " was the reply. We reached Seoul, and had ouly been there a day or two when my coolie took sick with what the foreign doctor pronounced typhus fever. The old teacher nodded, and said ~e was warned of that the morning the shoes were burned. Such superstitions, confirmed by occasional fulfilment of their fears, along with all the host of ancestral ceremonies, have become the very life and breath of the nation.
Some interested in Korea have thought that there are two religions, one cultured and refined, understood as direct ancestral worship; the other, heathenish throughout, inclnding superstitions and the worship of unclean spirits. Koreans themselves, however, make no distinction; they call it all " kouisin worship," and "kouisin" is a word that is translated " demon" in the Chinese and Korean of the New Testament. They themselves claim that their worship is all of a kind, which agrees exactly with 1 Cor. 10 : 20 : " But I say that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice they sacrifice to demons and not to God."
The Manchnrians taking China at the close of the Ming dynasty, even though they adopted the conquered nation's religion, helped in a measnre to stem its tide. In Korea, on the other hand, there has been no hindering power, and it has gone on uninterrupted until at present spirit worship enters into the dress (sackcloth), the language (countless honorifics), and e'ery detail of the government and life of Korea.
The land is dotted over with little temples, reared in honor of those who have been faithful to their parents, more especially after death. In one, erected some hnndred and fifteen years ago near my present horne, there is a tablet with this inscription: "Kim Ik Pin, a faithful son, lost his father at ten years of age. He monrned so like a full-grown man that his flesh wasted away and only bones remained. At seventeen, when the season of sacrifice came round, and there was no fish to be taken because of the summer rains, in his agony he went out, and weeping, prayed by the seashore, when 10 ! n fish flashed from the water aud came falling at his feet. Again we sce his devotion, for fires had snrrounded the mountains and threalened to envelop his father's grave; in he rushed, at the risk cf life, praying the spirits to t'pare his father's resting-place, when down came the rainy season's floods and quenched the fires. Was he not a faithful son ?"
Books, too, that are used everywhere in the schools and taught the children, deal exclusively with the Rubjecll of ~ervice and sacrifice to king, parents, elder brothers, etc. I give here a translation of a story from the "Five Social Virtues," a book known to everyone in Korea who has passed his primer: "During the Haw dynasty there lived a man called Tong Yeng, a citizen of C'heng Seng district. His father died; and Yeng, having no means of giving him honorable burial, borrowed ten thousand cash, agreeing to pay the debt or give himself instead as bondslave. Returning from the funeral sacrifice, he was on his way to slavery, when suddenly there appeared before him a queenly lady, who requested him to take her for his wife. Yeng, amazed, answered, 'I, so poor that I am even now on my way to bond service, why do you ask to become my wife ?' The lady replied, 'I wish to be your wife j. that is enough; your poverty and humble station gives me no cause for shame. ' Thus urged, he took her with him, and the debt-master asked if she understood any kind of handiwork. 'I can weave,' she answered. ., Then,' he replied, 'if you will weave me three hundred bales of silk I'll give you both freedom.' Within a month the three hundred bales were finished; and the master, amazed (in superstitious fear at the quickness with which a whole life's work was done), sent them both away; and as they passed the spot again which had seen their first meeting, she said to Yeng, 'I must leave you now, for I am a woman come from the weaver's star. Heaven saw your filial piety, and being moved with love sent me to pay your debt.' Thus she spoke and ascended into heaven."
It is the teachin~'of Confucius interpreted and added to. The object of it all is earthly prosperity.. There has never been a time that so strongly proves it a failure in this regard as the present, and yet they carry it on with wonderful vigor. All their prayers and ceremony, and hither have they come! Poverty and depression in every kind of trade in answer for their devoutness, and yet spirit worship seems on the increase rather than losing its hold. ,Ve see that the opening of the ports has by no means been an unmixed blessing to Korea. It has meant, in some ways, the entrance of darkness of a deeper kind than they have e,'er known before. This land, destitute of spiritual life as she is of earthly prosperity, is unconsciously holding out her hands for help just now. The natives in their poverty would be willing to give up much of their ancient custom if they could be free as vYesterners are, would even lay aside their dress, which is their glory; would accept a ,Vestern form of government and a Western gospel, providing they could make more money out of it and sacrifice to demons as formelly ; but as a people they take no pleasure in the thought of dr0pping all their heathendom and destitution to accept a perfeet
PRESBYTERIAN MISSION WORK IN KOREA
Saviour. Koreans in this respect are just like people at home; they do not want a gospel that counts worldly greatness of no account and rests wholly on the service of the heart.
What I have wished to give in this paper is a picture of Korea as it stands out before us in the year 1893. It is losing its industry and life, leaving nothing behind but poverty, darkness, and superstition. If Christian lives of faith can be helpful to the perishing, Korea needs them now. The Master has seen the need even better than me, and has sent a companyof missionaries, who are here, as we believe, at a crisis in the political and spiritual history of the country. Besides the missionaries, we have a few praying nati'es, who give evidence of being truly made alive by the power of the Holy Ghost. In Euiju, where Mr. Moffett is, there are some six, he says. In 'Yhang Rai another missionary puts the number at perhaps as many. In 'Yonson and Fusan there are another 11alf dozen earnestly interested. In Seoul there are of course more, but the scriptural requirements of honest labor and giving up sacrifice to demons has thinned the number, at the same time helping, to call forth earnest workers. Some of these natives have given strong proof of their discipleship by hunger, insult, exile, and imprisonment for the name of the Lord Jesus.
It would seem that for no other land are the prayers of the Church so urgently needed as for Korea in its present condition. The foundations on which the ancient hermit sat are slowly but surely breaking up. Pray that there may be many sons of the hermit who will find perfect rest on the Church's one foundation.
PRESBYTERIAN MISSION WORK IN KOREA.
BY C. C. VINTON, M.D., SEOUL, KOREA.
Within a decade Korea has come to assnme a ,prominent position among missionary fields. The several descriptive works which have appeared from time to time have acquainted the public with her chief peculiarities, and the constant increase in the number of tourists that visit her shores is fast dispelling the mystery that for centuries has snrrounded her. The romance that attached to the first missionaries who settled in her capital has given way to a more practical realization of the problems before us, and the fanciful tale of thousands waiting only to be baptized is less frequently told to-day than the narrative of difficnlties patiently surmounted and hopes bright with faith.
The history of a nation's evangelization, we often hear, naturally falls into three periods. First, the missionaries must become established, the language be conquered, the Scriptures translated, a supplementary literature produced, the first converts gathered, evangelists and Bible-women trained, and the Church organized. During the second period the establishment and organizat ion of the Church are perfected under the gUIdance of the missionaries, seminaries are instituted for the education of a minis- try, and the Gospel is carried to every boundary of the land. The third is the period of independence, when foreign control is withdrawn and the native Church left to wage her own strife against the powers of evil.
It cannot be said that Korea has yet begun to emerge from the first of these stages. The tenure of the foreign missionary is still uncertain even in her capital, and the right of proselyting may not soon be conceded him. No one has so far surmounted the difficulties of this most elusive of languages as to attain its mastery. Bible translation is in its inception. Explanatory works have scarcely been thought of. We have few tracts. The native community of Christians is small and feeble, yet includes a dozen or more stanch men. Native workers there are and owned of the Spirit, but needing much more than they have received of doctrinal instruc- tion and acquaintance with the Bible, while the birth of a sturdy, vitalized, self-propagating church can hardly be said to have occurred in the land.
What is being done in these several dire~tions may be learned in part from a review of the annual meeting of the Presbyterian missionarics in Korea, held last January in Seoul. To this gathering were invited not only the representatives of the Preshyterian Board in the northern United States, whose official assembly it was, but also those of the corresponding society in the Southern States and of the Victorian Presbyterian Mission of Australia. In all, twenty-seven persons were enrolled as attending, and scven adults only failed to respond to the summons. Thus, including Dr. Underwood and his wife, who have since returned from furlough, the Presbyterian force in Korea numbers thirty-six workers, nearly all of whom, however, are young recruits less than two years on the field. The seeming largeness of this force appears to indicate, upon the part of our denomination, an appreciation of the strategic importance of Korea, and a resolve speedily to carry her for Christ and to train her captured guns upon the neighboring and more impregnable strongholds of Chma. And, sustained and consccrated by the all-prevailing volume of prayer that rises from these antipodal branches of adherents to one creed, we may surely have confidence that this company will not fail of leading a nation to its Saviour.
The programme of the meeting covered all the range of missionary effort, and included a discussion of many topics of absorbing interest to those present. In reviewing, we will select and expand those which may best convey a true impression of the field to the general reader.
Seoul, the capital. has been the seat of missionary work since Dr. Allen, 'the pioneer of Presbyterian, and indeed of Protestant labor here, made foreign medicine welcome in 1884. It is a city of three hundred thousand, magnificently set among the mountains on the banks of the Han River. Here are held throughout the year a series of quaggas, or government rank examinations, often several in a week, to each of which" resort from one to ten thousand of the literary class from all parts of the country. Here, too, the traffic ann the sight-seeing of the nation centres, so that one who preaches to the transient population of the capital reaches every hamlet in the Jand. Our missior I having reached a stage of development where some of its members have gotten enough of the language to undertake public preaching, and ha"ing grown bold in defiance of government prohibitions, is endeavoring to avail itself of this fact in instituting preaching places and dispensaries in favorable locations throughout the city. Hitherto its efforts have been perforce limited to the foreign quarter, where curiosity brought only a few, and which the mass shunned. Yet the Seoul reports show a steady gam and a steady building up in the faith, which is of utmost importance. Among the women especially has an increased number given el"idence of a clear understanding of the Gospel. What trials in petty persecution some of these suffer no one but themselves knows now.
In the technical view of the mission Seoul station includes also several towns and villages within forty miles, where Mr. Gifford and a native worker have been in the habit of spending a season each spring and fall. They deserve a special mention here beca~se of the gratifying report given of his work in some of them by Mr. Gifford at the annual meeting. Many conversions have resulted, the Holy Spirit has manifested His presence unmistakably, and one region seems to promise the nucleus of the first local church in Korea.
At Fusan, the extreme southern port of the peninsula, work is being carried on by Rev. W. M. Baird and Dr. H. M. Brown, with their wives, by all of whom reports were made. These related largely to housebuilding, for the station is young j but Mr. Baird had made a tour of exploration along the coast to the westward, and he tells us: "The country traversed seemed well tilled and well peopled. Several very large and fertile valleys covered with fields of half ripe grain and growing rice were crossed on the way." "I was impressed that a working centre might be chosen in almost anyone of these valleys as a point from which a considerable farming popnlation might be easily reached." "The leading towns and cities visited were Kimhai (estimated population 6000), Chang W un (5000), Masampoo (15,000 or 20,000), Chimhai (2000), Kosung (3000), Tong Yung (100,000), Yang San (3000), Tongnai (10,000), besides many smaller ones." "Tong Yung is the largest and most beautiful place I have seen in South Korea. Sea and land, hills, bays, peninsulas, and isJandR all seem to be placed in just such positions as to produce the best effect. The land, except when wooded, is cultivated to the very tops of the hills. It is a splendidly walled city, lying at the end of a long penin- sula, across the narrow neck of which runs a strong wall." t, The people are everywhere suspicious, taking us for Roman Catholics, and mostly refusing to read our books or take them as a gift. Though sometimes those who had refused came back and asked for books. Ve received 110 ill treatment of any kind j and at Tong Yung only were we refused a lodging. My heart was more than once touched by the wickedness, the disease, the misery, the stolidity, and the almost utter lack of moral earnestness among the people."
Wonson-or Gensan, as the Japanese call it-is a stilI younger station. Here Mr. and Mrs. Gale have been working for nearly a year. It is the key of all the great rich, populous, half-explored northeast region as far as the Ever White Mountains, and Vladiwostock, in Siberian territory. One passage of Mr. Gale's report will indicate the promise of his work: "Our great encouragement has been from a family of Kims living in a little town, Cheong Chyeng, some four miles distant. They are farmers whom Ko, the gateman, met when out at his father's grave. He told them about the Gospel, and they came into the meeting, and have continued to come since. They have some knowedge of Chinese characters, and although hard-working people, are considered gentlemen." " These Kims, especially the oldest and youngest, seemed from the first after some· thing that would give them rest; and Ko had told them that the' Son Yak' was God's book, and that that would tell them how to be forgiven. Shortly after they gave a proof of belief in a determination to follow it only and to discard even the dearest customs that did not conform to its teaching. For a time they had to endure the ridicule and contempt of even their wives when they knelt at prayer daily, and the commotion they created in their village has not yet quieted. Although they did not tell me, and I did not know of it until some weeks later, in October last, after attending the teaching and asking many questions for some two months, they gathered all their ancestral rags, tablets, and articles of keuisin worship and burned them in front of their house before the village, telling the people that these things meant devil worship, and that they were done with them forever. I had not urged or even hinted at such a line of conduct, so it came so much the better and so much the greater surprise. It cost them the friendship of their native village; but the Lord has blessed them for their sacrifice, and has opened their mouths to talk plainly to their fellow-countrymen-something so hard for Koreans to do."
Pyeng Yang is not yet a station, nor is Euiju. That the former will soon become so is our earnest hope, for it is the gate of all the northwest. It was the capital of an earlier and more illustrious dynasty, and its ruins and walled-in reaches of fields speak of a far larger population than now inhabits it, though it is even now the second city in the land. Its people, though reputed more exclusive, are not less friendly to us than those of any other region; but it is not comprised in the list of treaty ports, and every attempt by missionaries to obtain a lodgment there has hitherto proved futile. Eveu during the past month we have been forced to return the deeds of property recently purchased. But the medical work of Dr. Hall, of the Methodist Mission, has completely won the hearts of the people, and it cannot be long before the officials are forced to yield.
Euiju, near the mouth of the Yalu, on the border of Manchuria, is a famous town of departed glory. Its people have always been friendly, and a number have been baptized, of whom many have fallen away for lack of gospel teaching. 'Ve have held property there for more than a year, and the visits of missionaries are latterly more frequent. Northward again three hundred miles is a region whence has often come news of multitudes awaiting only the act of baptism. But figures proverbially deceive, and these thousands have dwindled under investigation till but a handful actually appear.
The educational work of the -mission was outlined in two reports presented by the superintendents respectively of the boys' and of the girls' school, and in that of the educational committee. These schools are both practically orphanages, although in some instances the parents of scholars contribute toward their support. The number of scholars under instruction is not large, but from among them have already graduated several young Christians of high promise, who in one way or another are doing good work for their Master. It is here the best hope lies for that generation of educated preachers and teachers and their wives, by whom the early Korean church must be erected.
The" Report of the Special Bible Committee" is that of two members elected annually to join two from the Methodist mission and one from the Canadian mission in forming the Permanent Bible Committee of Korea. This body has undertaken the translation of the Bible into the Enmoun, or vernacular Korean. No book has as yet been finally accepted by them, but the four Gospels, Acts, Galatians, and Ephesians are before them, and Genesis and John's Epistles are ready for their consideration. Their progress is necessarily very slow, the tongue perhaps the most difficult living language, and text-books and precedents are wanting; but our representatives report the status of the work as encouraging.
Perhaps the most encouraging presentation of work was in Mr. Gifford's report upon the Winter Theological Class. This class is formed of adult believers, baptized or applicants for baptism, and includes as well the evangelists in the employ of the mission as a selected number of those who are found most promising in the various out-stations. These latter come only on personal invitation from the missionary in charge of their field. To all food and lodging is supplied during the period of their stay.
Let us hear what the report says of their work: "Sixteen men from the country were in attendance upon the class, and two more eame in just before its close." "These helpers and picked men specially invited from Christian villages distributed from Euiju, on the northwestern frontier of Korea to the southern limits of the province we live in, gathered in Seoul the Monday after Thanksgiving, November 28th, and stayed with us till Christmas time. Mr. Moffett and I divided the instruction of the class between us. He had the class at ten o'clock in a course of theological Bible readings. At two o'clock he had a picked class at his home who studied the life of Christ. At the same time the rest of the class, in their room at the school, were reading Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress." At 3.30 I had a class in a study of the Gospel of John, immediately following which a devotional meeting for prayer was held." "Mr. Moffett and I both feel very much pleased over the work done by the class. But instruction was a secondary aim with us. We planned and worked and prayed for a deepening in the religious life of the men in attendance upon the class. And in this respect we believe God blessed us beyond our very largest ex· pectation. 'We believe that men came there in whose heart was only the feeling that their religion was only something for them to sit down and enjoy, who have gone away at the close of the class burdened with their responsibility before God to work for the souls of others. "
It was a notable feature of the class that the men formed the habit from the outset of meeting not daily only, but many times a day, at dawn and at midnight, for prayer for themselves, their work, their teachers, their homes, and Korea. At the close of their allotted time nearly all went home with the expressed determination to bend zealous efforts toward en. lightening their neighbors with Gospel knowledge.
Eight years of mission work in Korea furnish the fullowing statistics: Ordained missionaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. … 8 Physicians (including 2 married ladies) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Married female missionaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Unmarried " " .. .. .. .. .. . …. …. .. .. 3 Lay missionary .•.•……… .' .. , …………… " 1 Applicants for baptism enrolled this year. . . . . . . . . . .. 58 Added to the church …. , . . . . . • • • . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Infant baptisms. . • . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Dropped from the roll. . . • . . . . . . . . . . .. ……… . . 6 Dismissed by letter. • • • . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Died……………….. …… …. …… …… 2 Native communicants in Seoul. .•.• . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 " " i n all Korea. . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . .. 127 Boys enrolled in school. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . 29 Girls" " . .• . . . . . . . . . . . . . • . . . . . . . . . .. 13 Pupils in Sunday-schools. . • . • • • • • • • . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . 52 Shortly after the adjournment of the meetings the gentlemen who had been in attendance met and organized a council in imitation of that formed by the Presbyterian and Reformed missionaries in Japan. This council consists of all the male Presbyterian missionaries in Korea, and will act chiefly in matters of comity and in the organization of the denominational church. It will apportion territory so that no mission may overlap the work of another, and will advise every worker in matters which involve the common interest. It lays no compulsion upon anyone, and lllterferes in no way with the independence of the various bodies concerned.
The last day of the conference was occupied largely in the discnssion of points of general iutel'est in relatiou to the work. As an expression of the conclusions of those present on some of the questions considered, and as an outline of the policy for the ensuing year, the following series of propositions was adopted : 1. It is better to aim at the conversion of the working classes than at that ot the higher classes.
2. The conversion of women and the training up of Christian girls should be an especial aim, since mothers exercise so important an influence over future generations.
3. Much could be effected in Christian education by maintaining ele. mentary schools in country towns j therefore we should aim to qualify young men in our boys' school and to send them out as teachers.
4. Our hope for an educated native ministry lies in the same quarter, and should be constantly held in view.
5. The Word of God converts where man is without resources j therefore it is most important that we make every effort to place a clear translation of the Bible before the people as soon as possible.
6. In all literary work, a pure Korean, free from cynicisms, should be our aim.
7. An aggressive church must be a self-supporting church, and we must aim to diminish the proportion of dependents among our membership and to increase that of self-supporting, and therefore contributing individuals_ 8. The mass of Koreans must be led to Christ by their own fellowcountrymen j therefore we shall do well to thoroughly train a few as evangelists rather than to preach to a multitude ourselves.
9. The services of our physicians can be turned to best account when it is possible to keep the same patient long under treatment either in a hospital ward or in the patient's home, thus giving opportunity for instruction and example to sink deeply into the mind. Dispensary work is of comparatively little profit.
10. Patients from the country who have undergone a season of treatment ought to be followed up by visitation in their native villages, since their experience of compassionate dealing is likely to open a wide door for the evangelist.
The general impression left by this meeting upon those who attended it was that it marks an advance in missionary work in Korea j in comprehension of the problems"to be met, in methods of dealing with them, and above all a notable growth in the spirit of dependence upon divine help at every turn. The spiritual tone of the devotional meetings and the harmony prevailing in the face of many perplexities were frequently remarked. To the workers the outlook is very hopeful j the task is large, but the preliminary work is well beiun, and in due time the season of reaping will come.
THE LATE ARTHUR MITCHELL
THE LATE ARTHUR MITCHELL.
BY REV. F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
Fifteen years ago there were two men in the Presbyterian churches of the West who were everywhere recognized as champions of foreign missions. They held no official relation to the Presbyterian Board-they were pastors-and yet in their church_es not only, but in the cities where they resided, in their respective presbyteries and synods, and throughont the West, their eloquent appeals were heard, and the influence of theirfacile pens was felt by thousands. They were known in mission circles as the " two Arthurs."
Their advocacy of the great broad work of the world's evangelization was so suggestive as examples of what may be done for missions in the pa,torate, that I feel justified in presenting them togethet:, though one of the two is still living. Their interest did not flag when they changed their places of residence; of both the living and the dead it may be said that their missionary interest grew in strength and in far-reaching scope as the years advanced.
More than this I shall not now say of the two; but in speaking more particularly of the one who has received his heavenly crown, I shall only give emphasis to the lesson already indicated, namely, the important relation of the pastorate to the cause of world-wide evangelization. It has become evident as the work of missions has been enlarged and extended that the effort of the whole Church must be enlisted in it if it is to succeed.
The faith and consecration of a few missionary heroes were all-important in the early days as pioneers and exemplars, but now hundreds and thousands of laborers must ,be sent, if we would keep pace with the growing demands of the work. At home also it was supposed to be necessary to commission a few special agents or canvassers to collect the gifts of the churches for the advancement of the kingdom, but now the kingdom is seen to be too large for such methods. Secretaries of the right stamp are hard to find, and when found their time and strength are overtaxed by the present volume of administrative correspondence. The churches cannot afford to employ an adequate force of collectors ; and even if they could, a missionary spirit in the congregations cannot be developed from without. In one emphatic word, the pastor must be the missionary advocate, and every church must be a missionary society, with its own leader. It is not a sheepfold with a flock to be simply fed; it is a regiment of Christian soldiery enlisted for conquest, and the world, near and far, is its field. In this last decade of the nineteenth century the work of foreign missions has just reached this point. Just here is pivoted the question whether it is to advance as the opening fields demand, or whether it shall sink into.confessed inadequacy to accomplish what it has so conspicuously undertaken.
And we find the emphasis of the life and labor of the late Arthur Mitchell centred around this question. As a secretary of a missionary board he was unexcelled in his earnest and eloquent pleas before the churches, but he felt more and more the inadequacy of such official appeals. What could one man do tcward reaching seven thousand churches personally? And when in synods and assemblies he urged upon ministers and elders the responsible work which they alone could do, he knew from an experience of which his auditors were well aware that what he urged was not impracticable. He knew that any pastor whose own soul is enkindled with zeal for the evangelization of a lost world can enlighten the ignorance and overcome the apathy of any congregation, however ignorant or indifferent. Not necessarily can all accomplish the same degree of success that he realized, for not all are possessed of his superior and well-balanced gifts. But so much is attainable by all who are willing to try, that I am encouraged to gather up the elements of Dr. Mitchell's SUClcess, and present them as a conspicuous and valuable example to pastors.
The subject of my sketch, so widely honored and beloved, was born in August, 1835, and he died on April 24th, 1893, not having quite completed his fifty-eighth year. He had, to begin with, a goodly inheritance in his ancestry. His father, the late Matthew Mitchell, was of Quaker descent, and he well represented that gentle, charitable, and benevolent spirit by which the Quakers have been so generally characterized. The testimony of his son was that he did not remember ever to have heard from his father's lips an uncharitable remark in regard to any man. The son's early boyhood was passed at Poughkeepsie, N. Y., though he was yet a mere lad when he entered Williams College, from which he graduated before he had completed his eighteenth year. As a youth he bore a peculiarly frank and open countenance, full of the kindness and truthfulness of his nature, and sure to win at once the confidence and love of those about him. It was a case of perennial youth j for that winning and almost boyish face remained with him to the last. Although a father and a grandfather he knew neither wrinkles nor gray hairs. The dignity of years was not always accorded him by strangers on first meeting him, and ludicrous surprises were often experienced when it was learned that this dark-haired" young man" was the well-known Dr. Arthur Mitchell.
He had not always been a Christian, like those who " cannot remember when they did not love Christ." It was in college that the young student, who had been somewhat inclined to scepticism, was led to accept salvation through the sacrifice of the cross, and from that time to consecrate himself wholly to his divine Master. It was no halfway surrender. He gave his whole heart and life. He did not wait for professional preparation that he might serve God in maturer years. He rose up at once and said: "What wilt Thou have me to do 1" He saw that no better field could be desired than that of his own college circle, and although he was the youngest member of his class, of small stature and boyish-looking even for his years, he went to work immediately to win souls to Christ. lIe laid aside every weight; his sensitive conscience led him to give up his Greek letter society, lest its special relationships should limit his influence with others. One's character may sometimes be older than his years. There is a dignity in deep and honest conviction, be the years many or few; and it was so with young Mitchell. There is no other influence so great as that of personality, and here was his power. He was a successful preacher of righteousness from the start. His peculiar enthusiasm was contagious and magnetic then and forever afterward.
There could have been no better school of practical Christian life than was found in Williams College during the presidency of that distinguished man the late Mark Hopkins. On the spiritual side he was matched by his brother, Professor Albert Hopkins. And this man, who with affectionate familiarity was som~times known as " Brother Albert," was indefatigable in his efforts as well as in his prayers for the spiritual welfare of the students. Both of these great teachers, just sufficiently differentiated, labored not only to make of their students strong men but Christian men.
Many months ago I heard t.he remark, quoted from a college professor, that the chief religious influence in our colleges is no longer in thc hands of the instructors-it has passed to the Young Men's Christian Associations j students are the spiritual guides of students. This state of things was regarded as having its advantages, but also some serious disadvantages. Students get nearer to each other, no doubt, and probably there was never before so much of religious life in our colleges as now; but, on the other hand, there is a deficiency in the element of religious instruction. The chief factor in Association work is persuasion and the help of spiritual sympathy, and there is need of something more than this. It is an age of bold speculation, of uncertainty, and of more or less doubt in the minds of many educated youth. Science is now the fashion, and evolution usurps the throne. Never was there more need that college students should be able to feel the strong intellectual grasp and the steadying hand of Christian presidents and professors than now. At Williams, in Arthur Mitchell's time, there was no lack in this respect. The students felt that in President Hopkins they had as their champion an intelleetual giant, one who had been over all disputed ground, and whose Christian faith, enlight. ened and confirmed, was a tonic to their own. He inspired their love for all knowledge, and he led them over his own fields of intellectual and spiritual victory. Dr. Mitchell to the day of his death never ceased to regard Mark Hopkins as the man whose balanced intellectual and moral greatness had remained to him a grand inspiration He had given sinew and fibre to his convictions of religious truth and had made the kingdom of God seem real and triumphant.
Though having the ministry steadily in view, young Mitchell spent a year or two as a tutor in Lafayette College. He was young enough to wait, and the intellectual discipline of teaching was of permanent value. To this was added the further advantage of travel. With his intimate college fri.end, Charles A. Stoddard, now editor of the New Y:n-k Obterver, he made an extensive tour in the Levant, visiting not only the scenes of Bible history, but also the mission stations of Egypt and Syria. It is easy to see how this personal observation of practical missionary life and work found its uses in his subsequent career. He knew how to picture the moral desolation of non-Christian lands as only one can who has been an eye-witness.
At Union Theological Seminary, New York, where Mr. Mitchell sought his special preparation for the ministry, he combined study with Christian activity, as he had done in college. though in a different way. Sunday-school work, revival work, where opportunity offered, and all forms of aggreCliive usefulness enlisted his attention, and the influence which he exerted on his fellow-students was both attractive and spiritually helpful. One who was a fellow-student at that time has said of him: "His companionship was then, as ever after, stimulating ~nd uplifting. Through all these years my affection and admiration for him have continued. Without reservation, I say I have never known a more earnest and consecrated spirit than his." He was fond of singing, and while in the seminary he was at one time leader of the choir in the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church, then under the pastorate of Rev. Dr. Joel Parker. He has often spoken in later years of the deep impression made on him during his seminary course by the exemplary faith and piety of the venerable Professor Dr. Thomas H. Skinner. Here again, as at college, he was fortunate in receiving a type of instruction deeply characterized by spiritual stimulus. He had sat at the feet of some of the most eminent Christian teachers of the age, and he never ceased to feel the power of their personality.
Soon after graduating, in 1859, he was married to Miss Harriet E., daughter of the late Dr. Alfred Post, of New York, and about the same time he accepted a call to the pastorate of a Presbyterian church in Richmond, Va. He was still but twenty-four years old, but he soon won the full confidence of his congregation and of the community. One of his earliest discourses was what he was pleased to call his" filthy rag" sermon. Using for his text this homely simile, by which Paul sets forth the low value of human righteousness, he brought out the very pith and marrow of the Gospel with such clearness and forCE, that wherever he preached that sermon it was so commended by the best judges tA3t he became more and more convinced that ill selecting the great common truths of the Gospel he had struck the right vein-right in itself and right as a means to success. He believed that those discourses which bear directly upon personal faith and repentance and a godly life are what the people need and what they really desire. Without laying claim to remarkable talent in anyone direction, he yet became a powerful preacher by his rare combination of intellectual, with the highest moral elements. The conscientious study and preparation, the enthusiasm with which the truth filled his mind, the manifest sincerity and depth of his own convictions, the sympathetic voice and manner, the illuminated face, the loving, winning, pleading expression of the whole man-all this combined to make him a very effective preacher. And he was nowhere so effective as among his own people, who, knowing him as a pastor, credited his every word with the emphasis of his godly life. At Richmond the prosperity with which his ministry was attended was soon interrupted by the breaking out of the war. When Virginia decided to join in the Secession, Dr. Mitchell, like so many others, found himself under the necessity of deciding on which side of the breach to stand. Feeling that his true spbere was in the North, he first conveyed his family across the lines, reaelling the Union army just as it was entering Baltimore, on that famous April 19th, 1861, when its passage toward Washington was resisted by the citizens. Sending the family homeward, he returned to his people, but, as it proved, not for long. The issues of war were all absorbing and unrelenting. He was not the man to belie his convictions, and the public sentiment soon reached a point where all compromise was impossible, and the usefulness of the young Northern pastor was crippled. lIe succceded in getting through the lines, though not without considerable peril. The Confederate Government confiscated nearly all his household goods, b~t this did not prevent him from visiting his old flock at the elose of the war or from contributing for the wants of some former parishioners whom the war had impoverished.
In the Richmond congregation, perhaps the most marked improvement wrought by his influence was the great increase of missionary interest. He thoroughly organized'the missionary contributions of the congregation, increasing the total many fold. In his next charge, which was the Second Presbyterian Church of Morristown, N. J., the same result followed. There was no unwise disproportion in his preaching, though he doubtless felt that the world's complete redemption was broad enough and sublime enough to be safely made a hobby. He gave a hearty support to every other form of benevolence, and he aimed in his preaching to win the unconverted and to strengthen believers. As a pastor he was well-nigh a model. Sympathetic, affectionate, faithful, consistent, laboring in season and out of season, he won the love of his people, at the same time that he spurred them to ever higher degrees of self-denying effort for the perishing.
In 1868 he was called from Morristown to the First Presbyterian Church in Chicago. He was yet a young man for such a charge, but he soon rose to commanding influence both in his congregation and throughout the city. His preaching was characterized by great plainness and fidelity j sometimes it was too plain and searching for the worldly-minded to approve, yet all cherished toward him such profound respect for his sincere earnestness and his manifest love for his people that none refused to listen. His ideas of the cause of foreign missions were a surprise to many j the measure of duty which he laid on every man's conscience with respect to the far-off heathen seemed preposterous at first to not a few. There are in every community what are called "hard-headed business men, " who are too wise to invest their money in " castles in Spain," much less in Africa or the islands of the sea. By way of prlltext, they" believe in doing the missionary work that is nearer home," while in reality they do nothing of the sort. But when one, like this Chicago pastor, really girds up his loins for the task of convincing such a class of hearers, when he marshals great masses of facts, appeals to the Bible-Christ's own words; appeals to history-the history of our own once heathen ancestors; shows that all the best civilization is the result of missions; points out the stations which already dot the sea-coasts of the world; arrays the Christian denominations now engaged with one mind and heart in a common cause, and shows how many of every kindred and tribe and tongue have responded to the messages of the Gospel-when he does this not once a year, and perfunctorily, but often, and with all the fervor of his own heart, something very positive must follow. Reluctant hearers will either become convinced, and will recast their personal notions of duty, or they will find a place where conscience may slumber more peacefully. And a church under such leadership will either become a missionary church, or it will find a different pastor. Almost invariably the better alternative is chosen.
More than once when Dr. Mitchell preached on missions, whether in his own or another's pulpit, some man or woman came forward, and acknowledging a new and broader conversion, made amends for past neglect by a generous and sometimes a very large contribution to the cause.
An incident occurred at a later date which well illustrates the way in which his piquant and forcible way of putting things impressed business men. He was pleading for a particular mission in the East for which a missionary was ready to be sent, but was delayed for want of funds. He became so wrought up as he thought of the great wealth and luxurious e~uipages of some of his hearers, that, as a sort of climax, he said: "Why, some of you drive a missionary down-town every morning as you go to business." This startling view of the case had its effect; one interested capitalist leaned over to. another and said: "Let us unite in sending that missionary." And it was done.
But it must not be supposed that Dr. Mitchell's harp was an instrument of one string only. He saw also the moral desolations of Chicago, as well as those on another hemisphere. He loved to preach to the classes who were not attendants at any church, and he finally made arrangements for stated preaching to the neglected or, perhaps, I should say, the selfneglectful classes. He was also too much of a patriot not to be deeply interested in all departments of home missionary work on the frontiers. He understood the symmetry and proportion and the full and rounded integrity of that great commission of our Lord when He said: "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. " If he placed special emphasis upon the " uttermost part," it was only because the vast majority of Christians give it no emphasis at all. He shared Paul's interest in "the regions be- yond" and for the same reason.
As a preacher Dr. Mitchell had peculiar power with worldly men, all the more that his honest fidelity was backed by a blameless and consecrated life. To those who were sincere, though perhaps struggling Christians, there was something refreshing and uplifting in getting away from the toil and care and ceaseless grind of their secular life and listening one day in the week to a devout and unworldly man who made God and heaven seem real and present. 'Vithin the sanctuary and within the sound of that earnest and sympathetic voice there was such a contrast to the wild, rushing, money-making Chicago that was without I In personal intercourse with him the effect was the same. One thoughtful parishioner said, after talking with him: "Arthur Mitchell is a saint." A friend who had known him both as a preacher and in some business matters recently said of him : " He was to me one of the most attractive and even fascinating saints of God that I have ever met. • . . Every clerk in my office knew from his business letters that he was one of God's gentlemen. He was much more, though, for he was an earnest, able, and magnetic preacher of Jesus Christ, and an efficient, broad-minded, and ex.ecutive man of affairs in all church work. "
Gentleness was a conspicuous element in Dr. Mitchell's character. The late Dr. Musgrave, in speaking of him in the General Assembly, which met in the First Presbyterian Church in Chicago in 1871, alluded to him as ., the gentle Prince Arthur." And yet there was another side of his character which was brought out in certain emergencies. When there was a great wrong to fight down he had the courage of a lion. Small and modest man that he was, his spirit rose when truth and humanity were at stake to the stature of Goliath. There was a time in Chicago when an election had been carried by the most unblushing frauds. Men hung their heads in shame for Chicago, but were helpless and hopeless. But with Dr. Mitchell it was enough that heaven had been insulted and that the justice of heaven was on his side. The wrong could not stand. The eternal fitness of things was against it, and therefore he was against it. He was not in politics, he was acting for no party, but he gave his whole strength to the cause of honest government. Fearing the manipulation of the votes which had been cast, he went at midnight to watch the precinct, and his testimony of what he saw led to a new election. Mr. Donald Fletcher, in a recent letter, while alluding to this incident, says: "Of all men whom I have ever known, he stood the embodiment of the Christ spirit. I shall never forget how, on my congratulating him years ago on having, singlehanded, overthrown an election that had been carried by fraud, a new one having been ordered by the authorities, he said he was ' glad to illustrate that a minister was not necessarily silly or helpless.' How grandly he combined the gentle and the courageous I"
In 1880 Dr. Mitchell removed from Chicago to Cleveland, where he became pastor of the First Presbyterian Church. His record there also was that of a faithful and earnest preacher and a pastor loving and beloved. There he won the same distinction as an advocate of foreign missions. It had long been felt throughout the Church that he was specially fitted for the sphere of secretary of the Foreign Board. He had indeed been offered the position as early as 1870, though he did not then see his way clear to accept it. The Interior had strongly advocated his election ere he left Chicago. And when, in 1885, he was again offered the position he ac- cepted, and thenceforth gave himself wholly to the cause whieh he so much loved. For nearly eight years was he permitted to stand between the field missionaries and the home churches, encouraging the one and pleading for the prayer and sympathy and support of the other. Three years before his death he visited the mission fields of the East, and brought back deep- ened impressions of the wants and woes of the nations that know not Christ. Unfortunately, also, he returned to his post with impaired health. He had never learned to measure aright his powers of endurance. To visit missions may become the most wearing of all services, and Dr. Mitchell, when filled with a high purpose, a very fire in his bones, knew not how to heed a warning. At Nanking, while preaching from a manuscript, he became blind j he could no longer read the pages before him. Neverthe- less, he kept on, and extemporized the remainder of his discourse. Soon after, at Bangkok, while discussing missionary matters with one of the brethren, he again became blind. Still he kept on, addressing an auditor whom he could no longer see, till finally he sank to the floor not only blind but speechless and with one side of his face paralyzed. Such was the indefatigable spirit of the man. It is not too much to say that he was even morbidly conscientious where a supposed duty demanded his self-sacrifice. On his return, still weak and unfit for service, he was granted a three months' leave of absence for rest, but his strength was never fully recovered. He felt even more strongly than he had often felt before that the position which he held was too hard for his powers of endurance, and yet, when opportunities came, as they had come before, to accept an easier sphere, he dared not turn aside from his great and beloved work. Sometimes he had reached the deliberate choice of a shorter course rather than live longer in some other work. In the spring of 1892 he took another respite of three months, but it soon became evident that fatal disease had fastened itself upon him. After leaving for Florida in the following November he failed rapidly, though scarcely himself realizing that his work was done. Up to the very time of his collapse, in November, he retained all his matchless eloquence in pleading for missions. Perhaps the very grandest effort that he ever put forth was made in a speech of over an hour before the Synod of New York, convened at Albany. Dr. John G. Paton, the hero of the New Hebrides, who happened to be present, spoke of it as the most remarkable missionary address that he had ever heard. It shook the Synod like a tempest; but alas! it shook also the frail body of the speaker. He wrote me afterward from Florida that he had " never been the same man after that night." It was a worthy farewell plea before the
A GREAT LIFE. -[September
Church and the Christian world to remember the nations that have waited so many centuries for the truth.
Much might be said of the relations which Dr. Mitchell bore to his colleagues as a secretary and to the Board. He enjoyed the perfect confidence and the love of all. Never was there a truer man, seldom a more faithful servant of Christ. In the Divine economy nothing is lost, and the world is permanently better for this life of Arthur Mitchell.
A GREAT LIFE.
BY REV. A. F. BEARD, D.D.
I have in my possession two volumes entitled" Discourses by Rev. Robert S. McAn, LL.D.," with a sketch of his life and character, by the Rev. Ralph Wardlaw, D.D. They were presented to me, on sundering my officia~ relations with the mission and the pastorate of the American Church in Paris, "with the affection and prayers of the author's only son, R. W. MeAn," adding, " These are my gifted father's few written sermons. He w~ an extempore preacher habitually. I was his amanuensis for years, though only sixteen when he died. These books are now quite out of print and rare. I have but three copies in all ; but it is a singular satisfaction to' ask my friend to accept one of these."
I mention this because no just estimate of the great life of Dr. MeAn can be made indepeQ.dent of his heredity and early training. Rev. Robert Stevens McAlI, the father, was the eldest son of Rev. Robert MeAn. Of Scotch ancestry, the three generations of Roberts were English. His mother was a direct descendant of Robert Bruce. His father, educated at the University of Edinburgh, died at the age of forty-six years, but not until he had greatly distinguished himself as a remarkably eloquent preacher-the silver-tongued McAIl-and as a man of high intellectual stature. His devout and prayerful spirituality of mind made his presence a positive and constant godly influence.
Such precious inheritances from father to son may properly introduce the story which I drew from Dr. McAll ten years ago; how, during his father's last sickness, the question of his consecration to the Gospel ministry was earnestly pressed upon him. Young Robert promised to give ~ost serious consideration to this last paternal request, and to listen to the voice of God to know if this might become his duty and privilege. After his father's death the son did not hear the call. His tastes were artistic, and his inclinations were to study architecture. Having begun his studies, he submitted his drawings to Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the Parliament House at Westminster, and was selected among many eager candidates for a place in his office. He received notice of the coveted honor late in the week, and was to report himself there on the following Monday. On the Sunday preceding this Monday he attended church, expecting to hear a favorite preacher, but was disappointed to find a stranger" on exchange, " whose appearance and manner were exceedingly unpleasant to him. His sense of propriety alone prevented his departure to another church. It was in this service, however, that the still, small voice of God said to him : "Thou art the man." Greatly agitated, he sought the privacy of his room, and there the question of his father-now the question of Godconfronted him. His was a strong will and his plans were dear to him. He could not yield them. His ambition, long cherished and worked for, to-morrow was to be realized. With this happy introduction to his professional career, fortune and fame would be reasonably sure. That night was sleepless. But with the light he walked in the light, and on the morrow he informed Sir Charles Barry, the architect of the most costly building that has been erected in England for centuries, that all his purposes in life had changed, that he would surrender his privilege and prepare himself to preach the Gospel of Christ. Such was his call. Was not this providential ~ The college was entere« and the studies completed. There followed the devoted pastorates at Sunderland, Leicester, Manchester, Birmingham, and Hadleigh. He was fifty years of age, a pastor ministering to a large and influential church, entrenched in the confidence and affections of his people, when he heard anew the voice of God, as aforetime, breaking in upon his settled plans of life.
The story of his going to Paris, which has become familiar, may be omitted. But this he did: "He went out, not knowing whither he went." With no benevolent missionary society behind him, with no assurance of support other than that of his own small income, or of welcome from the class of poor people to whom he would give himself, and with no language which his hearers could understand, he went forth to his mission at fifty years of age. It would have been folly had not God called him and said : " Fear not; I will be with thee." It was not folly, it was faith.
'What did this consecrated man find in France ~ An interesting people with a brilliant history, even when it has not been good. Italy has been the grave of many peoples, but it could not make France stay buried. Sometimes it has come from the sepulchre like the maniac of Gadara, exceeding fierce, saying: "What have we to do with thee, thou Son of God?" and sometimes rising to ask for the light after the darkness; but the history has ever been hopeful in the fact that it has not ceased to be a life of struggle and discontent. The nation is one that would never be satisfied when it had no right to be contented.
This single-handed and single-hearted missionary found a people after its last historic and terrible struggle in which many things had perished, where th~ught and feeling were bristling with antagonisms and the very air was thick with questionings. As never before-not even in the time of the Reformation, when there were two thousand Protestant churches in France, and when it seemed as if it might be the leading Protestant nation -the minds of the people were open to the questions of life and truth. This good English pastor was a prophet. Seeing this state of things, he knew that it was the hour for God and man. It was God's time. He was lho man of God for the time.
Twenty-two years! How small was the beginning! A little shop in 108 Rue Julien Laoroix at Belleville, cheap chairs for forty people, and a preacher who could not use the language.
Twenty-two years, and included ill it the history of the most wonderful mission of Europe! Included in it, this providential leader, toiling with a consecration that transfigured severe work into delight, bearing pain as if it were pleasure, standing up like a soldier against hindrances within and without, making his hymns of faith and hope, and singing them as he moved persistently forward, never faltering, never losing heart or courage, never tiring j for the salvation of thousands of souls, the transformation of homes, the new courage and strength to churches. Who can tell what it does not include? "The kingdom of heaven is as a woman who hid leaven in three measures of meal until the whole was leavened." "The kingdom of heaven is like unto a man who sowed seed in a field and it sprang up day and night, and grew he knoweth not how."
A great object lesson this mission has been to France lnd to the world. "How to reach the masses" is no longer a question without an answer. How to get near them, to secure their thoughtful attention, how to Will them, how to unclinch their angry fists raised against man, and to persuade them to lift their hands in prayer to God; all this has been a revelation to France and to the Christian world.
Let me introduce you to this missionary as I knew him. A tall, spare man, with an expressive face, lighted with cordial sympathy and good will, unfailingly genial and loving, with a capacious warm heart, which, while it included multitudes, did not exclude persons, with a friendliness for every one like the common sunshine to the earth, and with precious friendships for those who worked with him, like the sunshine upon the good soil and the sweet fruits.
He would scarcely have been selected for a typical Englishman. Not having high physical vigor, he had yet a wiry, rapid, ready energy and nervous force, which is more of the American type. He was a cultivated student, particularly fond of nature and of the natural sciences that made the phenomenal executive ability which he developed, both as to largeness of view and grasp of details, the more singular. His keen penetration of character and a discriminating judgment easily gave him the leadership of leaders.
His fellowship was delightful. While the missionary spirit waseverywhere and in every place-controlling, and the great motive of his life dominated him so that he seldom followed his social inclinations, there were now and then occasions which revealed an endowment of hllmor that would not be expected, and which was to him an invaluable resource in the diHiculties and anxieties necessarily arising in the direction and propulsion of the plans which he cherished, and which his will was urging. I shall not soon forget an instance of thiR humor iu one of a few social gatherings which he allowed himself to attend. To amuse the children present a charade was proposed, in which the writer of this article was to complain to him as the Juge de Paix of the loss of his pocket-book, while the children should take supplementary and auxiliary parts. The younger people managed their French with dexterity; but the way in which the Juge de Paix led on the writer to make his statements in tortuous and tortured French, refusing to hear even an explanation by a word of English, became at last indescribably funny, until Mr. McAll, whose face had been t~itch ing for some time with suppressed sportiveness, and whose eyes had been twinkling with laughter, could no longer repress his humor, and abandoning the attempt, he was like a child among the children in his mirthfulness. On the morrow his consuming zeal and fervor were outworking the great life. It seemed to me, however, that he looked younger for the space of a week.
But few indeed were the resting places which he gave himself in his mission. It was his thought. It was his prayer. It was his life.
His great thought of life incarnated itself with undeviating devotion and fidelity. It is a record and a history which should not be forgotten. It should be a perpetual testimony to the grace of God and the faith of man for contemplation and imitation-a legacy of permanent influence. Inspired by convictions and sustained by prayer, in a world where selfishness is common, and where its dominion is strong, nothing is more instructive than such self-denying lives, which demonstrate the power of faith in God and the consequent divine life in man.
How strangely God prepared him! The dying request of the man of God who wished his son to take up the work from which the father had been early called; the providential sermon of an unsought and undesired minister, who uttered his message at a venture just one day before it was too late and one day before the plans of life had become fixed; the consecration of duty and the slaying of ambition; the training of twenty-three years of successful ministry among his own kindred, were all for preparedness. Then, again, the voice of God to his soul called the man to resign home, and friends, and church. It was a voice silent to others, but as strong to him as if a whirlwind had been syllabled in speech, and as emphatic to him as if the lightning had burned the commission upon his soul, giving him the recognition of power, and rousing him to a sense of what might be accomplished; begetting strength to his physical weakness and wisdom for the work as the calls repeated themselves more clearly until it was all an irresistible inspiration from God.
Compare this life with another life in France, which the world called a great life. In the narrow street of St. Charles, Ajaccio, stands the house from which came a family that put forth their hands and took the crowns from the majesties of Europe, with which they crowned themselves. Said the mother to the eldest brother, " Jerome, you are the eldest, but you must yield j Napoleon will always be first." In this way he came forward a worshipcr of self. vVhcn told that" God disposes," he replied, " I dispose." After his career of splendor and brilliant battles, in the obliteration of national boundaries, the formation of monarchies, at once the wonder and the scourge of Europe, he came to his tomb. It is one of the monuments of France. But while he yet lived, in one of his more pGllsive moments, he had occasion to pass judgment upon himself. Surveyir.g the future, he called attention to the gradually shrinking dimensions of his renown. ' , Now my achievements fill libraries; but as time passes they will be condensed into volumes, which farther on will shrink into a book. I shall be fortunate if they finally fill a page, and perhaps if there shall remain my name."
Near by the three-storied house in Corsica is the humble mission hall of the missiouary McAll. As I stood within it, speaking to the people congregated there, I could but recall him who had surrendered the thought of being the proud architect of his own fortune, to devote his mind and soul to the lives of others, but who had thus belted his life with the wisdom and power of Christ. And the word of the Lord came to me, saying, " The memory of the wicked shall rot, but the righteous shall shine as the stars forever. "
The tomb of the great Emperor of France, the destroyer of his fellowmen, and the tomb of the missionary McAll in the cemetery of Passy are BOt widely separated by distance. The one is visited only to remind those who reflect how great powers were used in supreme selfishness, to end in supreme failure. One turns away with neither gratitude nor love. The tomb of Robert Whitaker McAll is humble. but it speaks of one whom God has exalted. Not so many strangers may visit it, but those who do so will reverently repeat the words of his Lord and Master: "He that saveth his life shall lose it, but he that loseth his life for My sake and the Gospel shall find it." "He that overcometh shall inherit all things." It was the missionary and not the emperor who lived a great life.
What remains for the people to whom Robert Whitaker McAll gave his twenty-three years of rare and devoted service, is known only to Him by whom are all things and for whom are all things. Whether this French Republic will follow the course of its predecessors, and lose what has been gained through mischoices and misdeeds, or whether it will hold its course with steadiness toward the light and the knowledge of permanent life and good, is a theme only for conjecture. But France needs the steadiness which comes from the Gospel. Whatever may be in the future, the people of this day have had no greater friend to bring life and good to them than he who learned in the beginning of his mission to say, "God loves you, and I love you," and who proved it in what he was and did.
