The Missionary Review of the World — February 1894
CHINESE "ANCESTRAL WORBlIlP."
MISSIONARY REVIEW OF THE WORLD.
VOL. XVII. No. 2.-0ld8eries.-FEBRUARY.-VoL. VII. No. 2.-New &riu.
CHINESE" ANCESTRAL WORSHIP."
BY REV. P. W. PITCHER, AMOY, CHI!fA.
Among the interesting legendary tales with which Chinese literature abounds, none is more beautiful than "The Legend of the Tablet." It runs somewhat on this wise : _ Years ago a poor old widow, with her children, was struggling with poverty to maintain her family in food and clothing. She was a kind and loving mother, sparing neither time nor patience, and ever enduring suffering if thereby she could only provide some pleasure for' the loved ones. Such devotion and love won the affection and reciprocal love from all her children save one. This one son neither kindness nor love could touch, labor she never so hard to please him. He found fault with everything. His dinner was either too hot or too cold, too early or too Jate ; his clothes too thick or too thin; and every demonstration on his mother's part met with snarls and growls on his. The lad was a shepherd by occupation, and one day he failed to put in an appearance at dinner-time. The mother, notwithstanding all the abuse she had received at his hand, was exceedingly anxious about his non-appearance. She delayed the meal, and waited and waited until she found there was no need of waiting longer, when she took a little basket, filling it full of the choicest things, and set out to find her absent boy. She found him-not starving, but desperately sullen. The kind and thoughtful deed of his mother, instead of awakening affection, aroused his anger to frenzy. Becoming violently enraged, he began to abuse her, when, in an uncontrollable fit of passion, he struck her a blow that lent her staggering on the brink of a precipice near which they were standing, and before she could recover herself, she went over and down into the abyss below. Frantic with grief now, the shepherd boy rushed madly down the mountain-side in search of his mother; but, look where he would, not a sign of her could he discover. The only thing he could see was a tiny "wooden tablet," into which, he was led to believe, the spirit of hi!! mother had entered. Taking it up tenderly, he carried it to his desolate home, and ever after made it his shrine. But the foundations of ancestral worship are not laid on any shadowy, visionary soil of myths and legends, but on substantial, solid, historical ground. Ancestral worship has its origin both in the family and nation, and is both a family and a national custom. It is as old as the empire itself, having been instituted in the days of Emperor Shun, the last sovereign of the second dynasty, B.C. 2255-2205. Contemporary with the birth of the nation, it has become so interwoven in the warp and woof of its history, that to attempt to disengage the strands would be to destroy the whole fabric. And, moreover, it is considered to be of more than historical significance-viz., the keystone by which this empire is cemented together, yea, the very stronghold of its life. No other one thing in its entire history has tended more to bind this people together or to perpetuate the nation than this universal respect (whether sincere or a sham) for the living and devotion for the dead; and no other one thing has so bound them to the dead past or so diverted their attention from the living future. And 80 it has been said, " Had it not been for this system of ' filial piety' (filial piety is the comprehensive term, and includes' ancestral worship ') and' ancestral worship' there would be no China now, only a medley of contending tribes and opposing nations." Another writer adds, "It was supposed to be the glory of the early statesmen and sages to have correctly apprehended the natural feeling of filial duty, so as to make it an engine for perfect government of the family, the State, and the empire."
Whatever good some may perchance be led to affirm of such a system, that, perhaps, has heen the cementing power of preserving the nation through all these centuries, the evil it has wrought offsets all the good-if there be good. 1. It has fixed the attention on the past so that it has ever prevented any aspirations or progress for the future ; hence for the past eighteen centuries all advancement has been prevented. Once originators and inventors, the Chinese have long years ago buried all their genius in the dead past. Such a system has created an intense thirst for male offspring (and a hatred of female offspring) to perform the rites due to them, as parent!:!, after death; hence the custom of child marriage and polygamy. 2. It tends to localization and overcrowding of population; hence, the family of Confucius has continued through sixty generations to the present day in the same locality.
Confucius, who claimed for himself nothing more than to be a transmitter, was only giving expression to the traditions of fifteen generations when he said, "Of all actions of men, there is none greater than filial piety, and in filial piety there is nothing greater than reverential awe of one's father." Again he says, " ThJ worship of parents is part of the duty of filial piety." Vhen the sage says that it is a " part of the duty," we do not understand him to mean a fractional part, but that the essential, if not the all-important part, is ancestral worship in filial piety.
For while the duty of filial piety may demand the strengthening of "the bonds of family union" and the stimulating "to active charity," and while it may " cherish self-respect and impose moral restraint" from the living (more of it in books, however, than in real practice), yet its larger and irrevocable demands are witnessed in the time and money expended and the adoration and worship bestowed upon the dead.
Every son of China, upon the decease of his father, erects to his memory a little wooden tablet, consisting of two thin pieces of wood, closely fitting-some gilded and others ungilded-about twelve inches high, three inches wide, and altogether three quarters of an inch thick, and set in a wooden base three inches square. This practice of erecting tablets was probably introduced in the early years of the third dynasty, B.C. 2205- 1766, and has remained in vogue ever since with but one single exception. The kings of Chau made an innovation. During the period of the fifth dynasty-i.e., the Chau dynasty-living personages were substituted for these wooden tablets, who took the place of them in every respect. This practice, however, passed away with the dynasty in which it prevailed. On the outside piece an inscription of this order is written, "The son (or sons) of So-and-So erect this tablet to his memory, and come to worship." On the inside piece is written the name of the father in full-viz., his given name at birth and his name at the time of his death-for a Chinaman may have, and does have, new names as one has new clothes. In fact, he seems to be constantly changing-a name for his childhood, youth, manhood, aud old age, etc. Also there is written on this inside strip the names of the reigning emperors and the year of the reign, and the day and month on which the ancestor was born, and a similar inscription in regard to his death. Before these shrines" incense is burned morning and evening for forty-nine days after the decease of the father, and upon stated times thereafter during the lifetime of the survivors." "When a scholar obtains a degree, when an officer is advanced in rank, upon anniversaries of births and deaths" worship must be performed before these tablets. A family is mentioned in Canton having twenty-two hundred tablets in their rooms, arranged from above downward, the oldest being at the top. Not only every house is a shrine, on whose altars these tablets ever stand, but each clan has its own particular" ancestral hall," where the tablets of ancient ancestors are deposited, and where, on stated occasions, members of the clan congregate to worship them.
Besides this, there are numerous feasts, occurring semi-occasionally, or more frequently observed in honor of the illustrious dead. One of these of particular importance is deserving of more than a passing notice, called the" Feast of the Tombs," celebrated at the spring and autumn solstice, when special rites and ceremonies are performed at the graves in family and public cemeteries. This feast day is made a veritable gala day, a sort of a family excursion in the country affair, or, as Professor Leggs puts it, " Grand family reunions, where the dead and the living meet, eating and drinking together, where the living worship the dead and the dead bless the living." Dressed in gorgeous robes-i.e., Chinese gorgeousness, with banners flying, gongs beating, an indispensable melody (j) in Chinese parades, and horns tooting-the procession moves forward, a happy company. Upon reaching the cemetery" they cover the tombs with layers of fresh earth," as we would plant our flowers, and afterward present their offerings of fowl, rice, fish, fruit, and wines that have been provided in extravagance. After the spirits have feasted, the real fun begins. It is not strange to us that spirits do not have ravenous appetites, and that the bulk of the stuff remains. Upon these remnants the old men and women, the young men and maidens, the boys and girls feast themselves to the full, making merry, carousing and wrangling until the" wee sma' hours of the morning." Thus far we have spoken of ancestral worship at its best, and we perhaps have seen much in it that has commanded our approving sympathy.
Ancestral worship is not thoroughly bad by any means. Verily there is much in it that is excellent. It has some features about it that are embodied in the precepts of the fifth commandment of the Decalogue j and there is also a great deal in it similar to our ideas embodied in our State and national demonstrations in honor of our illustrious statesmen and soldier heroes, or as witnessed on our Decoration Day and other anniversaries of like nature.
But there is another side 'which, if left undiscovered, would be to leave us in ignorance of the real intents and purposes of the system. If the people would confine themselves to the mere honoring of the dead as we honor our dead-if there were less of formality and more of sinccritythen it might command our full approval and sympathy. But in that act of worship it is made abominable, because they make the dead ancestor " the correlate of Heaven" (God), and so violate and destroy any good there may be in it. In addition to the first quotation from Confucius, in the same paragraph we have this remarkable utterance: "In reverential awe shown to one's father, there is nothing greater than making him the correlate of Heaven."
In every one of these tablets the survivors believe there reside the spirits of the ancestors, who are dependent upon them for food, raiment, every necessity and pleasure of life, as they were when they dwelt among them in visible presence. Still more fatal is the belief that every spirit is a sort of " tutelary spirit," a protector or destroyer, a benefactor or an avenger, one who blesses or curses, according to the generosity or neglect of the devotee. On account of this very element, so interwoven in the practice and the theory of the rite, it is impo!l!ible for a real Christianity to sanction or approve of it j to do so would be dangerous, to say the least, and probably disastrous to the cause of Christ.
If there is any idolatry in Chil'l&, it is found in ancestral worship j and the Conference of Shanghai (1890) did no wiser thing than when it passed a resolution certifying that " idolatry is an essential constituent of ancestral worship." Some would say, Modify it. How modify it? Eradicate its bad features and retain only the good ~ Stripped of its idolatrous fea- tures, there would be nothing left to hold it together as a custom; for without this idea of a living;hearing, ever-present, ever-active spirit the whole structure would collapse, because there would be nothing left but sentiment. There would be no more in it to a native of China than there is in a game of baseball.
Reward-long life, prosperity, and happiness-is the passion that lies .at tke bottom of all his outward reverence and devotion-not native pride, not native glory. He makes a sort of insurance policy out of his belief, from which he expects both reward and protection, with a high-tariff plank against the introduction, into his little circle of exhitence, of sickness, and trouble, and adversity. Remove this feature and y·ou remove the bottom out of the whole concern. The Rev. Y. K. Yen, a noted Chinese preacher, says, "All Chinese worship is for selfishness. If these people did not think the gods could affect men's bodies, the temples would be deserted, and ancestral worship decline." But it is a difficult matter to remove this one feature, much more than to abolish the whole system.
First. It is a system that is upheld and has been upheld by the government from time immcmorial; has been endorsed by sacred edicts, enjoined by provincial manifestoes until it reads almost like a statute of the civil codes. It may be called the national religion, "for it is the only system of reJ.igion that the government takes the trouble to propagate" among its subjects. It is estimated that it costs the people one half the time of the female population to prepare articles for sacrifices and offeriJ;lgs that it demands, and the expenditure of one hundred and fifty millions in cold " cash" per annum to sustain it.
Second. Of all forms of idolatry, this is considered to be the most serious impediment in the conversion of the Chinese. It is the greatest obstacle that the missionary meets in his effort to set up the standards of the cross in China or to establish the Church of Christ in that benighted land. . The Rev. John Ross tells of a Corean prince who was taken into China as a prisoner, and while in banishment came in contact with Christianity, and upon his return to his native land he gave this testimony: " If Protestant Christians could adopt ancestral worship, he saw no reason why Corea should not be a Christian country in three years." It is true of China as well. It sometimes seems as though this were the very last link that binds them to Satan's rule. It is a subtle influence he holds over their minds, containing so much good mixed up with so much more evil. " Go," he says, "if you must go, but take this custom with you if you go ; then I will still reign." If they could only take this with them, how easy it would be to be Christian! But Christianity demands unconditional surrender; and so it comes that this is the last heathen custom that Chinese converts will yield. He would willingly let all else go, willingly cut loose from every other idol (so would the arch-enemy), if he could only cling to this one! To break away from this seems like breaking away
TlIE 'WORSHlP OF HEAYEN BY THE CHINESE EMPEROR
from his nation and becoming an exile forever from all that he ever held dear and sacred. And, in truth, so it is. If such be his own condemnation, how much severer must that be of his countrymen! It is 'a frowning world he must always afterward face when once this step is taken. Companions, relatives, and kindred will look upon him" as an ingrate wretch who, following the leading of outside barbarians, has turned his back on his country, his clan, and his own family, on the father who begot him, on the mother who bore him, and therefore deserves to forfeit all share in the paternal estate, and to be an outcast on the face of the earth."
Thus one may realize what it costs to become a Christian in China; what unconditional surrender means j what a glorious victory the cross has won in every such concession. When a Chinaman has severed this link that has bound him enslaved to idolatry aiId heathen superstition and the dead past, it is clearly through the work of the Holy Ghost wrought in his soul j that the divine work is complete, and that his life forever after is linked' with Christ and the glorious future, even eternal life by the Son of God.
THE WORSHIP OF HEAVEN BY THE CHINESE EMPEROR.
BY A. P. HAPPER, M.D., 'D.D.
On December 21st there is annually celebrated in Peking one of the most remarkable religious services of the world. On the morning of that day the Emperor of China, as the vicegerent of heaven for the Government of China, and as the high-priest of the Chinese nation, worships the Heaven god in the presence of some two thousand of his grandees and officers at the altar to Heaven. An entrance to the park in which this altar is located is no longer permitted. Tourists visiting Peking cannot obtain access to it, and hence no description of these grounds or of this worship is sent to the papers. Perhaps some account of these ceremonies, compiled from notes made during a visit to Peking in 1878, would be interesting to the readers of the REVIEW.
Heaven, regarded as a divinity, is the patron god of the Chinese Empire. Heaven appoints the ruler. The distinctive title of the emperor is " Heaven's son." Only the emperor can worship at the imperial altar to Heaven. The time and place of this worship, the ceremonies and offerings and the prayers and the music connected with it are all prescribed in the imperial statutes, and may not be in the least modified. The time is at the winter solstice. The place is at the altar in the southeastern part of the park. The park is in the southeastern part of the city of Peking. It comprises some five hundred acres, and it is four-square. It is surrounded by a high brick wall. It is divided into three parts by walls running north and south. The western division is planted with cypress trees in rows. The entrance to the park is on the west side, by an imposing gateway. There are roads traversing the grounds in various direetions, which are payed with dressed stone. There are gates on the roads in all the division walls. The grounds are sown with grass, inter~ spersed with flower-beds. The eastern division is intersected by a transverse wall running east and west. There is an altar to Heayen in each of these subdivisions, and they are distinguished as the southern and northern altars. The two altars are the same in structure. But on the top of the northern altar there is erected an imposing three-storied building, with three domes to represent the canopy of heaven. This can be seen from many places about the city, and it is commonly called the Temple of Heaven.
The altar to Heaven is built of white marble~ and is of mammoth size. It is circular in shape, and it is built with successive terraces, one above the other. The lowest one is 210 feet in diameter; the second is 150 feet, and the topmost terrace is 90 feet in diameter and 27 feet above the ground, as the first one is nine feet above the ground, and each successive terrace is nine feet above the one below it. The outer circumference of each terrace has a balustrade of carved marble. The ascent to each successive terrace is made by four marble stairways, one from each point of the compass. The highest terrace has a circular space of 90 feet in diameter, and the lower terraces have each a circular };lalcony of 30 feet in width. The top surface and the balconies have arrangements for the erection of the required tents. There are holes in the marble flooring for the tent poles, and there are heavy blocks of marble with holes to which the tent ropes are- fastened. There are marble stands on which the incenseholders and offerings are placed. A table before which the emperor stands when reading the annual prayer and making the offerings is placed near the south side of the terrace. There are large openwork iron urns placed in different parts of the grounds around the altar, in which the silk and other offerings and the written prayer are burned; and to the southeast of the altar is a large furnace, in which a whole bullock is consumed as a burnt-offering.
On the day before the worship nine tents, covered with sky-blue silk cloth, are· erected on the northern side of the highest terrace for the tablet to Heaven and for the tablets of eight of the imperial ancestors, who are worshipped conjointly with Heaven. On the middle balcony tents are erected for the tablets of sun and stars on the east side, and for the tablets of the moon and rain, clouds, thunder, and wind on the west side. On this same balcony, near the top of the southern stairway, a tent covered with yellow silk is erected to be used as the imperial robing tent.
On the north of the altar is a round building enclosed with a high wall. It is called the temple of the Imperial Expanse. In it there are nine handsomely gilded and carved cases, where the tablets to Heaven and to the eight imperial ancestors are safely deposited. I was so fortunate as to "ptain an entrance to this depository, and to get a sight of these tablets. They are made of precious wood, about 2! feet in height and 8 inches in width. They are finely carved near the top and bottom, with a smooth surface for the lettering, on which is written in Chinese and Manchu the name of the being to which each one is dedicated. On the tablet to Heaven there are four words, " Imperial Heaven, Ruier above." In other buildings in the same enclosing walls the tablets to the sun, moon, stars, etc., are deposited.
In different parts of the grounds are buildings for storing all the different utensils, vessels, musical instruments, etc., which are used at the time of worship or in preparation for it. There are slaughter-houses, and the instruments and the utensils for slaughtering the animals and preparing them for the time of the offering of them. On other parts of the grounds are buildings in which the high officers who attend the emperor and the musicians are lodged. There is a special building, styled the Palace for Fasting, prepared for the emperor.
On December 20th the emperor comes forth in great state from the palace, and proceeds-part of the way in a sedan-chair carried by sixteen men and part of the way in a chariot drawn by an elephant-to the park by one of the broad streets of Peking. He is attended by a large retinue composed of members of the royal family, some of the nobility, civil and military officers of high rank, to the number of nearly two thousand. The emperor proceeds to a place to the south of the altar, where he descends from the chair and' goes to the building where the tablets are in deposit. He burns incense before them, and worships the tablets of Heaven and of the ancestors. He then inspects all the preparation which has been made for the worship of the next morning, to see that they have all been properly prepared, according to the statutes. The retinue have retired to their respective places, and the emperor repairs to the Palace for Fasting, and spends the night in meditation. The service commences at three o'clock in the morning. The emperor is informed of the hour by the official messenger, and proceeds in an imperial chair to the south gate of the outer wall which encloses the altar. From there he proceeds on foot, and ascends by the flight of steps from the south to the robing. tent. The retinue in official robes take their respective places. The memberS of the royal family are on the south side of the highest terrace, the higher officers on the south side of the middle terrace, and others on the lowest terrace, and others still on the ground on the south side of the altar. The grounds are all lighted by lanterns suspended from poles and the marble gateways.
When everything is ready and all are in their places, the services are commenced with music. The tablets are brought out with reverential ceremonies and placed in their respective tents. The fire is lighted in the furnace where the burnt-offering is consumed. The rolls of silk and all the various offerings of meats, grains, wines, fruits are placed before the several tablets. All the exercises are performed at the call of the master
1894·1 THE GOVERNMEN'I'S OF 'l'HE
of ceremonies, which is made in a loud, ceremonious voice. The emperor' bows first 1"Iefore the tablet to Heaven with three kneelings and nine knockings of the heaa on the floor; then all the retinue goes through the same to the tablet of Heaven; and so successively the emperor and the whole retinue of officers and grandees worship each one of the eight ancestors. Then follows the formal presentation of the offerings that are before the respective tablets. The appointed music is intersperlied between the different ceremonies. Then comes the reading of the prayer to Heaven by the emperor. When these ceremonies are completed, the offerings of silk and meats are carried away by the attendants and burned in the iron urns; then the tablets are reverentially conveyed back with music to their respective shrines in the depository. The emperor retires to his robing tent and then proceeds to his chair and returns to the palace, accompanied by his retinue.
When anyone considers the various parts of the scene presented on the morning of Deeember 21st, he cannot but be impressed with its grandeur. The emperor of these four hundred millions, as the high-priest of the nation, offers a great sacrifice to Heaven and his ancestors. The great retinue of high officers and a vast multitude of attendants are grouped around in the attitude of profound reverence and adoration. As the dim light is shed abroad upon this vast crowd from the suspended lanterns, and the lurid glare from the sacrificial furnace ascends in the distance, and the fragrance of incense and the peals of music fill the air under the open vault of the sky in the early morning, the scene has all the elements of an imposing ceremony. It is a most depressing consideration that this impressive worship is an idolatrous service. All Christian hearts will join in the prayer that the time may soon come when the ruler of this numerous people shall come to know the great God who made heaven and earth, and worship the Creator as the Lord of all.
THE GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD.-II.
BY JAMES DOUGLAS, M.A., BRIXTON, LONDON.
Modern ideas of government find their common meeting-ground in constitutional monarchy and in republics. Both may be said to be the outgrowth of the critical spirit, and to be based on the recognized principle that the people themselves should be adequately represented in the councils of the nation. The freest and, as it is generally believed, the most stable form of constitutional monarchy, is that attaching to the British crown. This is not, however, owing so much to anything in the constitution itself as to the staying power of religion in the land and to the comparative disinclination of the people for sweeping change. The moderating influence of the House of Lords is also to be recognized here ; for though the House of Lords has sometimes fretted the nation by an undue retention of the drag, that House has more than once rendered timely service by the check applied to headlong legislation. At present the House of Lords has firmly put down the foot in the matter of the Irish Question, and saved, as many think, the public credit in so doing. ·Without pronouncing ourselves on this burning topic, we are glad to note that the action of the Lords has by no means convulsed the country, and will not, at this stage of the controversy at all events, effect the overthrow of the Upper Chamber. Festina lente (" hasten slowly") is a good motto for the politician as it is for those contemplating matrimony.
Despite the Lords, the will of the people of Great Britain and Ireland, as expressed in their chosen representatives, is virtually regal j for though the power of veto is vested in the sovereign, the right is rather abstract than concrete, so that the ruler stands apart from and above the storms of party conflict. Practically the ,ex!lcutive government is vested in a committee of ministers caned the Cabinet, whose retention of office depends on their ability to secure a majority in the House of Commons and to obtain a fresh lease of power by an appeal to the country at the close of the parliamentary term of seven years. The total number of members in the House of Commons, as determined by the Redistribution Act of 1870, is 6'70 j but the three countries are unequally represented-Scotland being fully entitled to all the representatives she has, while Ireland has more than her rights, and England less.
England's colonies are governed on a similar basis to her own. Thus in Canada it is provided by the British North America Act of 1867 that the Constitution of the Dominion shall be " similar in principle to that of the United Kingdom." There are, therefore, in Canada two Chambersthe Senate and the House of Commons-by whom legislative power is exercised j while the executive authority, vested in the sovereign of Great Britain and Ireland, is carried on in her name by a Governor-General and Privy Council. The present number of members in the Canadian House of Commons is 215, and the ratio of members to the population is 1 in 20,276. Newfoundland is not yet part of the Dominion of Canada, but elects to remain a British crown colony, the government being representative.
Like the mother country and Canada, New South Wales, the oldest of the Australian colonies, has a parliament of two Houses-the first called the Legislative Council, whose members are appointed by the crown for life, and the second the Legislative Assembly, the members of which are elected by the constituencies for three years. 11. governor represents the Imperial Government, and is, in virtue of his office, commander-in-chief of all the troops in the colony.
New Zealand has a similar constitution, which includes in its lower chamber or House of Representatives four Maoris.
Queensland calls for no distinctive remark; but South Australia has certain minor features of difference, the principal one being that both chambers are elected by the people. Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia are all modelled on the same general plan, and may be regarded as exten- sions of constitntional monarchy. In all these dominions the British Queen reigns, but not so much over as along with her subjects. The like applies to Cape Colony and Natal.
The German Constitution is less plastic than the English, and the monarch's power more regal. He can declare war, if defensive, and make peace. He represents interna~ionally the empire j may enter into treaties with other nations, and appoints and receives ambassadors. But there are important limitations which he must respect. He has no veto on laws passed by the Federal Councilor Bundesrath and the Reichstag or Diet of the Realm j nor can he declare war, if offensive, save with the consent of the former body. At the present time, however, the emperor's will is a large factor, and counts for much in all matters of grave legislative pro- cedure. Besides, his military powers are large. The whole of the land forces is under his immediate orders; and he can erect fortresses in any part of the empire; or, in case of disturbance, put any district in a state of siege.
As the German Empire comprises many kingdoms and States having governments of their own, the BUlidesrath or Federal Council exists to weld all these State governments into one for imperial purposes j and the 58 members constituting this Council receive their appointment from the governments to which they respectively belong. The Reichstag is representative directly of the German nation, and is elected by ballot, on the basis of universal suffrage, for the term of three years. It numbers 397 members-about one for every 118,000 of the inhabitants.
The Government of Austria is dual in character-Austro-Hungarianunited politically under the same dynasty, which is a limited monarchy. The monarch, who must be a member of the Roman Catholic Church, exercises legislative authority only with the co-operation and consent of the three representative bodies-the Reichsrath, Reichstag, and Landtage. The Landtage embraces the separate parliaments of the sixteen provinces into which Austria proper is divided. The Reichsrath is also a purely Austrian assembly, legislating for all the Austrian provinces. It is divided into an Upper and a Lower House, answering to the English Houses of Lords and Commons, and has cognizance of all public matters, such as military duty, trade laws, income and expenditure, public loans and conversio~ of funds -the consent of both chambers, as well as the emperor's sanction, being required to give validity to all bills. Like Austria, Hungary has a separate parliament called the Reichstag, which includes the House of Magnates and the House of Representatives j and affairs common to the two great HouSf.ls of this dual empire are settled by delegations from the Upper and Lower Chambers of the Reichsrath and Reichstag respectively, the members of which are appointed for one year and meet alternately at Vienna and Budapest. Belgium, the Netherlands, and Denmark are all constitutioll.al monarchies of the most pronounced type. The will of the people is supreme, and, as in England, the person of the monarch is sacred, since upon his ministers devolves the On?~8 of the acts of government. The Upper Chamber in Belgium, no less than the Lower Chamber, is elected by the people. This applies to the Netherlands also, where eligibility depends on the weight of assessment j and to Denmark likewise, though in this case the election is indirect in all cases save twelve, who are the nominees of the crown. It remains to add that, in the Netherlands, the Upper House has no power to introduce new bills, and while it may approve or reject those passed by the Lower House, it may not insert amendments.
Spain and Portugal are both limited monarchies of pronounced type. Spain has a Senate and Congress. The Senate is half composed of senators who are either senators in their own right or by crown appointment ; and the other half are elected by corporations of State and the larger ratepayers. A feature in the election to the Congress is the care that is taken of the rights of minorities in various large districts, with a view to the more just and uniform representation of the sentiments of the people. Portugal has a House of Peers resembling the Senate of Spain, and a House of Commons which is chosen in direct election by all heads of families and by all citizens who, being twenty-one years of age, can read and write, and who possess an income of 100 milreis (a little over $100).
In Italy the constitution of the Upper Chamber is in the king's own right j but the Lower House is elected by ballot on lines similar to those which obtain in Portugal.
The kingdoms of Sweden and Norway, while under the same constitu_ tional'monarchy, are not governed on a representative basis in which they mutually share. Theyare each self-governed and stand apart, Sweden having monarchical and Norway democratic leanings. In Sweden there are the usual two Houses of Parliament j but in Norway the Great Court or Storthing answers all purposes. The election to this assembly is made through deputies who have been elected for that purpose by the people j and though the king has the right of veto over its laws, yet that right exists only for a limited period, and may not be exercised more than twice. In fine, the Government of Norway, if monarchical in name, is republican in spirit. The weakness of the monarchy here is due to the absence of tie between the kingdoms concerned. Home rule may please the local mind, but it can never command a true statesman's respect, or tend either to the ruler's peace or the solidification of empire. It is singularly unfortunate that the King of Sweden, who in certain respects has larger powers than appertain to most European kingships, should have two kingdoms to rule that meet on no common ground of representation j and which, if not exactly a house divided aga.inst itself, are at a great remove from being a city closely built together.