Meanwhile, the" Mission McAll" is shedding its light in the darkness. It is the light of God. The outlook upon which it shines is one of vast hope, of vast responsibility, and of vast emergency. May the spirit of the providential man whom God called in a providential way to begin and develop this providential mission continue with those to whom falls the legacy of his goodness and his greatness.
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
II.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
EDITED AND CONDUCTED BY lIEV. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
"Self-Denial Week." In withholding its sanction, therefore, to the recommendlltion of the Commit- BY J. J. LUCAS, D.D., ALLAHABAD, INDIA. tee, the Assembly did not disapprove the observance of set times for special At a missionary convention held re- prayer and even for fasting, but only cently at Saratoga Springs. Mrs. Lucy M. the setting apart of a special week for Bainbridge, of the New York City Mis- the practice of self-denial. That this is sion, gave the origin of this week as fol- really what the Assembly was asked to lows; "Self-denial week was thought sanction is evident, as we already have of long before the Board took it up. a week set apart for prayer-viz., the It started with two women in a mission first week in January. Notwithstandland" (New York Evangelist of June ing the sanction of other churches, as 15th). The first call for the observance well as the practice of missionary socIof such a week, so far as we know, was eties in this country and England, we issued by General Booth, of the Salva- believe there are good reasons why a tion Army, and for some years this week call for the observance of such a week has been observed the world over by should not be issued. members of that organization_ It is now a recognized part of the Salvation 1. And, first, the observance of such Army discipline, and one of their most a week by the whole Church tends to fruitful methods of raising money. give a false conception of the Christian Other religious bodies and mi8sionary life. That life is one. It is a unit. It societies, with their headquarters in cannot be divided into sections by the England, have observed such a week. weeks of the year. It has no holidays. In this country the Southern Presbyte- The Christian cannot say to himself ; rian Church, at the request of its Board .. I must be very careful to deny myof Foreign Missions, observed the first self this or that pleasure this week; I week in October, 1892, and the North- must live a life of real self-denial the ern Presbyterian Church, at the request first week in March, but during the of its Board, observed the third week other weeks of the year I need not be in March of this year. The last-named so careful and so self-denying." Any Board, in its Report to the General As- observance which creates or cultivates sembly, recommended the observance of such a spirit, unconsciously though it such a week by the whole Church. and be, is not to be encouraged. Thomas the Committee of the Assembly to which Arnold, of Rugby, constantly taught was referred this Report recommended his pupils the danger of attempting to that the first week in March, 1894, be cut their lives int.o slices, and of saying set apart as a week of special prayer practically; "In this slice my actions and self-denial. The Assembly. how- are indifferent and I needn't trouble ever, refused to approve the recommen- myself about them, but in that slice I dation of the Board and of the Commit- must mind what I am about." By tee. Of course there could be no de- training the Church to be careful and sire on the part of the Assembly to re- self-denying in its eating and drinking, strain prayer or self-denial. It must be in its pleasures and expenditures during remembered that the Assembly has ap- the first week in March, do we not al80 proved the observance of the first week train to indifference in such things durin January for special prayer in behalf ing the other weeks in the year? This of foreign missionary work, and in many is not mere theory. What has been the churches for more than thirty years effect of such training in this direction, that week has been faithfully observed. let Church history bear witness. Millions of Christians deny themselves meat tinued year after year becanse it would on one day in the week. What is the be fulfilling the chief end of its institueffect of setting apart that one day of tion. Its very success in filling the the week for the practice of this self- treasury would ensure its permanency. denial? Is it conducive to healthy This success would in a few years make Christian life and growth? And yet it an indispensable agency in securing the day was set apart with the best of the funds necessary to carryon the motives. Moreover, it has the sacrifice work for which we had pledged our· unto death on the cross of our Lord on selves. It would give this week a that day of the week to recommend it place in our Church life and mission as a day of special self-denial. Millions machinery from which it would be of Christians deny themselves not only hard to dislodge it. If, as we have meat, but many other things during tried to show, the long-continued obforty days of the year. They do it at servance of a week of self-denial tends the call of the Church. These days, to create and foster a false view of the too, have much to recommend them as Christian life, ought we not to hesitate days and weeks of special self·denial, before approving it, espeoially when its bringing to mind the suffering of our observance is almost sure to become Lord. Thus a conscience in reference permanent because of its success in se· to the duty of self·denial on certain curing large additions year by year to days and weeks in the year has been the income of the Boards ; hence we created and fostered by the Church; are constrained to say, ., Resist the bebut has the observance of such days and ginnings. " weeks been conducive, on the whole, to healthy growth in spiritual life ? On the other hand, if, as is contended by those who advocate such a week, it To all this it is replied that the week is intended to observe it only for a few of self-denial we propose will never years and then give it up, why should fasten itself on the Church as a perma- we adopt a device for raising funds nent thing; but who can say that it which we proclaim beforehand to be will not? Has it not already become a only a temporary cxpedient, doomed to fixed week in the discipline of the Sal- failure as soon as its novelty has worn vation Army, and as years go by will it off? A device to secure self·denial and not become binding on every member incrcased giving, which its advocates of that organization, binding his con· openly promise to give up in a few science in time by reason of its observ- years, must have in it and back of it ance from childhood? very little to recommend it. Otherwise, why promise to give it up? Why To appreciate the danger of its taking should it not be permanent? The anits place in the permanent and recog- swers to these questions suggest argunized machinery of the Church, let us ments against such a week. Whether consider for a moment why it is pro· its observance prove a financial success posed to observe such a week. The or failure, it ought not to be approved. chief reason is to secure a larger income If a success, then self-denial week, as it to the Board as the result of the self- is already called, becomes a. permanent denial. If year by year a larger amount feature in our church life and mission should be reported as the result of the machinery. If a failure, then why beobservance of this week, would the gin a scheme on which we write failure treasurers and officers of our Boards, from the start, and, in fact, have to constantly burdened as they are with promise to give up in a few years in heavy financial responsibilities, see their order to obtain approval for it in the way to recommend a discontinuance of beginning? an observance to which they look forward as a deliverer from threatened II. The observance of such a week debt? and so the week would be con- tends to lower our Lord's standard of . self-denial. That standard is that we ought to be filled willi humiliation, deny ourselves daily, not one week in and turn to God with penitence and the year, not every Friday in the week. prayer and fasting. It is no reply to His call is to a life of self-denial, not to a this to read touching extracts from let- week of it. His call is the same to-day ters accompanying the gifts of this one as when He was on earth. •• If any week. This proves too much. It im- man would come after me, let him deny plies that the gifts during the other himself and take up his cross daily and weeks of the year were not the outcome follow me." The Church cannot of real self-denial. As one listens to change this standard, nor ought she to such extracts, offered a8 an argument in take any step which has a tendency to fawr of a aelf-deniaZ week, let him not lower it. Is it not a practical lowering forget that they have weight In this of the standard when she singles out discussion only on the assumption that and sets apart one week in the year for like statements could not be sent with the practice of that self-denial which the gifts of other weeks in the year_ everywhere in the New Testament is Thia is an unfounded assumption, and enjoined ns a constant, daily duty, as shows the fallacy of the reasoning well as a pri vilege? Let us not forget founded on It. Would it. not be wiser that the Church is Christ's representa- to press home to the heart of every dis- tive on earth. She speaks in His name. ciple of Christ the duty and privilege She acts for Him in His absence; hence of a life of self-denial, rather than to she has no right to issue a call wllich attempt once every year to arouse them He would not issue were He on eal'th to a week of it, with the usual reaction to-day. Would He single out a week and indifference following such spasms in the year, months and months hence, of Christian life?
and urge His disciples to practise dur- It may be !laid that the reasoning ing that week a self-denial greater than which forbids the setting apart of a on other weeks? Does not such a call week of self-denial would also forbid a imply that a life of self-denial is not so call for a day of prayer and fasting, or binding during the other weeks of the for a week of special prayer; but the year? It is true, we are to preach Sun- cases are not the same. For the observ- day after Sunday the duty and privilege ance of special seasons of prayer we of a life of self·denial, of daily self-de- have scriptural warrant and example.
nial, but then, most inconsistently, we There are special promises to united are to say: ' , Now we wish you to prac- prayer, and such prayer often requires tise this which we preach one week in the setting apart of a special time in the year, and that we may all practise order to secure union in it. For exam- together we will appoint the first week ple, the disciples were to unite in prayer in March, 1894. By that method also for the fulfilment of the promise of the we as a church may ascertain in dollars Father, and so for ten days they united and cents just the amount of our self- with one accord in special prayer. The denial. When, however, a church with church at Antioch united in prayer with eight hundred thousand communicants fasting, and with blessed results. ThuB observes such a week, and as a result re- we have a scriptural warrant for spe- ceives only about twenty thousand dol- cial, united prayer, even unto fasting; lars, we cannot join in the "grate- but where is the warrant in the New ful satisfaction," nor regard this as Testament for the Church setting apart a "truly Christian response from a week for the practice of self-denial, churches, Sabbath – schools, families and that week nearly a year in the fu- and individuals," etc. If this paltry ture?
sum represents the self-denial during III. We do well to ask the question, a week of one of the wealthiest church- How maya self-denying spirit, which es in the world, then we as a church shall lead to constant and enlarged giv. lng, be cultivated? Given such a spirit will prompt the necessary prayer to and the treasuries of all our Boards bring Him back again in power. Noth- would be full to overflowing. Will the ing short of His new outpouring will setting apart of a week for the exercise ever solve the missionary problems of of self-denial develop and maintain such our day.. " Considering the fearful a spirit? We think not. Such a de- consequences of it all, something like vice is too calculating and mechanical. criminal neglect has marked for years It has too much the click of machinery the attitude of the Church toward the about it. The spiritual life cannot be matchless power of prayer for the world.
so wound up that it shall give out its Shall it be so longer, or shall a change best fruits to order on a given week in come over the Church? It will not the year. Church after church has at- avail to pass resolutions and form prayer tempted to do this, and the result has alliances. For generations great calls been, in the end, hurtful to spiritual have been issued, leagues have been life and favorable to the growth of for- proposed, emotions have been aroused; malism. • . • prayer is an echo on men's lips What is needed to-day is not the set- rather than a passion from their hearts.
ting apart of days or weeks of self-de- But if fifty men of our generation will nial. Deep down and back of every enter the holy place of prayer, and be- other need is that of a 8pirit of con- come, henceforth, men whose hearts stant, importunate prayer and supplica- God has touched with the prayer-pas- tion. Given such a spirit throughout sion, the history of His Church will be the Church, and it will lead to frequent changed." This is a cry-a call with prayer unto fasting, and such consecra- the right ring in it-from the secretary tion of the whole life to Christ that of one of our largest foreign missionary nothing will be withheld. Parents will boards. The same cry comes from the gladly separate their children, and pour foreign field. At the closing session of in their gold and silver for His service. the last meeting of the Presbyterian Mr. Robert E. Speer, Secretary of the Synod of India (November, 1891), the Presbyterian Board of Foreign Missions, following invitation was issued, not to in a little tract, " Prayer and Missions," the members of the Presbyterian has set forth this need of the Church in Church, but "to the members of words which we wish could be pon- Christ's body the world over."
dered long by every Christian-" The "We, the members of the Synod of evangelization of the world in this gen- India, met in Lodiana, unite, in the eration depends, first of all, upon a re- name of the Lord Jesus Christ, in ask- vival of prayer. Deeper than the need ing our brethren throughout the world for men ; deeper far than the need for to join with us in daily prayer that a money; ay, deep down at the bottom spirit of constant, importunate prayer of our spiritless life is the need for the and supplication may be given to every forgotten secret of prevailing, world- member of Christ's body the world wide prayer. Missions have progressed over. The members of the Synod slowly abroad, because piety and make this request with a deep sense of prayer have been shallow at home. their own need of such a spirit of im- • When I shall see Christians all over portunate prayer and supplication.
the world,' said John Foster, • resolved They make it in full reliance on the to prove what shall be the efficacy of Head of the Church as present with prayer for the conversion of the world, them, and they send it forth in His I shall begin to think that the millen- name to His people the world over."
nium is at the door.' The condition This is not a call to more prayer, but and consequence of such prayer as this it is a call to plead for that spirit of is a new outpouring of the Holy Ghost. prayer and supplication which is back Nothing short of His own suggestion of all prevailing prayer; which impels to unceasing, importunate, believing establish a station, and print books, and prayer; which moved our Master in tell them something of the Christian re- the days of His fiesh to offer up " pray- ligion and how it differs from theirs, ers and supplications with strong crying and quite another to go to them as and tears;" which moved the friend to Brainerd did to his poor Indians, as go at midnight to his friend and to ask those who are under the wrath of God, with such importunity that he arose who must aeeept of His mercy in Christ and gave him all that he needed; which or perish, and by the very agony of led the leaders of the church at Antioch prayer, and the earnestness of preach- to wait on the Lord with faeting_ When ing connected with it, to be the means such a spirit of prayer as this is given of such outpouring of the Holy Spirit in large measure, then will men like and of such manifest and surprising Paul and Barnabas be sent forth in conversions to God. Those Indians great numbers, and then will all the have probably had no agency in perfect.
money needed, and as it is needed, be ing society upon earth-their very tribes joyfully given. The greatest need to· have perished-but they now shine as day in the foreign field and at home is stars in the crown of their Redeemer; just such a spirit of prayer as is called and those conversions were worth more for by Mr. Speer and the Synod of than all the results of great meetings India. One of the most promising and speeches and munificent donations signs of missionary work is the unanim- from which the spirit of prayer and of ity with which missionaries in the God is absent, and which are not con- field and the secretaries and members nected with the salvation of the soul.
of great missionary societies are empha. There was connected with them more sizing the need of such prayer. Says true missionary labor. That wo have Dr. E. K. Alden, Secretary of the failed, and that this has been our great American Board of Foreign Missions: failure, of taking up this burden as we " Some things we have outgrown-we ought, there can be no doubt. Whether think we have-during our fourscore wrong principles have in any case been years. Have we lost our faith in pray- adopted in pursuing things incidental er, or have we not? Howfa;r does ear- too much, I cannot say, but they cer- nest intercession enter into our working tainly have been pursued too exclu- plans as a 'Vital, ejJicient force! • . . sively. There has been a withdrawing But the prayer is the main thing, and of the spirit from those higher regions will carry with it everything else. Let of spiritual sympathy and struggle, this mighty force be wielded as it may and communion with Christ in the fel- be by the Lord's united people, remem. lowship of His sufferings; and all the bering, as it has been tersely expressed, channels of that sympathy have been that' we are responsible not only for all left empty and dry ; and so while there we can do ourselves, but for all we can has been external activity, and some secure from God,' and there will be no good has been done; there has yet, lack of consecrated money and no lack around many of the missionary stations, of consecrated men." not been the greenness and verdure Dr. Alden, in his pamphlet, "The which we hoped to see. So has it been, Place Occupied in Missionary Work by so is it now. And unless this Board Prayer," from which we have taken the and its friends come together with the extract above, quotes from the address confession of their sin in this, and with of Rev. Dr. Mark Hopkins, and these a readiness to assume this burden more solemn words of Dr. Hopkins apply, in fully for the future, and to cast them- some degree, to nearly every missionary selves upon the Lord, that they may be field and society the world over: "It sustained in bearing it, then that which is one thing to give money, and print is reany the cause of missions will go reports, and go across thc ocean and backward, and we shall have perplexities and burdens come upon us as judg. of Nagasaki. Two thousand or three ments, and under them God will not thousand of them-men, women, and sustain us. " children-were seized and distributed in companies of fifties, eighties, or hun· Mi8sionary Glanoes at Japan. dredsto the various city prisons through. out the land. GOD'S HAND IN JAPANESE HISTORY. Sir Harry Parkes, the British Minis- BY REV. O. H. GULICK, D.D., JAPAN. ter, expostulated with the head officer of the Foreign Department, Prince Referring to a map, one will note the Iwakura, the uncle of the Emperor, and peculiar shape of Japan; its great said: "If the rulers of Japan persecute length and small width, and how won· these people because they are Christians, derfully furnished it i3 with harbors. the (Western) Christian nations cannot The Japanese are destined to become a regard Japan as a friendly nation." maritime commercial people. They Prince I wakura replied : " You Chris· are enterprising, fearless. mercurial, tians say that Jesus is the Son of God ; sentimental, and yet of gentle manners. we say the Mikado is the son of Heaven, the son of God; if there are two sons No people feared and hated Christian· of God in the land, they will quarrel, ity as the Japanese did a few years ago: there will be war in the land, and we and why? About three hundred years cannot have it." After a year or two ago the Portuguese came to the country of exile these Roman Catholic Chris- -the merchants for trade, and the Ro· tians were returned to their homes and man Catholic missionaries to convert their lands near Nagasaki. the people. These missionaries were kindly recei ved and made many pros- Twenty-two years ugo this month, elytes-perhaps forty thonsand or fifty when I hud been four months in Japan, thousand; and the famous missionary one midnight my associate knocked at Xavier visited Osaka and Kyoto. Then my window and informed me that my came the Dutch traders, who sought to language.teacher had been arrested by undermine and supplant the Portu· the police. The next morning we went guese. They told the rulers of Japan together to the teacher's house, found that the Pope of Rome would be the his box empty and some of his papers ruler of his followers, and that if the strewn upon the floor. people became Roman Catholics the na· tive rulers would lose their power. The We asked the governor what this rulers then turned against Christianity, meant, and he said that it was not his drove the priests out of the country, doing, but that the man was arrested and persecuted and put to death many by the secret police of the Imperial of the Christians. Dy the sufferings Government; he knew not whither that this brought the rulers and most they had taken the teacher and his of the people became bitter haters of wife. . Later he told one of us that if Christianity. the man had been baptized there was no hope of his life, but if not baptized Dr. Hamlin says, " When Christians he might at some future day be released are knocking, God is always opening from prison. doors." Now let us see how God has been opening this land of Japan to the We gained no trace of the poor man Gospel; see God's hand in the history or his wife until fourteen months later, of Japan. when the wife was released from the Kyoto prison, and we learned that my Twenty.two or twenty·three years teacher had just died in the Kyoto ago the rulers turned to persecute the prison. remnant of the descendants of the early ~~an Catholics living near the port He had not been baptized, but we trust that he was a believer. He was the last Christian martyr in Japan. When upon his arrest we failed to gain ca and Europe and assist in framing a any satisfaction from the Kobe gov- Constitution for Japan. In Germany ernor, we laid the case before Mr. De Count Ito met the old Kaiser William, Long, the American Minister to Japan, grandfather of tbe present Emperor, who laid the matter before Prince and Bismarck. He wrote home to his Iwakura. The prince said: "You government, and the Japanese newsforeigners need not trouble yourselves; papers published the fact that both we are the rulers of our people." Mr. these greatest men of Germany told De Long assured him that if the rulers him that what Japan needed was Chrispersecuted their people for aiding for- tianity ; this was what would raise up eigners or missionaries or for listening his people; and, further, they told him to Christian teaching, America could that personally he himself needed an not regard Japan as a friendly nation. interest in the Saviour.
Soon after this the Emperor sent Count Ito was the most prominent Prince Iwakura as head of an embassy agent in framing the Constitution of to America and Europe, to seek a re- Japan, which was proclaimed by tbe vision of the treaties. When he reacbed Emperor in 1889, the eighth article of Washington he met Mr. Hamilton Fish, which deelares that a man is free to Secretary. of State under President worship as he pleases, provided he does Grant, who at once spoke of the perse- not offend against the laws of the land. cution of Mr. Gulick's teacher, and This eighth article is the sheet-anchor said: "If you persecute your own peo- of religious freedom in Japan. ple who become Christians, America cannot regard Japan as a friendly na- Thus wonderfully did God open Jation. " pan to the Gospel.
The ambassador, Prince Iwakura, PRESENT; ASPECTS OF MISSION WORK was at last deeply impressed, and wrote home to his government advising that IN JAPAN. the edicts against Christianity, which decreed the death penalty to anyone BY REV. E. ROTHERAY MILLER, JAPAN. embracing the faith, and which were posted in all the cities, be at once re- In the present aspects of mission work moved. In accordance with this advice in Japan tbere are certain points made these edicts were at once all witbdrawn, prominent in the reports for the year quietly removed from the public notice- which should not be passed over. boards. From that day the Imperial Government ceased ~ll persecution of t. The Christian and philanthropic Christiana. efforts put forth after the great earth- Twenty.six or twenty-eight years ago quake in October, 1891, are bearing two young men from the Choshu Prov- fruit. Throughout that district, about ince landed almost penniless in London, Nagoya and Gifu, which is one of the seeking to solve the problem of Eng- strongholds of Buddhism, the preachland's power. These two men ,are to- ing of the Gospel is freer than it ever day Counts Ito and Inouye, the former has been. Prime-Minister of Japan, the latter a Cabinet minister. 2. There is a growing number of Christian men and women in Japan About twelve years ago, at a season who are wielding a wide influence of great national ferment, the Emperor through various forms of literature. promised his people that he would at In book and magazine, in pamphlet the end of ten years grant them a rep- and in story, in life and in poetry, in resentative assembly. translation or in adaptation, we find the desire for others' good, the desire to Eight or nine years ago he sent Count advance God's kingdom upon earth. Ito to study the Constitutions of Ameri- Through such men and women of deep literary knowledge and wide culture and abiding ability, multiplying as time part moral instruction only through the rolls on, will come the most advanced Imperial Rescript, the question of reo state of moral education and civilization ligion outside of the school·room is left possible in Japan; and through them to the individual taste of each teacher, rather than through the foreign preacher and no rule applying to it is issued by or teacher will Christian knowledge the Department. Likewise, the Minis· and spiritual privileges become the com- ter of State for Home Affairs replied to mon portion of the multitudes. the inquiries of representative Japanese S. There is an increasing interest and Christians, that he held most emphati.
prosperity of the training schools for cally that a local governor has no busi- Biblewomen. We are encouraged to ness to interfere with the religious con· observe a growing spiritual as well as victions .of the people of his district, mental life, especially among those and that an absolutely neutral and Im- students who bear the burden of the partial attitude must be maintained in evangelistic work connected with these all his procedure.
schools. The work of these Bible· 5. There is a subject to which the women is appreciated by the evangelis· eyes of those who are interested in tic missionary, and their location in the Japanese affairs have been turned with outstations is earnestly desired. much anxiety during the last six 4. There is another circumstance months. Rumors have come through which occurred during the year, which private letters and mission reports of is especially encouraging as showing friction existing between the mission· that the clause in the Oonstitution, aries and the Japanese ministers, and it granting liberty of conscience to every was hinted by some that the time for J9,panese, is not a dead letter. The missionaries to leave the country had governor of Kumamoto, which is a about come. Wishing to know the stronghold of conservatism in politics latest and most reliable accounts from and religion, at a meeting of the heads Japan, I took the trouble to go to New of various officials in his prefecture, York a week ago, and had a long con- advised the teachers of primary schools versation with Dr. Imbrie, who has just that they themselves should not become returned from Tokyo, alid the presen t bellevcrs in Christianity, also that cer· aspect seems to be this: tain scholars of a certain primary school I should here preface my remarks by should be dismissed on account of their saying that what follows refers to the study of the Bible. The unconstl· Kumiai and Kirisuto churches, with tutional attitude of tllis governor toward which the missionaries of the A. B. C.
the Christians in his prefecture gave F. M. and Presbyterian and Reformed occasion for a most spirited discussion churches co·operate; but it must be In all the periodicals in Japan. The also remembered that these two churches Christian journals especially protested embrace almost two thirds of the Prot· most persistently against this arbitrary estant Christians of Japan.
interference with liberty of conscience; There has been quite a good deal and a cheering fact brought into promi. of friction between some of the minis· nence by this incident is the liberal atti· ters in the Kumiai churches and the tude of the vernacular press toward missionaries of the A. B. C. F. M. In Christianity; and, in addition, the Min· the annual conference of the churches ister of Education made the statement an attack was made upon the mission- to the committee that waited on him, aries by some of the prominent Japan.
that whether teachers follow Christian- . ese ministers, and from the status of tty, Buddhism, or no religious faith at some of them I may say that orthodoxy all is of no consequence whatever to had nothing to do with the matter.
the Department. While U is the object The drift of the argument was that in of the Department of Education to im· missionary work there were three stages: First, where the missionary was GENERAL STATISTICS OF 18ge, JAPAN. everything, and carried on the work alone; secondly, where he did the work = (Contributions for all purposes In Japanese in co·operation with the Japanese: yen. 1 yen 70 cents.) and, thirdly, where the Japanese should Yen. carryon the work alone. Though Kumial Kyokwnl (with speaking highly of the work of the missionary in the first two stages, it was which the A. B. C. F. maintained that the time had come for M. co-operates)……. 1,162 10,760 25,707 the entire independence of the native Kirlsuto Kyokwai (with church. The extremists were for cut- which the Presbyterial ting away from the missionaries in missions co.operate) .• 889 11,190 16,740 everything. The more moderate Methodist MissIOns ••.•. 988 7,089 14,810 thought the church was not strong Episcopal Missions .••.• Il27 4,866 5,782 enough to do this at once. During the :: ~~E!~S~~r::~~.~·::::: 293 1,761 728 course of the debate some bitter things 72 868 125 were said of the missionaries, their mode of living, style of houses, etc., but a Protestant Bodics.•.•• 4,226 35,534 63,837 scathing rebuke was given by some of Increase over 1891 .••. 2,144 10;733 the men, both ministers and elders, Decrease, 1891 •••..•• from some of the country districts, and Greek Church (Russian) 052 20:325 7,676 the outcome of the whole has been that Roman Church (France) : there has been an ebullition of steam, Conversion of Heretics ………..••.• 45 and pressure has been removed and har- Baptism of Christian Parents. . .. . .. 1,837 mony of the relations of missionary and H " Heathen " 1,166 Japanese brethren restored. .. Adults 2,806 With reference to the Kirisuto Kyokwai, the church with which the Pres- Baptisms and Conversions.. •• •••• . . . . •. 5,354 byterian churches and the Reformed churches co·operate, it is true that there Adherents ………………………… 44,812 has been some friction between individual missionaries and the Japanese breth- Bunnms}[ AwAXE. ren, but this would have happened in any case. With the ch nrch or the body BY REV. R. E. M'ALPINE, JAPAN. of ministers there has been no trouble, though some feared that there might The priests are now thoroughly be, since the plan for the reconlltruction aroused, and are fighting with desperof the Boaru of Missions, as adopted by ate energy. In their own organization the Dai Kwai or General Assembly of they are adopting Christian methods as the Church, was not approved by the far as possible. The temples are now majority of the co-operating missions, often labelled "churches;" there are and so, as the funds were not forthcom- " Young Men's Buddhist Associations," ing for the carrying on of the work, the " Young People's Society of Buddhist plan could not be put into operation. Endeavor, " Sunday-schools for learning There was no ill-feeling on the part of Buddhism, all in active operation. the Japanese, though some misunder· Some priests even use the Christian standing on the side of the younger mis- marriage service, ring and all, substisionaries. tuting the name of Buddha for God. . Now I am happy to say that what· Every sect has one or more journals as ever cloud there may have been hang- official organs. By the printed page, ing over the prosperity of the Church by public lecture, and by private con· has been blown away, and everything versation their opposition is fierce and looks bright for the future. untiring. They appeal to the people on three of their tenderest points-viz., filial piety, loyalty, and patriotism.
"This foreign religion," they say, " forbids us to worship our forefathers. Jesus says His followers must hate their parents. This doctrine says our em- peror is not divine, and it dares to con- demn him as to his personal moral life. It destroys the ancient patriotic spirit for which our people are so celebrated; for, by teaching men that they are • pilgrims and strangers' journeying to a future life. it takes away a man's in- terest in the present life and the glory of his own country. No Japanese can be a true Christian and at the same time hibit of the crying needs of humanity a real old-time patriot, ready to die for in our times, the practieal suggestions his emperor and his country." With for bringing the good forces into con- such keen sophisms are they constantly tact with this glaring need, and the haranguing the people. In February philosophy which permeates the whole, last, a professor of the Imperial Uni- make it a clarion call to all thoughtful versity in Tokyo published an article persons to study the humanitarian, mor- on the above lines in seven leading jour- al, and spiritual pl'Oblems of our in- naIs- For a time it produced a flurry creasingly complex civilization, and of excitement in the Christian ranks, shed great light on statistical and other but has now been so successfully an- features of these problems. It will con- swered that the learned professor has tribute largely to make a missionary publicly asked for" quarter_" church in America. Rev. Joseph Cook Such attaeks have an evil effect, not well says, it is "timely, incisive, and only on the people at large, but also brilliant. "
on the native Christian Church byac- -Rev. Robert P. Wilde1'.-Everytbing centuating the spirit of nationalism. It pertaining to Mr_ Wiltler, the Hon of the makes the Christian anxious to prove to founder of this REVIEW, is of interest the Japanese public that they are true to our readers. 'We wish 1m!' 8pace adpatriots, and are not uuder the thumb mitted of our printing b,,,lily a report of the missionaries; this tends, in some of his first four months' work after his cases, to disturb the harmouy aud fel- return to India. Addressing the thirty lowship between the Japanese Chris- or forty student volunteers at the Detians and their foreign brethren_ It cennial Conference; the Y_ M. C. A., seems likely now, however, that God the American High School at Bombay; will make even this fall out unto the the Y_ M_ C. A. and High School in the furtherance of the Gospel, for it is deep- city of his birth, Kolhapur; the Engening the sense of responsibility of the lish Wesleyan Mission at Bangalore; native church and making them more the Y. ~1. C. A. and the students in really in earnest to evangelize their na- Madras Christian College, speakiug nine tive land. times in six and a half days; speaking -The New Era.-Dr_ Josiah I:ltrong's now in English and now in Marathi to book, ., Our Country," has been in such non-Christians, he has found large opdemand, that to date, the publishers re- portunity for and God's blessing on his port the issue of 160,000 copies. Not special mission. His permanent adone reader of that volume will be other dress is Kolhapur, S. ~L C_, India.
than eager to obtain his later volume – -That Bantu item of ours in June (Baker. Taylor & Co., New York), The REVIEW, based on authorities which New Era_ This REVIEW published the we named, comes in for the following first chapter of it, January, 1893, with criticism in private correspondence from an editorial notice of it from advance Mr. Hell Chatelaln: "That absolute sheets. Dr_ Strong's position as Secre- difference of Bantu and negro, and tary of the Evangelieal Alliance offers much-talked-of superiority of the Bantu a lofty vantage-ground for the study of over the negro, has been originated and the line of Christian philosophy and ap- expatiated on by men who had never plied Christianity which is pursued in had any African experience, or who this volume_ That it is a powerful and had lived only among the Bantu. It condensed presentation of the subject, is amazing how easily scientific myths and carries with it the personality of are conjured up and believed by the the writer, goes without the saying_ best Orientalists." We pass this cri.
The summary of the physical, social, tique on, but we wish to accentuate the and other changes of this marvellous last sentence_ That, we are competent nineteenth century, the masterly cx- to ju,lge of iu our own right.
189ft] DEPARTMEN'E OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. 601S
I1I.-DEPARTMENT OF CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
CONDUCTED BY PROFESSOR AMOS R. WELLS.
This year's International Convention Hindu Protestant clergyman, who comof Societies of Ohristian Endeavor was pared Romanism to the paganism with the first, of the twelve that have been which he is so familiar. The recepheld, to meet out of this country. The tion given the delegates by the better prophecies are many that erelong the class of Catholics, including the mayor, spread of the Society will compel the the aldermen, and the Cn,tholie press, trustees to assign the- Convention to a was amazingly cordial, and all that nation even farther away than Canada. could be wished. Not unlikely befOl'e the close of the century this great gathering will hold a The Convention was unique in the session in England; perhaps even in prominence given to Jnnior work, three Australia. important sessions being devoted to this subject; in the emphasis laid upon Considering the distance of Montreal evangelistic subjects and methods, the from the greatest number of Endeavor· famous evangelists, Dr. J. Wilbur ers, the rival attractions of the World's Chapman and Rev. B. Fay Mills, con- Fair, and the fact that the Western ducting some very powerful meetings; roads failed to give favorable terms to in the boldness with which t.he social excursions, the attendance of seventeen questions of the day, such as temperthousand may be considered an extraor- ance, social purity, pure literature, and dinary one. It probably means even good citizenship, were brought before more than the forty thousand that came the young folks; in the practical natogether last year in New York. ture of many of the sessions, especially of the" open parliaments" and the con- Several unique features rendered the ferences on committee work. In all Convention memorable. One was the these respects the Convention was return of Dr. Clark from his tour of the unique; but the readers of this magaworld in the interest of Christian En- zine will be chiefly interested in knowdeavor. This, with the widened view ing that in the matter of missions the it has given the Endeavorers of the Endeavorers present at Montreal showscope of their movement and of the ed an unprecedented and most delight. needs of the world, contributed not a ful zeal. little toward the marked missionary enthusiasm of the Convention. To be sure, that was not unexpected. Throughout the year, the tide of mis- Another unique feature was akin to sionary activity among the young peothis-the noteworthy international fla- ple of the~e societies has been manivor of the assembly. References to the festly rising. They have been building annexation question, to arbitration, to missionary churches, supporting misthe Queen and the marriage of her sionaries, circulating missionary peligrandson that took place during the odicals, founding missionary libraries, sessions of the Convention, to the com- establishing missionary lecture bureaus, mon political problems that both Canada and organizing missionary institutes for and the United States have to faee- the diffusion of missionary information. such international topics added piq- Best of all, they have been going, in uancy to the meetings, and widened the large numbers, to the mission fields outlook of the young people. themselves, if ready; or, if not ready, they have put themselves in training There is no need to do more than re- for that high caIling. fer to the disorder of the Montreal .. roughs." excited by an incidental, A clear evidence of this missionary uncomplimentary reference to Catholi- activity comes from the treasurers of cism made by Rev. Mr. Karmarkar, a the various missi()nary boards. It must $2100.20; the American Baptist Misbe l'emembered, in considering the sionary Union, $3122.16; the Woman's meaning of the figures given below, Presbyterian Board of Missions of the that much of the missionary giving of Northwest, $3676.37; the American Christian Endeavor societies is never Board of Foreign Missions, $13,579.93. recorded. It is given with the contri- This list is evidently incomplete, some butions of the church, and is not dis- of the most vigorous Christian Endeavtinguished as a Christian Endeavor of- or denominations, such as the Methodist fering. Not all the boards, either, keep Protestant, being entirely unrepresenta separate account of the gifts received ed, and a few of the largest boards not from these societies. Undoubtedly, having sent in their figures; and yet considering these facts, the figures here what a glorious list it is I These eighgiven would be within the truth if they teen boards received at least $63,000 were largely magnified. They are very from these consecrated young people. encouraging, however, as they are: 'This means that the generation that The Missionary Board of the Cum- next will carryon the work of the berland Presbyterians reports Endeavor Church is one trained, as no generation gifts of $719.70, an increase over last yet has been trained, to give for the year. The American Home Missionary spread of Christ's kingdom on earth. Society received $3317.86, expressly It was to be expected, then, that misstated to have come from Endeavor so- sionary enthusiasm would be shown at cieties. Endeavorers sent the Presby- Montreal, and indeed it was. Probably terian Board of Foreign Missions $16,- no more hopeful token for the welfare 446.57, against $9035.60 sent the pre- of Christ's Church could be imagined ceding year. The Woman's Executive than was indicated by the missionary Committee of Home lIissions of the " open parliament," conducted by Rev. same denomination received $5600.21, Gilbert Reid, a missionary fresh from an increase over last year of $3546. To China. Mr. Reid appeared in the full the American Missionary Association Chinese costume he wears in Chinacame $3472.45, an increase of $1354.85. queue and all-and set the young people Presbyterian Endeavorers of Canada that filled the immense hall to talking sent to their Missionary Board $446.14. about their missionary work-what Canadian Congregationalist Endeavor- they were doing and how they were ers contributed $i4.7.25. The General doing it. It was but a touch that loos· Christian Missionary Convention re- ened an avalanche_ Scores were on ceived $3430 for a home mission church, heir feet at once, trying to get the while the foreign missionary society of floor. .. We are supporting a thousandthe same Church, the Disciples of dollar missionary in China." " Our Christ, received $2180.40, the secretary society of twenty-six is supporting a stating, as do many more of these secre- native worker in India." "Our sotaries, that the young people undoubt- ciety has four student volunteers, and is edly gave much more, but their offer- supporting two more in their studies." ings were not kept separate from those .. Our society sends out twelve workers of their church. The New West Edu- every week to hold evangelistic sercation Commission received $494.13; vices among the Indians." "Our sothe Free Baptist Benevolent Societies, ciety has sent eleven men into the for- $458.16; the Evangelical Lutheran eign field (Toronto)." "We support Church (General Synod), $2156; the two missionaries in Japan." Such are American Christian Convention, $500, samples of the reports that came pouran increase of 50 per cent; the Board ing in, three or four speaking at once, of Domestic Missions of the Reformed the eager young people refusing to be Church in America, $1250; the Con- repressed. It really seemed as if the gregational Church Building Society, – reports could go on all day, and this thought was verified when Mr. Reid gationaJist, three Presbyterian, one . finally, in despair, asked all who during the year had been engaged in helping Brethren, one Church of England, five the cause of missions to rise, and the Methodist, one Bible Christian, one Unit- immense audience rose as one man I One eminent clergyman said that the ed Presbyterian, three in public insti- entire scene was an augury of a more immediate millennium than anything tutions. Indeed, Christian Endeavor in he had ever seen before; and he was right. England is interdenominational, just as Of course, this was only one exercise. it is in this country and everywhere. There was a great deal more. Mr. S. L. Mershon, the indefatigable worker who Herein lies one of the chief secrets of its has done more for practical missionary work among Endeavorers than any charm and its power. The times are other man, the originator of the Chris- tian Endeavor Missionary Institute that ripe for just such a manifestation of is spreading its influence all over the United States, spoke most inspiringly brotherly sympathy as Christian En- on missionary literature. Another suc- cessful worker, Miss MacLaurin, of deavor inspires, and for just such an Chicago, discussed the conduct of mis- sionary meetings. Dr. J. T. McCrory, exercise of brotherly co-operation as of Pittsburg. spoke of " The Reflex In- fluence of Missionary Effort." Rev. Christian Endeavor occasions. W. H. G. Temple, of Boston, gave an address on "Missionary Money: How Nearly half of the seven hundred Eng- to Raise it." Then there was a special c.)nference for workers on the mission- lish societies of Christian Endeavor ary committees, conducted by a special- ist in this line, Mr. W. Henry Grant, were formed this past year. That is an of Philadelphia, and a report from this meeting was presented to the Conven- indication of wonderful life and growth.
tion. At next year's convention, to be held Altoget1.er, it is certain that the in London, the number of societies will Christian Endeavor societies of the world are more thoroughly interested almost certainly be over one thousand. in missions than ever before, and are ready for a year's work that will far The latest Chinese society of Chris- eclipse the past. Let all pastors see in this new and zealous force II missionary tian Endeavor has been formed in Chi· power to be cultivated prayerfully and earnestly. In God's providence this cago. This is probably the first one east Christian Endeavor movement may be -who knows ?-the final, culminating of the Pacific coast. means by which the world is to be won Following close upon the organization for Christ I of the Australian United Society of There are now enrolled in England Christian Endeavor is a United Society over seven hundred societies of Christian of Christian Endeavor in China I A Endeavor. One of the lists most re- large and representative gatheIing of cently published shows thirty-four new missionaries in Shanghai was &eized societies, thus divided among the de- upon as a favorable opportunity, and nominations: ten Baptist, nine Congre- Endeavor workers from all over the kingdom are now banded together in a compact organization for the purpose of publishing literature and spreading the Christian Endeavor ideas. The columns of three Chinese missionary papers are open to the United Society, and secretaries for the great divisions of the kingdom will push the cause in their own localities.
Missionary committees of Christian Endeavor societies should always work in the closest co·operation and under the tullest direction of their church om.- cers and pastor. Especially should they gain the approval of the church authori- ties for all proposed plans of raising money for missions, and no society should appropriate money for missions until the proposeu object-no matter what it is-has been approved by the pastor or other church authority. It is best, too, for all Christian Endeavor contributions to missions to be sent to the denominational boards through the hands of the church treasurer, designat· ed, however, as Christian Endeavor contributions.
BDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.
T1te f(fUr great wants of the opening soldiers, for them and their heirs. In missionary era are these : Open doors return they were to render active ser- where now the Gospel is excluded, vice to the lord of the castle of Kuma- abundant men and women to enter the moto in time of war, and in preventing open fields, abundant money to sustain approaches in time of peace. It is said and support the work, and the Holy of one of these villages that .. there is Spirit to accompany and follow all the not a man in it who is not a leper ex- missionary labor in pentecostal power. cept the stone idol." The reason is As to the open doors, we may say that generally supposed to be because of the God has almost universally given them somewhat forced inter-marriages. They to the Church. As to the second and cannot marry into the samurai class third requisites, they are to be supplied above them, nor will they into the peas- by a self-denyiug and obedient Church; ant class below them ; and as a conse- and as to the fourth, He alone can sup- quence come a multiplicity of inter- ply it, but He will give in answer to marriages and leprosy.
prayer. With the exception of Dr. Goto, of Tokyo, no wtIl·educated medical man The Lepers of Japan. in Japan has as yet made leprosy a spe- In response to the appeal which we cialty ; there has been no encourage- published on page 436 of our June issue, ment to do so. Those Japanese who the C. M. S. propose to establish a leper knt)wof the desire to help their afflicted hospital at Kumamoto, Kiushiu. There fellow-countrymen are greatly interest- is at present no charity in the whole ed. Medical men offer support and country for the relief of the 200,000 sympathy. Among the Christians, lepers, who suffer in this unmitigated more than one has said how much it dual tragedy of shame and despair, ex- may do for the Church of Cbrist in cept the Roman Catholic institution at Japan. One remarked, "My people Gotemba, near Tokyo, more than half can argue with your people as cleverly of the inmates of which have volunta- as they can, but they know nothing of rily, it is said, become followers of Him such love as tbis ; this will preach to who singled out lepers for His mercy. them wbere words would fail."
Leprosy is more prevalent in the pre- Tbe really best way of helping is a fecture of Kumamoto than in any other somewhat difficult question. A dis- part of Japan; no sphere of society can pensary is useless; the patients must be said to be absolutely free from it. be under recognized care and superin- Japanese leprosy is not regarded as in- tendence, therefore a hospital seems to fectious, only as hereditary; and a be a necessity to begin with, and if this prominent medical man, who has kindly could lie placed under a resident native offered to gratuitously become consult- Christian doctor, much good might be ing phYSician in the event of a hospital effected. About £600 ($3000) Is needed being established, gives it as his opin- to start this work. Subscriptions may ion that from 60 to 70 per cent could be sent to Mrs. Edward Nott, The Glen.
be relieved if they had good medical Walmer. Kent, England, or to Rev.
aid at first; 10 per cent could be cured, D. M. Lang, Osaka, Japan.
though it might appear in their descend- ants. English Notes. Scattered round Kumamoto are small BY REV. JAMES DOUGLAS. villages, the popUlations of which are said to be almost entirely lepers. These COll'IJersion of MOBeS Levi of Ruuia.- villages are relics of the feudal times; The Mildmay Mission to the Jews has they were granted to a certain class of resting upon it many marks of the Di. vine favor. The following communica· received from you. This was a great tion, sent by Pastor Gurland, from the joy to me. I read it repeatedly. My province of Courland, to Mr. John Wil- eyes were opened. I saw a new world. kinson, the superintendent of the mis- I did not recognize myself. I began sion, deserves to be read with interest: now to see the true covenant God of "In the month of June, 1892, my col- Israel in Jesus Christ, the promised porteur was ill-treated by some fanatic Saviour, who died for our sins and rose Jews and robbed of fifty New Testa- again for our justification; and said to ments, which they took to the rabbi for Him, "My Lord and my God." 1 will him to destroy. pay fourfold the value of the books, and will confess publicly the Lord "The colporteur wished to prose- Jesus Christ before friend and foe." cute, but 1 ad vised him not, but to , Amen I' I responded, embracing the leave the mattcr in the Lord's hands. dear old man to my heart, 'Amen.' He was not satisfied, but still wished to This is of the Lord, and it is marvellous prosecute. 'Be perfectly quiet,' I said in our eyes." to him, ' the 1Vord of God needs no protection.' He agreed with me and let Medical Mis8ions.-Dr. Wheeler, of the matter rest. Six w;eeks elapsed, Jerusalem, writes: "Special prayer is when, one evening, two NicodemUl needed for this city. The darkneBB and sOlLis called upon me in the middle of deadness are terribly sad. . .. The the night-one a gray-haired man, the work is of great interest from a medical other a younger man. 'fhe old man point of view. My hospital is alway8 began thus: ' My name is Moses Levi ; full. . .. Two Jews, first impressed I am a business man, and president of in our hospital with the truth of Chris· the synagogue of B–. About six tianity, have since been baptized in our weeks ago, in my blind zeal, I beat your church. Prejudice and superstition are colporteur and robbed him of fifty New rapidly breaking down before the clear Testaments, thinking that I did a merito- light of the Gospel." rious act; but have been severely punished for it, and, on the other hand, Dr. Shepherd, writing from Udaipur, blessed by it. When I brought the Rajputana, says: "The medical work books to the rabbi, who, like myself, is ever increasing-53,OOO cases treated knew nothing of their contents, we re- last year. . .. The medical mission joiced together, and fixed the next day here has been the means of establishing for their destruction. We had a long mission work in this heathen strongtalk, and got angry over the missiona- hold. By God's blessing on our work ries and their misleading books. In the in fifteen years we have got a mission mean time it became dark. Leaving the house, a new hospital for fifty beds, rabbi's house, I stumbled and feU over and a church in which worships a thorthe parcel of New Testaments, and re- oughly organized Christian congregaceived such a blow that I could not lift tion. " myself up again. A doctor was sent for, who declared that I had broken my Dr. Sims, of Stanley Pool, writes, on leg, and I had to be carried home. The January 25th, 1893: "I have a small doctor was a dear Christian, and said : hospital of eight beds dlld a good phar- " My dear Moses, this is the finger of macy, in both of which daily aid is God. In tLe Book you intended to de- given to mallY sick who come or who stroy you will find the best medicine for are carried here. We have also a little body and soul." . . . His words church of nine active members, witnessreached my heart, and I had no rest. ing and working around. Weare just Next day I sent for the books, but they finishing a church building, and the had been destroyed. After awhile the principal ones who built it are already gaDd doctor brought me a copy he had members of its internal organization."
Speaking of the Congo women, Mrs. Walfridsson, of the medical mission, Bethel Santhal Misnon.-Pastor Hae- says: "These poor creatures Bre very gert reports progress. During the past much degraded, and, if possible, evell year about five thousand patients have more bound to their old habits than the been attended, and much suffering has men. Even after they have become been relieved. Some who vowed to fol- Christians it seems more difficult for low the Lord on their recovery have them than for the men to get out of gone back to their demon·worship ; but their old superstitious customs. We there have also been cases to encourage.
have seen, to our great joy:, much bless- A hundred and nineteen men and wom- ing in the work among the women, and en have been baptized since April last, we expect more to follow, although as on their profession of faith in Christ.
yet only a few have been baptized. The pastor was recently thrown from There are many who are not far from his horse and much bruised ; but as no the kingdom of God." bones were broken, .. the devil," he said, .. was downright grieved, and Steamship for the &uth Sea and :Ne1IJ walked away disappointed."
Guinea Mianontl. -The directors of the London Missionary Society have decid- The Pulayans.-The Rev. A. H. Lash, ed to construct a steamer for service in principal of the Buchanan Institution, the South Seas, and have issued an ap- Pallam, contributes to the Tra'Dancore peal to the young people to undertake Diocesan Record a graphic account of a the task of providing this new ship as recent visit paid to Tirnivella, the Rev.
their special share in the Forward Move. J. H. Bishop's station. Mr. Bishop's ment of the society. The estimated work is among the PUlayans chiefly, a cost is £16,000, and the addition to the class of out·castes who are subjected to annual expenditure involved in its disabilities exceptionally severe even in maintenance is £1500. India. Mr. Bishop has about four thou- sand converts under his care belonging The POW6'/" of Prayer.-In 80 far as to this people, and employs several prayer acts at all, its action is uncondi- Pulayan agents of whose ability he has tioned by time or space. According to a high opinion. To show the nature of Dr. Talmadge's beautiful definition, the disabilities referred to, Mr. Lash " Prayer is the slender nerve that moves tells of a Pulayan child who, seeing Mr.
the muscles of Omnipotence." The Bishop, came running forward. "He Rev. Jonathan Lees, of Tientsin, re- was," says Mr. Lash, " rather shy about ports: .. It is very significant that there coming on to the main road, but the is a growing disposition to link success offer of a bright.covered book proved here with prayer at home. It is known irresistible, and coming down to us he that at least one large gathering of poor took it, and at our request began to read women in England are praying constant- aloud. We stood listening to him for ly for their yet poorer sisters in Tien- two or three minutes, and then I looked tsin. Dr. Roberts connects the conver- up and down the road and found we sions in the hospital with special meet- had stopped the traffic on both sides.
ings for prayer on its behalf held among We beckoned the people to come on, Welsh colliers. And there seems reason but while the Pulayan boy stood in the to trace the revival in our Ku-Ioui·hsi road not one of them would pass; some chapel to the daily prayers of a friend caste women, who were evidently in a who, having been here, knows the hurry, climbed the bank on the side peculiar difficulties of the place, but farthest from the boy, and making a who is now far away. There is a soli- wide detour, joined the road higher up, darity in the work of the Church which and hurried on their way. We let the we too faintly recognize. • Oue in boy go, and the stream of passers·by Him.' " again began to flow."
TlIE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
Japan j* Korea jt Shintoism jt Medical Missions.§ A :SURVEY OF MISSIONARY WORK IN lofty summits and steep, lava·scarred JAPAN. sides of the promontory of Idzu and its mountain chains, now left rapidly be· BY WILLIAM ELLIOT GRIFFIS, D.D., LL.D. hind, could occasionally be discovered."
The day on which we write rounds Not until late in the afternoon was the out the fortieth year since Commodore whole glorious vision of the beautiful Perry steamed into the Bay of Yedo land revealed. At sunset the summit and into Japanese history. On July of Fuji became a crown of glory. The 8th, 1853, the Suaquehanna, the first next day was one of sunny splendor.
steamer in Japanese waters, came to As on July 8th, 1853, so for years, her anchorage off Uragaat 5 P.M. The except in great outlines and salient fea· firing of two rockets from the forts on tures, Japan was the mysterious coun· the rocky heights, answered by the rat· try, the land of secrecy and spies, the tling of cables and the splash of four paradise of the informer, with the struc· anchors, announced the beginning of a ture of society and government hidden new era in .. Everlasting Great Japan." under a mist. For nearly seventeen Was it prophetic that of the four years after that historic day of haze and ships, three bore native American baffiing fog, the constant burden of names, Saratoga, Susquehanna, Missis- complaint in the diaries, letters, and sippi, and one that of Plymouth? At publications even of foreign residents on about the very time that the Pilgrim the soil was that of mystery. Little Fathers were crossing the Atlantic to could be learned with certainty as to found the American Commonwealth, rulers or ruled. How different the situ· Japan expelled the missionaries of the ation to-day I Vanished like the mist Roman phase of the faith, and become are Tycoon, feudalism, the old society the sealed country and her people the and ideals. Foreground and back· hermit nation which our fathers knew. ground now stand in sunUght, but the Whatever fancy the ships' names lecturer who to-day !!peaks from vivid might suggest or memories evoke, the memory and keen experience of things day was typical of subsequent move- seen and felt in the years 1870–71 is apt ments within the empire. In London to start suspicion and incredulity in the parlance, the weather was "dull but minds of Japanese hearers born since fine. " So hazy was the early morning, 1865. Yet the vanished things of Old that the castellated rocky coast of the Japan were not more wonderful than " Cliff Fortress Island" could with diffi- are the glories of "Shin Nippon" (New culty and only at intervals be descried. Japan), the most potent and striking of Even Fuji, the peerless mountain, was all being a true Christianity, not grafted for most of the day invisible, but" as merely, but planted and flourishing.
the day advanced," wrote Perry, "the Let us survey the past and present, sun came out with a brighter lustre, noting the conditions, needs, difficul- glistening upon the broad sails of the ties, and prospects of the Master's work junks within view, and dispelling the in this Oriental land of promise.
mist, through the openings of which the As to land and people, two striking facts confront us. The soil, once a • See also pp. 54 (Jannary). 255 (April), 374 feudal monopoly, is now practically in (May), 436 (June), 490 (July), 690, 6Ql and 698 the hands of those who cultivate it. Despite the fact that "nine tenths of (prelent Issue). the peoplc are hopelessly in debt," the national increase in wealth is remark· t See pp. 531 (July), 658 and 655 (pNl!ent issne). i See p. 648 (present ie8ue).
SSee pp. 641 and 7f1l (present II.ne). able. Two decades ago Japan was the amelioration of morals, the elevation reckoned by foreign merchants as of the eta or pariah to citizenship, the "hardly worth trading with;" now manifold measures of reform, charity. the volume of exports and imports and the activities that raise humanity in equals $162,428,832. Once the United the scale of being! In a word, the States was one of the smaller traders, Japanese are bound not only to take buying Japan's tea, but importing next their place among the nations. but to be to nothing. In 1893 our country leads found in the front rank. Nothing less all nations, imports reaching a figure will satisfy their ambition. exceeding 6,000,000, and the total trade $44,663,024. Yet willing and proud as all are, espe- cially the fellow· countrymen of Mat- Equally interesting is the fact that the thew Perry, to rejoice in the wonderful population of the empire has steadily progress of the Japanese, it is only fair increased since the opening of the coun- to state that the best tllings in New try. The exact census figures are ob- Japan are tlte creation8 of men Ij'om tainable since 1882. The comparison Ohristendom. It i~ not merely for the between 36,700,118 souls in 1882, and mosquito·net, sponge-cake, the knowl- 40,718,677, December 31st, 1891, speaks edge of anatomy and rational medicine. for itself. Japan has been enriched, with a hundred other things of the sixenlarged, and in a thousand ways bless· teenth century whose tell· tale names reed hi temporal things by her foreign veal their Western origin, that Japan is intercourse. indebted to Christians. The figure of .. the foreign employe" has always been To one who, like the writer, lived modestly in the background, but though under the feudal system, the R~ume secret as leaven, he has been largely the Statistique dJ3 t' Empire du Japon, pub· transforming power. NI1VY, army, lished by the Bureau of Statistics of the mint and coinage, educational system, Imperial Cabinet in Tokyo, for 1893, a codes of law aud systems of comts. copy of which is now before mc, is full steamship companies, lighthouses, rail· of hope and inspiration. Its pages, ways, telegraphs, reforms and improvewhich number as many as the Psalms, meuts in mineR, prisons, hygiene, mills, are preana of progress. Such a literary laboratories, water-works, harbors, cefunction issued forty years ago, copies ramics. dockyards, newspapers-what of which are also before us, tells of lit· would these be without the foreigner? tIe that was national, but much that Iu many iustances they would not 80 was fractional in nearly three hundred much as exist. In the nobler lines of principalities or petty feudalities. The endeavor, in the instilling of nobler bulk of what was then reckoned as as· ethical and humane ideas, in the intelsets is now bric·a·brac and curios. lectual and literary drilling and training Now, one government clearly di.tferen- of the men who now lead Japan, in the tiated into the three fnnctions-execu- education of thousands in parliamentary tive, legislative, judicial-with one na- procedure and the methods of self-govtional army and navy, an Imperial rep- ernment, the missionary has been teachresentative Diet or Parliament, and a er, leader, exemplar, counsellor, friend. written constitution, with modern ad- Take away the object.lessons of the ministrative systems, local suffrage and foreign settlements at the seaports, the legislatures. binds the country into uni- actual shirt-sleeve and hand-soiling ty. Yet, besides these politicalfeatures work done by the foreign employe which so impress the world at large, (yatoi), the instruction given in dispenhow wonderful seem the new things in sary, school, private dwelling, and Japan-free public schools, hospitals, church by the Christian missionaries, local option in dealing with the treat- in ten thousand forms, and Japan would ment of Japan's cancer-licensed pros- to-day be far behind Chins. titution-the improved status of woman, There are truths and facts which requisites for the making of the noble statistics cannot show. Tourist, hasty records now enjoyed by some elderly book-maker, art dilettante, and sensa- men and women still in the harness and tiollal corrcspondent dclight in talking sweetly bearing the burden and heat of of Japan's" phenomenal progress," as the day, content with the Master's though it wcre a fairy.tale, or even as " penny." though the Japanese mind had conceived or their right hand had executed this In selecting missionaries for the work thing. Truth must be told. The now in hand, it is best more than ever names of Perry. Harris, Parkes, How- before to consider quality rather than cll, Brinkley, Black, Wagener, Bous- quantity. Well-balanced men and quet, Le Gendre, Smith, Savatier, women are wanted who can teach, coun- Geerts, Van Mccrdervoort, Satow, As- sel, and direct ItS friends rather than ton, Chamberlain, and a host of others, rule as masters or even labor as preach- American, British, French, Dutch, Ger- ers or evangelists. Indeed, except for man, belong like foundation-stones in exceptionally gifted men, the preaching the structure of New Japan. They days of the foreigner are about over. were initiators, teachers, founders, lead- Why? Beause the native Japanese ing while the Japanese followed. Yet Christians can preach Christ so much none the less do those of Hepburn, Ver- better than the alien. The Japanese beck, Greene, Williams, Brown, themselves being beth witnesses and Thompson and others, consecrated ser- the best judges, rare is the foreigner vants of Jesus, whom the Japanese, un- who speaks fluently, accurately, acless monsters of ingratitude, cannot for- ceptably the vernacular to the people get. These men, of finest intellect and or in polished style to the educated nanatural gifts, have been servants of ser- tives. That some of our brethren sucvants of the J apanesll from their first ceed admirably and not a few measurlanding on the Boil in 1859 or later. ably does not invalidate the facts stated Teachers, translators, advisers, healers, above. It is not merely that the alien factotums-no statistics can tell the is unidiomatic in his diction; the radistory of their manifold and continuous cal differences in mental habits make service. even his correctly spoken. utterances un- intelligible or misleading. Now in the Here we touch upon a subject that domain of education these drawbacks statistics know nothing of, which not are minimized, Further, it is evident only the Christian at home in comfort that the Japanese have the gift of utterforgets, but which even the mercantile ance and the graces of preaching to a residents in the treaty ports, who are marked degree; hence, the policy of the missionaries' neighbors, do not sus- the llis&ion Boards should be the trainpect or appreciate. The trader's or ing of a native ministry. Direct evandiplomatist's business is at stat.ed hours, gelization should be through Japanese between sun and sun, with Suuday for pastors, while education and general rest and recreation. On the contrary, superintendence should be the work of the miesionary is literally never safe the missionaries. On this point the from distraction, from calls, inquiries, wisest missionaries and observers, and interviews from converts, hearers, mostly Japanese, unanimously agree. and natives of all sorts, who knew but little of the value of time or the endur- Dcspite the regular, almost periodic ance of human nerves. In a country (and, shall we say, indispensable ?) "relike that of " th" sunrise," cold-blooded actions," the religion of Jesus is no regularity, a routine of good habits, un- longer a mere exotic in Japan. It has sentimental consecration well tempered roots in the soil. It is profoundly afwith common sense, rather than im- fecting, at a thousand points, the na· petuosity or light-headed zeal are the tionallife. While some features in the dogmatic forms of Christianity, which their upholders consider necessary to it, 1889. For nearly, or even more than a find no congenial atmosphere in Japan, hemi-decade politico-religious preaching practical religion is most in demand. was in fashion. Now, it is the testi- One radical difference between the Teu- mony of our brethren at the front, practonic and the Japanese intellect is thc tical preaching is the rule. As the best eager craving of the former and the al- missionaries observe not clouds, but most complete indifference of the latter sow, mind not" reactions," but pray to abstract thinking. With no mind and work, so thc best of the native for metaphysical discussion, the native preachers heed less outward influences, believers insist on simplifying creeds, and preach and follow Christ more in and their progress in this direction is both word and work. The wise missometimes rather alarming to their sionary keeps him well supplied with a friends beyond the Pacific. Neverthe- lending library of modern books, where less, with their own religious news- with the native preacher and evangelist papers and reviews and ecclesiastical he can feed his own mind. The books gatherings of all sorts there are strong of medireval and past centuries, the evidences that they are willing to do rubbish lying unread in our own libraearnest thinking and to combine pa- ries are simply useless. Besides the tience with eagerness. The tendency Bible, the literature needed is what will is even stronger toward practical and explain it best. The freshest thinking visible fruits. about, exposition of, and commentary upon the Book are in demand. In In the preaching of the native pastors Japan, the Christian literature of the three distinct phases are noted. The first and the nineteenth century is most first pioneers borrowed their method helpful. This practical preaching is directly from their foreign teachers, bearing fruit richly. We note how which was expository and apologetic. generously our Japanese brethren have The benefits of Christianity to the indi- given for the support of the Gospel in vidual and the nation we….e largely their own churches, and its spread dwelt upon, and the ·examples of emi- throughout the whole empire. . To nent men of faith in Europe and Ameri- their own boards of home miseions, ca were cited. Following this came the Sunday-schools, temperance work, philosophical method. During the de- young men's associations, hospitals, cade from 1880 to 1890, the rage for the orphanages (now nineteen in number), study of philosophy among the think- training classes, various industrial vening classes in Japan became almost a tures, prompt relief of the distressed in craze. "The English school" of writ- time of floods, earthquakes, etc., they ers was especially popular, and the have during the year past added, with number of native youth who, to use a needed modifications, Young People's Japanese term, .. swallowed Darwin Societies of Christian Endeavor, and whole." was great-so great, indeed, as free night schools for parents who are to make those who woke from the spell so poor that they cannot afford to send ashamed of the largeness of the Japan- their children to the common day ese bump of imitativeness. The pulpit schools. In a word, despite the socould not escape both the infection and called reaction against Christianity, contagion that were in the air in every there seem indications both of its deeper large assembly, and so the philosophico- rooting and of more solid growth. religious sermon and address ruled Though the statistics for 1893* may among these Oriental Athenians. Then burst upon the nation the political tu- * Roman Catholics, 44,812 BoulB in 244 congremult. consequent upon the agitation for the Constitution and Parliament, the gations; Greek Catholics, 20,325 Bouls in 219 written instrument creating which was congregations; Protestants, 35,534 souls in 365 granted by the Emperor, February 11th, local churches. Thlrty-one Protestant organlzashow a gain far below the average for women who shall be servants of ser- several years past, and possibly loss un- vants for Jesus' sake. The strongest der several columns, yet the interior forces in all Japanese history are rever- forces of the religion of Jesus in Japan ence for the Mikado and patriotism, seem stronger than ever. It may be founded upon the national history and that the parable of the leaven rather traditions. One of the delicate tasks of than that of the mustard-seed is this our brethren in Japan is to show that year being illustrated. Never was Christianity knows no Asiatic or Euro- there a more deeply felt need of moral pean, has nothing to do with American, vigor among the thinking and govern- Englishman, German, Japanese assnch, ing men of .. Shin Nippon." As a but for man. Jesus Christ by the grace Japanese editor wrote two years ago, of God tasted death for the Japanese, .. We have imported a great political and He is the Saviour of all them that machine [the National Constitution and believe there as elsewhere. On the Diet], but we have not the moral oil to other hand, there is nothing in Chris- make it work." It is found that true tianity which, rightly interpreted and Christians are the mainstay of moral applied, conflicts with anything that is reform. Even the Buddhists, quick- morally beautiful in Japanese family or ened into marked activity and imitating national life. .. I came not to destroy, the Christians by organizing young but to fulfil," are the words of Christ, men's associations, orphanages, and even as applicable to the old moral order of a sort of salvation army, predict a re- Japan as to that of Israel.
vival of Christianity. In temple-build- : With faith, then, as leaven, if not, at ing, cutting off hair to make drag.ropes, this moment, as mustard-seed, we utter and purely outward and showy enter- our faith in the cheering hopefulness of prise, the Buddhists are zealous. In the missionary situation in Japan. Our generating moral stamina, they are wo- nands and hearts, prayers and gifts fully lacking. In this fact the logic of should be reconsecrated afresh on .. The their creed is manifest. A Japanese Land where the Day Begins," because: DOD·Christian student in one of our 1. Christ commands. 2. Shinto, the American colleges remarked a few old indigenous religion, is now little days ago, .. Buddhism, has no personal else than a political engine. It has no God, and therefore no element of life or food for the hungering spirit.
progress. There is no hope for J a- 3. Buddhism has no element of prog- pan in Buddhism. It is dead to us. ress. Its tap-root is cut, because it has We expect nothing in this direc- cut itself off from the Supreme Creator.
tion." 4. What is done for Japan is indirectly Next to a richer outpouring of the done for China. The Chinese will learn Holy Spirit upon our missionaries, our from the Japanese as they will from no brethren in Christ in Japan, and upon Western nation. Because both are ourselves at home, there is needed re- Eastern, the one will learn from the inforcement of the very best men and other with less sensitiveness and jeal- ousy_ 5. Because the signs are cheer- ing and the promise great.
tlons are represented, united fOT Christian work May "the rudder of Asia" turn the in twelve alliances. Of the 35,5l34 church-mem- continent aright as it moves into the bers, 33,390 belong in five allied ecclesiastical flood of the future. Christ is our steersbodies. Does not this illustrate Christian unity man. "Behold also the ships, whicb, rather than sectarian division? As many cop.- versions andbaptisms are reported from the body though they be so great, and are driven of independent native churches in 1892-93 as of fierce winds, yet are they turned from all the other Protestant churches. This about with a very small helm, whitherlooks as thongh the work were passing into the soever the governor listeth. " bands of the natives.
GBNEBAL JllI8IIIONABY IlfTELLIGEl'I'CB
VI.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
EDITlID :BY BEY. D. L. LEONABD.
Extracts and Translations frcJm Foreign his shoos. This was against the rule, Periodioalll. and the students afterward spoke of it.
BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, The teacher replied that all rules have MASS. their exceptions. 'Why,'saidhe, 'sup- JAPAN. pose His Majesty should come, would you expect him to leave his shoes out- – " Let me sum up the facts. An In· side?' That was enough. The teachvalid of one year, In a state of great de· er had spoken of the Emperor • as if he bility, with a tumor weighing fifty-five were a mere man,' and he also lost his pounds, and five or six doctors agreed place. In still another town there was that the patient would die from the a flourishing Sunday-school connected operation. This is the human side of with one of our churches. Suddenly the case. On the other hand, there was the seventy-five scholars dropped to a the promise of God that 'the prayer handful. What was the reason? The of faith shall save the sick;' two com- headmaster of the principal school in panies of Christians, taking God at His the place, a man who had once been word, prayed In faith t.hat He would friendly to Christianity, had called the direct the physicians, granting them parents of the children together and skill, and would bless the nursing and warned them of the danger of subjcctthe medicines used, and thus restore ing their children to the influence of the loved sister and worker in Christ to Christian teaching. The fundamental health again. This is the Divine side. principle of Christianity, he said, CRU- The results show a successful operation not be reconciled with loyalty or due and perfect cure. What are we to be- reverence for the Emperor. Nor are lieve? Our Christians here are simple such things possible only In the schools enough in their faith to hold that this throughout the country; the spirit that is an answer to their prayers, and that Inspires them has possession of the unithe promise of God has been verified. versity. The Imperial University is an In this view of the case they are happy institution upon which immense sums and tlatisfied, and in their interpretation of money have been expended. It has of the facts this writer agrees."-Rev. a large corps of Japanese and foreign Mr. TQwsoN. in Mi88ionary llepQrter professors; the instruction is highly (M. E. C. South).
-" There is now a constant endeavor specialized. By some it has been re- tQ antagonize Christianity and Japan as garded as pre-eminently a place for the represented in the Emperor. The state· calm consideration of questions in phi- ment at a public meeting the other day losophy and science, being a place free that Japan, too, may have her Con- from the traditionalism of the West.
stantine, immediately raised a tumult. But what has happened at the Uni"er- After the ceremony of bowing to the sity ? One of the professors nndertook picture of the Emperor, the teacher of a line of historical research. His re- a school in a large town said, 'You sults were thought to throw consider- may now put away His Majesty's pic- able doubt upon the Divine descent of ture. ' The ceremony was over, and the the Emperor; and the editor of the teacher meant 'precisely what he said- periodical in which his conclusions ap- nothing more ; but the remark was con· peared called upon the Shintoists for an strued into an expression of disrespect, answer. The answer soon came. Pro· and the teacher was dismissed. In an- fessor Kume was dismissed. Appar.
other town an official who visited the ently also the thing is not intended to school entered without first removing be something for a day. There is evi·
EXTRACTS AND
dently a set purpose to indoctrinate the seemed to be well known by many in minds of the children. Anything that the audience, and it was with difficulty can be construed as hostile to the old that Mr. Wigram's command • not to conception of the Emperor can find no express feeling' was obeyed. He left place in a text·book. for the school. Re· us with a sentence which will not readcently a work on geography was sub- ily be forgotten: • Medical missions are mitted for inspection. It contained a the picture language of the Church mili. statement to the effect that there are tant. The rudest and roughest, the good reasons f0r believing that the simplest and most uneducated can un- Japanese race is Mongolian and Malayan derstand the language of Christian love, in its origin. That statement could kindness, and charity.' Not only to not be admitted. It might be true, but medical students, to whom Dr. Pennell it suggested inferences that were not addressed himself, but to many more expedient. "-Rev. WILLIAM IMBRIE, would his concluding words come home D.D., Tokyo, in The Church at Home with power: •I have found that none of the work I have done in England is and Aln-oad. likely to suffer by my removal, for every part of it has been earnestly and -The Ohinese Recorder says of Mr. readily taken up by others.' "-C. M. Ishii and his orphanage: .. He had no Gleaner. resources but his own abounding faith and devoted spirit. A medical student himself on the last year of his course, -Medical Missions says: .. It is pleaswith every reason for encouragement if ant to think of a Christian mission firmhe devoted himself to his profession, he lyestablished in the ancient city whence was 80 impressed witll the Divine call Paul and Barnabas, separated to the to work for children that the following work by the Holy Spirit, went forth. winter, when witllin four months of Dr. Martin writes on February 8th: graduation, he' withdrew from the •This mission was commenced by me school, and refused to apply for a diplo.. as a new field in 1876, and by the blessma. He did this against tile advice of Ing of God has realized prosperity and all his friends, and solely tllat his Ileart good success. It is among the Arabicmigllt not be divided between Ilis pro. speak.ing people, especially Greek fesslon and his calling. He lnstinc· Church and Nusairiyeh (pagans). As ti vely felt tllat Ile would lean on his to ~Ioslems, almost the only access to diploma if Ile had one. He would not them has been through medical work. be a doctor in name, lest Ile should be I have received to full communion turned aside from the straight line of thirty·three persons, and this week I hislife's duty. am to receive five additional. The medical work has been at times very .. I know of no clearer case In modern helpful. As yet I am the only missiondays of • an eye single' to i1fe's one ary here, and I practise the two profeswork. Such sacrifices for principle and sions-ministeriaI and medical. For such sensitive balancings of 'duty are several years the Turkish Government too rare in actual life to pass unnoticed. has been very active in its opposition to They merit the careful thought of all Protestant mIssions. has put many ob· who desire the development of man's 8tacles and difficulties In our way, and spiritual nature. These are modern threatens us with others; but the Lord Pauls who are never disobedient to any has by wondrous works defended the heavenly vision (Acts 26: 19). They promotion of His Gospel and Word. are the seers of their day, the saviours of We praise His name, and in faith go their generation."
MEDICAL MISSIONS. forward.' "
-" Dr. Pennell was the chosen repre- -The fifty-fourth annual meeting of sentative of Medical Missions. He the Medical Missionary Society in China
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENOE
was held in Canton, at the house of ence and usefulness, and amid surround.
Messrs. Shewan & Co., January 25th, ings and environments which sometimes 1893. There were present: Hon. Charles threatened to batHe the purpose and ef- Seymour, U. S. Consul; Rev. R. H. forts of its founders and friends, While Graves, M.D., D.D.; T. Watters, Esq., the utmost care has been observed in H. B. M.'s Consul-General; G. D. Fea· its economical and prudent manage· son, Esq.; Professor E. P. Thwing, ment, this institution has been guarded M.D., D.D.; Dr. D. A. Beattie; Miss by a higher Power than any human re- M. W. Niles, M.D.; Miss S. L. Halver- source could supply; and in manifold son, M.D.; Rev. Messrs. C. A. Nelson, ways Divine favor has attended the A. Beattie, Thomas McCloy, C. Bone, instrumentalities that have been wisely H. J. Parker, C. W. Pruitt, Rev. B. C. directed and unselfishly employed for Henry, D.D., Dr. Wan Tiin Mo, Dr. the amelioration of human suffering U. Tu! Feng, and Dr. J. M. Swan. and the advancement of Christianity.
Consul Charles Seymour remarked as " The dissemination of valuable In.
follows: "In the absence of the emi- formation, in the form of hospital liter- nent President of the Medical Mission ature in the Chinese language, embody.
Society of Canton, Dr. John Kerr, who ing the best results of medical, surgical, has been at the head of its hospital, as and scientific achievements of Europe superintendent or president, since 1855, and America, with reference to the and is now in America for much·needed treatment of diseases and preservation rest, our esteemed friend, Dr. Graves, of health, is one of the useful features the vigilant Chairman of the Managing of this Society's wide range of opera- Committee, should, if he would, pre- tions. and in demonstrating the superi.
side at this fifty-fourth annual meeting; ority of Western science over Eastern but, as it seems to be thc desire of all empiricism. • present that this honor shall be con· " The education and training of Chi- ferred upon one whose humble endeav- nese students in the Western systems ors to promote the interests of the So- and methods of medical and surgical ciety may have been too much appre- knowledge and practice is another valu- ciated, I will endeavor to perform the able feature of this Society's work, and duties of Chairman during your delib- will result in preparing qualified native erations for the welfare of this benefi- doctors and surgeons for Chinese com- cent institution, which has since 1835 munities, and for the army and navy of dispensed healing mercies to over a the great Empire of China.
million of atHicted people in Southern " A careful inspection of the Treasu- China, under the direction of skilful rers' and Hospital Accounts, which have doctors and surgeons, whose salaries been audited by the Commissioner of and support have been maintained and Imperial Maritime CustOIDS, and a thor- defrayed by benevolent American Chris- ough examination of the reports of the tians, while the current expenses for Managing Committee and Hospital Su- hospital buildings. supplies, medicines, perintendent, to be submitted for your nurses, and attendants, have been stead- consideration and action, will clearly ily met by the contributions of gener- establish the fact that in the manage- ous residents and friends of various na- ment of the Society'S affairs for 1892 tionalities and denominations, whose there has been a strict regard for the friendly co-operation in behalf of hu· welfare, usefulness and perpetuity of manity is proof that they recognize, in this the oldest and most successful in- the nature and scope of this Society's stitution of the kind in the world; and humane operations, the best possible ex- will tend to confirm the confidence and pression and manifestation of practical strengthen the devotion of its support- and enlightened Christian benevolence. ers and friends. at home and abroad, ., Through all these years of its exist- under the able direction of the superin-
1898.J EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS. '709
tendents, Dr. Swan and Dr. Niles, with striven by Western culture and social their faithful and competent assistants and political reformers by rousing in medical and surgical service at the speeches to cure the Hindus of this sick- Canton Hospital, and its various ness of the soul.
branches and dispensaries." – China .. For a time it appeared as if Spirit- Mail. ism. which, under the proud title of INDIA. Theosophy. claimed naturalization in -" We pull one way, our elder rela- India, bid fair to Inflame the Hindus tives pull another way, and our ladies with new energy. They already began pull a third way; and amid these con- to dream of a return of the golden age trary forces the Indian home continues of the Rlshis; but this artificial fire to remain very much the same as it was seems now in its turn to be on the point before the Government established its of extinction. In one of tbe latest DUmcolleges and schools. Our educated bers of the Madras Theosopbist perlOt'lI. youth ventilates his reformed ideas in cal, the publisher raises a bitter and utthe debating club; but as soon as he re- terly despairing cry over Hindu faint· turns home, he pockets his ad vanced heartedness. This is the more noticeopinions and puts his neck under the able, as the chief organ of the cultiyoke of custom, as patiently as did his vated Hindus in Madras fully concurs grandfather before him. He belongs with it. He writes: • The great mass to the nineteenth century, while his of the Hindus are in no way interested home belongs to the first century ; and in the many efforts which arfil made for the long voyage between the two he is their good and that of their land. Inobliged to make every day, on his way deed, their indifference to ~eir own to and back from the Government col- good and that of their brethrlln has now lege. "-PERTAB CUANDER MOZUJO)AR, become almost proverbial. .AP, for poquoted in Ohurch MiBBionary InteUi- litical and social reforms. so for the Theosophist as a religious reformer they gencer. have only honeyed flatteries and empty -" Complaints of Hindu degeneracy demonstrations of applause, but no earare at present becoming louder and nest, unselfish deed. They have no louder. Isaiah's complaint over the conception of any obligation of a man idolatrous Jews, 'The whole heart is to make any sacrifice for his country ; faint,' is very especially true of the scarcely one is ready to toil or to suffer Hindus. In spite of all their rich men· for the cause of intellectual freedom. tal endowments and their advances in Their inborn selfishness keeps them English education, their faint·hearted. back.' ness comes ever more strikingly to ., To this the Hindu journal adds: view. These cultivated Hindus, it is 'That the Hindus have lost the spirit true, feel and lament the malformations of self·sacrifice which distinguished of their social state, which, indeed, are their lathers is the judgment of all the such as cry to Heaven, but petty self· foreigners who are laboring for their reseeking, lack of energy, of manly cour. generation.• "-J!}vangeti,ach·LutheriscllU age, and of self devoted enthusiasm, Mi88iomblatt (Leipsic). render them quite incapable of under- taking anything great and noble for -" At present all the police judges their people, or of striking into new of Madras (tribunal correctionel) dl"C pro- paths. Nowhere are they willing to fessed Christians. Of 2169 Hindu dip.
come personally forward, but they love lomas of Madras. 180 -one·twelfth-are best to conceal themselves behind the given to Christians, while the Christians multitude of their own caste, and this form but one fortieth 01 the popula- clings with iron tenacity to what is old. tion. "-Re'D'IUJ deB Miasi01lB Oonumpo- In vain is it that English educators have raines (Basel).
'l10 4111NBB.AL JlIIIIIONABY INTlIILLlGlIINOB. [Septemb.r
– " With hundreds of years of Chris- more valuable to the Church as a trophy tianity in their veins, it is not likely of grace and an instrument of usefulthat Christians in England should be neSll. able to conceive how low down we have to begin in dealing with our con- " ftualittJ, in fact, is of infinitely verts. Imagine Christians who have more importance than numbers in the an inherited tendency to idolatry and present position of Christianity in India. ritual as strong as the inherited craving In confining its attention to the rate of for drink which affiicts some poor creat- numerical increase, the Church at home ures in England; who have no sense is spending needless anxiety upon a secwhatever of the sanctity of marriage, ondary matter. There is no more occathe Sabbath, or anything else that we sion to be anxious about the numerical hold sacred: to whom obscenity in advance of Christianity in India than speech and act and thought is as com- about the spreading of light when dawn monplace as eating and drinking; who has appeared in the east. That Chris. scarcely seem capable of shame for any- tianity ia the coming religion in India thing that we reckon sin; whoseknowl- is obvious now, not only to the vision edge of the world does not extend be- of faith, but to the eye of ordinary inyond their own little group of huts, and telligence and foresight. What has the limits of their spiritual and mental been often seen before in the history of beings alike are shrivelled from disuse. our religion will be seen again in India : Imagine such Ohriatian8, I say, not it will run more risk from a too rapid heathens. Their claim to the name of than from a too slow-paced progress. Christians· consists in their willingness When once cla8s motIements to Chris· to believe, In such measure as they can tianity set in-and signs of the coming understand, what they are taught of of that day may even now be seen- Christ and His truth; and their claim then, while those who measure everyto membership in our societies is in thing by figures rejoice over' glorious their 'desire to flee from the wrath to accessions, , the wisest friends of our reo come,' and their readiness to walk, ligion will tremble. The powers of with such steps as they can, in the new evil that dwelt in the old paganisms of way. This is a picture of thousands the Roman Empire sought vengeance and myriads of those who form the on the Christianity that conquered them 'numerical increases' over which the by Infecting it with their superstitions churches at home rejoice : and the un- and errors; and so well did they suc· speakably important work which occu- ceed that three fourths of Christendom pies itself in the department of ' Care of is still sick of the disease. The seeds the Churches' consists in the patient of infection in Hinduism are more actraining of such people as these, until, tive, virulent, and contagious than those in understanding, character, behavior, that lingered in the dying paganism of and usefqlness they have reached or Rome; the population of India. is greatsurpassed the level of what we com- er and more massed and welded than monly understand by Christian man· were the populatious of that empire ; hood and womanhood. The gradual and the transformation from beathen to transformation does not show in our Christian will be effected in India in statistics. The unit that stood for a lellS than half the time that separated man just out of heathenism, and newly Christ from Coustantine. When the brought under the yoke of Christ, still rush and whelm of the mass accessions remains a mere unit when the gift of begin, what is to save the Indian Church spiritual understanding has been be· that is to be from such grievous corrupstowed, and the graces of Christian tion as still pollutes the Greek and Rocharacter developed; though the man man communions? has thereby become a thousand-fold "There are two agencies which may, under the blessing of God, be employed
1893.J '111
to avert this disaster. One is that leav- Christian Africa." If this way of put- ening of the more thoughtful and intlu· ting things is not according to the Gos- ential classes with Christian principles pel pattern, why not 1 and ideals which our higher educa- -This for substance was said reo tional work aims at, and at the other is cently by one of our great preachers, the careful training and instruction of and with what large elements of truth: the present small Christian Church. In " Certain I am that the one thing need· these combined agencies, neither of ful for the Christian Church is to get which produces effects measurable by hold of the truth that the gifts of love statistics, lies the main hopc for a pure cannot be 8~nt to the perishing. The Indian Christianity in the days when disciple must go 118 his MlI8ter went, and Hinduism is gone. Instesd of murmur· live with the people whom he wants to ing, therefore, that the Church in India save." That is, in some way there does not grow by' leaps and bounds,' must be bestowed the" healing touch." we have profound reason to be thankful that it is for the present small -Some one told the Rev. Mr. Grout, enough to be manageable, and that we one of the first missionaries to Africa, have time for the patient weeding out that he WII8 going out on II. wild·goose of the noxious growths of caste, formal- chase. After thirty years of work he ism, superstition, and impurity, and for could say, " Well, if I did go on II. wild- the careful nurture of Christian truths goose chase, I caught the goose. "
and virtues before the garden becomes -The Apostle Paul was one of the too wide for our husbandry."-Wu- .world's most eminent "visionaries."
kyan MiB8iona;rg NotiUl. In every emergency II. vision was sure THE WORLD AT LARGE. to dawn upon his eyes-e.g., at Damas- cus, and Troas, in Corinth, before the -" God's man, in God's place, doing shipwreck, etc., II. magnificent view of God's work, in God's way, and for duty and privilege; and how fortunate God's glory." Such is the definition for him and for us that no sooner had given in Miss Geraldine Guinness's he beheld than he was swift to obey I .. Story of the China Inland Mission" "I was not disobedient unto the heavof the workers needed in the mission enly vision. "
fields of to.day. Well is this said to be -In a late number of the Student .. the supreme necessity." Only realize Volunteer, J. Campbell White, speaking that high ideal, or fulfil those five con- of the specious plea by which many are ditions, and every child of God would held back from the foreign field, that be a hero and II. host. " our services are indispensable to this -A brilliant Oxford student was giv- country," cogently suggests that" Paul ing himself to the· Wesleyan Missionary was the most indispensable Christian Society for African service. His tutor worker in Palestine when he was called remonstrated. "You are going out to away to Macedonia. It was not bedie in II. year or two. It is madness." cause England had no work for Carey, The young man (who did die after being that he inaugurated the movement for on the field only a year) answered: "I India's redemption. Livingstone would think it is with African missions as have been a wonderful leader in any with the building of a great bridge. land, therefore the greater necessity of You know how many stones have to be his going where such ability was most buried in the earth, all unseen, to be II. profoundly needed. Judson declined a foundation. If Christ wants me to be call to' the largest church In Boston,' one of the unseen stones, lying in an in order to become the founder of the African grave, I am content; certain. greatest Baptist church in the world."
liS I am that the final result will be II. _:-Sha.ll we term it poetic justice, or
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
the irony of fate, or a case of the Lord raised by the Methodist women, as do making the wrath of man to praise also several of the great English soci- Him, when we see the great East India eties; and the work of Bishop Taylor Company, so exceeding mad against is counted separate and distinct. and so , missions, fairly compelled to put Carey It is that not all figures tell the truth.
on its pay~list as teacher and translator, -Clearly our Bible societies may and keep him there for a long term of properly claim a place among organizayears at a large salary? Or when the tions for the furtherance of foreign missame corporation felt constrained to sions, for the American Bible Society publish, at its own cost ($75,000), Mor- expended last year for work abroad not rison's great dictionary of the Chinese less than $132,602, nor does this large language, and employ him as translator SlIm include the not small amount exon a salary of $6000 ? pended in this country in l?rinting the -Amen. Even so. The other day Scriptures in foreign languages for cir- Professor Swing had a glowing word for culation abroad. To the Levant went each one of a number of " institutions," $46,393; to South America, $39,093; like the school, the bome, the flag, and to China, $19,843 ; to Mexico, $19,509, the ballot-box. Nor did he stop here, etc. During the last ten years $1,479,- but proceeded as follows: .. And now 741 have been sent to foreign lands.
let us add one more symbol, long de- -More and more the Industrial Misspised, but really noble in the midst of sion is coming into favor and promi· a noble host. It is the contribution- nence as a most valuable auxiliary to box. Into the ballot-box goes the in- the spread of the Gospel. Indolence is telligence of the community; but into the curse of most savage people. They that worthy rival. the contribution-box, are too lazy to be in earnest and steadfast, goes the love of the benevolent. In- and are in deepest poverty, and hence deed, this glorified institution has, for they need to be urged and taught how the most part, preceded the ballot; for to work. Besides, it often happens the ship of the missionary and the teach- that he who confesses Christ becomes er sails first to make man fit to enjoy an outcast at once, and so must be the blessings of freedom. Charity pre- helped to earn a livelihood. Therefore cedes liberty. Beautiful indeed is tbe Lovedale, and the new East African picture when an humble man goes with Industrial Mission= and the various a mind full of intelligence and deposits training schools are not mere secular his vote; but a picture so striking finds concerns. its equal in that scene where the poor widow advaJlces, and, all aglow with -A second isslIe of Dean VaLl's most the light of benevolence, puts into the thorough and painstaking "Statistical contribution-box her two mites." Review of Missions to the Heathen" has recently come from the press. Missions -Judge not too harshly the errors of to the Jews as well as those to corrupt the statistician of missions, for his diffi- Christian churches are omitted. He culties are many and great. No two finds the number of communicants at societies have the same method of re- the close of 1891 to be 1,168,560, or porting facts, while too many have no about 4,000,000 adherents. The num- "method" at all. The Propagation ber of foreign agents is 7539, of whom Society includes work done for English- 5094 are men, and 2445 are unmarried men in the colonies, the American Bap- women; or, if wives are included, the tists and Methodists have missions in sum would be 10,539. Of native labor- Protestant countries of Europe, and the ers there are 40,438, of whom 3730 are Moravians include in receipts the profits ordained. The money contributions of mercantile operations. Then our amount to $13,046,600 (£2,749,340).
Methodist Society omits the large sums The number of societies included is 304. WOMAN'S WORK. a determined attempt to reach Lhassa, -Mary Rajanayakan, a converted the capital of Thibet, entering from the Tamil girl, is now a student in the China side.
Medical College at Madras, India, fit· -This is how the wives of mission- ting herself to work among her own aries keep themselves busy and make sisters. She is a graduate of the Gov- themselves useful, as stated by " one of ernment normal school at Madura, and them" : "They look after schools and has been a teacher in Miss Scudder's teach Biblewomen, and send them out girls' boarding-school, where she was and take their reports. They look after loved by all " for her beautiful Chris- the women of the churches-old folks, tian character." This may mean little young folks, well folks, feeble folks, to us, but how much it means in India 1 and all sorts of folks who need bits of -The late Madame Coillard may help, and odds and ends of good advice safely be ranked among the true hero- and wise suggestion. Besides that ines of missions. The Basuto Mission, which cometh upon them daily-the in South Central Africa, constituted the care of their little families-they have field of her toil and endurance, and to provide for all the strangers that these words of hers stand for the spirit come along. If there are any social which marked her career from begin- amenities to be observed, in order to be ning to end: ,. I have come to Africa in good standing in the community, the to do with you the Lord's work, what- wives have to see to them also, or they ever and wherever it may be; and re- won't be done. Ostensibly, the husband member that, when God calls you, you is here to do a little civilizing, as a sort will never find me standing in the way of secondary work, but his wife often of your duty." has to keep her eye on him to prevent his being barbarized while he is about -For the women of the Orient, so it. He would go round with sleeves sadly cramped and fettered and en- out at the elbows, and shoes careened slaved, no single enterprise is fuller of over on one side. He would get to tak- promise than the American College for ing his breakfast in the pantry or on his Girls at Constantinople (Scutari). It writing.desk. Every time he comes fairly ranks for excellence of literary back from the jungle his wife has to character with Robert College, standing put him through to make him present- on the same beautiful Bosphorus, able and a credit to those who sent him though across and a few miles farther out."
up. Last year saw 141 students en- -This is the report lately given to the rolled, and coming from 9 nationalities Dutch (Reformed) Church, referring to of the polyglot Turkish Empire. an appeal for an increase of gifts: The -Among the surprises of the present noble women of our auxiliaries did not time may be named the way women are stop at 10 or even 20 per cent, and the coming to fame, not only in moral re- hearts of "Mrs. President and man· forms and the various professions, but agers" swelled with a holy pride at the even in travel in uncivilized and savage anniversary as the treasurer's report lands, where the greatest physical en- was read-$29,636 against $20,855 last durance is required as well as facing ex- year-nearly 30 per cent increase.
treme perils. A year or two ago one of -The Countess Dufferin's Fund now the" weaker sex" plunged into Central amounts to £82,000 ($410,000), and by Africa on an expioring tour lasting for means of it 103 well.qualified women months. Mrs. Isabella Bird Bishop and physicians are kept at work among the Miss Gordon Cumming have seen with women of India, and nearly 200 more their own eyes much of Central Asia; are studying medicine in India, and yet and Miss Taylor is the last one to make others in England. Some 460,000 aftlIcted women received treatment last with flowers and shrubs, while a minia- year. ture seashore has been constructed and THE UNITED STATES. filled with white sand for the children -It is commonly supposed that the to play and dig in. "
East is the great religious giver, while -It is estimated that in New York _n the main the West only receives; City are found about 8000 Chinese, of but not so, for last year next to Massa- whom some 300 are ChristilUls, and that chusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island, not less than 3500 congregate from all which are in the advance guard of all directions to " Chinatown" every Sab- the States in their home missionary bath.
gifts per member, stands California, -The American Missionary Associawhich has contributed to the Congre- tion has a school for colored people in gational Home Missionary Society an McIntosh, Ga., where the pupils are alaverage of $1.18 per member. Three lowed to pay their tuition in eggs, rice, other home missionary States follow in fish, fruit, and vegetables. The teacher the lead of other Eastern and Middle says: "One morning, after devotional States. The contributions of 6 home exercises, one of the girls came from missionary States averaged last year 94 her school·room and, pulling out a live cents per member, while the average chicken from under her shawl, asked, home missionary gift in the 6 New Eng- 'Professor, do you take chickens for land States was but 99 cents. tuition?' Again and again a little fel- -Chicago has its Daily News Sani- low has come to me, bringing a little torium at Lincoln Park. Last year, be- collection of one and two-cent pieces, tween June 23d and October 1st, 48,641 asking if that would make up enough infants, mothers, and children were for his tuition." Some of the children cared for at a cost of $2575, or less than cheerfully walk eight miles from home 10 cents a day for each patient. This and back again every day.
number was nearly double the attend- -A society with the object of evanance for 1891. The beautiful thing gelizing Afghanistan was organized in about this Christly charity is that so a small front parlor in New York City many and so different persons lend a a few months ago. The officers and hand in it, from the 9 volunteer physi- members of the society are men who in cians to the Washington and the Lin- the providence of God were rescued coln Ice Companies furnishing ice free, from "great depths" in the Bowery while J_ M_ Barron supplied the miik. lodging-houses_ The president is a -The People's Palace, in Jersey tinker. who has laid away his budget City, undertakes to do somewhat to and is now a colporteur and missionary keep the multitudes from vicious and of the American Tract Society. The criminal ways, and so supplies "a vice-president was educated for a phy- large reading-room and library; an sician, but strong drink brought him to amusement·hall. for young men, open the level of a common tramp, and for afternoons and evenings; an 8$Cmbly- many years his only means of living hall for young women; a gymnasium, was selling penny song sheets. He is in which are weekly classes for young now in the employ of a religious society men, boys' gymnastic classes, a boys' of New York City. The others are brigade, a drum and fife corps; a bath- now in positions of honor and trust_ ing department, with separate provision -During the year ending March 31st for men, boys, and women; drawing the cash receipts of the American Sea- classes; sewing-SChools; a kitchen gar- men's Friend Society amounted to $43,- den; and a day-nursery_ In addition 242. Its chaplains and missionaries to the room in the house, the nursery labored in Norway, Denmark, and Swe- has a yard outside, graded and planted den; at Hamburg, Antwerp, Rotterdam, Genoa, and Naples; in the Ma- precious stones, the gift of Canadian deira Islands; at Bombay and Karachi, women, and made from rings, brace- India; at Yokohama, Japan; Valpa- lets, necklets, earrings, etc., the gifts raiso, Chile; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; of devout souls. The devotees of the Montevideo, Uruguay; Buenos Ayres said saint have been pouring in since and Rosario, Argentine Republic; in 1874 in numbers steadily increasing. New York, Brooklyn Navy Yard, Norfolk, Wilmington, Charleston, Savan- in That year there were 17,200 pilgrims to nah, Mobile; in Astoria, Portland, Seattle, Tacoma and Port Townsend. her shrine; 1879, some 87,000, in- The whole number of new libraries sent creased to 61,725 in 1884, to 100,951 in out is 9909, and the reshipments of the 1889, and last year to 180,000 I same 11,220, making in the aggregate, 21,129. The number of volumes in all EUROPE. these libraries, 511,420, has been accessible by first shipment and reshipment -The armies of Europe now number to 875,888 men. more than 22,000,000 men, and to sup· port them costs $4,000,000,000 (four bill· -The Methodist Church, South, has ions, mark it I). What a benefactor of made the following appropriations for his kind he would bc who should perthe current year: suade the monarchs to disband this de- structive force, and to pay that" amount, Brazil Conference……….. . $80,990 or a tithe of it, for the benefit of man· China Conference……….. . 87,888 kindl Japan Conference…..•••…. 87,450 Central Mexico Conference… . 86,185 Great Britain.-Four hundred and Mexican Border Conference .. . 19,179 eighty.five missionaries are on the staff Northwest Mexico Conference. 17,780 of the London City Mission. French, Indian Mission Conference…. 19,660 German, Spaniards, and other foreign· ers are employed to reach certain classes. In addition to the above amounts, The receipts were $252,985 last year. Brazil Conference receives a special During the same period 69,000 meetings sum of $5700, and the Indian Mission were held, and over 8,500,000 visits another of $1000. China also receives were made. an addition for 2 lady teachers. -The Church Society has 20 medical -Unfortunately this item is to be missions, some of them with branch "located," not in Africa, China, or the hospitals and dispensaries. Of these South Seas, but in the Christian Prov- 6 are in China, 5 in India, 5 in Africa, inceofQuebec. "LaBonneSte. Anne," and 1 each in Persia, Palestine, and be it known, is the reputed grandmother British Columbia. of our Lord, but is also a church with altars, unending masses, and the scene, -The Turkish Missions Aid Society year in and year out, of perpetual and is undenominational, and from the first astounding miracles, and devotees from has bestowed its funds mainly upon all parts of North America, affiicted American organizations. In 1854-62 with divers diseases, flock to her famous no less than $70,000 were so applied. shrine to entreat her favor and restoration to health. As to the astounding The Continent.-A missionary of cures wrought by faith in the benevo- the American Board writes from Bohe· lent nature and almighty power of .. La mia of the Free Reformed Church, with Bonne Ste. Anne," the immense pile of .. its life amid difficult surroundings. crutches, artistically arranged, is the Perhaps the fact that whereas 15 years standing evidence; also the colossal ago there were but 15 members, and statue of the great goddess, whose brow that now there are 10 churches, 80 is adorned with a crown of gold and stations, and 700 members, is of lessim· portance than the spiritual life of the Church. Among its members are only 8 or 4 who are not to be ranked among the uncultured and poor. And many single Jew. In all of these cities men- are very poor. Yet"theY:love their Sav- tioned there are and have been for many iour, the Lord Jesus, with all their years Jewish societies and missionaries heart; and I hope that I shall not at work. The colonies are private greatly err, if I say that every member property, and are beyond the reach of is a preacher and a missionary." direct missionary effort.