Roumania and Servia call for no special remark j but Montenegro and Greece have each a setting of their own. The former, although a limited monarchy in name, borders upon the absolute in fact. Of the eight members forming the State Council, four are appointed by the prince and the remaining four are elected by the inhabitants who have borne, or are bearing, arms. Practically the influence of the prince· in State Councils is supreme. The peculiarity in the limited monarchy of Greece lies in the fact that here the entire legislative power is vested in a single Chamber of Representatives, called the Boule, which must meet for not less than three months and not more than six. An absolute majority of members is required before any bill can becomll law; and a discussion of each bill, article by article, must take place thrice, on three distinct days, ere it can be adopted. Another safeguard against premature legislation is provided for in the enactment that no sitting is valid unless at least one half of the I members are present. In the East, Western ideas of government are gaining ground. Japan is a case in point. This empire, which up to 1871 was feudal in its system of rule, is now remodelled on a European basis'; and, while still absolute in certain features, bears the clear imprint of constitutionalism. There are two houses, the House of Peers and the House of Representatives ; and either House may initiate projects of laws as well as make representations to the Government and present addresses to the emperor. Those elected to the House of Representatives must be not less than twenty-five years of age, must have had an actual residence in a " fu" or " ken"-the two names for districts-for not less than a year, and must contribute to the taxes a small specified amount. Every law requires the consent of the Imperial Diet, which comprehends both Houses. The Cabinet ministers are all appointed by the emperor, who can declare war, make peace, and conclude treaties.
III. Turning now to the republics of the world, the foremost are confessedly those of the United States of America and France. It is the former, however, that is seasoned by time and that has the unique advantage of having shown, through the course of successive generations, a rare power of assimilating peoples from many lands, and of gaining strength and consistency despite the undoubted presence of elements heterogeneous and forces divisive. What Britain is among the monarchies, that, in as marked a degree, is the United States among the republics. Arthur Helps, in his "Thoughts upon Government," has observed, "I do not think it too boastful to .say that the British people, and our near relations in America and the colonies, are the most governable people on the face of the earth." The statement defies criticism. To the Lord be the glory! It is the religious heart of the people which, through grace, has beat true in the dark and cloudy day, and which has yielded the statesmanship that so far has borne the State bark onward.
As it is like bringing coals to Newcastle to describe the Government of the United States in these pages, we need only touch the subject with a light hand, and, being a Britisher, with becoming diffidence. The govern.. ment is by a confederation of sovereign States in federal bond for imperial purposes, each State being sovereign in its own domain to the extent both of making and administering local laws. At the head of the confederation. is the President, in whom the executive is vested, and whose period of office is for four years. He, together with the Vice-President, is chosen by electors appointed by each State to the number of the representation which each has in Congress. The President is commander-in-chief of the national forces. The Senate has large ruling powers. It ratifies or rejects treaties made by the President with foreign powers, a two-thirds majority being required for ratification. It has also the power of confirming or rejecting all presidential appointments to office, and in case of removal from office or disqualification, it constitutes a high court of impeachment. The Vice-President is, ex officio, head of the Senate. All senators must have reached the age of thirty, and be residents in the States from which they are chosen.
The House of Representatives, numbering 358 members, is elected every second year by the vote of citizens who, according to the laws of their respective States, are qualified to vote. These, in general, are all male citizens over twenty-one years of age. Representatives must be not less than twenty-five years of age. All bills pass through both Houses, and, before becoming law, are presented to the President. If a bill be not approved by him he may return it, with his objections, to the House in which it originated; but if, upon fresh consideration, the bill be passed by a two-thirds majority in both Houses, it becomes a law. The judicial power is confided to a Supreme Court appointed for life, with power to decide all the disputes between States and to interpret the Constitution. There is no religious test for any office of State, and education is free and practically universal.
France is governed by a President, Senate, and Chamber of Deputies. The President is elected by the Senate and Chamber of Deputies for seven years. lIe concludes treaties with foreign powers, but requires the assent of both Chambers to declare war. The Chamber of Deputies now consists of 584 members, who have beeu elected from as many m·rondissements on the basis of universal suffrage. All hills are first canvassed in committee before being introduced into either Honse, and may be introduced either by the ministry, or by the President through the ministry, or by private members. The Senate is composed of 300 members, elected for ni,!e years by an electoral body composed of municipal councils, deputies, counciIIorsgeneral, and district councillors. The Senate has the right, as well as the Chamber of Deputies, of initiating and framing laws; but all laws relating to finance must first be presented to and voted by the Chamber of Deputies. The Senate acts as a Court of High Treason, before which even the President and ministers may be arraigned. The ministry is appointed by the President, and forms a council of ten ministers who hold the varied portfolios of office. In addition there is a Conseil d'Etat, introduced by Napoleon 1., and still existing, whose functions are consultative only.
The republic of Mexico comprises the richest and most varied zone in the world. The area is about half the size of European Russia, and the population about half that of England. It is divid-ed into 27 States, two territories, and the federalty of Mexico-in all 30 political provinces. The Government has the usual threefold basis-President, elected for eight years, a Senate of 60 members, and a House of Representatives, elected by universal suffrage. Each State elects two members to the Senate, and, as in the United States, has autonomous local government. All sects are tolerated in Mexico, and none is aided by the republic or allowed to acquire land. Primary education is provided, and is compulsory j there are 10,000 schools.
Since 1859 the long, irregular isthmus connecting North and South America, and formerly constituting the Spanish colony or kingdom of Guatemala, has been divided into five independent republics, of which three -Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and Salvador-are governed in the normal manner, by a President, an Upper House and Lower House j while the other two States, Guatemala and Honduras, present the anomalous regirM of a President and Congress only.
The republic of Colombia, formerly known as the United States of New Granada, is chiefly noteworthy as being intersected by the ill-fated Panama Canal, the dearest ditch ever delved. The governing body consists of three orders-a President, elected for six years, a Senate of 27 members, and a House of Representatives of 66 members.
Venezuela has a similar constitution j but Ecuador can hardly be said to be governed, as civil wars and revolutions are almost always in progress. Even its area is uncertain, as there are chronic boundary disputes between Ecuador and Peru j but the size is about equal to that of the United Kingdom of England and Scotland. It contains the highest peaks in the Andes chain and the sources of the Amazon.
Brazil.-Nearly four years ago the bloodless revolution which drove the gentle, learned, and invertebrate Emperor Dom Pedro II. from his throne removed the last crowned monarch from the Americas, which now, with the exception of Canada and certain West India islands owning a certain measure of suzerainty to European powers, are under republican sway. Under the new regime Brazil is divided into immense provinces with few common interests, and separated by undeveloped regions. These provinces are each governed by a provincial assembly, and the several assemblies unite to elect a Chamber of Deputies, or Constituent Assembly, which has at its head a President elected for four years.
Ever since the old emperor was dethroned, Brazil has been in a seething state of disaffection and incipient revolt, due generally to the desire of the southern provinces to establish their independence. Just now this has will culminated in the throes of revolution, and probably lead to the dis- ruption of Brazil into several mutually antagonistic States. While the present outbreak is in progress no more detailed information transpires than that life, property, and funds are alike insecure, and that it would be unwise to choose Brazil as a field for emigration. The State has shaken off the established religion, which was Roman Catholic; education has been secularized; and only civil marriages are recognized. Brazil has the ~mormous area of 3,250,000 square miles-as large as a.ll Europe, Russia excluded-and a population less than half that of England.
Peru has a constitution modelled on that of the United States j but religious liberty is not permitted, only the Roman Catholics being allowed to hold their services publicly. Since the disastrous war with Chili the great encomiums formerly lavished upon its capabilities, mines, and climate have been discounted. The population is about the same as that of Scotland, but the area is equal to that of the United Kingdom, France, and the Spanish peninsula combined.
Chili is a long, narrow strip of land bet~een the Andes and t.he South Pacific, divided into 21 provinces and three territories. These elect a Lower Chamber of Deputies of 109 members triennially, the electors being confined to men with a property qualification j and an Upper House or Senate of 37 members, elected directly by the provinces every six years. The executive power is in the hands of a President, elected for five years. The Roman Catholic religion is the State religion, but all others are tolerated. Education is free, compulsory, and universal.
Bolivia, a sparsely peopled inland State, shut in by the Andes and the Cordilleras, in Central South America, is ruled by a President, with two legislative chambers, elected by universal suffrage. The bitter experience of the financial ruin and loss of territory which have followed wars with other States keeps Bolivia peaceful j and the widely scattered popnlace seem satisfied with their powers and President. Consequently it is one of the few South American countries free from debt and possessing financial credit. Bolivia contains the silver mines of Potosi j and though the population is smaller than that of Scotland, it covers an exceedingly fertile area of sixteen times the extent of that kingdom.
Paraguay, an inland territory, for which is claimed the title of " Garden of South America," has au area of one fifth of that of Great Britain, and a population smaller than Manchester. It is governed on the usual threefold plan. The State religion is Roman Catholic, but all others are tolerated. A metal currency has been introduced, and now that government is settled and territorial wars have ceased, the prospects are bright.
Uruguay is a small republic on the east coast of the La Plata River, with an area a little larger than that of England and Wales and a population equal to that of Glasgow. The government is of the normal order, modelled largely after the United States. Education is general and the State religion Roman Catholic, but all others are tolerated. The Argentine Republic is a vast cave of AduIlam, whither every one that is in debt and everyone that is discontented have gathered themselves. It is a bankrupt republic, with which the British Government will not even exchange money orders, and which refuses to extradite fugitive thieves so long as their money is not all spent. At the present time of writing, this republic, having President, Senate, and House of Deputies, is in its chronic state of rebeIlion against its President, who was, according to government statements, crushing out the last embers of disaffection; but, if we may believe the insurgents' statements, was deserted by all, and had abandoned the reins of power to his adversaries. Argentina has a population of 4,000,000, sprinkled over an area nine times as large as Great Britain. .
, The island of Hayti, the largest but one of those forming the West Indies, is divided into two republics-the Spanish mulatto one of San Domingo, and the negro one of Hayti. This island, which was the first European settlement in America, is the most fertile and the worst governed spot in the Caribbean Sea. San Domingo, the larger republic, is governed by a President and national Congress; but in the smaller republic of Hayti, the government being military, the President has large sway. He is assisted by a Senate and House of Representatives. The debt is heavy and more or less repudiated. The currency is chiefly paper. Numerous revolutions have occurred, and the political barometer is set at stormy. Switzerland.-The far-famed and historic republic of Switzerland has a parliament of two Chambers, the State Council and National Council, in which are vested the supreme legislative and executive authority. The first is composed of 44 members, chosen by the 22 cantons of the confederation, two for each canton. The second consists of 147 representatives, chosen in direct election, at the rate of one deputy for every 20,000 souls. A general election takes place every three years; any voter, if not a clergyman, may be a deputy; and every citizen has a vote who has attained the age of twenty years. The two chambers constitute the Federal Assembly, which elects a Federal Council of seven members, the President and the Vice-President of which are the first magistrates of the republic. In no country is the will of the people so directly felt and so emphatically law as in Switzerland. Frequently the first step to legislation is taken by the popular initiative; and besides, the principle of what is called referendum is often acted upon, whereby on a petition from 50,000 citizens, or eight cantons, the measure passed at headquarters must be submitted to the direct vote of the nation.
The Orange l"'re~ State republic, in South Africa, has a President elected for five years, a small Executive Council, and a popular Assembly of 57 members. The right to vote is strictly fenced round, and is framed in the old patrician spirit. ' , Voters must be white burghers and owners of property of not less than £150, or lessees of real property of an annual rental of £36, or have a yearly income of not less than £200, or be owners of personal property of the value of £300, and have been in the State for not less than three years."
The miniature republic of .Andorra, in the Pyrenees, the entire population of which might be seated in the Metropolitan Tabernacle, London, is governed by a Council of 24, chosen by the inhabitants, a judge, and two priests. This republic is subject to France and Spain.
IV. Protectorates and Dependencies.-This paper has already run to such a length that we can only indicate in the briefest possible way what calls for special remark under our fourth head. Already we have noted to what an extraordinary extent, particularly in Africa, the absolute governments of to-day have come under the protection of foreign Powers. Some of these protectorates are lost in the haze of things as yet undeveloped, representing lines of influence of which the peoples concerned are as little conscious as they are of the plane of the ecliptic. Others concern fields whitening unto harvest. In certain cases, as in the connection of France with Madagascar, they wear a sinister aspect. Frequently the protectorates leave the existing administration unchanged, as, for instance, in Madagascar, notwithstanding the sinister aspect to which we have alluded, and in the French protectorate of Annam, the Italian protectorate of Abyssinia, etc. In other cases it means either the reduction of the country to the condition of a conquered province, as appears ill the French occupation of Tunis, or the political elevation of the country to that of an integral part of the ruling power. Thus, Algeria is now viewed as simply a detached part of France, and, in a political relation, is treated accordingly. The British Government exercises protectorate sway for the most part in a broad and generous spirit, conceding where possible a basis of representation. Thus Cyprus and Malta, British Guiana and the Honduras, as well as Jamaica, have all a certain measure of representative government, as have the crown colonies generally; and where the protectorate means, as more or less it must mean, the subordination of the native to the foreign will, it does not follow that the course is not justified, or that the outcome is not beneficent. Egypt has unquestionably been largely advantaged by the British occupation ; and that eye must be prejudiced indeed which refuses to admit the benefits accruing. On the whole, the protectorates established by the superior nations may be regarded as steps in the path of progress, a means of developing the commerce of the world, federating the nations, upraising the sunken, stopping internecine strife, and preparing a highway for the messepgers of the cross.
We close this review of the governments of the world by a reference to the British East Indian Empire. Nowhere has the genius of the English race for organization been so conspicuous as in the government of their vast Indian dependency. The present-day testimony of a noted American missionary, Bishop Thoburn, may be quoted here: "They"-i.e., the English-" never tried to conquer India, but they found warring nations
CA.STE WOMEN OF INDIA
and tribes, discordant elements of every kind, all India tossing like a troubled and stormy sea, and they proceeded to lay the hand of authority on one hostile power after another, until now at last all India rests in peace, and many millions of her middle-aged people have never seen a regiment of troops, or perhaps even a single soldier. " And again, " When we take into account all the circumstances which surrounded the actors, whether foreigners ()r Indians, the marvel is that so little injustice has marked the growth and progress of this great Eastern empire."
The government of the Indian Empire has as its head a Viceroy, appointed by the Queen, who is assisted by a Council of six members. These members of Council are placed over the six departments of finance, public works, etc., and have each a secretary, who prepares all the, business of the department for his chief, and who, though he may write an opinion, has himself no authority. The members of the Viceroy's Council are appointed by the crown for five years. Three of the six must have served in India at least ten years, and one of these must be a military officer.
In addition to this Executive Council there is what is called the Legislative Council of India, which includes the Executive Council, and not less than six or more than twelve additional members, nominated by the Viceroy. Of these, some are always natives of India. Practically the government of India proceeds on absolnte principles, as in Ceylon, Hong Kong, the Straits settlements, and other Eastern dependencies; it is the rule of the strong hand, guided, amid human infirmity, by a clement heart, ready to welcome light, but not disposed to cede a jot of independent power.
CASTE WOMEN OF INDIA.
BY MRS. H. M. N. ARMSTRONG, BURMA.
We hear much of a Hindu woman's degradation and seclusion and ignorance ; of her sufferings, her helplessness and hopelessness, and the half of it all is neither told nor known. Shut in from all the world, without books, without music, or even the knowledge of a song to sing; without needlework or fancy work of any kind, or any occupation or amusement whatever save what the naked little children make, how can she escape an almost vacant mind, if not hopeless imbecility ~ If she is a wife she may arrange her cloth and her jewels becomingly and contrive dainty dishes for her husband, of which she will partake when he is satisfied; but if the one to whom, probably, as a baby she was betrothed, happens to die, even these poor pleasures are denied her. She is a reproach, an outcast, accursed; in all God's heaven no star casts a ray of hope to her. What influence can such a one exert or what power can she wield 1 A whole race of women have lived for generations under these conditions, a.nd remain intelligent and lovable, with a native refinement :ma.rvellous to see, and no women in the world exercise greater power. Perhaps you will be startled if I say that they hold the destiny of their country more completely in their hands than the women of any other land; that they are the ruling power in India, although this power is exercised so quietly and out of sight. Repressed power is always the most dangerous. Women in Christian lands can participate in almost every amusement and every privilege open to the other sex, can have their women's aid societies in every philanthropic measure of the day ; and perhaps this very widening of her influence diverts time and thought from father and brother, husband and child. Certainly it gives us community of thought and action. Women are as much elevated by the mental and moral culture of the day as men are.
In India it is not so; all the influx of civilization and religious light from the New World has fallen on the men alone. It has had no means of reaching the hidden retreats where the women dwell. The only rays of light that have penetrated there have been carried by the missionary women, sadly few in number, who have been able to reach their sisters in their seclusion, and tell from house to house the story of the cross. I believe this, above every other reason, is the cause of the slight hold Christianity <has taken of the caste people of India. A caste woman has not even h,er father or brother to care for; she was separated from them in early childhood. Her whole life has but one vent, one direction in which to grow, and that is out through her husband and her sons to the world beyond. To keep her husband and her sons loyal to her is her one ambition, and there is nothing too hard nor too high for her in her endeavor after it. Thousands fail and yet many succeed; and when one fails it is generally because another woman has usurped the place. There is something very suggestive in the fact that the most beautiful and renowned building in India (the Taj Mahal) was built as the tribute of a devoted husband to his queen.
Again, every Hindu woman is bound to keep her husband and sons in the good old paths after the strictest sect of Hinduism. She generally cares far more for religion than her husband does-she is, if you please, more superstitious. Woe to the man who is recreant to her faith! Ris wife may not say much, but his mother will ; there is neither peace nor rest for him henceforward.
When you urge a Hindu to give his reason for not accepting the Christ of whose claims he is intellectually convinced, he will be slow to give it ; but it is almost invariably one of three reasons: "I cannot break my poor old mother's heart." "I am afraid of my mt>ther's curse." "I cannot give up my wife and children." It is a woman's influence that holds him back.
Many of these men love their wives and children-more, perhaps, love the tasty breakfasts and savory dinners that no one else will take the trouble to cook for them. For one reason or another, all find it incon-
iS94.j
venient, at least, to have no home, especially as hotel life and restaurants are incompatible with caste. Now, to have a home one must please the women who dwell there. If a man wishes to be a Christian, he has not merely his wife or wives to. contend with; his mother and grandmother, his brothers' wives, and all the women of the establishment (usually not a few) club together to bring him to his senses; they will coax him first, . but they have no end of devices for bringing him back to their faith if coaxing fails. Men know this, and the terror that hangs over the head of everyone of them is, that if he persists in what the women of his house- hold call evil courses, something will be mixed in the food which they cook which will conquer all his stubbornness and end his days.
The only thing a man can do, and what every caste man who has be- – come a Christian has been obliged to do, is simply to leave them all- literally, to run away and leave with them his property, his house, his chil- dren, and evcrything he owns in the world. Bunyan's description of the pil- grim starting on his pilgrimage has been literally fulfilled in many a Hindu.
I remember a case in point-a wealthy and influential high-caste man, who, I have no doubt, is a converted man, and who was baptized by my husband some years ago. This man was remarkable for breadth and strength of character, a man of sterling worth and great independence. He was practically king in the district where he lived, and he thought he was able to be a Christian and make his household either submit or leave. – He was wealthy, had two wives and a large" following."
When he came to the house of the native preacher to ask for baptism and to offer himself to the Church, a crowd of retainers came with him, among whom were his two wives, weeping and tearing their hair. One of these-one to whom he was strongly attached-beat her head against the wall of the house until they had to hold her to keep her from killing herself, while she declared she would kill herself rather than see her husband a Christian.
But none of these things moved him. He deferred his baptism for a while in consequence, 9ut avowed constantly his faith in Christ, and his purpose to confeRs His name publicly in baptism. And he did so. He came and was baptized, but he held to his property and one wife. He had no children.
His friends found that they could do nothing with him, for he was too far above them to fear them. However, they were determined not to lose him. Finding that he had actually left them, they all rallied round him again. His wife said "he was wise and good, and she would cook his rice and be a Christian too." The rest of his household said that if he, in his wisdom, thought it best to be a Christian, they could not gainsay it ; he was greater than they; they would be what he was. So they cooked his food, and ate with him as before, and treated him as well as they knew how. It was not in human nature not to feel1lattered with all this deference to his opinion. Fa!' about a year his conduct was exemplary; but soon the heathen influence by which he was surrounded began to tell upon him. His wife and relatives made trouble when other Christians came to eat with him, and defiled the dishes. It was only a matter of eating and drinking, and he thought it hard not to conform a little to their wishes when they had borne so much for him. He was strongly attached to the wife who had remained with him, and her influence induced him to withdraw more and more from intercourse with other Christians. He said that he knew it was wrong, but he was really worried to death. After awhile his other wife came back to the house unbidden. Again and again he promised to break away from them all. He believed in Christ j he worshipped Him only, and wanted to follow Him j but he said he saw there was nothing for him to do but to build a small house for himself and live there alone-that he could not be a Christian and live in his heathen home. This man's case is a remarkable one, because he had sufficient authority, for a time at least, to compel his household to submit to him j but they conquered in driving him out at last.
These women are standing right across the path of Christianity in Hindustan. The work of converting them, humanly considered, is restricted to the labors of Christian women among them. Sisters, here is a work peculiarly yours that no one else can do. How will you do it ~ With lukewarm zeal, spasmodic efforts, and indifferent success ~ Or, with all your hearts unflinchingly, till it is accomplished ~ THE ANNOTATED GOSPEL OF MARK IN CHINESE. * Born in the midst of Western civiIlzation, with the rich inheritance in the knowledge of Jewish history and literature, it may be difficult for Christians in Europe and America to realize the difficulties which beset an Oriental mind in an attempt to understand the Scriptures. Both by nature and education the Chinese habits of thought are very different from ours, and this oft,en makes it difficult for them to comprehend what would be to a Western mind almost self-evident. Besides this, as the late Dr. Williamson says, "there are hundreds of words in the original Scriptures which have no equivalent in the Chinese lauguage, only approximation more or less akin, but often most insufficient j • • • our most sacred terms are the least satisfactorily represented j so that without notes we come far short of conveying revealed truth, and sometimes teach error." Take, for example, the first chapter of the Gospel which many prefer for its simplicity -the Gospel of Mark-and, as the President of the Shanghai Conference once pointed out, it is to the heathen reader siniply a conglomeration of difficulties j it reads thus: "God's Son, Je-su Ki-tuh, happy sound beginning j" as Dr. Nevius went on to show, "every word is an enigma to the • Baaed on an article by S. Frank Whitehouse, Ching Klang, Ohina.-D. L. P.
THE ANNOTATED GOSPEL OF MARK IN cHiNmSE
Chinaman j and the whole sentence, if it is understood at all, suggests many perplexing questions, which the most intelligent Chinese scholar has no means of unravelling."
For this reason the missionaries Of China have for many years urged the Bible societies· in China to print the Scriptures in Chinese with short explanatory notes. At the Shanghai Conference of 1877 the following resolution was passed : " Since in the opinion of the General Conference it is highly desirable that the Scriptures designed for circulatiou in China should be accompanied with a short preface, captions, and brief unsectarian notes, therefore we do most earnestly request the various Bible societies in Europe and America to secure, if possible, a change in their rules and· .constitution so as to permit these to be added to their future editions, subject to the supervision of their respective committees in China."
The General Conference of 1890 made a similar request. There are three Bible societies at work in China-the American, the British and Foreign, and the Scotch. Each of these has a clause in its constitution to the effect that Scriptures are to be circulated "without note or comment." This clause each society disregards systematically at home in its marginal notes, the only justification being usage. In reply to the 1877 conference appeal, the societies either answered with silence or thought the change" inadmissible" or "inexpedient. " The Scotch society did, however, as some one expressed it, " after a great deal of consideration, come to the conclusion that there might be maps, chapter headings, and tables of weights and measures, so that the Chinese might know the length of a cubit and the value of a shekel." It may be well to touch briefly on the pros and cons of the question. Against the use of notes it has been urged that the Scriptures without notes can be brought home to the heart and conscience of the reader. In Christian lands, where the desired information is already well diffused, the, opinion may hold good. Surely it is a different thing in a land like China. Rev. J. Hudson Taylor declares that" of all Christian effort, the putting of a whole Bible or Testament into the hands of an unconverted, uninstructed heathen, without note or comment, is the most unsuccessful and, so far as my experience goes, sometimes even hurtfuL" It is said that cases have been found where the Gospel without note or comment has been the means of the conversion of a Chinaman. This may be true; but, so far as statistics go, the occurrence is very rare, both because of the almost incredible difficulties, and because such cases are unknown until after the persons have been brought into contact with Christians. Curiosity may be aroused and a desire for further knowledge awakened, but it is only after much light and help that these result in a change of heart. We doubt if the missionaries of China would yield to anyone in their faith in the power and sufficiency of the Holy Scriptures. The truth is that the missionaries only wish the means to .convey the mind of the Spirit in all its purity, and finding that they cannot convey a meaning of a large portion of the Gospels without short explanatory notes, they therefore desire them. Why not print, with the Gospels sold, notes which shall be at once more accurate, more helpful, and more abiding than those which a travelling preacher can probably give to a hundredth part of his purchasers.
After the appeal of the Conference of 1877 nothing was done for years in the way of supplying the desired notes. It looked as though the end had been reached when, in 1890, one of the Bible societies" so far burst the bands of a too rigid conservatism" as to print an annotated Gospel of Mark. This was only temporary, however, for, owing to doctrinal elements having crept iHto some of the notes, and other notes being too voluminous, the venture was vetoed by the home board. Later the Central China Tract Society printed an annotated copy of the same Gospel with a map. Finally, in November, 1892, after an abridgment of the notes and the appointment of two committees of investigation, the directors of the National Bible Society of Scotland unanimously adopted the following report of the joint committee : 1. The committee feel deeply the importance of the constitutional principle that the Bible must be issued by the society " without note or comment."
2. This has long been understood to permit the issue of marginal readings and marginal references in English Bibles, the object of which has been not comment, but explanation of the meaning of the words used.
3. The marginal readings and references demanded as indispensable by the missionaries in China can be issued by the society, only provided that they be confined to such explanations.
4. Without infringing the constitutional principle above referred to, such explanations may be somewhat fuller than those in the English Bible.
5. Such explanations must be prepared in China by those who shall fairly represent the mind of the mis!!ionaries on the subject, the society reserving its right to judge of such proposed issue, in translation, before committing itself to it.
Ultimately it was agreed, in view of the urgency of the case, that the society should immediately publish a tentative edition of St. Mark's Gospel with the annotations which had been already submitted to them, giving the Shanghai Conference Committee on Notes an opportunity of offering any suggestions they may think desirable in view of future editions. Consequently an annotated Gospel of Mark is now published (and sold at one half cent each) by this society, with an introduction, chapter headings, sufficient explanatory notes to aid the heathen mind, and with a tri-colored map of Palestine. The annotations are made with great caution and skill. They are placed in smaller characters in the body of the text, a method which is both Chinese and wise-Chinese, as the classics are thus annotated ; wise, for, if printed at the head of the page, the unaccustomed reader might puzzle himself considerably, as some have been known to do, by reading all the notes together and afterward the text. 'Ve append a translation of the notes on the first chapter of Mark's Gospel as accepted by the National Bible Society of Scotland. This chapter will serve to illustrate the character of the information needed by the Chinese reader in order that he may to some extent understand what he reads. We omit the headings to the sections.
MARK'S GOSPEL.-Mark: the name of the writer of this book.
The book is called Gospel (lit. " happiness-sound") because it contains the story of the.life of the Saviour.
Chapter 1 : l.-Shanti (God) : the great Spirit, who is Creator and Preserver of heaven and earth, of all men and all things. Son of God means the Lord Jesus. Jesus: the name of the Saviour of the world.
Christ: a foreign word meaning " anointed to bear offiee. " Gospel: the books about Jesus are called Gospels because they tell of the heavenly love of God made known in Christ Jesus.