-A Moscow merchant has become -In Persia also there is suffering for the godfather of 400 Jews who have the Gospel's sake, and Mirza Ibrahim, been baptized to avoid persecution. He after lying for a year in prison because promised to remember in his will every he dared to transfer his allegiance from one who should be certified to have re- Mohammed to Christ. has finally died. ceived the sacrament once a year, and Though enduring untold suffering and only two have so far reported them- insult, he was steadfast to the last. selves. -Seventy-six persons are reported to ASIA. have died of cholera in Jeddah, on July 1st, and 440 in Mecca. The total mor- Mohammedan Realms.-The situa- tality among Mecca pilgrims since early tion is indeed .. strained" in Turkey as in June exceeds 5000. It costs some- touching Christian work, when two thing, then, to serve even the prophet professors of Anatolia College, who are of Arabia. innocent of any crime, can be arrested and condemned to death, and be res- INDIA. cued from their fate only upon the de- termined protest of Great Britain, and -The Maharaja of Bhownagga, an on condition of at once leaving the enlightened Indian potentate now in country. It looks much as though the London, is said to have dispensed thus Sultan were watching his opportunity far about $5,000,000 in charities. to drive from his dominions every missionary from Europe and America, and -Says Eugene Stock: "It is a fact restore Islam to undisputed control. worth remembering that in the Punjab more than half the native clergy are -Opposition to the work in Latakia converts from Islam. One of them is still continues. Not long since three the celebrated Dr. Imad-ud-din, once of the Ainsiriyeh Protestants were im- worshipped as a Moslem saint, and now prisoned on charges which had to be for a quarter of a century a faithful invented. They were accused of steal- minister of Christ, and a learned exposiing children to sell to the Americans to tor of Scripture and controversialist by send to the United States, and a list of voice and by pen-the first native of names had been prepared of pupils who India on whom the degree of D.D.itas had been in school years ago. They been conferred by the Archbishop of were able to tell where most of them Canterbury. were. They were confined in prison for a month, and because they dared -Mr. Hazen, of the Madura Mission, say they were Christians they were has charge of 3 stations-Tirupuvanam, kept in the inner dark dungeon. Melur, and Mana-madura-and he writes of the incessant calls which are made -Various colonies of Jews have been upon him. There are 12 Biblewomen established in Palestine by wealthy so- who visit httndreds of houses, 3 Hindu cieties and individuals. In the plain girls' schools, 1 large boys' day-school, of Sharon, near Jaffa, there are 6 or '7 and a boarding-school with 72 pupils. of these, and near Jericho, in the Jor- The outlook for the stations is most endan valley, 2 more, and 3 more near couraging. During the month of ~afed. It is a remarkable fact that in March, he says, .. we received a new (Nazareth and Bethlehem there is not a congregation of 69 souls near Mana-ma- dura. A few days later 27_ pers~ns joined us in the Tirupuvanam station since been carried on by means of funds from 1 village, and 5 families from contributed by friends in India, Eng- 3 other villages, while a whole village land, Scotland, and France. In 1875 near Melur proposes to join us if we there was not a single Christian in the can send them a teacher. Thus the district; now there are converts in 700 work brightens up on every hand. " villages. There are 24 churches, 7 schools, and an extensive medical work -The principal of the Ahmednagar is also carried on. high school writes as follows of two appalling difficulties which appear to be -Burmah is peculiarly a Baptist misdeep· rooted in the Hindu mind and sion field, though four other societies heart: •• The two questions that seem carryon work.-the Propagation Socito me to require a speedy settlement ety, the American Episcopalian, the are, first, how to get our Christian Wesleyan, and the Leipsic Lutheran So· pupils to take an interest in their Hindu ciety. Of the 61 missionaries in that and Mohammedan fellow-students; sec- country, the Baptists have 45; of the ond, how to encourage independence of women, 54 out of 62; of the native character and self-respect among these helpers, 132 out of 146; of the native Christian young men. As to the first Christians, 81,805 out of 89,1~2, and of these, it is impossible for anyone 30,646 communicants out of a total of who has not spent many years here to 33,037. conceive the utter want of sympathy that exists between the different classes. -France is playing the part of mis- People who live next door are utter for- chief-maker on a large scale in the realm eigners to each other. It is rare that a of missions. She likes not the English word is passed between them. Our speech, and to the Protestant faith is Christian community have accepted inclined to show the least possible fa- Christianity, but cannot forget the vor; and therefore we cannot but look treatment they used to receive from with solicitude toward Siam and French other classes. They are practically a designs in that quarter. It bodes no new caste added to India's already dis- good to the Gospel that French war cordant elements. We have all the or. ships have entered the' Menang and ganizations known at home, but they threaten to shell Bangkok. lag through this utter apathy to the interests of others. Selfishness is the China.-A missionary says that Chi· greatest of India's 330,000,000 gods, and nese converts" don't know any better the one to whom all pay reverence. than to go to prayer-meeting every With reference to the second, it is time." Then let no .. Christians" ever amazing how far dependence and servil- inform them of their .. mistake," for in ity can possess a human being. No this case ignorance is bliss. man thinks of doing anything for himself that he can get another to do for -Dr. C. W. Mateer estimates that in him. He would rather starve on a China the sum of $130,000,000 is spent penny that he has begged than live annually for the paper money burned comfortably oli a pound that he has in ancestral worship. earned. The most honored way of getting money is by using one's wits." -A missionary writes of .. counter- feit" foreigners, and says: .. It seems -The eighteenth annual report of that one or more enterprising Celestials the Bethel Santhal Mission, India, gives have gone into the work of dispensing some interesting facts. This mission is medicines, after the manner of the independent of any society, and was American physician. Usually two or founded in 1875 by Pastor A. Haegaert, three men go together. One of these by his own. efforts and 'money. It has dresses in fOl;eign costume and talk.s a gibberish which is not understood by the natives, and so passes for a foreign language. In imitation of American written language. His habit was to physicians, all medicine is given away; kneel on the ground and repeat the but. unlike that fraternity, the bogus prayer morning and evening, but neither representative of America is quite will- he nor his friends nor a priest to whom ing to receive contributions of grain to he showed the book had gathered from feed the animal which helps convey it that Jesus was the Saviour of men.
him from village to village. In conse- Afterward a friend who had learned the quence grain pours in upon him by the way more perfectly told him of it, and quantity. This is disposed of by a con- it was not hard for him to believe.
federate at the nearest fair, and then -Shanghai is a most important cen- Ah Sin departs for 'fresh fields and tre for Christian influence, since more pastures new.' .. than a dozen of the great missionary -A singular interruption occurred at societies are represented in the city by a wedding at Tai-ku, China, while Dr. churches, schools, hospitals, publishing Atwood was officiating at the first pub- houses, and other like instrumentalities. lic Christian marriage ceremony that From hence to all parts of the empire had occurred in that city. There were continually flow streams of good influ- 300 or 400 Chinese present, listening re- ence.
spectfully, When an old woman cried -This intelligence has a pleasant out: ., This is great doing; not to wor- BOund. The Synod of China has de- ship heaven and earth I" One of the cided to overture the presbyteries with native Christians immediately sprang reference to independence. If it car- to his feet, and addressing all present, ries, and other Presbyterian bodies showed how much better it was to wor- unite, China will presently have a Gen- ship God, who made heaven and earth. eral Assembly comprising about one Thus the marriage occasion was made third of the Christians in the empire.
an evangelistic service, and the wom- The Synod established a missionary so- an's objection to the omission of an ciety of its own to evangelize the inland idolatrous practice common at Chinese provinces. They have over 6000 mem- weddings led to a clear presentation of bers, and the net increase within five Gospel truth. years has been 60 per cent. Their con- -It was in this way most strange tributions amount to about $15,000 a that a soul was led to the Christian year. Already there are 27 native or~ faith. A Chinaman, applying for bap- dained ministers, and 27 licentiates. tism, on being asked if he prayed, repeated a peculiar form of the Lord's Japan.-The Rev. Naomi Tamura, Prayer. Inquiry showed that it came o~ Tokyo, Japan, author of "The Japfrom an edition of the Gospels printed anese Bride," is a pastor of one of the by the London Mission more than thirty largest Presbyterian churches in Japan. years before. His brother, who did It has over 500 members, is self-supbusiness on the coast, had received the porting, and has never received finanbook from a junk from Shanghai, and cial aid from the Presbyterian Foreign Mission Board.
80 it fell into his hands, and he, being -The number of men in the mem- a doctor, concluded on reading the Gos- bership of the Japanese churches is pels that Jesus was a doctor, and wished much greater than the number of wom- he had the power to perform similar en, some recently published statistics cures. When he came to the Lord's of mission work in Japan showing an Prayer he thought it was a very good overplus of more than 5000 men in the form with which to worship" heaven church-membership. A writer in the and earth," according to the Confucian Independent finds the reason for this, religion, and he committed it to memory not in a want of intelligence and zeal as he found it there in the classical or in the Christian women who are engaged in work there, but in the state of society fathers of the congregation of Cardinal and the prevailing public sentiment. Lavigerie. More than 100 priests and Pastoral work among women is diffi- novices, besides Sisters of Charity, have cult, and public sentiment prevents a recently entered, or soon will enter, that large attendance of women at evening country as missionaries.
gatherings, especially in large cities. -Twelve years ago the natives of -Rev. H. T. Graham, of Tokushima, the Upper Congo had never seen a tells of an aged disciple whose sight steamboat. Now there is a fieet of 20 was failing, and so he was afraid that steamers on the upper river.
he could not much longer read the Bi- -One of the curiosities of domestic ble, which is in fine print. In order to slavery in darkest Africa is that while avoid this calamity, he undertook the the native slave-owner can by custom herculean task of preparin,q a copy with compel his slaves to fight for him, and his own hand. Beginning three years possesses other extensive powers over ago, he has reached the Third Epistle them, he cannot "legally" compel his of John, and has filled 19 large vol- slaves to work for him. On the Congo umes. and its affiuents, native (not Moham- AFRICA. medan) slave·owners pay wages to their own slaves whenever the latter are reo -The northern half of Africa has the quired to transport ivory and produce characteristics of Arab civilization. to the coast. Even Tippoo Tib pays The people are pastoral and nomadic. his numerous slave soldiers under such They are restless, fierce, warlike and peaceful circumstances. The explanagrasping. They have all the virtues tion of this anomaly seems to be that and vices of the Moslems. Many of war is a far more ancient and primitive them have heard of Christ, but most institution than labor. have never felt their need of Him. The southern half has no real civilization. ~Bishop Tucker, of Uganda, says": The tribes differ much in the matter of "During the last few months nearly intelligence. The Zulus are very quick- 40,000 reading-sheets have been sold. witted. The children in the mission What does this teach us ? No one buys schools show great mental ability, write a reading-sheet without a very serious excellent compositions, take to music and settled purpose_ A reading-sheet wonderfully, have a knowledge of the is not of itself very amusing. There· Bible, and are honest and generous. A fore that this large number of reading. missionary in Uganda says that the sheets has been sold is most significant. quickness of a majority in the schools' It reveals a settled purpose in the mind has been a surprise to him. Few Eng- of the people. It means not that 40,000 people are learning to read, but that six lish people can learn so rapidly. times 40,000 are so learning. It is, I -The Belgium Roman Catholics are think, a fair calculation that " single pushing their work in the Congo Free reading-sheet will do the work of teach- State. One order has 5 stations occu- ing six people. Thus we are brought pied by a dozen priests, extending from face to face with the fact that in one the C9ast beyond the last Baptist sta- way or another something like a quar- tion. The Bishop of Ghent also has a ter of a million of people are under in- station at Matadi; and the Sisters of strnction in the matter of simply learn· Charity occupy 8 stations on the Low- ing to read." The bishop tells, too, of er Congo. A mission steamer of 7 his wonderful" cathedral," in which tons is being built for use upon the nearly 500 trees are used 8S pillars, some river. The Jesuits and Carthusian of them brought five and six days'jour.
friars are also entering the field; and ney, and needing several hundred men on the eastern coast are found the white to carry them. -Wednesday, March 15th, of this not yet Protestants, he holds them to year, was a red-letter day at Genaden- be an inferior race, refractory in civili- daL It was the opening day of the zation. The Hovas are really a fine large Jubilee Church seating 1400_ people, and in time to come will be the Toward the total cost of $17,190, this governing race of the island.
congregation of about 3000 Hottentots had already raised $7125. in three years, ISLANDS OF THE SEA. and they intend to meet the remaining debt of $1690. The collections at the -In this day of general and great opening services amounted to $360. movements of population, Babels Truly they have deserved the liberal abound. Thus, Singapore at the exhelp which has been sent them from all treme south and Penang at the north enparts of the world. trance of the Straits are the chief towns, and in them almost every race,creed, and -Ten years ago the Basutos in South language is represented. It is a strange Africa were threatened with ruin and sight for all new-comers. " First comes extinction through the ravages of strong an A.frican, who wishes to have the drink. At the earnest request of the Gospel in the Arabic tongue; next. a chiefs, the British Government prohib- Tamil man turns up, very lightly dress- ited the import of intoxicants. As a ed indeed, who asks for the same thing, result the Basutos have made remark- but in the language of the Coromandel able progress. The country is a centre Coast; later on we meet a sombre-lookof loyalty and order, and a source of ing Parsee, or what is the same, a firefood and labor supply to the neighbor- worshipper, who wants the book in the ing States. Last year the exports peculiar dialect of Zoroaster; or it may amounted to £250,000, and passes were be a timid Siamese, in the pretty garb issued to more than 50,000 natives, who of his nation, who tells how anxious he went to work in the mines of Kimberley has been for some time past that he and Johannisberg. might get the story of Christ in words -Pastor Rosacos, the Norwegian intelligible to him; or a Chinaman, with missionary in Madagascar, two years a cue reaching to his heels, that desires ago established a leper colony, which to obtain what is the only authoritative has now 40 houses, a church and a hos- statement of the' Jesus doctrine;' or pital. A. house is to be built for the a Bugis-one of the race known as children of leper parents; of these there 'the gypsies of the sea'-who wanders are 200, of whom 139 are baptized. In about sellin~ clothes, knives, and other this "town of mercy" a Norwegian articles; or a Tagalog, who expatiates deaconess, Sister Marie Foreide, is em- over the wrongs and the oppression ployed, and another is shortly expected. which the natives of the Philippines are made to bear; or a Javanese, a Cam- -Caussegne, of the Jesuits' Mission at bodian, a Bengali, a Sinhalese, or any Antananarivo, has returned to France ; other of the motley population dwelling and, after protesting against the ,base- together under the protection of the less political claims put forward in the Union flag."
Chamber of Deputies even by Ministers -The Neukirchen (German) Mission of State, goes on to say of the English reports as follows respecting its work and Norwegian missions at Antanana- in the Salatiga and Rembang districts rivo. that if their relations are not inti- of Central Java. The 4 missionaries mate with the Catholic Missions, they are aided by 13 native helpers, 6 teach- are civil. The English and Norwegians ers, and 4 elders. There are 619 bap- do not attack the Catholics. The open tized persons, 356 of whom are adults.
and violent enemies of the latt& are They have 161 children in the day- French. As to the Sakalavas, who are schools, and 69 Sunday-scholars.
The Missionary Review of the World — September 1890
THE MISSION IN BASUTO LAND
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XIII. No.9.-0Id Series·–SEPTEMBER.–voL. III. No. 9.-New Series.
I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS.
THE MISSION IN BASUTO LAND.
BY REV. ANDREW THOMSON, D.D., EDINBURGH, SCOTLAND.
The Christian Church owes this singularly interesting mission in South Africa to the Paris Missionary Society, which was founded in 1822 by some of the most prominent men in the French Reformed Church, whose names are yet fragrant in the memory of multitudes in other lands besides their own. Those men of God appear to have inherited much of the holy intrepidity and zeal of their Huguenot ancestors, for, in the midst of conscious weakness, one of their earliest acts after emerging from the fires of persecution and the tempests of revolution, was to unite in forming themselves into a missionary society and to claim an honorable share in that grandest of all enter- prises, the bringing about of the conquest of the world for Christ.
Basnto Land is a native territory lying between Cape Colony, the Orange Free State and Natal. The Orange river is the southern boundary, and the less important Caledon flows through its centre. It is a mountain land with deep valleys, many of which are gladdened and fertilized by refreshing streams which shed verdure and floml beauty upon their banks. In later times it has been placed under a British protectorate, which affords greater liberty and safety to the missionary, and gives to those mission churches which owe theil' birth and maintenance to French Protestants some claim upon British liberality. An eadier mission had already been established in another part of South Africa by the Paris Missionary Society, and had gatlwred its first fruits in converts and churches; but even this mission to Basnto Land dates back to a period many years before the names of Moffat and Livingstone had become household words in all the languages of Christendom and in all the churches of the saints.
The founder of the Basuto Mission was Eugene Casalis, who had associated with him from the beginning two fellow-workers of congenial spirit and of varied gifts, which greatly increased their usefulness. He who had been the honored founder of the mission has also lived to be its historian in a volume which has recently been translated into the English tongue, and which, in its picturesque descriptions, its narratives of thrilling adventures, and its style sparkling with vivacity, as well as in its more solid qualities of devout thought and burning zeal, and "common sense which is not common," tracin!; all the while the growth of one of the most successful Christian mis! sions in modern times, keeps the reader under a pleasing fascination to its close. ,,y e intend in this paper to present some notices of ):lis earlier years, prior as well as preparatory to his entering on his consecrated and greatly honored missionary life. Our facts shall, of course, be principally gathered from his own souvenirs.
Eugene Casalis was born November 21, 1812, at Orthes, a town in' the Department of the Lower Pyrenees, about thirty miles from Bayonne. His parents wet'e pious Protestants, of good social position, who could look back through generations of Huguenot ancestors, some of whom had bravely suffered for the faith. The boy thus received the priceless benefit of a godly upbringing, even those cherished ancestral traditions of faithful suffering for Christ mingling with and favorably influencing his thoughts. Weare led to conclude that there was something rather stiffened and stereotyped about the religions life of the worthy parents, and that it was in some measure deficient in warmth and joy. This made the youth welcome with keen relish the hymns of the saintly Cresar Malan, with their gladsome notes of faith and hope, which had begun to find their way from Geneva to those parts of France in which the faith of the Reformed Church prevailed. This good influence was increased by the appearance in that staid Protestant community of M. Pyt from Bayonne, a pastor and evangelist of much fervor and eloquence, who was received at the first with some suspicion by the sterner natures, but whose warmth and zeal in no long time overoome all opposition, while great numbers were attracted towards him who were passing from youth into early manhood. Eugene was among the first to sit at his feet and drink in his words of holy wisdom. It was natural that such an eager listener should soon attract the notice of the earnest evangelist, who was interested by his promising gifts and apparent buddings of grace, and at length, with the consent of his parents, he returned with the young pastor to Bayonne, where, under his daily supervisiOl" he was to receive a higher education in which the Christian element should be supreme. Gradually, under the evangelist's watchful eye, Eugene's hopeful symptoms ripened into decision; he not only embraced him. as a Christian brother, but discovered in his conversation and action qualities and desires which seemed to mark him as a missionary to the heathen. The finger of Providence had begun to point to the far off land.
This led to another important step, in the transference of Eugene to the Mission House of the Paris Missionary Society in Paris, where hopeful young men, while undergoing a period of probation, were meanwhile under systematic training for the work of a missionary to some dark region of heathendom. It was a wise and happy arrangement for youths, in whose hearts the Spirit of God had kindled a holy ·enthusiasm for the missionary enterprise, to be placed, for a series of years, under the direction and superintend~nce of such master spirits as Grandpierre and Audeber and Frederick Monod, of more than one .of whom we can write with the recollection of personal friendship, who combined, in a remarkable degree, the gift of eloquence with glowing zeal, geniality of spirit, and practical wisdom. There was labor in the mission house without weariness. Every hour had its a prescribed work. Exegetical theology held large place in the ·curriculum of study, for men such as Monod had sat at the feet of Robert Haldane at Geneva, and had learned from his instruction and example the divine art of bringing out the mind of God from a pas- sage of scripture, and to regard this as the highest function of a min- ister of Christ.
The young neophytes were also introduced to some knowledge of those sciences which might be turned to practical account on the mission field. Some of their hours were also spent outside the mis- 'sion house, in visiting the sick and the poor, in experiments in evangelism-as birds learning. the use of their wings-and in acting as hands and helps in the distribution of charity. As months and years rolled on in these congenial services, the thoughts of Eugene Casalis wandered more and more to Africa and its dark millions; he became impatient to go forth and share the toils and conflicts of the mission field. It is possible for the mower to spend too much time in sharp- ening his scythe. The unanimous voice of the directorate in the mission house at length said to him, "Go." It was a welcome sound,' as that of the trumpet to the war horse. On October 18, 1832, he was solemnly ordained by assembled presbyters to the office of a minister and missionary of Jesus Christ, his friend and pastor, M. Pyt, who had foreseen and foretold his destiny, and left on him the ·deep impress of his own noble character, fitly presiding at the laying ·on of hands.
A few weeks were spent by him in a visit to his parents in the old home at Orthes, there being a wise aITangement, however, that their intercourse should not be darkened by allusions to his departure till the hour for farewell was near at hand, for so strong was the impres- .sion in those earlier days that the separation would be for life, that the "A1( ;evoir" was usually pronounced with the finger pointed to heaven, as if there must be the next place of meeting. We give a few :sentences of the young missionary's own account of his parting, in which the self-denial and bravery of his venerable mother shines nobly out: "The horses were brought before the door of our house at four o'clock in the morning. After a prayer, mingled with sobs, there began a scene which I can only compare to that of the supreme separation at the moment of death. My father, my brother, my sisters were overwhelmed. My mother alone had power to speak. Seeing I was overcome, she cried, 'Courage, my son, it is for yonI' God. Go without regret; commit yourself to Him. I know that He will take care of you.' "
On November 11, 1832, Eugene Casalis sailed from London for South Africa, the appointed scene of his mission, having associated with him M. Arbousset, a young minister like-minded with himself in his French vivacity and spirit of perseveringendllrance, and Gosselin, a Christian artizan without culture, but to whom educated men delighted to listen because of his practical sagacity and openhearted piety, and who was to prove himself a priceless· acquisition. After a few days of sickness, these young heralds sought to increase thcir equipment for their sacred work by reading and study, mingled with much prayer and with hymn-singing, in which they remembered the example of Christian David and his two Moravian brethren, a. century before, sailing to Greenland and standing at nightfall on the stern of the vessel and singing those hymns which once had echoed on Moravian hills. But these congenial exercises were disturbed by more than rude adventure-a great deal more pleasa~t in the retro, spect than in the experience. For several days their too small and overladen schooner was visited by a tremendous storm, which swept the deck of its hencoops and bulwarks and every other movable thing, and drove thA vessel far out of its course. At a later period in their voyage, when they were away out of the usual sea-path and in unkuown waters, a pirate ship hovered near them and its ruffian crew were only at length scared away by the bustle of preparation and the signs of defiance which they saw in their coveted prize. And even when they were within sight of the harbor of Cape Town, and could hear the sonnd of the lowing of oxen and the crowing of cocks, and the vessel had begun to graze on some sunken rocks, it was only as if by a hair's-breadth they escaped shipwreck. It was with hearts overflowing with thankfulness that they trod at length on the soil of Africa, and saw the noble form and heard the cheering welcome of Dr. Philip, the superintendent of the missions of the London Missionary Society in the Cape Coiony, whose heart and home were open to missionaries of every name alld from every land, whether going forth to work or returning after years of earnest. toil to a season of wellmerited and needed r('~t.
But what was the astonishment of Casalis and his associates to be told, when the unwelcome news could no longer be withheld from them, that the misRion which they had come to reinforce and enlarge had, during the very time when they were at sea, been broken up and ruined! A period of despondency followed, in which everything seemed to be covered with mystery and gloom. Table Mountain, with its dark summit rising before them 5,000 feet high, appeared to represent the impassable barrier which rose between them and the enterprise about which they had been dreaming such fond dreams. They did not all at once see that God had another plan for them which was betttr than theirs, and that, instead of building on another man's foundation, they were destined to found a new mission in a region whose very name was yet unknown to them-where the foot of European had never trodden; and that within little more than one generation hundreds of thousands would be gathered by them and their fellow-workers into the fold of Christ. But their depression of SpIrIt was temporary. Even their youth and sanguine temperament, with the counsel and good cheer of the Christian circle which surrounded them, did much to lighten their burden, while believing prayer was the most powerful factor of all, and in no very long time they were able to say, "'Vho art thou, 0 great mountain? Before our Zerubbabel-a plain." Short visits to some of the mission stations which were within convenient reach of Cape Town strengthened their missionary impulses, and within a few weeks they were busy with preparations for a long journey into the interior, not doubting that an unseen heavenly guide would make their way plain before them, and in due time point out to them the chosen sphere of their life work. Large wagons were provided, especially one which for weeks to come was to be the habitation and conveyance of the missionaries. There were many teams of oxen which were to draw the lumbering vehicles along the desert path, with skilled teamsters and a band of Christian Hottentots for servants, and every necessary thing in the form of food and clothing, and guns and powder, and corn and flower seeds, and medicine and books, was stored in the wagons' capacious folds. We imagine them ploughing their way, sometimes through loose sand, and at other times over solid ground carpeted by the beautiful mimosa flower and heaths. The farmsteads of colonists, widely separated from each other, were at rare intervals seen in the distance; and startled flocks of antelopes and ostriches fled at their approach. There was a strong Christian element in this mingled company, so that the teamsters and Hottentot servants most willingly joined in the never-failing evening worship. M. Casalis mentions again and again the remarkable gift of singing possessed by the Hot… tentots: "The women have voices of an incomparable range of flexibility, and in the tenor or bass, which the men render in perfect harmony, there is an element of veiled emotion which profoundly moves the heart." This, no doubt, added to the attraction of the family worship in the desert with which the evenings were closed. Another custom of those dark-hued attendants greatly interested the good missionaTies: two hours before daybreak it was their uniform practice to rise and each one for himRelf to pray, and then to return to rest-all this for the purpose of securing themselves against hurry or disturbance in their simple devotions. 'Within twelve days they reached the Orange river, which at the place of crossing was a thous- and feet broad and at least five feet deep. It was with almost in- credible difficulty, and only after doubling the number of their teams of oxen, that they succeeded in crossing the great river. Here was another landmark which they had reached, for they were now outside the boundaries of civilized government, and had entered upon the region of heathenism, whose thick darkness was scarcely mitigated by one ray of Christian light.
A few hours' travel from the river's brink brought the missionar- ies and their company to Philippolis, a little embryo town which was to be prominent in their recollection ever afterwards, because it was the place where Providence would begin to unveil to them their future, and, as it were, lead them visibly by the hand to the seene of their life-ministry which he had chosen for them. The sealed letters were now to be opened. It happened in this wise. They had not been many hours in Philippolis when they were accosted by a mulatto, farmer, Adam Krotz, who eked out his regular income, and at the same time gratified his passion for adventure, by the hunting of antelopes, taking long detours over hundreds of miles. On learning who these strangers were, and what was their errand, his countenance brightened with a new interest. He told them of Basuto Land, of its king, whom he had met with not long before in one of his hunting excursions, who had a strong desire to have missionaries sent into his country, and had even drawn from Krotz a promise that if ever such men came in his way he would use all his influence and persuasion to induce them to choose his country as the scene of their sacred toils. Krotz added that he was truly glad to fulfil his engagement to the great Basuto chief, and promised that, on condition of their accompanying him on the hunting expedition on which he was about to enter, he would both be their guide and protector on the journey, and prepare their way by sending friendly messengers before them. The astonished missionaries distinctly read in all this the finger of God, and were ready to say with Eliezer of Damascus, "I being in the way,. the Lord led me," and though the time of their journeyings was ·likely to be lengthened by such an arrangement, they yielded to this. inconvenience for the sake of the greater benefit they would derive from this man's knowledge, friendship and guidance.
Certainly, if the patience of these devoted missionaries was sorely tried before their guide and counseller had secured his complement of meat, dried skins and horns, they had abundant opportunity of improving their knowledge of natural history; for, in additiop to the gentle antelope, the whole hunting ground which they were traversing abounded with baboons and panthers and lions and other beasts of prey. At length deliverance came, and at the end of four weeks of waiting they had crossed the boundaries of Basuto Land. The good men could not help smiling as they. remembered how, in the maps which they had bought in Paris, the whole of this region had been marked as sandy and level, for they had not travelled many miles inward when they found themselves standing at the foot of a moun- tain several thousand feet in height. As. they journeyed onward, a local chief having been apprised of their approach sent theIl down from his mountain fastness a present of milk and boiled maize, which they hailed as a token for good. Meanwhile, messengers were sent forward by the indefatigable Krotz, to inform the king of their movements and to bespeak his royal welcome. As they proceeded on their journey, they were struck with the unmistakable signs of recent battles which appeared in many places-in broken walls, and ruined villages, and desolated gardens, and battle-fields strewn with remnants of the dead. Already we may imagine the prayer to have ascended from their full hearts that their mission might be blessed as the messengers of the Prince of Peace.
On reaching the foot of the mountain on which stood the palace of King Moshesh,they scarcely had time to unyoke their wearied oxen and to pitch their tent, when the king's sons appeared scampering on horses at full speed to convey the salutations of their royal father. Early on the following day the missionaries ascended the mountain by a precipitous and winding path to return the monarch's s!1lutations. 'l'hey were received in a spacious court, enclosed by lofty palisades, into which Moshesh descended from his palace accompanied by his queen and their one little boy, whom they both fondly caressed. We give M. Casali's first impressions of the Basuto king in ~is own words: "The chief bent upon me a look at once majestic and benevolent. His profile, much more aquiline than that of the generality of his subjects, his well-developed forehead, the fulness and regularity of his features, his eyes a little weary, as it se~med, but full of intelligence and softness, made a deep impression on me. I felt at once that I had to do with a superior man, trained to think, to command others, and, above all, to 'command himself. After we had looked an instant at each other in sitence, he rose and said, 'Lumela, lilchoa' (Welcome, white man), and I replied by holding out my hand to him, which he took without hesitation." The king's looks expressed even more kindness than his words.
On the next day the king, attended by some of his chiefs, came down from his mountain to dine with the strangers. It must be acknowledged that the contents of their larder did not supply "a dainty dish to set before a king." But the time was 'urgent, and nothing could be done or even attempted until they knew more of the ruler's mind. With Krotz as his interpreter, the missionary explained to. the king the end of their mission, in promoting the religious as well as the material good of his people, and asked for his protection and help in
WOMAN'S WORK FOR WOMAN
their enterprise of love. The answer was, in some respects, wonderful, as coming from a heathen king who knew nothing of Christianity except what he had vaguely heard of its beneficent effects, and would have graced the lips even of a Christian monarch: "~ly heart is white with joy," replied the chief. "Your words are great ~nd good. It is enough for me to see your clothing, your arms, and the rolling houses in which you travel, to understand how much intelligence and strength you have. You see our desolation. The country was full of inhabitants. 'Val's have devastated it. Multitudes have perished; others are refugees in foreign lands. I remain almost alone on this rock. I have been told that you can help us. You promise to do it. That is enough. It is all I want to know. Remain with us. You will instruct us. 'Ve will do all you wish. The country is at your disposal. 'Ve can go through it together and you shall choose the place 'which will best suit you."
Here was the charter of their liberty and privilege given without parchment, or signature, or seal, but never violated in one iota by the king'..:; acts. A great and effectual door was opened before those men of God, and they were not slow to enter in. But we must reserve for another paper some notices of the first years of these devoted laborers, of their principles and methods of actions, and of the glorious and ever-increasing fruits which crowned their ministries of faith and love and patience during the next fifty years.
WOMAN'S 'YORK FOR WOMAN.
BY 1<'. I". ELI~I~WOOD, D.D., NE'V YORK.
The New Testament sounded the key-note of woman's emancipation from the tyranny of old custom!';, and welcomed her to a share in the active service of redemption. The old dispensation had given a promise which cheered evelT Hebrew mother's heart with hope, and llere and there, as in the sto~ies ~f Hannah and Ruth and Esther, appeared beautiful illustrations of what woman's influence might accomplish in the world. But outside of the Jewish Church, the worst elemcnt in the darkness of heathenism was the oppression of the female sex.
The very fact that woman was specially honored in the advent of the Messiah seemed to presage a new and more ample sphere for her influence. The two sisters at Bethany, instead of being hidden away like the inmates of a lHoslem harem and forbidden to share the blessings of the Saviour's visits, seem to havc had the same intimate acquaintan~e and friendship with their brother's guest that would be accorded to the wives or sisters of a modern Christian home. Dorcas was as free and as efficient iIi her Christian aetivities as any modern president of an orphan asylum or a woman's home. Priscilla taught theology when crude and uninstructed young missionaries needed further training; and of all the men and women in the church in Cenchrea, Phrebe alone was immortalized by her Chris- tian service.
It must have been a matter of disappointment to Paul, when he crossed the Hellespont and entered Philippi, that he did not receive a welcome from that "man of Macedonia" whom he had seen in his VISIOn. But the only welcome he found was in a woman's prayer- meeting by the river side, and Lydia, a woman of affairs and of ag- gressive Christian influence, became his hostess and his chief patron.
As for the men of Macedonia, his first encounter was with a sordid syndicate who were making merchandise of the wild vagaries of a de- mented girl. She had been restored ana cOllverted and their business was ruined, and in consequence Paul was mobbed. The last chapter ·of the Epistle to the Romans shows how extensive and how free was woman's work in the church at Rome.
In the days of martyrdom woman bore her part in heroic courage and in suffering unto death. In Carthage and in Rome, in far off France, and wherever the long struggle of Christianity with heathen- ism was waged, the delicate forms of women and of girls were tor- tured and mangled for their faith. In hundreds of instances also woman, who in the bloody invasions of savage tribes was spared from carnage only to be borne into slavery, became a herald of the Cross. Even in the courts of savage kings we find her the centre and source of gospel light. The conversion of Vladimir of Russia through his Byzantine wife was a case in point.
In no country has woman's early influence in the propagation of the faith been more remarkable than in France and Britain. Clovis on the eve of. battle vowed that if victory should be given him he would thereafter worship the God of his Christian wife, Clotilda. Tl~e victory was won and in pursuance of his vow he was baptized with three thousand of his court and his army. It has been truly said that not merely Clovis and his army were baptized, but a great empire and the whole civilization and destiny of Western Europe.
When the rude Saxons of Britain were to be reclaimed, and that Christianity which their savagery had well-nigh trodden out on the shores of Kent was to be restored, the way was opened by a Chris- tian princess of Burgundy, who in her marriage to the King of Kent had stipulated that she should be free to worship the true God and His Christ. Canterbury was really founded by Queen Bertha, who prepared the way for Augustine and his monks.
In the modern movement of Christian benevolence the women of the Roman Catholic Church were earlier in the field than those of the Protestant churches, but they worked under the rules and restrictions of conventual orders. It is quite to the credit of Rornanism that its ,sisterhoods have in modern times been mobilized for active service at home and abroad. Though the missionary idea in the Roman Catholic Church is that of a celibate priest, yet the Sisters of Charity go in groups to all lands, and their hospitals and orphanages rise up as- by magic wherever human suffering is found. Only praise and com- mendation can be given to the self.denying devotion with which this' noble work is done.
But a far better development of woman's work in missions and in all benevolence is that which has been shown in Protestant Christen- dom within the last quarter of a century-better, first, because it is freeer; second, because it aims at the subsidizing, not of a professional class, but of all Christian womanhood for the work of Christ; and third, because the example and influence of the married and unmar- ried women of Protestant missions are more positive than that of iso- lated sistel'hoods. 'fhey illustrate the home-of which China and India know nothing-instead of the convent, which Buddhism already has; and they give stronger emphasis to the freedom which all women should claim.
It may be said that on the home side the woman's work of Pro- testantism does not in fact subsidize all the talent and moral power of Christian womanhood in the Church. This is, indeed, too true, but its tendency is in that direction; that is its ideal and its aim, and in no other one enterprise has so large a portion of its membership, male or female, been enlisted as in woman's missionary work. We have observed the growth and operations of women's foreign missionary societies. for the last twenty years, and have been more and more impressed by their stability in organization and their advance in efficiency and power.
In all Protestant churches the impulse is one and universal. Sus- picions, doubts, and fears which conservative men entertained at the outset have disappeared. No denomination would think of dispensing with this potent auxiliary force. It were difficult ~o say whether its success abroad, great as it is, or its reflex power at home, has been the greater.
The late Dr. Mullens, of the I,ondon Missionary Society, main- tained that, as a uniform law, home charities of every kind had grown out of the broader and deeper movements that had been stirred by . the spectacle of woman's debasement in heathen lands. He traced nearly all the societies for evangelization in Great Britain to the antecedent impulse which arose about the beginning of the century to give the gospel to distant lands.
'Vhatever may have been the facts in England, it is certain that the great tide of sympathy which first sprang up in the hearts. of American women for their enslaved sisters in the zenanas of India has inured to the good of our own frontier settlements and of the freedmen in the South. The women of the churches never before so fully realized their power or were so disposed to use it in all earnest service for Christ and humanity.
The movement was timely for more reasons than one. (1.) It arose at a time when the zenana system had begun to be questioned, and teachers were demanded to instruct ignorant and neglected wives. The door opened just as the messengers arose-as in the case of Cornelius and Peter. (2.) The movement was called for at a time when the women of America had just learned something of their united strength in their efforts for the relief of our wounded soldiers. (3.) This work in foreign missions came forward at a time when there were many bereft and bleeding hearts which needed the care, and through care the solace, which the service of the Great Sympathizer so often presents. From its very beginning it has proved a resource to many a widowed soul who in deep sorrow was wondering for what object her life was still prolonged. (4.) The movement came at a time when, in the North at least, American womanhood was beginning to feel the influence of an unexampled reign of wealth and luxury. Steadily for the last twenty-five years money has been growing in social power, and more and more asserting itself as an aim in life. Old standards of estimate-knowledge, culture, characterhave lost ground before the influence of the" gold basis," and the temptation to worldliness and display has been greater than in any previous period of our history, or, perhaps, any history. The" social c,olumns" of the secular press have fed the flame of this craze for wealth, and certain classes of magftzines have made it a special aim to cater to the unwomanly ambition for money. Some months ago one of our popular montl)lies gave the public an article on "The Rich Women of America." Several portraits were given, with the names. Some were marriageable young heiresses! It is vulgar enough for men to parade their money-bags or have others do it for them, but to drag down woman from the purity and dignity of her true character and place her in the arena for such a show, and especially to advertise heiresses, is demoralizing alike to womanhood and to manhood, and seems to point already to social and national decay.
Fortunately the counter-movement in behalf of missions and other forms of Christian benevolence has in many cases interposed a wholesome check to this unhallowed ambition. Side by side with this rush of worldliness and display, and often across its current, there has gone forth an influence that was elevating and ennobling. There are multitudes, even among the wealthy, who have learned that there is something higher than empty display, and who have instilled into the minds 6f their daughters aspirations for practical sympathy with the wants and woes of the world. In many a family of wealth the counterbalancing influence of the missionary interest has been welcomed as a safeguard. With it has come a wide range of information concerning lands and peoples and institutions which would not otherwise have been gained. If nothing else had resulted from woman's work in missions, its educational influence in families, the better impulses with which it has enriched and ennobled womanhood, the widespread altru- istic spirit which now shows itself in Zenana bands, Christian Endeavor Societies, or among the Daughters of the King, would repay a hundred fold all that has been expended.
N or has its influence been confined to the female sex. The prayers which have been offered for nearly a generation in Christian homes, the increased intelligence, the glow of ennobling enthusiasm, have affected sons as well as daughters. What wonder that there are thousands of young men now rising up and offering themselves for the mission fields! Recently, when the brave and dauntless Mackay fell at his post in the Uganda lVIission, and the sudden call came to England for others to take his place, nine volunteers at once presented themselves.
On the foreign field t.he supplement of this home interest is found in hundreds and even thousands of women, married or unmarried, who in school or .zenana work, in the hospital and the dispensary, are exerting a quiet but N,tent influence which no computation can measure. It comes not" with observation." The change wrought in the surrounding community is one thing accomplished. It gradually refutes and destroys the Oriental theories of woman's sphere. The conscious dignity of woman appearing in utmost freedom in the home, in the school, or worshipping in the mixed assembly, breaks down old prejudice, and rebukes the blind cOllceit of men who, in enslaving woman, have blighted their own happiness and destroyed the welfare of their families.
But the most important factor in this regeneration is the training of thousands of the young to ideas and usages and degrees of inte1ligence which are at war with the' old customs and superstitions. The simple truth is that in countries like India and Japan the sentiment of the best classes is already revolutionized, the miraculous victory is already won. The only difficulty is that those who are convinced are loth to acknowledge the sources of the new influence. They are jealous of the foreigner and of his foreign creed. They are slow to acknowledge the defeat of their ancient faith and customs. They would like to adopt the new cult, but with their own ancient labels. But intelligence in woman they are beginning to prize.
Two or three years ago, when four Hindu girls graduated with full honors at Calcutta University, they were publicly applauded by high Goyernment officials, and the fact was pointed out that the upper strata of Hindu society were being transformed by the influence of just such events. This is precisely the meaning of the ready and eager patronage which is given by high Brahman families to the 8cho010f
1890.j THE SUPERNATURAL FACTOR IN MISSIONS
Ramabai in Bombay. And the same thing is illustrated in the female seminary with four hundred high caste girls, which is carried on under the patronage of the Maha Rani of Mysore. India, in her pride, is not yet ready to acknowledge that the new order of things has sprung from the influence of missionaries and of other Christian women, but God knoweth His own, and the benign influences which have been exerted quietly, as the falling of the raindrop and the snow-flake shall not return unto Him void, but shall accomplish' that whereunto He hath sent them.
'l'HE SUPERNATURAL FACTOR IN MISSIONS.
[EDITORIAL.-A. T. P.] Eliminate God from missions and yon have nothing left but a llUman enterprise; all the grandeur and glory are gone; for the one supreme charm and fascination of this work is that, in idea and plan, in origin and progress, it is divine.
Nothing is more noticeable than the peculiar emphasis laid upon the supernatural factor in worId-wide missions thi'oughout the scripture. We say throughout, for, in Old Testament and New 'l'estament alike, the conception of world-wide missions may be found. The idea was not novel, even at the outset of Christian history. In the prophe- Cies and prayers of holy men of old,whether in the.De Profundis and Miserere of pathetic lamentation and warning, or the In Excelsis of exultant praise and promise, like the deep undertone of mighty waters, we hear the wondrons intimation of a coming day when the kingdoms of the world shall become the one kingdom of the Messiah. As far back as the opening of Genesis, the first promise, that the seed of the woman should bruise the head of the serpent, is generic. It is a promise for the race of man as such. Satan had bruised the heel of the Adamic race and in the person of the second Adam that race was to bruise the serpent's head. Abraham was the great father of an elect family, yet, as the second great period of Messianic promise opens in his call and separation, we hear again the prophecy of a universal blessillg: "In Thee shall all the families ofthe earth be blessed." Further on, as we pass from one epoch to another, we never fail to find this world-wide blessing emphasized. The Psalmist, breathing a prayer of profounder meaning than he knew, pleads that the whole earth may be filled with God's glory, and predicts that all nations shall call Him blessed. Prophets tal{e up the strain, and foretell a day when "in every place incense shall be offered unto His name, and a pure offering;" when Messianic blessings shall be as widespread as the wings of the day, which touch, as those of the cherubim touched the walls of the Holy of Holies in the Temple, the remotest east and west, from the rising to the setting of the SUIl.
In that great Messianic and missionary Psalm (lxxii.), whose full radiance is only manifest, like a jeweled cavern, when the "Light of the World" is set in it to interpret its hidden beauties, there occurs a most significant doxology: "Blessed be Jehovah God, The God of Israel, WHO ONLY DOETH WONDROU,S TIDNGS!"
The connection associates .this doxology, by an obvious link, with the body of the Psalm, as though the inspired singer, who foretells this supernal glory of the Messiah's coming and world-wide reign, foresees that all this can be brought about only by the wonder-working God to whom nothing is impossible. The Holy Ghost, moving in the soul, inspires this outburst of adoring praise as a tribute to the grand truth and fact that no future historic development is to display God's power so unmistakably as the history of Christian missions. And so it is. Looking back now over a century of modern missions, the century of organized effort to spread the good tidings everywhere, we can only exclaim, "What hath GOD wrought !" Even sceptical disciples have been c9nstrained to say, like Pharaoh's magicians, "Truly this is the finger of God!"
It may be profitable to trace this supernaturalisn;t a little in detail. The thirteenth chapter of the Acts opens with a divine call to the laborers. As the prophets and teachers in the Antiochan Church were leading the church in holy ministrations and fasting, the Holy Ghost said, "Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them." This is the first step in organized foreign missions. Let us remember that the initial foreign mission tour'was undertaken at the special command of the Holy Spirit. However the Church may have separated these two original foreign missionaries and sent them forth, they are expressly declared to have been separated and sent forth by the Holy Ghost. Here, then, is the supernatural factor as the basis of mission work. God, by the Holy Ghost, calls, appoints, anoints and thrusts forth into the harvest field His chosen workmen.
Now observe that, when from this tour which begins and ends at Antioch, they returned, they "gathered the church together," and "rehearsed all that GOD had done with them, and how He had opened the door of faith unto the Gentiles" (xiv. 27). Subsequently, Paul and Barnabas go up to Jerusalem to the first Church council. Being brought on their way by the Church, they pass through Phenicia and Samaria, "declaring the conversion of the Gentiles," magnifying the divine power and grace. Then when they are at J erusalem they declare unto the Church with the apostles and elders "all that God had done with them." Peter, in his address, magnifies God. It is He who .made choice of Peter as the apostle of the keys to open -the doors of the Kingdom to Jew and Gentile. It is He who chose disciples from among the Gentiles, granted them repentance, and put no -difference between them and Jews, purifying their hearts by faith. And when Barnabas and Paul again address the people, a deep hush of silence shuts the multitude in like a canopy, as with awe they give audience, while these missionaries deelare "what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles by them."
How could there be any more express, explicit, emphatic recognition of the supernatural factor of missions? Here is no parading of .church life, of organization, method, human power, gifts, learning, tact, or even devotion and self-sacrifice. God alone is put before us. He fills the whole horizon. If, in the course of this mission tour, any man has been visible or prominent, now that they have "come down from the mountain," they see "no man save Jesus only." The Holy Spirit calls, separates, sends forth the workers; God opens the door of access to the nations, and then opens the door of their hearts to faith. He bears them witness, giving them the Holy Ghost, and purifying their hearts; and, in a word, the whole story of this mission tour is one of miracles and wonders which God has wrought. "They _went forth and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following."
That short history is the perpetual type and prophecy of worldwide missions. They are to be carried on solely in dependence on God. We are to depend on Him to select and separate unto the work His chosen servants. We are to depend on Him to open the doors of access and approach to the nations. Weare to rely on Him to attend the word spoken with the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. We must depend on Him to convert men. We may evangelize, but we cannot by all our ~fforts secure one convert. From fil:st to last the whole work must be of God, and only as He is in it and through it can it be saved from disastrous failure.
vVhen we open the New Testament, and read the last command of Christ, we find the commision of the Church prefaced and followed by a remarkable and significant declaration and an equally remarkable and significant promise: "All power is given unto Me In Heaven and in earth.
Go YE THEREFORE AND DISCIPLE ALL NATIONS.
And lof I am with you alway, Even unto the end of the world."
Is it any accident that this command is buttressed, front and rear, by such divine endouragements? First our Lord declares His own omnipotence; then His omnipresence; and between these He puts the great commission of the Church. What means this but that His righteousness shall go before us, and His glory shall be our rere-ward when we dare in His name to do our duty to a dying world, and march forth to subdue that world unto Him! 'fhe Acts of the Apostles is the historic illustration of the duty undertaken and of the promise enjoyed. Here the philosophy of missions teaches by examples. From first to last this book is the record of His working who only doeth wondrous things. Here is a period of history covering about thirty or forty yean;, the average lifetime of a generation, as if to show us what one generation of disciples can do toward a world's evangelization when the all-powerful captain oJ the Lord's host leads, and His "everywhere" and" alway" presence is their confidence and support.
The book opens with Pentecost-a miraculous outpouring of the Holy Spirit which in a moment removes the impassable barrier of unknown languages and enable!:! each man to hear in his own tongue the wonderful works of God. If Babel's confusion of tongues was a miracle, surely the reversal of Babel-the resolving of that confusion into order-is a counter miracle, and the record of that wonder working of God at the very beginning of that book is highly significant. The book of the Acts stands in the New Testament as the book of Joshua does in the Old. The latter is the account of the wars of Israel against the Canaanites; the former of the wars of the Church against the enemies of God; and in both the introduction is the record of a stupendous miracle. Jericho's walls fall without a blow struck or an engine of war employed; on the day of Pentecost the walls of strange speech instantaneously fall, and make representatives of the farthest cardinal points at once open to the message of the gospel. Can any thoughtful reader overlook the purport and purpose of that miracle? It stands at the very door of the history, like a sentinel at a gate, or a signal flag flying from a turret. It is the interpreter of the whole Book. The Acts of t,he Apostles are the acts of the Holy Ghost-of Jesus by the Holy Ghost. He is displaying that omnipotence and exhibiting that omnipresence, and the perpetuity of that power and presence is to be the warrant for the perpetuity of Christian missions and the inspiration and encouragement of them.
With profound and solemn conviction we record once more our testimony, after more than a quarter of a century of the study of missionary history and biography, that only from a divine point of view can the mystery of missions be interpreted 01' the significance of missions be appreciated. Higher up than the level of the most selfdenying heroism must we get to command this true horizon; and our constant effort with tongue and pen is to awaken and arouse sluggish believers to behold this march of God and fall into line under His leadership and take up the march with Him.
What He did in the times of the Acts He has been doing in later years. How did modern missions begin as a general movement in the Church? God separated and sent forth such men as Pluts,hau and John Eliot, Schwartz and Kiernander, Ziegenbalg and Zinzendorf~ William Carey and John Williams. Take William Carey as an example. That man can be accounted for only as a miracle of grace. No figure in missions more prominently stands out as the product of divine power. In the eighteenth century evangelical religion in America and in Europe lay dying, like a famished traveler. In France the Huguenots had been either massacred or driven out; in Germany and Holland the Reformed Church was already deformed by Rational- ism; in Britain Ritualism and Moderatism, Arianism and Socinianism, Antinomianism and hyper-Calvinism reduced religious life to a name. In some parts piety was an organized hypocrisy or an empty pretense. Just at this time, 1761, a humble weaver of Paulerspury, who with the loom united the offices of schoolmaster and parish clerk, had a son born to him. ;His boyhood was without special promise. At fourteen he was apprenticed to a Hackleton shoemaker, and entered upon the career of a simple tradesman. But God had chosen that "cobbler" to be the Paul of the new century of missions. He was converted and joined the Baptists at eighteen, and eight years later was ordained as a minister of the gospel.
There was nothing in the" environment" or " heredity" of that young shoemaker to hint his career as a missionary. That was not a mIsSIOnary age. He breathed no missionary atmosphere. The Church at that time denied her obligation to the lost race of man as well as neglected her duty. A distinguished clergyman of the Church of England chose the keenest darts in his quiver of sarcasm and wit to· shoot at the cobbler who proposed to convert the world. His own brethren treated his project with contemptuous indifference orpatronizing pity. And yet from the hour of his conversion there was lit in bis soul a strange flame of desire and purpose to preach the gospel in the regions beyond, for which we can account only by a coal from off a celestial altar.
Behold him, poor, obscure, unlearned, pegging away at a boot, while his eyes wander to an open book in which he is reading of faroff peoples, still farther off from God. See him making a rude m~p of brown paper or sole leather, drawing with cobbler's ink a rough outline of the world and filling it" in with such items of information as he can obtain about the populations and religions of the world, and, by shading the various countries, indicating the comparative degradation and destit.ution of their inhabitants. He was heaping fuel of facts on the flame of his zeal until the fire spread to a conflagration and consumed him as it consumed his Master before him. 1784 comes, and under his leadership the" monthly concert of prayer for the world's conversion" begins. Now, for the first time since the days of Pentecost, the Church organizes prayer to God for world-wide missions. From tile fires kindled in William Carey's soul God lights new flames on church altars until they spread over the whole of evangelical Christendom, and on the first Monday of the month there is a ring of prayer girdling the globe!
The next great step is the formation of a missionary society at Kettering in 1792. That same William Carey is again chosen to lead the way. It is this sanctified shoemaker who teaches a lethargic Church to "attempt great things for God and to expect great things from God." Twelve obscure Baptists withdraw to the parlor of the W allis house at Kettering on that 2d of October and draw up a com- pact to organize a society to send the gospel to the heathen. They erect a humble missionary treasury and put in it a trifling sum of thirteen pounds and a half crown sterling; and thus again William Carey is thrust forward by God to lead the Church to organize mis- sions. To-day R. M. Cust, Esq., tells us that there are approaching 250 missionary societies, belting the globe, with almost 7,000 mission- aries from Europe and America, and nearly five times as many who, from converted heathen, Moslem and pagan disciples, have joined them in the work of proclaiming a gORpel of salvation to the lost. To·day the missionary treasuries receive and disburse annually an aggregate sum of over two hundred thousand times the amount laid on the altar of missions on that day in 1792, and all this increase within less than a century!
In 1793 William Carey himself goes forth to India, leading now not in prayer and organization only, but in actual missionary activity -in self giving. He becomes England's first foreign missionary. The Lord of the harvest thrusts forth into His harvest the man of Paulerspury whom He has lleparated unto the work. For a hundred years his example has been the incentive and the inspiration to similar consecration. Thc aggregate number of foreign missionaries who have since 1792 gone into the field is known only to God. No one man has probably the data from which to give that sublime list of men and women who have fallen asleep, or are still living, and who belong to that sacred host; but we believe if that entire roll of living and of dead could be called it would be found to number not less than 25,000! Can any believer look at this missionary century and doubt that this whole work is God's work, who alone d()eth wondrous things?
We have no space, here and now, to carryon this presentation of the supernatural factor in missions. But, were there space and time at command, we should pursue the theme with enthusiasm through volumes.' For the encouragment of others who may be disposed to follow the subject into its fascinating ramifications it may be well to sketch a few of the directions into which the subject branches out, as we think of the divine presence and power in the missions of the Church.
There are two great branches of the theme. First of all, Christ's personal promise, "Lo, I am with you alway," and secondly, what He calls the" Promise of the Father," viz.: "Ye shall receive the power of the Holy Ghost coming upon you." Between these we are manifestly to distinguish. His own promise is one of His personal, perpetual presence everywhere-at the head of His missionary host, as the general-in-chief at the head of his columns. The angel of the Lord's presence is again acting as Captain of the Lord's host. Such an omni- present, omnipotent chief will of course manifest his invisible pres- ence in three ways: g~tiding, guarding and governing. We are justi- fied in expecting, if the Lord Jesus is at the head of the army of mis- sionaries, that all the movements of the host will be directed by divine wisdom. We shall expect to see a divine strategy exhibited in the whole plan of the campaign; to see movements all along the lines- piercing the enemy's centre, turning his staggering wings-now a flank movement; again a surprise in some new quarter; here a fortress taken, and there a rapid advance made into the very heart of his terri- tory. If Christ be at the head of the host we shall not be suprised to see Him exercising His protecting power as well as His directing wisdom. Especially in the crises of His kingdom He will turn the tide of battle in the very gate. When kings conspire to overthrow His Church and to burst His bands of control asunder; when around His elect band that dare for His sake the fight of the few against the many, the powers of darkness gather, He will interpose to defeat their counsels and bring their devices to naught. Has it been so in the history of missions? Look at the little band who have gone to cannibal islands, into the midst of savages, into the heart of hostile kingdoms surrounded by malignant foes. How wonderfully have they been preserved! Many have fallen because their blood was to be the seed of new churches, and their martyr testimony was needful as a witness for Christ. But who is He that sends forth His great army of locusts, who despatches famine, pestilence, drought to act as His evangelists and prepare the way of the Lord? Who is He that, when Sultan Mahmud had ordered the expulsion of all missionaries from the Turkish empire in 1839, sent death to cut off the tyrant and annul his decree; and who, when the King of Siam, twelve years later, plotted to dislodge all the missionaries from his kingdom, again sent the angel of His wrath to break the conspiring monarch as with a rod of iron and dash him in pieces like a potter's vessel!
Has the Captain of the Lord's host manifested Himself as the governing, controlling power behind missions? To answer this question we must command a wide prospect. The whole century has been full of new developments, which have been so much beyond all human devising as to present a series of surprises to the Church herself. God saw that, in order to the success of missions, there must be an awakened Church, an organized plan, a consecrated band, systematic giving, women associated, children devoted, new enterprise. a return to apostolic faith, covenant prayer and world-wide effort. And right along these lines has the Captain of the Lord's host been exercising His providential oversight. As a new emergency has. arisen a new interposition has been evident. The Church has found in every crisis a higher hand controlling. From every period of despondency or discouragement the faithful few who enter into the secret place have risen to new endeavor and in!lpiration by " beholding the works of the Lord."
But what shall we say of the Promise of the Father'! That again manifestly involves three things, for the work of the Holy Ghost is. seen in salvation, sanctification and service. If the promise of the Father has been falfiUed we shall find throughout the history of mis– sions that God has been exhibiting His grace as He has also His. proviilence. He has separated' and sent forth servants, then He has. accompanied their work with saving power, and, from the converts gathered, again sanctified and separated new workmen for His king– dom.
How has it been? Marvellous as have been the interpositions of Providence, the signs of the Captain of the Lord's h<lst, guarding, guiding, governing-still more wonderful have been the interpositions of grace-appointing and anointing workmen, subduing and saving souls, and reforming and transforming entire communities. Here our pen halts-in the very perplexity of the exuberant abundance of matter that claims at least a passing reference. Again we say, the whole story of modern missions is a new book of the Acts of the Apostles; and there was not a sign, wonder, miracle of grace in the apostolic. age of missions which in its measure is not characteristic of the moile1'n missionary age! From the time that William Carey went to India, Adoniram Judson to Burmah, Robert Morrison to China, J ustin Perkins to Persia, Robert Moffatt to Africa, Nott to Tahiti, Dober' to the West Indies, Eliot to the North American Indians, there have been, in one grand series, miracles of grace among the highest and the lowest alike. Sometimes a thousand have been born in a day;_ sometimes whole communities and even nations transformed; sometimes Christianity has become the law of the land, and idols, once in every house, have not been found even as curios and relics! Theadamant wall of caste, the iron wheel of transmigration, the brazen fetters of Moslem bigotry, the hopeless thraldom of Fetichism, have alike proved powerless to oppose the simple gospel of Christ. The investigator may follow any devoted missionary of the century intoany field of labor, however unpromising, and he will find that instead of the thorn has come up the fir tree; and instead of the brier has. come up the myrtle-tree; and this displacement of noxious and vicious growths in the soil of society by beautiful and fragrant trees and plants which show the "planting of the Lord" becomes, when
1890.J MORMON PROSELYTISM
other signs fail that had a temporary.purpose, "ttOD'S ll:VERLASTING SIGN THAT SHALL NOT BE CUT OFF."
That sign has been found and will be found wherever the gospel is faithfully proclaimed 1;0 the lost. And ~n this day the wilderness and solitary place are to be made glad and blossom as the rose. The field is the world-the seed is the Word of God; the seed is also the children of the kingdom. The Church has only to go throughout the field and sow both the seed of the Word and the seed of holy lives, and we may calmly and confidently leave the result with Him, who, whatever agencies He may employ, is, after all, the Husbandman, and the harvest will never fail. Even the apparent scarcity of the seed and the vastness of the field need not discourage us. He knows how to make the seed bring forth thirty, sixty and even a hundred fold. Missionary histor¥ both demonstrates and illustrates how the most desperately hopeless fields, with the most inadequate force of workmen and supply of material, have yielded the most amazing harvest and- often with such rapidity that the plowman is overtaken by the reaper. Are we yearning for new signs of God's presence and power in human affairs? Here is the grand sphere for such manifestations. He is ready, willing, rich in grace. All we have to do is to go everywhere-break up the fallow ground, scatter the seed of the Kingdom, in faith, in prayer, in tears, in hope; and heavenly dews and showers, with the beams of the Sun of Right~ousness, will make sure the fruits of a divine husbandry!
MORMON PROSELYTISM. BY REV. D. L. LEONARD, BELLEVUE, OHIO. To some it may seem an unwarrantable proceeding, an act bordering upon the profane, to use the pages of 'l'HE MISSIONARY REVIEW to set forth the methods and the achievements of the Mormon propaganda. And, indeed, it is setting such matters in far better company than they deserve. But facts are stubborn things, and certain facts, though unpalatable, we are in duty bound to consider. Fas est ob hoste aoce'l'i. 'fhen no feature of Mormonism is more characteristic. Not to understand its aims and modes of working in this particular is to omit from the great tragedy the part of Hamlet. Besides, taking note of the aggressive campaigns of the elders-so many, so difficult, so full of hardship and peril, we shall be persuaded that thpy are not wholly false-hearted and deceivers, but possessed of large measures of sincerity and zeal, and we can also more readily understand how this sect, so mongrel and outlandish, so fraught with folly, and so stained with serious offences agaim;t the moral law, has so marvellously spread and endured. But more than this, we are to consider one of the most startling and most forbidding religious phenomena in the civilized world in the current centu~. Beyond question the Latter-day Church has sent out more missionaries and made more converts in proportion to the number of its adherents than any other, in this respect far surpassing even the Moravian Church, whose name is a synonym for evangelizing zeal. Nothing less than world-wide dominion was in the eye of Joseph Smith from the start.
The church was organized in April of 1830, and in October four of the neophytes were commissioned to carry the infant gospel from New York to the Indians upon the extreme Western frontier, while in June following thirty took their journey towards the same remote region. In 1831 about as many more were named "by revelation" to make a preaching tour from Ohio to the Eastern, Southern and Western "countries" in part, while the rest were to "ask the Comforter" whither they should bend their steps.
. In 1837 in all 139 took the field, of whom 109 starting together were divided into eight companies, and were ordered to travel towards as many principal points of the compass. In 1844 every ·Congressional district in the Union was visited and canvassed by its share of a troop numbering in all 334. In 1852 Salt Lake witnessed the departure at one time of 109 missionaries destined to seventeen countries, and most of them in the Old World. In 1857 no less than 350 left the Great Basin, while for two decades about 200 was the annual average. For years together upwards of 400 were kept constantly abroad, and in all from the beginning not far from 5,000 American elders have been chosen and sent forth, with enough of native auxiliaries to raise the average to 100 a year.
As to results, within a few weeks of the organization of the church in Seneca County, N. Y., a branch was formed in Broome County, 100 miles away, and before the end of the year another in Ohio, and by midsummer of the year after scores of saints ate found in Western Missouri, while at the end of the year converts were abundant in several counties of the Western Reserve, and Cincinnati was blessed with a flourishing branch. Within three years Canada had heard the message, and every State from Maine to Mississippi.
In 1837 emissaries of Smith crossed the Atlantic and opened a door great and effectual in England, and a little later they pushed on to Wales, Scotland, Ireland, to the East Indies, to Australia. In 1840 two doughty crusaders set their faces towards Palestine; while in 1844 the Society Islands, lying in the Central Pacific, were invaded. The year befote his death the "prophet" declared, "I go in for preparing for a mission through the United States, and from Maine to England and to all the countries we wish. If I live I'll take the elders through and make just as big a wake as God Almighty will let me. We must send kings and governors to Nauvoo, and we will do it !"
In 1848 the tide of conquest reached France; Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Switzerland and the Sandwich Islands in 1850; Germany, Norway, Iceland and Chili in 1851; the Crimea, Burmah and the Cape of Good Hope in 1853; the West Indies, Ceylon and China in 1853; and Turkey and Siam in 1.854, etc. Aggressive faith and zeal had now reached their climax, but all this had come to pass within twenty-five years from the first baptism.
At the close of the first twelvemonth the membership had risen from six to 1,000, eight years later 25,000 saints could be counted, and six years later still, Joseph claimed 150,000 adherents. In Britain for a season baptisms were by the wholesale-entire churches surrendered, preachers and all, and during a period of nearly ten years the annual average of conversions there was upwards of 7,000. After a large emigration to Utah the British church numbered 33,000 in 1852, and the sum of those led captive from first to last can hardly be placed at less than 150,000. In Scandinavian countries the baptisms rose at one time to 2,000 a year, and reach in all about 50,000. An enthusiastic Mormon historian makes the preposterous claim of a round million brought by the elders into the citizenship of Joseph's kingdom! But if his estimate is too large by one half, the results of their labor are sufficiently astounding.
And all the more when we remember that it is their business not only to capture but to deliver the prey at the church headquarters. The undertaking was a bold one when the transfer was but from the Atlantic seaboard to Ohio, Missouri, Illinois. It became tenfold greater when an ocean and a continent must needs be crossed, including the Great Plains and the Rocky Mountains. Thousands reached ZiQll via New Orleans and the Mississippi and the Missouri to Council Bluffs, and from thence 1,000 miles by wagon or on foot. But such was the grip of religious fear and hope (coupled with the promise of land without cost, and other material benefits) that at least 90,000 have made the long journey from Europe. rrhe high-water mark of emigration was reached in 1856, when 5,000 or more in a single season ascended the Platte and found their way through South Pass into the valley.
A variety of other features characterizing Mormon missions may be summed up in t¥ statement that from the beginning these hierarchs have affected to follow to the very letter all manner of New Testament precept and precedent, and in particular such as are found in our Lord's instructions to the Twelve and the Seventy. It is in this spiritual obedience that the church has always maintained a "quorum" of the twelve apostles, and also an ever-increasing number of seventies, constituting an order in the priesthood, and from which missionaries are commonly s~lected. The idea was reached at an early day that no saint lived for himself, that "the kingdom" had the first and supreme claim, that salvation was largply for the !'lake of service, and that all personal or family considerations must be kept in strict subordination. Every adherent is to hold himself subject to call from the church authorities, and must go wherever sent. To re- fuse is to lose caste and to make one's self an object of suspicion. And thousands have held themselves as passive in the hands of their leaders as ever did any member of the Society of Jesus. The first fashion was to call for volunteers, but little by little a system of drafting was substituted. The number desired is apportioned out among the sev- eral communities, the selection is made by the local authorities, and the names are sent on to the chiefs. If satisfactory these are read off at general conference, and "sustained" by popular vote.
"Without purse or scrip" has ever been the great commandment.
Each one goes at his own charges, and .no matter how great the dam- age to business may be. To pay salaries would be to wickedly imi- tate the ways of the false churches with their "hireling clergy." Let the elder get to his field as best he can. The first seven that crossed the ocean landed at Liverpool without a farthing. Of course they depended wholly for food and shelter upon the people among whom they labored, and in early times great hardships were often endured.
Then, seldom does a saint take a mission alone, but at least two travel and toil together, Still further as of necessity, in strict duty bound, the sick are healed with prayer and oil, and the devils are cast out as an every-day performance, and occasionally the dead are raised.
"These signs shall follow them that believe," is a prophecy whose fulfilment no good Mormon will suffer to fail. Marvels in every way to match the best of monkish legends are on record, such as healing 406 Zunis sick with small-pox by the laying on of hands, and the cast- iug out of 319 devils in Wales, all in one day and by one elder, and in lots of from three to thirty-seven at a time! Also, if their message was not received, woe was duly pronounced. As far back as 1833, one ·Whitney hurled maledictions against guilty Albany, Boston and New York, which latter city was well-ni.gh destroyed by fire only two years after. Shaking off the dust from the feet as a testimony was for a time in vogue, or sometimes it was washing the feet, but soon it was found wise to do this in secret places lest wrath be stirred up.
Mindful of the same injunction nneovtertoknreosw•t inwgiltyh being merely "harmless as -doves," the elders have cast pearls be- fore swine, or offered the strong meat of the gospel to toothless babes.
On the contrary, they have always and most carefully suppressed un- palatable, though fundamental, matters of faith and practice.
Thus was it with polygamy for more than ten years after hundreds had accepted, in very deed. On one occasion the prophet sent out 380 elders to testify far and wide that such a thing had never been heard of in the church. No Jesuit in his best estate was ever ready to lie more shamelessly and withaut limit for the advantage of his order. As an alleged further following of the New Testament, learning has never been held in high esteem as a needed part of preparation for heralding the Mormon gospel. The great business was to "give testimony" to the truth. This in the form of bold, positive assertions was all-sufficient, though proof texts are handled in a fashion fearful .and wonderful. The elders are not chosen because of any intellectual gifts. Most are unlettered, and many are also youthful. But let it not therefore be imagined that they are suffered to depart unprovided with weapons, both defensive and offensive, or untrained in their use. Every boy is a potential missionary, and is regarded as such in the Sunday-school and in the various quorums of the priesthood through which he passes. Presently he has by heart the tenets of the church, the choice texts and arguments for and against, and he is called to use them frequently in public in the presence of his friends. His piece is :not lengthy, he learns it perfectly and can produce it with vigor on short notice.
Strangest feature of all, and certainly a wide departure from even the letter of the gospel, piety is not deemed essential, the moral cha1'- .acter of the messenger is not much taken into account. So there is no .sort of scruple about appointing those whose graces are far below the average. They are called and sent to give them a chance to see the world and to test their courage and skill facing the foe, to deliver them from evil associations and habits, and even to punish them for transgression against church rule. One saint, a saloon keeper, was "'sustained" to go forth and tell of Joseph and the Book, but before the police were advised of the fact he had been arrested for selling liquor on Sunday.
It was a favorite practice with Brigham Young to take revenge upon any who were proud or stubborn, or in any way troublesome, t to break their fortunes and place them where they could do no harm, by sending them to distant and de~olate regions. That is, to remain lllltil penitent, at least until called home; for the traveling elders never go forth for life, but only for a single campaign of a few months ~r years. At first, when the distance to be gone over was not great, there was a continual going and coming. Next the fashion was to make -a summer campaign and spend the winter months studying in the Kirtland "School of the Prophets." Later still, when Salt Lake had become Zion's seat, and a broad stretch of mountain and desert must be crossed, and foreign lands were to be possessed, the rule was fixed -of choosing at the great April Conference, and for a period varying .according to circumstances from one to three years.
And it is worth noting that if this system of limited terms of service, coupled with constant change of men, results in defective work, through the crudeness and inexperienc~ of the toilers, the great advantage ensues as an offset that the tug of spreading the kingdom is distributed to a much larger number, who receive the benefit of exercise and experience, and are commonly bound closer to their faith, while deep interest in missions is easily maintained at home. Every community contains several who have been abroad; one or more have recently taken their departure and presently will return to tell the thrilling story of their adventures.
We have seen that the Mormon elder is expected not only to baptize, but also to bring home his trophies. And a few words concerning the gathering should be added. It was found soon after the Great Basin was reached that Europe was so remote and the difflculties so appalling of a journey from thence, that something potent in the way of impulse must be supplied 01' else the" valleys of the mountains" would never become the abode of the saints. And so the Perpetual Emigration Fund Society was contrived, which ever since 1849 has loaned or given pecuniary assistance to tens of thousands of the indigent. Companies of emigrants have been organized and led through all the long and perilous journey by those who had influence and knew the way. Vessels were chartered, and in later years emigrant trains. upon the railroads, and so the cheapest possible rates were secured. Fifty dollars would pay the passage from Liverpool to Council Bluffs. And then both the spiritual and the carnal were appealed to stimulate the faithful to transfer themselves to Utah. They were to press on at once, not only for heaven, but also for Salt Lake as a· very important station on the road. And success for a season was well-nigh overwhelming. So many ·would flock to Zion that the utmost of available ways and means proved insufficient. And then it was that Brigham in the plentitude of his wisdom hit upon his famous" hand-cart scheme," and announced it as of origin celestial. The saints were to dispense with wagons and almost all worldly goods, and to trudge the entire 1,000 miles from the Missouri, male and female, old and young, and, moreover, each one push before him a cart loaded down with about eighty pounds of baggage, food, etc. The storms should not harm them, their garments should not wax old,. the feeblest should renew his strength, etc. But, alas, the outcome was different. Mishap followed blunder in long succession. Frost. and hunger together beset the poor wretches in the mountains, and scores perished and their bodies became food for wolves.
Even the failures met with by :Mormon missionaries, the limitations which. beset the progress of that church, barriers to its spread found to be impassable, are full of instruction to the student of missions. As the first suggestive fact of this kind, in every case the elders have made their achievements by working up a "boom." Or, the uniform course of things was as follows: Under their preaching a tide of interest would set in, would rise presently to a flood, and then was certain to subside never to lift its front again. Examples are abundant. In Ohio the craze lasted about eight years, reaching a culmination in 1836. Throughout New England and the Middle States conversions were multitudinous from 1830 to 1844, bVt then by the scandal concerning polygamy cea~ed at once and forev'r. In Britain 1840-55 was the period of growth, for the" sealing" prac- tice was long successfully concealed from the saints over the sea, but from the day when, in Brigham's happy phrase, "the cat was let out of the bag," baptism!'! began steadily to diminish. Scandinavian coun- tries were the fruitful field from 1850 to 1870, but since have fallen off at least three-fourths. During the entire period of the operation of the Edmunds law f~wer converts have found their way to Salt Lake than formerly crossed the plains in a single year. Only a few hard-earned gleanings are now gathered in Europe, the Maories of New Zealand have not yet made discovery of the imposture, nor the illiterate mountain whites of the Southern States.
Originally it was understood that the Indians (Lamanites) were to be gathered in by the wholesale. These were the degenerate descendants of certain ancient saints who apostatised, and as a punishment their skins were changed from white to copper color, but brought back to the faith by Joseph's elders, they were again to become "a fair and delightsome people." But, alas, only an inconsiderable number have become the" battle-axes of the Lord." The conversion of the Jews was also to be a leading specialty. The Book of Mormon told of two old-time migrations from Palestine to America. It was learned by revelation that the ten tribes were not lost, but only hidden behind huge ice barriers at the North and busy amassing riches. In due season, said barriers melting, they were to migrate to the Missouri Zion and share their wealth with their brethren. For also it had been ascertained that in the veins of wellnigh every elder of note flowed the pure blood of Judah, Benjamin, Ephraim, or other of- the sons of Jacob, while every bishop was" a literal descendant of Aaron!" Therefore several expectant delegations were sent to the Holy Land to reconsecrate it and to make ready fo.r the return. Proclamations were sent out to the Hebrews that the set time had come, but for some reason, to this day and to a man, they have remained unbelieving, stiff-necked and uncircumcised _in heart and ears.
The assault upon the ramparts of heathendom was withheld to a date unaccountably and culpably late. Not much was attempted until the fifties were well advanced. But then, as if expecting that polygamy would supply an excellent point d'appui, and to make up for lost time, a cloud of elders went abroad and great things were planned. It was expected that the gift of tongues would give immediate command of every language, and by the ten thousand pagans would bow the knee to Brigham. But not so; the French authorities soon drove his recruiting officers from the Society Islands. In China the Tai-Ping rebellion engrossed the entire attention of the Celes- tials. From Hindostan went home most lamentable accounts of the measureless and unutterable stupidity and depravity of the natives. No' 'honest in heart" could be found. Even the Turks could not be woed and won by the principle of "celestial marriage." And so it was everywhere. As for the 200,000,000 of Africa, and the represen- tatives of the same race in the United States, Mormonism has no mission to them. The negro may be baptized if he seeks such salva- tion, but may not under any considerations be admitted to the pri~st hood, or receive the "endowment." For it appears that all black bodies are inhabited by spirits who, in that great war in heaven, took sides neither for nor against Jehovah but were neutral in the strife. So the curse is on them, and the church is bound to see that it is not removed.
Attempts to make converts in Catholic countries have been uni- formly and everywhere as discouraging. In Ireland the preachers have never had more than their labor for their pains. A Latter-day son of St. Patrick is as rare as a white blackbird or a dodo.
Once upon a time a little company just from Salt Lake, and with an apostle at their head, climbed a high mountain in Italy, named it Mount Brigham, formed a branch and consecrated the land to the gospel, but nothing came of it. In France, a paper, "Etoile du IJe8~ eret," was started, the Book of Mormon was translated, and a great public discussion was held at Boulogne-Sur-Mer, and that was all. The elders were expelled from Austria, etc., etc., etc.
After years of assiduous angling it has been settled definitively that Utah has no bait with which Papists can be caught, and the the- ocracy aceept~ the situation and wisely transfers the fishers to other waters. It is only in Protestant lands that trophies can be won, where conscience is free and the Bible is held in honor. And there only from among certain classes. The ignorant are won, the credu- lous, those ravenous for marvels, and such as by some hocus-pocus would be saved. "The Lord's queer people" likewise, and his "silly people." Religious cranks of all kinds, the uneasy and the unstable. And worse, the self-seeking and crafty, who, to serve their own lusts and eager for the spoils, scruple not to deceive and then to fleece the multitude.
The final phenomenon, and as striking as any other, relates to the infinite ease with which the :Mormon faith may be put off, or to the frequent and wholesale apostasies with which the career of the church , has been attended. A large majority of those who have received the message and been baptized, after a season of great fervor and zeal, nave sooner or later lost their enthusiasm and gone back to their for- mer state, or too often to something far worse. An experienced
THE GENERAL MISSIONARY CONFERENCE HELD AT SHANGHAI, CHINA
elder of long standing declares that not one in twenty holds out to the end of life. Of the eleven witnesses to the divinity of the Book of Mormon nine denied the faith, and of the first twelve apostles all but two lifted up the heel against Joseph.
In 1838 in both Ohio and Missouri occurred a fearful sloughing- off, and another in Utah in 1869. In the Scandinavian mission 1850- 82 out of 35,489 baptized 11,620 were cut off before emigration. In Great Britain from June of 1849 to December of 1854 the baptisms were 34,592, and the excommunications were 15,587, and in the latter portion of the period the losses equaled two-thirds of the gains. Of the 150,000 claimed for the church at the date of the prophet's death less than 25,000 ever set foot in Salt Lake, while the residue, having had their fill of priesthood and revelation, and of wonders and glories in general, scattered and were heard of as saints no more..
; THE GENERAL MISSIONARY CONFERENCE HELD AT SHANGHAI, CHINA, MAY 7, 1890.
BY REV. FRED S. CURTIS, HIROSHIMA, JAPAN.
To sum up in a few pages the doings of this Conference would be no easy task. Its 430 members represented not only all parts of China, including distant points in the interior, which it requires over two and a half months of constant travel to reach, but also Siam, Burmah, Korea, and Japan. We present a summary of the more prominent practical results of the meeting: I. A more comprehensive view of the work as a whole,with a mutual appreciation of the various methods employed. The most important facts in regard to the various lines of .work pursued throughout the Empire were focalized. It was possible thus to get a better view of the work as a whole than by years of travel and residence by individual missionaries. The free and harmonious comparison of views on the part of one-third of the missionaries of China brought the entire work into one grand survey. A more thorough understanding and a deeper feeling of sympathy was the result.
The purely evangelistic work was emphasized throughout-the duty of giving the gospel to the present generation. That a sufficient number of ordained men cannot be obtained for this purpose, was made the reason for an appeal for lay workers.
Great stress was also laid upon the work of teaching, and it was urged that the educational work be pushed, especially the training of native helpers. The hospital and dispensary work made a fine showing. A single fact by way of illustration: Dr. Kerr, of Canton, in the past 36 years, has treated 521,000 patients, written 27 volumes on medicine and surgery, and trained 100 medical assistants. Woman's work was also given a prominent place, one day being set apart for the consideration of the subject. The following summary of statistics was presented: Foreign missionaries.-Men, 589; wives, 390; single women, 316. Total, 1,295. Native helpers.-Ordained ministers, 209; unordained,l,260; female helpers, 180. Medical work.-Hospitals, 61' dispensaries, 43; patients (during 1889), 348,439. Churches.-Organized Churches, 520; wholly self-supporting, 94; half self-supporting, 22; quarter self-supporting, 27. Bible distribution (1889).-Bibles, 1,454; New Testaments, 22,402; portions, 642,131. Total, 665,987. Communicants, 37,287. Pupils in schools, 16,816. Contributions by native Christians, $36,884.54.
II. A second result was a more thorough understanding of the obstacles to the spread of the gospel in China. Of these, two received the most attention: "The Opium Habit" and "Ancestral Worship."
1. The Opium Habit. Such facts as the following were presented: The introduction of the d~g preceded that of Christianity by a short time, and it has become not only China's greatest curse, but one of the most serious obstacles to the gospel. It is impossible to exaggerate the evils resnlting from the smoking of opium. It causes the rapid deterioration of health, especially the 10Sd of muscular power, shortens life and undermines the whole constitution. The ease with which opium is everywhere procurable, and the facility and certainty with which it may be used for self-destruction, have largely increased the number of suicides. The Chinese, with their revengeful spirit, often for a trival cause commit suicide, regarding this as the most awful re- venge they can take, believing that the spirit of the dead person may continu- ally injure the living.
Opium smoking is spreading more and more. It is no longer looked upon with shame. Legalization has increased its consumption. At first the Chinese made a tremendous effort to stamp out the vice, and refused revenue. Their want of success must be laid to the account of Great Britain. This gigantic €vil now pervades all classes; high and low, rich and poor-Chinese, Manchus, Mongols and Koreans. The estimate for the whole empire is said to be, of the coolie class, four-tenths; of the merchant class, six-tenths; of the official class, three-tenths. The father of the present emperor has contracted the habit within the past two years. During an illness he was advised to try smoking the drug. The result is that the vice has become rooted, and although he be- wails the bad example he is showing to tIie royal family, and especially to his son, the emperor, he thinks he cannot give it up.
This habit so blunts the moral sensibilitv that the Chinese themselves will not trust a smoker and will but rarely employ him. To satisfy his craving the habitue will steal,will sell his wife and children, and even starve himself. The will becomes weakened, if not paralyzed. The government and people, smokers and non-smokers alike, regard it as a vice and a curse, their greatest plague. Not a word is ever spoken in its defence. It would be next to impossible now for the Government to eradicate the evil even if England were to cease her own importation. The poppy is now extensively cultivated in China; the officials use it, and the smokers would get it in some way.
Of course such a habit is a stupendous obstacle to the spread of the gospel in China. The only way to reach the heart of an opium smoker is first to rid him of his pipe. Hence many opium refuges have been opened by mis- sionaries, many cases have been treated in the hospitals, and the .native Christ- ians have done what they could to help. Much good has thus been accom- plished. In connection with this subject, however, one serious fact was brought to light at the conference. Many physicians, missionaries and native Christians, have been unwittingly selling and distributing so-called anti-opium pills, con- taining morphia, which have often resulted in the substitution of one form of -opium for another. This was regarded with such seriousness by the Medical Missionary Association that the matter was, at the recommendation of this Association, especially mentioned in the report of the Committee on Opium.
The entire report is.as follows: .
" }Vhereas, this Conference regards the rapid extension of the growth of native opium in addition to the use of the imported drug with profund alarm; and whereas, the consequent vast increase of the opium habit demands our most serious and unremitting consideration, therefore we resolve: "1. That we, as a Conference, re-affirm and maintain ·our attitude of unflinching opposition to the opium traffic. .
"2. That we recommend all Christians in China to use every endeavor to arouse public opinion against the spread of this evil, and to devise means to secure, as far as may be, its final suppression.
"3. That we advise the formation of a Chinese Anti-Opium Society, with branches at all mission stations.
"4. That we find this increase is largely owing to the indiscriminate sale, and consequent abuse, of so-called anti-opium medicines, and that we now, on the suggestion of the Medical Missionary Association of China, urge all missionaries to discourage, and as far as possible to prevent, the sale of such anti-opium medicines as contain opium or any of its alkaloids. "5. That we earnestly impress upon all Ohristian churches throughout the world the duty of u"iting in fervent prayer to God that He will in His wise providence direct His people to such measures as will lead to the restriction and final abolition of tbis great evil.
,. 6. That we deeply sympathize with the efforts of the societies of Great Britain and else- where for the suppression of the opium trade, and recommend them to continue and increase the agitation for the suppression of the growth and saJe of opiilm."
2. As to the question of Ancestral Worship the facts were brought out that it is a colossal system, firmly rooted. Touching this system we touch the foun- dation-stones of the Chinese empire. It is evident that the worship of ances- tors was practiced at the dawn of Chinese history, and was even then a well- developed cult. Ancestors were believed to be in existence and able to hear. The 242 emperors have each been associated with Shang-ti, or heaven. The ancestral tablet was in use as early as 1766 B. C. Every Chinaman is supposed to have three souls. At his death one of these goes to heaven, one remains in his tomb and one enters the ancestral tablet.
The question was raised in the Conference, and discussed with much warmth, whether it would not be possibl/il to tolerate such rites connected with ancestral reverence as were not idolatrous or superstitious. A very small minority- "Some four or five per cent. of the members of the Conference-were inclined to emphasize strongly the good points of the system, urging that it had incul- cated the virtue of filial piety, had consolidated and perpetuated the empire, .and had tended to keep up the purit! and morality of the family and of the classics.
On the other hand it was clearly shown that it is nine-tenths idolatry; that divine attributes are ascribed to the dead, and that the element of filial piety is in a large measure a slavish fear of ghosts. There are temples where" those spirits of ancestors who have no descendants" are propitiated by the multitudes purely out of fear.
More than this, the universal testimony of the converts is that it is impossi- "ble to practice any of the forms connected with this system without committing the sin of idolatry.
The strong and almost unanimous feeling of the Conference seemed tg be that we have no right to permit any of these forms, but should advise the con- verts to show their filial devotion by more attention to the funeral services of the Christian Church, to the care of the graves and such matters. This advice is most needful since the native Christians are apt to go to the opposite extreme of neglect.
IlL-As a third result may be named: A closer union of the entire mis- 8ionary body in Ohina. Notwithstanding the large number of representatives of different nationalities, various denominations and diverse preferences as to methods of work, a remarkable spirit of unanimity and brotherly love pervaded the Conference. In order to maintain and perpetuate the benefits of the gathering, it was resolved: 1. That members of the Conference and all other missionaries in China set apart a portion of every Satnrday evening as a time of special prayer for each other's success in bringing souls to Christ and that they may be united still more closely in the unity of the Spirit and the bonds of love.
2. That a Committee of Correspondence, consisting of seven members residing in Shanghai, be ejected by the Conference, whose duty it shall be to communicate with the missionaries on all subjects of common interest, to collect and publi~h missionary information and statistics, and to seek the views of the missionaries in all parts of the common field on any subject where they may think united action desirable.
3. That the missionaries in the various missionary centres, who have not yet done so, unite in local conferences or associations, and that each of these bodies select one of their number to correspond with the Shanghai Committee and to act in conjunction with them in carrying out the work above assigned them. 4. That the Chinese Recorder and Missionary Journal and Tke Messenger be adopted as. the organs of this committee.
In regard to comity and division of the field the Conference advised: 1. The common occupation of large cities as bases of action. 2. That societies go into unoccupied districts with a view to the speedy occupation of the whole field. 3. In case of disagreement in regard to the occupation of the field that the matter be referred for arbitration to disinterested persons. A strong desire was apparent on the part of several denominations to unite their different branches organically in spite of the difficulties of distance and dialect. The various branches of the Methodist body, represented by 71 members, held a meeting and appointed a committee to consider plans for closer union. A Presbyterian gathering was also held; more than 100 were present. Seven branches of this church were represented. Of these, two, on account of the difficulties of language and travel, thought organic union impracticable; but the remaining five, which are located nearer each other, agreed to recommend steps looking to organic union between these bodies. It was agreed that a constitution be drafted, based upon the constitutions. of the Presbyterian churches of Europe and America, taking for doctrinal basis the Apostles' and Nicene Creeds and the Westminster Confession. Itwas also recommended that all Presbyteries should form one Synod, meeting, for the present, once in five years. There was also union along literary lines. In view of the lack of knowledge on the part of many missionaries of the existing Christian literature in Chinese, and the great waste of time and labor resulting from this ignorance. it was resolved to appoint a permanent committee to collect information and prepare a classified catalogue with a brief description of books and tracts, to gather and publish information in regard to books in preparation, and to secure writers who shall supply the more pressing wants in any department of Christian literature. Missionaries contemplating literary work were recommended to communicate with the committee before beginning such work. It was voted that a general depot for the storage and sale of all books in the classified catalogue be established at Shanghai, with book rooms at other important centres. IV. Perhaps the most important work of the Conference was union in regard to a new version of the JVord of God. There are in use at present some half-dozen different translations of the Bible, which causes much trouble. Before the meeting of Conference there was little hope of agreement on a standard text, owing to the preference of different missions for the texts of their own translations; alio to the difference of opinion in regard to the translation of such terms as God, spirit, and baptize. However,with the blessing of God, separate committees were able to present, reports which were unanimously adopted by the Conference. By their recommendation three committees were empowered to select three corps of revisers, one to prepare a new version of the higher classical, one of the simple classical, and one of the Mandarin.* In order to secure one B~Dle in three forms, all the revisers are to act in conjunction. That such a satisfactory plan could be agreed upon, was regarded by some who knew the difficulties in the way as a great triumph of the Spirit of God. When the united report was brought in, inspired gratitude to God for the immediate prospect of one Bible for all China, the entire Conference rose, and, led by the chairman, united in singing, "Praise God, from whom all blessings flow."
In its direct bearing upon the churches at home no greater work was done .. The Mandarin is the language of the officials throughout the empire, also that of the common people of uearlyall of North, West and Central China. by the Conference than the framing of the following four appeals for help: One for ordained men, one for unordained, one for womEn, and one summing up the other three in a call for ONE THOUSAND MEN WITHIN FIVE YEARS FROM THIS TIME! God grant that the call may be heard!
I.-AN APPEAL FOR ORDAINED MISSIONARIES, ETC.
TO ALL OUR HOME CHURCHES.
GREETING:-Realizing as never before the magnitude of China and the utter inadequacy of our present numbers for the speedy carrying into execution of our Lord's command, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature;" therefore, Resolved, that we, the four hundred and thirty members of the Missionary Conference now in session at Shanghai, earnestly and unanimously appeal to you to send out speedily as many hundreds as can possibly be secured oj wellqualified ordained men.
The whole of China is now open to missionary effort and needs a large number of men of prayer, of patience, endurance and of common sense-men full of the Holy Ghost and of faith in the gospel as "the power of God unto salvation."
The missionary here encounters hoary and subtle superstitions, a most difficult language, a people of vigorous intellect, with a vast literature and an elaborate educational system. There is need, therefore, of men of commanding practical and intellectual as well as spiritual endowments-men who shall be able to engage in and direct the work of evangelization, to educate, train and induct into their work a native pastorate, to fonnd and conduct educational institutions, and to provide a general theological, scientific and periodical literature.
Seeing, as we do, the utter destitution and helplessness of these millions still" having no hope and without God in the world," we appeal to young men to give themselves to t~ work. We believe that the great question with each of you should be, not" Why shouljl I go?" but" Why should I not go?"
We recommend that the men be sent under the regularly constituted missionary societies of the various denominations, and that these societies search out suitable men before they are committed to the home work.
With the highest appreciation of the claims of the home churches, we still urge young pastors to consider whether the places of some of them might not be filled by men who cannot come to the mission field, while they might bring their experience to spheres of work in China which must otherwise be left wholly unoccupied.
We call upon individual congregations to greatly increase their contributions for the support of one or more of these men.
We urge Christian men of wealth to prayerfully consider the duty and privilege of giving themselves personally to this work, or of supporting their representatives.
Finally, we shall not cease to pray the Lord of the harvest to move you mightily by His Holy Spirit in behalf of this vast and ripening field.
IT.-APPEAL FOR LAY MISSIONARIES.
This Conference, while strongly urging upon the home churches the susten- tation and continued increase of the staff of thoroughly trained and fully quali- fied ordained missionaries and the further development of native agenCIes in every branch of Christian work, is still so profoundly impressed with the mani- fold needs of this vast country, that it would present a direct appeal to the laity of the home churches for lay missionaries; and in doing so would place before them some of the departments of service in which their helpis more especially needed. .
Beginning with the highest service, and touching the deepest need of the country, they would point to the many millions of our fellow-men who have never heard the gospel of the grace of God; and to some millions more, who, though they have possessed themselves of some portion of His Word, still fail to comprehend its meaning for want of some one to guide them in their study of it; and they would urge the claimsof these unevangelized millions on the youth of the home churches, and would emphasize the nobility of the service which a Christian evangelist may thus render to the Lord in China.
The country long closed is open. The people, if not decidedly friendly, are not hostile. The work of the Bible colporteur has prepared the way. The promise of ingathering is yearly brightening, but the laborers are few; and with the abundance of Christian workers in the home lands, surely hundreds or even thousands might be found to hasten on the evangelization of this empire by their personal effort and consecration.
Passing now to the intellectual req,uirements of China, we rejoice to record the progress of missionary education LD the East during recent years; but are admonished by the fact that purely secular instruction so largely tinges the educational movements both of Christian and heathen governments; and in fact we hear a loud call to the Christian Church to supply in larger numbers Christian educationalists for China. The intellectual renaissance of the empire is just commencing, there is an incipient cry for western culture; and the re- sponse which the Christian Church may make to this cry will, to no inconsider- able extent, decide the course which the education of the country will take in the future. .
With Christian men in the chairs of the colleges of China, what may we not expect from so powerful an auxiliary in the evangelization of the empire?
University men may find here at no distant period some of the most influen- tial posts in the mission field; and we would earnestly invite all Buch Christian 'Co-workers to weigh over with all seriousness the question whether they may not more effectively serve their generation in China than in the home lands.
But besides the intellectual need of the country, there is also the chronic and otten dire necessity of phYBical distress. The masses of the people are poor. Physical Buffering meets us at every turn. Medical Bcience is almost unknown. Charitable institutions, though established both by the government and by private effort, fail to compass the need of the masses. Flood and famine slay their thousands; and yet the wealth of the world is in Christian hands, and might by judicious distribution both save the lives of thousands yearly and give completer expression to the Life we preach. On behalf of these destitute masses, therefore, we earnestly plead with the men of wealth in the home churches that they will consider the claims of these Buffering ones, and not only by their gifts and prayers will largely aid the reinforcement of the noble staff of medical missionaries already in the field, but will give them- selves in larger numbers to benevolent enterprises abroad. The blind, the aged, the orphan and the destitute mutely plead for Christian compassion, and the Lord Himelf has said, "Inasmuch as ye did it unto one of these my brethren, even these least, ye did it unto me."
Weappeal,then, to our lay brethren in the home churches, to men of sterling piety, and of strong common sense, that they would lay to heart the needs of this vast empire-its spiritual destitution, its stunted education, its physical distress, and that they would.solemnly ask themselves whether for the greater glory of God they are not called to meet this pressing need, and to devote them- selves, their service and their wealth to this missionary enterprise in China.
We would offer to them a most hearty welcome to our ranks, and would as- sure them that, whether they come out as ordained 01' as lay workers, this welcome will be equally cordial; and in conclusion, we would earnestly pray that this appeal may be brought home to the hearts of many by the power of the Divine Spirit. (Signed) J. L. NEVIUS, } Ch . a~rmen. DAVID HILL, IlL-AN APPEAL FROM MORE THAN TWO HUNDRED LADIES, MEMBERS OF THE CONFERENCE.
To the Christian Women of the British Empire, the United States, Germany and all other Protestant Countries-Greeting: We, the women of the Missionary Conference now assembled in Shanghai, come to you, our sisters in Christ, with an urgent appeal in behalf of the one hundred millions of women and children of China who" sit in darkness and in the shadow of death."
The work of women in China has been prosecuted at the oldest stations for about fifty years, at first chiefly by the wives of missionaries, but in later years single ladies have largely augmented this working force. There are now ladies engaged in educational, medical and evangelistic work in China. Much has been done by them, many lives have been uplifted from the degradation of idolatry and sin, many sad hearts comforted, many darkened minds enlightened, and much solid good effected. But our hearts are burdened to-day with love and pity for the millions of women around us, our sisters for whom Christ died, still unreached by the sound of the gospel. Beloved sisters, if you could see j;heir sordid misery, their hopeless,.loveless lives, their ignorance and sinfulnesS, as we see them, mere human pity would move you to do something for their upliftin~. But there is a stronger motive that should impel you to stretch out a hel.{>mg hand, and that we plead-the .constraining love of Christ. We, who are m the midst of this darkness that -can be felt, send our voices across the ocean to you, our sisters, and beseech you by th~ grace of Christ our Saviour that you come at Olice to our help. .
Four kinds of work are open to us: 1. There is school work in connection with our various missions which in many cases the men have handed over to the women in order that they them- .selves may be free to engage more directly in evangelistic work. 2. There is a work to be done for the sick and suffering women of China, l.n hOspitals, dispensaries and homes, for which skillful physicians are needed. Most of this work can be better done by women than by men, and much of it can be done only by women. 3. There is work for us in the families of the Church. There are converted mothers and daughters who need to be taught the way of the Lord more perfectly, and to be trained in whatever is necessary for their fnIl development into lively members of the great household of faith. 4. There is a work of evangelization among women, similar to that being done by men among the people at large. It is not claimed that the evangelization of women cannot be done at all by men-but that there is more of it than men can do, there is much of it that will never be done unless women do it, and much that men cannot do as well as women can. There is nothing in this kind of work transcending the recognized scriptural sphere of women. Women received from the Lord Himself upon the very morniug of the resurrection their commission to tell the blessed story of a risen Saviour. What they did then we may continue to do now. But you will ask, " Who are needed for this work? " Knowing the conditions of life and work in China, we would answer that: 1. They should be women of sound health, of good ability and good common sense, also well educated-though not necessarily of the hignest education-apt to teach, kind and forbearing in disposition, so that they may live and work harmoniously with their associates, and win the hearts of the Chinese. Above' all, they should be women who have given themselves wholly to the 'Lord's work and are prepared to bear hardship and exercise constant self-denial for Christ's sake.
2. It is desirable that they should pursue a systematic course of Bible study before coming to China, and have some experience in Christian work at home.
Further, we would suggest that they should labor in connection with established missions in order that the good results of their work may be preserved, and that they may have, when needed, the assistance and. protection of their brother missionaries.
Open doors are all around us, and though idolatry lifts a hoary head, and ancestral worship binds the people as with chains of adamant, yet with God "all things are possible," and mountains of difficulty melt like snowflakes before the rising of the Sun of Righteousness, God is on the side of His own glorious, life-giving Word; we ask you to come in the power of consecration and faith, with sober expectations and readiness to endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus, and take your share in the most glorious war that was ever waged on earth-the war against the powers ·of darkness and sin, assured that God will accomplish His own purposes of love and grace to China, and will permit you, if you listen to this call, to be His fellow-workers in "binding up the broken-hearted, proclaiming liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound."
That the holy and loving Spirit of God may incline your hearts to respond to His call is our earnest prayer.
Signed on behalf of the two hundred and four ladies assembled in Confer- .ence at Shanghai.
Mrs. Mary Lees, London Mission SOciety. Mrs. A. Elwin, Church Mission Society. Miss C. M. Ricketts, English Presbyterian Mission. Mrs. J. R. Watson, English Baptist lIission. Miss L. S. Sugden, M.D., Wesleyan Mission. Miss I. Newcombe, Church of England Zenana Mission. Mrs. E. Tomalin, China Inland Mission.
Mrs. John Ross, U. P. Church of Scotland.
Mrs. W. E. Soothill, United Methodist Free Church. Mrs. T. C. Fulton, Irish Presbyterian Church.
DR. HA.PPER ON THE SHANGHAI CONFERENCE
Mrs. Arthur H. Smith, American Board. Mrs: J. M. Foster, Baptist Missionary Union. Mrs. C. W. Mateer, American Presbyterian Mission (North). Miss L. H. Hoag, M.D., Methodist Episcopal Mission (North). Miss E. ]'. Swinney, M.D., Seventh Day Baptist Mission. Mrs. Eliza M. Yates, Southern Baptist Mission. Miss Laura A. Haygood, Methodist Episcopal Mission (South). Miss K. M. Talmage, American Reformed Mission. Miss R. E. Reifsnyder, M.D., Woman's Union Mission. Mrs. J. L. Stuart, American Presbyterian Mission (South).
N.-AN APPEAL TO ALL PROTEST~'<'NT CHURCHES OF CHRISTIAN LANDS.
DEAR BRETHREN IN CHRIsT,-We, the General Conference of Protestant Missionaries in China, having just made a special appeal to you for a largel;}' increased force of ordained missionaries to preach the gospel throughout the length and breadth of this great land, to plant churches, to educate native ministers and helpers, to create a ChrisQan lIterature, and in general to engage in and direct the supreme work of Christian evangelization; and having also just made a special appeal to you for a largely increased force of unordained men, evangelists, teachers and physicians, to travel far and wide distributing books and preaching to the masses, to lend a strong helping hand in the great work of Christian education, and to exhibit to China the benevolent side of Christianity in the work of healing the sick: Therefore, we do' now appeal to you, the Protestant churches of Christi.an lands, to send to China in response to these calls ONE THOUSAND MEN WITHIN FIVE YEARS FROM THIS TmE.
We make this appeal in behalf of three hundred millions of unevangelized heathen; we make it with all the earnestness of our whole hearts, as men over- whelmed with the magnitude and responsibility of the work before us; we make it with unwavering faith in the power of a risen Saviour to call men into His vineyard, and to open the hearts of those who are His stewards to send out and support them, and we shall not cease to cry mightily to Him that He.
will do this thing, and that our eyes may see it. On behalf of the Conference, Chairmen J REV. J L. NEVIUS, D.D. 1REV. D. HILL. REV. J. HUDSON TAYLOR. l Permanent CommitteeREV. WM.AsHMORE, D.D. REY. H. CORBETT, D.D. REV. C. W. MATEER, D.D., LL. D. REV. C. F. REID.
DR. HAPPER ON THE SHANGHAI CONFERENCE.