2. Prophet: men of old to whom God made known His will that they might proclaim it to others. Isaiah: the name of an ancient prophet.
" ]" (will send)-i.e., God. "Thy" (face)-i.e., of Jesus. Messenger means John (see verse 4).
3. Lord-i.e., Jesus.
4. John: name of a prophet sent by God to announce the coming of Jesus. Baptize means to perform the rite of baptism-a holy rite in which water is used. , 5. Judea: name of a province (see map). Jordan: name of a river (see map). Jerusalem: name of the capital city of Judea (see map).
S. Holy Ghost: this Holy Spirit is also called God (see verse 1).
9. Galilee: name of a province (see map). Naza1'eth: name of a town in Galilee where Jesus was brought up as a child (see map).
13. Satan: name of the great evil spirit who tempts men to sin• .Angel,: good spirits in the service of God.
14. Was put in prison: John, a righteous man, rebuked the sin of the wicked King Herod, and was first put in prison and afterward be- headed by Herod (see chapter 6 : 17-29). The Kingdom of God: con- cerning this kingdom the Lord Jesus said: "My kingdom is not of this world" (see John IS : 36).
16. Sea of Galilee is a lake which the Jews called a sea because of its size (see map). Simon: a man's name; Andrew: name of his brother -both fishers.
19. Zebedee: name of a man. James and John: names of two men, sons of Zebedee; they and their father were fishers. This John is not the same as John the Baptist.
21. Ca:pernaum: a city of Galilee (see map). Sabbath: by command of God the Jews rested from labor one day in seven, and this day was called the Sabbath. Synagogue: a hall where the Jews met to read the Scriptures and to worship God.
22. Scribes: religious teachers among the Jews, who read and ex- plained the Scriptures.
23. Unclean spirit: not the spirit of a dead man, but a wicked spirit which had taken possession of a living man and tormented him.
35. Prayed-i.e., prayed to God in heaven.
3S. Preach the Word: The " Word" is the true Word of God, not the so-called " word" of the Taoists.
! 44. Priest: in ancient times men worshipped God by offering sacri- fices. Those who were appointed to make these offerings for the people
KHAMA. THE ENLIGH'l'ENED AFRICAN CHIEF
were called priests. Moses: a holy man of old who proclaimed God's law to the Jews. He lived about 1500 B.C. Things commanded (lit. " cere- monial things")-i.e., things offered to God as a thank-offering by those who were cleansed. .
KHAMA, THE ENLIGHTENED AFRICAN CHIEF.
BY REV. JOSIAH TYLER, NATAL, SOUTH AFRICA.
While the career of African chiefs has generally been stained with vainglory, rapacity, and blood, it gives us pleasure to be able to point to one who is worthy of admiration for what he is as a man and for what he is doing for his people. I refer to Khama, ruler of the Bamangwato, in British Bechuanaland. His birthplace is a matter of uncertainty, but from incidents connj!cted with his early history, I judge that it was somewhere near Kuruman, the mission station of the noted Robert Moffatt. He is about sixty years old, tall and thin, dresses in European fashion, and has a countenance expressive of great refinement and intelligence.
Shoshong, for many years the Jargest native town in South Africa, was his capital until lately. When young, he accompanied Gordon Cumming, the famous African Nimrod, on one of his lion hunts, and still retains a fondness for that sp~rt. A Christian native first acquainted him with the great salvation. He was afterward tanght by a Moravian missionary, baptized, and received to Church fellowship. But he is chiefly indebted to Revs. McKenzie and Hepburn, of the London Missionary Society, for thorough instruction and faithful watchfulness. It is the emphatic testimony of those brethren that Khama leads a consistent Christian life and is always ready to co-operate with them in their work. lIe loves Christ's servants without regard to denominational differences, especially those who make sacrifices for the good of his race.
When F. S. Arnot, the brave young Scotchman, reached Shoshong, en route to the Barotsi kingdom, he was nearly destitute of means, but he found a true friend in Khama, who placed at his service a wagon, guides, and carriers. Arnot gratefully alludes to this in his published journals.
The father of Khama lived and died a heathen. He wished his son to become like himself. Purchasing for him a second wife, he said: "Take that woman." The son replied: "I refuse, on account of the Vord of God. Lay the hardest task upon me with reference to hunting elephants for ivory, or any service you can think of as atoken of my obedience, but I cannot take the daughter of Pelutana to wife." How unlike other African chiefs! Amid a political storm that occurred in which a succession to the chieftainship was involved, the father sought to slay his son; hut Khama behaved wisely and humanely. At one time it would have been as easr for him to put out of the way his paternal adversary as it was for David to kill Saul in the cave of En Gedi.
On the death of his father he was joyfully welcomed to the chieftainship, and then commenced that legislation which has given him the name of "wise and brave Christian ruler." Trading and travelling on the Lord's Day were stopped. Natives were not obliged to attend divine ser- vice, but the chief showed by his example that he wished them to do so.
Education was attended to, schools were established throughout the country, and native teachers who were Christians were expected to con- duct religious services in the schoolhouses.
But that which has distinguished Khama above all other rulers in South Africa is his prohibitory law. No ardent spirits are allowed within his juris- diction. Unprincipled traders from without made one or two attempts to smuggle in rum, gin, and brandy, but were unsuccessful. Spies are stationed on the borders of the Bamangwato district, with orders to report at head- quarters every attempt to evade the law. Here is "prohibition that prohibits. " Would that all rulers in Christian as well as heathen lands were disposed to imitate this noble chief, and thus prevent the spread of intemperance! Khama has gone even farther. He has put a stop to the manufacture of native beer. He assembled his people, and said to them: " You take the corn that God has given to us in answer to prayer and make stuff with it that causes mischief among you. Make beer no longer." This command excited considerable opposition at first, for beer is the national beverage j but, so far as I can learn, it is enforced.
The seat of government has lately been moved from Shoshong to Palapwe, in the northern part of Bechuanaland, a place rich in agricultural resources, well watered, and in all respects better adapted to the natives. One of the acts of the Bamangwato on reaching their new place was to build a sanctuary that will seat five thousand, at an expense of more than $13,000, all contributed by themselves. This town bids fair to become a model African city, as its chief is a model chief.
British officials, especially Sir Sidney Shippard, Her Majesty's High Commissioner in Bechuanaland, have found Khama exceedingly helpful in their efforts to develop British South Africa, extend telegraphic wires, railroads, etc.
" Wise ruler," " perfect gentleman," "Christian and a hero," are expressions continually on the lips of trad€rs, travellers, miners, and others who have formed Khama's acquaintance. The religious enthusiasm manifested at the new capital has called forth the following from a missionary yisitor: "Here are hearts beating with divine life under black skins. The Bamangwato are in dead earnest. The attention at service, the absence of anything like cant, the four hours' prayer-meetings, and the general demeanor of chief and people assure one of this. " What a beautiful illustration of the power of the Gospel to elevate and bless we have in the life of Khama! That he may continue" immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord," is our earnest prayer.
Tidings have lately reached us that his wife, who aided him many years in Christian and philanthropic work, has died. I am sure that deep and genuine sympathy will be felt for him in this bereavement.
CHRISTIAN WORK IN
CHRISTIAN WORK IN POLYNESIA.* BY THE LA.TE REV. ROBERT STEEL, D.D., SYDNEY, NEW SOUTH WALES.
Maritime discovery and terrestrial exploration have had a great induenee on Christian work. During the past century Captain Cook's " Voyages" and Dr. Livingstone's" Travels" have done most to draw forth the energies of Christian people to extend the Gospel. Livingstone knew that his discov- eries would do this. His expression has become a proverb : "The end of the geographical exploration is the beginning of the missionary enterprise." It was otherwise with Captain Cook. His first voyages to Polynesia, though not actually the first, awakened a great interest. After the pub- lication of the account of his visit to Tahiti, the Viceroy of Peru instituted a mission under two Roman Catholic priests. A house was erected for them in Vaitapeha Bay, but they only remained ten months, and returned in the ships that took them. Captain Cook, when on his third voyage, in 1777, saw the house that had been erected for them, with a wooden cross standing before it, on which he read this inscription: "Christus vincit, et Carolus III. imperot. 1776." While referring to this effort to introduce Christianity in the islands, Captain Cook wrote in his journal: "It is very unlikely that any measure of this kind should ever be seriously thought of, as it can neither serve the purpose of public ambition nor private avarice; and without such inducements I may pronounce that it will never be undertaken." How much he was mistaken! How greatly had he miscalculated! There was a stronger motive than either" public ambition" or" private avarice" to induce Christian people to send the Gospel to the heathen. The love of Christ inspires missionary enterprise for fulfilling the Divine command, " Go ye into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature. " But it was Cook's" Voyages" that awakened the interest and drew forth the new age of missions. WILLIAM CAREY read the" Voyages," and was fired with zeal to selld the Gospel to the South Sea Islands. In his first pamphlet he specially refers to Cook, and he remarks that " Men can now ,sail with as much certainty through the great South Sea as they can through the Mediterranean or any lesser sea." It was his unanticipated meeting with Mr. Thomas that directed his mind to' India, where he found his most appropriate sphere. The Rev. Dr. Hawies, rector of AldwinkJe, and chaplain to the Countess of Huntingdon, also read Cook's" Voyages," and pressed upon her ladyship the duty of sending missionaries to Tahiti. Though he succeeded with that devout and generous lady he could not get the missionaries to go. But he did not rest till, with like-minded friends, a missionary society was formed in 1795. It was resolved to send missionaries first to Tahiti. The South Sea Mission thus resulted from Cook's " Voyages." Captain Cook had described the natives of the South Seas in a very interesting and truthful way. He showed their savage and can- …. An address at the Melbourne Mis8ionar;y Conference. 1893. nibal propensities in some islands, their low morals and degrading super- stitions in all, while he set forth such pleasing features of life and manner as were disclosed to him. His observations have stood the test of all sub- sequent investigations, and his mode of dealing with the natives prepared the way for others to follow. And when at last he became a victim of their savage fury, the zeal of his Christian countrymen resolved to send to them the Gospel. Even Cook had not sounded all the depths of Poly- nesian degradation. Missionaries had to learn it by painful experience of its evil deeds. Thirty missionaries, most of them artisans, left in the first ship, the J)uff, in 1796, amid the many prayers and great enthusiasm of English ChristIans. The capture of the vessel on her second voyage by a French privateer intensified the trials of the missionaries on Tahiti and Tonga. The thievish and exacting conduct of the natives on Tahiti, the frequent wars among them, the difficulty of getting access to their souls on the part of the missionaries, and the long delay in receiving supplies and letters from England made the first twelve years a period of great disappointment and even of fear. Eleven of the missionaries left Tahiti in March, 1798. Some died, some fell into evil courses, and though a re-enforcement came in 1801, events occurred which led six, with their wives and children, to leave for Huahine, and all of them except two to sail for Australia in 1809.* Mr. Nott alone remained on Tahiti. The mission was nearly broken up.
At length several returned. Teaching and preaching were resumed. In 1813 a Tahitian native was heard praying to the True God. Tears of joy filled the eyes of the brethren, and after sixteen years of toil, anxiety, and fear, they were rewarded-God had granted unto these benighted people" repentance unto life." The idols were burned in 1815. Pomare triumphed over his enemies, destroyed their idols, and became a Christian inquirer. In 1817 the Rev. W. Ellis arrived with a printing-press, which did eminent service to the cause of the Christian religion at that critical time. The people became eager to learn to read and to get books. In 1819 Pomare and many others were baptized. A great change had been begun. The people, whose revolting depravity, thievish habits, savage warfare, degrading superstitions, and brutal licentiousness seemed so impervious to missionary endeavors, became new creatures in Christ Jesus. They passed through conviction of sin; they believed in the love of God as revealed in Christ, and started on a new life of moral propriety. New laws regulated the native kingdom, new arts were practised by the people. A marked devotion to God and an exemplary obedience to His will characterized the islanders. The churches were filled with reverent worshippers, the schools with diligent scholars, and in every native hut there was * "Australia," says a writer, "is a very large island, mnch bigger than England, and so near Tahiti that it can be reached In less than two months. It is inhabited by savages, bnt along the coasts the English have bullt many towns, in which people may safely reside. The captain proposed to take the missionaries to one of these towns, called Port Jackson, and which Is very near Botany Bay" (" The Nlj:ht of Toil," by the anthor of "The Peep of Day," third edition, 184Sl). a family altar. Captains of trading ships and of ships-of-war, both of England and America-notably Captain Fitzroy. of H. M. S. Beagle-noticed the remarkable change in the manners and customs of the natives, and recorded this with admiring wonder in their journals.
Edncation made progress, and native teachers were trained to extend its influence, and also to preach the Gospel. The Scriptures at length were printed in the Tahitian language. In that year (1836) there were two thousand communicants, two thirds of the people could read, many could also write, and the Society Islands were added to the Church of Christ.
The advent of such men as WILLIAM ELLIS and JOHN WILLIAMS, not to speak of their colleagues and successors-all admirable missionarieswas an era in these missions to the South Seas. Mr. Ellis gave an immense impetus to inquiry and the missionary cause by the printing-press which he brought and used. He also aided the work in the Hawaiian Islands, whose language he mastered in two months. Though early removed from the South Seas, he became an important factor in missionary enterprise by the publication of his " Polynesian Researches," by his foreign secretaryship to the London Missionary Society, and by his visits to Madagascar. Mr. Williams became the apostle of Polynesia, conducted enterprises, discovered islands, reaped conquests for Christianity, and extended the work of missions. His visit to England, his eloquent appeals, the pUblication of his "Missionary Enterprises," which, as the Archbishop of Canterbury said, read like a " new chapter of the Acts of the Apostles," excited immense interest in missions. His return to the islands and his martyrdom in the cause, in 1839, awakened marvellous sympathy and evoked new zeal for extending the Gospel.
The SAMOAN mission was founded by John Williams in his memorable vessel, The j}feslJenger of Peace, built by himself in 1830. The people there showed superior intelligence, along with shocking moral degradation, but they received the Gospel with great interest. Deep convictions, even physical convulsions, marked their strong emotions, and they became genuine converts. They were good learners at school, and rewarded the labors of their early teachers and evangelists. They also developed a zeal for usefulness, and from the noble institution established at Malva fifty years ago by Messrs. Hardie and Turner, a succession of native pastors and teachers have been trained, more than one thousand in all. These even became faithful pastors of native congregations and heroic pioneers of the Gospel to heathen islands. At the present time twenty more are ready for work in New Guinea. The result has been that in Samoa the whole people were taught the Scriptures, and other books have been rendered into Samoan, and the islands were opened to commerce. There is now a Christian community of 30,000 people, of whom 7300 are communicants, with 169 .native pastors, 216 preachers, 230 Sunday-schools, with 10,000 scholars. Besides supporting native pastors, they gave last year over £1000 to the London Missionary Society. The Malva institution is self-supporting except the salaries of the tutors. Over a hundred students are resident. There are high schools both for boys and girls. The native population, though agitated by political troubles, have developed an excellent character, and are a noble testimony to the power of the Gospel of Christ. Many editions of the Scriptures in Samoan have been printed and sold.
The HERVEY group of islands presented similar scenes for Christian enterprise, drew forth similar energy, and illustrated similar success. When Mr. Williams found Raratonga in 1823, he said: " They were ignorant of the nature of Christian worship; and when I left them, in 1836, I am not aware that there was a house in the island where family prayer was not observed night and morning." Eleven islands are embraced in the Christian Church, and the character of the converts has been adorned by the beauty of spiritual graces. The population, now much reduced, as elsewhere in Polynesia, shows" a higher degree of industry and a more ready adaptability to European manners and clothing than those of any of the group" visited by the Auckland commissioners of the Chamber of Commerce. Hundreds of native teachers have been trained, and many have gone to other islands.
Among the GILBER'r Islands, the TOKELAN, and other groups, native evangelists spread the Gospel. Solitary islands like Niue, the savage island of Captain Cook, have yielded remarkable fruits, and the Loyalty Islands were won to the Gospel of Christ. Native teachers from Samoa and the Loyalty group pioneered the mission to New Guinea in 1870, and there are already 500 baptized, and 3000 are attending the schools. Over two hundred native pioneers have been engaged in the work, of whom more than a half died or were invalided. The Rev. Messrs. Murray and Macfarlane superintended the mission for a time; but not to mention others, Mr. G, W. Lawes has gathered a church, and has for the most part translated the New Testament in the Motu language; and the Rev. James Chalmers has won a renown second to that of Livingstone as a missionary explorer, and a pioneer who gained the confidence of the native tribes. Already 30 natives of New Guinea are Christian teachers, and in five other languages portions of Scripture have been translated. There are over eighty stations in New Guinea and the islands of Torres Straits.
The mission in TONGA started amid appalling difficulties in 1796, and a long and gloomy period of peril and disappointment followed before hope dawned. The most horrible cruelties were perpetrated, and the king, who lately died, after a Christian reign of more than half a century, led an attack on a French whaler in 1806, in which the crew were mercilessly massacred. After the Wesleyan Methodists took up this mission God blessed their labors with a remarkable religious awakening. King George became a convert in 1831, gave up his idols, liberated his slaves, built churches, and even preached the Gospel. Eager crowds gathered to hear the Word of God, the people were taught to read, and a printing-press !'lllpplied portions of Scriptures and other books. Christianity triumphed in a signal manner. A self-supporting and a missionary church arose, with a college for native pastors, a translated Bible, and an increasing commerce. The Tongan pioneers were a great factor in evangelizing Fiji.
The FIJI group of islands was a hot-bed of savage cannibalism, of incessant internecine warfare, and of all the vices of a barbarous people. The early missionaries, Messrs. Cargill and Cross, went at the hazard of their lives, and had a painful struggle amid a people with such reckless disregard for human life and its tenderest ties, and with an appetite for human flesh never excelled even among the Maoris. The Gospel at length gained influence, natives were converted, and women were saved from strangling on the death of their husbands. In 1857 Makamborn, the great cannibal chief and conqueror, was baptized before a congregation many of whose wives he had dishonored, widows whose husbands he had eaten, women whose brothers he had murdered. He learned to read, he learned to rule, he protected the missionaries, he aided the advancing cause of Christianity, and when white settlers were pressing into the islands, he voluntarily offered them, with full consent of all the chiefs, to the Queen of Great Britain and Ireland. The Scriptures were translated partially at first in fifteen dialects, al1d finally in one, now known and read by all Fijians. Mr. Calyert, who went to Fiji in 1838, three years after the mission began, lived to see the glorious result in the jubilee of the Fijian Church in 1838. The Rev. John Watsford, his colleague, still alive in a green old age of faith and holiness, witnessed alike the horrors of heathenism, the strangling of widows, and the marvellous triumph of the Gospel of Christ in Fiji. In 1835 there was no Christian native there, and in 1885 there was not an avowed heathen Fijian in 80 inhabited islands. There are only 10 white missionaries, but there are 65 native ordained ministers, 41 catechists, 1016 head teachers and preachers, 1889 local preachers, 28,147 accredited communicants and 4112 on trial, 3206 class leaders, 1824 schools, with 40,000 pupils, and 106,000 people attending public worship. There is a college at Navuloa with 100 students in the higher departments of education. Governors, naval officers, travellers, and colonists have all testified to the thorough work of transformation wrought by means of the Wesleyan Methodist mission. Miss Gordon Cumming, after two years in Fiji, says: "You may pass from isle to isle, certain everywhere to find the same cordial reception by kindly men and women. Every village in the 80 inhabited islands has built for itself a tidy church and a good house for its teacher 'or native minister, for whom the village also provides food and clothing. Can you realize," she asks, "that there are 900" (she might have said 1100) "Wesleyan churches in Fiji, at everyone of which the frequent services are crowded by devout congregations; that the schools are well attended; that the first sound which greets your ear at dawn and the last at night is that of hymn-singing and the most fervent worship rising from each dwelling at the hour of family prayer ~" Well may we ask, "'What hath God wrought 1" The Scriptures in Fijian have been largely circulated-10,000 of the whole Bible and 50,000 of the New Testament. The" Pilgrim's Progress," Christian theology, catechisms, and hypms have been printed for the peo- ple. Many have been the triumphs of the Wesleyan Methodist missions, but Fiji is the gem of their crown. The sphere of missions has been extended thence to New Britain and New Guinea. To the former the Rev. 'George Brown, now D.D., led a band of self-denying native teachers among desperate cannibals. 'l'he wife of one of these teachers, when warned of the perils, said: "The outrigger must go with the canoe ; I go with my husband!" In the face of difficulties, bloodshed and trials, the missionaries persevered, and now there are in New Britain 3 European missionaries, 2 native ministers, 45 local preachers, 900 communicants, 1300 Sabbath scholars, and 6000 people worshipping in 41 churches they have built. In New Guinea, more recently commenced, there are 4 ordained missionaries, 1 lay and 1 lady missionary, 26 teachers, 44 communicants, 8 schools, 240 scholars, and 5790 attendants at public worship in 8 churches.
The NEW HEBRIDES group of islands had many scenes of cruelty and blood in the sandal-wood trade, in which, it is computed, that 300 white men lost their lives. This led John Williams to attempt to introduce the Gospel to Erromanga. He perished in the attempt in 1839. Other men at the hazard of their lives took up the fallen colors. Messrs. Nisbet and Turner had to escape from Tanna in 1842 ; the two brothers Gordon and the wife of one of them were killed on Erromanga in 1861 and 1872. Amid hardships and perils John Geddie persevered on Aneityum from 1848-72, and,assisted by John Inglis from 1852-77, won the whole island to Christ. John G. Paton, after great exposure on Tanna and final flight in 1861, returned to the group in 1866, and won the little island of Oniwa to the Gospel. Native teachers pioneered the way on other islands. There are now 18 missionaries on the group with 200 native teachers. On each of the 30 islands there are stations; 12 islands are Christian. The whole Bible is printed in Aneityumese, the New Testament in Tannese and Efalese, the Gospels, Acts, and Genesis in Erromangan, and portions in eight other languages of these polyglot islanders. Through the life of Geddie and writings of Inglis and the autobiography of Paton this mission has sprung into fame as a witness for Christ.
The MELANESIAN MISSION was commenced in 1848 by the first Bishop of New Zealand, Dr. George Augustus Selwyn, a man of an apostolic spirit. He pioneered the work amid islands that had never seen a missionary or smoked tobacco! He endeavored with rare tact to ingratiate himself with the islanders and got .boys to go to Aucklano. to be educated and returned to their native islands. He induced the Rev. John Coleridge Patteson, M.A., to assist him, and afterward to become Bishop of Mel&nesia. Work was carried on in the Northern New Hebrides, the Banks, Torres, Solomon. and Santa Cruz groups. Many youths were taught at Norfolk Island, which was made the headquarters, and Ii band of European missionaries was secured. One of these, Dr. Codrington, acquired some knowledge of about forty languages. Bishop Patteson could make some use of twenty. He fell a martyr to his zeal at Nukapu in 1872. Bishop John Selwyn suceeeded, but lately had to retire on account of his health. The Rev. C. Bice, who has labored twenty-five years in this mission, says there are only 6 white missionaries, 9 native clergymen (" the white corks float' the black nets," said Bishop Selwyn), 9000 Melanesian Christians, and between 4000 and 5000 pupils under teachers. A steam vessel serves the mission amid the islands. Tn New Guinea also an Anglican mission has been inaugurated and a vessel attached to the work.
The MAORIS of New Zealand, first made known by Captain Cook, early elicited the Christian philanthropy of thc ReI'. Samuel Marsden, chaplain at Parramatta, Australia, who had some living on his grounds. He persuaded the Church Missionary Society in 1807 to undertake missionary work among that cannibal people, and went himself several times to New Zealand. He inaugurated the work on a spot where once a horrible massacre had been perpetrated. Missionaries entered on this difficult sphere. There was no conversion for eleven years, but then a change began. Many were brought into the Christian fold. Troubles afterward arose and superstitions revived for a time, bnt there have been 48 Maori clergymen ordained. There are now 15 snch at work. There are 38 stations in three dioceses with 300 lay helpers and 18,000 in fellowship with the Church.
The Wesleyan Methodist mission among the Maoris began in 1822. Progress was slow from wars and other difficulties, but converts were won, native preachers educated, and thousands brought to Christ. There are now 33 stations with 46 local preachers, 300 communicants and 3000 native attendants at worship. The whole Bible and the Book of Common Prayer and other books have been printed in Maori. This fine race is rapidly disappearing; they were estimated at 2,000,000, but are now reduced to 40,000, and scattered over a large area. Most are now under Christian instructio)l.
The Aborigines of Australia have been the most difficult of all tribes to evangelize. They are entirely nomadic, which makes it impossible for a missionary to be with them in their own way of living. The only means of reaching them has been by inducing some of them to settle on certain reserves. Again and again a forlorn hope has been cherished in all the colonies, and though not without some faint encouragements, has been on the whole very disappointing. Contact with Europeans has not been favorable. Even settled life has not been so. But in the more favorable settlements both education and religion have had occasional success in each of the colonies. The Rev. Y. A. Nagenauer, who has devoted thirty-five years to Christian work among them in Victoria, does not despair of missionary success. The most promising efforts at present are those in Northern Australia, far away from white settlements j and it is to these that the prayers and liberal gifts of all the Evangelical churches should be given, in the hope that even yet a proportion of the blacks of Australia may be gathered into the Christian Church before the race finally disappears. Self-denying missionaries have labored among them and have won converts to Christ. Small portions of the Gospels have been translated into differ- ent languages. The Lutherans have a mission in the east, and the Pres- byterians on the Batavia River, in the Gulf of Carpentaria. Large reserves have been secured, and the government aids the secular part. The churches support the missionaries.
The Gospel in the Pacific embraces the Hawaiian Islands, where Christianity obtained a wonderful success under the American missionaries. '1'he work was begun in 1820 by a few devoted laborers. Christian influences at length told, and the rulers were baptized. The young were taught, the Word of God was translated. Some remarkable awakenings occurred. In 1836-38 a 110table accession to the Church took place. Immense assemblies gathered to hear the Gospel. Dr. Titus Coan alone baptized in one year 5000, and 1700 of them in one day! In all his career he baptized 13,000. A Christian nation arose with complete arrangements for education and for progress. A literature was created. The language had only twelve sounds, but as many more had to be added for the translation of the Scriptures. There, as among all nations, the translation of the ,Vord of God into the language of the people enriched and purified thought and speech. Noble bands of able and self-denying missionaries succeeded each other in Hawaii, till at the jubilee of the mission in 1870 there remained only 16 Americau missionaries, all of whom had been resident from twenty-six to forty-seven years. No re-enforcement had been sent for twenty years. There were 39 native pastors and 5 licentiates. There were schools everywhere, and all the people could read and write. The Scriptures and 150 other books had been printed. There were newspapers in the native language. The people supported their own pastors. The islands had also been opened to trade and to foreign settlers. Yet the mission had only cost $1,250,000 or £250,000. Honolulu has all the appearance of a civilized capital, with places of business, banks, and shipping, and is an important port in the great routes to Japan, China, Australia, and New Zealand.
The GILBERT Islands are for the most part under the American Board of Missions. In 1857 the Rev. Hiram Bingham, son of a missionary in Hawaii, went among them. He reduced their language to writing. In 1859 he began the translation of the Gospels, and in 1873 finished the New Testament. lIe did not begin the Old Testament till 1883, on account of the state of his health, but in 1893 he completed the printing in New York. Mr. Bingham and his faithful helpmeet, his wife, have many times gone over together every letter, every word, every point, in writing, transcribing, proof-reading, and it was a joyous occasion, on April 11th, 1893, to add the finishing touch to their labors. It is not often that one man has done all in translating the Scriptures j but in Mr. Bingham's case it has been accomplished. The chief evangelists in all Micronesia have been native missionaries from Hawaii. Nine ordained and seven licentiates labor from Hawaii to the Marquesas Islands, and the American and British missionaries meet each other.