[We regard this large and representative Conference of misssionaries of sufficient interest to our readers, in its character, in its harmonious action, and in its loud and thrilling appeals to the Church universal, to fully warrant us in gi~ing additional space to it. And who more worthy to fill that space than the beloved brother who w.ent to China in 1844, and is now the "oldest mis· sionary" resident in the empire, and who can appreciate the marvellous contrast then and now as we cannot, and who, from the high tower of the Presidency of the Christian College of China, is now permitted to survey the future in the light of the past? We introduce his "obser- vations and statements" respecting the Conferenct', with his private note, because of the facts stated in it, and the earnest words by which he seeks to emphasize the action and the appeals of this memorable body.-J. M. S.] Canton, China, June 2d, 1890.
My DEAR DR. SHERWOOWD,-I am fully aware that your columns will be greatly taxed with the details of the Shanghai Conference. I have thought, however, that some general remarks might find a place-some observations and statements of the "oldest missionary in China." There is not a single missionary resident in China that was here when I arrived in 1844. There are three still in China that arrived in 1847. You can easily understand what a contrast it is now to what it was when I arrived. These considerations may add some force to the call for more missionaries. The plea for the several classes of missionaries will stand on their several requirements, as the call for medical missionaries, for laymen, single ladies and ordained men. But let the bugle-call go forth for one thousand missionaries within five years. Let it ring in the ears of the Church. Help them to carry it to the throne of grace. Let them ponder it in their closets and around the family altar. Let the youth hear it in the schOOls, in the academies, in the colleges and in the universities, and in the theological seminaries: "One thousand missionaries for China in five years." Keep this line in your columns every month, till the Church is aroused with the trumpet-call, and arouses itself to good earnest work and consecration and giving; and above all, may God by His Spirit accompany this call to the hearts of those He would call to have a share in this blessed work for the Master. With much esteem and regard, A. P. HAPPER.
As you will receive the full report of the proceedings of the General Conference in Shanghai from others, I will only give some general impressions and statements in regard to it. 1 may say the Conference was a great and blessed success. It far exceeded in the number of members, in the spirit of harmony and co-operation, and in practical results arrived at, all that the most sanguine friends of holding it had hoped for. The very first meeting of the assembly left upon the minds of all in attendance the impression that the Spirit of God was in our midst. This sense of the presence and power of the Holy Ghost increased and deepened each successive day till the last.
We may remark that there has been only one conference on the foreign field where the attendance of missionaries was larger than it was in Shanghai. At the General Decennial Conference in India in 1882, there were 500 in attendence; at Shanghai there were 432 names enrolled. If we consider the fact that there was a greater number of missionaries then laboring in India than there are now in China, that the distances are not so great in India as in China, and that the facilities and cheapness of travel are greater in India than they are in China, it is a matter of special gratitude that the attendance at Shanghai was so large. It manifests that there was a very great interest felt in the Conference when, notwithstanding the distances and the expense of travel, so many assembled to spend a season in special conference and prayer for the conversion of China.
I feel that I express the feelings of all who had the privilege of attending these meetings that they consider it a matter of. very special gratitude and thanksgiving that they were privileged to attend these solemn and delightful conventions of God's people.
There are some things that may be specially considered. During the last forty years there has been a diversity of views among the missionaries, which has led to the use of different versions of the Bible. These versions have differed not only in style but to some extent in meaning. Plans were arranged and agreed upon to prepare a standard version of the Bible to be used by aU the missionaries. This version is to be prepared in three styles-the high classical style, the simple book style, and the Mandarin colloquial style-so as to be suited to all classes of the people; but the meaning is to be the same in all the styles. Thus the division of forty years is healed, to the praise of God's grace.
It has long been felt that something was needed to help the people generally to read the Christian Scriptures intelligibly. This they were not able to do because of their ignorance of the history, the manners and customs of the Jews, ·and of the geography and religion of Judea. The Conference was able, after much consulting and prayer, to adopt a plan for the preparation of an annotated Bible which will give an explanation of names of persons and places, of countries and manners and modes of worship, which are so often referred to in the sacred text. The new version will be used when these annotations are printed in a complete volume.
Thus one great work of the Conference was to arrange plans for giving the Word of God to this multitudinous people in the form which will help them to understand its precious doctrines and the way of salvation as made known in it.
It was most interesting to sit from day to day in this company of missionaries and hear their testimonies to the goodness of God and their experience in the work. There were present persons of every age and sex. The men of gray beards and the youth-men and maidens-just commencing their life- work were there. There were those who were engaged in every kind of mis- sionary work-the preachers, the teachers, the colporteurs, the students, the translators and writers of books, the medical missionaries and the visitors from house to house. They came from far in the interior and from the coast ports. They had every variety of experience-of disappointment and success, of sick- ness and health, of danger and safety, of opposition and of quiet, undisturbed work; and they all wore the same joyful and hopeful expression of counte- nance and joined in singing the same songs of thanksgiving and praise. They all said "The Lord is our helper," "The Lord is our shield and our buckler," "Rejoice and be glad in the Lord," "In the name of the Lord we lift our ban- ners." Not a despondent word or utterance was heard in all those days.
After these forty years of experience of missionary labors and trials, con- flicts and hindrances, hear them as they unite, as with one voice and·heart, in the appeal to Christendom to send forth one tlwusand missionaries in the next five years. Will the Israel of God hear this call from the men and women who. are in the forefront of the battle-who, with full knowledge of the sacrifices, labors and toils which the service demands, send forth this call to their fellow- Christians of all lands, saying, "This is a great warfare in which we are ~n gaged. Our numbers are utterly insufficient for the great work before us. Send us men; send us strong, able, mighty men. Send us medical men and women. Send us those who can 'endure hardness as good soldiers of Jesus Christl' Send us those who will have the spirit of love and compassion to win souls for Christ. Send us men and women full of faith and the Holy Ghost."
Blood-bought followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, will you hear this call of 430 of your fellow-Christians, who represent the 1,285 Christian workers in China, saying, "Come up to the help of the Lord against the mighty!" All can have a part. All can do something. Some can furnish the means to send forth the laborers. All can pray the Lord of the harvest to send forth laborers unto the great harvest in China, with its 350 millions of people. Parents can encourage their sons and daughters to give themselves to the blessed work of faith and toil. Young men and women in Christian homes, in our colleges and universities, will there not be one glorious response from many hearts under the constraining influence of the love of Jesus, saying, "Here are we; send us! We long to have a part in the laborsandpatienee of the kingdom of God."
As I sat in the midst of that assembly, which filled the whole house in which we assembled, and looked back over the forty-six years of my missionary experience, my heart was filled with joy and gratitude for what mine eyes have seen of God's wondrous work in this land. I had seen the day of small things. At the time of my arrival in China, in. 1844, there were some thirty missionaries rflsident at four cities and the British possession of Hong Kong. There were some six native converts and two native ·assistants. Now" the little one has become a thousand and the small one a strong nation. " Scattered abroad in all parts of this widely-extended land 1,285 missionaries are making known the glorious gospel of the blessed God. They are assisted by 209 ordained native ministers and 1,260 unordained native helpers. There are 520 organized churches, with 37,287 members gathered into them professing the gospel; 16,816 pupils are gathered into Christian schools, where they are instructed in the knowledge and love of God. How thankfully I exclaimed, "Behold what God hath wrought!"
As I cast my thoughts on the future I could only think, "What will be
TRANSLATIONS FROM .FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS
seen by those who are privileged to see the results of another forty years of missionary work in China?" The workers continue the work with wonderful facilities and opportunities of. every kind. They may expect a yet more abundant outpouring of the Spirit of God. As I stood before that large company of brethren and sisters, and looked into their earnest faces, and saw their countenances beaming with joy and anticipated success, I could only say, "God bless you;" "The Lord be with you;" " The Lord give you to see the glorious triumphs of His grace." For" this handful of corn in the earth upon the top of the mountains the fruit thereof shall shake like Lebanon." The deep feeling of my heart was and is, " Oh, that I were young again to commence work in China with all these favoring circumstances and this strong band of workers and the mighty outpouring of God's Spirit."
In this review of the work and the results of labor in China, I could not but recall the scenes of labor and trial, the disappointed hopes and expectations, that have been met with by the many dear friends and fellow-laborers ;who have finished their toils and labors and gone to their glorious reward and to receive their crown of life and the welcome plaudit "Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy Lord." Some of them finished their course in early youth; some fell while still in the full strength of middle age: and some when they had filled up the measure of three-score years in labors for Christ. But they all have gone to their glorious reward and to unite with "that multitude which no man can number, gathered out of every nation and every people," to cast their crowns at the feet of their adorable Redeemer, and to cry" 'Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to be exalted thus!" While recalling those loved departed ones how blessed is the assurance that for such" to die is gain "-infinite gain-however great the loss may be to the Church on earth.
The Church may well count the cost of winning China for Christ. This populous empire will not be converted to Christ" except by much prayer and fasting." It will cost the sacrifice of many more lives and the expenditure of much labor and toil and sacrifice and money. It is a stronghold of the powers of darkness. But our encouragement is this: "Greater are they that are with us than they that are against us." " It is not by might, nor by power, but my Spirit, saith the Lord."
Let parents then rejoice to consecrate to this service the choicest of their sons and daughters. Count it all joy when you hear of conflict and trial on the high places of the field. Rejoice when any shall be honored to receive the martyr's crown. "Go forth in the strength of the Lord." "Trust in the mighty God of Jacob." Follow where the great Captain of our Salvation leads His people to the redemption of a lost world, and "Sure as God's truth shall last, To Zion shall be given The brightest glories earth can yield, And brighter bliss of heaven."
TRANSLATIONS FROM FOREIGN MISSIONARY PERIODICALS.
BY REV. CHARLES C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, MASS.
[INTRoDUCTOY NOTE.-Dear Dr. Sherwood: One of the brethren connected with the Jout"nal des Missions Evangeliques, in a very courteous and brotherly letter, has taken exception to my comparison of French Protestants with German Protestants, as less courageous in criticism of the colouial acts of their Government. He points out that, so small a minority as they are against a hostile majority, a certain degree of circumspection may well be pardoned them, and that while Saxons may charge them with Gallic arrogance, Frenchmen charge them with being sold to the Protestant England and Germany. He assures me, moreover, that various Protestant publications of France which I do not see have expressed themselves energetically concerning French aggressions upon English missions in the South Seas. I am sorry if I have given any just occasion to my Reformed brethren ir: France to complain that I do not sufficiently distinguish them from their Ultramontane and atheistic countrymen, under whom the wise providence of God permits them at present to be constrained. May en- largement come to them soon, by such a blessing on the P.rotestants and Reformed Catholics of France as shall bring this great nation into line with our noblest e/l'orts.-CHARLES C. STARBUCK.] The Dansk Missionsblad for December, 1889, speaking of the first mission- ary account rendered by Paul and Barnabas to the Church of Antioch, "how God had opened to the Gentiles a door of faith," remarks: "When we also look out over the missionary field and observe what comes to pass in east and west and south, in China and India and Africa, we, too, may say the same as Paul and Barnabas, when they returned from the first mis- sionary journey: God hath opened to the Gentiles a door of faith. This is the great alteration, which has come to pass in the last generation, that where there previously were locked doors there are now opened doors for the mes- sengers of the gospel. And we know also that missions are God's work by the fact that God is now opening the door of the world so that missions may be carried on. The work can only be done bysuch men as the Lord calls and qualifies, and in those places where God opens the door for the Word. Weare absolutely not to decide where missions are to be carried on, but to observe where the Lord points out the way. And as there is a sinful indifference to the holy work of missions, so there is also a sinful impatience that will insist on going whither the Lord has not sent His messengers, and has n0t pointed out the way by opening the door. Many noble powers have been sacrificed, many a self-sacrificing effort has been wasted. because Christians would insist on in- truding where the Lord had not opened the door.
" . . . When the first missionary who brought the pure gospel to India, Bartholomew Ziezenbalg, was sent out from Denmark, the voyage from Copen- haben to Tranquebert took up forty weeks. Now it requires forty days. Letters now go from London to Calcutta in from twenty-one to twenty-eight days. Formerly they could be sent, by sailing ship, once in a summer; and if the summer passed without an opportunity, or the ship was wrecked, two or three years might pass before the missionaries had answers to their letters. And what such difficulty of communication signified Ziegenbalg experienced when he had incurred the Danish governor's enmity. All King Frederick the Fourth's personal regard and sincere assurances of protection did not secure him from lyinf half a year in prison in the distant dependency. Nor was he released unti he had signed an agreement that he would make no complaint to the King. And if we turn to the West, as late as 1841, a missionary went from England to Canada. in order from there to reach his station in the interior of British America. But he found no opportunity in Canada and was obliged to return to England, and from there, the next summer, to go around by the glacial waters of the North Atlantic and Hudson'" Bay to York, and from there by boat, to journey up the river 170 miles to Winnipeg. At present a railway journey of two or three days from Canada to Winnipeg accomplishes what then required that long and terrible circuit. And when, three years ago, this same missionary died at his station, his death was known the next day by telegraph in England."
-The BlarI's brief statement of the Lakes missions in Africa may serve afresh to remind us that, according to the law of missionary beginnings, these have not been working fruitlessly-44 stations, 121 missionaries, 1,800 baptisms.
-India has become almost wholly British, but the missionary interests of Denmark are still confined to it. Their two fields are: the Tamils in South India; the Santals in Northeast India. Danes were the first Protestant mis- sionaries in India, and Danes received, sheltered and befriended -the first Eng- lish missionaries in India against the persecutions of their own countrymen.
All, therefore, that has been done by Englishmen and Americans for the cause of Christ in India owes a tribute of acknowledgment to our Danish kindred.
And, so far as we can call to mind, the first Protestant king who was, dis- tinctly and definitely, a nursing father of Christian missions, was the King of Denmark.
-In reference to India, however, the Blad remarks,that although the coun- try (excepting here and there some native State) has been unlocked since 1813, the home has only been unlocked since the Zenana Mission was formed, above all, among the Hindus proper, the Aryans of the northern plains. The Tamils of the south, though Hinduized, are not Hindus in race, and do not seclude their women very jealously, nor do the aboriginal hill-tribe of the Santals.
M. Coillard, whom, with all the French missionaries on the Zambesi, the heathen king Lewanika, of the Barotsis, greatly reverences, writes: " While I intercede with God for this bloodthirsty people, it is also my duty to testify publicly against a warlike undertaking which Lewanika himself had called an expedition for plunder, and so I do. No one shall be allowed to mis- understand our position in this matter. Lewanika, full of attention to his mis- sionaries. had sent to our brethren and sisters at Sherheke six head of the cattle won by the foray, and had courteously designated two of them as being ex- pressly intended for' his daughter,' Madame Jeanmairet. M. Jeanmairet, how- ever, in a letter, in which he warmly expressed his gratitude, set forth to the king, with courteous dignity, the reasons why neither he nor his fellow-laborers could accept any part of this booty. Can it be that Lewanika had expected this refusal? At all events he contented himself with the answer, 'I under- stand. But then what have the Barotsis, anyhow, which they have not ac- quired by plunder?'"
-The atheism of nominal Christians and Christian governments in heathen <countries appears to have reached its extreme in the Dutch East Indies. What the Macedonier says, however, in the following extract, is sufficientlyapplicable to other nations: "The governor of the Island of Cyprus, Sergins Paulus, an intelligent and thoughtful man, was very desirous to hear the new message of the gospel from the apostles. But there was found at his court a Jew, Barjesus by name, who also flaunted the Arabian appellation of Elymas, i.e., the Wise, the Magus, and who sought to hold back the pro-consul from the faith. Him- self unwilling to enter, he wished also to bar the entrance against others. And when our ~'eaders consider that Elymas was not a heathen but a descendant of the chosen people, who, just like Barnabas and Saul themselves, had been circumcised the eighth day, it will then be superfluous to remark, that we must look for the sin of Elymas not only among heathens and Mohammedans, but also, and indeed chiefly, among such as with us bear the name of Christ, and just like ourselves have been baptized in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. " And inasmuch as we meet with the sin of Elymas in a Jew in a heathen island, I venture to express it as my conviction, that the sin of Elymas finds a far more fruitful soil in our East In~ian colonies than in a Christian society. The opposition which we missionaries experience from our countrymen in our colonies may, in form and manifestation, be somewhat different from that which the apostle Paul experienced from Elymas in heathen Cyprus, but in essence it is one. It is.the sin of Elymas-personal unwillingness to enter in and solicitude to hold others back from entering in. And as with Paul, so with us; it meets each of us at the beginning of his missionary life, and in some form or other accompanies him to its close.
. "If European colonists or officials had been Christians in truth, and had let their light shine before men, they would then have been a bridge jor, whereas now they are too often a dam against, the diffusion of Christianity. They do this, it is true, more negatively than, like Elymas, positively, but with a like temper and a like result. They poison the whole atmosphere of influence by their indifferent, ungodly and immoral lives. It is no wonder, therefore, that we missionaries, even with the most strenuous exertion, do not succeed in establishing flourishing native churches in places where there are many Euro- peans."
-It appears that in the Dutch East Indies most of the whites have actually sunk to the level of heathen superstition, making offerings to propitiate evit spirits, and avoiding anxiously the spots which the natives declare to be haunted by them. Having no faith in Christ, they, like the same class among us, easily b~ome worshippers of ghosts. "ContelTIning the miracles of the gospel, as something too childish for the enlightenment of the nineteenth century, they have fallen back into the very darkness of heathenism. If a missionary talks with a Javanese or a Chinese about the Christian religion, he may expect to be asked, 'Have the Hollanders also a religion?' Verily, the Elymas of the nine– teenth century is no less a child of the devil than the Elymas of the apostolic age."
-The despotic prohibition, by the Russian Government, of every manner of- missionary activity, abroad or at home, of the Protestant churches of Russia, cuts off about $8,000 annually from the revenues of the Leipsic Society, an important amount for a continental society. The rising missions of the Finnish Church are not smitten by this blow, as Finland is not a part of Russia, but a grand duchy of which the Czar is grand duke. It has a constitutional govern- ment and a legislature; Swedish, not Russian, is the official language; the Lutheran is the established Church. This prohibition, therefore, does not apply to Finland, but applies to all the rest of the Czar's dominions, at least throughout the Russias. The Allgemeine Missivns-Zeitschrift well !lays: "But all un– righteousness cry to God, and at last comes His hour to set them home. Mean- while, may He grant to the oppressed the courage of confessors, faithfulness to· their faith, perseverance in prayer and patience." .
Persecution along the Baltic and fiendish cruelty in Siberia-the orthodox Czar seems to be doing his best to render antichristsuperfluous by anticipating- him.
-The German Government has given a singular statement, namely, that in its East African possessions it does not undertake to protect either whites or' natives against the attacks of natives, but merely against encroachments of other Colonial Powers! The German dominion in East Africa, according to the showing of the German missionaries, appears as yet to have wrought a great deal of harm and very little good to missions. The German missionaries who are within the English" sphere of influence" express a lively satisfaction in their good fortune.
-The Allgemeine Missions-Zeitschrift remarks that in the present inflamed condition of the native mind in East Africa it ought to be regarded as success enough that none of the stations have been destroyed except Pugu, German Catholic, and Dar es Salam, German Protestant. Besides the hatred borne to· these as being German, they had actually provoked q;estruction by consenting to receive great numbers of fugitive slaves without any adequate provision for their protection. "In the midst of all this tumult and battle-cry a work has been accomplished in stillness which is of the very greatest significance for the evangelization of East Africa: the translation of the whole Bible into Suahili;essentially the work of Bishop Steere and his Archdeacon Hodgson, of the Universities' Mission. "
-The BerlinSociety has in North Transvaal 11 stations, with 2,300 baptized Christians. There the recent discoveries of gold, with the rushing in of the whites~ are threatening a critical time. Pray that a new account of good destroyed may not be laid up against our race. In Transvaal the Berlin Society has in all 11,000,baptized Christians. The most important station is Botchabelo, with 2,310 baptized Christians. The law forbidding more than five native fam– ilies to reside on one estate has been suspended by the Transvaal go,ernment,. and it is to be hoped it will be repealed. It would be fatal to the missions in that Republic.
-The Hermannsburg Mission in Transvaal has in the last year baptized 1,390, raising the number of Bechuana converts to 13,969. In Zulu land the progress of the Hermannsburgers is much slower, the whole number of baptized con- verts here being now 1,618.
-The number of Basuto Christians in the French mission has lately risen from 6,000 to nearly 10,000. The station of Morija alone has received an ac- cession of 514 communicants. The scholars now number 5,314. The Industrial School has been so successful that at the Grahamstown Exposition the Basutos took the prize above all other South African tribes.
-Unhappily the Roman Catholic-we may here fairly say, the Romanist- counter-mission is more hostile than ever. "It patronizes all mannerof demor- alizing heathen customs, which the Protestant mission had 'proscribed' in its congregations, e. g., the purchase of wives. 'Weare, so to speak, assailed in our moral position.' … A continually recurring proof that Ultramontanism is ready to ally itself even with heathenism, if only it can harm the Evangelical Church. But it only harms itself and its own moral reputatiQn." This consideration makes it of vital significance whether here at home Romanism shall poison Catholicism, or Catholicism shall reduce Romanism to its lowest terms. The Baltimore archbishopric seems to stand for the latter effort; the New York archbishopric for the former.
-The Scandinavian Missionary Conference which was held in ChristiOOlia, Norway, last July, was largely attended, having 552 delegates in attendance- 105 Danish, 61 Swedish, and one Finnish, leaving, it appears, 386 for Norway. An animated description of it is given in the Dansk Missionsblad. The three Scandinavian kingdoms together send out over 100 missionaries, and contribute 1,000,000 crowns yearly, or about $250,000. The conflict of missionary effort is greatest in Sweden, where there are 9 societies, less in Denmark with 4, least in Norway with 2. As entire consolidation is not practicable, it was urged that. different Scandinavian societies, working in the same heathen country, shoul" at least strive after a common liturgy, Bible translation, etc. The next Scandinavian missionary conference is appointed to be in 1893 in Copenhagen.
-To us the name of "Hottentot" has by old habit come to signify the extreme of human degradation. But the Missions-Blatt of the Moravian Brethren for February gives a narrative which presents them, as Christians, in a very different light. It seems that in 1810, a. wealthy South African Boer, or farmer of Dutch descent, named Burgers, besides his extensive farms, bought at some distance frem them, in a mountain basin, a pasturing ground of a number of hundred acres which became his favorite resort, while his farms. were managed by his sons After nearly thirty years of pastoral contentment in this grassy and wellwatered valley, he found, in 1838, that he was likely soon to be left alone in it, as his slaves, whose hour of freedom dawned with the first of August in that year, had been so discouraged by him in their religious longings that they would be sure to leave him for some missionary station. He therefore took a great resolve. Surrendering his farms to his sons, he bequeathed his broad pasture-lands, or rather the usufruct of them, to six Hottentot slaves, on condition that they should care for him till his death. When the last of the six should be dead, the lands were to be divided among their children. They immediately established at Biirgerskloof a flourishing Moravian station named Goedvorwacht. But it was surrounded by wealthy Boers, worshippers of Mammon and enemies of Christ. These, conscious how plethoric their purses.
GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE
were and how lean those of the missionaries, waited grimly year after year, till the last of the six Hottentots, who had been so suddenly raised from the depths into the rank of landed proprietors, should have passed away, nothing doubting but that with their long purses they could then buy up Biirgerskloof from all competitors, and scatter all godliness to the winds. Year after year passed, and one after another of, the six dropped away, until the whole continuance of the station, as it appeared, hung on the life of one frail old Hottentot woman, fitly named Christiana. The hearts of the missionaries grew heavy. But for many years "many were engaged in building up an invisible wall of prayer around Biirgerskloof." At last, December 28, 1888, old Christiana fell asleep, 92 years old. There were now thirteen heirs, all poor Hottentots, some a good deal in debt, to whom the Boers around stood ready to pay twice, thrice, nay five times as much for the rich pasture land, with its plentiful springs, as the mission had any hope of raising. And the courts decided that if one of the thirteen insisted on it, the whole must be put up to auction, in which case the Boers were sure of the result. It must be remembered that the Moravians claim no authority over the property of their members. They can advise but they cannot control, either civilly or ecclesiastically. Not one of the thirteen, however, could be moved to sell the land to anyone ,except the mission, for the moderate sum of £750, which it could afford to give.
And thus Goedvorwacht,through Christ's providence and His humble people's faithfulness, fulfilled its name of Well-guarded, and Mammon retired discomfited. In the various transactions connected with the final settlement, involving the fate of two stations, the Brethren remark that the Hottentots have displayed a dignity, a self-restraint, a submission to Providence, a preference of spiritual to temporal interests, which places them not among the lowest but among the highest of their converts. They contrast their behavior, greatly to their advantage, with the noisy intractableness which the Eskimo Christians sometimes exhibit.
H.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions.
The following is an outline of the pledge. The pamphlet may be ob- Volunteer Pledge recently issued as tained of Walter J. Clarke, 50 East No.3 of Student Volunteer Series: 70th street, New York city, at three I.-The necessity for a pledge.-l. cents per copy; $1.50 per hundred, To secure decisions. 2. To secure de- prepaid. Mr. Robert P. Wilder has ,cisions early in the course of study. treated his subject in an exhaustive 3. To confirm those who have de- and masterful manner. His style is ·cided. 11.-What shall the pledge condensed,vigorous and pre-eminently be? IlL-The meaning of the pledge: clear. The little book is stamped by a " We are fully determined to become spirit of consecration and prayer. We foreign missionaries unless God block are reminded that "spiritual things the way." IV.-The use of the pledge. are spiritually discerned;" hence how V.-Who shall use the pledge? neccessary it is for one to be in prayer The necessity for understanding the to understand the messages which the pledge cannot be too strongly empha- Lord entrusts to some of His children.
sized. "It is the keystone to the arch The keynote of the Northfield Con- of the Student Volunteer Movement ference this year was struck early in for Foreign Missions." Volunteers the session. On Sunday, June 29, cannot be effective and successful Major Whittle preached on " Foreign .
workers, it may be fairly said, unless Missions." Scarcely a speaker during they understand an(~ hf'liE've in the the ten days which followed failed to recognize the fact that personal pernicious, and that those numbers responsibility in regard to the evan- already obtained (the 5,000) represent gelization of this blood-bought world only a small percentage of the men was the problem uppermost in the who intend actually to go into the minds of the majority of the men foreign work! Practical common present. Rev. George F. PenteCost, sense demands an estimate if our D.D., awakened interest in the pro- Lord's last command is to be obeyed posed" Siege of Bombay," an enter- in its entirety. Fellow-students, it is prise in which he will be assisted by our privilege to pray that men shall be men and women both from England faithful. We have a right, the conand America. Mr. D. L. Moody de- dition having been realized, to claim voted an hour one Sunday afternoon fulfillment of the promise:" Being to the subject of" Preparation," ad- confident of this very thing, that he dressed to missionary candidates. One which hath begun a good work in of the most vigorous and stirring ad- you will perform it until the day of dresses ever heard in Northfield was Jesus Christ." delivered on " Round Top" by Dr. A. T. Pierson. With great earnestness It is possible to evangelize the world and power he bore in upon the hearts in this generation. Let us work as of men his own deep conviction that though we believed it, absolutely sure the world can be evangelized in this that the endeavor is well pleasing to generation. our Lord and Master.
Alll)ther brief address is still ringing Foreign missionary meetings were in my ears, the substance of which held on Round Top Hill every other was as follows: "Fellows, we have no evening during the session. These record that a human being has ever meetings were conducted by Mr. Cosbeen converted save through the in- sam, who is successor to Mr. R. E. strumentality of some other individual. Speer, traveling secretary. On Wed- If this world is to have Christ preached nesday evening, July 9, a little meetto it missionaries must be, in a sense, ing of marked character was held on man-made missionaries. There are "Round Top." Mr. Dankowt was the about 85 volunteers here present and first speaker introduced-a gentleman 300 Christians on the grounds. Seize in charge of a medical school in New the opportunity! Strive by personal York city, established for the especial effort to persuade these 300 men to, benefit of men who intend to be forenter this missionary service. It is eign missionaries. He first called atnot hard to win men to this work. tention to the fact that many of the Let each volunteer' strive each day men and women who have gone into during this Conference to persuade a heathen lands have come back to study single man to enlist in foreign work." medicine. "It is barbarous," he went on to say, "that the Christian Church Has not this exhortation a possible should send out people to be removed wider application? Let us turn for a hundreds of miles, from medical assismoment from the Conference to a tance and without some knowledge of wider student body. On a conserva- surgery and medical practice." tive estimate there are 250 institutions, each one of which contains on an Mr. De Forrest, of Japan, underaverage 1() volunteers. Is it unreason- took to answer the question" What able to plead that each one of these 2,500 kind of men are wanted in Japan?" strived to secure each month (estimat- and said: "We don't want people ing nine college months in a year) a with quarrelsome dispositions; but we new volunteer: 10+250+9 recruits= do want men who can get along with 22,500 recruits. The objection is urged each other. We want men that can that this passion for mere numbers is love fellows with different color of skin. Furthermore, we want men with tact and discrimination; men held as he told about its geography who know when to talk about the and the people, "a little shorter in natural and when to talk about the stature than we are," those among .supernatural. " whom he intended to spend his life• He said: "Of the religion of these Mr. Laffin, who has already spent a people, Hinduism is like a glacier that little time in Africa, and who expects comes down the mountain and ab- to return, followed Mr. De Forrest. sorbs everything" in its way. Bud- His face was radiant and his manner dhism is beautiful externally. When touched by enthusiasm. "When men I contemplate this intricate and fasci- {)r women draw down their faces and nating system of religion I am retell me how sorry they are that I am minded of the appearance of the going to benighted Africa, I tell them beautiful wall about the city in which speedily, 'I don't want your sympa- I once lived-a wall pierced by winthy. Keep it.' No country in this dows and crowned by graceful minawide world is more receptive to the rets-and when the sunlight streamed gospel than Africa. I do not know a upon it it glowed and sparkled as village or a town where they won't re- though set with jewels; but underceive a missionary. One church of neath that wall, at its foundation, was 100 to 120 members supports six evan- rottenness, filth and decay." gelists. Can you equal that record in this country? With the native Afri- Spacewill not admitof telling about can God's Word settles any point of obstacles and triumphs of missionary dispute." life in India, nor of the crisis. No other man has been so thoroughly Mr. Griswold, who intends to go to identified with the missionary upris- Northern India, encouraged the men ing as Mr. Wilder-perhaps no other still remaining at home to shine as student in America is better known scholars, pointing to the great need, among Christians, and more deeply both in India and China, of men fitted loved. And so the personal farewell to train native teachers. words, simple and earnest, found a quick and glowing response in the When Mr. Griswold finished the hearts of men that night: "I want to twilight was deepening-it would soon see many here in India some day. be time for the eight o'clock bell to I want you to pray for me and my ring. Mr. Robert P. Wilder was an- dear India." The notes of the violin nounced"to say a few words in closing. could not have been sweeter or more " He expected to go out to India be- penetrating than these last words. fore another year had elapsed," he " Blest be the tie" . . . " Like to said. At his opening sentence every- that above." Never was the old body seemed to be listening expec- hymn sung with more spontaneity and tantly. It was very still: no sound spirit. was heard except the rising wind and the flap now and then in the breeze of MAX WOOD MOORHEAD. a map of Kolhapur which two friends Notes on India, by Rev. James Johnston, Bolton, England. -Indian Church Aid Association.- houses and engineering enterprises. This auxiliary, which aims at the The success of missionary work among Christianization of Englishmen resi- the natives depends largely on the lives dent in India, is growing in favor. It of Europeans living among them. is estimated that some 60,000 British Among the members of the Church of soldiers are stationed in different parts England in Great Britain the signifiof the empire, besictes large numbers cance of these claims is being reaof Englishmen engagep. in its civic ad- ized and enforced. One of the advoministration and in the commercial cates in Manchester Cathedral denied -that missionary propagation in India portance to the whole future of miswas a failure. It might be asserted sions." by travelers through districts where it was difficult to plant Christianity, – Female Education in India.-To -or where Englishmen congregated in read of an Indian princess enlarging large numbers, whose lives neutral- upon the advantages of education to. ,ized rather than sustained the mission- her less favored sex, is a notable sign ary's message. Upon Englishmen in of the times in Hindustan. Not long particular lay the solemn responsi- ago, in the ancient town of Gondal, in bilityof making reparation for the ne- the Bombay Presidency, at the Mongglect and failure of their fellow-coun- hiba School for Girls, her Highness trymen inpastyears to live and preach the Rani Nankooverba distributed the -Christ to India's idolatrous millions. prizes. The occasion was extra jubil- ant because an ex-student, Ladlubai, -DevelopmentofMedical Missions. a child of poverty-suffering parents, -Every year bears evidence to the ad- was first in the examination at the vance of medical missions among the Rajkote Female College, and had releading missionary societies which ceived an excellent appointment as supply an increasing number of nurses the head-mistress of the Porbandar and doctors. At the headquarters of Girls' School. This and similar matthe Zenana Medical College in London, ters gave the lady speakers some instudentsare trained, andsubsequently, spiring thoughts on the accompaniin connection with one or other of the ments and possibilities of education. great societies, proceed on service to "My sisters" were invited to let the the East. Two of the present students knowledge which they had obtained are Syrian girls, who, at the comple- teach them "how to win the husband's tion of their training, will return to heart, how to be always agreeable to their own land as the first Syrian his wishes, how to pa~ respects to the ladies to practice medicine. India, father-in-law and mother-in-law, as naturally, has most attention. The well as to the father and mother, how devoted Miss Hewlett, a fervent helper to behave towards juniors, elders, and on behalf of her Indian sisters at Am- equals, how to keep the house clean, ritsar, writes of its efficiency, and of how to acquire proficiency in cookery, Miss Bose, the first native Christian how to spend their leisure in reading, lady to be medically educated in Eng- sewing, 01' needlework." The Rani land, and now in charge of an exten- urged the benefits of higher education sive dispensary at Taran-Taran. From and the duty of parents teaching Mr. W. S. Caine, M.P., whose free their daughters, and finally closing criticism of mission work created a with the exhortation that girls should storm some mgnths ago, comes an elo- know something of the women who quent tribute. He says: "I believe in many lands were renowned "for for medical work among Indian wo- knowledge and learning and for varimen the three great essentials are a ous virtues. Some are celebrated for knowledge of nursing, of dispensing, their scholarship; some for their purand of maternity. The lady who has_ ity of conduct; some for courage, formastered these things is fit for service titude, enterprise; some, again, for in India. I may tell you that it is modesty or presence of mind; some officially stated that one of the best for devotion to their husbands; while dispensaries in the northwest provin- some have been remarkable for their ces is under the charge of one of your piety; and others for their excellence former students. In whatever aspect in household management." I view the work of the Zenana Medical College, I become the more convinced Generous sympathy is asked for that it is of the highest value and im- ~nss Cornelia Sorabji, the Indian young lady whose university career at the Deccan College, Poona, was so tion of a woman's self-denying love, distinguished. At Somerville Hall in taking the medical supervision of she is now reading literature to ob- the Ambala 1sylum, which shows. tain the place at Oxford equivalent, marked improvement in the condition in the case of a woman, to a degree. of the patients since she accepted the Unable to meet her expenses during charge. the next two years' study at Oxford, her special friend, Lady Hobhouse, -Zenana Missions-English Wes- has opened a fund on her behalf. It leyan Women's Auxiliary.-In speak- is felt that in extending support to ing of "the condition of women in Miss Sorabji a powerful impetus will India," Mrs. Sutcliffe, an earnest be given to the cause of Indian edu- lady missionary, alluded to the cation, to which this gifted scholar 120,000,000 women of the country, purposes devoting herself on return- 40,000,000 of whom were in zenanas ing to her native land. and 21,000,000 widows. Of these latter 80,000 were children between the ages -Lepers in India.-For 15 years the of six and sixteen years. Methodist Edinburgh Mission to Lepers has been Women's Mission Work in India had combating the evils which attend this achieved much success since its originterrible scourge. Along with its pri- ation in 1858, though even to-day there mary work to evangelize. the agents is only one missionary to about each of the society have alleviated the mis- million of the population. It is aperies of the lepers. A bill has been parent that the foundations of heathdrafted especially affecting the va- enism were planted in the zenanas. grant classes. "Retreats" are proposed in which the sexes will be separated. -Church of England Zenana So- The society's secretary goes to India ciety.-At the annual meeting held in to make arrangements for the erection May it was reported that at home there of asylums for adults. These are sore- has been healthy development in the ly needed for the lepers' comfort and number of workers, while in the field the protection of the natives from the there are 114 missionaries, with 62 aswandering lepers who spread the dis- sistants, and 577 native Bible-women ease. In considering the world of woe and teachers. The deathof Dr. Fanny represented by 500,000 lepers, the Butler was mourned over. It is noted most sorrowful problem is the case of that everywhere there has been dethe children. A leading authority on voted labor and a call for medical the question, Dr. Monro, states, "Lep- mission work, while in school work rosy has never been proved to be and zenana visitation there has been transmitted without contact, is not distinct encouragement. In funds constantly transmitted even when there is deficit of £1,743, although the both parents are diseased, and seldom income-£25,817-is £951, in advance affects more than one child in a fam- of the highest amount previously reily." Sir Morell Mackenzie says that ceived. The increased expenditure, hereditary contamination has scarcely it is gratifying to know, has not been any existence. Nevertheless, as early in the home but in the foreign departas possible it is important to remove ment, the fact being that, while in children from the risk of contagion, the ten years of the society's 'existence and in this direction the Edinburgh the income has barely doubled, stasociety is exerting itself. It has tions have trebled and workers have one home and branches for the lit- quadrupled. A worker of seventeen tle ones in connection with its three years' serv~ce, Mrs. Ellwood, spoke asylums. Let the name of Miss Carle- of the great subjection of the ton, M. B., an American lady doctor, Hindu women, and only could be universally honored as an illustra- their Christianization be effected by women. Latterly, zenana work has made rapid strides. Everywhere the This fam.ous field, scattered .over the Khassia Hills and s.ometimes spoken .of toilers were welc.omed with .open as the Assam missi.on, is the crown .of the society's harvest abr.oad. N.o doors. Net l.ong since the native written language existed in Assam at the- inaugurati.on .of the missi.on. w.omen shrank fr.om their missi.onary Meanwhile, the missi.onaries have translated the scriptures into the sisters. Mrs. MacDonald, fr.om South- tongue .of the people. A m.onthly periodical was issued in the native ern India, referred in gl.owing terms speech fer the services.of the churches and musical classes .opened .on the to zenana devel.opments. The sowers, tonic sol-fa system, which the natives much appreciated. The Khassian English ladies, last year increased Missi.on was being strengthened in the directi.on.of medical attendance and fr.om 100 to 117, mere than 20 .of schools fer higher educati.on. By the celebration.of the jubilee.of this miswh.om were h.on.orary missi.onaries si.on in 1889, the collecti.ons had been augmented. Preaching stati.ons numwh.o did net take a single penny fr.om bered 163, candidates fer membership, 934; day sch.olars, 4,134. Reinf.orcethe funds. In the same period the ments are wanted fer Khassia Hills, Jaintia, and als.o fer Brittany. The Bible w.omen's 1'.011 had risen fr.om 139 m.ovement to raise £20,000 in celebrat- ing the jubilee.of the Welsh Calvinto 141, the missi.on h.ouses fr.om 2,275 istic F.oreign Missi.ons, fer the mere ef- fective pursuit .of missi.on w.ork and to3,321, schools fr.om 177 t.o 183, and training .of native missi.onaries, has resulted in half the am.ount being the sch.olars fr.om 6,686 to 7,411. raised and its probable full realizati.on next year,.on behalf .of which wide- Truly the zeal.of the society's w.orkers spread interest exists.
indicated real, her.oic, c.onsecrated de- v.otion.
-Welsh Calvinistic Methodist For- eign Missions.-Meeting in Liverpool in May, this sturdy branch .of the Church .of Christ was largely c.on- cerned with its f.oreign w.ork. Pass- ing fr.om its evangelical labors in Brittany, special attenti.on was cen- tered in the Indian missi.ons. By com- paring the figures with th.ose.of 1861, the f.oll.owing results were tabulated: Churches. Communicants. Congregations.
1861, 6 158 500 lSi1, 16 514 900 1881, 36 2,600 3,326 1889, 78 6,054 8,424 Africa. between England and Germany, and we hope that when a like arrangement is concluded be- THE ANGLO-GERMAN AGREEMENT. tween England and Portugal we shall have- [This is an event of great importsnce in its matters as satisfactorily settled on the coast; bearings on the future of Africa, especially in of Lake Nyassa. the matter of missions. At ilrst English sen· tlment severely criticised some of its provis- The boundary between the English and Gerions, especially the ceding of Heligoland to man "spheres of influence" is to be what is: Germany. But reilections and a full under- known as ''the Stevenson Road," and may bestanding of the details has wrought a change, indicated by a line drawn from the mouth of and the feeling now is one of satisfaction. The the Bokura river on the western shore of Lakepoint of greatest importance is the acknowl- Nyassa, to the mouth of the Kilambo river 011 edgment of the English protectorate over the south shore of Lake Tanganyika. Ger- Zanzibar and Pemba. For Zanzibar is not many is to retain the country north of the line, only the largest city on the African shores and to the Congo Free State, and along theof the Indian Ocean, and the headquarters of ilrstdegree of south latitude, a divergence of commerce, government, and language, butthe the boundary being conceded around the west– base of extensive mission work. As England ern shore of Nyanza, so as to include Mt. has always been foremost in putting down the M'Fumbiro in the British "sphere," and makeslave trade, the practical control of the policy the frontier agree, as nearly as possible, with. of the Zanzibar Government will greatly facilitate this part of her work. Looking at it, Stanley's treaties. therefore, from the missionary and philan- The all-importsnt feature of the adjustment thropic point of view, we have every reason to feel satisfied with the settlement arrived at Is that it throws almost the entire responsi- bility of the continuance of the slave trade 011 England and Germany. Zamibar Is a great. slave mart; England will now control the being made for the suppression of the island. Droves of slaves are annually driven maritime slave trade as well as for the from the great lakes across the equatorial extirpation of slavery itself."
regions to Gondokoro and down the river to The Universities' Mission, which has Khartoum and across to the Red Sea. Eng- made Zanzibar its headquarters, has land virtually assumes the responsibility of thus a firm basis for those operations this country. The roads across from Tangan- to which Bishop Steere consecrated a yika, Nyassa and Victoria Nyanza are also life of so much learning and devoted- highways of slave trade. Forthese Germany ness, and which are still so earnestly must now be responsible. The whole area followed up by Bishop Smythies. The blighted by the slave trade is now open to an mission will now hold' in favorable exercise of authority and vigilance on the part circumstances thi& important centre of these two great Powers which ought soon for Christian education and for the to suppress the awful traffic. training of teachers, catechists and the We quote from the July Church Missionarv native clergy. It is true the great out- l'ntelligencera lucid statement of the "agree- field of their mission work will be now ment" and its relations to the work of tho chiefly in territories under German .great English and Scottish missionary societies rule, but already the report is favor- in Africa.-J. M. S.] able as "to the steady administration This agreement is an important p0- of affairs by the German Government," litical event, and will, no doubt, be much discussed in that aspect, but so that "the spiritual work of the sothere are indications already that a final settlement on the lines proposed ciety is no longer disturbed by wars will be accepted cordially by the German and British nations. Our interest and rumors of wars." Under the Brithere is non-political, although at the same time, looking at the settlement ish flag German missions have greatly in its broad aspect, apart from party, it cannot but be a source of thankful- flourished in India, and especially in ness that these two great nations, the pillars of European Protestantism, South Africa, and there is every reason have found a satisfactory S91ution of questions of territory which might to hope that when the German rule have given rise to dispute and alienation. If they proceed in friendly ac- is firmly established the mission will cord, we have one of the best guarantees that the inner African slave trade enjoy security and friendly support. is doomed, and that the time is hastening on when civilization and Christi- The Church Missionary Society and anity will win the day in the Dark Continent. the London Missionary Society have We look at the details of the agree- also their stations in German terriment, and we give the first place here to the protectorate of Zanzibar. From tories, and they may anticipate the the German Official Gazette we learn that Germany assents to the assump- same friendly support under the Gertion by England of the protectorate over the Sultanate of Zanzibar. This man protectorate. The Church Mismust be regarded as no small concession on their part. Of course France sionary Society has also its special or some other Power may still do what it can to hinder this assumption. But grounds of thankfulness as regards here it is satisfactory to find Lord Salisbury speaking out quite decidedly this settlement. Its work will be in his despatch, June 14th: "England will further assume, with the consent chiefly under the British flag, and of the Sultan of Zanzibar (which has been given), the exclusive protectorate what a wide door opens before it! But over the Sultanate, including the islands of Zanzibar and Pemba_" "The it scarcely belongs to us here to enter direct control and extensive influence,"LordSalisburyadds,"which this on so wide a field. We may only noarrangement will confer upon Great Britain, will furnish a powerful as· tice how much Lord Salisbury's words sistance to the efforts whi0h a1"(, nnw suggest. "Upon the east coast the Gerinan Government has agreed to surrender all the territory it occupies or claIms north of the British sphere of influence. The whole territory up to the Juba, with a coast line of more than 200 miles, is under the British protectorate. The elrect of this ar- rangement will be that, except so far as the Congo State is concernpd, there will be no European competitor to between the first degree of south lati- tude and the borders of Egypt, along the whole of the country which lies to the south and west of the Italian pro- tectorate in Abyssinia and Galla Land." .
Another part of this Anglo-German agreement relates to Lake ~yassa and Nyassa Land. In these regions the Scottish missions have been laboring for years, and with conspicllous suc- cess. The Church of Scot land has its mission to the south of La ~.(> Nyassa, close to the Shire. It is a country of religiously in the balance, our protecfertility and of much promise, but it torate of Zanzibar is of vastly more does not enter into the agreement, as consequence to the interests of huthe British Government has here to manity and the cause of religion. come to a settlement, not with Germany but with Portugal. The subject J. E. C. {)f keenest dispute here betwixt England and Germany has been as to what STANLEY AND THE BRUSSELS CONFERENCE. is called the Stevenson Road. As to Lake Nyassa itself there has been less [We are glad to see that this intrepid exdifficulty; the eastern shore where the Universities'Missions are established plorer, who doubtless understands the present has been assigned to Germany; the westernshores, where the Free Church condition and needs of Africa better than any Missions have been successfullyestablished, are to remain British. The other living man, is in full accord with the Stevenson Road joins Lake Nyassa at its northern end to Lake Tanganyika conclusions of this important Congress, which .at its southern extremity. As to its being a road, if Mr. Johnson, Her has just closed its sessions, as to the remedy Majesty Consul's authority is to be ac- ·cepted, there can be no question. for the wholesale slaughter and devastation Some 52 miles from the northern end of Lake Nyassa have been carefully which is going on in the Dark Continent.- engineered; in fact in the construction two able engineen; were employed, J.M.S.] Christian men, and they laid down their lives in the work. Along this "There is only one remedy for these road a steamer was carried in pieces to wholesale de,astations of African ab- Lake Tanganyika and launched there origines, and that is the solemn combion its waters for the London Mission- nation of England, Germany, France, .ary Society. The Germans here ha,e Portugal, South and East Africa, and done nothing; were they to be allowed Congo State against the introduction to enter into the labors of these ener- of gunpowder intoany part of the congetic Scotchmen? It has been ar- tinent except for the use of their own ranged that it is not to be so. agents, soldiers and employes; or seiz- ing upon every tusk of ivory brought There are other parts of the agree- out, as there is nota single piece now-ament on which we can but barely days which has been gained lawfully. touch. There is undoubtedly a break Every tusk, piece and scrap in the between the territories under British possession of an Arab trader has been influence north and south, extending steeped and dyed in blood. ~very from 1 degree south latitude to Lake pound weight has cost the life of a Tanganyika. On its western extrem- man, woman, or child; for every five ity, this is so far diminished, however, pounds a hut has been burned; for the British sphere of influence extend- every two tusks a whole village has ing so far south as to include the been destroyed; every twenty tusks mountain M'Fumbiro (10,000 feet high). have been obtained at the price of a This is to make the frontier "coincide district, with all its people, villages as nearly as possible with the region and plantations. Whom, after all, covered by Mr. Stanley's treaties." It does this bloody seizure of ivory enhas been agreed that the passage here rich? Only a few dozens of half-castes, for British goods and British subjects Arab and negro, who, if due justice will be perfectly free and exempt from were dealt to them, should be made to transit duties. sweat out the remainder of their pi- raticaI.lives in the severest penal ser- There are two other points of agree- vitude. ment in the CO?1pact; Germany is to be allowed to extend its influence in "On arriving in civilization after South Africa to the 21st' degree of these terrible discoveries, I was t')ld longitude, in place of the 20th degree. of a crusade that had been preached Lord Salisbury is of opinion that Lake by Cardinal Lavigerie, and of a rising Ngami will remain still under the desire in Europe to effect a reform by British protectorate, as its longitude force of arms, in the old Crusader style, is believed to be 22 degrees. and to attack the Arabs and their fol- lowers in their strongholds in central Heligoland forms a part of this Africa. It is just such a scheme as Ang'')-German settlement. What its might have been expected from men -valuels politically, it is not our part to who applauded Gordon when he set estimate. But weighed morally and out with a white wand and six follow- ers to rescue all the garrisons of the Soudan, a task which 14,000 of his countrymen, under one of the most skillful English generals, would have found impossible at that date. The last thing I heard in connection with this mad project is that a band of one hundred Swedes, who have subscribed £25 each, are about to sail to some part of the east coast of Africa, and the fine cloth and fine beads they exproceed to Tanganyika to commence pected to receive for the food furostensibly the extirpation of the Arab nished were not forthcoming, and it slave trader, but in reality to commit seemed for a time improbable that suicide."-Scribner's Magazine. enough food could be got to send any to Nelson. By the 26th, however, "NELSON'S STARVATION CAMP." matters were arranged, and on that day Mr. Jephson,with forty Zanzibaris [The following passage from Stanley's book and thirty Manyema, set out to rescue Nelson, whose camp was reached on givesone of many vivid and thrilling pictures of the 29th. Pitiable, indeed, was the condition of things there. Of the fiftysuffering endured during this ever memorable two men left with Nelson, five only remained, of whom two were in a dyexpedition for the relief of Emin Pasha.-EDs.] ing state; all the rest had either de- serted or were dead. Nelson himself, "On the morning of October 6,.1887, having hardly left his tent on account it was evident that Captain Nelson of his badly ulcered feet during the and fifty·two of the black men were absence of Stanley, had lived chiefly wholly unable to travel further. It on fruits and fungi his two boys had was decided, therefore, to leave these brought in from day to day. Jephson in camp, while Stanley and the other found Nelson sitting near his tent, white and black men-211 in a11- worn and haggard looking, with deep went forward to try to find some food. lines about his eyes and mouth, and Nelson and his fifty·two men were left the latter could do nothing but sob and with hardly any food in a camp on a turn away and mutter somethingabout sandy terrace, encompassed by rocks being very weak. But Nelson recovered and hemmed in narrowly by dark slowly and has lived to rllturn." woods which rose from the river's edge to the height of 600 feet, on the Japan.-American visitors at the bank of the Drumiwi, there a writhing and tortuous stream, making an recent Paris Exposition were astonish. unceasing uproar, and with two cata- I'acts not far away, each rivalling the ed at the educational exhiLit from J aother's thunder. A gloomier spot for a camp could hardly have been se- pan; an exhibit which showed greater lected. Stanley, with his 211 men, started on October 7th. They made intelligence, more thorough methods, their way as well as they could at a funeral pace, marching sometimes and more progressive educational deonly four and a half miles a day, through woods with dense under- velopment in Japan than exist in this growth, living on the fungi and berries they could find, glad even to get country. The recent report of the Japnux vomica, suffering the pangs of unappeasable hunger, all frightfully anese Minister of Education, summarthin, though the whites not so much reduced as the colored men. They had ized by "the nation," is exceedingly occasionally to climb hills, which, in their enfeebled condition, causeli their interesting and significant. There are hearts to palpitate violently. Hunger, followed by despair, killed many of in the empire 10,862 school districts; the colored men. The night of the 17th was ushered in by a tempest the total population being 39,701,594, which threatened to uproot the forest and bear it to the distant west, ac- andthe children of school age numbercompanied by floods of rain and a severe cold temperature. The next day, ing 6,740,929. The empire employs however (the 18th), relief came. They reached a community of Manyema, 62,372 teachers, and there are at pres- Arabian ivory hunters, who had arrived five months before. Here, at ent enrolled in its various schools last, they had food; but alas! they had lost the power to digest it. 'Nature about 2,800,000 children. When the either furnishes a stomach and no food, or else furnishes a feast and robs great reform of Japanese institutions us of all appetite.' The party began to suffer from many illnesses, the was undertaken twenty years ago, the result of the food it had so long been unused to. The Manyema on the first principle of education was accepted day were very gracious and friendly, on the next day were less so, becllillire as the basis of all progress, and noth- ing has shQwn the capacity, intelli- gence, and adaptibilityof the Japan- ese mind more strikingly than the thoroughness, progressiveness, and fruitfulness of the educational system they adopted, and which has now be- come thoroughly seated in the respect and affection of the Japanese people. In addition to common schools in all
1890.J MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS
parts of the country, a seaside labora- piling an encyclopedia. Among the tory has been established on Yeddo teachers in the Japanese schools are Bay for the study of marine life. Ad- nearly two hundred Europeans; while vanced courses in art and science are among the men who have furnished text-books or have otherwise contrito be found in the university. High- buted to this remarkable educational progress are found the names of many class commercial schools, schools of Japanese who havestudied inour own fine art, schools of music, schools for schools and colleges. This record is a the deaf, dumb and blind, law courses notable one, both on account of the in German, French and English, completeness with which a very sulibraries and museums, all form a perior educational system has been part of this admirable system. The built up in Japan, and on account of Imperial University at Tokio numbers the promise for the future which it 864 students, and there is also in the contains. The Japanese are blillding same city a kind of Japanese academy, on a strong foundation. made up of eminent native scholars, who publish a magazine and are com- I1I.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE FROM ALL PARTS OF THE WORLD-FIELD.
Ohina. be full members of these. In all cases it shall be left to each individual foreign missionary PLAN OF THE UNION OF THE PRESBYTERIAN or minister to choose for himself one or other of these two relations, but during a temporary CHURCHES. sojourn at home he may resume full connec- tion with his former church court. A Conference on Union, composed of the representatives of seven Presbyterian II. The doctrinal basisof organlo union shall churches laboring in China, was convened be: (a). The Apostles' Creed. (b). The Nicene in Shanghai, China, May 12, 1890. At this Creed. (c). The Westminster Confession and Conference it was found that on account of Catechisms. the diversity of language and the difficulties of travel, the representatives of two churches m. Presbyteries sha.lJ be oomposed of the believed organic union impracticable. After the adjournment of this Conference an iu- missionaries, the pastors and the churches formal meeting of delegates, representing five occupying the same territory. These Presbydifferent Presbyterian missions, was held, at teries shall, for the present, constitute one which were present: Rev. A. P. Happer, D.D., Synod, which shall meet once in five years. Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. (North); Rev. John Ross, United Presbyterian Church of At a meeting of the full delegations. held at Scotland; Rev. T. C. Fulton, Irish Presbyteri- Shanghai, May 14th, it was resolved: an Church; Rev. John L. Stuart, Presbyterian Church, U. S. A. (South); Rev. D. McGillivar- 1. "That Rev. Dr. Happer, Rev. J. Goforth, ay, Canadian Presbyterian Church (in Hon'an). Rev. J. Ross, Rev. John L. Stuart and Rev. T. C. Fulton be requested to present this basis of Dr. Rapper was called to the chair. It was union to their respective bodies for their aprecommended that steps be taken to form an proval, with a view to bringing the matter organic union between the churches here re- fully before the assemblies of 189~." presented and any others who may desire to join them. A plan of union, similar in some 2. "That these delegates intercommunicate respects to the one adopted by the Presbyteri- the action of the respective bodies as soon as an Churches in India, was proposed, and at a practicable. " subsequent meeting of the full delegations unanimously approved. Following is the plan: 3. "That these resolutions, with the whole action in the matter of organic union, be print- I. That a constitution be drafted for the ed for distribution among the delegates." Presbyterian Church in China, based upon the constitutions of the Presbyterian Churches in A. P. HAPPER, D.D., President. Europe and America. (a). That, if foreign S. I. WOODBRIDGE, Secretary. missionaries and ministers retain their connection with their home church courts, they shall Ohili, have no vote in the China church courts, but only the right to counsel and advise; but if [We give below a letter, addressed to Mrs. they sever their ecclesiastical connection with Dr. Asbury Lowrey, whose husband is one the home churchesand submit to the discipline of the vice·presidents of Bishop Taylor's Self· of the ecclesiastical courts in China, they shall Supporting Mission in South America, sent to us for publication.-Ens.] Santiago, May, 1890. Our Spanish work in Serena is progressing grandly under Dr. Canut; we have 40 probatloners and 300 In regular attendance at wor- Miss Rugg, late of the Ohio Wesleyan Uni- ship, patto (yard or court) crowded with versity, writes: "This is work to be enjoyed people anxious to hear the Word of Life. for its own sake, imparting knowledge to Plenty of persecution; but no matter, that others-a.nd this we do for His sake,Who gives don't harm. Bless God for the awakening us such blessed saving knowledge of Himself. shown amongst this people I Oh, do buy us a I constantly feelthat my stay inIquiqueis one of great pleasure and profit. Thongh never esoo, lot on which to bulld a church. There is one wishing myself back home, my thoughts are often in that direction." for saleat another at $1,000; either would suit us, and for either we would be thankful. Faithfully yours, The $1,000 lot Is much the better suited for our purpose. Surely we should have one of these MRS. A. W. LA. FETRA. at once. India. Our Spanish work in Valparaiso in- creases in interest with astonishing rapidity; YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN A.SSOCIATION WORK, its needs are very great. In Valparaiso es- pecially we need a church and one of the best While the first chapter of this history may men in the Methodist Episcopal Church to to some seem only a common place record, supply English work there. Give us the church those who understand the situation sufficient- and the pastor and Methodism will take root ly to read between the lines wili see In it a there at once and flourish. deeper significance and the earnest of untold possibilities. Because this new departure in Communion wasadministered at Concepcion Madras will no doubt be repeated In many last Sabbath;. the church was full and several other cities of the Orient, the record may well joined the society; the Spirit of God was pres- be given more in detail. ent. Thereare now 100girls in the school here. In March, 1888, the Madras Missionary Con- Rev. James Benge, pastor of the church ference listened to a statement by Rev. Jacob· at Iquique, writes May 10, 1890: ()hamberlain, D. D., telling of the magnificent movement he had recently seen in progress. "We have here a properly organized church, among the young men of the United States. consisting of a pastor, a local preacher, a class and Canada for the salvation of their fellows, leader, eight members and six probationers, and of the young men of other lands. He sugall working together in harmony. Our class gested that thoroughly trained and experimeetings, prayer and Bible readings, are true enced leaders might be sent out and supportmeans of grace. Most of our members and ed by the American associations, to organize probationers are present at every meeting." the Christian young men and set them at work to reach their tellows by means of Dr. Hoover is wonderfully quick at acquir- Young Men's Christian Associations, whereing language. He superintends the meetings upon the conference unanimously took the of the native church, which has a dozen or following action: more members and probationers, among them a lad of 17 who has been educated in the "Considering that this Conference has on school and is 1Illed with a desire to serve God. many occasions called the attention of the He gives short addresses to the people. Dr. churches to the existence of a well prepared Hoover preaches in English, and a little in field among the educated non-Christian yonng Castilian; both English and Spanish congre- men of Madras, and begged them to send a gations are good, much interest being shown special agency to work it, it regards this proin religion. posal as a Providential response to their ap- peals, and it will gratefully welcome such Every form of religious literature we offer well qualified, thoroughly trainedagents as the the people is received with avidity and care- American Yo.ung Men's Christian Associafully read. Bible agents sell their books In tions propose to send, and it will give them large numbers; the people seem to crave God's its cordial sympathy and co-operation." Word and buy liberally. This means eulightenment. Responding to that action, I reached Madras on the 9th of January last, and was A few days ago we laid in the grave the body met by Mr. L. D. Wishard, who is visiting the of a lad, of Scotch family, who had been one students of the East as a representative of the· of our pupils. Dr. Hoover, with some 50 of College Young Men's Christian Associations the school boys, went in procession to the of Europe and America. Predisposed as we cemetery, where, during service, the boys sang were to Madras, by the action of the Mission- "Beautiful Home" by the last resting-place ary Conference and other Provideutial indicaof their companion. It was an unprecedented tions, that this was the likeliest point for event in the history of Terapaca, the sweet beginuing this work, we had, nevertheless, left voices singing tremblingly, while tear drops it an open question whether or not the time coursed down the faces of many native born. was yet ripe to organize here. The very day Chillans singing in English a song of Heaven of my arrival, a conference was held with the in a Chilian grave-yard marked an epoch in missiouaries, and, notwithstanding the colher history fragrant with promise for the fu- leges were all closed for the holidays, it was ture. Soon these boys will be Chilian men, decided to take advantage of Mr. Wishard's and the lessous of the grave and the hope beyond will never depart from their memories. presence to hold a Union meeting of ChrIs- reading-room, and actually increased in the tian young men in Memorial Hall, Saturday social room_ evening, January 18th. We held four preliminary meetings, explaining our purpose The membership has grown graduallyand making acquaintances. There were 800 February, 85; March, 85; April, 110; May, 125 present at the Union meeting, and it was -until now, early in June, we number 131, evident that the time had come to fully Inau- who have paid the annual fee in adgurate our work by and for the young men of vance. This includes not more than 100 Madras. sustainiug members, who contribute not less than 10 rupees each. Of the member- A voluntary commitee of management was ship, 48 are I' active," i. e., communicant constituted, consisting of five native Chris- members of Protestant churches, having tians, four Europeans and one Eurasian, seven the right to vote and hold office in the of the ten being laymen_ 11k W. Rierson Arbuthnot was elected president and Mr. J. association; 83 are I' associate" members, so L. Duffield, of the Bank of lIIadras, treasurer. An assistant secretary being required, Mr. J. that it is evident non-Christian young men are Gnanamuthu, a native Christian of Tinnevelly, being brought within the influence of the assojust graduated from the Christian College, at ciation. 84 are natives, 29 Eurasians, and 18 once entered upon these duties. Europeans, proving that it is possible to work on SO broad a basis, ignoring race prejudices, We got immediate possession of the most despite predictions to the contrary. The fureligible building in the city, already furnished ther fact that, of the 84 native members, 34 in part for our purposes. This building, "two are Hindus (of whom 16 are Brahmins) and 2 stories high, eighty feet by sixteen, with a Mohammedans, shows that the association shaded yard in front, centrally situated on the will bear heavily against the' caste barrier. Esplanade, overlooking the sea alongside of The occupations of our members are: Stuthe Christian College, within two minutes' dents, 48; teachers, 23; in Government posiwalk of the Church of Scotland College, five tions, 19; mechants, 6; clerks,10; railway serminutes from the Hindu College, and ten vice, 3; clergymen, 7; bankers, 2; catechists, minutes from the Medical College, is within 2; secretaries, 2; barristers-at-law, 2; physieasy access of several thousand students, cian, 1; unemployed, 3; unknown, 2. many of whom daily pass our doors. Important improvements were begun, renovating The privileges offered are not great as yet. the place, and improving the' ventilation. The reading-room is well supplied with Indian Down stairs a reading room, bath-room and aud foreign publications. The social room is kitchen. Upstairs a room, seating seventy- furnished with games, such as chess and five, was devoted to meetings and social pur- draughts. We have about 100 volumes for a. poses, adorned with pictures, curtains, etc., library; a taste for healthy literature will be and furnished with chess tables and checkers. cultivated, and the reading of young men be On this fioor there is also an office, where directed, if the library is SO enlarged that it meetings of the board and of the committees can be made circulating. We expect soon to are held. secure athletic grounds and to have a compe- tent instructor in the physical department, a. The formal" opening" was on the evening class in vocal music, and probably also an of March 7. Between five and six o'clock orchestra; but for lack of room we cannot there was a musical reception; the rooms meet the demand for other classes, especially thronged with members and friends. The in technical branches. public exercises were held in the evangelistic hall near by, which was crowded with the Since the middle of March Friday evenings young men of Madras, Christian and non- have been devoted to literary and social fea- Christian, Brahmin and Sudra, native and tures alternately. The social hour is spent Eurasian. It was gratifying to find so large a informally with music, recitations, games, number of young men who, f.hough without etc. Our course of lectures on literary and the pale of the Church, had been led thither scientific 8ubjects has become so popular that by conscious or unconscious interest in on one occasion 177 crowded into a room large Christian work designed to further the true enough for only half that number. progress of India. The Lord Bishop of Madras presided, and addresses were delivered Since January Saturday evening has been deby Dr. Miller, principal of the Christian Col- voted to a Bible class, preceded by a short servlege, and others. ice of song. The average attendauce has been 48, Hindus as well as Christians attending, and The attendance in our rooms has increased most of them bringing their own Bibles and steadily from the first, the daily average note-books. During the college vacation the the first week being 15, and in successive class is converted into a young men'8 gospel weeks, 31, 47, 51, 68, 94, 106, 102, 141. Even meeting, in which the members take part. during the hottest weather, many members being absent during the college vacation, the A Bible training class, composed of six attendance has decreased but little in the young men, pledged to invariable attendance and at least three hours' study a week, is being conducted through a systematic course, to prepare workers. At the close of every evening the members ently refused to do. Alone, with no defense of the reception committee conduct a brief save the feeble protest of his brother, he finalinformal service of prayer, to which those in ly consented to have the marks put on for the roomS are invited. fear they would kill him. He is keenly consci- ous of the shame which he feels he bears, and At our first quarterly members' meeting, 71 is more pronounced than before in his purpose being present, the reports from the various to follow Christ. Indeed he assures me now committees would have done credit to any that he is quite ready to be baptized. He needs similar association in the West. Most of the instruction, however, and our hope is that active members are at work on the com- other members of his family may join him ndttees. a little later. To become a Christian here means literally the loss of all things. Those 3,000 rupees, it was estimated, would be re- words in Mark xi:29·30 never meant so much quired for the expenses of this year, inclnding to me before as when this young man and I furnishing. We have already secured 2,500 in read them together: "There is no man that membership fees and annual subscriptions of hath left house or brethren or sisters or father sustaining members. and it is believed that or mother or wife or children or lands, for My the work will become locally self-supporting, sake and the gospel's, but he shall receive an apart from the salary of the general sec- hundredfold-with persecutions-and in the retary. world to come eternal life." Food and water and fire are cut off from the man who dares to The building is already too small to accom- break caste. modate the growing membership,and the management feels the pressing need of another The young Brahmin convert who led our building adapted to the peculiar requirements Young Men's Meeting last week and made a of this four-fold work, and for the funds to ringing appealfor fearless confession of Christ build the association must look to generous at any cost, is regarded by his fl'iends as dead friends in America. and his funeral obsequies have actually been performed. When another of our active mem- The Young Men of India, our eight-page bers, one of my training class, was about to monthly paper, is bearing tidings of this work be baptized, poisoned food was sent him by through the land, and we are now in corres- his own mother. and the road near my bungapondence with twenty-two other associations low was thronged with a mob of 2,000 Hindus, in India. infuriated at the missionary who was to per- form the ceremony. What far-sighted wisdom Already "first fruits" are beginning to ap- Jesus displayed in appointing baptism as the pear; success is provoking opposition-a wel- sign and seal of complete separation from the come relief from death·like indifference. For dead past! example, a Hindu member who has attended evening prayers and my Bible-dass quite regu- Dr. Chamberlain did not exaggerate when larly has shown anxiety to know the truth, at Northfield, in the su=er of 1887, he deand seemS not far from the Kingdom. On a clared that this was "the opportunity of the Saturday evening, about two weeks ago, he ages" now presenting itself to the Young was waylaid and prevented from coming to our Men's Christian Association here in India. Young Men's Gospel Meeting. After being What is being done in Madras can be done struck he escaped, and went quietly home. A throughout India. Calls for experienced genfew days after he came to get an English Bible, eral secretaries have already come from Calsupplementing his Tamil New Testament cntta and Colombo and Allahabad, and other which he has been using for some time; he cities are making similar demands. But the also attended a native church with one of our pressing need of the hour is to establish per· active members. Then a rumor was started manently in a suitable building this growing at Ihis home that he was becoming a Chris· work that has begun so well in this strongtian, and persecution commenced. Last Sun- hold of Hinduism. We are praying for the day he went with his brother, according to needed funds. "The God of Heaven, He will custom, to his native village to attend a cere- prosper us; therefore we His servants will mony for a sister who had recently died. arise and build." Are ye who read this record Sixty or seventy relatives had gathered to to "have no portion nor right nor memoriar' perform Puja for the deceased, but when the among the fifty millions of young men of Intime came to eat they refused to take food dia-so many of whom have English education with our friend, because they said he was go- but are "without Christ, having no hope and ing to become a Christian. They insisted upon without God in the world 1" his shaving his head and putting on the castemark of his god which he had abandoned. He Yours in His name and theirs, was taken to the temple. Excitement ran high. They demanded that he take an oath DAVID MCCONAUGHY, Jr. not to become a Christian, which he persist-
INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
CONDUCTED BY REV. J. 'T. GRACEY, D.D.
Ohinese Education-Past and Present. China, when he stated that, as his victorious troops were returning to- BY REV. MARCUS L. TAFT, OF PEKING wards· the capital, they could fre- quently hear sounds from certain UNIVERSITY. buildings as of "the humming of bees." This poetical allusion would (Paper read before International Mis- be readily understood by any intelli- sionary Union, June, 1890.) gent Chinaman as meaning" students studying aloud "-a sure sign of peace " Formerly Confucius had young Hsiang Toh and prosperity. for his teacher; "Pai Chia Hsing," or "100 Sur- Even the sages of antiquity studied'with dili- names," is the title of the second book gence. which the youthful John Chinaman is required to memorize. This ex- ,Chao, a minister of State, read the Confncian plains why, although the popUlation Dialogues, of China amounts to hundreds of mil- lions, there are only 100 purely Chi- And he, too, though high in office, studied nese surnames, and, therefore, we in assiduously. this country so often see so many of the same name, as Chang, Lee and One copied lessons on reeds, another on slips Wang. of bamboo; Four other books, based upon the 'These, though without books, eagerly sought Confucian Classics, as well as the knowledge. famous " Four Books" and "Fine Classics," are, in due order, mastered (To vanquish sleep) one tied his head (by the by the patient, ambitious scholar. hair) to a beam, and another pierced his thigh with an awl; These Confucian Classics inculcate morality and teach jurisprudence. In 'Though destitute of instructors, these were comparison with the ancient writings laborious in study. of India, Greece and Rome they are remarkable in the absence of the One read by the glowworm's light, another by vulgar and obscene. Some of the reflection from snow; poetry is truly of a high order. Take an example of an ode, composed by 'These, though their families were poor, did Wan Wang, about 1,000 B. C" which not omit to study. may remind us of a more modern production on a smilar topic: .one carried faggots, and another tied his books to a cow's horn, "THE SWEET PE.AR TREE.
And, while thus engaged in labor, studied with (1.) " 0 I FeIl not that sweet pear tree I intensity. " See how its branches spread I Such are some of the inspiring senti- Spoil not its shade, ments in the" San Tzu Ching," the For Shao's chief laid universal primer, committed to memory by every Chinese lad who Beneath it his weary head, .enters upon the road of learning. Well do I remember the pardonable (2.) "0 I Clip not that sweet pear tree I pride of ;t certain Chinaman at Kiu Each twig and leaflet spare- Kiang, China, who brought his little brother before me to have me hear 'Tis sacred now him recite the" San Tzu Ching." Since the Lord of Shao, Being winter, the little urchin was clad in cumbrous, cotton-wadded When weary, rested him there.
clothing, and appeared hardly old (3.) " O! Touch not that sweet pear tree I ,enough to walk alone. Quickly facing Bend not a twig of it now; about, with his back towards me, and There, long ago, constantly swaying from side to side, As the stories show, this Chinese youngster glibly recited the entire" Trimetrical Classic." Oft haIted the Chief of Shao."
Another peculiarity in Chinese schools, besides" backing" and swaying during recitation, is stUdying aloud. It was to this universal practice that the late Viceroy, Tso, referred, a few years ago, in his report to the throne upon his repulse of the Russians from the northwest province of The familiar lines, " Woodman, These Governmental examinatione Spare that Tree," are thus, by this place a premium upon learning and Chinese poet, .anticipated by over furnish worthy incentives to every twenty-five centuries. aspiring youth to acquire an educa- Throughout China there is no sys- tion. Conceit, conservatism and cau- tem of public education. Many tion were legitimate results of this.
schools are started by wealthy parents contracted, antiquated curriculum of for their sons, and other pupils are stUdy. The ordinary Chinese scholar, allowed for a small sum to attend. with his enormous goggles and long Other schools are carried on by weH- finger-nails, indicative of leisure and to-do Chinese as meritorious deeds, for erudition, considers that he, like the which they will receive due credit in Pharisee of old, is the personification the world to come. of all wisdom. Their conceit is some- The attractive incentive.> to study thing prodigious. Nearly ten years.
are honor, office and immunity from ago, shortly after my arrival in China, corporal punishment,obtained through as I was studying with one of these> the civil servive examinations. DiS- literati as my teacher, we came to a.
trict, provincial and national exami- point where I could not comprehend nations, if successfully passed, open what he was trying to explain. Since the door to rank and office. Nearly he could speak no English and my all youths in the empire may compete knowledge of Chinese at that time> inthesepublicexaminations. Through- was very limited, he resorted to the out China there is no aristocracy of object method of instruction. He wealth, rank or caste. Only the aris- was endeavoring to explain the differ- tocracy of intellect prevails. The son ence between China and foreign coun- of a poor coolie as well as the son of tries. So he drew a large circle, and a rich mandarin may alike compete in inside wrote "Middle Kingdom"- this intellectual tournament. Who- one of the namE'S for China, and over'
ever succeeds, whether of a rich or the rim of this large circle he drew a poor lineage, may, provided he has very small circle, markingit " Outside the brains, attain a pqsition next to Countries;" His notion was that the emperor himself. This, in fact, is China, the;' Middle Kingdom," com- the ballot of the Chinese. This system prised all the best poI'tion of the· of competitiveexaminations, in opera- world, and over the bordt!r of this, tion during nearly thirteen centuries, where no one would live if he could has done more to maintain the integ- possibly help it-why, there were the rity of the ChinE'se empire than any United States, England, France, Ger- other factor, excepting, perhaps, filial many, Russia and all other foreign piety, to which God attached the first countries.
promise in the Decalouge. Conservatism is also a natural result.
Most remarkable has been the loyalty of their educational training. The of the Chinese literati. During that Chinese seem to think that whatever long and bloody Tai Ping Rebellion was good enough for their illus- " not one imperial official voluntarily trious sage, Confucius, who lived joined the Tai Pings, while hundreds about five centuries before Christ, is died resisting them" (v. Villiams' good enough for them to-day. To- "Middle Kingdom," Revised Edition, alter now what suited him then would Vol. I., p. 563). Compare such unani- be irreverence. As an instance of this.
mous loyalty of Chinese officials with look at the springless, seatless, rude some of the graduates of West Point cart of North China to-day. This and Annapolis during our late Civil conservatism especially manifests it- War, and the contrast will be more self against any innovation in morals evident. and religion. Hence the intense hostility towards the Christian religion on ous wealth, into the possession of a British Queen, who lives on a little the part of these same literati. island far away on the other side of the world. They do not at all desire Throughout the Chinese empire, these that a single square foot of Chinese soil shall be owned by any foreign literati, and not the Buddhist and Power. Therefore, eight years ago, on the introduction of the telegraph Taoist priests, have been the most via- into China, the Chinese would only em- ploy foreign experts from one of the lent opponents of Christianity. Ifany- smaller Powers of Europe, even Den- mark, so that every foreigner engaged one will take the trouble to investigate in the ereotion of the telegraph lines in China was a Dane. With reference the various riots in connection with to railroads a similar policy has been adopted. Syndicates in Great Britain, mission work which have occurred in France, Germany and the United States have sent their representatives widely separated sections of China, he to China in order obtain grantS for the construction of railroads. The will almost invariably find that these urbane Chinese mandarin received them very politely, but not the slight- Chinese literati have been the chief est concession would he grant any of them. After a brief interview, they instigators of these disturbances. They were ushered out of his presence and politely but plainly shown the way to· do not always show their hands. They their respective native lands.
usually stir up the lewd fellows of the China's enlightened statesmen want railroads, but only on the conbaser sort to perform this menial work dition that China shall control them. She may employ foreign engineers and for them, while they stand by and mechanics, but the railroad must be under her exclusive control. Such is. urge them on to their dastardly deeds.. their great caution, which, in some re- spects, rather deserves commendation Who, a few years ago, started the than condemnation.
riot in Chung-King, in West China, Notwithstanding this conceit, con- servatism, and caution, the shriek of when the Gamewells, Lewises and the locomotive and the glare of the electric light are causing these Chineseother missionaries with their families Rip Van Winkles to wake up from the slumber of centuries. Within three had their houses torn down by a mob, years modern science, mathematics, history and kindred studies have been and who, after an imprisonment of placed upon the list of examinatlOns. In the autumnal examinations of 1888 nearly two weeks, escaped at midnight in Peking, a further advance was· made. "For the first time in this exfrom the Ohinese yamen' Who, time amination a large premium was placed upon a knowledge of mathe– and again, have caused missionaries matics and Western sciences. Previ-· ous to the time for entering the lists, of the China Inland Mission to be proclamations were posted in the· driven by mobs out of their houses in Honan and Hunan? Who, in the lat- est instance of the kind, pulled that Baptist missionary out of his house in Shantung, "dragging him into the street by the hair of his head, tramp- ling him under their feet and leaving him there almost dead? Who were the instigators of all these and scores of similar riots in all parts of China?
No other auswer can be given than the Chinese literati. Such is their hostility developed out of their intense conservatism. • Again, excessive caution is another result of their educational system.
Since the influential officials have be- gun to investigate the history of for- eign nations, they are very cautious in making changes. Their leading statesmen are well posted concerning India. They know how India, after having been seized upon by Portugal and France, has at last come, with its enormous population and prodigigates, announcing that this much- ate at Edinburgh and ranked high sought-for honor would be bestowed as a physician at Canton; Hon. Yung upon five per cent. of those who Wing was the originator of the Chinshowed proficiency in these studies; ese Educational Commission to the whereas in the case of students from United States. Their headquarters the province at large, who, after the were at Hartford, Conn., but these order of the old regime, submitted to Chinese students, after a few years of examinations in the classics only, but study in New England, were sumone per cent. would receive the de- marily recalled to China. Now they gree." are filling influential positions in the Chinese army and navy, in the Since the iniquitious Opium War of telegraph offices, in the medical 1841-4.2, China, perceiving the superi- profession and in foreign consulates ority of Western science, has estab- and embassies. Tong King Sing is lished arsenals and technical schools president of the China Merchant for military and naval tactics, Steamship Company, and the leading medicine, telegraphy, and other director, withViceroy Li Hung Chang, Western sciences at Foochow, Shang- in the newly constructed railroad from hai, Nanking, and Tientsin, as well as the Kai-Ping coal mines to Tientsinthe Imperial College, Tung Wen about eighty miles in length. These Kuan, at Peking, where some 100 Chi- are some of the results of the "Morrinese students are prepared to act as son Educational Society," organized interpreters and consuls, under the before conservative China began to apefficient leadership of that eminent preciate and appropriate modern sci- American sinologue, Rev. W. A. P. ence from the West. Martin, D.D., LL.D. All of the Governmental institutions are secular, Since Morrison's day, Christian eduthe Bible and Christianity being rigor- cation in China, started by his wise ously excluded from the course of in- foresight, has made marvellous strides. .struction. Institutions, where only the vernacu- lar has been used in teaching West- Robert Morrison, the far-sighted ern learning, have been in successful and clear-headed pioneer of Protes- operation on many mission fields, tant missions in China, inaugurated notably atSwatow, Tungchowfu, and both educational and medical work, Tungcho in Chihli. Other Protestant as able auxiliaries in evangelizing that institutions oflearning have combined empire. In the light of recent events the study of English with Chinese, as the wisdom of his planning is most in the ChristianUniversity at Canton, manifest. For thorough mission-work, in the Foochow University, in the there should be an indissoluble union Shanghai College and in the Peking ·of body, mind and heart. Christianity University. must have possession of the whole man. In all these Christian schools, a great door and effectual is to- Dr. Morrison, clearly seeing this, day opportunely opened for the established both educational and medi- thinking classes of China. These cal auxiliaries for Chinese evangeliz- literati, recruited from all grades of ation many years before the Opium the Chinese population, have all along War. Also, antedating that epoch, been our most bitter opponents. Since there was organized in his honor' 'The the recent radical departure of the Morrison Educational Society," with Government in placing Western Dr. S. R. Brown as first instructor. If science upon the examination lists, Dr. Wang, Hon. Yung Wing and these ambitious scholars have ascer- Tong King Sing were the only pupils, tained that Christian Anglo-Chinese the work of that society was surely schools could provide them with the not in vain. Dr. Wang was agradueagerly desired Western science. They tainty the life beyond the grave. have loudly knocked at these Chris- Philosophers of all nations may surtian halls of learning, asking admis- mise and speculate, but, as Gibbon sion. All available room has been camlidly stated in his famous fifteenth quickly taken. At present, worthy chapter, "It was still necessary that applicants, willing to pay tuition and the doctrine of life and immortality, support themselves, especially at Pe- which had been dictated by nature, king, have had to be turned away, sim- approved by reason, and received by ply for lack of accommodation. superstition, should obtain the sanction of divine truth from the authority and Merely secular education will never example of Christ." rescue China from her heathenism and atheism. Allowing to Confucian- Clearly appreciating the present nism all the moral and political excel- educationalcrisis of missions in China, lence it deserves, there still remains contrasting the intense hostility to "an aching void." In it exists no Christian education in Turkey, and self-renunciating love, no forgive- remembering Christ's farewell comness of sin, and no hope of immor- mand, " Go, teach!" the faithful Protality. testant missionary in China to-day gladly employs Christian education as The negative maxim, "Whatsoever the right arm for evangelizing China's ye would not that men should do to millions. to you, do not do them," is sometimes called the Silver Rule of Confucius, in The Evolution of a Missionary Society. comparison with the positive law of love, the Golden Rule of Christ. One BY REV. JAMES MUDGE. is negative and passive; the other is positive and active. One is as the It has for some time seemed to me priest and Levite, who do no harm, that since the International Missionary but sympathetically pass by on the Union was also, in the most emphatic other side; the other is as the Good sense, interdenominational, it would Samaritan, who at the sight of the be highly fitting that there be presuffering traveler, at once dismounts, sented at its annual meetings a series binds up his wounds, places him upon of papers setting forth somewhat in his own beast of burden, and makes detail the internal organization of the arrangements for his comfort at the various societies, together with the inn. One is like the moonlight, sil- changes, if any, that have taken place very and clear, but cool and chilly; since their formation. Such a series The other is like the genial warm sun- would be especially timely just now shine, with its invigorating radiance in view of the fact that the oldest at noon-day. American society is casting about for the wisest method of so modifying her Once a disciple of Confucius came constitution as to bring herself more to this conservative sage and asked fully en rapport with her constituency. him concerning sin. The only conso- By way of a beginning in this direclation Confucius gave him was this: tion, and as affording in a compact " He who sins against heaven has no compass information not easily accesone to whom he can pray." At sible to all, I present the following another time a disciple of his inquired sketch of the manner in which the concerning the future life. Confu- missionary society of the Methodist cius replied, "If we know not the Episcopal Church has reached its present life how can we know the present position. future life?" Honest words, frankly spoken! No man, however wise in It has undergone what may not inthis world's wisdom, can, unaided by aptly, perhaps, be styled a process of divine revelation, describe with cer- evolution. Like Methodism itself it has gradually developed, adapting itself to circumstances and undergo- meeting. A committee from that ing a variety of changes, passing on meeting, composed of Nathan Bangs, from point to point as Providence ap- Freeborn Garrettson and Laban Clark, peared to direct and the wisdom of drew up its constitution, which was experience to dictate. It has not formally adopted at a large public probably yet attained in all respects gathering held in Forsyth street perfection's height, but in most par- church, April 5, 1819, and a full set of ticulars it affords an admirable ex- officers was elected. The ensuing ample of close approximation to the general conference sanctioned the ideal. scheme and recommended all other Previous to 1872 its membership, as Methodist missionary societies, nota- in so many other societies even at the bly the one at Philadelphia, which present day, rested on a purely finan- was of older date, to become auxiliary cial basis. The society up to that time to this at New York. But it was more consisted exclusively of life members, than twenty years before these two made such by the payment of twenty societies really united. Norw~ it till dollars. No others belonged. Twenty- 1836 that the missionary society be- five of these members constituted a came of sufficient,.importance to have quorum for the transaction of busi- a resident corresponding secretary ness. And at the annual meeting, of who should give his entire time to its such members as might choose to come service. Dr. Nathan Bangs was ap- together in the city of New York on pointed. He had from the beginning, the third Monday of November, there without salary orcompensation of any was chosen the full board of man- kind, conducted almost all its busi- agers in whom was vested the entire ness, writing every annual report but disposition of the affairs and property . one; and holding in himself the most of the society. Rather a loose arrange- of its life-blood. Dr. Bangs was ment it would seem. These managers chosen by the general conference, as consisted of thirty-two laymen, and, have been all subsequent correspond- after 1856, of no more than thirty-two ing secretaries, although, until the ministers, although before that all abolition of the old" society" in 1873, Qrdained ministers, both traveling and it went through the legal form of re- local, who were·members of the society electing them at its regular annual were also members of the board. This meeting. From 1836 to 1844 the cor- made it, by the necessities of the case, responding secretary had to be a mem- largely a local affair, and to some ex- ber of the New York Conference, tent, legally at least, independent of which was charged with his super- all church authority. Yet from the vision.
first its promoters earnestly endeavored In 1844 a very important step was to give it a connectional character, taken in the direction of generalizing and partly succeeded. They groped the management. It was in this year their way steadily toward the true that the church was divided into mis- theory and method, dropping off one sion districts, and there was formed erroneous feature after another, fol- from these the general missionary lowing the leadings of the Lord, and committee, appointed by the bishops, moving forward as fast, perhaps, as to whom was given a share in the the church in general was prepared to control, conjointly with the board.
accompany them, until they came at In 1856 the clerical managers were re- length to the fully developed system. stricted to thirty-two, and in 1872 was It is instructive and interesting to instituted the present arrangement, note the advances. whereby the general missionary com- This missionary society was clearly mittee is composed of one representa- the child of the New York preachers' tive from each of the mission districts, now fourteen, elected by the general States and foreign countries there conference, on nomination, by the shall be a missionary society, duly in- delegates of the annual conferences corporated according to law, and within each district respectively, alilo having its office in the city of New an equal number of persons selected York; said society being subject to by the board of managers from its such rules and regulations as the own sixty-four members, together general conference may from time to with the secretaries and treasurers of time prescribe." Singular as it may the society, and the whole Board of seem, this was the first issue of the Bishops. This action more than any Discipline, fifty-six years after the other gave the final death-blow to society had been endorsed by the the old society idea, and made the general conference, cOlltaining a direct missionary organization, as it ought authorization of its existence. No to be, an integral part of the work of previous Discipline has any mention the whole church. of the society, except two or three indirect references or allusions in Dr. Durbin, secretary from 1850 to paragraphs treating of other topics, 1872, had already seen the importance which shows emphatically in what a ,of emphasizing this side of the move- very miscellaneous manner the entire ment, and in the" Disciplinary Chap- legislation of the church on this ter on Missions," recast by him with a subject has been thrown together, large amount of new matter in 1852, and how fragmentarily it has arrived he had taken pains to place at the at its present excellent condition. head of all this highly significant sen- tence: "The support of missions is The most recent emendation of the committed to the churches, congrega- constitution, ordered by the General Conference of 1888, was in the same as tions and societies such." In other line with all the previous changes, and provides for the still further emwords, the cause was not to be re- phasizing of the connectional, as opgarded as the concern simply of such posed to the local, character of the separate members of the church as institution, by prescribing that the might choose to bind themselves annual meeting of the General Comtogether in local auxiliaries, which at mittee shall be hereafter no longer the first, and for a long while, were confined to New York but shall be regarded as the principal feeders held at least three times out of four in Df the society, nor of such as were other cities. able and willing to contribute twenty dollars at one time, but every church It would seem now that there is member throughout the nation or the nothing left of the society or local world was by the very fact of his idea beyond the mere name and the membership pledged to contribute restrictions imposed by the necessity and co-operate according to his ability, of having a charter from some specinor did he need to be further enrolled fic State Legislature in order to hold in any distinct way to make this property, as well as the necessity of having headquarters where certain pledge more binding. And all the matters of business can be attended pastors were, as such special agents of to. This missionary society, still so- .the cause, charged with collecting called for convenience sake, is now funds for its furtherance and in every simply and solely the whole church way advancing its interests. itself acting in its corporate capacity for the establishment and support of The missionary section of the Disci- missions. It is not an outside organizpline was again entirely recast in ation allied to the church, but distinct 1876, with a number of new para- from it. Rather is it tpe right arm of graphs, of which the following 'Stands first: "For the better prosecution of missionary work in the United
THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS
the body. holding most vital connec- and sovereignly regulates all its aftion with every other part, receiving fairs. The bishops appoint all the its full share of the life blood and con- missionaries. The general committee, tributing its full share to the welfare meeting annually, selects the mission of the whole. The missionary society fields and allots the money, and the is only one of the names of the church, board of managers, meeting monthly, and every member of the latter, from looks after the details, while the secthe senior bishop to the youngest pro- retaries conduct the correspondence bationer, is also a member of the and set in motion all possible agencies former, having some part to fill in its for filling the treasury. So there is at maintenance. The General Confer- last provided here an agency of marence, the highest authority, the one vellous completeness for the purpose body which speaks for the entire in hand-a system of wheels and pulchurch the world around, elects its lies and bands in which strength is secretaries and treasurers and presi- combined with elasticity, and which dents, appoints its managers and gen- moves with a smoothness and effieral committee, revises its constitution ciency leaving little to be desired.
V.-THE MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS.
BY SECRETARY F. F. ELLINWOOD, D.D.
The Situa.tion in Ja.pan and Korea. decades-the average force for that time having been small. But that I.-JAPAN.
The statistical report of Protestant which may be tabulated in figures is missions in Japan for the year 1889, but a small part of what has been ac- published by Rev. Henry Loomis, complished in Japan. The beginnings agent of the American Bible Society, which have been made point to is full of suggestions. Its general in- broader future results. Everything dications of success are remarkable. in such a work is of the nature of Only fifteen years ago the member- seeds. Forces are set in motion which ship of the churches were buta hand- will continue to act for generations.
ful. The missionary boards scarcely What if foreigners should now be took the pains to publish any statis- wholly excluded, as were the Portu- tics. It was the day of small things. guese missionaries two centuries ago? It is almost startling, therefore, to Is Christianity planted and rooted SO find now a total membership in the firmly that it would survive and Protestant mission churches of 31,181, prosper if the Japanese churches with 274 organized churches, 153 of were left to themselves? Judging which are wholly and 151 partially from the history of Protestant mis- self-supporting. Thereare 135 ordained . sions in Tahite and Madagascar, we native ministers and 409 unordained may safely conclude that the work preachers and helpers. There are 350 accomplished in Japan is a perma- Sabbath schools with 21,597 pupils, nent and enduring power in the land.
and 17 theological schools with 275 And it is from this point of view students. The contributions of the that we may perhapsgainthe strongest churches during the year 1889 amount- impression of the value of the work of ed to $53,503.13. The number of mis- twenty-five years. Over against the sionary organizations represented in work of less than a generation, there this work is 29, and the number of must be set down to the credit side foreign missionaries is—{)f men, 200; the endless development and the im- of unmarried female missionaries, 171; measurable fruitage of many genera- with a total, including wives, of 527. tions to come.
Such is the force now engaged and Of course missionary influence canthe result shown is the work of two not claim all that has been done in the transformation of Japan. Com- in place here as we contemplate the merce has done much, and "he general situation. It has been too government and people have until common, though on slight grounds, to now seemed almost eager to learn the consider Sintoism* as dead and out of ways of our Western civilization, in- the question. But intelligent Japcluding education. But the missionary anese, even some of those most work has contributed that best of all friendly to Christian progress, look elements, the ethical and the domestic. upon Sintoism as constituting a It has changed especially the whole greater obstacle to Christianity than status and outlook of Japanese woman- Buddhism, though its influence is less hood, and that includes also the out- conspicuous and obstructive. Sintolook of the future state. ism is the old national religion; it is a development of that nature worship But there is another lesson which which has been so common in the the statistics of Mr. Loomis present. early experience of many races. There has been evidently some reaction. There has not been as large a Sintoism recognizes one Supreme growth in 1889 as in other recent years. God, who is unknown to men, but We were prepared for this, for all from whom all things have sprung. sources of information have revealed From him eight subordinate divinities the fact of political jealousy connect- emanated, of whom the most impor_ ed with the question of the revision tant were Isename and Isenangi, male of treaties. There has sprung up a and female, the progenitors of manparty which is opposed to foreigners kind. and foreign influence. It embraces many of the young and vigorous ele- These related deities, standingon the mentsof Japanese society. There has ramparts of heaven, reached down to in consequence been less readiness to earth with a long spear and stirred listen to the gospel, and the religious the depths of the ocean, and as they movement generally has felt the in- withdrew the spear there dripped from fiuence. Missionaries are consequently its point a peculiar substance from filled with no little anxiety, though which grew the islands of Japan, and generally they are hoping that the re- which had in it "the prophecy and action is only temporary. potency of all life," animal and vege- table. It was Huxley's protoplasm It isa fitting opportunity, now that turned to' practical account. From the work has slackened speed, to re- the two deities sprang a beautiful view the whole situation. What is daughter, the goddess of the sun, and the religious condition of Japan to- she became the mother of the day? What remaining strength have Mikados. the old faiths? Are they likely to abide, or will the future conflict lie It is claimed tha~ there has never between Christianity and some new been a break in this royal and divine form of belief or unbelief? Really succession, and that for 2600 years it there are four religions still contend- can be clearly traced. Many imporing for supremacy – Sintoism, Bud- tant results have sprung from this dhism,Confucianism and Christiar:ity, sun myth. It has conduced greatly to say nothing of those new types of to the loyalty of the Japanese toward thought which are the result of their sovereign. Only in three unsucconflict or compromise, and which cessful instances have attempts ever generally savor of general dissent and been made to dethrone a Mikado, negation. though changes in the dynasties of the Shoguns, or temporal rulers, have SINTOISM. • Some writers use the simple term Sintoo, A moment's consideration of the bnt Sintoism is employed by some native old faiths and their present status is writers. been frequent enough. The myth of neighbor, considered the universe as the sun goddess has also had a general- eternal, subject only to development ly favorable influence on the con- by natural growth or by generation. dition of women. The chief deity Though the Japanese, unlike the Inof Sintoists is a female. The most dian faith, recognized the existence gorgeous temple in Japan is the Sin- of a supreme deity from whom the to temple, reared to the sun goddess two divine progenitors emanated, yet in the Province of Ise. She is regard- it made no practical account of him. ed as the giver of all life in nature, He was never worshipped. and therefore the goddess of spring and of harvests. In the springtime festi- The two systems appear to have exvals and processions are instituted in ercised a degree of mutual toleration, her honor. and both adm~tted the claims of Confu- cianism, which in Japan, as in China Of the long succession of sovereigns and Korea, became largely the faith nine have been women. Naturally, or cult of the intellectual classes. The therefore, the female sex escapes favorite illustration by which this the degrading estimate which obtains tolerantspirit was expressed ran thus: in most Asiatic countries. Women There are many paths which lead to are not secluded as in China or India, the top of Fusyama, each approaching and there is in Japan something from a different side, but when they which approximates to our ideas at reach the summit, they all alike home. command a view of the world.
A religion which is so strarigely In some respects Sintoism and naturalistic might be expected to be Buddhism rendered to each other a weak on its ethical side. It is not a mutual service. The former, like creed of strong moral power. There other systems of sun worship, develis less ~f "thou shalt" and "thou oped a great aversion to death and shalt not" than in most faiths. The corruption. As with the followers of sexual relations, especially among the Zoroaster, so with all Sintoists, the rural populations, are lax and the pro- contact of the dead was considered test of conscience is feeble. Yet in polluting. And there was but slight the common ethics of life in all that attention given to the hereafter. concerns mutual rights, Sintoism presents a better record than many Buddhism, on the other hand, magsystems of more rigid law. It is nified the issues of the future. It was always the sin that breaks over a more sombre in spirit and looked upon strong moral code that becomes the death as only a transition to oth&r most heinous. Sint6ism has no forms of life. But on the other hand positively corrupting doctrines or Buddhism held an awkward relation ceremonies like those of Hinduism or to marriage. Itwasessentiallyopposed the old Baal worship. It has no vile to the reproduction of life. Its celiand demoralizing promises like that bate priesthood were out of place at of the Mohammedan's heaven. It has the marriage feast, whileSinto priests, DO legends of vicious conduct in its themselves fathers of families, were in gods as have most heathen systems, full sympathy with it. ancient and modern. For a thousand years, therefore, BUDDHISM. marriages were under the direction of Sinto priests, while the Buddhist Buddhism entered Japan about 552 bonzes officiated at the funerals. The A. D., and from that time interesting arrangement was finally broken off changes occurred mutually between it through the jealousy of the Governand the Japanese faith. The two sys- ment. As with the Church of Rome, tems were alike in dispensing with a so with the· Buddhist Sangha: the Creator. Sintoism, as well as its new power over the dying and the dead and the issues of the world to come The Japanese Government from was found to be a formidable factor time to time canonizes the great men in the State. who in their lives have been public benefactors, and thenceforth they are It must be ,"mfessed that thE' line of enshrined. Every prefecture. in the cleavage between the two systems is empire has its Sinto temple. The still very difficult to trace, as the great system seems entrenched in the mass of the people are practically both national life however little of aggres- Sintoists and Buddhists. The latter siveness it may manifest as a religion. <:ult, by its stronger intellectual character, has accomplished more for Buddhism of the old stamp can education and for all the elements of scarcely retain its power, but it never an advancing civilization than the old cares to retain any particular type. faith. It has also introduced moral It has ul'l.dergone many changes in the precepts of a more positive character past centuries and is ready for many than the simpler nature worship had more. It is the most flexible and adever inculcated. Modern Japan as it justable of all systems. It is divided stood at the time of Commodore into twelve distinct sects as it nowex- Perry's expedition was greatly in- ists in Japan. What new attitude it debted to Buddhism, and it owed much will assume in the new ordeal to which also to the teachings of Confucius, the full blaze of Christian truth is which with the introduction of the subjecting it remains to be seen. Chinese language had gained a strong German philosophy, Indiantheosophy, foothold. Both of these systems are and American Unitarianism are doing :still active and aggressive in their what they can to keep it in good heart influence, though lacking the one ele- agaiust the incursion of the" Western ment of strength which Sintoism religion" which missionaries are strivenjoys in its alliance with the Govern- ing to introduce. ment. When the present Mikado assumed full power he proclaimed the What, then, is the outlook? The Sinto faith as the religion of the foes of Christianity love to dwell State. upon what they call the small and in- effectual efforts and smaller success of Well he might, for he had witnessed our Christian propagandism, and they a manifestation of its power as a sup- point in contrast to the widespread porter of his throne such as few conquests of Buddhism on the same sovereigns in the world's history have field fourteen hundred years ago. known. The voluntary surrender of But they forget that those conquests their power and their feudal estates by which we have se~n to have be~n only the daimios of all the provinces to one partial were the result of hundreds of ruler could only have been brought years of slow growth. We have been about by that reverence which the at work a quarter of a century, the sovereigns of Japan have so long re-' first decade of which showed little <:eived as the sons of the gods. fruit, and yet no other such trans- formation ever occurred even in a Moreover, the Sinto temples are century or in two centuries. The enshrined in the pride and reverence nation was never so awakened before, of the people as the resting-places of and it is not strange that some rethe national heroes. There are no action should have occurred and some idols there, but the images of the great real fear lest all trace of the past men of the past are legion. Bud- should be lost. dhism has adroitly followed this example, but the images are only bor- The fact that neither the Buddhist rowed and seem out of place. They nor the Confucian faith ever entirely properly belong to Sintoism and the won Japan after so many centuries of national system. experiment may properly raise the question whether even Christianity dynasty it has been under the ban of will take exclusive possession of the Governmental condemnation. It excountry. The idea that Japan or ists only by sufferance. Confucian- China or India will become exclusively ism has fared better among the lead- Christian in the near future seems ing classes, but its influence is greatly born rather of enthusiasm than of· a circumscribed. careful consideration of facts and indications. No _country is wholly Korea, as a country, has no religion Christian. The best are only prevail- except a crude mass of superstitionsingly Christian, and such Japan will spirit-worship or nature-worship, or be. But until the day comes in which the usual mixture of the two. Like infidel influences from so-called China and Japan, the country has had Christian countries shall cease to ob- an experience with Jesuit missions and struct the conversion of heathen races has driven them out with bloody perby positive efforts to corrupt and lead secutions-though a remnant of native astray we can only hope for a supreme Roman Catholic Christians has reand Qvermastering influence of the mained. The work of Protestant gospel. missions in Korea all lies within the last decade. It began on the North- The Government will perhaps cling west even before the seaports were to the alliance of the Sinto faith for opened by treaties with Western Powa time even after the light of civiliz- ers. Through the indefatigable labors ation has shown the absurdity of the of Rev. John Ross, a Scotch Presbyold myths. Buddhism will continue terian missionary at Moukden, North to find sympathy and support in the China, parts of the New Testament natural self-righteousness of many were translated into the Korean lanhuman hearts, and Confucianism, that guage and were borne over the borproverbially self – sufficient system der by his native helpers who pro– which has become so deeply rooted in ceeded southward even to Seoul, where all three of the great Mongolian races, they won a few converts. will perhaps be slow to yield its hold, but the sceptre of the cross will bear Then followed the medical work or supreme sway and will transform the Dr. H. W. Allen, of the American country more and more. Presbyterian Mission. He was soon followed by Dr. J. W. Heron*andRev. n.-KOREA. H. G. Underwood, of the same mis- sion, and by Messrs. Scranton, Appen- It seems natural to associate Japan zeller and others of the American with China and still more nearly with Methodist Episcopal Mission North. Korea. Both of these missions have been greatly strengthened and are realizing The Mongolian type of race renders an encouraging success. The Presthem essentially one. Between the byterian Church of Australia estabsprightliness and docility of the Japan- lished a mission a year and a half agoese and the extreme conservatism of under the direction of Mr. and Miss the Chinese the Koreans present a Davis. They gave great promise of medium character, as their country success, but the death of the brother holds a geographically intermediate and the consequent return home or position. the sister have left the mission in suspense. The Young Men's Christian Korea, in its existing religious posi- Association of Canada is about to send tion, is unlike either China or Japan. two missionaries to 'Korea during the Sintoism has never been introduced present season. there. The Taouism of China has made but a slight impression and that in a *Dr. Heron has recently died of dysentery. modified form. Buddhism was successfullyintroduced long ago, but during the whole period of the present
EDITORIAL NOTES ON CCRRENT TOPICS
VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT TOPICS.