One very pleasing feature has characterized missions in Polynesia. They have, with few exceptions, been free from sectarian strife. Very rarely have missionary societies overlapped each other in the Pacific Ocean. Roman Catholic missions have occasionally entered upon spheres where the natives had already become Christians j but Protestant missions have each been left to the groups where they began the good work. Though Anglican bishops have taken a part in the work, they have, as a rule, not only refrained from interfering with others, but they have even retired farther on, as in the New Hebrides, as the settler missionaries of the Presbyterian Church advanced. The Hawaii Islands were Christianized by the American Missionaries; the Society, Samoan, Hervey, and Loyalty groups by the London Missionary Society j the Fiji and Tonga groups by Wesleyans, and the New Hebrides by Presbyterians.
Great hindrances to missionary work in the South Seas have arisen not merely from the degradation and vicious habits of a barbarous people, but also from these other causes: 1. The presence of vicious white men, some of them runaway convicts, some sailors, and others, a class called" beach combers," who had ingratiated themselves with the natives, and frequently plotted against the missionariel'f.
2. The unprincipled and immoral conduct of the crews of some ships. 3. The distribution of intoxicating liquors among the natives. 4. The immoral relations of some traders with the native women, and the opposition to the missionaries by these men. 5. The worldly influences introduced along with civilized life and commerce. 6. The exportation of natives to plantations in the colonies or on other islands. There are not fewer than 350 islands of Polynesia more or less fully evangelized in this century. A fleet of five missionary vessels with auxiliary small craft have been occupied in this work till steamships in the trade have caused some to cease. The Word of God has been rendered into 50 languages in whole or in part. Half a million of converts have been gathered into the Church. Many faithful native pastors and teachers have been trained, and have illustrated the graces of Christian character and the works of faith and love. Some have, amid many dangers, pioneered the Gospel to savage islands, and have led the natives to Christ without European or American missionary aid. The whole expense has been about $10,- 000,000, or £2,000,000 sterling money! Has this not been a wonderfnlIy economical enterprise to have produced such grand and permanent results?
&lOTS AND OBPIitA.N…aEIl IN OllIN
RIOTS AND ORPHANAGES IN CHINA.
BY REV. JOHN ROS8, MOUKDEN, OHINA.
The Tientsin massacre, the most serious of this century in China, had its ostensible cause in the belief that the nuns who were conducting a large school were iu the habit, either themselves or by means of others, of gouging out the eyes of their pupils to make expensive medicine. Not to mention other subsequent troubles, the widespread attack ou foreigners in the Yangtze valley moved its unwieldy length along under the same stimulus. The belief that missionaries use the hearts and eyes of the young for medicine found its way all over China. Even throughout Manchuria it was published and. believed that I was paying a shoe of silver for every child brought me. Now, if such an extraordinary belief, originating such disaster in the past and potential for further trouble in the future, exists so generally, and lives so persistently in the Chinese mind, it is the duty of every wise missionary to ascertain what he can do to destroy this dangerous and productive source of trouble. Especially is this duty borne in upon us when it is patent to every observer that the obstacle presented by this belief to the progress of Christianity is far more serious than by the known evils of opium.
How so practical a people as the Chinese came to regard this belief as a truism it is difficult to conceive. But that it is somehow connected with schools and especially with orphanages there can be little doubt. The inmates of orphanages are usually children who have been rescued from the most pitiless poverty, sometimes from famine, and whose constitutions are therefore greal.ly degenerated. They are more liable than ordinary children to disease, and the mortality is disproportionately larger. To the Chinese ignorant of the causes of this disease and mortality, the large number of deaths is suspicious.
The orphanages connected with Protestant missions are not, I suppose, very numerous. The Roman Catholics cultivate them assiduously as the principal recruiting ground of their Church. They receive as many orphans as can be brought to them ; and are said to demand, with each, a deed from the nearest kin renouncing all claim to the orphan for the future. Not only so, but it is believed among the Chinese that they " buy" such children j which means that they give a small sum of money in return for which they receive a deed renouncing all claim on the child for the future. These children belong absolutely to the "Church." How much truth there is in these statements I neither know nor am concerned to know. S"ufficient to me that whatever the worth or worthlessness of any theory to account for this wild and general belief, the belief itself exists and is associated mainly with orphanages.
To us the only problem worthy of serious consideration is how to eradicate this belief. It cannot be done by gunboats. The degradation of any number of offioials, however muoh merited, is worthless to this end. No amount of money paid in oompensation for troubles arising out of this belief will have any other effeot than that of increasing the hatred against the" money-loving" foreigner, who, because he is all-powerful in China, oan make everything the occasion of what seems to the Chinese " extortion. ' , None of these methods, nor appeals to any other" oarnal weapon" will be effectual in undoing evil. It seems to me that only one method exists for destroying this ever-dangerous belief and that is the non-existence of orphanages. This course I strongly advocate. For whatever be the benefits bestowed by or derived from orphanages, they are far more than outweighed by the evil results in the serious barrier which this belief has raised against the missionary in China.
What of orphanages already established? The rooent famine in Manchuria left a number of utterly destitute boys and girls on the hands of the missionaries. Orphanages were established as the only way of meeting the difficulty. Within a couple of years many relatives claimed some, otE.ers were apprenticed to trades, and most, if not all, the girls are betrothed ; and the orphanages are now virtually closed.
Is the mission, because dreading the evil rumors which arise from the existence of orphanages, bound to turn a deaf ear to the cry of the orphan, and to leave the destitute ohildren to die on the street? By no means. Christians with no family of their own adopt some, and others are boarded out in Christian families, where their education and interests can be attended to. I consider it in any circumstances an nnwise policy to refuse to hand over one of these orphans to any near relative who has the right aocording to Chinese law and custom to the person of that orphan. Such refusal can only lead to injurious remarks by the general public.
To the large number of missionaries who are anxious to gain the goodwill and remove the prejudices of the Chinese, I commend some such mode of dealing with this subject. Recent history, however, shows that there are some missionaries who are bent on always appealing to " treaty rights," as Shylock to his bond. Whether or not their action is calculated to appease or to arouse the Chinese is of less importance to such men than the question as to whether or not the action is in itself right or wrong. Probably orphanages may come within this sphere of action. Would such men allow me, though assured of the utter unwisdom of their policy, to suggest one way of modifying the evils arising from orphanages? If they sent a oourteous request to the Hsien of their location to visit and examine the orphanage at any time of any day and as often as he chose. it would prove to the magistrate and to the public that there was no underhand con· duct connected with the school which dreaded the light. Rightly or wrongly Chinese will insist on believing that what is kept secret is what dare not see the light. While, therefore, orphanages exist and are not visited by the magistrate or a proper representative, the Chinese will consider them kept designedly secret; and if secret it is because of evil deeds
DtStNTEGRATION OI1' MISSIONARY SOCIET:pl:S
connected with them. To prevent such impressions no amount of caution should be deemed superfluous, nor any amount of self-denial too great a price to pay.-North China News.
[There would seem to be some way of reaching the evils to which Mr. Ross calls attention besides the entire abandonment of the orphanage system. :Might not somc well-known Chinese women be put into practical control of such institutions as matrons, thus securing public confidence? Are there no converted women who retain the public esteem and who can be induced to identify themselves with such institutions? The creation of a native ministry has removed many of the objections raised against the intrusion of a foreign preacher. May not the putting of native Christian women at the head of the orphanages both inspire confidence and correct false misrepresentations ?-EDI'l'OR.] DISINTEGRATION OF MISSIONARY SOCIETIES.
BY REV. E. SNODGRASS, TOKYO, JAPAN.
In the REVIEW for March Dr. A. J. Gordon discusses a subject of more than passing importance, and of special interest to many missionaries. It is not my purpose to join issue with Dr. Gordon on any of the points he has touched upon in his admirable article on " The Overflow of Missions." I wish to notice, along the same line of thought, some things which have for a long time been kept in mind, waiting an opportune time for speaking of them.
Though the least 'of all that are to be called missionaries, I trust the Lord may, to the end of my days on earth, give me a place among His servants in the foreign fields. I love the Master's cause in these distant lands. Therefore what I say is said in the interest of His kingdom.
What Dr. Gordon styles" the overflow of missions" is nothing more than a protest against, and the disintegration of, the missionary society.
The Church in Jerusalem was dwelling in the midst of spiritual and intellectual luxury, so to speak; was settling down to contemplated stay-athome. It was a hard experience through which the Church passed j but we now inherit the rich blessing flowing from the persecution.
The society has become rich, tyrannical, never was very spiritual, and was always unscriptural. The tendency it is vigorously illustrating is toward an ecclesiasticism within an ecclesiasticism, and toward aristocracy -to spend the largest reasonable amount of the Chufch's gifts on the smallest reasonable amount of service done. The persecution which will no doubt arise about this thing will scatter abroad the society brethren, who will go everywhere preaching the Word. May the persecution come speedily!
Some years ago, in making an apology fOf "the scandal of a divided Christendom, "a writer in the REVIEW said that without denominations who would expect to find twenty-five societies at work in Africa, and even more at work in China. 'VeIl, that is logic. The same writer has, no doubt, time and again said before puhlic audiences that" in 'union there is strength," that" united we stand, but divided we fall." It was ten times more difficult to do mission work in apostolic days than now. With becoming respect for those noble pioneers of modern days, how few are they who would now, or do now, go out as Paul went! We expect what is neither ,best nor right-a fast pledge for our support. There are brethren good and true to the cause of the Master, able and competent as any society missionary, who would by no meallS be acceptable to the society folk. Why g Simply because the society has a standard different from that of the Church. It has certain test questions which, if not directly put to the missionary, is answered by some inquisitor to the satisfaction of the society. Qualification in heart and head has little force here if one of the questions is not answered favorably. The society, therefore, is sectarian.
If that writer had said, "Do you think there would have been seven hundred or eight hundred missionaries in China if there had not been denominations and their societies g" there would have been some ground for consideration. That organization in these days which has most nearly approached the apostolic pattern gives the contradiction emphatically. Weare learning the lesson of faith in the Lord's promises, but we are learn· ing it slowly.
'When Dr. Gordon says, "There are scores of agencies now in use for propagating the Gospel alliong the heathen, when there would have been but one if the condition of solid ecclesiastical unity had obtained," he cannot mean that the number of missionaries would have been less; for there are few who do not believe that if the Church had maintained the unity it anciently had there would have been more missionaries in foreign lands today. There is no such thing in the New Testament as a " solid ecclesiastical unity," if by that an organization other than the local congregation is meant. Where one congregation is not able alone to send out an evangelist (which is a missionary), a number of congregations can send their gifts to the same missionary. This is thoroughly apostolic, and more economical than any society's records have as yet shown. It takes not less than 7 or 8 per cent of the society receipts to manage the concern. Every church, or a number, which should engage in direct mission work would not consume the third of that amount. And besides, there is that touch of hand and heart in the work which cannot come through a society. My plea is for the congregation. Give it back the divinely appointed work which rightly belongs to it.
In addition to the fact that the societies are representing the various denominations among the unchristian nations, which is a great hindrance to the Gospel, the society in itself is an obstacle in the way of the spread of the kingdom. The native helpers and workers become dependent upon the various societies. They look to the societies for money; and the growth to self-support is made slow indeed. If the missionary came to the people unsalaried, and representing nothing but the cross of Christ, he could with more power and grace exhort the native believers to labor for themselves that they may be a burden to no man. And even if he had once in awhile to labor with his own hands for his own support, the time thus spent would teach a lesson never to be forgotten. Very few mis- sionaries nowadays can explain with a clear countenance the passage in Paul's life where he says he worked with his own hands that he might not be a burden to his brethren. Don't be alarmed and endeavor to frighten the missionary by telling him he wonld starve to death if he attempted to go out as Panl! A missionary who wonld listen to such imaginings then and there proves himself unfit for the mission field, be he sent by a wealthy society or by a congregation. The society is a positive hindrance to self- snpport among the native churches.
I admire the declaration of the Baptist Interior Mission, upon which Dr. Gorrlon comments. I shonld make some few changes in it. I would not call it "Baptist." But the tendency is back toward the good old apostolic days. The society, by reason of its very existence, occasions faction, strife, and many kindred evils, which would never arise among workers, either at home or abroad, if the society did not in its own peculiar way bring un- congenial natures· into society bounds. Some one may say that disagree- ment would arise among missionaries even without a society. They might arise, but they would neither be so many nor would they be so difficult to settle. Imagine Paul and Barnabas as society missionaries! What a hub-· bub in the society thcir disagreement would have produced! But the mat- ter was speedily settled, and neither of them lost to the work. But this is not usnally the resnlt of disagreements among society missionaries to-day. One is usually lost to the work, though often he is as capable as the other..
The society stands in the way of the united efforts of the missionaries on the field, even missionaries having membership in the same chnrch or denomination, but some working under the society and others supported by congregations. To explain : The society and non-society workers cannot unite even to build and run a chapel. They can have no conferences .for the purpose of marking ont the territory and locating the workers. Why ~ Simply because the society's principle prohibits its workers from acting without orders from headquarters; and a conference of society and non- society workers on the field which would in any way direct a society worker would be held as destructive of the rights and authority of the society. I know it to be a truth that society and non-society workers are not encour- aged to join in any such co-operation. 'Vere it not for the society in the foreign field the workers would soon come together and plan for the com- . mon good.
The religious press is full of what the society has done. The churches have done nothing. ~Which gets the honor and glory, the Church or the society 1 In the name of which ought the work to be done? I rejoice to see the churches coming to the front. It is their mission to give the Word of life to the perishing millions. This is the Church's glory, her crown.
I do not forget to make the distinction between the society and the society brethren. I can easily conceive how good brethren might be led away by the society, and by virtue of the relation they sustain to it fall into error and injustice to which they would not condescend, acting as in- dividual brethren. This of itself exposes a danger not to be passed over lii'htly.
THE DtFFICULTtES OF A CHINESE CONVERT. [Febr'!-Ilry
. Some one may say that the Church itself cannot save us from the dangers pointed out. But the Church is divine; the society is human. There is not a work done by the society which cannot be done by the Church as well, and without the society. Then where is the excuse for additional and human complications ~ Then let the disintegration go on. ,Vhen the society disintegration shall have become complete, we shall have the congregation, the church. When the denomination disintegr;tion shall have become complete, we shall again have the congregation,the church. ·When each individual congregation shall have become an independent denomination in the Scripture sense, then shall we have Christian union.
THE DIFFICULTIES OF A CHINESE CONVERT.
The London Missionary Society'S missionary at Amoy was the means of bringing home the truth to a Chinaman belonging to a well.to-do middleclass family. He gave up every form of idolatry, became a constant follower of Jesus, made application for baptism, and would have been unanimously received by the Church hut for one serious impediment-he possessed a slave woman who held the position of second wife in the family. He was told that before they could accept him to memhership he must set her free, and arrange for her marriage with some respectable man. He at once agreed to do so, but when the question was proposed to the woman, she flatly refused to agree to it.
Matters thus came to a deadlock, for the Church refused to admit the man till this question was settled. Legally he had the power to make any arrangement for her that he liked without asking her consent, but, being a Christian, he felt himself bound by a higher law to treat her with great gentleness and forbearance: he could now only appeal to her reason and judgment in the matter. He pointed out to her all the advantages her new position would give her. She would no longer be a slave, and liable, should anything happen to him, to be sold to another. She would be married and mistress of her own home, and instead of the degrading title slave, she would then have the honorable one of wife.
The missionary's wife was requested to visit the woman and use her influence to get her to become a Christian. The woman was defiant. She would sit down, but continued on in the work in which she was engaged, making such a noise and clatter that she could not hear what was said.
After several weeks had passed by a difference began to appear in her. She caught herself listening, and would resume her work only again by and by to find herself engrossed in the story the missionary's wife was telling. The fact was, as she afterward confessed, she was deeply moved by the patience of the missionary's wife. She could not understand what was the secret that made her bear, without one word of reproach, the rudeness she had been subjected to for so long. Her heart had been reached. Patience and prayer at length prevailed.
The story of the woman of Samaria completely melted the woman's heart, and from that time she became a follower of Him who had shown compassion to a woman.
Thus ended what was about as dramatic and as terrible a struggle as any man may be called upon to pass through.
INTE:RNATIONAL DEPARTMENT
1I.-INTERNATIONAL DEPARTMENT.
IIDlTED AND OONDUOTED BY BEY. J. T. GRACEY, D.D.
Some Missionary Trea.ty Rights. quite independent of what missionary meekness might dictate. It is not !UI [J. T. G.] missionary or merchant that any gov- The fact that the cable just now ernment protects its citizens. It does brings the news that Mr. Bock, Consul- not discriminate for or against classes.
General of Sweden and Norway at It dare not discriminate. else it imperils Peking, has secured an indemnity from the whole. Missionaries must be pro- China of $40,000 to the relatives of tbe t;3cted or merchants cannot be. No Swedish missionaries, Wikholm and foreign people would apprehend the Johanssen, murdered at Sung·pu, July, distinction. Howbver a missionary 1893, recalls the homily this dignitary might be disposed to take Mr. Bock's read to missionaries of his nationality gratnitous advice about non·resistance not long since, telling them they must to injury of person or property, his make no "demand" for the vindica- home government cannot admit that he tion of real or supposed rights, or ap· shall snffer in either without investiga.
peal to consuls or to Chinese officials to tion. The flag is the flag, and the citi- procure the punishment of offenders zen is the citizen. If we are not to against them or their interests. He said give up governments altogether, we they might "ask" for protection in must recognize that they exist for this cases of emergency, but not demand it. sort of thing.
The whole document was impertinent But all this leads us to say that there and incongruous, in so far as mission- is much popular misapprehension as to aries have any "rights" at all, as dis- what is secured to missionaries in the tinct from "privileges. " Whether several countries by the treaties. and Mr. Bock's home government made that missionary home authorities ought him aware that missionaries had to instruct their foreign agents in these " rights." or the other ambassadors at items. Take China as an illustration.
Peking gave him to understand that he The treaties secure 1. The right to propa- alone could not interpret the .. rights," gate Christianity throughout the em- which they all had in common under pire ; 2. The protection of the foreign treaties, or whether it became manifest traveller everywhere; 3. That his life to Mr. Bock himself that such an inter- and property shall not be at the mercy pretation and pious homily as his, en- of a lawless mob. Different interpre- dangered every missionary in China, tations are put on other clauses of the we know not; but we remark that the treaties, but Rev, Timothy Richard, of cable attributes to "Mr. Bock" the China, who was of the committee of credit of obtaining this indemnity I the Shanghai Conference on the rela- There are some things that all con- tion of missions to the Chinese Govern- suls in China might as well know, ment, and who has given large attention among which are: 1. That whatever to this subject, has set forth that, what- rights the treaties secure to mission- ever the treaties mayor may not be aries were not placed there at the in- interpreted to secure to the missionary, stance of missionaries. Originally it the Viceroy of the Emperor of China was the astute statecraft of HOD. Will- distinctly sets forth in his .. Regula- iam B. Reed, Plenipotentiary of the tions" : 1. That no land in the interior United States, that put missionary is to be sold to foreigners a8 such on any rights into the treaties of all foreign condition whatever; 2. That land can nations with China; 2. Governments be sold for the use of the "Chinese have duties toward their citizens abroad Christian Church," but it inust be distfnctly 80 entered in the deed; 3. That saved the people from decimation jf even this can be done only with the not destruction from the pestilence of local magistrate's permission, the peo· the small-pox, and built up a Christian.
pie of the place not objecting; any community at a cost to American Chris· party selling or renting in violation of tians of $400,000, that the nations cared these conditions and restrictions is to to inquire who had any political juris- be seized and punished. The right of diction over these sea-islanders. These any foreign missionary, therefore, to re- American churches had not only spent side in the interior of China depends on money, but had raised up a Christian the good·will of the mandarins and community with 20 native pastors, 84 people, and not on the treaties. other preachers, 43 nat1'e teachers, 84 In Japan, missionaries nor any other places of stated preaching, 2547 Sun- foreigners have any right of residence day-school pupils, 54 churches, 5000 in the interior secured in any way, nor members, 3 theological schools with 46 any right of travel but on special lim- students, 3 girls' boarding-schools with ited permit. Missionaries temporarily 74 pupils, 58 common schools with away from ~ome have found it greatly 2326 pupils_ embarrassing to get back within the It was only after all this was accom- limits of a permit by reason of sickness pIlshed, that the German Government or storm. The Japanese are exhibiting in 1885 sent a war ship to Ponape and just now increased sensitiveness over hoisted the imperial standard. Sud- the" mixed residence" question, and a denly Spain assumed to have jurisdic- .. Great Japan Union," whose member- tion over these islands, and as they ship is distributed over every part of were still not worth "fighting about, the the empire, is studiously advancing the Pope was called in as referee to decide anti-foreign feeling. between the respective claims of these The reference in the last message two powers to this part of the world, transmitted to Congress by President and he gave decision in favor of Spain.
Cleveland to Caroline Islands' affairs, The officious officials of Spain, instireminds us of what Dr. Georg~ Smith gated by Jesuitical diplomacy, soon said when lecturing at Princeton, to found occasion to harass and injure the effect that the foreign politics of the this Protestant community and its United States are foreign missions. patrons, the American missionaries, and This is an international affair between to damage their property and destroy two Christian nations, and there should their work. The story is well enough be no need of delay in solving it. We known. Our Government has been de- hope Congress will accentuate the manding indemnity of Spain for the in- President's suggestion that Spain shall juries done, but the President is quite 80 adjust matters as to allow of the right in pressing also the right of these American missionaries -speedily return- missionaries to return under proper pro- ing to their work in these islands. It tection to their work in these islands.
should be borne in mind that till the .Turkey and the Hawaiian Islands American missionaries went there in also just now illustrate that our .. for- 1852, not only had no attempt been eign politics are foreign missions ;" but made to civilize or Christianize these we have no space left now to present savages, but neither the people nor the the items. In the Hawaiian missionary land were of enough worth to make any complication" missionaries' sons" have nation under the sun go to the trouble been fulminated against as the " parties to.make any outward manifestation of of the second part" in the overthrow of sovereignty or claim of any kind to the queen. But American Christians, them. It was only when American through these missionaries and "mis- missionaries had reduced the native sionaries' sons," have spent a million language to writing, introduced schools, and a half dollars in educating and Christianizing Hawaiian people; they Whatever is simply more than the con· organized the schools of the country, stitution mayor may not be right. It and have been a chief factor in the de- is immaterial, it is a foreign matter, not velopment of every interest of those warranted by this constitution, not a islands. The press of the Congrega- part of this commission. If it be a mat· tional Church has had support from ter warranted by any other command of other leading religious journals in de- equal authority, well and good; but it fending the character of the" missiona- still remains a foreign matter, however ries' sons" who have taken part in the good and however important it may be.
establishment of the Provisional Gov- The great commission being our mis· ernment, and there is but one testimony sionary constitution, the question of the from those who know best as to the moment is: Does any kind of educa· dissolute character of the deposed tional work come under our constitu· queen and the rottenness of her govern- tion? If not, why not? If any educa- ment. The Hawaiian Evangelical So- tional work: does come under the ciety finds the present situation trying. constitution, what kind is it, and what .. Political issues have bred partisan are its limitations?
measures. To pray or not to pray for We look in vain to find in our consti- the restoration of the deposed queen has tution for any reference to culture per proved a test question in many a lI).eet- 88, to civilization, to the elevation of ing of many a church. " In some cases the masses, to a host of kindly human effort has been made to eject the pastor. actions which are covered by a mantle But the danger to the Hawaiian churches as broad as that of charity-that of they think is past. A new future is, philanthropy. If educational work -is they say, before the Church in these fair nol the end p8r 88 in our commission, islands of the North Pacific. can it be that it comes in anywhere as a means to a greater end? The commis- Eduoation in Missions. sion. prescribes only a specific duty or end to be accomplished, but places no BY F. D. PHINNEY, BURMA. limitations as to the means to be used.
When we speak of "missions, " I The duty is to .. make disciples." take it for granted that we mean mill- How? No way being prescribed, evi- Mona" that we do not mean broad and dently any way in harmony with truth indiscriminate philanthropy, but that and righteousness must be a right way; specific form of philanthropy com· and that way, whatever it is, that makes manded in the great commission (Matt. the most in number and most obedient 28 : 19, 20), which, as found in the Re- disciples must be the be8t way. vised Version, we tabulate as follows: What ways, then,_ are good ways in "Go YE THEREFORE, which to make disciples from heathen nations? (1) Bible translation and pub.
and r 1. Baptizlngthem Into the name lishing ; (2) tract writing and distribut· of the Fatherand of the Son ing; (3) preaching from house to house, I and of the Holy Ghost: to the women in their zenanas, to crowds on the streets, in fairs and festivals, to MplMakl oef adlil8thCei'1 2. Teaching them to observe all those hardened in unbelief; (4) educanaSions, things whatsoever I com- tional work in institutions, teaching l manded yon: secular studies only; (5) secular and re- ligious education combined – which and lo, I am with you alway, e",en unto the end of the world."
This is the missionary's charter, his shall it be? How shall we decide?
royal warrant, his constitution. Whu.t- Can we lay down any rules to govern ever ill in harmony with the constitu- all? Is there only one way, or are tion must be right. Whatever is con- there more ways than one? Taking up trary to the constitution must be wrong. the different ways just mentioned, we see very quickly that (1) Bible work has 1. Do Bible work and Bible circulation Scripture sanction; (2) the writing of tcach obedience? Evidently so, if tracts is but (3) preaching in another there be sufficient knowledge on the form; and we will accept these, with all part of the convert to read and profit other ways of preaching, whether to thereby. 2. Does tract distribution children or men or women, to indi- teach obedience? Partly it may, and viduals or to masses, I haveunquestion- by so much it will obey this part of the able warrant_ But what shall deter- command. 3. Does the man who mine the style and amount of tract preaches salvation from sin through work and the especial method of preach- Christ to motley crowds of Hindus, ing and itinerant work? Evidently the Mohammedans, Buddhists, and demon- social and religious status and habits of worshippers obey this part of the com- the people will determine the best man- mand? Hardly so, for he has not got ner of work, and each workman will so far along in his work. There is an apply his common sense and select immense deal of false knowledge, false methods which in his hands produce fear, false honor, the power of which the best results_ Fruit is wanted, not must be broken beforc obedience can theories. be taught to those who have been made 1. Is education, pure and simple, a disciples. 4. Does secular education good means of making disciples? Look- alone predispose the student to obey ing back over at least a half century of Christ? Does it make him a better non-religious educational work on the Christian if already one, or when later part of the Government of India, we he may turn to Christ? These ques- fail to find a percentage of converts so tions admit of various answers; but gained sufficient to save Sodom_ We while they may be somewhat favor- turn to the so-called Christian colleges able, we think that we must admit that of Madras and Calcutta, in which, if we the fruits are not such as to warrant are rightly informed, the Bible for a the putting of mi8sion funds into such decade has not been made a subject of work. If among any people in any daily study, and the fruits are sadly country these questions can be answered meagre; conversions are so few that with a strong affirmative, there will we fail to justify their existence as a such work be justified as mission work.
means for making disciples. Their j us- 5. Do mission schools of high or low tification must be sought on other degree, in which the Bible is made the grounds. subject of daily study under consecrat- 2. Will any combination of secular ed teachers in connection with secular and religious education show better studies, aid in teaching obedience to fruit for the Master and vindicate its Christ's commands? Do they tend to right to stand with Bible work and make better Christians, more faithful, preaching as a means to an end-that intelligent, obedient Christians, able of making disciples? Are all alleged and willing to obey even this last com- "mission" schools really missionary 1 mand?
Do any or all help in any way in mak- Let us sum up the question of educa- ing disciples of Christ? This is the tional work as a part of mission work question in a nutshell so far as the first in this wise: Does the combination of part of the missionary constitution is secular and religious education carried concerned. . on by missionaries to heathen people, We turn our attention to the second and supported by " missionary contribu- part of the constitution: "Teaching tions," lead (1) to the conversion of the them to observe all things whatsoever heathen from their heathenism to Chris· I commandedsou." We believe that tianity, and (2) assist in building up 8 this part is just as imperative as the strong, faithful, intelligent, obedient other part. How shall it be obeyed? body of Christians among such peoples ? If so, what proportion of the whole seven days in a week from these same possible effort is warrantably spent in persons. and step by step unfold the such educational work f These ques- good news until their minds and hearts tions are easier asked than answered, have taken it in? But with men this since we must observe results for at is seldom possible. Yet with multi- least two generations before a definite tudes of children it is possible if they and final reply may be expected, and are gathered into schools teaching secu- indeed we find that this final reply is lar studies, for day-school children can only now being demanded after three be gathered into the school on Sunday generations of mission effort. in the great majority of cases, and so a.
The argument from antecedent prob- full week of Christ can be rounded out, ability is in favor of work for the chil- with greatly diminished opportunity dren. It is to be expected that better for heathen instructors to crowd out the results will follow wisely directed ef- truth. Can this opportunity for con- fort, if expended upon a child 'before t.inued teaching and for the exercise of his mind and heart have become filled personal influence be obtained in any and hardened with the abominations of other way? Can we get this oppor- heathenism, than will be the case if the tunity or get its results in any cheaper child is allowed to mature in heathen- way? It need not be expected that ism and ripen in sin. heathen parents will send their children If we give up mission schools, shall to the missionary on week days to learn we give up all our denominational high nothing but the Bible, or that they will schools and colleges in Americ.'t? If send them on Sunday only for the same mission schools are of no use in the purpose, or that the missionary can Master's service. of what possible use teach more of Christ on one day in a can they be in Northfield? Do they not short session than the children will all stand or fall together? learn of heathenism dUl'ing the week.
Is it to be expected that either heath- Let it be remembered that the heathen en children or heathen grown people RChool that does not teach heathenism will in any considerable numbers ac- is a curiosity. Years of experience cept Christ on first presentation? If it have proved that heathen children can- takes much work, much knowledge of not be got hold of by any means six the way_ and much personal influence days hi the week, except by means of and many prayers and entreaties to lead schools, and that these must be as good souls to Christ here in America, will and as cheap as any in the neighbor- the time needed to impart a knowledge hood; and that they cannot be got in of Christ to the heathen, and for per- any large numbers on Sundays if not sonal influence, work, prayers, and en- on the week days; and that such teach- treaties on the part of the missionary, ing only one day in the week is of little be a matter of no consideration in heath- avail against the influences of the six en lands? The missionary Who preaches days that intervene. It seems to be a Christ to a constantly changing crowd reasonable expectation and a fact, that of busy men at a heathen fair or festi- happy results-a full harvest-must val seldom welcomes a satisfactory con- follow if heathen peoples are taken vert who never before heard and under- While young and easily influenced, and stood thc message of Christ's salvation. gathered into schools where consecrated At such a time the missionary cannot teachers teach the Bible as much as any- expect to reap, he is only scattering thing else flve or six days in the week the seed; and how much of it falls on and again alone on Sunday.
anything but good soil let such preach· Now let us turn to observed results ers tell. How much would such a for further answer to our question, and preacher gain if he could have the same see if school work and Bible instruction attention an hour a day, five, six, or ,combined have proved their miSiion di· vine by their fruits. Have they shown conversions are hoped for, work~d for, sufficient conversions to warrant their and prayed for, expected and granted, existence? Have they so aided the in· and where the daily influence exerted struction of converts that they have over all the pupils is constantly toward been better able to obey Christ's com· a high standard of Christian living. mands than they would have been with· The students here do not hinder street out this school life? Let us not be preaching, but are taken out as assisthasty. We do not condemn Dr. Jud- ants by their missionary instructor. son and many others who have waited Follow such pupils as they become seven years for the firstfruits of the heads of families, as the boys become "foolishness of preaching." And in men and take their places 'as preachers, observing schools we may wait till our teachers, and as Christian layman in pupils have grown up and become the various positions open ,to them, and heads of families before we can com- the comparison of the life and work of pare them with those converted late in Auch men as a body with that of those life ; and then we may further observe converted late in life ,is all in the favor the effects on following generations. of the former. And then the second But as to conversions due directly to generation starts right, which is not school life, the writer recalls that within the case generally when heads of famthree years past a certain pastor of an ilies are converted late in life; and we English·speaking church in the Indian recall a family of young men whose Empire in a single year baptized more grandfather was a convert from Budpupils of a single boys' school, who dhiSUl. All have been educated more were converted under the influence of or less in mission schools. Two are the lady missionary in charge, than he now in responsible positions as missiondid of those converted under his min- school teachers, and both are or have istry by all other influences. And as been Sunday-school superintendents, we have been made to sorrow by the while a third is a business man in good lack of fruit for the Master in ,those position and an efficient Sunday-school schools which may be called Christian, teacher; the younger ones are still to but in which the Bible is never taught, be heard from. These older ones are so, on the other hand, do we rejoice at now heads of families with their little the fruits in another kind of mission ones growing up about them, who will college. We know of one in which be no more touched by heathenism than the Bible has been the subject of one will ,the children of the missionaries recitation a day from every pupil for themselves. the past twenty·one years, and in which, although with comparatively small But we may look at the effects of numbers, and many Christian boys in Christian education on masses of de· the school, twelve were baptized in one graded heathen, and of no such educaterm a year ago; and where, with in- tion, or of very little such education, creased numbers, twenty rose from on other masses no more degraded and prayers lately in one evening in a of equal mental endowments. From "Christian Endeavor" meeting, desir- many examples, let us take two mising to become Christians, and where sions of the same society in which there baptisms are even now taking place. have been large ingatherings, but The history of this school has been the handled in somewhat different ways. same in varying degree since it was The Karens of Burma, when discovered started, and it is the history of many by the American Baptist missionaries, other schools in the same region man- were about as abject specimens of huaged in the same way, where secular manityas could well be found, driven studies are taught to meet government back to the hills and kept in cowed standards and the Bible as well; where subjection by the domineering Bur- mans, being only a little better off than a natiDn Df slaves. They had no, writ- ness. The Telugus have an DId litera· ten language, and hence neither a liter- ture, and so have been able to, read the ature nDr SChDDls. They began to, ac- Bible-as many Df them as cDuld read cept the GDspel, and then an alphabet at, all. There has been no, such demand was demanded, and the Bible and Dn their part fDr SChODls as Dn the part SChDDls fDr all, DId and YDung, and the Df the Karens, and the missiDnaries have missiDn work fDr the Karens has been had tDD much Dther wDrk to, prDvide bDth Christian SChDDI wDrk and evan- them, unasked, to equal the Karen gelistic work hand in hand ever since. schools, and so, little has been dDne fDr The Christian Karens to·day fDrm a them in this way until very recently; body of whDm American Christians and while there is a marked elevatiDn may be proud. They have their HDme of the Christian cDmmunities, it is nDt Mission Societies, and their FDreign at all cDmparable with that Df the Ka- MissiDn SDciety, and district assDcia- rens. DefectiDns frDm Christianity to, tiDns, and what cDrrespDnds sDmewhat heathenism are far mDre frequent than to DUr State cDnventiDns is in Burma amDng the Karens. This is the verdict very largely Dperated by the Karens, Df every Telugu missiDnary who' visits sharing this wDrk with the Burmans. Burma and sees the independent church They have their WDmen's MissiDn Cir· life Df the Karens, aud they return to, cles, and their YDung PeDple's SDciety their Dwn cDuntry and field expressing of Christian Endeavor DrganizatiDns, the wish, if it were pDssible, to see the and the latest mDvement is to, emplDy same grade Df Christian life develDped Karen preachers as evangelists for the among the low-caste Telugu Christians, heathen Burmans, once their masters. fDr we all grant equal mental endDw· A great amDunt of American money ments in each peDple, and believe that has frDm first to last gDne into Karen equal DppDrtunities will prDduce equal SChDDls, but they have nDW made many results. of their SChDOls entirely self-suppDrting, and of the larger and higher institn- The cDmparisDn of results obtained tions, they assnme the entire suppDrt by bDdies Df missiDnaries using true even Df the bDarding departments, the missiDn-schDDl methDds in cDnnectiDn salaries Df the lady missiDnary teachers with evangelistic methDds, with thDse alDne being paid frDm America. Dbtained by Dther bDdies using Dnly the recDgnized evangelistic methDds, The statement cannot be gainsaid, might be carried to, an indefinite extent, that if the pDlicy of the American mis- but we believe that the result Df the sionaries had been one hDstile to, scbool comparisDn will in the end be fDund to, wDrk, and if little or no American favor those who' use bDth methods, and mDney had been spent Dn Karen against thDse who' do' nDt use true mis- SChODls from the start, the Karens tD- sion-schoDI methDds. If all that is de· day would be still a feeble Christian sired is the enrDlment Df cDnverts, with. bDdy, still held dDwn by their old su- Dut reference to, their spiritual charllcperstitiDns, and in mDrtal dread of the ter, to, what else they may believe. to, mDre self-reliant and dDmineering hDW they live and what becomes of Burmans. them and of their families, why, then, the DId Jesuit methDd is 11 gDDd pattern The great bDdy of the Telugus of to, folhw-corral the herd and sprinkle SDuthern India are lDw-caste peDple, the CDnverts and let them run. But, degraded, kept dDwn by thDse Df higher Dn the Dther hanll, if the great commi8caste, fDllDwers of the debasing Hindu sion means nDt only the saving Df men's religiDn. They have since the famine sDuls, but their develDpment into' the Df 1877 accepted Christ in such large image Df Christ, then the missiona.ry's numbers that the missiDnaries have nDt duty is nDt dDne till he has dDne all in been able to, IDDk after all their CDn· his pDwer, bDth before and after CDnverts with any approach to thorDugh. version, to aid both child and adult furlough in Australia, by the steamer whom he may bring under his influence a week before the schooner sailed. to lay aside or escape in some degree Mrs. Robertson and family arrived the weights and sins. that so fearfully from Eromanga for their health. beset the converts from heathenism, that they may indeed run the race set A very interesting book has been before all followers of Christ, and so published by the Rev. Oscar Michelsen, live that an "entrance may be minis· of Tongoo, in the same group. He tered unto them abundantly into the went to this island in the end of 1878, everlasting kingdom of our Lord and a solitary white man, a Christian mis- Saviour Jesus Christ." sionary among eleven hundred heathen cannibals. He had severe trials, many The proportion of effort to be ex· dangers even of his life, but God blesspended in school work must be deter· ed his labors, and when he left on fur· mined for each field upon principles lough to visit his nati ve country of Nor· which we cannot enter upon here. way, in 1891, the whole island was Chris- tian I There were 32 villages with a To sum up; we believe that missions population of 2070, most of whom could are founded in the second command· read and many could write. About two ment, and are specifically commanded hundred were communicants. There in the great commission; and, with are Christian teachers in the villages. reference to the subject in hand, we There is in every family the worship believe that in mission fields the work of God, where hymns are sung and in schools in which the Bible is made prayers offered. The Word of God, the subject of daily study aids economi- the New Testament as now printed, is cally and efficiently in (1) making dis- read every day in the schools. Churches ciples, and (2) in the most satisfactory aud schools have been erected. Roads way prepares converts, by the mental have been made across the whole isltraining and education afforded and by and. Several have gone to otber islthe shutting out of a vast mass of false ands, taking their lives in their hands, ideas which would otherwise have great to make known Christ as the Saviour influence over them, to appreciate the of men. great truths of God and so the better to " observe all things whatsoever I com· Mr. Michelsen's narrative, if not so manded you." thrilling in accounts of personal peril as that of Dr. Paton's, excels it in the Missions in the South Pacific. record of success. It has been pub- lished, under the title" Cannibals Won BY REV. ROBERT STEEL, D.D., SYDNEY.* for Christ," by :lIessrs. Morgan and Scott, of London. 1. THE NEW HEBRIDES (Presbyte· rian). -A very severe hurricane having Mr. Michelsen's wife died in London occurred in one part of the northern in the end of December, 1892. He reisles of this group, whereby the mis· turns to his work in the islands. In sion premises of the Rev. Dr. Lamb, the year 1880, when I published my at Amboyna, as well as the native food work on "The New Hebrides and were destroyed, relief has been sent per Christian Missions," there were no con· the schooner Lark, which sailed from verts in this small group, called by Sydney on May 2d. The Rev. Messrs. Captain Cook the Shepherd Isles. Mr. Aunand, Gillan, Fraser, and Macdon- Michelsen had just beeu settled. The ald returned to their spheres, after a hope was then expressed in the lines of one of the late Dr. H. Bonar's hymns: • A pathetic Interest attaches to these notes, "Good Shepherd, hasten Thou that glorious day as the author, since writing them, has gone to "Btand on the sea of glass" which 18 "before When they shall all in one fold abide with Thee for aye." thetbrone."-J. 'r. G. How abundantly has this been fulfill- quarters of the mission, there were 145 ed I males and 41 females in the schools 2. SAMOA (London Misaionary &ci- from 21 islands. In the Banks group ety).-The Rev. J. G. Newell, after his there are 41 schools, 1038 scholars.
busy furlough in England, has returned During the year 65 adults and 115 in- to his post as one of the tuton in the fants were baptized, 128 confirmed, and Institution for Training Native Pastors 18 Christian couples married. In the at Molua. He carried several school Torres Islands 18 adult natives were books through the press in London. baptized, the firstfruits of the group.
He had a very intelligent Christian stu- The people here built a substantial dent with him named Saanga, who church.
made a good impression everywhere by In Florida there are 25 schools, 76 his consistent piety, modesty, and de- teachers, 125S scholars, and there were meanor. There are over one hundred 306 baptisms. In Guadalcanar little students in the institution, which has improvement has taken place, but in sent forth one thousand since it was San Cristoval there are 5 schools with commenced fifty years ago. The Rev. 110 scholars. In Ysabel there is much A. E. Claxton, who had been appointed progress. The baptisms at Bugoto Natives' Advocate before the Samoan have been for the year lS6 adults and Land Commission, arrived in Sydney in 29 infants, making a popUlation of 686 April, 1893, en route for England. baptized persons and 31 confirmed.
Captain Turpie, of the missionary bark There are 14 teachers there. In the Joh:" Williama, has also gone to Eng- Santa Cruz group, where Bishop Patte- land on the invitation of the directors' son was killed in 1871 and other trage· of the London Missionary Society, to dies have taken place, there are 4 consult with them regarding the steam- schools with 207 scholars; 15 adults er they are getting for the mission at a were baptized and 3 confirmed. There cost of £16,000. This new departure are 18 scholars from these islands at is wanted, as the mission stations ex- Norfolk Island. The expenditure of tend so far throughout the South Pa- the mission for 1892 was £6266. The cific. It will require £6000 a year for income was short of the expenditure, maintenance. and there remained a balance of £593 S. THE MELANESIAN MISSION (Epis- due to the treasurer. There are more copal).-The annual report states that black clergy than white in this mission.
the bishopric is still vacant. Bishop As Bishop Selwyn said long ago, " The Selwyn, who had to resign on account white corks support the black nets."
of his health, has been laboring in Eng- The Bishop of Tasmania's report of land on behalf of the mission. The his island voyage is appended. He Rev. R. H. Codrington, D.D., who for writes in approbation of the system pur- twenty years wrought in the mission, sued, but he advocates the addition of and has now retired, paid a visit to four or five more white missionaries.
Norfolk Island in 1892. He published, He also suggests that the Anglican mis- a few years ago, a very able work on sion in New Guinea should be joined to the Melanesian languages, giving some that of Melanesia, and be alike under vocabularies and grammars of nearly the new bishop and visited by the mis- forty of them. He has lately added sion steamer. He urges Australia and another on their "Folk Lore." He is New Zealand to do more for this inter· now in a college living in England. esting mission among so many isles of The Bishop of Tasmania paid an offi- the sea. There are only six European cial visit to the islands where the mis- clergymen in the mission, and there sion operates, in 1892, and confirmed are nine ordained natives. One of the 216 Melanesians and ordained one na- clergy is a qualified medical practition- tive. At Norfolk Island, the ,head- er. The Ven. Archdee.QOn Williams again gave £500 and Bishop Selwyn just at hand, speaks of "our beloved £200 as special aid to the funds, whic.1:l need more regular support. leader, Dr. Nevius, the nearest ap- From the .. Education Society's proach to the 'model missionary' I Steam Press, Bombay," we have received the two bound volumes which have ever known. Other men there make the" Report of the Third Decennial Missionary Conference, held at are in abundance-his ;place will never Bombay, 1892·93," 854 pp. They are as satisfactory as such reports can well be filled." be, but we confess to great disappointment that the statistical returns col- The Second International Convention lected in connection with this gathering, of the Student Volunteer Movement in or in anticipation of it, should not have Detroit, Mich., appointed for February found place in these covers. This is a 28th to March 4th, 1894, will have conrepetition of the same unaccountable vened before a large part of our readers omission of the Report of 1882. Why will receive this number of the REthese good editors could not hav3 given VIEW, and yet we write necessarily by tables similar to those of the Allahabad anticipation about it. Over five hun- Conference is unknown, and perhaps dred student delegates from about two .. unknowable" to us. But we value hundred colleges, theological seminawhat we have, and wish every student ries, and medical schools from all parts of missions and every theological and of the United States and Canada are alcollege library in the country could be ready appointed. Nearly all of the possessed of these books for t:eference. regular missionary societies of these They are among the abiding things of two countries have been invited to send missionary literature. secretaries, and every invitation was ac- cepted to the time of our advices. More societies will be represented, it is thought, than at any previous gather- ing in America. Missionaries of emi- nence have also been invited who are likely to stamp themselves and their experiences most helpfully on the vol- unteers. The afternoons will be devot- ed to section meetings on (1) Plans of Missionary Work; (2) Fields; (3) De- nominations, etc.
DR. NEVIUS. – Although editorial The Bible &ciety'a Record is always mention of the death of Dr. Nevius full of good things. A very suggestive will be made elsewhere, we cannot for. item in it from one of its agents in bear saying how much the Internation· Japan (Rev. Mr. Loomis), who has been al Missionary Union held him in regard, a contributor to our pages as well, is as and what a high estimate they placed upon his attendance on two of its ses- follows: sions while he was at, home the last " The anti-mixed-residence agitation time. The Ohin686 Recorder comes to our desk just now with a pathetic ac· is growing rapidly. A society has just count of how, after making a note of been formed in 'l'ol,yo called the' Great what he needed for a six days' journey, Japan Union,' with a membership cxhe expected to begin the next day: tending over the whole country, and " After a very little conversation Dr. with the sole object of securing the ex- Nevius put his hand on his desk, which clusion of foreigners from the country. was co-vered with books used in his Bi· At a meeting held in Tokyo on the 2d ble translations, smiled, and was about instant there was an audience 01 8:bout to speak when his head fell forward, two thousand persolls. Among the and his next words were spoken to his leaders in this movement are several Saviour, for his heart stopped suddenly, members of the diet. The former presicausing instant death." Rev. Arthur dent of the Imperial University is iden- H. Smith, of the American Board Mis- tified with it. Another advocate of exsion of North China, in a private note clusion is Professor Inouye, of the same institution, who bas recently published an article in which he claims that the Japanese are an inferior race, and there- fore unable to compete with foreigners. He is [1,180 using his pen and influence in opposition to Christianity in writings which have large circulation."
FIELD OF MOl'tTJlLY SURVEY
III.-FIELD OF MONTHLY SURVEY.
Ohina, * Thibet, t Oonfuoianism,:t: Eto.
CHINA AND THE CHINESE.
BY THE EDITOR-IN·CHIEF.
Peking is the head of the nation and French "concessions, " with half a a great city, though uot the largest in million Chinese and 5000 foreigners- China. It is really four cities in one, Shanghai within and without the wall.
with populous suburbs and a wall Here are the largest Sunday-schools in twenty miles long. It embraces the China, and the largest mission press of Chinese city, the Manchu or Tartar city, the world. In the latter are seven the Imperial city, more secluded and ex- hand-presses and two machine presses.
clusive, and within this still the actual The demand for type made a type – city of the Emperor. and to which only foundry necessary. There are fonts officials have access. In Peking are for English, Greek, Koreen, Japanese; the Lama Temple, Confucian Temple, the literary, Mandarin, and Mongolian and Temple of Heaven, Protestant mis- dialects, and five local dialects. Elec- sions, and four Romish cathedrals in trotyping and stereotyping are done, the Manchu quarter. The Temple of and over 35,000,000 pages are issued Heaven has an altar of white marble, annually, nearly three times the issue and represents the highest form of wor- of the mission press of Beirut. In 1880 ship known in China, and some think there was a net gain of £800, or nearly the closest approximation to the primi- $4000, from this Chinese mission press.
. ti ve Christian faith. The Lama Tem- Ningpo is another of the" five ports"
ple has an image of the coming Bud- opened in 1842, and as Shanghai is fa- – dha 70 feet high. The leading Con- mous for its foreign bustle, Ningpo is fucian shrine has about it tablets of all known for its native activity, populous literary graduates of the third degree and prosperous before" foreign devils"
for five hnndred years past, and me- found their way there. It has about morials of a history five times as long. 300,000 population, with a wall about Beside this capital city are the pro· six miles around, 15 feet broad by 25 vincial capitals, circuit cities, prefec- high. Thick walls also divide the city tural cities, and district cities. Be- into sections.
tween Peking and the great wall is a Here are famous Buddhist and Con- large monument in honor of a Lama fucian temples. At the doorway of the priest, carved with scenes from his life. Buddhist fane are ten monolithic pil- Farther on a huge bell, five hundred lars, each about 15 feet high, elabo- years old, 14 feet high and 34 around, rately carved with dragons, ete. Hun- graven within and without with selec- dreds of lanterns are swung from the tions from Chinese classics. Not far ceiling, and incense altars and hideous off the tombs and worship halls of thir- idols fill the interior. Hundreds come teen emperors of the Ming Dynasty, here to knock their heads on the ground one hall being 250 feet long, with pillars in adoration, hoping to propitiate the of wood 12 feet around. deity.
China's chief port is Shanghai, con- • The Confucian Temple, which ~n sisting of the Chinese city proper, with sists of several structures covering acres about 400,000, and the English and of territory, is walled in; the central .. Compare Dr. James S. Dennis's" Peeps building has large wooden pillars, and into China" and Doolittle's" Social Life ot the the wood is frescoed. The only wor- shippers here are the officials and liter- Chinese." Bee also pp. ro, 78 (January) ; 102, ati. The Confucian shrine at the birth- place of the great teacher in Shantung 117, 148 (present luue). t Bee p. 85 (January).
+See pp. IIt,.86 (present i8sue). eclipses this in beauty, but few others wonders of the world. It was built over do. In this temple there are no images, two thousand years ago, is fifteen hun- but tablets only; and over the main dred miles long, 15 feet wide, from 18 shrine a golden motto, "Heaven and to 30 ft. high, with towers from 15 to 40 earth are harmonized by his virtue." feet high, and took ten years to con- Four characters are here represented: struct. Out of the material here used a Faith, Fidelity, Friendship, and Filial wall 2 feet in thickness and 6 feet high Piety. could be built twice around the earth at the equator! It far surpasses the At Ningpo are the mission premises Pyramids as a work of colossal magni- of the American Presbyterians, and tude. the Church of England has a growing college with a theological department Marriage. – Missionaries have girls and some forty students. The Meth- under charge, and a part of their duty odists and Baptists have also flourish- is to see that they get good husbands. ing missions here. The bride and groom kneel and knock their heads on the floor. After the Chefoo has some 30,000 to 40,000, ceremony they are borne in sedan chairs and is growing constantly. Ttlng- to a bridal chamber, where the bride chow, fifty miles off, was chosen by takes her seat on the kong or brick- treaty as one of the open ports, and made bed. No word is spoken, but the Chefoo owes its increase to its prox- pair eat together; and after being left imity and to the fact that it is a health alone the first word is spoken between resort-China's sanatorium. Here Dr. the'm. The marriage feast comes a day Nevius lived and Dr. Corbett. also of the later, men and women eating in differ- American Presbyterian Church, resides, ent rooms. as also Dr_ Alexander Williamson and colleagues of the Scotch {jnited Pres- Ohinese OhaJracteristics. – Wonderful byterian Mission. Here are Church of memory! Pupils in mission schools England and China Inland Mission can often recite chapter after chapter, premises. and some of them most of the New Testament. Politeness consists in the GO'I!ernment. -The three latest dynas- imitation of others. Exclusivism is ties of the twenty-five are those of the stamped on all China. "Foreign dev- last six hundred years, the Y1ten, Ming, il" has for the last twenty-five years and Olting, .or Mongolian, native, and been a common name for outsiders, Manchu dynasties. To the first belong though Rev. Gilbert Reid thinks it may less than one hundred years, to the mean no more than a foreign 8pirit second nearly three hundred, and to (kuei means either). A foreigner was the last, two hundred and fifty. The addressed on one occasion as "Your plaited queue was a mark of subjection honor, the foreign devil." forced upon the people by the Manchu conquerors, who also attempted to Chinese New Year's Day comes gen- abolish the custom of binding the feet. erally in our month of February, and 'l'he sixty-one years' reign of K'ang-tsi great preparations are made. The fes- wcre very prosperous, encouraging in- tival holds for a week or two. It is a . tellectual and ethical culture, and up- time of recreation and rest, a national lifting his people. He encouraged Ro- holiday, like our" Fourth of July," man Catholicism, until collision with when firecrackers are in order, to keep the Pope brought a sudden close to away evil spirits. It is a day of wor- Rome's apparent triumphs. ship as well as rest, like our Sunday. In the open court worship is per- China has one of the three leading formed to heaven and earth, and to the statesmen of the world, for Li Hung family gods and deceased ancestors, Chang stands alongside of such as Glad- with presentation of gifts ;_then in the stone and Bismarck. temple, where incense is burned and The GREA'!' WALL is one of the idols are adored, amid the sound of In a few years all the ports and capitals bell and gong and drum and song of will be united with Peking by the mys· chanting priests. New Year's Day is tic wire, which is to the Chinese such a also pay day, when old debts must be marvel. The railway is an innova· settled or creditors may exact payment. tion more difficult to introduce, because It is a kind of birt4day, for a child it is considered a menace to the pros- born even shortly before New Year perity of the empire in its violation of opens is reckoned as two years of age, the sacredness of cemeteries, and so of having seen a portion of both years. ancestral worship; but to prevent its It is spent in meditation over family introduction is as hopeless as to sweep bereavements as a day of memorial. back ocean waves. Li Hung Chang It is also a wash·day, when everybody has memorialized the throne for lines bathes, once a year at least, and puts of railway to link the great cities to· on the best clothes that one can buy or gether. borrow, and goes forth to call. It is a day of general hilarity and amusement. Religions. – First, Taoism, founded Gambling, drinking, and smoking are upon teachings of Lao·tse, a reformer in order, and street theatricals are com- of the seventh century before Christ. mon. His teachings have been corrupted, like Buddhism, with magic, astrology, and The Feast of Lanterns is universally various superstitions ·and divinities-a kept. Large and small lanterns are to " motley chaps. " be seen of every shape and grade of elegance, made of paper or silk, plain Next, Confucianism, a system of ethics or painted, more or less elaborately, with and political science, traced to Conpatriotic, serious, or ludicrous images fucius in the sixth century before and scenes. The riches of a shop- Christ. He visited Lao-tse, and sought keeper is to be gauged by his lanterns. to combine all that he could learn from Unusual freedom is allowed to women, those before him with the best results who are to be found in throngs in the of his own study. This moral system streets, with painted faces and elaborate has likewise received many additions dresses, merry as a marriage bell. from other religions.