A general conference of all evangeli- of this REVIEW, who has been in Brit- ~al Christians is called to meet in Florence in 1891, immediately after ain for seven months on a tour of mis- Easter. The invitation is issued by the Italian Branch of the Evangelical sions among the churches, should un- Alliance, and is exceedingly tender in tone. One can realize how changed is dertake a similar campaign in this the aspect of affairs in Italy only by a tour in this wonderful land. The country. He has given his consent to people breathe freely now, with the Pope "a prisoner in the Vatican." How this arrangement and the details only vast the changes since Dr. Marsh was ~ompelled to leave his Bible outside remain to be settled. It is probable the walls before he could himself enter the Eternal City! We remember Sig. that he will accept the invitation of Arrighi's saying that he should not be surprised if he yet had the privilege the Presbyterian Board of Foreign of inviting the Evangelical Alliance to meet in Rome, and seeing the meet- Missions to give a series of addresses ings held in St. Peter's and the delegates lodged in the Vatican! Rome in the great centres East and West, was thought of for the coming meeting, but abandoned on purely pru- between October and meeting of the dential grounds. There are now about 30 places of Protestant worship next General Assembly. We beinside the city of the PopesI A. T. P. speak for Dr. Pierson in this expected The recent outrages at Zacatecas show that the Romish spirit of intoler- campaign the prayers of the readers ance is only slumbering, and that if the Papal Church dared all the hor- of the REVIEW. His aim will be to rors of the Inquisition would be revived. Father Hecker said in the put before the people the great facts Catholic World that heresy should be puuished, and that sins of heresy which are calculated to stimulate should be taken cognizance of in the department of thought. What does missionary zeal and awaken personal that mean but that to think differently from Rome is an offense that ought consecration of self, substance and to be dealt with by law and visited with penalty? Truly we are not so far children to the work of spreading the from the days of Cardinal Bellarmine who, on the basis of two texts, "Feed good news over the wide world. We My sheep," and "Rise, Peter, kill and eat," argued that these two texts prove know no one better fitted for such a the double duty of the Church to take care of disciples and burn heretics! mission. J. M. S. Why not carry such liberalism a step further, and prove that the Church It is another significant sign of the should eat the heretics she burns! times that in both China and Japan there should be the most prominent A.T.P. and promising movement toward the union of all evangelical Christians in It is proposed that one of the editors one body. The contrast is significant, that in Christendom there should be such a multiplication of sects, and on the field of missions such a drawing together and tendency to eliminate denominationalism altogether from the body of believers I -A trained teacher is wanted by the Reformed Church for Nagasaki, Japan, to take charge of the Steele Memorial School for Young Men. Here is an opportunity for some man of balanced judgment, learning, health, piety and a missionary spirit to impress himself upon a whole generation of Japanese youth. A similar man is needed in Amoy Mis- sion, China, and neither needs to be ordained. Where are our young men who, like Micawber, are waiting for something to turn up? Here are op- portunities for investment of mental and moral capital such as no previous hedge into the playground. This was generation ever presented. Think signal for a rude assault, in which what Paul would do if he had the stones and even knives came into play.
chance which this generation supplies But for the fact that it was discovered of expending his life for Christ and by the assailants that he WQ.S a teacher souls! Here are two nations, excelled in one of the schools his life might by none in the Orient for average have been sacrificed.
capacity and culture, waiting for the Meanwhile, in Utsunomiya, the right man to take the rudder and Buddhists had organized a society, guide the coming State. A. T. P. supported by the money of citizens -The outbreaks of personal violence not worthy of the highest esteem, in missionary fields of late are very hired a theatre and employed a lectur- significant. An attempt was made to er to abuse Christianity publicly.
murder Rev. D. W. Frazier, of the When a challenge to public discussion· Presbyterian Board, in Greenville, was wisely declined by the Christians West· Africa, but baffled by the fact about 300 men came from the theatI'e that he and his boys were armed. on Sunday evening, and not only in- Rev. Mr. Newby, in Monsterrade terrupted the service of worship but County, was shot and killed for the broke the windows and some of the sake of land he had bought and im- seats, and only the police prevented proved. At the same time Mr. Frazier further violence.
himself bears witness that the mission- All these are significant signs. We ary spirit has never risen to so high a read of the devil as coming down, Hood mark! "having great wrath because he At the same time the anti-foreign re- knoweth that he hath but a short action in Japan is creating alarm. On time." It would seem that Satan April 4th two armed, masked men begins to tremble for the stability of entered the house of Rev. T. A. Large, his kingdom in this world. Were of the Canada Methodist Mission in missions the failure some would make Tokio, and in attempting to drive out us think he would not trouble himself the intruders he received deadly much about them. Evidently Satan wounds and his wife was wounded in does not agree with some modern the face and had two fingers cut off. critics of missions.
011 the 14th of May Rev. J. Summers, But more than this, we think we of the Church of England, driving out see a decided sign of God's providence with his wife met the carriage of the in permitting these outrages. Mis- Empress Dowager of Japan. Because sions have been in danger of being he did not lift his hat in salute when Invested with a false" romance." On as yet the carriage was onlyapproach- one hand one would suppose from the ing. an advance guard struck off his halo with which heathenism is sur- hat with the butt of his lance. The rounded that the " Light of Asia" is "soshi," the "young America" of quite sufficient to illumine the world.
Japanese society, followed this assault And on the other, we fear that the by rude and irritating conduct in their necessity for the martyr spirit has in ~eal to defend the honor of the royal the eye of some disappeared in the family, and Mr. Summers has resolved rapid advances of modern civilization to return to England. The insult and culture. We have heard young seems purely gratuitous and inex- men exhorted to go· to these far-off cusable. Only three days later, at a lands on the ground that no such sel/- game of foot ball between the pupils denials are now required as once of two native schools, Dr. Imbrie, of were; 1;hat they would find all the the Presbyterian Mission, to avoid a comforts and luxuries of modern civili- roundabout walk stepped over a low zation surrounding them in these Oriental lands! We protest, that when is found in the dominions of the the martyr spirit is quenched the mis- greatest Protestant empire on the sionary spirit will be found to have globe! We record our solemn belief gone out in the same dying flame. Per- after much observation, that, notwith- haps the Lord sees that if missions are standing many precious Christian to have a new and great advance it truths held by the Papal Church, it must be over paths marked with harbors and fosters idolatrous worship blood. As persecutions have tested, of the Virgin and even of the sacra- sifted and purified the Church, so mental wafer. And where idolatry have the trials and risks of missionary prevails, under whatever guise, the life purged the missionary band of the Spirit of God has never yet been pres- chaff and dross of unconsecrated and ent to convert and sanctify. If idols unworthy workmen. Let us not be in are in the courts the Shekinah is not fear. It would not be surprising if in the temple. A. T. P.
the devil should be permitted to work -Recently we attended a simplecon- out his great wrath, and God should ference of believers at Niagara-on-the- make that wrath to praise Him in Lake, where for a week a few hun- raising the level of missionary devo- dred disciples who held the truth es- tion. The man or woman who is not pecially dear, and wished to study the ready to dare death for Jesus is not Bible in company, assembled. Never ready to use life for Him. The lions have we breathed an atmosphere so in the way that send Mr. Fainthearted full of God. In the closing three and Mr. Halfhearted back only em- hours, on Thursday, July 17, we heard bolden Faithful and Christian to brave three successive addresses from Dr.
danger for the Lord. A missionary W. G. Moorhead, on the" Millell'ial life that presents only worldly attrac- Age," from Dr. Nath. West, on tions and tempts worldly indulgences " Christ in the Apocalypse," and from produces a degenerate class of mis- Dr. Brookes, of St. Louis, on the sionaries. We shall have no more "Rewards of the Believer," which we Morrisons, Moifats, Livingstones, never heard surpassed or even Lindleys, Brainerds, Bushnells, Notts, equalled for scriptural quality and Hunts, Williams, Hanningtons, Jud- spiritual power. During seven days sons, McAlls, when there is no more we heard only the Word of God ex- need of self-denial for Christ, for self- panded, expounded and applied. No sacrifice is the mould of heroic souls. ad captandum speeches, no essays or The Lord has not left the work or the orations; no attempts at drawing a workmen yet, and if there be any new crowd; not a hint of the new theology trials and tests they will only make -the old-fashioned views of plenary the product purer and more perfect. inspiration, with every cardinal doc- A. T. P. trine as our fathers held them, with- Those who think that Roman Catho- out any attempt to accommodate lic communities need no Protestant them to the demands of modern cul- missionaries should read Rev. A. B. ture and science. It was refreshing Mackay's letter about the adoration of and invigorating; it was a tonic for " Corpus Christi" in Montreal! the soul. But the most noticeable Think of compelling people not only thing about it is that when the old- to halt while the procession was mov- fashioned Bible was so deeply rever- ing but to kneel in the presence of the enced and earnestly studied, the mis- "host!" What is this but the idolatry, sionary flame burned more brightly not of sun or moon-which are at least than we have ever seen it before in noble objects of admiration-but of a such a gathering. Such a spirit of mere piece of dough! And this forcible spontaneous giving was there ex- participationin iiolatrous ceremonials hibited that a few hundred people, mostly of very moderate means, vol- results, compare favorably with any untarily offered more than $4,000! other in the whole fil<ld. A. T. P.
Year before last that same little con- We desire to call attention to the ference gave $2,500 to Hudson Taylor National Missionary Conference to be for the China Inland Mission, and held at Indianapolis on September 3d furnished him some 13 missionaries and continue till the 9th. It is ex- besides! All from that small com- pected that there will be a large at- pany of disciples met for Bible study! tendance, particularly of the volun- Last year again about thesamesumwas teers for the work of foreign missions given, unsolicited, and now again this and of those who feel especially "in- year the voluntary offerings are nearly terested in giving the gospel to the double those of the previous years. whole world as speedily as possible."
Never have we seen in any similar There has been a marvellous quicken- assembly a like devotion to the old ing and extension of the missionary Bible, a like spirit of prayer, a like spirit in Kansas and other portions of spirit of missions, or a like spirit of the West during the past few months.
giving. And we asked ourselves as A great many missionaries have been we came away, whether a. revival of raised up already as the fruit of this the simple faith in the Word of God, revival. One company, as we have in place of modern "Progressive previously chronicled, has already Theology," "Second Probation," gone forth to plant a new mission in "Higher Criticism" and "Christian the Soudan, and another company, we Science" might not be the key to a understand, will join the pioneer band new zeal for missions, and a new the coming autumn. Doubtless this Pentecost of prayer, and a new spirit Conference will intensify this move- of large and abundant self-sacrifice? nlent. which has taken such powerful The more we see of Christian life the hol~ of the Young Men's Christian As- more do we feel confident that every sociations of several of the Western step away from a full faith in the States in particular, and will origin- plenary inspiration of the Word of ate and give shape to new and impor_ God is a step away from the Cross tant developments looking to the of Christ and from all which that speedy evangelization of the world.
Cross represents in the believer's life May the Holy Spirit of God baptize of devotion to the spread of the the Conference with a special effusion kingdom. A. T. P. and guide all its deliberations and doings! J.11. S.
-We note that Rev. Dr. Gulian The Shanghai Oonference. Lansing, of the United Presbyterian Church, after forty years of mission- "ONE THOllSAND MISSIONARIES FOR ary life in the Valley of the Nile, is now in this land for a rest. He is the CHINA IN FIVE YEARS!" father of Professor J. G. Lansing of the New Brunswick Theological Semi- This is a bugle-blast from tke nary. The fires that burn in the great Conference of Missionaries in father's heart have been kindled on the China which recently closed its sesson's altar, as is evident from the fact sions at Shanghai. We have elsewhere that he is at the bottom of a special given a pretty full account of its promission to the Arabs, and not only ceedings from the pens of two of its stimulates young men to devote them- members. It was, with one exception, selves to this work but,we understand, the largest gathering of missionaries proposes to lead the columns! The work that ever took place on the foreign of Dr. Lansing and his fellow-mission- field, numbering 432 members; and its aries in Egypt will, in character and whole proceedings were character- ized by a spirit of harmony, enlight- ened wisdom, a broad and compre- hensive policy, and bold and earnest aggressiveness never excelled by a in five years! It can be done-done similar assembly. It was a grand op- easily and without neglecting any portunity, and grandly did our mis- other field. Why, the China Inland sionary brethren improve it. The Mission alone-one of the new and Church may well be proud of such comparatively feeble organizations, representatives, and thank God for with no visible resources-resolved, in the harmony, the courage and the 1888, to send out to China, within one wisdom given them. year,100 missionai'ies, and then prayed the Lord for the men and the means, The Conference has now spoken to and both the men and the money came the Church at home-'-the Church forward. If that little band could universal-and spoken in no uncer- tain way. Its voice is like the voice send out and support 100 new mis- of many thunders. It met and calmly sionaries to China in one year, what and thoughtfully and solemnly dis- are 200 a year for the great British cussed, planned, prayed, resolved, and and American missionary societies made its four-fold appeal and ad- represented in the Shanghai Confer- journed. It did its duty in a great ence? If each would do its propor- emergency, at the flood-tide of vast op- tion, the work could be done with portunities-and did it nobly, grand- ly, in the fear of God and in faith in infinite ease. Note that "lay" as well the churches that sent them forth. as ordained missionaries are called Now the responsibility is laid upon the churches, whose servants and re- for. Surely our brethren in distant presentatives they are; will they respond as the occasion demands? Will China have not sent out their loud ap- they lay to heart these masterly and burdened "Appeals" which they have peals in vain. J. M. S. sent forth and give them practical effect? We repeat here the burning " What Ought we to do for Foreign .words of Dr. Happer, our editorial Missions?" is ably shown in a leaflet correspondent at Canton, and make we have received from thepen of Rev. them our own: T. G. Field, district secretary of the American Baptist Missionary Union "Let the bugle-call go forth for one at Minneapolis. It is a plea for rethousand missionaries within five organizing the home department of years. Let it ring in the ears of the the work carried on by the Union. Church. Help them to carry it to the He contends that there is a great lack throne of grace. Let them ponder it of wise and efficient organization on in their closets and around the family the part of Baptists, and he finds in altar. Let the youth hear it in the schools, in the academies, in the col- this fact occasion for the following leges and in the universities, and in statement: the theological seminaries: 'One thousand missionaries for China in " On every hand we have been, we five years.' Keep this line in your are, outdone by Christians of other columns every month till the Church names. To look no farther, with selfis aroused with the trumpet-call, and reproaching gratitude behold the arouses itself to good earnest work Moravians, and weep. Or consider the and consecration and giving; and, enterprise and liberality of the Church above all, may God, by His Spirit, ac- of England, or of Presbyterian or company this call to the hearts of Congregational mission work. In those He would call to have a share in one thing Baptist missions do proporthis blessed work for the Master." tionately greatly excel, viz., in fruit- fulness of conversions. But is this A thousand missionaries for China ours, or is it God's gift to the obedi- ence of the few? The four leasing foreign mission societies of America spent last year over $2,500,000. Less than one-sixth of this was Baptist money. To these societies was given a report of 17,336 converts, of whom 6,093, or over one-third, were gathered intothe mission churches of ourUnion. With what feelings must we own that
ORGANIZED MISSION ARY WORK AND STATISTICS
for such blessing on such service we pansive, inadequate, outgrown system have contributed this year but twenty- five cents a member; that in a year of of administering foreign interests." the largest receipts ever known, the highest average per member, in any An over-conservative policy is not State, for the general work of the Union, is only sixty-five cents, while restricted to anyone society or church. in the lowest it is but eight cents. Nay, there is one grand exception. We deeply regret the present ten- California breaks the record with the splendid average of almost $2.16 per dency to start independent missions, member; but this is due to a noble contribution from one individual. but is it not in part the outcome and Twenty-five cents apiece and one ordained missionary abroad to 6,356 protest against a too narrow or rigid members at home, 01', counting wives and single women, about one mission- iron-cast policy not in harmony with ary to every 2,800 Baptists does not overstate the present practical guage the spirit and changed conditions of of our obedience to the parting injunction of Jesus. The fact is that the times? Secretary Field's views for several years we have made no adequate progress. We seem to be are commanding attention in his 'own nearly at a dead-point. The most of our missions are sorely taxed' to hold church, and they may do good in their own. Speedy reinforcement, requiring large increase of men and other mission circles. J. M. S. money, alone can enable them to maintain efficiency with vigor. . . . As to the prize offers of premiums Practically, we now struggle simply for articles on Prayer in connection to hold what our fathers acquired, with missions, the editors would save the Congo Mission, and thIS, too, further say that they have not thought at an hour when we, in every way, in it necessary to say that they will not numbers, intelligence, wealth, pros- consider themselves obligated to award perity, are blessed as never heretofore; any premiums if there shall not be a at an hour when" to earth's remotest sufficient 'I1,umber of competing and bound" every nation thrown wide satisfactory articles to make such open to approach is threatened with award justifiable and practicable. In the vices and atheism of the West, to such case all that we engage to do is add death unto death, instead of re- to return all such essays as cannot be ceiving the Bread of Life, and while made of use. And, secondly, the we, with all the equipment of divine articles should cover ground not algrace and modern civilization, fully ready covered by articles which have know the awful need of heathenism appeared in these columns. One letter' and our ability, under God, to minis- which we have received from a proter to it." posing competitor asks one of the editors to furnish certain details of He argues that it is not" the fault fact, which have already been pub- lished in the REVIEW. Of course we' of the Missionary Union, but rather shall insist that the instances given shall be culled by the writers from the inevitable outcome of onr denomi- material found outside our own pages., national growth constricted by an inex- A.T.P. J.M.S.
VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
Reformed Presbyterian «Jovenanter) From Contributions to missions.•••• 3,400 00 Ohurch in the United States. Synod's trustees ………. . 1,320 84'
Secretary: REV. R. M. SOMMERVILLE, D.D.,l26 Total….. .. ….. … .. ……….. $18,462 89 West 45th Street, New York. Expenditures.
REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING APRIL 30, 1890. Balance from last account ………. $01,01485' For the missions…. • • …. …… . .. . 16,042 27 Receipt•. From congregations.. … ……….. $7,858 Zi' Total…………………….. $17,057 13 Balance to new account.. •.• • . . . . . . 1,405 76 .. Sabbath·scbools and mission- ary societies…………… . 2,804 07 Total.. ………………… ,_ •. $18,462 89 " Individuals and bequests .. , 4,07971 ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK AND STATISTICS.
There are no home expe~s, all the funds Amount In hand of being directly used on the field. Mission Treasurer STATISTICS. called In.. . . ….. .. 48,326 25 Deficit carried for- 3 missions (Latakiyeh, Larsees, Cyprus); missionaries, ordained, 4; lay, 1; missionaries' ward ………….. 60,2759.3 wives, 4; other ladies, 4; native ordained ministers, 4; other helpers, 34; stations and – – – – $158,602 18 out-stations, 8; organized churches, 3; total TotaL ………………….. $952,668 62 number of preaching-places, 11; communicants, 190; added during theyear, 12; schools, Expenditures. 25; pupils, 730. Amount cOl)tributed by na- Balance (Deficit) May 1, 1889 ….. $44,696 62 tive churches, $33.91. Appropriations for year ending May 1,1890: Board of Foreign Missions of the Africa…………. $31,155 02 811,245 69' Presbyterian Ohurch (North). China, Japan and 43,001 84 The Secretaries: 53 Fifth Avenue, New York, Korea ……… .. 248,57600 1,724 47 N.Y. India, Siam and. 52,000 00 REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDING MAY 1, 1890. Laos ………. .. 181,723 26 Receipts. Persia . . . . . . . . . . .. 76,872 89 Syria …………. . 60,733 64 From Churches…….. $291,719 86 Guatemala and " Woman's Bo'rds 280,285 51 Mexico ……… . 92,314 00 Sunday-schools. 36,062 56 South America .. 117,180 88 Papal Europe .•… 2,690 00 Legacies…….. 112,877 68 Individuals and Chinese and Indians in United States …………………. .. miscellaneous sources … … 73,120 83 Special ………………….. . Home Department•..•••..•….. $794,066 44 Balance to New Account: TotaL …………………. $952,66862 Amount withheld on acc't of changes in !lscal y~rs in vanous miSSIOns.. . $50,000 00 STATtSTtes.
Missionar'es Na ive ~00 "r~n",S-'0~"o. ~~ o"""~~ OJ' ',"c",6"~ ——- ~~6 :~Cg.S.~- 5~~ ga ~ ~ .:;; g ~ g~.8 _:.:SI rtl 'm0 ~• ~ ~~ ~~c~6o~~ ~o ~0 ~~CD Q3 .u"; ~ ! j ~ .:;;w . .4 !":l ~~=::=:-::-:- 217 910'9 '9 24171.398156ls 57981l,3121$ 504 China………… … . …. … " 13 48 68 12 61 226 45 4,084 446/'124 2,687 6 2,969 2,809 Japan……. …. ………… 1 5 21 47 3 43… 34 4,977 672 15 1,409 17…… 6,750' Korea ………. ……….. 1 1 3 5 2 .. …… 104 39.. ……………….. .. India… ………………. 3 10 37 71 4 33 174 4(?) 1,093 81 14 8,016… 4,590 82 Siam and Laos …………. 2 5 13 21 4 6 33 12 1,114 1711 21 f541 14 fi76 804 Persia……. ……… …… 2 6 14 35 5 89 170 27 2,269 141 147 3,069 18 5,210 2,200 24 Syria………………….. 1 5 14 1 39162 20 1,619 98 142 5,853 7 4,966 7,767· 1 Guatemala…………….. 1 11 2 4 …. ••• 1 1 . 4….. 1 38 2 50 15 Mexico …… …………… 1 5 7 11 …. 50 53 90 5,165 388142 1,358 15 1,795 3,627 South America…….. " …. 3 15 2-J 25 1 15 69 46 2,993 324 22 1,263 5 947 13,602 _.2 .:.:.:.:. .:.:.:. _ 92: 24;820 24;913 92 22,~15 .Total ;Foreign Lands…. 21 $37,660 Indian Tribes…………… 3 ,03 2,986 61 190 321411345 912 297 2,516/546 320 9 5 8 … 114 21 20 1,630 198 10 Chinese & Japanese in U. S. 1 ~ _~ ~ ~ 344 _.~ _~ .2~:: ~ _~ 3,711 Total. ……………… 25 lOti 199 336 411359943 320 26,794 2,753 583 26,348106 23,935 1$44,357 Board of Foreign Missions of the Expenditures. Presbyterian Ohurch (South) in the United States. Three Brazil Missions•…•.••••••.. $ 37,433 01 SeQretary: Rev. M. H. HOUSTON, D.D., Nash- China Missions………………. .. 17,928 82 ville, Tenn. Japan 13,132 44 REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING APRIL 1, 1890. Receipts. Greek 2,722 65 Balance on Hand. . .. •• … ….. … $ 7,229 29 Italian 1,206 25· From Churches……………….. 47,459 63 Sabbath-schools.. . •. . . . . …. .. ….. 10,290 00 Indian 6,550 00- Missionary Societies.·……… ….. 25,422 03 Legacies……… …. ….. …….. 1,934 59 Mexican " 7,863 71 Individuals and Miscellaneous….. 10,948 89 Total for Missions………….. $ 86,836 92· General Expenses….. …….. ….. 7,989 42· Balance on Hand…. •.. . . . .. . . . . . . 8,457 59 Total……. .. ……. …. …… $103,283 93 Total. • .• …. ••. ………….. $103,283 93· STA.TISTICS. tions),8; other helpers-evangelists, 108; or- ganized churches, 43; other preaching places, o-g§ J 87; stations and ont-stations, 130; communi- 00 00 oll cants, 3,60'2; added during the year, 222; col- '0 leges and theological s"minaries, 4; pupils, § 41. Of other schools no accurate statistics are ~~, available.
i Sc:.e: ~ ~ o~" ~~o~j ~'"~~~~~f 'C 00 ~~ Reformed (Dutoh) Ohuroh in Amerioa. ] ,: 5 '8 -;;; iO' Secretary: REV. H. N. COBB, D.D., 26 Reade 5.; "~ ~>. •~::::s Street, New York.
'~~gOO.~~O~.O~ ~…S.. ~Iw~ ….. .~ r.tJ. w'O REPORT FOR YEAR ENDING APRIL 30, 1890. §.S .S .s A JJ Receipts.
~:-8:.-s~ I:'-~s~~1:~d § .S Balance from last account. . . . . $971 69 -~ ~ ~O~ From churches ………. $54,76228 · – – – § -8§-:~[- -0 – " Sundar-schools, etc. 12,385 10 -8 – LegacIes, ."…… 8,965 64 Brazil… 30 10 10 5 10 601 100 224 165 $3,040 " Individuals……… 25,995 28 ChiRa .' 71011 .. 110 82 4' 240248 92 " lHisceIIaneous …•..• 14,981 84 Japan.. 12 7 8 5 2 567206 200 100 600 Greece. 41111 28 11 15.. . 130 – – – 117,090 14 Italy … 1 .. 2…. Mexico. 44 2 4 8 3 400 43 40 …… —- 250 150 875 Total …………………….. $118,061 83 Expenditures.
India: .Arcot Mission..••• $30,01327 China: Amoy Mission ••••……..• 21,008 46 Total Japan: North and South Missions .. 49,209 74 929 ;'03 $4,737 I Foreign. 983036 19,26 1,678 364 300 60 1,200 General mission expenses, ……… $100,231 47 Arcot Seminary Fund"……….. 105 00 IinndiIannds. Home expenses……………….. 6,276 75 Terriey Interest and loans (balance)…….. 9,422 03 (U. S.). 37 3 3 5 6 625 27 Total. 13.3 33 39 24,32 2,303 391 1,229 763 ,6,437 Balance to new account………… 2,026 58 —— 1 Total….. .. .. …… ……. …. $118,061 83 1 The work among the Indians will probably ~IHfl >'31l;'g[! be handed over to the Home Missionary ~I ~~-oo-TI~St~a~ti~o-ns-.—– Society during the current year, the Foreign Missionary Committee continuing to con- e….1 tribute somewhat towards its support for a ·term of years.
lOut – Stations and !:5!il i§l Preaching Places Presbyterian Ohuroh of England. 1~ Secretary: JOHN BELL, 13 Fenchurch Avenue, !ill 1 Ordained. ~ c£:)OHX) I I I ~ ~ eo eo Female. London, E. C., England. ~.
REPORT FOR YEAR ENDiNG DEC. 31, 1889. ~.
Receipts. I ILay. Il Balance from last account, ..•••• £4981211 ~ l':I~-q…. Congregational contributions… . 6,497 2 6 Edinburgh Committee …….. . 2,740 0 0 ~ ! dj00 …. 1 Ordained. Legacies. .. -. _.. .. .. . . . … .. 1,454 15 3 i I I ~ ~!:5~ Other Helpers, ~. Juvenile fund………………. . 1,785 3 8 Students' Missionary Society ..•. g: I !:5 oo!ill Churches. Donations, etc….. .. ……… . 348 6 6 Balance overdrawn, .•. " •••••••• 1,710 2 6 2,086 4 0 Total. ………………….. £17,070 7 4 ~8l~ 0.' to ,,"",,"' Expenditures. §ll 1 Communicants.
General mission charges…….. £15,767 1 11 ~ 1~g;:s51 Added. Home charges .. ……………. 848 17 6 Interest and amounts drawn on ac- ~ I … '" '" ·1""'S;-em—C-in-a-rI~·e-s.— count …………….. …….. 454 7 11 8 ~ ~1£ 1 Students.
Total…………….. . ….. :£17,070 7 4 e ITheological Stu- The total missionary income should in- ~eo~ dents. ·clude £2,608 15s 6d from the Woman's .Associ- 00 ~ 1 Day Schools. ,ation making (exclusive of the balances) £17,13958 11d. i : i Ii§ Scholars. Adding also the expenditures of the Woman's Association, £2,700 3s 3d, the total '" : …….. I Hospitals. ,expenditure is £19,770 lOs 7d. • ~~ .W . ~! STATISTICS. '""'I: I ~,p..: Patients Treated.
Missions, 6; ordained missionaries, 20; lay, §~ ~ Contributi~ns 13 (of whom 10 medical); miSSIOnaries' wives, from NatIve :21; other ladies, 16; native ordained ministers Ooo.~ (elltirely supported by their own congrega· djg;~ Churches.
PROGRESS OF MISSIONS-MONTHLY BULLETIN
VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS MONTHLY BULLETIN.
Africa.-The Work in Abyssinia. The nouncing their allegiance to Portugal and are strong position Italy now occupies at Massaua joining Gungunyana. on the Red Sea, its military strength, its alliance with King Menelek, its rising colony at -The report of the Mackenzie Memorial Assab-alJ inspire the hope that Abyssinia and Mission to Zululand and the tribes towards the Zambesi river begins with mourning the the Galla country may be speedily opened up loss of its head, the late Dr. D. Mackenzie, to the gospel. The pastlabors of the C. M. S., Bishop of Zululand. The mission consists (in since 1830, in these regions are well known. addition to the Bishop) of 13 clergymen (two GoOOt, Krapf, Isenberg were among its faith- of them natives) and 22 lay helpers. The total ful agents; these were, however, gradually income from free contributions received during driven out through religious intrigue and the the year was a little over £1,200. violence of King Theodore. There remain, however, valuable translations, such as those -King Mwanga, of Uganda, Central in the Amharic, Tigre and Galla tongues; the Africa, who has heen twice dethroned and driven out of the country, has returned and is last the laborious work of Dr. Krapf. There again at the head of the kingdom. In a letter are still, also, fragments of missions among written to Cardinal Lavigerie he asks that the Falashas, in the Shoa country, and there is priests be sent to teach the religion of Christ the Swedish Mission at Massaua, etc., which in all the country of Uganda. General Gordon so generously supported. -The reports of the suffering from famine The Church of Rome is availing itself of the in the Soudan are appalling. The greatest opportunity. It is said that Russia also is to sufferers are the widows and children of the establish a consulate and to send a mission. men who have been killed during the many It is to be hoped that evangelical missions will conflicts which have raged in the interior. not be slow to avail themselves of this open Reports from Suakin are that not only all door. sorts of animals are eaten, but toot cannibal- ism has actually commenced. An appeal has -In response to a telegram from Mr. been made in England for these starving Douglas Hooper of Eastern Africa, received Soudanese. on a Monday in London and announced that evening in Exeter Hall, no less than nine vol- -The number of missionary stations in unteers presented themselves in thirty-six Africa now exceeds 500. There are 400,000 hours for work in that difficult field. Four converts and the number is increasing at the men were selected, and by the following rate of about 25,000 a year. Within five years Saturday evening actually started on their more than 200 natives have suffered martyrjourney via Marseilles. " This," says the dom for their faith. Indian Witness, "is a good answer to the charge that mission interest is dying out." -Rev. A. R. Tucker wits consecrated Bishop for Eastern Equatorial Africa on April -A Steamer for Victoria Nyanza. The 21, and left for Africa the same day. He has enthusiasm in England has led to the raising charge of the missions of the English Church of a .. Stanley Fund, " and Mr. Stanley himself Missionary Society in East Africa. A telehas made the suggestion as to its disposal- gram to the London Time" says that his party that it be devoted to the placing of a steamer are to start for the Nyanza the first week in on Victoria Nyanza. This lake is as large as July with Mr. Stokes' caravan. the whole of Scotland, and he states that a steamer upon it would be of immense service, China.-A Revival.-A great and mighty both for the use of the missionaries and as a door has been opened lately for the gospel in civilizing factor. He proposes that it should the Shantung Province, China. A revival be handed over either to the Church Mission- wave is passing over that section of the counary Society or to the Imperial British East try. The Rev. Robert M. Mateer, one of the African Company.-Missiona1'1/ Herald. laborers in that province, has been so dis- tressed by the great hunger of the people for -The Gaza Country. L'A/rique reports the gospel and the small number to feed them that a Portuguese expedition has been sent to that he has taken upon himself the support of the Gaza country, the region to which, as we ten native preachers ($50 a year each), three have recently reported, Gungunyana, the son girls' schools ($175 each), and one boys' of Umzila, has removed with all his people. school ($:lOO). He wrote to the pastor of This expedition is intended, by an effective Tabor Presbyterian Church, Philadelphia, occupation, to enforce the claims of Portugal Rev. Willis B. Skillman, stating the above as the protectorate of Gazaland. A more re- facts and asking for a helping hand. The cent report by way of Lisbon, June 11, states pastor laid the matter before his Bi ble-class, that Gungunyana has joined the chief Bilene, composed of 35 young men, and the class made and, with a force of 50,000 men and women, the hearty response of $50, which means the has beaten Bifoana, the leading chieftain of support of a native pastor for a year. The in Portuguese territory. Other chiefs are re- same matter was brought to the attention of the Young Men's Prayer Meeting of the church, years and has come home to raise $15,000 for numbering 125 members. The boys' generous a printing plant in Calcutta. After describing response was over $60, which will support an- the country, with its population of 310,000,000, othernativepastor for a year andtheeducation he took up the culture and religion of the for one year of a boy in the loys' school. The people. Said he: "Calcutta has a student matter was also laid before the congregation. population of 15,000, and its college men are No collection was taken but simply the state- peers of their American brethren. From this ment made. The response was over $50. Can- cultivated class you can descend until you find not some other pastor be the means of bless· whole villages where no person can read a ing his people by asking them to help in this word of any language. To these degraded great work of Christ? classes the missionaries go or send native preachers who teach the alphabet by marking . -Shanghai Union Conference.-A Confer· in the sand with their fingers. With this beence on Union, composed of representatives ginning they teach them to read the Bible. " of seven Presbyterian churches laboring in Chica, met at Shanghai, May 15th. On ac- Cannibalsthe Bishop does not regard as the count of the diversity of language and the lowest class of men. He has seen men worse difficulties of travel the representatives of two than cannibals in New York and London. In of the churches deemed organic union impos- speaking of the work of the Young Men's sible. At a later meeting it was decided to Christian Association in Calcutta, he said take steps to form an organic union between that its representatives are undenominational the five other churches, and any others who and he wished them to remain so. When he may wish to join the union. A plan of union said that $30 would support one of the lowest similar to the one used by the churches in In- class of missions, for which he had men dia was adopted. A constitution is to be trained, Mr. Moody said that he wanted one of formed for the Presbyterian churches in China those missions and would contribute $30 for based upon those of the churches in Europe that purpose. About twenty minutes was and America. Its doctrinal basis is to be "The given up to receiving similar offers. College Apostles' Creed," the "Nicene Creed," and the after college responded. The Virginia delega- "Westminster Confession and Catechisms." tion and the University of Virginia each sub- The Presbyteries are to be composed of the scribed for a mission. "We think more of Virmissionaries, the pastors and the churches ginianow than we did in '61," said Mr. Moody, occupying the same territory. These Pres- and the applause stopped the contributions byteries are to constitute one Synod, meet- for a short time. Princet<>n, the University of ing once in five years. The uniting bodies are Pennsylvania, Harvard, Yale, and Johns-Hopthe Presbyterian Church (North), U. S. A.; kins were among the twenty or thirty instituthe Presbyterian Church (South), U. S. A.; tions which will share in this new phase of the United Presbyterian of Scotland, the Irish mission work in India. Presbyterian, and the Canadian Presbyterian churches. The two declining to unite are the -A meeting was held in Exeter Hall, on English Presbyterian and the Reformed Dntch May 2, to establish a London Auxiliary of the chnrches. The snmmary of statistics given Mission to Lepers in India. The secretary reat the Conference shows, Foreignmissionaries, ported that there are about 500,000 lepers in 1,295; native helpers, 1,&:19; churches, 520; India. The society utilizes existing agencies communicants, 37,287; pupils in schools, as much as possible. Addresses were given 16,916; contributions hy native Christians, by Mr. T. A. Denny and Rev. F. E. Wigram. $36,834. Italy.-The Waldensian Church of Italy, India.-"Our work in North India continues which has recently celebrated its two hnnto prosper. Brother Bare writes that no less dredth anniversary of the return of the exiled than 2,364 persons have been baptized in the Vaudois, gives evidence of continued life and Rohilkhund district since the annual statistici vigor. It reports 44 churches, 38 pastors, Z7 were made up at the close of last October. evangelists, including colporteurs, 6 Bible This covers a space of five months. Add to readers, 4,074 communicants and 469 catethese 400 baptisms in connection with Dr. chumens. Parker's evangelistic work, and 300 by Brother Osborne and others in the Rnski district, and Japan.-Murder of a Missionary. It was we have a total of more than 3,000. This sur· at first feared that the recent assassination of passes the sanguine expectations with which Rev. T. A. Large, of the Canadian Methodist we began the year, and our brethren are very Mission in Tokio, Japan, indicated a reaction naturally filled with joy and hope."-Bishop in the popular feeling about missionaries, and resulted from hatred to the foreign religious Thoburn. teacher. But the sad event proves to have -Bishop Thobnrn on India.–At Northfield, been the crime of robbers, who entered the missionary's bedroom to find the key of his Mass., in Mr. Moody's College Conference on safe, in which a considerable sum of money Missions, July 3d, Bishop Thoburn, of the happened to be deposited. Roused suddenly Methodist Episcopal Church, jnst returned from his sleep, and wholly unarmed, Mr. Large bravely expelled the masked intruders, from India spoke. He has been In India 31 but was meantime so cut and gashed by their from posts under the Government. The en- sharp Japanese swords that he fell dead at the forcement of the edicts will result in the ex- -feet of his wife, who had also been wounded pulsion of over one million Jews from the in the struggle. Earnest sympathy has been country." universally expressed with the widow by all the organ~ of the press, and universalindigna- Sweden.-The Annual Convention of the tion is felt against the cowardly criminals, Swedish Fatherland Missioi1 Society was re- who, if they can be captured, will be severely cently held in the Blasieholm Church, Stock- punished.-Misionary Herald. holm; 245 clerical and 216 lay delegates were present. The branch societies have, during -The native churches under the care of the the year, increased from 107 to 116; 18 travel- American Board's missionaries~in Japan, says ing missionaries and 187 colporteurs are em- the Congregationalist, organized half a dozen ployed. 762,000 copies of the Bible and other years ago a home missionary society. It devotional books were printed, and somewhat has flourished so well that the demands of the more than that number sold and distributed. work now justify the appointment of a paid Since its organization the society has pub- president, who will devote all his time to es- lished 22,700,280 copies of various religious tablishing new churches and strengthening books. The net profits of the pUblishing house those already existing. for the year are 11,890 crowns. 35 mission- aries are laboring in Eastern Africa, and 35 in Korea.-In regard to the progress in India. The expenditures for foreign missions missionary work, Dr. Underwood, of the were W3,525 crowns. The balance remaining Presbyterian Mission, writes to the Occident: in the foreign mission treasury is 105,282 "In the Presbyterian Church at the end of the crowns. The home mission fund shows a bal- first year our first convert had not been seen. ance of 36,666 crowns. We had come to sow seed,and had hardly dared expect to see fruits so soon. Japan hali to Miscellaneous.-A special committee of wait six or seven years for the flrst results. the English Wesleyan Missionary Society has In July of the second year, however, the Lord investigated and reported upon certain permitted us to see the flrst convert baptized. charges published in the Methodist Times re- At the end of the third year our numbers specting the alleged extravagance of Wes- were about twenty. Steadily they increased, leyan missionaries in India. The substance their interest grew, the members were zealous, of the report of the committee is that the and at the close of the next year there was a Wesleyan missionaries in India do not live in revival, and before the year ended the little luxury, that their stipends are not excessive bsnd was almost sixty. Another year of compared with those that are given to Wesleysteady progress was granted to us, and to-day an ministers in England, and that the attend- the company numbers over a hundred baptized ance of the missionaries at the levees of the Christians, besides over half as many more Viceroy does not involve pecuniary expense who have applied for baptism and profess nor hinder their work among the native poputhemselves Christians, but have been urged to lation. The committee find that the charges- acquaint themselves more fully with God's that the missionaries live in such a manner Word." and in such places as to alienate them from the natives-are not sustained. The result is a Palestine.-Bishop Blythe of Jerusalem complete exoneration of the missionaries. says there are now in Palestine double the number of Jews that returned from the Baby- -Up to July IS the number of appoint- 10nish captivity, and that the "latter rains" ment.s for missionary service in connection which had been withheld since the times of with the American Board, since the last annual _the exile, had been granted again during the meeting, was just sixty, 22 of them men and last two years,. 88 women.
Russia.-Persecution of the Jews.-Lon- -The statistics of the Christian Endeavor don, July 3O.-The Times says: "The Russian Societies, as presented at the international Government hasordered the application of the Convention at St. Louis, shows clearly the edicts of 1882 against the Jews. These edicts great advance this society has made. These have hitherto been held in abeyance. Accord- societies exist in every English-speaking land ing to these, Jews must henceforth reside in in the world, the total number being 11,013, certsin towns only. None will be permitted to with a membership of 66O,OOO-a gain of 3,341 own land or hire it for agricnltural purposes. societies and 185,000 members in eleven The order includes within its scope towns and months. hundreds of villages that have large Jewish -Arabic tracts for Mohammedan readers. At populations. No Jew will be allowed to hold the request of General Haig the Committee of shares in or work mines. The law limiting the Religions Tract Society (London) have the residence of Jews to sixteen provinces published a series of Arabic tracts, setting will be enforced. No Hebrew will be allowed forth, in progressive order, the main doctrines to enter the army, to practice medicine or of scripture, and leading up to that of the law, to be an engineer, or to enter any of the Atonement of the 'Lord Jesus Christ. other professiollll. They will also be debarred
INDEX OF CONTENTS OF THE SEPTEMBER NUMBER
INDEX OF CONTENTS SEPTEMBER NUMBE~.
PAGE PAGE. I.-LITERATURE OF MISSIONS…… 641-684 CHINA.-Proceedings of Shanghai Con- n.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLI- ference, 669; The Four Appeals of the GENCE~._ …. _._ … ___ …….. 684-693 Conference to the Churches, 673; Dr. Happer's Remarks on the Conference, m.-MISSIONARY CORRESPONDENCE._ 6934)96 676; Edit.orial Note on do., 712; Plan of Union of Presbyterian Churches, 693; IV.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT… 696-704 Editorial Note on,709; Chinese Educa- tion,697; A Great Revival,717; Shang- V.-MONTHLY CONCERT OF MISSIONS 704-708 hai Union Conference……………….. 712 English Wesleyan Missionary Society, VI.-EDITORIAL NOTES ON CURRENT Report of Investigating Committee….. 719 Field, LeafietonBaptistMissions ………. 713 TOPICS __ ………….. 00. •• 709-713 "Hottentot," A Noble Example. ……. . 683· VII.-ORGANIZED MISSIONARY WORK INDIA.-Notes on various interests, AND STATISTICS.. . . . .•.• ••..•• 714-717 (translations), 680; Indian Church Aid Association, 686; Development of Medi- VIII.-PROGRESS OF MISSIONS: MONTH- cal Missions, 687; Female Education, LY BULLETIN ……………. 717-719 687; Lepers, 688; Zenana Missions, 688; Welsh Calvinistic Foreign Missions, 689; IX.-INDEX TO CONTENTS………… 720 Young Men's Christian Association Work, 694; Work Prospering, 718; Bishop Authors. Thoburnon India, 718; LondonAwdliary of the Mission to Lepers …………… 718' EDITORS. – A. T. Pierson. The Super- natural Factor in Missions, 653; Edi- ITALY.-Missionary Conference at Flor- torial Notes, 709; J. M. Sherwood, Edi- ence in 1891 ………………………… 718 torialNotes………………………… 712 JAPAN.-Educational Exhibit at Paris Curtis, Rev. Freq.. S., Account of the Exposition,692; The Situation in, by Dr. Shanghai Missionary Conference…..••• 669 Ellinwood, 704; Murder of Mr. Large, 718; Work of Home Missions…………. 719 Ellinwood, F. F., D.D., Woman's Work for Woman, 648; The Situation in Japan KOREA.-The Present Condition of and Korea ………………. _…….. 704 Things,708; Progress in Mission work .•• 717 Gracey, J. T., D.D., International Depart- Lansing, Dr. Gulian and hisSon…•……. 712 ment ……………………………. 697 Missionary Conferences-The Conference Happer, A. P., D.D., Comments on the of Believers at Niagara, 711; The Indian- Shanghai Conference .. …………… 676 apolis National Conference ………… 712 Mormon Proselytism.. .. …. • •…. .. …… 661 Johnston, Rev. James, Notes on India…. _ 686 Outbreaks of Personal Violence ..••……• 710 Pierson, Dr. A. T., A Proposed Campaign Leonard, Rev. D. L., Mormon Proselytism 661 in behalf of Presbyterian Board of For· eign Missions………………….. … 709 McConaughy, David, Jr., Y. M. C. A. Work Prize Offers …………………………. 714 in India…….. …. ……………….. 694 RUSSIA.-Persecution of the Jews …… 719 Moorhead, Max Wood, Student Volunteer Movement…………………………. 684 Mudge, Rev. James, The Evolution of a Missionary Society.. .. …. … .. …….. 701 Starbuck, Rev. Charles C., Translations from Foreign Missionary Periodicals…• 679 Taft, Rev. Marcus L., Chinese Education .. 697 SOUTH AMERICA.-Spanish Mission work in Chili, 693; Romish outbreaks in Thompson, Rev. Andrew, D.D., The Mis- Zacatecas…… ……………………. 709 sion in Basuto Land.. .. …. … .. ……. 641 SWEDEN.-.A.nnual Convention of the Countries and Subjects. Fatherland Missionary Society,719; Scan- dinavian Missionary Conference in AFRICA.-Dr. Thomson on the Mission Christiana…………………………. 683 in Basuto Land, 641; The Anglo-German Agreement 689; Stanley and the Brus- Statistics of Foreign Missions. sels Confererence, 691 ; Nelson's Starva- tion Camp, 692; The Work in Abyssinia. Reformed Presbyterian Church in the 717; Steamer on Victoria Nyanza, 717; United States. Report for 1889·90….. 714 TheGaza Country, 717; MacKenzie Me- morial Mission, 717; King Mwanga, 717; Presbyterian Church (North) Report for Soudan Famine, 717; Number of Stations 1889-90.. .. …. .. … ………………… 715 in Africa, 717; Bishop Tucker………. 717 Presbyterian Church (South) Report for Berlin Mission in Transvaal…… .. ……. 682 1889-90 …. …. . …………………… 715 Christian Endeavor Society, Statistics of. 719 Presbyterian Church of England. Report for 1889……………. ……… .. …. 716 COrpU8 Christi, Adoration of in Montreal. 711 Reformed (Dutch) Church in America. Report for 1889-90…. …….. …. ….. • 715