P1·ogress.-1887 marks a year of ad- Judaism, some hundred or more years vance in the direction of Western civili- before Christ, found its way into China, zation, and introduction of various im- and lodged in the province of Honan. provements designed to put China at These Jews, hostile to foreigners and the head of the nations. Since then ignorant of Messiah's advent and the the Imperial College began under lead destruction of .Terusalem, destroyed of Dr. W. P. Martin; but there is still their synagogue to supply other wants; great jealousy of foreign influence. and ignorant of sacred books and rites, China wants simply to keep what she and without scribe or priest, have beimagines she has always had-the pre- come assimilated to the Chinese and eminence. These last sixteen years are Moslem elements about them. the era of the steamship company, under the supervision of Li Hung Chang; Buddhism came in from India a little of the telegraph company (1880), with before the siege of Jerusalem under only Chinese shareholders. The late Titus. However pure it was at the Mandarin, General Tso, in 1883 was led outset, it has become awfully corrupt, to try the telegraph for his business, and has now so far lost all distinctiveand having an answer from the distant ness or exclusiveness that the same wornorth within thirty-six hours, he was shipper may bow before the tablets of so shaken out of his conservatism that Confucius and the Taoist altars, as well he ~ctually built a short line from Nan- as the Buddhist shrines. king to Soochow at his own. expense ! Nestorianism dates back to the sixth century of the Christian era. Its mis· sionaries were successful during the Middle Ages, as shown by a tablet dis- about 200,000,000. About 40 societies covered in 1625. are represented, with 500 male mission- Mohammedanism came in the eighth aries, over 200 unmarried women mis- or ninth centuries, and to·day has over sionaries, and nearly as many native 30,000,000 adherents, especially in the ministers, with many more native help- Western provinces. This is a modified ers.
form of Moslem faith, largely accom- But what are these among so many?
modated to the surroundings, and has Outside of the nineteen provinciS of little infiuence on the idolatry or moral- China proper, with 386,000,000, are ity of the nation. Manchuria, with 18,000,000 ; Mongolia, Romanism found entrance in the thir- with 2,000,000 ; Thibet, with 6,000,000 ; teenth century; had success for a hun- IIi, with 2,000;000, and the islands of dred years, then fell into decline for Formosa and Hainan. Manchuria has two centuries, reviving in the latter three mission stations belonging to the part of the seventeenth, under Father Scotch United Presbyterians and Irish Ricci. From the middle of the last Presbyterians. Mongolia has had only century until the epoch of modern one missionary, the lamented Gilmour, treaties it had to work in secret. whose life reads like an apostle's.
Protestantism began with Morrison Thibet and IIi are both shut against in the first decade of this century. He missionaries, scarce one Christian man gave the Bible to the Chinese, and since or woman ever having been there ex- his day converts, schools, churches, na- cept in disguise. Formosa has a won- tive preachers have multiplied. A no- derful missionary history, to which a table era was that when the China In- separate treatment needs to be given.
land Mission began its work, specifically Of the nineteen provinces of China aiming to reach the inland parts with proper, only Hunan and Kwang-se have the Gospel. It has now over three hun- permanent mission stations I And yet dred and fifty missionaries, and occu- Hunan has 20,000,000 and Kwang-se pies eleven of the hitherto destitute more than one third as many. Travel- provinces. The English Baptists are ling missionaries may go where resident doing noble work likewise in the in- missionariess cannot stay, and in this is terior, and their missionaries, like the found perhaps a providential sign that China Inland, wear the native dress. the work of itinerant evangelism is the T'ai·shan, "the great mountain," is work for this day.
one of five, deemed sacred, and associ- Itineration is a favorite and fruitful ated with imperial worship. Four method of mission work in China. Mis- thousand years ago, and antedating the sionaries go on tours of from a week to worship at Sinai, Shuin, a predecessor nine months, preaching from place to of Confucius, came here and sacrificed. place, gathering converts into churches, On the summit, 4000 feet high, is the and sending them out to tell the Gospel leading temple, with an image repre- story to their neighbors. As they so· senting the spirit of the mountain, be- journ in the towns and villages for a fore which the worshippers fling their season they meet the Christians for money in expectation of every blessing. worship, administer sacranlents, teach For the first four months of each year classes, hold conferences with workers hosts of pilgrims come to this shrine; and conversations with inquirers, and and here beggars are found infesting then go on, leaving the little church to the holes in the rocks, and emerging bear its witness and extend the Gospel with cries of .. cash." message. Humble witnesses for Christ Less than fifty years since there were are found willing for a bare support, but 6 native converts; now there are which costs perhaps $5 a month, and nearly 60,000 ; and if increase goes on in , sometimes without even tltat help, to like ratio, fifty years more would give us go about as simple evangelists. Dr. Corbett and Dr. Nevius were wont thus generations were represented. After to go on tours, and gathered on an average about one new convert a day for a the ceremony the patriarch of the fam- period of perhaps ten years. No meth- od of work could be more primitive and ily, his grandfather, rushed upon him, apostolic. and seizing him by the queue, bound Famine has been God's evangelist in China. When relief has been rendered his hands, slapped his face, fastened by the foreign devils, while even home iriends were apathetic, the effect has him to a beam, and taunted him with been very marked, and periods of general revival and large ingathering have baing a deserter of his family faith, an always followed famine relief. apostate, an innovator. He was bound Dr. Dennis describes a representative Chinese village of some nine families thus for eight hours. and then, being among the mountains, not walled in as loosed, ran to Dr. Nevius for a refuge. usual, but scattered like a western ham- He was compelled to leave his own let, and needing no defence because too home forever, his name being struek poor to offer a prize to robbers. Three off from the list of the family, and his families were Christian, each family property forfeited. including all its living descendants. Twenty-three communicants and sev- Gospel work in the citie8 is "greatly eral bright children gathered on a week- needed. The rural class, representing day morning to be taught by the pas- the working class, has been mostly the tor. One boy had memorized all of object of labor. '1'he upper and liter- Matthew and started on the Acts. ary classes ha ve been almost totally neg- Even the old woman of seventy had lected, and thAse can be reached only her word of witness, her verse to recite, by the evangelization of the cities. We and her prayer to repeat. In the after- must have the best and foremost men noon all came together to keep the and women that Christian lands can af- Lord's Supper. It was very primitive ford to command the respect and au· and apostolic. dience of the cultured classes, and when these are reached they command the Out of every hundred converts in empire. China, ninety, perhaps, are countryfolk, and of these sixty belong to the agri- The "Statesman's Year Book for cultural class. Instead of depending on foreign help, these humble people are 1893" gives the following statistics for trained to give, and the poorest are not exempt from this duty. China: Some idea of the difficulty besetting Ar.a. Papulation. a convert may be seen in the story of China Proper.•… 1,336,841 sq. m. 386,000,000 Sen, one of Dr. Nevius's converts. Manchuria…. … 362,310 ~~ H He belonged to a family of wealth and 7,500 000 standing, and was well educated. But Mongolia. . …. … 1,288,000 H " for his conversion he might have be- 2,000,000 longed to the literati, and risen to dis- Thibet. .. ……. 651,500" " tinction. His examination of the New Jungaria …… .. 147,950" " 6,000,000 Testament begat fears and disquiet, and at last he resolved to be baptized and E. Turkestan.. . . . 431,800 H '" 600,000 face the persecution he knew was in- 580,000 evitable. At his own request he was baptized at home, that he might bear 4,218,401 sq. m. 402,680,000 witness among his kindred where three China proper is divided into nineteen provinces.
Most Chinese are Buddhists and Con- fucianists at the same time; many of them are also Taoists. There are about 30,000,000 Mohammedans in China, chiefly found in the northeast and southwest. Roman Catholics number about 1,000,000. 1rlost of the aborie;i- nal hill tribes are still nature-worshIp- pers. Protestant adherents number 60,- 000. Accordine; to Vahl's estimates, there are 66 sOCIeties at work in China. There are 12 tract and educational so- cieties, and 6 ladies' societies support workers. Of the other 48 societies, 18 are British, 13 are continental, and 17 – American. These societies support about 1500 mIssIonaries, including wives. There are over 100 medical missionaries and 105 hospitals and dis- pensaries. Native helpers number over 20,000, and native churches 525. There were over half a million copies of the Bible, in whole orin part, distributed in 1893.
EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT
IV.-EDITORIAL DEPARTMENT.
Three deaths have lately occurred, in corded him, and he led the way in prowidely separated districts, which have moting world-wide missions as well as an important bearing on the work of home evangelization. A great gap is Christ at home and abroad. left by his death, and the whole work of God feels his loss. Rev. Charles F. Deems, pastor of the "Church of the Strangers," in New And now comes a startling news that York, died universally lamented. As Rev. John L. Nevius, D.D., of Chefoo, a preacher, an author, a man of affairs, China, another of our editorial corre· he will be missed not only in that city, spondents, also passed away about Ocbut wherever honest, earnest work for tober 26th, after nearly forty years of God is done. He was a many-sided consecrated service. He landed in man, evangelical in spirit, wise in coun· China in 1854, and six months more sel, charitable and magnanimous in would have completed his forty years. sympathy. His dying words were, With his wife, he began work at Ning- " My faith holds out." po, and after aCfluiring some knowl- edge of the language, went to Hang. Rev. Dr. Robert Steel, of Sydney, chow, the capital of the province, some one of our editorial correspondents, died hundred miles off, and there began a October 9th, having for eight weeks new station, lodging in the houses of suffered from an affection of the liver, the natives and preaching to people though not in pain. He was buried who then for the first time heard of October 11th at the Necropolis, in Syd. Jesus. The disturbance of peaceful reney, a vast concourse of all classes of lations between China and England people evincing their sorrow and re- drove him back to Ningpo ; and when, spect; and largely attended memorial in 1860, new treaties opened new ports services were held October 15th. In and furnished new facilities, he was the October issue of this REVIEW Dr. among the first to remove to Chefoo, Gracey made mention of Dr. Steel and in the Shantung Province spent the (p. 768), little knowing that in the same rest of his useful life. month his career was to close. Dr. Steel's influence was felt throughout He ventured upon a novel method of the Southeastern Pacific as the inde- procedure. Having no native helpers fatigable worker for the spread of as yet, he made itinerating tours, preach- Christian missions, and his works will ing and talking with the people as he long follow him. For thirty years he went, and often travelling in a wheelhad been the foremost representative of barrow drawn by a horse or donkey; the Presbyterian Church in " the Aus- afterward adapting the native vehicle tralian world," in the pastorate of St. to carry his bed, books for distribution, Stephen's Church, and he held to the and supplies. His tours were repeated, last his position as leader. Instructive going over the same ground, and thus as a preacher, faithful as a pastor, at- following up previous impressions, tractive as a man, aggressive as a work- gathering converts into churches, and er, he made his church a rallying point sending them out as native evangelists and a radiating point. But he was much to spread good tidings. When famine more than a Presbyterian. His catholic threatened the people with starvation, spirit overflowed in work for the king- he devised with statesman"like wisdom dom of God at large. As PresiUent of means of relief, and himself went with the Faculty of St. Andrew's College, wheel-barrow loads of "cash" to disfor twenty·eight years he taught the tribute it in person. Thus by Christian theological students. Every honor the love he won the hearts of the starving Church could give was gratefully ac- people, and turned famine itself into an evangelist. He proved himself a sort black, rich or poor, were presented and of missionary general and statesman, compared. Those who could not go and, like Dr. Corbett, raised up an will have opportunity to read a full rearmy of converted natives who" went port soon to be published. We have everywhere preaching the Word." watched this young organization from its birth, and rejoiced in its constant His visits to America have been an and healthy growth. It is seeking to inspiration and an impulse to the solve the problem of " Applied Chrischurches, colleges, and theological semi- tianity," and we believe the time is apnaries he visited. From his last visit proaching when it will become an inin 1890-91 he had recently returned to ternational convention, meeting occa- China, to give his matured powers to sionally beyond the sea and promoting aid in the revision of the Bible transla- fellowship between all true Christian tions into Chinese. But his heart was workers. enfeebled by long labor and much exposure, and he suddenly passed away, Side by side with this notice we may leaving a memory that will stand like place a record of the twenty-first annia monument beside that of Morrison versaryof the founding of the "Jerry and others in the noble apostolic suc- McAuley Mission," 316 Water Street, cession. in New York, celebrated lately. Mr. Cutting presided. and Dr. Burrell made Books desired to be examined and re- the main address at the afternoon sesviewed should be sent to the editor di- sion, and President Huyler was in the 7'ect, at 2320 Spruce Street, Philadelphia, chair in the evening, and Colonel Ketchor to such of the editorial staff as the um and ex-Governor Lounsbury were author wishes to receive them personal- speakers. More than forty witnesses ly. In the immense mass of exchanges spoke of their own conversion before a and similar matter going to the pub- crowd that thronged the mission rooms; lishers, a book is always liable to be lost in fact, half the audience was made up sight of, or unwrapped before its real of the outcast classes, whose special destination is noted, or transferred to the rescue the McAuley work aims to seeditors of THE HOMILETIC REVIEW as cure. During the last year Colonel meant for them. If authors and pub- Hadley, Superintendent, has had 40,000 lishers who publish works bearing upon men at these meetings, and about $6000 missions and who wish the REVIEW to have been raised. It is no depreciation notice their issues, would send to the of any other agencies for benevolent editor-in-chief personally, he would work to say that no ten churches in the either review them himself, or assign city, combined, have effected as much such task to other competent hands. for the reclamation of drunkards, thieves, criminals, and outcasts as this The eighth convention of " Christian wonderful mission; and no one can Workers" assembled, November 9th- understand it without both reading 15th, in Atlanta, Ga., and in interest Jerry McAuley's life and going in perseems to have reached another stage of son to see how Colonel Ha<l.ley, his fit . advance. President Torrey and Secre- successor, carries on the work. Such tary Collins proved as usual equal to a reading and such a seeing will conthe occasion. Stebbins and Lamh vert the most apathetic soul. helped in song, and the lengthy programme was successfully managed. The Church Missionary Society has Every phase of holy work was pre- had a communication from one of the sented, and the various forms of effort clergy of the Established Church, to in behalf of the rescue of the lost, the effect that twenty-seven of his own whether among young or old, white or parish-all of them of the working class save one, a Cambridge studenthad" lIimultaneously and spontaneously work of Dr. George Smith, the Memoir offered themselves for the foreign of Henry Martyn, heretofore referred field I" That shows what one mission- to in these pages as the latest and maary-spirited man can do ! turest product of that accomplished au- thor and missionary biographer. This Judge Terrell, the United States Min- work on Martyn is the fullest and comister at the Sublime Porte, has induced pletest we have ever seen. It leaves the Turkish authorities to per-mit women nothing more to be added, and is indisto practise medicine within the Sultan's pensable to every complete missionary territory; and to Dr. Mary P. Eddy. library. It is graphic, vivid, pictorfal. daughter of that forty years' mission- It is not a description, it is a portrait. ary of the Presbyterian Board, Rev. Dr. Smith has spared no pains, and the Dr. W. W. Eddy, the honor belongs of intelligent reader will accord him the achieving this victory and overcoming laurels his labor demands. the long-built barriers to woman's medical mission work. Miss Eddy, recently Of all books on missions which we graduated from the Woman's Medical have read of late, none deserves warmer College, New York, was bent on mak- tribute than another, likewise -pubing a final test as to whether a woman, lished by F. H. Revell Company, viz., armed with II medical diploma, could "The Holy Spirit in Missicns," the penetrate this wall of exclusion; and course of lectures delivered in April, she has done it. A new era thus opens 1892, on the Graves' Foundation, at for Turkey and for woman. New Brunswick, before the Theologi- cal Seminary of the Reformed Church, Among the bOQks which deserve no- by our esteemed co·editor, Rev. A. J. tice we must mention the Memoir of Gordon, D.D. The volume treats of Adolph Saphir, that marvellous exam- the subject under six heads: The Holy ple of a converted Jew, and" Ws great Spirit's Programme, Preparation and book on the" Divine Unity of Scrip- Administration and Fruits in Missions; ture," which is, perhaps, without any and then the Spirit's Prophecies as to superior as an unfolding of the riches Missions and Help in Missions. of the Word of God. Dr. Saphir was a Throughout the Spirit of God ishonseer. He had an insight into the Scrip- ored and exalted, and if this book does tures that was Johannian for SUbtlety not call attention to the one sovereign and Pauline for clearness. Thsse are remedy for all failures. both in our not distinctively missionary books, but methods and motives, our work and they form a grand contribution to mis- our spirit, we know not where such sionary literature, for at every point remedy is to be found. Every reader they touch the work of the kingdom; ought to read and study this grand and especially do they lend a mighty series of lectures. impulse to the work of witness among the Jews. The Ufeof Saphir shows the Dr. MoAil's Suooessor Ooming to possibilities wrapped up in one Hebrew America. convert. The work on the Scripture, wWch was his last and best, reveals the Friends of the McAll Mission will be thread of God's purpose concerning pleased to learn of the visit to America His people running through both Testa- of Mr. Greig, since Dr. McAll's death ments, and binding prophecy and history the executive head of the mission in together. France. He is expected to remain until February 24th. He comes that he may These books are both published by be brought into closer relations with Fleming H. Revell Company, 112 Fifth his A.merican constituency, and give to Avenue, New York, as also is that great it the benefit of his personal knowledge, and to stimulate the American MeAD Association in its efforts to further the careful and economical administration cause which lies so close to the hearts of missionary funds; and, while satis- of aU who desire the coming of God's fied that in no part of church affairs is kingdom in France. so great economy shown as in the col- Mr. Greig is a man of intense person- lection and distribution of funds for ality and great e~ecutive ability. He foreign missionary work, it would em- has an unaffected but telling way of phasize the importance of still further stating facts, and believes profoundly effort being made to perfect and sim- in the power of those facts. plify the financial business of these The Board will try to arrange his boards. To this end it adopts the fol· route so as to give as many as possible lowing resolution: of the auxiliaries and the friends of That the Conference urge upon the the mission in the towns and cities boards of foreign missions the careful where the auxiliaries are found, an op- consideration of plans for analyzing ap- portunity to meet him and to hear him propriations and expenditures. with 8 speak. N. B. PARKHURST, view to securing, if possible, some uni- Preaident of the American NcAlZ A8soci- formity in this respect which will make ation. the study of different forms of work more practical.
Missionary Oonferenoe. 4. The Conference deeply feels the importance of developing spiritual pow- At a gathering of the secretaries of er and stimulating missionary effort in fifteen foreign missionary societies in the native churches, and desires to ex- New York in May last, the. following press its unanimous and emphatic conresolutions were unanimously adopted: viction that this interest rightly takes 1. The importance of the examples the first place in the thought, both of and deeds of the apostles. who were missionary boards at home and of mis- divinely commissioned to plant the sionary laborers in the field. It would Christian Church in so many parts of call the especial attention of missionary the Roman Empire, is to be lleartily laborers to the importance of this part recognized, and, so far as a change of of their work, and would urge, as an circumstances will admit, the methods indispensable condition to success in of evangelistic work in New Testament this effort, a deepened tone of personal days are to be taken as instruction and Christian life.
guide to the missionary work of to day. 5. The Conference is agreed that the 2. The Conference, recognizing the direct preaching of the Gospel should desire of some of the more able and have precedence in all missionary effort.
promising native converts in many Other forms of work-educational, lit- fields to visit America and enjoy the erary, and medical-are important, but advantages of the schools a::td Christian they should be subsidiary to the prime life of this country, is at the same time matter of giving the Gospel for the sal- agreed in the conviction, warranted by vation and edification of the people.
the expressed judgment of the mission. 6. In awakening the churches on the aries on the field and the experience of subject of the world's cvangelization, past years, that native converts should the main instrumentality is a faithful be discouraged from coming to Europe ministry giving regular instruction on and America for education; that the the essential obligation of giving the Conference is unanimously of the opin- Gospel to mankind and the progress of ion that Buch natives educated in Ameri- mission work. The success of all other ca should not be commissioned on the agencies will largely depend on the en- ordinary missionary basis. thusiasm of pastors in preaching the 3. The Conference desires to express Gospel of missions.
its conviction of the importance of a 7. The Conference heartily rejoices in the growing interest of the young Dr. James 1. Good calls attention to people of our churches in this great a misstatement on p. 860 of the Novemwork of evangelizing the world, and ber, 1893, REvmw, where the statement recognizes in these youth the promise is made, "Two hundred and eightyand strength of the church of the fu- one years followed, during which no ture. It earnestly recommends that in voice was uplifted for Jesus." He says every possible way this interest be so the Dutch Reformed Church had misrecognized and guided as to secure both sionaries in Brazil in the seventeenth an increasing number of volunteers for century. the foreign field and enlarged gifts to our mission treasuries, and the enthusi- The interest in foreign missions has astic devotion of our youth to this su- been much increased by two rallie8for preme movement of the age. foreign missions in the Presbytery of New Brunswick, N. J. One series of The Way Germany Looks at Us.-Dr. meetings was held among the churches, Stil.ckenberg, of Berlin, writes: in which G. W. Knox, D.D., of Japan, and others spoke, and another rally "The religious life of the United among the young people's societies, at States is continually denounced in Eu- which Rev. Gilbert Reid, of China, rope as superficial, hypocritical, purl- Rev. F. G. Coan, of Persia, and others tanical–a mere Sunday formality or described the needs and work in the luxury. Its real power is estimated by fields which they represent. Both the corruption in official life; by the series of meetings were held under the fearful record of crime and laxity of direction of the Presbyterial Commitjustice; by the management of large tee of New Brunswick. It would withcities, as reported by our own papers; out doubt be most helpful if this exby the character of a large part of the ample were widely followed in other press admitted into families, with all the sections of the country. disgusting and polluting details of crime; by the prevailing worldliness, A Classified .Digest of the Records of which has even crept into churches; by the Society fOl' tlte Propagation of the appalling statistics of intemperance; by Gospel in Foreign Parts (1701-1892) has Mormonism, spiritualism, and similar been publisbed at the Society's office in excrescences. These are regarded as London, and is a voluminous work of particularly American, and as striking nearly 1000 pages. It is edited by Mr. evidence of our real godlessness in spite Pascoe, and does credit to his industry, of all our professions." for it occupied all his leisure for five years. It presents the vast field of the Miss Annie R. Taylor, of whose jour- Society's work in over eighty fields, ney into Thibet we spoke in our Jan- extending over ninety years, with unuary issue, has collected a party of five usually comprehensive indices of conwho will accompany her back to Thibet tents. making it a sort of encyc1opredia, early this year. They go forth relying of the S. P. G. It may be of interest on God for funds and for the opening of to note the fact that the English bishop closed doors. Some contributions have (Exeter) is giving the North American already been made to the work, but portion of the book as the subject-mat- .£600 or £700 ($3000-$3500) are needed ter upon which his examinations will further. Contributions may be sent to be conducted next Trinity. William Sharp, 13 Walbrook, London, E. C. The prayers of God's people are A. T. P. especially desired for this work,
EXTRACTS AND TRANSLATIONS
V.-GENERAL MISSIONARY INTELLIGENCE.
EDITED BY BEV. D. L. LEONAlID.
Extracts a.nd Transla.tions from Foreign the debates, and an earnest desire was Periodicals. shown to make the Church a pure Church, free from reproach, sound in BY REV. C. C. STARBUCK, ANDOVER, doctrine, and vigorous in life." MASS.
CHINA. – " It is a great satisfaction to the -Manchuria, it is known, is the north- committee [of the Church Missionary ern province of the Mantchu Tartars, Society] that Bishop Moule, to whom to which the present reigning family the offer of a home sphere was recently belongs. The United Presbyterian made, has elected to continue for the .iUissionary Record remarks: "There is, present his onerous labors as a mission- so far as I know, no mission in China ary bishop in China. The anti-foreign which has gained so many converts prejudices of many of the literary and during its earlier years as the United official classes in that land show little Presbyterian Mission in Manchuria. It signs of abatement. At the interior is only seventeen years since the first stations in the northwest of Fuh-Kien missionary entered Mookden, and the attacks were made of a peculiarly vio- number of members on the roll, includ- lent and offensive kind on Dr. Rigg ing Tieling, Kaiyuen, Maimaigai, and and the Rev. S. H. Phillips in May and other places worked from that centre October last. but through God's great is above 1100. In other cities there goodness neither of them was perma- are over 450 members. The Irish Pres- nently injured, and both hope to be byterian membership is nearly 500. permitted to continue their labors in Thus the total number of converts gath- that district. Persecution has also been ered into the Presbyterian Church of rife in some localities against the native Manchuria within twenty years is up- Christians for non-compliance with ward of 2000. To this have to be add- idolatrous customs. That opposition ed those who have been baptized, but to Christianity is not general, however, who have since died or have left the among the people, is proved by the province. The Scottish and Irish mis- large increase in the number of adhe- sions work together. Last year a united rents. In Fuh Kien there are more by presbytery was formed, the aim of the 840 than in 1891, and in the T'ai Chow missionaries and the Boards being to district of Cheh-Kiang 98 were bap- build up a strong, united native church,- tized during the year. Dr. Duncan who shall know nothing of the differ- Main says: 'The doors open to the ences which separate the various sec- medical missionary are legion. The tions of the Church at home. The an- difficulty is not to find them, but to nual meetings of the presbytery were find time to enter them. Weare the held when we "-delegates from home centre of gravity, and they gravitate to -" were in Newchwang. Mr. Carson, us without difficulty.' It is manifest of the Irish Mission, was chosen Mod- that a wide door is open for itinerant erator, but it was understood that next missionaries almost throughout China.
year a native elder would be appointed The provinces of K wang Si and of to that office. At the meetings of com- Kiang: Si were visited during the year mittees and conferences between the by Dr. Colbourne and Mr. Phillips re- missionaries English was spoken, but spectively; and the far more distant the proceedings of the presbytery were province of Sz·Chllen has been safely conducted in Chinese. The native reached by Mr. and Mrs. Horsburgh elders took the most prominent part in and thuir party of nine, and he believtlll
GENERAL MISBIONAltY INTELLIGENCE
their lives are as safe there as in Eng- force it. Still it is possible for us land. The society is greatly indebted largely to quote from the ordinary conto the China Inland Mission for con- fession of one and all that the good are stant help and counsel to this party, few and the bad are many. Their both at the COUl't and in Sz-Chuen." moral teachings, their common prov- erbs, the general conversation and prac- -Professor EICHLER, reported in tice of the people. the records of histhe Ohronicle, remarks, in speaking of tory, and the sentiments of their curthe fondness of the Chinese for tracts: rent literature may well be taken in .' It is a remarkable fact that the ma- evidence of the depravity of human jority of the authors of these tracts, nature, that however originally formed even the Confucianists, seek to give fnr good it has grievously degenerated weight and importance to their moral and turned to evil. But more than teaching by the authority of the gods, this, we are led to the plain and posirepresenting them as Divine revelations tive teaching of the Bible on the suband inspirations. Of some of those ject, and in confirmation of it we have tracts not only the contents but the the Ten Commandments on which to whole book are said to be inspired; it insist in thought and feeling, in word is pretended that cover and everything and deed, as possessed of Divine auelse have been received from a god or thority, and having the' sanction of genius. This is, for instance, the case every man's conscience, which in the with t.he 'Divine Panorama,' and ap- Chinese view is equivalent to the depears from one of its pictures. This crees of heaven. They are ail-powershows that religion is in China, as every- ful in this respect. Only a Jew.ghts where, the backbone of morals. Con- ago I was urging their claims and residered from a broad Christian point of quirements on a large audience of some view. these tracts contain many good three hundred Chinese, and at the close words, even some deep truths. But one rose up and in a most excited manby the side of these we notice sayings ner declared in the presence of the and exhortations which sound to our whole assembly that he had broken ear most ridiculous and childish, and everyone of these commandments, and doctrines that are obviously false and felt himself to be a grievous sinner. erroneous. Frequently detailed de- He is now a candidate for baptism. scriptions of vices are given, which re- What is wanted is to deepen the conmind one of the sermons preached by viction of inward and total depravity, the capuchins in medireval times, or of and this, we believe, can most effecour modern sensational novels and tually be done by enforcing the claims newspaper accounts of criminal cases. of the Divine law. It has been given It is questionable if men are made bet- for the purpose, and the more clearly ter by any of these." it is understood and felt, so much bet- ter are we prepared for apprehending -It would be interesting to know, and appreciating the rich provisions of from competent observers, how far the the Gospel of grace."-Rev. W. Mumcrime of female infanticide is reduced HEAD, in Ohine8e Obse1"1Je'l". by the zealons and noble warfare which we understand that Buddhism wages -" I came not to call the righteous, against it. but sinners, to repentance." The Na- tional Bible Society of Scotland has – " Natu1·al ilepravity. How may published in Chinese" The Gospel of this be brought forward as a funda- lIark, with Explanations." Both the mental point in our Christian teaching? plan and the execution are highly com- There is a general acknowledgment of mended by Dr. Griffith John, of the it in China, though not, of course, to London Missionary Society; Dr. W. S. the same extent as we are called to entheir lives are as safe there as in Eng- force it. Still it is possible for us land. The society is greatly indebted largely to quote from the ordinary conto the China Inland Mission for con- fession of one and all that the good are stant help and counsel to this party, few and the bad are many. Their both at the court and in Sz-Chuen." moral teachings, their common prov- erbs, the general conversation and prac- -Professor EICHLER, reported in tice of the people, the records of histhe OMonicle, remarks, in speaking of tory, and the sentiments of their curthe fondness of the Chinese for tracts: rent literature may well be taken in .' It is a remarkable fact that the ma- evidence of the depravity of human jority of the authors of these tracts, nature, that however originally formed even the Confucianists, seek to give fl)r good it has grievously degenerated weight and importance to their moral and turned to evil. But more than teaching by the authority of the gods, this, we are led to the plain and posirepresenting them as Divine revelations tive teaching of the Bible on the sub· and inspirations. Of some of those ject, and in confirmation of it we have tracts not only the contents but the the Ten Commandments on which to whole book are said to be inspired; it insist in thought and feeling, in word is pretended that cover and everything and deed, as possessed of Divine auelse have been received from a god or thority, and having the sanction of genius. This is, for instance, the case every man's conscience, which in the with the' Divine Panorama,' and ap- Chinese view is equivalent to the depears from one of its pictures. This crees of heaven. They are ail-powershows that religion is in China, as every- ful in this respect. Only a .few nights where, the backbone of morals. Con- ago I was urging their claims and residered from a broad Christian point of quirements on a large audience of some view. these tracts contain many goou three hundred Chinese, and at the close words, even some deep truths. But one rose up and in a most excited manby the side of these we notice sayings ner declared in the presence of the and exhortations which sound to our whole assembly that he had broken ear most ridiculous and childish, and everyone of these commandments, and doctrines that are obviously false and felt himself to be a grievous sinner. erroneous. Frequently detailed de- He i3 now a candidate for baptism. scriptions of vices are given, which re- What is wanted is to deepen the conmind one of the sermons preached by viction of inward and total depravity, the capuchins in mec1ireval times, or of and this, we believe, can most elIec-, our modern sensational novels and tually be done by enforcing the claims newspaper accounts of criminal cases. of the Divine law. It has been given It is questionable if men are made bet- for the purpose, and the more clearly ter by any of these." it is understood and felt, so much bet- ter are we prepared for apprehending -It would be interesting to know, and appreciating the rich provisions of from competent observers, how far the the Gospel of grace. "-Rev. W. Mumcrime of female infanticide is reduced HEAD, in Ohinese ObseJ·ve1·. by the zealous and noble warfare which we understand that Buddhism wages -" I came not to call the righteous, against it. hut sinners, to repentance." The N a- tional Bible Society of Scotland has _" Natu1'al depravity. How may publisherl in Chinese" The Gospel of this be brought forward as a funda- :abrk, with Explanations." Both the mental point in our Christian teaching? plan and the execution are highly com- There is a general acknowlerlgment of mended by Dr. Griffith John, of the it in China, though not, of course, to London Missionary Society; Dr. W. S. the same extent as we are called to en-
EXTRACTS AND TRANBLATIOl'!"B
Swanson, Presbyterian Church of Eng- deed; yet what avail aIll'egrets I"-Dr.
land; Rev. J. Hudson Taylor, China FABER, quoffed in Indian Witnes8.
Inland l£ission; Rev. J. W. Stevenson, -Dr. Ashmore, in the Ohine8e Re- General &ieretary Shanghai Missionary corder, is of opinion that as devotion to Conference; Rev. William Muirhead, a vagabond is a poor exhibition of fidel- London Missionary Society ; Archdea- ity, especially in a wife who forsakes con Wolfe, and others. her husband for the vagabond's sake, -" AB .false coin does not cease to so reverence for a monkey or a snake be false coin because it has a few grains is a poor exhibition of faith in those of silver in it, 80 neither does false re- who are bound to worship the Most ligion cease to be false religion because High God. As Dr. Arnold remarks, it has some grains of truth in it. Joe kindness, even to an animal, is always Smith's Mormonism has some grains of praiseworthy (provided, of course, it is truth in it, and some passages stolen out proportional), but veneration is honorof the Bible; so also has Mohammedan- able only when shown to that which is ism. Do they, on that account, cease venerable. Then it elevates; otherwise to be false religions? It is a wonder it degrades.
how sane and sensible men, who would -" In the town of Tshin-shiu a Chiscrutinize a ten-cent piece if they sus- nese banker lately applied to Missionpected it to be short of silver, will pass ary Grant with the request that he such monstrous counterfeits when it would recommend to him ten or more comes to the subject of religion."- native Christianfi, to be employed in Ohine86 Rec01·der. his business. He remarked that he had -Under the impulse proceeding from found that the Christians were the only William Burns, there are now little people in the place that could be trustgroups of Mantchu ChriRtians from the ed. A similar request had been preborders of Mongolia on the west to be- viously addressed to the same missionyond the borders of Corea on the east, ary by another business man…- Monat8and on the boundaries of Eastern Sibe- bliiti(fl' (Calw.).
ria. Ea.ch convert i~ an humble but -This does not agree very well with effective apostle, as Professor KrUger re- the accusation that Chinese converts marks. The hard·headed Scotch, it is have lost Confucian virtues, without remarked, insist on a thoroughly found- having gained Christian virtues. There ed rather than on a rapidly spreading is no spiritual shock in turning from work. Both seem to be vouchsafed to Confucianism to the Gospel, for Conthem. fucianism is little more than a system -" We have three camps in the Prot- of external ethics, mostly good as far elltant missions in China-camps not as it goes, and deepened rather tha.n separated because of religious cere- contradicted by Christ.
monies and practices, but because of -June 9th. 1892, a young married thrt(J dijf(fl'ent names for the 8ame God. woman died in Jlishan, Kiangsi, the It ill almost incredible, but the facts only Christian in the place. As the not only speak, they cry out with em- fruit of her triumphant death·bed phasis. Even the harmony which pre- twenty-four were bapt,ized on the 2d of vails elsewhere among the different the following August. This was by churches (with all their other differ- no means the only influence, but seems ences) concerning the Word of God in to have been the crowning one. the Bible and derotiona,lliterature, tracts and hymn.books, has been torn asunder -A Christian baker in Shangshan in China.. Each of the three camps has has inscribed on his bread-baskets: its own Bible, etc. This is sad, in- "Jesus Christ appeared in the world
GENERAL MISSIONAlI.T INTEI,LIGENCE
1"892 years ago." This often, on in- apparent. The Mings did but little to quiry made, serves him as a text for a recover the glory of the empire or reo testiI)J.ony. store it to its wonted vigor. The Man- -" China needs knowledge. What chus have produced two illustrious a parody on the name of education is rulers, who did much for their country the system now in vogue in China I A in their long and prosperous reigns. I young man, having spent fifteen or refer, of course, to the reigns of K'angtwenty years in hard study, reaches the hsi and K'ien-Iung ; but they did not goal of his ambition and becomes a Siu succeed in checking the downward ten· Ts'ai, or it may be a Kli. Jen, and what dency of the country, or restore the is the net result of his attainments in courage, the buoyancy, the vigor that knowledge and mental training? He characterized the glorious period of the has simply learned how to read and Sung. write; he bas obtained a knowledge of some of the ancient history of his own " The country does not contain within country ; and he has learned those pre- itself the elements for its own recuper· cepts about personal conduct, family ation. New life is needed from some government, and political economy external source, and we cannot doubt which make up the sum of the moral that in the providence of God this great teachings of the Four Books and Five country is now being brought into vital Classics. He has learned nothing of contact with the Christian civilization nature or of nature's God; no geog- of the West, in order to start again on the path of progress."-Ibid.
raphy of his own or other countries, no history of other nations, no science, English Notes. no mathematics, no astronomy, etc.
He knows nothing, in short, of those BY JAMES DOUGLAS, LONDON.
most common facts concerning the The llIi8sionary Penny.-A Missionworld about him that a ten-year-old ary Pence Association is now associated boy in Christian lands has long since with the Aldersgate Street branch of learned at his mother's knee. the Young Men's Christian Association, London. During the past year all the " The Chinese need improved educa- leading societies as well as many smaller tional methods. Their system, while missions have received tangible help, on it develops the memory in a wonderful the principle that "mony a mickle manner, and indeed leaves nothing to maks a muckle." Every penny subbe desired in the mere power of retain- scribed goes to the society named oy ing words, yet it dwarfs the other pow· the donor, without any deduction for ers of the mind, ruins the reasoning working expenses. Hitherto the penny faculty, destroys the imagination, pre- has been weekly, but a section is now vents independence of thought, checks added for those disposed to join the original investigation, and is altogether penny-per-day class. vicious and totally inadequate to develop the God-given powers of the hu- Oentral Soudan Mis8ion.-This is a man mind."-Rev. A. P. PARKER, new scheme originated, under God, by Methodist Episcopal (South) Mission, Mr. Hermann Harris, who during the Soochow. in Chinese Reco1'der. past four months has been at work in -" My study of the past history and England stirring up interest in the Sou- present condition of the Chinese leads dan. Nine fresh workers have been me to believe that they reached their secured, some of whom are on their highest stage of civilization in the Sung way to their destination, and the others Dynasty, and that the Mongolian inva- are speedily to follow. The intention sion wAs the turning-point, the period is ultimately to oecupy the Central of that arrest of progress which is so Soudan and the countries lying round
ENGLISH NOTES
Lake Chad. How this region is to be a modest and unobtrusive way. "The occupied is not a matter of sight. The story of this work has only to be sim- scheme is launched in faith. Some ply told in order to awaken the sym- knowledge of the needs, however, is pathies of such as break the silence of possessed, and a translation of the each new-born day with the prayer, Hausa Scriptures, the common lan- 'Thy kingdom come.' " We hope guage of the region, is in course. The next month to supply some details re- methods to be employed are the same specting a society of which next to as those already in use in their North nothing has been known, but which African work in Tripoli, which combines seems to have been no mean auxiliary medical mission work with active evan- of "the kingdom of God, which com- gelization and the distribution of Scrip- eth not with observation."
ture portions. A council of six mem- bers has been constituted, of which for Spiritual Destitution of the Soudan.- the present Mr. R. Caldwell, of St. Bishop Hall, who leaves shortly for Martin's House, Gresham Street, Lon- the Niger, is also, like Mr. Hermann don, E. C., is the secretary and treas- Harris. to whom I have referred, seek- urer. ing to awaken missionary interest in behalf of the Soudan, and is being sup- Dr. J. G. Paton.-This renowned ported in his appeals by Bishop Olumissionary from the New Hebrides has wole, a native of Abeokuta, whose parthe ear at present, as far as the inevitable limitations of time and space admit. ents were heathen. Bishop Hall, howof our great metropolis. Exeter Hall ever, would only have those to come was much too small for the eager crowds forth as helpers who have placed them- selves unreservedly under the control that sought admis3ion. No reception could have been more cordial and en- of God the Holy Ghost. In his view Africa is a demonized land, where thusiastic ; and what seldom happens, even the suburban meetings now in temptations "strong and deep" assail course show the like popular eagerness the laborers, and where the' men, givand interest. Dr. Paton tells an un- ing themselves up to demons, become varnished tale, with much simplicity of demons. The bishop's words recall to spirit and practical address, pointing us the darkest chapter in John Newthe moral as he proceeds, and ever and ton's biography, and the significant anon pleading out of a full heart that phrase, then frequently used in those parts of Africa, ., that such a white his Master may receive His own. We have seldom seen the sunshiny charac- man is grown black;" the reference -being not a change in complexion, but ter of Christian service better embodied and expressed. It was better than any disposition, arising from the positive amount of optimism, for it was the real- power exercised by demoniac inlluism of Christ's own felt presence, and ences. At present there are 60,000,000 of the faith that can tread the- stormy in the Soudan without a missionary. sea. Bishop Oluwole spoke of work done, Dr. Paton appeals for five more mis- and also of the special difficulties that sionaries and the means to support beset their labors. The church at them, and believes that the missionary Lagos was pervaded, he said, by a staff thus reinforced would be adequate missionary spirit. They had trained to the conquest of all the islands in the workers and eleven mission stations in Hebrides' group. touch with the church at Lagos, which, though not all self-supporting, had ElMngeliool Oontinental Society. – The nearly reached that point. The main Ohri8tian has recently drawn attention difficulty was the question of polygamy, to this society, which has, during the which was one of the hardest customs past fifty years, done excellent work in to break down i and another stumbling-
GENERAL lIIISSIONARY I.NTELLI~CE
block was the importation of ardent missionary sense, and cents.-Oumberspirits of the worst description. To land PreIJbytfJl'ian. these were to be added the low tone of European traders. -Professor Everett, of Harvard Uni- versity, is credited with saying that Olteering Tidinga from Uganda.-Mr. •• not until rich men come to under- stand that they do not own their wealth, Arthur B. Fisher, a member of the but owe it, will the curse be taken off riches. " Church Missionary Society Mission in -A recent writer, who to all appear- Ugands, forwards interesting particu- ance knows whereof he speaks, makes bold to affirm that neither Hinduil nor lars of the work there. At Mingo a Mohammedans minister to the poor from sympathy, or from any spirit of 'large church, holding some 5000 people philanthropy, but out of pure selfish- ness, to gain merit for themselves, to haR been built by the natives, and is offset their sin and guilt.
filled on Sundays, while there are daily -A Mohammedan in Malacca urged this objectiou against the Bible: .. It is clllsses and morning worship attended too holy; if we took it up we could not cheat, nor lie, nor get on in busiby 600 people. The Baruma tribe, of ness."
which Stanley has written much, has -After listening to his accusers for some years, it is no more than fair to become interested in the Word of God, allow him to speak for himself. Sir Edwin Arnold is reporteel to have said: and Buganda Christians have gone to .. I have been criticised for an implied comparison between Buddhism and their islands to teach them to read. Christianity in regard to doctrines de- rived from them Itnd principles con- Copies of Holy Scripture are eagerly tained in them relilpectively. No such object was in my mind. Forme, Chrisbought throughout the whole region. tianity, rightly viewed, is the crowned queen of religion, immensely superior In Singo 2000 books were sold, and to every other; and, though I am so great an admirer of much that is great in five days a church and house for the in Hindu philosophy and religion, I would not give one verse of the Sermon missionaries were built. The church on the Mount away for twenty epic poems like the Mahabharata, nor exholds 600 people, and on the first Sun- change the Golden Rule for twenty new Upanashads. " – Canadian Ohurch Magday 400 were present. This number a~ine. has gone on to increase. Mr. Fisher -Said the dying Pestalomi: .. I fiays, " God has planted in the hearts of have lived like a beggar that beggars might learn to live like men." t bis people a longing after Himself." -" I don't want anyone to pity me. After telling of the driving out of the I am going to the tip-top field of the world," said Rev. Daniel Lindley, of Mohammedans, who made a wild rush the early Zulu mission, at a meeting (l)f the American Board, when a natural upon the Protestants to their own con- fmuissisoino~aarnyd who have robbed every from time to time, Mr.
Fisher adds: "Before Bishop Tucker left us he ordained six natives, all good, tried and true men, full of love for soul:. These, together with numbers of other Christians, will branch out into the country, and, we trust, gather in preciou!! souls who are waiting to hear the tl~uth. The work here is de- lightful. Who would not spend and be spent here among this loving and grate- ful people? Ob, that hundreds of our young men would lift up their eyes and look on this field-not as those inter- ested, but as those responsible for the gathering in of the precious sheaves !"
THE KINGDOM. -Missionarv sentiment is valuable ttnly when it i~ properly combined with strain of sadness had characterized the clared that India did not want a Chris- farewell messages of missionaries about tianity which tolerated such atrocities.
to return to their stations. Yes, yes, yes, alas! But then, per -A farmer in Dakota was asked how contra, "While the Hindu is shocked they came to feel that they could afford at the killing of a cow for food, and the to build a church so soon after a crop Buddhist carefully avoids killing any failure, and he replied: "When we animal, neither finds special occasion lack a plough or a reaper we say we for concern in the death of a man. must have one, and go to town and buy India in the past has been one vast it. We had no suitable plaoe for meet- slaughter-house of humanity, under the ing, and felt that we must MOO one. It sanctions of Hinduism. Men have been was a necessity. And 80 we built it." flayed alive, mangled under the wheels Would that all felt the imperative of idol cars, drowned in the Ganges, necessity of preaching the Gospel to 'the sacred river.' Women have been every creature ! cursed, crushed, burned on funeral piles, and subjected to every form of -He may have the number some· shame. Even to-day harlots form a what too large, but in his "Foreign part of the sacred service of the Hindu Missions after a Century" Dr. J. S. temples." As an indignant sister ex- Dennis suggests: " We are fully justi- claims: " And the representative of fied in estimating that there were slight- this horrible, obscene, and filthy religion lyover 100,000 conversions in the for- is invited to Christian America to leceign mission fields of all evangelical ture us on the lJ1Yil8 ofcanned meat! Why churches during the year 1892. This could he not find time to answer Mrs. you will notice is an average of fully Palmer'S question on what Hinduism 2000 per week. Think of it, my had done for women ?" friends! As you gathered together in the house of God from Sabbath to 8ab- -The Maan has the following acbath during the past year, to render count of a "feeling after" God in the your thanks to your Heavenly Father case of a Kaffir woman: "Even when for His blessings and His bounties and I was a young girl, and before ever the His benefits to you and yours, you Gospel had been brought into this land, might have added another note of I felt a trouble of heart. On a certain thanksgiving for more than 2000 souls- day, while working in the field, I was a number that would pack our largest all at once drawn to thinking about the churches to their very doors, gathering great God. I looked up to heaven, together, every Sabbath of the year, fell upon my knees, but could say nothliterally out of every tribe, and tongue, ing, for I only felt how bad my heart and people, and nation, to sit down to- was. I went home and related what gether for the first time to partake of had befallen me to my parents, who asthe communion of the Lord's Supper." sured me that the bird which makes the thunder had caused that feeling In -The belief in the efficacy of human me; I must fetch and burn a bunch of flesh for medicinal purposes, still preva.- long grass and thorns, and rub the ashes lent in China, lingers also in Japan, vigorously into my skin, and then I where a man who killed his wife in might expect to feel better. Of course order to serve up her liver to his aged I did so, but it was of no use. I remother was sentenced quite recently to mained wretched until a missionary nine years' hard labor.-R. S. GUNDRY, came here. People told me about him. in Fortnightly Re'Die'llJ.
-The slaughter-houses of Chicago I lost no time in going with my hus- called out a tlerce denunciation from a band to see and hear him, and we re- representative of the Hindu religion at solved to settle in the dwelling-place of the Parliament of Religions. He de- the Christians… WOMAN'S WORK. -Who can measure the benefit to the -Say not that the days of miracles world of Pastor Fliedner's Kaiserswerth are'over, for in this, the last decade of institution for the training of deacon· the nineteenth century, it has come to esses, from which nearly 3000 have pass that, after repeated efforts, backed gone out, and to all parts of the world, by abundant political pressure from without taking vows, with nothing of foreign ambassadors, and after long the medilllval or sepulchral in their look waiting and wriggling, the Sultan has or demeanor; in the Master's name actually given authorization to Miss and in His spirit to go gladly wherever Mary P. Eddy, M.D., an American called, to live or to die, if only they can girl, to practise her profession within minister as angels of mercy and peace.
the bounds of his dominions ! -The College Women's Settlements, -Nineteen years ago two graduates to be found in New York, Philadel· of Mt. Holyoke founded the Huguenot phia, Boston, etc., are among the new Seminary in Wellington, Cape Colony, things which, when in fit hands, are also after receiving most urgent appeals to among the good things for use in the establish an institution which would degraded portions of our great cities.
give the daughters of South Africa -The sphere of woman is a narrow some of the educational and religious one in all heathen lands. In India she advantages of their more favored "can grind, spin cotton, sometimes American sisters. The faculty now pull punkahs, and carry mortar, and no numbers 20, and more than 1000 young other way of supporting' herself is women, descendants of the Dutch, open." To be a washer-woman, a French, and English settlers, have been cook, a housemaid, a dressmaker, or students. The standard of edueation anything else of that kind, is out of the has been gradually raised, until now the question. Such is public sentiment, pupils compete successfully at the gov- and because there are no teachers. ernment and university examinations Zenana missionaries are endeavoring to at Cape Town. The school is self-sup- work a revolution at this point, and to porting, and also supports some mis- open up various honorable ways for sionaries at the front whom it has their sex to earn a livelihood. Industrained. trial schools are likely to multiply in the near future. -Of the various enterprises main- tained by American missionaries, prob- -The National Woman's Christian ably none is more conspicuous for prac- Temperance Union reports 7864 unions, tical value in the field of benevolence with a membership of 154,213; Y. than the Training School for Nurses in Unions, 757, with a membership of Kyoto, Japan. The seventh annual 15,363; Loyal Legions, 2887; memo report has appeared. The school is in bership, 159,299; coffee-houses, 283; charge of the venerable medical mis- Schools of Methods, 142; money raised sionary and student of Buddhism, John by local unions, $336,744; money raised C. Berry; the practical training of the bYl State unions, $123,879; total re- Japanese women is conducted by Miss cerpts of the National Union from Eliza Talcott, under whose direction States, $22,243; for Temple Fund, instruction is given in hygiene, practi. $23,509; expenses, $26,731; number cal nursing in the home, temperance, of pages printed, 135,000,000. etc. Up to the present time the school has graduated 36, of whom some have -The Congregational women raised married, some died, and 26 are still ac- for missions last year (the Eastern tive nurses, unable to supply the demand Board reporting only for ten months) for their services. Twenty more are $175,190, quite a falling off from the now in the classes. sum secured the year preceding; but the task is taken up with vigor to make -Presbyterian Endeavor societies up the deficiency, and to move on to a are asked by the Home Missionary So· larger figure. ciety to give $2000 to the Asheville Farm School for boys, among the moun- -The receipts of the society through tain whites of the South; $2000 more which the Methodist women of Canada to 8alt Lake City Collegiate Institute; carryon their work for 1893 reported an $1200 more for mission work in Alaska, income of $37,974, an increase of $2184. which h<ts already been assumed by Work is done in China and Japan, and New York Endeavorers; $2800 for the in behalf of the French and the Chinese training school among the Pima and at home. Papago Indians at Tucson, and $2000 for a school at Las Vegas-$lO,OOO in OUR YOUNG PEOPLE. all.
-Here is the longest name for a so· -The Endeavorers of the German ciety, and so the longest set of initials Reformed churches are to support an to be found outside of Great Britain- additional missionary in Japan. D. L. W. R. R. Y. M. C. A., and the nine letters stand for the Young Men's -And Japan is giving back in kind, Christian Association of the Delaware, for the Christian Endeavor Society in Lackawanna, and Western Railroad. Mr. Ishii's orphanage at Okayama has Nor is the name a mixing of things sent a contribution to the Hampton In· secular and sacred, for this is a corpo· stitute in Virginia. ration, if not with a soul, at least with a conscience, since it starts no trains be· -The Malua institute, in the Samoan tween sun and sun on the Lord's day. Islands, will soon send out 10 couples A conductor of twenty-eight years' to serve as missionaries in New Guinea. !ltanding has never had to work on the And all of them either have been or are Sabbath, and besides the company sup· now Christian Endeavorers.
plies buildings for the Young Men's -The Baptist Missionary Union has Christian Associations at Elmira, Great entered into an arrangement with the Bend, Scranton, and Hoboken. At El· Woman's Auxiliary, by which the conmira it has built an edifice expressly for tributions of the Young People's Soci· the uses of the association, and in the eties as such are to be made directly other places has repaired or constructed to the Union. Check·books, outline of rooms. In some of those places it pays studies and tracts have already been the entire salary of the secretary, and sent to the societies in several States. the other expenses. At Hoboken it pays the larger part of the salary. -The Christmas number of the Ep- -The Christian Endeavor Missionary worth Herald bore a quasi.missionary Institute represents a new departure in character in a pleasant way by giving missionary work in the West, and from letters from Rome, Norway, Mexico, the success already crowning its efforts Uruguay, Singapore, Foochow, Pe· in many directions is destined to be a per· king, Japan, and Korea, telling how manentand valuablcinstitution. Work· Christmas is kept in those regions, ing in conjunction with the mission some of them far to the south of the boards of the different denominations, equator, where at that season midsumit secures for its Missionary Extension mer reigns.
Course of six lectures the ablest speak· -An Epworth League in one month ers on the missionary platform. This paid a widow's rent, provided her with course has been inaugurated in college provisions, employed a nurse for a sick towns and at other strategic points woman, and fitted up a room in the throughout the West. deaconess' home. THE UNITED STATES. years 99,768 children have been re- -The first call to prayer by the moved to the country and provided Muezzin of the Ilrst society of the Mo- with good homes.
hammedans sounded out from the win- -The Illinois Humane Society re- dow of Union Square Hall, in New ports work done since its organization York, December 10th. Emin L. Vabo- as follows: Complaints investigated, kotf, wearing a fez, leaned far out of 25,534; children rescued, 14,413 ; chil- the second story window, which suf- dren placed in charitable mstitutions, ficed for a minaret, and placing his 3866; horses rescued by reprimand of thumbs behind the lobes of his ears, drivers, 9076; horses laid up from with the palms of his hands turned for- work, 1678; horses removed by am- ward, he called out the formal sum- bulance, 1216; disabled aniIlllltls shot, mons to prayer. The words were in 2218 ; prosecutions for cruelty to ani- Arabic. On the sidewalk below were mals, 1185; prosecutions for cruelty to ranged a few of the faithful, being children, 387.
Mussulmans from the World's Fair. -The Ramabai Association, estab- They drew themselves up in a straight lished in Boston and designed to aid line, elbow touching elbow, facing tow- in the rescue of child-widows in India ard Mecca. from the unspeakable wretchedness and -Waldenses to the number of 64 misery to which they are doomed, reo families-about 300 persons-have im- ports an income of $61,784.
migrated to Western North Carolina -The American Tract Society was recently, where for their use, and for awarded a gold medal by the Columothers to follow, 20,000 acres of land bian Exposition for ., religious books have been purchased. and tracts" exhibited. Or, more specifi- -A recent issue of TluJ Pacific con- cally, for excellence in the adaptation tained a long narrative by Jee Gam, the of its publications for giving the doc- best known of Christian Chinamen in trines of the Bible, as held iu common this country, entitled" How God has by the evangelical churches, to all Led Me these Thirty Years," and tell- classes; its finely bound Bibles, helps ing of the strange providence which to Bible study, devotional. books, Sun- led him to leave his native land, and day-school libraries, books at low prices how he was induced to cast away his for the homes of the needy, wall rolls idols and choose Christ. The story for hospitals and the sick·room, and should be printed in the form of a leaflet, tracts and cards for everybody.
and be widely scattered. -The Sailor8' Magazine and Seamen'8 -A Methodist church in Montclair, JJlriend for December contains letters N. J., supports a missionary among the from Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Ar- Navajo Indians, educates a boy and a gentine Republic, Brazil. Madeira, girl in China, and has assumed the sup- New York, Virgiuia, Georgia, Alaba- port of Rev. G. J. Schilling and wife, ma, Louisiana, and Washington, arid who have just sailed for Rangoon. making mention of quite a general re- -The Children's Aid Society is one ligious interest among the min of the of the very best of all our charitable sea, with conversions not a few.
organizations, and whether as to its -The Freedmen's Aid and Southern special object or the wisdom of its 'ad- Education Society of the Methodist ministration. During the last year Episcopal Church, North, expended in 12,516 boys and girls were registered the South during 1892 the sum of $363,- in the various schools, the six lodging- 763. Among the Freedmen were sus- houses sheltered 6277, or a nightly aver- tained 23 schools with 229 teache1'2 and age of 464, while during the last forty 5808 pupils, and among the._whites 23 schools with 116 teachers and 3227 city of York have done so much for pupils; or a total of 46 schools with missions, has made a stirring appeal to 345 teachers and 9065 students. The young Wesleyan ministers in Great school property is valued at $1,808,000. Britain to volunteer to go to China for a term of six years as unmarried men -Twenty-five turkeys, 85 chickens, for pioneer work, and toward their exhalf-a-dozen hams, 6 barrels of flour, a penses he generously offers to be per- barrel of molasses, apples, hickory sonally responsible for $250 annually nuts, walnuts, oranges, and $800 in for each man going out. cash-this is only a partial list of the good things showered upon the children -Mr. J. Cowasjee Jehanghir, of in the Baptist Orphan's Home in Louis- Malabar Hill, Bombay, has presented ville, during Thanksgiving. Besides 200,000 rupees-about $65,000-to the these were the annual contributions of Imperial Institute in London, on condivarious congregations in the city. tion that the sum shall be applied to the special benefit of India. The gov- -Through the Baptist Missionary erning body of the Institlite has accept- Union work is done in 19 countries, the ed the gift, and proposes to devote it to Gospel is preached in more than 30 the construction of an Indian conferlanguages, and at an average cost of cnce·room, and the building of a great $60,000 a month, or $2000 a day. hall in which lectures will be delivered on Indian and colonial mercantile sub- -The Prudential Committee of the jects. American Board has voted to recommend to Secretary Gresham that he ac- -The will of the late Sir William cept the sum which I:!pain offers in set- Mackinnon assigns $50,000 to missions tlement of the action of the Spanish in India, and $100,000 for annuities troops in destroying the mission prop- for aged or invalid missionaries of the erty of the Board at Ponape. Caroline Free Church of Scotland. Islands. four years ago. This sum covers amply the actual value of the -It is said that the Countess of Aberproperty destroyed. but nothing more. deen will have $100,000 to use for her benevolent work in promoting Irish -About 500 Lutheran (General Syn- domestic industry, as a result of estabod) Sunday·schools celebrated Luther lishing the Irish Village at the Chicago Day, and brought in about $10,000 as Fair. an offering to the Lord for home missions. -Canon Scott Robertson's twenty. second annual summary of British con- -The Methodist Missionary Commit- tributions for the propagation of the tee appropriates for 1894 to Africa, Gospel in foreign parts shows that for $5700; to South America, $51,671 ; to the financial year 1892 the total sum China, $118,711; to India, $117,537; voluntarily contributed to the numer- Malaysia, $8889; Bulgaria, $18,250; ous missionary societies in the British Italy. $42,500; Mexico, $53.378; Japan, Isles was £1,363,153. The channels $54,408. and Korea, $15,967. In ad- selected by the donora are thus classidition, $45.373 was set apart for Scandi- fied: Church of England societies, navia. $27,707 for Germany, and $7900 £584,615; joint societies of Churchmen for Switzerland. In 1893 the receipts and Nonconformists, £204,655; Nonfor missions, home and foreign, were conformist societies in England and $1,679,345. Wales, £354,396; Presbyterian socie- ties in Scotland and Ireland, £207,327 ; EUROPE. Roman Catholic societies, £12,160.
Great Britain.-The veteran Wes- -The scope of the Aged Pilgrims' leyan missionary in China, Rev. David Friend Society is co·extensive with the Hill, whose family in the old cathedral [THESE statistics are designed to include only Missions among either non·Christian or noned. Accuracy bas been ~ough't, but also completeness. and hence conservative estimlltes have been space aftorded by two pages of this Magazine, a large number of the smaller and special organlza· NAMES OJ!' SOCIETmso … … 1 B.ptist …………………… .. ~ 1792 $567,500 $40,900 139 .. 0 120 60 51> 2 Strict Baptist……………….. 1861 4,405 259 4 .. . 4 4 3 London (Lo M. So)…. …. …. …….. …. 1795 699,555 100,445 18? .. . 150 61 1734 4 Church (C. M. S.)…. ……………….. 1799 1,414,025 71,782 331 69 250 134 303 5 Propagation (S. P. G.).. 0…………… .. 1701 635,745 ………. 225 30 197 12 170 6 Universities' Mission……….. …….. lSGO 107,810 ………. 28 35 29 5 7 The Friends'. ……………………… 1867 60,135 …… …. 21.. . 14 16 8 Wesleyan Methodist…………………. 1816 4i35,395 19,460 137 35 108 41 175 9 Methodist New Connection … , 1859 28,510 ……… 8 … 7 Primitive Methodist.. 10 0 • .. .. • . . . . .. 0 •• 0 • 0 1869 18,890 490 8 … 6 8 11 United Methodist Free Churches…•… o' 1831 5.3,765 8,790 65… 60 5 12 Welsh Calvinistic………………… ., 1841 29,520 17,110 18 2 7 5 3 13 Presbyterian Church of England……. 0 • 1847 121,655 2,745 20 12 25 16 10 14 Presbyterlau Church of Ireland…. ….. 1840 84,930 9,000 15 8 12 10 8 15 China Inland…………….. ……….. 1865 167,864 48,3CO 77 130 155 190 14 16 Church of Scotland…… ……………. 1829 172,495 55,030 24 13 24 3 4 17 Free Church…………. ……………. 1843 540,025 181,145 57 25 60 44 12 18 United Presbyterian… …………….. 1847 179,250 46,975 63 19 75 28 20 19 Reformed Presbyterian ……………… 1842 4,005 1 …
20 Twenty-five other British Societies….. . 1,340,405 ………. 141.. • 98 548 30 21 Paris Society……………………… 1822 69,142 10,239 35 4 26 7 21 22 Basle Society.. .. . .. ……… .. .. .. .. .. .. . 1815 266,742 32,500 139. 0 • 97 4 34 28 Berlin Society… " . 1824 65,847 36,504 64 10 61 6 4 24 Breklum Society………………….. .. 1877 13,013 ………. 11 .. , 7 25 Gossner's Society……….. , …. 0 ……. 1836 24,886 1,847 25… 28 16 26 Hermannsburg…… ……………….. 1849 56,608 6,250 58 3 55 27 Leipsic Society. .. .. .. …. .. … .. .. … .. 1836 64,586 1,418 29 2 20 2 17 28 Moravian Church…. ……………….. 1734 124,345 238,690 157 10 141 19 24 29 North German SOciety………………. 1836 22,124 600 15 3 6 7 80 Rhenish Society.••.. 0 ••• , • • •• • • • • • • •• • • • • 1829 97,582 14,322 65 3 81 5 16 31 Eight other German Societies .0 ••••• 0 •• 0 •••••• 50,450 23… .18 88 1 32 Twelve Netherlands' SocletieB. .. . •.• •.. 0 156,548 ………. 48 … 40 31 33 Fifteen Scandinavian Societies………. . 213,282 …. .. …. 86 … 75 37 27 34 Varlons Societies in Asia, Africa, etc… .. 538,236 … …… 567.. . 430 51 315 Totals for Europe, Asia, etc …. o. 0" $8.624,225 $939,8012,906 408 2,448 1.426 8,062 Total. for United States and Canada. – – – – – – . _ – – – . – $6,089,402 $544,734 1.448 4711,1931,050 1,156 Totals for Christendom………………. $14,713,627 $1,484,5354,354 879 3,6412,576 4,218 Protestant peeples, and hence the figures of certain societies doing colonial work have been reduc· made concerning certain item" omitted from 80me reports. Jllainly ill order to keep within the tions have been grouped together.] S' . ",,,, I … ..;1; ai J. 0 " I .. I .~.~ ""ol ~ ..; ~ '0 Countries in which ill!! t:I3.S Mi.sions lire Snstained. ~ 'B .S ""-".<""",o::."~S4, E~ . 0 .d :Iil~ §3 C,) 0 § (1)O~ 'fl a-1"1 .~en en " … -<lg p ea t~~ en o· .'dd ..I..>..'..~.
0 ~ 8 ill Q – – – – – – – – – – – – – —- 7SS 1,159 601 51,682 3,401 135,000 850 82,187 India, China, Palestine, Africa, 1 Welt Indies. 532 ….. 737 India (Madras, Ceylon). 38 51 24 1,300 24 2 6,446 8,578 1,940 96,118 5,657 417,916 1,971 123,003 China. India, Africa, Madagascar, 3 4,934 6,021 402 52,898 3,316 Polynesia. 1,650 2,296 475 47,000 2,966 1,274 …… 189,815 1,971 81,238 Persia., Chins, Japan, India, 4 99 196 27 Africa, North America, etc.
117,500 850 40,600 Tndm. China, Ja~an, Malaysia, 5 Africa, West In les, etc.
3,501 36 2,106 Africa (Zanzibar, Lake Nyal.a). 6 4.70 5~1 150 3,198 212 14,532 1:;160 11,660 India, China, Madagascar. 7 !295 2,791 2,050 87,466 4,606 90,000 820 49,000 India, China, Africa, West Indies. 8 64 80 SS 1,450 190 8,000 22 328 China (Shantnng, Tien-tsin). 9 89 56 21 829 69 2,100 9 245 Africa (Fernando Po, Zambesi). 1o 420 545 64 7,350 226 17,000 127 6,280 China, Africa, Australia. 11 404 434 226 2,199 277 10,500 143 4,7'29 N. E. Iudia, France (Brittany). I2'
110 193 138 3,944 157 9,800 57 2,608 India, China, Malaysia (Singa-I8 127 175 24 690 25 1,500 pore). 52 3,704 China, India (Kathiawar). 14 322 838 207 3,706 673 10,000 33 433 Chiua (Fourteen Provinces). 15 213 281 261 1,472 825 5,663 107 8,300 India, China, East Africa. 16 615 813 230 7,097 1,002 18,272 355 21,957 India. South aud East Africa, 17 Turkey, New Hebride•. 269 17,690 India, China, Japan, Africa, West 18 642 SSl 271 17,414 885 42,000 Indies.
7 10 8 45 7 150 3 164 Syria (Antioch, etc.). 19 2,505 8,837 …. 6,005 . ….. ………. 775 32,000 2o 241 834 275 9,861 627 15,000 120 9,019 Africa (l'!. aud Senegal), Tahiti. 21 668 942 224 13,157 856 26,435 320 12,432 South India, China, West Africa.
150 295 166 11,979 2.193 24,754 105 4,483 East and South Africa, China. 28 18 36 6 86 41 153 7 115 India (Telugus). 24 398 462 15 11,472 1,208 34,578 80 1,700 India (Chota Nagpore). 25 250 363 59 10,837 1,712 21,500 55 3,440 India, South Africa, New Zea- 26 556 636 179 6,916 167 land. 14,509 288 4,817 South India, Burmah. 27 1,778 2,129 149 31,653 1,625 91,844 247 22,129 South Africa, Australiail: South 28 36 68 22 618 185 1,082 'w~merica, West Indies, ekimo. 18 501 est Africa, New Zealand. 29 200 390 196 14,295 680 47,430 130 4,016 Africa. East Indies, New Guinea, 30 75 2011 30 China. 667 …… 1,500 23 700 81 104 223 125 49,073 …… 147,162 200 7,000 32 1,301 1,526 427 25,802 …… 64,000 395 31,750 33 5,511 6,874 1577 275,946 1,984 34 – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – 83,471 43,759 10,853 804,681 83,772 – – — — —– – – — – – 1 – – – – – – – – – – 9,793 14,389 5,749 277,027123,78.3 – – 525,000 3,215 101,743 642,802 2,099,5021 13,832 146,652 645,452 4,867 43,264 58,148 16.602 1,081,708 57,655 2,744,954 18,699 789.454 United Kingdom, 663 pensioners living with their studies, and hoping ere long in the metropolis and 625 in other parts to enter the mission field as fully qualiof England, Scotland, Ireland, and fied medical men. Wales. In 1807, its birth year, the Society had three pensioners; the roll has -The Gassner missionaries in India steadily increased, and now numbers baptized 1403 heathens last year. The 5760, of whom 1288 are still living. total number of their converts amounts Upward o~ £230,000 have been expend- to 34,578. The Bremen Society emed in pensions alone. The annual sum ploys 93 missionaries, who have 47,436 expended in pensions is upward of converts in charge; 3000 converts on £8000. In four homes 180 are cared the island of Sumatra were baptized for, but the bulk of the aid is given to last year. The Hermannsburg Society assist in paying rent, procuring food, operates in South Africa, India, Ausclothing, etc. tralia, and New Zealand, with 61 mis- sionaries at 57 stations, and 21,500 con- -Miss Annie R. Taylor has o:Qgan- verts. ized the Thibetan Pioneer Mission, after the pattern of the China Inland Mis- -The Rauhe Haus at Horn, near sion, and the plan is to send at once 12 Hamburg, founded by Wichern, has men or more to Darjeeling, in the celebrated its sixtieth anniversary. It Himalayas, and near the borders of the has educated more than 2000 children forbidden land, first to learn the lan- and trained more than 700 Christian lay guage, and then persistently to seek an workers, many of whom are to-day entr.ance. And who will not give them laboring among the masses in the cities of Germany. a hearty God-speed r -Nearly 100 missionaries were sent The Continent. -Statistics of Protes- to China last year by the Lutheran tant churches in France have recently Church in Sweden. been gathered!"from which it appears that there are Protestant houses of wor- ASIA. ship in 781 localities, 887 Reformed pastors in charge of congregations, and Islam.-There are 6 American col- 12 Reformed chaplains in the army. leges in the Turkish Empire, with 1200 The Lutheran clergy number only 90, students, and 70 students are in trainthe Free Evangelical Church has 47, ing for the ministry. The mission and the other Protestant denominations presses in the empire print about 40,- have 72. Then there are 5 Bible soci- 000,000 pages annually, and over one eties, 19 Protestant societies for home half of these are pages of God's Word. missions, 6 for foreign missions, 44 orphans' homes, 47 refugee houses, 60 -At an out-station in the Western hospitals, and 118 periodicals. Turkey Mission has recently been built a new church edifice, which reflects -Medical missions are securing a much credit upon the little Greek comhigher place than hitherto in the conti- munity of Zinzir Derre. More than a nental societies. Especially is this true year ago an application was made to of the Basel Society. Besides Dr. the government for an official permit Fisch, of the Gold Coast, and Dr. Lie- to build, and to the surprise of every bendoefer, of Calicut, in India, a new one it was granted with no pecuniary appointment has just been made in the cost, and now the pretty stone building person of Dr. Wittenberg, who is about has been dedicated, a throng of people to join the Hak-ka Mission in South being present at the exercises. An ad- China, and to settle, jf possible, in the joining residence has been purchased important centre of Kia-ying-chiu. for a parsonage. The chief architect, There are also 5 students going forward who received five Turkish pounds for his services, gave six in aid of the building. Other Greek friends have shown versa! use, sesquipedalian names of a like generosity, and a contribution men or things will be too expensive for taken up at the dedication exercises every-day use.-Indian Witness.
cancels nearly the whole remaining -Another severe trial has befallen debt. the Moravian Himalaya Mission. Mr.
-At length the Dead Sea is to be L. Bourquin, on his way to Leh, was navigated, and two sailing boats, one taken so seriously ill, that he was com- rather large and heavy, for freight, pelled to discontinue his journey, and and the other smaller and neater, for to go to the hospital at Alexandria.
passenl!,'ers, have just been conveyed He had been suffering for some days from Jaffa to Jerusalem by rail, and from pain in the head, and then was thence onward by road. The boats be- suddenly seized with violent convul- long to the Sultan, as does also the sions, which were twice repeated on Dead Sea, which forms part of the the following day. Upon the recom- crown property, and it is his intention mendation of two physicians he was to turn to good account the salt, bitu- ordered to return to Germany. Miss men, and sulphur which abound in its Kant was left to continue the jour- waters and upon the shores. ney alone, her travelling companions -September 26th a large company consisting of a party of Jesuits and"a of missionaries, teachers, students, and nun, who immediately began to seek friends gathered for the ceremony of her" conversion."
laying the cornerstone of the new build- -A missionary writes: .. The town ing for the Marsovan Girls' Boarding of Pooree, in Orissa, where the great School, probably the first exercise of Tempie of Jaganath stands, contains a the kind ever witnessed by most who large number of monasteries, presided were present. This building succeeds over by monks devoted to the worship the one that was burnt by incendiaries, of this god. These monks, or pundas, when in an unfurnished condition, last send out from Pooree annually 7000 February, an indemnity of 500 Turkish missionaries throughout the length and pounds having been paid by the Otto- breadth of India to proclaim the name 1p.an Government. The present build- and glory of Jaganath. I stood this ing is to be larger and more commodi- year by the great cars of Jaganath, ous than the other would have been. Bolaram, and Shubhadri (Jaganath's It can accommodat~ nearly or quite 100 brother and sister), surrounded by at 'boarders, about double the capacity of least 100,000 pilgrims, who had come the old building. = from all parts of India to see the "lord -September 14th the Broussa Or- of the world" (jagat = world, nath phanage commenced its nineteenth year with 109 persons, boarders, day-schol- lord). I was profoundly impressed ars, and teachers. Over 60 must be with the spectacle. This, I thought, is fed daily, of whom 50 are orphans, the result of the self,denying enthusi- asm of these missionaries. "
who have to be cared for entirely. The -A well-to-do Burmese Christian other scholars pay nothing, or only a woman, named Mah Hnin Aye, gave a trifle, and therefore need help. few years ago Rs. 3000 to the Judson India.-In this utilitarian age the chapel in Mandalay, and Rs. 500 each Roman alphabet is bound to prevail in to the Burmese and Karen work in India. The involved compounds of Tavoy, the interest only to be used. some Inuian languages, that are called She now offers to give Rs. 5000 more letters but are really words, must dis- to be invested, and the interest used appear along with the village blast fur- for Burmese work in Tavoy.
nace, the loom, and the palanquin. -The Misses Mary and Margaret With telegraphs and telephones in uni- Leitch write: "We have the oversight of a district called Chavakachcheri, in found more ready than women to turn North Ceylon, whieh contains 100 away from false gods, but it is much square miles and a population of 40,000 more out of all analogy that so many people, amon'g whom we are the only aged persons embrace the Gospel. The resident missionaries. We have about China Inland Mission finds that "a 20 native helpers as catechists, preach- large proportion of the' converts are ers, and Bible-women There are 38 over 60, not a few are over 70, and a teachers and 1137 children in village good many are past 80."
schools. Jaffna College. 18 miles dis- -Rev. John Ross, the veteran mistant, has an able staff of professors and sionary of Manchuria, has reached this teachers, and is now in a very flourish- conviction: "China will never be won ing condition, having between 300 and to the Gospel by our appeals to the 400 students in the high school, and secular power to intervene in every 143 in the college proper. This col- little trouble we may experience. This lege is now affiliated with the Calcutta appeal to ' Cresar' or the' British gun- University up to B.A., and at the last boat' simply deepens in the mind of examination, of the 28 presented for the patriotic Chinese the belief that the entrance examination, 26 passed. Rev. missionary is a political agent-a belief T. B. Scott, }tD., and Mrs. Scott, that hinders Christianity more than lI.D., who came out with us to take every other cause combined." charge of the general medical mission for men at Manippay are now hard at -The Chinese land-telegraph system work. They have on Tuesdays and has been joined to the Russian system, Fridays as many as 125 present at the and messages can now be sent to any dispensary.' , part of the world from any station in China, at the rate of $2 per word, the -Upon whom, and upon what. can cost of transmission across the ocean the Boston Watchman have its eye being added. The only Chinese prov- when it says: "The increase of the ince which cannot be reached by tele- Christian population of British India, graph is Hunan, which still remains op- during the twenty years from 1872 to posed to all foreign innovations.
1891, exceeded 66 per cent and 45 per -At a recent conference at Hung-. cent for all India. But it is a singular t'ung, where 66 were baptized, as ancircumstance that the native Christians other part of the service offerings were have not received any substantial meas· presented, partly in money and partly ure of local self-government from the in kind, and they amounted altogether European or American religious bodies to the value of about $151. The money to which they belong. The British contributions were 81,970 cash; besides Government has moved in advance of which pastor Hsi contributed 35 taels the Christian churches in granting a de- of silver, elder Shih gave 5500 cash gree of political enfranchisement and a worth of wheat, and pastor Hsi 1100 measure of local self·government to the cash worth of wheat. As compared Indian people as a whole." with the value of money in China, China.-The case of women is suffi- these gifts were equivalent to at least ciently forlorn in the Celestial Empire the contribution of £150 in Englandat the best, but notwithstanding is bet- that is, of $750 in America.
ter there than in most Oriental lands; -The Presbyterian Church, South, and even in Christendom there is no has 50 missionaries in the land of Sinim, phrase to match the elegant Chinese ex- a threefold increase in five years.
pression for daughter, which signifies -In Shanghai, a city of 400,000, not " thousands of gold." less than 1000 Chinese are found in the -It is strange that here, as in Japan churches of the 12 missions, .. but ,a and some other countries, men are far larger number, converted here, have returned to distant homes to be each according to the chances and sports one a centre of light. " which the day offers to its patient and japan.-Says Mrs. Sakurai, an edu- loving victim.-A. S. ASHMEAD, M.D., cated Japanese woman now in this in&ienee. country: "We have 26,000 public schools taught by 36,000 men and 3000 -According to this bit of missionary women. Those who take charge of experience, the Sunrise Kingdom must them are Buddhists. I think they do be inhabited by a people possessed of not believe the Buddhist doctrines infinite leisure, as well as of patience heartily, but they were brought up and powers of endurance. Arriving in with such teaching, and dislike Chris- a small village, " he is told of a preachtianity without knowing what it is. If ing service arranged for the evening. a teacher begins to be interested in Half-past seven comes, eight, half-past Christianity and attends church every eight, and still there is no move toward Sunday, he is dismissed,. some other the preaching-place. Finally about reason being given. So, though some nine o'clock the pastor, with some refteachers want to hear of Christ, they erence to the fact that the people are do not come to church openly, because slow in coming together in such hot they are afraid of losing their posi- weather, leads the way to the meeting. tions." But few people are gathered; but our presence is the signal for the coming of a good number, and by a quarter past -The Japan Weekly.Mail (non-nilig- nine, when the meeting really begins, ious) sets forth as follows: "Some time the house is fairly well filled with peo- ago there was much talk of Japanese ple squatting on their heels on the philosophers who proposed to recon- straw mats, and an equal number at struct Christianity, to make a Chris- least standing outside in front of the tianity for Japan. Happily we hear open house. A young physician of nothing now of that quaint misconcep- the village presides and maker. an open- tion. A church they may build after ing addres!! of half an hour, the evan- their own models and according to their gelist follows with a somewhat longer own fancy; but the materials, the speech, and he in turn is followed by Christian creed, as the Occident has the pastor in a stirring address of nearly cherished it for two thousand years, is an hour! It is therefore considerably immutable. It is the creed that 'ele- after eleven before the missionary be- vates the individual by its doctrine of gins to speak. "
the fatherhood of God and the common AFRICA. brotherhood of man; that raises childhood; that protects and elevates wom- -The Congo Railway was opened an; that sanctifies marriage; that res- to the public in November to Maya cues the unfortunate; that emancipates Mankenga, a point 30 miles beyond the slave; that limits the horrors of Matadi. The distributing point for war.' There may be something better goods for the upper country will now in another planet, but not in the genius be at Maya Mankenga instead of Maof Japan, we opine." tadi. These first 30 miles are past the most difficult part of the transport –.Japan is, for obvious reasons, fur- route to Stanley Pool, so that the car- nitureless. It does not even know the riage of goods will become much easier.
cradle. As Diogenes made a cup of For the same reason the construction his hollowed hand, so the Japanese of the railroad will be less difficult in mother makes a cradle of the back of thli future, as the hills and raTines of !I.Ilother child-an ambulating. delight- the river valley have been overcome, ful cradle, where it stays from morning and the remainder of the route is over to night, and is unrhythmically rocked the high land. -Bishop Taylor is the apostle of self. thorized. The Bible Society now sup- supporting missions. He told a friend plies more than 60 version! of the Scrip- recently of the remarkable provision tures, in whole or part, for Africa made for such work in Central Africa. alone.
Each tribe has a portion of fertile land -King Khama, chief of the Bamang. set apart for the stranger. It is sowed wato tribes, is pronounced by the Reby the wives and eared by the queen's view of Review8 to be •• the most dismaids. The product is stored in a hut tinguished trophy of Christian missions held sacred to the well-behaved new- in Africa." What white man could comer. The king welcomes him. The improve his setting forth of the evils queen cooks and serves his food three flowing from strong drink when he times a day. That explains how it was wrote, in 1888: .. Lobengula never that Livingstone could go anywhere in gives me a sleepless night, but to fight Africa without armies, while Stanley against drink is to fight against demons, must mow his way with lead. not against men. I dread the white -The West Africa Mission of the man's drink more than all the assegais American Board is opening a third sta- of the Matabele, which kill men's bodies tion still farther inland from Benguella ; and it is quickly over; but drink puts a few miles farther to the east is found devils into men, and destroys both the first of Mr. Arnot's stations, which bodies and souls forever. Its wounds is succeeded by others all the way to never heal. " The London Society has Garenganze; and this is not so very far a mission among his· people, who have from the Paris Society's Mission among built and paid for a brick church with the Basuto and in the Barotse country, a roof of corrugated iron, which cost which is also neighbor to several in $15,000.
Matabelaland and Mashonaland; with -Bishop Hornby, of the Universities'
yet another upon the coast of the Ind- Mission on Lake Nyassa, on a recent ian Ocean at Inhambane, in the hands tour confirmed 130 natives.
of the English Primitive Methodists; -Well may the MiBBionarll Herald and so a chain of missions extends from say: ., A remarkable piece of news side to side of the Dark Continent. has arrived from Uganda. Bishop -For thirty.t,hree years missionaries Hirth. of the Roman Catholic mission, have labored among the Matabele, and writes as follows: • After much hesi- can point to only 5 converts. The peo- tation I have concluded that it is neces- ple are described as a race of splendid sary for us also to print the New Testa- animals, atheists, false to the core, and ment, which the Protestants are spread- wholly given up to self-conceit. ing everywhere. The chief reason is -The Matabele, like many other that we cannot prevent our people from African tribes, have their place in the reading it-everybody wishes to know version list of the British and Foreign how to read for baptism-except wom- Bible Society. More than sixty years en and old men. We are therefore preago Dr. 1rloffat began his Sechuana paring an edition, with notes drawn Bible, and this book, which is intended from the Holy Fathers.' "
for the use of the Bechuana and the -The Wesleyan South African Con- Matabele people, has been subjected ference was formed of native and colo- since then to frequent and most careful nial churches ten years ago, and now revision. So lately as 1892 an edition contains 5099 English and 31,268 Afri- of the New Testament, in pocket size, can members, 72 native ministers, and was carried through the press, and an 103 native evangelists, while last year edition of the complete Bible, to be re- . the native contributions amounted to produced by the photo process, was au- £3051 ($15,255).